Dairy

Three great items to put on your Lunch Box Grocery List are: 50% Reduced Fat Cheddar Minis (Cabot Creamery), Baby Carrots (organic) in Ranch Dressing (Earthbound Farm) and Veggie Sticks (EatSmart Naturals). Sources of dairy, vegetables and essential fatty acids (dressing). They are healthier choices, easy to pack, and kids love them. For more go to www.KidKritics.com.

… for the health of your family,
ellen and sally

First it is important to know that butter made from grazing cows contains CLA, an important brain nutrient. This means you should choose organic butter. But that’s not all. Conventional butter is laden with heavy metals, pesticides and herbicides. Thus, buying organic is a must.

Sally’s secret to eating butter is a Mediterranian practice. She dilutes it and makes a spread. Lightly melt butter, add the olive oil and lemon juice, mix well and refrigerate. Use this spread as you would use butter. Makes everything taste super delicious and it is healthy. Now you have a good fat to add to vegetables and spread on whole grain toast!

By the way when interviewing Organic Valley dairy farmer, Regina Biedler, Sally was especially excited to learn more about Organic Valley’s Pasture Butter – means it contains more CLA and other nutrients. We are both going out to buy some. You should too!

… for the health of families,
ellen and sally

Go to itunes, type in ellen briggs, and listen to our interview with Regina. She began farming in Africa. Really interesting story!

The number one and two MUST DO diet changes for autistic children: Gluten-Free and Casein-Free.  In other words, take wheat, oats, barley, rye, spelt and kamut grains, plus, dairy with casein (which is most) out of your autistic child’s diet.  Dr. Bob Sears talks about the important impact this food elimination has on managing and improving a child’s autistic symptoms.  Why: both wheat and casein are very irritating to the “gut” – digestive systems which in turn irritates the surrounding neural system connected to the brain.  (”They call the gut the second brain.”) By the way, irritation causes the release of toxins by the body. Bottom line: stay away from irritating foods and eat anti-inflammatory-detoxing ones - that’s another blog! 

FYI: marked reduction of wheat and casein products is a healthy change for anyone’s diet. 

Dr. Bob had lots to say on this radio show – listen on iTunes, especially of you are concerned about autism, detecting and managing this disease.  Buy his book:  The Autism Book.

… for the health of your family,
ellen and sally

Dr. Sally Byrd reminded us that you can reduce your  medical bills by eating for your blood type.  Sound like a snake oil sell?  It’s not.  There is good science and research behind this reality.  Different blood types react differently to lectins (protein molecules) found in natural foods.  Example: O Types repel the lectins in cow dairy products stimulating the production of a sticky, gooey velcro-like substance in the gut and circulatory system.  This leads to inflammation and formation of auto-antibodies - connected to arthritis, fibro-myalgia and  most diseases.  Simply eating the foods that are beneficial and neutral for your blood type will help rejeuvinate your health.  Try it for 30 days and let us know how you feel!

Blood Type Food Chart: Dr. Sally Byrd will email you one. Simply ask her :ladybyrds@msn.com
Find Your Blood Type: Kits at drug stores, give blood, ask your doctor (be prepared for him or her to say you don’t need it – get it anyway!)

… for the health of your family and you!
ellen

Troy DeGroff of Earth Fare reminded us that like most grocery stores, natural food stores have stepped up their coupon and sale offerings.  Grab the sale flyer before you start to shop.  Also, look for coupons given by the store and the food manufacturers.  You may end up adjusting your grocery list to save money – yeah!  Food companies, yes, the ones with healthier products,  also have coupons on their websites. Print them out while making your shopping list.  

When you shop, go around the perimeter of the store for fresh food.  In the produce section, your best buys are likely to be the locally farmed fruits and vegetables. Buy in season, buy extra and freeze it for off season use. Even when organic squeezes your budget, there are three foods that are must buys for your health: hormone and antibiotic-free/free-range meats, eggs and dairy.  When meat is on sale, buy in quantity and freeze for future use.  The health of your family depends on this.

Buy in bulk.  Healthy rice, nuts, beans and so much more are cheaper when you fill your own bag. 

Portion control!  Plate sizes have grown with our waistlines.  We do not need to eat so much.

Get back to basics and start cooking again. There are lots of recipes for fast, easy and delicious healthier meals.  Check out www.earthfare.com for some great ones. Also, go to our website, www.FamilyFoodExperts.com.  Believe me, I don’t like to spend much time in the kitchen and I can do this!  Ask your kids to help, especially with the dishes.  Make “throw together” meals a family habit.  Many hands make for light work!

… for the health of your family,
ellen