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!

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.

It frosts me when ads give you misinformation in order to sell, sell, sell.  Be smarter than they think you are.  Follow your gut instinct rather than be misled.  The most recent ad that makes my hair stand on end is about sugar and high fructose corn syrup.  What research has shown is that processed corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup, impacts the body differently than plain sugar cane. The results are linked to diseases.  They lead you to believe this is not so – its okay to eat high fructose corn syrup.  Not.  One thing they do say that is right is "Sugar is sugar."  True.  However, the sugar's origin and how it is processed impacts the molecular structures which determines the impact it has on your body when you eat it. We say stay away from high fructose corn syrup and when you need a sweetener, use sugar cane. Also, please less is better. 

… for the health of your family,
ellen

Fresh frozen Wild Blueberries by Wyman's of Maine!  Win a whole case.  Fill your freezer with this potent antioxidant to keep your family well all winter!  Go to www.KidKritics.com/sweepstakes today.  Enter more than once to up your odds.

Brownie Bites, a recipe created by The Nutrition Babes, is made from Gluten Free Brownie Mix by Pamela's Products.  These are really easy to bake.  The topping is TruWhip, a healthier whipped cream with fresh raspberries.  At this time of year you may chose another fresh fruit as a decoration such as a red grape.  Notice the curled ribbon used to make the presentation more festive – a clever touch. Details for this recipe are found on www.KidKritics.com.  It is the featured recipe of this week making it super simply to access.  This one is for everyone and their sweet tooth!  Have fun.

… for the health of your family,
ellen

If you love blueberries, you better enter to win a whole case of fresh frozen Wild Blueberries by Wyman's of Maine.  It doesn't get any better than this – a freezer full to last you through the winter.  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.

Thanks to Nutrition Babes Registered Dieticians, Lauren Harris Pincus and Kathy Siegel, we have a great list of cake toppings to replace sugar-filled frosting and dyed decorations:

- Icing: gluten-free, no high fructose corn syrup, no hydrogenated or trans fats whip cream: TruWhip
- Fresh fruit, cut or sliced
- Frozen fruit, drained
- Dried fruit
- Nuts, only when there are no allergy concerns
- Non-eatable decorations: curled ribbon, plastic creatures, other plastic decor

I am adding mint leaves and flowers (for girls)! Get creative.  Have you kids help decorate their cakes. For more delicious tips about Healthier Birthday Celebrations for home and school parties listen on iTunes, Better Food Choices.  Then, please, let us know your ideas!

… for the health of your family,
ellen

Don’t forget about the YOU WIN, YOU CHOSE! sweepstakes this week.  When I call the winner, he or she will tell me whether to ship a case of Original, Pizza, Hot Veggie Stix or Chips to him or her.  Plus this is the last week you can win “The Princess and the Pop Star” DVD by Veggie Tales.  Go to www.KidKritics.com/sweepstakes and enter today!

That's 1/3 a pound of sugar daily. No wonder about 75% of Americans are overweight.*  Yes, sugar turns to fat when not used.  Bet your family and friends are not active enough to burn up this many sugar calories. Fat is not the only health issue presented by sugar.  Free radicals, viruses and bacteria feed on it causing all kinds of health problems. Don't be average. Please take heed. Give you kids great odds at school this year. Serve and consume less sugar.

… for the health of  your family,
ellen

Source: "This Substance Foods Your Metabolism – and Tricks Your Body into Gaining Pounds," Dr. Mercola, July 26, 2011.

It's summer so why not cave and eat that ice cream cone, strawberry shortcake, drink lots of ice cold pink lemonade?  After all, its hot out and don't you deserve some sugar fun?  I would agree that an occasional summer treat is in order.  My choice is real, not dyed green, mint chocolate chip ice cream.  However, I don't want to play with fire, the diabetes and debilitating related diseases consequences.  Problem is, sugar is not just in treats.  It is a dominant player in processed foods such as ketchup and flavored yogurts.  How much should you have?  Woman, about 6 teaspoons a day.  Children, about 4 teaspoons daily. Sound reasonable?  Note: 4 grams of sugar equals 1 teaspoon.  BBQ sauce (1/2 cup) has 33 grams = more than 8 teaspoons of sugar.  A fat-free fruit yogurt may have 47 grams – almost 12 teaspoons of sugar.  And that delicious pink (dyed) lemonade?  1 cup contains 25 grams or over 6 teaspoons, more than you daily limit.  How many of you drink just one cup on a hot day?  Get my point?  So how do your humble your sugar cravings?  Be aware and eat less.  By the way, protein is known to diminish your desire for sweets.  Eat nuts, seeds, cheese, slices of meat or hummus to manage your sugar intake.  Then once in awhile, have that ice cream cone!

… for the health of your family,
ellen

Another sweepstakes prize combination: Win a Case of 6 oz. (large) bags of Pizza Veggie Stix with the generous addition of the Veggie Tales DVD, "The Princess and the Pop Star."  Go to www.KidKritics.com/sweepstakes.  Enter more than once to up your odds!

    Sugar Cane Crystals (not bleached)

Some restaurants and packaged food companies are “bowing to consumer concerns about HFCS (high fructose corn syrup) and replacing the sweetener with sugar…. It’s so hard. It’s in everything.” True. From ketchup to oyster crackers, HFCS has been the sweetener of choice for decades. Finally, many are waking up to the reality this needs to stop due to the research associating it with cancer and more. Sugar cane crystals are still sugar but are at least less processed. This change will up their prices since part of the appeal of HFCS was how cheap it was as an ingredient. Still, this is a good move and you can thank those who spoke up and said, “We don’t want it.” Keep speaking out…

… for the health of your family,
ellen

* Katy McLaughlin, “Sweet Revenge, Chefs Pour on the Sugar,” Wall Street Journal, 7/6 11, p. D1.