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999 Balmoral Street
Thunder Bay, ON
P7B 6E7
Phone: (807) 625-5900
Toll-Free: (888) 294-6630
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June 2011
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Living in Northwestern Ontario, we are lucky to have outdoor adventure right at our doorstep.
Whether your family is into weekend camping trips, day hikes, or afternoons at the park, being outside is good for the body, the mind and the soul. It's a chance to unplug from daily distractions and reconnect with our families and with nature. Now that warmer weather is here, enjoy some fun in the sun with these ideas that are perfect for eating, playing and just being together outside.
Nourished Kids Active Kids Happy Kids
Home Grilled Veggies
INGREDIENTS:
1 small eggplant, cut into 3/4 inch thick slices
2 small red peppers, seeded and cut into wide
strips
3 zucchinis, sliced
6 fresh mushrooms, stems removed
Other favourite veggies like onion, broccoli,
cauliflour
For marinade:
1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup lemon juice
1/4 cup fresh basil, coursely chopped
2 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
DIRECTIONS:
1. Place veggies in a medium-sized bowl.
2. In a separate bowl, whisk together marinade
ingredients.
3. Pour marinade over the vegetables. Cover and
place in the refrigerator for at least one hour.
4. Preheat outdoor grill for high heat.
5. Place vegetables directly on the grill or on
skewers. Cook 2 to 3 minutes per side,
brushing frequently with the marinade,
until desired doneness.
Recipe adapted from allrecipes.com |
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- Pack a picnic. Simply moving a meal outside transforms it into an occasion. Grab a blanket, some fruit, veggies and sandwiches and head off to the park, or even the backyard. There is something special about eating outdoors that just makes it more fun!
Think outside the box when it comes to the barbecue. Vegetables and fruit are great grilled on the barbecue. Try marinating veggies to liven them up. Give the kids some soaked skewers and they can have fun creating stacks of their own favourite veggies and fruits.
- Select snacks with staying power. Playing in the fresh air can really bring on rumbly tummies. Satisfy hunger with protein-rich foods like dried fruit and nuts, veggies with hummus dip, boiled eggs, or sandwiches with cheese and lean meats. Have a lot of water handy to quench thirst.
Helpful Links:
- Keep food safety in mind with these barbecue food safety tips.
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Pack the play pieces. Tossing a frisbee or football, playing catch, kicking a soccer ball, or skipping are all great ways for a family to pass the time outdoors. Try making up your own games.
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Go on a nature hike and play the ABC game. Set out into the wilderness and challenge everyone to look for items that begin with the letters of the alphabet.
- Try out the Big Boreal Adventure. Get your own free Big Boreal Adventure guidebook and map at any Thunder Bay Public Library location and set out to enjoy over 30 nature sites around the city. Find the brass rubbing post at each site and record it in your guidebook. You can also try going on a geocashing treasure hunt.
Helpful Links:
Learn more about the Big Boreal Adventure.
- Discover what Ontario Parks have to offer.
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- Plan it out together. Gather the family together and talk about what you want to get out of your outdoor adventure, where you want to go, what the ground rules will be, the menu, what you need to bring, and how you will all share the responsibilities.
- Connect around a campfire. Tell stories, sing songs, or gaze at the starts and see which constellations you can identify or how many satellites you can count.
- Have a backup plan. Be prepared with rainy-day activities. Games like Yahtzee, dominoes, cards and board games teach match skills and social skills. They are especially great for connecting together and making fun memories.
Helpful links:
- Take a look at these camping under the stars ideas from Canadian Astronomy Education.
- Learn more about the benefits of board games for kids from Scholastic
- Be prepared on how to handle outdoor hazards like bug bites and allergic reactions with help from KidsHealth.org.
- Keep everyone protected from the sun's UV rays
For more great tips and links visit:
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LOW-COST, LOCAL TIPS AND RECIPES!
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Last Updated: 1/23/2012
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