Foodie Friday: June Menu

I am back with my monthly menus! I like to think you all missed me and my hyper-organization while I was out doing my internship…. but that’s probably just my imagination. Either way, summer is here and that means it’s pretty hot in my house! We have a high ceiling in our living room which is great. We also have a triple sized window. that means efficiency in the largest room in our house is not so great. We bought a window shade a couple years ago that was designed to insulate better than our old blinds and it has helped, but it still gets really hot. For this reason, I avoid turning on the oven in my house during the summer months.

I love my grill! It’s a fun American past time and it doesn’t make my house any hotter. It’s also really easy clean-up. So needless to say, the June menu is chock-full of grilling recipes and no-bake desserts. There are a couple dinners that will utilize the oven, but not many. I hope you enjoy this menu as much as I plan to enjoy it! You can find the recipes on the June 2018 Menu board.

June 2018 Menu

QuickTip Tuesday: Keep Breakfast Simple

Mornings are hectic, am I right? Even now that Amelia is out of school for the summer and I have graduated, I still find myself chronically late to work unless I bring my breakfast with me. To reduce the amount of morning chaos, keep breakfast simple. Simple breakfasts can still be delicious and healthy! Try a smoothie made with non-fat Greek yogurt and your favorite fruit. Try a sandwich or wrap made with onions, bell peppers, feta cheese and eggs any way you like ’em. My go-to breakfast is low-fat cottage cheese with peaches (canned in juice) or pineapple and a piece of whole wheat toast. Sometimes instead of the fruit, I mix in avocado and cherry tomatoes. Simple, satisfying, and tasty!

Shared Parenting Time: Quantity equals Quality

Children deserve the opportunity to be loved by both of their parents and should not be caught in between parents who do not know how to get along. Research shows children who have healthy relationships with both parents do better later in life. Shared parenting time provides children with more opportunities to develop deep, lasting bonds with both parents.

Have you and your co-parent thought about shared parenting time? In shared-parenting arrangements, also known as joint custody, children spend 30 percent to 50 percent of their time with each parent, which creates more opportunities for the child to have meaningful experiences with both of their parents. The good news is that shared parenting is not only possible, it actually works! 

Quality time between children and parents is often spontaneous and cannot always be planned. Consequently, increasing the quantity of time a child spends with both parents will increase the amount of quality time in the relationship. Quality time includes opportunities for teaching and sharing values with our children. For example, helping with homework or teaching your children through discipline helps create a strong parent-child relationship, which is what every child longs for and needs for healthy adjustment following divorce.

Research shows that except in extreme cases where it is unsafe to do so, shared parenting benefits the child and the parents. However, shared parenting may not be an option for everyone. For example, in situations where one parent is deployed in the military or is gone for long periods of time due to work responsibilities, other custody arrangements may be a better fit for the circumstances. The safety of your child is the most important aspect to consider when creating a parenting plan. In situations when your child’s safety is a concern, it may be best to seek legal help in determining the right parenting plan for your child.

To learn more about shared parenting, click here to access a fact sheet: Shared Parental Responsibility Before and After Divorce

 

Need more help? Co-Parenting is hard. We are here to help! Learn more about the Co-Parenting for Resilience Program, part of the Extension mission of Oklahoma State University’s College of Human Sciences.

QuickTip Tuesday: Make Small Changes

Being active can be hard when you haven’t been active for a while. Start small. As you might already know, I have spent the last 18 weeks doing my dietetic internship. The hours were weird and the work was different from what I was used to. I fell off the wagon when it comes to working out. This week, I started a new fitness plan and I am starting really small. Although I was running about 20 miles a week back in November, I plan to run 5 miles this week (1 mile a day for 5 days). I will run 6 or 7 miles next week and then I will attempt to run 10 miles the third week. That’s what I mean by starting small. Maybe one mile at a time is too much for you. That’s okay. Try 1/2 mile or 3/4 mile to start. Walk instead of run, especially if running bothers your joints. Just move! Make a small change and try to do that change for a week or so, then make it a little bigger. Increase or improve each week and you’re succeeding!