Gluten Free: So Many New Choices!

By Kid Kritics | April 23, 2013

Have you noticed how the gluten-free food section in your grocery store has expanded over the last couple of years? That is primarily due to an increased demand for them. A gluten-free diet is medically prescribed to people with celiac disease; 1 in 100 Americans suffer with the diagnosis. But those are not the only ones demanding a larger variety of tasty gluten free products.

Many people have found that although they do not have celiac disease they greatly benefit from eating less or no gluten which is primarily found in wheat, barley and rye. They noticed their skin is healthier, they experience less gastrointestinal distress such as bloating, and some even claim better mental health. Even with increased focus by the science community on studying the digestive tract, no conclusive research warrants warning everyone to avoid gluten, though some trials suggest this is a good idea. Many people dealing with various digestive related issues have voluntarily adopted a low gluten or gluten free diet.

Mothers, determined to alleviate some of those same symptoms for their children, have invested time and money to find products and recipes that are gluten free, ones their children will like. We have searched and found several family-friendly gluten free brands and products Kid Kritics have approved. These include Crunchmaster Cheddar Cheezy Crisps and Grammy Crisps which make great snack alternatives to wheat-filled versions. Lisanatti Foods, Pamela’s Products and Barbara’s Bakery also have several gluten-free products that have been awarded the kids’ seal of approval. To make your life really easy, we have posted many gluten free recipes on our website! For our full list of Kid Kritics Approved Gluten free products simply click on this link: Gluten Free Grocery List. It is wise, so please do discuss gluten free conditions with your doctor and/or dietitian to make sure low or no gluten foods are right for your family and you!

… for the health of your family,

Carolina

New products coming soon to join our Kid Kritics Approved List!

By Kid Kritics | March 27, 2013

A couple of weeks ago I went for the first time to Natural Food Expo West and it was AMAZING! Imagine one gigantic 3 floors the size of football fields conference hall filled with over 2,500 booths featuring brands dedicated to making the best all natural foods. They were presenting all their new products to try it and learn about it. Needless to say I ate well! We met up with some of our Kid Kritics Approved Brands to find out what new products they are coming out with that we can taste test and potentially award Kid Kritics Approved Seals.

It was easy to spot all the new trends! Popcorn was everywhere, flavored from sweet, salty all the way to spicy. Hemp hearts, oils and seeds as well as chia seeds are being added to several products to make it easier to integrate into our diets. Gluten free products are in full swing! It is no longer a huge challenge to go on a gluten-free diet, with so many brands and products dedicating full lines to the gluten free market you can eat pancakes, cakes, cookies, pasta, tortilla and even pizza. I also enjoyed the variety of new drinks incorporating teas, coconut water, natural juices without the addition of any sweetener at all! Letting the taste of the fruit, vegetable and natural ingredients be the star. We found many products that we are super excited to taste test and bring them to you to try! So stay tuned to our Facebook page, twitter and webpage as we announce products we award Kid Kritics Approved Seal.

… for the health of your family,

Carolina

We are here for you!

By Kid Kritics | March 1, 2013

I recently read an article reporting the dangers of eating soy. I became extremely overwhelmed as a parent! How do we know what to feed our family when advice and warnings are issued daily against different types of food? Recommendations seem to change constantly when it comes to sugar, fat, vitamins, minerals, and so much more – now soy. It is confusing and frustrating even for me as a registered dietitian. I am often conflicted on how to handle the new health information so I can’t imagine how tough it would be to decipher without nutrition training.

My advice is to approach it like you do most things in life. Build a relationship with experts you trust and have similar ideas, morals and beliefs. To this day when I am not sure what to wear for an important event, I call my mother! After all, for me she is my “fashion expert” and I trust her. Just filter out all the over dramatic news and hidden agenda advices and go straight to the source you can trust.

We hope you will find that we are here for you as your Family Food Experts! Kid Kritics Approved are a part of this dedicated group who works diligently to make sure all the advice we give has your family’s best interest at heart. The Kid Kritics Approved seal is there to help you when you shop (Grocery List link), and our recipes (Recipes link) are available to facilitate your menu planning. We also have our newsletter that we share two to three times monthly with a lunchbox menu, recipes and other nutrition tips. Our blog posts offer a little insight into my own experiences as a mother and nutrition expert. Our Pinterest Page is great for finding recipes by specific categories as well.

I invite you all to sign up for our newsletter today! (Click here to sign up) You will receive a free Breakfast Recipe e-Book with a collection of Kid Kritics approved recipes including many of our Kid Kritics Approved products. You can reach me on our Facebook page whenever you are looking for advice on something you heard, read, or about a specific topic you are interested in. I am here for you!

… for the health of your family,

Carolina

(In case you are wondering, yep, that’s my picture)

Holiday Meal Makeovers

By Kid Kritics | December 17, 2012

Can you believe there is a recipes using butterscotch that is healthier so you enjoy some without feeling a heavy sugar guilt trip? Apple Butternut Squares was shared by Liz Weiss, one of the Meal Makeover Moms. That's not all. From garlic shrimp to meatloaf to veggie lasagna, both Liz and Kathy Siegel (Nutritiion Babes) made over lots of recipes you will want to serve your family and friends while entertaining, or just dining at home! LISTEN for more!

… for the health of your family,
ellen

P.S. In case you missed it, here's the recipe link for Apple Butternut Squares: http://mealmakeovermoms.com/recipes/snacks-smoothies/apple-butterscotch-cake

Met Chef Paul Prudhomme!!!

By Kid Kritics | October 11, 2012

Our kitchen cupboard always has some seasonings from Chef Paul Prudhomme in it… easy way to spruce of a meal. Thus I see his cheerful face on his jars weekly. Imagine how delighted I was to see Chef Paul last week at the Food and Nutrition Conference and Expo. Truth is, I was sad to see his him sitting in an electric wheel chair – hard work and being an excellent chef has caught up with him. However, his warm smile shown through as he stirred the creation made for us to taste. The good news is that he and his tall lovely wife have come out with a new line of low sodium seasonings. Look for them in the stores.

… for the health of your family,
ellen

It is time to go Corn-Free. FREEZE.

By Kid Kritics | August 12, 2012

This summer’s drought is causing havoc on the farmed fields across America. You can expect food prices to go up. Why the focus on going Corn-Free? Because corn is a by-product in thousands of processed foods. Whether it be high fructose corn syrup (a big healthy NO), corn starch or other corn fillers, you’ll find corn ingredients in a boat load of grocery store products. We don’t recommend you eat those, unless they are organic. The summer sad fact is that fresh corn is getting more expensive due to high demand and lower yield. If you can find it, freeze it. No doubt, the prices for frozen corn during this coming fall, winter and spring are going to be higher than now. Buy now and freeze.

Now remember, corn is fed to many domestic animals. Thus the prices of meat and chicken will rise. Buy now and freeze. This drought affects more than corn. Soy is becoming more scare. We only recommend that you eat organic soy to avoid GMO and toxins. And, because soy is known to stimulate the production of estrogen in all bodies, young as well, we simply suggest you take soy products off your grocery list. As to all other produce, the drought is endangering their harvest as well. Buy now and freeze.

Bottom line: Freeze now to save later. It’s simple to do. Do away with your frozen processed foods to make room for … fill your freezer with frozen vegetables, fruit, meat and poultry, and eat well all winter!

As for grains, they can be kept in a cool, dry, dark container and cupboard. Make sure the air has been removed from these container… use plastic bags, roll them tight and seal them.

Hey, if you want to can food, be my guest. I find it challenging and prefer the ease of freezing.

You can beat rising prices if you act now. Yes, I have to practice what I preach to save money, too.

… for the health of our families,
ellen

Olympic Breakfast for Kids

By Kid Kritics | July 31, 2012

I was looking to see what Olympians eat for breakfast… no not cheeseburgers. They know the science of eating for performance. Their breakfast food depends on the time of day they are competing. Let’s say they are up at 6pm and their race is at Noon. This would call for great grain carb sources and some fruit for energy, not a lot of protein. The staple for most is oatmeal – better to have cooked rolled or steal cut oats. Along with this I recommend our recently Kid Kritics Approved Breakfast Banana Split. You simply cut a banana in half. Spread some vanilla yogurt over the halves. Top it with freshly cut strawberries, pineapple and some blueberries. Place a dollop of some vanilla yogurt over the fruit. Sprinkle ground nuts of choice on top (or not if you have nut allergies in your home). Serve. This combination, with oatmeal lightly sweetened with 100% pure maple syrup or fair trade honey, prepares your kids for hours of high performance. FYI: all fresh produce contain some protein – a little of a lot adds up. Of course, include a tall glass of spring water.

Enjoy this Olympic Power Breakfast! (Recipe details Click Here)

… for the health of your family,
ellen

Look at what I brought home with me!

By Kid Kritics | July 31, 2012

A RECIPE to die for! I call it the Pineapple Mint Refresher. Why, because one sip of this ice cold drink and you'll feel the fresh mint rush. During a really hot summer in Jerusalem, we walked into the Aroma cafe where coffee is their specialty. Since I have never like the taste of coffee, not even mocha, my eyes searched for an alternative and spotted a green drink. It turned out to be a combination of lemon juice with mint and ice cubes pulverized in a blender. Think they may have added some honey as a sweetener. It was out of this world delicious! For the rest of the days we were there, I order a glass full. When I returned home in the states, I decided that since I wasn't sure of the exact lemon recipe, I would make my own using 100% pineapple juice. It was sensational! Ever since, I have made one everyday for my afternoon pick-me-up.

The key that makes this cooling drink a stand out is the use of a blender to grind fresh mint leaves in a 100% fruit juice along with some ice cubes. My proportions are 1 cup of 100% pineapple juice (not from a can), 1/2 cup fresh mint leaves and a handful of ice cubes. That's it! CLICK HERE for RECIPE details

For this photo, I realized I had run out of pineapple juice so I pulverized fresh pineapple with water. Then added the mint leaves and ice. The more mint leaves you use, the greener it is… here the green has yet to settle. The more mint leaves your use, the fresher the uplifting taste!

Now I will admit that after I took this photo, I noticed I had a couple of strawberries and blueberries in the fridge. So, I threw them into the blender and now I have a purple/pink mint drink. There is hardly a fresh fruit that can't be enhanced by fresh mint. Try it!

Where do you buy fresh mint? You can find it in a grocery store in packets or as a plant. Since it grows like a weed, I recommend buying a plant of two, put them into larger pots either directly into the ground or on your balcony. Now this drink becomes really inexpensive.

By the way, refreshing has a double meaning here. Mint and pineapple are both full of nutrients, antioxidants and even anti-inflammatory properties. Serve it to you whole family this summer. Once you have made this – just takes minutes – I'll best you also will be hooked – that's a good thing!

… for the health of your family,
ellen

Where have I been?

By Kid Kritics | July 16, 2012

Traveling to celebrate our 25th anniversary! Yes, I have been traveling a lot mostly for pleasure though when I am around food, I am always working… and I was around lots of great food. While touring Israel, I was surrounded by fields and valleys filled with banana, date, olive, pomegranate, peach, nectarine, plum, nut, and citrus trees. Rows of lettuces, herbs, corn, beets, beans, garlic… you name it, were abundant. Grain fields had just been harvested. This country knows how to make every inch of the earth and every drop or water count to produce food!

Consequently we ate fruit and vegetables for breakfast, lunch, snacks and dinner! Tons of mouth-watering alkaline food. Hummus was a daily side at dinner. Cheese and meat were also fresh and delicious but less was served so less we ate. Fresh fish was more often offered as a main entree so we enjoyed some. As a result, we never felt or slept better! In Spain, we continued to enjoy fresh produce with each meal. The portions were small and yet we felt full thanks to their fiber based delicious dishes, especially tapas!

By the time we arrived back in the states, we were hooked on the benefits of eating more alkaline and less acid-based foods. We no longer have meat everyday. More beans please! We crave lots of fresh fruit and vegetables. Now we go to the market more frequently to buy what we don't have growing in our little garden and pots. Our food bill is lower and as is our weight. We actually lost pounds on our trips and are determined to keep them off. We invite you to do the same. We invite you to fill you meals with colorful fruits and vegetables. Kids living around the Mediterranean eat these foods; serve them to yours!

… for the health of your family,
ellen

P.S. I asked if Israel has an overweight or obesity problem with children. The answer was, "No." What I witnessed confirms this.