Healthy Eating Charts for Kids
/4 Comments/in Freebies /by HeatherMany moons ago one of my healthy-eating sisters had this idea for a fridge-chart to encourage kids to eat more healthy foods each day. I ran with that idea and eventually came up with this next set of free downloads.
{There are 2 downloads links… click on the main chart images to download the zipped folders … or find the download links at the bottom of this post}
This chart is especially for Littles (age 2-5). The idea is to encourage them to eat various healthy foods each day. I laminated the 8×10 chart. Laminated all the 4×6 food circle sheets, trimmed them to circles. You can attach the circles to the chart once the child has tried that food. Use mounting putty or velcro dots to attach the circles. Every day… or every meal (whichever applies!) remove the circles and start over.
My kids enjoyed finding the food circle and sticking it on. This system helped my 3-year-old try Quinoa (this was a HUGE deal!!!) It helps us keep things positive and fun at dinner-time.
I soon realized that many circles of food and many children = lots of possible circles on the floor + not enough circles of same foods for my 6 kids unless I printed them each a set which = yet, even more circles all over my house. So… to simplify (and also for use for my older tweens), I included our most-likely-to-eat foods on one chart. I laminated these charts and we can use wet-erase markers or stickers to mark foods eaten for the day/week.
I would recommend using these charts for a few weeks at a time when your kids need a little extra encouragement to eat those healthy foods! Long-term, I imagine they will lose their zest and become monotonous for little kiddos. So… hide them away, and bring them out in a few months when fresh produce is available in-season.
Free Download links:
8×10 Super Food Chart for All Ages (Little circles)
8×10 Super Food Chart for Littles (ages 2-5)
*** Thanks to Kate Hadfield for the Doodle People and accompanying images. She has given me permission to share these as a freebie with ya’ll. Thanks Kate! (p.s. Go check out all her cute doodle images that have oodles of uses!)
*Disclaimer… I realize this is not a complete list of healthy foods… and perhaps some would disagree on how healthy some are. If you find you need other foods, I have included a few extra blank large circles so you can add your own foods that fit your family’s health needs and wants. Please share ideas in the comments and perhaps I’ll make a version 2 to share.
Go Forth and Eat Well!
Update on Simply Fresh Designs: December 2014
/7 Comments/in Articles of Faith, Freebies, Quiet Books /by HeatherMy etsy shop has been closed since January (I was slammed with some major morning sickness).
We spent the summer keeping 5 kiddos busy and I spent a lot of time at doctor’s appointments for non-stress tests, etc.
Scotland Charles Smith was born August 28 and things went relatively smoothly (all things considered).
We are so grateful to have this 6th little one in our family.
Newborns throw in an added busy-ness to a family and we are still adjusting.
I was hoping to get my etsy shop open for Christmas, but sigh….
I need to continue focusing on my family and all my time (plus, all the time I don’t have) is reserved for their needs.
BUT … the good news is that you can now download all FREE Simply Fresh Designs Items (including quiet books with images) via DropBox.. Hopefully things will be easier to access now.
Merry Christmas Friends!
Thanks for your patience with all we have going on around here!
p.s. I am hoping to sneak in some time for 2015 Primary & YW theme posters. Check back soon.
And if that doesn’t happen, check pinterest… there are oodles of darling ones shared by others.
Positive Thoughts Prompts & Coupon
/1 Comment/in Freebies /by HeatherYou know those days when deep down you believe in the principle of optimism, but you’re having a hard time keeping thoughts, words, & tone of voice positive?! Alrighty then… welcome to my life this past week.
Sometimes when I’m feeling overwhelmed or my emotions are all over the place, my brain has a hard time finding something positive to think or say.
This is when I need to zip over to my fridge and read some ideas for Positive Thoughts. Lame? Perhaps… but I’ll tell you, it helps! You tell yourself over and over that “There is always hope!” or “Everything is going to be okay!” and you will start to feel it inside.
Download: Positive Thoughts Prompts pdf Printable
to get yourself started on the road to Positive Thoughts & Words & LIFE!
or create your own list using favorite scriptures, uplifting quotes, jokes…
whatever it is that brings a smile to your face…
peace to your mind,
and HOPE to your heart.
Let’s joyfully head into the holidays with positive thoughts.
Don’t forget about the coupon at Billion Clicks.org for a free clicker!!!
Go to Billion Clicks Store.
Add a Clicker kit to your cart.
Enter HEATHER616 as a coupon code
and you will receive 1 free clicker, wristband and sticker ($4.99 reg) per order.
This coupon code is good until Nov 30th, 2013.
Clickers make great stocking stuffers, neighbor gifts, or teacher’s Christmas gifts.
BillionClicks.org Clicker Giveaway!
/15 Comments/in Freebies, Giveaways /by HeatherIn February 2013, I heard an inspiring message by Hilary Weeks about the Power of Positive Thoughts.
She shared the idea of “Clicking”.
“Clicking” is a way of training our minds to focus on and think about the positive.
My cute family was in the middle of the Dark Season here in Utah.
I ordered a clicker for each of us.
The very afternoon they arrived, we had a party thinking & saying positive thoughts. Click. Click. Click.
My 8-year-old son was in the greatest need of this activity, and he had the most clicks that afternoon.
For a few weeks, we clicked and clicked and became more positive.
Of course there were UP days and DOWN days.
But overall, I believe practicing this principle of optimism has blessed our family.
This summer when we went on a week-long driving trip to Washington, we brought along a clicker.
We definitely needed positive thoughts after being in the car together for 12 hours!
I believe in Positive thoughts!…
I only wish it were easier to me to LIVE every moment of every day.
I’m pulling out my clicker again this week.
November, the month of gratitude, is a great month to rejuvenate your thoughts.
Just be sure you revisit POSITIVE THOUGHTS in the depth of winter (say … come February!)
To help on our Positive Thoughts Quest I have a Freebie to share
as well as a GIVEAWAY & a coupon code for Billion Clicks:
Freebie has 50 3×4 cards (2-up on a 4×6 for ease of printing at photocenter… 1 for you & a friend!).
Punch a hole in the corner, use a binder ring & a ribbon to finish it off.
Attach to any clicker for an uplifting gift!
Download 3×4 Happy Thoughts Cards
The Clicker Kit contains the tools one would need to begin clicking –
a clicker, wristband,
Think Happy Be Happy sticker,
Blank sticker (to create your own design)
and an inspiring (& darling!) booklet explaining the concept of clicking!
See Rafflecopter entry form at the bottom of this post.
Don’t want to wait until Friday to see if you’ve won?
Go to Billion Clicks Store.
Add a Clicker kit to your cart.
Enter HEATHER616 as a coupon code
and you will receive 1 free clicker, wristband and sticker ($4.99 reg) per order.
Though the give-away ends on Friday, Nov 8, this coupon code is good until Nov 30th, 2013.
Clickers make great stocking stuffers, neighbor gifts, teacher’s Christmas gifts.
I’m so excited to give these to the principal & teachers at the school! (Shhhh, don’t tell!)
Enter here for Giveaway!!! Ends Friday, November 8 @ midnight
a Rafflecopter giveaway
This post is part of a blog campaign with Billion Clicks.org,
but all opinions are my own… and boy-howdy do I believe in the Power of Positive Thoughts!
Email me simplyfreshdesigns@gmail.com with any questions!
Leadership in the Home
/0 Comments/in Freebies /by HeatherI wanted to share with y’all a really neat idea for Family Home Evening in your home. My cute dad (a.k.a. Gerald Price) has been working on a Leadership in the Home class through Ricks College, BYU-Idaho, LDS Business College, and now wants to spread the word to FAMILIES!
Iron Rod Leadership is a set of lesson video series that you can use to teach simple principles and doctrines using the words of Latter-day Prophets. There are 30 different lessons that are available free to view on his website Iron Rod Leadership. From topics like ‘Becoming Christlike,’ Love, Agency, and Faith to Doctrine of the Priesthood, Peace, and Fasting, a variety of topics are covered that I know will bless your family. Go visit Iron Rod Leadership today and get started on a new adventure sharing gospel principles and doctrines with your family in an inspiring and new way!
Create a Family Emergency Plan
/29 Comments/in Freebies /by HeatherA few months ago I was asked to do a Sharing Station Booth at BYU Women’s Conference. My topic: Creating a Family Emergency Plan. We were Booth #17.
I asked two fabulous and willing friends to assist. Thanks Sara & Wendy! We spent 100+ hours planning, researching, and gathering emergency supplies to share ideas with others. The best part was that we were able to greater prepare our families for disasters, etc. BONUS!
Our favorite projects were the Family Emergency Plan Binder which included the Grab-N-Go Lists (think… if we had 5 minutes to evacuate our home, what would we take? 15 min? 1 hr?) I also love the Family Home Evening Resources which help educate children. “If ye are prepared, ye shall not fear.” D&C 38:30
A Sample of a page from the binder handouts to show what is included. Of course, only the cover sheets are provided. You need to supply the birth certificates and personal information.
12×36 Banner to hang in garage by Emergency Supplies.
Yay! My Family is more prepared.
Want to create your own family emergency plan binder?
You can find all of these printables on BYU Women’s Conference 2013 – Sharing Stations site. (sidenote: Handout #10 was meant to be included as a word doc so you can edit the lists. For some reason Women’s Conference did it as a pdf. Download editable Handout 10 RIGHT HERE PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS ONLY HANDOUT 10 AND NOT ALL 11. THANKS!)
A Few Ideas:
– Make a binder to give as a wedding present … get those young couples started in the right direction.
– A family emergency binder makes a great Christmas Present for children or grandchildren.
– Church group activity. Get the women together for a Super Saturday Activity to create binders. They are inexpensive and easy to do. All you need is a 1″ or 1 1/2″ binder, page protectors, dividers, the free printables including binder cover. We estimate it to cost about $6 depending on the deal you get on the binder & protectors.
NOW – Go Forth and Prepare NOW. Your Family Deserves a Plan! Baby Steps… You can do it.
Lego Patterns
/3 Comments/in Freebies /by HeatherWe are heading on a long road trip this summer and I knew that my boys would do much better in the car and at the hotel if they had legos to play with in their spare time. I saw some travel lego boxes made of wooden boxes with hinges (most of which seemed to break soon after). We were after a cheaper alternative that would last.
We found the Sterilite Boxes for $2.27 at Hobby Lobby. Bought the 10″ lego plates on Amazon for $5. Cut them in fourths and glued them with E-6000 on the top and the inside lid (wow – double-sided). So – total price for one box = just under $6 (only $4 one-sided… I just happened to have the extras).
Anyhoo… I’m not a crafty tutorial expert, but I think the boys will be happy. Did you know that the duplo blocks fit on the mini lego plates? Bonus!
Last year I made some Lego Pattern images for my 3-year-old. I’m just barely getting them put together so he can actually use them. Perfect surprise for our car trip.
Thought I’d share the 4×6 Lego Patterns. There are 14 included.
Download 4×6 Lego Patterns
Spelling Lists
/3 Comments/in Freebies /by HeatherThis summer, we’re going a different route with ‘brain work’ for the kids. My oldest requested a math workbook and that’s all. We’re doing a few book reports. Reading non-fiction encyclopedia-type books that the kids are interested.
My newest idea was to work on very basic spelling for each child. My oldest two children are going into 5th & 4th grade. They have both been in the top spelling group in their classes. They come home with spelling words that even I struggle to use in normal every-day sentences… yet, they misspell common words in their writing. I thought we’d focus on the basics.
I searched online for the top 100 Misspelled words (misspelled happens to be one of those!). I also came across Grade-level words & Spelling Bee words. These aren’t going to give the kids headaches and put a sour-puss look on their face. But hopefully they will review the very basics. I also have a soon-to-be-Kindergartener who is working on sight words so I included Dolch’s lists for him.
We are going on a long road trip this summer. I think a Spelling Bee might be thrown into the mix of car activities. My 9-year-old is very excited (or not! … in fact he said, “Mom, why are you spending so much time doing those? It’s going to be a waste.” Yes, he loves spelling that much)
I figured since I put this together for my family, there might be someone else out there who would want the lists. I typed the resource for each list on the top of the page. Included are 16 half pages to print. I am laminating and putting a binder ring in the top. We can separate pages for each child or keep them together for mom to have in the front for those joyful Spelling Bee quizes. What fun!
Here’s a few samples of the pages:
DOWNLOAD:
Half Sheet Spelling Lists PDF
JOY Manifesto Printable
/3 Comments/in Freebies /by HeatherI came across a wonderful quote on theJOYteam.org.
With their permission, I am sharing my version of their Jr. Joy Team Manifesto.
This is a great print to share with children of all ages
to remind them that they are in charge of their own happiness.
It is full of positive affirmations that uplift and strengthen.
It encourages CHOOSING to find good in everything around you.
To spread the JOY, Download here:
Jr. Joy Manifesto Printable
shared by Simply Fresh Designs
Download includes:
16×20 / 8×10 .jpg & pdf
and
4×6 .jpg & pdf
Encouragement for today: Share Joy by being positive & grateful!