Unexpected garlic
July 27, 2008 - Written by Robin
Like many people, I’m always on the lookout for food with health benefits. And, like many more people, I absolutely love love love garlic and put it in practically everything I make. So I was delighted to find out that not only does it ward off vampires, but it is good for you too.
Quick Snacks to Stave Off Hunger
July 25, 2008 - Written by DianaMy kids are very active sports, band, friends, chores, life, school, etc. Sometimes in between activities, they are hungry, but it’s not mealtime yet, so they make do.
Here are some things they make or have to tide them over:
- Pizza muffin – Sauce, cheese and into the toaster oven.
- Peanut butter and honey sandwich.
- Powerbars and Gatorade(or Powerade) during track season on the bus to the meet.
- Crackers and cheese .
- Fruit and carrot sticks.
- Bowls of cereal ( my son ate 5 this morning, I’m going to start charging).
- Bottles of water (refillable) – no calorie drink mix sometimes added for flavor.
- Breaded shrimp in the toaster oven or microwave.
- Leftovers – my daughter’s friend’s parents (got that?) invite my daughter over when they have too much left over. She says their leftovers are more interesting than ours most of the time.
- Salsa – on chips or soft tortillas.
- Bagels with cream cheese and fresh fruit jam.
- 2 Cups Dannon Light and Fit Yogurt
- Splash of pineapple juice
- 1 to 2 cups of fresh fruit and/or berries
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Popcorn, the whole grain snack food
July 24, 2008 - Written by DianaMy teens eat popcorn quite a bit especially my son. He pops it right in the microwave in a bag. I also have a popper I can stick into the microwave, plus you can make it the old fashioned way with a pot coated with oil on the bottom and in college, I used a hot air popper. Sometimes the fun is in the popping process but the healthiest way to prepare popcorn is the hot air method because it has the least amount of calories and fat. Don’t tell the kids though, that popcorn qualifies as a whole grain product that is good for you (without a lot of butter or salt). Whole grains contain the entire grain kernel — the bran, germ, and endosperm. To read more about how Popcorn satisfies the criterium for a whole grain in your diet, please visit popcorn.org.
Lifeway’s Probugs & Kefir Products
July 23, 2008 - Written by Diana
For Healthy Snacks week, I’d like to introduce you to Probugs kids drinks and Kefir products. Probugs is a drink for kids, that has the consistency of yogurt drinks, with natural fruit flavoring. Even though my kids are older, they tried the Probugs drinks, enjoyed them, and went back for more. They said the blueberry, had a slightly sour blueberry taste like you had real blueberries in it, not the fake blueberry taste. The drinks came in individual pouches with a no spill spout kids could drink in the car or for a snack. My kids had to try squeezing to see if they could get it to spurt (they’re teenagers, what do you want?) and while they could, it was much easier to control and didn’t cause a big mess like holding a juice box often does. The pro bugs name stands for the probiotics contained in the kefir based drink.
Deb’s Fruity Yogurt Smoothie
July 23, 2008 - Written by Deb Ng 
Many mornings, I make a fruit yogurt smoothie and sip that while I have breakfast. My son also enjoys it for a snack. What I like about this smoothie is that it has plenty of calcium and a couple of servings of fruit. Plus you can use any fruit you want – to make it your own. Here’s how I make it:
Combine all the ingredients in the blender and let it whirl. In the summer, I like to use fat free frozen yogurt or ice cream as it makes a great, healthy cold treat. I’ll also use a more kid friendly brand of yogurt for my son’s smoothie – though he likes mine too. In mine, I might also add some oat bran for a little fiber – and to keep me full throughout the morning.
Image via stock.xchnge
Yummy Earth Organic Candy
July 22, 2008 - Written by Deb Ng 
Not too many candies can be considered healthy snacks but Yummy Earth Organic Candy comes pretty darn close. These pops and drops are gluten free and filled with lots of good ingredients. And the flavors! Super Sour Pops, Wild Peppermint, Pomegranate Pucker, Citrus Grove Vitamin C Drops, Freshest Fruit, Ginger Zest, Hot Chili Pops and more – and with names like that you know your tastebuds do a happy dance when you place one of these puppies into your mouth.
We received a generous case of candy from the good folks at Yummy Earth and my family has been enjoying trying the different types. It’s not like your usual run of the mill supermarket candy. You can really taste the fruity goodness and the flavors and colors just pop.
Though Yummy Earth is only about 20 months old, their organic candies are found all around the globe now. Find them in the U.S. at Whole Foods, Linens ‘N Things, Party City and more. You won’t be disappointed.
Healthy Snack Week: 5 Tips to Getting Kids to Snack Healthy
July 21, 2008 - Written by Deb Ng 
We lucked out. Our son eats his fruits and vegetables and never fights with us about eating healthy. He loves fish, eats whole grain or wheat bread and doesn’t like melted cheese all over everything. I’ll stop there, I know there’s a lot of eye rolling going on. No kid is perfect, right? True – and believe me when I tell you ours has his kidzilla moments. When it comes to eating though, we’re pretty pleased.
Here are a few things we did which we believe helped our son develop good habits early on:
1. Get the kids involved in the meal planning and food cooking process. My son has been helping me cook and bake since he was two. I read that kids who develop an early interest in food and how it works, and who help with the meals, are more likely to eat what’s on their plate. At first “Helping” was mixing or playing with some dough on his high chair or cutting out cookies, but soon he was mixing and rolling. Now, at 6, our son chooses Saturday’s dinner menu. He goes to the store, picks out the ingredients and helps with the cooking. He even goes to camp at the Children’s Chef Academy.
What my husband’s diggin’ – Emerald Cocoa Roast Almonds
July 2, 2008 - Written by DianaI got this gem of a snack the other day. It came in a container that you could toss in a bag or a pack or sit in a cup holder of the car without worry that it would end up dumped all over. The almonds were toasted and had a baked on chocolate flavor. I thought they would be powdery and stick to your fingers, but they weren’t. My husband who is a nut aficionado, tasted a few and a few more and a few more. He really loved them, as did my daughter. The baked chocolate coating doesn’t add any calories to the almonds like a dipped chocolate coating would.
