I love frozen treats in the middle of summer.  I was raised on Root Beer Floats and Ice Cream both of which are loaded with refined sugars and other junk...this is not a good thing. 

I was on the hunt for a yummy frozen yogurt treat for the girls with NO REFINED SUGAR that my happy helpers could easily make with me AND be palatable for picky eaters. 

I modified a recipe from the Chobani website: 

                     
   1 Cup of plain greek yogurt (I used Chobani)
   1 Cup of organic frozen berries 
   1 Tablespoon of Raw Honey

Put all into a blender.  I had to let the ingredients sit out and thaw for about 15 minutes before blending.  But I don't have the best blender, so you may be able to blend right away.  

Then I poured the mixture into my instant Popsicle maker, and in about 7 minutes we were eating treats!  I just got this for my birthday last weekend and this was my first time using it.  It's pretty awesome!

However, if you don't have one of these don't worry!  You can buy the Popsicle molds anywhere; it will just take about 6 hours to freeze them so plan ahead.  Or you can use little plastic cups, insert Popsicle stick, and freeze.

These are very healthy foods for your body.  Not only is there no refined ingredients, but it will give you 6 grams of fiber, protein, vitamins, antioxidants, phytonutrients, live cultures, and lots of other good healthy benefits.

Disclaimer: Never feed honey to a child less than 1 year of age.

~HONEY~

I was purchasing some Raw Honey from my local farmers market a couple of weeks ago and asked how long it would be good for since I was buying the biggest jar he had.  He said...Never. 

Honey has no expiration date.  So don't be afraid to save a little by buying the bigger jar :) 

I'm already half way through it!  I've been using it to cook with as an alternative to refined sugar.  I encourage you to do the same!

With all the brilliant tomatoes I saw at my local farmers market I began to hunt for a new recipe.  I came across this fast & fresh recipe by Francis Lam (Amazing Photography by Max Kelly).

This recipe is perfect for picky eaters...it's bright, colorful, and it has pasta in it :)  Tomatoes are naturally sweet and packed with nutrients.  If you have a really picky eater, use a spoon to scrape out the seeds on the inside.  That will make the texture less "slimy".  Don't forget to let your happy helpers help you make it :)

Summer Tomato Pasta

Serves  2-4, depending on how much you like the sound of slurping

The tomatoes, of course, are the point of this dish. If you have seriously sweet, ripe, juicy tomatoes, smelling as good as girls before the prom, they’re going to do all the work for you. But if your tomatoes aren’t fantastic, well, to be honest, I’d suggest finding a different recipe for dinner.

2 ½ pounds of the ripest tomatoes you can find (a mix of varieties is really nice)

2 handfuls of tender young arugula or flavorful greens of your choice (about 2 loose cups, but whatever)

Scant ¼ cup shaved red onion or shallot, as thin as you can cut it

1 pound spaghetti or linguine

Extra-virgin olive oil, to taste

Salt and pepper, to taste

Red wine vinegar, to taste (optional)

Parmigiano cheese, to taste

1. Cut the tomatoes into ½-inch pieces or so, and place, with all their juices, in a large bowl. (Big enough to fit everything in the recipe, plus with lots of room to stir.) Season them generously with salt and pepper, and a millionaire’s splash or two of the nicest olive oil you have. Stir together, and give it a taste. If everything is sweet and lovely but could use just a little more brightness, splash in a little vinegar, too.

2. Bring a gallon of water to a boil, and add enough salt so that it tastes almost like the sea. Add the pasta and stir.

3.  While the pasta is cooking, lay the greens on top of the tomatoes, and then the onion or shallot slices. Try to arrange them so that they’re in one even layer, so that when you pile the pasta on, the heat will take the raw edge off the onion, and gently wilt the greens underneath. Ingenious, no?

4.  When the pasta is cooked to a perfect al dente, drain it and dump it in the bowl. Now wait! Don’t touch it for two minutes. While you’re waiting, you can grate on the cheese, or, if you really want to get sexy, shave it on in long, thin ribbons that will melt into chewy strands. After two minutes, get in there and give it all a serious stir; the starch from the pasta actually helps to emulsify the oil into the tomato juices, creating a sauce. Taste it, adjust seasoning with salt, pepper, olive oil, or vinegar, and serve right away. You’ve waited long enough!


If you would like to view the whole article and recipe here is the link: http://gi.lt/ov1c3v

About a month ago I posted The Silent Dangers of High Fructose Corn Syrup.  It's a topic I am super passionate about and my mission is to bring awareness to parents.  Reading food labels is so incredibly important, it could even save your life and the life of your kid's.  Your kid's are not old enough to know what is good for their bodies, so it's up to you...as the parent to make sure you educate them about food.

Do what you can now to protect them and give them the life skills they will use to lead healthy lives. 

I came across an article today by a doctor I've come to really look up to and respect.  He details the "5 Reasons High Fructose Corn Syrup Will Kill You"  I'm sharing it with you, to hopefully make you more aware of the real threat this is for you and your kid's.

http://bit.ly/pR9uJ3  <------------Here is the Link for the 5 reasons.

Here to help,
Angela

So the main problem is kid's are taught very early that food should be fast and convenient, the second is they are taught that because that is what their parents were taught.  It all boils down to a lack of education. 

I think most parents think it's the job of the schools to teach nutrition but what many fail to realize is even if the schools are teaching nutrition it does not automatically lead to a healthy lifestyle.  Healthy children start in the home and MUCH earlier than most think.  Cooking at home, eating together as a family starts at infancy.

One other point about education is people have no idea where their food comes from.  How it got there?  Where did it come from?  How does a hamburger from McDonald's taste the same all over the world from Cali?  Why do baby carrots deceivingly look so small and cute? Be curious, ask questions, read labels.

Click on the link for the full article:

http://www.parentdish.com/2011/07/26/kids-eating-more-and-more-meals-away-from-home/1#c34592909

Can't get your kid's to eat fruits & veggies?  Lucky for you I have super powers to help...and a free report, instruction manual really.  Fill out the form on the right side bar and it's yours!  All my best, Angela  ------->

There is a childrens song that goes "I'm a happy helper, show me what to do...I'm a happy helper, I like helping you!"

Your kids want nothing more than your attention, positive or negative it really does not matter to them.  If you've ever tried to cook dinner while one child was screaming, and the other clung to your leg this is why they are behaving this way.  As they see it, their job is to get you to stop doing what you are doing and pay attention to them. 

The good news is there is a way to make everyone happy!  Pull up a stool, chair, whatever and let them be involved in the process.  Let them stir, peel, smell, taste, watch.  Let them set the table, figure out how many forks, spoons, napkins they need to put out.  Let them plate the food. 

If you are wondering about the photo, sometimes my 2 year old is not interested in helping right away.  To keep her included, I let her color on the counter (I'm right next to her chopping veggies, just in case you were concerned :) ). It only lasts for a few minutes then she is sampling the food and helping to stir! 

It's important for so many reasons to include your children in the cooking process.  The first is that children are more apt to eat healthier options if they feel like they are part of the meal.  The second, is it makes them feel special because you are including them in a "grown-up" activity.  The third, is you will all feel closer to each other as a family.  Families that cook and eat together, stay together. 

Try it tonight!

Having trouble getting your kids to eat their veggies?  Claim your free report today on how to to it: Your private access link <------Click that!

I'm a good mom. 

I know that I can be better, and I WANT to be better for my kids, husband, friends, colleagues, even you reading this.

It occurred to me one day after loosing my patience with my 3 year old, Kaitlyn, that I need to be more mindful of the tone and words that I use.  I also wanted to understand WHY I react the way I do, whether that be with love and patience, or anger and frustration.

A trusted friend recommended this book to me.  I read it in 2 days as the content was pretty amazing and really spoke to me.  I remember a story in the book about a mother who had felt horribly because she had yelled at her son that morning.  The advice Rosenberg gave to this mother made tears immediately stream down my face, because I knew that's what I needed to do. 

I recommend this book to all mommies and daddies out there who want to be a better parent through communication, while gaining and teaching your kid’s the power of emotional intelligence. Enjoy!

Lemon.  It may cause you to think; Dud, or reject.

I'm going to show you why it's no such thing!  In fact, the Ancient Egyptians believed that eating a lemon or drinking the juice protected them against various poisons.  Studies show that they were not too far off from that belief.

Lemons give us citric acid, Vitamin C, Magnesium, Calcium, Bioflavinoids, and Pectin.  They also contain limonene which is important as it helps fight infection and promotes immunity.  It's an incredibly strong antiviral, antibacterial, and promotes digestive tract health and cleaning of the liver (which as an added bonus aids in weight loss!)

Because of the citric acid, it’s excellent at getting rid of acne.  If you are feeling stress or full of anxiety, breath in some lemon oil...this naturally relives fatigue and anxiety and increases focus and alertness.

It's also effective if you are suffering from a cold.  It supplies your body with Vitamin C, AND the anti-viral properties attack and destroy the mucus in your nose and throat.

Lemon oil stimulates the brain.  If you feel tired, add some lemon oil or some fresh squeezed lemon juice to some water.

Lemons can also provide relief with gout and rheumatism.  It provides relief with kidney stones and bladder issues as it acts as a diuretic.

I hope the next time you think about a lemon, you will think about all these amazing benefits and nutrients it provides!

CLICK HERE------->>>  Visit my main site today to claim your Free Report that Reveals
How To "Get" Your Kids to Eat Fruits & Veggies (And Have Them Asking For More!)

Yesterday I posted a super yummy all natural Fresh Lemonade recipe using Honey instead of Sugar.  Some of you wondered…Why?

Here are the basics:

Refined Sugar: Also called Sucrose, table sugar, or saccharose.

Refined sugar often comes from sugar cane or sugar beet.  That’s the natural part.  It’s what happens after it’s been harvested.  It’s manufactured and processed until it has been stripped of all vitamins, minerals, and proteins; and you end up with refined sugar.  The sugar is empty, dead, naked…your body get’s absolutely nothing from it except for a spike in energy and insulin which is NOT a good thing. 

So what?  Why should you care about consuming these empty calories?  It’s the nutrients your body has to give up to metabolize it.  The sugar makes your body unstable, so your body has to give up precious minerals like potassium, magnesium, sodium, and calcium to restore balance.  Your body gives up calcium from your bones and teeth first which makes them weak and start to decay, hence tooth decay and osteoporosis.

Your liver stores refined sugar as glucose, but capacity is limited.  The glucose is released into your blood and is stored in your belly, thighs, breasts, and butt!  Once these places are full, it travels to your kidneys and heart where abnormal blood pressure begins.  Eventually your nervous, circulatory, & lymphatic systems are invaded, your white blood cells are elevated and your immune system becomes so comprimised your body has a hard time fighting off anything from a bug bite, to a serious infection.

It also causes your body to produce excess amounts of insulin.  Insulin encourages cellular growth, great for healthy cells, but not so good for abnormal and cancer cells.

The energy spike is very temporary and makes you crash which leaves you in a constatnt state of fatigue and wanting more.

It’s highly addictive!  The average American eats 2-3 pounds of sugar EVERY WEEK!

If you and your family are on a high-sugar diet, start weaning yourselves now!  You may feel ok now, but you will pay the price later.  Diseases like heart disease, cancer, obesity, diabetes don’t happen overnight…it takes YEARS for these illneses to build up.

Honey

I’m talking about raw natural honey, not the typical processed stuff you find in a cute little bear at the local grocery store.  That stuff is not much better than refined sugar.  Generally the darker the honey the more antioxidents it has do don’t be afraid to go with something darker.

Honey is superior to refined sugar in that it has nutrients your body can actually use and absorb.  It has antioxidants, enzymes, 22 amino acids, and studies show it to increase your bodies ability to effectively process glucose (the exact opposite of sugar).  Because of the anti-bacterial properties of honey it can help to improve the digestive system.

It has lots of ancient healing properties which I will not get into here, but it’s been around for thousands of years and has been used as an antiseptic, cleanser, and anti-inflammatory to name a few.

It is calorie dense, so beware of how much you are using.  You will need less honey than refined sugar as honey is sweeter. If honey is your only sugar intake (and it most likely is not) 3-5 tablespoons per day is more than enough.

Disclaimer:  Do not give honey to children less than 1 year!!!