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5 Ways to add Zucchini Squash for Healthy Meals

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Yes, smuggle! I know lots of women trying to cook for families that say they will not eat squash; they hate it! However, squash is packed full of vitamins and minerals and potassium and protein, and the list goes on. Before giving up on squash for your family, consider it as an additive to some of your favorite dishes.

Besides being good for us, squash is a relative inexpensive produce, especially this time of the year. Anyone who has grown zucchini squash knows it multiplies rapidly. Most of us are given bags full in the summer and, let’s face it, there is only so much zucchini bread and muffins you can make.

If you are doing your best to serve healthy nutritious meals economically, and turn down free squash from your gardening friends, maybe these few simple tips will help you. To prepare squash for most of these tips, wash thoroughly and cut in small strips lengthwise. If it’s a larger squash, you will want to remove the seeds (evidence) before cutting into strips or slices.

  1. Saute squash in butter or olive oil and add a can or two of Italian tomatoes for a great-tasting, nutritious side dish.
  2. Chop squash into small pieces and add to soups and stews. This is a healthy alternative to starchy potatoes and pastas in your stews.
  3. Add tiny chunks of squash in your green lettuce and spinach salads. Zucchini blends well with your other vegetables in a fresh salad bowl.
  4. Saute as in #1 above and add to casseroles for richer flavor. Use your favorite seasonings liberally as squash will absorb flavor readily.
  5. Use a whole zucchini and slice thin to serve on a relish tray with dips and crackers.

I sincerely hope these ideas will get your thinker going. What dishes do you prepare already that could profit from adding a cup or two of squash chunks or sauteed squash.

Have fun and experiment as we learn together how to make quick, nutritious, and economical foods for our families. Let me hear from you.

Hugs,

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Maintaining Strength and Energy as We Grow Older

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It is a longer walk to our bathroom than I recall, and I know someone shortened the ceiling fan cord. The floor is a longer stretch than it used to be; my back will not let me bend that far! I attempted to  pick up a paper but could not reach it.

Can you relate? Whether you are living by yourself, caring for family, or a full-time caregiver, you know the value of keeping your muscles strong so you can remain independent as much as possible.

As we grow older, it becomes more important to take care to maintain our muscle strength. My muscles can use a lot of help but the thought of an exercise regime is out of the question.

Truthfully, I do not have time to go to a gym or watch a video for thirty minutes of uninterrupted exercise.

Besides that, I am tired. I wake up in the morning and jump right into the day’s work schedule. By nightfall, I am ready to hit the bed; exercise is the farthest thing from my mind.

Here are five easy steps that have helped me improve mobility and gain muscle strength. Please don’t dismiss them as too easy to make a change in my life; I will tell you, “you will see a change and you will feel it.”

1. Be conscious of how you handle your body at all times.

Have you formed a habit of slumping when you sit? Do you waddle from side to side when you walk, again from habit? Are you continually stepping over items that need picked up because you can’t or won’t stoop over to get them?

Take time to stop and think about your daily habits.  Stand tall when you walk, you will actually feel more rested as your posture improves. Make it a habit to bend over as much as you can to pick up items. Sit straight in a chair and breathe deeply. Even if this lasts only a few minutes, you will begin to build strength.

2. Seek better parking spaces for health’s sake.

At the local store, I want the parking place that is as close to the door as you can get. Of course, I rationalize that I need to park close to save time.  Let’s be honest, how much time does it take to walk a few extra parking spaces, or even half the parking lot? When I began this way of thinking, I could not walk the entire lot, or even half of it. I knew I could walk one or two more spaces, and that is where I began. Now I can go farther than I ever dreamed; just by adding a few steps at a time.

The truth of the matter is: that the more time “saved” by denying a little extra walk, the more time needed to rest. Just park a few spaces away at first.

4. Choose movement while you are waiting.

When you are warming something in the microwave, for instance, are you leaning against the cabinet or slipping into a nearby chair? Consider using that time for a few stretches or arm lifts. Keep weights or a couple of cans of food handy so you can grab them and do a one or two minute workout. At the very least, do a few squats and bends.

I have personally been amazed at the flexibility I have gained without adding a long exercise routine to my day.

5. Consider the mobility consequences when making a change in equipment.

Are you considering a lift chair for the one you are caring for or for yourself? They are life-savers for many people who simply cannot get up without them. However, do you really need all that help or would a simple boost be all you need?

It was only after we had difficulty fitting Mother in a lift chair that we discovered the power seat option. Instead of relying on a chair to completely move her to a standing position, we used the power seat. This gave her the boost she needed to stand safely while she still needed her strength and mobility to hold on to her chair and finish standing up to her walker. It was safe and easy to adjust to her needs, and helped her maintain muscular strength in her legs.

What small changes can you make in your life today that will affect your future health and well-being? Of these three simple steps, I challenge you to choose one, just one, and focus on that for a week. As that change becomes routine, add another. Soon you’ll be moving mountains!

Hugs,

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New Beginnings as We Head Into Summer

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Summer officially began this week. So far in the Ozarks we’ve had a great spring, perhaps more rain at one time that we wished but it’s worth it when we see the clear streams flowing briskly. Today I watched fishermen line the banks of a creek wanting to catch ‘the big one’.

For some of us, summer holiday means change in our routine, new beginnings. Family caregivers may face additional stress as they are faced with more mouths to feed, more laundry, less time for themselves. In another family, school out could mean more help at home, maybe a vacation.

Speaking of summer and new beginnings, at the end of this article I will let you know one way my summer got off to a good start. You won’t want to miss it, but first I have some fun ideas just for you.

I want to help you celebrate the wonders of summer, even with a busy schedule and overwhelming responsibilities.  You’ve heard me say this before, take a few minutes for yourself-by yourself to consider your wants and needs.

I want to warn you ahead of time; you will probably think this is too simple or even silly and could not be any value to your hectic lifestyle. I challenge you to indulge me this one time and try it, please.

1. Determine one thing that would help your days and weeks go smoother; just one thing. What is it that takes you away for a brief respite? Settle on one thing.

2. Plan a specific time to do that one thing at least one hour of each week. Schedule it and keep that schedule as much as possible.

3. Call this time–even one hour–your vacation. Plan for it, celebrate it and look forward to the next week for another ‘vacation’.

 These fun vacation ideas should get you thinking about what you can do for one hour or more if you a week.

1. Do you have a friend or relative that you keep meaning to call but never get around to it? Why not make that your destination for next week. During the week as he or she comes to mind, jot down thoughts about them, perhaps questions you’d like to ask or things you want to tell them. Find all the positive things you can to jot down and be prepared to have fun with this call. Remember, it’s not an interview, it’s a vacation!

2. Do you have a destination in mind, another state you’d like to visit? Order some brochures from that state and schedule an afternoon for your trip. On vacation day, fix you an appropriate snack and enjoy the scenery as you look through their catalog. There’s no harm in picking out some favorite spots for that someday when you may have the time to actually visit there.

3. Now it’s your turn. Remember that I asked you what your wants and needs were? Choose one here and plan your day, ½ day, or hour. Let me hear from you, please.

Now to how my summer began. It was my honor this week to be interviewed for Author Interviews by Suzanne Lieurance, The Working Writer’s Coach. I think you might enjoy the interview. Simply click this link and be sure to leave a comment. THANKS! http://www.bestauthorinterviews.com/139/susie-kinslow-adams-my-mother-my-child/

Praying for you to have a cool and blessed summer.

Hugs,

Click here for more information about MY MOTHER MY CHILD