Schools and Education

"You may want to double this recipe.  These go fast!" … says the mom who created No-Bake Cashew Butter Balls.  It's so simple.  In a bowl mix together rolled oats, a little agave nectar or raw honey and flour with some cashew butter. Roll into little balls and they're ready to eat.  Add some dried fruit, nuts and coconut if you like.  For details, please click Here.  Make some for Easter, adding some dark chocolate chips!

… for the health of your family,
ellen

Imagine a whole Case of Greek-Style LowFat Plain Yogurt by Cabot of Vermont being delivered to your home!  What a great supply for making smoothies, dips, fruit yogurts, sauces and yummy summer frozen yogurt recipes. Enter to win. www.KidKritics.com/sweepstakes.

Pink Slime is the either Boneless Lean Beef Trimmings (BLBT) or Lean Finely Textured Beef (LFTB) that is created from low quality beef trimmings and connective tissue, and is treated with ammonia hydroxide (ammonia and water) to kill bacteria.  It is used in ground beef – may represent up to 25% of patties. The problem is that you didn't know this was added to the ground beef products you have been buying.  We don't like to feel violated.  Maybe you would be okay with spending less for this mix of beef and fat if you knew this was added to reduce the price.  Having the facts is essential for your decision process. Some beef companies said they are eliminating pink slime from their products. Schools are also moving to remove it from their meals. Makers of pink slime are reportedly shutting down some the production plants. Hue and cry does work!  So does voting with your pocket book.

Another truth: ammonia hydroxide is found in many processed products – baked goods, cheeses, chocolate, snack foods, jam, jellies, pudding and more.  This is why we recommend eating fewer packaged and more fresh foods.

As you know, organic and grass feed beef is the best.  You get more with every bite – a little goes a long way.  Eat less and get more for your money.

… for the health of your family,
ellen

Do forget to enter to Win a Case of Oat Blueberry Lemon Whenever Bars, gluten free, by Pamela's Products.  www.KidKritics.com/sweepstakes.  Enter more than once to up your odds!

Granola or Granola Bars.  Both can be make with this recipe.  Feel free to replace the peanut butter and peanuts with other nut/seed butters or other nuts.  The Kid Kritics loved these as bars, ate every bit.  When you pour some rice milk over the crumbled version, oh my goodness it is good.  Thank you Deneen, mother of 3, for creating this recipe for us.  "I tried this recipe with my very picky 8 year old. He watched me make it, and even got to taste the soft granola mix before it was baked. Over the last couple of years, I've created a variety of granola flavors, and he usually declines after tasting them. This was the first one he loved. So, it is very kid-friendly as well as being nutritious."  Nutritious it is.  Did you know sesame seeds are a great source of calcium, and their oils do wonders for you brain and extended neural system.  And there's more… have fun making this recipe with your kids.  Have even more fun eating it!  http://www.kidkritics.com/recipes/A-La-Sesame-and-Peanut-Butter-Granola-by-Deneen/168.

… for the health of your family,
ellen

This week's sweepstakes prize: a Case of Cocoa Brownie Mix – organic and gluten-free by Simply Organic!  Enter to win: www.KidKritics.com/sweepstakes

It’s so simple.  Every brain, especially that of a growing child, relies on the following:  1.  Interaction.  Yes, we are social beings and need to interact with other people in person – eye to eye contact. 2. Movement.  Everyone needs to stop being so sedentary and get moving.  Your brain development and function depends on this.  3. Brain Food. Drinking water, eating essential fatty acids and other brain nourishing foods makes a brainy difference. Junk food is destructive.  The Family Coach, Lynne Kenney, Doctor of Psychology spent 30 minutes sharing what her Brain Based Skills research has revealed.  The brain health of your children and you can be positively manages.  None of this is hard.  All of this makes sense. Tune in y

www.BetterFoodChoicesRadio.com (archives, 3/9/12)

www.iTunes.com, Podcast, Better Food Choices (3/9/12)

… for the health of your family,
ellen

Win a case of Rice Cheez Snack Sticks by Lisanatti Foods, a cheese alternative, AND, the children’s book, The Lucky Escape, by Dr. Heather Manley. This is a fun adventure that takes you through the digestive system – great way to learn! www.KidKritics.com/sweepstakes

Get ready for “WOW!” when you serve this stew made with Italian sausage, celery, carrots, tomatoes, white beans and Simply Organic Tomato Basil Spaghetti Sauce Mix.  Here are some comments from the Kid Kritics, “Thumbs up!!!…It was the best in the whole universe…Best stew I’ve ever  had…Tastes like an angel made it….Tastes like a yummy!” Great way to entice your kids to eat some veggies and beans.

Recipe: http://www.kidkritics.com/recipes/Italian-Stew/227

You are going to love this one,

… for the health of your family,
ellen

New Prizes: Win a Case of Rice Cheeze Snack Sticks, Mozzarella Style by Lisanatti Foods, AND, a children’s book, The Lucky Escape, part of the Human Body Detective series by Dr. Heather Manley.  Enter: www.KidKritics.com/sweepstakes today!