Fast Food for Fast Times

I've been pretty good this summer about feeding the people in my house.  You know - grocery shopping and cooking and stuff like that.  We have still continued the weekly pizza night (my daughter says its a sure sign that I'm tired when I offer "hey, you guys want to get pizza for dinner?") and we've had our share of meals out.  But I've been in the kitchen, too.  I, in fact, like cooking when I have the time.  "When I have the time".  That'll be the key phrase in another week as we head back in to school and all the madness.

Cute lunch bag as a reminder to pack healthy snacks for those busy times.

All of our running around is, of course, after-school, right around dinner time.  On the days I don't have myself together and have dinner ready when they get home, we do end up going through the drive-thru, eating in the car or on the sidelines of somebody's something.  We probably eat more fast food during the school year than in the summer.  At the Mocha Moms Retreat this weekend, McDonald's was providing nutritional information about their menus.  Perfect! since my car has a magnetic pull towards sweet tea and french fries (hence, why I also need to run on a regular basis).  I took a look so that I could get some ideas for the next time I zoom through the drive-thru.

First - figuring out how much my kids should be eating.  I've always thought they really shouldn't be eating a lot.  I mean, they're kids, they're little people.  But, as I read, they are little people with little stomachs and a lot of energy.  And, admittedly, most of our activities are sports related, so my kids are active kids.  According to a couple charts and figures, my little squad should be consuming between 1200 calories (the 7-year old girl) to 1600 calories (the older girls) to 1800 calories (the 9-year old boy)!*  That's as much as I eat.  (Now, I really feel bad for my friends with three boys.)  That puts us at between 400 - 600 calories per meal.  Alright, let's see what the kids can have.

Menu options fit for a kid

Their normal order is a Hamburger (250 calories) and small fries (230 calories) - only 480 calories.  That's not so bad, afterall.  The little one often goes for the Chicken Nugget Happy Meal (410 calories); I like that the apple slices are now a part of the meal, with smaller french fries, rather than the kids having to choose between apples and fries.   I noticed last summer in Europe that the Happy Meals are sold this way.  What kid isn't going to choose the fries if given the choice?  Now, she happily eats both., or sometimes even skips the fries!  For alternatives, I could maybe get the kids to try the Grilled Chicken sandwich (350 calories) or the Southwest Salad with Grilled Chicken (390 calories).  Some good options.

For me?  Its the Fish Sandwich or one of the salads.  I don't eat meat, so those are pretty much my options, as far as entrees, anyway.  But I did notice on one of the info sheets a great tip - I can skip the tartar sauce and get rid of 90 calories.  That's half-way to a vanilla cone (skip the hot fudge) or a small sweet tea.  Another tip, only use half the dressing on the salad - there's the other half of my ice cream cone.

On the list of things that induce mom guilt is feeding the kids fast food.  Reading over this nutritional information is making me feel better.  Do I think we should grab a burger and fries every day?  No, I don't think anybody should eat anything every day (well, except coffee, and maybe rice).  You need a variety in your diet for vitamins and all that good stuff.  But I'm glad to have some options for those days when we are no where near our kitchen.


Check the website for more info on McDonald's menu items or flip over the tray liner next time you order your meal.

*Note - this caloric information is not medical recommendations from me - I'm not a doctor - this is info gleaned from other articles.  Be sure to check with your own kids' doctor if you have questions about their weight, diet, etc.

Moms Deserve to Relax and Refresh

Its a simple idea, but so hard for moms to do - carve out some time to enjoy themselves.  To relax, indulge in something sweet, chit-chat with other like-minded souls, in a non-kid focused atmosphere.  Sure, we love our kids and we love being moms, but we also need to love ourselves.

This weekend, i've been invited to hang out at the Mocha Moms Mid-Atlantic Powerhouse Moms retreat in northern  Virginia.  I get to hang out a bit and share the good stuff going on.  In a cozy boutique hotel with a light agenda of activities and workshops (Six Marriage Strategies for a Hot Sex Life, anybody?), its a reminder for moms to take some time to refresh and relax.  I'm not doing the full experience - including sleeping in a comfy hotel room in a bed that I don't have to make in the morning and wandering leisurely to morning yoga - because I've got mommy stuff to do in the middle of all the activities, but I'm going to enjoy what I can.  Starting with the Pretty in Pink Dessert Party & Marketplace last night.

My girlfriend Shawn came along with me for the evening

There were about a dozen vendors around the room, with a buffet of sweets - including a chocolate fountain.  If you're going to relax, you might as well throw in a chocolate fountain, right?

As I mentioned on FaceBook - I'm blogging this weekend as a Mocha Moms Rep for McDonald's of the DMV.  Was I a little excited about that selection?  Uh, yeah.  It's McDonald's!

Nicole Nicholas, Maryland/DC Mocha Moms State Coordinator, spinning the wheel for healthy menu options

An admission - I have a strong - hmmm, "like" isn't even the right term, since my husband has suggested I just indulge through an IV, but let's go with that for now - like of sweet tea?  Okay, maybe not the first thing you think of for "healthy" but moderation is key, along with balance and alternatives.  McD's gets hit hard as the reason why Americans are obese, but I think its all about choices.  I'm happy to see that the Filet-O-Fish is under 400 calories and the small Mango Pineapple Smoothie is only 220 calories.   Let me finish reading over the menu nutrition info and I'll tell you what else you can eat - and how many french fries should go along with that shake.

I was excited about JustDiva.  This is a new daily lifestyle email publication that delivers an engaging message highlighting a product, service, or experience to enhance your life.  Topics will rotate between a wide variety of areas such as beauty, fashion, food, home decor, health, and technology.  Their target market is today's African-American woman who is "more educated, more professionally accomplished and more socially conscious than she has ever been."  I took a peek at their archived tidbits and found recommendations for a company that does unique family tree designs (yet, another sometime hobby of mine), a baking company that makes vegetarian potpies, and a Christian jewelry shop.  Go ahead, take a look and tell me what you find - www.justdivadaily.com.

Martine Foreman, Editor and Co-Founder of JustDiva

Unfortunately, I was not dressed appropriately to straddle the seated massage chair and let one of the guys from JustOneTouch massage out a couple of knots, but what a great service.  Here's a mom who was ready - strapless top, free and accessible shoulders.  Yeah, I was a bit jealous.

Mom, Meeka, enjoys a massage - oh, to be able to do this more often!

What you want when you go shopping is that girlfriend who tells you "nope, that's not too cute" when its really not and "yes, that looks great on you- buy it" when it really does.  That's why I love shopping with Shawn.  I don't think I've ever known her to say "oh, no, that's just too sparkly", so I probably have to credit her for several of the fun, sparkly pieces in my jewelry box.  And she gets credit for this one, too, from Tracey Lynn Jewelry.

My new necklace - its not too much for PTA, right?

I also stopped by Pink Papaya, a natural body products shop.  And now that I'm settled and putting my feet up, I'm realizing I was distracted by that chocolate fountain and forgot to get a jar of body butter (I love body butter).  Good thing I'll be back later this afternoon.

Kenya enjoying a hand treatment from Stacia of Pink Papaya

Keep up with me at the Mocha Moms Retreat - follow along on my FaceBook page, Just Piddlin with Frances, and on Twitter #PowerHouse!