How unhealthy are my kids?

[Anonymous]

OP, I also think you are doing great and you are funny! (Your comment about the nap and how you "wasted" that time really struck a nerve with me. I always try to do something productive during nap time but then I am exhausted when the kids wake up )

From reading a lot of the respones here I feel that the quality of the food is much more important. I do buy those $1.99 eggs from Trader Joes and always buy shredded cheese - never thought about additives. I wish I could review all the foods I currenly buy and then go for the best-quality version, alas my budget does not allow for that.

[CMarie]

sorry, did not mean to post twice.

[CMarie]

If you're asking, then it's important. Here are some ideas for simple pantry/preparation. Even if you take 1 or 2 things maybe it will help. Above all, it's on your radar, so that's awesome.

We subscribe to the Michael Pollan eating approach, a simple seven words:

“Eat food, not too much, mostly plants.”

We do eat meat and fish, though they play a background role on our plates. Here's what we use regularly:

oils: extra virgin olive oil, canola oil, toasted sesame oil, hazelnut oil (choose your favorites)
vinegars: white vinegar, white wine vinegar, rice wine vinegar, red wine vinegar, sherry vinegar (a must for beans)
salt: celtic sea salt, kept in a small dish for use in cooking and at the table
whole peppercorns and pepper grinder
soy sauce, tamari for Gluten free daughter
flours: white wheat flour, wheat flour
bay leaves
dried beans ( soak some beans overnight, cook them them the next day)
whole wheat pastas
yeast (pizza dough, bread, rolls)
real maple syrup (comes, like many things we get, from Amish farmers)
brown sugar
white sugar (kombucha)
grass fed butter: always in house, always some soft and on the counter, some cold in fridge for baking; we do not use margarine or butter-like substances
2-3 favorite cheeses (one is always parmesan)
plain whole milk yogurt (great baby food, great for smoothies, great with granola, great for dressings; we often make our own yogurt)
homemade granola (our favorite cereal), i buy sprouted garm=nola, too
onions, garlic, carrots, celery, ginger
eggs: we keep 1-3 dozen pasturedchicken eggs at home all the time: great for breakfast, snacks, baking, and they make the BEST flan ever!
local pastured chicken: we cook one a week on the stove and use the pulled meat and stock for the week
the chicken can be used to:
mix with pasta and veggies
make soup
make chicken salad
Grass Fed Beef: ground beef, 1-2 steaks, cook, slice, add to salads
caramelized onions: make them when you have people over-they smell great cooking; add to sandwiches, pasta, soups
canned or preserved organic tomatoes: in the off season for tomato sauce (no excuse four ingredient tomato sauce recipe on smitten kitchen)
fish or other seafood; small portions with lots of veggies

three last minute chances to make things more healthy:
1. grow your own sprouts at home and put them on everything (we love these folks here)
2. add your cooked beans to sauces and pasta dishes
3. add dark greens to sauces and pasta dishes raw and let the heat cook them for optimum nutrition


--
Christy Przystawik
Holistic Health Coach. Chef. Mother. Motivator.
coachchristymarie.com

[Anonymous]

14:50 I think it's overkill to post this pantry list on more than one thread, especially if it doesn't really answer the OP's question.

[Anonymous]

OP, we all need more People magazine! Go you.

I actually am one of those weirdos who make cheese and bread. I do it because I love doing it, though, not because it is the only good way to feed kids! Actually, my kid won't touch my homemade cheese. His loss.

Sounds like you and your kids are eating well, so no more self flagilation, okay?

[Anonymous]

frozen veggies are typically picked at height of nutritional benefit and frozen right away- not terrible choice.

[Anonymous]

OP, if I could make one suggestion, it is ground chicken breast, preferably the stuff from Whole Foods. We use it for tacos, in pasta sauce, for chicken burgers, little meatballs, pretty much anything you can think of. It's super fast and easy to cook, takes any kind of flavor, the kids love it, and it is healthier and more eco than beef.

Suggestion number two is this:

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/simple-tomato-sauce-recipe2/index.html

Kids love it, better than buying stuff in a jar, and you can make a big batch and freeze. (We go easy on the garlic for our kids).