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!

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.

I watch people putting cases and huge bottles of soda in their carts and wonder what they are thinking.  They are spending their hard earned money on carbonated dyed sugar water, described by some as Liquid Candy. They are kidding themselves when they are buying diet which is worse.  Both are empty of nutrients and full of disease related ingredients.  Not only are you paying for the actual soda, you will be soon paying for soda induced doctor  and pharmaceutical bills in the near and far future.  This is an addictive acting expensive habit. Buy water or water filters instead.  Stop throwing your money down the soda drain.  Can you afford to do this?

… for the health of families,
ellen

Wouldn’t you love to have a case of Tomato Basil Spaghetti Sauce by Simply Organic in your pantry for holiday cooking?  Enter to win one this week.  Go to www.KidKritics.com/sweepstakes today.

When you find your kids or yourself reaching for something sweet, reach for nuts, seeds, slices of cheese or turkey instead.  You will find you are not as interested in satisfying your sugar craving.  This will help keep your family and you from eating the average of 35 teaspoons of added sugar a day!  So many grams of sugar are hidden in processed foods as high fructose corn syrup, glucose, dextrose, fructose, maltodextrin, and more. Reading labels is the smart way to avoid buying any of these foods.  And, always having some protein finger food around as an alternative will save the day!

… for the health of families,
ellen

Brain Boosters for your kids! Enter to Win a Case of Yummi Bears Organics Brain Booster by Hero Nutritionals.  Go to www.KidKritics.com/sweepstakes today!

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

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.

Author and Food Expert, Kimberly Stewart, is GIVING away her book, Eating Between the Lines. , the Supermarket Shopper's Guide to the Truth Behind Food Labels.   Go to www.eatingbetweenthelines.com and sign for it.  All addresses are kept confidential.  This is a must have book, a very generous offer.  Don't miss out.

(We learned how to spend money on which Eggs on today's radio show, www.BetterFoodChoicesRadio.com or iTunes (Better Food Choices) from Kimberly Stewart.  Great show!)

… for the health of families,
ellen and sally