We're Parents

Preventing Heatstroke In the Car

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This post was sponsored by Auto Alliance as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central and all opinions expressed in my post are my own.

We all want to believe that we are the best parents in the entire world.  I mean it’s our job to think that we are getting everything right.  Our job is to constantly put smiles on our kids’ faces, even though we may be going through an extremely difficult situation ourselves in the moment.  From the moment that we find out we are pregnant, we are going through all the likely and different scenarios in our head. How do we bath them? How do I install a car seat? What times do I feed them, how much, how often? Can I drown them by giving them a bath?  Literally, during the months leading up to their birth, you play 431,134,943 different scenarios in our head.  Then, their born and you have another 536 million situations you think of every day.

One thing remains the same.  We are constantly just trying to keep our children alive the best way we know how.

One thing that was so important to me was ensuring car seat safety. I wanted to know exactly how the car seat was supposed to be secured.  I needed to know how to properly secure buckles and pads. Most importantly, I wanted to know how to safely buckle my girls in without doing an damage to then, whether we were going to a short ride or a large one. And when we first had our oldest daughter I didn’t get car seat safety right immediately.

One of the other things that has always frightened me this time of year, is that I, or somewhere near to me is going to lock their baby in a car. Especially as my children get older and our routines are changing, I know how things can happen in the blink of an eye. Every year an average of 37 children of lost when left unattended in an automobile. Many of those cases are simply mistakes. Of these cases, 50% of them are children under a year. I know for me, I could barely function for the first year, so I get how difficult this process could potentially be.

Fast fact: At 70 degrees Fahrenheit, the inside of a parked car with the windows open, can reach 120 degrees within 15 minutes.  Let that sink in for a second. Not 80 or 90 (or even 112 degrees like it was here today). SEVENTY. Can reach 50 degrees higher in under 15 minutes. One of the reasons it’s so lethal to children is that the child’s body heats 3-5x faster than adult.  So heatstroke for a child left unattended, happens much faster.

The good news is that heatstroke is completely avoidable.

Auto Alliance has launched campaign in support of the National Highway Transportation and Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) “Look Before You Lock: Never Leave A Child Alone in a Car” campaign with three easy tips.

  • A-Avoid: Avoid heatstroke-related injury and death by never leaving your child alone in a car, not even for a minute. Also, your car should always remain locked when you are not in it, so kids don’t get into their own.
  • C-Create Reminders: Create reminders by putting something in the back of your car next to your child such as a briefcase, a purse or a cell phone that is needed at your final destination. This is especially important if you’re not following your normal routine.
  • T-Take Action: If you see a child alone in a car, call 911. Emergency personnel want you to call. They are trained to respond to these situations. One call could save a life.

In addition to the tips from Auto Alliance, the things that we do to ensure less likelihood of stroke is to:

  1. Immediately open car doors behind us in our vehicle – whether our children are with us or not, but open the doors, we are focused to peak inside to double check
  2. Teach our children how to safely and properly buckle and unbuckle themselves and their doors – this is much harder for young children; but our newly 3 year old can get herself in and out of her buckles most of the time and open the car door.  This ensure they can at least get out of the car on their own. We also make sure that anytime they are buckling themselves INTO the car, we double check accuracy before driving away
  3. We verbalize with each other who has what child(ren). For example, if I’m going to Target and I don’t have any of the girls, I verbally tell Andrew that he has both girls. He knows to watch them then. Likewise, if we split up in a store and we both have a child, I ensure that he knows which child he has and which I have. This way, we are always in control and know where are children are and who has the responsibility

These are just some of the ways that we are working to ensure that we are never faced with a heatstroke situation with our children. What do you do?  Leave a comment below, letting me know!

For more information about heatstroke prevention, and to help spread awareness, visit https://autoalliance.org/safety/heatstroke

 

Talking To Young Kids About Sex

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Talking to Young Kids About Sex doesn’t have to be complicated! Learn about a new and exciting way that it can be super simple, yet educational and eye-opening for everyone!

Disclosure: This post has been compensated through a partnership with AMAZE and Women Online. 

WHERE DO BABIES COME FROM?

via GIPHY

OMG! My four year old wants to take about SEX!

via GIPHY

LA LA LA LA LA! THIS ISN’T HAPPENING. NOPE! WE’RE NOT TALKING ABOUT THIS.

HOLD UP A SECOND! Breathe! 

Let’s rewind 20,30, 40 years ago to when we were kids.  *Most* (not all) of our parents refused to even come close to this conversation. Our male and female reproductive organs had funny names like “sussie” and “pee-pee”. Babies came from storks. And you weren’t allowed to even date until you were 55. I know not all households were like this, but it describes mine and so many of those I know.  Shoot, my mother still gets uncomfortable when my now 3 and 5 year olds say penis and vagina. I remember getting my period and having no idea what was happening or how it played into the overall reproduction system. I remember any sexual exploration was a sin and not only wasn’t discussed, but was shunned. It lead to a host of problems over my teenage years.

I knew when I became a parent, things would be different.  And even though I only have a toddler and a pre-schooler, it already has been.  Both of my girls know that babies grow in your belly, but often times comes out of your vagina (unless an emergency). They know to call reproductive organs penises and vaginas, and that there’s nothing weird about those, just like there is nothing weird about a shoulder or leg. And they know that every month, I have a menstrual cycle and that one day they also will.

We literally teach our kids everything.  So, why should this be any different?

We teach them though play.

We teach them through physical actions and showing them.

And we teach them through conversations in a messy living room while doing everything else we have to do. About everything in life from how to treat each other to their ABCs to exploring sexuality.

It Still Hasn’t Been Easy

Despite me knowing that I wanted to do better, doesn’t mean that everything has been easy either.  I (and their dad) are trying our best to navigate this in ways that we weren’t taught. That means, however, they we have to break down our own stereotypes, misconceptions, and uneasiness. They are young, so we haven’t had a ton of questions, but they are starting to pop up more and more. “but how does the baby get inside a mama’s belly?” and “but I don’t want to bleed like you” are recent things that happened. I know that in the next few years, more exploration or their own bodies and more questions are going to happened. And they aren’t necessarily going to be any easier. So what can we do?

Insert AMAZE! 

Almost two years ago, AMAZE launched to help provide accurate and inclusive sex ed videos for 10-14 year olds. Backed by leaders in the sexual health space, it takes a look at the basics and more complicated aspects of sex ed. Some of the topics are gender expression, sexual orientation, gender identity, and puberty. The topics are explored in a series of short animated videos geared towards this age.

But what about my age kids?  I don’t want to wait until 10 to have these conversations.  I want them to start now and I want them to learn factual information. Also, by them learning now, and through their parents, it forces us to be the primary sexuality educators. It opens dialogue from an early age and then the hope is that our girls will come to us throughout the years for more information, questions, concerns. Always keeping that line of communication open that I didn’t have is the goal.

AMAZE Parent Playlist

This summer AMAZE has introduced the Parent Playlist geared for parents of children 4-9 years old. In a series of videos, it helps parents engage and answer young children’s questions in an open and honest format. And most importantly, an age-appropriate way.

Topics on the Parent Playlist include:

  • “Where Do Babies Come From”
  • “How Do you Talk to Young Kids About Sex”
  • “Is Playing Doctor OK”
  • What If They Don’t Ask
  • and more

Here’s an example video:

There are currently 10 animated videos in the AMAZE Parent Playlist that help parents know how best to talk with children about sex, healthy relationships, and growing up.

It’s time to get over our fear and embarrassment to raise this generation in an easy way. I’ve already watched some of the videos and I’m already loving what I’ve learned, how to explain it age-appropriately, and that sometimes (MOST OF THE TIME) we are over analyzing the questions that we are being asked. I love that AMAZE gives me a different way to look at things and makes talking to young kids about sex so much easier.

 

Head over to AMAZE website and start watching the videos on the Parent Playlist. Or if you have older children, please let them watch the older videos! 

Please share this information and the website with your friends so they too can help feel easier about speaking to their kids!

You can also Follow @AMAZEParents on Facebook or @AMAZEorg on Pinterest

Vegan Options for Your Next Cookout

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This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #MorningStarFarms #MakeRoomOnYourGrill #CollectiveBias

This cookout season make sure everyone is satisfied and full with vegan and vegetarian options. Check out these Vegan Options for Your Next Cookout! You’re going to want to make room on the grill for all this goodness.  

For the past 12 months of so now, we’ve really been limiting our meat consumption. Our goal is to try to eat more plant based as much as we can. Though we haven’t made the full commitment to a vegan or even vegetarian lifestyle at this time, we are getting closer everyday.  Who knows if one day we will, right now we are just trying to live a healthier life.

What we’ve noticed during this transition is that a lot of other people are doing the same.  Not only that, but we’ve realized that some of our friends and family are actually vegan or vegetarian that we never noticed before. Given this, we have been making a special effort to make sure that our friends and family are well taken care of when they attend get togethers at our house.

Introducing MorningStar® Farms Quarter Pound Veggie Burgers 

One way we’ve been doing this is to make sure to grab MorningStar® Farms burgers before any summer get together. What’s more exciting is their new MorningStar Farms Quarter Pound Veggie Burgers. These perfectly crafted burgers are larger, filling your bun with more deliciousness and leaving you more satisfied. You’re definitely going to want to make room on your grill for these!

Whether you are looking for a healthier meal option for meatless Monday dinner for the family, hosting 50 people at your summer barbecue, or football season kickoff party. MorningStar Farms® are made with no artificial ingredients and non-GMO soy.

The two new products they are introducing are:

  • Meat Lovers Burger: A “beef-like” taste and texture that has a whopping 27 grams of positive Plant Based Protein
  • Veggie Lovers Burger: A better for you burger packed with 12 different veggies, 2 seeds & 2 grains, plus 10 grams of Plant Based Protein.

You can find these in the frozen foods section of your local grocery store!

So now you have your delicious vegan burger ready to go and on your grocery list. However, now you aren’t sure what serve with your burgers. One, let’s talk about what you’re serving for the burgers!

These MorningStar Farms Quarter Pound Veggie Burgers are perfect with lettuce, tomato, red onions, and sautéed mushrooms. This delicious avocado dip would make the perfect spread for a sauce for the burgers as well. If you’ve never sautéed mushrooms before, it’s super easy. Carefully wipe with a wet cloth to remove dirt. Remove the stems. Heat a little olive oil over medium heat, and then add the mushrooms, cooking and stirring a few times for 5-7 minutes. Add in a little salt, pepper, and garlic powder while cooking. Remove from heat and serve.

For a super simple pairing, just serve spicy pickles alongside the burgers.

However, if you’re looking for everyday solutions for complete meals, especially for get togethers, you’re going to want to try these five side dishes!

Now, you’re whole summer is ready to go with options for everyday!  Enjoy these Vegan Options for Your Next Cookout or everyday meal solutions!

The MorningStar Farms Burger Bar Truck will be driving around to visit Walmart stores around the country, click below to see if they are coming to a Walmart near you!

Grilled Balsamic Steak

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This Grilled Balsamic Steak is the perfect conversation starter for your next summer get together! Pair it with delicious The Dreaming Tree Crush red wine for the ultimate pairing.

Disclosure: This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. The following content is intended for readers who are 21 or older. #SeedOfAGreatSummer #CollectiveBias

Summertime is one of my favorite seasons because it means grilling time. I mean, I typically grill year round, but in the summer, we grill way more often.  It also means more get togethers. There’s something about summer time and grilling with family that brings everyone around us joy. We love inviting our friends and family over to enjoy a meal together. As a culture, it’s what we were made to enjoy.  Being able to come together, share a meal and conversation, is the root of what makes us happy. And having the opportunity to do that with family brings us so much joy.

For special celebrations, we love making steak. This grilled balsamic steak is the perfection conversation starter. Your family will be begging for your how to make this delicious grilled balsamic steak. The homemade balsamic steak sauce recipe will have everyone asking for the recipe!

Pairing Wine with Grilled Balsamic Steak

I’ve been grilling for a long time.  As I’ve gotten older and we enjoy having people over, we’ve learned to always have a bottle (or a few if a big party) of wine that pairs nicely with the meal we are serving. Pairing wine with Grilled Balsamic Steak is easy thanks to The Dreaming Tree. Their red blend, Crush, has notes of smokey berry with a pop of raspberry jam, making it the ultimate shareable red wine with your favorite people.

The Dreaming Tree Wines

Whether you are serving this deliciously grilled Balsamic Steak with Crush red wine blend or looking for other options, The Dreaming Tree has the perfect wine to bring along or serve to share with family and friends. These high quality, delicious wines are made at an affordable price so everyone can enjoy. The Dreaming Tree has a goal to make high quality California wines available everywhere. Besides the delicious red blend, Crush, other available wines include:

  • Sauvignon Blanc
  • Pinot Noir
  • Cabernet Sauvignon
  • Chardonnay

How to make Grilled Balsamic Steak

This Grilled Balsamic Steak is super simple to make and a huge crowd please.  Combine those two things and you have all the conversation starter that you need for your next get together.  Start by making the delicious balsamic steak sauce from scratch. Don’t worry, we promise this is easy. Once you make the sauce, while you wait for it to chill, you make a simple steak with fresh cracked pink salt and black pepper. Grill it on both sides until done to your preferred cooking temperature.  Then, serve alongside the balsamic steak sauce and The Dreaming Tree Crush red wine blend.

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Grilled Balsamic Steak
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
40 mins
Resting Time
5 mins
Total Time
50 mins
 

This Grilled Balsamic Steak is the perfect conversation starter for your next summer get together! Pair it with delicious The Dreaming Tree Crush red wine for the ultimate pairing. 

Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: dinner, homemade steak sauce, steak
Servings: 4 people
Author: Larisha Campbell
Ingredients
  • 3/4 cup balsamic vinegar
  • 3/4 cup Ketchup
  • 2 tbsp Dark Brown Sugar
  • 2 tbsp Worcestershire Sauce
  • 1 Yellow Onion, largely sliced and separated
  • 1 tbsp Dijon Mustard
  • 4 cloves Garlic, peeled
  • 2 tbsp Low Sodium Soy Sauce
  • 1/4 tsp allspice
  • Salt and Pepper to taste
  • 2 tbsp butter
  • 4 strip steaks
Instructions

  1. In a medium sauce pot, add the ingredients except butter and steak.

  2. Stir and let come to a boil.

  3. Simmer for 30 minutes.

  4. Remove from heat. Stir in butter until melted.  

  5. Using a strainer, remove onions and garlic. 

  6. Set aside sauce. 

  7. Crack pink salt and black pepper on both sides of your steaks. 

  8. Heat grill to 400 degrees. 

  9. Cook steaks for 4 minutes on each side for medium. (Cook more or less time depending on preference). 

  10. Remove from heat and let rest for 5 minutes. 

  11. Cut steak and serve with balsamic steak sauce and Dreaming Tree Crush.

Recipe Notes

**Nutritional facts are just estimates. Please utilize your own brand nutritional values to double check against our estimates. 

The Dreaming Tree wines are available at your local grocery, drug or supercenter stores. A little trick – just go to their website and locate their wines here.

Green Bean Salad Recipe

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This easy green bean salad recipe may be simple, but it’s packed full of flavor. Be sure to take a potluck hit to your next get together with this simple side dish.

I’ve told the story before about how growing up, I’d only eat green bean in ketchup.  Thankfully, all my senses came together and had an awakening moment for my life. Slowly, but surely, I’ve came to love green beans and now, they are one of my favorite vegetables. I never realized at that time, but green beans are so versatile.  I remember reading before that you have to try new foods up to 10 times. I can totally see why now, because the versatility in what you can go with a set of ingredients, can completely change how you look at a food that you think you don’t like.

It’s also a great tool for teaching your children. For us, we explain to our kids that while you may not like something steamed, you may like it grilled, or roasted, or sautéed. You may like an ingredient mixed into something, but not by itself.  There are so many different ways to use and incorporate ingredients, that you should never give up on it the first time.

Green Bean Salad Recipe

This easy green bean salad recipe with feta is sure to be a crowd pleaser.  In our  home, it’s kid-approved, too! Our girls, love not only helping to make this, but being able to eat through all the flavor combinations as well. We start by sautéing fresh green beans in butter, with some freshly cracked black pepper and pink Himalayan salt.  While they are cooling down after cooking, we halve beautifully ripe cherry tomatoes. Then, we make a delicious, but simple lemon balsamic sauce. Finally, we combine everything with some sliced almonds and feta cheese. The end result is everything that you’ve wanted and more in a side dish!

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Easy Green Bean Salad Recipe with Feta
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
8 mins
Cooling Time
15 mins
Total Time
18 mins
 

While this easy green bean salad recipe may be simple, it's packed full of flavor. Be sure to take a potluck hit to your next get together with this simple side dish.

Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Keyword: side dish, summer salad
Servings: 8 people
Calories: 154 kcal
Author: Larisha Campbell
Ingredients
  • 1 lb fresh green beans, ends snipped
  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
  • 3 tbsp lemon juice
  • 3 tbsp balsamic vinegar
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1/4 tsp garlic powder
  • salt and pepper
  • 1/2 cup toasted sliced almonds (walnuts could be substituted)
  • 1/2 cup feta cheese
Instructions

  1. Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat.

  2. Add green beans and saute for 8 minutes, stirring frequently. Add salt and pepper to taste. 

  3. Remove from heat and put inside bowl. Let cool for 15 minutes. 

  4. In a small bowl, combine, lemon juice, balsamic vinegar, olive oil, and garlic powder. Stir together. 

  5. To bowl with green beans, add halved cherry tomatoes and thinly sliced red onions. Pour sauce combination over and stir gently, but well. 

  6. Taste test and add additional salt and pepper if necessary. 

  7. Add feta cheese and toasted almonds on top. 

  8. Serve warm or cold. 

Nutrition Facts
Easy Green Bean Salad Recipe with Feta
Amount Per Serving (0.5 cup)
Calories 154 Calories from Fat 99
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 11g 17%
Saturated Fat 3g 15%
Cholesterol 15mg 5%
Sodium 116mg 5%
Potassium 339mg 10%
Total Carbohydrates 10g 3%
Dietary Fiber 3g 12%
Sugars 5g
Protein 5g 10%
Vitamin A 16.2%
Vitamin C 28%
Calcium 10.1%
Iron 7.9%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Pin this deliciously easy Green Bean Salad Recipe for later: 

Finding The Support Network

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This is a sponsored post in collaboration with the American Heart Association; all opinions are entirely my own.

Shortly before we found out we were expecting our first children, Andrew was diagnosed with pre-hypertension, or high blood pressure. It was our first experience with dealing with a potentially serious health condition as a couple. And, to be honest, we weren’t really sure exactly how we dealt with something like this. We tried to make some dietary changes immediately, but we were 20-somethings, with no kids, and we just didn’t make great choices all the time. Andrew was taking the medication prescribed by the doctor, but we weren’t doing great with the other recommendations for lifestyle changes.

Then, we found out were were expecting our first child. It was something about that moment that really kick started our journey into making the necessary lifestyle changes. Andrew was adamant in making sure he did everything he could to live the longest life possible with his girls. And he did. We made a lot of dietary and life changes, like exercising, and now, today, he no longer has this as a diagnosis. He’s no long on medication either. We do regularly see a physician to ensure that he doesn’t need to revisit a new plan. He has maintained the lifestyle changes throughout the years.

Support Network 

Through everything, and looking back now, I do wish that we had more of a support system in the beginning.  I always think of what may have happened if we didn’t find out we were expecting. What if years went by before we had a child. One thing that I know would have helped was having a support network to talk to, ask question, and learn from.

Thankfully now, people do.

The American Heart Association introduces The Support Network. A system that provides both human connection and health resources for people with heart disease and stroke, including caregivers. It’s for adults who are survivors and/or caregivers of heart disease, stroke, rehab & recovery, emotional well-being, atrial fibrillation, venous thromboembolism, peripheral artery disease (PAD), congenital heart defects, etc.

You can join the Support Network too! 

There are approximately 117,000 members already in the Support Network all sharing their experiences and receiving guidance. They help to provide support during challenging times, allow you to share your story, and ask questions.  You’re able to Engage. Encourage. Inform. Support. It’s a great place to get emotional support where other truly care and share. Signing up is FREE, easy, and secure.  There are no membership fees ever!

 Join the conversation now…on your journey to a longer, healthier life.

The Perfect Distraction For Bored Kids – GoNoodle

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Need the perfect distraction for a few minutes to get some energy out of your littles when they are bored?  Whether you are in line at the grocery store or hiking through the mountains, the GoNoodle app is the perfect tool for breaks!

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by GoNoodle.  Thoughts and opinions are 100% my own!

Whether we are homeschooling, on a road trip, or cooking in the kitchen, the kids can get bored easily. If they aren’t interested, it can quickly go from sunshine and rainbows, to meltdown city in a matter of seconds.  As a parent, this isn’t always easy. It’s frustrating to us at times that our kids meltdown so easily. Especially when we don’t think it’s warranted. For them, it’s frustrating too. They don’t understand why we are essentially making them do things they don’t want to do.

As parents, it’s our job to balance it all. Balance our needs with theirs.  And what I’ve learned in my brief time as a parent is that it isn’t always about us.  They are human beings too and their opinions matter. What Andrew and I like to do is find the balance.  We can’t always get what we want and they can’t always get what they want. I mean, it’s easy to understand balance when it comes to our own adult relationships; however, many people struggle to understand balance when it comes to children. We like to view children as people who also get to respectfully express their opinions as well.

So what do we do?

What happens when we are trying to get through a homeschool day and the kids are struggling to focus? What do we do when we are out exploring a new city or hiking and the kids decide they are done? How about the times that we are cooking a meal and it’s taking a little longer than expected and the kids want food NOW?

Well, for starters, we take a deep breath.  I can immediately get frustrated (which does happen sometimes) or I can count to five, think about my reaction, and then come up with a solution. The solution usually ends up being a distraction. Let’s distract during the time it’s taking for dinner by singing a silly song. Or let’s distract from being ready to go home with a funny dance in the middle of a busy sidewalk (none of those people are going to remember you anyway).

Let’s GoNoodle! 

Go what? GoNoodle! It’s the perfect way to energize or calm, recharge, focus, and awesomely get your kids back on track! And it’s working perfectly for the quick breaks that we need sometimes in order to get our kids back to what we’re doing. GoNoodle is a NEW! FREE! app (for iOS and Android) that features dance-alongs, yoga videos, mindfulness activities, and way more active and fun ways to get everyone (YES! YOU TOO!) moving.  

GoNoodle.com has been used in 80% of U.S. elementary schools this year and now, it’s available at home. No matter where you are, whether out or at home, you can stop and GoNoodle.

Some places we recommend to GoNoodle:  

  • at the beach
  • on a pitstop during a long car ride
  • during a break from homework (or homeschool)
  • standing in a long line (bathroom, grocery store, etc)
  • waiting for dinner to finish cooking
  • at the airport during a layover
  • on a train ride
  • on a shopping trip
  • at the doctors office
  • And So Many More!

All of the content on GoNoodle is rated Y-7 so you can trust and appreciate that it’s appropriate for your kids. Kids have an opportunity to participate in mindfulness activities, dance parties, and yoga sessions to be better versions of themselves instead of mindlessly having screen time.

Even better, this summer will feature a ton of fun GoNoodle GoSummer programming, where you can tune in LIVE on weekdays at 11 am or 7 pm Eastern time for singalongs, dancealongs, strechalongs, giveaways and more. The fun starts on June 18. I can’t wait to share fun classic songs with my kids like “Bye Bye Bye” and “U Can’t Touch This!”

Ready to GoNoodle?  Download the free app for iOS or Android devices (you can also grab it at GoNoodle.com) and starting GoNoodling today!

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by GoNoodle.  Thoughts and opinions are 100% my own!

Summer Side Dishes

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 Looking for delicious summer side dishes? We’ve got you covered! Check out the best summer side dishes to have you ready in a pinch for any summer cookout. 

SUMMMMMMERRRRRR!!!!

Every time I think of summer now, I can’t help but sing the Olaf song from Frozen. And secretly, sometimes wish I was in winter.  It’s funny because summer was my favorite season growing up.  I mean, no school, no worries, lots of outside time, pools, etc. What kids isn’t going to love that?  Now however, it means more sweating as I chase my kids around in the heat, bugs seem to annoy me way more as an adult, and as a homeowner, more work. Regardless, I do find joy in watching my children love summer, just as much as I remember loving it.

Whether you like the warmer weather or not, you likely are going to attend a cookout or twelve during summer. Typically, unless you are hosting, you are going to be responsible to bring some sort of side dish. Or maybe you are just looking for easy side dishes for your own dinner.  Whatever the reason, we have some of the best summer side dishes from the internet all combined for you in one awesome post.

So, what’s your favorite summer side dishes? For me, I always want corn on the cob. Other favorite summer side dishes would have to be a great pasta salad, baked beans, fruit salad, potato salad, and sometimes just a big chunk of watermelon.

Summer Side Dishes

Now, which dish are you going to go make first? We hope you love this collection of summer side dishes for cookout time; however, if you feel like we missed an amazing dish, feel free to let us know in the comments so we can add it! Enjoy the summer!


Spicy Garlic Grilled Corn on the Cob

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This Spicy Garlic Grilled Corn on the Cob is the perfect vegetable side dish for your next get together. Cooking corn in the husk on the grill will be your new favorite thing! 

Grilled corn on the cob just screams summer. We love going down to the local farm and grabbing fresh corn on cob throughout the summer season and we’re so sad when it ends. We all, especially our youngest, just love corn on the cob. I remember growing up and my mom would literally drench her corn in melted butter and sprinkle an absurd amount of salt all over one ear.  I used to laugh that she was eating corn soup and the butter was her broth. This recipe is much healthier, but every time I eat corn on the cob, I think about my mom.

How to Grill Corn in Husks

There’s so many ways to cook corn on the cob, but cooking corn in the husk on the grill is one of my favorites. First, soak the corn in water.  After that, carefully pull back the husk to about half an inch from the bottom. Then, remove the corn silks. Next, spread butter and seasoning mix onto the corn. Carefully pull the husks back up. Grill at approximately 400 degrees for 20 minutes or until fork tender, turning every 5 minutes.

How long do you have to soak corn before grilling?

When cooking corn on the cob on the grill, you should soak it in water for 30-60 minutes beforehand. Soaking in water softens the husks, making them easier to work with and get down as far as possible without breaking off.  Soaking corn also allows for more moisture to be retained so the corn doesn’t burn on the grill.

How long do you grill corn?

Grilling corn on the cob is easy peasy! Start by preheating the grill to 400 degrees.  Then, you want to place your corn on the cob in the husk on the grill for 20 minutes, rotating every 5 minutes. This will ensure perfectly cooked corn on the cob. After the 20 minutes, you can slightly peel back the husk and test with a fork. The corn kernels should be soft and easily pierced with a fork.

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Spicy Garlic Grilled Corn on the Cob in Husk
Prep Time
35 mins
Cook Time
20 mins
Total Time
55 mins
 

This Spicy Garlic Grilled Corn on the Cob is the perfect vegetable side dish for your next get together. Cooking corn in the husk on the grill will be your new favorite thing! 

Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Keyword: side dish, vegetable dish
Servings: 6 people
Calories: 188 kcal
Author: Larisha Campbell
Ingredients
  • 6 ears corn on the cob
  • 6 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 3 tsp chili powder, divided
  • 3 tsp garlic powder, divided
Instructions

  1. Soak corn in husk for 30-60 minutes. 

  2. Heat grill to 400 degrees.

  3. Peal back the corn husks without removing them and then remove all the corn silk.

  4. Liberally rub 1 tbsp of butter over each ear of corn. 

  5. Then sprinkle 1/2 tsp chili powder and 1/2 tsp garlic powder over each ear. 

  6. Pull husks back up and over the ear of corn. 

  7. Place on grill and cook for 20 minutes, rotating every 5 minutes. Corn should be tender when pierced with a fork.

Recipe Notes

*Nutritional facts are just estimates. Please utilize your own brand nutritional values to double check against our estimates. 

Nutrition Facts
Spicy Garlic Grilled Corn on the Cob in Husk
Amount Per Serving (1 ear of corn)
Calories 188 Calories from Fat 108
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 12g 18%
Saturated Fat 7g 35%
Cholesterol 30mg 10%
Sodium 38mg 2%
Potassium 287mg 8%
Total Carbohydrates 18g 6%
Dietary Fiber 2g 8%
Sugars 5g
Protein 3g 6%
Vitamin A 18.5%
Vitamin C 7.4%
Calcium 1%
Iron 4.4%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

**This post was original published on 9/9/2014. Images to the original post are below. 

Lemon Butter Green Beans

by

This easy but delicious Lemon Butter Green Beans recipe will be the perfect side dish for your next meal! Try this vegetable side dish with your next meal! 

 

Funny story. When I was little, I wouldn’t eat green beans.  I went over to a friend’s house for dinner and they were serving green beans. All the kids had ketchup to dip their green beans in and when I said I didn’t like them, my friend’s mom asked if I would try it with ketchup.  I was a kid, so I’d try anything with ketchup.  I actually preferred them that way and from them on I dipped my green beans in ketchup. It was the only way I would eat them. It would be well into my 20s before I tried green beans other ways, let alone fresh green beans. Luckily, I came to my senses.

These lemon butter green beans are so easy and delicious, you’ll wonder why you’ve never tried them before.  And, if somehow, you were like me and scared to try green beans, I’d encourage you to try this recipe before giving them up altogether.

Whether you are looking for a side dish for dinner or an easy potluck side dish recipe, going to a cookout, barbecue or party, this easy vegetable side dish is absolutely one you want to try. You can easily adjust it for a crowd.

How to Make Lemon Butter Green Beans

First, you want to start by rinsing your fresh green beans. Then, trim the ends. Next, you are going to melt butter in a skillet and then throw in your beans.  Add in some lemon juice and lemon zest, as well as salt and pepper. Cook for approximately 8 minutes over medium heat and then they are ready.  It’s that easy to make the perfect vegetable side dish.  This leaves the beans with a little crunch, but you can easily let them cook for a little longer if you prefer to have them softer.

Delicious Entrees to Prepare with Lemon Butter Green Beans

Ready to make these delicious Lemon Butter Green Beans? Here ya go!

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Lemon Butter Green Beans recipe
Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
8 mins
Total Time
13 mins
 

This easy but delicious Lemon Butter Green Beans recipe will be the perfect side dish for your next meal! Try this vegetable side dish with your next meal! 

Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Keyword: side dish, vegetable dish
Servings: 4 people
Calories: 119 kcal
Author: Larisha Campbell
Ingredients
  • 1 lb fresh green beans, trimmed and washed
  • 3 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 1 lemon
  • salt and pepper
Instructions

  1. In a large skillet, melt butter over medium heat. 

  2. Put green beans into melted butter and saute for 4 minutes, stirring occasionally. 

  3. Add zest from half the lemon and juice from all the lemon into the skillet. 

  4. Add salt and pepper until desired taste. 

  5. Stir to combine and cook for another 4 minutes.* 

  6. Remove from heat and serve. 

Recipe Notes

*Cooking beans for 8 minutes will yield a slightly crunchy texture.  For softer beans, cook for a few more minutes until desired texture achieved. 

**Nutritional facts are just estimates. Please utilize your own brand nutritional values to double check against our estimates. 

Nutrition Facts
Lemon Butter Green Beans recipe
Amount Per Serving (0.4 lb)
Calories 119 Calories from Fat 72
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 8g 12%
Saturated Fat 5g 25%
Cholesterol 22mg 7%
Sodium 8mg 0%
Potassium 276mg 8%
Total Carbohydrates 10g 3%
Dietary Fiber 3g 12%
Sugars 4g
Protein 2g 4%
Vitamin A 21%
Vitamin C 34.1%
Calcium 5.2%
Iron 7.4%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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