Mom4Life

Wildtree - food without preservatives, additives, MSGs or dyes

I recently became aware of a company called Wildtree.  It was started by a mom named Leslie who discovered that her two young children had medical conditions requiring special dietary restrictions, she began her search for healthy alternatives. "It was amazing how this impacted our entire family." recalls Leslie. "I needed to come up with meals that my children would not react to, yet still enjoy. And since I was a full-time working mom, they had to be easy to make."

Leslie sought the help of her parents, Frank and Judy. As concerned parents and grandparents, they immediately began experimenting with new ways to flavor and prepare foods. "It was really a hit and miss sort of process and we came up with some great ideas." says Leslie. "I remember thinking that others could benefit from what we discovered; how to make mealtime an enjoyable and effortless experience, dietary restrictions or not!" Leslie's sincere desire to help others was the inspiration that led her to found Wildtree in 1996."

According to the Wildree website, "A study* released on September 6, 2007, by researchers at the University of Southampton shows evidence of increased levels of hyperactivity in young children consuming mixtures of some artificial food dyes and preservatives.

Wildtree was founded on the premise that food should be natural, nutritious, delicious and easy to prepare - all at the same time. Our products are made with the finest ingredients available and contain no preservatives, additives, MSGs or dyes."

Interested in learning more?  Check our their website and if you find something you like, Mom 4 Life readers have been offered 10% off plus free shipping (to take advantage of this offer, email or call to place your order on the site here and mention you found them through Mom 4 Life).  I had the chance to try out the alfredo sauce mix and everyone in our famliy found it to be very tasty.

Be aware of the food dyes in your children's food

Have you really looked at the ingredient list of your children's favorite foods? The brighter the colors, the more our children want them, right? Well, I had a very interesting and eye opening experience a couple of weeks ago with the director of the Feingold Association, Jane Hersey. We were talking about food dyes in our children's foods.

We've all heard of Red Dye 40 and all the other colors with a number attached to them. But, did you know that these food dyes that are in just about EVERYTHING we eat that is processed are petroleum based?! Yes siree Bob! You heard that right. For some reason, I naively deleted synthetics and dyes. I thought they were natural based. You know, if it was red, it maybe came from beets... orange, from you know, orange foods, etc. But, Jane told me otherwise.

She has had over 25 years experience in this area and has written a number of books such as Why Can't My Child Behave which talks about children's behavior and the correlation to certain food ingredients. It is our responsibility to our families to be the gatekeepers for their nutrition, right?

The reason this is such a concern (food dyes and other synthetic ingredients) is that there have been numerous studies that show these food dyes causing cancerous changes, tumors and other maladies in lab animals. There has also been a correlation between ADHD and food dyes as well.

Also, did you know that in the Ukraine, M & M s have all natural dyes to color these bright, tasty chocolate treats? But, here in the US, it is still artificial food dyes that are STILL in them. So, why is the UK doing it and not the US? Of course, it is very costly to change the entire manufacturing process and well.... I don't know. We need to start asking them, bringing to their attention that we do care and it does matter!!!

So, this was meant to increase your awareness regarding artificial ingredients in our foods such as the food dyes. It is not meant to scare you, just to have your radar open to something different that affects us EVERYDAY. Turn the food boxes, bags, and cans over of your favorite foods and see if there are natural ingredients that you can pronounce on there. There are other alternatives in our grocery stores.You've just got to turn that box over to find them. Or go to the natural/organic sections of the store. Healthier for you...

Okay, I could go on and on regarding this topic. This just scratches the surface. For more information, please log onto www.ADHDdiet.org or go to http://www.momseverywhere.com to listen to SHOW 15 where Jane offers more suggestions.

Blessings and peace to you and your families!

Crisp Rosemary Flatbread

Mom 4 Life Alexis sent me this great recipe below to share with all of you.  She says, "Its awesome easy and healthy. Its like a cracker."  Enjoy!
 
Crisp Rosemary Flatbread
 
1 3/4 cup flour
1 T. rosemary or 3T whole flaxseeds
1 tsp baking powder
3/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup water
1/3 cup olive oil plus more for brushing
 
My version: I used 1 cup white flour and 3/4 cup whole wheat, 3 T of flaxseeds and sprinkled rosemary in with the dough (approx 2 tsp).
 
Preheat over to 450
Stir together flour, rosemary or flax, baking powder, and salt
Make a well in the center then add water and oil and gradually stir with a wooden spoon until a dough forms. knead dough gently 3-4 times.
Divide dough into 3 pieces and roll out one piece on a sheet of parchment paper into a 10 in round pan.
Lightly brush top with olive oil.
Bake 8-10 minutes.
Break apart and eat as a cracker

What about BPA and Phthalates? by Heather L.

I got the following email from a friend today:

"Recently the News has had stories about the dangers of BPA again. So we threw out all our sippy cups and got new ones (BPA Free)...but since BPA is in almost all plastics I started really looking at my home. What about all my Tupperware? Low and behold, it has BPA.... Now I have one question? What should I do? Throw it all out too? What would you do?"

Q: Does Tupperware use polycarbonate in any of its products?
A: Yes, Tupperware's Research and Development group has found that polycarbonate creates the highest quality and most durable products for our consumers. Consumers have consistently asked for durable, microwave-safe products, and we believe that polycarbonate is a good choice for meeting this need.

Polycarbonate is used in a small percentage of our products, primarily those intended for high heat resistance, as well as some serving lines (see listing of Tupperware products which contain polycarbonate.)

Currently in the United States and Canada we do NOT use polycarbonate in any children's products.

Q: What is Bisphenol-A?
A: Bisphenol A(BPA) is a key industrial chemical used to make polycarbonate, a raw material found in hundreds of plastic household goods and other products. Recent media reports have raised questions about its safety, though bisphenol-A has been deemed safe for consumer use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and other regulatory agencies around the world.

I thought her question was a good one and one that we have not yet talked about here.  I will include my reply to her below and would love for you to chime in with any input you might have. 

I have been trying to do what I can to not use plastics this year.  One thing I do is keep the jars that my spaghetti sauce comes in and use them for left over’s instead of Tupperware.  You can freeze in these too.  Canning jars also work well.   I also purchased aluminum or stainless steel sippy cups for the kids and don’t use their plastic plates and such unless needed and then only with cold food if I can help it.  As I can, I am looking for glass and stainless steel mixing bowls to replace my plastic ones.  Hope some of those ideas help!  I would love to hear any other ideas people have.

Also, to make it easier for the moms that shop my site, we have marked on our site which items are BPA & Phthalate free with a little symbol such as these: 

  

    
In categories such as feedingyou will find these most prevalent.  To my knowledge, all the pacifiers, teething rings, teething bracelets, bibs, milk storage containers, etc that we carry are now BPA free and I believe that all but one are also Phthalate free as well.

So now I would love to hear from you!  Tell us, what are your thoughts?

-Do you find that your purchasing decisions are influenced by the presence or lack of BPA or Phthalates?
-Would you be interested in a stainless steel sippy cup on Mom 4 Life?
-Do you have any ideas to share on not using plastics?  

Sweet Aromatic Chicken (Crock Pot recipe) by Heather L.

Here is what we had for dinner tonight, it was very good and smells so great (hence the name)!

Sweet Aromatic Chicken

1/2 c coconut milk (found in the Asian aisle)
1/2 c water
1/2 brown sugar
2 T Soy Sauce
1/8 t ground cloves
2 garlic cloves, minced
8 chicken thighs, skinned (tonight I just did 3)

Mix in a Crock Pot and cook on low for 5-6 hours or until the chicken is cooked all the way thorough.

Tonight I just cooked 3 chicken breasts and I also added some potatoes to cook as well.  When I prepared this in the morning I found that 1 can of coconut milk was about equal to 1 1/2 cups.  So, while I was at it I went ahead and I made three separate mixes of the liquid part of the recipe and froze two of them for later use.

Let me know if you try it and what you think!

Crockpot Chili by Heather L.

We went to Goodwill today and I found myself a Crockpot.  I have one already, but it is a ginormus one that could practically cook the Thanksgiving turkey and because it is so big I don't use it much.  So I found a nice smaller one for $5.99 and came home, soaped it up and turned it on.  That baby is now simmering homemade chili.  Here is the quick and easy recipe that was given to me by my father in law if you want to heat up your crock pot too!

Crockpot Chili:
1-1 1/2 lbs Hamburger (browned in a skillet)
1/2 cup diced onion (to taste)
1 1/2 t. Chili powder
1 T. Sugar
1 quart canned tomatoes (chopped or diced)
2 small cans (16 oz.) kidney beans (with the liquid in the can)

Add all ingredients in the crock pot and simmer 2 hours or more, top with cheese or sour cream, enjoy!

Food and God by Jenny Lee

In the last couple of years, I have been going through some personal health issues that have altered my life is some ways and that of my family. I had a lot of questions as to why certain thing were happening to me and how it wasn't fair.  I even have to admit that I started to question everything, even the existence of God.  I wasn't proud of that but it's something that kept crossing my mind.  I had to make a decision, believe or not believe and through God's grace I believe in him and believe that my health issues were a way to get closer to him and reach out to him as well as my family.  In other words, it was an opportunity to grow in inner strength and spiritually.

I have now accepted my 'New Normal' and wouldn't be were I am today without the hardships I have endured and continue to endure. But the question remained, One can believe but where is the proof.  Faith is all you need but the beauty of it all is that the proof of his existence is everywhere around us and in what we eat.

He designed the world for us.  It's too perfect for it to just have had happened by itself or just have appeared one day out of nowhere.  What do I mean?  Can you honestly tell me that everything came to be just as is? Don’t you think that everything in this world works too perfectly together? Don’t you think there is a greater being, God, behind all the detailed planning of this world and the universe? For instance, in an African forest, it was found that 1/3 of all rain was absorbed into the moss mats. When the moss was removed by humans, the environment experienced severe flooding.  Another example, is the way humans can find cures and help sustain a healthy body not through man made medications but through natures’ foods.  I have created a list so you can see some of the things certain types off foods can help cure:

1. Antiaging Foods: Onion, pear, basil leaf, thyme leaf, guava
2. Diabetes: Guava, Grape, onion, garlic, carrots, soybean, orange, cabbage
3. Asthma: Almonds, onions, cacao seeds, carrot, eggplants
4. ADD: Lentil, peanut, spinach, onion, garlic, cashew, pineapple, bok choi, asparagus, beets
5. Antibiotics: Garlic, soybean, watermelon, ginseng, papaya, apple, flaxseed, cabbage
6. Arthritis: Avocado, pumpkin seeds, pineapple, soybean, strawberries, tomato, sweet potato, beets, black currant
7. Breast cancer: Grapefruit, basil, sage, watermelon, kiwi, tomato, orange, carrot, peach, cashew, cabbage, banana
8. Osteoporosis: Beet, asparagus, cashews, pineapple, cauliflower
9. Alzheimer’s:  Tumeric, onion, sage, basil, parsley, grapefruit, flaxseed, carrot, sweet potato, lentils
10. Dandruff:  Parsnip, radish, cucumber, peppermint
11. Allergies: Strawberry, lemon, grape
12. Stroke: Lettuce, Spinach, cucumber, lima beans, asparagus, kiwi, cashews, banana
13. Bacterial Infections: Thyme, tea leaf, grapefruit, orange, tomato, onion, soybean

Well you get the idea. Now don’t tell me that all these foods just happened to have the right food properties to help our bodies heal?  Like I mentioned, this world and everything in it works too perfectly together to not have had a creator create it and plan it.  Nothing comes from nothing. Not even bacteria- which requires six elements to grow- food, acidity, temperature, time, oxygen and moisture.  Well guess who created that too?  So if you ever find yourself wanting proof, all you need to do is look into your heart just as it says "Now Faith is the Substance of things hoped for, the Evidence of things not Seen". Hebrews Chapter 11:1 but if something happened in your life that has made you question or doubt him then just look outside your window and there you will find the masterpiece that God created for all of us to enjoy and thrive from.

Natural Cures For Asthma by Jenny Lee

Did you know more than 20 million Americans suffer from asthma? Asthma is a lung disease that causes tightening of the bronchial tubes making breathing difficult or even impossible. Last week I became one of the 20 million asthmatics! Yikes!  Yes, I too was diagnosed with asthma. :( Tis the season to have Asthma, I guess. In fact in the last 15 years asthma has been on the rise and doctors tend to think some of it is genetic (like in my case- go genes!) and some of is environmental and some might be due to diatary influences. If you or your child suffer from asthma I would like to share some natural foods that can help prevent your next asthma attack.

To start, there are certain foods asthma folks must avoid because they can actually trigger an asthma attack!

FOODS TO AVOID THAT CAN TRIGGER AN ASTHMA ATTACK:

1. Processed foods, vitamins and medications that contain food additives and coloring such as yellow #5 have been known to trigger asthma attacks.

2. High salt diets

3. Dairy and Wheat

4. Fried and processed foods

5. Sugars and simple carbohydrates

6. Red Meat

7. Turkey

FOODS THATS CAN HELP PREVENT AN ASTHMA ATTACK:

1. Salmon, Tuna, Fish Oil, Mackerel and other cold water fish

2.  Spinach

3. Pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, almonds, cashews and tofu (loaded in Magnesium)

4. Red Peppers, Peaches, Orange, Grapefruit, Strawberry, brocoli (loaded in Vitamin C)

5. Magnesium tablet

6. Chickpeas, peas, chicken, barley, brown rice and sweet potatoes (loaded with Vitamin B6)

Unless you have experienced asthma attacks, you can't possible realize how frightening and uncomfortable the symptoms are. One way to describe them is like you are a fish without water or just try plugging one side of your nose and try breathing through a straw through your other nostril with your mouth closed. It's not fun! So given any opportunity to minimize attacks, I will try anything including all these foods that have medicinal properties. :)  Heck I even tried the Neti Pot recommeded by my doctor. I can't quiet get the hold of it but I understand it helps clear allergens and other particles that can trigger an asthma episode. For those who don't know what a Neti Pot, I didnt either, well its..well you see its like a tea pot.. that well it's not the most attractive thing to watch or do..in fact its a little gross.. you know I could never describe so its better you watch the instructional video... not for the faint of heart ;) LOL Check it out here :)  (BY THE WAY THATS NOT ME..I still can't get it to work.. It keeps going in the back of my throat :) ) I understand it does wonders for those who suffer with any type of nose congestion.  Let me know if you have tried it :) In any case, here is wishing you an asthma free day and together we can take on the world, "ONE DOSE AT A TIME!"

Jenny Lee - Proud mommy & Inventor of the Dose Keeper

Is your child drinking other people's medicine? by Jenny Lee

Got your attention, didn't I? The answer to the question 'Is your child drinking other people's medcine?' is yes they could be. Scary isn't it.  Your child is being exposed to possibly drinking a number of different medicines that are found in water systems that range from your faucet to drinking water fountains.  Studies show that medicines are making their way into waterways nationwide.  A study performed by the US Geological Survey showed trace amounts of chemicals found in prescription drugs in 80% of the streams surveyed accross America.  Medications can enter the water when they are flushed down the toilets and sinks or put into the garbage, or when humans and animals pass drugs through their bodies.

Yes frightening I know.  That is one reason why Dose Keeper (found in the Mom 4 Life website) started the 'Out of The Water' program that teaches and motivates others about proper medication disposal. So what should you do when its time to get rid of expired or otherwise unused medications?  Well the one thing you should NOT do is throw it in your trash or dump it in your sink or toilet.  If you dispose of them this way, the medicines go to wastewater treatment plants which regardless on the level of treatment most treatments are not effective in eliminating the majority of pharmaceutical compounds. To make matters worse, scientist have recently discovered that those same compounds are disrupting the endocrine system of aquatic animals and plants. USA Today remarked on how fish are showing both female and male characteristics in the Potomic River!

Medications account for the most common poison exposure category in the U.S. which the Dose Keeper is trying to change. But you can help avoid accidental overdose from our drinking waters by taking the following steps:

1. Ask your pharmacy if they recycle old medications.  Some pharmacies have such programs.

2.  Dispose as a hazardous waste through your city.

I would like to hear from you about other ways we might be able to keep medicines out of our water.

So what is my message today? It's not to scare you but to make you more aware of your environment and to start to take the necessary actions for a healthier Life. Till next time. Living life one dose at a time. :)

Jenny Lee

Dose Keeper   

Ways to Wean-Dry Milk? by Jenny Lee (with a follow up by Heather L.)

In honor of Heather, I decided to write on the topic of how one can dry up their milk supply in hopes it can help her as well as others.  Below is a list of things you can and shouldn't do if you are trying to wean or  dry up your milk:

1.  Don't eat oatmeal.

2. Do not bind your breasts to help your milk "dry up."

3. If your breasts feel full and uncomfortable, then express just enough milk to relieve the fullness. Don't pump or extract most of the milk.

4. Take pseudoephedrine--120 mg/day, a decongestant. research shows that it can decrease milk supply by as much as 24%. (found in Sudafed, Actifed)

5. Take 1/4 teaspoon of sage 3x per day for 1-3 days. You can mix the sage in vegetable juice (for example, V-8), but it won't mix well into other juices.

6. Another effective treatment is to apply fresh, crushed jasmine flowers (Jasminum sambac) to the breasts to decrease milk flow. A study has shown this to be effective

7. Other herbs that can decrease milk supply: Peppermint (Mentha piperita), Spearmint, Parsley (Petroselinum crispum), Chickweed, Black Walnut, stinging nettles (not nettle - that increases milk supply), Yarrow, Herb Robert (Geranium robertianum), Lemon Balm, Oregano, Periwinkle Herb (Vinca minor), Sorrel (Rumex acetosa).

* Sage, peppermint, spearmint, lemon balm, oregano, and cabbage leaves can all be incorporated into a pressed oil (cold pressed or hot) to make massage oils for milk suppression.

-As always, consult your doctor before taking any medication, OTC or herbal!

Heather, You and your family continue to be in my prayers.

With Love, Jenny Lee
__________________________
Dear Jenny, Thank you so much for this post.  The info you included above was something I never thought I would need to know.  When my husband went to our local health food store to get Sage and Parsley to help dry up my milk the lady was baffled at why his wife would want to dry up her milk.  She of course teared up when he explained and probably felt bad for saying anything.  I am sure that others will find this info helpful.  I am happy to report that I am doing SO much better than I would have expected in the area of engorgement.  I had one day of really painful engorgement.  Since then I still can feel that there is a lot of milk and they are very full but the tenderness was only present if i was touched on the second day and today (the third day since my milk came in) I am not even tender.  A BIG answer to prayer in my book!!!  For those of you who are interested here is what I did and didn't do:
-Starting on the day Sawyer was born I started taking the herbal supplements Parsley and Sage (the daily recommended dosage 6X a day).  The Parsley was in capsule form but the Sage was in liquid form (and tastes HORRIBLE in my opinion no matter what it is mixed with but Jenny is right something like V8 works best).
-The day my milk came in (I should have done it sooner probably but I forgot to get it from the store) I wore cabbage leaves in my bra all day and during the first night.  I could have/should have perhaps done it again on the second day but I went to MOPS that day and didn't want to wear it in my bra while "out and about" just in case it would be poking out of my bra accidentally;).
-I took bendryl (the recommended dose) before bed on the second and third night as I had heard this helps.  This can make you sleepy so be careful not to do this when you are going to be driving as I discovered (I took just one pill instead of two during the day and was pretty sleepy).
-I am still taking Parsley capsules but gave up on the Sage just because it tastes so bad.
I am convinced that God answered all our prayers and that is why I am feeling so much better in this area.  I think the things I did above were also very helpful and I am so thankful for all the healing herbs that God created for us to use in so many ways!

Thank you Jenny for your post and prayers!  I will follow up with a post on how things are going in the near future,  I decided to take a little blog break tonight:).

Foods As Medicines? by Jenny Lee

During these last two weeks of being sick I decided to write a blog on how certain foods can actually help cure or prevent certain illnesses.   We have all heard how chicken soup is good for a cold or how important cranberry juice helps cure and prevent bladder infections.  But are there other types of foods that aid in our health? There sure are!

Foods And What They Help With:

Fish- Helps prevent headaches, helps reduce arthritis

Ginger- Helps prevent Headaches, reduces  inflammation and pain, helps settle an upset stomach and cures morning sickness and nausea

Yogurt- Helps bring down fever and reduce allergies

Tea- Helps prevent stroke, Prevent buildup of fatty deposits on artery walls, Green tea is great for our immune system

Honey- Helps insomnia and serves as a tranquilizer and sedative

Onions- Helps ease constriction of bronchial tubes.

Bananas- Will settle an upset stomach

Cranberry Juice- Controls harmful bacteria and helps treat and prevent bladder infections

Pineapple- Manganese found in Pineapples can help prevent bone fractures and osteoporosis; lowers blood pressure

Cornflakes- Helps control PMS and reduce depression, anxiety and fatigue

Oysters- Help improve your mental functioning by supplying much-needed zinc

Garlic- Lowers cholesterol and helps clear up a cold

Cabbage- Cabbage contains chemicals that help heal both gastric and duodenal ulcers.

Red Peppers- Helps with coughs. A substance similar to that found in the cough syrups is found in hot red pepper. Use red (cayenne) pepper with caution-it can irritate your tummy.

Apples- Helps prevent diarrhea and lower the risks of colon cancer, heart attack & stroke

Wheat, Bran and Cabbage- Helps to maintain estrogen at healthy levels and prevent breast cancer

Avocado- Mono unsaturated fat in avocados lowers cholesterol

Celery and Olive Oil- Olive oil has been shown to lower blood pressure and Celery contains a chemical that lowers pressure too.

Kiwi- This is a good source of potassium, magnesium, Vitamin E &fiber. It's Vitamin C content is twice that of an orange
 

Strawberry- Strawberries have the highest total antioxidant power among major fruits &protects the body from cancer causing, blood vessels clogging free radicals. (Actually, any berry is good for you..they're high in anti-oxidants and they actually keep us young.........blueberries are the best and very versatile in the health field........they get rid of all the free-radicals that invade our bodies)
 

Broccoli and Peanuts- The chromium in broccoli and peanuts helps regulate insulin and blood sugar
 

Orange- Great in Vitamin C and helps dissolve kidney stones and lessen colon cancer

Food Dye: Sure It makes Food Look Good, But Are They Safe?

Earlier this week, Heather informed me that there had been a request for a blog addressing a topic on food dyes so I was up for the challenge. :) We always here stories about food dyes causing cancer and other medical problems. Is it true and if so, how bad are they for us?

Humans have been using food dyes longer than you might think. Archaeologists have found ancient Egyptians writings that tell of drug colorings.  In fact, historians say food colorings have been around since 1500 B.C.

The reason why food coloring was used originally was to hide poor quality food products or spoiled food products.  In the 1800's toxic chemicals, arsenic and metal compounds were used to make the color dyes that was used in hard candies and pickles.  Because of numerous deaths and illnesses that were linked to the dyes, congress created the Pure Food and Drug ACT which gave birth to the FDA- Food and Drug Administration.  Today, we find food coloring in quite a few products as you may know, some examples are jellies, candies, mustard, ketchup, cakes and many others.  In fact the FDA has only approved 7 dyes- yellows #5 and #6, reds #3 and #40, blues #1 and #2, and green #3.

The Different Colored Dyes

Dye #	Dye Name	Color	Where it is Found	Side Effects
Yellow #5	Tartrazine	Lemon Yellow	candy, beverages, cereals, ice cream	This dye is known to cause allergic reactions in some people. It causes hives in fewer than one out of 10,000 people Allergies Thyroid tumors Lymphocytic lymphomas Chromosomal Damage Trigger for asthma Urticaria (hives) Hyperactivity
Yellow #6	Sunset Yellow	Orange	snack foods, desserts, powders, cereals	Urticaria (hives) Rhinitis (runny nose) Nasal congestion Bronchoconstriction (combined with Amaranth, Ponceau) Anaphylactoid reaction (combined with Ponceau) Eosinophilotactic response Purpura (bruising) Allergies Kidney tumors Chromosomal damage Abdominal pain Vomiting Indigestion Distaste for food
Red #3	Erythrosine	Cherry-red	Cherries in fruit cocktail and canned fruits	The lake form of this dye has been known to cause tumors in rats. The risk of cancer in humans is about 1 in 100,000 over a 70 year lifetime. Bronchoconstriction (combined with Brilliant Blue, Indigo Carmine) Sequential vascular response Elevation of protein-bound iodide Thyroid tumors Chromosomal damage
Red #40	Allura Red AC	Orange -red	Gelatins, puddings, condiments, dairy products	Tumors / lymphomas
Blue #1	Brilliant Blue FCF	Bright blue	jellies, icings, beverages, dairy products syrups	Bronchoconstriction (combined with Erythrosine, Indigo Carmine) Eosinophilotactic response Chromosomal damage
Blue #2	Indigotine	Royal Blue	ice cream, cherries, cereals, baked goods	Brain tumors Bronchoconstriction (combined with Brilliant Blue, Erythrosine)
Green #3	Fast Green FCF	Sea Green	ice cream, sherbet, beverages, puddings	Bladder tumors

   So to answer the question if food dyes are safe, well the FDA seems to say certain kinds are but I have to admit that since certain dyes are causing problems whose to say that others won't follow.  I think next time my kids want red frosting on their cake or eat those cool blue cookies, I think I'll leave it just as nature intended food to come out as, in their own natural color.

Challenge:  I challenge you to find 3 items in your cupboards in less than 20 seconds that don't have artificial colors and. or flavors. Good luck!  If you do please let me know what they were...

Till next time...

Jenny Lee

Proud Mom and Inventor of the DOSE KEEPER

Are Easter Eggs Good For You? by Jenny Lee

In honor of Easter and all the beautiful painted eggs that will take place in the coming week, I thought it to be appropriate to learn a little more about our friend the egg.  As we all know eggs are very high in cholesterol, 250 mg per yolk- our total daily allowance, which is why a lot of adults stay away from them.  However, eggs have been condemned. 

Eggs offer great nutritional value too.  They are high in Lecithin and methionine which are essential part to our diet.  Lecithin helps liver function, prevents kidney and gallstones from forming and ironically enough it keeps arterial lining free from cholesterol.  Methionine, also found in eggs, is a powerful antioxidant as well as it detoxifies heavy metal and excess histamine levels from the body. 

But because of the high cholesterol levels should we eat eggs?  The irony in eggs that the media fails to tell us is that egg yolk supplies the cholesterol needed for mental development, essential for brain development.  Keep in mind that there are two types of cholesterol one bad and one good. Eggs are also rich in Vitamin A, B and D, essential amino acids, minerals, carbohydrates and protein that are also crucial for our body's health. 

Research shows that humans do not increase blood cholesterol levels by eating cholesterol. Rather, we increase cholesterol by eating refined processed flour, sugars and fats. Based on these findings, we should eat eggs to help reduce cholesterol because of the lecithin content and avoid the processed and dead foods that are the real cause of cholesterol.  So to answer the question if eggs are good for  you...yes they are but like everything else in life the key is moderation.  Till next time!

Jenny Lee
Dose Keeper

March is Poison Prevention Month by Jenny Lee

March is Poison Prevention Month! It should be a time to evaluate your home and how safe it is for your child, especially when it comes to medication.  This blog is a pesonal one for me.  As you may or may not know I have two beautiful children, George-6 and Gracie-3. Last year, my daugher Grace ran a high fever of 103.9 degrees.  Staying up all night with her made me second guess myself the next day as to when I had given her the last dose of Children's Motrin.  So I gave her some the next morning.  As soon as I finished giving it to her panick immediately struck me as I had feared I had ovedosed her.  I quickly called the nurses line who put me in touch right away with Poison control.  Poison control asked me to look for certain symptoms which she had none and then determined I was just second guessing myslef from lack of sleep and in fact had not  given her back to back Motrin. 

What a relief! But what was interesting happened right after.  The Poison Control center informed me that I was one of the lucky ones.  They said over 57,000 accidental overdoses in children occur every year on OTC children's medications resulting in dangerous consequences.  According to the U.S. Poison Control Centers "A child is accidentally poisoned every 30 seconds! And more than 50% of all poisonings occur  at home in children under 5 years of age."  They added that my story is a very common one and one that they hear everyday.  They added many parents second guess themsleves due to lack of sleep, active life or just forget to tell dad, babysitter etc. of when the last dose was given to the child resulting in double dosing!  I have to admit I questioned my parenting skills at first- How could I (a mom known to my family and friends as being extremely overprotective and cautious) find myself in such a situation in the first place?  I always had extra pads of paper next to the nightstand and was always good in remembering when the last dose was given to my child. Simple. Lack of sleep and the busy world we all live in can lead to absent mindedness and forgetfullness.  After all I am human however becasue of my own frightening experience and the valuable information I had gathered from Poison Control lead me to develop the Dose Keeper to help parents and caregivers keep better track of their child's last medication dose.  I also took an active role in eductaing parents through free workshops and health fairs about the proper use of OTC children's medications. So being Poison Prevention Month I have compiled Do's and Don'ts list on proper use of children's medicines to help prevent accidental overdosing.  Accidental overdosing can lead to liver and organ failure and not to mention it can be fatal.  In fact, the world known mayo Clinic stated "The thing that makes Acetaminophen (found in children's OTC medications) dangeorus, especially for children, is that the difference between a 'dose' and a fatal 'overdose' is small."

I would love to have my readers share their own experience or know of someone who has been in a similar situation.  If you ever second guessed yourself, even for 1 second, as to when you gave your child their medication raise your hand and know you are not alone.  As the Dose Keeper motto states 'To error is human but not at the expense of your child.' Till next time :) 
            Jenny Lee

Do’s and Don’ts of Giving Your Child Medication 

(Pay close attention to the highlighted ones)

Do…	Read the medicine label very carefully
Do…	keep a record of the last dose taken
Do…	ask your pharmacist for larger type if you can’t read the bottle
Do…	take exact dosage listed on medication bottle
Do…	When you are administering more than one over-the-counter medication, make sure that the products do not contain the same active ingredients.
Do…	use pediatric formulas
Do…	use the measuring device that comes with liquid medications
Do…	contact the emergency department, your child’s physician or a pharmacy if you have any questions about dosage or side affects of the medication.
Do…	Keep medicines out of reach of children at all times
Do…	Consult your doctor
Do…	check for your name on the bottle
Do…	If you are in the middle of taking medicine or using a cleaning product and you need to answer the door or phone, take it with you.
Do…	use the Dose Keeper to help keep track of your last dose
Do…	tell another caregiver of when you gave the last dosage

Don’t…	give your children over-the-counter medications longer than indicated on the label.
Don’t…	Never call medicine candy.
Don’t…	Do not take medicine in front of children; they love to do What adults do.
Don’t…	share your medication with someone else
Don’t…	use medication when it is past its expiration date
Don’t…	take someone else’s medication
Don’t…	store your medications in locations that are either too hot or too cold. For example, the bathroom cabinet may not be the best place for your medication.
Don’t…	double up on medication

         

Pass the Chicken Soup Please by Christine S.

Heather had asked me to comment a bit on switching to whole foods / preservative free foods.  This was the plan for my next post.  Things were going really well with the new diet and I was feeling great!  However...  then I got pregnant! (with baby #4) Well... unfortunately, my whole foods diet kind of went out the window as I have resorted back to whatever sounds good that I can keep down.  Oh the joys of morning sickness!  (A.K.A. All Day Sickness)  However, I did want to pass along the name of the book I was reading that was helping me on my whole foods journey - It is called The Schwarzbein Principle.  I didn't get all the way through before I found out I was pregnant, so I can't give a complete review, but I will say it has some good info.  It also has some info. I kind of took with a grain of salt, but it is definitely a great starting point!  I hope to return to the diet once I can get past the morning sickness issues, but for now I am on a bit of a hiatus.  If anyone has whole foods experience please do jump in on the comments section and help us out! 

In the meantime, between morning sickness, colds and last night we added a stomach bug with one of our little ones...  We have been on a bit of a Chicken Soup trend.  I have just been taking chicken bouillon, water, boneless skinless chicken breast pieces, noodles, carrots and celery and boiling it up for a quick and easy meal.  Seems to do the trick!

I must say since we were not planning on having another baby and we gave away all of our baby stuff... It has been so much fun to browse on Mom 4 Life for all the great new baby products!  My wish list is growing!  I am especially excited about getting a sling this time around since I have only ever used a Baby Bjorn with my others.  If you have a favorite please let me know!  I should have bought one with our last little guy as he always wanted to be with mommy, but I didn't...  I'm not going to make that mistake this time! 

Have a great week!

Christine
"The Menu Mom"   

Is Chocolate Good For You? By Jenny Lee (Bee-z Snack Shop)

As Valentine's Day approuches, we all have heard conflicting reports on whether chocolate is good or bad for you.  Since chocolate seems to be one of kids favorite treats I decided to touch on the subject.  I know we all can agree that chocolates are delicious but are they good for you? 

Most people are told that chocolates increase blood pressure and are fattening.  This is true but not for the reasons you may think of.  Cocoa butter and chocolate do not raise blood cholesterol or fat. However, when consuming milk chocolate or lower grade chocolate where a part of the total fat content comes from milk fat or various other types of fat, the cholesterol level might be adversely affected. Same when it comes to sugars. The cacao bean contains quite a lot of carbohydrates, but most of it is starch, soluble dietary fibers and insoluble dietary fibers. A very small proportion is simple sugars. Sugar is added during the manufacture of chocolate.

Even though chocolate bars, not the actual chocolates, contain high amounts of sugars and fats that are not healthy for your body, they also contain other things that actually are.  For example, chocolate contain antioxidants specifically polyphenols (similar to those found in wine) with antioxidant properties which are health beneficial. The antioxidant flavinoids are found in the nonfat portions of the cocoa bean. The flavinoids also reduce the blood's ability to clot and thus reduces the risk of stroke and heart attacks.  Chocolate also contain Theobromine is a very mild stimulant with a mild diuretic action (increases the production of urine). Please note that theobromine can be toxic to animals like dogs, cats, parrots and horses. 

In chocolate or the cocoa bean we find Phenylethylamine which is a slight antidepressant and stimulant similar to the body's own dopamine and adrenaline. 

Cocoa and chocolate can increase the level of serotonine in the brain. Serotonine levels are often decreased in people with depression and in those experiencing PMS symptoms.  Cocoa beans are rich in a number of essential minerals, including magnesium, calcium, iron, zinc, copper, potassium and manganese and surprinsingly to many, chocolates contain Vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, C, E and pantothenic acid.

All in all, chocolate does give us some essential nutrients and natural mood enhancers but sadly the nutrients it does give us is not enough to outweigh all the sugars and fat that it puts in into our bodies.  Like our moms use to say “don’t eat too much candy.”  J

Stress Eating - Are You A Member Of The Club? by Christine Steendahl

When you get stressed out, do you eat?  Some of us do.... others of us don't.  I happen to fall into the category of those of us who do.  There have been times when after 5 bites I all of the sudden realize I am munching on something, and I think - why am I eating this?  I'm not even hungry!  And of course when I eat due to stress it is generally unhealthy food.

This week I had a fairly stressful week.  However, I made a conscious effort to not "stress eat".  I take that back.. I did munch periodically, but on much healthier choices!  I am in the process of trying to cut out most processed foods from my diet, (which is a whole other topic in itself) but making this conscious effort has been a big plus!  Here are a few items I grabbed to munch on during the week:
Raw Almonds (the crunch satisfies)
Brown Rice Crackers (again, crunch and a bit of salt)
String Cheese
Apples (sweet & crunchy)
Mini Carrots (sweet & crunchy as well)
And because I tend to lean towards ice-cream.... Rice Dream (an all natural frozen treat with no refined sugars or dairy.  YUMMY!)

So much better choices than chips, candy & ice-cream!  So how about you?  Are you a stress eater?  What types of foods do you lean towards, and/or what are your favorite healthy munchies?

Bananas: The Perfect Food? by Jenny Lee

Bananas, like the commercial says, could very well be the world's perfect food!  Bananas are loaded with 422 mg of potassium which is crucial because potassium is an essential dietary mineral and elctrolyte. Low levels of potassium is referred to as hypokalemia. 

Hypokalemia can be caused by vomiting, metabolic disturbances and kidney disease. The symptoms of Hypokalemia or low potassium are fatigue, muscle cramps or weakness, bloating, constipation, and abdominal pain. Severe hypokalemia may result inmuscular paralysis or abnormal hear rhythms that can be fatal. Please see your doctor if you suspect hypokalemia.

Potassium is so crucial to our bodies that not enough can increase your chances of stroke, Osteoporosis and kidney stones.  On the positive side, potassium is used to treat high blood pressure.  So all in all, potassium whether its found it bananas, potatos, orange juice, lima beans, artichokes, prune juice, spinach or almonds is not only good for you but it is essential to your body.

Adequate Intake (AI) for Potassium
Life Stage	Age	Males (mg/day)	Females (mg/day)
Infants	0-6 months	400	400
Infants	7-12 months	700	700
Children	1-3 years	3,000	3,000
Children	4-8 years	3,800	3,800
Children	9-13 years	4,500	4,500
Adolescents	14-18 years	4,700	4,700
Adults	19 years and older	4,700	4,700

Jenny Lee

Inventor of the Bee-Z Snack Shop and mom of two

The Fairytale Cake - My Boys In The Kitchen by Christine Steendahl

I had someone ask me the other day if I really let me boys help in the kitchen.  The answer is YES!  (Granted not every time I cook as sometimes I am in a hurry... but sometimes)  My 7 year old just learned how to fry hamburger the other day and he LOVES to do it!  He is always asking me if I have hamburger to fry.  If it was up to him we would have something with hamburger every night for dinner.  LOL Now if that will only last until he is 18... (wishful thinking I'm sure).

Anyway, I got a new Flip Video Camera for Christmas (which I love - it's not the highest quality, but is so quick and easy to use) and I had the two youngest boys home with me this morning, so we made a cake with the new Fairytale cake pan we received for Christmas, and I decided to record the action.  Wait until you see the final product.  LOL  No, I don't normally let them eat that much candy, but it came with the pan as a gift and it's New Year's Eve when we made this...  So I thought I would share, that yes - even a 3 & 5 year old can help in the kitchen.  Enjoy the show!

Plastic in our Food? by Jenny Lee

Can plastics or other chemicals affect our hormone and endocrine system which is responsible for checks and balances in our bodies?  Scientists are focusing on a class of chemicals called endocrine disrupters. Such chemicals and plastics seem to interfere with or mimic the action of hormones and thus may upset the normal growth, behavior, and reproduction of people and animals. Babies and small children are more vulnerable.

PCBs and DDT were banned in the U.S.in the 1970s, but dioxins are still being released and can be found at low levels  in air, water, and soil. From there, they can enter the food chain, working their way into animals and, eventually, people.

Endocrine disrupters may affect intelligence, cause birth defects, cause prostrate and increase breast cancer.  The following research company found the following:

“Of seven national and store brands Of plastic wrap we analyzed America's Choice, Dow brands Saran Wrap, Duane Reade, Foodtown, Glad Crystal Clear Polyethylene, Reynolds Wrap, and White Rose--only Reynolds Wrap and Saran Wrap contained any of the five plasticizers we looked for.

Would a cooked hamburger that was wrapped in plastic Reynolds Wrap or Saran Wrap and reheated in a microwave oven absorb plasticizers? Yes, a little bit, our tests showed, but only where the fat contacted the wrap.

It's impossible to say whether a tiny serving of plasticizers is risky. If you want to play it safe, buy one of the wraps we found to be free of suspect plasticizers, or buy any polyethylene wrap. (Polyethylene lacks plasticizers; the product's label should say what it's made of.)

In any case, do as some wrap makers recommended and leave a gap between wrap and food when heating. In fact, that's sound advice at any temperature. Studies have indicated that some migration of plasticizers can occur with refrigerated food, too. That's what we found when we analyzed 14 national and local brands of grocery- store and deli cheese wrapped in six types of plastic. The wraps themselves had a wide range of concentrations of two families of problematic plasticizers, adipates and phthalates.  We found no plasticizers at all in eight new microwavable Rubbermaid and Tupperware bowls.” 

It all goes back to being aware of what you are eating and you will help you family live a healthier life.  Next blog we will talk about theses endocrine disrupters found in baby food! 

Jenny Lee – Founder of the Bee-Z Snack Shop

Those Foods You Forget About - Game Hens by Christine Steendahl

Do you ever forget about a food you actually really like?  Every once in awhile I come across a recipe in my recipe box, a food at the grocery store, or a dish at a party and all the sudden remember I really like that food, but I haven't made it for a LONG time because... well...  I kind of forgot about it! 

So this is what happened to me with Game Hens.  My mom used to make them all the time when I was young, and I have made them a few times, but not for several years.  I was shopping in the grocery store last week and viola - there they were in the freezer case - game hens.  I'm sure they have probably been there for years, (I mean, not those particular ones... but you know what I mean) but I have missed them.  Must be something about shopping with three rambunctious boys the majority of the time - this time I just happened to be alone!  Anyway...  For those of you who may not know...

Game hens can be described as smaller chickens.  In fact, you can make almost any recipe that requires chicken with game hens.  Game hens usually are somewhat smaller weighing in at about 1 to 2 pounds with 1 ¼ pound being the average size.  This size makes each game hen perfect for one serving.  Game hens are quite tasty and while they taste extremely similar to chicken, they add elegance to any dinner.  For best taste, game hens are usually roasted.  If you have never cooked game hens before, you should know that most recipes are simple to prepare and do not require a long prep time.  Here are a couple of yummy recipes to get you started. 

Game Hens with Dried Fruit

4 Cornish hens (approximately 1 to 1 ½ pounds each)
2 cups white or brown rice cooked
4 ounces of mixed, dried fruit
¼ cup of orange marmalade
2 ounces of butter
Paprika, garlic powder and onion powder
Salt and pepper, season to taste

Directions:

First cook rice and place in large mixing bowl.  In the mixing bowl, add all other ingredients including the mixed fruit and orange marmalade.  Prepare hens by first washing them gently and pat dry.  Stuff hens with rice mixture.  Tie legs together with cooking twine.  Gently melt butter and add seasoning such as garlic, paprika, onion, salt and pepper.  Brush each hen with the mixture.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Roast the hens for about one hour.  Once almost complete, you can brown the hens by raising the temperature to 500 degrees F. for about 5 minutes.  Serve hot.  This recipe yields four servings.

Easy Cornish Game Hens

4 whole Cornish game hens (approximately 1 to 1 ½ pounds each)
1 medium onion -- chopped
1 celery stalks -- chopped
6 ounces mushrooms -- chopped
1 garlic clove -- minced
1 teaspoon Oregano
2 tablespoons parsley
3/4 cup butter – melted
Salt and pepper, seasoned to taste

Directions:
In a small saucepan, melt butter with onion, celery, mushrooms, herbs and garlic.  Wash hens and pat dry.  Season hens inside and out with salt and pepper.  Insert vegetable mixture inside each bird. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Place on baking sheet, brush with remaining butter and spices.  Cover with aluminum foil and let bake for about 1 to 1 ½ hours.  Brown hens for 5 minutes at 500 degrees F.  Serve hot.  This recipe yields four servings.

So let me know if you cook up some Game Hens, or what food you have recently discovered again..  (or perhaps I am the only one who does that?) 

Have a great week!

Christine Steendahl
"The Menu Mom"

Drink your Eggnog and Eat Christmas Cookies Without the Guilt by Jenny Lee

As the holidays are right around the corner,  I have compiled and would like to share a few of your favorite holiday Christmas, Chanukah and Kwanza recipes that are still delicious in taste and tradition but lower in calories and fat.  I would like for you to share your own low fat recipe holiday recipes with all my readers by dropping an email to me or posting a comment below.   ENJOY!

Jenny Lee - Inventor of Bee- Z Snack Shop



LOW FAT EGGNOG

INGREDIENTS:
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp freshly grated nutmeg
1 egg
4 egg whites
1 1/2 cups fat free milk
1 1/2 cups fat free half-and-half
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 cup rum or brandy (optional)
freshly grated nutmeg to garnish

PREPARATION:
Combine sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg in a large bowl. Add egg and egg whites, and beat with a mixer for 3-4 minutes.
Gently heat fat free milk in a large saucepan. Gradually stir egg mixture into the hot milk.
Heat, stirring constantly, until mixture is slightly thickened. Stir in vanilla extract and remove from heat.
Let the milk and egg mixture cool a little before blending with fat-free half-and-half milk. Cover and chill in the refrigerator. Before serving, add rum or brandy if desired and sprinkle with freshly grated nutmeg on top.


LOW FAT GINGERBREAD MEN COOKIES

INGREDIENTS:
1/4 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
1 egg
1/3 cup dark molasses
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
2 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp allspice
1/4 tsp ground cloves

PREPARATION:
In a large mixing bowl, beat butter, sugar and applesauce until smooth. Add egg and molasses and mix well. In another large bowl, combine flour, baking soda and spices. Add to sugar and molasses mixture, stirring well.
Divide dough in two; cover with plastic wrap and chill for 2 hours.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Roll out dough to 1/4 or 1/8-inch thickness. Cut gingerbread men with a cookie cutter. Add candies or raisins to decorate. Place 1-2 inches apart on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake 10-12 minutes. Add frosting or more decorations when cool. Makes 30 cookies.


CHRISTMAS TURKEY

To reduce your fat intake, be sure to remove the skin before eating the meat.

INGREDIENTS:
1 12-14-pound turkey, fresh or frozen (thawed)
1 medium onion, peeled and quartered
1 lemon, halved
1 tbsp olive oil
6 sprigs fresh rosemary
6 sprigs fresh thyme
6 sprigs fresh sage
Freshly ground black pepper

PREPARATION:
Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
Remove giblets and neck from inside the turkey and reserve to make stock if you wish.
Rinse turkey inside and out with cold water. Pat dry with kitchen paper.
Place onion, half a lemon and 4 sprigs of each herb inside the bird's cavity.
Secure legs with kitchen string. Place turkey breast side up on roasting rack in pan. Squeeze lemon half into a small bowl. Brush bird with lemon juice and olive oil, and add salt and pepper.
Place in oven and roast for 15 minutes at 425 degrees for an initial blast of heat.
Reduce heat to 325 degrees. Baste turkey frequently with pan juices plus lemon and oil, and roast until an instant-read thermometer inserted in the thickest part of the thigh reaches 180 degrees - about 3 to 3 3/4 hours.
Remove turkey from oven and let stand for 15 minutes. Transfer to a warm platter and garnish with remaining herbs.

LOW FAT CHANUKAH  POTATOE LATKES

INGREDIENTS:
1 1/2 pounds Yukon Gold or Russet Potatoes
1 medium onion
1/4 cup flour
2 egg whites
Freshly ground black pepper

PREPARATION:
Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Peel, cut and shred potatoes and onion, using either a grater or a food processor.
Place a large cookie sheet in hot oven.
Empty shredded potatoes and onion into a colander and squeeze out as much excess moisture as you can.
Transfer potato and onion mixture to a large bowl. Add flour, egg whites and black pepper, and combine well with a fork.
Remove cookie sheet from oven. Coat with nonstick cooking spray
Form 2-2 1/2-inch flattened rounds with the potato mixture and place on hot cookie sheet.
Return cookie sheet to oven and cook for 7-8 minutes each side, until crisp and golden.

COLLARD RED AND GREEN BEANS

INGREDIENTS:
1 tbs olive oil
2 cloves of garlic, sliced
1 bunch fresh collard greens, stemmed chopped
2 tbs cider vinegar
2 tbs water
½ tsp
Tabasco
1 ½ cups canned kidney beans
Salt and pepper to taste

PREPARATION:
Heat the oil in a large pot over medium heat; add the garlic; cook until fragrant, 1 minute; add the greens, vinegar, water and hot sauce; cook, stirring often, until greens slightly soften, about 5 minutes.
Cover; cook 5 more minutes.
Add the beans with 1/2 cup of the beans cooking liquid (if using canned beans, use water), cover; cook until the collards are tender, about 10 minutes.
Stir in salt, pepper and more hot sauce to taste.

Minimizing The Holiday Grocery Bill by Christine Steendahl

With Christmas approaching, many of us feel both the financial and time pressures put upon us.  Today I compiled a few ways to save money & time this holiday season with your grocery bill - leaving more money for holiday gifts and more time for activities.

1.) Watch the grocery sales flyers and stock up on neccesary items. You can often find turkey, ham, stuffing, cool whip, canned pumpkin etc. at exceptionally low prices this time of year. Calculate what you will need and if it can be frozen or is a dry food item, stock up while it is on sale - not last minute the day before Christmas when it isn’t on sale and the store shelves are empty.

2.) With the holiday rush, you might find yourself eating out more frequently. If at all possible try to eat at home before you go out on your shopping trip or evening activity - it’s cheaper, healthier and really won’t take extra time if you follow our the next tip. If you are going to be gone for quite awhile, take a protein bar or other healthy snack along with you.

3.) When you are home for an evening prepare a meal that can be frozen. Either make an extra pan of what you are making for supper (for example if you are making a casserole or lasagna, make an extra and pop it in the freezer all ready to cook on a busy day) or if you are making soup or chicken breasts make extra and freeze them in individual or family size portions. You can then pull these items out when you’re in a time crunch.

4.) Enjoy Potlucks. If you are in charge of hosting a holiday gathering, make it a potluck. Most people enjoy sharing their favorite holiday recipe with others and having others pitch in with the food will most certainly help with the budget and time management.

5.) Make a menu for the week, make a grocery list and stick with it. If you go to the grocery store without a plan, you generally will purchase more than you need. Grab your sales flyer of the store you frequent, plan a menu around the items that are on sale, make a grocery list and stick with it. You will spend less then you would if you went in without a plan and you also will save time each evening as you already know what you are cooking and you for sure have all the necessary ingredients on hand.

If you are very crunched on time, consider picking up a sample menu at www.dinewithoutwhine.com/sample.htm  - there is a complete menu and grocery shopping list there for you.

Happy Holidays!

Christine Steendahl
"The Menu Mom"

Tips On How To Avoid Thanksgiving Weight Gain

Thanksgiving is a time when families get together and share each others company.  However, it’s also a time where we surround ourselves with delicious food.  Choose a few of these weight control-tips below to help you maintain your weight while still enjoying delicious food on Thanksgiving day:

-Before you arrive to your Thanksgiving destination, make sure to eat a small, healthy snack/meal- such as almonds, yogurt, carrots, beans, oatmeal etc. (A small meal keeps you feeling full until dinner.)

-Don’t take a day off of exercising.

-Don’t eat everything in sight. Choose to eat only foods you really enjoy and spend the calories on those only.

-Avoid eating any appetizers.

-Don’t go for a second helping.

-Avoid any special sauces or gravy.

-Eat slow.

-Choose pumpkin pie over pecan pie and only have one piece.

-Drink water.

-Start a new tradition, take a leisurely walk after the big meal with your family and friends.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Jenny Lee

A mom and inventor of Bee-Z Snack Shop

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WINNER of the Bee-Z Snack Shop is...

Melody Gross

Thanksgiving Is Coming - Please Help Me Not Get Fat!

Can you believe Thanksgiving is just around the corner?  My 7 year old was asking me the other day how many more days until Christmas and all of the sudden it hit me - oh my gosh, a little over a month!  I don't know if it is because the weather has been fairly nice around here or what... but I'm just not quite in the holiday mood yet.  However, I did buy a big pack of various flavors of apple cider the other day at Sam's Club and that seemed to help us all get in the mood a bit.   

What are your favorite holiday recipes?  Feel free to share in the comments section below.  Who knows, maybe we'll end up with a new favorite this year! 

With the holidays comes the delicious foods we often only get a couple times a year.  However, it is also a time we seem to over eat and pack on a few extra pounds.  Therefore, my business partner and I have come up with a Healthy Thanksgiving Planner to share some of our favorite healthier recipes for the holidays.  Here are a couple of our favorites.

Dilled Smoked Salmon Spread

Serving Size: 1 tablespoon
Preparation:  Store tightly covered in refrigerator up to 2 weeks or in freezer up to 4 weeks. Thaw frozen spread covered in refrigerator about 8 hours. Serve with crackers.

    1 8 ounce package cream cheese, softened (use fat-free or low-fat to reduce the fat)                     
    1 pound smoked salmon, skinned and boned                        
    1/4 cup chopped green onions (3 medium)                        
    1 teaspoon chopped or 1/4 teaspoon dried dill weed             
    3/4 (8-ounce) package whipped cream cheese, softened (about 3/4 cup)
    1/4 cup chopped nuts, toasted if desired                        
    Cracker or sliced vegetables, if desired                        

1.  Mix 8-ounce package cream cheese, the salmon, green onions and dill thoroughly.

2.  Shape mixture into ball or ring shape. Spread with whipped cream cheese. Sprinkle with nuts. Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours until chilled.
 
NUTRITION FACTS
Calories 35
Fat  3g
Saturated Fat 1g
Cholesterol 10mg
Sodium 95mg
Carbohydrate 0g
Dietary Fiber 0g
Protein  2g

Maple Cinnamon Sweet Potatoes
Serving Size: 1/2 cup

    4 small dark-orange sweet potatoes, peeled, cut into 3/4-inch cubes (about 4 cups)
    1/4 cup real maple syrup or maple-flavored syrup               
    1/2 teaspoon cinnamon                                          
    2 tablespoons finely chopped walnuts                           

1. In large saucepan, bring 4 cups water to a boil. Add sweet potatoes; return to a boil. Cook over medium heat for 8 to 12 minutes or until tender. Drain well. Return sweet potatoes to saucepan or place in serving bowl.

2. Meanwhile, in small bowl, combine syrup and cinnamon; mix well. Add to sweet potatoes; toss gently to coat. Just before serving, sprinkle with walnuts.

NUTRITION INFORMATION
Calories 110
Fat  1g
Saturated Fat 0g
Cholesterol 0mg
Sodium 10mg
Carbohydrate 23g
Dietary Fiber 2g
Sugars  10g
Protein  1g

If you woudl like a copy of our complete Thanksgiving Planning Guide featuring:

- Information on Planning a Family Get-Together
- Ways to Eliminate Holiday Stress
- Tips For Preparing the Perfect Turkey
- Decorating Made Easy
- Activities to Keep The Kids Entertained
- What To Do With Leftover Turkey
- A complete Healthy Thanksgiving Menu & Grocery Shopping List
- Bonus Printable Planning Guide

You can grab a copy at www.healthymenumailer.com/thx

I wish you a wonderful holiday, filled with friends & family, yummy foods, and health.

Christine Steendahl
"The Menu Mom"

Is There Lead in our Children’s foods? by Jenny Lee

Yes. Since lead is present in the environment, from both natural and man-made sources, a low level of lead is present in many food products. Lead is a naturally occurring metal found in small amounts in the Earth’s crust. However most of the lead found throughout the environment comes from human activities.

During the several months, we have heard of many toys been recalled by the news because of lead exposure.  Such toys that been recalled due to lead paints are Thomas The Train, Elmo, Dora toys and Fisher- Price.  To see other recalled toys, click here.

The most common source of lead contamination from human activities is likely to be from lead-based paints but exposure can occur from a number of sources:

• Eating foods or drinking water that contain lead

• Spending time in areas where lead-based paints have been used and are deteriorating or being worked on

• Having hobbies in which lead may be used

• Using ceramic ware that has a lead glaze.

Children are poisoned by mouthing objects with lead dust on them, such as fingers and toys, by chewing on surfaces coated with lead paint, such as window sills, or by eating paint chips.  The most likely sources of lead in drinking water are lead pipe and brass fittings used in household plumbing.  About 5 percent of children ingest enough lead from food and beverages to be at risk for adverse health effects. The FDA has estimated that about 20 percent of all dietary lead comes from canned food and two-thirds of that results from lead solder in cans. Acidic foods can leach lead from the solder in the seams of cans. Lead enters the food chain from soil, deposition from the air, containers and food processing equipment.  Lead can also get into your child’s foods by certain dishes, lunch boxes, and/or glasses you may use.

Want to test your home for lead?  You can buy lead test strips (a link of where to purchase lead test strips are on the bottom of my home page- www.beezsnackshop.com) and test your children’s toys, canned foods, lunch boxes, dishes, paint etc.  If you do find anything that contains lead let us know and get rid of it right away.

Why did I decide to talk about lead under Food for Thought?  Simple, Lead is a very dangerous metal that enters our kids bodies very easily and without us being aware of it.  It can make our children very sick and in severe lead exposure, death. However, there are things you as a parent can still do in helping your child’s body fight lead from a nutrition point of view.  Believe it or not iron, calcium and garlic can enhance the excretion of lead in the urine.  So if you think your child has been exposed to lead make an appointment to see his doctor but also provide them with high foods containing iron, calcium and garlic.

Jenny Lee
A mom and certified nutrition specialist and inventor of the Bee-Z Snack Shop
www.beezsnackshop.com

Roasting Pumkin Seeds - Halloween Fun by Christine

Halloween is just around the corner.  We grew pumpkins this year in our garden, so we ended up with about 12-14 pumpkins.  The kids have been begging to roast pumpkin seeds this year so we will probably do that tomorrow. 

Roasting pumpkin seeds in the oven creates a snack every bit as tasty as sunflower seeds.
Baking pumpkin seeds is easy and fun.  Your kids will want to help if only to get their hands messy with the "pumpkin guts".  You may as well do something with all the seeds you remove as you carve your jack o' lantern anyway. 
 
While you gather the supplies, let the kids have all the fun of cleaning out the pumpkins.  To avoid a big mess, dress them in disposable aprons and gloves.  Cover the table with newspaper or a plastic tablecloth.  They can begin after you’ve cut a hole in the top of the pumpkin for their hands.
As for the rest, you will need a large cookie sheet or two, a colander or other strainer, and some salt.  If you are watching your salt intake, use a lighter salt mixture.

After the pumpkin seeds have been removed, separate them from the stringy pulp.  Discard the pulp in the trash bin.  Place the seeds in a colander and hold it under running water to thoroughly wash them off.

Once the seeds are clean, have the kids spread them out in a single layer on a cookie sheet.  Sprinkle the seeds with the salt.  Pumpkin seeds should bake at 350 degrees for about twenty minutes.  In the meantime, round up all of the newspaper and throw it away.  Cleaning as you go allows everyone to enjoy the treats as soon as they pop out of the oven.

Check the pumpkin seeds every five minutes or so to make sure that they are not getting overdone.  Turning once during baking gives an even roasting to all of the seeds.  To see if they are done, scoop out a couple of seeds and taste them once they cool.  You can add more salt if you need to.
If you have never roasted pumpkin seeds, you are in for a treat!  To keep the kids coming back for more of this healthy treat, try different toppings.  Sprinkling a touch of your favorite seasoning or popcorn topping on the seeds will produce any number of interesting flavors.  Healthy snacks don’t have to be boring afterall!

If you are like the taste of the southwest, add chili powder or taco seasoning to the seeds before baking.  For a hotter taste, try red pepper flakes, cumin, turmeric, and cayenne pepper.  You can even add hot sauce.  Eat the seeds alone or make them part of a party mix.

This week as you snuggle up for a scary movie, or the "It's a Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown",  roast some pumpkin seeds instead of popcorn for a fun autumn fare.  Adding butter flavoring, cheddar cheese, white cheddar, or garlic salt to a bag of roasted pumpkin seeds provides fewer calories than the traditional movie munchies.  If you happen to have any left, you can store them in a ziplock bag, but generally they don’t last long!

Enjoy and have a Happy Halloween!

Christine
"The Menu Mom"

For more fun Halloween Recipes hop on over to http://www.dinewithoutwhine.com/Kid%20Halloween%20Fun%20Recipe%20E-book.pdf and http://www.dinewithoutwhine.com/article-kids-halloween-recipes.htm

Do you know what your child is drinking? by Jenny Lee

First off, I would like to thank all of those who took time out of your busy schedules to take the challenge last week and respond with a comment.  I truly enjoyed reading them all! 

In trying to keep up with the theme of last week in ingredients found in our children’s foods and snacks, I wanted to write about energy drinks.  I am sure a lot of you have heard of Red Bull, Pimpjuice Extra Strength Energy Drink, Havoc Energy Drink, Jolt Cola, Rock Star, Java Monster, Starbucks Double Shot Light, Adreline Rush and many others.

But are they safe to drink?  These types of drinks are popular especially among teens.  Teens use them for late night studying and even by athletes who feel it will give them a boost in their performance.  So are they safe?

Well to answer that question lets examine what is found in them? These energy drinks contain large doses of caffeine and other legal stimulants like ephedrine, guarana, and ginseng. Energy drinks may contain as much as 80 mg of caffeine, the equivalent of a cup of coffee. Compared to the 37 mg. of caffeine in a Mountain Dew, or the 23 mg. in a Coca-Cola Classic, that's a big punch.

If you understand the human body you understand how the affects of too much andreline can lead to heart disease and different heart arrhythmias.  Then giving your body shots of these chemicals that make your heart beat faster and work harder doesn’t seem too safe to me. 

There has been a lot of recent teen athlete’s death in the media where a teen collapsed during a track meet or football game and all they could find in this otherwise healthy individual is that they had an energy drink before the competition.   For those of you who are not aware, there is currently a fad where athletic teens will have an energy drink before competition to give them an extra boost of energy.  However, this boost of energy can be deadly!  Their hearts have not developed completely and running for example will automatically increase its rate.  Now you add an energy drink that will increase it rate because of its contents and what you get is a deadly combination- an extreme heart rate and in turn a lot of work for their heart.

Brown University had the following to say “Individual responses to caffeine vary, and these drinks should be treated carefully because of how powerful they are. Energy drinks' stimulating properties can boost the heart rate and blood pressure (sometimes to the point of palpitations), dehydrate the body, and, like other stimulants, prevents sleep. Energy drinks should not be used while exercising as the combination of fluid loss from sweating and the diuretic quality of the caffeine can leave the user severely dehydrated.

So next time you or child want to drink an energy drink like Red Bull because as their slogan says “gives you wings” and commercial depicts a character that as soon as he drinks it he gets wings and flys away to heaven, well it might do just that!

Like always please keep the comments coming!  If there is also any topic you would like for me to address let me know J

Jenny Lee
Mom of two, nutrition specialist and founder of Bee-Z Snack Shop
www.beezsnackshop.com

A great snack to try! by Heather Ledeboer

If you read the post on October 7th titled "Do you know what your child is eating?"  You were challenged like me to make sure I had some truly healthy snacks in my house and not just ones that sound healthy.  In our house we are big fruit lovers so a lot of our snacks are fruit.  If you saw our August 31 giveaway video you will believe me when I say we have a lot of peaches on hand:)!  I dried a lot the day that I canned peaches as well as made some into fruit leather.  I find that it is not hard to do this if I am all set up and in the "mode" of canning/drying.  The problem is what to do when out supply runs out and it isn't peach/fruit season anymore. 

Problem solved--I recently was introduced to FruitaBu or (organic smooshed fruit).  This company makes fruit snacks (i.e. the more traditional leather and roll ups) or even some really fun options that are sort of like a thick fruit smoothie that you squeeze into your mouth (they call them fruit sploooshers) that are really fun to freeze and then eat.  Now I will start with the important facts of this snack line: no artificial colors, flavors or preservatives, all sugars come naturally from the fruit.  What I had a lot of fun with however was seeing the reaction from my kids and my husband.  They (and I) love them!  They are really good!  No joke my husband was ready to order more within the first five minutes of trying them.  We have some in our kitchen pantry still but only because we are rationing them, otherwise they would have been gone withing the first ten minutes.   The FuuitaBu company was nice enough to send us some to get our reaction on them and I can honestly say we really like them a lot!  I hope they become more widely available soon (it looks like you have to just order them on line for now--which we will likely do).  I really hope that more and more companies follow in the footsteps of FruitaBu and create snacks that taste good and are good for you.

Smoothies - The Perfect Way To Sneak In Some Nutrition by Christine Steendahl

We are huge smoothie lovers at our house.  How about you?  I'm not talking about the fake syrup blended with some ice you can plop down your $5 for at a cafe.  Instead I am referring to fresh wholesome fruits blended up into a delicious concoction that we mix up at home in our blender.

Smoothies are also my secret weapon in so many ways...
-Kids want dessert?  How about a "milkshake"?  (Just don't tell them it is healthy!)
-Have a child that does not like milk?  Disguise a bit in a smoothie
-Maybe you have a hard time fitting your 5 servings of fruits and veggies in each day?  A smoothie is a great way to sneak some in.
-A loved one has a sore throat, but they need some nutrition?  Smoothie
And the list could go on...

With the fall cold and flu season approaching it is extra important to consume our fruits, vegetables and vitamin C.  Smoothies are an excellent way to work on this - mix up some orange juice, frozen strawberries and plain yogurt - a great source of vitamin C! 

Our family favorite smoothie recipe is:

Peach Cheesecake
1 bag frozen peaches
4 C. Mlik
1 pkg. cheesecake instant pudding

Blend & Serve

Enjoy, and for more great smoothie recipes visit www.smoothieblends.com

Do You Know What Your Child is Eating? The Snack Challenge & Giveaway by Jenny Lee

Did you know many studies show that certain synthetic food additives (examples listed below)  can have serious learning, behavior, and/or health effects for specially sensitive kids?

 

 

FOOD ADDITIVES & PRESERVATIVES
Artificial (synthetic) coloring
Artificial (synthetic) flavoring
Aspartame (Nutrasweet, an artificial sweetener)
Artificial (synthetic) preservatives BHA, BHT, TBHQ
Nitrates
MSG- Monosodium Glutamate
Sodium Benzoate
Sulfites

Most parents think that sugar foods and snacks are the cause or help enhance their child's ADHD but what they don't realize is that new studies have been showing that kids with or without ADD or ADHD for example are not necessarily suffering from a sugar high but instead they are reacting to the chemicals, preservative and dyes in the actual foods!  In other words, these food additives and preservatives could be having a direct effect on the behavior, health, and ability to learn for kids today.

Did you know:

1. Vanillin, found in imitation vanilla flavored foods, comes from waste product of paper mills? 

2. Those pretty colors that make the "fruit punch" red, the gelatin green and the oatmeal blue are made from petroleum (crude oil) which is also the source for gasoline.

3. You will find them on the ingredient labels, listed as "Yellow No. 5," "Red 40," "Blue #1," etc. The label may say "FD&C" before the number. That means "Food, Drug & Cosmetics." When you see a number listed as "D&C" in a product, such as "D&C Red #33" it means that this coloring is considered safe for medicine (drugs) and cosmetics, but not for food.

The Bee-Z Snack Shop is one way that has helped all types of kids, specially ones with ADD/ADHD by having parents and/or care givers place healthy natural snacks in its pockets for kids to eat!  Therefore, it gives the parents a place to place foods with no additives or preservatives and in turn kids feel they are choosing what to snack on!

 

Bee-Z Snack Shop Challenge:

Those who respond to this blog by October 21, 2007 will automatically be entered to win the latest product to hit the market- Bee-Z Snack Shop- a $25 value for FREE!

 

Challenge: Go through your own kitchen cabinets and pay attention to the ingredients in your child’s pre-packaged cereals, snacks and foods.  I challenge you to find a pre-packaged snack/food that DOES NOT have food coloring, chemicals or preservatives.  Pay special close attention to snacks that claim to be all natural or 100 % juice and see if they contain any food additives or preservatives.   Even take look at ingredients found in dips, because even though our kids may eat veggies what are they dipping their veggies in?  Please send me a respond to this blog and share with me and other moms what you found out.  Specially share if you do find pre-packaged snacks that live up to their claim of being all natural!  I know, moms all over, would love to hear about those snacks for our own kids! 

If what they say is true and we are what we eat, so then what are our kids becoming?  Even though it’s a little extra work for us moms to cut up fruit, veggies and put snacks together for our kids rather than buying pre-packaged snacks, the Bee-Z Snack Shop is one way to help us organize our snacks for our kids and encourage them to eat healthier.  After all, aren’t our children worth the extra time for a healthier life style?  I believe they are J
 

Jenny Lee

A Mom, certified nutrition specialist and founder of the Bee-Z Snack Shop

www.beezsnackshop.com

 

It's Apple Season! by Christine Steendahl

I don't know about you, but I adore fall - I love the weather, the beautiful colors, the smell - just everything about the autumn season.  One of our favorite family traditions is a visit to the apple orchard.  I grew up in Washington State - which is apple country, so maybe that is part of it... Now that we are in the Midwest finding a fun orchard is a bit more challenging, but still worth the effort.

Apples are the single most versatile fruit today .  There are thousands of varieties the world over that vary in taste, color, and crispness.  The best part is you can find them in the grocery store the whole year long! 

Being that there are over a thousand varieties of apple, we can’t name them all.  However, there are a few that are better known than others.  Some of the more popular apple types are:  Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, Granny Smith, Braeburn, Jonagold, McIntosh, Rome, Gala, and Jonathan.

All apples are not created equal.  Each has its own unique characteristics and uses.  Take the Red Delicious apple for instance.  It is the most widely known apple.  Its shiny, deep red skin has become the unofficial symbol for apples everywhere.  Its taste is sweet and crisp.  But beware—its skin stays the picture of health long after the fruit has become mushy.  These apples are good for salads or eaten fresh, but break apart quickly when baked.

Golden Delicious apples are no relation to the Red Delicious.  Their skin is yellow and thin, hiding a sweet but tender fruit.  This apple has a sweetness that is perfect for pies or as part of an applesauce.  The apples keep well in the refrigerator, but not so good at room temperature.

Granny Smith is the premier green apple.  Its taste is extremely crisp and tart.  It is an overall excellent apple with many uses. When making a pie, using other apples in conjunction with Granny Smith will mellow the tart taste.  They hold up well when baked whole, but require quite a bit of added sugar when used in an applesauce.

Gala apples are pinkish in color and small.  This in no way dulls their taste.  They are very sweet and crisp.  Eaten fresh, they satisfy the sweet tooth.  They are also good in conjunction with other apples in an applesauce or an apple pie.

McIntosh is a winning choice in the apple world.  They are tart but tender and full of juice.  It is the main apple used to make apple cider.  These apples are also great for making applesauce.  They don’t bake well, usually falling apart rather quickly.

Jonagold apples are a cross between Jonathan and Golden Delicious apples.  It is a crisp apple with a tangy-sweet taste.  These apples are a European favorite and excellent for baking, pies, and salads.

All apples are a good source of dietary fiber.  The average apple contains five grams of fiber per serving.  They are also ideal for lowering cholesterol and promoting digestive health.

So what is your favorite use of apples?  Caramel apples, apple pie, applesauce, apple bread, a plain fresh juicy apple?  Share what your favorites are and if you have a favorite recipe, we'd love for you to share that as well! 

For a complete culinary apple exploration, jump on over to www.menuplanningcentral.com/main.html where you will find even more info. and all kinds of yummy apple recipes!

Christine Steendahl
Mom of 3 and owner of www.themenumom.com    

You Can Feed Cancer & Help It Grow by Jenny Lee

Did you know that every person has a cancer cells in the body? In fact, Cancer cells occur between 6-10 times in a person’s life. These cancer cells do not show up in the standard tests until they have multiplied to a few billion.

“When doctors tell cancer patients that there are no more cancer cells in their bodies after treatment, it just means the tests are unable to detect the cancer cells because they have not reached the detectable size.” It is very important to keep our children’s immune system strong because only then can cancer cells be destroyed and prevented from forming tumors. We can help build strong immune systems by making sure our children are eating nutritious foods. “When a person has cancer it indicates the person has multiple nutritional deficiencies. These could be due to genetic, environmental, food and lifestyle factors.” In other words, eating healthy foods will help create stronger immune systems in our children’s bodies.

“The Bee-Z Snack Shop has helped me keep track of what my kids have been eating, in a healthy way” says Jan, a mother of two and in turn” is helping me help my kids build a stronger immune system.” So what foods do cancer cells feed on and help them grow?

Foods to Avoid / Why should I avoid this? / Better Food Substitute

Sugar/ Supplies food to cancer cells/ Honey, molasses

Nutra Sweet/ Made with Aspartame; /Honey, molasses
                                

Table Salt/ Has a chemical to make it white /Bragg's aminos or sea salt

Beef or Pork /Produces high acid environment which feed cells /Fish, chicken
                               

Chocolate,cofee,tea  / High amounts of caffeine / Green Tea

Milk / Produces mucus in body;  cells feed on mucus / Soy milk
                              

In my next blog, two weeks from now, I will cover ways and foods that will help destroy cancer cells. I look forward in hearing from you so feel free to drop me a line!

By- Jenny Lee- Inventor of Bee-Z Snack Shop, nutrition specialist and Mom of two www.beezsnackshop.com

Fun & Educational Times In The Kitchen by Christine Steendahl

Most moms have to cook breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week (yes, even if it is a frozen waffle or Easy Mac), so why not make the most of this time in the kitchen (that's up to 21 teaching opportunities per week) and get your kids involved? Not only is it a great way to spend quality time with your little ones, it can also be quite fun and educational to cook with your kids. Here are a few things you can teach your kids through cooking together.

Safety and Proper Hygiene
The kitchen is the perfect place to teach your child about all kinds of safety issues. They can learn the proper use of a knife and how careful you have to be not to cut yourself, as well as how to safely handle anything hot. You can also explain how to use electric appliances and let the kids handle any of these “dangerous” things in a controlled environment. You should of course choose age appropriate tasks for your child. A toddler or preschooler for example can handle a butter knife to spread or “cut” soft items under supervision. You can also teach the concept of “hot” with some very warm pots, bowls or water that's not hot enough to do any damage to your child.

Of course cooking also requires a certain amount of hygiene. Start by teaching your child to always wash hand before handling food. As the two of you cook together, you will come across other situations, like liking a spoon or handling raw meat or eggs that will bring up the subject. Explain to your child why it is not ok to lick a spoon and put it back or why we have to be so careful when dealing with raw eggs (to avoid getting sick). Before you know it your child will be a food safety expert.

Responsibility, Patience and Sharing
Cooking also presents the perfect opportunity to teach your child about responsibility, patience and sharing. Let's take a look at each. As you bake cookies with the kids, or cook spaghetti and meatballs, have them help you clean up as you cook and afterwards. Make certain tasks their responsibility like drying the dishes or setting the table. Of course cooking also often requires a good bit of patience as you wait for the cookies to finish baking, or the pasta to boil until it's done. To teach sharing, have the kids take turn stirring the pot and don't forget to share what you made with family and friends. Setting a good example with any of these concepts is often the best way to teach your kids about them.

Building Self Esteem
Did you know you can improve your child's self esteem in the kitchen? Help your child cook a meal or bake a cake for Grandma or Daddy and then give him plenty of opportunity to show off his masterpiece. There's just nothing better than being able to eat (and share) what you just created. It's sure to give your child's self esteem a big boost.

Learning Lifelong Skills
Cooking, cleaning and safe handling of food are skills that your child will use throughout his life. I'm sure as a good parent, you don't want to send your child off without having a good grasp on all of these skills. Starting to teach them while your child is still young is a great way to get a head start, and both of you will have a lot of fun exploring the wide world of food together. Give it a try!

Let us help you get dinner on the table with our 12 week Ultimate menu pack. Grab it today at Menu Planning Central

Is Milk Really Good for Your Child? by Jenny Lee

When we were kids, we have always been told to drink our milk by our parents.  Why?  Simply because milk gives us calcium which in turn is the most abundant in the body.  Its main use is in building and maintaining bones and teeth. It is a vital mineral in regulating the heartbeat, muscle development, preventing muscle cramps, protecting against blood clotting, protecting against colon cancer, helping in the transmission of nerve impulses, and contributing to enzyme function. It inhibits the absorption of lead into bones and teeth, eases restless sleep and regulates the passage of nutrients through the cell wall.

But is milk truly the best way for our children’s bodies to consume calcium?  No.  In fact, there are foods that are higher in calcium than milk. A cup of sesame seeds contain 2,200 mg of calcium compared with the 280 mg of calcium in a cup of milk.  Even cabbage, asparagus, broccoli, figs, oats, prunes, and soy products contain generous amounts of this calcium. 

So why is milk not the best way to absorb calcium? One reason is that milk and other dairy products, although rich in calcium, are high in animal protein, which has been shown to create calcium loss through the urinary tract.  Research is showing that countries consuming the most milk also have the highest incidence of osteoporosis which helps support this theory.  Secondly, your child would be better off in getting their calcium from fortified juices with added calcium.  Even though milk is known to be rich in calcium, our bodies only receive a fraction of that calcium because our bodies are not able to break it down. Cows' milk is rich in phosphorous when combined with calcium -- can prevent your child from absorbing the calcium in milk. In turn our bodies are much better able to digest calcium that has been added to juices.  Finally, the pasteurization process of milk depletes our kids bodies from calcium as well.

In conclusion, milk is an imortant part of our children's well balanced diet but it certainly is not the only way to "do our bodies good."

Age	Daily calcium requirement
4 to 8	800 mg
9 to 18	1300 mg
19 to 50	1000 mg
50+	1500 mg
pregnant or lactating women 18+	1000 mg

Jenny Lee
Mom, Certified Nutrtion Specialist and inventor of the BEE-Z SNACK SHOP
www.beezsnackshop.com

Meet The Menu Mom by Christine Steendahl

Hello, I'm the new kid on the block so to speak.  My name is Christine Steendahl and I am also known as "The Menu Mom".  I am ecstatic Heather has invited me to post here every other Sunday.  I look forward to getting to know you from your comments and such. 

I am a wife to Matt, who is a pastor of a Lutheran church.  His office is also in the home - which is wonderful.  We live in rural Illinois.  We just moved here this past year from Washington state and we have quickly acclimated to country living.  Who knew one day we would have a huge garden, a riding lawnmore, and who knows how many cats...  It is a good 25 minute trip for us to reach the grocery store.  We also have three young boys.  Ryan is 7, Christian is 5 and Dane is almost 3.  This is the first year I have had two kids in school full-time so that has been a bit of a change.  The boys attend private school just 3 miles down the road.  I spend my fair share of time there as well volunteering.

So you are by now probably wondering where "The Menu Mom" comes into play.  I own/co-own several menu planning websites.  You can find a full list at www.themenumom.com  The first one I started was Dine Without Whine - which is our family friendly site.  One day I was planning our weekly menu and shopping list and it all of the sudden hit me that it was taking me a long time and perhaps I could help other busy moms by sharing the work I had already done.  Since then our sites have grown and grown as word gets out about our various services.  We were featured in Real Simple magazine awhile back as well as other smaller publications and radio outlets. 

So that is the basics on me.  I am sure you will get to know even more about me in the days to come.  For now, I invite you to pick up your free Menu Planning Basics Report and printable menu planning forms at www.menuplanningcentral.com  I'll chat with you in a couple weeks!

Christine Steendahl
Mom of 3 and owner of www.themenumom.com

Should Kids Watch What they Eat?

Did you know that over 30% children of today are considered  to be overweight?  This can lead to an increase in diabetes and other serious health effects later in life.

So how can adults, who deal with their own weight issues help overweight kids lose weight?  Unlike adults, don’t focus on counting calories, carbohydrates and fat grams. Instead, provide healthy meals and snacks and encourage regular physical activity.  In other words, being a good role model is key to raising a healthy family.

Keep in mind that a pound is equal to about 3500 calories! So if your child is gaining an extra pound a week, he needs to cut his diet back by 3500 calories a week or 500 calories a day so that he doesn't gain any more weight.  So just figure out how much extra weight your child gained in the past year and adjust his diet to compensate for these extra calories. The change might be as simple as changing to non-fat milk, diet soda or a more healthy after school snack. 

Extra Weight Gained Last Year	Number of Calories to Eliminate Each Day
1 pound	10 calories/day
15 pounds	150 calories/day
30 pounds	300 calories/day

Jenny Lee
Mom, certified nutrition specialist and inventor of the Bee-Z Snack Shop
www.beezsnackshop.com

Back to School Lunch

5 TIPS IN PACKING A SCHOOL LUNCH YOUR CHILD WILL WANT TO EAT

In the USA, more than 30% of children ages 6-17 are overweight or obese, which is a result of a decline in eating healthier food choices With school just around the corner, we as parents have to start thinking again about packing our children’s school lunches.

“It takes a child 8 to 10 exposures of a food for an increase in preference for the food,” says Monika Ressel, a pediatric nutritionist at CHOC Hospital. “It starts with what is offered at home and getting kids involved to help.” Another reason why the Bee-Z Snack Shop helps encourage kids to eat healthier food choices. It makes healthy snacks continually visible to the child as well as making the child feel in control and involved of what they are choosing to eat.

5 TIPS IN PACKING A SCHOOL LUNCH YOUR CHILD WILL WANT TO EAT:

1. Child Participation- If you ask your child or get him involved in choosing between healthy foods when packing his lunch, he will feel more control of what he will be eating and therefore be more likely to eat his healthy lunch at school.

2. Protein. Make sure you pack a lunch that is higher in protein than carbohydrates. Carbohydrates and food in high fat, such as pizza, hamburgers, hotdogs and chips, will drain his energy quicker than foods loaded in protein such as tuna, meat, chicken, egg or chopped veggie salads. Instead of putting his deli meats or chicken salad in buns or breads, for example, wrap them in wheat tortillas, pita bread or accompany them with wheat crackers.

3. Cut & Dip their Fruit and Veggies. Try cutting fruit and vegetables into finger-accessible sizes. Kids tend to eat fruit and veggies that have been precut rather than eat a whole piece of fruit. It is also less messy to eat! Offer veggie sticks such as carrots with a side of dip such as low fat ranch or celery with peanut butter. Accompany fruit slices with yogurt as a yummy dip!

4. 100% Juice vs. Milk vs. Water It’s recommended to drink 1% or non-fat milk, or water to avoid dehydration and no more than 4-6 ounces of juice per day. However, either option is acceptable for a well balanced school lunch drink. Always include an ice pack or use the plastic containers with ice-pack lids just to make sure the drinks and foods are kept cold.

5. Make it fun and with love. Cut their sandwiches into fun shapes with cookie cutters for example. Place colorful spoons and napkins into their lunch bags. Decorate the outside of their bags or have them draw pictures the weekend before on the front of their sack lunches! Write little love notes and/ or jokes and place in the bag for your child to find!

All in all, incorporate your child when it comes to packing their school lunches- after all he is the one that will be having to take it to school but most importantly they will be the ones eating it!

Jenny Lee

Proud mom, certified nutrition specialist and inventor of Bee-Z Snack Shop

Kids and Food

Of course the following applies to all of us but why do kids eat? Let’s start with the basics. The essential reason why kids eat is to provide their bodies with fuel, prevent diseases, and to sustain tissues in our bodies. Their bodies, as well as ours, are a complex yet perfect system that tells us when we are hungry and when we are full. This is due simply to our blood sugar levels. Low levels of sugar in our bodies indicate hunger while higher levels inform us that we are full.

However, somehow generations of kids have stopped listening to what their bodies are trying to tell them. In other words, they are allowing for outside influences to take over their biological system. Kids now eat due to media influences, social factors (family gatherings), and internal influences (boredom, stress, depression, school, peer pressure, anger). If they become aware of these outside influences then they are able to be more conscious eaters and therefore strive for a healthier lifestyle as an adult.

The important message here is that kids can eat most anything they want but in moderation. In fact, vitamin A, if not taken in moderation, can be toxic! It is also important to realize that cutting all fats from a diet is not healthy either. Their body needs the fat, which is a concentrated form of energy. Fats provide children and teens with healthier skin, hormonal balances and insulation. It is, therefore, not the fats from our diets that makes us gain weight but the types of fats one consumes that causes us to gain weight and develop heart disease, cancer, and diabetes as an adult.

Examples of both good and bad fats are listed below:

J GOOD FATS                       L  BAD FATS   

-Fresh                                       -Refined

-Not refined                             - Exposed to oxygen,

-Not exposed to                            light or heat

Oxygen, light                      

Virgin Olive Oil

All in all, be aware of why and what you child eats and encourage them to try different types of foods! Educating your child about better food choices and making them more aware of why they eat will help create healthier lifestyle as adults.

Jenny Lee
A Proud Mom, certified nutrition specialist and founder of the Bee-Z Snack Shop™

Gracie’s Apple Pie Sandwich

 2 slices of wheat toast

1 red apple, cut up in peeled slices

Sprinkle of cinnamon

Butter, low fat

Spread butter lightly on toasted slice of bread. Place apple slices on bread and sprinkle with cinnamon. Place other toast on top and cut in half. You may put a small dollup of whipped cream on top for looks.

Bee-Z Foods for Bee-Z Kidz--- Food Pyramid 101

Welcome to a new series called ‘Bee-Z Foods for Bee-Z Kidz’©. As a certified nutrition specialist and inventor of the Bee-Z Snack Shop™, I know about the importance of having kids eat healthy foods and snacks but as a mom of two, a 5 and 2 year old, I also understand the struggle we as moms face in having them chose to eat foods that are good for them.

Through this blog and many more to come, I will share childrens nutritional information as well as fun and easy healthy recipes and fun food ideas for you and your child. To understand nutrition we must first start at the beginning with the food pyramid and what it means to our kids. Did you know that the food pyramid’s servings differ from children to adults? When it comes to kids, the food pyramid is divided into 5 categories: Grain, Vegetable, Fruit, Milk and Meat Groups.

Grain Group (6 servings)

Grain Group foods help give us carbohydrates which is very important for all of us but not as important as it is to our kids. Carbohydrates give our children the energy they need to play, learn, sleep and keep their bodies running 24-7, as we all know so well! Grain Group Foods, such as bread, muffins, bagels, cereals, rice, pasta, tortillas, crackers and pancakes, come from many different grain plants: "Whole-grains" like whole-wheat bread, also provide fiber and other substances that help keep them healthy.

Vegetable (3 servings) & Fruit Groups (2 servings)

Vegetables and fruits provide our kids with many different vitamins that result in many different ways that help their bodies grow big and strong. For example, Vitamin C, helps heal their cuts and fight infections, Fiber, helps them digest their food and Phytochemicals that help our children prevent disease. While Vitamin A help our children’s vision and keep their skin healthy.

Milk Group (2 servings)

Did you know our bodies have 206 bones that are alive and growing? Believe it or not, your kids will eventually have 32 permanent teeth! Milk Group foods provide calcium that helps build strong bones and teeth as well as stop bleeding if you get cut or bruised. They also provide other important nutrients for our children, including protein, vitamin A, vitamin D, and B vitamins.

Meat Group ( 2 servings) Meat Group foods help kids build strong muscles. Foods in this group provide protein and iron as well as carry oxygen to all parts of their bodies. Protein also makes energy to help get your child through busy days!

So why is understanding the food pyramid important for your child’s health? It can help us, as parents, become more aware of what guidelines to follow for our children nutritional needs but most importantly it helps us realize that the most important information one can take away from the food pyramid, specially when it comes to picky eaters like mine, is moderation. I personally would have a hard time to make my child eat 3 servings of vegetables and 2 servings of fruit a day, every day! So knowing what the recommended servings are, help me become creative in how my little picky eaters can take it in. For example, I buy only 100 % juice with no added sugars or preservatives and offer it along with their lunch or snack.

Did you know 1 cup of orange juice, for example, is equal to two servings of fruit? Or if I serve broccoli, I sprinkle some cheese on top, covering one vegetable and one milk serving in one shot. The bottom line is that if my kids eat at least some veggies and fruit a day or during the week, and not necessarily meet the recommend servings every day, I feel like I still have accomplished a lot! Remember they are kids and we must willing to work with them and encourage food in a positive way and not as a punishment. In doing so, our kids will slowly want to try different types of food by themselves!

Jenny Lee
Proud mommy, certified nutrition specialist and founder of the Bee-Z Snack Shop™
www.Beezsnackshop.com