Welcome To The Weekend Blog Hop

Welcome to the Weekend Blog Hop where you can link up your favorite post of the week. Thank you for joining us and linking up. We are happy you are here and hope you will always come around. We have had a great week and now it's time for us to increase our followers by Blog Hopping all through the Weekend. Come and make new friends and find some interesting blogs to follow. You are free to link up to 3 different post or just your main blog. Happy Hopping.

August Food Fun

Welcome to Fresh Ideas! August is here and that means the end of summer countdown has begun. Take the easy road to the start of another school year by starting your school needs list early and saving some time for end of summer family fun. Include a few more picnics and outdoor adventures on your to do list. It's not over yet! This month's issue highlights an event that is near and dear to us, National Breastfeeding Month. We also have some great lunch box ideas and tips for keeping things simple in the kitchen. And what would a hot August day be without a yummy popsicle? Our fan offer will make it so easy for you to serve up these cool treats.

AUGUST FOOD FUN

National Breastfeeding Month: Breastfeeding is a great way to enjoy being a woman and a new mom. During pregnancy, your body gets you ready to breast feed your newborn baby. While your body is getting you physically ready, you may want to do some preparation to ensure breastfeeding is an enjoyable experience. Read Preparing to Breastfeed for some third trimester tips to help you prepare for the big day! Check out our tip sheets Breastfeeding Tips and Breast Milk Storage Tips. They are also great resources for breastfeeding moms.

National Sandwich Month: Build your sandwich as a MyPlate meal and fill your kid's back to school lunch box with healthy foods. For ideas on including whole grains, vegetables, fruits, proteins, and dairy on your next sandwich, read our Build a MyPlate Sandwich Tip Sheet and celebrate back to school and the wonderful sandwich. Tips to building a better sandwich: Start with whole grain bread Pile on the fruits and vegetables Add a slice of cheese Choose lean proteins

Simplify Your Life Week- August 1-7: Take some time this week to lighten a crazy busy schedule by simplifying shopping and meal prep. Cutting corners and simplifying does not mean more fast food runs or unhealthy meal options. Read Keep it Simple At the Market and In The Kitchen for some great tips to keep your family healthy while keeping your stress level down. Here are a few tips to that will get you started simplifying family meal time: Shopping: Plan your menus Make a grocery list Keep the pantry stocked Prep Time: Recruit and train helpers (a.k.a. your kids) Think Salads Make extra for leftovers

  

 

What's In Season: The freshest summer fruits and vegetables include apples, apricots, bananas, beets, bell peppers, blackberries, blueberries, carrots, cantaloupe, celery, cherries, collard greens, corn, cucumbers, eggplant, garlic, green beans, honeydew melon, kiwifruit, lima beans, mangoes, nectarines, okra, peaches, plums, raspberries, strawberries, summer squash & zucchini, tomatillos, tomatoes, and watermelon.

 Celebrate National Farmer's Market Week during the week of August 4 by paying a visit to your local market. Many farmers' markets will celebrate this week by providing fun activities such as festivals, contests, and activities for the kids. Download our Farmer's Market Tip Sheetfor ways to include your children in your farmer's market trip and help them learn about the origins of the food they eat.