Here we are at the start of a new year and holiday parties and get-togethers done. Kids are back at school and work is back in full force. Isn’t it wonderful to catch up with loved ones during the holidays? I had some special moments this year, and I hope you did too. It took a long time for the snow to hit the ground here in Montreal, but now it’s here! And with the bitter cold on some days, it feels like a proper Canadian winter.

Sharing good tidings during the holidays can sometimes bring another thing you do not want: a cold. And if you are like my family, we were very happy to be able to celebrate this holiday cold free. It’s one of the best gifts I think we received, considering we had some real health issues last month. Now with the winter season in full swing, the last thing children want to do is stay indoors when there are so many great things to do outside! Unfortunately, back at school adds a greater chance of catching something.

So how do you avoid getting a cold (or another in some cases) this season? Of course there are the obvious precautions such as getting the flu shot (which I hope you all managed to get!), washing your hands frequently, drinking lots of fluids, eating your fruits and veggies and using a humidifier in your bedroom at night. But I have a couple of other gems I would like to share with you! Protect yourself and your children this winter with two of my tried and true favourites.

IronKids & Adult Essentials by Life Science Nutritionals
With my first child in school this year, I wanted to start giving my kids multivitamins to give them extra help in getting all the nutrients they need each day. They are pretty good eaters, but given their age, they can stick to the same meal often and sometimes they are super picky. When they got a cold earlier this year, they lost their appetite, couldn’t have dairy, and didn’t want any vitamin packed foods. It was then that I knew multivitamins were the way to go.

When I went to the ShesConnected Conference in the fall, I was introduced to Deborah Lowther and the IronKids and Adult Essentials gummies. They are gummy vitamins that really taste great and have no aftertaste! Until then, I hadn’t found a multivitamin I felt good about giving my children. As you may already know, I am a particular mama – I generally go out of my way to give my children things that are as natural and safe as they can possibly be. For me, that meant finding a multivitamin without colour or added sugars. IronKids fits the bill. The brand carries a multivitamin, as well as gummies for omega-3, vitamin D and calcium.
Aside from the fact that these are the best multivitamins I have found on the market, the best thing about it for my kids is that they think they are getting a sweet treat! I have made a routine of giving my kids their omega-3 at lunch and they consider it part of their dessert! They always ask for their “fishies” and I am more than happy to give it to them!
It’s great for them especially when they are especially picky with their foods. Last month when my children had various health issues, they did not want to eat their normal healthy, vitamin packed meals. I knew they were getting their vitamins through the Ironkids gummies, and that made me feel better. When they couldn’t have their daily intake of milk, the IronKids calcium gummies stepped in and helped them out.

Great reasons to love IronKids gummies:
• Only natural flavours and colours are used – nothing artificial, no sugar coating
• Gluten free and nut free
• IronKids Omega-3 gummies use 100% fish oil with no fishy after taste
• The only entire brand line approved by Health Canada
• IronKids Multi, Omega-3, Calcium and Vitamin D all won Parent Tested Parent Approved (PTPA) awards in 2011- voted on by Parents in Canada and US

I kept a cold at bay for myself thanks to the Adult Essentials gummies. I take the multivitamins and the vitamin D gummies each day and I feel like they saved me from running down during the holiday season.

Boogie Wipes
I came across Boogie Wipes a while back and, admittedly, wasn’t sold on the concept. But after trying them out, I was convinced this was an incredibly smart and useful product to have with young children. Little ones have a hard time blowing their noses and their skin is so sensitive that using a dry napkin will inevitably cause a mild irritation from the constant wintery runny nose. Add to that trying to keep them from getting a dry nose in the first place by using saline drops…not the easiest thing to do. Well, Boogie Wipes, invented by two smart mamas, takes care of both problems in one. Their funny name is just what it implies, and helps keep little noses soft and unharmed from the constant wipe of a wintery runny nose.
My children love the idea that they get to sniff a great smell every time they blow their nose – they are available in grape, mint and unscented. My kids like the grape scent the best. I carry them with me in my purse all winter and they also came in very handy during the summer months too when my children were sick.

Of course, because these two products are just so fabulous, they are on the PTPA list of approval. Another great reason to check these products out!

Giveaway!

To help you start 2012 on a healthy road, Life Science Nutritionals has graciously offered up a great giveaway! To enter, visit www.askmamamoe.blogspot.com for details.

This giveaway ends on January 20th 2012 at 11:59pm. I will contact the winner by e-mail on January 21st. Good luck to all!