Photo by Reza.

Have you ever heard the quote, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away“? Well, it being apple season, I’ve been thinking about that quote a lot lately. I’ve been wondering about the health benefits apples truly possess.

ChicagoHealers.com Practitioner, Dr. Melody Hart, ND, PhD, says that apples are a quintessential food for health that are low in fat and calories and are an enzyme-rich energy food that helps break down and digest other foods. She suggests buying organic, unwaxed apples that are not treated with fungicides or pesticides, and shares how nutrient-rich apples have been found to help fight against many diseases and health conditions.

1. Bone Protection: French researchers found that a flavanoid called phloridzin that is found only in apples may protect post-menopausal women from osteoporosis and may also increase bone density. Boron, another ingredient in apples, also strengthens bones.

2. Asthma Help: One recent study shows that children with asthma who drank apple juice on a daily basis suffered from less wheezing than children who drank apple juice only once per month. Another study showed that children born to women who eat a lot of apples during pregnancy have lower rates of asthma than children whose mothers ate few apples.

3. Alzheimer’s Prevention: A study on mice at Cornell University found that the quercetin in apples may protect brain cells from the kind of free radical damage that may lead to Alzheimer’s disease.

4. Lower Cholesterol: The pectin in apples lowers LDL (“bad”) cholesterol. People who eat two apples per day may lower their cholesterol by as much as 16 percent.

5. Lung Cancer Prevention: According to a study of 10,000 people, those who ate the most apples had a 50 percent lower risk of developing lung cancer. Researchers believe this is due to the high levels of the flavonoids quercetin and naringin in apples.

6. Breast Cancer Prevention: A Cornell University study found that rats that ate one apple per day reduced their risk of breast cancer by 17 percent. Rats that were fed three apples per day reduced their risk by 39 percent and those fed six apples per day reduced their risk by 44 percent.

7. Colon Cancer Prevention: One study found that rats fed an extract from apple skins had a 43 percent lower risk of colon cancer. Other research shows that the pectin in apples reduces the risk of colon cancer and helps maintain a healthy digestive tract.

8. Liver Cancer Prevention: Research found that rats fed an extract from apple skins had a 57 percent lower risk of liver cancer.

9. Diabetes Management: The pectin in apples supplies galacturonic acid to the body which lowers the body’s need for insulin and may help in the management of diabetes.

10. Weight Loss: A Brazilian study found that women who ate three apples or pears per day lost more weight while dieting than women who did not eat fruit while dieting.

So, it is true what they say, that an apple a day really does keep the doctor away. I’m definitely going to be incorporating more apples into my diet!

This photo was taken while on vacation in San Diego. Image by Hillary Gardner at StillsbyHill.com.

Tell us about your family.
I’m Karen (28) and my husband Adrian (31) and I have been happily married for six years! Our son Zachary turns two this November and our six-year-old miniature dachshund, Maya, makes our little family complete. I’m a professional wedding & portrait photographer, and my husband is a software engineer. We’re both very fortunate to be self-employed and spend lots of precious time with our wonderful little boy!

What are some of your family’s favorite activities to do away from home?
We love taking Zachary shopping, visiting the park, going to my parents’ house, and taking road trips to visit my husband’s parents.

Do you have trouble getting out of the house? Do you have a routine that makes getting out easier?
As Zachary’s gotten older, it’s gotten much easier to get out of the house since there’s so much less stuff to carry! I can either fit what I need into my purse, or bring a small shopping tote with necessities and a couple small toys. Zachary is a pretty easy kid to get out of the house, so it’s fun to take him places with us.

When out and about, what items do you carry that keep the family sane?

I always keep a diaper clutch in the car with extras just in case. A small snack selection and sippy can always be found in my purse, and I usually have a small toy to keep Zachary busy in case he needs a distraction. We have a couple strollers, but Zachary usually rides around in his Maclaren Quest. I love this stroller because it’s attractive, has a rain cover, reclines for in-stroller naps, and is lightweight and easy to fold up.

Do you have any parenting words of wisdom? What is your family mantra?
The best thing I’ve learned is to enjoy every second that I am with my son. He’ll only be a baby once, and any moments I lose with him are moments forever lost. Take time every day to savor this time in your child’s life, and take as many pictures as you can, as often as you can.

Keep in touch with Karen on Twitter, Facebook, and at her personal blog!

Featured Families are automatically entered to win a stroller valued at $250! Would you like to be interviewed for our Featured Families series? Send us an email!

Photo by esteemedhelga.

This guest post is contributed by Alisa Gilbert, who writes on the topics of bachelors degree.  She welcomes your comments at her email Id: alisagilbert599@gmail.com.

As if seeing eerie goblins and witches parading around your neighborhood wasn’t scary enough—the amount of sugar your little tot can consume during the Halloween season can be darn right terrifying. But the Halloween treats your toddler snacks on don’t have to the regular candy corn and chocolate. There are healthy, “spooky” alternatives. These healthy snacks featured in the September issue of Disney’s Family Fun magazine are combination of nutritious and creative— the perfect treats for any toddler.

Cheese-Finger Food

Cheese is an excellent source of “first class” proteins. They contain many amino acids and are useful in producing healthy tissues. These cheesy monster fingers can help your toddler grow and get him/her in the Halloween spirit.
Ingredients: Mozzarella string cheese, Green bell pepper, Cream cheese

Instructions:

1. Wearing plastic gloves or sandwich bags over your hands to keep the cheese as smudge-free as possible, use a paring knife (parents only) to cut each string in half and then carve a shallow area for a fingernail just below the rounded end of each half.
2. Mark the joint right below the nail as well as the knuckle joint by carving out tiny horizontal wedges of cheese, as pictured.
3. For the fingernails, slice a green bell pepper into 3/8-inch-wide strips. Set the strips skin side down on your work surface and trim the pulp so that it’s about half as thick. Then cut the strips into ragged-topped nail shapes and stick them in place at the ends of the fingers with dabs of cream cheese.

Melon Brain

This melon made from nothing more than a small, round seedless watermelon, will not only look like a creepy brain, but will also help nourish your toddler’s real one.

Ingredients: 1 small seedless watermelon

Instructions:

1. Use a vegetable peeler to remove the entire green rind, exposing the inner white rind.
2. Slice off the bottom of the melon to create a flat base that will keep it from rolling. With a toothpick, outline squiggly furrows that resemble the folded surface of a brain.
3. Finally, carve narrow channels along the tracings with a sharp paring knife (a parent’s job) to expose the pink fruit beneath the rind.

For instructional video click here.

Apple Bites

Instead of ruining your toddler’s real teeth with candy this year, let him/her try these ghoulish teeth on for size.

Ingredients: Apples, Slivered almonds

Instructions:

Just quarter and core an apple, cut a wedge from the skin side of each quarter, then press slivered almonds in place for teeth.

Tip: If you’re not going to serve them right away, baste the apples with orange juice to keep them from browning.

My two girls taking a break from the water at one of our favorite Cape Cod beaches.

Tell us about your family.

My husband and I married when we were in college (there was no alcohol at our wedding – we were too young!) but we waited about five years to start having children. We now have Catherine (3.5 years old), Mary (2 years old), and Michael (6 months). Lots of people think we’re crazy having them so close together, and although it can be hectic, I’m loving it. I am especially enjoying watching the great friendship develop between my two girls (they are exactly 18 months apart), and they are beyond excited to have a new little brother to take care of.

What are some of your family’s favorite activities to do away from home?

We are only about a 5-minute drive from great beaches, so we go as often as we can (our kids honestly think it’s “normal” to spend four or five evenings a week at the beach in the summer). When I don’t feel like loading everyone into the car (or cleaning up the sand after!) we walk to our local park and playground.

Do you have trouble getting out of the house? Do you have a routine that makes getting out easier?

Two toddlers and a baby – yes, getting out of the house can be a trial! The only way it works is to plan ahead and start early if you have to be somewhere on time. By the time the baby is fed, the oldest has used the potty, the correct jackets/hats/sunglasses/shoes/toys have been found, and the bag is packed, it’s at least 20 minutes later than you thought it would be every time! When there’s no deadline, I make a point not to get too rushed or frustrated (even when I have to tell them 14 times to find shoes). We always make it out eventually, and it’s much more fun in the end if I don’t let the preparation be stressful!

When out and about, what items do you carry that keep the family sane?

When it comes to walks, making visits in the neighborhood, or heading out to the local park, I could not live without my BOB Revolution Duallie. We bought it as soon as my second daughter was born and have logged hundreds of miles on it since then! The kids are comfortable in it so there’s never a fight to get them in, and I feel like I could push it anywhere. Now with three, my oldest rides on a Hitchhiker on the back and the younger two ride in the seats. When we actually get to the playground (or anytime we’re shopping, at the library, at a playdate, at the beach, or running errands), a baby carrier is an ABSOLUTE MUST. For the first few months you never saw me without the Moby wrapped around me, and now that my little one is a little bigger (and wigglier!) we’re back to the Baby Bjorn. The baby is happy riding with me and my toddlers are happy because I have enough freedom to play with them!

Do you have any parenting words of wisdom? What is your family mantra?

One of the most important things I have discovered about parenting is that my own attitude has a VERY big impact on my children’s behavior. When any of my kids are feeling cranky or whiny or bored or just plain unpleasant, I can often turn it around just by happily starting in on something fun. It takes a bit more time and effort than letting them sulk or whine (especially if I’m feeling cranky myself), but the effort is well worth the results. Second, even when it takes more time and more work, and the results will probably be less than stellar, let them help. They want to help, and it’s important to them, so whenever you can, let them help. Encouraging their desire to help and learn and grow is worth having to slip a few still-dirty dishes back into the sink for re-washing later.

Do you have a blog or Social Media profile page? (Twitter, Facebook, etc.)

My children’s grandparents all live far away, so I post to a family blog several times a week to help keep everyone updated and involved. It takes a lot of time, but I have found that I really enjoy being able to share the “everyday” moments with our extended family through stories, pictures, and videos, and it has turned into a wonderful “baby book” type history for our children.

Featured Families are automatically entered to win a stroller valued at $250! Would you like to be interviewed for our Featured Families series? Send us an email!

Photo was taken in front of his ship, the day of Chris’s deployment last year.

Tell us about your family.

My name is Dasha (24) and I am married to great guy named Chris (26). We have a beautiful little boy who is 18 months, and we are hoping for another addition to our family soon. We are a military family, so we have those unique challenges (deployments) and rewards (serving our country) that service members experience. My husband is in the Navy, and it is a very interesting, fast-paced, but sometimes lonely, life. I am a stay-at-home mom/ college student so that keeps me busy when Chris is gone, and I also find that getting out of the house as much as possible keeps me sane.

What are some of your family’s favorite activities to do away from home?

We absolutely love going to the aquarium. I think my husband and I enjoy it even more than the baby does! We also like going canoeing, to the zoo, and Grandma and Grandpa’s house.

Do you have trouble getting out of the house? Do you have a routine that makes getting out easier?

Most of the time, I keep my diaper bag in the car. I bring it in occasionally to restock diapers and wipes (although I do keep a couple extras in the car just in case I forget or don’t have time). So all I usually carry out with me is a sippy cup and snacks. It saves time and energy– I hate lugging stuff around more than I have to.

When out and about, what items do you carry to keep things running smoothly?

I love designs that simplify my life. I have 2 strollers. My main one is a Maclaren Quest Sport. It is very lightweight, but has all the awesome features of a full size stroller. I am so thankful for the recline position every time my baby wants to nap when we are out! I also have a Baby Trend jogging stroller that I use for walks around my neighborhood, going to the park, and anywhere that will have uneven terrain. I also love a good diaper bag, and I have two on rotation—a big fancy one that I take with me if we are going to be out all day or overnight, and a super lightweight one like the Baby Bjorn Soft Bag that is very comfortable and convenient to carry. I use the light one for everyday outings. I also cannot live without snacks, hand sanitizer (I’ve become a little bit of a germ freak after having the baby), and little board books to keep my little one happy!

Do you have any parenting words of wisdom? What is your family mantra?

My best advice is to just go with the flow. Some days will be fun and pretty easy, and other days will be rough. Try to remember that each day is a gift, do the best you can, and pray if you need some help. Also, try to view things that don’t go according to plan as an adventure. I’ve learned that if you adjust your attitude to look at the bright side, it makes your day a lot better.

Do you have a blog or Social Media profile page?

Yes. I have a Facebook that lets me stay connected to all of my friends and family (I have 11 brothers and sisters in-law so Facebook really helps me stay in touch!).

Featured Families are automatically entered to win a stroller valued at $250! Would you like to be interviewed for our Featured Families series? Send us an email!