Since you heart is pumping hard to push blood through about 60,000 miles of blood vessels  a day, wouldn’t it be a good idea to feed this muscle its needed fuel? Dr. Heather shares what she feeds her family of four so all stay healthy and function at their best.  Good fats (Omega-3s) were tops on her list.  Putting flax seed oil with heart healthy blueberries and other fruit into smoothies is a daily event for breakfast or snacks.  Avocados in salads or Guacamole are frequently consumed by her family.  Grass-fed beef and eggs are commonly found on their plates for dinner and other meals.  One of her young daughter’s was making scrambled eggs with spinach and cheese for her breakfast while we were on the air.  It’s not that hard!

To hear all of Dr. Manley’s Heart Health interview, please go to the www.BetterFoodChoicesRadio.com archived shows, or, www.iTunes.com, Podcast, Better Food Choices and click on the Feb. 3rd, 2012 show. PLEASE, avoid having any heart disease statistics in your family.  Listen to Dr. Heather Manley.

… for the health of your family,
ellen

Chocolate lovers, enter to Win a Case of Chocolate Walnut Cookies, Sugar Free, by Joseph’s Lite Cookies.  This is a great opportunity for those diagnosed as pre-Diabetic or Diabetic, or for those who want to avoid either diagnosis.  Joseph made them especially for you.  Go to www. KidKritics.com/sweepstakes today.  Enter more than once to up your winning odds.

The government is setting new school lunch nutrition requirements:  Establish maximum calorie and sodium limits.  Serve a fruit and vegetable every day in larger portions.  Offer a minimum number of leafy green vegetables, red-orange vegetables, starchy vegetables and legumes each week.  After 2 years, all grains must be rich in whole grains such as brown rice.  Breads, buns, cereals and pastas must list whole grain as 1st ingredient. Milk must be either low-fat (1%) or fat-free.  Flavored milk must now be fat-free.  No trans- fats.

Cost – 11 cents more per lunch. Who is going to pay for this?  Government will give schools 6 cents more per lunch.  The additional 5 cents will have to come from states and local taxes it seems. What are you paying for each lunch at your children’s school?

We are pleased with these positive changes.  There are two possible problems to address.  One: the government has no money.  We are in serious debt.  Two: kids have to like these foods.  With the right cafeteria managers and chefs, this is possible.  To limit their other choices is critical.  Kids will eat healthier foods if they taste good.

Best possible school lunch – probably the one you make at home for your kids to take to school.  That is why we give you Lunch Box menus in our Family Food Newsletter.  Sign up to receive it twice a month. www.KidKritics.com.

… for the health of families,
ellen

Mac and Cheese – all natural, no artificial anything, no Trans Fats. Win a whole case by Annie’s Homegrown.  Add some carrots or peas and a few parsley and paprika flakes. Put some in thermos for school lunch.  Go to www.KidKritics.com/sweepstakes today!

How to Choose Nut Butters:
ADDRESS ALLERGENS by reading for peanut butter ingredients or exposure during processing.  This helps those with and without PB allergies.
ORGANIC or NATURAL: Certified Organic means fields, plants/trees and processing meet strict organic standards… as good as it gets.  Natural may or may not mean void of unhealthy ingredients.  Know your source.
READ INGREDIENTS: one or two ingredients is enough for good nut butters. Avoid added stabilizers, sweeteners and oils.
RAW or ROASTED: Raw means no heat application which alters nutrients such as essential fatty acids – essential for your body’s cellular production.  Roasted uses heat for this adjusted flavor.  The less the better which is why Lightly Roasted is a good choice.
NUT VARIETIES: Almond, Cashew, Walnut, Pecan, Macadamia and even Coconut are alternatives to Peanut Butter. Those taste tested by the Kid Kritics were big hits!

This and so much more was shared by today’s radio guest, Co-Founder and President of the Artisana brand, Santiago Cuenca-Romero.  Listen to all he had to say, www.iTunes, Podcast, “Better Food Choices.” Very interesting guy!

… for the health of your family,
ellen

Be the one who Wins the Case of Chocolate Energy Bites by Greens+.  Enter by going to www.KidKritics.com/sweepstakes. They are perfect for kids… just ask the Kid Kritics.

From fat to thin, from sick to healthy, from True Body Age of 67 back to 42 in 3 years! It took Celeste only  21 days to shed her illnesses including IBS. All by eating “real food”, raw fruits and vegetables. This is common sense simple, saves money and time.  Both Celeste and her husband have maintained their youthful weight and health for 5 years.  They are the testimonial you need to believe you can so this.  And, the food is delicious.  Listen to the podcast of this interview to learn more on www.BetterFoodChoicesRadio.com, Or you can go to iTunes, Podcast, Better Food Choices and listen. Their book, filled with recipes, is a must read for anyone who wants to become Wonderfully Well.

… for the health of your family.
ellen … Yes, I pulled out my juicer and plugged it in – back to juicing in my house!

Time to enter to Win a Case or Yummi Bears Immunity Shield by Hero Nutritionals, AND, a clever children’s book, Battle with the Bugs, by Dr. Heather Manley.  Keep your kids healthy all winter with this combo prize. Go to www.KidKritics.com/sweepstakes today!  (Prize changes on Monday.)

The folks in Portland, Maine have encouraged their community to follow the 5-2-1-0 program: EVERYDAY eat at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables, engage in 2 hours or less of screen time, exercise at least 1 hour, and, consume 0 sugary drinks. A recent survey showed a significant increased dedication to this behavior pattern.  More kids are sitting down and eating fruits and vegetables which means parents are serving them.  45% of kids are watching less screen entertainment.  Water is replacing sodas.  The trend is moving in a healthy direction.  This 5-2-1-0 number series seems to make it easier for parents and children to follow this guideline.  Do you agree?  If so, we encourage you to adopt it in your home.

… for the health of families,
ellen

Win a Whole Free Range Turkey (Shelton’s Poultry) for your family. Go to www.KidKritics.com/sweepstakes to enter.  Shelton’s birds “don’t do drugs.”  You can really taste the delicious difference!

Is butter healthier than margarine? Don't feel alone if you are not sure.  Some think butter is healthier because it is more natural. Some say margarine is better for you since it has less fat. The problem with margarine is how the fats used are processed.  We don't recommend any.  Butter, used in moderation, especially that sourced from healthier fed dairy cows, is our choice.  Healthy fats such as the premier kind, olive oil, is wonderful and better for cooking.  Flaxseed oil is good one but turns rancid easily so keep it refrigerated, sealed, and do not use it for cooking. Good fats are your friends.  Enjoy them.

… for the health of your family,
ellen

 - Idea for this blog came from "Good, bad, ugly fats. But do consumers know which are which?"  www.nutrainingredients-usa.com.

GROUND BEEF

Hamburger has 30% added fat.  Ground Beef does not.  I agree with Kimberly Stewart (Eating Between the Lines).  I would rather pay for a pound of ground beef meat than a pound of hamburger with all its added fat that cooks out.  Would you?

… for the health of families,
ellen

New Sweepstakes prize: Bunny Graham Friends by Annie's Homegrown.  To win a case, enter by going to www.KidKritics.com/sweepstakes.   

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!

From conception to the end of your life, you brain continues to grow and replace its 100 billion nerve cells and their networks.  When you feed it fish oils (EPA & DHA) not only are you nourishing these cells, these oils will get rid of the “bad guys.”  To quote Jolie Root (jolieblogs.com), “We’re building the brain.”  To learn more, listen to “Oiling Your Children’s Minds” on Better Food Choices at iTunes (free).  From dipping teething biscuits into lemon flavored fish oil to what supplements to use, Jolie has lots of answers for you.  Tune in for more good brain news.

… for the health of your family,
ellen

Don’t forget to enter the sweepstakes to win a case of single serve Pizza Veggie Stix and a DVD, “The Princess and the Pop Star.”  Go to www.KidKritics.com/sweepstakes today!