The Final Days of Summer 2013

There are just a few short weeks of summer vacation left.  Summer camps are wrapping up and the beginning of the school year is fast approaching.   The next two weeks are a great time to pack in some last minute fun and create some wonderful memories. 

Just one more little thing to do. Are there outstanding items on your summer to do list?  Use these last weeks to take in some attractions or visit a place that you have been meaning to get to for the last three months.  Have you been to the Star Wars Exhibit at the Canadian Aviation and Space Museum? Have you seen Mosaika, the sound and light show, on Parliament Hill? 

Get crazy.  Have a backwards day, eat dinner for breakfast and breakfast for dinner (the kids can help),   pitch a tent in the backyard and have a camp out.  Go on a picnic.  Kids love to be silly and they will remember the times that you got silly with them.  

 

Make a memory book.   Put together a scrapbook for the summer of 2013.   Have each child share their favourite memories and create a page for each.  Include all of the mementos you have saved – photos, tickets stubs, wrist bands and post cards. 

 

Go the Fair. 

All around Ottawa, into the valley and up the line, annual fair time is approaching. As well as being a day of thrill rides and fantastic foods, agricultural fairs are very educational for children.   Learn about where our food comes from and how animals are raised. 

Stormont County Fair

August 30 –September 2, 2013

www.stormontcountyfair.weebly.com

Shawville Fair

August 29 –September 2, 2013

www.shawvillefair.ca

Renfrew Fair

September 4 – 8, 2013

www.renfrewfair.com

Russell Fair

September 5 – 8, 2013

www.russellfair.com

Spencerville Fair

September 12 – 15, 2013

www.spencervillefair.ca

Richmond Fair

September 19 –22, 2013

www.richmondfair.ca

Metcalfe Fair

October 3 – 6, 2013

www.metcalfefair.com

The last days of summer are a wonderful time to slow down before the back-to-school craziness starts  Set aside some family time, plan one last barbecue and eat one last ice cream cone!  I hope summer 2013 was a memorable one for you and your family.  It sure was for us. 

Cooking up Life Skills

Welcome kids into the kitchen with help and resources from registered dieticians and Dairy Farmers of Canada.  

Summer’s longer evenings and relaxed schedules afford us more time to prepare and enjoy meals as a family.  It is the perfect time to welcome your kids into the kitchen to teach them about food, meal planning and cooking skills.  When children are involved in the kitchen, they are more likely to try new foods, eat better and build the confidence they need to prepare meals and snacks for themselves. 

Start our simple.  Preparing meals as a family doesn’t have to take a lot of time.  Start with one night a week and you will be surprised at how interested your whole family will become in cooking together.  Depending on your family dynamic and the ages of your children, have each person take responsibility for specific tasks in preparing a meal together.  My kids are great at using the iPad and computer and they can easily search for recipes.  Visit www.familykitchen.org for ideas.  Start by looking under the recipes tab where you will find a nice selection of family-friendly recipes. Each one has a photo of the finished product and step by step instructions with icons to point out the tasks that are suitable for kids.

Need more inspiration?  Watch me as I showcase the Dairy Farmers of Canada mobile teaching kitchen, which will allows kids to practice simple cooking skills.

It is always fun to have the kids draw up a menu or a poster to hang in the kitchen announcing the upcoming meal and features. 

It is best to select one of the recipes the night before and have the kids prepare a shopping list.  There is a wide variety of fresh, in season produce available at this time of year.  Drop by your local farmers’ market or grocery store to shop.  Be sure to take the time to read labels and understand where the food comes from.      

As you begin to prepare dinner, invite all members of your family to help so that everyone is together in the kitchen.  Allow each child to take on a meaningful task.  Taking responsibility for a portion of the meal helps to build their confidence in the kitchen and gives them a sense ownership in this important family activity. Younger children can wash, mix, measure, peel or do some simple cutting.  Have the older children chop vegetables, use appliances, boil water for pasta or use the grill and barbeque. 

Everyone can help in presenting the meal, making it look appetizing on the plate and setting the table.  Be sure to take some photos of the finished products.  A family cookbook would make a lovely Christmas gift for friends and neighbours!   

Cooking up Life Skills

Welcome kids into the kitchen with help and resources from registered dieticians and Dairy Farmers of Canada.  

Summer’s longer evenings and relaxed schedules afford us more time to prepare and enjoy meals as a family.  It is the perfect time to welcome your kids into the kitchen to teach them about food, meal planning and cooking skills.  When children are involved in the kitchen, they are more likely to try new foods, eat better and build the confidence they need to prepare meals and snacks for themselves. 

Start our simple.  Preparing meals as a family doesn’t have to take a lot of time.  Start with one night a week and you will be surprised at how interested your whole family will become in cooking together.  Depending on your family dynamic and the ages of your children, have each person take responsibility for specific tasks in preparing a meal together.  My kids are great at using the iPad and computer and they can easily search for recipes.  Visit www.familykitchen.ca

 for ideas.  Start by looking under the recipes tab where you will find a nice selection of family-friendly recipes. Each one has a photo of the finished product and step by step instructions with icons to point out the tasks that are suitable for kids.

Need more inspiration?  Watch me as I showcase the Dairy Farmers of Canada mobile teaching kitchen, which will allows kids to practice simple cooking skills.

It is always fun to have the kids draw up a menu or a poster to hang in the kitchen announcing the upcoming meal and features. 

It is best to select one of the recipes the night before and have the kids prepare a shopping list.  There is a wide variety of fresh, in season produce available at this time of year.  Drop by your local farmers’ market or grocery store to shop.  Be sure to take the time to read labels and understand where the food comes from.      

As you begin to prepare dinner, invite all members of your family to help so that everyone is together in the kitchen.  Allow each child to take on a meaningful task.  Taking responsibility for a portion of the meal helps to build their confidence in the kitchen and gives them a sense ownership in this important family activity. Younger children can wash, mix, measure, peel or do some simple cutting.  Have the older children chop vegetables, use appliances, boil water for pasta or use the grill and barbeque. 

Everyone can help in presenting the meal, making it look appetizing on the plate and setting the table.  Be sure to take some photos of the finished products.  A family cookbook would make a lovely Christmas gift for friends and neighbours!   

Snacks for a Summer Road Trip

The August long weekend is approaching us and a lot of families planning to head out on a family a road trip. Along the way there is not a lot of choice for food.

It is great to have some food on hand or even pack a picnic of options.

A few ideas using all of our in season produce:

Curried Chicken Salad with Peaches. Switch it up and serve it on Romaine lettuce leaves, half a pepper or cucumber rounds.

With all the choice of fresh fruit, pack some straws and make fruit Kabobs. For a little sweetness add some sponge cake to the pattern.

If you have a chilled vessel, Peach Milkshakes are a favourite in our family.

Raw veggies served with hummus or a homeade herb dip is a good way to refuel.

All recipes are on Foodlandontario.ca

Be sure to pack wet wipes and a few road trip game ideas!