I recently had the privilege of meeting Lisa Giordano.  She is the leader of a MOPS group in Burbank California and is a very proactive mom in caring for her family spiritually and nutritionally.  I am happy to have her  share some of what she does to help her family eat healthy:

One easy way to share with my child about healthy eating is the traffic light concept. This is taken from the pediatrician Dr. William Sears. If a food is a “green light” food, it is healthy to eat or a “go for it” food. Examples of this are breads made with sprouted grains, fresh fruit, fresh vegetables, fish, and lean meats such as white meat chicken and turkey. The more we can make fresh fruits and veggies desirable the better. To do this, moms may need to use a low fat dip for little ones or sneak them into a shake with some fruit like your daughter-in-law Becca does (green smoothies).

“Yellow light” foods are “think about it” foods. They are okay in moderation, but should be reserved for treats and only eaten occasionally. Examples of this would be butter, cakes, candy, cookies, and white bread.

“Red light” foods are “stop, say no, bad for you” foods. Examples of these foods would be nitrate-containing meats, packaged foods with “hydrogenated oils, drinks made with food coloring, and doughnuts. One of the downfalls of “yellow and red light” foods is sugar.

Foods with complex carbohydrates found in vegetables, grains, and fruits are good for you. The simple sugars found in soda, candies, frostings, and packaged treats can do harm.Dr. Sears states these five reasons why they are harmful:
(It is helpful for me to remember these facts before I reach for a candy bar!)

– sugar depresses immunity
- it sours behavior, attention, and learning
- it promotes sugar highs
- it promotes sugar cravings
- it promotes heart disease

It is helpful for me to have weekly lists made for meals and snacks so that our family will be healthy. Fast food is something that is purchased if I don’t plan well. If I grocery shop and start meal prep early in the day, it is less likely for us to make bad food choices.

Blessings to you and your readers,
Lisa Giordano

Thanks to Lisa for this very helpful information.  Click to order the book she mentioned, The Family Nutrition Book: Everything You Need to Know About Feeding Your Children – From Birth through Adolescence

We are building temples for God to live in.  We must train our children spiritually to create a desire in them to be a temple; we must train them nutritionally and physically to keep that temple healthy.

You’ve heard the expression ‘If momma ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy’.  This is so true.  We underestimate our power to set the tone of the day. But far more reaching than that is our affect on our children for the rest of their lives! –  No pressure, right?!!

And you’ve heard ‘The hand that rocks the cradle is the hand that rules the world.  It’s the title of a poem by William Ross Wallace (1819-1881) Again, very true and more pressure.

We as mothers have been called to the hardest, most overwhelming responsibility EVER!  However – it is also the greatest privilege that God bestows – to love and mold a little life!

But – wow! – how do we be and do all that is required of a mother?

Well, God never asks us to do something without making a way for us to do it.  For example 2 Cor. 5:20 speaks of God imploring us to be reconciled to Him; 2 Peter 1:1 points out that God sent His Son Jesus who makes us right with Him. In Mark 11:22 Jesus commands us to have faith in God; again in 2 Peter 1:1 we see that He gives us even the faith to believe.

So it is with our call to be a mother!!!!  God gives us a promise: 1 Thessalonians 5:24 “Faithful is he that calls you, who also will do it.” Take heart that He who called you to this awesome privilege and overwhelming responsibility will He, Himself, do it!  All we have to do is let Him!!! Also, be encouraged by Isaiah 40:11 “. . .  He gently leads those that have young.“

So please have a Happy Mother’s Day resting in the fact that God’s got your back. He understands what a great work He has entrusted to you. He has promised to gently lead you as you depend on Him to do through you what He has called you to do.

Many thanks to DiscipleLand.com for making this download available.  It is a wealth of material on educating and leading children to worship God!!!!  There are videos, activities, stories, colorful teaching aides, skits, etc.  Download here.

Leading your children to worship God is a priceless gift that will be foundational throughout their lives.  This incredible help in training your children is free until May 18!

I was privileged to attend the Orange Conference this last week.  If you aren’t familiar with Orange, it is an excellent children’s ministry that emphasizes parents and church partnering together to train children. Check it out at http://www.whatisorange.org/orangeleaders/.

Here are some very helpful resource links I received there:

http://www.thegreatfamilyexperiment.ca/ Free download to help your family experience 5 family values

http://www.northpoint.org/babyd For new parents to help in the beginning of your journey as a parent to really think about how you will raise your child to know what it means to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

http://www.bibleboxonline.com/ This is a box of 15 molded figures to help present key Bible stories and concepts

http://dltk-bible.com/ Bible story coloring pages, crafts, activities

http://lifewayextra.ning.com/group/specialbuddiesteachers Free Download -  Picture/Word Cards

Zondervan has a new book that takes selected verses from the Bible and organizes them chronologically to help in understanding how God’s story fits together.  It is available for different ages.

The Story for Children is full of colorful and inviting pictures.

The Story: Teen Edition reads like a novel.  It is the Bible condensed into 31 chapters that chronologically move through events from Genesis to Revelation with drama, romance, and action.  It is a great way to draw teens into Scripture!

There are numerous resources targeting both young children and also teens.  But there is not much out there focusing on a very formidable age group called tweens (7-13 year olds).

However, www.ishineministries.com. is seeking to change that with a TV series, radio show, and a new Bible, all aimed at tweens.  Check out the website!

The iShine Bible combines technology and scripture by giving QR codes and URL links to additional online ministry content. The colored sections in the Bible will help your kids see how much they are valued by God, what their true identity is in Jesus, and discover God’s higher purpose for their lives. It is in the New Living Translation, perfect for young readers, and is available in both boys and girls leather-like editions. You can purchase it here.