Don’t let the headline sway you. You need to “eat your veggies” every month.

However, March is designated as National Nutrition Month, a time to draw attention to the importance of healthy eating and healthy lifestyles.

Search on the Internet for “National Nutrition Month” and you will be given a variety of websites offering you advice. Among those sites is the International Food Information Council Foundation with the campaign of “Eat Right, Your Way, Every Day” – see, not just in March.

“We want people to know that good nutrition does not always have to mean saying ‘no’ to your food preferences and traditions,” said Marianne Smith Edge, senior vice president, Nutrition & Food Safety, International Food Information Council Foundation.

This is the 40th year for National Nutrition Month to be recognized. Click here for more information about making healthy eating choices.

And here is a link about eating right on a budget. This site has some good advice I should heed: Don’t shop hungry! You’re more likely to buy items you really don’t need or that aren’t as healthy. Try eating a healthy snack before you shop, and the impulse to buy just anything won’t be as strong.

Some healthy eating habits I’ve heard through the years:

- Eat slowly to allow your stomach to realize when it’s full.

- Shop the outside perimeter of the store where more healthy and fresh products (like produce) are placed.

- Eat a colorful plate – green (broccoli), blue (blueberries), red (raspberries or strawberries), yellow (bananas), etc. – to get a variety of nutrients.

- Cook meals ahead on the weekend and freeze them, so you’re not as easily tempted to stop by a drive-through to pick up dinner on the way home from work.

- Pack your lunch, so you have more control over what you eat. It’s more economical, too!

Do I follow all this advice all the time? No. But I do try to be aware and make changes when I can.

So, challenge yourself this month – and, I’ll do the same — to think about nutritious choices, a benefit for you and your family.

–Linda Lynn

LLynn@opubco.com

Follow me on Twitter @OKNewsResearch

I had wanted one for a long time, since none of my previous blenders had actually really worked well. They’re supposed to blend, right?

For whatever reason, though, the Ninja still sat in its box for some time, waiting patiently, stealthily in a corner, for me to get up the nerve to use it. (I guess I was afraid it wouldn’t work as well as I had thought.)

The day finally came when I broke the tape, pulled off the plastic wrapping, dumped out the instructions, washed the blender parts and placed it on my kitchen countertop.

Now, it’s smooth sailing … or should I say smoothie sailing.

So far, the most popular drinks have been banana-strawberry smoothies, banana smoothies, banana-peach smoothies, chocolate-banana smoothies, strawberry-blueberry smoothies … I feel a little like Forrest Gump with my descriptions.

Needless to say, I haven’t branched out much, although I did make hummus once.

I do feel good about the kids eating more fruit, though.

No, this is not a product review or sponsored by Ninja. I just wanted this blender, because I thought it would be a good tool for the kitchen. And, I was right.

Other appliances have been useful, but beyond the toaster, KitchenAid mixer and the Keurig coffee maker (yes, another splurge), most of my small appliances are lined up along the top of my tall cabinets. Every once in a while, I’ll retrieve one to use, but these three (plus the Ninja!) are my go-to tools.

Here is how I generally make a strawberry-banana smoothie:

3 or 4 large strawberries

1 large banana

1/4 cup white grape juice

1/2 container of strawberry/banana Yoplait yogurt

4 ice cubes

Blend on high, and voila! Smoothie time!

Here are a few random links to other, perhaps even more legitimate smoothie recipes if you want to get on the smoothie kick:

Strawberry Peach Smoothie

50 Smoothies

Peanut Butter & Banana Smoothie

–Linda Lynn

LLynn@opubco.com

Follow me on Twitter @OKNewsResearch

IHOP offers free shortstack of pancakes and encourages guests to donate to Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals

Fluffy, steaming hot, melted butter, warm syrup … ahhhhh, Pancakes!

Whether you enjoy them in the morning, at noon or at night, this delicious “breakfast” meal can satisfy any time of day. And, you soon will have a chance to fill your stomach and warm your heart at the same time.

Participating IHOP restaurants will be offering a free short stack of buttermilk pancakes from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Feb. 5.

Instead of charging customers for the flapjacks, IHOP is asking patrons to leave a donation for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals programs at Children’s Hospital Foundation.

To learn more about “National Pancake Day,” find a participating IHOP or to donate online, visit http://www.ihoppancakeday.com/.

– Linda Lynn
LLynn@opubco.com

Follow me on Twitter @OKNewsResearch

According to a news release, the fun will begin with a ribbon cutting ceremony at 3 p.m. Friday, during which the company will present a $1,000 check to YWCA of Oklahoma City. And for all us techie parents, at 5 p.m., the store will unveil the new iPad 2. 

Festivities will continue from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the store’s Kids’ Day, with FREE family activities, such as face-painting, a moon bounce, complimentary tacos from Big Truck Tacos (YUM!!) and prize giveaways.

“The focus is around family and getting the children involved,” said Michael Perry, Quail Springs store manager.  

-Erica Smith
esmith@opubco.com

Photo provided by Cici's Pizza

Need a neat way to encourage your children to be polite?  How about free pizza? 

From now until Nov. 31, Cici’s Pizza restaurants will be stocked with “Thank you” trackers for parents to take home (see below). They can note each time their child says “thank you” without being prodded.  Once they get 10 thank yous, you can bring the card in for a FREE buffet for children age 10 and younger (with the purchase of an adult buffet). And what kid doesn’t like pizza buffets? 

Cici’s fans also can send their own thank you note on Cici’s Pizza’s Facebook page, www.facebook.com/cicis and the recipient will receive a “Two can dine for $9.99″ deal, including buffet and drinks.  Recipients can be anyone – teachers, military personnel, friends, etc.

“At Cici’s, we believe an environment that fosters kindness and appreciation is as essential to our success as our hot, fresh buffet,” CEO Mike Shumsky said in a news release. “… it’s why we created the ‘Thank yous Count’ campaign.”

Some locations may even have giant thank you cards or posters for patrons to sign.  These cards will be delivered along with dinners to community groups throughout November.

And with your kids earning a free meal, you may just end up telling them ‘Thank you’ for being so polite.

 -Erica Smith
esmith@opubco.com

I’ve been following the site for about 4 days now, and already have seen great deals.  Free photo books, food samples, free Coke, and many other discounted and free offers.

If you use Facebook, just search for Freebies 4 Mom or go to http://www.facebook.com/Freebies4Mom.  You’ll see the deals updated in your news feed throughout the day.

-Erica Smith
esmith@opubco.com

She is based in Oklahoma and her name is Sarah Roe, aka the “Money Saving Queen.”  And she deserves every bit of that royal title.

She is an expert on all things coupons, deals, freebies and how to get groceries at a fraction of their listed price.  Have you heard those stories about moms going to the grocery store and buying $400 worth of food for $30?  Those stories are true, and Sarah tells you how to do it.

There’s a definite method to the madness of couponing, price matching,  store deals and much more.   Here are just a few of the many tips she shared with the conference attendees:

1. Clip coupons - manufacturer’s coupons, store coupons, and get coupons off the Internet. Find coupons in Sunday’s Oklahoman, manufacturer’s websites, store websites and even eBay.  You can use manufacturer’s coupons in conjunction with store coupons for extra savings.

2. Keep track of prices. Take the 20 most expensive items you use regularly in your household.  Go to the one store you shop at most often and track their prices for 6-8 weeks.  You’ll notice a “sale cycle” when prices are at their highest and lowest and you’ll know when to stock up.  Use your coupons on the rock bottom price.  Stock up while you can, or wait until you can get it at that lowest price.

3.  Shop around.  Start planning your menus at home based on sale cycles and when stores are having the best weekly deals.

4. Know store policies.  Many big drug store chains offer rewards for simply shopping there. Same is true for grocery store chains.  Find out what they can offer you.  It may not be something they advertise, but chances are there’s something.

I get a “Daily Deals” e-mail from the Money Saving Queen.  And they really are filled with terrific discounts, free items and store sales.  She even has links to coupons you can print off and store circulars for your area. I highly recommend signing up for these free e-mails and also joining the website forums. It’s all free and well worth it. 

Go to www.moneysavingqueen.com and learn all you can on how to save the most you can at your next grocery store trip.  I know I will!

-Erica Smith
esmith@opubco.com

Sonic has partnered with Oklahoma 529 College Savings Plan to help celebrate these students’ successes on what better date than 5/29, of course!

To download the coupon, click here.

Just let them know you have the coupon when you’re ordering.

Now go out and celebrate your child’s great school year!

-Erica Smith
esmith@opubco.com

The free parenting seminar will be at the Edmond library on Wednesday, Sept. 23, from 3:30 – 5:00 p.m. It’s perfect for parents and caregivers of children from birth to age 5. The experts from Child Guidance Services will answer questions and address concerns, and give out great information about issues related to eating.  Techniques and resources will be provided.

To register, call Child Guidance at 425-4412 to register.  For more information about this program and others, call 427-8651 or go to www.cchdoc.com.

-Erica Smith
esmith@opubco.com