“Hooked on chicken nuggets: Girl, 17, who has eaten nothing else since age TWO rushed to hospital after collapsing.” *

Apparently this teenager has never eaten fruit or vegetables.  Now she is in hospital with  swollen veins in her tongue, has anemia and has been warned that she was killing herself.

You say, no way this can happen.  I say, “Yes Way.”  Too many times I have has parents tell me, “My son/daughter will only eat chicken nuggets so that’s what I give him or her.  They refuse to eat anything else.”  I simply look at them and wonder who’s the boss.  Moms and dads, you have to guide your children away from the wrong decisions and to the right ones.  Sometimes that is easier said than done, yet, the alternative can be deadly.

Keep in mind you may be working against addictions.  Unfortunately, ingredients put in some foods are purposely habit forming.  Take charge now and avoid disaster later.  I am using strong words.  Don’t underestimate the consequences.  Steer your kids into making better food choices today and tomorrow.

… for the health of your family,
ellen

P. S. Please pray for this girl.

* This is a report from the U.K.

Prepare your womb with good eating habits before you are pregnant.  When you test positive for pregnancy you are already at least 2 weeks along.  So stop with the smoking, drinking and drugs well before you conceive to give your baby his or her best odds. Also, Dr. Keri Batiskov  says no raw fish or meat (sushi), deli meats, fast foods, unpasteurized milk and soft cheeses, artificial additives, fake sugars, fish with mercury, sodas… AND YES to fruits, vegetables, grains, meats, good fats, eggs,dairy and WATER!  "Eat from the earth."  Definitely take supplements per your doctor's recommendations, especially folic acid, and hold off on herbal supplements during your pregnancy.  Take the time to listen to more from Dr. Batiskov, go to www.BetterFoodChoicesRadio.com or iTunes ("Better Food Choices".

… for the health of your family,|
ellen

We are starting a Did You Know series.  This first one is a whopper.  It is reported that Chicken McNuggets are 50% chicken and 50% "corn derivatives, sugars, leavening agents and completely synthetic ingredients.  Two include: dimethylpolysiloxane anti-foaming agent made of silicone, and, tertiary butylhydroquinone (TBHQ) "a chemical preservative so deadly that just five grams can kill you."  Holy smokes.  Well, you say, there aren't  5 grams of TBHA in a serving.  That's no excuse.  Every bit adds up. How many times a week do your kids eat Chicken McNuggets?  How many weeks a year?  PLEASE, take a stand for your children and vote NO with your pocketbook…

… for the health of your family,
ellen

Win a Case of 6oz. bags of Pizza Veggie Sticks and the DVD, "The Princess and the Pop Star" by Veggie Tales.  This Veggie Stix & Veggie Tales sweepstakes series is more than half way over.  Don't miss out.  Go to www.KidKritics.com/sweepstakes today.  Enter more than once to up your odds!

SOURCE:  "The Chicken Which Should be Banned," posted by Dr. Mercola, www.Mercola.com, 11/8/2010

Food companies are jumping on the appeal of  sugar and salt flavor combinations.  This flavor profile is a recipe for obesity… and other illnesses.  Outsmart them and don’t buy such products they will sell in stores and at fast-food restaurants.  Instead, stick to fresh foods and season them yourself with a little sea sale or sugar. 

… for the health of families,
ellen and sally

Please fill in this blank: “It’s easier to ____________________ than figure out what to feed my kids every day.”  Answer in a comment or email your response to ellen@KidKritics.com.  We will chose one and send the “author” a signed copy of our new book after it is finished and hot off the press!  We look forward to hearing from you… more than one fill-in is encouraged!

… for the health of your family,
ellen and sally

… for the health of your family,
ellen and sally

If you choose the Jamba Juice banana berry, you lose – or gain weight : 1,060 calories – you have to watch what they put into smoothies.  There has to be a lot of sugar in this one and not many berries.  Bet they use a fruit juice as a base.

Starbucks no-sugar added banana nut coffee cake: 890 calories – at what point do they stop adding sugar?  Must contain lots of fat.

Panera Bread fresh tomato and mozzarella salad: 790 calories – probably the dressing and cheese

Subway foot-long tuna sub: 470 calories – eat half and you are down to 235 calories … don’t add any stuff!

Wendy’s Chicken BLT salad: 450 calories – watch the salad dressing or your calorie count will go up.

The good news is that calories counts are being listed, giving you the option to make Better Food Choices!

Source: Be a Menu Genus, Prevention Magazine, November 2008, p. 78.

There is a transition time, allowing those produce produced or packaged before Sept. 30th to be exempt.  Food producers were given six months to comply.  Then they will be fined.   Organizing the labeling of all products takes time and a billions of dollars.  This grace period is reasonable.  The good news is that it won’t be long before you know where you food is coming from – a plus when you are trying to avoid unregulated growing procedures and want to save money with more locally produced and shipped foods.

Questions: There is a noticeable absence of some foods such as turkey and other nuts and seeds.  We will have to investigate this. Secondly, will this cost be passed on to us, the consumer… probably.

Is this progress?  In this global economy we say YES.  You should have a choice of buying an onion grown in Georgia or Mexico.  Do you agree?

Source: David Kesmodel, Julie Jargon, “Labels Will Say If Your Beef Was Born in the USA”, Wall Street Journal, 9/23/2008, pp. D1, D2.