Category — Kids Nutrition

If life is tough for your family right now, keep everyone’s spirits up by planning a daily celebration. Dress the table for dinner each night. Set a beeswax candle or some item from nature in the center. Depending on the ages of your children, play a word game or two. Take some time to reconnect by asking those close to you, “What made you happy today?”

Resolve to surprise one family member each day by gifting them with something special—a promise for fresh baked cookies, 15 minutes snuggling, or a bike ride, for example. Whether your family numbers two, three, or a dozen, earth-friendly gifts like these are free acts of love and kindness that will always be appreciated. Most importantly, take a vow to each day celebrate what you have rather than focus on what you don’t.

-Lynn and Corey Colwell, mother-daughter duo and co-authors of Celebrate Green! Creating Eco-Savvy Holidays, Celebrations and Traditions for the Whole Family.

In an effort to foster community and help parents help each other, we’ve rounded up some of the best offerings from eco-minded mom bloggers.  Here they are!

-Eco Child’s Play reviews Bringing Home Nature by Doug Tallamy, a book aimed at helping families create their own native backyard habitats.

-Is it better to purchase a conventional, second-hand crib, or buy a new one that’s certified greener or safer?  Green Baby Guide discusses.

-Not sure what to do with the piles of boxes you have in your garage?  Looking to get some boxes on the cheap while still avoiding waste?  Visit Mom Goes Green.

-Inhabitots explores attachment parenting, as well as the merits of an arm’s reach co-sleeper.  Learn more about attachment parenting and other sleep training methods in the March articles by Moms Meet.

-Mom Go Green is gearing up for warmer weather with an outdoor bat house.  It keeps mosquitoes at bay, and provides some fun nighttime entertainment!

-Marygrace, KIWI intern and blog enthusiast

We want to honor the hometown activist in all of our communities – the Moms of the Revolution. Tell us how you (or a mom you know) are revolutionizing the way kids in your community eat.

5 Moms will be selected to be featured in KIWI Magazine, receive a free KIWI subscription, and a one year supply of healthy lunchbox snacks from Revolution Foods for their family. One of the 5 Moms will win the GRAND PRIZE of $3,000 in cash to help fund their own healthy School Lunch Revolution.

Share your story.

– Stephanie, KIWI staff and seeker of the Moms of the Revolution 

It’s no secret that the healthiest, most delicious foods come from natural sources. Organic Valley’s milk, cheese, eggs, and meats are raised without antibiotics, hormones, or pesticides for authentic food that truly nourishes. A family farm co-op, Organic Valley aims for continual improvement and transparency, making their products food you can really feel good about. Coupon lovers click here.

–Marygrace, KIWI intern and lover of all things natural

In an effort to foster community and help parents help each other, I thought it would be a good idea to post weekly highlights of some of what’s going on in the mom blogosphere.  Onto the first roundup!

-Eco Child’s Play talks eco-friendly childcare, as well as resources to find eco-certified childcare centers near you.

-bumGenius! BabyLegs are more than just cute leggings.  Learn how else they can be useful at the Cloth Diaper Blog.

-Just in time for V-Day!  Inhabitots has great Valentine’s cards made from recycled material for your child to share with her friends.

-Read about the pros and cons of hiring a sitter from Mama-Om.

-Easy ways to save on organics, courtesy of Mom Goes Green.

-The Tranquil Parent is looking for ways to ease her four-year-old’s doctor anxiety.

Marygrace, KIWI Intern and blog nerd

Helping build healthy bones by aiding in calcium absorption, vitamin D is an important nutrient that’s often hard to find in foods.  Baby Ddrops are an easy way to provide your child with the daily recommended amount of vitamin D, minus the unpleasant taste or clumsy droppers that often accompany supplements. The unique bottle dispenses 400 IU of vitamin D in one easy drop, which can be used while breastfeeding, on baby’s pacifier, or mixed into a child’s food or drink.  For $2.00 your next purchase, call 888-234-5656 and mention code KIWI!

– Marygrace, KIWI intern and promoter of vitamin D 

Handmade valentines are truly gifts from the heart. A family fun project is making paper embedded with flower or veggie seeds. You’ll end up with Valentines that keep on giving. In addition to junk mail or other bits of paper, you’ll need some window screen, water and a blender. And if you’ve been looking for a way to recycle that dryer lint, you’ve found it! Learn how to make paper yourself or if you’re not into papermaking, seed-embedded cards can be purchased at GreenfieldPaper.com.

–Lynn and Corey Colwell, mother-daughter duo and co-authors of Celebrate Green! Creating Eco-Savvy Holidays, Celebrations and Traditions for the Whole Family, available at CelebrateGreen.net.

Calling all sensitive skin types! We’ve teamed up with Lavera Organic to give KIWI readers 10% off on a soothing slew natural and organic skincare products (use promo code Kiwi09 at checkout). Lavera’s Mom and Baby Set pampers mom with a wild rose facial mask and moisturizer and keeps baby’s delicate hair and skin soft with almond shampoo and cream. Offering protection from harmful ingredients while creating effective products for allergy-prone and sensitive skin types, Lavera’s skincare line is a goldmine of green baby shower gifts.

–Marygrace, KIWI intern and lover of organic skin care

If you’ve read our Super Healthy Super Bowl suggestions, you’ll see that we are big fans of popchips!

They’re definitely a different type of chip.  Neither baked nor fried, they apply pressure, and pop it’s a chip! Plus they’re all natural with half the fat of fried potato chips, trans fats, saturated fats, and cholesterol. They have five crunchy flavors (I love their salt and pepper flavor the best!).  You can find them pretty easily at Whole Foods Market, Target and Jamba Juice, and many other stores (check out their website for locations near you).

To learn more, watch their Super Bowl video.

Have a Super Healthy Super Bowl and I hope your team wins!

–Stephanie, KIWI staff and football lover

Across the U.S. (43 states and 500 people, to be exact), peanut butter products are being checked due to a possible salmonella outbreak. Over 165 products have been recalled (a number that grows as you read this), and families all over are reading labels extra carefully as they shop.

So how do you avoid a potentially sticky situation?

First, don’t panic! Not all peanut butter products have been contaminated. The experts at the FDA and Centers for Disease Control have determined that the outbreak originated from one manufacturer, the Peanut Corporation of America (PCA), which has a plant in Blakely, Georgia. The good news? PCA doesn’t sell directly to consumers, so your jars of plain peanut butter should be fine. But products made with the peanut paste produced from PCA are at risk, including cookies, crackers, cereals, ice cream, candies, and pet foods. Major companies such as Keebler, Clif Bars, Trader Joe’s and Wegman’s have all been affected by product recalls.

To find out if your favorite foods are on the suspect list, search the FDA’s list of recalled products. If you’re not sure about a certain product, the FDA recommends you omit it from your family’s diet for the time being.

–Sara Sugar, KIWI intern

We’ve all heard over and over that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. You want your kids to start their day off with a healthy, nutritious breakfast…everyday. But are they? One of the best ways to guarantee that your kids are eating a balanced breakfast is to eat it with them. Let’s call this our mid-January New Year’s Resolution. How many times a week can you eat breakfast with you kids? Our breakfast recipes can help you. Enjoy!

––Stephanie Singer, KIWI staff and lover of breakfast

Peanut butter and jelly. Cookies and milk. Some things just go together, winter and chapped lips being another classic pair that can be added to the list. Instead of reaching for a tube of the iconic (and petroleum-laden) Cherry Chapstick we all wore in middle school, soothe your lips naturally with one of these eco-friendly picks.

-Lip balm by Pangea Organics is rich in vitamins, minerals, and essential fatty acids in a range of sophisticated scents like Pyranees lavender with cardamom and Egyptian fennel with grapefruit and sweet orange. Fellow KIWI blogger Stephanie loves Italian red mandarin with rose.

-Available in tins (for which I can personally vouch last forever), organic Badger Balm does double-duty by working in dry skin, too.

-A popular favorite, Burt’s Bees offers lip balms that heal and moisturize. I love the warm clove scent of their medicated variety, as well as the subtle pink tint left by a swipe of the replenishing balm.

Marygrace Stergakos, KIWI intern and avid lip balm collector

When it comes to food, we recommend eating organic. That being said, the realities of life don’t always allow us to be 100% organic. So when you have to give up something, where should you start? According to the Daily Green, here is a list of 10 fruits and vegetables that’s you don’t necessarily have to buy organic (all the time). Why don’t these need to be grown organically? Well, most of the following “face fewer threats from pests such as insects or disease, so fewer pesticides need to be used OR have thick skins that protect the fruit from pesticide build-up.”

1. Asparagus
2. Avocado
3. Bananas
4. Broccoli
5. Clean Cabbage
6. Kiwi
7. Mango
8. Onions
9. Papaya
10. Pineapple

–Stephanie, KIWI staff and lover of families

Here are Sierra Club’s recommendations for 2009 of books addressing a particular aspect of environmentalism. See new and soon-to-be-published books that give good advice about living green:

• David Suzuki’s Green Guide
• Getting Green Done: Hard Truths from the Front Lines of the Sustainability Revolution
• Earth Talk: Expert Answers to Everyday Questions About the Environment
• What Would You Do If You Ran the World? Everyday Ideas from Women Who Want to Make the World a Better Place

For the full article, click here

– Stephanie, KIWI staff and lover of families

Have you ever watched Grocery Store Wars? This is a cool video you can watch with your kids and learn (in a creative way) about healthy eating. Enjoy!

If your child has food allergies, or special dietary needs, you can still visit friends and family and share the joy of the holiday season. But when food is involved (and when isn’t it?) it’s always best to come prepared. So here are a few tips to keep in mind:

• Call ahead to explain your child’s allergies and offer to bring a safe dish.

• Ask to serve your child first to make sure that the utensils and foods are not cross contaminated.

• Remind loved ones not to fuss over what your child is eating. He or she wants to be part of the crowd and not singled out because of his differences.

• If the host seems not to “get it”, feed your child at home and bring dessert or a snack.

• Keep an eye out for candy dishes and nut bowls. If your child is very young, ask if they can be moved out of the little one’s reach.

• Desserts in particular are a common cause of allergic reactions as they are often cross contaminated with peanuts or nuts and most will contain some of the top nine allergens. So, make a special holiday dessert that your child will love and bring enough to share so that she feels part of the celebration.

–Gina Clowes is the Founder of AllergyMoms.com and author of One of the Gang: Nurturing the Souls of Children with Food Allergies

Thanksgiving gives us the opportunity to stop and appreciate what we have in union with friends, family and community. Involving traditions that focus on appreciation can be fun, easy, cost-free and may even outrank your grandma’s apple pie as the most anticipated aspect of the entire holiday. Here are some simple, cost-free alternatives.

· Create a gratitude centerpiece. Invite each guest to bring a small object that represents something for which they are thankful. As they arrive, they can put the object in a glass bowl in the center of the table, or directly on the table if you prefer. Once everyone has arrived, you can play with placement of the objects on the table, interspersing them with items from nature like acorns, leaves, and berries to make this collaborative tableau. Sometime during the meal, each guest can explain what their gift represents. You will not only have created a beautiful and unique centerpiece, but a new oral tradition.

· Box of thanks. Place small strips of paper and a pen at each place. Make or decorate a box including the words, “Thanksgiving 2008,” and set in the center of the table. Ask everyone to write on the paper strip, then read aloud, the thing they are most thankful for this year. After reading, place the strips in the box, where they will remain at the “heart” of the Thanksgiving meal. Next year, bring out the 2008 box and the host or hostess can read all the strips before putting out a new box for 2009. Imagine after 10 years, how the reminders of gratitude will multiply.

· “T” is for the Thankful Game. Depending on the number of guests, you’ll need a few words related to Thanksgiving, like Thanksgiving, gratitude, turkey dinner, cranberry sauce. Start the game by saying the word, i.e. Thanksgiving. The host begins by talking about something she is grateful for that starts with a “t.” The next person says something he is grateful for beginning with an “h,” etc. Once you’ve gone through the first word if you have more players or want to go around again, choose another word or word combination.

· Walk of appreciation. After enjoying your Thanksgiving meal, instead of grabbing a snooze on the couch, bundle up and take the family on a flashlight or candlelit walk around the block. During the first five minutes to walk silently together, thinking of all the things for which you are grateful. As the walk continues, share your gratitude list with each other.

Lynn Colwell and Corey Colwell-Lipson are mother and daughter and the authors of Celebrate Green! Creating Eco-Savvy Celebrations, Holidays and Traditions for the Whole Family, available at www.CelebrateGreen.NET.

Last weekend I went to the DC Green Festival, a joint project of Global Exchange and Co-op America. Hundreds of speakers and exhibitors convened at the DC Convention Center to educate thousands of people on the latest trends in the green movement. Attendees who stopped by our KIWI booth walked away with a KIWI Magazine amongst other goodies PLUS had a chance to sign up for our contests. Don’t worry. In case you missed this event, you can still participate.

Here’s the deal:

KiwiCrusaders: KIWI acknowledges excellence in school meals. Enter to win a prize of $3,500 for your school. http://www.kiwimagonline.com/kiwicrusaders/index.php

Next Great Young Chef Contest: Kids ages 4-17 are invited to create a recipe with our secret ingredient – Florida Crystals Organic and Natural Sugars. Parents, please upload a video of the chef in progress. http://www.kiwimagonline.com/contests/NextGreatYoungChef/

Great School Beaches Getaway: Teachers who sign up to receive enews on our new website, MyHealthySchool.com, will be entered to win a vacation package to a Beaches Resort location in Turks & Caicos or Jamaica. http://www.myhealthyschool.com/contests/Beaches/

Next stop on my Green Festival tour is San Francisco this Friday November 15th – Sunday November 17th. Please make sure to stop and say hello and tell your friends…

Stephanie Singer

If you’re like many parents, you want your kids to enjoy Halloween, but you’re uneasy with the emphasis on candy.

Well, it doesn’t have to be that way. Over the last two years, we’ve discovered dozens and dozens of ways to enjoy Halloween without all the focus on loot. In fact, it’s not only possible, it’s becoming a trend! (And, we expect, one that’s here to stay.) Here are our five top ideas for celebrating a green Halloween. For the dozens more great ideas, check out www.GreenHalloween.org.

1. Focus on fun. Generally, when people think about Halloween, the first thing that comes to mind is candy. But it doesn’t have to be that way. How about planning a party with an emphasis on games that goblins of all ages are sure to enjoy. Dunking for apples is a classic—and hilarious to boot. You can also have your guests use non-toxic crayons to paint each other’s faces—with their eyes closed! Instead of trick-or-treating for candy, plan a Halloween scavenger hunt with your neighbors. Doing so at night with flashlights adds to the fun. Shakable flashlights makes the hunt eco-cool. Focusing on fun – rather than stuff is not only healthier and more earth-friendly, it makes for wonderful memories.

2. Choose treats you and your kids can enjoy. No, we’re not suggesting that you hand out candy that both of you can agree on. We’re encouraging you to choose from the many healthy and healthier goodies now on the market (with more being released every day), that are parent and kid approved. And with natural and healthy food and essentials stores popping up around the country like dandelions in the lawn (in a good way), finding treats like honey or agave sticks, fruit leathers, organic chocolate “bites” or all natural gum is a snap.

3. Consider treasures. “Treasures” are non-edible goodies that trick-or-treaters will love. Think they won’t? While we have yet to meet a child who would rather have conventional candy once he or she sees alternatives, we know your experience will speak louder than ours. So, this year, try putting your conventional candy choice in one bowl and in the other, a mix of the types of treasures we suggest such as polished stones, temporary tattoos or seed packets. (Why not check the extensive list at Green Halloween and allow your children be your guide as to what they think will be most popular?) Offer the kids a choice and see what happens.

4. Less is more. When we were kids, receiving one piece of candy at each home was the norm. Today, trick-or-treaters receive handfuls. Not only is this costly for this generation’s health and the health of the planet, giving out supersized quantities is expensive, too. This year, try giving just one of whatever you select. Or, allow the children to choose, “just one special (make a big deal of this part) treat.” You’ll be as amazed as we were to find that when it’s done with fun in mind, reducing actually encourages children’s excitement and gratitude.

5. Give yourself a treat and remember that you don’t have to do it all to make a big difference. New healthy and green steps will be more sustainable if you can find ways to enjoy the process and celebrate your baby steps. So, this year, consider starting where you are and with whatever choice or choices inspire your family most. Whether you make your own face paints, hold a party in a retirement home or carve (and eat) locally grown pumpkins, it’s really all about the “spirit” of going green. Celebrate what works for you!

Lynn Colwell and Corey Colwell-Lipson are mother and daughter and the authors of Celebrate Green! Creating Eco-Savvy Celebrations, Holidays and Traditions for the Whole Family, available at www.CelebrateGreen.NET. Pictures provided by ©2008 Holli Dunn.

KIWI Magazine and Florida Crystals have launched The Next Great Young Chef Contest inviting kids ages 4 - 17 to show off their cooking skills. A panel of prestigious judges will help to pick the next generation of culinary experts. Two talented winners will appear on KiwiTV webcasts and in a special feature article in KIWI Magazine and win over $12,500 in prizes.

See press release here:
http://www.prweb.com/releases/2008/10/prweb1508234.htm

Click Here >> Enter the kids cooking contest

Be allergy-aware this Halloween with these helpful tips from Enjoy Life (www.enjoylifefoods.com).

1. Be proactive.  If you know of children with food allergies, ask the parents what types of candies are safe.  They will be thrilled to know you care.

2. Keep a stash of “safe candy” or fun trinkets (i.e. bubbles, silly putty, tattoos, stickers, spider rings, bracelets).  Up to six percent of children have food allergies, so you’re sure to have several grateful goblins at your door.

3. Be discreet. If you know the child has food allergies, don’t ask “Oh, you’re the one with the peanut allergy, right?”  These kids just want to fit in with everyone else.

4. Everyone loves ingredient labels.  Give out candy with clear ingredient labels so parents and children can decide which candies are safe.

5. Don’t drop candy into his bag.  Let the child select a piece of candy.  He may know which candies are safe and which aren’t.

6. Listen to the child.  If she says, “No thank you” it may be because there are no safe options.  No need to make a fuss, but don’t try to get her to take a candy that may not be safe for her.

7. Parents know best.  Don’t assume that peanut allergy is the only allergy.  There are many types of food allergies so it’s important to let parents decide what type of candy is safe for their child.

8. Think of your guests.  If you’re entertaining around Halloween, be careful with candy dishes and your children’s stashes of candy.  Young children with food allergies may be easily tempted by “unsafe” candy if left unattended.

In the beginning, it was so easy to go to the movies with Sylvie. We hit the theater at 11 a.m. (“Devil Wears Prada” or “Matchpoint,” anyone?) and she nursed in the dark on and off. I became increasingly proud of my status of nursing mom, and in a shameful moment, I told off a woman in a Cosi sandwich shop who tried to get my friend to abandon the upholstered chair she had marked off with a paper bag and newspaper (looked like trash to us!). My friend needed to nurse and was going a little nutty herself, and I was irate. It was an ugly scene. I am not proud. I thought womankind had taken two steps back because this woman was not being supportive of my friend’s need to breastfeed. If she’s reading this, I am sorry! Blame it on the hormones!

-Audra Hughes

By the time I left the hospital, baby Sylvie had bit my nipple and swallowed part of it. It was bleeding and raw. We both had yeast infections, which my doctor didn’t treat so the pain grew more and more intense. Not only was I angry at my doctor for not knowing anything about breastfeeding, angry at the hospital lactation consultant for pushing her social agenda of “keep breastfeeding no matter what,” but I was also angry at my girlfriends who never told me how difficult and painful it was. I was terrified of my sweet little baby every time she had to eat. So instead of being happy and elated, I felt angry, stupid, scared and alone. Great.. But I was not giving up!

After breast infections, house calls from the amazing boob doctor Dr. Mona Gabbay and the illustrious Susan Berger, emailing photographs of my breasts to them both, weekly breastfeeding support group meetings at Real Birth, begging and paying our post-partum doula Tara Brooke to sleep over, having my dear husband latch Sylvie onto me (which was like waiting for the perfect wave), banning my unsupportive mother from coming over for weeks, and even pumping for two weeks to get of the mental hang-ups I had created, at exactly eight weeks and one day, it stopped hurting. And we got into a rhythm. And no formula! I won! But don’t get me wrong—this was my Olympic Event and no one else’s.

I learned that women don’t tell their pregnant friends how hard it is because they don’t want them to stop trying, give up or be scared. It’s like a gang initiation rite. I now give the Sears “Breastfeeding Book” at any and all baby showers. New moms look at it with an “oh….” and soon-to-be grandmothers look at it equally suspiciously, hoping for cute Baby Gap outfits. But a month after the babies are born, they’re all grateful!

As parents and kids prepare for the beginning of another school year, it is a time of excitement and anxiety. For the more than 3 million kids with food allergies — and their parents — the back-to-school anxiety is particularly palpable. Understandable, considering that 1 in 5 children will have an allergic reaction while in school (Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 2001: 155: 790-795). What is a regular day for most kids is fraught with danger for children with food allergies. If the peanut-allergic child sits next to a child eating PB&J or the egg-allergic child eats the birthday cupcake brought in by a classmate, the results could be fatal.

Parents worry: Will the teachers remember my child’s specific food allergy? Will the Epi-Pen® be accessible on the playground or on a field trip? What if substitute teachers cover lunch time and will they be prepared to manage an allergic reaction? The reality is they just don’t know…and that’s not good enough.

I know these fears all too well. My son is severely allergic to peanuts and tree nuts. A couple years ago, before his first day at preschool, I met with the teachers and school director, discussed his allergies, signs and symptoms of an allergic reaction and how a reaction should be managed. Two weeks into school, I walked him into class only to overhear the teacher tell another parent that the children would be making trail mix that day. I was astounded, as were the parents of the other two nut-allergic children in the class. At best, the children would have experienced hives and vomiting… at worst, anaphylaxis and death. And the questions followed: How can I make sure the people around my son are constantly alerted to his allergies? And, if there is an emergency, how can I ensure that they will know what to do?

The anxiety is shared by teachers, coaches, babysitters and others who care for allergic kids. They worry too: How will I remember each child’s specific allergies? How will I know if a child is having an allergic reaction? Will I be able to respond appropriately?

To keep your child safer this school year:

1. Clearly identify your child by his/her specific food allergies

2. Clearly label his belongings—lunch bag, backpack—with allergy alerts to prevent exposure

3. Make safe foods available for your child

4. Keep emergency medication available and accessible at all times; make sure that whoever is with your child is prepared to manage a life-threatening emergency

Communication is key… your child’s life could depend on it! Label your child’s lunch bag with his allergies to alert teachers and cafeteria staff. Get a kid-friendly allergy alert wristband that your child will actually wear. Provide the school with safe snacks for your child. Make sure that emergency medication and information is accessible at all times while your child is in school. By alerting others to your child’s allergies, making safe food available and having emergency measures in place, you can minimize the risk of an allergic reaction and maximize the chances of an effective response if one does occur.

Best wishes for a safe and successful school year!

–Robin Davison, MPH, JD, Founder of STAT kids, LLC (www.statkids.com)

My daughter Sylvie just turned two. For the past year, I’ve been trying to wean her, and guess what: I am failing. I am not in control.

This morning, my fearless toddler leaped out of her crib sideways as if jumping into a wave, all in an effort to coax me into the glider chair that has become my straight jacket. If I try to do anything else, she has a meltdown. What would happen if I got rid of the chair or put it in the family room so my husband could glide, drink beer and watch hockey? Well, we all know what would happen. I’d be sitting on the floor of Sylvie’s room while she wrangles my bra exclaiming “BOOBIE, BOOBIE, BOOBIE!”

So for a moment, I relax, and melt into her moody blue eyes that give me a special flirtatious wink, reserved only for me. A few minutes go by, I fall back into my morning panic, peek at the dog who is desperate to go outside and imagine the boob job I’m going to need in a few years.

I experience a hundred different emotions on a daily basis about breastfeeding. It consumes me. I have my highs and lows. Some days I feel empowered and loving, while other days I feel resentful and guilty. To be a Type-A control freak who is controlled by a baby comes with its own set of issues.

Hello, and welcome to The Boob Chronicles.

-Audra Hughes

Looking for a fun and healthy adventure for you and the kids this summer? Try berry picking. Kids of all ages (and parents/grandparents too!) can benefit from taking a trip to a local “U-Pick” farm to engage in some wholesome and delicious fun.

Allowing children to understand how food grows will ultimately awaken their senses to enjoy their food more (they can pick and eat). After picking, keep a bowl of fresh berries on the table to allow for grazing throughout the day. Let your kids know that this is a great healthy snack that they can much on any time throughout the day.

In addition to tasting great, berries are very high in phytochemicals such as antioxidants and bioflavonoids. These types of nutrients have demonstrated a beneficial effect in numerous health conditions, including the prevention of oxidative and inflammatory stress on the lining of blood vessels and red blood cells.

When the cells in our body use oxygen, they naturally produce free radicals, or by-products, which can cause damage. Antioxidants act as “free radical scavengers” and can help to prevent and repair damage done by these free radicals. Health problems such as heart disease, macular degeneration, diabetes, and cancer are all known to be, in part, caused by oxidative damage.

In a test that measures the antioxidant potential of a variety of foods—the Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) test—blueberries came out on top. Wild blueberries, such as those found all over New England, have the highest ORAC value, with the larger blueberries coming in a close second. Blueberries also contain lutein, which is important for healthy vision. And best of all, a cup of blueberries has four grams of fiber and only 83 calories!

Raspberries are rich in anthocyanins, which is a powerful antioxidant, as well as cancer-fighting phytochemicals such as ellagic, coumaric and ferulic acid. Raspberries have 8 grams of fiber and only 64 calories per cup.

While berries are great eaten alone, they can also be made into muffins, cakes, scones and even homemade ice cream. One of my favorite ways to eat berries is with a scoop of fresh, home made whip cream. Also, throw them in a dinner salad for an extra special treat.

–Dr. Keri Marshall MS, ND is a licensed Naturopathic Doctor who specializes in holistic pediatrics and women’s medicine.

There was an interesting essay in the July 20 New York Times book review, “I’m Y.A. and I’m O.K.,” by Margo Rabb. Margo wrote a book intended for adult audiences and the publisher decided it was a better fit for Young Adults (Y.A.).

I review hundreds of books for KIWI Magazine and I am completely immersed in children’s literature. I often see very little distinction between YA literature and adult literature, except that the main characters are teens or the story is told from a teen perspective.

When I was vacationing in Maine, I read 16 YA chapter books which are all going to be reviewed on KIWI’s Bookworm page, in addition to regular book blogging here. This forum is for parents and kids to write in their favorite books and comment on books that KIWI has reviewed. There will be books representing all categories from picture books to cookbooks. We love to discover new books, so we would love to hear from you!

Edamommy

Now reading My Stroke of Insight by Jill Bolte Taylor and Wave by Suzy Lee.

I have to admit something. In addition to having a theme song for
every new adventure, I tend to decide on a project, embark on it
zealously and then move on.

I was writing an article on school gardens for Kiwi Magazine (Sept
issue) and decided the best way to get motivated was to finally find a
spot in my yard and create a vegetable garden. I had in mind that I
wanted to spearhead an effort to create a garden at my daughter’s
preschool and decided this was my audition to see if I could really
make it happen.

I had created a compost pile which was being turned into fertilizer
gold by thousands of hard-working worms. Unfortunately, that was on
the opposite side of the property from the perfect garden spot.

I read about lasagna gardening and decided that was the best route for
my garden since the soil was not rich and was also very rocky. I
carefully tapped a series of posts to mark my territory but ended up
making the garden way too big for my first attempt. It’s currently 8′
x 20′. I carefully laid newspapers on the ground and covered them
with about 5 inches of fresh compost which took me at least 10 trips
from the compost pile. Sweating profusely, I filled every inch of my
too-big garden with worm-filled compost.

I decided to plant tomato plants instead of starting with seeds
because I wanted immediate gratification. But, I did plant seeds for
cucumber, beans, watermelon and pumpkin and they’re all doing quite
well. This summer seems to be the perfect conditions for a vegetable
garden and the site I chose seems to be working out well.

I am only telling all of you this because I often just wing it. I
started throwing table scraps into a pile of leaves in a place where
my dogs couldn’t access and *poof* I have a very productive compost
pile. I toss in shredded newspaper and hay, turn it every so often,
but largely ignore it. The worms do all of the work.

I also largely ignore my garden. I just make sure it’s not too dry
and that the tomato plants are tied to stakes and leave it alone. I
don’t weed, trim, groom or talk to it. And it is growing like mad.

Some plants are faring better than others, but the lesson I learned is
to just give it a go and you’ll be so surprised. And, if it doesn’t
work the first time, step back, rethink it and try again.

The best part of all of this experimentation is that my daughter wants
to be outside most of the day to corral worms, water the garden and
check on her plants. I get great exercise from digging the compost
and then taking it for a ride in the wheel barrow. And, we all can’t
wait to taste the fresh vegetables that we grew without pesticides or
products.

I have always worried about the environmental impact of shipping food hundreds of miles across the country and in some cases (fresh peaches in New England in January?) thousands of miles around the world. In addition, if you pay attention to the dwindling fate of local farmers, it all begins to make sense what the logical answer is: become a locavore. If you are obsessed with the idea of eating really good food, like I am, challenge yourself this summer. Try to only buy food that is grown within a 100-mile radius of your home.

Among locavore enthusiasts, a popular pastime is the “eat local challenge,” in which participants try, usually for one month, to eat only food that comes from within their community. The rest of the year, many locavores are more realistic about the limits of their devotion but still make an attempt to buy whatever local products they can.

For example, I have found a local (75 miles away) farmer, Farmer Bob, who, once a month delivers organic, free-range, grass-fed meat, eggs, and cheese to a group of us. He also makes 7 other stops within a 20-mile range on delivery day. It has been such a smashing success for him that he has brought in some of his local farmer friends and now we have options for seasonal veggies and homemade pastas and pies, all at the cost that he would sell to the local grocer. We are helping to support his farming community and he provides our families with outstanding quality foods that are extremely fresh!

If you live anywhere where there is a farming community within 100 miles of where you live, I can assure you that there is a framer Bob waiting to start a food co-op. Pick a beautiful weekend day to go explore the countryside and don’t be afraid to visit local farms and farm stands and ask lots of questions. These farmers need you as badly as you need them.

As you begin your quest to become a locavore, start by visiting http://www.localharvest.org/blog/ or http://www.eatlocalchallenge.com/ for ideas of where you can find locally grown goods in your area.

–Dr. Keri Marshall MS, ND is a licensed Naturopathic Doctor who specializes in holistic pediatrics and women’s medicine.

Gaining momentum across the country, the raw food movement advocates a diet consisting mostly or completely of whole, uncooked, and often organic foods, including fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and sprouted grains and legumes.

Many turn to a raw diet with the belief that it promotes greater health. Raw foodists feel that valuable digestive enzymes, as well as an abundance of nutrients, are destroyed when food is heated above 120 degrees. Additionally, raw foods have the potential to aid in the management of chronic diseases, and promote weight maintenance.

Of course, you don’t have to be a raw foodist to benefit from whole, unprocessed food – try eating raw just once or twice a week. The meal could be as simple as a romaine lettuce and fresh vegetable salad tossed with a raw, pine nut-based Caesar dressing. For something more elaborate, experiment with zucchini “noodles” in a raw tomato sauce.

Raw desserts are also great to try. Rich and satisfying to any sweet tooth, these fruit and nut-based treats pack a nutritional punch not found in traditional desserts. Raw pies work well for those with gluten intolerances, as the crusts and fillings are always wheat free. This strawberry one by Colleen Patrick-Goudreau is perfect for summer. Ani Phyo’s raw donut holes are a great option for kids, who can help roll and shape the balls.

Interested in learning more? Check out the Raw Freedom Community, a message board with discussions about raw diets, raw parenting, and eco-friendly living.

-Marygrace Stergakos, Editorial Intern with KIWI Magazine

CONGRATS TO BROOKLYN MAMA WHO IS THE WINNER OF THE COMMENT CONTEST AND WILL RECEIVE A COPY OF EARTH MATTERS :)  The contest is now closed, but comments are always welcome!

While I ramp up to go raw next week (for three months), I wanted to tell you all about the eco-friendly party I planned for my daughter’s 4th birthday this past weekend.    

This blog entry now has a comment contest!  I will choose a comment at random (once we hit 50 so tell all of your friends and frenemies) to win EARTH MATTERS book by DK Publishing, which is an excellent green guide for kids and explains everything from carbon to ecosystems.  It’s for ages 7+ but it has lovely photos so any kid or parent will enjoy!!

You know how parties go - some things worked, some didn’t.

Let me tell you what didn’t work first:

• I called a local nature center (Irvine Nature Center) to see if I could hire (or donate money) to have a nature education specialist walk the kids from the party through our woods and identify plants, trees and animals. I was going to make a field guide for the kids to use to identify the flora and fauna, and take photos of the walk to upload and make a photo book. Nixed. The nature center doesn’t do anything for private homes, even for a fee or freelance.

• If I had thought of the field guide idea earlier, I probably could have tracked down someone (a landscaper, local botanist, college professor) to do it, but it was too late. It’s still something I want to implement for another time because, well, those trees and squirrels aren’t going anywhere. Although I think it’s a great idea, but I would probably have a nature expert come a few days before the party so I can scout for poison ivy and prepare the guide before the guests come.

• I also failed at making little tea cakes using the Williams-Sonoma tea cake pan with a pound cake recipe. I suppose you have to only use their recipe to make the cakes come out properly. Mine stuck to the pan and wound up in the compost pile. However, I made a few crayon tea cakes from broken crayon pieces melted down, and these are super cute. Forget the cakes and make crayons.   We have had great luck using the “bug” pan from W-S for muffins (we call then “buggins”) and things, but this pan is so detailed that it’s hard to get the right result.

What worked:

Tea party theme:

• My husband’s mom is from Exeter, England, so we had the master make her famous scones (want the recipe?  Add a comment and I will post it) and cucumber sandwiches, which were a big hit.  We made them into “finger” and “toe” sandwiches by cutitng them with metal hand and foot cookie cutters (the plastic cookie cutters don’t cut sandwiches very well.)

• I didn’t realize that my daughter was stuffing scones into our homemade gourd bird feeder.  She wanted our feathered guests to feel welcome, too.

• I planned to just use my dishes and silverware instead of disposables but I ended up buying some eco-friendly plates because I panicked. We used regular silverware for the adults and some Zoopal plastic cutlery (which my sister had given us). We rinsed the eco-plates and put them in the recycling bin. 

• All of the food waste (dips that were in the sun, stale chips and some veggies) were composted.  We had very little left over.

• We didn’t go vegan, but we went vegetarian. It was a hot day, so I wanted to serve only cold food, so the menu also included:
  • Mozzarella balls, cherry tomatoes, basil in balsamic vinaigrette
  • Mexican pinwheels made from organic spinach tortillas, lowfat cream cheese, chopped sweet red peppers, chopped red onion and taco seasoning.  The extra filling was served with Trader Joe’s Organic Vegetable tortilla strips (we found the bear in the chip aisle and won a fruit leather on this trip to TJs).
  • Veggies with lowfat ranch dressing including these interesting pale yellow carrots I found at Wegman’s.  Everyone was amused by them although questioning the amount of beta carotene in yellow carrots (never invite scientists to a birthday party - total party poopers!).
  • Broccoli sprouts on everything except the cake
  • Blueberries, blackberries & raspberries (Intentionally, I left out any type of berries that had to be hulled or cut up to reduce prep time.  These berries were just washed and placed in bowls.

Desserts/Birthday cake:

• Did you know that a Christmas tree cake pan, if turned in the other direction, looks suspiciously like a crocodile? Add marshmallow eyes and teeth and Voila!

• I am a big fan of homemade cakes because you know exactly what is going into them.  We make our cakes with butter and sugar so they’re not health food but there aren’t preservatives if they’re made fresh in your own kitchen.   I couldn’t find any natural/organic food dye, which was the only bummer. But, I think kids enjoy helping with the food preparation, especially mixing and decorating cakes so we’re going the homemade route until my daughter declares it isn’t cool.
• We made “firecrackers” which are big pretzel rods dipped in dark organic chocolate with red, white and blue sprinkles.
• I had a sundae bar with ice cream and all sorts of toppings, all of which melted within seconds of being brought outside. I used glass sundae dishes instead of plastic or throwaway dishes just to add to the festivities. We’ll use these over and over for parties.

Drinks:

• Honest Tea has a new kids juice pouch which is organic and has less sugar. I love them, but my daughter doesn’t actually like them (the other kids seemed to really like them so you’ll have to judge yourself!). If you collect enough of the pouches, you can recycle them at Terracycle (www.terracycle.net).

• I made fresh iced tea in two flavors: decaf green tea and black tea. Both from Brassica tea products because that’s my husband’s company (www.brassica.com) and it’s also really great tea.  Kids actually will drink the decaf green sweetened with raw sugar or blue agave (my daughter likes hers sweetened with honey, both hot or cold tea).

• We planned to make fresh lemonade but simply ran out of time. I bought Newman’s Lemonade.

• Water. I know this is problematic to have bottled water, but I fought my conscience against hydrated guests or no plastic bottles but it was 90+ degrees. The bottles won.  I would have loved to give each guest a Sigg bottle if I had the budget or time. I have green guilt but all of the bottles were kept for my next mini-golf adventure.

Decorations:

• The table with the tea party setup and paper dolls was the main decorative element. I just took a piece of blue gingham fabric that I had from making my daughter a Dorothy (Wizard of Oz) costume and used that as a tablecloth.

•  The yellow envelopes on the table contain a color copy of the original Wee Wonderfuls doll pattern with some clothing. I made some smaller versions (5″) of the doll and also very small ones (1.5″ wine charms) which I punched a small hole, put an elastic ponytail band through, and tied up their goody bag with it. Inside the envelope was also a little wooden (flat) teapot and cupcake from Michael’s because, well, even paper dolls get thirsty and hungry!
• The little pitchers were actually from Wal-mart and they were with the measuring cups - I think the label said they were for creamer.  But, who doesn’t love little tiny pitchers?  Each girl could pour her own drink which is the best part of a tea party! I lined the washed pitcher with a paper toille napkin.
• The placemats are eeboo Fairies of the Garden wall cards which I laminated.  I put the letter of each girl’s first name at her place.
• Green toys has the BEST plastic tea set and cooking set, both of which I had on our table. The products are made in the US from recycled milk jugs and they’re pretty colors and totally kid friendly. ( http://www.greentoys.com/)
• I bought a real china tea cups (mismatched), teapot  and linen napkins from the local Goodwill for the party. They were cheap, adorable and replaceable. Plus, these are things I can see being used for years and years on the playdate circuit and even for grownups. I like to buy things second-hand and multipurpose them.

Games:

• You just can’t beat eeboo for the coolest party games (www.eeboo.com). We had:
  • Stick the Fairy on the Flower. The gorgeous fairy poster was too pretty to just tape on a door, so I put it in a large IKEA poster frame and we stuck the fairies on the front.  The poster is now hanging in our playroom for future playdates.
  • The Tea Party game (our favorite)
  • The Picnic Game
  • Go fish card game
• Unfortunately, no one played any of the games at the party because everyone was outside, but my daughter loves them and we played them all the next day. Great for little girl playdates or smaller settings.

• I made a mini-golf course out of recycled cardboard, cream cheese tubs, boxes and plastic.  I have to admit some of the “holes” were lame but the party goers were all 4 years old, so I kept it simple. I was also worried about rain so I didn’t put as much time into it as I could have.

• I named each hole (9 holes total, I think) after each partygoer (Pizza Mia, Mimi’s Pet Shop, Sam’s Bagels, Lily’s Flower Shop, Ava’s Kites, Elisa’s Ice Cream, Tony’s Broccoli Sprouts and Fill Dirt (inside joke), and Izzy’s Beach Rentals). I took everything from a toy dump truck to an inflatable bagel and made them into easy putts (See photos.) Next time, I plan to make fewer “holes” and make them a little more complex. I think everyone spent most of their time playing golf.
• I bought straw hats and used leftover ribbon and craft supplies for the girls to decorate. It was a cute idea but the kids just wanted to play outside so no one decorated a fancy hat (sniff).  I was going to have a “pink carpet” made from a roll of pink floral wallpaper to make a fashion show when the girls finished their hats, but that whole idea flopped.  I think that’s an idea for next time.
• I downloaded a free gorgeous paper doll template from Wee Wonderfuls (weewonderfuls.typepad.com/wee_wonderfuls/store/paperdolls.html). I transferred the pdf into Photoshop and change each doll’s eye and hair color to match the partygoer. I printed them out on photo paper and laminated. I then thought of a way to dress them without glue, tape or other messy things by using post-it notes.  I simply cut a post-it note into the shape of the lavendar dress you see in the paper doll photo below. The sticky part of the note were at the doll’s shoulders. The post-it notes can be decorated with markers, stickers, etc… Those super sticky notes work the best).
• I made smaller versions of the paper dolls for “wine charms” for the girls’ party favors and cups. No one played with these, either (double sniff). I found a bag of hard foam blocks (from when we had our rugs cleaned – used to lift furniture off of rug) and made these the holders for the dolls. They didn’t have enough weight so I glued on glass marbles.

1. I also ordered Kites on a Roll (http://www.kitesonaroll.com/) which are recyclable kites that come 20 per roll for about $40. You can also add on biodegradable tails. The kites are packed by people with disabilities and the company owner is a sweetheart, so this company is a wonderful find. Only a couple of kids did this craft.

• Outside, we had squirt guns, chalk, bubbles, tents and balls. Despite the heat, the kids pretty much played with this stuff or the mini golf.
• We received various kid tents as gifts so they were outside and the kids seemed to enjoy playing in them.

The goody bags:

• I made a mix CD for the party so I just made copies for the guests and made my own CD covers which can be colored by the birthday girl or her guests.  The songs were dance tunes from Will Smith (Switch) to Deee-Lite (Groove is in the Heart).
• One rock candy stick (it would have been fun to swizzle in the lemonade tea party if they had been inside!)
• One homemade hair bow.
• They took home the paper doll, mini lemonade pitcher and kite. Somehow, the hats remained behind but we’ll try the hat decorating again soon with a playdate.

Invite the best guests in the world:

• Our guests were so kind. My daughter was thrilled that her teacher, our friends and neighbors came to celebrate her special day.
• Everyone helped keep the kids happy and hydrated. Everyone helped get the food out and in, even my friend Sher who is due with baby #1 any day.

Lessons learned:

• Have babies in cooler months. June birthdays are hot ☺
• Don’t panic and add additional food and beverage items. People don’t eat that much at parties, especially in the heat.
• Limit the crafts/activities. I had plans B,C,D, and E in case of rain which was too much. But, we had so much fun prepping for the event; my daughter and I had made paper dolls, picked out tea sets, decorated the table, and made a kite.
• Hire a babysitter or ask a friend to come over the morning before the party starts so the birthday child is happy and occupied. You’re rushing around to get things out (no matter how much you do in advance) and everyone is calling and it becomes pandemonium.
• Do your best when it comes to recycling and reducing consumption. Make it easy for guests to toss cans and bottles in the recycling bin. Make food fresh instead of from packages. And, if you do have waste, compost it or turn it into a mini-golf course!

Looking for a summer project that’s fun, economical, and kid-friendly? Try growing your own herbs.

Fresh herbs add flavor and personality when sprinkled over any dish and can be used in pestos, sauces, dips, green smoothies, or herbal teas. What’s more, having a pot of fresh herbs on your windowsill is cheaper and more convenient than buying them at the market.

Getting started is easy. All you need is a pot or container with sufficient draining (try terracotta, metal, or plastic), potting soil, and some seeds. Some of the most oft-used herbs include basil, parsley, thyme, oregano, rosemary, tarragon, cilantro, sage, or mint. However, you could also try less traditional flavors, like lemon basil, chamomile, or lavender. Other small plants such as stevia (a natural, calorie-free sweetener) or wheatgrass (a young grass that is said to have numerous health benefits) are also great choices.

Kids can help plant seeds, as well as take charge of watering duties. Once the herbs have grown, children can choose and gather herbs for cooking.

Check out Territorial Seed Company at www.territorialseed.com for organic and heirloom seed varieties. Don’t feel like going through the trouble of planting? Visit Eggling.com, which has a selection of pre-planted herbs in cute, egg-shaped pots.

-Marygrace Stergakos, Editorial Intern with KIWI Magazine

I have never been a picky eater and I really get annoyed when dining with one. My nieces who are 18 and 20 still only eat food that usually comes with crayons and a seek-n-find placemat.

I find that to be ridiculous, although my daughter has narrowed her food selections significantly lately. She used to eat bean chili (extra mild), burritos, guacamole and bean salad. Now, it’s chicken, eggs, Caesar salad (my influence), plain pasta and pizza (and Cheetos with dad when I’m not around. But it’s hard to hide a Cheeto-fest with all of that orange evidence). She will eat a lot of fresh fruit and veggies (especially broccoli sprouts) as I mentioned, but I am trying to broaden her horizons a little.

She even drinks decaf green tea, but she is the dairy queen, ruler of all things milky and cheesy. She even asks me to tell her bedtime stories about milk. The one we made up is (scroll down to the next day if you can’t even stand the thought of reading this):

Once upon a time, there was a beautiful girl named Miriam and she lived in a castle with her dogs Mya and Stewie. And this princess loved milk. Milk, milk,milk. Milk for breakfast, snack, lunch, snack, dinner, snack. And cheese. And yogurt (“Mom – don’t forget to say ‘yogurt drinks’, too.”) But one day, there was no more milk in the kingdom of Talalay. Not one drop. Every sippy cup was empty. Princess Miriam was so sad. She asked her mom, “Hey Mom! Where’s all of the milk?” “Dunno” Princess Miriam realized if she wanted answers, she’d have to investigate it herself. She went straight to the dairy farm and asked the cows. The cows’ publicist issued this statement: ”Due to the fact that no one says thank you for milk and very few children even know where milk comes from, we are no longer providing milk.” So, Miriam says, “Well, I can understand how you feel. I love milk and I love you. Thank you for all of the milk you’ve ever given me.” From that day on, there was milk for everyone, occasionally chocolate. THE END NOW GO TO BED

Just like the body needs essential amino acids for normal functions, it also requires another essential nutrient that is often overlooked. Essential fatty acids (EFAs) are considered essential fats because they are required for health, but cannot be produced by the body. These fats, known as omega-3 and omega-6, are commonly called the “good fats.”

Hands down, children are deficient in the beneficial omega-3 fats (as are most Americans) and not the omega-6 fats. Kids consume excessive pro-inflammatory omega-6 fats from corn, soy, safflower and sunflower oils. An imbalance in the omega-6 to omega-3 ratio has been unequivocally proven to burden the body with excess inflammation. In kids, this has been linked to conditions such as eczema, asthma, allergies, and attention and behavioral problems.

Simply put, omega-3 fats are brain food. The brain is made up of 60 percent fat, half of which is the essential fatty acid DHA. Therefore, the type of fat consumed by children⎯especially during the developmental years⎯is of paramount importance. A child’s nervous system begins to form in the last trimester of pregnancy and continues to develop at a rapid rate until the age of seven. The essential omega-3 fats, primarily DHA, are required for adequate nervous system development. Research has shown DHA is especially important for brain and eye development. Getting enough EPA and DHA in the diet, particularly in children, is difficult because many children eat minimal fish and so many fatty fish are laden with mercury, PCBs and dioxin.

I have found that purified fish oil supplementation is the safest way to obtain the omega-3 fats EPA and DHA, without the environmental toxins. Fish oil has been shown to improve many conditions that affect children, including attention, learning, behavior and eye health.

Taste is the key to compliance for adults and children alike. If a kid likes the taste of a product, he will remind the parents to give it to him everyday. In my practice, I use Nordic Naturals Children’s DHA and Omega-3-6-9 Junior supplements. You can call Nordic Naturals and ask them to send you sample packets so that your kids can taste the product before you bring it home. There is nothing worse that spending $20-30, only to find out your child won’t take a product. Compliance will always be higher if it tastes good and a child has decided that he will take the product regularly.

–Dr. Keri Marshall MS, ND is a licensed Naturopathic Doctor who specializes in holistic pediatrics and women’s medicine.

The old cliché, “Breakfast is the most important meal of the day,” is not far from the truth. In a 2000-calorie a day diet, which is required to maintain weight for the average woman, almost a third of the calories should be eaten during the first hour or two upon waking. Estimated calories needed for children range from 900 a day for a 1-year-old to 1,800 for a 14–18-year-old girl and 2,200 for a 14–18-year-old boy.

The body needs to consume these calories early in the day so that they can be readily converted to energy sources that will provide mental clarity, focus, physical energy, and to prevent overall fatigue. The most common cause of inattention at work and school that I see clinically, is consuming a low protein, high carbohydrate breakfast, or skipping breakfast altogether!

The body has twenty essential and non-essential amino acids that are required to maintain normal bodily functions such as making skin, hair, muscle, blood vessels, immune cells, digestive enzymes and neurotransmitters for brain function. In most animal protein food sources, all 20 amino acids are readily available–this is called a complete protein. There are no plant proteins that are complete proteins unless they are fortified with manufactured vitamins, minerals and amino acids.

Egg protein is the most nutritious readily-available, complete protein and is considered to be the perfect protein food. It provides the standard of comparison for all other proteins. All of the essential amino acids are present in such generous quantities that egg protein is often used to fortify other foods. However, people tend to be scared of eggs for a number of reasons.

MYTH: Egg yolks are high in fat and contribute little else to the diet.

FACT: Egg yolks contain 45% of the egg’s protein, numerous minerals, and the majority of the egg’s vitamins.

The average person needs to consume a minimum of 0.8 grams of protein per kg of body weight, per day. This is equivalent to a 130 lb. woman eating 47g and a 40 lb. child consuming 15g of protein per day. Every meal, in addition to including either a fruit or vegetable, needs to include a source of protein:

• 1 egg = 7g protein, 70 calories
• Fish, poultry, beef 1 oz = 7g protein, calories vary per type
• 8 oz. milk (2%) = 7g protein, 130 calories, (300mg calcium)
• 1 oz. cheese (1 cheese stick) = 8g protein, 60 calories, (200mg calcium)
• Stonyfield 6 oz, yogurt smoothie = 6g protein, 140 calories, (250mg calcium)
• 21 almonds = 7g protein, 180 calories, (60mg calcium)
• 2 Tbsp. peanut butter (natural, with no sweeteners) = 9g protein, 140 calories

In general, we need to consume a variety of fruits and vegetables daily, while limiting juice intake altogether. Each meal should contain at least 1 fruit or vegetable. Children’s recommended fruit intake should range from 1 cup/day (in divided portions), between ages 1 and 3, to 2 cups for a 14–18-year-old boy. Recommended vegetable intake ranges from ¾ cup a day at age 1, to 3 cups for a 14–18-year-old boy.

Recommended grain intake ranges from 2 oz./day for a 1-year-old to 7 oz/day for a 14–18-year-old boy. This is an area that we tend to overdo by offering so many carbohydrate laden children’s foods such as goldfish crackers, cereal, pancakes, bagels, pasta, and sandwiches.

So what is the perfect breakfast? One egg on whole grain bread and a piece of fruit.

–Dr. Keri Marshall MS, ND is a licensed Naturopathic Doctor who specializes in holistic pediatrics and women’s medicine.

My family recently went on vacation, and as usual, we packed a ton of nut-free snacks, brought several Epi-Pens and multiple doses of Benadryl and took several other steps to ensure that our flight would be as safe as possible for our son. As we checked in at the Southwest Airlines desk, the woman behind the counter overheard him asking if a certain type of candy had nuts in it. She asked me if he was allergic to peanuts and, after I told her about his peanut and tree nut allergies, she leapt into action.

She notified the flight crew that there would be a child on board with life-threatening nut allergies (at which point they made arrangements to serve crackers instead of peanuts). As we boarded the plane, we were offered cleaning spray and paper towels to clean off the arm rests and snack tray of the seats in our row. Once on the plane, the flight crew announced that one of the passengers on board had a severe nut allergy and requested that the other passengers refrain from opening any bags of nuts, trail mix, or other nut-containing food items, as this could seriously endanger the passenger.

Needless to say, we are now loyal Southwest fans. It is recommended that you let them know of any allergies at the time you make your reservation or within 2 hours of your scheduled flight. While there may be other airlines that make accommodations for their allergic passengers, I have not experienced such an effort by an airline to ensure the safety of my child. So, if any of you are planning a trip with your allergic child, this might be something to keep in mind as you make your flight arrangements. This was certainly a great start to our vacation!

For more information on Southwest Airline’s peanut allergy policy, visit http://www.southwest.com/travel_center/disability.html#peanut.

–Robin Davison, MPH, JD, Founder of STAT kids, LLC (www.statkids.com)

I had put it off long enough, I had to go food shopping last night. It was Friday, the store was empty and it was a perfect night for a working mom to shop.

I’ve been following the Eco Chic Parents blog where Tara, inspired by KIWI’s “A Healthy Budget” in the June 2007 issue, has gone almost all “organic”. I was in turn, inspired by her to sort out my own shopping strategy.

I separated my purchases into three categories

1. Absolutely must be organic
2. Absolutely must be natural
3. Ok, I-can-compromise (or I-have-no-other-choice)

The first “absolutely must be organic” for me is dairy products. Milk, butter, cheese, yogurt have to be dairy and I will pay any price to avoid antibiotics and growth hormones in my family’s food (Horizon DHA Milk is a must for Maylee). Eggs are included in this too (Organic Valley eggs when I can find them). Also, I search for antibiotic, hormone-free meat/poultry (e.g. ShopRite’s Reddington Farms and Wegmans’ Food You Feel Good About organic poultry).

If it can’t be organic, it has to be natural. Absolutely no artificial colors, flavors or artificial sweeteners in my pantry. There are too many great alternatives to juices (Apple & Eve), fruit snacks (FruitaBü), cookies (Mi-Del, Back to Nature, Newman’s), salty snacks (Food Should Taste Good, Snyder’s of Hanover, Hain, Back to Nature, Annie’s Bunnies) and so on, that don’t have those nasty ingredients. And, there is no need to consume artificial sweeteners for any of us. (I do not believe that anyone has ever lost weight on artificial sweeteners.) I’d rather see my child have sugar in moderation than consume these products that have been linked to autoimmune diseases and other health risks.

The third category for me is a tough one, but when I have to compromise, I look at the products that are whole grain such as cereals and pasta brands. Again, not the ideal “organic” but better than the alternative with a whole grain benefit. Also, unfortunately, it’s not always easy to find eco-paper alternatives in many supermarkets (although plentiful in Whole Foods), so that’s a compromise area.

Thankfully, supermarkets have great store brands now. Whole Foods Market, ShopRite, Safeway (O Organics) and Wegmans have fabulous organic product lines. And, the prices are typically more reasonable than branded items.

This trip’s purchases were about 75% organic and natural, and totaled $358. For three people, I hope (!!) this lasts two weeks. Tara from Eco Chic Parent spent $229.40 for two adults and a baby. She raised a good point in her blog “I do believe that when looking at ones budget it is important to take into consideration medical bills. Healthier people are know for fewer illnesses: including colds”. I agree with Tara; the extra money we spend on organic and natural will surely come out of our medical expenses.

I’ll keep you posted as I strive to lower my “organic” shopping bills. Look for KIWI’s “2008 Shopping Organic On A Budget” feature in our August 2008 issue.

–Maxine Wolf, mom to Maylee, CEO & Publisher of KIWI Magazine

Complimentary Articles:

•  Healthy eating and Menu Planning - and more budget shopping ideas

While driving my kids recently, I heard giggling from the backseat and felt overjoyed that everyone was getting along. That is, until I heard what the laughter was about. An innocent children’s rhyme that is all but innocent. I could not believe my ears—my children were in fact making fun of another culture’s appearances in their little rhyme… in my car…my children…with the values I have taught them…YIKES! How could they not understand that this was inappropriate and even hurtful to others? I tried not to go postal. I reminded myself that I was the therapist and the mother in this car—and driving. From my voice, they knew I was upset when I asked them to stop.

“You don’t let us have any fun,” said Eli. “It feels like we are the only ones I know who can’t make fun of anything. It’s not hurting anyone” Sasha chimed in. “Sam in my class taught me that joke,” she said. “He makes fun of all kinds of people, and kids think he’s funny.”

I was taken aback that my children had missed the idea that making fun of the way someone looks is hurtful. Apparently, my passion for human rights and equality did not guarantee that my children would be empathetic little apples that would fall from my tree. Children receive powerful messages outside our homes—in class, on the bus, at lunch, on the playground, and from friends and the good ol’ TV. There needs to be an ongoing effort regarding cultural and racial sensitivity. If moments can be teaching moments, this was gonna be a big one.

Talk to your kids about what makes a joke hurtful. Why do others laugh if it is so wrong? What could be said to those who tell the inappropriate joke? How can we celebrate diversity?

To be continued…

–June Grushka-Rosen M.Ed. is a Life Coach, Educator, Psychotherapist and mommy of two. To contact – June@urextraordinary.com

When it comes to preventing winter illnesses, don’t look for a quick fix or magic bullet. Your best defense is consistent healthy living, which comes from staying well-rested and well-nourished. When your body feels fatigued and undernourished, it makes you more susceptible to the bacteria and viruses that linger around us. When your body is healthy, your immune system tackles these invading organisms before they have a chance to make you sick.

Creating a routine around eating and sleeping will help both you and your children stay healthy. Sit down, relax and eat three meals a day—at the table—with your children. Try to avoid replacing sit-down, nourishing meals with snacking. Also, make bedtime patterns as early as you can with your children, even before they start school. This way parents have some downtime to themselves or can choose to go to bed early if they want.

Wash your hands often and be sure your children do the same. Although antibacterial soaps, gels and wipes abound, good old-fashioned soap and water do the trick. Antibacterial formulas destroy all the bacteria on our hands, both good and bad. But our skin needs an outer foundation of normal “healthy” bacteria to provide a first line of defense for our immune system. Using only antibacterial products actually diminishes our natural immunity, making us more susceptible to bacteria.

If a cold does strike, sleep, eat and drink it away. Give your body time to recover and turn in early for the night. Simplify your meals—homemade chicken soup really can do the trick. Drink plenty of warm teas to keep the body hydrated. Try adding honey to your tea, as it has antibacterial properties. And take 2-3 grams of vitamin C daily. For kids, 1 gram will do. Emergen-C and Ola Loa vitamin C drinks are easy ways for kids to boost their Vitamin C. Echinacea can help, but only if you use it at the onset of the cold—otherwise reach for medicinal mushroom formulas such as olive leaf, Oregon grape root, and lomatium.

–Dr. Keri Marshall MS, ND is a licensed Naturopathic Doctor who specializes in holistic pediatrics and women’s medicine.

My name is Keri Marshall and I am a licensed Naturopathic Doctor in private practice in Dover, NH, and mother of two. I have a general family practice that encompasses all aspects of natural medicine including clinical nutrition, herbal medicine, homeopathy and lifestyle counseling. I enjoy organic gardening, cooking, snowboarding, camping, biking and surfing. Currently one of the big projects I am working on in my community is an effort to improve the public school hot lunch program. Recently, our school board unanimously approved removal of all trans fats from foods being served, no artificial sweeteners, and at least 50% of grains served will be whole grains.

With the information I provide, I hope to help you understand a few simple concepts, one of which is that childhood nutrition begins as early as conception. How we eat throughout pregnancy as well as how we introduce food to an infant will greatly impact lifelong nutrition and eating habits. I also hope to provide beneficial information with regard to decoding nutrition labels and de-mystifying contradictory information that we hear about in the media and what it means in our day-to-day life.

In general, children who consume Standard American Diet (SAD) meet the RDA basic guidelines for nutrition. Unfortunately, it appears that we have set the bar too low and the guidelines set by the government are fostering an epidemic of obesity and poor health. I look forward to creating a forum to discuss ways to raise the bar with regards to our children’s nutrition and explore ways to improve our own personal nutrition and lifestyle habits as parents.

–Dr. Keri Marshall MS, ND is a licensed Naturopathic Doctor who specializes in holistic pediatrics and women’s medicine.

Remember it is not always easy to talk to your kids at a young age about issues that they will hopefully not encounter until much older. As in the Appletini incident highlighted in my last Blog, here are five useful tips for having “the conversation.”

1. Start early: It is much easier to initiate conversations regarding drugs and alcohol when your children are seven, rather than seventeen. Start early and often!

2. Keep appropriate: Keep the conversation age appropriate and discuss making healthy choices for their bodies. Introduce consequences for behavior. “You want to make good healthy choices for your body, so your body won’t get sick”.

3. Expressing feelings: Create an environment of listening that supports your child’s ability to express their feelings. As your child grows and their interests widen to friends and activities outside the home, you want them to continue to talk to you about their feelings and “keep you in their loop.”

4. Problem solving: Have your child identify safe people to talk to about their problems (including you). Discuss what can happen if they “mask” or hide their emotions. Modeling healthy ways to resolve and express issues with your child empowers them to tackle the bumps in the road.

5. Safety rules: Discuss the importance of safety rules and the dangers of touching, tasting or smelling things that they can’t identify. Stress how very dangerous this can be.

Open communication with your child early on, practicing patience, problem solving, listening to your child and teaching consequences for their behavior are excellent foundations for laying the ground work for future “tough stuff discussions” including the use of alcohol as they head into the pre- teen years. (Oh, the Teen Years…when you will want that Appletini!)

Written by: June Grushka-Rosen (Miss. June Bug) M.Ed. is a Life Coach, Educator, Psychotherapist and mommy of two.
To contact - LifeCoachingYou@Verizon.net

KIWI presents: A new blog series on “Positive Parenting” from June Grushka-Rosen.

Many believe that children and their innate ability to use their imagination go hand in hand. Unfortunately, more and more, a child’s gift to create imaginary places, invisible friends and to dream about the future is not always second nature. This can be compounded by parents who feel uncomfortable when children explore outside the boundaries of what they see as reality. However, the necessity to help prompt a child to grow his/her imagination is increasingly important, due to rising negative stimuli including the over-indulged child, as in the child that has everything done for them and is given to in excess with no boundaries or expectations from their parents. As well as the disadvantaged child, a child that has been deprived of basic needs that may include environmental factors that lead to a lack of nurturing needed to stimulate creative thinking

Imagination is essential as a foundation for problem solving. I have found that while working with preschoolers in an affluent community, in addition to gang affiliated teenagers from the inner-city, that a key component to a child or teen’s ability to thrive and move towards success, is their capacity to rely on their imagination to problem solve. It can be simply having tots who are needed to quietly move from one location to another imagine that they are a magnificent colorful butterfly with arms as wings, silently soaring magically from one place to the next. What a fun contribution to teach a child that is working on curbing their impulse to talk when it may not be appropriate.

It is also my experience that role playing with groups of teens has proven to stimulate their knack to use their imagination by “thinking out side the box” and enhancing their capability to problem solve. If a teen is given the opportunity to “play the part” of the parent or teacher or voice of authority, they often feel empowered by the chance to be heard. Creating an environment to help a teen use their creativity to solve problems and set their own limitations can be a powerful tool to impart upon them.

Nurturing these skills in children gives them perspective and resources to find hope when others my only see hopelessness. The gift of encouraging imaginative-play fosters one’s depth to look at life’s challenges expansively. Growing a child’s imagination can lead to raising a unique problem solver, bring a sparkle to routine activities and encourage children to see a world filled with endless possibilities!

Written by: June Grushka-Rosen, MEd., is a Life Coach, Educator and Psychotherapist
To contact - LifeCoachingYou@Verizon.net

Time for a little shameless self promotion. I have showed you clothes, toys, jewelry, chocolate, purses and shoes! Now it’s time to think about where you can get wonderful gift ideas, among a plethora of other information, all the time? KIWI Magazine of course.

Our magazine makes a wonderful present. Do you know any parents that need some recipe advice? How about some nutrition advice? Or maybe a fun craft to do on a rainy day? KIWI has it all. KIWI features the latest in everyday natural and organic style, geared towards helping moms and dads raise their families in the healthiest way possible.

Also, for a limited time, you will get the KIWI Best 25 Recipes of 2007 as a free download when you order a gift subscription. So a gift for a loved one and a gift for you. Can’t beat that, can you?

To subscribe, call 866-204-4704 or visit our website.

The Holiday Season in upon us, bringing with it joy, excitement…and intense anxiety for those of dealing with food allergies. The heightened risk of exposure at school parties and family gatherings gives the holiday season a different significance. While there is no substitute for vigilance, there are steps we can take to enjoy the holidays with a little less fear.

1. Always carry an epinephrine auto injector– every second counts during an allergic reaction.
2. When attending parties, tell your host ahead of time about your or your child’s food allergies and offer to bring safe food/desserts.Do not assume that a dish or dessert you or your child have eaten before (and been assured is safe) is okay to eat.
3. Many people spice up their regular recipes with new or special ingredients so be sure to ask about all the ingredients used to prepare the meal.
4. If you are unsure if the food that will be served is safe, give your child something to eat before going to the party and bring some safe snacks/treats he can eat while you’re there.
5. Identify your child by his specific food allergies. This can help prevent well-meaning friends and family from offering your child food to which he/she is allergic.
6. Have a food allergy conversation with family members, teachers and caregivers to remind them of the heightened risk at this time of year.

Best wishes for a wonderful Holiday Season full of love, happiness and health!

-Robin Davison, MPH, JD
Founder of STAT KIDS

Any child can tell you that the sole purpose of a middle name is so he can tell when he’s really in trouble. =)
- Dennis Larson

green school /grEn skül / n. a school building or facility that creates a healthy environment that is conducive to learning while saving energy, resources and money.

I personally love growing trend of green schools. I wish they were this environmentally friendly when I was in school! Public and private schools are finding that going green isn’t just great for the children and the environment, it’s great for their budgets. On average, green schools save $100,000 per year – enough to hire two new teachers, buy 500 new computers or purchase 5,000 new textbooks (!!!).

How do I know this? Thanks to this great new site from the US Green Building Council, Green Schools, the information on why and how to build a green schools is only a click away. Their vision is to have all green schools within a generation (yay!).

We are cheering super, super loud over here at KIWI. We love that there is a movement for schools to go green. We are even doing our own part with the KIWI Crusaders Award (you can still apply until December 31st!). The Green Schools site even has a “Take Action” part of their site, where you can join your local green school campaign, learn how communities are taking action, and connect with other green school supporters.

So, click on over and start joining, learning and connecting with green schools!

In honor of baseball playoffs, a little inspiration from one of the greats.

My motto was always to keep swinging. Whether I was in a slump or feeling badly or having trouble off the field, the only thing to do was keep swinging.
Hank Aaron

Hey guys! I just want to keep you updated on the loads of great things going on here at KIWI. Starting this weekend, we have interactive cooking classes at Whole Foods in NYC. Run by our food editor, Cricket Azima, these classes are sure to be a great (and educational!) time. Whether you live in NYC or just visiting the city that never sleeps, make sure you & yours sign up!

Where:
Whole Foods Market
95 East Houston Street
Between Bowery and Chrystie Streets
New York, NY 10002
When:
KIWI Family Lunchbox (Hands On)
Saturday, September 29th, 11AM-12:30PM
Max of two parents and two children ages 4 and up
Tired of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for lunch? Join Cricket and learn fun, new, healthy foods that families can include in lunchboxes.

KIWI Family Cooks with Kiwi Fruit (Hands On)
Sunday, September 30th, 1:30PM-2:30PM
Max of two parents and two children ages 4 and up
Ever tried a gold kiwi fruit? Come as a family and learn tasty kiwi-based recipes!

KIWI Cooking Adventures: Food Hopping with Cricket (Hands On)
Every Saturday in the month of October (6th, 13th, 20th, 27th)
Ages 4 to 8
Inspired from her column in KIWI, Cricket Azima teaches recipes from around the world.

KIWI Family Brunch (Hands On)
Sunday, October 4th, 11AM-12:30PM
Max of two parents and two children ages 4 and up
Get the most out of family time by cooking weekend brunch together!

Everybody Eats Lunch (Hands On)
Saturday, October 20th, 2PM-3:30PM
Join children’s cookbook author Cricket Azima and have fun making recipes from her book Everybody Eats Lunch.

Click below for more details!

Here at Kiwi, we are all about our kids, as I am sure you are. That is why we love children’s museums! Children’s museums give us endless amounts of things to do with our kids. That is why children’s museums are this week’s Pick of the Week!

The first children’s museum was opened in Brooklyn, NY in 1899 and is still operating over one hundred years later. Now, the United States has more than 200 children’s museums. Museums solely built and designed with children in mind have survived depressions, two world wars, and probably countless budget cuts!

Even though they were the first, Brooklyn’s Children Museum is definitely not outdated. In fact, they are temporarily shutting down in order to expand its already impressive children’s activites. Until then, BCM has different activities everyday like “Little Scientist” and “Totally Tots Fall Fun Party.”

Here is a list of KIWI’s favorite children’s museums.

• Brooklyn Children’s Museum
• Please Touch Museum
• Garden State Discovery Museum
• Children’s Museum of Manhattan
• Children’s Museum of Los Angeles
• Bay Area Discovery Museum
• The Children’s Museum, Seattle

Your favorite not here? Let us know! Also, check our website for KiwiKaravan events, soon. We maybe be coming to a children’s museum or an event near you!

Who doesn’t love to snack? Snacks can boost your energy and keep your metabolism steady. However, snacking can be dangerous. Most snacks are chips and chocolate and lead no where but trouble.

Especially, activities like working long hours, running errands and driving your kids around feed our need to snack. We here at KIWI are proofing our Sept/Oct issue this week, so we definitely need the extra energy! When the snack attack hits, we turn to The Snack Factory’s Pretzel Crisps.

Of their products, the Snack Factory says, “But it’s [our] HEALTHY ATTITUDE towards snacking that makes all The Snack Factory products truly great.” We couldn’t have said better ourselves. So you will not feel bad about snacking on these pretzels or passing them along to your kids.

The “better for you” pretzel crisp is much better than a regular pretzel!

Fave flavor: Buffalo Wing for that extra kick!

Go to The Snack Factory site for more information.