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Nestle

Baby 101: Follow Your Instincts

September 10, 2015 By Lena

The wonderful thing about being a mother – without actually having a newborn – is the ability to reminisce about the baby stages with nostalgia and fondness  … but not having to live through them again.

Oh, baby won’t sleep? What a sweet little angel. 
She’s colicky? Poor little sweetie, she can’t help it. Shhh.
Pooped all over the change table, huh? Too adorable.

Of course, back when I was a parent for the first time, I’m pretty sure my reaction was decidedly different. As in, “get this crazy baby away from me, I’m at my wit’s end.” But that’s the lovely thing about time; it heals wounds and allows parents to forget just how difficult caring for a baby really is.

Now I’m no expert, but I’ve been officially designated the family’s “Parenting Guru” (based solely on the fact that I had babies first and ergo, have the most experience). And often, I find myself recalling the good times – the smiles, the coos, the bright-eyed babies looking around with wonder and innocence. But crying through the night? Don’t remember a thing!

(Ironically: pictured below, Reid crying.)
Reid_Arms4_BW1-1024x682
And if I had to lend just one piece of advice to new parents out there, it would be to follow your instincts. Honestly! There’s no “right” or “wrong” way to care for a baby; mothers have successfully raised children for centuries without the help of Dr. Google or Facebook mommy groups. What’s right for you may not be right for me, and what’s right for one baby may not be right for the next (even in the same family!). …

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Filed Under: Family Tagged With: good start, infant nutrition, Nestle

Food News: Smarties Takes a Stand on Portion Control!

July 15, 2015 By Lena

It’s my sons’ favourite treat; a staple reward for a job well done. It’s a little something to spoil them from grandma, or a candy surprise at the movies or just because. It’s SMARTIES, of course. And until recently, I simply assumed a package was an appropriate portion.

Spoiler alert: it’s not.

How many of y’all grab a chocolate bar or a pack of SMARTIES from the variety store and simply tuck into it until it’s gone? Yeah, I’m guilty too. And I’m guilty of serving my children treats in the same fashion, erroneously believing that the portions were already calculated for me. The thing is, in some cases it’s fine to polish off the entire chocolate bar or bag of candy. But other times, a portion is actually a fraction of the product… even if you’ve probably been eating the whole darn thing all along.

In keeping with its global commitments to nutrition, health and wellness and its leadership in providing treats in a more permissible way, Nestlé Canada has given its SMARTIES packaging a refresh. The new innovative packaging takes portion control a step further by making it more intuitive, by providing portion guidance indicators.
DSC_1101So, you can now choose how much of the colourful treat you want to consume, while being mindful of portion size.

“We are motivated everyday by our nutrition, health and wellness commitments, and within those commitments is our goal to educate consumers and empower them with helpful information and guidance,” said Terri Tinella, President, Confectionery, Nestlé Canada. “These changes are all about giving Canadians the treats they love while empowering them to make informed choices.”

The changes, which encourage consumers to enjoy some treats now and save the rest for later if they choose, include:

1) SMARTIES regular box is now physically divided into three compartments, all containing a smaller single portion; 2) SMARTIES cello bag is now a recyclable canister with a custom lid, allowing consumers to measure out a portion; 3) All seasonal large, hollow SMARTIES figures and packages have been reduced to a single portion. …

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Filed Under: Food Tagged With: healthier choices, Nestle, portion control, smarties

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Lena Almeida

Toronto Blogger, Social Media Strategist for Listen to Lena Inc. Television & Radio Personality, Columnist and Speaker. Family Travel Expert. Star Wars Fanatic. Perfecting the Art of Conversuasion. Read More…

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