There are some amazing stories that came from these simple deeds. But I really want to highlight a few.

On the 12^th of January, I had a Granola Mom’s daughter with me and she reported her excitement with paying forward a good deed on their turn.  I was having a pretty grumpy, busy day and I shared with her that the 12^th was my day but that I hadn’t figured out what to do yet.  She quickly listed off several ideas!  I dropped her off at her activity and turned the car away in thought of what could I do for my good deed.  I saw a young couple beside the road with a storage tub and several  shopping bags arguing with one another.  I pulled my car over and watched for a minute and then decided to get out and ask if they needed help.  The young woman reported that she had just gotten kicked out of her house and was walking to meet a friend.  I offered them a ride in my car to their friends.  I was so thrilled with how the world spun that day to present with such an awesome give back in spite of my grumpy outlook.

Yesterday the Granola Moms got “busted”.  Stephanie went into a local salon to purchase a haircut for the next customer.  After she explained the stylist her idea she went to her car to get money for the haircut.  When she came back into the salon a woman sat in the stylist chair and said, “Are you with that moms group that is doing good deeds?”  She said she had read our story in the Osawatomie Journal and was very excited to see the plan in action.  Stephanie shared with them, the best thing they could do is “pay it forward”.  Thank you to Kevin Gray for the write up in the Osawatomie Journal, I believe the story is making a difference.

And now I want to open up the reports to you our readers and followers.  Let me know what your good deeds are!  I want to include them in our 2012 Give Back!  The best place to post your deeds is on our Granola Moms Facebook page.

This year the Granola Moms and their families have resolved to be completely purposeful in random acts of kindness.  We will be accomplishing at least one random act of kindness and reporting them to you in effort to encourage you as well to pay it forward and be kind to others.

“True kindness presupposes the faculty of imagining as one’s own the suffering and joys of others.”

So here in day one of 2012 Granola moms pay the toll on 1-70.

To avoid all this trouble and to ensure that our kids are getting all the correct nutrition they need, we try to send them to school with a lunch box as often as possible. For inspiration, we found a great book that we love called  Vegan Lunch Box! It is full of fun ideas for your kids’ lunch boxes. One of our favorite ideas is to create your own Lunchable type lunches. This will work for meat eaters too. All you need is your favorite deli meats or fake meat slices, slices of casein-free cheese and cookie cutters. Have the kids help cut the slices into various shapes using the cookie cutters. Add crackers, fresh fruit, a bottle of water or organic juice and you are done! You can prepare several slices on Sunday and store  in the refrigerator for easy to take lunches throughout the week. Add a couple of Newman’s Own cookies as a special treat.

Don’t forget to surprise your little ones with a quick note reminding them that you love them!

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons vegan butter, melted (We like Earth Balance)
• 1 cup Vanilla Almond Milk
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon, divided in half
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2/3 Cup Pure Maple Syrup
• 1 loaf French bread or Wheat bread, cut into 1 inch cubes (We chose to just tear into chunks)

Directions: Prep Time: 15 mins Total Time: 45 mins 1. Pre-heat oven to 400°F. 2. Spray a 9×13″ baking dish with cooking spray or “grease” with vegan butter. 3.Combine melted vegan butter, vanilla almond milk, maple syrup, 1/2 tsp cinnamon, and salt in a large bowl. 4.Fold bread into mixture to absorb liquid evenly. Place in prepared baking dish, and cover with aluminum foil. 5.Bake 15 minutes. 6.Remove foil, and bake 15 minutes more. 7.Sprinkle with the other 1/2 tsp cinnamon over the top. 8.Top as desired. You may choose to drizzle with more syrup, add fruit, nuts or powdered sugar. The most recent version we made was with chopped nuts, sliced bananas and drizzled with sryup. YUM!! ENJOY!

Watch the kids in action and then put it into action for yourself!

FATS (Essential Fatty Acids): Essential for brain and nerve function. Vital to get lots of Omega 3

Flaxseed Oil
Hempseed Oil
Rapeseed Oil
Olive Oil
Green Leafy Veggies
Avocados
Nuts: (Almonds, Hazelnuts)
Olive oil is great for cooking
All oils should be fresh and stored in a dark, cool place.

PROTEIN: Used for growth and repair of body tissues. For hormones & enzymes.

Beans, Lentils, Beansprouts
Tofu
Soy Milk
Wholegrains
Seeds
Nuts
Hummus

Protein needs are automatically met by a balanced, varied diet. There is even protein in potatoes!

VITAMIN A (beta-carotene): Powerful anti-oxidant, Sight, Bone & Teeth, Growth & Tissue Paper

Carrots
Spinach
Red & Yellow Peppers
Watercress
Tomatoes
Green Leafy Veggies
Dried Apricots
Mango

VITAMIN B: Important for energy, using fats and protein. Also for cell growth & nervous system.

Beansprouts
Avocado
Wholegrains
Nuts
Mushrooms
Bananas
Oranges
Yeast extract
Beans & Lentils
Green Leafy Veggies

VITAMIN B12: Used in nerve formation and nerve cell production. Deficiency can lead to anemia.

Fortified Products: Soy milk, cereals, margarine, Soy meat, yeast extract

VITAMIN C: Used to fight infections & heal wounds. Antioxidant.

Green Leafy Veggies (Ex: cabbage)
Broccoli
Parsley
Potatoes
Frozen Peas
Oranges
Blackcurrants
Kiwi Fruit
Mango

VITAMIN D: Needed for calcium use. Healthy bones and teeth. Plenty of outdoors in the summer and supplement in the winter

SUNLIGHT ON THE SKIN
Fortified:
Cereals
Soy Milk
Margarine

VITAMIN E: Anti-Oxidant, Used to protect against disease. Tissue healing. Skin health. 

Olive oil
Tomatoes
Avocado
Apples
Carrots
Nuts & Seeds
Whole Grains

VITAMIN K: Energy use. Fight infection. For blood clotting and healthy bones. Should be plentiful in varied diet.

Green leafy veggies
Kelp
Lettuce
Broccoli
Peas
Lentils

MINERALS

IRON: Use in production of red blood cells & oxygen transportation. Ensure good dietary supplement  

Green leafy veggies (Ex Kale)
Cabbage
Beans
Lentils
Tofu
Pumpkin Seeds
Millett
Figs
Dried Apricots
Dates

Best absorbed with vitamin C. Avoid coffer or tea with meals.

CALCIUM: For teeth bones and muscles. Also for hormones and blood clotting. Plant sources are VERY useful.

Almonds
Green Leafy Veggies (Kale, Spinach, Watercress)
Broccoli
Turnip
Tofu
Soy Milk (fortified)

Zinc: Important for strong immune system and wound healing

Green Leafy Veggies
Pumpkin seeds
Sesame Seeds Lentils Tofu
Almonds
Whole Grains

IODINE: Important for metabolism and healthy functioning of thyroid gland

Green Leafy Veggies
Asparagus
Kelp (Kombu)

MAGNESIUM: For bone strength, nerve and muscle function  

Green Leafy Veggies
Whole grains
Avocados
Bananas
Apricots
Apples
Cashew Nuts
Almonds

SELENIUM PHOSPHOROUS POTASSIUM: Selenium is antioxidant and fights disease

Brazil Nuts
Whole Grains
Chick Peas
Pumpkin Seeds
Yeast Extract

Strawberries
Bananas
Tomatoes
Many fruits and veggies

CARBS: For energy. Use complex carbs-avoid sugar and white flour, processed grains.

Whole grain rice
Wholemeal bread
Oats
Potatoes
Beans & Lentils
Cereals (Muesli)
Pasta (try corn and wholemeal)

FIBER: Vital for health, lowers cholesterol and regulates appetite.

Wholegrains
Beans & Lentils
Fruits and Veggies
Nuts & Seeds

EAT ORGANIC
DRINK 2 LITERS OF WATER