I wrote this review while participating in a
campaign for Mom Central Consulting on behalf of the National Restaurant
Association. I attended a live event and received a gift bag and promotional
item to thank me for taking the time to participate.
I was recently invited to attend the National Restaurant Association Show for a Kids LiveWell Event. I was so excited, and not just because I got to enjoy an afternoon without my children, who I love dearly, and no not because I got to leave work early. Well these are all added bonuses I was most excited about all of the yummy food! Delicious, healthy, meals prepared by fabulous chefs and you don't have to ask me twice.
The Kids LiveWell program was introduced to help provide healthier meal options for kids while dining out at restaurants. I know one of my biggest pet peeves when going out to eat is a kids menu that consists of chicken fingers and mac & cheese. Now you don't have to submit to the same unhealthy options. With over 120 brands the LiveWell program is now in more then 33,000 locations across the United States. You can find menu options in some of my favorite restaurants such as IHOP, Denny's, Corner Bakery, Red Lobster, Chili's and many many more. To find a restaurant near you that participates in the program simply go here and punch in your zip code or download the Kids LiveWell app. You can easily tell if an item on the menu is part of the LiveWell program by the apple icon next to it.
While at the event I got to hang out with celebrity chef Marc Murphy. We also got to taste all of the winning recipes in the 2013 Kids Recipe Challenge. The unique thing I loved about the winning recipes was that they were all chosen by kids! Who better then kids themselves to choose the recipes they love. I tried a delicious Chicken Parmesan with Spaghetti Squash, a Chip Chicken with Sweet Potatoes, but my favorite was Qdoba's Lil' Pulled Pork Naked Burrito. They are all recipes I am sure my boys would love. The next time you go out to eat with your family make sure to look for the little red apple next to menu items. With recipes that emphasize lean proteins, fruits, vegetables, whole grains and low-fat dairy, as well as meet stringent nutritional criteria it takes the guesswork out of finding healthy options for your family. For more information please be sure to check out the Kids LiveWell program: Kids
LiveWell App: in the Android Market and iTunesapp store Kids LiveWell on Facebook and Twitter Participating
restaurants: HealthyDiningFinder.com
We are huge Eric Carle fans in my house so I was really excited to have the opportunity to review some of the great products from The World of Eric Carle line. If you know me personally you will know that we even had a Very Hungry Caterpillar theme for Chris's 2nd birthday party. I remember the Very Hungry Caterpillar book from my childhood and as something that I always enjoyed I introduced my boys to Eric Carle by reading them his books from the time they were born.
The one thing that draws me in to his books besides great stories is the fun bright illustrations in the books. This is carried over to the toys with many fun bright colors and designs. I can always spot an Eric Carle toy by its signature designs. You can check out my video review and descriptions below and be sure to check out The World of Eric Carle on facebook as well here. Be kind as this is my 1st ever video review!!
The Very Hungry Caterpillar Wood Stacker (Ages 6-24M) – The wood stacker is a must for your child. Standing 7.5 inches tall the caterpillar has four green “segments” that can be stacked onto the base and felt antennas for a softer touch. Available for $20 at Babies ‘R’ Us and Amazon.
The Very Hungry Caterpillar Stroller Cards (Ages 0-3) – These 5 die-cut, shaped stroller cards featuring the beloved illustrations from Eric Carle’s The Very Hungry Caterpillar are easy to attach to a stroller, backpack, or diaper bag. The engaging art and touch-and-feel elements make them perfect interactive entertainment for babies on the go. Available for $9.99 at Barnes & Noble and Amazon.
Developmental Plush Blue Horse (Ages 0+) – The Developmental Horse is unique created based on accepted research of how babies develop within the first two years of life. But most importantly, your little one will find this so much fun! This horse has a sound chip, a bell rattle, ribbon tags, and textured fabric to get all your babies senses going. It also includes multiple teethers, rings and a bead rattle to relieve those aching new teeth and a satin streamer and knotties for the tail to play with. Best yet you can take it anywhere with the on-the-go caterpillar clip! Available for $18 at Kohl’s and Amazon.
Both of my sons loved The Very Hungry Caterpillar Wood Stacker even with a two year age difference. Nick especially loved the Developmental Plush Blue Horse. I think any or even all three of these toys would make a great baby shower gift. Hope you enjoyed my first ever video review!!
Disclosure: I was given the products mentioned in exchange for a review and video post of them. All opinions are my own.
