Family Food Experts - Kid Kritics » Organic

GROCERY LIST: Lunch Boxes!

ellenbriggs — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 21:37:22 +0000

Three great items to put on your Lunch Box Grocery List are: 50% Reduced Fat Cheddar Minis (Cabot Creamery), Baby Carrots (organic) in Ranch Dressing (Earthbound Farm) and Veggie Sticks (EatSmart Naturals). Sources of dairy, vegetables and essential fatty acids (dressing). They are healthier choices, easy to pack, and kids love them. For more go to www.KidKritics.com.

… for the health of your family,
ellen and sally

Performance Food: GREEN BEANS fuel muscles, nerves, joints, lungs, eyes and more!

ellenbriggs — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 02:12:04 +0000

This week’s Performance Food is GREEN BEANS. They provide nutrients for healthy muscles, nerves, joints, lungs, eyes, hair, blood and brain. Look for thin fresh picked while in season. Go for the organic when and where possible. While lightly steaming them in one pan, saute garlic and almond slivers in butter or olive oil in another. Combine them when done, sprinkle with a little sea salt and serve. A slight squeeze of lemon adds a nice touch. Kids like them with a light crunch so try not to over cook them. Enjoy the fruits of summer!

… for the health of your family,
ellen and sally

RADIO GEM: Tips + Recipe for Gluten-Free

ellenbriggs — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 19:11:56 +0000

Alice Bast simplified how to easily feed kids gluten-free foods that taste good! Serve naturally gluten-free foods: fruit, vegetables, meat, seafood, dairy, eggs, nuts/seeds, herbs … just stay away from wheat, barley, rye. Buy Gluten-Free products from brands such as Rudi’s Organic Bakery, Blue Diamond, Bell & Evans, Pamela’s, and the Grainless Baker. For good list, go to www.centralceliac.org. Alice also emphasized the importance of making sure what you serve is nutritious.

ALICE’S RECIPE: “Apple Paradise”: Put sliced apples in a baking pan. Sprinkle a little brown sugar and butter on top. Bake until apples are tender. Serve with cheese. Yum! You could also make Sweet Potatoes Paradise by putting butter and rosemary on top and bake until tender. (Sweet potatoes don’t need sugar.)

“Make it fun”, says Alice. She is so right. Have a good attitude about nutritious food and your kids will too.

… for the health of families,
ellen and sally

RECIPE DAY! Crystal’s Chicken Shrimp Pasta is a home run!

ellenbriggs — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 21:28:24 +0000

Be sure to check out Healthy Recipe Mom Crystal’s Chicken and Shrimp Pasta made with the low gluten protein sourced organic white spelt spaghetti. It is loaded with a great mix of poultry, seafood, vegetables, whole grains, dairy and herbs. “The children, ages 7 and 4, loved it because I added their favorite vegetables and shrimp, another family favorite.” 10 minutes to prepare, 15 minutes to cook and viola, you have a nutrient-packed delicious dinner. Try it!

(Sign up to be a Healthy Recipe Mom too and receive free Kid Kritics Approved food. www.KidKritics.com)

… for the health of your family,
ellen and sally

Radio Gem: Are you picking ripe melons or just making music?

ellenbriggs — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 22:39:50 +0000

When choosing produce from a farmer’s market or store, check for ripeness by smelling it. You should be able to smell the essence of the fruit or vegetable. If not, it is not ready for your family to eat. You could take it home and try ripening in window sills. According to Ellie Bottomley, all those who are tapping melons are simply making music!

… for the health of your family,
ellen and sally

RADIO GEM: COOL Summer RECIPES rerun, 7/13 @ NoonEST. It was that good!

ellenbriggs — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 17:23:36 +0000

Ellie Bottomley’s interview was clearly one of our best: COOL Summer RECIPES. We are rerunning it on Tuesday, 7/13 for those who missed it, and those who listened but know there was more to hear. Tips on shopping, storing and preparing fresh produce… recipes for breakfast, lunch, snacks and dinner. This is the best produced version. Tell your friends and tune in… or listen on iTunes at your leisure. It is worth every minute of your time. Life will get easier in the kitchen!

… for the health of your family,
ellen and sally

Food for Your Blood: Green Beans, Black Cherries

ellenbriggs — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 13:10:12 +0000

Green beans and black cherries are a couple of foods that provide needed nutrients for your blood (lots of phytonutrients!) They are in season so buy them fresh. Local markets are great sources. If possible buy organic. Choose thin green beans, wash, chill them and eat as finger food with dips! Have a cherry seed spitting contest with your kids … it’s fun! Let them know that both of these foods power up their blood.

… for the health of your family,
ellen and sally

Sally’s Butter Secret

ellenbriggs — Fri, 07 May 2010 19:13:48 +0000

First it is important to know that butter made from grazing cows contains CLA, an important brain nutrient. This means you should choose organic butter. But that’s not all. Conventional butter is laden with heavy metals, pesticides and herbicides. Thus, buying organic is a must.

Sally’s secret to eating butter is a Mediterranian practice. She dilutes it and makes a spread. Lightly melt butter, add the olive oil and lemon juice, mix well and refrigerate. Use this spread as you would use butter. Makes everything taste super delicious and it is healthy. Now you have a good fat to add to vegetables and spread on whole grain toast!

By the way when interviewing Organic Valley dairy farmer, Regina Biedler, Sally was especially excited to learn more about Organic Valley’s Pasture Butter – means it contains more CLA and other nutrients. We are both going out to buy some. You should too!

… for the health of families,
ellen and sally

Go to itunes, type in ellen briggs, and listen to our interview with Regina. She began farming in Africa. Really interesting story!

NEW Dirty Dozen – hot off the press!

ellenbriggs — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 19:38:30 +0000

The EWG (Environmental Working Group) has just posted a New Dirty Dozen. This is the produce you want to buy Organic. Here’s why:

Produce – # Chemicals/Pesticides detected
CELERY – 64 chemicals
PEACHES – 62 pesticides
STRAWBERRIES – 59 pesticides
APPLES – 42 pesticides
BLUEBERRIES – 52 pesticides
NECTARINES – 33 pesticides
BELL PEPPERS – 49 pesticides
SPINACH – 48 pesticides
KALE – ?
CHERRIES – 42 pesticides
POTATOES – 37 pesticides
GRAPES (imported) – 34 pesticides

Lettuce was replaced by potatoes. Do your best to buy the organic fruits and vegetables from this list, fresh or frozen. Or avoid them all together and buy other conventional produce.

… for the health of your family,
ellen and sally

Radio Gems: The CLEAN FIFTEEN – a money saving tip!

ellenbriggs — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 23:37:33 +0000

The CLEAN FIFTEEN are those fruit and vegetables you can buy conventionally without being concerned about the overuse of pesticides and other unwanted chemicals: Onion, Avocado, Sweet Corn, Pinapple, Mango, Asparagus, Sweet Peas, Kiwi, Cabbage, Eggplant, Papaya, Watermelon, Broccoli, Tomato, Sweet Potato. Save some money! Thank you Chef Lynn for this tip.

… for the health of your family,
ellen and sally

* Source: www.ewg.org