Happy Friday! We’ve nibbled and noshed our way through the first month of our summer break with no slowing down in sight. Here are just a few things I’ve been meaning to tell you about… and remember, the Ball jar giveaway ends tonight so go comment, quick!
EAT: Ever find yourself in a rut at snack time or when packing camp or school lunches? Enter NatureBox — a monthly subscription service of healthy snacks. I don’t know about your kids, but my oldest is definitely at the point where I can offer something and have him turn up his nose. When someone else offers it, it’s suddenly magical. And if it comes in a “treasure box” in the mail? Jackpot! Our sample box contained firecrackers (sweet chili flavored), dried cherries, Sunshine vegetable chips (in yellow, green, orange and purple!), nutty granola and honey fig bars. We loved the carrot and taro in the Sunshine chips in particular. My son wondered, “Why would someone give a kid a firecracker to eat?” But then ate them, all. At $19.95 a box, which contains 4-6 different snacks, it’s pretty in line with the high-end snacks at Whole Foods. They share the same criteria we do: no HFCS or artificial sweeteners, colors or flavors. Visit their website to learn more. If you’d like to try it out, the promo code HEALTHY may be used for 25% off your first month of subscription (if choosing month-to-month — 6-month subscriptions receive 1 month free and 12-month subscriptions receive 3 months free).
PLAY: Within the first ten days of summer vacation we made one round-trip drive to New York and promptly followed that with an unplanned road trip to North Carolina (after the crazy DC storms knocked out our power during a 100-degree heat wave). So new iPhone games were definitely deployed to help keep the kids happy on the road. And a new offering from PBS Kids was right up our alley: DW’s Unicorn Adventure. In the game, Arthur’s little sister D.W. must find healthy foods to fuel up (the rainbow of fruits and vegetables), while avoiding bad foods that zap your energy (soda, doughnuts and chips). Yes, it’s a bit simplistic, but I have to admit to smiling when I hear my 5-year-old exclaim, “Oh no, a doughnut!” And while it’s just challenging enough to keep him interested, my two-year-old finds it easy enough to play around with, too.
GO: There are *so* many food festivals and parties this summer in DC. Tomorrow, the Think Local First folks cap off their Eat Local First week with a Farm-to-Street Block Party, 1:00-7:00pm on V Street NW between 13th and 14th. The foodie tots enjoyed the event last year (especially the blueberry lemonade from Busboys and Poets); those 21 or over will enjoy the beer garden featuring local brews from DC Brau, Chocolate City and 3 Stars Brewery. Visit the website for details, or just purchase tickets at the event ($15 includes food tickets; kids enter free).
Disclaimer: I received a sample NatureBox and a free download of the DW game for review purposes. No other compensation was received. All opinions, as always, are my own and/or that of the foodie tots.
