How to Stay Fit and Healthy This Winter + Free Birds Printables *Giveaway*

No compensation was received for this post. As a Fox Home Entertainment Insider, I receive products for review/giveaway.

After a busy week of work and school, we always look forward to the weekend.  Along with sports and other local activities, we like to have a movie night tucked in there to give our kids some downtime while spending time together as a family. Free Birds was released on Blu-ray and DVD earlier this month, and since it had been awhile since the movie debuted in theaters, we thought we would take the weekend to revisit this comedic story about two turkeys who travel back in time to keep the traditional dish off the Thanksgiving Menu.  Starring Owen Wilson, Woody Harrelson, and Amy Poehler, this animated film teaches children some basic facts about the First Thanksgiving and includes positive messages of teamwork and standing up for what you believe.

Admittedly, when I saw the film for the first time in theaters, I wasn’t crazy about it. As I watched, I feared my children would not be able to sit through it because the story lagged at times.  Afterwards, I asked my son how he liked it and he started recounting parts of the story he enjoyed. While I think the initial story concept of taking turkey off the Thanksgiving Menu was clever, there were elements such as time travel and politics that are simply too complex for children, even when presented at their level.

If you enjoy bonus features, I highly recommend checking out the Blu-ray exclusives which include a live-action short of a children’s play recalling the First Thanksgiving, a few segments on the story, animation, and score, and a fun music video titled Shake a Tail Feather.

While we absolutely love our weekend movie nights where we can relax and eat popcorn and pizza, this isn’t something we make a habit of. In honor of the Blu-ray and DVD release of Free Birds, Chris Powell, host of ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Edition, offers some tips to keep you healthy and fit this winter!

1. Eat breakfast: As the most important meal of the day, this is how you’ll get the nutrients and energy you need to start and end your day strong.  My kids typically eat cereal with almond milk, some fresh fruit and an egg for a complete breakfast. 

2. Get to school 15 minutes early: Admittedly, I am not always as timely as I’d like to be.  But getting to school early means we wouldn’t have to rush or be stressed and it might give my kids a few minutes of exercise to start the day refreshed and energized.

3.  Snack on fruits and veggies:  In general, I don’t have difficulty getting my children to eat wholesome foods and they are accustomed to snacking on fresh produce as opposed to calorie-laden, nutrient-devoid packaged snacks. 

4. Eliminate the soda:  I’ve never been a huge soda drinker which is perhaps why my children never became addicted to the substance.  We push water throughout the day and limit all of our consumption of juice.  To glam up your water, use fresh citrus fruits!

5. Be an active gamer: One of the best things we did was incorporate fitness-games into our home library.  These days, children can dance or play sports on our gaming console, keeping them active and off the couch.

After you watch the film, download these fun Free Birds printables to continue talking about the film!

Win It!  One of you will receive a copy of Free Birds on Blu-ray!  Simply complete the Rafflecopter form and leave me a comment letting me know what you liked about the film or what you’re looking forward to. Comments will close on March 14th, 2014 at 11:59 PM PST. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

US Residents only. Duplicates and comments not including the above information will be disqualified. Comments are moderated. If you don’t see your comment in a reasonable amount of time, send me an email. Bloggers and non-bloggers may enter. If you don’t want to leave your email address, please be sure to check back for my announcement on the winner. Please note that winners must respond within 48 hours of being announced/contacted or another winner will be drawn.

Images: Twentieth Century Fox

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Caryn Bailey

Caryn is a NICU nurse by day, blogger by night and mom 24/7. She savors the warm Southern California sun and loves to travel, shopping, baking, reading and frequenting her local tea room. Caryn created the column Lavishly Green for Peekaboo Picks Magazine to share her best tips for going green in style, she is the Former editor for Family Review Network, former OC Family Magazine online contributor, former Orange County Moms Blog contributor, former Evenflo Savvy Parent contributor, former member of the Totsy Advisory Board and former freelance writer for CBS Los Angeles.

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