Since you heart is pumping hard to push blood through about 60,000 miles of blood vessels  a day, wouldn’t it be a good idea to feed this muscle its needed fuel? Dr. Heather shares what she feeds her family of four so all stay healthy and function at their best.  Good fats (Omega-3s) were tops on her list.  Putting flax seed oil with heart healthy blueberries and other fruit into smoothies is a daily event for breakfast or snacks.  Avocados in salads or Guacamole are frequently consumed by her family.  Grass-fed beef and eggs are commonly found on their plates for dinner and other meals.  One of her young daughter’s was making scrambled eggs with spinach and cheese for her breakfast while we were on the air.  It’s not that hard!

To hear all of Dr. Manley’s Heart Health interview, please go to the www.BetterFoodChoicesRadio.com archived shows, or, www.iTunes.com, Podcast, Better Food Choices and click on the Feb. 3rd, 2012 show. PLEASE, avoid having any heart disease statistics in your family.  Listen to Dr. Heather Manley.

… for the health of your family,
ellen

Chocolate lovers, enter to Win a Case of Chocolate Walnut Cookies, Sugar Free, by Joseph’s Lite Cookies.  This is a great opportunity for those diagnosed as pre-Diabetic or Diabetic, or for those who want to avoid either diagnosis.  Joseph made them especially for you.  Go to www. KidKritics.com/sweepstakes today.  Enter more than once to up your winning odds.

Every week we teach kids how to Fuel Their Dreams.  This week we focused on what foods feed their brains. After giving them some cool brain facts, we made a recipe that feeds it.  Look at this  photo of one of the boys making “BaNilla Berry Smoothie.”  The brain foods used were yogurt, banana, blueberrries and raspberries.  All the kids were licking every drop in and on their cups.  Big Success!  For recipe details, please go to www.KidKritics.com. Then click on the Breakfast recipe icon. You will find it listed there.  This is an easy one. Let your kids make it!

… for the health of your family,
ellen

Don’t forget to enter to Win a Case of Chocolate Walnut Cookies, Sugar-Free by Joseph’s Lite Cookies.  Simply go to www.KidKritics.com/sweepstakes today and tomorrow!

Surprised? Mixing black beans with chocolate? We worked with this recipe until it knocked our socks off! Added protein, less sugar, no flour, no dairy, and lots of dark chocolate. Gluten-free, Wheat-Free, Dairy-free. Jaimie, our R.D. chef, figured out how to make this combination into a fudge brownie. Try it. It is the featured recipe on www.KidKritics.com – easy to find, easy to prepare. Make it your family’s Valentine Day treat – cut them into heart shapes.

… for the health of your family,
ellen

How would you like a case of Chocolate Walnut Cookies, Sugar Free, by Joseph’s Lite Cookies delivered to your door? Enter to win by going to www.KidKritics.com/sweepstakes today!

They went from Junk Food to Real Food and now swear by it. One boy was 16 and always “starving.”  The other was an overweight college kid.  And they have a dad with Type 2 diabetes.  Mom thought she was feeding her family good food but after a dinner with me, she realized Jello and other processed foods she was serving were counter-nourishing her family. Her turnaround story is brilliant. A first bit of advice is, “You can’t tell them. You must show them.”  If you want to be inspired and learn how overnight everyone of them voluntarily bought into her changes, listen to Vickie Peaire tell her story.  Go to www. BetterFoodChoicesRadio.com (date: Jan 27, 2012) and listen or find it on iTunes, Podcast, Better Food Choices.  You will be SO glad your did!

… for the health of your family,
ellen

Save money and Win a Case of Classic Macaroni and Cheese by Annie’s Homegrown.  Go to www.KidKritics.com/sweepstakes before Sunday night.

The government is setting new school lunch nutrition requirements:  Establish maximum calorie and sodium limits.  Serve a fruit and vegetable every day in larger portions.  Offer a minimum number of leafy green vegetables, red-orange vegetables, starchy vegetables and legumes each week.  After 2 years, all grains must be rich in whole grains such as brown rice.  Breads, buns, cereals and pastas must list whole grain as 1st ingredient. Milk must be either low-fat (1%) or fat-free.  Flavored milk must now be fat-free.  No trans- fats.

Cost – 11 cents more per lunch. Who is going to pay for this?  Government will give schools 6 cents more per lunch.  The additional 5 cents will have to come from states and local taxes it seems. What are you paying for each lunch at your children’s school?

We are pleased with these positive changes.  There are two possible problems to address.  One: the government has no money.  We are in serious debt.  Two: kids have to like these foods.  With the right cafeteria managers and chefs, this is possible.  To limit their other choices is critical.  Kids will eat healthier foods if they taste good.

Best possible school lunch – probably the one you make at home for your kids to take to school.  That is why we give you Lunch Box menus in our Family Food Newsletter.  Sign up to receive it twice a month. www.KidKritics.com.

… for the health of families,
ellen

Mac and Cheese – all natural, no artificial anything, no Trans Fats. Win a whole case by Annie’s Homegrown.  Add some carrots or peas and a few parsley and paprika flakes. Put some in thermos for school lunch.  Go to www.KidKritics.com/sweepstakes today!

Oh Boy is this good!  All you do is blend almond milk, honey, cinnamon and nutmeg until frothy.  Serve cold or warm. Cinnamon alone feeds your brain, blood, bones, eyes, heart, lungs, and skin.  Add all the nutrients from nutmeg, almond milk and raw honey (that’s the kind of honey we recommend) and you have a blockbuster new drink for your kids and you!  For details, go to www.KidKritics.com where this recipe is featured on the home page – easy to find. We have Healthier Recipe Mom, Emily, to thank for this delectable drink!

… for the health of your family,
ellen

Ready to Win a Case of Classic Macaroni and Cheese by Annie’s Homegrown?  “No artificial anything” – a good thing.  Go to www.KidKritics.com/sweepstakes today.  Enter more than once to up your odds.

Easy and super tasty! All you add is a little milk of choice, butter and Parmesan cheese to this Alfredo Sauce Mix (Simply Organic).  Stir and done.  Their added flavorings make this the ideal sauce to quickly spruce up a dinner.  Make Alfredo pasta, beans, broccoli, peas, carrots, eggplant, potatoes, chicken, turkey, fish, even pizza.  When you get home from a busy day, grab your basics and add this sauce mix, cook and serve.  You’ll even impress yourself!

…  for the health of families,
ellen

Will I be calling you next week to say, “You Won a case of Chocolate Energy Bites (Greens+)!”  These are nutrient packed superfoods disguised so well with their chocolate coating that kids think they’re treats.  Enter to win, www.KidKritics.com/sweepstakes today.  Enter more than once to up your odds!

Thank you Nutrition Babes,  Lauren Harris-Pincus,MS,RD & Kathleen Siegel, RD,CDN, for this recipe. It is so easy, extra nutritious and delicious! Using the what I call “meal in a chip” gluten-free organic  Falafel Chips to coat the chicken takes the flavors and nutrient value to a whole new level.  The Original Falafel Chips were used by The Nutrition Babes.  For those who love the taste of hot, the Spicy Falafel Chips are recommended.  All you do is crush the chips, press on the chicken until coated, then lightly cover with olive oil spray and bake.  For details, please go to www.KidKritics.com as it is featured on the home page.  Jump on this Kid Kritics Approved recipe idea.

… for the health of your family,
ellen

Win both a Children’s Book and a Case of Supplements! Battle with the Bugs by Dr. Heather Manley, and, Yummi Bears Organic Immunity Shield by Hero Nutritionals are this week’s sweepstakes prizes.  The theme, keep your kids from catching colds and the flu this winter.  Go to www.KidKritics.com/sweepstakes and enter today.

If you want your family’s Brains, Eyes, Hair, Hearts, Mouth/Teeth, Muscles, Nails and Noses to be well fed, serve them Navy Beans! Sometimes referred to as white beans, they are inexpensive power houses, especially for winter family meals.  Soups, chili, baked beans, casseroles and stews all can be made with navy beans.  Put them in tacos or tostadas.  Saute cooked ones to enrich their flavor. Use them to create a pureed spread.  There are tasty possibilities for every one. Buy them dried or precooked organic canned. Because Navy Beans are nutrient-packed budget savers, we suggest you make them a staple in your home.

… for the health of your family,
ellen

Sign up to Win a Case of Organic Lightly Roasted Almond Butter by Artisana.  Go to www.KidKritics.com/sweepstakes to enter.  Maybe I will be calling you next Monday to say,  “You Won!”

The added touch of cinnamon takes these meatballs to a whole new level for taste and nutrient value. Cinnamon feeds your brain, blood, bones, eyes, heart, lungs, and skin!  “The kids loved this recipe so much they literally cleaned their plates; some licked away all evidence of meatballs and sauce!”  (Quote from Kid Kritics Taste Test)  Start 2012 with these meatballs for a win/win dinner.  It’s this week’s Featured Recipe so look for it on the homepage of www.KidKritics.com.

… for the health of your family,
ellen

This week enter to Win a Case of Artisana Organic Lightly Roasted Almond Butter by Premier Organics.  It is smooth and velvety delicious!  Go to www.KidKritics.com/sweepstakes today.