Feeding the Family: Roasted Shrimp Tacos

Another creative, fun, and healthy meal from the kitchen of one of our Stroller Strides moms, Kerri Kanter. Thanks for sharing, Kerri!

Who says our kids are the only ones who can play with their food? Here is a simple, fast, and healthy recipe that everyone can eat with their fingers: Roasted Shrimp Tacos!

Ingredients:

1 lb uncooked shrimp

1 tbs olive oil

Pinch of salt and pepper

1 head of Boston lettuce leaves (or butter lettuce)

Optional toppings: Avocado, Tomato, Red bell pepper, Salsa, Reduced fat cheddar cheese, Black beans, Cilantro, Scallions, and Black olives

Directions:

1. Clean, remove tails, and de-vein shrimp.
   
2. On a baking sheet, toss shrimp in oil, salt and pepper.
   
3. Roast in a 400 degree oven for 10 minutes.
   
4. Let cool for a few minutes until safe for everyone to touch.
   
5. Using the lettuce leaf as your taco shell, add shrimp and other favorite ingredients.

Do you have a healthy recipe to share with our Midtown Raleigh Moms community? Email it to missycurrin@strollerstrides.net and we'll get it posted here for all to try!

Calorie Counting and Meal Planning

Recently two of our beautiful Stroller Strides moms approached me with a request. They wanted to know what free website I would recommend to track caloric intake and get sound nutrition advice and even recipes for meal planning. I posed the question to our 300+ Stroller Strides franchisees across the US, Canada and even Korea and got some wonderful recommendations.

Here they are (in no particular order) for you to check out:

• fitday.com
• sparkpeople.com
• loseit.com
• MyPyramid.gov
• myfitnesspal.com
• livestrong.com

As far as I know all of these websites are free to use and some even have iPhone apps that you can use on the go. A common sentiment among the franchisees was that you should not rely on the amount of calories that these sites tell you you've burned because they tend to overestimate. Which of these sites have you used? Can you recommend any others?

Our March Mom of the Month

Our Mom of the Month program allows us to honor one of our fellow moms and get to know her better at the same time. Our March Mom of the Month is Jen Hansen (aka Ivy's mom)! Pictured here at our Halloween party this fall...

Jen and Ivy rarely miss a class (only when they're out of state) and Jen always brings her smile and sunny attitude to class with her. Thanks for being such a great role model to Ivy and to your fellow moms, Jen! We can't wait to meet your little boy this spring!

Here is a little more from Jen to help you get to know her better:

Hometown Centerville, MN
Education BS Exercise Science from Minnesota State
Stroller Strides Member since August 2010
Members of your Family Husband- Marc, Ivy- 12months, and 26 weeks pregnant with our little man!
Current Career Stay at home mommy, the best job in the world!
What was your childhood ambition? To become an oceanographer and be a killer whale trainer at sea world.
What does motherhood mean to you? The strongest form of love to be experienced. It is the most important job I have ever had and I want to be great at it.
What is the furthest you have been from home? Costa Rica
What has Stroller Strides done for you? Making the life change to being a stay at home mom smooth, restored sanity, given myself and Ivy great friends in Raleigh, and gave me my body back! Well... until I was pregnant again, but I am a strong believer that it will happen again :)
What is your favorite exercise? Oh there are so many how do I choose...abs and anything with a jazzy tune.
What is your proudest moment? Delivering Ivy! 23 hours of labor with no drugs... never thought I could be so strong.
What are three of your favorite things (besides your family!)? Traveling, snuggling up and watching a movie, and house hunting.
Tell us something about yourself that would surprise us or makes you unique. I was a pole vaulter in college, also coached pole vaulting for 3 years and had 1 state champion. I love the sport.
If we asked your spouse what they think your best qualities are, what would they say? I am very layed back, cheerful most of the time, a great listener, not a nag, and I love with my whole heart.

Just 1 Week Left to Register for our Grand Opening Event!

Join us on Tuesday, March 1st at the NC Museum of Art Park to kick-off our newest class location!

9:30am: Registration opens (click HERE to register online)

10am: FREE Stroller Strides class
11am: Raffle, Refreshments & Playgroup Time
(Raffle prizes donated by Episencial, gDiapers & Smartmomma/ERGO BabyCarrier)

What is Stroller Strides?

Stroller Strides is a total fitness program that moms can do with their babies. It includes power walking and intervals of strength and body toning exercises using exercise tubing, the stroller, and the environment. Taught by certified instructors.

Who should come to the Grand Opening?

It is a great workout for any level of exerciser. All moms of stroller-age children are welcome to attend this free event. Bring your child(ren), your stroller, a yoga mat or towel, and dress to exercise! (jogging stroller not necessary)

Location & Directions:

The Museum Park surrounds the NC Museum of Art which is located at 2110 Blue Ridge Road, Raleigh, North Carolina 27607. Parking is free. Class begins and ends in the open area between the East and West Museum buildings. For more information on the Museum Park and for parking and driving directions please click HERE.

You're Invited to a Grand Opening Event!

Join us on Tuesday, March 1st at the NC Museum of Art Park to kick-off our newest class location!

9:30am: Registration opens (click HERE to register online)

10am: FREE Stroller Strides class
11am: Raffle, Refreshments & Playgroup Time

What is Stroller Strides?

Stroller Strides is a total fitness program that moms can do with their babies. It includes power walking and intervals of strength and body toning exercises using exercise tubing, the stroller, and the environment. Taught by certified instructors.

Who should come to the Grand Opening?

It is a great workout for any level of exerciser. All moms of stroller-age children are welcome to attend this free event. Bring your child(ren), your stroller, a yoga mat or towel, and dress to exercise! (jogging stroller not necessary)

Location & Directions:

The Museum Park surrounds the NC Museum of Art which is located at 2110 Blue Ridge Road, Raleigh, North Carolina 27607. Parking is free. Class begins and ends in the open area between the East and West Museum buildings. For more information on the Museum Park and for parking and driving directions please click HERE.

Space Travel and Bone Density... hold the Swiss!

A few weeks ago my family was watching a PBS special about astronauts and the challenges they face in space travel and I was struck by an alarming statistic (which I'll get to in a minute). I wish I could find a link to the episode but I haven't been able to find it yet- sorry.

Anyway, one of the astronauts' challenges is living in a zero-gravity environment and the effect it has on their bone density. Humans need weight-bearing exercise to maintain bone density and the zero-gravity environment of space makes it impossible to lift weights of any sort. An astronaut doesn't even work against gravity when he space-walks or raises his arm overhead. You might be thinking... well, duh! But stay with me here... do you know how much bone density an astronaut loses over 6 months in a zero-gravity environment (despite "exercising" for 2 hours each day)? 14%. Yikes! How does he manage to walk off of the shuttle after it lands back on earth without crumbling to the ground? When I hear this statistic I pictured his bones riddled with holes, like Swiss cheese. One false step and he's got a broken hip... without a doubt an exaggeration but that is what I picture in my head.

14%- that is huge! So how important is weight-bearing exercise to maintaining healthy bone mass? So important!!! According to the Merck Manual, as women, our bone density peaks around age 30 and then it is an uphill battle to maintain it from then on. Eventual menopause only fuels the fire and thus begins the slippery slope to being frail little old ladies.

So how can we fight against bone loss and be strong moms? Make sure you are taking in adequate calcium and Vitamin D and incorporate weight-bearing exercise into your exercise routine. Join us at Stroller Strides for a full body workout that includes plenty of weight-bearing exercise and stay strong and fit for motherhood and all that lies ahead!

Stroller Strides Sweetheart Special

Looking for a Valentine's Day gift for the moms in your life with young children?

Or a great 'wish list' idea for yourself?

Take advantage of our Stroller Strides Sweetheart Special... just in time for Valentine's Day! Between now and February 14th purchase a 10-Class Pass for only $99 (regular price- $110).

No need for gift receipts, worrying about sizes or colors or what someone already has--this is a gift that ALL moms will appreciate, that allows them to feel healthy, get in shape, meet other moms, AND have fun with their baby or stroller-aged children!

You can purchase Stroller Strides of Midtown Raleigh 10-Class Pass online via Paypal (see below-no account required) or by calling 888-760-0142, ext. 1. You will receive a follow-up email with instructions for redemption.

We currently offer classes 3 days/week (Mon, Wed & Fri), in the Midtown Raleigh area and will add Tues/Thurs classes to the schedule in March.

Stroller Strides is a total body workout program that moms can do with their stroller-aged children. The workouts include cardio, strength training, and abdominal work, plus songs and fun for the kids. Stroller Strides of Midtown Raleigh offers classes at the North Hills Mall and will open at the NC Museum of Art Park in March. Gift certificates are valid through 8/30/11. We also offer a weekly playgroup and monthly moms night out for moms in the Triangle area.

For more information about Stroller Strides of Midtown Raleigh, see www.strollerstrides.net/midtownraleigh.

Questions? Contact missycurrin@strollerstrides.net, 888-760-0142.