From Processed Foods to DIY lunchables

Back in January I did a presentation on lunchables for our neighborhood school's PTO meeting. Here is a quick overview from the presentation.


Modern health problems - Processed food. 

- 2/3 of the American Population is overweight. That is more than 50% which means it is MORE NORMAL TO BE OVERWEIGHT THAN NOT.

- Today we are raising the first generation of children that will NOT OUT-LIVE THEIR PARENTS

- In the last 20 years we saw a 400% increase in FOOD ALLERGIES, a 300% increase in ASTHMA and a 400% increase in ADHD

- 1500 to 6000% increase in AUTISM!!! *1

Why did this happen?

In the last 20-30 years, food quality as dramatically decreased. *2

Today's food has ingredients that have never been in our food before. GMOs, pesticides, chemicals, hormones, antibiotics and altered oils are all contributing to toxicity in the body.

There is no limit of the number of pesticides that can be sprayed on produce. A conventionally grown apple has been sprayed 30 times before we buy it at the supermarket.

Processed food consumption has never been this high! The foods we are supposed to consume come without a label. If they have a label we need to read the ingredients and if there are words we can not pronounce or if we do not know what they mean, the item should stay in the shelf. 

The consumer has a lot of power. If we learn to read labels and refuse to buy products with artificial ingredients the companies will lose sales and come up with something better so they can make money again. It really is that simple. 

We have a RIGHT TO KNOW

We have a right to know what we are eating!

The U.S.A and Canada are the only countries where foods that are made with genetically modified ingredients are NOT labeled! *

Why do they not want us to know?

Labeling genetically modified foods should be common sense: without labeling we can not track possible side effects, without labels the consumer is left in the dark and even if you think there is nothing wrong with them you would want them labeled.

Colorado is circulating petitions to get a mandatory GMO labeling bill on the ballot for this November's election.
Personally and as a Nutritionist I am in absolut support of GMO labeling and if you are too please consider helping the campaign. You can sign up through the link below for more information, to be on the mailing list and to learn how to get involved.

http://www.righttoknowcolorado.org

It is time we stand up for our rights and take back our food supply. 

love, n.

*note 5/03/2014: I am not sure that is true, there may be other countries who have no GMO labels or regulations, however, I have never heard of any. So if you do know this please enlighten me. thanks. 

GMO education EVENT

GMO education event. With yours truly. 

Because this matters. 

It is only in the United States and Canada that GMO's are NOT labeled. 

Everywhere else in the world they are labeled, or even banned. 

Why? Why do we not have the right to know? Why do they not want us to know? Is a GMO seed really the same as a conventional seed? Why are some foods genetically modified? Does it make them better? Are they safe? 

Come and find out. 

Non-Food School Rewards and Birthday Treats!

A couple of months ago I started volunteering at my daughter's Elementary School. There was a new wellness team building and after I raised concerns about all the sugary treats circulating in the school they suggested that I could help by jumping on the wellness team wagon. So I did. And wow, first up, those teachers are amazing! Great group of very motivated ladies with great ideas and while they often tell me how happy they are to have me on their team, I am equally as grateful and honored to have the opportunity to make positive changes.

The background

According to the new Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act (a 'new' policy signed into law and supported by first lady Michele Obama) every school has the opportunity and responsibility to teach children wellness that will last a lifetime. Nutrition and Sports education have to be implemented, not just in PE and the regular curriculum, but as a way of life at the school.

(from the Jamie Oliver Foundation homepage, an explanation from the law:)

The Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act requires that schools update their local wellness policies and include goals for nutrition promotion. Wellness committees should include many stakeholders, including physical education teachers, school health professionals, students, parents and other interested community members, school board members and school administrators.

Our Wellness Team decided to challenge teachers and parents to go 'treat' free and encourage whole foods or non-food items for birthday treats and in school rewards are slowly being changed into non-food items.

To implement this, I found all these great resources online:

- Non-Food celebrations and reward ideas for elementary schools

- 100daysofrealfood, Student Rewards

- 100daysofrealfood Non-Food rewards

And also from the Holistic Family Nutrition pinterest board:
http://www.pinterest.com/holisticfamilyn/

If you have been thinking about helping out in your kids' school, don't be shy, they are so grateful for everyone who comes and helps out. If there is anything I can help you with or if you have any questions on how to approach the school about this food/treat reward issue, please feel free to contact me. I can hook you up with information I have gathered and handouts I have written.

Another really good source is the Jamie Oliver Foundation. He has it all on the website; packages for parents on how to approach the school, info on the law and how to find out what can be changed and what can not.

With the food politics how it is and the creative ways food manufacturers come up with new man-made ingredients we can no longer ignore the sweet 'treats' that are handed out on a daily basis. They do matter, even in small amounts. Next time you pick up a candy, please read the ingredients. Recognize the words? Can you pronounce them? I bet you probably do not.

Other reasons that speak for Non-Food rewards in schools:

- The number of children with severe, life threatening allergies is increasing. These children have to sit out, possibly at another table, while the rest of the class gets to eat a 'treat'. That just makes me sad.

- Food colorings: Yellow 5, Red 40, etc..... while approved by the FDA, they are linked to hyperactivity in children. In Europe, artificial food dyes are banned, or labeled with 'may cause hyperactivity in children'. No kidding. In the U.S. this stuff is in soups, candy, drinks, smoothies, crackers, etc....

- Sugar. Yes sugar. Sugar is no longer just sugar. The cheap candy is made with high fructose corn syrup (but HFCS is also found in various other processed food), a sugar from genetically modified corn that is processed to have a very high amount of fructose. Its introduction into our food supply directly links to obesity.

- The psychological aspect. In my opinion a good behaviour should not be rewarded with food. Such association will stick with the kid forever. Later, as an adult they will reward themselves for good or bad days with a pint of ice cream. (Sounds familiar?) (-;

To keeping the kids healthy, 

love, n.

2013 In Pictures

2013 In Food Pictures!

I am very thankful for the abundance of organic food that I have available to feed my family. Unfortunately it is a luxury and a privilege, so many families live in a food desert. We are very much aware of that.

On one of the pictures, (hint: a very colorful one), the capture will lead you to a link with a downloadable Handout about a Therapeutic Meal I made to strengthen your Immune System. Maybe it could be a good menue to start the new year? (-;

Look out for another couple pictures with links.

with love and in health, nadia

Therapeutic Meal: Immune Strengthening

ROAD TRIP SALAD!

SCHOOL LUNCHES!

BIRTHDAY TREATS!

Fast Bread recipe by Nadia

Holistic Family Nutrition nadia@negro-mueller.com http://holisticnutritionstuff.blogspot.com/ 10/2013©

FAST BREAD recipe by Nadia (link to downloadable version) 

5 cups organic whole grain spelt flour 

1 tablespoon Xantham Gum 

2/3 tablespoon Salt 

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

Mix all those dry ingredients together then add:

2-3 tablespoons of olive oil 

1-2 handful of oats 

2 tablespoons honey 

3 tablespoons sesame seeds (optional) 

4 tablespoons sunflower kernels (optional)

Mix well and then add:

2.5 cups of tap water

Mix dough thoroughly with the back of a wooden spatula (works best) 

Fill in a baking pan lined with baking paper 

Bake in preheated oven at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for about 50 minutes

 Let cool on cooling rack

Notes: 

-Any flour will do, nutritionally whole grain is best. 

-Spelt is an ancient grain and not hybridized, it is better tolerated than wheat flour, BUT NOT GLUTEN FREE 

-Xantham Gum is only necessary if ‘non-wheat’ flour is used to prevent the bread from falling apart while cutting. 

-Switch out ingredients: You may add raisins, chopped apricots and other dried fruits. Chopped nuts of any kind make for a fun delicious bread as well. 

-To make breadsticks or any other creations by kid’s hands, use less water to have dough that you can manipulate with your hands without sticking. Start with about 13⁄4 cups of water and add more if needed.

Find us on  facebook: pages/HolisticFamilyNutrition 

Blog: http://holisticnutritionstuff.blogspot.com/

Holistic Family Nutrition http://holisticnutritionstuff.blogspot.com/

School lunches

There are many healthy mom blogs posting school lunch ideas, so I am going to make this short and just post the pictures of the lunches I make for my daughter. The plan was to take a picture every day. Yeah, that didn't happen and probably never will. The lunches are also not very creative and cute looking. Just healthy stuff she likes.

We also had to figure out lunches she can eat fast, fill her up and give her the energy she needs for the rest of the day.

I was shocked to learn that first graders already do not have a snack break anymore and lunch time is only 20minutes short. We eat meals as a family at a table, we chat and eat slow and sometimes it takes an hour. 

So our girl needs to learn to eat quickly and safe the chatting for recess.(-; 

School rules also forbid her to take a bar out to the playground after lunch, I guess they want to keep the playground from getting cluttered with wrappers. Oh, all the fun rules and policies that are involved in keeping kids under control at an elementary school.(-; 

As you can see, there is a lot of pasta and pinto beans.(-; The little patties in the   3rd picture are homemade falafel.

A thumbs up to all the Mammas and Daddies who slave in the kitchen everyday to provide their kiddos a healthy school lunch! You rock! It is worth it!!! 

Love, n.