Mom4Life

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.)