Dyes

There are cookies and then there are cookies!  Snackimals are made with your children’s health  in mind.  No artificial colors, flavors, preservatives or trans fats.  Full of natural, organic and non-GMO ingredients.  Also full of flavor! The animals are so well carved you can easily identify them providing major kid appeal. They come in lunch box sizes for travel snacks.  Healthier Recipe Moms have used cookies in parfaits and as pie crusts… take a look at some of their recipes, www.KidKritics.com. When it is time for treats, Snackimals are a great choice.

… for the health of your family,
ellen

What would you do with a whole case of Classic Macaroni and Cheese by Annie’s Homegrown? Enter to win and then let us know!  Go to www.KidKritics.com/sweepstakes today and tomorrow… until Sunday night.

Reminder: After products and recipes meet our Family Food Experts Ingredient Standards set by our board of noted health professionals, kids blind taste test them and decide which ones to award their Kid Kritics Approved Seal.  Because they are now deemed healthier and kids like them, we feel compelled to share this news with you.  Now you can serve your family healthier foods odds are they will love.

The 10 Worst Cereals in terms of sugar per cup

Cereal, grams of sugar per cup, teaspoons of sugar:

• Kellogg's Honey Smacks, 20.0, 5 tsp

• Post Golden Crisp, 18.7, 4.6 tsp.

• Quaker Oats Cap'n Crunch Original, 16.0, 4 tsp.

• Quaker Oats Oh!s, 16.0, 4 tsp

• Quaker Oats Cap'n Crunch OOPS! All Berries, 15.0, 3.7 tsp

• Quaker Oats Cap'n Crunch's Crunch Berries, 14.7, 3.6 tsp

• Kellogg's Froot Loops Marshmallow, 14.0,3.5 tsp

• Kellogg's Smorz, 13.0, 3.2 tsp

• Kellogg's Apple Jacks, 12.0, 3.0 tsp

• Kellogg's Froot Loops Original, 12.0, 3 tsp

Alternatives:

• Post Shredded Wheat,* 0.0, 0 tsp

• Kellogg's Mini-Wheats Unfrosted Bite-Size,* 0.6, 0.15 tsp

• Cheerios Original, 1.0, 0.25 tsp

• Kix Original, 2.4, 0.6 tsp

• Post Grape-Nuts Flakes, 5.3, 1.3 tsp

• Quaker Oats Oatmeal Squares Cinnamon,* 6.0, 1.5 tsp

• Post Bran Flakes, 6.7, 1.6 tsp

• Post Honey Bunches of Oats with Vanilla Bunches,* 8.0, 2 tsp

* The serving size for dense cereals was adjusted to a serving (2/3 cup) with roughly the same weight as a cup of most light cereals.

Source: Environmental Working Group – THANK YOU!

Please avoid the sugar cereals and use the others as snacks, not the central source for breakfast nutrients.  Give your kids a better start , especially on school days.

… for the health of your family,
ellen

I watch people putting cases and huge bottles of soda in their carts and wonder what they are thinking.  They are spending their hard earned money on carbonated dyed sugar water, described by some as Liquid Candy. They are kidding themselves when they are buying diet which is worse.  Both are empty of nutrients and full of disease related ingredients.  Not only are you paying for the actual soda, you will be soon paying for soda induced doctor  and pharmaceutical bills in the near and far future.  This is an addictive acting expensive habit. Buy water or water filters instead.  Stop throwing your money down the soda drain.  Can you afford to do this?

… for the health of families,
ellen

Wouldn’t you love to have a case of Tomato Basil Spaghetti Sauce by Simply Organic in your pantry for holiday cooking?  Enter to win one this week.  Go to www.KidKritics.com/sweepstakes today.

At last, there is a way to decorate your holiday cakes, cupcakes and cookies without using those dyes made from derivatives of coal tar and oil. Go to www.NaturalCandyStore.com to buy little jars of your color choice. They won’t be as bright as the others which is your cue they are all natural, made from real food such as beets. And, the colors are still beautiful, safe and fun to use. While you are there, look for the Sunbursts candy coated sunflower seeds and ChocoRocks. All in their Natural Baking Decoration section. Have fun!

(For more about natural candy, go to iTunes-Podcast-BetterFoodChoices and list to Dawn Van Hee)

… for the health of your family,
ellen

Speaking of all natural, fill your pantry with Puffin Puffs Fruit Medley Cereal by Barbara’s Bakery. Colorful, safe and crunchy yummy. Enter to win a case. Go to www.KidKritics.com/sweepstakes today.

Fish is the subject of Friday’s radio/podcast show.  Food Expert and author, Kimberly Stewart will tell you how to buy safe fish and make it so delicious to eat, your family will be asking for more! Are you thinking, not in my house… think again.  Tune in on 10/7 at Noon eastern time, www.BetterFoodChoicesRadio.com.  Or, listen later on iTunes, podcast “Better Food Choices.” You will be so glad you did!

… for the health of families,
ellen