Latest Posts from TruMoo's TruMoms - TruMoms Blog

5 Tips for Raising Healthy Eaters

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 15:46:26 -0600

Raising healthy eaters is an important (and sometimes difficult) job for any parent. Not only do you want to give your kids healthy meals, but you also want them to learn to enjoy nutrition and stick with good eating habits long into the future. Here are a few tips to help get your little ones on the path to healthier eating.

Enjoy Family Meals

When times start to get busy – work, soccer practice, school – family mealtime is the first thing to go! However, don’t underestimate the power of sitting down together as a family. Eating around the table on a routine basis, maybe 1-2 times a day, gives you the chance to become a role model for the kiddos. When they see you reaching for more veggies and lowfat dairy products, they’ll be more likely to do the same, developing a habit that will last well into their future.

Pay Attention

When watching your child eat, try to notice when they start playing with their food or become restless and start fidgeting. These are signs that your little one is full. Before they leave the table, try offering them nutritious, simple foods. The age-old idea of “five more bites of peas before you leave the table” would work well in this situation.

Offer Choices & Explanation

You get to decide what foods you serve, but let your child decide which of these healthy foods he’ll eat. If he won’t reach for the healthier snacks, try giving a fun explanation of why it’s being served. For example, let him know that spinach will help him grow muscles like Superman!

Provide Healthy Snacks

Children need to eat small portions throughout the entire day because of their toddler-sized tummies. Schedule times for these mini-meals and offer snacks that are high in calcium, protein and carbs for sustaining energy. A glass of TruMoo Lowfat Chocolate Milk contains calcium, protein & vitamin D. Try paring it with whole grain toast and fruit for a quick and filling snack, or check out our 2-Minute Menu Builder and plan an entire month of nutritious snacks!

Get Active!

Stay active as a whole family. Get your metabolism going with energetic playtime for 1-2 hours per day. Try turning off the TV and planning a day at the park or fun hike, making sure to bring snacks packed with calcium, protein and vitamin D! Getting kids to want to spend more time outdoors and less time on the couch is a great habit to start at an early age.

Start implementing these healthy ideas into your daily lives and you’ll love watching your kids grow up strong, healthy and happy.

Do you have any tips for raising healthy eaters? Leave us a comment!

Start & End Each Day Right With Fresh Milk

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 13:45:13 -0600

Starting your day with a healthy, well-rounded breakfast that includes a tall glass of milk can do great things for your body. Not only does it give you the energy you need to make it through the day, but can help you control your hunger and stick to your daily nutrient goal.

Pure, fresh milk is packed with important nutrients like calcium and vitamin D. In fact, just 3 glasses of lowfat milk will provide you with 100% of your daily calcium intake! Why is this important? Calcium contributes to bone, muscle and blood health – which means it’s necessary to get enough calcium starting at a young age.

Here are a few breakfast and snack ideas containing dairy fresh milk products that are great for both grownups and kids:

Strawberry Smoothie: Just blend strawberries, milk and a little bit of yogurt for a delicious breakfast that contains calcium, fiber & vitamin C.

Egg Burrito & Milk: Scramble eggs (and your choice of veggie), add lowfat cheese, wrap in a tortilla and pair with a glass of fresh milk for a protein-rich meal.

Oatmeal with Dried Fruit: Cook a cup of oatmeal, add milk and your favorite dried fruit for a heart-healthy way to kick-start your morning.

It’s important to start your day right with a serving of fresh milk, but it’s also beneficial to end your day right, too! Enjoy a glass of TruMoo Lowfat Chocolate Milk in the evening and your body will love the additional calcium, protein and vitamins. Even better, every chocolaty glass of TruMoo starts with pure, fresh milk from your local dairy, assuring that you get a nutritious bonus in every sip!

After an evening workout, the nutrients in chocolate milk can help repair muscles and give your body back the energy it used up at the gym. If you are just getting home from a late workout, try pairing TruMoo Chocolate Milk with a nutritious family meal or enjoying a cup of hot cocoa before bed.

Here’s a delicious hot cocoa recipe the whole family will be excited to try:

Caramel Hot Cocoa: Heat 16 ounces of TruMoo Chocolate Milk on the stove. Once heated, add 4 ounces chopped chocolate caramel. Heat until warm and melty. Garnish with a swirl of whipped cream.

If you’d like more recipes including dairy fresh milk products, check out our handy 2-Minute Menu Builder!

Try It Hot!

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 08:00:00 -0600

With colder months upon us, it’s the perfect time of year for curling up with a blanket or next to the fire with a warm cup of your favorite beverage. We’ve got just the thing for you. If you love TruMoo Chocolate Milk cold, you should try it hot! Warm up a chilly night with one of these delicious hot chocolate milk recipes:

MarshMOOllow Hot Chocolate

Here’s a minty twist to the typical hot cocoa and marshmallow recipe. Pour TruMoo Chocolate Milk into a microwave-safe mug and heat on high for about 1½ minutes or until steaming. Take a large marshmallow, dip it in water and roll it in peppermint flakes. Then, spear the mint-covered marshmallow with a candy cane. Sink the marshmallow into your hot chocolate for a deliciously minty taste for the whole family!

Make it your own: Try experimenting with different ways of coating the marshmallow. If you are a chocolate-lover, dip the marshmallow in chocolate and roll it in sugar or your favorite mint flavor for a more personalized taste!

Cinnamon-Dusted Mexican Hot Chocolate

Spice up a chilly night with this zany recipe. Pour TruMoo Chocolate Milk into a microwave-safe mug and heat it up on high for 1½ minutes or until steaming. Add ½ teaspoon of cinnamon and just a pinch of chili powder and stir well. Garnish with a swirl of whipped cream and dusting of cinnamon. Test the temperature, and enjoy!

Make it your own: Not a fan of chili powder or cinnamon? Try adding a dash of sugar, pumpkin or cardamom – or for an even spicier mix, try a pinch of cayenne!

New England Maple Hot Chocolate

Try pairing this warm and yummy treat with your breakfast on a crisp winter morning. In a large saucepan, mix 4 cups of TruMoo Chocolate Milk, 2 tablespoons of real maple syrup, 1 teaspoon of vanilla and 12 large marshmallows. Heat thoroughly until it’s hot, then ladle into mugs. Test the temperature and enjoy it while watching your family’s favorite movie!

Make it your own: Maple is a delicious flavor, but not everyone is a fan of its sweetness. Try toning it down by using less maple syrup or substituting maple flavoring. For even more flair, spice things up with a pinch of nutmeg!

Winter is the perfect time to experiment with tasty hot chocolate milk recipes. Do you have a favorite hot cocoa recipe? Leave us a comment!

Healthy Ideas for the Whole Family

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 08:00:00 -0600

Lately, people everywhere are working toward getting in shape, eating right and encouraging younger generations to do the same. Now’s not the time to let the idea of leading a healthier lifestyle scare you, it’s a time to have fun with it! In fact, people are more likely to be active when surrounded by family and friends. So why not get the whole family involved? Here are a few great tips for encouraging the whole family to enjoy being healthy - together.

Make playtime active

• Team Sports: Enrolling the kiddos in little league baseball, the local swim club or even karate can give them a way to enjoy their free time while staying fit. As a parent, this gives you the opportunity to help them practice at home, giving you the chance to participate in an encouraging way. Even better, if you have background knowledge in the sport of choice, you could volunteer to be a coach – giving you and your child time together to look forward to!

• Video Games: Yes, you read that right. With today’s technology, you can find video games that make you jump, run, dance and swing. If you have children who are more into getting to the next level on their favorite game system and are less into outdoor sports, offering games that get them off the couch is a great place to start!

• Family Fun Day: Try choosing one day per week that the whole family can make time to spend together. Instead of seeing a movie, go to a local park and enjoy a picnic or find a nice bike trail. This will encourage family bonding and will give everyone a chance to enjoy a healthier lifestyle.

Nutritious snacks, please!

• Bake Together: Spending time together baking and cooking in the kitchen is not only a great time to bond, but it allows you to start teaching the kiddos about nutritious snacks early in life. Use this time to teach them about measurements, what treats contain sugar and how much fun healthy baking can be!

• Healthy Snack Options: You can take almost any recipe and make subtle substitutions to increase nutrition or reduce sugar and fat. For recipes that include fresh milk, try using skim milk, or lowfat regular or chocolate milk. Also, real fruit is always better than using a sugary imitation. Then, pair these snacks with a nutritious glass of milk – hot or cold! With 8 essential nutrients, it will give the kiddos the protein, calcium and vitamins they need to say active.

What are your favorite ways to keep the whole family active? Leave a comment!

Enjoy More Protein in the New Year!

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 13:14:09 -0600

With the New Year in full swing, many people are sticking to their resolutions by heading to the gym for a morning jog and eating healthy with new veggie- and fruit-filled diets. Congrats to those taking that step toward a healthier, happier lifestyle! Just remember the importance of a well-balanced diet - one that includes a variety of nutrients, including protein.

From PB&Js to scrambled eggs to a glass of TruMoo Chocolate Milk foods containing protein play a major role in keeping your body full, functional and energized throughout the day. Our Team Nutritionist filled us in on some of the important facts about protein that you may not know.

1. Protein is a major part of every cell in the body – from muscles and organs to hair and nails.

Many of us have heard that protein is an essential part of keeping a well-balanced diet, but why? Protein positively effects your immune system, bone strength and even your hair and skin!

Protein also helps with the growth and repair of cells in the body, which is why it’s an important nutrient for muscle reparation post workout. It’s also a main part of how vitamins and nutrients are constantly being transported throughout the body.

2. It’s important that kids get plenty of protein to support their growth and development.

Because children are constantly growing and developing, protein is key to their health. It can help repair cells, grow new ones and actually accounts for wounds healing properly.

The amount of protein that kids need each day depends on their age group. Kids between the ages of 4 and 6 years need at least 0.5 grams of protein per pound of body weight, while children ages 9-13 should get at least 34 grams of protein.

3. A glass of TruMoo is a good source of protein, providing 8 grams or 16% of the daily value in every cup!

The nutritional benefits of protein in chocolate milk combine with delicious taste to give kids the nutrients they need with a taste they love. Pair a glass of TruMoo Chocolate Milk with a healthy snack – like apples and peanut butter or a slice of wheat toast – and the little ones will be on their way to reaping the benefits of protein.

Eating healthy with a well-balanced diet can have many positive effects on the body. Leave us a comment with your favorite protein-packed snack for yourself and the kiddos!

You Could Win Big with the Start Right End Right Sweepstakes

Thu, 29 Dec 2011 17:30:00 -0600

The New Year is here, and with it comes resolutions toward healthier, happier lifestyles. This year, try starting every day right with a glass of pure, fresh milk from your local dairy, and finish strong with a glass of nutritious TruMoo Chocolate Milk added to your dinner routine. To help you get started, we’re hosting the Start Right End Right sweepstakes, where every gallon of milk brings you closer to winning!

TruMoo® Chocolate Milk starts with pure, fresh milk from your local dairy and for a limited time, your local dairy is giving you the chance to win big! Just by drinking the same TruMoo and regular milk that you know and love, you’ll be able to enter for a chance at $25,000 for yourself and $5,000 to be donated to a charity or school of your choice.

How does it work?

For every gallon or half gallon of regular milk or TruMoo Chocolate Milk that features specially-marked caps, you’ll receive a code to enter for your chance to win.

Even better, when you enter codes from both regular milk AND TruMoo Chocolate Milk you’ll get a free bonus entry! Just so you know, there is a maximum of 6 entries of any kind per day. More details like that can be found in our Official Rules. Be sure to enter early and enter often – the cap codes will eventually run out and we don’t want you to miss an exciting chance!

Ready to get started? Check your cap for codes and enter for your chance to win $25,000.

How about even MORE fun?

For simple and delicious recipes to help you start and end each day right, check out our 2 Minute Menu Builder. With this handy tool, you can quickly plan a month of tasty, nutritious breakfasts and mini-meals to make mornings easier and after-school snacking a breeze! With all that time saved planning ahead, you’ll have even more time to spend with the family.

When it’s too cold for outdoor fun, make inside activities just as exciting! Try printing our connect-the-dots coloring pages for snow-day activities the kids will love. You can also quiz the little ones with our mootastic downloadable trivia! Check out our TruMoms Blog for yummy hot chocolate recipes and find even more ideas for snowy days.

Want more TruMoo savings? Be sure to check your local paper around January 15^th for a special Start Right End Right coupon. Good luck!

The Best Chocolate Milk & Treats for the Holidays!

Thu, 22 Dec 2011 15:16:09 -0600

The holidays are here! It’s a time for everyone to come together in the warmth of the home to reminisce about the year and celebrate family. This year, be prepared with yummy snacks for everyone who drops by – including Santa! Whether for a spontaneous get-together or a planned party, be ready with these quick nutritious holiday platters that taste great, too!

Simple Cheese Board

We don’t typically associate cheese with healthy eating, but it can actually be a tasty and nutritious snack for the holidays. Try slicing goat cheese, topping with marinara sauce and basil and baking until melty! Served with bite-sized whole wheat baguette, it is a tasty and more nutritious snack your guests will love.

Colorful Fruit Tray

To keep the kids entertained while getting the proper serving of fruits, let them play with their food! Serve them colorful fruit like green grapes, honeydew, strawberries and small orange slices, and have them rearrange them to make fun holiday creations!

Flavored Popcorn Platter

Popcorn is a great snack to serve all year long. To give them a little holiday flare, try using yummy toppings like cinnamon and sugar – or white chocolate to mimic the snowy weather! On a colder day, pair it with a warm mug of TruMoo Lowfat Chocolate Milk and top with light whipped cream or marshmallows.

Healthified Sugar Cookies

Once again, it’s time to break out the cookie cutters! Nothing says “it’s time for the holidays” like cookies and milk. This time, try replacing sugar with a sugar blend, and replace the eggs with an egg substitute in your recipe for a healthier treat with the same yummy taste! Don’t forget to pair your cookies with fresh milk for added calcium and protein. The best chocolate milk is sometimes the most nutritious and delicious! To go with your next batch of healthified treats, try serving TruMoo chocolate milk. With no HFCS and pure cocoa, it’s a yummy chocolaty treat kids will love!

Santa’s on his way!

Your kids may argue that Santa is the most important guest of all. This year, treat him to the same healthy snacks you’d give your family – and set a good example for the kiddos, too! Instead of leaving him chocolate chip cookies and milk, set out something a little healthier.

Try having the little ones help out with baking oatmeal raisin cookies. They can practice counting out raisins, while learning what makes oatmeal a healthier option than other cookie dough.

When it comes to the milk – keep the kids involved! Ask their opinion on which hot cocoa recipe using lowfat chocolate milk Santa would love the most! Then, leave out a delicious snack for Santa and let the kids enjoy a yummy dessert they helped create.

What are your kids’ favorite cookies to leave out for Santa? Share you best Santa cookie recipe in our comments! Happy Holidays from our TruMoo family to yours.

Let it Snow – There’s Lots of Fun Inside!

Wed, 07 Dec 2011 11:22:02 -0600

With the wintery, holiday season quickly approaching, it’s time to start planning for more days spent inside enjoying the warmth and comfort of family. The kiddos will be home during winter break, and playtime may have to be moved indoors due to crisp, chilly weather. This year, be prepared for the snow! Here are a few indoor activities and chocolate milk recipes that are fun for the whole family.

Arts & Crafts

This is an easy way to make time spent inside a lot more fun! Fill a shoebox with markers, crayons, stickers, scissors, glue, colorful paper and other cute and crafty items. Once it has been filled with kid-friendly tools, keep it somewhere out of the way until a snowstorm strikes! When the crafts are created and hung for all to see, just have the little ones put the supplies back in the box so they can have fun again on another snowy day.

Dairy Tales

Dairy Tales are downloadable illustrations that make for fun coloring activities and a way for kids to put their creative imagination to work with story-telling. The whole family can take turns putting the photos in a different order and inventing new characters and a new story. What else can you do with Dairy Tales? Try printing them off in doubles and play a fun flip and match memory game!

Board Games

Before the kiddos are out of school for winter break, grab a new board game that no one has played before! One day during the break, or if the weather is too chilly for outdoor fun, have a game night for the whole family. Add even more excitement with homemade prizes for the winners!

Baking Goodies

Baking is a fun way to spend some quality time with the kids – and a great learning opportunity! Pick a yummy snack to bake, like chocolate chip cookies, and let them help with counting and following directions. Afterward, you can take the whole family on a fun indoor picnic. Just grab the basket, and blanket to sit on and TruMoo® Chocolate Milk for a yummy, nutritious snack time!

Warming Up

On any cold day, try heating up one of our TruMoo Chocolate Milk recipes or one of your own recipes using chocolate milk that the whole family can enjoy:

Hot Peppermint Patty

Place a bite-sized chocolate-covered mint at the bottom of a microwave-safe mug and fill with TruMoo Chocolate Milk. Heat it up, garnish with a peppermint stick & enjoy!

Cinnamon-Dusted Hot Chocolate

Pour TruMoo Chocolate Milk into a microwave-safe mug and heat until it’s warm. Add half a teaspoon of cinnamon and top with whipped cream. Test the temp & serve!

Do you have a favorite indoor activity or recipe? Share your ideas and other recipes using chocolate milk by leaving us a comment!

TruMoo® Chocolate Milk Thanks Our TruMoms

Wed, 16 Nov 2011 21:01:32 -0600

Thanksgiving is a holiday tradition celebrated with food, fun and family. It’s a time for close friends and loved ones to come together to give thanks and enjoy holiday activities. Here are a few quick ideas to get the most out of Thanksgiving Day.

Like most holidays, Thanksgiving presents an opportunity to make fun snacks for kids to enjoy before or after the celebration. Of course, this doesn’t mean they have to be super sugary! Try pairing nutritious TruMoo hot chocolate drinks with a fall snack – like carrot-ginger dip or cranberry bread.

When it comes to teaching the little ones about the history of the holiday, try turning it into a fun family activity! Create your own Thanksgiving-themed dinner placemat and have the kids draw and color a photo of what they are thankful for this holiday. It will help them to learn and remember why we celebrate Thanksgiving – and it’ll make for a great fridge decoration, too!

Thanksgiving is important to the whole TruMoo Chocolate Milk team, and we’d like to share why we are thankful for one of the most important people in our lives: our TruMoms.

“I love my mom because she's AWESOME! She is so selfless and always puts others' needs before her own. We have fun whenever we're together. My favorite activities to do with my mom are shopping and going to the beach. She always encourages me and believes in the good in me.”

Wendy Poer, TruMoo Guru

“I loved my mom because she was always there for me. She put my needs before her own. She was my best friend. She gave me the courage to go to college. Girls in our small town didn't do that. She is so responsible for the person I am today. Thank you, Mom!”

Phyllis Esch, TruMoo Guru’s TruMom

“I am thankful for my mom who showed me that having hobbies and passion for work beyond raising children can make you a great mom. Being true to your kids means also being true to yourself!”

Brooke Friedman, TruMoo Marketing Master & TruMom Extraordinaire

“I love my TruMom for always living life to the fullest and being a kid at heart. She realized that playing soccer with her kids was more important than doing dishes – and jumping on the bed was okay once in awhile!”

Audra Williams, TruMoo Marketing Team Leader (& Cheerleader)

“My mom is my best friend. I know I can count on her to be there for me. She encourages me, lifts me up when I'm down and makes me laugh. I don't know what I'd do without her. She's also the best shopping partner around!”

Sarah Rockwell, TruMoo Wordsmith

Please take a MOOment and share why you’re thankful for your TruMom, either in our comments or on Facebook or Twitter.

Every Glass of TruMoo® Begins With Pure, Fresh Milk.

Thu, 10 Nov 2011 17:39:59 -0600

TruMoo Chocolate Milk starts with quality milk fresh from our family of local milk dairies. We strive to provide only the purest dairy fresh milk products – and that’s why we have a Five Point Purity Checklist™, to assure we are meeting the highest standards of purity. Let’s take a closer look at the checklist that our milk has to pass before it is arrives at a cooler near you.

1. Our farmers pledge not to use artificial growth hormones*

Although no significant difference has been shown between milk from cows treated with artificial growth hormones and non-hormone treated cows, we understand that some of our consumers may still have concerns. We want everyone to feel that they are getting the best dairy fresh milk products available, and that’s why we ask all of our farmers to make this pledge.

2. Milk from cows fed a nutritious diet

Our farmers pay special attention to how their cows are fed and to their living conditions. In fact, many farmers have the opportunity to consult with a nutritionist to create a well-balanced, nutritious diet for the cows. Nutrition is important to your family, and it’s important to ours as well. Providing the right nutrition to our cows is just one more way we can ensure fresh milk for your family.

3. We reject any milk that contains commonly used antibiotics

Our consumers should never have to worry about any antibiotics compromising the quality of products from our local milk dairies. That’s why we test all milk that is received at our processing plants for any material that hinders the purity of our products. If any milk that is delivered tests positive for antibiotic residue, we immediately discard the entire tank so it never reaches our consumers.

4. Tested for quality at every key step

We continuously test our milk throughout the entire process, from the second it arrives at our plants until it is bottled and shipped. We want to ensure that only the purest and freshest milk ever reaches your family’s table.

5. Cold shipped from dairy to store within hours

You can rest assured that our milk has been delivered cold to your store within hours of being bottled. Our trucks are kept busy each day to make sure you receive the purest, freshest milk available.

Every ounce of milk we produce must pass this Five Point Purity Checklist before it can be shipped to a retailer near you – and that is our purity pledge. We promise to provide our consumers with a product they can be proud to serve their families. Every glass of TruMoo Chocolate Milk begins with the freshest, purest milk from your local dairy, giving you one more reason to enjoy this nutritious and delicious treat.

*No significant difference has been shown in milk from cows treated with the artificial growth hormone rbST and non rbST treated cows.