Use the app, avoid the doctor's office!

OK, fellow parents, anyone else ready to put this winter and sick season in the rear view mirror? 🙋🙋🙋🙋🙋🙋 We just came through a week of a virus that went through all six in my family. Thankfully, it wasn't the flu, but whew, it wasn't a picnic. Now that every piece of bedding has been washed and everything has been sanitized, my fingers are crossed for avoiding any more viruses this season. 😷

I know I'm not alone as we're in the peak of cold and flu season, one of the worst flu seasons ever. :( We LOVE our pediatrician, but right now I'm trying to avoid her office if at all possible! It's a busy place as we recently waited 50 minutes to be seen (this is extremely rare, so I know there were a lot of sick babies there!) But hey, selfies took up at least 5 minutes of our waiting time. ☺

And that is why I'm extra excited about the new UPMC AnywhereCare app! The UPMC AnywhereCare can connect you with health care providers on all devices to help with symptoms like colds, coughs and sore throats. Your child wakes up at 2AM with symptoms? How great to first check in remotely with a medical professional to determine if they need to be seen! Anyone can sign up for UPMC AnywhereCare online or download the app at UPMCAnywhereCare.com.  One thing to note: UPMC AnywhereCare cannot be used for children under three.

UPMC AnywhereCare offers patients with non-emergency symptoms quick online access to high-quality care — anytime, anywhere. If needed, we can send prescriptions directly to your pharmacy.

It only takes a moment to download the app, so do it now and give it a try!

NEED AN EXTRA INCENTIVE?
You’ll also have a chance to win a free digital thermometer when you sign up here by March 5.

 Here's to healthy kids and the help of an app when they're not!

This post sponsored by UPMC Health Plan. I only endorse companies or products that are beneficial to our families.  

Sick kid on vacation – is there an app for that?

This is a sponsored post in partnership with The Motherhood on behalf of UPMC.

Picture this: You and your husband are taking a vacation with your kids. You’re away from home and it’s hard enough to keep a small humans happy and healthy in a familiar place – but you’re about to take your family somewhere you’ve never been. So, after what seems like the longest flight you’ve ever been on (really only one hour and 50 mins), you all head to the hotel and notice that your son is coughing. By the time you check in he feels warm and has a rash on his belly. What?! Not on vacation! He can’t get sick here! You have no idea where the Urgent Care is or the local pharmacy, for that matter. Your husband says, “Sick kid on vacation – is there an app for that?” 

Well…

I am so very excited to tell you that YES – There’s an app for that! It’s called UPMC Anywhere Care!

The UPMC Anywhere Care app allows you to have a face to face visit with a UPMC doctor right from your phone, tablet or desktop! The app is free and it’s free to sign up for an account. Visits start at $49, but for those with UPMC Health Plan, the cost is similar to the cost of a PCP co-pay. So, even if you don’t have UPMC insurance, you can access a UPMC doctor for $49 per virtual visit.

Here’s how it works:

• Download the free UPMC Anywhere Care app and sign up for a free account.
• When someone in your household is sick, you can use the app to find the appropriate UPMC doctor for your virtual visit. You will be able to scroll through and read about available doctors. You will even be able to see what languages they can speak and their specialties.
• After you choose a doctor, you will be notified when your visit will begin. You can choose to use video chat or audio only. You can also send photos if necessary.
• If a prescription is required, it will be sent to the nearest pharmacy for your convenience.
• If you’re in Pennsylvania (PA), you’ll be connected with a UPMC doctor. If you’re are outside of PA, you can still use Anywhere Care, but you’ll see doctors staffed from American Well (Online Care Group).

When I heard about this app, my mind started recalling all the times it would have saved me time and unnecessary anxiety. 

Imagine:

·         Not having to wait until your PCP can get you in.

·         Not having to take your already sick kid out in the freezing winter air to go to the doctor.

·         Not having to pay for parking at the hospital ;)

I urge you to take the stress out of being sick and download the free UPMC Anywhere Care app so you are ready for the inevitable, non-emergent illness. Some of the most common visits fall into the following diagnoses:

•         Sinusitis
•         Upper respiratory infection
•         Bronchitis
•         Urinary tract infection
•         Conjunctivitis
•         Cough
•        Allergies

We've all seen how bad the flu has been across the country this year. The worst part is that it can spread quickly. But downloading this app is even quicker! With the UPMC AnywhereCare, you can see a medical professional on any device. So while we're facing a widespread flu season this year, fortunately, you can also a see a quality health care provider with a UPMC AnywhereCare virtual visit from any device!

UPMC is also giving away free digital thermometers! Enter for your  chance to win a free digital thermometer when you sign up here by March 5: http://upmchp.us/MHUPMCAnywhereCare

So, next time you are packing for vacation, be sure you have the UPMC Anywhere Care app with you, so you will have one less thing to worry about and maybe you will actually be able to relax!

And for more great health information from UMPC, check out their blog: UPMC’s HealthBeat

Thanks to Momtourage mama, Kayt Bech, for the great write-up!

Chick Fil A: new superfood side!

As a mom, there are two things that draw me in quickly: healthy and convenient. Fast food is often known for it's convenience....but healthy? Not so much! To walk into a fast food restaurant and see a plate of fresh fruit goodness is not a regular occurrence. Unless you're at a Chick Fil A, of course! 

I'm not a big proponent of fast food....in fact, I've turned down other fast food companies that wanted my promotion because I just couldn't in good conscience endorse their products. This past year I've had the chance to work with Chick Fil A and I've been amazed each step of the way! Their quality, customer service, restaurants and food stand far above any other chain in their competition.  

And Chick Fil A is listening to moms. They are listening when we say we want convenient AND healthy and they are paving the way to give us those options! I was recently invited to come check out the launch of their new superfood side: the new kale salad. This new salad includes: kale, broccolini and dried cherries, all tossed in a sweet maple vinaigrette dressing. Roasted nuts come separately packaged for those with allergy concerns. 

I'm not a huge fan of kale. To me it often has a bitter flavor and I'm more likely to throw it in a smoothie than to eat it raw. So with some trepidation, I was ready to try the kale salad! But it was awesome. Truly. Washington, PA operator, Kory Kaye, gave us a demonstration on how they make it (fresh daily in the store) and gave us the secret! It marinates in the sweet maple vinaigrette for 30 minutes before it is served. This seems to take any bitterness of the kale away and between the dressing, the sweet cherries and the nuts, it is so delicious!

 4 ingredients, made fresh. As food should be! Pair with their grilled nuggets for a (healthy) and (convenient) lunch on the go! You can also substitute it for fries on your next order.  The kale salad with an order of grilled nuggets is only 320 calories. And I can attest to the fact that it definitely fills you up. So next time you're feeling cooped up in the house and the Chick Fil A kid's play area is calling you out (it does that, right?!), you don't have to sacrifice eating something healthy!

Chick Fil A is also the only fast food restaurant that is now offering organic juice drink for their kid's meals. 

The Washington, PA store is brand new and is part of the new Heritage design. This design incorporates a variety of finishes and has unique custom features such as light fixtures make from recycled Coco-Cola bottles as a nod to their home base in Atlanta. It's interior is so warm and inviting!

If you've ever tried to stand in line to order with toddlers running in circles around you, then Chick Fil A is again thinking of you! Some CFA restaurants offer the option to order in the drive thru and have your food delivered to a table inside (varies by location) or you can place an order online and have it ready at the restaurant as well. I am excited and thankful to try those options! 

So, go, try the new kale salad, you won't be disappointed! And hey, that leaves more available calories for ice cream, right? :) 

#SuperFoodSide

#CFAPittMoms

This post is sponsored by ChickFilA and The Motherhood. All opinions remain my own as I don't endorse products that I don't love!

The #SnackMob truck

Have you heard that the Bolthouse Farms #SnackMob truck is here in Pittsburgh? They are traveling around our city handing out FREE snacks that your kids don't want to miss. For those of us who will soon be packing school lunches, they have great healthy options to add to packed lunches. You can find the Bolthouse Farms Kids™ line in the Produce Section at your local Giant Eagle and they contain no added preservatives, high-fructose corn syrup, or artificial flavors. Their new kids line include smoothies, veggie snackers, and squeezable fruit tubes. 

Last week was National Night Out where neighborhoods across the country plan events to encourage greater community awareness. My church was hosting a kickball game for kids in the neighborhood and we were thrilled when we heard the #SnackMob truck was able to come by during the event. The Snack Mob truck is a happy and friendly crew and we enjoyed hanging out with them for the evening. 

They passed out smoothies and carrot snack packs. I loved seeing so many people walking around with healthy foods in hand!

Lots of happy customers! We had 125+ guests which included neighbors, church members, police officers and other officials. 

It was pretty cool to have the Bomb Squad + S.W.A.T. truck stop by as well!

The Snack Mob truck will be at a lot of venues over the next few weeks. A few to highlight are:

Sunday evenings through August: Citiparks Cinema in the Park Movie Nights (dusk)

August 15: "Kindergarten … here I come!” at the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh ​ (9 a.m. – 10 a.m.)​​

August 30: First Responders Day at Kennywood Park(10:30 a.m.) ​

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September 19: Junior Great Race at Point State Park (8 a.m.) 

You can find the complete schedule for the Bolthouse Farms #SnackMob truck here. 

------->>>> Head here to print a coupon for $1 off any Bolthouse Farms Kids™ product!

But that's not all....YOU could have the #SnackMob truck to come to your party! 

Here are details to enter the #SnackMob #Contest:​

• WIN a visit from the Snack Mob by tweeting @BolthouseFarms for a chance to get the #SnackMob truck to deliver Bolthouse Farms Kids™ product for free at your next party! ​
• Be sure to use the hashtags #Snackmob and #Contest in your tweet, and include the date and type of event (e.g., soccer tournament, block party, etc.) in your entry. Contest ends Sept. 10, 2015 at 11:59pm. You must be at least 18 years old to enter. Maximum of 100 people per event.​

Follow Bolthouse Farms Kids™ :

http://www.bolthouse.com/

http://www.bolthousefarmssnackmob.com/

https://www.facebook.com/bolthousefarms

https://twitter.com/bolthousefarms

https://instagram.com/bolthousefarms/

This post is brought to you by Bolthouse Farms Kids™ and The Motherhood. All opinions are my own.

Healthy Snacks for Kids #SnackMob

I don't know about you, but once that summer sun hits, we can't wait to be outside as much as possible! But wow, my kids are hungry nonstop. :) I am always looking for good options of healthy snacks to take on the go. With 4 kids, we go through a lot of snacks! We were all excited to receive a box of goodies from Bolthouse Farms Kids™ so we could try their new line of kid-friendly snacks. I think the overall vote was thumbs up all around!

Bolthouse Farms Kids™ is a refrigerated line of real fruit and veggie snacks for kids. They have smoothies, fruit tubes, and carrot packs. This mom loved the carrot pack! It comes with a delicious seasoning packet that gives the carrots an extra yummy kick.  If you have ever trouble making yourself eat veggies, this is an awesome option for moms as well. :) The fruit tubes are a great option for kids that might have a dairy allergy and wish they could have yogurt tubes. And my kids loved that there was a joke on every tube!

You can find the Bolthouse Farms Kids™ line in the Produce Section at your local Giant Eagle.​

• Contains no added preservatives, high-fructose corn syrup, or artificial flavors.​
• Perfect snack solution to get kids to eat more fruits and veggies.  

Smoothies are packaged in an individual serving "kid-size” bottle for on-the-go occasions in two fun flavors:  Strawberry Meets Banana, Peach Meets Mango​

• They’re packed with 1 ½ servings of fruit per 6-oz bottle and contain no dairy.​
• Smoothies contain no added preservatives, high-fructose corn syrup, or artificial flavors.​
• With 80-90 calories per bottle, these smoothies are full of flavor and easy to pack in any lunch box.​

Veggie Snackers: Skip the chips and grab some fresh veggies with these fun-ized baby carrot snacks. Two varieties available:  Carrot Meets Ranch, Carrot Meets Chili Lime​

• The individual sized bags unleash tremendous flavor with all-natural seasoning and just a pinch of salt.​
• These baby carrots pack a punch of crunch at just 25 calories per pack. Go ahead and shake your way to snack time fun!​

Fruit Tubes are squeezable, slim tubes of real fruit puree blends featuring three fun flavors: Mango Meets Banana & Pineapple, Strawberry Meets Banana, and Blueberry Meets Raspberry.​

• The fruit tubes can be served chilled or frozen.​
• At just 30-40 calories, and no added sugar or preservatives, these tubes are a delicious snack for your little one.​

So here is the cool thing! Bolthouse Farms Kids™ has chosen to send one of their #snackmob food trucks to Pittsburgh for 6 weeks. Everyone in Pittsburgh will have the opportunity to find them at an event and try their new snack line for free! With school right around the corner (sad face!), many of us are beginning to search out options for healthy foods for our kid's school lunches. The Bolthouse Farms Kids™ Snack Mob trucks are helping kids go back to school in a healthy way as these snacks are perfect for on-the-go lunches. Throughout six weeks in August and early September, the Snack Mob team will be stopping by select Giant Eagle stores and many community events throughout the region – sharing FREE samples of Bolthouse Farms Kids™ products with kids and parents alike.  Kids will be sampling Strawberry Meets Banana Smoothie and Carrot Meets Ranch Veggie Snackers​. You can also always find them in the produce section at your local Giant Eagle.​ Follow along with us as we welcome Bolthouse Farms Kids™ to the neighborhood!  ​

Here are some of the upcoming events to find a #snackmob truck.You can find the full list of events here: http://www.bolthousefarmssnackmob.com.

Sunday evenings throughout August: Citiparks Cinema in the Park Movie Nights (dusk)​

August 2: Snack Mob kickoff event at Settlers Ridge Market District (10 a.m. – 2 p.m.)​

August 4: Three Rivers Grace Church Neighborhood Kickball Game. My church is hosting a neighborhood kickball game for National Night Out and the #snackmob truck will be stopping by. Bring your kids to play kickball and try some healthy snacks! Then head down a few blocks and catch the free evening movie at the West End Overlook. See more details and RSVP here. 

​

August 15: "Kindergarten … here I come!” at the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh ​ (9 a.m. – 10 a.m.)​​

August 30: First Responders Day at Kennywood Park(10:30 a.m.) ​

​

September 19: Junior Great Race at Point State Park (8 a.m.) 

But hey, how would you like the #SnackMob truck to come to your party?! 

Enter the #SnackMob #Contest:​

• Have the Snack Mob truck crash your next party!​
• WIN a visit from the Snack Mob by tweeting @BolthouseFarms for a chance to get the #SnackMob truck to deliver Bolthouse Farms Kids™ product for free at your next party! ​
• Be sure to use the hashtags #Snackmob and #Contest in your tweet, and include the date and type of event (e.g., soccer tournament, block party, etc.) in your entry. Contest ends Sept. 10, 2015 at 11:59pm. You must be at least 18 years old to enter. Maximum of 100 people per event.​

Follow Bolthouse Farms Kids™ :

http://www.bolthouse.com/

http://www.bolthousefarmssnackmob.com/

https://www.facebook.com/bolthousefarms

https://twitter.com/bolthousefarms

https://instagram.com/bolthousefarms/

This post is brought to you by Bolthouse Farms Kids™ and The Motherhood. All opinions are my own.