Tag Archives: Wholesome Choices Blogger Program

Why Teenagers Need To Eat Breakfast Before School {#Wholesome}

Food and Drink

Why teenagers need to eat breakfast before schoolHigh school teenagers definitely have a lot on their plates. They go to school, do homework, study for tests, participate in extracurricular activities and spend time with friends. Some teenagers even have part-time jobs they work after school. It is very important for teenagers to eat breakfast in the morning, especially ones that drive themselves to school. Their parents might not be at home to make sure they eat breakfast, so they must remind themselves to eat breakfast. Here are some reasons teenagers should eat breakfast before going to school.

Improved Social Skills

It is important for high school teenagers to socialize with their peers at school. They can get along better with their peers if they are not hungry in the morning. Not eating breakfast can make them more moody and irritable. If they do not eat breakfast, they are more likely to have conflicts with other students at school.

Better Grades

Eating breakfast can help teenagers focus better in school. If they are able to focus better in their classes, they are more likely to get better grades on assignments and tests.

Higher Energy Levels

Teenagers who eat fruits, eggs or whole grain cereal in the morning will have more energy during school. Teenagers who do not eat anything for breakfast are more likely to feel tired and weak.

Better Health

Eating healthy foods for breakfast can improve their overall health. Low-fat dairy products, whole grains and fruits help teenagers get the nutrients their growing bodies need.  McDonald’s offers a variety of whole-grain oatmeal choices on its breakfast menu, available all day. The Fruit & Maple Oatmeal and the Apple Cinnamon Walnut Oatmeal are both 100% natural whole grain oats, rich in fiber and freshly prepared for you.

McDonald's Wholesome Choices Blogger

High school can be pretty tough on some teenagers. Teenagers can make their school days much easier by consuming a healthy breakfast each morning. They do not have to eat a lot of food for breakfast. A piece of toast with peanut butter and a banana can be all they need.

Follow McDonald’s Atlanta on Twitter @McDonaldsATL and check out their website for real-time promos, meal ideas and how to make the most of your McDonald’s experience.

Disclosure: McDonald’s partnered with bloggers such as me to participate in its “Wholesome Choices” Blogger Program.  As part of that program, I received compensation.  They did not tell me what to purchase or what to say about the products used.

Help your Family Make Wholesome Choices {#Wholesome}

Food and Drink, Health,

Don’t ever think it’s too late to start living a more wholesome lifestyle. A more wholesome lifestyle will improve the health of both you and your family. Making a few simple lifestyle changes is all you need to live a healthier life. To make this work, you must have your family members agree to make healthier choices. You can do it!

I am partnering with McDonald’s on their Wholesome Choices Blogger Program.  Over the past few weeks, I have been sharing my own tips and ideas for making more wholesome choices in your every day life and have been making changes in my life as well.

Here are some tips for living a healthier lifestyle.

McDonald's Wholesome Choices Blogger

Get Enough Sleep at Night

Getting the proper amount of rest at night is more important than you think. Not getting enough sleep can cause moodiness, hormonal damage, weight gain and high blood pressure. Make sure you are perfectly relaxed before bedtime, so you sleep easier.

Drink More Water

Instead of drinking soda or coffee, drink water during your meals. This has been a tough one for me because I love my Diet Coke with Lime!  Since I started the McDonald’s Wholesome Choices challenge, I have been drinking at least 6 glasses of water a day.  I know I need to increase that to eight because by drinking eight glasses of water a day, you can prevent dehydration, dizziness and headaches. Drinking water can also make your skin and hair healthier.

Eat a Healthy Diet

Some of your favorite foods may not be that good for you. If your diet consists of foods with high fat and salt content, you need to change your eating habits. Start filling your diet with whole grains, low-fat dairy products, lean meats, fruits and vegetables.  If you are on-the-go and need to eat breakfast, lunch, or dinner while you are out and about, McDonald’s has some Wholesome Choices on their menu.   Through the McDonald’s “Made For You” cooking system, you can special order various menu items to help meet your nutritional needs. A range of serving sizes make it easy to create meal combinations that work for you and your family. Eating healthy foods will not only help you maintain a healthy weight, it will also give you more energy and prevent you from developing certain diseases.

Exercise Regularly

It’s essential to exercise if you want to live a healthy lifestyle. Exercising will boost your mood and give you energy. Go for a walk with your dog, dance around the living room with your kids or take an aerobics class.

If you put the extra effort into helping your kids and spouse live a more wholesome life, you all will be much happier and healthier.

Follow McDonald’s Atlanta on Twitter @McDonaldsATL and check out their website for real-time promos, meal ideas and how to make the most of your McDonald’s experience.

Disclosure: McDonald’s partnered with bloggers such as me to participate in its “Wholesome Choices” Blogger Program.  As part of that program, I received compensation.  They did not tell me what to purchase or what to say about the products used.

How I’m Incorporating Wholesome Choices into My Daily Routine

Food and Drink, New posts,

Staying busy taking care of kids and work can make it challenging for me to maintain a healthy diet and exercise program.  Fortunately, there are plenty of ways for me to fit wholesome choices into my family’s busy lifestyle and keep everybody healthy and happy.

I am partnering with McDonald’s on their Wholesome Choices Blogger Program.  I have been sharing my own tips and ideas for making more wholesome choices in your every day life and have been making changes in my life as well.

Gardening is great physical activity1 – Eating More Fruits and Veggies

My mother taught me early on that eating two to three servings of fruits and veggies daily has big benefits for your health.  They’re packed with vitamins and minerals, and contain enzymes when they’re fresh that fight inflammation and promote healthy digestion.  That’s why I’m making an effort to eat more fruits and vegetables every day.. even thought I don’t really like vegetables.

Eating a good sized helping of vegetables at dinner will support proper digestion and nutrient absorption, and their rich mineral content will help you sleep deeper so you feel better and can get more done the next day.

2 -Eating Healthier While Out and About

Some fast food restaurants like McDonald’s have responded to consumers’ health concerns by offering menu choices that contain few calories but plenty of nutrition. This means that fast food meals don’t have to be unhealthy when you’re in a hurry but also want something wholesome for you and your family.  McDonald’s offers a variety of whole-grain oatmeal choices on its breakfast menu, available all day. The Fruit & Maple Oatmeal and the Apple Cinnamon Walnut Oatmeal are both 100% natural whole grain oats, rich in fiber and freshly prepared.

3 – Staying Active

Finding ways to incorporate exercise into my daily routine is key to staying in shape and feeling energized throughout the day. Gardening is a great way to do this in the spring and summer. It also provides fresh, healthy fruits and vegetables for your family and you can keep your kids fit by including them in the fun.  Last year we grew watermelons, peppers, cucumbers, carrots, tomatos, and strawberries.  I’m looking forward to the fruits and veggies that we grow this year.

McDonald's Wholesome Choices BloggerOn days when I just don’t feel like getting all geared up for an outdoor or treadmill walk, I do indoor exercises such as running up and down the stairs for 20-30 minutes.  I literally ran laps around the middle level of our house today.

Instead of just sitting on the bleachers during your kid’s soccer or football practice, you can get your exercise in by walking around the soccer or football field or doing calisthenics until it’s time to go.

Follow McDonald’s Atlanta on Twitter @McDonaldsATL and check out their website for real-time promos, meal ideas and how to make the most of your McDonald’s experience.

McDonald’s partnered with bloggers such as me to participate in its “Wholesome Choices” Blogger Program.  As part of the program, I received compensation.  All thoughts and opinions in this post are mine and were not influenced in any way.

Start Your Child’s Day Off Right with a #Wholesome Breakfast

Food and Drink, New posts,

McDonald's Wholesome Choices BloggerI am partnering with McDonald’s on their Wholesome Choices Blogger Program.  I have been sharing my own tips and ideas for making more wholesome choices in your every day life and have been making changes in my life as well.

These days when most households have working parents, and children are involved in a myriad of activities, it’s often easy for both children and adults to slip off to school or work without getting a proper breakfast–and even worse–no breakfast at all. The importance and benefits of getting a good wholesome breakfast should not be overlooked; and with a little forethought it may not be as difficult as some might think.

It has been said that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and there are facts which back up this claim. Studies have shown that kids who eat breakfast perform better in school, have a lower body mass index and are more healthy overall. It only makes sense that after sleeping eight to ten hours, the body needs to refuel. A good breakfast not only provides energy but helps make for better concentration. Many teens skip breakfast because they think it will help them lost weight but in reality, skipping breakfast causes kids to feel overly hungry later and they often make up for the skipped meal by eating the wrong kinds of food. Common breakfast foods–that is the healthy kind–contain some very important nutrients, such as fiber, calcium and vitamin D that are often missing from other meals.

Fruit & Maple Oatmeal

Getting children to eat a healthy breakfast doesn’t have to be complicated. Oatmeal with fresh fruit provides a very healthy breakfast. No time to make oatmeal? Try stopping at McDonald’s to pick up a bowl of Fruit & Maple Oatmeal or mix some fresh fruit in bowl fat-free Greek yogurt.  McDonald’s offers a variety of whole-grain oatmeal choices on its breakfast menu, available all day. The Fruit & Maple Oatmeal and the Apple Cinnamon Walnut Oatmeal are both 100% natural whole grain oats, rich in fiber and freshly prepared for you.  A bagel with cream cheese, or a smoothie made with yogurt, fruit and oatmeal are other great ideas. All these options offer a nutritional breakfast that should satisfy hunger until it’s time for lunch. Stopping at a drive-through on the way to school may not be as bad as one might think. Fast food breakfasts that contain whole grains and/or eggs can be a great source of vitamin D and protein.

Next time you’re tempted to let your child skip breakfast, remember, your child deserves a healthy start to a busy day. Getting a good breakfast is a great beginning!

Follow McDonald’s Atlanta on Twitter @McDonaldsATL and check out their website for real-time promos, meal ideas and how to make the most of your McDonald’s experience.

Alicia Hagan, Editor

Disclosure: McDonald’s partnered with bloggers such as me to participate in its “Wholesome Choices” Blogger Program.  As part of that program, I received compensation.  They did not tell me what to purchase or what to say about the products used, and believe that consumers and bloggers are free to form their own opinions and share them in their own words. McDonald’s policies align with WOMMA Ethics Code, FTC guidelines and social media engagement recommendations.

McDonald’s #Wholesome Choices – Examples, Tips, and Ideas

Food and Drink, New posts, ,

McDonald's Wholesome Choices BloggerMy husband and I were talking about the ‘McDonald’s Wholesome Chocies‘ blogger event I went to a few days ago with special guest Andrea Riggs from Get Body Beautiful, when my son overheard us and asked “what does wholesome mean“?  I had him look up the definition on my iPhone.  According to Merriam-Webster the definition of wholesome is ‘promoting health or well-being of mind or spirit‘.  So wholesome doesn’t mean perfect?, he asked.  “No” I said.. when you say you are trying to be wholesome, then you are making an effort to promote the health of your body, mind, and spirit through exercise, food, and other things like laughter.

So back to what I was talking to my husband about..  I am partnering with McDonald’s on their Wholesome Choices Blogger Program.  Over the next few weeks I will be sharing tips and ideas for making more wholesome choices in your every day life.   As a parent of two children and a business owner I am always searching for ways to be more relaxed, energetic, and for both my family and I to be more wholesome. Whether living a wholesome life is through exercise, laughing together, or eating more better, wholesomeness can be achieved in many different ways.  Through this ‘challenge’, I have committed to losing one dress size by making more wholesome choices.  Not just food choices but with exercise as well.

Let McDonald’s help your family make better food choices when you are on the go.  Through the McDonald’s “Made For You” cooking system, you can special order various menu items to help meet your nutritional needs. A range of serving sizes make it easy to create meal combinations that work for you and your family.  The calorie count in McDonald’s newer menu items may be reduced by lessening the portion size, among other ways.  McDonald’s offers a variety of whole-grain oatmeal choices on the breakfast menu which are available all day. The Fruit & Maple Oatmeal and the Apple Cinnamon Walnut Oatmeal are both 100% natural whole grain oats, rich in fiber.

Follow McDonald’s Atlanta on Twitter @McDonaldsATL and check out their website for real-time promos, meal ideas and how to make the most of your McDonald’s experience.

 

Disclosure: McDonald’s partnered with bloggers such as me to participate in its “Wholesome Choices” Blogger Program.  As part of that program, I received compensation.  They did not tell me what to purchase or what to say about the products used, and believe that consumers and bloggers are free to form their own opinions and share them in their own words. McDonald’s policies align with WOMMA Ethics Code, FTC guidelines and social media engagement recommendations.