Junk Food

It just makes me mad.  Plain yogurt is healthy.  It is what many food companies do to it that makes it unhealthy. You think yogurt with fruit on the bottom is healthy – too many have more sugar than a candy bar.  Watch for the amount of sugar and ingredients in all flavored yogurts. Better to buy plain and add your own fresh or frozen fruit.  Bottled drinkable yogurts/smoothies may have as many calories as an ice cream dessert.  Again, it is all the added ingredients used to make it that are collectively unhealthy.  Instead, make you own yogurt smoothies with fresh fruit.  Frozen yogurt is mostly misleading as to its health benefits.  By the time it is flavored and sprinkled with toppings, you are really looking at an ice cream sundae.  Please watch out for sugar and fat-free versions.  Artificial ingredients are the worst!  Now you know not to be fooled by some food companies.  Outsmart them with your knowledge – Buy Smart.

… for the health of your family,
ellen

Today, enter to win a book and a case of supplements, both for your children. Battle with the Bugs, written by Dr. Heather Manley is part of her Human Detective Series – it’s a brilliant educational story.  Yummi Bears Organic Immunity Shield by Hero Nutritionals are created to help protect cold and flu bugs from your children.  Perfect time of year for these prizes.  Go to www.KidKritics.com/sweepstakes.  Enter more than once to up your odds!

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

  (Not the recent ad I am referring to – don't you think this is dumb?) 

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.

Chef Carlino serves school lunches. He know kids like healthier food.  He also knows the obstacles for turning junk lunches into better ones.  How do you start the process? Keep this in mind, "Real food does not need masking." 1. Don't attack the whole situation. Work on one change at a time. 2. First recommended change: add a salad bar.  3. Parents, get involved.  Become volunteers helping in the kitchen and lunch room.  This is just the guts of what Chef Carlino shared with us on this interview.  He said so much more!  Listen on www.iTunes.com, then Podcast then "Better Food Choices". Then email me as we are working on a plan to help you. (ellen@KidKritics.com). Many hands make a happening!  Look forward to hearing from you.

… for the health of families,
ellen

Cornbread, cornbread muffins, cornbread, corn kernel and dried cranberry cornbread…. so many variations to please your guests.  Enter to Win a whole Case of Cornbread & Muffin Mix, Gluten Free, by Pamela's Products. Go to www.KidKritics.com/sweepstakes today.  Enter more than once to up your odds.

Do you want someone with authority to step in to try and the limit amount of sugary drinks kids drink? This as been suggested since recent research reveals that “85% said they had a sugar-sweetened drink at least once in the past week.”*  The policy of no sodas on school campuses has not made a measurable difference in how much of it kids drink.  And, we all know kids should not be drinking sugary junk drinks. What is your suggestion on this issue?

…  for the health of families,
ellen

How nice would it be to have a whole Case of “Amish style” Spelt Wide White Noodles by Vita Spelt in your pantry for holidays and winter meals?  The grain, spelt, offers a complete protein and scores low on the gluten scale  – it’s nutty delicious!  Makes them the preferred pasta.  Enter to win.  Go to www. KidKritics.com/sweepstakes today.  Enter more than once to up your odds.

*Ron Winslow, “Kids Keep Sipping Sodas”, Wall Street Journal, 11/8/11, D3.