Phytonutrients

Onions are full of nutrients that feed your Brain, Blood, Bones, Eyes, Heart, Lungs, Mouth/Teeth, Muscles, Nails, and Skin.  They are packed with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.  The average person eats about 20 pounds of a combination of red, yellow and white onions a year.  I am sure we eat more than that in our home.  That's because we add sauteed in olive oil onions (and garlic) to almost every dinner.  In addition to using them in meat, fish, eggs and vegetable recipes, we add the golden cooked ones as a topping to a grilled burger, chicken, lamb and fish entree, usually along with sweet potatoes and salad.  We recommend you do the same.  You will find your kids popping delicious lightly caramelized sauteed onions (and garlic buds) into their mouths.  What better way to build their immune systems and support their brain, bones and more.

… for the health of families,
ellen

Pineapple is your magic winter fruit.  It not only feeds your Brain, Ears, Eyes, Mouth/Teeth, Nails and Nerves, it also serves as a digestive agent when eaten with other food. 

There's More! Bromelain, found in its fruit and stem, actively helps you digest protein and on an empty stomach is a potent anti-inflammatory.  It is known to loosen up and dissolve mucous.  If you or anyone you know is battling a cold or cough, turn to fresh pineapple for help. (I drank away a cold-filled head with 100% pineapple juice.)  It even helps with nausea.  The abundance of manganese supports growing healthy bones and tissue.  And, it is fat-free, low in calories and its thiamine converts is natural complex carbohydrates into energy. 

How great it is that this very sweet fresh fruit is so good for you!  (Please, stay away from canned.) Buy it whole.  When ripe, slice off the sides, cut out the stem and devour some right then and there. Later add some to salads, yogurt, fruit cup, smoothies, on pizza, pancakes, waffles, and cereal or roast it. You get a lot for your money with fresh pineapple.

… for the health of your family,
ellen

New Sweepstakes Prize!  A whole case of Organic Cinnamon Raisin Bread by Rudi's Organic Bakery. Makes the best toast.  Try grilling some with PB&J in the center.  This bread freezes well so a supply will keep until your are ready to use it.  To enter, please go to www.KidKritics.com/sweepstakes.

Performance Food for Valentine’s Day and everyday! Cocoa Powder (dark chocolate)! It’s nutrients feed your brain, heart, muscles, nerves, bones, hair, nails and skin! You can thank its concentration of minerals and omega-3 fats for this. This powder itself actually reduces your cravings for sweets. Plus it is loaded with antioxidants – 20% more than wine. And, you know it helps lift your spirits. Catch is, for these benefits, it has to be eaten as true dark chocolate. I enjoy a square or two of a 70% dark chocolate bar everyday. 85% is even better. Start your kids on 60% dark chocolate.  Most love it… and it loves them!

… for the health of your family,
ellen

Thanks to Joel Furhman, MD, you can easily remember what immune building foods to feed your family. GOMBBS: Greens, Onions, Mushrooms, Berries, Beans, Seeds*. Pretty simple, right?  Daily, make sure you serve at lest three of these a week. For example, it’s simple to prepare fresh or steamed lettuce, spinach, kale – sauteed onions and mushrooms, fresh or frozen berries (smoothies!), beans (hummus counts), and some sesame or sunflower seeds in a salad or trail mix.  It seems that everywhere I turn, someone is sick.  Even my digestive system was complaining a little this morning.  So I am now totally focused on  GOMBBS.  How about you?

… for the health of your family,
ellen

Win the hearts of your family by winning  Case of Wild Blueberry Juice by Wyman’s of Maine, AND, a children’s book, A Heart Pumping Adventure from the Human Body Detectives series by Dr. Heather Manley.  Please go to www.KidKritics.com/sweepstakes.  Enter more than once to up your odds!

* Excerpt from Dr. Joel Fuhrman’s recently released book, SUPER Immunity.

When you need or want to enjoy good-tasting cheese alternatives, you’ll be glad to know there are many good ones to choose. Be it almond, rice or soy-based, Lisanatti makes them so delicious that the Kid Kritics awarded their products their Seal of Approval.  That’s should speak loudly to you!  Lisanatti vegetarian cheese alternatives look, taste and melt like regular cheese.  The melting part is really important when making recipes such as grilled cheese.

Their almond, rice and soy cheeses come as mozzarella, cheddar, as sticks, in chunks or shredded.  They use organic and non-GMO ingredients. No trans or saturated fats.  Gluten and cholesterol free. Low in sodium and good sources of calcium and protein.  Have I given you enough reasons to try some?  Once you start, you’ll be come a loyal fan.

… for the health of your family,
ellen

Don’t forget to enter to Win a whole Case of  Wild Blueberry Juice by Wyman’s of Maine, PLUS, the children’s book, A Heart Pumping Adventure, by Dr. Heather Manley.  Feed and read about your heart!  Please go to www.KidKritics.com/sweepstakes today.