“Hooked on chicken nuggets: Girl, 17, who has eaten nothing else since age TWO rushed to hospital after collapsing.” *

Apparently this teenager has never eaten fruit or vegetables.  Now she is in hospital with  swollen veins in her tongue, has anemia and has been warned that she was killing herself.

You say, no way this can happen.  I say, “Yes Way.”  Too many times I have has parents tell me, “My son/daughter will only eat chicken nuggets so that’s what I give him or her.  They refuse to eat anything else.”  I simply look at them and wonder who’s the boss.  Moms and dads, you have to guide your children away from the wrong decisions and to the right ones.  Sometimes that is easier said than done, yet, the alternative can be deadly.

Keep in mind you may be working against addictions.  Unfortunately, ingredients put in some foods are purposely habit forming.  Take charge now and avoid disaster later.  I am using strong words.  Don’t underestimate the consequences.  Steer your kids into making better food choices today and tomorrow.

… for the health of your family,
ellen

P. S. Please pray for this girl.

* This is a report from the U.K.

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!

According to a weekend report by the Los Angeles Times, the city’s “trailblazing introduction of healthful school lunches has been a flop.” In response to the public hectoring and financial inducement of Mrs. Obama’s federally subsidized anti-obesity campaign, the district dropped chicken nuggets, corn dogs and flavored milk from the menu for “beef jambalaya, vegetable curry, pad Thai, lentil and brown rice cutlets, and quinoa and black-eyed pea salads.”

Per Ms. Malkin, “Sounds delectable in theory. But in practice, the initiative has been what L.A. Unified’s food services director Dennis Barrett plainly concludes is a “disaster.” While the Obama administration has showered the nation’s second-largest school district with nutrition awards, thousands of students voted with their upset tummies and abandoned the program. A forbidden-food black market — stoked not just by students, but also by teachers — is now thriving. Moreover, “(p)rincipals report massive waste, with unopened milk cartons and uneaten entrees being thrown away.”

Who in the heck thought of  brown rice and lentil cutlets?  To quote a chef friend, “I would have thrown these away.”   Really, where is common sense when you need it.  The Good News is that we are working on a public school lunch solution.  The Bad News, it is going to take a long time to wade through all the issues and create a workable healthier school lunch program.  In the meantime,  please send us your ideas!

… for the health of your family,
ellen

A whole Case of Peanut Butter Filled Pretzels!  You can win this by entering, www.KidKritics.com/sweepstakes.  Fill your pantry with this Kid Kritics Approved party and snack food by Good Health Natural Foods.

Chef Carlino serves school lunches. He know kids like healthier food.  He also knows the obstacles for turning junk lunches into better ones.  How do you start the process? Keep this in mind, "Real food does not need masking." 1. Don't attack the whole situation. Work on one change at a time. 2. First recommended change: add a salad bar.  3. Parents, get involved.  Become volunteers helping in the kitchen and lunch room.  This is just the guts of what Chef Carlino shared with us on this interview.  He said so much more!  Listen on www.iTunes.com, then Podcast then "Better Food Choices". Then email me as we are working on a plan to help you. (ellen@KidKritics.com). Many hands make a happening!  Look forward to hearing from you.

… for the health of families,
ellen

Cornbread, cornbread muffins, cornbread, corn kernel and dried cranberry cornbread…. so many variations to please your guests.  Enter to Win a whole Case of Cornbread & Muffin Mix, Gluten Free, by Pamela's Products. Go to www.KidKritics.com/sweepstakes today.  Enter more than once to up your odds.

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?

The best holiday smoothie! Super easy, immune builder, protein power with only 3 ingredients: 1 cup Greek Yogurt, 1 cup frozen wild blueberries (Wyman's of Maine), 2 tsp. raw honey (Wholesome Sweeteners). That's it. If thinning desired, add milk of choice. Thank you www.NutritionBabes.com. For more recipes and holiday entertaining tips, please listen to Kathy and Lauren on www.iTunes.com, podcast, Better Food Choices, 11/18/11. They are worth every minute.

… for the health of your family.
ellen

36 more hours to Win a whole Turkey by Plainville Farms.  Enter.  Go to www.KidKritics.com/sweepstakes today.  How timely would it be to have it delivered to your door during these holidays?

We usually stay away from politics but now it is time for action. Did you know school systems identify pizza as a vegetable?  No wonder they serve it so often. The government says since tomato sauce is an ingredient in pizza, a serving of pizza can be counted as a vegetable serving. Did anybody in D.C. ever learn that a tomato is a member of the fruit family. This scientific truth has been smeared when tomatoes began to be treated as vegetables.  But they are not.  We are glad kids eat tomato sauce.  But, to label "pizza" as a member of the vegetable food group is just plain absurd.  We encourage you to speak up by emailing, texting or calling your Congress representative or using the services at the Center for Science in the Public Interest (www.cspinet.org) to express your views.  Thank you.

… for the health of your family,
ellen

These Honey Banana Muffins are moist and delicious, especially when served warm on a cold day!  A  big plus is,  they are made with raw honey which is an anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-viral food. Emily,  mother of two, made these muffins and she says “Organic Raw Honey by Wholesome Sweeteners was perfect for baking. It’s got a great texture and the open-mouth jar makes it convenient for baking, as it can be easily scooped out with a measuring cup.” Please go to www.KidKritics.com for this featured recipe.  Be sure to try them over the holidays!

…  for the health of your family,
ellen

Win a whole case of Spelt Wide White Noodles by Vita Spelt.  You eat a complete protein with every bite.  That  makes them the preferred pasta.  These Amish style noodles taste home-made.  Enter to win this Kid Kritics Approved Food Giveaway Sweepstakes prize today. Go to www.KidKritics.com/sweepstakes.

The one tried and true breakfast food for best mental performance is real oatmeal. It’s slow-digesting properties, thanks to its fiber content, provide a “sustained flow of glucose to the brain.”* Add a little more protein to your meal in the form yogurt, nuts and seeds, or a slice of chicken and you are ready for brain work.  (Course you need to have studied and slept well to ace the test.)  Please avoid sweet instant versions and do not add spoonfuls of sugar to your oatmeal. Fruit toppings offer you a winning combination. What did your kids have for breakfast this morning?

… for the health of families,
ellen

* Sue Shellenbarger, “Toughest Exam Question: What is the Best Way to Study?”, Wall Street Journal, p. D1

“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!