Moms Inspire Learning

A Very Cranberry Thanksgiving to You!

What would Thanksgiving be without the cranberry sauce? Whether you serve it out of a can or make your own homemade version with fresh cranberries, the holiday would not be complete without it.

If you have small children, why not buy a bag of fresh, organic cranberries and encourage them to get creative and make designs out of them? You can bring in the math by having them count a random bunch (how many fit in mom's handful as opposed to the child's handful?), or arrange them in groups of 5 or 10 and have them skip count. Or, they can just make faces or animal designs with them.

Did you notice that when you cut them in half, they look like they have flower petals or four leaf clovers in them? If you ask a child what he thinks a berry looks like on the inside, he'll be fascinated when you actually cut it open. What a way to spark curiosity, which might even get him to try that homemade cranberry sauce. Actually, he might even want to help you make it!

And here's a little secret: cranberry water is a refreshing substitute for the dreaded soda. So, if you or your family members are trying to kick that habit once and for all, now's the perfect time to start. All you have to do is cut some cranberries in half and let your child count out some to place in a water glass. Before you do, though, ask them if they think the berries will sink or float. It could spark a science experiment relating to buoyancy, using all different kinds of objects! An added plus is it would keep them busy while you take care of some things on your own.

Doesn't that look beautiful? You might find yourself making a whole, glass pitcher of it for your Thanksgiving table. Just be sure to let the water sit for a couple of hours before you drink it, so it soaks up a subtle cranberry flavor.

Who knows, this activity could spark a whole new, healthier way of drinking! Lemon water is wonderful too (no sugar needed), and looks pretty. Just make sure you buy organic lemons so you can place the peels in the water without worrying about lacing it with chemicals. And once again, all kinds of science experiments can come out of this...even cucumber water is delicious!

I wish you a safe, healthy, and happy Thanksgiving to my US readers, and a wonderful start to the holiday season for everyone else around the world!

Cheers to your health.

Thank you so much for reading my blog. 

Open 2 Books: Turnips for Thanksgiving!

Freshly picked, organic kohlrabi and turnip. Delicious!

For as long as I can remember, I've always eaten turnips on Thanksgiving. My grandmother started the tradition, and surprisingly, my mother has not continued it.

I have.

For me, not having turnips on Thanksgiving would be like not having turkey. The same goes for the carrot raisin salad my grandmother used to make, and also her apple pie. Hers was the BEST. That tradition, my mother does continue.

Her mincemeat pie, not so much.

Thank goodness for that.

Finding Calm Amidst the Chaos

As parents and children get busier, and have access to endless waves of technology and information, it seems like so many of us are struggling to stay on top of it all. Weren't all of these modern conveniences created to make our lives simpler and easier to manage?

If you've been reading this blog for a while, you know that I need to just walk away from it all once in a while. My intentions were never to sit in front of a screen all day. Usually, I give you all a little heads up about my breaks, so I apologize that I just stopped writing for a few weeks. From now on, I'll try to post at least once a month or so.