Health | One Moms World Mom Blog - Jen Houck

Delicious Pumpkin Shake Recipe – 4 Points Weight Watchers

October 11, 2011 By Jen 2 Comments

Pumpkin is always on my mind here lately. My step-daughter and I were chatting last night that a Pumpkin Shake would be so delicious right now. You never can usually find a low-fat version though, so I told her I would come up with my own recipe.

After dinner tonight, I dived right into concocting a recipe for a weight watchers friendly shake. Here are the ingredients I used:

1/2 cup fat free Breyers Vanilla ice cream
3 tsp. of canned pumpkin
1/2 cup of skim milk
Nutmeg
Cinnamon
Fat Free Whip Cream

I mixed the first five ingredients together in a blender. Pour into a cup. Top with fat free whip cream along with a sprinkle of cinnamon on top.

RESULT:

4 point Weight Watcher Pumpkin Shake (so delicious)!

Enjoy!

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Filed Under: Health, Weight Watchers

Weight Watchers Ice Cream wins the taste test

October 4, 2011 By Jen Leave a Comment

Dinner is served!

Who else looks forward to dinner all day? I start thinking in the morning with our crazy schedules of what time I need to start dinner. I ensure I have all the sides lined up that each family member will at least enjoy one of the sides. Dessert doesn’t get much thought unless it is on the weekends.

Enter Weight Watchers Ice Cream.

We have been huge fans here in our house for a while so you can imagine how happy we were to hear of new flavors entering the market.

- New Weight Watchers Snack Size Ice Cream Sandwiches: Two brand new flavors of Weight Watchers Ice Cream, low fat Vanilla Bean and Dutch Chocolate, have just 80 calories each. The variety pack includes four sandwiches of both flavors with a PointsPlus® value of 2 per sandwich.

- New Weight Watchers Dark Chocolate Dulcé de Leché Dessert Bars: A highly indulgent ice cream bar featuring low fat dulcé de leché ice cream with a caramel swirl dipped in dark chocolate. Each bar has a PointsPlus value of 3 per bar and 120 calories.

- New Weight Watchers Strawberry Fruit Bar: A healthier snack option for adults and kids, this bar is made with real fruit and is an excellent source of vitamin C. Plus, this delightfully fruity bar has 15 percent fewer calories and 30 percent less sugar than other national leading brands of fruit bars. Each has 70 calories and a PointsPlus value of 2 per bar.

- New Weight Watchers Strawberry Smoothie Bar: A blend of low-fat strawberry frozen yogurt and real strawberries. This bar is a good source of vitamin C and has the creamy goodness of a smoothie with just 60 calories and a PointsPlus value of 2 per bar.

If no one would tell you that you were eating a Weight Watchers Ice Cream treat, most would never know. I did this trick with my family and after all the ohhhh’s and ahhhh’s, I let them in on my secret. Weight Watchers won the Ice Cream taste test hands down in our household.

It is a treat that is still fulfilling, but you do not have to feel guilty about. Most of the treats are only 2 or 3 points, so you are not using many of your points to enjoy a delicious treat. Why spend 6 or 7 points on a bowl of ice cream, when Weight Watchers can be just as delicious (in my book) and less points. WIN-WIN for everyone!

Check out your local grocery store today and grab your treats. You will not be disappointed.

Disclosure: I was sent samples in order to facilitate this review from Mom Select and Weight Watchers.

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Filed Under: Health, Mom Reviews

Fried Apple Pie Weight Watchers Style

October 3, 2011 By Jen 2 Comments

Apple season is amongst us here in the beautiful NC mountains. The aroma, the taste, and the ever ending apple creations just thrills me beyond delight. Our family has an addiction to the mouth-watering fried apple pies in Pigeon Forge at the best ever Apple Barn known to man, but only one thing that stops us from eating them everyday. Our hips attract the calories and fat the minute the pie hits our stomach’s.

I grab the laptop, went to the information hound google, and searched for a more calorie-friendly fried apple pie. I found this one on Cooks.com. I did some adjustments and came up with a very delicious fried apple pie. Does it match Apple Barn’s recipe? Not even close, but it is very delightful and my hips will not show how much I LOVE apple pie!

M helped me pick out the apples and wash them really good. We added them to our boiling pot. Cooked them on medium heat.

Next, we added lemon juice.

Dry ingredients were added.

Fill the pita bread with apple mixture. Spray the skillet with pam, place the apple pie in the skillet.

Spray the I Can’t Believe It’s Butter all over the pie and ENJOY – Only 4 Pts!

RECIPE (Adapted from Cooks.com)

1 pkg. pita bread (6, 2 oz. each)
8 large apples, peeled & sliced
1 tbsp. lemon juice
4 tbsp. cornstarch
3 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
10 pkg. Equal
Spray Butter

Cook apples in lemon juice. Add remaining ingredients. Fill each slice of pita bread with 1/2 of mixture. Fold over. Brown in skillet sprayed with Pam. Makes 6.

4 Points Weight Watchers.

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Filed Under: Health, Weight Watchers

Take the Pledge to help provide eye exams and glasses for kids

September 21, 2011 By Jen 145 Comments

Thank you ALL for taking the pledge. Our winner is comment #23 – Nanette. Congratulations!

Did you know that one of the most important exams in a kids life doesn’t take place in school? The exam actually takes place in an optometrist’s office. Unfortunately, not every kid has access to this exam. Millions of kids go each year with vision problems that are undetected. This is not only sad, but it also causes learning problems with the kids. I can remember clearly when I was in school. I sat in the back of classroom and the words begin fading more and more each day. I was too embarrassed to say anything as we were not a rich family. My teacher finally asked me why I was squinting so much and sent a note home to my parents. Thankfully, I was able to get an exam and get the much needed eye glasses that I needed. My story though is not always the case for kids all across the U.S. We can work hard together and change that with the help of VSP Vision Care.

VSP, the largest not-for-profit vision benefits and services company in the United States, launched the Eye Pledge campaign to support and promote the importance of healthy vision. People nationwide are encouraged to give back by taking the Eye Pledge at www.SeeMuchMore.com and selecting either their local Boys & Girls Club or choosing to donate to a Club with the greatest need. For every Eye Pledge taken, a gift certificate, valid for a comprehensive eye exam and, if needed, a pair of glasses, will be donated by VSP.

To date, through VSP charity programs including VSP Mobile Eyes® and Sight for Students®, and through relationships with partners like BGCA, VSP has donated more than $138 million in free eye care and glasses to more than 715,000 children and adults. These services have resulted in the early detection of nearly 2,000 chronic health and eye diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, glaucoma and cataracts in children across the country.

Will you take the pledge with me? Let’s help kids get the eye exams and glasses that they need. You never know when we can be saving a child’s eye sight too.

WIN! VSP Vision Care is offering one of my readers who take the pledge a $200 Visa Gift Card.

To Enter:

1. Take the pledge

2. Leave a comment letting us know you took the pledge and why eye health matters so much to you?

Extra Entries:

Tweet about this Giveaway.

I took the pledge with @vspvisioncare & @onemomsworld to help at-risk kids receive an eye exam & glasses. Will you too? http://ow.ly/6BlsB

Subscribe to our Feed

Make sure to leave an additional comment for each extra entry.

Contest Ends October 1, 2011 at 11:59pm ET.

Disclosure: I am an Ambassador with VSP Vision Care. All thoughts and opinions are of my own.

Filed Under: Contests, Health Tagged With: eye exams for kids, vsp vision care, vsp vision care pledge

Watching 3D may help detect undiagnosed vision problems – WIN!

August 14, 2011 By Jen 56 Comments

Over the last two months, we have been showcasing videos from VSP Vision to help bring more awareness to parents on how important vision health for children is, especially in these early years.

Here is a recap of the videos we have done:

- Sports Can Lead to Eye Injuries
- Protect your eyes from UV damage with sunglasses
- Computer eye strain very high due to the digital age

Today, we are back with the final video of the series. Did you know if a child has a problem watching a 3D movie or show, it could be a symptom of an undiagnosed vision problem? Take a two minutes to watch this eye opening video and then continue on for the awesome giveaway.

Who knew right? Definitely something parents need to keep a look out for…

WIN! – 3D Movie Package, which would include 2 movie passes and 2 pairs of premium 3D sunglasses.

To Enter:

1. Leave a comment with your questions you have specifically about eye health and 3D.

Extra Entries:

Tweet about this Giveaway

Subscribe to our Feed

Make sure to leave an additional comment for each extra entry.

Don’t forget to Like VSP Vision Care on Facebook so you can stay updated about eye health. You will not regret it

Contest ends 11:59pm ET on August 21, 2011.

Disclosure: I am a VSP Ambassador. All thoughts and opinions are of my own.

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Filed Under: Contests, Health, Mom Reviews

VSP Vision Care answers your vision questions

August 11, 2011 By Jen 1 Comment

Thank you ALL so much for your wonderful questions from the VSP Vision Care videos that I have posted over the last couple of months. I have one more video for you that will be posted Monday. It is another wonderful video that you will want to see.

In the mean time, the VSP Vision Care Doctors have been hard at work answering your questions. Over the next couple of weeks, I am going to be posting the questions and answers here for you. I know I am learning a tremendous amount of info through all these questions and so I know you will too.

Here is the first batch of Q’s and A’s:

1. Besides not being able to throw the ball in the basket, what other signs are there that would indicate that a child had trouble seeing?

Great question. There are several signs to look out for: eye rubbing; head tilting; squinting; losing place while reading; avoiding close work; headaches; behavioral problems.

2. What is the best frame for sports?

We recommend using sports glasses because they offer protection to the eye. It may seem easier to play in contacts, but if you’re, say, riding a bike and lose a contact it could become a serious safety hazard. As for a specific frame, talk with your eye doctor about what fits your best for your specific sport and visit the VSP Center for more information https://www.vsp.com/cms/edc/articles/sports-safety.html

3. At what age can a child start wearing contact lenses?

The typical age is 13, but some as young as 8 are mature enough. Talk with your eye doctor about it and check out these FAQs on contacts: https://vsp.com/cms/edc/articles/fact-vs-fiction.html I always ask whether the child has a current hygiene routine at bedtime that doesn’t require much parental oversight/reminders. (Even a simple one like washing hands/brushing teeth). If so, then likely they are mature enough to add the appropriate care for contacts.

4. What kinds of lenses are recommended for kids? Any specific type or same as what you recommend for adults?

Polycarbonate lenses are best for children because they are impact and scratch resistant. We also recommend the same adults, although adults may require other types of lenses to meet their eyecare needs. Learn more about lenses at VSP’s Center: https://www.vsp.com/cms/edc/articles/unravel-the-mystery-of-eyeglass-lenses.html

5. Are the eye exams given at school by the nurse yearly sufficient?

School nurses most often only provide vision screenings, which are different from a comprehensive exam. Learn more at VSP’s the Center: https://vsp.com/cms/edc/topics/eye-exams.html

6. At what age do eye problems most likely show up in children and babies…would it be early infancy, toddler stage, or later?

Eye problems can occur at any age; and, a comprehensive eye exam is really the only way to detect or rule out eye conditions. The earlier certain conditions are detected, such as eye alignment or needing a prescription for only one eye (versus both) the more effectively they can be treated and amblyopia (lazy eye) could be avoided.

7. Should photochrome be added to the lens?

Photochromatic lenses are a great option if you don’t like switching from sunglasses to regular glasses. These are particularly great for children because they provide additional comfort without any additional effort. The most important thing is to make sure that your lenses have a UV coating on them to protect from UV rays.

8. Are there any negative aspects to requiring all sports activities to wear some sort of protective goggles or eyewear?

There are always tradeoffs. It sometimes can be a little uncomfortable, at least at first, to wear glasses or goggles when we are sweating and running around. But, society generally felt the same way about wearing bicycle helmets just a short time ago. It’s more about taking reasonable precaution to make sure everyone is protected and playing safely.

9. What is the best type of glasses to get for a four year old / five year old?

Your eye doctor can help you pick out a frame that is durable and kid-friendly. Polycarbonate lenses are best for children because they are impact and scratch resistant. The best way to keep the glasses on and from getting lost is with a lanyard to hold them in place.

10. How do you keep an active child from damaging their glasses?

The best way to keep the glasses on and from getting lost is with a lanyard to hold them in place. Also be sure to get a durable frame (ask your eye doctor which frames are kid friendly), and opt for polycarbonate lenses, which are impact and scratch resistant.

Stay tuned to next week for more of your questions answered. In the mean time, you can follow VSP Vision Care on Facebook as well to have questions answered.

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Filed Under: Health, Mom Reviews

I ran my first 5K Susan G Komen

July 6, 2011 By Jen 4 Comments

The month of June was so busy that I am just now getting a chance to shout to all my readers, “I ran my first 5K” – Ok, I ran and walked it but either way, I did my first 5K. I really pushed myself too, because I was so sore for three days. I wish I would have trained a little bit better since the course involved up and down hills. I only do flat lands every night when I get my 2.5 miles in during my nightly exercise.

A few bloggers from NC and SC formed a team with Carolina Mama and Hanes to honor a wonderful friend Chele Chestnut who has bravely fought her own cancer fight this year with thyroid cancer. She is such an inspiration and I was honored to be a part of this wonderful team.

There were so many people doing the early 5K. More than I ever imagined. We paced ourselves at first to let the crowd get through so we could have room to run. I think this definitely was the right thing to do for my first 5K.

I could have not done this race without the support of a wonderful blogger friend Heather from Not DIY Life. She was an amazing encouragement all way through the race. We would be going up the hills and we both would say to each other “we got this, you can do it!” I definitely recommend doing your first race with a supportive friend. The support will get you through the race. The hills are definitely what got me and I will know for next time, to train more on hilly surfaces.

I finished my first race in 48:05. I was pleased with that but my goal is to get under 30 minutes eventually if I keep going with my workouts, I know I can accomplish that goal.

After the race, we grabbed a chocolate recovery drink that Whole Foods was giving out. I definitely needed it as I could feel my body start to shake a bit, so it was good to know they were there to replenish all the nutrients. As we drank our recovery drinks, we walked around to all the booths. There was one big board to where you could write messages to special close ones that are and did fight breast cancer. I left a note for my sweet cousin who put up such a brave fight and unfortunately lost the fight. She is in heaven now shining down on us though and I know she was proud for me doing this.

Special thank you to Hanes Comfort for sponsoring our team and a big shout-out to Wyndham Hotels for sponsoring Chele’s hotel for the night since she had to drive in from the East Coast. It means so much to us as bloggers to have companies like Hanes and Wyndham support our efforts when helping others. We will forever be grateful. Chele wrote about her experience with Wyndham. She was only there for a short visit, so we definitely need to get her back so she can experience Raleigh and Wyndham more indepth.

Here’s to my next 5K. Cheers!

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Filed Under: Featured, Health

You Can Save A Life With CPR

June 1, 2011 By Jen 1 Comment

Moms, did you know that nearly 300,000 out-of-hospital sudden cardiac arrests occur annually, and four out of five cardiac arrests happen at home? That means the life you save with CPR is most likely to be someone you love. Heart disease is still the #1 killer in women. That’s why Go Red For Women® is asking women to Make It Their Mission to help save a life with CPR. Anyone can learn CPR and we all need to team together and learn it. You just never know when the time will come and you could save someone’s life.

Go Red for Women has put together a fantastic instructional video to teach us how to do CPR. Take just a couple minutes of your time this week and watch the video. Two simple steps will help save a person’s life.

Not enough people act when they see someone suddenly collapse and this leads to unnecessary deaths.
- Only 32 percent of cardiac arrest victims get CPR from a bystander.
- Sadly, 93 percent of cardiac arrest victims don’t survive to make it home from the hospital.

Please take the time watch the video and share with all your family and friends. Together we can save lives!

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Filed Under: Family, Health

Infant Tylenol Returns to Shelves With New Cap

April 27, 2011 By Jen 8 Comments

Exciting news for parents on the horizon from Johnson and Johnson. As infant Tylenol re-enters the market during this upcoming cold and flu season, the bottle will have a new safety feature. The bottle will include a new, enhanced bottle with a protective opening and push-in syringe.

New Infants' Tylenol bottle with syringe

The protective opening will:

Provide even better dosing accuracy and ease of administration to infants

Allow for better control when dispensing the medication and reduce spillage

Further reduce the risk of children being able to get to the medicine in the bottle

An added bonus as well, the Children’s Tylenol products will also have the new enhanced bottles with the protective opening.

New Children's Tylenol bottle with dosing cup

I was able to test out each of these new bottles a couple weeks ago at the Mom 2.0 Summit. I have to say, I was completely pleased with the new bottles. This has definitely been history in the making and a huge step forward in the safety arena with children. The bottles are a hard plastic to where you have to squeeze really hard in order to get the liquid out. Also, with the Infant’s Tylenol bottle, you have to have the syringe in place in the bottle for the liquid to come out. This is great because as a mom, we can have so many busy things going on, that we forget to put the lid back on and the toddler can come up behind us and grab the bottle. I applaud Johnson and Johnson for coming up with new safety features and looking out for our children.

With that being said, we still need to make sure we are administering the medicines properly to our kids.

1. Always use the syringe, dropper, or dosage cup that comes with the medicine. The reasoning behind this, is other items like kitchen teaspoons may not always be the most accurate.

2. Never give children medicine that is indicated for adults. Adults medication is so much more powerful and could cause over dose problems in children.

3. Do not give children more than one medicine that contains the same active ingredient at the same time.

4. Be sure to know the infant’s or child’s weight and/or age to help determine the appropriate dosage.

5. When giving liquid medicine to infants, dispense the medicine slowly into their mouth, towards the inner cheek. If it goes directly to the center of the palate, it may cause the child to gag.

6. Do not give medicine to an infant or child who is lying down; this could cause choking.

You will see the new bottles this upcoming cold and flu season. I know you will be shaking your head in agreement with me, that this is a huge improvement over the older bottles!

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Filed Under: Featured, Health, Mom Reviews

Weight Watchers Pineapple Angel Food Cake

April 25, 2011 By Jen Leave a Comment

Holidays are all throughout the year and that means large family gatherings here at One Moms World. This could mean unfortunately, that you will stuff yourself so bad that you cannot even get out of your own chair. It does not have to be this way, believe me. I have learned that when invited to huge family gatherings, to take food that you know is healthy, so you will know, you will at least have a couple of choices to pick from.

For our big Easter celebration this past weekend, I found a recipe in the paper called Angel Lush with Pineapple. I made a few changes to it so it would be more Weight Watchers friendly and here was the end result.

Weight Watchers Points Plus = 4 Points

Ingredients:

1 fresh pineapple peeled and crushed
1 pkg. (3.4 oz.) JELL-O Sugar Free Vanilla Flavor Instant Pudding
1 cup thawed Fat Free COOL WHIP Whipped Topping
1 pkg. (10 oz.) round angel food cake, cut into 3 layers
10 small fresh strawberries

Directions:

1. Mix together in bowl pineapple and dry pudding mix. Stir in cool whip.
2. Stack first angel food cake layer, spread pudding mixture over first layer. Stack the second layer, and then spread pudding mix over layer and do the same with last layer.
3. Refrigerate for 1 hour. Add strawberries over top layer.

Enjoy