American Dairy Farmers Promote Chocolate Milk as Healthy

I had to share this with you. I took this directly from MamaSource email and I think it's really sad!! "Get the Facts on Chocolate Milk
Did you know studies show kids who drink chocolate milk do not consume more added sugar than non-flavored milk drinkers? In addition, they are more likely to be at a healthy body weight and meet more of their nutrient needs than kids who don’t drink milk.
Learn the facts on chocolate milk and raise your hand in support!
Editor’s Note: This message was sponsored by America’s dairy farmers and milk processors to share the facts and science on chocolate milk."

I'm going to check on the numbers, but I think Dr. Mac told me that the sugar in chocolate milk is equal to something like 6 teaspoons of sugar!! Would you let your child eat six teaspoons of sugar?!? Come on, Dairy Association, let's be real. Personally I think milk is much better nutritionally before it is homogonized and pasteurized, but I wouldn't argue with any advertising for regular milk. But expect me to believe that I should feed my child chocolate milk and call it good for them? How insulting!

I can't wait to share the Snazzle Snacks with you. There's a chocolate milk stick that you can add to milk (almond milk, cow milk, goat milk) and it really will make it something that tastes great and is healthy. It's sweetened with the herb stevia and loaded with whole food nutrition. Let's keep our kids healthy and ditch the regular chocolate milk -go for Snazzle Snacks. Your kids will never know it's so good for them! Be well!

Pesticides and Your Health

Pesticides are associated with a number of serious health issues. Two resources to find out more: Pesticide Action Network North America (PANNA) and study published in Environmental Health Perspectives.

One of the worst pesticides: Atrazine
Used on: Corn, sugarcane, and grain crops.
What it is: Banned in France, Germany, Switzerland, Denmark, Norway.. it is the second most widely used pesticide in the United States. Exposure can cause cardiovascular damage, muscle spasm, adrenal gland damage, and eye or skin irritation. It is a possible endocrine disruptor and carcinogen.

Suggestion: try to avoid conventionally grown foods listed above that were likely to have had this pesticide used. Or, if you're feeling really energetic, google PANNA and find out how you can become involved in social action.

Apples for All Occassions

I LOVE apples! My favorite doctor used to remind me "an apple a day keeps the doctor away." Now is such a great time to enjoy them fresh. My favorite for snacking on is Honeycrisp. They are usually available in very limited supply, but if you find them, try one! Unlike most conventionally grown apples available in regular grocery stores, these taste great! My favorite for cooking is Braeburn. They keep well and make a great snack if they don't last until baking time.

Here's a guide to apples and their best uses. As always, try to find organic and if you can't, wash them in a bowl of water mixed with a few drops of grapefruit seed extract.

For eating: Braeburn, Cortland, Crispin, Gala, Fuji, Honeycrisp, Granny Smith, Pink Lady
For baking: Braeburn, Calville Blanc, Fuji, Empire, Granny Smith, Rome Beauty, Suncrisp

Be well!

Oatmeal Is Still a Good Breakfast

I'd have to say that rushing around in the morning getting kids ready for school is one of my least favorite things to do. This morning I cooked oatmeal before waking the kids. Having a warm, hearty, healthy breakfast already prepared made it so much easier! Here's a few tips to keeping your oatmeal healthy.

Steel cut oats are the least processed, then regular oats, instant are the most processed. As always, use the least processed form you can at the time.

Instead of processed sugar, sweeten with stevia, maple syrup, honey or another natural sweetener of your choice.

Add fruit and nuts to make lots of variety. Cinnamon is also a healthy, warming spice that I love to add to oatmeal.

You and your family can enjoy a warm breakfast and the wonderful health benefits of oats! Be well.

Healthy Foods for Your Family

I have been lying to my children. For quite a while now I have fed them almond butter and called it "peanut butter." I feed them all fruit spread and call it "jelly." "Would you like an almond butter and fruit spread sandwich?" It just didn't fit. Peanut butter and jelly is what kids are supposed to eat, right? I do it with all sorts of things: milk in our house is actually almond milk, hot dogs are those delicious Aidell's natural sausage with something like spinach and cheese. I love putting shredded zucchini and/or carrots in the spaghetti sauce and I have tried to pass off zucchini pancakes as "pancakes." That one they caught on to, but found that they like them!!

What does all this mean? Well, it's about using our creativity to get our kids to eat something healthy, or at least something healthier than what they think they are having. If you need to get your kids to eat healthier, here are a few tips:
- Look at labels and get rid of things with corn syrup, also called high fructose corn syrup, in them. It's everywhere!! I limit it as much as possible.
- Begin by replacing things they like with healthier versions of the same.
- Hide healthy foods inside things like sauces or breads. And I may call a "bread" a "cake." (Oh, I also developed a very healthy cookie recipe I'll post later.)
- If sugar is a problem, begin using fruits as dessert sometimes. Also look at natural and/or low-glycemic sweeteners. Stevia is an herb with 0 calories used to sweeten foods, now being marketed as Truvia (which you may find in liquid and powder forms for less money in natural food markets.) Other natural sweeteners include honey, pure maple syrup, brown rice syrup and agave nectar.
- Finally, incorporate whole foods as much as possible. Limit processed foods. Everyone has to figure out how much they can do because it does take time to cook from scratch! So allow for times when you have to break the rules.

There are lots more things you can do, but hopefully this list will give you a start or some ideas. Be well!