Reminder: “Dirty Dozen” Produce

By Kid Kritics | March 1, 2012

apples  APPLES, number 1 on Dirty Dozen list.

 

"Dirty Dozen" means these vegetables are the most "12 heavily pesticided crops." * Apples, Celery, Strawberries, Peaches, Spinach, Grapes, Nectarines, Sweet Bell Peppers, Potatoes, Blueberries, Lettuce, and Kale.  They are listed from the most chemically filled to the lesser of the twelve. To avoid these chemically laden fruits and vegetables buy organic.  Fortunately, organic apples, celery, spinach and lettuce are readily available in most grocery stores.  Do you best when buying the others. Though organic is your best bet, it is better to eat produce that contain pesticides than none. Just be careful of the amount and frequency, especially for children.  I do seriously recommend that you buy only organic apples.  Eat fewer of them and focus on regular pineapple and watermelon which research shows contain very few harmful chemicals.  You can thank their thick skins for this!

… for the health of your family,
ellen

A WHOLE CASE of ORGANIC POPCORN by Good Health Natural Foods!  Enter to win, www.KidKritics.com/sweepstakes

*FoodNews,org

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Teenage boys now swear by “Real Food.”

By Kid Kritics | January 27, 2012

junk-food-vs-healthy-food-1

They went from Junk Food to Real Food and now swear by it. One boy was 16 and always "starving."  The other was an overweight college kid.  And they have a dad with Type 2 diabetes.  Mom thought she was feeding her family good food but after a dinner with me, she realized Jello and other processed foods she was serving were counter-nourishing her family. Her turnaround story is brilliant. A first bit of advice is, "You can't tell them. You must show them."  If you want to be inspired and learn how overnight everyone of them voluntarily bought into her changes, listen to Vickie Peaire tell her story.  Go to www. BetterFoodChoicesRadio.com (date: Jan 27, 2012) and listen or find it on iTunes, Podcast, Better Food Choices.  You will be SO glad your did!

… for the health of your family,
ellen

Save money and Win a Case of Classic Macaroni and Cheese by Annie's Homegrown.  Go to www.KidKritics.com/sweepstakes before Sunday night.

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“Clean” Fruit & Veggie List

By Kid Kritics | November 2, 2011

Recently we blogged about the top three: Onions, Corn, Pineapples. Here are the rest. Avocado, Asparagus, Sweet Peas, Mangoes, Eggplant, Cantaloupe, Kiwi, Cabbage, Watermelon, Sweet Potatoes, Grapefruit, Mushrooms.* Feel comfortable feeding these to your family without buying organic since they have the least amount of pesticides. Just watch out for imports from South America and Asia. I try to buy one avocado and one mango a week. These will help feed a family when you cut them into little pieces and add to salads or use as a side. We eat a lot of sweet potatoes and cooked onions. You will usually find a pineapple or some watermelon in our kitchen at any given time. Frozen sweet peas are a weekly must. The others are woven into our monthly menu though we have been staying away from cantaloupe lately. This list is your budget saver group. Ask your store's produce manager when they are going on sale, really  -  make him your "best friend."

… for the health of your family,
ellen

Free Food for you if you Win a Case of Tomato Basil Spaghetti Sauce by Simply Organic.  Go to www.KidKritics.com/sweepstakes and enter today.

"Clean Cuisine", Better Nutrition, 9/2011.pp/ 31,32.

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Top 3 “Cleanest” Vegetables and Fruit

By Kid Kritics | October 19, 2011

  Number One "Cleanest."

Onions, Corn and Pineapple, in this order, are the top three "cleanest crops." (foodnews.org)  Cleanest indicates they contain the least amount of pesticides, herbicides, fungicides and other unwanted chemicals.  It also means you can feel comfortable buying and eating commercially grown, avoiding the extra expense of organic. Notice how each has naturally protective skins.  That helps.  What they also have in common is they have nutrients that feed your brain.  Fuel you family economically with fresh onions and pineapple, and,  fresh or frozen corn all year round.

… for the health of your family,
ellen

A whole case of food is up for grabs.  Go to www.KidKritics.com/sweepstakes and enter to win Almond and Rice Cheese Chunks and Shreds by Lisanatti Foods.  They look, cook and tastes like mild cheese. YUM!

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Antioxidants, Brain, Breakfast, Budget-saver, Carbohydrates, Chemicals, Cooking, Dinner, Eating Healthy, Essential Fatty Acids, Family Food Experts, Farmer's Market, Food Manufacturers, Food News, Food Safety, Fruit, Gluten Free, Grocery List, Health, Health Food Stores, Healthy, Kid Kritics Approved, Kids & Teens, Latest Food News, Lunch, Minerals, Natural, Nutrition, Organic, Organic and Natural, Party Food, Performance Food, Pesticides, Phytonutrients, Produce, Protein, Shopping, Supermarkets, Vegetables, Vitamins, Wheat-Free, children, contest, dads, family, food, kids, moms, parents, prize, sweepstakes, www.KidKritics.com   |   Leave a comment

Performance Food: Apples fuel your Brain, Mouth/Teeth and more!

By Kid Kritics | September 11, 2011

Keep the doctor away with apples!  Their nutrients feed your Brain, Bones, Hair, Heart, Mouth, Teeth and Skin. Apples are a moms best friend because kids love them. Eat them whole, in sections, as slices and grated.  Eat them with nut and seed butters, in wraps, salads, cereals, fruit cups, kabobs, grilled sandwiches, subs, soups, pies and as toppings.  Apple sauces, especially when combined other fruits (no sugar added, please) are great breakfast, lunch and snack items. Mix some in yogurts.  Cook apples in whole chicken and turkey cavities to enrich the juices.  Always have a few apples in your kitchen.  This is apple season – means better prices. Think ahead and buy some to freeze for winter cooking. Unfortunately, apples are heavily sprayed so try and buy organic – now usually found in most stores. If apples look perfectly shiny, beware; that's not how they look on the tree. The extra pennies you pay for nutrient-packed apples will save you dollars on your medical bills in the short and long run. Enjoy!

… for the health of your family,
ellen 

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Performance Food: Tomatoes fuel your Heart, Muscles and more!

By Kid Kritics | July 31, 2011

It's fresh tomato season!  The good news is that this fruit, commonly referred to as a vegetable, is filled with nutrients that feed your brain, ears, eyes, hair, heart, lungs, mouth, teeth, muscles, and nerves!  It is a high performance food, one which most kids say they don't like.  I think this is because commercially grown tomatoes found in grocery stores are mealy and tasteless.  This is due to their poor growing environment and the fact they are picked before ripened.  The sun sweetens red tomatoes. Find a Farmer's Market.  Buy locally sun-ripened tomatoes or better yet, grow your own!  Organic ones are tastier because they have been grown in mineral rich soil.  To meet your budget needs, buy local or organic and cut it into small pieces, making one tomato go farther. Remember, in a nutrient-packed food, a little goes a long way.  Thank heavens kids love tomato sauces.  This absolutely is a great way to go.  Yet, please, keep introducing your kids to tasty fresh tomatoes.

…. for the health of your family,
ellen

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Grocery List: The NEW Dirty Dozen

By Kid Kritics | June 23, 2011

Apples have moved to the top of the Dirty Dozen list.   This is because he USDA found pesticide residue in 98% of apples tested.*  Here is the complete list starting with the worst: Apples, Celery, Strawberries, Peaches, Spinach, Nectarines (imported), Grapes (imported), Sweet bell peppers, Potatoes, Blueberries, Lettuce, Kale/collard greens. Sad to see strawberries as number three.  Fortunately, apples, celery, spinach and lettuce are readily available as organic without staggering prices.  Do you best with the others. 

… for the health of families,
ellen

    * Scott Kilman, "Pesticide Residue Taints Apples," Wall Street Journal, 6/13/11, p. B1.

Win a Case of Joseph's Sugar Free Chocolate Chip Cookies this week! Go to www.KidKritics.com/sweepstakes and enter the Kid Kritics Food Giveaway Sweepstakes.

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Grocery List: The Clean 15!

By Kid Kritics | June 13, 2011

  SWEET ONIONS, #1

NEW updated "CLEAN 15" list of fruits and vegetables with the lowest amount of pesticides:

Onions, Sweet Corn, Pineapples, Avocado, Asparagus, Sweet Peas, Mangoes, Eggplant, Cantaloupe (domestic), Kiwi, Cabbage, Watermelon, Sweet Potatoes, Grapefruit, Mushrooms.* 

These you can buy locally or in your stores and feel comfortable feeding them to your family.  No need to buy organic.  The key is their skins are thicker, protecting them from absorption.  Of these, you'll probably need to make an extra effort to learn how to cook delicious asparagus and eggplant. Young thin asparagus are more tender and less bitter.  Lightly steam them, chop into less than one inch cuttings, serve with sauteed garlic, lemon juice and sea salt.  Eggplant parmesan was a big hit with the Kid Kritics.  Find that recipe on www.KidKritics.com. Eat Clean!

… for the health of your family,
ellen  

Want to Win a Case of Chocolate Energy Bars by Greens+?  They're Kid Kritics Approved.  Value : $430.00.  Go to www.KidKritics.com/sweepstakes now!

* Source: Environmental Working Group.  Download your own guide: http://static.ewg.org/reports/2011/foodnews/pdf/2011EWGPesticideGuide.pdf

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12 Foods to Buy Organic – will pay off in the long run!

By Kid Kritics | April 6, 2011

 Organic Strawberries!

The Dirty Dozen – fruits and vegetables are known to have too many pesticides: Apples, Celery, Cherries, Grapes (imported) , Lettuce, Nectarines, Peaches, Pears, Potatoes, Spinach, Strawberries, Sweet bell peppers. Notice, they all have thin skins so they more prone to absorbing unwanted chemicals.  You have to decide how important the health of your family is to you when you are buying any of these fresh foods.  Organic spinach, celery, lettuce, and apples are more reasonably priced and can be found easily in the stores.  Berries are so tempting.  Do your best.  Buy organic, or buy local, or buy from your grocery store and eat fewer less frequently. Pay a little more now or a lot more later for illnesses related to pesticides and other sprayed chemicals not meant for human consumption. Better food choices provides you with long term inexpensive health insurance!

…  for the health of your family,
ellen and sally

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