Saturday, July 30, 2011

Recommended Daily Dose of Tylenol to be Reduced


Johnson & Johnson will lower the maximum daily dose for Extra Strength Tylenol to reduce risk of overdose. McNeil Consumer Healthcare notified the U.S. Food and Drug Administration the new dosing instructions will appear on Extra Strength Tylenol products in the U.S. beginning fall 2011. The move from eight pills per day to six is meant to encourage the appropriate use of acetaminophen, according to a release from the consumer healthcare company. 
The company will also lower the maximum daily dose for Regular Strength Tylenol and other acetaminophen-containing products for adults starting in 2012.
Sources: msnbc.com

Friday, July 29, 2011

Tips to Deal with Picky Eaters




Dealing with picky eaters is a very common problem for parents. You are definitely not alone on this one! Oxigen Magazine published a great article with tips to ease the process:


So make meal times fun for your kids and yourself by following some simple rules:

Step by step: Introduce only one new food at a time instead of giving a completely new meal. If you want your child to eat an unfamiliar or new food try and introduce it with something they like. For Example, instead of giving your child palak or methi as a subzi try giving them spinach dhokla.

Small to big: Use small portion sizes initially while introducing new foods. Gradually move on to bigger portions. Do not force your child to finish the entire plate in one go.

Be positive: Some children have negative associations with some food. Try to change the form and texture of that food to change the association into more positive ones. For instance some foods remind children of ′hospital food′ or ′hostel food′ and they refuse to eat them.

Make meals healthier: Try to improve the nutritive value of the food that your child enjoys. For instance if you child likes pastas or pizzas try whole wheat pasta or pizza with a lot of vegetables. Enrich some of the foods with additives. You may add tuna to sandwiches, fruit to cereal or vegetables to pasta, spinach to dosas or carrots to idlis.

Don’t bribe: Resist giving your child sweets and fried foods to encourage them to eat. You may be doing more harm than good.

Make mealtimes relaxed and fun: Avoid TV and other distractions that may lead to overeating or losing interest in food. Talk to your child about their day and share with them your experiences. Your child will look forward to meal times. NEVER use TV as an incentive to eat. This will become a habit later and your child might develop a problem of overeating later in life.  

Involve your child: involve them in buying food by taking them to the supermarket or letting them choose their own menu for one day in a week. This not only teaches them decision making but also helps them get more involved in the preparation of meals. Let your child lay the table or help you clear it and see how involved they get in mealtimes!

Cooking with your child is also a good option. Once in a while, cook interesting but healthy dishes with them. Try making interesting recipes with your kid.

Make a schedule: do not have erratic meal times and do not encourage your child to eat at odd hours. Plan this schedule according to your child’s lifestyle and convenience and involve them in the process.

Set an example: Do not talk about your dislike for food in front of your children as they might follow your example. Eat healthy and watch them do the same!

Educate your child on the benefits of healthy eating and healthy living as-and-when you-think-appropriate.

Encourage your children even when they are older: In case of older children don’t criticize their eating habits or their body type at any cost! It is important to promote a positive body image. Children may slip into eating disorders very easily.

Keep a watchful eye but stay calm: In older children if you notice an extreme desire or pressure from outside to stay thin speak to them about the hazards of eating disorders. If the problem persists do not hesitate to seek medical help.




Source: Oxigen Magazine, Shine

Thursday, July 28, 2011

Keeping Track of Food Recalls

There are so many food recalls lately, it is really hard to keep track of the most important ones. For this reason, FoodSafety.gov has an updated list at your fingertips. Just click on the link below and you'll have access to federal food safety information. Also, you can set up automatic alerts.

FoodSafety.gov - list of recent recalls 
Set up automatic alerts via e-mail or mobile phone

Hopper Ball


Another great fun way to burn kids energy is playing with a Hopper Ball. Kids love bouncing around on them! That means at least one peaceful hour for you. As a bonus, they will be tired and you may even get them to nap! Wishful thinking, huh? 
What's more, it costs less than US$11


By Hopper

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Bouncer Saver


If you have a very energetic kid at home, like I do, here is a life saver: a trampoline!
Sunny or rainy days, it is just perfect to burn their energy, and as a bonus kids will stop bouncing up and down on your couch and their bed. Believe me, they will bounce for hours! A little investment that goes long ways!
The 48" bouncer features 3.5" galvanized springs covered by a oversize fram pad to keep little feet safe. The handle can be set at two heights. The frame is made from rust resistant galvanized steel frame.


By Bazoongi

Calorie Counts on Menus


A recent study shows that New York City's requirement that fast-food restaurants post calorie counts on menus led one in six customers to notice the information and buy foods with fewer calories. 
Although it sounds like a small number, it represents almost 20%! People slowly are becoming more conscious and making changes to their diets. Also, it forces restaurants to offer lower calories options.
Once again, kudos to mayor Bloomberg for passing this law in NYC!


Source: msnbc

Saturday, July 23, 2011

EcoLogical Mom Featured on Sassy Little Cabbages



I'm so thrilled to be featured on Sassy Little Cabbages. It is an awesome site about living a healthy lifestyle.


Thank you, Sassy Little Cabbages!

Thursday, July 21, 2011

Mom, Can I Have More Brussel Sprouts?


Meet Andrea Kakas, our Mom of the Week! 
Andrea has done a great job feeding her 2 kids a variety of healthy foods. As a result, they love veggies and fruits, including Brussel Sprouts! Andrea has loads of tips to share, check them out.

Mom, Can I Have More Brussel Sprouts?
"Mom, can I have more brussel sprouts?”  You get that question everyday right?  Believe it or not, I do get that question every time we have brussel sprouts, but don’t hate me yet.  My daughter who loves brussel sprouts, hates broccoli right now.  I am not a perfect parent and I do not pretend to be, but I have to say that my 2 ½ and 4 ½ yr olds eat what I eat, which is pretty much everything.
I am excited to share some of my tips on feeding kids.   You may not agree with everything I write, but hopefully you pick up a tip or two.  I was fortunate to be brought up with extremely healthy eating habits even though I grew up in Midwest suburbia in the 80’s.  We ate things like 10 grain cereal and dates in the morning, falafel for dinner with brown rice, etc.  Ok, we ate ice cream like it was our job when we had access to it, but we did not eat processed foods.  So I have a lot of experience eating good food and getting kids to eat it. 
Here are my 4 “rules” that I hope seem realistic and achievable.  Cater them to your family!
To me the most important thing is that my kids eat what I eat, when I eat!  And the earlier you start this habit and STAY CONSISTENT, the easier it is. 

I hear a lot of moms say that their baby used to eat everything but now that they are 2,3, 4, they won’t eat anything!  It is easier to get a 9 mo old to eat peas than a 2 year old! This is because kids are smart and they formulate evil plans to make parenting even harder….like temper tantrums over mealtime.  

Staying consistent is not easy, but it is so worth it!!  Here is an example: My son always gets a snack before bedtime so that he will not wake up at 5am screaming of hunger.  When he was a little over two, he tried  to outsmart us by eating less dinner and a bigger snack, which then turned into tantrums and refusal to eat dinner and then huge snacks.  We caught on to his evil plan and decided to fight back.  We first let him scream it out and had to listen to sometimes 30 minutes of tantrums until he would finally eat dinner.  We are talking about a fight over spaghetti and meatballs and broccoli, a meal I know he likes.   After a few days of this, I remembered my rule for my 4 year old; no tantrums in the kitchen/family room.  She can have a tantrum in her bedroom and come downstairs with the family when she is ready to behave.  So when my son refused to eat, we started putting him in his crib and we told him that he could no longer scream in the kitchen and that when he was ready to eat, he could call us and we would get him.  (He could not climb out of his crib yet.  You can strap your kid into a highchair/booster seat in another room, you get my point)  This may sound harsh, but I would rather have a few days of a screaming kid that learns that mealtime is exactly that, mealtime, than have the constant, “eat your dinner”, “sit down”, “ come back here” during dinner.  It is exhausting! 

Maybe you like to feed your kids first and you like to eat dinner later.  That is fine, but my point is that they should know what dinner (breakfast, lunch) is.
Ok, but how do you get your child to eat??  Now that they know they cannot throw tantrums over dinner, what else can you do? 
Make dinner relaxing
Yeah right.  Relaxing and dinner with children do not really go together.  What I mean is that beside the occasional bouts of power struggle temper tantrums, dinner should be about eating, conversation, etc.  I know it sounds crazy if your kids are young but realistically I am talking about a few minutes!  Personally, I think it is hard for kids to sit for very long, so I make sure we eat together, but they do not have to sit there while I finish eating.  They may only sit there for five minutes max and we will have a quick conversation where I ask them what they did at preschool and they say “nothing.”  Really, the conversation is more me recapping the day and saying something nice or funny  that they did that day.  Is this making your nauseous yet?  We are not the model family, but we try to set the stonework for when they are older.
Make sure your kids are hungry for mealtime.
What if they are truly not hungry for dinner?  What are you feeding them at 4pm? Granola bars?  I knew a mom whose kids did not eat meals and she kept a drawer stocked full of kid food that they could easily get to with granola bars, pretzels, etc.  Well that’s fine if that is what you want your kids to eat, but I know that if I had that option as a kid, I would have loved to have a drawer full of junk food!  My kids do not get big snacks after 3:30/4 and we eat dinner around 5:30 so I am not talking about starving your kid!  My kids can have snacks, but nothing that will spoil their dinner after 3:30.  I frequently give them a small bowl of frozen peas and corn.  Yes, frozen.  It is awesome for teething babies to snack on because it is something cold, nutritional and they cannot choke on it.  I still give my kids this.  Or, I have them “help” me make a salad and they can snack on what I am putting in the salad that day.  Sometimes they love what I am putting in there and sometimes they hate it, but at least they tried it and it will not spoil their dinner.  You know when your child is truly hungry and a few crackers will not spoil their dinner vs. when your kid is just begging because crackers are the only thing they will eat.  Use your good judgment.
Possibly your child eats a big breakfast, small lunch and is not very hungry for dinner.  That is ok too!  When my daughter was 18 mo old she just ate more and was more open to variety of foods during lunch so that is when I brought out the veggies!  It is a good time to use up leftovers from last nights dinner and expose your kids to what you eat.  If you work fulltime and do not have lunch during the week with your child, make the weekends a fun time to eat together!  Again, cater my suggestions to fit your lifestyle.
So now that your kids know what mealtime is, dinner is relaxing, ha ha, and they are hungry, what do you feed them?
Make good food
I say “make good food” because good food prepared well is so much better than bad food prepared poorly and kids are so much more likely to eat it.  So maybe you don’t love to cook.  I love to cook, but it does become a chore when you are constantly feeding hungry kids!  You all know what you should do.  Plan meals, make a shopping list, grocery shop, put  food away, prepare food, clean up…I am exhausted just thinking about it.
Here is one example on how to spend very little time and money making good food for your family.  I could give you many examples, but this is very simple and basic.  You do not need to be a top chef to do this.  I have cooked like this for years while working, being a stay at home mom and a working mom and it all works.
I find that roasting things in the oven is so easy and brings out the flavor so much more and my kids love the food…simple and delicious.  You do not have to tend to something on the stove or worry about kids getting close to the stove.
Buy a whole chicken or whole cut up chicken with skin and bones on (it just takes better).  Buy a bag of sweet potatoes or potatoes, broccoli or some other veggie and ingredients for a salad. 
 If you are home 1.5 - 2 hours before dinner, put olive oil, salt and pepper on chicken and put it in a pan.  Cut up potatoes or sweet potatoes (or not ), put  on cookie sheet covered with foil (or without foil if you are environmentally conscious and don’t mind cleaning the pan) and put olive oil and salt on potatoes.   Don’t peel the sweet potatoes.  You will be surprised how good the peel is roasted and it is so good for you and your kids!
Put chicken and potatoes in 400 degree oven for 1.5 hours for cut up chicken, 2 hours for whole chicken.   If you are not home 2 hours before dinner, put potatoes and frozen chicken in oven and turn “time bake” on for the oven to start cooking before you get home.  Cook veggies and make salad right before eating.
You can make this meal many different ways adding things like lemon zest , rosemary and garlic to chicken.  Make it a Mexican meal and add garlic, cumin and cilantro to the chicken, make brown rice instead of potatoes and use leftovers for burritos, etc.  (If you work you can make the brown rice the night before and reheat…I do this a lot)  If you are more kitchen savvy, use the chicken bones to make chicken stock for soup.
My point is that you do not have to use a recipe, lots of ingredients, expensive ingredients.  Just do a little work in the morning or the night before and make enough for TWO meals so you don’t have to do this every day.  I have even tripled recipes and frozen a portion for another day.   Vegetarian?  There are many vegetarian meals you can make this way too.
I also hear that it is expensive to eat healthy.  I have to disagree!  Yes a bag of apples is $3-$5 but have you ever heard anyone say “I ate one apple last night and couldn’t stop and I ate the whole bag” Nope, never heard that.  Prepared healthy food and out of season food is expensive, yes.  However, healthy food that is not prepared and packaged with fancy labels on it, like beans, brown rice, in season fruits and veggies, are not very expensive, fills you and your kids up, and you eat less of it! 

To Recap:
Eat with your kids and be consistent with their diet.   You do not necessarily have to be consistent to the point of skipping a happy meal, but that is up to you!
Besides the occasional power struggles, try to prevent dinner from being the constant battleground.  You and your kids will dread mealtime if it is stressful!
Snacks are important for kids.  They get hungry!  But try to monitor their snacks before mealtime. 
Make good food.  You don’t have to be a seasoned chef to make decent food.  Keep it simple if cooking is not your thing!
Some pointers on consistency
Your child will not.  I repeat, WILL NOT starve themselves.  I am amazed at the power struggle sometimes and I just ignore my kids when they are throwing tantrums and say that I can help them when they calm down.  I am not talking about food that they have never tasted or is very spicy or requires an adult palate, etc.  But if a child knows that if they scream over spaghetti they will get a bowl of cereal, they will scream! 
I am sure you have heard that some kids need to taste something 14 times to like it.  I believe it.  Offer foods frequently and do not make a big deal about it as to make it seem like torture to eat it.  This may seem contrary to letting them scream over spaghetti.  I am referring to new/newer foods or foods that have a stronger flavor.  For example, my kids used to not like cilantro, but now they love it. 
Eating should be a family affair.  Most people don’t have time to sit down with their kids 3 times a day to eat (if they are not at school), but what I mean is feed your kids what you eat, sit down and eat…but make sure you are eating well too!  I heard a kid say that “mom’s don’t eat lunch”  Seriously?  Actions speak louder than words.

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Protecting Your Family from Food Poisoning

How can we lower our risk of food poisoning? Some common sense goes a long way...here are 4 easy steps to follow and protect your family, from galtime.com:


1. Wash, wash, wash...your hands, that is. Whether you use soap and water or hand sanitizer, keeping your hands clean at all times, and making sure to wash your hands after you grocery shop, handle raw foods, or sneeze or cough (or even blow your nose) will substantially reduce the likelihood that bacteria or other unwelcome germs will spread and lead to illness.

2.
 When preparing or cooking food, treat any raw foods (especially beef, poultry, fish, or eggs) as you would fine china--they're breakable and should be handled with care and attention. Never allow raw foods or their juices to come in contact with any other foods or surfaces to minimize the spread of bacteria (if there is any in the food to begin with). Make sure any utensils (cutting boards, knives, or other equipment) you use to handle the food are not used for other foods as well unless they're thoroughly washed beforehand.

3.
 Cook foods to their proper temperatures. Bacteria multiply rapidly in foods that are between 40 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit; to reduce the risk for foodborne illness, make sure to use a meat thermometer (and clean it with hot soap and water before and after each use) to see how thoroughly meats, poultry, and fish are cooked.
  • Poultry, including chicken, turkey, duck and goose, should all be cooked to a safe internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit
  • Raw beef, pork, lamb, and veal (steaks, roasts, and chops) should be cooked to a minimum internal temperature of 145 degrees Fahrenheit
  • Ground beef, pork, lamb, and veal should be cooked to 160 degrees Fahrenheit
  • Fish and shellfish should be cooked to 145 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • It's also a great idea to check the temperature of reheated leftovers; most should reach 165 degrees Fahrenheit.

4. Don't leave it out. Food that's been left out of the refrigerator for more than two hours becomes a welcome mat for bacteria; in the hot sun, and when temperatures outside reach 90 degrees Fahrenheit, the window for keeping food safe decreases to only one hour. Whether you're entertaining at home, or just feeding your family, try to time meals/events so that foods are not left out for longer than one to two hours max.

Monday, July 18, 2011

Raw Rev



Have you tried Raw Revolution bars? They are organic and kosher, and taste great! Ingredients include cashews, dates, almonds and sprouted flax. They are vegan, free of gluten, soy and peanuts, a great source of omega 3 and 6. No preservatives and non-GMO ingredients.
Available through Amazon

Wholesome Coconut Cake

Coconut has a very distinctive taste, and it goes very well with cakes. This recipe doesn't take any sugar, and allows you to be quite creative with the decoration. Very easy, wholesome and delicious: perfect!


Coconut Cake
Servings: about 10 slices


- 1 lb. of dry unsweetened coconut, shredded (you can find it at any grocery store)
- 1 lb. of whole wheat flour
- 1 lb. of all purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons of unsalted butter
- 1 tablespoon of baking powder
- 3 eggs
- 23 oz. agave (you can also use honey)


Mix the agave with the coconut. Slowly add the flour, eggs, butter and the baking powder. Stir really well with a spoon. Prepare a baking pan with oil spray and flour. Pour the batter. Pre-heated oven for 40 minutes at 350F.


This cake is a decoration blank canvas: try slices of mangos, cherries or raspberries!


Source: receitas.com

Friday, July 15, 2011

Fan of the Week: Grace Welch


Meet our Fan of the Week, Grace Welch, a successful "mompreneur" from Providence, RI. She is the mom inventor of the award-winning patemm® pad, the round diaper changing system.  Grace and her patemm® pads have been featured on The Oprah Winfrey Show, The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch, Evening Magazine, View From The Bay, People Magazine, The Washington Post, The Boston Globe, DailyCandy, Parents, Kiwi, Life & Style, Real Simple, Parenting, ABC's The View, NBC's The Today Show, CBS News, just to name a few!

Grace's story of how she started her business, and how she marketed and promoted her patemm® pad while raising her children has enabled & inspired entrepreneurial-minded mothers (and fathers) across the country to start their own businesses.   Check out how she leads her very active life, balancing a successful business and a family with 4 kids under 10 years of age!



Best advice to make your kids eat healthy / What is in their lunchbox?
I always add a piece of fruit or some raw veggies in their lunch boxes.  Give them healthy options:  Do you want an apple or raisins or a banana or a granola bar?  Try not to give them give them the junkfood option whenever possible.

 Kid gear you couldn't have lived without:
Flushable wipes and LL Bean stainless steel water bottles and Episencial Face Balm.

Mantra to keep calm in chaotic moments: 
Life is so hectic as it is and I always try to simplify my life as much as possible.  If I have a bad day, accept it and move on.  Tomorrow is another day...

Tricks to keep in shape:
I walk or run whenever I can...and drink lots of water. 

Best busy mom beauty trick:
As a wife, mom to 4 kids, and running my own business, my life is full and hectic!  But, I alway take some quiet time for myself everyday.  I get up early everyday before everyone else does and that is my quiet time to drink my coffee, meditate and prepare for the day.  I always leave the house with a little lip color and a great accessory piece like a statement necklace or bracelet to add to my wardrobe. 

One green guilt:
I need to be more diligent about re-cycling!




If you'd like to be a Fan of the Week, please e-mail us at EcoLogicalMom@ymail.com

Thursday, July 14, 2011

Playground and Playland Hazard

"Mother of four and developmental psychologist Erin Carr-Jordan has videotaped more than 50 playlands from fast food restaurants such as Burger King, Chuck E. Cheese's and McDonald's. She sent samples from one location to a lab, which discovered 13 different pathogens that are able to cause disease in children—coliform, four different kinds of staph, likely meningitis and gonorrhea, and more."
She's found that some fast-food companies regularly clean their playlands and are happy to provide customers with their cleaning protocols — she singles out Chick-fil-A — but that representatives of Burger KingChuck E. Cheese's and McDonald's have either indicated they don't have any such protocols or have not responded.
Honestly, it is probably not different from parks and schools, and keeping kids away from those places is impossible, especially in the Summer. I guess washing their hands after playing is still a great practice!


Source: The Huffington Post and Los Angeles Times


US Chain Restaurants to Offer Healthier Children's Menu


Nineteen U.S. restaurant chains, including Burger King, IHOP, Au Bon Pain, Brinker International's Chili's Grill & Bar, Cracker Barrel, Denny's, El Pollo Loco, Outback Steakhouse OSI and Sizzler are backing an industry effort to serve and promote healthier meals for children. The program will focus on increasing consumption of fruit and vegetables, lean protein, whole grains and low-fat dairy, while limiting unhealthy fats, sugars and sodium.
Participants agreed to offer a children's meal -- comprising an entree, a side and a drink -- with 600 calories or less that meets the above criteria. They also promise to offer at least one other individual item with 200 calories or less.

That is a good start!
Source: msnbc

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Have you signed up to our e-Newsletter yet? Only easy-to-make and wholesome recipes, like the Orange Cake below, straight to your inbox weekly. You won't regret it!


Just click here...it is that easy!



Monday, July 11, 2011

5-Minute Orange Cake

Kids love cakes, but most versions bought in stores are loaded with sugar. It can really compromise their taste buds, in my opinion!
This recipe is the quickest possible. In just 5 minutes the batter is in the oven, and the result is a big hit.
Use your imagination and vary the fruit each time you make this recipe. Kids will love the opportunity to choose!

5-Minute Orange Cake
Servings: about 10 slices

- 2 peeled oranges, sliced
- 3/4 cup canola oil
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 cup whole wheat flour
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- 1/2 cup quinoa flour or flakes (you can use all purpose flour instead)
- 1 tablespoon baking powder

Mix in a blender the orange, oil, eggs and sugar to a paste consistency. Move the batter to a round container, and slowly add the dry ingredients. Mix all well with a spoon.  Prepare the baking pan with some cooking oil spray and flour. Bake it for 45 minutes at 325 degrees Fahrenheit. Test the center with a toothpick before turning off the oven. Let it cool for 20 minutes before serving.
If you desire to decorate it with a topping, mix 3 spoons of orange juice with 5 spoons of powdered (also known as confectioner's) sugar. It is ready to decorate.

Picture credit: Marcelo de Breyne


Ten Things to Get Done

There are days that we just can't seem to accomplish anything. For some reason they are usually on Mondays for me. Close to nothing gets done when compared to how productive other days of the week are. One of those things that we just can't explain! Let's call it the Monday Syndrome!
So, inspired by an article I read last week by Gretchen Rubin, here is a list of ten things I always try to get done no matter what:

- Read the news
- Go to the gym
- Feed everybody some vegetables and fruits (including myself and the dog)
- Read to my kids
- Wear sunscreen
- Smile to as many people as possible, helping them when I can
- Work (even if there is no inspiration)
- Organize the kitchen
- Take the kids outside, even if they go to school
- Drink some coffee!

What is you bare minimum?




Friday, July 8, 2011

Fan of the Week: Stephanie Hugley

Meet Stephanie Hugley, our Mom Fan of the Week.  Stephanie is a smart and creative mom of 3 kids, ranging from a 22 months to a 7 year old. She is a stay-at-home mom, and a military spouse living in Florida, US.




Best advice to make your kids eat healthy / What is in their lunchbox?
Have them help! While packing lunch, I always let my children choose between two things: apple or orange? Turkey or Peanut Butter? Yogurt or string cheese? For dinner they help too; If my son picks the veggies, then my daughter picks the fruit.

Kid gear you couldn't have lived without:
My ring sling!!! New baby, husband deployed, and soccer practice...it was a life saver! Our cloth diapers are a close second though.

Mantra to keep calm in chaotic moments:
"They are little for a short time. Soon they wont want you to hold or even talk to them." Or "this too shall pass".

Tricks to keep in shape:
I walk on the treadmill every morning. We take family bike rides every other day & weekly hikes at State Parks-it is cheap entertainment. It's nice to sneak in some education while walking too.


Best busy mom beauty trick:
All moms are beautiful, there is no trick. How can something that creates life, not be?


One green guilt:
No matter how hard I try, I forget my cloth bags when going to the grocery store half the time. Leaving them in the car doesn't seem to help me.


If you'd like to be featured as a Fan Mom of the Week, please e-mail us at EcoLogicalMom@ymail.com

Thursday, July 7, 2011

Awesome Bookshelf



This bookcase with two storage boxes is really cool! Made of reinforced 100% recyclable cardboard, it is light, sturdy, durable and so pretty! It is also waterproof and moisture resistant, completely free from hazardous susbtances. Size approx:29" x 13" x 44"


By Kroom

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Hot Dog Guide

It is hot dog season, and even though I'm not a fan at all of processed meats, there are a few good options available in the market. Check out this great guide provided by Yahoo and Eating Well:
• Choose hot dogs labeled “Uncured” or “No added nitrates.” Sodium nitrite or nitrate (additives found in most hot dogs to help extend shelf life) are linked by some (but not all) experts to increased cancer risk.
• Pick sodium-smart dogs. We tasted, it’s true: dogs don’t have to be salt bombs to taste great. Look for brands with 370 mg sodium or less. For beef dogs, check out Applegate’s Uncured Beef Hot Dog, which has a delicious beefy flavor and weighs in at only 70 calories, with only 2 grams of fat and 330 mg of sodium—though you’d never know it to try them, since they have the fatty, salty flavor of a less healthy dog! High marks also go to the Boar’s Head Lite Skinless Beef Frankfurter, which has a mild, German-style wurst flavor and keeps its numbers similarly slim with fat and calories, even managing to shave off a bit of sodium. That’s no small feat, since many “lite” brands of beef hot dog are big-time sodium offenders. Health-wise, we liked Applegate Uncured Turkey Dog, which has a rich, savory flavor that mimics a beef or pork dog, and boasts a trim 40 calories, 1 gram of saturated fat and amazing 260 mg of sodium.
• Go for organic hot dogs. These dogs, such as Applegate’s Great Organic Uncured Beef Hot Dog, are made from organically raised animals, not treated with antibiotics or hormones. Plus they skip the nitrites and nitrates.
• For all-out nutrition, nothing tops a veggie dog, such as the Lightlife Smart Dog, which clocks in at 45 calories and 0 grams of fat—that’s a dog you shouldn’t feel bad heaping toppings upon! Also impressive was the Tofu Pup, which had a mere 0.5 gram of saturated fat.


Easy Chicken with Mustard

This dish is so easy to make, and the taste is great! It looks creamy because of the Dijon mustard. The result is a healthy, low calorie, delicious dish. Serve it with grilled cauli-flower and brown rice for a wholesome meal.

Easy Chicken with Mustard
Servings: 6 portions

- 2 Organic chicken breasts (skinless)
- 3 Organic chicken thighs (skinless)
- 1 onion, diced
- 1 garlic head, diced
- 5 tablespoons of Dijon mustard
- Salt and Pepper
- Dry oregano or tarragon
- 1 tablespoon of canola oil
- Juice of one lime
- 1 cup of white wine
- 1 cup of water

Sautee the onion and garlic with the canola oil. Add the chicken cuts, salt, pepper and oregano or tarragon. Stir and cook for a few minutes. Add the lime juice, wine and water. Stir and let it cook for 2 minutes. Add the mustard, stir and let it cook for about 45 minutes in low temperature. Stir from time to time. Add more water if necessary. The consistency will be creamy, and the chicken meat will be incredibly tender!

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Grilled Cauli-Flower

Cauli-flower is very healthy, and can be delicious when well seasoned. The "tree" shape makes it appealing (and very intriguing) to kids! Here is a great easy recipe to complement any main dish:

Grilled Cauli-Flower
Servings: 6 portions

- 1 Large cauli-flower
- Salt and pepper
- Canola oil
- 1/2 cup of water

Slice the cauli-flower in diagonal (see picture). Season with salt and pepper.
In a saucepan, add a tablespoon of canola oil. Place one slice at a time. Grill it for about 3 minutes each side. Add a couple of tablespoons of water to hydrate the slices. Let it cook for 2 minutes. Serve it warm.