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Transition Your Kids Into Whole Grain

Do your kids love macaroni and cheese? It doesn’t have to be that chemically laden yellow stuff in a box, you know! The convenient box of macaroni and cheese has anywhere between 17 and 27 ingredients in it. None of them are whole food choices and most of them are chemicals. In the School Assembly program Debbie Banana And The Mad Scientist the children learn what is really in that box of macaroni and cheese.

You can transition your kids into whole foods by using gradual techniques. In this recipe; start with the scratch recipe technique and use yellow cheese first with a pasta wheat-white blend. Then when they get used to the color switch to a white cheese. Finally switch to a 100% whole grain pasta. Remember that it may take up to 14 exposures to a new food before a child is willing to try it. Don’t make a big issue about it!

Wholesome Ingredients

1/2 lb. cooked whole wheat elbow macaroni

2 cup whole milk (or 1 % (or 2%) milk)

1 ½ cup diced white cheddar cheese

½ cup diced Parmesan

¾ tsp. salt

¼ tsp. cayenne pepper

Wondra™ flour to thicken

Optional:

1 cup seasoned bread crumbs

¼ cup cheddar cheese-grated

1. Place milk in heavy sided sauce pot. Using medium flame, heat slowly to a scald. (just below a boil)

2. Add salt and pepper, and reduce heat and stir in flour gradually until the desired thickness is achieved.

3. Stir in cheese, continue to stir and heat on low until cheese is melted.

4. Combine elbows and sauce, serve as is or pour into casserole and top with crumbs and cheese. Bake for ½ hour until top is crusted.

Popularity: 30% [?]

October 30th is National Candy Corn Day

I am sure that no one will be surprised to learn that October 30th is National Candy Corn Day! Candy corn has been a favorite Halloween treat for over 100 years. Invented in Philadelphia in the 1880’s it was a originally a big hit with the farmers as it was designed to resemble dry corn.

Candy Corn Is All Sugar

The candy corn recipe has not changed much over the years, although the method has.
When the Wunderlee Candy Company (now Jelly Belly) invented candy corn it was made by hand and was only available during the fall season. Today of course it is made by machine and is available year round. Candy corn even comes in colors for other seasons like Valentines Day, Christmas and Easter. The main ingredients for candy corn were and still are sugar and corn syrup. As sugary treats go, it is not too bad of a choice to satisfy your kids or your own sweet tooth. Unlike many other candies, it does not contain high fructose corn syrup. (modern versions do have hydrogenated fats though) Twenty-two pieces are only 140 calories and probably sweet enough to satisfy even the sweetest sugar craving.

Halloween Sweet Choices

Life is about choices. Halloween is no exception. Don’t fall into the frenzy of Halloween gluttony. Teach your children how to make good sweet choices. Teach them how to enjoy their holiday in moderation without overindulging. Share these Halloween articles with your family, friends and kids. Halloween can be a time to enjoy and educate kids on fun, fast and healthy sweet snacks. Sometimes the old fashioned ways are the best choices. The sweet candy corn is certainly not good-for-you food. Candy corn is fun and can be a choice that is better than others.

Popularity: 27% [?]

The Payday® candy bar is one of the healthier candy choices. It is still candy. Payday® is not a health food and yet it is very similar or even better in ingredients than most protein or power bars. The Payday® is a good choice candy bar when you are looking for healthier Halloween choices without taking all of the fun out of Halloween.

Payday® is high in protein

Just like most power bars Payday® includes a healthy dose of protein. Payday® is a peanut and caramel candy bar. It is delicious and nutritious. Peanuts are not really a nut, but a legume. Legumes are edible seeds enclosed in pods like black beans and soybeans. Peanuts contain protein and amino acids, the building blocks for muscle. I actually use Payday® as a protein bar for may post workout snack sometimes. Peanuts are natural sources of vitamin E and B vitamins. The B vitamins found in peanuts are important to energy production in your body. Milk, soy powder and egg whites also add to the protein in a Payday®.

Payday® is high in carbohydrates

Carbohydrates are important for energy production and also muscle building. The sugar in a Payday® is corn syrup. This is not the healthiest choice of sugars and yet it is not the worst choice either. Corn syrup is far better than the high fructose corn syrup that is in most candies. The carbohydrates in Payday® are great for a post work out snack and a better choice for your kids on Halloween.

Payday® is low in chemicals

The Payday® candy bar has low in artificial flavors, chemicals or colors and relatively low in “unknown” additives. The Payday® has only carrageenan, (a plant based color), mono and diglycerides, (made from coconuts). Although I do not advocate those ingredients as being good choices, the Payday® is a pretty “clean” candy or protein bar compared to the competition.

Teach your children good candy choices

Life is about choices. Halloween can be a terrific opportunity to give your kids the gift of healthy for the future. Halloween can be fun and healthy too! Teach your children how to have fun on Halloween and make better choices that will impact their lives into the future. Learn more about good family food choices when you just click here.

Popularity: 31% [?]