For those of you moms who are pregnant or breastfeeding, as of right now, it seems the virus will have no adverse effects for those who are pregnant or breastfeeding, and according to RCOG, there are no known cases yet found of a pregnant woman dying from the virus.

I know you’ve already got a lot on your plate, mama! Being a mom is no easy task, and the added stress of this seeming pandemic can definitely be another stress on your mind. But not to worry. Here are eight hacks to staying safe from coronavirus.

Don’t Freak Out

I put this point as number one, because it’s the number one best thing you could do for yourself (and everyone around you). Stress is the number one cause of disease, so please keep this in mind before you manically buy toilet paper or freak out about washing your hands every two seconds. The less stressed your body is, the less likely you’ll be to contract the virus. The bottom line is this: The worst thing that could happen to you is you die. Great. Now that we have that out of the way, let’s take a deep breath, relax, and do the best we can with what we are provided with. Of course we can practice a level of intelligence and avoid certain situations that are likely to make us more susceptible, but at the end of the day nobody really knows too much about this virus yet, and we could likely be making it a bigger deal than it really is. Not to mention, your baby is extremely intuitive and connected to Mama. If mama freaks out, guess who else will freak out? That’s right, baby.

So with that -- breathe. Everything will happen the way it will happen anyways, so do yourself a huge favor for yourself, your baby, and just relax.

Wash Your Hands Often

With that being said, make sure to wash your hands often to stay clean and worry free. No need to be neurotic about it -- remember not to stress. But when you think about it, wash your hands thoroughly with warm water and soap for 20 seconds.

No Risks With Breastfeeding

Right now, there are no cases and no evidence that a mama can pass the virus to her baby through her breast milk. Therefore, the benefits of breastfeeding far outweigh any risks, given the best nutrients you could give your baby to help promote their health and reduce risk of sickness is giving them the most nutritious substance on the planet -- your breast milk. If you’ve taken your baby off the nipple, consider putting them back on if it’s still possible. Your baby will be provided with many nutrients that baby can’t get in any other substance. If you’ve had trouble providing enough breast milk, make sure to travel with lot’s of lactogenic foods and snacks to increase your breast milk while providing your body with amazing, lactogenic nutrients!

No Need For Face Masks

Don’t wear a facemask. Surprised to hear this one? According to US Surgeon General Gerome Adams, wearing a facemask could actually increase your risk of contracting the coronavirus, since you might in fact, start touching your face more. He notes: “You can increase your risk of getting it by wearing a mask if you are not a health care provider,” Adams said. “Folks who don’t know how to wear them properly tend to touch their faces a lot and actually can increase the spread of coronavirus,” he added.

Yes, wash your hands. Yes, use hand-sanitizer. But face mask? Your call, but at the end of the day you probably won’t need one.

Steer Clear of… Everyone

While traveling, just mind your own business. This is not the time to be social and go make new friends. Stick with baby, and steer clear of those who especially seem sick. Avoid shaking hands or touching anyone if possible, and remember to wash your hands immediately after if you do.

Stay Indifferent With the News

Everyday there are more updates, more people contracting the virus, and more people freaking out. I recommend unplugging yourself from the news to enjoy the joys of being a momma. While we have the ability to take preventative measures, there’s no point in checking the news every single day to discover more updates on facts we already know.

Stay Nourished With Healthy Foods

Especially for momma's traveling, I recommend packing everything you need, just in case you can’t find a place on the road or in airports to eat healthy foods. Packing your bag with healthy snacks such as nuts, dried fruits, granola and protein bars can help to curb your hunger and keep your energy levels high while traveling. One of my favorite snacks are these lactation boosting chocolate bites , but really anything will do that is high in fiber and full of high quality ingredients.

Make Sure to Take Time For Yourself

Just like on the airplane where you’re instructed to put on your own oxygen mask first before your child’s, you also need to make sure you’re taking care of yourself before baby. This isn’t a selfish act -- this is actually better for your children in the end because you’ll be a better parent for your child. Make sure you’re taking time for yourself to have ‘me’ time, even if just a few minutes a day. Take a break to take a yoga or exercise class, get a pedicure, or even just take time to be totally alone. All of these things are absolutely vital to your health and wellness while traveling abroad.

The post Traveling With Children During the Coronavirus? 8 Ways to Stay Safe appeared first on FamilyToday.

1. Not taking care of yourself.

Before you put the oxygen mask on your child, you need to first put it on yourself. The number one mistake we see in parents is spending so much time taking care of their child that they forget to first take care of themselves first. Make sure you prioritize your own health and wellness first, so that you can have appropriate energy to then give back to your new baby.

2. Thinking that having a baby will be the most magical experience of your life.

Some of us aren’t so lucky. We often buy into this myth that having a baby will be the most magical experience of our lives. While having a baby is definitely a life-changing, eye-opening, and miraculous event, not all of us are so lucky to feel like it’s the best thing to ever happen to us.

Postpartum depression is real. Not bonding with your baby is real. Having torturous, long, painful labor is real. Does this mean that we regret having a baby? Maybe! And maybe not. The fact of the matter is this -- your experience is 100% yours and nobody else’s. What one parent experiences will differ from every other. Which brings me to my next point...

3. Comparing ourselves to others.

Another common thing to avoid as a new parent is comparison. As a new parent, we will naturally want to find other people to relate to. We’ll become friends with all the new parents on the block, so we can talk about our babies, our baby’s issues, and be able to communicate with someone who understands us. While this is great, we want to make sure don’t make the mistake of comparing our experience to someone else's. Maybe their baby is sleeping through the night, while your baby is waking up every couple hours. Maybe you’re able to produce plenty of breast milk, while your friend is struggling. Every parent will deal with their own individual struggles when it comes to parenting -- and that’s normal! Remember that ‘comparison is the death of joy’. Stay strong, don’t compare, and remember that everyone’s experience is unique, and valid, and never the same.

4. Not eating well.

The food we put into our bodies has a direct response to how we feel. Read that over again. While it’s not always easy or convenient to eat good foods, it’s one of the most important things you can do to get yourself feeling well again. Especially if you’re suffering from hormonal mood swings or post-partum depression, adding nutritious, healthy foods to your diet can be a game changer to your life and your mood. If you still don’t have time to eat well, then at least do yourself the favor of adding important nutrients through supplements or herbs. Especially if you’re a Mom struggling to produce breast milk, the magic key is as simple as adding a few lactogenic foods to your diet -- and boom! Your breast milk is plentiful.

5. Panicking over every little thing.

Take a breath. Relax. And whatever you do -- don’t panic! It’s not going to help you, and it’s definitely not going to help baby. While it’s important to be aware of what’s going on with your child -- it’s more common than not to think that everything is going wrong, when in reality, everything is fine. Remember that babies are far more resilient than we give them credit for -- and the excessive pooping, vomiting, or sleepless nights your baby is experiencing are all normal. Here are some tips to deal with and avoid panicking:

-Cultivate a meditation practice

Taking even 5-10 minutes a day to sit, breathe, and observe what is going on inside of you is a major game changer. Meditation is scientifically proven to reduce stress and anxiety, and it also teaches us how to deal with triggers and stressful situations.

-Exercise for at least 30 minutes a day.

Just like meditation, exercise is also proven to reduce stress and get those feel-good, yummy hormones pumping through our blood to help us feel good. Whether it’s a quick run around the block, a yoga class, or a swim, getting the blood pumping and the endorphins running through our veins will help you to relax next time you almost panic.

6. Not taking precaution

Now to argue with my last point, while there is no need to panic, we also want to make sure we take appropriate caution. Make life easier and have peace of mind by investing in a few things such as a good nanny cam and a proper car seat.

7. Expecting everything to be perfect.

Lastly, the biggest mistake to avoid for new parents is expecting everything to be perfect. It’s natural to want the best for yourself and your new baby, but since we are human, we are going to make mistakes. And that’s okay, as it’s part of the human experience! Every time we make mistakes we grow -- and it’s through the imperfections in life that we learn and evolve. Remember to breathe, love yourself, and love the journey.

8. Not taking naps.

While you might feel like a nap is the last thing you have time for, you should actually put it up at the top of your priority list. Even a quick 15 minute nap can help the mind and body to rest and release stress. According to SleepFoundation, a 20 minute nap is the perfect nap length for a quick energy burst and increased focus.

At the end of the day -- if there’s one thing we can know for sure, it’s that we are going to make mistakes as new parents. There’s just no getting around it! Just try to remember that the more mistakes we make, the more opportunities we have to better ourselves as parents.

The post 8 New Parent Mistakes to Avoid appeared first on FamilyToday.

What is the keto diet anyway?

For those of you who are unfamiliar, it’s a low-carb, high fat diet. The basis of the diet is to get the body into a state called ‘ketosis’, where the body burns fats for its fuel instead of carbs. This is done by eating a very low carb diet, so essentially cutting out fruits, grains, sugars, and replacing them with high fatty foods, meats, avocados, coconut oil, and vegetables. There’s been a lot of controversy around if it’s actually good for you or not, but like everything in life -- what works for one person is different from another. So take it with a grain of salt!

Regardless of the lack of scientific studies regarding the subject at the moment, some of you will probably be fully against it, while others will do it anyways. At the end of the day, every woman has a completely unique body, and what works for one person won’t work for the next, and vice versa. If you do decide to do the keto diet while breastfeeding, here are some helpful tips to cultivate more ease and benefit fully from the diet.

High Quality Fats

Many people think ‘how can a high fat diet be good for you?’ Especially after fats were demonized for many years, many people might wonder if ‘good fats’ even exist. Well -- yes, they do. In fact, fats are crucial to living a healthy lifestyle, and if you ingest the good fats, it’s very healthy for your body. Not only are healthy fats good for your heart, lowering blood pressure, and reducing risk of disease, but they also help you lose weight!

And since you won’t be consuming many carbs on a keto diet, you’ll want to ensure to consume plenty of fats to supply you with lots of energy, not only for yourself, but for your baby.

Some good healthy fats to consume on the keto diet include coconut oil, MCT oil, avocados, grass fed beef, ghee, raw milk, and fatty fish.

Bulletproof Latte

You’ve probably seen or heard about the ‘bulletproof latte’, as it’s been quite a trending fad now for a couple of years. A bulletproof latte became popular around the same time as the keto diet -- and is good not only for those doing the keto diet, but also for those doing intermittent fasting. A bulletproof latte mainly consists of the coffee base, MCT oil, coconut oil or ghee, a dairy free milk of choice or heavy cream, and maybe a few spices to taste. You can find hundreds of different recipes on the web, but the basis of the latte will always be high fat, low carb, and built to provide you with plenty of fat burning energy throughout the day.

Bulletproof coffee is known to come with many benefits, including:

• • Mental clarity and focus
  • Sustained energy without a crash
  • A good source of healthy fats and antioxidants

Many women might wonder if drinking coffee is okay while breastfeeding, which is a whole other can of worms to open. But below I’m providing you with my favorite bulletproof latte recipe. This recipe contains a lactation boosting powder, which contains potent ingredients that help reduce inflammation, stress, lack of sleep, and also supports her to increase lactation. Here's a recipe to try.

• • 8-12 ounces of freshly brewed coffee
  • 1-2 teaspoons of grass fed butter or ghee
  • 2 teaspoons MCT oil
  • 1 serving of a lactation booster powder

Add all of the ingredients into a blender, blend for 10-15 seconds, and serve.

Stay Hydrated

Especially for new moms, it’s absolutely crucial that you stay hydrated to avoid depleted milk supply. One of the most common reasons for producing insufficient breast milk is dehydration, and since the keto diet makes you excrete more water, it’s of utmost importance to consciously hydrate.

Electrolytes and Minerals

The low-carb, high fat keto diet encourages the body to lose water weight. While less water weight seems like a win, one should also be cautious about extra side effects that come with it such as lost minerals and electrolytes. Sodium, potassium, and magnesium and the three main minerals you’ll want to consciously intake more of, whether in a supplement form, eating mineral dense veggies, or adding electrolytes to your water. Ingesting these minerals will also help prevent any terrible side effects which many experience in a keto flu.

Lots of Fiber and Veggies

You can do the keto diet a couple ways -- you can eat lots of bacon, cheese, and heavy cream. Or, you can eat tons of vegetables, antioxidant rich berries, fatty fish, and healthy fats like avocado and olive oil. While many people will say the keto diet isn’t healthy -- it’s probably because they’re eating incorrectly and using the keto diet as a cop-out way of indulging in heavy meats and cheeses. Especially for breastfeeding Moms, it’s important to consume important phytonutrients and antioxidants found in green vegetables. Take a greens supplement or powder in a daily shake or smoothie to ensure you ingest enough veggies.

Low Carb Instead of No Carb

Instead of following the strict keto diet, you could start by trying a lower carb diet. While you might not attain full benefits of reaching the state of ketosis, you can still shed some unnecessary baby weight and benefit from switching out bready-sugary carbs for vegetables.

The post Can You Do Keto While Breastfeeding? appeared first on FamilyToday.

Adaptogens are wonderful. They’re herbs that have been used for centuries to promote long lasting health and longevity. In fact, a well known adaptogen, reishi mushroom, was traditionally called the “mushroom of longevity” in China. Adaptogens are known to harmonize the bodies systems, reduce stress, and give your body, mind, and emotions the better function of ‘adapting’ to whatever is going on in your life, (hence the name, adaptogen). Adaptogens are powerful herbs with no side effects if taken correctly, and unlike most over the counter drugs, they can be taken forever, with no side effects. They’re especially good for new mothers, given the utmost stress and massive changes that have just occurred in her body, physically, mentally, and emotionally. Let’s look at the facts -- the changes a mother goes through in the nine months of carrying her baby, as well as the postpartum effects, are not easy. However, they can be gracefully dealt with using the power of natural herbs. For all you breastfeeding Mom’s out there, here are five healthy adaptogenic elixirs to ease your postpartum blues.

1. Warm Ginger Lemon Honey Tea

This alkalizing elixir is one of the healthiest things to drink upon waking. After fasting all night long, your body is fairly dehydrated and ready to absorb the first thing you put into it after waking. Rather than drinking coffee, caffeinated tea, soda, or juice in the morning, start with warm water with fresh chopped ginger and fresh squeezed lemon. This helps to alkalize the body first thing in the morning, and warm water is more easily absorbed into the body, ensuring you to deplete any lost liquids overnight. Additional benefits of warm ginger and lemon water include weight loss, improved cognitive functioning, relieves nausea and indigestion, and increases your mood. Major bonus for Moms? Ginger is a well known galactagogue and can help increase breast milk!

How to make it: Chop fresh ginger and put it straight into your mug, add hot water, and squeeze in fresh lemon. Add honey to taste.

2. Golden Mylk Latte

This delicious, turmeric spiced latte is caffeine free but just as delicious as your typical latte. It’s popularity has been trending over the years after turmeric became more well known for its superfood properties, and this latte will surely make you feel like super-woman! These lattes can be flavored and spiced differently according to one's preferences, but typically they’re milk based with a heavy dose of turmeric, some cinnamon, black pepper, a sweetener, and ginger for a spicy kick. Turmeric is known to be one of the most super superfoods in the world, claiming to strengthen the immune system, reduce inflammation, improve your mood, and increase breast milk supply for new mothers. Other studies have even shown remarkable benefits of turmeric which help to cure cancer and improve brain health. This beverage is perfectly safe for breast feeding moms, and not only will the turmeric effects make you happier, but sipping this delicious, autumn-feels latte will boost your mood as well!

Here is a recipe for you to try out for yourself.

3. Warm Oat Milk Adaptogenic Latte

Time for a girls night! The best part about this latte, is that all three of these adaptogens help with the functioning of the female reproductive system, so this latte is beneficial for any generation of women. Whether you’re on your menstrual cycle, struggling with fertility issues, looking to produce more breast milk as a new mom, or dealing with menopausal side effects, the herbs in this latte will help. Now you have the perfect beverage to host a girls night, women's circle, or just getting together with all the good women in your life.

This latte can be used with any milk of choice, but oat milk is preferred for its delicious, nutty flavor. The recommended adaptogens to use in this latte are Shatavari, Maca, and Ashwagandha. All of these adaptogenic herbs have so many benefits, but the common denominator of all of them is they help to reduce stress, increase mood, balance female hormones, and increase breast milk for new mothers.

Check out the recipe, here.

4. Warm Fennel Tea

If you’re not a licorice fan, then keep scrolling to the next one. But if you’re like me and you love black licorice, then you’ll love this delicious and super healthy tea. Fennel, or anise, is an herb that has been used for thousands of years to make food delicious, while simultaneously supporting good digestion. Typically people know fennel to be taken after a meal, whether in a liquor, chewing the herb, or in an elixir or tea. The benefits of fennel also help aid in menstrual troubles and of course, like all the other elixirs mentioned, help Mom produce more breast milk. If you’re not a fan of fennel, you can find capsules to avoid the taste. However, I recommend taking this herb as a warm tea, either first thing in the morning, or after a meal to also aid you in digestion.

How to make it: It’s simple to make -- simply add 1 to 3 teaspoons of fennel seed to hot water and let it steep for about ten minutes. You can also find it sold in most natural health food stores.

5. Jungle Juice

Don’t get too excited -- this jungle juice doesn’t have any alcohol, but will be sure to make you still feel good! Jungle Juice has been popularized over the years to help moms increase their breast milk supply. The base of the beverage is blackthorn berry, which has been used to increase vitality, ease symptoms of exhaustion, and increase lactation. The beverage is a mixture of water, blackthorn berry, fruit juice, and a few other ingredients.

If you want to make this a yummy holiday drink, I recommend using apple juice as the main fruit juice, and warming up the elixir to make you warm and toasty. Check out the full recipe, here.

The post 5 Healing Herb Recipes For New Moms appeared first on FamilyToday.

We've all fallen prey to trends or peer pressure at some point. I jumped on the Game of Thrones bandwagon, and I couldn't resist the allure of La Croix's clever product placement on social media. While some trends have lived up to their hype, others haven't-platform sneakers, dresses over pants and cutting the cable cord.

Most recently, I caved in and cut the cord because the media told me to. I thought I would save money and keep the benefits of cable TV. Unfortunately, this wasn't the case. I quickly learned that there are several things cable TV provides that streaming doesn't.

Watching infomercials at 3 am

It's late on a Tuesday and you're wide awake. Maybe you're working on a last-minute project or you can't fall asleep. Whatever the reason, there's only one solution for making the night manageable - infomercials.

The cheesiest of shows on Netflix or Hulu can't replace the wonder of infomercials with hosts selling classics like the Shake Weight and Miracle Mop.

Enjoying lag-free viewing

Even the highest speed internet isn't immune to outages, and some days your router refuses to give a great signal. What should have been a relaxing afternoon binge-watching Girls can turn into a frustrating hour of resetting routers and shouting at your screen while it buffers.

With cable, you can download music on your computer and your roommate can play online games without interrupting your TV watching.

Surfing channels when nothing good is on

There's no better way to relieve stress than surfing through channels. When there's nothing good on TV, you can still find pleasure in stabbing the channel button to sift through dozens of channels you didn't even know existed. You'll find something fascinating to watch eventually.

Fighting over the remote control

If you have any siblings, you likely remember fighting over the remote control to watch your favorite show. When you have cable TV, you can take a trip down memory lane and fight over the remote control with your roommate or spouse.

Who doesn't enjoy the adrenaline rush that comes with lunging for the remote control on the couch or calling dibs on the TV so you can watch back-to-back episodes of Modern Family?

Not being able to binge-watch every show

There are days and times when binge-watching is OK, but every weekend or every evening after work are not the right times. Cable TV allows you to learn the value of patience.

You have to record shows and wait to watch them. This lesson in patience also prevents you from turning into a complete couch potato, which is easily possible in this golden age of TV. Once you've watched your recordings, you can return to the real world.

Watching my favorite commercials

While DVR and On Demand give cable users the opportunity to avoid commercials, sometimes you don't want to. Whether it's the Super Bowl or a random Wednesday afternoon, we all have days when we enjoy watching commercials, whether we love them or love to hate them.

Streaming doesn't give me the option to suffer through hilariously bad ads, and what's life without choices?

Rediscovering forgotten TV shows

Have you ever heard a song on the radio and thought, "How did I forget about this song? It's so good!" With cable, you can stumble upon old TV favorites. Embrace the nostalgia and re-watch your favorite episodes from the past.

You may even discover a show you would never have seen otherwise if it weren't for the fact that nothing else was on TV.

Experience the magic of edited-for-TV movies

Movies edited for TV are infamously bad. Swear words are replaced with random alternatives, good scenes are cut and the commercial breaks are at the best moments.

But this makes a movie you've seen a million times seem brand new again. There's something comforting about watching Pretty Woman and not knowing which scenes you won't see and what commercials will appear every fifteen minutes.

I never thought I'd say it, but switching to streaming isn't the key to TV perfection. Since cutting the cord, I've learned that cable TV doesn't have to be overpriced and can offer the best of both worlds. You get On Demand options when you need them and good old-fashioned TV when you want it. It's time to #bringbackthecord.

The post Netflix is great, but I can’t believe I actually miss cable appeared first on FamilyToday.

It's easy to think of ourselves as humans on Earth, instead of acknowledging that we are as much a part of this planet as the mountains and trees. But given that we are inextricably connected with this world and the other life on it, caring for our home and the very essence of what we are is vital.

This year has already seen a huge upswing in talk about sustainability - even presidential candidates are jumping on the bandwagon. If you want to contribute to these recent green initiatives, here are some easy ways you can live a more environmentally conscious life.

1. Cut back on animal products

Experts have estimated that anywhere from 18 to 51 percent of global emissions come from animal agriculture. If everyone were vegetarian or vegan, there'd be more plant matter available to feed people around the world, as well as less pollution and better natural resource conservation. If you don't feel like switching to a completely plant-based diet right now, try having a few days a week without animal products, or just reducing your overall intake.

2. Upgrade to energy-efficient appliances

A lot of energy comes from non-renewable fossil fuels that contribute to global warming, so the less we use the better. Modern appliances are far more energy efficient than old ones, so if your washer or dryer has been working poorly for a while, don't feel bad about investing in a new one.

3. Ride a bike

Car rides - especially short ones - often aren't worth the negative environmental impact they have. If you need to get somewhere and walking seems too slow, riding a bike is a great alternative. Not only are bikes faster than walking, they're also eco-friendly, great for your health and fitness levels, and fun!

4. Limit overall energy use

Plenty of appliances suck power even when you're not actively using them. To fight this, start taking gradual steps to reduce your daily energy use. Turn off your air conditioner or central heating when you leave home for the day, and make sure you don't leave your laptop charger plugged in after your laptop is fully charged.

5. Recycle as much as possible

Have you ever read about the woman whose trash from two full years fit inside a small mason jar? In comparison, an average American produces about 4.4 pounds of trash every day. Luckily, it's not hard to find ways to reduce that waste. Recycling is becoming increasingly more viable in towns all across the country, so explore the programs in your area. And if you have a yard, consider making compost with your food scraps.

6. Invest in solar

With the average U.S. home generating over 12 tons of carbon dioxide each year, it's easy to see why switching to solar power is a smart move. You can start small by replacing the lights on your backyard deck with solar lights, or you can go full-on green goddess and have solar panels installed for your whole home. The initial cost of installation is definitely worth the long-term savings, and the panels can also increase the value of your home.

While some rumors are out there that solar is still too expensive, it's actually a lot more affordable than you think. Saving money and the environment at the same time? Yes, please!

7. Reduce water usage

Though you may not think about it, clean, potable water is a limited resource, so it's important to be conscious of how you use it. Turning the tap off while you brush your teeth, opting for a quick shower rather than a bath, and using a sink full of water to wash dishes instead of having water running continuously, all make a difference when it comes to cutting down on unnecessary water waste.

8. Buy things in bulk

K-Cups might seem like an easier alternative to coffee grounds (saving you, what - 30 seconds each morning?), but they're also contributing to the mountains of plastic packaging that end up in landfills.

Buying things in bulk is a good way to reduce packing waste, and there are a lot of products on the market now that have wrapping made from recycled materials. Opt for these slightly greener alternatives over your normal brands and products.

Wherever you're at in terms of eco-consciousness, remember that even the smallest steps make a difference. Improvement comes only when everyone works together for the common good, doing what we can to make the world more sustainable. Stay mindful, and you'll be surprised how many ways there are to reduce your carbon footprint.

The post 8 ways you can ‘go green’ this spring appeared first on FamilyToday.

Traditional New Year's resolutions focus on individual goals for self-improvement: start a diet, stop a bad habit or save more money. But what about resolutions to strengthen your family?

Family resolutions-an increasingly popular parenting trend-can help to unify your home and teach kids the value of goal-setting. You don't have to do anything too radical to see those positive effects, either. In fact, Dr. Benjamin Siegel, pediatrics and psychology professor at Boston University School of Medicine, warns against going overboard when making family resolutions. Instead, limit them to a small but meaningful list. "It should be based on things that are doable without economic hardship," he told PBS.

Here's a list of five simple but worthwhile resolutions you can start with your family this year.

1. Commit to less screen time and more quality time

Every family can relate: we're spending more time behind phones and tablets and less time actually interacting with each other in person. And it's not just kids-adults are guilty, too. Unchecked, bad screen time habits can turn a family into tech-addicted zombies.

In 2016, limit the time your family spends on devices. Don't frame this as a punishment but rather as a way you can enjoy each other's company. Ideas might include banning phones at the table during mealtimes, establishing regular, scheduled breaks from devices or creating screen-free zones throughout the house.

2. Play outside more

We've all heard the benefits of spending more time outside. Outdoor time helps children grow stronger, stretch their creativity, decrease aggression, sleep better and boost their mental health. And studies show how adults who care about the environment generally spent lots of time outside as children.

Given all these benefits, make 2016 the year you focus on getting your whole family outside regularly. If you want to shake up the usual outdoor activities-hiking, swimming, sledding, playing at the park-there are plenty of lists of outdoor fun you can experience with your children. You can even start a new outdoor family hobby like ultimate frisbee or biking.

3. Go green

Make a family commitment to help the planet in 2016. Teach your kids that you want to keep the earth beautiful and healthy for their benefit, and help them understand how to continue preserving the planet for their own kids to enjoy.

Start small-use reusable containers instead of juice boxes in lunches, and start cleaning with natural vinegar-based solutions instead of chemical-based supplies. Larger efforts might include using less water or driving less often. One of the biggest green goals you can make is investing in solar energy. Use this calculator to determine the costs and savings of using solar panels for your home, and explain the potential benefits to your children.

4. Make a local adventure bucket list

Too often we rely on big vacations to create family memories together. Laura Vanderkam, author of "What the Most Successful People Do on the Weekend," suggests maximizing your shorter weekend time. She told the New York Times that on open weekends, kids often end up in front of the TV because parents have failed to plan out the day.

To avoid that scenario, make a family bucket list of things you would like to do in the area. These can be as simple as a walk downtown for ice cream or as elaborate as a daytrip to a nearby theme park. The goal is to take more mini adventures as a family. By planning downtime, you'll eliminate cabin fever in small children. And you may even get to schedule in some quality time with your busy older children.

5. Schedule weekly meetings

Your family is constantly changing, from each kid's developmental stages to each parent's current work schedule. "With the hectic pace of life today for both parents and children, families rarely take time to sit down as a group to make deliberate decisions about how the family will function," said the Center for Parenting Education.

To combat the chaos of daily life, plan regular, 15-minute weekly meetings to touch base with each other. These meetings can be great opportunities to plan future family activities. Also consider discussing everyone's high and low points of the week to get an idea of what is affecting your children. Address any issues plaguing your family, too, like an ongoing fight between the kids or a contentious family situation that has not yet been resolved.

Family resolutions can help you bring your family closer together, instill healthy habits in your children and make life a bit more fun. Nurturing your family relationships is one of the most important things you'll do in the coming year.

The post 5 easy but worthwhile New Year’s resolutions for your family in 2016 appeared first on FamilyToday.

Grandparents are sweet, always trying to do the right thing, but sometimes "newfangled" technology can be a little beyond, and provides comic relief for the rest of us. Here are some potential grandparent "moments" that can inspire reactions from painful cringing to outright laughter as grandparents try to deal with "the machines of the future."

Unnecessary public information

And speaking of Facebook, if grandparents start to use it actively, they should be forgiven for thinking that the future is further along than it actually is; don't be surprised to see them communicating with stores, organizations and even public officials, demanding personalized customer service. Walmart may be more up on technology than it once used to be, but it hasn't quite gotten to the level where it knows your grandparents personally just yet.

To post or not to post

The idea of Facebook may, at first, seem ideal for keeping a grandparent "in the loop" and socially active. Just be forewarned that when, and if, they start posting on their wall or - gasp - yours, the results may be less than ideal. In fact, don't be surprised to see spam, clickbait or the worst kind of yellow journalism stories pop up just when you didn't need to see them.

Dont worry, Grandma loves you

Grandparents have a funny sense of timing. Just because they have an electronic connection to you, you may find that they may be tempted to use it, well - anytime.

Don't be surprised to see a personalized message to you in the comments of a friend's post on your Facebook wall that has NOTHING to do with them or you or anything remotely connected to any of you. You may find them wishing you a happy birthday when you're trying to send a personalized post to your crush - or worse. As long as they have access, any place on your wall is open season for anything from a Season's Greetings to a request to help them clean out their garage.

It's not cooking

Careful with how they play with wires, especially ones that go into any kind of socket they're unfamiliar with. Murphy's Law applies here.

Pushing buttons

Have you ever tried getting a grandparent to record a special moment with their webcam or other video recording device? Hilarity usually ensues as they often don't know they've actually started recording and/or can't figure out how or when to stop. You might want to tell them that pushing the button down harder won't usually offer a more effective result.

The Internets

The internet is a whole other ball court for the old folks, but can we really blame them? The internet only came out in the 90's, after all. You can forget about Grandma knowing her wifi password (if she even has wifi) and helping you connect to the internet. The concepts of "The Web," "The Internet," "The Browser" and "Facebook" may all be mutually exclusive or contained in a bizarre series of concentric rings in their mind, so they may think they have "The Web," but not "The Internet" (or vice-versa), or they were able to open "Facebook," but not their browser. Well"� better luck next time with that, Pops.

All things smart phone

Cellphones. It might be a good idea to just not go there. As with "The Internet" and "The Web," the concept of a "text message" or an "App" could take five minutes to explain"¦ or five years. Don't be surprised to see responses to another person's text come to you, or vice-versa. And if pictures can be part of messages, well"¦ let's just say you might want to prepare to see some unexpected ones.

Google, the counselor

Their way of using Google is completely different than most people's. We're not sure if Google has caught on to this yet, but typical grandparent queries can certainly break the 32-word limit Google has on searches. A query such as "Can you please tell me how long it will take to ship my package using the UPS from Kenosha, Wisconsin to Bangor, Maine if I have them pick it up at my house on Monday afternoon and have it all wrapped and ready to go? Can it go overnight?" is not unheard-of.

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