This post contains  affiliate links.

• technology use
• negative messages
• positive messages
• lists

Technology use

• turn off notifications
• delete problematic apps
• track your time and block apps
• create boundaries

Turn off notifications

Delete problematic apps

Track your time and block apps

Boundaries

Negative messages

Positive messages

Make lists

Simple Ways to Declutter Your Schedule

The post How to Declutter Your Mind: 4 Areas of Your Life to Focus On appeared first on Simple Acres Blog.

*This article contains affiliate links.

Before we get started let’s make sure we have all the essentials to MAKE these delicious smoothies!

What you NEED to make healthy smoothie recipes:

• A blender. I love our magic bullet because it is small but simple and efficient to use.
• Straws. Whether you like colorful fun straws to get your kids more excited to drink healthy smoothies, earth friendly biodegradable straws or metal reusable straws are essential to enjoying your beverage.
• The perfect smoothie cup.

Why do smoothies simplify healthier eating habits?

1. They help you get several servings of fruits and vegetables in a few drinkable cups.
2. They are quick and easy to make.
3. If a protein source such as milk, yogurt, nut butters or protein powders are used they can easily serve as a meal replacement.

Here are some healthy smoothie recipes to get you on a great track to healthier habits SIMPLY!

The Winter Smoothie by Lorie’s Mississippi Kitchen
Cardamom Pear Smoothie by Blissful Basil
Persimmon Banana Breakfast Smoothie by Happy Foods Tube
Cranberry Smoothie by Veggie Inspired
Creamy Clementine Smoothie by Eating Bird Food
Fig and Almond Butter Smoothie by Kitchen Confididante

Superfood Chocolate Mint Smoothie by Delicious Obsessions
Beet Pomegranate Smoothie by Joy Food Sunshine
Ginger Oatmeal Green Smoothie by Snixy Kitchen
Kale Mango Pineapple Smoothie by Savory Tooth
Blueberry Pomegranate Smoothie by Two Peas And Their Pod
Apple Cinnamon Protein Smoothie by Zesty Olive

Orange, Ginger & Turmeric Smoothie by Running In A Skirt
Healthy Pumpkin Smoothie Recipe by The Forked Spoon
Easy Acai Smoothie by Detoxinista
Carrot Berry Smoothie by The Petite Cook

Persimmon Vanilla Bean Smoothie by Running To The Kitchen
Cranberry Beet Smoothie by The Organic Dietitian
Healthy Chocolate Smoothie by A Virtual Vegan
5 Ingredient Detox Smoothie by Minimalist Baker

Healthy smoothie recipes have helped me get the vitamins and antioxidants I need not only in my own body but in my picky kids bodies! I hope this list of recipes helps you to make lifestyle changes that help YOU to be the healthiest YOU! Dovidenia. Over and out! XO

Here is one more smoothie you will love:

Health Smoothie

The post 20 Deliciously Healthy Smoothie Recipes Essential for a Healthy Life appeared first on Simple Acres Blog.

Who loves to snack or finds the need to snack daily? That question should cover everyone from the person that enjoys nibbling to the person on the go constantly that feels the nudge of hunger for a small bite during their busy day. As a busy mom, entrepreneur and Registered Dietitian I can attest to the immense value in healthy snacking. Today I want to inspire you to snack with your health in mind and try these 11 delicious low carb snacks in your lifestyle.

A low carb diet can be beneficial for many from those with clinical conditions such as Diabetes, to those trying to maintain a healthy weight to those following the Keto diet. Lower carb snacks are great for the whole family because it encourages getting more protein, healthy fats and plant based foods that many people often lack in their diet.

I was excited to partner with Pearls Olives!® for this post because, well, olives is quite frankly one of our favorites in our house. I still love eating them on my fingers like when I was a kid and,of course, my little ones have fun and follow along. You can find your  Pearls Olives to Go!®  on Amazon or you can use the brand’s store locator for other retailers near you!

11 Delicious Low Carb Snacks

1. Mixed nuts and seeds
2. Carrot sticks with 2 Tbsp of hummus
3. Cucumber slices with ranch
4. Pickles
5. Low fat string cheese
6. Lean beef jerky
7. Hard boiled eggs
8. Cottage cheese
9. Natural peanut butter and celery
10. 5-6 tortilla chips and 2 Tbsp gaucamole
11. Olives; We loved our Italian Herb and Sriracha flavored varieties!

Simple snacks that honor your health by being lower in carbs can increase your protein intake, encourage healthy fats from plant sourced proteins such as nuts and will naturally increase your vegetable intake which in turn boosts your antioxidant intake as well. Low carb snacks are a win-win for everyone!

The post 11 Delicious Low Carb Snacks appeared first on Simple Acres Blog.

1. Start your day being present with yourself. This can look different for everyone. For some it may be a morning jog alone, it could be stretching and reflecting or even taking a few extra moments in bed to meditate on positive thoughts.

2. Nourish yourself first. Often as busy woman and mothers as our day begins we start taking care of others. Possibly it’s our husbands needs or making lunches for our kids. It’s easy to be so busy you forget to fuel yourself. Whether it’s a sit down balanced breakfast or a simple beverage you drink while you are preparing for the day you will feel better and more equipped to conquer your day.

Even if it’s a busy morning you can use the Odwalla® Chocolate Protein drink as morning energy as you are busy making lunches for the family!

3. Take time out. Its ok to take time out to disconnect and recharge. Just a 5 min walk, stretch or deep breathing can do wonders to de-stress and allow improved focus in your day. For goodness sake take a lunch break too!

4. Say “yes” less. Every time you say “yes” , when you shouldn’t, you are saying “no” to something that matters. I have learned this the hard way but with every hiccup my boundaries continue to develop and ultimately my stress level decreases as I say “no” more and “yes” only when I should.

5. Plan and prioritize. Schedule yourself time in your day to feel prepared. Whether you do this through journaling or spending time looking at your planner, knowing what the next day ahead holds helps you to stay true to the things mentioned above.

6. Reflect and journal. Finding time in the end of the day to record thoughts, aspirations and gratitude encourages a healthy mind and positive mindset.

7. Pamper yourself. As a mother, this can be simply taking a bath reading a good book or even enjoying something delicious like one of my favorite Odwalla® while painting or doing another hobby I find relaxing.

8. Nourish your body. As you can see this is mentioned twice because of it’s importance. In the evening as things slow down it is a great time take any supplementation your body may need or if you are hungry choose a light snack.

9. Rest. Adequate sleep is so overlooked in self care but is essential to achieve all the day entails. The average adults needs between 7 to sometimes 10 hours per night of restorative sleep.

Let me know what aspects of self care you are putting into practice I would love to hear!

The post 9 Best Habits for Self Care appeared first on Simple Acres Blog.

Life has been busy, beautiful and chaotic here at Simple Acres. Autumn brings beautiful colors, family traditions, holidays to look forward to and “bugs” we need to fight off to stay healthy. How do you and your family stay healthy as the season changes and the holidays come? There are a few tips that promote a healthy family that are helpful for us we are excited to share!

We have a lot going on as mothers. I found myself in bed with a cold this week and what I realized is how much my family needs me to be my healthiest. We as mothers have so many roles that often we forget to take care of ourselves or we just can not find the time.

Here are my 10 Tips that promote a healthy family:

1. Take a time out. When it comes to health, rest is KEY to prevention. I am guilty as charged and can be the worst at this BUT I am taking a self-care stay-cation this week to rest and reset. We need this as moms and our kids even need this too. Rest helps keep our bodies functioning optimally to ward off illness. I am working hard to be intuitive to my bodies signs of weariness as well as my children’s this season and trying to be proactive with extra rest as needed.

2. Have a plan. Helping our kids and selves to be healthy through the holiday and fall-winter season takes planning and being prepared. This includes having an idea what you want to serve for dinner and snacks that are healthy to when you will get in physical activity. Planning comes in many forms but to keep it simple just write a note, journal or type it in your notes in your phone. Once written, there is a much higher chance of follow through.

Look at that cow, isn’t she cute!? I love how fluffy our black Angus cows ears get and they are the most inquisitive and peaceful animals. Also, very weird when they all come from 5 acres away and stare at you…I digress and there I am present with the slobbery cow. That brings me to number three.

3. Be present. Even in the midst of chaos I try to check in with myself and what I feel I need to maintain health (nourishment, activity, rest, spirituality) and what my family needs whether it is extra attention, rest, love or an extra healthy drink to start their day. Being present is part of that time out I mentioned above and helps in the planning process for your family’s success.

4. Stay active. It is easy to not exercise as the weather cools and our schedule fills with festivities and delicious foods. Often it is said people gain 10-15 pound during the holiday season of the year. Exercise is a powerful tool to ward of holiday pounds, decrease stress, boost our immune system and practice self care. What activity does as a mom is it models healthy behavior to your little ones. I have been running bleachers for 6 months now and when I take my kids they ACTUALLY run WITH ME! This is because they see the exercise as norm and fun! 15 minutes three times per week with 25 sit-ups and push-ups has been my regimen. With such minimal time I have seen and felt big results.

5. Be Realistic. You will not be perfect mamma. The reality is you will miss that daily vitamin, workout or servings of produce some days. Remember CONSISTENCY not perfection is needed to maintain a healthy lifestyle as a family. Keeping your perspective more positive and realistic with decrease the stress of all that’s on your plate.

6. Laugh often. A happy heart really is good medicine as it decreases stress hormones that effect your health and immunity negatively. Family movie nights with funny movie themes, telling jokes and getting silly with the kids are all great ideas to keep “the funny” alive.

7. Love often. Love is healing, uplifting, rewarding and comforting. Whether it is quality time spent, gift giving or kind words….love truly is the bodies best medicine.

8. Start your day right. I’m finding myself eating my moms pumpkin pie for breakfast and snacks this time of year! We need a convenient way to get in the antioxidants our body needs aside from the enjoyable foods the season offers. I am excited to share V8® Veggie Blends: Caribbean Greens juice drink. It is natural, healthy and convenient. This is a new flavor that you can find at Walmart. What I loved about is it’s tasty but not too sweet as its 75% juice, 25% water and contains no added sugar or food additives and is only 60 calories per serving. Just drinking a cup or two at breakfast gets me nearly to goal intake for vegetables for the day!

9. Increase produce intake. We need to eat more fruits and vegetables (2.5-3cups a day of vegetables per the USDA) than ever this season to equip our bodies  with the antioxidants needed to maintain health. Busy schedules and picky kid appetites generally wreak havoc on this goal. One cup of V8® Veggie Blends: Caribbean Greens equals a half a cup of raw vegetables which means meeting your goals just got simpler! Bring on the vitamin A,C and E.

10. Connect. Take time out, retouch with yourself and the Greater Good to reboot your body from the inside out. Here I am enjoying my V8® Veggie Blends: Caribbean Greens soaking in what nature has to offer on our farm. Watching my kids play in the pumpkin patch and counting my blessings!

Get your   V8® Veggie Blends  now at Walmart in the beverage section of the store.

Quality life, love, health and happiness I wish you! Dovidenia. Xo

The post 10 Tips That Promote a Healthy Family appeared first on Simple Acres Blog.

Is it possible to buy healthy food on a budget? I often open the cupboards to see what I just bought mere days ago and it is gone! Can you relate?! With a growing family it can be a challenge to keep the food in the house, stay within a reasonable budget AND have healthy options! This year I am determined to save more money and my area of focus has been my food budget thus far. I am excited to share one of my secrets to feeding your family healthy food on a budget!

My personal journey and mission is to simplify life so that what really matters can be enjoyed MORE!

I am really passionate about helping you find more freedom, time and ability to do the same.I have finally come to a place where I feel truly ready to make tangible changes in life that will benefit my family financially. Have you ever sat down and calculated how much money you spend a month on food or are you already on a budget? I say this with embarrassment, that for the longest time I did not want to know how much I was really spending on food … although I had an idea and it was not good. I haven’t shared yet, as I am keeping a spending journal for this month, but I will be sharing my journey to successfully tightening up my family’s food budget at the end of the month.

Today I want to share one quick secret that is an absolute game changer to your financial health when it comes to your food budget and healthy eating. 

Here’s my secret to feeding your family healthy on a budget:

1. Shop at a discount grocery store. Have you ever heard of Grocery Outlet or visited one?! This store alone will help you nearly cut your grocery expenses in half! They are a family owned grocery store that offers awesome varieties of food at 40-70% off the prices you would find in other stores.
2. Shop in the healthy food section of the store. Like most stores when you shop the perimeter of the store you generally will find the more wholesome food options and produce.
3. Shop in the NOSH section! Holy heck! What is this? This my friends is the natural, alternative, organic, specialty foods and healthy section of the store AS WELL! I found items that were double and in some times triple OFF the cost found in other stores. Now you can get the organic and specialty foods you would want to get but otherwise might not be able to afford! I shopped almost solely in the NOSH section and got ALL the food pictured below for nearly $80 while saving about $80 off what would have been regular price! I was giddy to say the least when I left the store!

There is something that FEELS SO GOOD about saving money for the family AND feeding them wholesome healthy options as a mother! Every time I leave Grocery Outlet I am reminded why it is SO important to shop with them first. The reason I say first is because their food options change regularly due to the nature of how they are able to offer their great discounts. So, shop at this discount grocery store first then what you can’t find get at another store.

Grocery Outlet offers high value in foods at an amazing price where there is something for EVERYONE in your family!

I whipped up a few things in minutes for my kids from my findings.

This first recipe is a Dairy-Free Peanut Butter, Chocolate and Banana Smoothie using 1/2 a banana, 1/3 cup almond milk ice cream from the NOSH section, a tablespoon of natural peanut butter and almond milk. I really didn’t measure much just added ingredients to taste. If you want it thicker add less almond milk add more chocolate almond ice cream. If you want it more sweet add more banana or even drizzle in some raw honey.

The other recipe I threw together is this Organic Broccoli Mac and Cheese. My organic box of mac and cheese and broccoli was all from the NOSH section. The whole meal that would feed 4 cost less than $4 for the entire batch! All I did was cook the mac and cheese per the box directions. When the noodles were half way done I then added a handful of the organic broccoli to the boiling water. Once the noodles and broccoli are cooked through, strain the water then add them back to the cooking pan. Add 1/3 cup of almond milk and the cheese packet, stir and mix. Then add a handful of shredded cheddar cheese and mix in until melted. Top it with a sprinkle of pepper and Parmesan cheese and it is ready to serve! We love this for a quick meal.

I had so much fun shopping and saving at Grocery Outlet and I hope this little secret will help YOU feed your family healthy meals on less! Dovidenia. XO

The post How to Feed Your Family Healthy Food on a Budget appeared first on Simple Acres Blog.

Here is your Week 7 Menu Plan:

Monday

Gluten Free Orange Chicken

Tuesday

The Best BBQ Chicken Slider

Wednesday

Salsa Fresca and Chicken Tacos *Recipe*

Thursday

Strawberry Spinach Salad

Friday

Pizza – The Official Food of Connecticut

Saturday

Crock Pot Cheesy Chicken Tacos

Sunday

Whole Grain Blueberry Pecan Granola Pancakes

Meet the moms behind these delicious meal ideas:

Meghan | Playground Parkbench

Meghan is a mother of 3 kids, ages 5 and under. She LOVES to cook, though her kids don’t always LOVE to eat it. It’s a fine balance to find food she and her husband enjoy, that the kids can also eat (no short order cooks around here!), and that involve limited prep… because prep time usually includes a toddler hanging off her leg. A Texan living in New England, her food preferences often take a Mexican twist to satisfy cravings from home. She meal plans because it’s financially savvy and makes one less thing to think about at the end of every busy day!

Stefanie | Simple Acres

Stefanie (this is me) is a Slovakian Buffalo girl who was always country at heart. She’s a real wife, mom of 3, artist and registered dietitian (the one of the bunch actually officially trained to meal plan!).  She and her family planted their roots on 10 acres of dirt and tumble weeds, making their dreams of the country life and farming come to life… although not without some bumps along the way as they learn the ropes. She meal plans because she’s trained to (and it’s a long way to the nearest grocery store if she forgets ‘just that one ingredient’)!

Rachael | Wunder Mom

Rachael is a real mom with real kids.  She is a Marine Corps Wife, and Mom of four.  She considers herself a super hero, and thinks every mom should too!  Whether you stay at home or work full time, your lives are devoted to raising tiny humans and it often takes a little bit of magic, a dash of pixi dust, and a few super powers just to make it through the day!  Everyday is a learning experience and has something new to enjoy. She hopes her weekly meal plans give you one more tool in your Super Mom arsenal.

Alyssa | Arts & Crackers

Alyssa is a 20-something military wife and mommy to two energetic little boys. Her family is currently stationed in North Carolina. She describes herself as artsy, creative, mom, foodie, Christian, quirky. One of her passions is creating unique and fun foods for the family to enjoy, be it dinner or fun, crafty food with her kids

Enjoy meal planning simply week 7. You may also like to refer to week 1, week 2, week 3, week 4 ,week 5 and week 6.

Dovidenia. XO

The post Menu Planning for Busy Moms Week 7 appeared first on Simple Acres Blog.

This week :

Wunder-Mom Meal Plans

Meet the moms behind these delicious meal ideas:

Meghan | Playground Parkbench

Meghan is a mother of 3 kids, ages 5 and under. She LOVES to cook, though her kids don’t always LOVE to eat it. It’s a fine balance to find food she and her husband enjoy, that the kids can also eat (no short order cooks around here!), and that involve limited prep… because prep time usually includes a toddler hanging off her leg. A Texan living in New England, her food preferences often take a Mexican twist to satisfy cravings from home. She meal plans because it’s financially savvy and makes one less thing to think about at the end of every busy day!

Stefanie | Simple Acres

Stefanie (this is me) is a Slovakian Buffalo girl who was always country at heart. She’s a real wife, mom of 3, artist and registered dietitian (the one of the bunch actually officially trained to meal plan!).  She and her family planted their roots on 10 acres of dirt and tumble weeds, making their dreams of the country life and farming come to life… although not without some bumps along the way as they learn the ropes. She meal plans because she’s trained to (and it’s a long way to the nearest grocery store if she forgets ‘just that one ingredient’)!

Rachael | Wunder Mom

Rachael is a real mom with real kids.  She is a Marine Corps Wife, and Mom of four.  She considers herself a super hero, and thinks every mom should too!  Whether you stay at home or work full time, your lives are devoted to raising tiny humans and it often takes a little bit of magic, a dash of pixi dust, and a few super powers just to make it through the day!  Everyday is a learning experience and has something new to enjoy. She hopes her weekly meal plans give you one more tool in your Super Mom arsenal.

Alyssa | Arts & Crackers

Alyssa is a 20-something military wife and mommy to two energetic little boys. Her family is currently stationed in North Carolina. She describes herself as artsy, creative, mom, foodie, Christian, quirky. One of her passions is creating unique and fun foods for the family to enjoy, be it dinner or fun, crafty food with her kids

Enjoy meal planning simply week 6. You may also like to refer to week 1, week 2, week 3, week 4 and week 5.

Dovidenia. XO

The post Menu Planning Simply Week 6 appeared first on Simple Acres Blog.

Enjoy some of the best recipes from mom’s just like you!

Winter Week Long Meal Plan

Meet the moms behind these delicious meal ideas:

Meghan | Playground Parkbench

Meghan is a mother of 3 kids, ages 5 and under. She LOVES to cook, though her kids don’t always LOVE to eat it. It’s a fine balance to find food she and her husband enjoy, that the kids can also eat (no short order cooks around here!), and that involve limited prep… because prep time usually includes a toddler hanging off her leg. A Texan living in New England, her food preferences often take a Mexican twist to satisfy cravings from home. She meal plans because it’s financially savvy and makes one less thing to think about at the end of every busy day!

Stefanie | Simple Acres

Stefanie (this is me) is a Slovakian Buffalo girl who was always country at heart. She’s a real wife, mom of 3, artist and registered dietitian (the one of the bunch actually officially trained to meal plan!).  She and her family planted their roots on 10 acres of dirt and tumble weeds, making their dreams of the country life and farming come to life… although not without some bumps along the way as they learn the ropes. She meal plans because she’s trained to (and it’s a long way to the nearest grocery store if she forgets ‘just that one ingredient’)!

Rachael | Wunder Mom

Rachael is a real mom with real kids.  She is a Marine Corps Wife, and Mom of four.  She considers herself a super hero, and thinks every mom should too!  Whether you stay at home or work full time, your lives are devoted to raising tiny humans and it often takes a little bit of magic, a dash of pixi dust, and a few super powers just to make it through the day!  Everyday is a learning experience and has something new to enjoy. She hopes her weekly meal plans give you one more tool in your Super Mom arsenal.

Alyssa | Arts & Crackers

Alyssa is a 20-something military wife and mommy to two energetic little boys. Her family is currently stationed in North Carolina. She describes herself as artsy, creative, mom, foodie, Christian, quirky. One of her passions is creating unique and fun foods for the family to enjoy, be it dinner or fun, crafty food with her kids

Enjoy meal planning simply week 5. You may also like to refer to week 1, week 2, week 3, and week 4.

Dovidenia. XO

The post Menu Planning Simply Week 5 appeared first on Simple Acres Blog.

This weeks menu plan is brought to you by Alyssa from Arts and Crackers.

Meal Planning Menu | Overlapping Ingredients | Week 4

Meet the moms behind these delicious meal ideas:

Meghan | Playground Parkbench

Meghan is a mother of 3 kids, ages 5 and under. She LOVES to cook, though her kids don’t always LOVE to eat it. It’s a fine balance to find food she and her husband enjoy, that the kids can also eat (no short order cooks around here!), and that involve limited prep… because prep time usually includes a toddler hanging off her leg. A Texan living in New England, her food preferences often take a Mexican twist to satisfy cravings from home. She meal plans because it’s financially savvy and makes one less thing to think about at the end of every busy day!

Stefanie | Simple Acres

Stefanie (this is me) is a Slovakian Buffalo girl who was always country at heart. She’s a real wife, mom of 3, artist and registered dietitian (the one of the bunch actually officially trained to meal plan!).  She and her family planted their roots on 10 acres of dirt and tumble weeds, making their dreams of the country life and farming come to life… although not without some bumps along the way as they learn the ropes. She meal plans because she’s trained to (and it’s a long way to the nearest grocery store if she forgets ‘just that one ingredient’)!

Rachael | Wunder Mom

Rachael is a real mom with real kids.  She is a Marine Corps Wife, and Mom of four.  She considers herself a super hero, and thinks every mom should too!  Whether you stay at home or work full time, your lives are devoted to raising tiny humans and it often takes a little bit of magic, a dash of pixi dust, and a few super powers just to make it through the day!  Everyday is a learning experience and has something new to enjoy. She hopes her weekly meal plans give you one more tool in your Super Mom arsenal.

Alyssa | Arts & Crackers

Alyssa is a 20-something military wife and mommy to two energetic little boys. Her family is currently stationed in North Carolina. She describes herself as artsy, creative, mom, foodie, Christian, quirky. One of her passions is creating unique and fun foods for the family to enjoy, be it dinner or fun, crafty food with her kids

Enjoy meal planning simply week 4. You may also like to refer to week 1, week 2, and week 3.

Dovidenia. XO

The post Meal Planning Simply Week 4 appeared first on Simple Acres Blog.