Healthy Food for Your Family and Kids

Kids Cereals Have 85% More Sugar & 65% Less Fiber

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 09:49:57 -0500

A new study has confirmed what many Parents have long suspected ... most breakfast cereals advertised to kids are filled with sugar and are low on fiber.

Cereals marketed to kids have 85% more sugar, 65% less fiber and 60% more sodium than those aimed at adults. This comes from a report by Yale University’s Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity.

The content of popular cereals were analyzed using a nutrient profiling system and data was reviewed on how cereals are marketed to kids. Findings released this past weekend revealed that:

•The least nutritious cereals are often the most heavily marketed to children, such as Reese’s Puffs, Corn Pops, Lucky Charms, Cinnamon Toast Crunch and Cap’n Crunch.

•Most major cereal companies have products that are nutritionally good for consumption, but not many of those are advertised to children.

•Companies have reduced sugar content of kids’ cereals, on average from 3½ teaspoons to 3 teaspoons of sugar a serving.

•Average preschoolers see about 642 TV cereal ads a year; most for cereals with the worst nutrition ratings. Cereal companies spend over $156 million a year marketing to children.

Smart Choices Food Labeling Program Halted by FDA

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 08:51:29 -0500

We are extremely happy to announce that the FDA has stepped in and addressed the Smart Choices food labels that have been hitting shelves. A food industry group is voluntarily halting promotion of its "nutrition" labeling program after the FDA suggested that their labeling could mislead consumers. We informed you about this program when it first was introduced, with our grave concerns over this labeling. http://www.ziggityzoom.com/parentsguide/content/smart-choices-food-label...

The Smart Choices program, which includes nine major companies such as Kellogg's, Kraft Foods and General Mills, has been highly critized for handing its green seal to processed foods that are high in sugar, such as Froot Loops and Cracker Jack snack foods.

The FDA is working to define the criteria manufacturers must meet to make certain nutritional claims on product fronts. Stay tuned, we will keep you updated here on ZiggityZoom.com.

Smart Choices Food Labels Are NOT Such A Smart Choice

Sat, 05 Sep 2009 10:40:25 -0500

Nutritionists are up in arms and they well should be! There is a new food-labeling campaign that is called Smart Choices and it is being backed by many of the nation's largest food manufacturers. Maybe that should tell us something right off. One would have hoped that companies would have used this opportunity to really help parents and get exceptional nutritional products into our children, who are currently in the midst of an obesity epidemic. But that is not how it is playing out.

The green checkmark label will replace some of manufacturers labels that supposedly denoted a healthy choice for consumers and this new label is starting to show up on hundreds of food packages. Sadly, this label has been placed on products such as Cocoa Krispies and Froot Loops, two cereals that have an over-abundance of sugar. How did they get the label? Well, supposedly these cereals are better choices than things like a sugary donut!

Supposedly, the program's criteria is based on government dietary guidelines and widely accepted nutritional standards. Well then, the guidelines are in major need of change ... we already have children that are suffering because of the packaged foods they are eating, we don't need Labels that are a real misrepresentation of a true healthy choice for our children and families.

The Smart Choices program has also given this new seal to both regular and light mayonnaise, leading consumers to believe that both are equally healthy. This label allows packaged meals and sandwiches to contain up to 600 milligrams of sodium, when the daily total is 2400. How absurd!

5 Tips for Packing Your Kids Lunch

Sun, 30 Aug 2009 17:41:49 -0500

School is back in session for many kids so let’s talk school lunches. Sodas, juice drinks, cookies, hotdogs, and chips- all common school lunch components but none healthy. Over the past years, some schools have improved the nutritional quality of their lunches but it is an area that desperately needs more attention by both schools and parents.

What’s scary is that the obesity rate of young kids to teens is significantly rising and poor lunch options aren’t making things any better. Over 1/3 of our nation’s youth are either overweight or obese. Poor food choices and a lack of physical activity are contributors to this epidemic. So, what can you do as a parent do to help prevent your child from weight control issues?

For starters, making sure that they have a healthy and adequate lunch will put them on the right track. Kids can be awfully picky when it comes to choosing and eating certain foods. In general, there is an overconsumption of high calorie drinks and high fat foods and an underconsumption of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. If you are unsure about what your kids may be eating at school, get the school menu and consider visiting at lunchtime. You can also volunteer to serve the children to get a better understanding to see what they are actually eating.

If your kids are taking lunches from home try to limit the highly processed snacks and give them more fresh food items like fruits and vegetables. If you have healthier foods available at home to make a healthy lunch, you can send your kids to school with the reassurance that they’re getting a nutritious meal.

Follow these 5 tips for packing your kids school lunch:

1. Plan Ahead: Since you can only pack a good lunch if you have the foods available make sure to go shopping at least 1-2 times per week so you will have fresh foods on hand.

Kid Friendly Smoothie Recipes Perfect for A Summer Treat

Wed, 05 Aug 2009 10:03:56 -0500

Smoothies are a great way to get some extra fruit and calcium into your kids and they love to help make them. Even though these are a great tasting Summer treat you can also make these year round for snacktime or a last minute dessert.

Smoothies are really easy to make and all you need is a blender and a few ingredients. Use whatever fruit you have available and add a little milk, some yogurt and some ice cubes. It really is simple. And you can vary flavors and experiment with fruits you happen to have on hand. You know how kids love to experiment anyway, so they might come up with a favorite flavor all by themselves. Be sure to let them make some choices. For all recipes, just add ingredients into the blender and blend until smooth. Add extra milk or juice for a thinner smoothie, yogurt for a thicker smoothie. You can also add a little honey or vanilla to increase flavor if needed.

Great Smoothie Recipes

Tropical Smoothie

1 cup Orange Slices
1/4 cup Lemon Juice
1/4 cup Pineapple
1/4 cup Milk
1 cup Yogurt

Strawberry Banana Smoothie

1 cup Strawberries
2 cups Orange Juice
1 Banana, cut up
1/2 cup Milk
1 Tsp Honey

Peach Mango Smoothie

1 Peach
1/2 cup Mango
1 cup Yogurt
1/2 cup Milk
1/4 cup Crushed Ice

Blueberry Pineapple Smoothie

1/2 cup Frozen Blueberries
1/4 cup Pineapple
1 cup Yogurt
1/4 cup Milk
1/4 cup Crushed Ice

Banana Smoothie

Healthy Food Portions and Choices for Your Kids

Fri, 24 Apr 2009 09:22:27 -0500

Cheese Puffs, Chocolate Cake, Soda Pop, and Milkshakes- Are These the Things Our Little Boys and Girls are Made Of? Do you remember the original Willy Wonka Movie? There is a scene where the winners of the Golden Tickets enter the fantastic world of Willy Wonka’s Factory to find every imaginable and unimaginable candy creation. Even the river is filled with melted chocolate. It is a place that every child’s candy is within reach.
But the kids that eat, and eat, and eat every sweet they pass end up with a problem and are eliminated from the contest. The only boy left is the one with self control who follows the directions. Now imagine being your child and going through every aisle in a grocery store and seeing all of the colorful and fun looking foods. Wow, I bet it is a bit like seeing all of those treats in Willy Wonka’s factory. A bit overwhelming for most kids at first glance. Who blames them- the colorful, fun shaped, sugary foods are very enticing. Your child begs for the sugary cereal pops and frosted pop tarts and Sunny D Drink. What is a parent to do?

Fast, Easy, and Healthy Family Meal- Make a Bean and Veggie Whole Wheat Wrap in 5 Minutes

kpfitch — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 14:24:44 -0500

Healthy Bean and Vegetable Whole Wheat Wrap
Do you need an idea for a quick, easy meal that does not require cooking? Well these wraps are super nutritious and easy as 1-2-3 to put together and get on the table. My kids love wraps and this one is definitely healthy and filling.

Ingredients

1 can Vegetarian Refried Beans (Low fat)
1 10 pack of Low fat Whole Wheat Tortillas
1 Tomato (diced)
2% Sharp Cheddar Cheese(Lowfat)
1 Avocado (chopped)
Shredded Romaine Lettuce
1 bunch Cilantro (optional)

How to Make:
Warm refried beans of med. heat and then remove or microwave them (optional- heat your burrito at the end instead). Next, take a tortilla (warm if desired) and lay out flat on a large plate. Now spread a layer of beans on the tortilla and then add vegetables (I put the veggies I know my child will eat and maybe a little bit of something new). Last I will add the cheese and wrap it up (either use a paper towel to wrap it or a toothpick if it will not stay closed). You can either serve or warm up burrito in microwave for 10-30 seconds.
Serve with a side of fruit and you will have a meal that is healthy, and has protein, fiber, whole grains, vegetables and fruit! And you get a healthy 1 dish meal your family will love without cooking a thing! This has become a favorite lunch or dinner at my house.
When you first serve this, if your kids are not used to this type of food, I would recommend trying it with only lettuce or a vegetable he/she likes and if you need to put just a bit of a low-fat salad dressing on top to give it a little more flavor that they are used to eating.

How to Shop for and Buy Healthier Foods For Your Family

kpfitch — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 19:08:13 -0500

Technorati Profile Today there are so many food choices it is sometimes difficult to navigate a trip to the grocery store, not to mention trying to find healthy food choices,especially if we have kids in tow. We hope to help you navigate through your local grocery store and give you some basic advice about shopping for healthier food options and which products our families love.
If you have not ever watched the show that was on TLC last year called, Honey, We're Killing the Kids you should look it up on www.tlc.com. The show brought a nutritionist and family counselor into the homes of many different families and showed each family what the effect of poor eating, the lack of exercise and the family's current lifestyle would do to the family's kids in 10, 20, 30, 40 years and the results were terrifying. As the kids were shown at different ages using a computer program and gathered data, the kids looked heavy and older than their ages (in many cases the kids are already having health issues at the age of 6,10,14. The Show helped the families learn to eat healthier, get rid of the junk food and unhealthy foods, get exercise and limit screen time for tv and video games.
The show is a perfect example of what is happening to most of America - we are depriving our kids of the healthy foods they need to grow and giving them foods that hurt their bodies (unhealthy foods, sugary drinks, and fast food ... most of these food have little or no health benefits and tons of adverse effects.) Often parents do not seem to realize the harm they are causing to their children now and in the future just by making poor or no food choices for their kids.

How to Get Your Kids and Family to Eat Healthy Foods

kpfitch — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 06:10:20 -0600

It is no secret that the world is facing a food epidemic. There are more overweight and obese children and adults than ever before. But beyond that, there are so many other concerns that are tied into the food epidemic that need to be addressed and every one of us is responsible to ourselves and our families to understand better what we are putting into our mouths and work on putting the right foods into our bodies. I hear parents complain all of the time, “my child will not eat this veggie or that fruit,” or “my child is so picky, she will only eat a few foods.” I think those comments are just ways to get out of making food an important part of our lives. I have 3 young children and I know that it does take work to keep my kids trying new foods and embracing healthy choices but with a little knowledge, the right groceries and the right dialogue we can eat healthier and our kids will grow up making healthier choices for themselves. I believe everyone needs to eat better, no matter your age, and that the younger we start serving our kids healthy food and talking about the importance of healthy food the easier and healthier it is for our kids. Here are my recommendations for getting your family to eat healthy. 1. Understand why you need to eat vegetables, fruits, healthy protein, grains, etc… 2. Start thinking about food from the right perspective. I am eating these veggies or fruit, because it fuels my body, it strengthens my body; it helps my body work well and helps my brain function and makes me smarter. 3. Start talking out loud, to your family, about the benefits of a healthy snack or healthy vegetable or meal. All day long in my house we talk about and use these words to describe foods: "It is healthy, it is good for your body, it helps you grow big and strong, it helps you see better, have energy, etc." 4. Limit the Amount of Fast Food or Prepared Meals 4.

Decadent, Chewy, Fudge Brownies- A Light Version that Tastes Rich

kpfitch — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 07:39:02 -0600

Brownies, those tiny, chocolatey, melt-in-your mouth, heavenly treats. I love brownies and they are always a hit at a party but who wants all of the fat that goes with them? I always search for ways to make healthier versions of our family favorites. I also like to create recipes myself, so I can avoid giving my family the added ingredients found in many packaged brands of foods, including brownie mix. So when I can I try and make brownies myself. Here is my recipe for delicious, chewy, chocolatey fudge, shiny-top brownies that have less fat, and even use White Wheat Flour. Ingredients: 1/3 cup Butter- Softened 1 cup Brown Sugar 1 Egg 1 Egg White 1 tsp Vanilla 1/3 cup Cocoa 1/3 Cup Chocolate Chips or Dark Choc. Chips-melted 3/4 Cup White Wheat Flour (if you have it, if not use Regular White Flour) 1/2 tsp Baking Powder 1/4 tsp Salt Directions: Preheat Oven to 350. Cream together Softened Butter and Brown Sugar (whip for 2 minutes). Add Egg and Egg White and vanilla and blend together. Next add cocoa and melted chocolate chips. In a separate bowl, mix together flour, baking powder and salt. Add flour mixture to the butter mixture. Pour into a pan (you can use cooking spray-optional)and cook for approximately 15 minutes. Will make approx. 20 brownies. Use a 11x11 pan Cool completely before cutting into squares. Enjoy! Try adding nuts, or toffee bits for something different or add darker or bittersweet chocolate for a rich chocolate flavor. How to Make Heart Shaped Brownies-click here Copyright 2008-2009- Kristin Fitch