This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #TryALittleGoodness #CollectiveBias
Being a parent brings with it an abundance of blessings, and also its fair share of obstacles. Many of the struggles you anticipate: never ending diaper changes, lack of sleep, a more limited social life. However, I am finding many things I’ve previously taken for granted are now more challenging with a baby in tow, such as maintaining an active lifestyle.
For the past few years my activity of choice has been running outdoors. However, as the temperature drops during the bitter winter months in Wisconsin, powering my daughter’s stroller through snow and sub zero wind chills begins to sound like a less than ideal parenting decision. And having no desire to explain to CPS why my baby's stroller is stuck in a snowbank, lately it has become easier and easier not to exercise at all.
My wife and I have decided we need to start making healthier decisions. She’s endeavoring to participate in workout classes with her friends, while I’m looking to stay active in order to balance out the extra calories that come as an occupational hazard in the life of a food blogger! To help us, we joined a gym last week that includes a baby room, so my daughter can be watched while we sweat, grunt, and wheeze on treadmills. I didn’t even know gyms offered that!
Our other struggle is eating better. Between a full time job, and maintaining this website, I don’t have a lot of free time, as is evident by the fact that today is my birthday and here I sit pecking at the keyboard, working! When you are busy, well balanced family meals become harder to come by. Yes, even for yours truly. We have increasingly been turning to overly processed meals and snacks, not to mention plenty of fast food. This is why I like snacks with real ingredients like goodnessknows® snack squares.
goodnessknows® snack squares pack real food into bite sized squares. Full of fruit, nuts, and rich dark chocolate, goodnessknows® snack squares make a wholesome treat that I don’t feel guilty about enjoying. Plus, I like that they come in four squares, making it easier if I don’t want to eat everything at once!
You can find three varieties of goodnessknows® snack squares:
- goodnessknows® Cranberry, Almond, Dark Chocolate
- goodnessknows® Apple, Almond & Peanut, Dark Chocolate
- goodnessknows® Peach & Cherry, Almond, Dark Chocolate
I picked these up at Walmart, so I can have them on hand when I want a little treat. Next time you are at Walmart you'll find them in the front of the store, and make sure you also enter to win one of two weekly $500 gift cards in the goodnessknows® sweepstakes below!
2016 #TryALittleGoodness Sweepstakes
If you are like me, and want to start making some smarter choices in 2016, here are some easy substitutions you can make in your diet:
90% lean ground beef – When taco night rolls around, leave the 80/20 ground beef at the grocery store. Using 90% lean ground beef, or better, will save your family calories and still taste great when browned for tacos or your famous chili recipe!
Ground Turkey – Want to take it up a notch? Instead of using 90% lean ground beef, substitute ground turkey in your favorite chili recipe for a whole new flavor!
Oatmeal – Are you guilty of eating bagels or donuts for breakfast too often? Swap them out for the more nutritious oatmeal. Not only can you cook up oatmeal in less time than it takes to toast a bagel, the complex carbs in oatmeal will give you the fuel you need to power through the day!
Water – A fancy coffee drink, soda, cocktails; you’re drinking more calories than you realize throughout the day. Drinking more water not only helps you stay hydrated, it is an easy swap to save calories without any added sugar.
goodnessknows® snack squares – Put down the candy bar. goodnessknows® snack squares make for a smart substitution when you are looking for small changes to help make a big impact!
How about you? Are you going to make any small changes this year? I would love to hear your tips and plans in the comments below! And don't forget to tell me what your favorite goodnessknows® snack squares flavor is!
If you enjoyed my Making Small Changes with goodnessknows® post then you should probably like me on Facebook and follow me on Pinterest too. That’s what I would do at least, because if you don’t get to know me but you still take my advice it is kind of like taking candy from a stranger, and your mom taught you not to do that. Don’t disobey your mom, subscribe to Fox Valley Foodie today.
Heather {Brie Brie Blooms}
You have no idea how I can relate to this entire post! I have a nine month old baby, I work long hours, I also have a blog, and it's extremely challenging to provide well balanced meals to my family everyday. Thanks for the tips; these are all things I can incorporate in my daily routine! #client
Andra Hayes
Just right snack size and sweetness I enjoyed this
Cristi Comes
I can't imagine rolling the stroller through the snow! For me, I need to find exercise that I really enjoy so I'll keep at it. And I also want to drink more water. #client
Joyce Green
My husband and I will try to add more beans to our diet. We opened a can of black beans, rinsed them and added them to a can of Bushes Baked Beans. The dish was heartier and more filling.
Fox Valley Foodie
That is a great idea! I love black beans and I have also been incorporating them into my diet more over the past few weeks (as you may have noticed by some of my recent recipes).