For many years, Kroger has accepted SNAP benefits, demonstrating their commitment to the idea that their products are “fresh for everyone.” In April 2023, the Columbus Division of Kroger furthered its commitment to making healthy food accessible to all customers with the announcement that it now accepts EBT payment for all online grocery orders.
This updated policy applies to Toledo Krogers as well, which means local families can use EBT payments when placing orders through the Kroger app or Kroger.com.
Melissa Stimac, Vice President of Operations for the Kroger Columbus Division, explained why the new policy is so meaningful, as it represents another “important way we are connecting our neighbors to the foods that will help them live healthier, thriving lives.”
To use the EBT-payment option, customers can create an account on the Kroger app or on Kroger.com and add an EBT account number as a new card under “My Account” and “Wallet.” After adding SNAP-eligible items to the cart, customers can select a pickup or delivery time and proceed to checkout. During the checkout process, customers can select EBT as the payment method and enter their PIN to confirm their order.
Although EBT makes healthy food more accessible, Kroger has also made an effort to simplify the process of choosing healthy food for its customers as well. While shopping, customers can use the Kroger app or website to check the nutrition score for their chosen items, which are scored according to Kroger’s OptUP nutrition rating system and will suggest “better-for-you” alternatives as items are selected. The Kroger app and website also assists in shopping for specialized diets that are low in sodium and sugar, or contain probiotics. To begin shopping online or check out the nutrition rating system, download the Kroger app or visit kroger.com.
This kick-off event featured Snapology, a STEAM-based program that uses LEGO® bricks and other fun tools to make learning fun!
Wiggle Wednesday is a monthly interactive children’s entertainment and education series courtesy of Toledo Area Parent and Franklin Park Mall. Each month will focus on a different area including science, nature, music, art, and more. Kids will learn from community organizations while having fun with games, crafts and entertainment.
The Butterfly House will join us for July’s event with interactive activities that make learning about the butterflies of our region full of fun!
Summer gives parents a chance to do more things with their kids after work or on weekends. Many parents take time off and travel, but many will opt for a “staycation.”
What To Do With The Kids knows first-hand that kids will only be kids for a short time (although it does feel like an eternity sometimes), so this is a great opportunity to spend time with them and hopefully create some happy memories for your whole family.
Many of these activities do not require a lot of planning and — most importantly — are low cost.
Go to the beach
It may seem like a lot of trouble, but it won’t be if you keep it simple. A towel, a few beach toys and lots of sunscreen is all you really need. You can also bring folding chairs, a sun umbrella, lunch or snacks along with a few cold drinks. If you don’t have a cooler, these can easily fit inside a couple of cloth bags with an ice pack.
Keep in mind that even if there are lifeguards, you need to stay very close to your kids. The younger they are, the closer you should be!
Sunscreen is very important. Buy the highest UV protection you can, and don’t be afraid to pay a few dollars more for the good stuff. Avoid the dollar store stuff.
Mini golf
As far as we are concerned, mini-golf should be an Olympic event. It’s a great activity that anyone can participate in. In fact, the worse you are, the more fun it is. We like playing in the early evening when it starts getting dark and a little cooler.
Try local miniature golf course, Perry Falls Mini Golf, located at 24750 Dixie Hwy., Perrysburg.
Bowling
Bowling is another “potential” Olympic event that anyone can join in on. Most bowling alleys have lanes with bumpers that block the gutters, so the kids are almost guaranteed to hit some pins.
It’s also a great place to be on a really hot day when all you want is to hang out in the AC.
Movies love to portray it as the only activity Dad never did with the hero of the story, but it doesn’t have to be forced or organized; it can be spontaneous. Most people think that playing catch involves a baseball glove and a ball, but there are a lot more items you can use.
Try a football, beach ball, tennis ball or the classic Frisbee. There are also variations you can use, like drawing a few circles on the ground in chalk and trying to bounce the ball inside it when sending it to the other person.
Explore your city
A lot of people grow up in a city but never take in the sights, so why not take the kids and explore? Most downtowns have a lot of old stores with innumerable unique finds, many of them with interesting history behind them.
Explore different parks, or check online for festivals and events. Become a tourist in your own town by taking a ride on a tour bus. You may just discover things about where you live that you never knew.
Old fishing rods, hooks and worms are all you need to spend time by the water. You can save a pretty penny by purchasing your equipment at garage sales, where there’s a good chance you’ll find everything you need for a few dollars.
You might also need a fishing license in your area, so do a little research. Since you’re near water, you need to stay very close to the kids, and it’s a good idea for the little ones to wear a life jacket. You will also need to put the worm on the hook for them as well (be forewarned).
Use a lot of sunscreen, give them a hat, pack a snack and you’re ready to go. Find out where the best fishing spots are for kids, but be prepared to cut it short. Some kids might not find it exciting, so don’t force them to stay. Plan on going for a short time and then make it longer the next time.
While you’re waiting for the fish to nibble, tell them about how people who fish like to make up stories about “the big one that got away,” then come up with your own.
Catch and release is great, but if you happen to catch something big and you know how to properly prepare and cook it, bring it home as a special treat.
Biking
Biking is a great activity for getting outside, exercising and exploring new areas, but you need to teach your kids the rules of the road or don’t take them out! Teach them hand signals and what to do at a stop sign, for example.
Look online for local bike paths, pack a picnic or snack, put on some sunscreen and make sure those helmets are on right. Start with short trips, then make them longer as the kids get older. Remember, they may have no problem biking to the destination, but the trick is to know when it’s time to bike back.
Swimming
Learning to swim is something that every parent should have their kids do at an early age. It’s a skill they will never forget, and it may just save their lives.
The younger they are, the closer you must be to them. This must also be the rule at the beach, a public pool or even in a small wading pool in your backyard. Never leave them alone, and don’t assume someone will watch them for you.
If you can, bring plastic balls or a Frisbee to play with in the water since kids love to make diving catches. Pool noodles, boogie boards and beach balls are great fun but again, don’t forget to bring the sunscreen.
Hiking
Hiking is another great activity that should be short the first time out and gradually increased as they start to enjoy it more. Start with simple and easy trails and know when to start heading back. You don’t want to have to carry them.
Wear appropriate shoes and clothing, bug spray and sunscreen and even pack a lunch or snack. Water is very important if you plan on being out most of the day, and you should make sure you know where you are going before you leave. You don’t want to require a search party rescue for this adventure.
Photo by Samuel Chan on Unsplash.
Backyard party
Why not host a party just for the heck of it? Make up any reason, such as celebrating International Pickle Day or just a good old fashioned summer barbecue. Grill hotdogs and burgers, make some potato salad, coleslaw and have a few games on hand.
It doesn’t have to be fancy or really organized. It’s just a chance to get a bunch of people together to just hang out.
Backyard camping
Before you invest thousands of dollars in tents, stoves, sleeping bags and bear repellent, why not try camping in the backyard with the kids?
You don’t even need a real tent. Have the kids make one out of a tarp or old blankets. If they don’t like it, they can just come in. Just make sure you’re with them all night just to keep them safe and from getting into trouble.
If they like it, they may want to do some real camping later, and then you can spend thousands of dollars on everything you need!
Fly a kite
If you can find an open space free of power lines and gopher holes, you can fly a kite.
Start with the inexpensive ones found at the department store and try it out. If the kids like it, you may want to invest in a really nice kite and watch them perform acrobatics in the sky.
Campfire
Unfortunately, not every town or city allows campfires, especially open ones that are basically a hole in the ground surrounded by rocks. If your city does allow them, invest in a metal, enclosed one. These are designed to keep the fire from getting out of control, and the doors help keep the kids from falling into the flames. The kids must be supervised around the fire at all times!
Roast marshmallows, make s’mores and simply enjoy the view. Just remember to keep a bucket of water and some sand handy, and make sure the entire fire is out before you go to bed.
Sidewalk/driveway chalk drawing
Chalk comes in a lot of colors and is rather inexpensive, but the important thing to keep in mind is where the kids draw. It has to be a safe area that is free of any traffic since the little ones will be practically lying down as they create their masterpieces.
If you’re in a school playground or empty parking lot, you can also draw a race track that the kids can go through on their bikes, skateboard or roller skates.
Add a little color to your area and don’t be afraid to get down with them and let your inner Picasso come out.
Outdoor movie
Watching a movie outdoors and under the stars is a great way to spend an evening.
Projectors can be borrowed from schools, local libraries, or offices, and a large white bed sheet makes for a great screen. Hook the projector up to your laptop and set up a few speakers. Make some popcorn, bring out the patio chairs and enjoy.
Container planting
If you’re a gardener, you already know how much fun it can be. Some of us, however, need a less intimidating project, and that’s why container plants are great.
Check out local garage sales for great deals on different size planters. They may need a coat of paint, but as long as they’re not broken, they’ll work fine.
Buy a bag of soil and select a few flowers and vegetables to grow. Check online or at your local garden center to see what plants grow well in containers in your area. Find a good spot for the containers, but if you need to, they can be easily moved somewhere else.
Have the kids water it regularly and maybe record how it’s growing in a diary. Fruit and vegetable plants are an amazing choice because, at the end of the growing season, the kids can actually eat what they’ve grown.
Picnic
A picnic is a rather simple way to have lunch, but it can be more than just a sandwich in a brown bag.
Along with sandwiches, you can have salads, a veggie platter, assorted fruits and all types of drinks. Place the food in a cooler with an ice pack, pack some plates, utensils and cups, bring a blanket to lie on and you’re set. You can also bring a plastic table cover to use if you find a picnic table.
The secret is to find someplace that has a soft patch of ground that you can enjoy such as a park, the beach or along a trail. Make sure, however, to take all your garbage home and don’t leave any food for the animals.
Photo essay
A photo essay is just a fancy way to get kids to take photos with their phones. In the old days, we used something called a camera, but smartphones seem to work just fine.
Have the kids document an outing such as a day at the beach or to the zoo. Ask them to take photos or video of your arrival and the different things they see.
When they arrive home, they can upload the photos to their computer and create a slideshow. The older kids may be able to incorporate video and background music as well.
Once done, save a copy in a safe place and in a few years, you can have a family movie night and remind them of how much fun they had that day.
Water slide
On a hot day, there’s nothing like gliding across your lawn on your own personal water slide.
Sheets of plastic are available at your local hardware store and try to find a safe place to lay it down, preferably with a bit of a slope and no rocks. You’ll need to have a garden hose nearby that can reach the top of the slide.
If you can find a slope, place the water hose at the top and let the water trickle down so you have a slow but steady flow. You’ll need to adjust accordingly. Keep in mind that you will end up with a puddle at the end of the slide so be careful where you place it.
Lather them up with sunscreen and remind them how to slide, making sure there is plenty of room for them to stop at the end.
Hanging out
Why not play a board game outside, read a book together or do a craft project together?
The young ones might get bored, but the older ones may just enjoy the opportunity to talk with you in a casual way.
Make it spontaneous. Find a shady spot, bring out some toys or games and spend some time together while the weather is nice. It can result in the type of memories you want your kids to have.
Eating nutritious foods is especially important during pregnancy, infancy, and lactation. It’s never too early or too late to eat healthier at any life stage, and even the smallest changes can benefit health and impact diet-related diseases such as obesity, heart disease, and diabetes.
Parents play an important role in guiding their family’s health, particularly when it comes to building healthy habits with food. USDA’s free resource Start Simple with MyPlate is a great roadmap for expectant moms, breastfeeding moms, and parents to help fuel their families for better health today and in the future. Start Simple also meets people where they are and supports them through healthy eating choices.
USDA’s Start Simple with MyPlate is a free resource that can help fuel women’s and children’s bodies with affordable, nutritious foods for a healthier future. Start Simple meets people where they are and supports them through healthy eating choices. USDA’s most recent edition of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2020-2025 is the first time recommendations have been provided by life stage, from birth to older adulthood.
Start Simple with MyPlate maps out how to eat a variety of fruits, vegetables, grains, protein foods, and dairy or fortified soy alternatives for people who can’t or choose not to consume dairy. When deciding what to eat or drink, Start Simple provides tasty options that are full of nutrients while limiting added sugars, saturated fat, and sodium. And, when ready to shop, the resource can pinpoint where to find cost-saving opportunities to eat healthy on a budget locally.
Here’s how to make healthy eating simple and affordable:
Find your starting point: Take the quick MyPlate Quiz to see how your eating habits stack up against the MyPlate recommendations. Based on your answers you’ll receive tailored resources and a personal quiz results code to sync with the Start Simple with MyPlate app.
Set simple goals based on your personal needs: Use the Start Simple with MyPlate app to help you set daily meal- and snack-based goals to help you eat healthier. Sync your results from the MyPlate Quiz for a personalized experience. Join challenges, see progress, and earn badges to celebrate successes.
Learn how much you should eat: To find out what and how much to eat from each of the food groups, get your own personalized MyPlate Plan.
Learn how to eat healthier at any life stage: Healthy eating is important at any age, whether you are a breastfeeding mom or an older adult. Life Stages | MyPlate gives recommendations on how to eat healthier for every life stage.
Put your plan into action: Discover recipes on MyPlate Kitchen. Check out hundreds of healthy, budget-friendly recipes that provide detailed nutrition and food group information to help you choose recipes that fit your needs.
Save money and eat healthy: Use Healthy Eating on a Budget to help you save money at the store by making a shopping plan, shopping smart, and preparing healthy meals to stretch food dollars, including SNAP benefits.
Explore MyPlate.gov for your go-to, trusted, nutrition tips and information built on the basics of healthy eating.
Pelvic pain and discomfort is commonly experienced by women at various stages of life, and more often for women who are postpartum. Finding the cause of the pain is often the first step towards relieving the symptoms.
Heather Perné, NP-C, CWS at University of Toledo Health Physicians
“A third of all women will have chronic pelvic pain at some point in their lives,” said Heather Perné, NP-C, CWS at University of Toledo Health Physicians. Perné, who works as a nurse practitioner in the Vascular, Endovascular and Wound Surgery department, is raising awareness about a condition known as Pelvic Congestion Syndrome.
“Pelvic Congestion Syndrome frequently goes unrecognized as a cause of chronic pelvic pain. A vascular disorder affecting the veins of the pelvic region, (the Syndrome occurs when) there is not proper drainage of blood out of these veins.”
Diagnosis and causes
PCS is most commonly diagnosed in women between the ages of 20 and 50. Although it is much less common, it can occasionally affect men as well.
“Pelvic Vein Dysfunction, or reflux, causes blood to flow backwards in the pelvis instead of up to the heart. This causes engorgement and inflammation of the veins in the pelvis. The affected veins can be visible or ( may be) deep in the pelvis. Visible varicose veins can be on the labia, groin, buttocks, or proximal thighs.”
Symptoms of PCS include:
*Aching pelvic pain which worsens after standing or sitting for prolonged periods of time.
*Pain during or after intercourse
*Painful periods
*Back pain
*Painful veins in the groin or labia
*Ovarian tenderness on pelvic exam
*Pain upon urination or bowel movements
*Stress incontinence
Risk factors for PCS include women who have experienced multiple births, have been diagnosed with polycystic ovaries, or have elevated estrogen levels. Also, women whose work requires them to stand for long periods of time may be at greater risk.
Perné noted that it is important to rule out other causes of chronic pelvic pain before seeing a specialist.
Ruling out other potential causes of pain
“Think of Pelvic Congestion Syndrome as a possible diagnosis when someone has chronic pelvic pain for six months or longer in the absence of pelvic pathology such as fibroids, endometriosis, ovarian mass, or pelvic inflammatory disease. Once the above have been ruled out by a primary care physician or obstetrician-gynecologist, it may be time for patients to make an appointment with a vascular specialist for evaluation of PCS as a potential cause.”
A specialist will likely order a CT venogram to determine the amount of reflux. A transvaginal ultrasound may also be performed.
“With a pelvic venogram, a catheter is inserted into the common femoral vein and an injection of dye enables visualization of the pelvic veins. The affected veins are treated with embolization, coiling or sclerotherapy, which block the blood flow in the affected veins. This stops the engorgement in the vein, thus reducing inflammation in the vein and reducing pressure on surrounding structures. This is an outpatient procedure, so oatients go home the same day.”
Perné encourages anyone with chronic pelvic pain to seek a physician’s diagnosis.
“If left untreated, the symptoms experienced may worsen, causing an increase in pain, anxiety, and an overall decrease in the quality of life,” she said.
Outdoor Dining? Yes, at Oregon, Holland and Findlay locations
Changing Table? Yes
Booster Seat/High Chair? Yes
Reviews:
4.1/5 on Google with 889 reviews
3.5/5 on Facebook with 459 reviews
2.5/5 on Yelp with 48 reviews
The first Ralphie’s Sports Eatery opened in 1991 on Navarre Avenue. Photo by Laurie Bertke
When our kids were younger, we rarely ventured out to restaurants, largely because it just felt like too much work. If we did eat out, the spot we chose had to meet very specific criteria to minimize the risk of disaster.
Ralphie’s Sports Eatery is the type of restaurant that would have checked all the boxes for us in those days. Chicken nuggets? Check. Relatively fast service to accommodate squirmy toddlers? Check. Moderate noise level to mask the occasional high-pitched baby squeal, shriek or meltdown? Check. Kids eat free? Yep — every Tuesday.
While our kids are older now, they still love the menu at Ralphie’s, loaded with all the classics you would expect. Guests can choose from an array of burgers, chicken chunks or wings and four different types of fries — waffle, crinkle, hand-cut and sweet potato. The menu also offers a nice variety of other hot sandwiches, soups, salads and shareable appetizers.
Chicken Tenders Wrap at Ralphie’s Photo by Laurie Bertke
Casual dining for families
Ralphie’s Sports Eatery has been a Toledo mainstay since the first location opened in 1991 on Navarre Ave. The regional chain is owned by Bennett Enterprises of Perrysburg, a family-owned business and the largest restaurant and hotel owner/operator in Northwest Ohio.
Mark Wallace, who oversees Ralphie’s operations for Bennett Enterprises, says the company developed the concept for the chain around the time the wings fad was expanding in the market. The restaurants were named after the architect who worked on the original layouts, who was also a good friend of company co-founder David Bennett.
Champion Chicken Chunks kids meal at Ralphies Photo by Laurie Bertke
“Our burgers, our chicken chunks and our chicken wings are the top three items we sell,” says Wallace. “We have several appetizers that are unique, and then just a lot of the typical pub food.”
Guests can choose from 18 different sauces ranging from mild to very hot for the chicken chunks and wings. The rest of the menu is updated regularly with a combination of old favorites and new items, and the Spring Meadows and Ralphie’s To-Go location on Monroe St. also serve JoJo’s pizza. The full bar has a selection of rotating craft beers, and the decor is that of a standard sports bar with walls lined with neon beer signs and flat screen televisions tuned in to various sporting events and Keno drawings. Several locations have outdoor patios.
“We’re just a nice, casual-dine location geared towards families,” says Wallace. “We do a lot with our local communities, especially with sponsorships and support for high school sports programs.”
Fast, friendly service
We stopped in at the Spring Meadows location in Holland for lunch on a Friday afternoon and were promptly seated in a roomy booth and greeted by our friendly server. Our drinks were served and we were able to place our order within about five or ten minutes of arriving.
My oldest went for the classic cheeseburger and waffle fries. My 11-year-old son opted to be more adventurous by ordering the breakfast burger, topped with a fried egg, bacon and cheese. Some of the other unique burger toppings on the menu include peach habañero or strawberry jalapeño jam, peanut butter and bacon, or mac ’n cheese.
My daughter ordered the Champion Chicken Chunks off the menu for kids ages 10 and under. For $4.99, kids receive an entree, choice of side, a drink and a bag of Goldfish crackers. Guests can receive a free kids meal with each purchase of a regular adult meal on Tuesdays.
I opted for the chicken tenders wrap, which comes with lettuce, tomato and ranch dressing in a soft tortilla. My husband ordered the Philly steak and cheese, featuring shaved ribeye, sauteed mushrooms, onions, green peppers and melted mozzarella on a sub bun.
Our table sampled the crinkle cut fries, the waffle fries and the hand cut fries. We all agreed our favorites are the waffle fries, which have a nice light seasoning.
Our total bill before tip came to just over sixty dollars, which is pretty typical if not on the lower end of what it usually costs to eat out with our family these days.
Bottom Line
While there is nothing particularly unique about the tried-and-true sports bar formula employed by Ralphie’s, the atmosphere is friendly and prices are reasonable, especially if you take advantage of the Kids Eat Free promotion on Tuesdays. Whether you are looking for a comfortable spot to gather with a group or just need a night off from cooking, Ralphie’s is a Toledo favorite that checks all the boxes for families with young children.
The Short Course
