Munch your way through the spectrum!

Okay I have a confession to make.

Vendors are often sending us samples of their products for us to evaluate for our business needs (http://indigorabbit.com).  Recently a company sent some fabulous dried vegetables in powder form.  While we enjoy working with them in the test kitchen, I made sure to set aside some of my favorites for personal use here at home.

Last night is when I achieved my first sneaky success.  It was pasta night at our house and my kids are huge parmesan cheese eaters.  I grabbed a hold of the powdered sweet potatoes I’d stowed in the pantry as they were the same color as our parmesan and had a mild enough taste for my plan to work.  I simply poured the powdered veggies into the 1/2 full cheese shaker, mixed it all up, and onto the table it went.

Wouln’t you know it?  I had everyone fooled!  Even my husband!!!

Kudos to me.  A sneaky success!

If you’re a parent you can certainly appreciate how challenging it can be to consistently promote healthy-er eating for your children. 

There are days when we stand on the top of that mountain, red cape whipping in the wind behind us, when less than a boat-load of sugar and/or additives have made their way past our kids’ lips.

Of course there are less heroic times when we let down our guard and just praise the fact that we’ve managed to “arrange for” something edible to be within kid-range a few times throughout the day – wholesome or not.

Bottom line – we live in a world where less-than-optimal choices for nourishment abound and we need all the help we can get when it comes to solidifying our efforts to raise healthy kids.  It seems that food marketing so often works against us. 

According to a recent piece in the Arizona Daily Star, while many food manufacturers have made strides toward marketing healthier food options to children, more than 70% of the food advertising aimed at youths is for the least nutrious foods.

I need a bigger cape.

So has a particular male loved one indulged in the ale this holiday season?

Check out this recent article in USA Today that reports that beer may have properties that can protect men from prostrate cancer.  Go figure.

The celebrations continue.  Have a very happy, healthy, safe and peace-ful New Year!

Our very best to you from “Rainbow On Your Plate” and Indigo Rabbit.

BE WELL!

It would be terrific if only the healthiest of healthy foods passed the lips of our children.  Let’s be honest, it would be terrific if we could claim that for ourselves.

In the real world we teach our kids about nutrition and, if we’re lucky, pass on an appreciation for the way the media tries to influence what we think about things.  It can be fun to challenge kids to figure out what ploys the advertisement writers are using to make kids feel they need to own, do, or eat the product-of-the-moment.

Take a look at this article about how Nickelodeon is getting bashed for providing air time to food manufacturers promoting less-than-optimal foods to our kids (please recognize my exceedingly diplomatic language).

It’s Christmas time and for those of you who prepare for the holidays with food allergies in mind I have a fun recipe for you to try: Holiday Honey Cake.  This recipe comes to us from “My Kid’s Allergic to Everything” Dessert Cookbook.  This cake keeps for weeks and it toasts up great!

1 cup rye flour

1 cup spelt flour

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/3 cup honey

1/2 cup sugar

3/4 cup water

1/3 cup softened butter OR mild-tasting oil

Preheat oven to 350.  Use one 5″-9″ loaf pan, ungreased and unfloured.

Mix rye and spelt flours with the baking soda, baking powder, and cinnamon; set aside.  In a microwave-safe dish or in a small saucepan, mix honey, sugar, and water; heat slowly until small bubbles begin to appear.  Remove from the microwave or stovetop; in the dish or saucepan add the butter or oil; beat until well mixed.  Pour this into the flour mixture and beat for 10 minutes.  Pour batter into loaf pan.

Bake for 40 minutes or until inserted toothpick comes out clean and the top of the cake has begun to crack.

For the best flavor, cool completely after baking, place in a plastic bag, and refrigerate for three days before serving.

Variation: You may use samll amounts of soy, barley, or millet flours in place of some of the rye and spelt flours for a silkier cake.  You can also make this a spice cake by reducing the cinnamon to 1/2 teaspoon and adding 1/8 teaspoon each of ginger, allspice, and cloves.

May your holidays be bright, healthy and safe.  Many blessings to you from “Rainbow On Your Plate” and Indigo Rabbit.

There are few who need more evidence that food borne allergies in children are on the rise.  For those of you who enjoy seeing real data to support your suspicions, take a look at this recent piece on HealthDay.com.  

Researchers question whether the data reflects an increase in food allergy awareness or an actual increase in prevalence.  Either way, I still like seeing a growing appreciation of the issues within the scientific community.

It’s easy to focus on others and their needs, but since eating breakfast is key to everyone at home making the most of the day, here are some easy ways to make sure you all take advantage of this boost to the morning.

1.  When you do your grocery shopping, make sure you include items that will make breakfast a treat (and a snap) like fresh fruit, yogurt, hot and/or cold cereal, whole grain bread, nut butter and orange juice.

2.  Pretend you’re on one of those home shows and you’re staging your breakfast table.  Lay out bowls, silverware, juice glasses and pantry items on the table the night before – and make sure you get up early enough to partake!

3.  Keep breakfast foods within reach of the kiddos so they can help themselves.

4.  If you’re not hungry before you run out the door, grab something portable and eat your breakfast when you do get hungry.

Eating breakfast grants you good health AND healthy body weight.

Enjoy!

Have a beautiful holiday with family and friends!