It’s a new year! That means a lot of resolutions have probably been made. Did you make any with your kids? If you haven’t, allow us to make a couple of suggestions… 

Get outside more

It’s not been a very cold winter, but it’s still the season that keeps us cooped up inside more than any other. So get outside as much as you can to play, hike, walk, bike, and enjoy nature in its more ‘naked’ state despite the imperfect weather. Try to spend a few minutes each day outside. Stop at the playground on the way home. Take a leisurely walk around your neighborhood before those three birthday parties on Saturday afternoon. And maybe the whole family could take a trip downtown to walk or bike across the bridge on Sunday. Even if it’s chilly. Even if it’s rainy. You might find yourself having more fun in the extra elements. 

Eat more veggies

Whether it’s making sure you always have a bag of those baby carrots on hand for munching or if you’re whipping up gourmet meals where kale is the star, there are lots of ways to include more veggies in your diet. See more on this below.

Drink more water

We’ve talked about the benefits of water before. And we get into it a bit more below. It’s the perfect time to buy a new water bottle and keep it full throughout the day. Just carry it around with you everywhere you go, and you’ll find you two will soon be inseparable. 

Save the date for Bright Fit! 

Join us on Friday, April 17 from 5:30-7 p.m. outside on the track, for a great family event. You and your children will have the chance to check out several activities. This evening is a lot of fun and a great way to learn about something new. From golf and tennis to rock climbing and kayaking, there may be something new for everyone to try. So grab your sneakers and get ready to have fun! If you or someone you know would like to participate as a vendor, please let us know! Email us at [email protected]. 

Be Bright Fit!

Amanda Carmichael and Sara Mingus, Bright Fit Chairs

Coaches Ashley Linehart and Jeff McDaniel

Wellness Committee

Mary Westerwal and the entire dining hall staff do an awesome job providing wholesome lunches for our students. She is committed to making sure that any child with food allergies is accommodated and specific dietary requirements are met. She and her team also do an awesome job of doing all that in the cleanest and safest way. They recently received a PERFECT 100 on their health department score. Way to go and thanks for all you do! 

Need some tricks to help you accomplish that second resolution up there? Try some recipes from a favorite blogger and cookbook author, Sarah Forte. She has a new ebook called Little Sprouts and it’s fantastic. The ebook includes more than 30 recipes for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks. Here’s a fun one you can try right away. 

Sushi Sandwich

1 slice of soft sandwich bread

2 Tbsp. hummus

1ish Tbsp. grated carrots

Sprinkle of herbs or sprouts, optional

Roll the bread with a rolling pin to make it flat and thin. Cut off the crust. Spread the hummus over the top and then top with the grated carrots and herbs/sprouts, if using. Roll it up lengthwise and slice them into 1/2" pinwheels. 

Some of us parents may be trying out “Dry January” this year. It’s a great reset after a holiday season full of parties. And maybe some others are trying to wean yourself off that one Coke you have at lunch. We want to be sure that what you’re drinking instead isn’t actually worse for you. There are lots of drinks that are marketed as “healthy” or “no sugar added,” but they can still have a ton of sugar. Here’s a pretty eye-opening slide show about 15 different drinks that you may think are healthy but aren’t.  

Did you know that those “healthy” juice boxes you buy for your kids still contain a ton of sugar? I know, I know. Juice boxes are so handy. Your kids love them. They’re organic even! It’s easy to serve one up for dinner. But by simply not having a juice box with dinner, you could be reducing your child’s sugar content by as much as 25 grams (and that’s an organic Whole Foods brand)! That’s like giving your kid a pack of M&Ms to eat with dinner. The lowest amount of sugar I’ve found in a juice box is 9 grams (Honest). Juice boxes certainly serve a great purpose, even if that purpose is to just make our kids happy with the little things. But if you find that you’ve run out of juice boxes in the fridge, maybe just don’t go restock immediately and see what happens. Put some water glasses where they can be easily accessed by kids. Leave a stool by the sink, or be sure they know how to get water out of the fridge. They might find that the freedom they have of being able to fill up a glass of water on their own is just as satisfying as those tasty juice boxes. 

Don’t buy anything to drink all month. Just drink water. Humor us. See how it goes. And let us know!