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JULY 07
HOLISTIC MAMA’S GUIDE TO SUMMER
HEALTH EXPERT EXTRAORDINAIRE KELLY SCOTTI GIVES US HER TIPS FOR SURVIVING AND
THRIVING THIS SEASON

Summer abounds and it's time for a well-earned break with the family. Whether it's a day trip to the park or
a full-on beach getaway, don't forget to pack up some smart and healthy snacks to ensure that a good time
is had by all. Here are my ideas for a holistically fun season in the sun.

THE TIPS
Freeze drinks the night before in order to keep both the drinks and the food chilled the next day. You can
do the same thing with fruits such as watermelon, berries, and more.

Set up your blanket or towels under an umbrella, cabana or in a shady spot to avoid sunburn and overheating and to keep your food cooler longer—now you've got it made in the shade.

Use a cooler packed with ice instead of those wooden baskets. Coolers keep your food safe from the bugs and the heat and most do double duty as a place to sit.
Holistic Mama
If you're driving to the beach and have a little extra space, put your cooler in the air-conditioned car instead of the trunk.

Throw away any food that's been out of the cooler for more than an hour.

Supervise children closely around potential hazards like grills, fire pits and, of course, the ocean

THE ESSENTIALS

Blanket/towels
Insect repellent
Napkins/ paper towels
Sunscreen
Plates
Silverware
Serving utensils
Cups
Condiments
Damp wipes or cloths for washing up
Garbage bag
Large Ziploc bags for wet swimsuits
Ice
Lots of  water to stay hydrated
A small first aid kit that includes bandages and antibacterial ointment

THE GOOD EATS
For picnics, keep your food choices simple, picking items that are portable, fun to eat and able to withstand the heat. Try these fun, outside-of-the-basket  packings:

Tortilla chips with fresh salsa
Crackers and peanut butter
Corn on the cob
Raw vegetables (celery, carrots, sugar snap peas)
Apples, oranges, peaches, and plums
Ants on a log (celery, peanut butter and raisins)
Pasta salad (use olive oil instead of mayo to avoid the chance of food poisoning)
Pita pockets filled with hummus, turkey, and sprouts
Arugula, mozzarella, tomato sandwiches on focaccia  (see recipe below)
Turkey, spinach, and cheese pinwheels (see recipe below)
Homemade chicken fingers (see recipe below)
Sweet corn, tomato, and onion salad (see recipe below)

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Turkey and Cheese Pinwheels
(6 servings)

Ingredients:
  • 6 whole wheat flour tortillas
  • 4 tablespoons of softened low-fat cream cheese
  • 1/3 cup shredded carrots and/or diced onion (optional)
  • 8-10 thin slices of nitrate-free deli turkey
  • 1 cup grated organic sharp cheddar cheese
  • Bunch of spinach leaves
Directions:
  1. Spread the softened cream cheese on the tortillas
  2. Place 1-2 slides of turkey on top of the cream cheese.
  3. Top with spinach leaves.
  4. Top with grated carrots and/or diced onion.
  5. Slowly roll the tortilla from one short end to the other.
  6. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate to enjoy the next day
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Arugula, Mozzarella, Tomato and Pepper Sandwiches on Focaccia
(4 servings)

Ingredients
  • 1 Vidalia onion, sliced thinly
  • 3 large vine-ripened tomatoes, cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices
  • 2 yellow peppers, cut into 1/8-inch-thick slices
  • 3 tablespoons red-wine vinegar
  • 3 cups packed and chopped arugula
  • Focaccia bread, cut into slices (enough for 4 sandwiches)
  • 1/2 pound fresh mozzarella, sliced thin
  • Ground sea salt to taste
Directions:
  1. Combine tomatoes, onion, peppers, vinegar and salt in a large bowl. Marinate for 15-30 minutes.
  2. Layer mozzarella on top of vegetables in between two slices of focaccia bread.
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Chicken Tenders 
(6 servings)

Ingredients:
  • 6 chicken breast tenders (boneless and skinless)
  • 2 cups panko breading
  • cups balsamic vinaigrette (or oil and vinegar)
  • Barbecue sauce or honey mustard dressing for dipping
Directions:
  1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
  2. Measure and pour salad dressing into a plastic bag. Add the chicken tenders and shake to coat.
  3. Measure and pour the breadcrumbs into a fresh plastic bag. Add chicken, a few pieces at a time, and shake to coat.
  4. Place the coated chicken on a lightly greased baking pan and bake for 25 to 35 minutes.
  5. Serve hot or cold with a favorite dipping sauce.
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Sweet Corn, Tomato and Onion Salad
(6 servings)

Ingredients:
  • 10 corn cobs
  • 3 medium tomatoes, diced
  • 1 large Vidalia onion, cut into thin strips
  • 2 green onions, chopped
  • 1/2 cup minced cilantro leaves
  • Juice of 1 lime
  • 1/4 cup rice vinegar
  • Ground Celtic sea salt to taste
Directions:
  1. Fill large pot with water and lightly salt. Bring to a boil.
  2. Husk the corn just before cooking, pull off the silky threads and rinse well.
  3. Cut enough off each tip to create a flat top.
  4. Drop the corn into pot after water is boiling. Cover the pot and let the water return to a boil again, then turn off the heat and keep the pot covered. Remove the ears after 5-7 minutes
  5. Allow corn to cool for 15-20 minutes.
  6. Stand the cob on its flattened top on a plate or wide bowl.
  7. Holding the stem end, cut downwards through two or three rows of kernels with a sturdy, sharp knife.
  8. Repeat until all kernels are removed.
  9. In a large bowl, combine corn, tomatoes, Vidalia onion, green onion and cilantro.
  10. Squeeze lime juice over mixture and mix in.
  11. Stir in rice vinegar to taste.
  12. Season with salt (and pepper if desired).
  13. Cover and chill for 45 minutes. Stir before serving.
THE BEST SMOOTHIES
Summer is definitely the time to experiment with different smoothie combinations. I love green smoothies. My trick is to use 40% greens and 60% fruit (mixed with enough water to cover half of the ingredients in the blender) to make it 100% good. In the summer, I love to use the berries that are at their peak here in the Northeast (raspberries, blackberries, and blueberries) as well as peach and plum combinations. Yum! 

Seasonal Berry Blast

Ingredients:

  • Blueberries, ½ cup
  • Blackberries, ½ cup
  • Raspberries, ½ cup
  • 4 leaves bok choy with ends removed
  • 1 banana
  • 12-16 oz pure water
  • Ice cubes (optional)
In a blender, whirl together all ingredients until thick and smooth.
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The Simpler, Sweeter Fruit Fusion

Ingredients:

  • 1 banana
  • 1 cup frozen raspberries
  • ½ cup blackberries
  • 1 cup orange juice
  • 1 plum, with the pit removed
In a blender, whirl together all ingredients until thick and smooth.
THE GREAT BEACH READS
While your body is on vacation, your mind might still be in regular life mode. How to unwind? By feeding your mind with a juicy novel or two.

Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia byElizabeth Gilbert (2007). 

After a divorce and a heartbreak, Elizabeth Gilbert travels for a year abroad and in her own words, “explores the art of pleasure in Italy, the art of devotion in India and, in Indonesia, the art of balancing the two."  This book is filled with gorgeous prose and vivid story-telling that makes you ache to take her journey. Who wouldn’t want to fall in love, eat all the pizza and gelato you want and get in touch with the inner reaches of her soul? Sounds like a heaven!

Shopaholic and Baby by Sophie Kinsella (2007).   (click here to check out this book and more by Sophie Kinsella)

This mirth-filled romp (fifth in the Shopaholic series) follows Becky Brandon as she celebrates the joy and wonder of her first pregnancy (did you know that shopping cures morning sickness?) and deals with the repercussions of picking a celebrity must-have obstetrician that is none other than her husband’s college girlfriend. Becky's outrageous antics make you laugh out loud. Better make sure your husband is watching the kids before you pick this book up because you won't be able to put it down.

Kelly Scott Kelly Scotti, HHC, is the Founder and Director of Flying Dragon Wellness, www.flyingdragonwellness.com, a nutrition and wellness counseling practice in Bucks County, Pa. She's Board Certified by the American Association of Drugless Practitioners, and obtained her training from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition in NYC.  She and her husband also run an online baby boutique for boys, www.ohboybabyboutique.com. For more information, or to schedule a consultation, please email Kelly at flyingdragonwellness@yahoo.com.  

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