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.)

Healthy Recipe Mom Karen, mom of 2 says,”These are really good and moist!” Try this recipe during the holidays or for your next party.  It will be a hit with kids and adults alike.  Karen and her friend Tina brought this “super yummy” coffee cake to work.  The result?  “We have tested it amongst the office staff and got a unanimous thumbs up.” I made it too. Easy and delicious – the perfect baking combination for me.  Recommend you try it.

…. for the health of your family,
ellen

You can Win a Case of  Organic Spicy Falafel Chips (Flamous Brands) that happen to be Gluten Free.  The only meal in a chip that I know of and this one is spicy.  Enter by going to www.KidKritics.com/sweepstakes today.

From scratch sounds like a lot of work, but its not in this case.  Never thought I could make applesauce without making a royal mess of it. This recipe proved me wrong.  It is so easy, super delicious and loaded with antioxidants and other important nutrients.  4 ingredients: apples (organic please) , wild blueberry juice, lemon juice and cinnamon.  That's it.  All you do is cook apples in the wild blueberry juice then puree them. I used the "can't live without" Immersible Blender right in the pot.  Added lemon juice and cinnamon.  All done!  (Please go to www.KidKritics.com for details.) You can use any 100% juice – please avoid those with added sugar.  If I had known this was so easy, I would have made this years ago. Make some in quantity and freeze it for future use.  Save money with this kid favorite.

… for the health of your family,
ellen

Your turn! Enter to Win a Case of Cornbread & Muffin Mix, Gluten Free, by Pamela's Products.  It's for everyone and everyone loves it!  Go to www.KidKritics.com/sweepstakes.  Wouldn't this come in handy for holiday entertaining?

Recently we blogged about the top three: Onions, Corn, Pineapples. Here are the rest. Avocado, Asparagus, Sweet Peas, Mangoes, Eggplant, Cantaloupe, Kiwi, Cabbage, Watermelon, Sweet Potatoes, Grapefruit, Mushrooms.* Feel comfortable feeding these to your family without buying organic. Just watch out for imports from South America and Asia. I try to buy one avocado and one mango a week. These will help feed a family when you cut them into little pieces and add to salads or use as a side. We eat a lot of sweet potatoes and cooked onions. You will usually find a pineapple or some watermelon in our kitchen at any given time. Peas are a weekly must. The others are woven into our monthly menu though we have been staying away from cantaloupe lately. This list is your budget saver group. Ask your store’s produce manager when they are going on sale, really  -  make him your “best friend.”

… for the health of your family,
ellen

Free Food for you if you Win a Case of Tomato Basil Spaghetti Sauce by Simply Organic.  Go to www.KidKritics.com/sweepstakes and enter today.

Onions, Corn and Pineapple, in this order, are the top three “cleanest crops.” (foodnews.org)  Cleanest indicates they contain the least amount of pesticides, herbicides, fungicides and other unwanted chemicals.  It also means you can feel comfortable buying and eating commercially grown, avoiding the extra expense of organic. Notice how each has naturally protective skins.  That helps.  What they also have in common is they have nutrients that feed your brain.  Fuel you family economically with fresh onions and pineapple, and,  fresh or frozen corn all year round.

… for the health of your family,
ellen

A whole case of food is up for grabs.  Go to www.KidKritics.com/sweepstakes and enter to win Almond and Rice Cheese Chunks and Shreds by Lisanatti Foods. They look, cook and tastes like mild cheese. YUM!

“Lettuce recall for listeria initially mentioned only cartons destined for retail in a few states. True Leaf Farms now says lettuce recall involves nearly 2,500 cartons, mostly sold to restaurants, cafeterias, and other institutions in 19 states and Canada.” This is what has been reported from several news outlets. The good news is that this issue was caught fairly early on indicating our improved food safety processes are working.   Once again, the source of this food recall is not an organic farm.  Bottom line, feel safer when buying organic, be sure to wash all produce well before eating, and always wash your counters and your hands before and after use.  Then enjoy your salad!

… for the health of your family,
ellen

5 more days to enter to Win a Case of Oat Cranberry Almond Whenever Bars, Gluten-Free by Pamela’s!  You can do so every day.  Wouldn’t a case of Kid Kritics Approved breakfast, lunch and snack bars help you food budget?  Go to www.KidKritics.com/sweepstakes today!

Quiche, a fancy French word for an open egg-based pie, is so easy to make! Many run from it because it sounds so gourmet.  All you do is get a pie crust and lightly bake it.  Then add beaten eggs and any combination of fillers.  Many use cheese, spinach and bacon (turkey please) or a good sausage mixed with a little cream or milk.  Sauted broccoli, carrots, onions, garlic, herbs, tomatoes, shredded sweet potatoes, beans,  chicken… the list of possibilities is a long as your imagination and your food inventory.   Once you pour the egg filler into the crust, bake it until the eggs are firm. Any combination is filled with high performance nutrients! When we served a Spinach Bacon Quiche to the Kid Kritics, they all began chanting, “Quiche, Quiche, Quiche…” They became instant fans.  There are lots of recipes!  One is featured on www.KidKritics.com.  Go for it and customize one to suit your family’s palate!

… for the health of your family,
ellen

Don’t forget to sign up to Win a Case of Ranch Dressing Mix by Simply Organic.  It can also be used to make dips!  Kid Kritics loved it both ways.  Go to www.KidKritics.com/sweepstakes today.  Enter more than once to up your odds!

Dr. Oz has moms wondering whether to feed their kids apple juice or not. It is time to narrow down the truths so you can make good decisions.  First one: do not buy imported fresh or processed produce.  Those from Canada, Europe, Australia and New Zealand may be excepted due to their strict produce guidelines.  Most other countries, and especially China, have suspect produce practices.  This is where metals, such as arsenic are being found. Buy 100% U.S.A.  Secondly: Buy local and even better, organic.  Thirdly: Dilute all 100% juices when serving, or, skip them all together and feed your kids organic apples.  Sugar added juices should be a no.  Water, plain or with lemon juice is what kid really need.  Save safe fruit juices as a treat.

… for the health of your family,
ellen

Keep the doctor away with apples!  Their nutrients feed your Brain, Bones, Hair, Heart, Mouth, Teeth and Skin. Apples are a moms best friend because kids love them. Eat them whole, in sections, as slices and grated.  Eat them with nut and seed butters, in wraps, salads, cereals, fruit cups, kabobs, grilled sandwiches, subs, soups, pies and as toppings.  Apple sauces, especially when combined other fruits (no sugar added, please) are great breakfast, lunch and snack items. Mix some in yogurts.  Cook apples in whole chicken and turkey cavities to enrich the juices.  Always have a few apples in your kitchen.  This is apple season – means better prices. Think ahead and buy some to freeze for winter cooking. Unfortunately, apples are heavily sprayed so please buy organic – now usually found in most stores. If apples look perfectly shiny, beware; that's not how they look on the tree. The extra pennies you pay for nutrient-packed apples will save you dollars on your medical bills in the short and long run. Enjoy!

… for the health of your family,
ellen 

It's fresh tomato season!  The good news is that this fruit, commonly referred to as a vegetable, is filled with nutrients that feed your brain, ears, eyes, hair, heart, lungs, mouth, teeth, muscles, and nerves!  It is a high performance food, one which most kids say they don't like.  I think this is because commercially grown tomatoes found in grocery stores are mealy and tasteless.  This is due to their poor growing environment and the fact they are picked before ripened.  The sun sweetens red tomatoes. Find a Farmer's Market.  Buy locally sun-ripened tomatoes or better yet, grow your own!  Organic ones are tastier because they have been grown in mineral rich soil.  To meet your budget needs, buy local or organic and cut it into small pieces, making one tomato go farther. Remember, in a nutrient-packed food, a little goes a long way.  Thank heavens kids love tomato sauces.  This absolutely is a great way to go.  Yet, please, keep introducing your kids to tasty fresh tomatoes.

…. for the health of your family,
ellen