This is serious stuff.  WIth over 16 percent of kids being obese and an additional almost 16 percent overweight, we are looking at about one in five kids with old sick arteries - maybe more.

There are simple solutions, beginning with giving up the white carbs, junk foods and bad fats, and, start moving.  Please, wake up and help reverse this trend.

… for the health of families,
ellen

The newly accepted Farm Bill includes specific Country of Origin labeling.  As of Sept 30th of this year, all products that are not processed have to display a label that tells you where it came from.  When you buy meat, you will know whether it came from the US or not.  When you buy fruit and vegetables, you will know where they were grown and harvested.  I am looking at an acorn squash sitting in a basket on my kitchen table.  It has a label that says, “Acorn Squash, Product of Canada.” 

The cost of labeling every product is expensive, I have heard up to a half a billion per year for retailers.  They have to pay for paper, printing and application of these labels.  Someone has to be hired to manage this process. In addition, labeling programs have to be run to maintain and report this bill’s requirements  Before the retailer receives the products, there is an additional cost to the suppliers who have to monitor and verify the country of origin for each one. Alot of extra time and paperwork is involved; each costs money.  Who do you think pays for this new requirement?  You, the consumer.  Both the supplier and the retailer pass the added expenses on to you. 

Now I know it is fun to know where you food is coming from, and, it is important to know where imported foods were grown and harvested.   However, I cannot understand why those products with a United States of America origin have to be labeled.  Why couldn’t this requirement be limited to imports and save us consumers some money? This would also encourage consumers to buy US products - good for the economy.

The reason processed foods do not fall into the labeling requirement is that is too difficult to list the country of origins for all the ingredients.  They skate.  Now you are looking at frozen entrees that may contain imported produce, meat or fish, and you won’t know it.  If the fact that it came from a country such as China is a concern for you. .. well, you lose out here. 

Some where the balance between the need to know and common sense solutions has been lost here.  Still, you get more for your money when you buy fresh produce, meat and fish!

… for the health of your family,
ellen

… for the health of your family,
Ellen

Plum Organics Kids Meals and Plum Organics Baby Food

All meals are frozen which means there are NO Preservatives!
All meals are Organic!

Below is the list of their products:

KIDS MEALS: Bowties Pasta with Creamy Sweet Potato
                    Cheese filled Spinach Tortellini with Marinara Sauce
                    Rainbow Pasta Shells with Creamy Parmesan Sauce
                    Italian Sausage Marinara Suace over Multigrain Pasta
All include a Veggie Delight mix

 - 100% organic ingredients
 - Fortified with Omega-3 - brain food!
 - No artificial sweeteners, colors or flavors
 - Og trans fat, low fat
 - Convenient 2-item frozen meals
 - Biodegradable Tray

BABY FOODS: Pumpkin Banana
                      Mango Muesli
                      Black Bean Tomato Tagout
                      Harvest Vegetables with Turkey
                      Pears and Apples
                      Sweet Potatoes
                      Super Greens
                      Super Greens Multigrain
                      Red Lentil Veggie
                      Pasta with Veggies and Chicken
                      Banana Peach Rice Pudding
                      Vegetable Stew with Beef
 - No Added Sugar
 - No Added Salt
 - No Artificial Ingredients

As usual, good ideas spring from a need and desire to do a better job.  I met and talked with the founder of this new company.  As a young mom, she looked at herself and said, “There has to be a better way to feed babies and kids.”  She began by feeding her baby son and now has developed a wonderful line of foods for young ones starting at 6 months.  If you recall from our interview with pediatrician, Dr. Ocampo, the recommendation is to not start by feeding your babies sweet foods.  Plum Organics line for babies offers many non-sweet, vegetable and other healthy options.  Bravo! 

We encourage you to look for this line and weave it into your current food choices.  Plum Organics is a new bright light in the food industry.  It’s a win/win for all.

… for the health of families,
ellen

Kids

Keri Marshall, ND, NS

Join host Criss Bertling and Family Food Expert Ellen Briggs as we interview Keri Marshall, NS, ND, of Nordic Naturals, manufacturer of “Pure and Great Tasting Omega Oils.”

Dr. Marshall is a licensed Naturopathic Doctor who specializes in holistic pediatrics and women’s medicine. She has published several scientific papers and magazine articles, written a book on proteins and amino acids, appears regularly on nationally syndicated radio shows, and most recently, appeared on ABC’s “A View from the Bay.” She is a writer and blogger for KIWI Magazine, a natural family living magazine.

Devoted to children’s health and wellness, Dr. Marshall also serves as a nutrition expert on the Wellness Committee in the Oyster River School District, helping to change the school lunch program by integrating healthier options. Dr. Marshall received her Naturopathic Medical degree from the National College of Naturopathic Medicine in Portland, Oregon, a Masters Degree in Social and Preventive Medicine from S.U.N.Y. at Buffalo, and a Bachelors of Science from the George Washington University.

Call in with your questions and get your information from the source! Dial 914-803-4091 or directly from the Internet at http://BetterFoodChoicesRadio.com.

What’s the solution?  Since we are warned not to give out or receive anything thing that is not packaged, why not some small bags of trail mix, crackers (Cheddar Bunnies), and even cookies (Late July) that kids love - the ones that meet our Better Food Choices standards? Joseph’s Lite Cookies has some little snack paks of cookies that have been Kid Kritics Approved.  This is money better spent.  I also like the idea of having parties with home-cooked treats, especially those using fruit.  Serve a good ice cream made with real cane sugar and cream topped with frozen berries and nuts (for those not allergic) - yum!   If you use chocolate syrup, make sure it is Ah! Laska.  Let’s Go Organic has some sprinkles made with natural food colors that are fun. 

As a child years ago, I loved running around our village in a home-made costume going from house to house for treats.  There was one house always to be avoided because they always made you do a trick first- sing a song or something - before they gave you anything.  I am afraid that those days of fun innocent trick or treating are over - too many real scary possibilites in today’s world of “crazies”.  Unfortunately, this holiday tends to lend itself to bad experiences.  

Please spend your portion of this $2 billion on good healther food and fun.

Kraft has introduced some new products.  In a time when healthier foods are in demand, you would think this food manufacturer could cough up some healthier products for kids.  Don’t hold your breath.  How about the ingenious idea of mac and cheese crackers?  Wish I had thought of that.  Cool Whip Topping in can.  Just what we need – a fast and fun way to cover desserts with processed sugar and stuff.  Just spray it into your kids mouths – they’ll love you!  Nilla Cakesters – come on.  NUTrition trail mix and more one hundred calorie snack packs are also being introduced to the market.  Portion control can be helpful.  Still, what ever you put into your mouth has a positive or negative reaction.  That fact can’t be altered by the amount you eat. For example one hundred calories of a snack made with high fructose corn syrup is an absolute no, no.  One hundred calories of a dried fruit, nut and seed trail mix - preferably organic – is a good product.  I did not see this on Kraft’s new product list.  Too bad.  This company has the money to create and package healthier snacks.   Vote with your pocket book.  Don’t buy the junk stuff.  Mac and cheese crackers – really.  What’s next, Luncheable crackers?

… for the health of your family,

Ellen

A couple of  months ago I had an opportunity to scoot over to the Farmer’s Market in St. Michael’s , MD.  The morning was perhaps that first glorious sunny day which turns the weather page from Spring to Summer.  The air was a bit crisp but soon gave way to the sun’s persistence to reign on a perfectly blue sky day. 

This Farmer’s Market is located just off this village’s main street and backs up to the water’s edge.  What a spectacular location!  Tables provided a showcase for fresh produce, home-made cheese, breads, herbs, orchids, and more.  Fresh corn and strawberries were inviting.  Local gardeners work hard to bring their fresh food to market for us to purchase,  take home and devour.  My eyes went straight for my greatest weakness, cheese!   A local dairy farmer made their own brand of cheddar cheese.  One was aged for three months, one for six months and the best was age d for a year.  There were a few seasoned versions such as one with sun-dried peppers and basil.  But the best was the one aged the longest – ummm.  So pungent!  And, it melted in my mouth.  I immediately bought some after having tasted all the choices several times – just couldn’t help myself.  I wasn’t very subtle about it.  At least I bought some!  Wondering around renewed the value of a Farmer’s Market in my mind.  Whether the grower used organic or conventional methods, the food was fresh and sun-ripened.  We always say organic first, local second, store third in prioritizing how to buy produce. The local produce misses the preservation methods used during transportation and in stores to keep produce looking fresh.  Because local produce has been harvested after being sun-ripened, it contains the full benefits of phyto-nutrients.  It is also harvested just before it is brought to the market. The sooner you eat produce after it has been picked, the more of the nutrients have been maintained. So even if this produce has not been grown organically, local produce does have nutrient benefits not found in store produce. 

As a gardener, I know how hard local growers work to produce bountiful and delicious food.  Just take a look at their hands and nails!  Supporting them feels great.  They deserve it.

Let’s get back to the cheese I bought.  Do you think I could take ten steps out of the market before beginning to eat it?  In fact, at about every tenth step, I took another bite.  Patience is a virtue – except when you have a little bag of mouth-watering, home-made, smooth ivory cheese in your hands.  Why let it age one more hour.  I didn’t.

… for the health of families,

Ellen

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Here is an idea my son concocted at school, his own version of deviled eggs.  The hard boiled eggs are provided.  After grabbing one, he scoops out the yoke.  Then he mashes it with a bit of yellow mustard and mayo.  After mushing it together to his satisfaction, he then puts it back into the hole of the hard boiled white.  Here is the kicker.  He tops it all with a drop of honey.  What a great idea – one that I would never have thought of in my lifetime.  He says they taste delicious.  Try this and let me know if you agree.

… for the health of your family,

Ellen