A fun weekend for parents and tweens - with plenty of wine for Mom and Dad My husband and I love to visit the wine country - I think it's safe to say that it's our most frequent destination when we have a chance to get away. For years I've thought about how to craft a wine country visit that would work with the kids, and last October we made it happen! The wine country is definitely a fun and relaxing choice for a weekend getaway with tweens and teens. From where we live in the San Francisco Bay Area in California, there are actually several wine tasting areas within a couple of hours drive. We've spent a lot of time in the Napa and Livermore areas, and we've checked out some of the wineries in the Santa Cruz mountains and the Sierra foothills. They are all enjoyable, but our favorite destination is the Sonoma Valley. I love it because it is beautiful, with a quiet, rural vibe. There are rolling hills and lots of open space, with tiny towns sprinkled throughout, and a … [Read more...]
10 Exciting Books for Tweens
Need some good ideas for keeping your tween interested in reading? Here is a round-up of some exciting and adventurous books to keep them turning the pages. Nourishing Tweens is a participant in the Amazon Affiliate program, an affiliate advertising program that provides a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. I only recommend things that I truly like and would use myself. If you click through my links and make a purchase, there is no additional charge to you. As a major book lover and former teacher, one of my favorite things about being a parent is helping my kids to find great books that they enjoy reading. Every book on this list is one my son has read - so if you have any questions, comment below and I'll get you an answer! This list is appropriate for 4th-7th graders, depending on their reading level and interest. The Artemis Fowl series by Eoin Colfer is a magical adventure starring a twelve-year-old boy who … [Read more...]
Low Carb Spaghetti Squash Lazy Lasagna
My family LOVES lasagna. I love to make it for them, but the real deal is super time consuming and includes the wheat noodles that give my daughter stomach aches and give me too many carbs. Spaghetti squash provides a great solution. It has great nutrition and is pretty easy to make. M doesn't like it very much, so I cook up some rice noodles for her to have on the side. My husband and son are happy with it though, and I think it's THE BOMB. Plus, it's pretty dang easy. This recipe is inspired by one I found on Pinterest last year. It is on Wholesome Yum, a great website with lots of tasty low-carb recipes. Here is a link to the original recipe. Her recipe has you building the lasagna into the shells of the spaghetti squash for a pretty effect. My recipe has more meat and cheese and is baked in a 9 x 13 pan. If I'm going to please my husband and growing son, there needs to be lots of meat (in fact, I think I might add more next time I make it so there will be more … [Read more...]
How to Make a Phone Contract for Your Tween or Teen
Parenting is hard. Have I mentioned that? Have you noticed? There's a million things that we need to do for our kids and teach our kids, and just as you start to figure one of them out, a new one pops up. And guess what?!? Our generation has a new challenge that no generation of parents has had to face before: smart phones. So first, let's take a deep breath and acknowledge that this one is really hard, and this time, we aren't reinventing the wheel - we are INVENTING it. Different parents have handled this in different ways. At one extreme are the parents who've decided: NOPE. No phone. No iPad. No you can't borrow my phone. Go out and play. Kudos to you guys: That takes some serious discipline. At another extreme are the parents who've said: YEP! WHATEVER! Their kids have the smart phone and the iPad and maybe the smart watch too. Keep it in your room, honey! Watch whatever you want! Sure you can have social media! Whatevs! Tell me about it, don't tell me about it...I don't … [Read more...]
Hey, I’m Karen
I'm so glad you're here. Nourishing Tweens is a place for you to get ideas and for raising healthy, happy, smart tweens and teens. I have recipes, travel tips, and parenting advice that I can't wait to share with you! I'm a stay-at-home mom turned work-at-home mom who blogs and does freelance writing and proofreading to help earn some extra money so that my family can travel. I have two funny, clever, goofy kids that I love like crazy! I'm a former elementary school teacher with a BS in sociology from the University of San Francisco and a teaching credential from Notre Dame de Namur University. I am a nutrition nerd with a love of learning! I thrive on doing research and wading through all the info out there to bring you helpful, tangible advice on parenting tweens and teens. Since I've been blessed with the opportunity to stay at home with my children since my first child was born, I've had a chance to focus on: Creating yummy family meals that … [Read more...]
Traveling with Tweens and Teens
Planning for fun, educational vacations that engage the kids! Traveling with kids can be a challenge. We all know how tricky life can be with babies, toddlers, and even young elementary school-aged children. But as your kids age, the challenges don't go away - they just change. Tweens can be a ton of fun to be with. Now that your kids are older, you can have real conversations with them, teach them about the world around them at a more grown-up level, and do activities together that might be what you would choose yourself instead of activities chosen to please little ones. But tweens can be challenging. CHALLENGING. They can be moody, self-centered, easily bored, and obsessed with their phones, social media, and other technology. Traveling with tweens and teens is just another chance in your busy life to face those challenges! When you are planning your trip, you need to think about how to draw out the fun, engaged side of your tween or teen and minimize the difficult … [Read more...]
Grain-free Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins
My daughter M loves her carbs but needs to keep things gluten-free due to a wheat sensitivity. I'm always on the hunt for a good recipe that tastes like a favorite treat but actually is good for her and for the rest of us. The fact that these grain-free banana muffins get some protein into her diet is also awesome! These grain-free banana muffins are paleo-friendly, too. I do my best to avoid grains myself, and these fit the bill. They are also super filling since they are filled with healthy fat and protein. They fit into an AIP (auto-immune protocol) diet as well. I've scoured the internet to find the best grain-free banana muffin recipe, and I've tried a bunch. They've all been okay, but none really stand out. This recipe is based on a great one for banana bread that I found at the website Civilized Caveman. His recipe is yummy as is, but I have changed it up and I think the end result is extra good for pleasing kids while still being healthy. I increased the … [Read more...]
- « Previous Page
- 1
- …
- 7
- 8
- 9
