Blog Posts by Charlene Prince Birkeland, Team Mom

The thought of having your kids help you cook dinner might make you dizzy. The mess! The chaos! But teaching kids to love cooking doesn't have to be a disaster. On the contrary, it helps empower children while helping them learn to love new foods. A recent study by the University of Alberta showed that kids who help prepare meals make healthier food choices. An added benefit? It could help make your dinner hour more civilized. Easy Does It host Ereka Vetrini talks to Melissa Lanz of The Fresh 20 and learns how cooking dinner together as family can become the best part of the day.

Video: Bento-inspired lunches your kids will love (seriously!)

Lanz's idea for The Fresh 20 spawned from the realization that she needed to teach her children, now 6 and 7 years old, how to eat healthy...as a family. The company is a meal planning service that uses unprocessed ingredients to cook weeknight dinners for families. Says Lanz: "When they were really young, I wanted to be that mom that was superRead More »from Cooking with Kids: Make Dinner Time Your Family Destination

The kids have only been back at school for a few weeks. Are you already tired of packing their lunches? In a recent survey by Coupons.com, 50 percent of moms with school-age children said that shopping for and packing their kid's lunches causes them serious stress. While a simple peanut butter and jelly sandwich can turn into a school controversy, the biggest hurdle is more likely to be your own kids and their refusal to eat what you're serving up.

Related: How parents can stay sane during back-to-school season

Whether you have a picky eater or a child who needs more variety in his or her lunch, don't despair. Away We Grow host Diane Mizota spoke with author and Weelicious.com founder Catherine McCord about the amazing and enticing bento-style school lunches that she makes for her son. Three years ago, McCord started taking photos of her son's lunch every day and posted the images on Facebook. "Each lunch is completely and totally different," says McCord.

 

McCord's Read More »from Bento Style School Lunches Your Kids Will Really Eat!

Olympian Ryan Lochte's love life is perhaps as hot a topic as his swimming skills. But before things get too serious with any lady love, there's one person any future Mrs. Ryan Lochte will have to win over: his mom. Team Mom on Shine has the exclusive on what Ilena Lochte wants in a daughter-in-law.

Also on Shine:
Ryan Lochte on Speedos and his biggest cheerleader
How tough is it to become an Olympian?
7 lessons kids can learn from Olympic athletes

Read More »from VIDEO: What Does Ryan Lochte's Mom Want in a Daughter-in-Law?

When Gabby Douglas was 12 years old, she asked her mom if she could move 3,000 miles away from home to train with an elite gymnastics coach. Her mom said no, but finally relented two years later. Now 16, the gymnast is leading Team USA at 2012 London Games and is working to make her childhood dreams come true.

Douglas was only three years old when her older sister, who was taking gymnastics classes, taught her a few moves. "I was the baby sister that could do all the tricks," says Douglas, who is the youngest of four children. Her family took notice of the ease at which she could perform perfect cartwheels, even on one hand. When Douglas was six, she began to take gymnastics classes.

[ Photos: Gymnastics starlet Gabrielle Douglas ]
In 2008, Douglas and her family watched Olympian Shawn Johnson compete in the Beijing Games. According to Douglas' mom, Natalie Hawkins, the young gymnast was taking mental notes. Says Hawkins, "She [Douglas] said, 'Look at Shawn and her coach. They look Read More »from Raising an Olympian: Gabby Douglas

"Anything is possible" is the mantra for those who compete in any Ironman triathalon, a grueling contest that challenges speed, endurance and heart. The phrase often sounds cliche when it rolls off of our tongues as we say it to our kids or to our friends. Sometimes we even have to convince ourselves to believe in it. But for single mom and Ironman triathlete Heather Wajer, the adage goes beyond running, swimming and cycling; it's the story of her life.

Related: Life lessons from lifelong athlete, Kristi Yamaguchi

In her early 20s, Wajer had the difficult task of becoming the primary caregiver of her mother, who was dying from Lou Gehrig's disease. After a three-year battle,  her mom passed away and Wajer turned to food, alcohol and smoking to cope with the loss. Years passed. At 34, she weighed more than 315 pounds. Her marriage was crumbling. And she was starting to worry about her own role as a mom to her then 3-year-old son, Griffin.

"I realized that if I continued down

Read More »from Team Mom Pep Talk with Heather Wajer: Teaching Our Kids by Example

Sixteen-year-old world-champion gymnast Jordyn Wieber views herself as a normal teenager. Known for her fighting spirit and fierce work ethic, the young phemon is anything but average. She's vying for a spot on Team USA this weekend at the U.S. Olympic Trials in San Jose, Calif. How does Wieber survive pressure that has the potential to be all-consuming? According to her mom, it's all about laughter.

"I always think about Jordyn up on a beam with cameras in her face and 12,000 people watching, and knowing she's on live television," says Rita Wieber. "And then at that moment, we want you to do your very best beam routine ever."

Photos: Jordyn Wieber in action

The teenager doesn't expect anything less of herself, either. She's been a gymnast since she was a young child. Her mom recalls watching her daughter as a toddler standing on her dressing table on one leg while her parents dressed her. Her balance seemed a natural fit for the gym. And when she was 10, she wanted to try elite

Read More »from Raising an Olympian: Jordyn Wieber

A few weeks ago we profiled U.S. gold medal swimmer Ryan Lochte. If you're not used to seeing his face in the news yet, get ready. According to The New York Times, Lochte "is being groomed to be a breakout Olympic superstar" at the 2012 London Games this summer.

The Thread recently had a chance to interview Lochte and his mom, Ileana. Lochte talks about his favorite personal items that he can't live without and his special bond with his mom. Superstar power? We think so.

Read More »from Swimmer Ryan Lochte on Speedos and His Biggest Cheerleader...His Mom