I thought that I would be child free today, but alas, no! And it is so so so cold here. We can not go outside to play. Not even on the front porch. And cabin fever sets in oh, oh, oh so quick. You know how it goes. Well since I do not wish to have the kiddos hollering and running around like lil rug rats. Instead we are going to do the "Sneaky Fitness" way of running off steam. And while doing so help these kiddos get a lil exercise too.
Marching Band may be a lil loud but such fun to see the kiddos making music.
You don't need seventy-six trombones to lead a big parade. All you need are some willing band members and some imagination. The music you make may not hit the top of the charts, but the exercise you're sneaking in is solid gold.
What you'll need:
- Musical instruments, or make your own with pots and pans
- beans in a coffee can
- a plastic container with water, or upside-down buckets
Who's playing: Preschoolers
How many: 2 or more
Prime time: Any Day, Weekends, Playdates, Parties
Lead your "band" around the house and/or outside, and up and down stairs, reminding them to march by bringing their knees up high as they go.
Fitness Factor: Cardiovascular Endurance, Coordination, Mood Booster!
Covert Calories: Marching will burn 53 calories in 20 minutes.
Sneaky Supercharge: Have them step side-to-side for one minute, skip for one minute, walk backward for one minute, and jump for one minute as you make your way through the parade route. You'll tack on an extra 72 calories.
Mac 'n' Cheese Pizza
Makes: 8 servings
When you can combine three of your kid's top favorite foods (in this case, pizza, pasta ,and cheese) together with healthy ingredients, you know you have a winning recipe. The pizza sauce is already a healthy food because of its lycopene-laden tomatoes, and it also offers an ideal hiding spot for pureed white and orange vegetables. This is also the one way Missy gets some kids to eat whole-grain pasta because it's blanketed with the melted cheese, so they can't tell it's not their usual white noodles.- 3/4 cup store-bought pizza sauce
- 1/4 cup White or Orange Puree (See Make-Ahead Recipe #4, p. 260, or #2, p. 258)
- 1 large (about 12-inch) store-bought pizza crust, ideally whole grain (like Boboli® whole grain)
- 1 cup cooked elbow pasta, ideally whole grain
- 1 1/2 cups part-skim shredded mozzarella cheese
> Preheat oven to 450 degrees and preheat a pizza stone, if using one, or spray a baking sheet with oil.
> In a mixing bowl, combine pizza sauce with White or Orange Puree. Mix well. Spread sauce evenly over pizza crust. Scatter cooked pasta evenly over the sauce, then top with shredded cheese. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes until cheese is melted, bubbly, and golden brown.
> Allow to cool a few minutes, then cut into wedges and serve.
I wish to thanks Missy Chase Lapine and Larysa Didio for providing me with the "Sneaky Chef". This book is coming in quite handy with all the kiddos that seem to pass through my home. I appreciate the chance to review their book.
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