Your Questions Answered -- Getting Kids to Eat Healthy Foods

I was asked in an email how to get a five year old to eat good food... hmmm... Honestly, I am not totally qualified to answer this, but I am glad to share my experience with you all. Perhaps you can glean some helpful strategies from it.

My kids have always had to eat what we serve them, so there has never been a question about it by the time they are five. Most of their objections are worked out by one and a half or two. When they don't eat what we give them, we save it for them for the next meal and they have to finish it before they get what the rest of us are eating at that meal. And we don't reheat it, so it is usually worse if they wait until the next meal.

No child has tried leaving food they don't like more than one or two times, and they usually try it while they are very young. So, by the time they are five, they just don't object. I can't remember any of my children leaving the unwanted food through the next meal, but Spiderman came pretty close. When he saw that we were all finished and were getting up, he realized he had to eat his cold, unwanted food or I was going to put away the nice warm preferred food. It is amazing what a child can eat when faced with hunger!

But, key point here, I am realistic. I know the foods they don't prefer, and I don't pile their plate with what they don't like. I usually just give them three or four bites of the "unpreferred" food. For example, my children really don't like cooked zucchini, so I rarely cook it. When I do, I just give them three or four bites worth. And then I expect them to eat it.

When Tickle was a baby, she did not like bananas. Mashed banana is one of the first foods I give to my growing babies, but she clearly did not like it. I would give her a bite every once in a while, like every few months. If we were all eating bananas, I would give her a taste. Sometimes I would have her take two bites. But, when she was two, after not having banana for a few months, I gave her a bite and she totally loved it. She ate a whole banana! And she has loved it ever since.

A similar thing happened with Witzy and avocados. She liked them as a baby, but then decided she didn't like them when she was about three. I continued to give her a slice every time we had avocados. Now, at nearly five, she loves them again. I could have catered to her dislike by declaring that she didn't like avocados so she didn't have to eat them. Instead of defaming the fabulous fruit, I kept it all in a positive light and waited for her to change her mind.

Another good tactic we use is to serve dessert with meals that we know have objectionable ingredients. Let's say I make a soup that turns out less than appetizing. (It happens!) I'll declare it dessert night and everyone who finishes without complaining gets dessert... parents too! I think ahead. If I can tell a storm is a-brewin', I will pull out a special treat for dessert. Any "yuck faces," gagging or complaining disqualifies the child from having that special treat. Desserts are rare in our home, so it is a very effective method of modifying my children's behavior.

I think one of the very foundational principles here is thankfulness. I want my children to be thankful for the food that is set before them. If they are not thankful for what they receive at home, how can I expect them to be thankful when we are in another home and they don't like the food served? Bottom line, we want our children to be thankful and we will not tolerate a "yuck face." We teach thankfulness at home (not just at meal time!) so that when our children are served a food they don't prefer, they can still eat it and say "thank you for the meal" when they are finished.

Hope this helps!

Helping Your Children Make Wise Choices

As parents, we are in a very privileged position. We have the opportunity to guide our children in their decision making. We are granted a handful of years in which to instruct them according to wisdom and equip them for the lifetime of choices they will have to make.

As babies, we decide everything for them. As toddlers, we give them liberty in some areas to choose according to their preferences. We guide our littles with wise counsel, all the while teaching them the facts they need to know in order to make good decisions. And over time, our children grow independent, making all of their own choices.

This process of independence applies to nutrition choices, as well as everything else under the sun. We can not stand over our older children's shoulders and dictate their choices. Yet, we should take every opportunity to give them knowledge and understanding so that they, themselves, will make sound choices.

If we are going to raise up children who have enough understanding to choose wisely, we need to guide them while they are young. Look at your nurturing position as an amazing opportunity! And daily take advantage of that opportunity...

But what specifically should we tell our kids? First, understand the mechanisms of wellness yourself. If you did not read this series yesterday, refresh your memory today.

• So What Is Health Anyway? Part I
• So What Is Health Anyway? Part II
• So What Is Health Anyway? Part III

What next? Well, I talk with my kids all day long. We talk about almost everything. So, it only makes sense that we would talk about health and nutrition.

I have told them...

1. that they are in a stage of very rapid growth,
2. that their body's trillions of cells are reproducing themselves so that nearly their entire body will be brand new in just one year,
3. that their cells need real building materials for this amazing work,
4. and that if their body does not have the building materials necessary, their cells will still have to replace themselves, just with a weaker copy...
5. that they have the choice to build healthy or weakened cells, which will in turn make up a healthy or weakened body.

That is totally understandable to Rainbow and Spiderman. But what about Witzy and Tickle? It has been helpful to use this illustration... maybe you'll find it illuminating as well.

Marshmallow Hearts for Valentine's Day
Imagine that you are building yourself a castle. It has to be a strong castle, because you live in a land where there are flying dragons that could break down the walls. You have to have strong walls in order to keep out all your other enemies too.

So, what will you build your castle with? You have some choices... You can build your castle with legos, blocks that have been especially designed to interconnect and stack securely. Or, you can build your castle with marshmallows and M&Ms.

If you choose marshmallows and M&Ms, and if you are very careful about how you stack them, you might see a wall take shape. But, the first time an enemy approaches, even his footfalls might shake the ground so much the walls would fall. Or, the first time a dragon flies by, his wings would create enough wind to blow down your only defense -- your walls.

Your body is the same way. You are building it with the food that God has specifically designed to make healthy cells, just like the lego blocks in your castle. You would not want to replace a lego with a marshmallow. That part of the wall would be weak. And, if you trade too many legos for marshmallows, your wall would not hold up at all.

When you have a choice of what to eat, choose the foods that are closest to what God made and leave the other stuff for only very special occasions (like your birthday!).

Then, practice identifying foods with your young children. See if they can tell what God has made, what is only slightly changed by mankind, and what is totally man-made. As always, your children will like adventure... so make your story exciting, and make the daily choices a game.

Help For Your Children's Lunches

Have you visited Healthy Child Healthy World lately? Dr. Alan Greene has a fantastic post on his blog today. He writes to challenge parents to get healthier with their children's lunches.

First, he explains why. Why do our children benefit from organic foods? Then he explains how. What organic foods are nourishing and packable? He calls it the "Organic Lunchbox Challenge."

It is definitely worth your time. So whether you homeschool or pack a lunch for your child to take to school, take the time to read this blog post. I think we will all glean some helpful information from it!

While we are thinking about lunches, if you have any smart, healthy tips for nourishing children's lunches, please post your ideas in the comments of thsi post. Don't we all need a fresh idea every now and then?

For your children's sake,

Do My Children Ever Get Sick?

I've been asked this question several times. Do my children ever get sick? Well, not very frequently. But, yes. In today's world it would be totally impossible and even unreasonable to protect my children from any and all contact with germs.


However, as moms we are not left at the mercy of a host of viruses and bacteria. God's mercy, yes. But germs, no.


Our children are going to encounter sickness. What we can do is boost their immunities so that they will be able to fight off the invading germs in as quick a time as possible. Children with strengthened immune systems will have lesser symptoms and a shorter duration of sickness. So, there is definitely something we can do.


Today I want to share an example from our week... tomorrow I am posting specifically about the Swine Flu (H1N1) and what we can do to boost our immune systems for the season ahead. Please come back to read that post tomorrow!


Tuesday morning Spiderman woke up with a 101° fever. He told me that his whole body ached and that his head was going to explode. I sent him back to bed and checked his temperature again in an hour. It had escalated to 102°... and it just kept going up. Clearly his body was fighting something.


Having been recently exposed to H1N1, I didn't want to take any chances. We quarantined him and I let him watch Moody Science Videos and nap all day. For Spiderman to stay in bed all day was a huge clue that something big was amiss. He doesn't sit still for fifteen minutes, must less settle into bed for the whole day.

My son already has a strong immune system because of the daily supplements that we give him on top of our whole foods diet, limited sugar, plenty of outdoor exercise, and adequate sleep. (His daily supplements have a good measure of Vitamin D and other immune boosters in them.) But when I saw his fever go up, I knew that he could use an extra boost. Fever is a sign that there is increased activity in the body... that there is war going on.


So, practically speaking, here's what I gave him:

• Nutriferon, which is, in my opinion, the very best natural Immune Booster available. I gave him one tablet immediately and will continue to give him one daily until I am sure he is well past it. I am also giving my girls Nutriferon because no matter how much we wash our hands, they might need a boost too.
• Probiotics. I gave him both a probiotic and a prebiotic. I did this one for the girls too.
• Two Garlic Tablets, which he can swallow, but I would skip for my littles who couldn't. Garlic can be crushed or made into a poultice for a young child, but I usually wait to see the severity of what I'm dealing with before I go to such smelly measures. I gave him garlic again Wednesday, even though the fever had broken, but I didn't today since his symptoms and fever have been gone for over 24 hours.
• Increased daily multi-vitamin. His normal dosage is two per day, I gave him an extra tablet at lunch.
• Echinacea, Zinc and Elderberry. I gave him four immediately and then two at each meal until he returned to normal.
• Vitamin C. I like to give this in the inbetweens, since his multi has a good bit of Vitamin C in it. So I gave him two between each meal and before bed until he returned to normal.

By Wednesday morning, his fever had broken and he was his usual energetic self again. Thursday morning marked 24 hours past the fever and symptoms. I can't say what bug he was fighting, but he fought the good fight. It might have been just a short-lived germ, but he just might have conquered something even greater. I'll never know.


Stay tuned for tomorrow's post on Swine Flu... it's one I've been thinking over for quite some time.

See you then,


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Tips From My Kids!

This summer morning turned out immensely better than I could ever have planned for. We have been quite busy so far... so much so that we haven't really had any no-account time. But this morning, I took my cup of NutriCafe and a camp chair and sat out under the canopy of trees we call our "woods." Rainbow and Spiderman were playing a game of stick hockey with bamboo poles and a tennis ball. They creatively made goals out of found logs. It was blissful to sit and watch their joy.

Then Rainbow got whacked with the pole on her knuckle. No serious wound, but she was out of the game for a while. She came and sat down next to me. Spiderman followed, having no one to continue the game with. The little girls were collecting rocks around us. Like I said, this was the kind of morning I couldn't have planned. I just talked with my kids...

After a while, I thought about blogging. I was thinking of what I might write to encourage you today. I decided I would ask my kids. I said, "If you could give one health tip to the moms who read my blog, what would you say?"

Spiderman, who will be seven this month, abruptly said: "Don't eat candy; eat grapes or granola bars instead."

Rainbow, who is nine, thought about it all morning. At lunch, she said: "If you want to help your children be healthy, you can feed them lots of carrots for their eyesight and eggs so they will be smart." (You can read the reasoning behind eggs in this previous post.)

Witzy, who is just four, hummed her little Five a Day song from Signing Times Volume 6. I would love to post a video of it today, but it is not available for public use. Rachel Coleman sings this incredibly catchy song teaching little ones to count to five while they add up their fruits and veggies each day. "Any way you slice it, or dice it, or peel it, it's gotta add up to five a day!" Very cute song... so worth checking out the dvd.

So there you go. From my kids... if you want to help your kids be healthy, teach them to choose their foods wisely, making sure to include at least five fruits and veggies each day. Make it a game... and enjoy the adventure!

By the way, have you ever tried Dragon Fruit? If you haven't, be on the lookout for it. This is just the type of adventure your children will love. Even if they don't love the fruit itself, it is such a thrill to see its scaly pink outer skin and then reveal the beautiful black and white speckled flesh inside.

Enjoying the journey,

Peanut Butter Power Pops!

Like my Power Bar recipe, I developed this snack for a very specific reason. My oldest daughter, Rainbow, takes ballet all afternoon on Wednesdays. After a long day of school she didn't always have the energy to take her through the class. She often told me that she had a headache on the way home.

I thought that she needed more than a little carbohydrate snack to sustain her through her class. So, I created Peanut Butter Power Pops. (Think pop them in your mouth, not Popsicles.) They have a combination of protein and carbohydrates that provides continued energy... and they are an easy car snack.

The recipe is actually quite simple to make. Here are the ingredients:

• 1 c. Natural Peanut Butter
• 1/2 c. Honey
• 1 c. Shaklee Soy Protein (read why I am extremely particular about soy protein)
• 1 c. Cashew Bits
• 1 c. Slivered Almonds
• 1/2 c. Raisins

First, mix together the peanut butter and honey. This recipe works best if the sticky mixture is in the bottom of the bowl, rather than adding it on top.


Next, in a separate bowl, mix together the protein, cashews, almonds and raisins.


Mix the sticky and dry ingredients together until they are thoroughly combined. They will almost form a ball, but not quite.

Press the dough together into small, bite size balls and place on wax paper. Refrigerate until firm. Store in an air tight container.

Here Rainbow is moving the Power Pops closer together so she can fit more onto the wax paper. The recipe will make twice what you see here.

Enjoy!

Healthy Summer Treats for Kids

My kids are almost finished with school. How about yours? Inevitably, our kids will want snacks this summer. Fun snacks. Here are a few ideas for Healthy Summer Treats.

First, it is simple to make Homemade Popsicles. What's more refreshing than a Popsicle? While the store-bought Popsicles can have a lengthy list of artificial ingredients, you can make them healthy at home with 100% fruit juice. Popsicle molds can be purchased very cheaply. Simply pour 100% fruit juice in Popsicle molds and freeze for later enjoyment. There is a wider range of 100% fruit juices available than Popsicle flavors. Your kids will love them!

For a Creamier Popsicle, try blending together one part plain yogurt, two parts fruit juice and a bit of honey. You can freeze this just like the one-ingredient variety above. My kids like bits of frozen fruit in them... blueberries, grapes, strawberry bits. Try grape juice with frozen grapes or orange-pineapple juice with bits of strawberries. Kids think snacks are more exciting when they help make them, so as much as possible, let your children make these simple pops.

Another warm weather treat my kids love is Homemade Jello. Since we stick to all natural foods, I had to come up with a better alternative than the sugar, artificial-color and artificial-flavor laden choices at the store. You can make 100% Fruit Juice Jello really easily. In fact, the recipe is on the box of Knox (or Kroger Brand) unflavored gelatin. You simply warm 2 cups of fruit juice, dissolve the packets of gelatin and then add cold fruit juice. My children's favorite is cranberry grape jello.

Last, if you have a powerful blender, you can make healthy Strawberry Ice Cream. Blend together 1 cup of real milk, 1 tsp. of vanilla and 2-4 tablespoons of honey. Then add 2 1/2 cups of frozen strawberries and blend again until thick and creamy. This treat is loaded with Vitamin C. But kids just love it because it is cold and creamy.

Do you have any healthy summer treats? I'd love to hear them!

For more Works For Me tips, visit WeAreThatFamily.

Photocredit: Allposters.com

The Search is OVER!

Every mom is looking for Supersmart, Supersafe and Supernutritious products for her children. Which of us wants to give our children tainted supplements? It would be simple if the search was easy... if the FDA only let absolutely pure supplements and skin care products on the market. But, alas, it is not so! Supplement companies are not subject to regulations. And the burden of responsibility to investigate company manufacturing standards fall on moms.

That is why I am so pleased to share these two video clips with you. Our search for pure baby and children's products is over... here are the smart, safe, nutritious products we have been looking for. (If you wonder, read about my rigorous standards for purity, potency and performance here.)

For more information on these fabulous products, or to purchase, click here.

Healthy Children's Lunches

We all want healthy children, right? Our goal is to raise children who will choose a healthy lifestyle for themselves. Part of raising healthy children is teaching them to make good choices about food selection. Realistically, we are not going to plan our littles' meals forever! So, the sooner we help them make their own wise choices, the better.

The teaching process can be fun! How about starting by preparing lunches with your children? Make it a family project! By giving your children a part in selecting and making their school lunches, you...

• Ensure that they will eat what you send!
• Provide a setting for talking about food groups and nutrition.
• Help to teach how to make healthy choices.
• Take an opportunity to have fun in the kitchen with your child!

Here is a simple plan of action:

1. With your children, make a list of foods that they would want to take to school (and a few they need to learn to like). Help your children with variety.
2. With your children, categorize your food ideas into fruits, vegetables, dairy, proteins, complex carbohydrates, and healthy treats.
3. Let your children plan a series of balanced lunches choosing foods from each category. Please don't forget the fresh veggies and fruits!
4. Do your grocery shopping accordingly.
5. Each evening, let your children help in putting together their lunches. You may want to do some preparation in advance so that each evening is more simple.

Here are some packable options:

Vegetables that are easily cut and bagged, such as carrot sticks, celery, bell pepper, cucumber, grape tomatoes and sugar snap peas. Of course, you want to work with what your children like WHILE stretching their preferences gradually.

Fruits that travel well, such as apple slices, pear slices, grapes, tangerines or clementines, plums and berries. I didn't include bananas because I have memories of bruised bananas in my lunch bag... eeewww. Unless fruit snacks are made with 100% whole fruit, I would stay away from them entirely. Even when they are 100% fruit, they should really be considered a treat.

Dairy choices may include cheese sticks or yogurt cups, or a thermos of real milk. (The cheese might end up on a sandwich, of course.) It is quite simple to make your own yogurt at home. Adding some all-fruit jam to homemade yogurt is the best way to avoid the highly sugared store bought options. Or, purchase plain yogurt and add in the all-fruit jam. If you freeze yogurt in child-sized portions, it will be thawed and cold for lunch without a cooler.

Protein choices can include, nut butters, cheese (again), a boiled egg, chemical-free lunch meats, or even hummus. (Hummus is a favorite here -- My kids love anything for dipping their vegetables in!).

Complex Carbohydrates are usually the whole grains we use to make the proteins portable. Kids especially love their sandwich items wrapped up in whole grain tortillas... so much better than sliced bread! Other options are pita breads, whole grain rolls or even whole grain bagels.

Treats may include Granola Cookies, trail mix with a few chocolate chips and plenty of nuts, or popcorn. The key here is to try and balance all sugars with plenty of protein. Also, by staying away from prepackaged snacks and desserts, you will be avoiding most preservatives and non-food ingredients.

We want to keep things simple, but don't skimp on variety. Children will keep their interest in healthy foods longer if it stays exciting (and if you give them choices along the way). Sometimes a bean burrito, a turkey roll-up or a hummus and veggie stuffed pita sounds so much better than a peanut butter and honey sandwich, right?

Personal Note: I am a homeschooling mom, so my kids and I all work together to put our lunches on the table. These lunch projects have been a very useful learning tool! I've adapted my at-home practices to fit school lunches because of a friend who asks "how can I help my son be healthy, even at school?" If you have any suggestions about packable, wholesome foods that your children enjoy, please comment to leave your ideas for my sweet friend!

Photo Credits: Allposters.com

We are a Boxed Cereal Nation

I really hate to post this. I mean, boxed cereal is so perfectly convenient! But since we all care deeply about our children's health, I am going to stick my neck out here. I might step on some toes... but keep in mind, I love boxed cereal too. It's tough to give up! Especially when breakfast needs to be fast! Maybe the soaked granola solution I posted yesterday will soften the blow a little...

We need to stop feeding our children processed cereals. You and me both.

For this post, we are going to set aside the added sugars, BHT, flavors, colorings and other preservatives. We are just going to look at what happens to grain when it is high-heated. Stick with me here... I will give some other solutions in addition to the soaked granola.

Breakfast cereals that are puffed or flaked are made by a process which utilizes high heat and extreme pressure. The high heat destroys a great deal of the grain's naturally occurring nutrients. In addition, it causes the oils found in the grain to go rancid which in turn increases free radicals in our bloodstream. But more importantly, the high heat and extrusion denatures the proteins. Paul Stitt, in his book Fighting the Food Giants, describes the resultant proteins this way:

Proteins are very similar to certain toxins in molecular structure, and the
puffing process of putting the grain under 1500 pounds per square inch of
pressure and then releasing it may produce chemical changes which turn a
nutritious grain into a poisonous substance.

He further writes about a clinical trial in which rats were fed four different diets:

1. plain whole wheat, water, vitamins and minerals
2. puffed wheat, water and the same nutrient solution
3. water and white sugar
4. nothing but water and chemical nutrients

I am so sorry for these rats. The rats on the first diet lived over a year. The rats who were given water and nutrients lived 8 weeks. The rats consuming white sugar lived one month. And the rats on puffed wheat lived only two weeks, even though they were getting the same nutrient solution as the whole wheat fed rats. These results suggest that eating puffed cereal grains is more than a matter of not getting sufficient nutrients. These results suggest that there is something toxic about the puffed wheat.

There have been further tests. And none of them look good for processed cereals. These cereals actually have more adverse effects on our blood sugar than white sugar and white flour. In addition, they have been connected with behavior disorders, kidney, liver and pancreatic dysfunction and other nervous system disorders.

I wish I could sugar coat this (no pun intended). But this is only a brief summary of the shocking evidence. Perhaps in later posts I'll write more about boxed cereals. I think I've done enough damage today.

Just so I don't leave you on a bad note, here are a few ideas for cereal-less, yet still quick, breakfasts. My recommendation is to set aside a "prep" time when you make some of these things ahead so that pancakes can be popped in the toaster, etc on the go.

• Soaked Granola with Milk
• Smoothie with Granola Sprinkles; you could even make it a green smoothie!
• Oatmeal; this can also be soaked overnight with one or two tablespoons of yogurt.
• Eggs and Toast
• English Muffins and fruit
• Toaster Pancakes
• Breakfast Protein Bars; most bars available in stores have a host of unwholesome ingredients. I plan to post my Protein Bar recipe in the weeks to come... stay tuned.

And, of course, I suggest a boiled egg with each of these (minus the eggs and toast, of course!)

If you have wholesome and quick breakfast ideas, post them in the comments! We all could use some fresh ideas :)

On Birthday Food and Treats

Raising healthy children is a balancing act, in my opinion. It is totally impossible and impractical to "shelter" children from all unhealthy foods. The goal is to train a child's appetites to prefer foods that do the body good. Sooner or later, your child will make his own food choices. While we function in our parental roles, we have a threefold aim:

• to teach the child enough about nutrition that he knows what is good and why;
• to create a habits of eating healthily that will govern the child's tastes;
• and to set apart "treats" as what they are - foods we eat on special occasions and not daily.

In our family, a birthday is a very special occasion. All throughout the day, we hold little celebrations. One special thing our children get to do on their birthdays is select the whole day's menu and their birthday cake. We allow them to choose foods that are not our normal fare, as long as the menu is still balanced. I listed out Rainbow's choices yesterday, and I'd like to make a few comments about them today.


You may have wondered about "Ants on a Log." Simple recipe here: spread natural peanut butter on a celery stick. Dot ants all down the peanut butter. And VOILA, you have "Ants on a Log." Is there a better way to eat celery? (Celery is not a favorite of mine, yet it is frequently in our produce box, so all suggestions will be greatly appreciated!)


For supper, Rainbow chose her favorite: Salmon Broccoli Pasta. This is a simple meal with very few ingredients. And, it takes less than thirty minutes, so it is a winner in my book! If your family wouldn't dream of eating salmon, you can substitute chicken.


Simple steps for this tasty dish:

1. Cook 1 pound of whole wheat (or rice) pasta according to package directions.
2. Meanwhile, saute 6 servings of broccoli in EVOO (that's extra virgin olive oil). Broccoli soaks up the oil pretty quickly, so you will need about four tablespoons.
3. A few minutes before the broccoli is done, add four minced garlic cloves. Let the garlic cook for a few minutes with the broccoli.
4. Add 2 cans of boneless, skinless salmon or about 12 ounces of leftover grilled salmon. Wild- caught salmon (and canned salmon) are still on the list of "safe" seafood, which reminds me that I want to write a post about toxin levels in different types of fish.
5. Toss the broccoli/garlic/salmon with the cooked pasta. Salt to taste.
6. Sprinkle with Parmesan Cheese.

After dinner, Rainbow chose to have a Cinnamon Roll Cake. This is a new one. Up until this birthday, she has creatively imagined a beautifully decorated cake. Is leaving behind frills and playfulness a sign of her increasing maturity? Maybe she just likes cinnamon rolls, right?

This cake is just a variation of my sweet rolls recipe. Instead of the usual rolling and slicing, however, I rolled a five foot long snake and flattened it with a rolling pin.

Rolling up this long strip of dough made one very large cinnamon roll! This is a picture before we added her candles. She loved it! It may not be conventional, but it was exactly what she wanted.

Did you notice the mess on my counter? YIKES! I make messes like that very often. This is only non-toxic cleaning product I have found that works powerfully on a doughy-floury-buttery surface.

An Alternative to MSG-Laden Ranch Dip

Howdy Strangers! That's what we southerners say when we are just returning to technology after a rare snow storm that stopped life as we know it. Please excuse my absence. Who would have thought that in four short months of blogging, I would miss so many familiar "faces"?

Do you all remember a while ago when I posted strategies for helping our children get their Five-A-Day of veggies and fruits? So many of you commented that one way your children LOVED veggies was with Ranch Dip. While I know that some kids won't stand for a change, perhaps some of you moms out there will be able to substitute this additive-free recipe. (Thanks for posting it, Shannon!)

When you look at the recipe, you'll see that it starts with "Yogurt Cheese." At the outset, let me calm any fears you may experience when you read those words. Yogurt Cheese is not at all difficult to make. Simply pour whole milk yogurt in a tea-towel-lined colander and let it drain overnight. The whey will drip out and leave a "cream cheese" in the towel. Yogurt Cheese is a nutritious substitute for anything that calls for cream cheese. We love it as the base for a cucumber and cream cheese sandwich spread.

Have no fear! If you don't want to make Yogurt Cheese, you can simply substitute plain yogurt. Doing so will yield a "dressing" rather than a "dip," but the taste will be unaffected. Another option that may not be as healthy but is still healthier than ranch seasoning packets: use the list of spices from this recipe and add them directly to sour cream. This last option may be a good transitional dip for kids who might balk at a sudden change in their beloved ranch dip.

Please comment to let me know how you like this dip or dressing! Or, if you have a recipe for another healthy veggie dip, please comment with the link... don't all mothers need more strategies for serving veggies to our children?

Photo Credit: AllPosters.com

Sunday Night Meals

When I was growing up, my parents always fed us popcorn for supper on Sunday nights. There may have been several reasons for our family practice. But, I really only remember one. I remember my parents saying it was good for us to not be full -- that millions of people around the world would go to bed feeling hungry.

Sometime in the beginning of our marriage, my husband and I adopted this practice as well. We made just popcorn for a few years, but with pregnancies and such, we added a smoothie to the menu. For the last six or seven years, we have had popcorn and smoothie on Sunday nights.

It is certainly nice to have a night free of cooking and clean up. And, this simple meal really helps the weekly budget. But more than that, we are teaching our children a concept that is often missed here in America. We don't have to be full.

I don't know if this practice would fit your family. I share it because I can see how it has benefited my children. We all do well with a weekly reminder that we eat to live rather than live to eat.

On a side note: we also have a Frugal Dinner night on Wednesdays. This meal consists of beans, rice or cornmeal in some very simple arrangement. Including the leftovers, this meal usually costs around three dollars for our family of six. We're saving money that can be spent wisely elsewhere, but we are also teaching our children that not every meal has to be totally scrumptious and filling.

Sneaking Vegetables; Tips for Finicky Eaters

Vegetables

Five a day. That's the minimum. How many of us moms get five veggies and fruits into our children's diets each day? Or how many of us moms even eat five a day? It's tough. But vegetables are Nature's Bounty... full of oh-so-much more than just vitamins and minerals. Vegetables contain health-giving properties that are just now being discovered. This kind of stuff doesn't fit on the "Nutrition Facts" label!

Did you know that organic vegetables have 30-90% more nutrients than conventional vegetables? For moms with finicky eaters, this is a very important fact. By purchasing organic vegetables, we are getting a lot more nutrients for our money... and for our effort, considering how difficult it can be to get children to eat their greens.

So, what works for me? There are several books published within the last year that describe in detail how to fool your kids into eating their veggies. There is some merit in that. But what happens when the child grows up? Isn't it important to train their tastes to eat (maybe enjoy!) vegetables? Don't we want them to choose vegetables on their own? That's where my WFMW tip comes in...

I slip tiny bits of vegetables into my children's favorite meals. Chili and Spaghetti Sauce work particularly well. The rule of thumb is: the more picky the eater, the smaller you'll have to dice and the less you'll add in at first. BUT, here is an often missed key: you want to increase both the size you chop the veggies AND the amount added in. The goal is to raise a child who will tolerate (maybe enjoy!) vegetables.

We all have our favorites. Even I don't like all vegetables. But I do love fresh food. And I'd like my children to learn that appreciation for goodness too. Does your child love vegetables? Prepare the ones he prefers as side dishes... and sneak the ones you want him to learn to like into other foods. Just don't forget to gradually increase!

Tonight we had whole wheat pasta with a vegetable spaghetti sauce. I added bits of onion, mushroom, zucchini, red bell pepper, garlic and swiss chard. That may be a little over the top for your kids right now. So start small. And work your way up to an easy five-a-day!

For more works-for-me Wednesday tips visit RocksInMyDryer.net.
Photo Credit: AllPosters.com

It's Video Day!

This is a must see. I would put this video directly into my blog, but it has a copyright, so you need to follow the link directly to the hosting website. I know, it's a click away... but it is SO worth it. You'll be glad to saw this information on the ramifications of "our clean freak streak."

Ten Simple Steps to Reduce Body Burden: Step Five

I'm getting back to the subject of reducing Body Burden today. Remember, Body Burden is the total amount of chemicals and pollutants present in our body at any given time. Our goal here is to try to reduce the toxins we have control over... without becoming obsessive about all the ones we don't. We need to think about our children's futures. They will come into contact with all sorts of toxins. But we can reduce the cumulative effect of these toxins by making smart choices now. If you haven't yet, I recommend taking the Body Burden Quiz and reading the first four steps in reducing Body Burden.

Here's step Five:

Pay attention (without freaking out) to the toys you buy for your kids. Avoid lead paint and soft plastics that contain phthalates.

Didn't this one fall in a timely manner? Read here about one way to look at the CPSIA. I totally agree that children need to be protected from the proliferation of toxins in their toys, clothing, high chairs, and so on. But, I do see some faults in the proposed government regulation.

That being said, what should we parents be doing? Well, my favorite idea is to reduce the amount of toys the children have... plastic or otherwise : ) I see my children greatly benefit from an afternoon outside, totally free from toys of any kind. Given enough practice, children will come up will all sorts of pretend games. And, they'll even find the props they need to enliven their games. Creativity takes practice, but it breeds bright, content children as well. And, then there are books! My favorite job as a parent is reading aloud from exciting and stimulating children's literature.

A second idea is to search for locally-made or hand-made toys. The internet is replete with small eco-friendly toy businesses. Or, you could shop your local craft fairs.

In looking for toys, check to see what is made in the USA. We really enjoy Melissa and Doug products. (See our faves in my Amazon Store.) They make everything from Tool Sets to Puzzles, Dollhouses to Jewelry Kits. Really, you could keep your children entertained for their entire childhood just with M&D toys! Even when Thomas the Train was recalled for lead paint, M&D had a safe option. Read their Toy Safety Statement.

What's so bad about phthalates? Read about it on EWG's enviroblog.

What do You Give Your Kids... Addendum

After talking with a friend on Friday afternoon, I wanted to post this thought. For children who have taken several rounds of antibiotics or who frequently take over-the-counter symptom relievers, response time to immune builders may be slower. This is because their immune systems have atrophied, in a sense. Their systems will need to be rebuilt in order to function efficiently. Don't give up! It may take longer for them to respond, but if their health is not critical, consider letting their own immune systems do the work they were designed for.

NOTE: I am not a medical professional : ) This is my mother-to-mother suggestion for the long term health of our children.

What do you do when your kids get sick?

As the week is closing, I am very thankful to say that we all made it through our respiratory bug in good time. We all seem to be very much ourselves here in the end of the week! And, so I want to answer the question I've heard from a variety of voices: "What do you do when your kids get sick?"

Since I'm answering a specific question, I want to give specific answers, which will include specific product recommendations. In light of my previous two posts about contaminants in supplements, I make my recommendations in perfect conscience. This company holds to the most rigorous and thorough quality testing for raw materials, manufacturing processes, and end products.


First, there is an underlying concept that guides my decisions about how to nurse sick ones back to health. When my family gets sick, I want to do everything I can to boost their own inherent ability to fight sickness. The main reason I am very slow to give over-the-counter remedies and antibiotics is that they undermine the body's natural response, which in turn prevents the body from developing antibodies and strengthening its defenses. A secondary reason is that the remedies and medications are tainted with all manner of dangerous ingredients. For all you moms out there who want an easy-to-understand yet informative presentation on how the immune system was created to function, please watch this.

When we first heard Witzy coughing, we added this to her daily supplement:
1. probiotics each morning
2. echinacea/elderberry three times daily
3. an herbal immune booster twice a day
4. Vitamin C every few hours.

We extended this regimen to the other three children, knowing that their immune systems would need fortification. It is impossible to keep my children separate!

My children passed through the cold/cough much quicker than they would without the immune system strengtheners. If I had taken them to our pediatrician and had him prescribe an antibiotic, they would have felt better in about the same time. But, because I didn't interfere with their bodies' own mechanisms, they are better prepared to fight the good fight the next time they are exposed to a bug -- which will happen, we all know!

Another thing to note: we bought the kids Bolthouse Farms C-Boost juice as well. This is simply a cherry, mango juice with added vitamins. I don't know if it had any effect on the kids' recovery. But I woke up one night with a very painful earache. I took the above regimen plus drank a quart of the juice and within 24 hours had no more earache.

So that's my answer to the famous question. You can email me (ae at healthbeginswithmom dot com) if you have specific questions.

Part three of Children and Cleaning Chemicals

I have been so eager to post this part because it contains some really good news... as opposed to the scary facts about toxin dangers I have been posting. If you're new, read Part One, Part Two and Part Two and a Half first...

So I know everyone remembers the song, "I'd like to buy the world a Coke." Well, I would like to buy the world one of these. Or, at least everyone who fills the housekeeping role in a home. But, alas, I cannot afford such a gift. So, I'll just try to tell everyone about it instead! This is my solution to the problem of how to effectively, economically, and healthfully keep a clean house.

My kids have always cleaned right along side of me. I think it is important for life skills and character development. So, I care what we clean with. When I first started looking into "green clean" I was trying to mix up stuff from common household ingredients like baking soda, vinegar and stuff. It was time consuming. It didn't really work. And, I was haunted by the lingering vinegar smell. So I tried the "green clean" products at the health food store. They were pricey. But, they didn't work like I needed them to. I wanted my cleaning to be quick and efficient. I didn't want to have to redo things just because they didn't get quite clean enough the first time. And, I'll admit it, I really like things looking clean. With my four little ones, the house can look lived in. But, under all the books, legos and toys, I want things to be safely clean.

So, check out my solution. You'll be impressed as I was. You'll have dishes that are clean enough to eat off of (sans toxic residue). You'll have clothes clean enough to touch your baby's skin (sans toxic residue). You'll have a floor clean enough to crawl on (sans toxic residue). And, you'll have bathrooms that are just plain ol' good and clean (sans toxic residue).

This kit contains everything you need to keep your house healthy clean. And, believe it or not, it contains the equivalent of more than 5,000 bottles of window cleaner! Or, over 400 bottles of all purpose cleaner like 409 or Fantastik (sans toxic residue, of course). And, this is what I love: it is cost efficient since all of the products are concentrated. Less to buy, less to throw away.

So that's my solution. I am glad I found it. And, I'd like to share it with the world... so there you go, world.

Part Two and a Half of Children and Cleaning Chemicals

I am working on Part Three for this series, but I thought of something that had to come first. Thanks for your patience! This is an eye-opening resource:

Ever wonder what ingredients could be in our cleaning products that are all that bad?
Ever wonder what health hazards those ingredients actually pose?
It's time to take a look! So take an inventory of what you have under your sinks and stashed out of your children's reach... and then visit the National Institute for Health's household product database.

Click one of the tabs to search for dangers listed by Product Name, Ingredient, Manufacturer or Health Effect. Explore this site... and get ready for Part Three!

By the way, Witzy has a cough. She woke up feeling crummy two days ago. I am taking several measures to boost her immune system and help it win the battle. I'll be blogging about this soon.