Making salt and sugar- Childhood Memories

Making either sugar or salt from scratch was one of many fun memories I remembered as a child. We had gone to Limbe beach (it used to be called Victoria beach) and carried water from the sea (Atlantic Ocean), when we got back home my ma put the sea water into a big pot and boiled until all the water evaporated leaving behind a mass of pale white crystals of salt.

Making sugar was fun but a bit frustrating given the fact that we wanted to eat the sugarcane fresh from the earth immediately

There was such an enormous simplicity to life then that I am trying to pass on to my son. We have been working on making fresh organic tomato pasta sauce from scratch, this is honestly so easy to make and taste so fresh, not to mentioned the fact that all unwanted extras like sugar etc are excluded.  Growing up sugar was something that was used in pastries or coffee/tea etc never in food so I am passing the same tradition, food just taste a lot better if you are able to savor it, sugar makes everything taste the same somehow.

As my mami puts it, if you put milk and sugar on sawdust it is going to taste good, but it is still dirt.

As always eat/feed only that which is nourishing to the body and easy on the earth and also that practice makes perfect-

Cheers

Food allergies

The popular adage goes: “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade”, albeit this is much easier said than done.  For any parent with a child plagued with allergies, their “lemon” (the allergy), is not exactly prime choice by any standards. This brings me to the notion that as parents, we all wish God could have given each and everyone of us the ability to hand-select which traits our kids inherit from us. If we had the ability to control that, we would all make sure none of our kids inherit a less desirable feature like food allergies.

A child with parents who have allergies is more susceptible to having allergies than a child with allergy free parents.

It is paramount to work with your child’s pediatrician if you or your spouse have a family history of allergies. This might help avert some misdiagnosis that could easily be allergy related. The good news is that most children usually outgrow their allergies as early as age one. We often overlook the fact that when nursing, all that we eat directly affects our child.

What is a food allergy?

A food allergy is a reaction that occurs when the immune system identifies a particular food as a threat and reacts adversely to it thus generating some unpleasant side effects which in very severe cases can sometimes be deadly.

Some of the most common allergy trigger foods are:

-       Cows milk protein

-       Eggs

-       Wheat

-       Peanuts

-       Soy

-       Shellfish

-       Nuts

-       Fish

-       Berries

-       Corn

-       Sesame seeds

-       Peas

-       Beans

-       Chocolate

Common symptoms of food allergy

-       Running nose and eyes

-       Headache

-       Diarrhea

-       Vomiting

-       Wheezing

-       Hives

-       Skin rash (other than eczema)

-       Swollen lips and eyelids

-       Abdominal pain

-       Eczema

-       Anaphylactic shock ( extremely severe cases)

Diagnosing a food allergy

Working with your child’s pediatrician ,the most effective method is simply to eliminate all suspected foods from his/her diet until all the symptoms disappear. Reintroduce foods one at a time, and once you notice an allergic reaction, it will be easy to pinpoint the culprit trigger food.

Is every food reaction a food allergy?

Not all adverse reactions to food are an allergy. A bad reaction can sometimes be caused by an enzyme deficiency. For example children with a lactase deficiency will be unable to digest the milk sugar lactose and thus react badly to milk products and milk. In the same way, a child with celiac disease will not be able to digest gluten, therefore reacts badly to all grains that have this substance.

At Yummy Spoonfuls, we know our babies’ immune systems are not fully developed thus more likely to become sensitized to common allergens.

So our meals are GLUTEN FREE, DAIRY FREE, and STRICTLY VEGETARIAN to help alleviate allergen related worries and make feeding of babies an enjoyable fun loving experience.

We continue to sustain our business due to wonderful recommendations from parents who have tried and love our products. Many thanks for spreading the word about us and for making us your kitchen away from home.

If you would like to earn free food for your child by becoming a Yummy Spoonfuls Ambassador please contact us at info@yummyspoonfuls.com or 678-464-3103 for more details.

Become a Yummy Spoonfuls fan for a chance to win a $ 400 eco-friendly gift basket.

Take Care of Number 1

Ah yes, Cold and Flu Season is upon us.   That, coupled with all the busyness of the upcoming Holidays, can leave the door open for a vulnerable immune system.  For parents, this can be one of the most hectic times of the year.  Caring for loved ones and handling all of the extra to-do’s that pop up this time of year can be overwhelming.  If you are like me, you grin and bear it and happily add all those extra items to the many things you already do on a daily basis.  Yes, some things may suffer… you may get less sleep than you need, you may not exercise or take time out for yourself as priorities naturally shift.  While taking care of and doing things for others is a great way to show them that you love them, remember to take time to do things that are good for you – things that help you relax and keep a sense of well-being.  Because if you find yourself worn out, too tired, or sick, everything else will come to a screeching halt!   Starting today you must take care of you!

It is extremely important while we are focusing on the best for our little ones that we also extend the same care and consideration to ourselves.   Only when we are healthy and well rested can we truly take care of others.

Take some time for yourself.  Ask for help from loved ones, accept an offer of help from a friend, enjoy some time off, and remember what it was like before you became a 24-hour caregiver.  Do something you enjoy and that is good for yourself that can improve your health.  Some suggestions you might consider are:

A massage, a chiropractic adjustment, or an acupuncture session
Get moving – dance, walk outside, yoga, jogging
Take a nap, enjoy a sauna or relax in a hot bubble bath
Spend some time in the sun
Read a book

If you can’t get away from your little one, then do something fun or out of the ordinary with them; take them somewhere fun like a park, a zoo, an aquarium, a duck pond.  Break out of your everyday routine.  This will give you a renewed sense of energy and recharge your batteries.

Once you are energized and refocused, take some time for meal planning for yourself and your family.  When planning meals and snacks for our little ones, make sure you do the same for yourself.  This is especially important when you are running errands, carpool, etc.  Remember to pack snacks for you and for them.  

Don’t forget breakfast.  It’s the most important meal of the day.  It’s what gets you going and keep you going through the morning.  If you don’t have time to prepare a hot breakfast every morning, plan ahead.  When you make French toast, pancakes or waffles, make extra and freeze or refrigerate them in a glass container separated by parchment paper.  This way you can take them out as needed during the week.  A quick, healthy topping is any of Yummy Spoonfuls Pears or Apples with cinnamon.  A homemade quiche or frittata can be made ahead and baked in the morning or if they are already made, as they can easily be reheated or even eaten cold.   Homemade oatmeal (soaked overnight to remove the phytic acid) topped with your favorite Yummy Spoonfuls flavor makes for a delicious and wholesome breakfast that your entire family will enjoy.  With a little creativity and planning a warm breakfast is only a few minutes away.

Following this advice will ensure that you are well rested, reenergized, and well fueled with a warm substantial meal in the morning leaving you ready to take on anything the season thrusts upon you with style, grace, and good health.

 

 By Julia’ s mami
 Heather Tubbs
www.trulyhealthybaby.com

“It Pays to be Dense – Building a Strong Immune System through Nutrient Dense Foods”

By Heather Tubbs
www.trulyhealthybaby.com

Keeping our children healthy and out of harm’s way is every parent’s priority.   These days everywhere you turn there is often sensationalistic news about an upcoming flu and cold season.  Fear and paranoia is everywhere, even Elmo is teaching kids the proper way to sneeze and cough, which, for you who are not privy to this, is into your elbow.  While taking precautionary measures is important to avoid becoming ill, the foundation for a truly healthy child is to build a solid immune system from birth by nourishing your children with the highest quality and most nutrient-dense whole foods available. 

What is Nutrient Dense Food?  It is energy-dense food that has more nutrients per calories than conventional food.  The difference in whether or not a food is nutrient dense is determined by how it is raised or grown, this is why it is important to “Know your farmer” and understand farming practices.  Meat and dairy from animals that are grass-fed are significantly more nutrient dense than meat or dairy from conventional farms.  Fruits and vegetables grown on mineralized or organically fertilized soils are significantly more nutrient dense than conventional produce.

Providing your child with whole, organic nutrient-dense food is the basis to building a healthy immune system.  There are many well known nutrients that are fundamental elements for building a healthy body:  Vitamin C is well known for its benefit in strengthening the immune system, while Vitamin D plays a role in the regulation of both the “infectious” immune system and the “inflammatory” immune system.(1) and therefore is vital for building children’s immune systems.

The fall season is here and there is wonderful fresh bounty available.  Fall brings us potatoes, sweet potatoes, butternut squash, broccoli, carrots, green beans, apples and pears (this foods are readily and conveniently available from specialty/certified organic retailers such as Yummy Spoonfuls who guarantee the provenance of their baby food).  When grown organically in nutrient-dense soil, these foods contribute enormously to a healthy immune system.   Here’s but a few of the nutrient details on these nutritious foods:

Broccoli is a great source of glucosinolates, phytonutrients rich in sulfur that stimulate the natural antioxidant systems in your body.

Carrots are packed with beta carotene, a phytonutrient that increases your body’s production of T-cells and natural killer cells.

 

Why are we fat

If you put milk and sugar on sawdust it is going to taste good, our addiction to cheap food is costing us our health. It is also very sad that the society has been made to believe all the chemicals added to our food supply should be considered innocent until proven guilty  I feed my family  FOOD not the science project that food has become today.  Food today is overly processed with stabilizers, sweeteners and preservatives so the food can literally outlive us.  We should start taking a closer look at the labels before buying it.  Demand more for your money. We only have one live. Cheap food at the end of the day is more expensive per life time cost.  Like Nicole said, I eat everything under the sun so long as it is wholesome and organic and still the same size I was 20 years ago. I say to America lets start eating ‘FOOD’ and get of the settee and the fat will start dropping off.

 

Have a healthy weekend and don’t forget to look at your label-

Cheers

One healthy start with label smart

As school starts again and we begin to get back into our routines, the topic of how to feed our children wholesome and healthy snacks is on many of our minds.  If you learn what to look for in nutrition labels, it will help you make smart choices.

Though fruits and vegetables are important to include in your child’s diet, eating healthy means providing lots of different types of food throughout the day to get them all the nutrients they need. A balance of carbohydrates, fat, protein and fiber is important to ensure children maintain a stable blood sugar level and healthy energy. As we all know not all carbs, fat or protein are created equal thus it is imperative that we are providing them with that which is nutritive and nourishing.  

  Labels are an important way for producers to tell you about the characteristics of their products.  Learn what to look for in food labels to help you provide a balanced and healthy diet for your child.

Whether buying produce, whole grain snacks, dairy or meats, when buying organic foods, look for the “USDA Organic” label. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) now has national standards for the use of the word “organic.” Only foods in the categories “100% organic” and “organic” may display the USDA Organic Seal. Other foods with varying levels of organic ingredients may be labeled as follows:

 

• 100% organic – All of the ingredients are organic (excludes water and salt).

• Organic- 95 or more of ingredients used are organic.

• Made with organic ingredients- 70% of the ingredients are organic. Can appear on the front of package, naming the specific ingredients.

•  Contains organic ingredients- contains less than 70% organic ingredients.
• “Natural”- this is a label that is not regulated and can mean anything. It is a marketing term and does not guarantee anything at all.

The USDA Organic label is not the only “organic” label you can trust.  Many small farmers cannot  become certified because costs are high, but if you frequent local farmers markets and get to know the farmers, you’ll learn that many of them use organic methods to raise their food.

There are plenty of sham labels out there that you should understand. Become familiar with what labels really mean to make Greener Choices for your family.  This link from Consumer Reports explains the different things we see on labels, like “free range” and “no antibiotics”.

KNOW what to avoid

The label “Organic” alone does not ensure the quality of a product.  Many snacks “containing organic ingredients” for example may also contain a lot of sugar, preservatives, or additives.   

Here is a  basic list of the “Top Ten Food Ingredients to Avoid”:

• Foods with 10 ingredients or more. Wholesome foods tend to have very few ingredients because they only contain ingredients that are essential to making that product.  For example, organic peanut butter should contain peanuts many list a lot of other unnecessary ingredients that serve as stabilizers, sweeteners and preservatives so the food can outlive your kids’ childhood. Bread should contain about 5 or 6 ingredients, HFCS(see below) should not be one of them.
• High fructose corn syrup (HFCS)
• Enriched and bleached flour (be careful because it may say “whole grain” or “wheat” on the package… it’s not necessarily 100% wheat flour)
• Trans fats/hydrogenated vegetable oils
• Artificial colorings
• Saturated fats
• High-sugars/refined sugars
• High sodium (we should not consume more than 2 grams/2000mg of sodium per day)
• Monosodium Glutamate (MSG)
• Sodium nitrate

It is very scary to think of all the additives and chemicals that are added into our foods supply to increase product shelf life thus guarantees the bottom line of the product. It is a shame that our society has been made to believe that it is necessary; all these additives, colors, chemicals etc are actually decreasing our health.

Take charge of your family’s nutrition and health.  Don’t let yourself be fooled by large words printed on labels that lead you to believe it’s a healthy choice.  Take time to learn which labels really mean something and read all of the ingredients on the label (even those in fine print).  When it comes to helping our little ones grow healthy and happy, it’s worth taking the time to do it right.  After all… we only get one chance to get it right. 

As seen on CNN, 11Alive etc

What parents are saying about us

Greetings from Georgia Organics! Tanya shared some samples of your delicious baby food with me and I am happy to report that my 6-month old, Ellie Claire, enjoyed the peas yesterday as her very first introduction to solid food. And she LOVED them! I cannot tell you how enjoyable it was to watch her get so excited and ultimately covered in green peas.

 I am extremely particular about the food my family eats and am a firm believer in supporting local, sustainable farmers. Giving Ellie your product for her first introduction to solid food made me feel proud to be giving her the best I could while supporting a local business owner. I am a big believer in what you are doing and the product. I will do my best to act as a buzz agent for you. Feel free to use any of this as a testimonial if you need that sort of thing. I am attaching some pictures for fun too.

 Thanks again and GOOD LUCK! Thrilled to have an operation like yours in Atlanta.

Sincerely,

Jennifer L. Owens 
Development Director   
Georgia Organics

 

Yummyspoonfuls has been a Godsend!!  The fact that this food is PURE, ORGANIC, and EASY is completely unheard of in today’s marketplace.  Being a mother of three, to prepare meals like this would require a lot of time that I would rather be spending with my family.  Yummyspoonfuls affords me the opportunity to provide extraordinary foods for my 9 month-old and not spend an inordinate amount of time preparing and storing it.  The simplicity of the product allows for a great degree of creativity in food combinations.  I am very pleased with this product and I wish it would have been around for my other children.

Maggie Tremols Hickory, NC

Commercial production of nutritious food is feasible. My quest for a good bread substitute for my family

We make our own bread at home. We do not have a bread maker and up until now we have loved being able to do it. We have taken pride in making our bread. It is delicious, our son loves it, and I love the look on his face as he watches the dough double in size. That is priceless. Unfortunately, for the past couple of months it has become more of a chore than the pleasure it used to be given that we have gotten extremely busy and not enough time on our hands.

Thus my search for a good organic bread that I can serve my family without any sense of guilt. I hit a couple of my favorite stores and was completely mortified by what was listed on the labels. Some of the breads had more than twenty ingredients listed.  I was shocked and amazed seeing how I only use 5 ingredients including water to make my bread. These simple ingredients are the same 5 ingredients my mother used, her mother before her, and her mother before her. Our family’s simple bread recipe has been made the same for generations. So after visiting 6 different stores and finding that most of the breads I came across all had what seemed like a million extra, unnecessary ingredients, I began to think that it might be commercial bread just can’t be nutritious because I found the same bread all over the place.

 After five days of searching I finally found a bread that I could feed my family, that was not only organic but had only six ingredients listed on the label, just one more ingredient than my mom’s homemade recipe. So I bought it.

 The directions on the bread were simple.  Eat or freeze immediately, that was it. We purchased a loaf and it tasted heavenly. It was moist, fluffy, a little coarse and chewy just like home made. So the next time you go to buy bread look at your label.

Below is a list of the ingredients on my whole wheat bread label

Organic whole wheat

Organic coarse rye

Salt

Honey

Yeast

Filtered water

As Dr. Maya Angelou says, “We do better when we know better”.  We know there is healthy and nutritious commercial bread at an economical price. Therefore, the million dollar question is, what drives one company to make bread with only six ingredients and the other to make the same bread using more than twenty ingredients, most of them unnecessary. One might conclude that the company using all of the extra ingredients might be adding a lot of extra simply to extend the shelf life of their bread.

For those of us who bake we know you don’t need 20 ingredients most of which we can’t pronounce to make good bread.

I haven’t had to get up at 4 a.m. to mix dough in a while. My family has grown to love the commercial brand that I buy. When purchasing your own bread, make sure that you are only getting a product with essential ingredients and nothing extra. Remember, there are healthy, convenient, and delicious breads on the market. You have just got to remember to check the label on your next trip to your local grocer or farmer’s market.

Happy Earth Day

With so much fanfare going on about Earth Day I can’t help but reminisce about my child hood days. Growing up, Earth Day was every day; we were taught to give back to Mother Earth what she so graciously gives us on a daily basis. Everything came from the earth, so we knew we had to treat Mother Earth with some reverence. We had an innate ability in giving back to the earth without even thinking about it, it was an endless efficient circle of reusability. During my last visit home I watched a young boy take  rinds from the food that the mother was preparing in the kitchen to feed the animals that were in the courtyard, and it hit me; gosh these healthy chickens, goats etc running around strive on nothing but the leftovers from the kitchen, the natural grass. Even their waste is naturally going back to the very earth as organic manure.

As Parents, we face many issues, however diet and health remains a fundamental issue for us that needs to be elevated on our list of priorities. After all, feeding our kids is the first, most basic thing we do to nourish their bodies and their minds. Recent research from world renowned Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia confirmed what many parents instinctively know – an organic diet is better for children. The study showed how pesticides used on conventional products show up in children’s blood.  Although the long term effects of these pesticides are unknown, who want to take a chance with their child’s health?

Processed foods contain sugars, salt, additives, and preservatives in an effort to extend the shelf life of products. That’s great for the big food conglomerates but it is horrible of the consumers that purchase these products. Beyond the excess sodium, the massive amounts of high fructose corn syrup, and the dehydrating sodium that fills these foods, the chemical additives are unnecessary evils that serve our bodies no purpose. Why would you ever put anything into your body or your child’s body that doesn’t serve a positive purpose?

Earth Day also reminds us that when we embrace green living we are proactively doing our part to take care of the planet. There are so many people who are living testaments to this fact. Someone who immediately comes to mind is Laura Turner Seydel.

Last week Yummy Spoonfuls had the honor to participate in an Eco Trunk Show at the home of Seydel, Chairperson of the Captain Planet Foundation. Laura’s home – known as EcoManor.  EcoManor (www.ecomanor.com) is the first Gold Certified LEED Home (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) in the Southeast. Serving as an educational tool, EcoManor has reached builders, architects, designers, landscapers, vendors, educators and homeowners to promote green living, conservation, and improved residential building practices.  

Laura has been a long term advocate for the environment. She has founded, co-founded and holds various leadership roles in environmental organizations locally and nationally. She acts as Chairperson of the Captain Planet Foundation, an organization that focuses on educating children about the environment. “The Captain Planet Foundation has impacted over 625,000 youth around the world from a wide variety of socioeconomic and ethnic backgrounds.” 

Being part of the Eco Trunk Show, touring EcoManor meeting Laura was an amazing way to kick off the upcoming Earth Day festivities! One thing we must always remember is that Earth Day is every day.  No matter how small we think our contribution is, every small act counts.

 

Yummy Spoonfuls wants to share some ideas on how to kick off your Earth Day and start making some simple changes you and your family can slowly implement and continue throughout the year.

 

1.       Learn more about the environment – Visit one of the many websites and read up on current issues. Planetgreen.com is a great place to begin. Decide which issues you are most concerned about; maybe you can join a local group to help protect the environment in your area.

2.       Recycle – Start a recycle area in your garage, and get the kids to help with the project.  It is simple; just get 3 large containers and label them accordingly. Your kids could create the artwork to label them.

3.       Reuse – Invest in a couple of cloth bags to take with you shopping instead of using plastic bags

4.       Make your plastic bottled water a reusable container

5.       Switch to high efficiency light bulbs

6.       Plant a tree to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions

7.       Support local farms and food producers, start visiting your local farmers’ market for fresh, ripe veggies this summer or start your own garden.  It is amazing what $10 in seeds can do for your family.

8.       Get creative in the kitchen and plan a special Earth Day feast using local organic products.

 

And remember Every day is Earth Day. Anything you do to help our environment is a great thing to do on Earth Day and every day.  Involve your kids in the process and don’t restrict yourself to just one day a year; put it into practice – every day!

 

 

Childhood Obesity: The Preventable Threat to America’s Youth

The majority of American youth are sedentary and do not eat well. The resulting poor nutrition and lack of physical activity has created an epidemic of childhood obesity that is preventable, yet shows no sign of decreasing. Here are some statistics cited by the Action for Healthy Kids organization.  For more information, visit their site at www.healthykids.org.

Prevalence and Trends 

Overweight and obesity impairs or threatens the health of millions of 
Americans.

Poor diet and inadequate physical activity are the second leading cause of death in the United States and together account for at least 300,000 deaths annually.

Nine million American children are overweight, triple the number in 1980.

Childhood obesity among ages 2-5 has increased 35% in the past 10 years.

There is no indication that the incidence of overweight among children is decreasing.

Contributing Factors

Poor eating habits and lack of physical activity are root causes of overweight and obesity.

Only 2% of school-aged children consume the recommended daily number of servings from all five major food groups.

More than 80% of children and adolescents eat too much fat (more than 30% of total calories from fat). More than 90% eat too much saturated fat.

Ninety-eight percent of 6-18 year olds report eating at least 3 snacks per day, and more than 50% report 5 or more snacks daily.

More than 38% of students watch television 3 or more hours per average school day.

Fewer than 25% of American children get at least 30 minutes of any type of physical activity every day. 
  

Health Consequences

Childhood obesity is a medical concern, not a cosmetic issue.

The vast majority (between 70 and 80%) of overweight children and adolescents continue to be overweight in adulthood or will become obese adults.

Childhood weight problems can lead to complications such as elevated blood pressure and cholesterol, joint problems, Type II diabetes, gallbladder disease, asthma, depression and anxiety.

Severely overweight and obese children often suffer from depression, anxiety disorders, isolation from their peers, low self-esteem, and eating disorders. 

Of overweight 5 to 10 year-olds, 61% have at least one risk factor for heart disease.

Academic Consequences

Because multiple variables must be controlled when examining the relationship between weight and achievement, it is difficult to draw definitive conclusions. Further, a correlation between the two doesn’t necessarily imply causation. However, several studies have examined this link.

Severely overweight children and adolescents (those above the 95th percentile for weight) were four times more likely to report “impaired school functioning”. 

Severely overweight children tended to have abnormal scores on the Child Behavior Checklist, and were twice as likely to be placed in special education or a remedial class setting.

Overweight kindergartners had significantly lower math and reading test scores at the beginning of the year than did their non-overweight peers, and these lower scores continued into first grade.

Economic consequences 

Severely overweight children miss four times as much school as normal-weight kids.

Obesity-associated annual hospital costs for children increased more than threefold from $35 million during 1979-1981 to $127 million during 1997-1999. 

National health expenditures related to adult obesity range from $98-$129 billion annually.

Source: Action for Healthy Kids helps schools make changes that will make their students healthier, which in turn will improve their achievement.