After my 2^nd child was born I decided that my family needed to become healthier.  This meant gradual changes on a few levels.   In addition to trying to go “green” around the house by replacing light bulbs with energy saving ones, recycling and using eco-friendly cleaning products, we made changes to our health, like deciding to exercise more and drink more milk.

The decision to incorporate more milk into our diet came after my husband and I took a series of healthy living classes. The classes were taught by very well-informed nutritionists, so I was very eager to learn from them. They were really a launching pad for my drive to serve more nutritious and healthy meals to my family, but they also inspired me to rework many of my mom's traditional Mexican recipes into healthier ones. One of our classes was focused solely on quick and easy ways to keep our families healthy.  I was really surprised to learn that young children should really only drink milk or water, no juice.   When I learned more about the lack of nutrients and high amounts of sugars found in juice we made the decision to only give our children milk and water.  I have 4 kids under the age of 8, so organic milk is a staple in our house.  We do allow them to have orange juice and the occasional glass of organic 100% fruit juice, but we try to focus on giving them organic milk at each meal and at snack time.

I found it really refreshing that even cutting edge healthy living classes recommended milk for keeping kids healthy.  The funny thing is that one day I mentioned to my mom about the classes I was taking and their recommendation to give kids only milk and water.  She laughed and said it doesn’t take a genius to know this fact!   I am glad that we are such big milk family, especially considering that my kids LOVE it!

Actually, the holidays are a great way to incorporate more milk into your child’s diet.   Think about all the junk that our families eat this time of year. It seems like between Halloween and Christmas so many unhealthy items can easily pile into our homes.   Instead of another serving of something unhealthy on our plate or your child’s plate, serve a glass milk.  Try making milk based holiday recipes that will provide nutritional value to your family, like arroz con leche made with brown rice. Sprinkle a little cinnamon on top and it's surely to be a favorite!

Milk contains so many more good for you nutrients than another cookie, slice of pie or piece candy can provide.   Milk will give you added calcium, which in turn helps give you strong bones, teeth, nails and hair.   Milk always helps me start day off on the right foot too, giving me that perfect boost of energy and at night a warm glass of milk helps me to relax and wind down from a busy day.  My favorite time to have a glass of milk is actually after a great workout, especially after a long run!  Did you know that after a workout muscle tends to break down and that the protein found in milk is a great tool to help your muscles rebuild after physical activity?  Funny, I actually crave my glass of milk on my runs!

To learn more about the benefits of milk Link to The Master of the Glass Half Full on Facebook and on Twitter.

Disclosure: This is part of a sponsored campaign with the California Milk Processor’s Board and Latina Mom Bloggers.

One of my favorite things to do when the weather is chilly outside is to make hot cocoa for myself and my kids.   We make it with milk, of course!  We sit at the kitchen counter and sip our hot chocolate, usually not much is said because we are all enjoying our drink.  Sometimes we take our hot chocolate and drink it outside in the backyard.  The kids climb into the play structure and drink it up there while I sit on the patio and watch them.  Really, it seems like for a little while as we enjoy our drinks that things are calm and quiet.  With four small kids in our home, it tends to be a bit noisy around here! I don’t know if drinking hot chocolate with their family will become part of my children’s favorite childhood moments, but they do bring me a little peace and quiet!

However, I think that great childhood memories can come from very simple moments.  One of my favorite memories from my childhood is centered around milk and takes place in México, in the very small town where my parents were born. My parents made sure that we visited as often as we could, so we took many road trips in my childhood from our home in Chicago to this small town in México. I loved seeing all of my relatives, but my favorite person to visit was my grandma, mi abuelita.  She is pictured in this photo, the woman on the left side in the blue turtleneck, with of my favorite tías on the right.

I used to sit on mi abuelita’s porch with a cup of warm milk in my hands, in the late evening, and she would have her cup of coffee (with a lot of milk) – un café con leche.   She would sip her coffee and I would drink my warm milk. Sometimes mi mama would add a dash of canela to my warm milk – yum!  There were many evenings when we had the best conversations and others when we just sat, not talking too much, just enjoying our warm drinks.

As I got older I graduated from my glass of warm milk to a cup of coffee, like mi abuelita - this was a big deal!  As she aged, our those conversations moved into longer periods of silence.  To this day if I have warm milk or a café con leche the way mi abuelita made it, I remember those evenings.  I miss her.  I wish that I could have seen her more often and enjoyed those evenings even more. Nothing really remarkable happened during those moments with her on her porch, but I get incredibly nostalgic when I think about them...simple moments, warm memories.  Just like the ones I have now with my kids and our hot cocoa breaks...

It's probably the Thanksgiving season, but I am feeling pretty grateful for so much goodness in my life, past and present.

Disclosure: This is part of a sponsored campaign with the California Milk Processor’s Board and Latina Mom Bloggers.  You can learn more about this campaign with The Master of the Glass Half Full on Facebook or follow El Maestro on Twitter.

The Little Masters of the Glass Half Full Photo Album/"El Album de Los Maestritos del Vasito Medio Llenito"

Facebook Photo Contest

Today we are announcing the start of a contest!   The prizes are AMAZING and entering to win is super easy.   Last week I announced that vidacoco.com proudly became a Positivity Ambassador because I believe in the many health benefits that milk can provide us and our families.   With the help of the “Master of the Glass Half Full,” (aka the milk guru) we will be posting a series of posts between now and the end of the year on how we can incorporate milk into our healthy lifestyle….and I’m am loving the positive attitude that the Master of the Glass Half Full brings to the campaign!   So, would you like to win a new fridge, bike or a year’s supply of milk?   Check out the contest details below and enter today, but first read the letter from Master of the Glass Half Full to Vidacoco fans.

The details:

Starting October 3^rd through October 21st the Master of the Glass Half Full will hold a Facebook photo contest.  It’s fun and super easy to enter! Simply submit pictures of your child/children holding a glass half full of milk, like the milk Master likes do to do.   The best picture imitating the Master will win!

Photo submissions will be accepted from October 3^rd through October 21^st, followed by on-line voting from October 24-28^th. Winners will be announced on Monday, October 31^st. You may submit pictures and learn more about the contest here. The Master of the Glass Half Full is always looking to spread his love of milk and positive attitude - find him on Facebook and Twitter.

Check out my kids with their impressions!

The PRIZES!

Grand Prize/1^st Place: French door stainless steel refrigerator with a year’s supply of milk

2^nd Place: Bicycle with a front child seat and a year’s supply of milk

3^rd Place: Professional blender with a year’s supply of milk

As a side note, one of the things that I am enjoying about working on this campaign is it’s focus on staying positive with the help of The Master of the Glass Half Full and his daily dose of positivity. This got me thinking…For years my husband has told me that so much of life and what we can make of it begins with PMA – a positive mental attitude.   Yes, it’s a little corny and easer said than done, but it’s true!   I admire my husband and his daily dose of PMA – he inspires me to look at the glass half full.  I think that his PMA inspires and motivates others too.   Who inspires you to do the same?   Are you that person that inspires a positive attitude in others?   I certainly need to work on this :)

Disclosure: This is part of a sponsored campaign with the California Milk Processor’s Board and Latina Mom Bloggers.