I have had various health problems over the years.  Doctors are great at patching you up, not as good at keeping you healthy.

Through God’s promises and His food plan found in scripture, I’ve been healed. God is the Great Physician. He heals all sickness when we pray and believe His promises.

God is able to heal everyone and all illness. He is able to keep us healthy when we apply His promises to our lives.

This life is a battle. We are able to have victory though God and His Word. It is NOT His plan for us to be sick.

This is a compilation of my favorite health verses.

No Disease
Proverbs 4:20-22
My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart; For they are life to those who find them, And health to all their flesh.

Proverbs 17:22
A merry heart does good like a medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones.

Proverbs 3:7
Be not wise in your own eyes, fear the Lord and depart from evil. It shall be health to thy navel and marrow to thy bones.

Psalms 103:1-4
Bless the LORD, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with loving kindness and tender mercies,

Psalms 107:20
He sent His word and healed them, And delivered them from their destructions.

Exodus 15:25-26
There He made a statue and law for them. And there He tested them, and said, “If you diligently heed the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the Lord who heals you.

Deuteronomy 7:15
And the Lord will take away from you every sickness and will afflict you with none of the terrible diseases of Egypt which you have known, but will lay them on all those who hate you.

Matthew 8: 16-17
And He cast out the spirits with a word and healed all who were sick, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying, “He Himself took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses.”

Exodus 23:25
So you shall serve the Lord your God, and He will bless your bread and water. And I will take sickness away from the midst of you.

Isaiah 53:5
But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.

Psalm 91:16
With long life I will satisfy him, and show him My salvation.

Fear
I John 4:18
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, for fear has torment, the one who fears is not perfected in love.

Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.

I John 5:18
The One who was born of God keeps us safe, and the evil one cannot harm us.

I Peter 5:7
Casting all your cares upon him; for he cares for you.

Philippians 4:6-7
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Hebrews 11:1
Now faith is the substance of things hope for, the evidence of things not seen.

Hebrews 11:6
But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.

I John 5:14
This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.

Mark 11:22-24
And Jesus answering said unto them, Have faith in God. For verily I say unto you whosoever say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he says shall come to pass, he shall have whatsoever he says. Therefore I say unto you, What things so ever you desire, when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you shall have them.

I John 3:21-22
Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.

Matthew 21:22
And all things, whatsoever you shall ask in prayer, believing, you shall receive.

Mark 9:23
Jesus said unto him, If you can believe, all things are possible to him that believes.

Promises
2 Corinthians 1:20
For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.

Proverbs 3: 5-8
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths.

John 15:7
If you abide in Me, and my words abide in you, you shall ask what you will, and it will be done unto you.

John 14:13
Whatsoever you ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask any thing in my name, I will do it.

Forgiveness
Ephesians 4:31-32
Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.

Romans 8:1
There is therefore no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

See more. Click Here for Winning the Battle for Health.

For a long time, I did a lot of submitting and totally neglected to resist. We resist by speaking God’s Word. God created the universe by speaking it into existence. We either build up or tear down with our words. We claim God’s promises by faith and then speaking them out loud. We tell the Devil to go where Jesus sends him with God’s Word.

Ephesians 6:12
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Ephesians 4:27
And do not give the devil an opportunity.

Hebrews 2: 14
…through death He rendered powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil.

Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in creation is hidden from God’s sight.

II Corinthians 10:3-6
For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ and we are ready to punish all disobedience, whenever your obedience is complete.

I John 3:21-22
Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.

Matthew 21:22
And all things, whatsoever you shall ask in prayer, believing, you shall receive.

Mark 9:23
Jesus said unto him, If you can believe, all things are possible to him that believes.

Pray for God’s Protection
Psalm 91
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, My God in whom I trust!” For it is He who delivers you from the snare of the trapper and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings you may seek refuge. His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark.

You will not be afraid of the terror by night, or of the arrow that flies by day; of the pestilence that stalks in darkness, or of the destruction that lays waste at noon. A thousand may fall at your side and ten thousand at your right hand, but it shall not approach you. You will only look on with your eyes and see the recompense of the wicked. For you have made the Lord, my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place. No evil will befall you, nor will any plague come near your tent.

For He will give His angels charge over you, to guard you in all your ways. They will bear you up in their hands, that you do not strike your foot against a stone. You will tread upon the lion and cobra. The young lion and the serpent you will trample down.

Because he has loved Me, therefore I will deliver him. I will set him on high, because he has known My name. He will call upon Me, and I will answer Him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. With a long life I will satisfy him and let him see My salvation.

Pray on the Armor of God
Ephesians 6:10-18
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Therefore take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Pray For Victory
We are instructed to pray at all times in the Spirit (I Thessalonians  5:17). Pray these prayers OUT LOUD (If you confess with your mouth–Romans 10:9)
My body is the temple for the Holy Spirit, redeemed, cleansed and sanctified by the blood of Jesus. My members, the parts of my body, are instruments of righteousness, yielded to God for His service and for His glory. The devil has no place in me, no power over me, no unsettled claims against me. All has been settled by the blood of Jesus. I overcome Satan by the blood of the Lamb and by the wordy of my testimony, and I love not my life unto the death. My body is for the Lord and the Lord is for my body. Amen

The prayer of confession for believers…
Lord Jesus, I come before you, just as I am. I’m sorry for my sins and I repent of my sins (name them). Forgive me. In Your Name, I forgive all others for what they have done against me (name the offenses). I renounce the evil in my life. I give you my entire self: body, soul and spirit. Heal me, change me, strengthen me.

Thank you Lord Jesus for covering me with your precious blood. Come now and fill me with your Holy Spirit. I love you. I praise you Jesus. I thank you Jesus. I will follow you every day of my life. Amen

Salvation Prayer…
Lord Jesus, I come before you, just as I am. I am sorry for my sins, I repent of my sins, please forgive me. In Your Name, I forgive all others for what they have done against me. I renounce the evil in my life. I give you my entire self: body, soul and spirit. Lord Jesus now and forever, I invite you into my life. Jesus, I accept you as my Lord and my Savior. Heal me, change me, strengthen me.

Thank you Lord Jesus for covering me with your precious blood. Come now and fill me with your Holy Spirit. I love You. I praise you, Jesus. I thank you Jesus. I will follow you every day of my life. Amen

I have cookbooks, books on nutrition, books on natural remedies, books on kids’ health, books on ADD, books on whole foods, books on herbal remedies, books on digestive wellness, books on horrible things in our foods, books on food storage and preparing for emergencies.

The books I go back to again and again are books with a biblical foundation on God’s design for our diet, health and well being.

This is my personal list of books I often recommend and go back to again and again.

Biblical Foundations of Freedom
Destroying Satan’s Lies with God’s Truth
Wellspring Ministries
http://www.akwellspring.com/market_place/books/bff_book.html
Art Mathias

Genesis Diet
Is There a Perfect Diet?
You can purchase this book on Amazon and eBay
Dr. Gordon S. Tessler PhD

Holy Cow
Does God Care About What We Eat?
http://www.holycownews.com/
Hope Egan

In His Own Image
We are Wonderfully Made
http://akwellspring.com/books/in-his-own-image
Art Mathias

The Maker’s Diet
The Creator’s Plan for Optimal Health
http://www.makers-diet.net/
Jordan S. Rubin

Other vitamins found in relatively large quantities in an avocado include riboflavin, niacin, folate and pantothenic acid.

In addition, one medium avocado has 700 mg of potassium. That’s nearly twice that of a banana (422 mg)!

Other times it’s called an alligator pear because of its appearance. An avocado is pear shaped with a bumpy, dark green, inedible skin. Avocados have a huge pit in the middle. To eat an avocado, slice it open, remove the pit and scoop out the meat.

Katelyn is a big help in the kitchen and she LOVES to eat avocados.

Some people avoid avocados because of the calorie count. An avocado contains approximately 300 calories. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. An avocado has over 50 percent of your daily fiber. That means it has fat burning abilities. So don’t avoid avocados if you want to lose weight.

Nutritional Density
Because of avocados high nutritional density it makes a great weight control food. Its calorie content is total nutrition. Avocados make a wonderful first baby food. Avocados have a delicate flavor and a smooth, creamy consistency, which makes them a perfect mashed food for babies. They are one of the only fruits or vegetables containing monounsaturated fats, essential for baby’s development

When Is It Ripe?
Ripe avocados are soft, yet still firm and not squishy and will easily peel. Can’t wait for guacamole? Place 2 to 3 avocados in a brown paper bag and store at room temperature. If you don’t have paper bags on hand, wrapping them in newspaper will also work. For even quicker ripening, add an apple or a tomato to the bag. Check daily to see if avocados are ripe yet. Don’t just judge by their color alone, as some varieties will retain their green color, even when ripe, rather than turning a deep greenish brown. If an avocado is black, it’s rotten.

To reduce oxidation (browning) of an already-sliced avocado, sprinkle lemon juice on the exposed flesh and then refrigerate in a plastic bag.

Avocados come 5 to a bag at Costco. I not only use them in dips, salads and salsas, I now freeze ripe avocados! Keep them on the counter until ripe. Then either refrigerate or cut them in half, remove the seed and freeze in saran wrap or a vacuum sealer. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight for use in recipes that call for mashed avocados: guacamole, chocolate mousse, you can even sneak a little into a smoothie, and we love to add them mashed to tacos. Another idea is to add mashed avocados to soups and stews for a creamy texture.

Buyer Beware
Know where avocados come from. This tip comes from Andrew, my son-in-law: Avocados from Chile are many times rotten around the pit, even though they weren’t fully ripe. You’ll find more avocados from Chile during the winter months, which is their summer. Avocados from the U.S. are best, Mexico avocados are usually good, too.

If you shop at Costco, sometimes you may find avocados from Chile, the U.S. and Mexico in the same box, so be sure to check out the country of origin. It should be listed on the tag along with the SKU bar code. (I tried to confirm this online. The only thing I could find that might contribute to rotten avocado insides is mold. Perhaps it has to do with shipping. Cold weather will also impact the quality of the avocado. Hey, I had trouble with avocados being black in the center this winter as well, so it’s worth it to purchase avocados from the U.S. or Mexico first. In addition, purchasing local or as local as you can find is always a good idea.)

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The produce manager walked by and we mentioned the new sign. “So what’s the difference?” I ask.

He answered, “You get twice as many!”

Purchasing food on sale helps to keep your grocery bill reasonable, but you need to be careful that you’re actually getting a discount. Sometimes, the advertised special will be a “loss-leader.” That means the sale item is priced lower than cost and is designed to increase traffic in hopes you will purchase other items. Other times, the advertised special price is actually the same or a little higher than normal. The store is banking on the premise that people don’t remember the regular cost of the item.

Cade is helping his mom with the grocery shopping.

How to Purchase Sale Items
Most grocery items have a sales cycle of three months, some six. That means when your favorite cereal is on sale, that is the lowest price it will be for another three months (three months is a good rule of thumb).

When stocking up on a sale item, look at the expiration date. If the item’s best by date is at least three months out, then purchase enough to last approximately three months. That way you will not only get the lowest price, you’ll begin to stock up for potential emergencies. If your favorite jar of salsa goes on sale once or twice a year, then by all means purchase a case.

Grocery Sales Cycle
The grocery sales cycle generally follows holidays and seasonal produce.
January
Avocado, Broccoli, Cabbage, Carrots, Cauliflower, Celery, Chard, Chips, Cold Medicines, Collards, Grapefruit, Kale, Kiwi, Oatmeal, Oranges, Pears, Soda, Soup, Spinach, Tangerines, Toys, Vitamins

February
Artichoke, Asparagus, Avocado, Broccoli, Canned Foods, Carrots, Cauliflower, Celery, Chard, Chocolate, Collards, Kale, Kiwi, Oatmeal, Noodles, Potatoes, Raspberries, Soy Sauce, Spinach, Strawberries, Syrup, Teriyaki Sauce

March
Artichoke, Asparagus, Avocado, Broccoli, Cabbage, Carrots, Cauliflower, Celery, Chard, Collards, Fennel, Frozen Meals, Frozen Vegetables, Ice Cream, Kale, Leek, Lemon, Lime, Mushrooms, Orange, Peanut Butter, Peas, Pizza, Radish, Rhubarb, Spinach, Spring Onions, Strawberries, Tangerines, Waffles

April
Artichokes, Asparagus, Avocado, Baking Mixes, Beets, Broccoli, Brownie Mixes, Butter, Cabbage, Cake Mixes, Candy, Carrots, Chocolate Chips, Cleaning Supplies, Coconut, Eggs, Grapefruit, Mushrooms, Onions, Organic Foods, Peas, Rhubarb, Spices, Sugar

May
Artichokes, Asparagus, Avocado, BBQ Sauce, Beets, Blackberries, Buns, Carrots, Condiments, Dips, Green Beans, Grilling Meats, Hamburger, Hot Dogs, Marinades, Napkins, New Potatoes, Paper Plates, Peas, Plastic Utensils, Potato Chips, Raspberries, Salad Dressing, Salsa, Strawberries, Sweet Vidalia Onions, Tortillas

June
Apricots, BBQ Sauce, Blackberries, Blueberries, Boysenberries, Buns, Butter, Cheese, Cherries, Condiments, Corn, Cream Cheese, Cucumbers, Dips, Eggplant, Eggs, Grapes, Hamburger, Honeydew, Hot Dogs, Ice Cream, Milk, Napkins, Nectarines, Paper Plates, Peaches, Potato Chips, Potatoes, Raspberries, Red Onions, Salad Dressing, Summer Squash, Strawberries, Sweet Vidalia Onions, Tomatoes, Watermelon, Whipping Cream, Yogurt

July
BBQ Sauce, Blueberries, Buns, Butter, Charcoal, Condiments, Corn, Cucumbers, Dips, Eggplant, Figs, Garlic, Grapes, Green Beans, Hamburger, Hot Dogs, Ice Cream, Napkins, Nectarines, Onions, Oranges, Paper Plates, Peaches, Pears, Peppers, Plums, Potato Chips, Potatoes, Salad Dressing, School Supplies, Soda, Summer Squash, Tomatoes, Watermelon

August
Apples, Avocado, Berries, Cereal, Charcoal, Corn, Cucumbers, Eggplant, Figs, Grapes, Green Beans, Lunch Items, Melons, Onion, Peaches, Pears, Peppers, Plums, Raspberries, Summer Squash, Tissue, Tomatoes, Waffles

September
Apples, Artichokes, Beans, Bell Peppers, Cereal, Chili Peppers, Cucumber, Diabetic Items, Eggplant, Grapes, Granola Bars, Oatmeal, Onions, Oranges, Pears, Pomegranate, School Supplies, Squash, Tomatoes, Winter Squash

October
Almonds, Apples, Artichokes, Arugula, Baking Chips, Beets, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Canned Pumpkin, Chard, Chestnuts, Cranberries, Dog Food, Dog Treats, Evaporated Milk, Lemons, Parsnip, Pasta, Pears, Pomegranate, Potatoes, Pumpkins, Seafood, Spinach, Sweet Potatoes, Turnips, Winter Squash, Yams

November
Aluminum Foil, Beets, Black Friday Sales, Boxed Potatoes, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Cake Mixes, Canned Foods, Canned Pumpkin, Carrots, Celery, Chocolate Chips, Coffee, Coconut, Cranberries, Cranberry Sauce, Evaporated Milk, Flour, Gravy, Hot Cocoa, Kiwi, Lemons, Marshmallows, Nuts, Oranges, Pears, Potatoes, Spaghetti Sauce, Squash, Stuffing, Sugar, Sweetened Condensed Milk, Tea, Turkey, Yams

December
Avocados, Bok Choy, Bread, Broccoli, Brownie Mixes, Brussels Sprouts, Butter, Cabbage, Cake Mixes, Canned Foods, Carrots, Cauliflower, Celery, Champagne, Chips, Crackers, Cranberry Sauce, Cream, Dates, Deli Platters, Eggnog, Flour, Frozen Pies, Grapefruit, Gravy Mixes, Kale, Kiwi, Kumquat, Lemon, Marshmallows, Muffin Mixes, Oranges, Pears, Pie Crust, Rutabaga, Soda, Sour Cream Dips, Spaghetti Sauce, Sparkling Wine, Spinach, Sugar, Sweet Potatoes, Turkey, Turnips, Whipping Cream, White Potatoes, Winter Squash, Yams

CLICK HERE for ordering information for Baby Bites: Transforming a Picky Eater into a Healthy Eater and The Forest Feast: Baby Bites Mealtime Adventures.

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Because of all the hoopla over trans fats, most fast food pizzas no longer contain them. You’ll usually see soybean oil listed instead. I’m not a fan of soybean oil. Soy and corn are the two most Genetically Modified (GMO) crops. Unless “organic” soybean oil is used, you’re getting a GMO.

Naturally, Dominoes provides a disclaimer for their gluten-free crust: “Pizzas made with Gluten-Free Crust are made in a common kitchen. We do not have a separate area in our kitchens that are guaranteed free from gluten. While the Gluten-Free Crust is certified to be free of gluten, the pizzas made with the Gluten Free Crust use the same ingredients and utensils as all of our other pizzas.”

Ingredients for Dominoes Gluten-Free Crust are “Water, Rice Flour, Rice Starch, Potato Starch, Olive Oil, Evaporated Cane Juice, Tapioca Flour, Potato Flour, Fresh Yeast, Avicel, Salt, Calcium Propionate.”

The Secret Ingredient
Dominoes Gluten-Free Crust uses olive oil. I was very happy to see that! But I found one ingredient that was hard to identify: avicel. In fact, I had to look up avicel: “Avicel is a microcrystalline cellulose powder. Available both as a fine powder and a gel, it can be used to replace dry or fat-based ingredients in food preparation. It adds no taste, calories, smell, or nutrition to the food. Wood is chemically treated to extract naturally occurring cellulose to create avicel.”

Ah, I know what cellulose is and I’m not too happy to learn that wood is on the ingredient list. Wood may be “naturally occurring” but it shouldn’t be consumed by humans, maybe woodchucks (woodchucks are even too smart to actually eat wood) or beavers, but not people.

Common Ingredients in Fast Food Pizza
Most fast food pizzas contain dough conditioners, silicon dioxide, sugar, artificial flavoring, stabilizers, calcium silicate, preservatives and the like.

With more people concerned about healthful ingredients, most make health claims. Blackjack Pizza promises no peanuts, peanut oil, nuts or MSG in their pizza ingredients. Papa Johns Pizza promises “Better ingredients, better pizza” and “No trans fats or MSG.” It gets confusing. No trans fats or MSG says something specific. Better ingredients means nothing. The only way to know for sure what’s in their pizzas is to check out the ingredient list online or ask to read it in the store.

Kaylee thinks it’s more fun to make her own pizza.

Zpizza is in 17 states including two stores in Colorado, although there isn’t one near where I live. I wish there was! They use organic flower and olive oil in their regular pizza and they offer a gluten-free pizza, as well. Zpizza uses rBGH-free mozzarella and offer a vegan cheese for those who are lactose intolerant.

Overall, I’d say the pizza industry is making baby steps to improve the quality of their product, largely because of customer demand. The inclusion of a gluten-free pizza an is attempt to widen the slice of the pizza pie. Speak up; tell your favorite pizza parlor what you’d like to eat. Then vote with your dollar. Of course you can always make your own pizza at home using the most healthful ingredients. That’s what I do… Click Here for Papa’s Pizza recipe.

Now, if only I could get Zpizza to open a store near me.

CLICK HERE for ordering information for Baby Bites: Transforming a Picky Eater into a Healthy Eater and The Forest Feast: Baby Bites Mealtime Adventures.

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Cheetos is a popular snack. If you take the time to read the Nutrition Label, you’ll see somewhat recognizable “healthy” ingredients mixed in with the chemicals (see the ingredient list below).

Corn meal, whey, cheddar cheese, sour cream and citric acid (vitamin C) are listed. So what could be so wrong with that?

Cheetos Ingredients:
Enriched Corn Meal (Corn Meal, Ferrous Sulfate, Niacin, Thiamin Monoitrate, Riboflavin, and Frolic Acid), Vegetable Oil (Contains one or more of the following: corn, soybean, or sunflower oil), Whey, Salt, Cheddar Cheese, (Cultured Milk, Salt, Enzymes). Partially Hydrogenated Soybean Oil, Maltodextrin, Disodium Phosphate, Sour Cream (Cultured Cream, Nonfat Milk), Artificial Flavor, Monosodium Glutmate (MSG), Lactic Acid, Artificial Colors (Including Yellow 6) and Citric Acid. Contains Milk Ingredients.

Read on–there’s artificial flavor, artificial color (including yellow #6), trans fat (partially hydrogenated soybean oil). Okay, so there are some dubious ingredients, but you decide it’s really not all bad once in a while and purchase a bag for your family.

But the label doesn’t tell the entire story. This is how Cheetos are made:

Cornmeal Extrusion
Cornmeal is pumped 100 yards from storage through a tube into a hopper at the factory. The meal enters an extruding machine, which rubs, melts and heats the cornmeal, which boils and pops into a cylindrical shape. (IF there was any nutrition in Cheetos, it’s destroyed in the extruding machine.) The extruder expels the Cheetos, which fall onto a conveyor belt.

Frying
The Cheetos are fried as they travel through a pan of hot vegetable oil. They are fried until crunchy, when their moisture level falls to less than 2 percent. (This is where the trans fat is added.) When done, they move to another conveyor belt.

Adding Cheese
This is where a surprise hides. Nozzles spray a mix, consisting of oil and powdered cheese, onto the Cheetos, coating them thoroughly. (Did you notice the cheese in Cheetos comes from powdered cheese?) The coated pieces fall onto another conveyer belt, where they cool before they are packaged and shipped from the factory.

The Cheetos ingredients list only sates “Cheddar Cheese”–yet powdered cheese is used. See the ingredient list above.

Below is an ingredient list for powdered cheese I found online. Note the cheese content is up to 15 percent. Not a lot of cheese in Cheetos! There are more chemicals and more MSG, plus more MSG as autolyzed yeast extract is MSG, than cheese. Read more about MSG: Click Here.

A typical cheese powder may be a combination of up to 15 percent cheese, whey, vegetable oil, maltodextrin, and calcium caseinate. Often times, artificial flavors, natural flavors and flavor potentiators like disodium inosinate, disodium guanylate, MSG, autolyzed yeast extract and enzyme modified cheeses are added to cheese powder as flavor enhancers.

Cheetos in reality is a chemical snack. (MSG is the predominant chemical that gives this snack it’s flavor punch.)  I don’t want to eat chemicals even once in a while. If you want a crunchy snack purchase baked potato chips or Sun Chips.

How about making your own chips? Homemade baked tortilla chips are easy to make. Cut fresh tortillas into triangles, coat with olive oil and any seasoning you like. Place them on a cookie sheet and bake fro about 5 minutes at 400 degrees. They are done when the edges are crisp. Cool and enjoy!

Click Here for a synopsis of Baby Bites: Transforming a Picky Eater into a Healthy Eater.

I’ve written a new book, Want Flies With That? It details the startling consequences of fast food and chemicals in our diet. Click Here for more about Want Flies With That?

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A recent study by Cornell University found that people over-consume low-fat foods. When people purchased a low-fat product the study found people consumed up to 50 percent more. Simply seeing the words “low-fat” encourages people to consume 84 extra calories!

People feel less guilt about eating low-fat products. Unfortunately, most times to make up for the reduction in fat, sugar is added to improve the taste. Adding insult to injury, people misjudge the portion size.

Tristan knew all along, that low-fat processed foods were unhealthy for kids.

Your Body Needs Fat
Here’s the clincher: Your body needs fat! In fact, your brain is 60 percent fat. Your body needs oils to survive. Although, you need the right kinds of fat.

Today, most of the fat consumed is the wrong kind of fat. Your body can’t properly handle trans fat. Trans fat has a half-life of 51days. That is your body is trying to deal with it for almost two months and your liver has to work overtime! That belly fat you see on so many people is a result of trans fat.

Eating a diet too low in fat can lead to poor vitamin absorption. Some vitamins like A, D and K are fat soluble. Your body needs fat to utilize them. Essential fatty acids (EFAs) are essential for normal immune and nervous system function. Furthermore, a diet that’s too low in fat can cause depression. Omega-3s and 6s play roles in mood and behavior.

Junk Science
It’s junk science to promote low-fat diets for kids. Dr. John C. Kostyak at the University of Delaware lead a clinical study examining how much fat kids burn in order to support normal growth and energy needs. he grams of fat oxidized relative to the calories they burned were 46 percent higher than adults! The researchers also found females (children and adults) oxidized more fat relative to calorie expenditures than males of the same age.

Children should NEVER be put on a low fat diet. Children’s bodies are still developing and need the right kinds of fat in their diets to be healthy. Kid’s bodies need more fat to fuel growth. Low-fat diets don’t meet the nutritional needs for children.

What To Do

1. Instead of reaching for that low-fat snack food, purchase real food with real ingredients.
2. Use coconut oil in cooking and extra virgin olive oil in salads, you won’t have to worry about fat content. Your body will utilize these fats. Interestingly, coconut oil has been used for weight loss.
3. Contrary to what most believe: Drink full-fat milk.
4. Give your kids lemon-flavored cod liver oil every day.

What To Avoid

1. Read labels and avoid all trans fats. Trans fats are still found in most processed foods (especially cookies). Anything with the word hydrogenated or shortening on the ingredient list is a trans fat.
2. Avoid fried foods when you eat out. All oil is heated to such a high temperature by restaurants, that it turns the oil into a trans fat.
3. Since people are becoming more aware of trans fat, interesterified fat is being substituted. You may see the words “NO Trans Fats” on the label, but interesterified fat is used. “Interesterified” should make you terrified. It’s just another man-made replacement for trans fat. If it’s possible they are worse than trans fats. Vegetable oils go through a “purification” process, then hydrogenated and then interesterification.

Click Here for a synopsis of Baby Bites: Transforming a Picky Eater into a Healthy Eater.

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Wishing I Was Wonder Woman

It’s Mother’s Day again. I’m dreading the annual sermon on “A wife of a noble character” found in Proverbs 31.

When I was a young mom, the life of this Wonder Woman captivated me. I wanted to be her. Her children thought she was terrific and her husband praised her. She was said to be full of wisdom and dignity, had a great sense of humor, and was more precious than jewels. After hearing more than a few sermons about this total woman, I’m beginning to resent her.

Left to right: Jenny, Joy, Julie-ann & Jackie. Photo taken about the time I wrote “Wishing I Was Wonder Woman.”

Where did Wonder Woman find the time to run several businesses (she was an entrepreneur), be the perfect wife and mother, AND care for the poor? Keeping up with my kids, my husband, and our house is more than a full-time job. Yes like Wonder Woman, I get up to make breakfast for my kids, before they go off to school. But, the wonderful wife of a noble character was up while it was STILL DARK (verse 18). The same verse mentions her lamp doesn’t go out at night! When does this woman sleep? I’m lucky if I can make it to the end of the nightly news on TV. By nine o’clock I’m close to comatose.

Proverbs Wonder Woman (verse 24) made clothing for her family. So did I, that is until 1974, the year of the prairie dress. For a reason I can’t seem to recall, I thought our girls should have matching dresses. I must have been blinded by the cuteness of it all. At that time we had three girls ages 1, 4 and 5 (Joy was born two years later).

I wound up making three long prairie dresses, three long pinafores to wear over the prairie dresses, and three matching bonnets. By the time I finished, I vowed I’d never sew again. That was the end of my “making of garments.”

Had to show off the prairie dresses and pinafores. The bonnets are not pictured. Girls left to right: Julie-ann, Jenny and Jackie. Joy was born two years after this picture was taken. I’m all of 26. (Was I ever that young?)

The wife of a noble character considered a field, bought it, planted it, and set about her work vigorously (verses 16-17). In 1977, we moved to the country. It was time for me to plant a garden. We already had the field (our backyard); all I had to do is plant it. For three years, I dug, fertilized, pulled weeds, and kept the dogs, birds, and kids out of my little garden. We ate zucchini casserole, zucchini bread, zucchini and tomatoes, and zucchini salad. My husband even claims I made zucchini ice cream, but it’s not true. Proverbs didn’t comment on yield of the field, maybe Wonder Woman grew zucchini, too.

“Her children arise and call her blessed” (verse 28). I didn’t have a problem with this verse until my children hit the teen years. All of a sudden, I didn’t know anything. I was embarrassing to be around. They had a mother, how juvenile! I can’t remember one of them uttering an intelligible word first thing in the morning. To make matters worse, my teens never called me “blessed.”

I’m wishing I was Wonder Woman, but I’m an ordinary mom and don’t measure up. How can I listen to another discourse on the Proverbs 31 Wonder Woman? Oh, oh, oh, perhaps this ancient woman was NOT Wonder Woman, but just an ordinary woman. Perhaps the events recorded in Proverbs accumulated over a lifetime. Perhaps the lifestyle of this godly woman might be attainable, even today. Perhaps an ordinary woman (like me) with God’s grace is able to achieve many things—not all at once, but one at a time.

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Seventeen-year-old, Stacy Irvine is the queen of picky eaters. According to news reports she eats only McDonald’s chicken nuggets and fries…since she was two! For variety, she’ll eat some potato chips or a slice of toast.

Stacey didn’t think her eating habits were a big deal, until she collapsed at work. Doctors were horrified to learn of her self-imposed diet restrictions. Doctors diagnosed Stacey with anemia and swollen veins in her tongue. She was put on an emergency vitamin regime.

Stacy Irvine Photo from CBS News.

What Happened Here?
Obviously, her parents lost control early. I know that a picky toddler can be exasperating. After a while, parents figure any food is better than none.

Her mom, Evonne, says she tried everything to get her to eat nutritious foods and she’s at her “wit’s end.” The only thing surprising is that Stacey doesn’t already have a major illness like, diabetes or cancer.

Will Stacey Change?
Obviously, the earlier diet changes are made the easier it is. If her mom had known about multi-sensory learning (the core principle in Baby Bites: Transforming a Picky Eater into a Healthy Eater) and how it applies to eating healthy foods, it would have been easier for Stacey to learn to eat whole foods as a toddler. At this point, Stacey has to WANT to change.

Perhaps, the doctors’ warning that she will die, if she doesn’t include fresh veggies and fruit into her diet will be motivation enough for her to want change. Perhaps not. When writing Baby Bites: Transforming a Picky Eater Into a Healthy Eater, I counseled a 40-year-old man who only ate fast foods. He had numerous illnesses. He had been to various doctors and psychiatrists and still did not want to change his eating habits. Oh, he wanted to be well, but he didn’t want to change what he was eating.

How Can Stacey Change?

1.     Refuse to purchase fast food.

2.     Refuse to purchase junk snacks.

3.     Involve all her senses during mealtimes.

4.     Do meal prep.

5.     Change the table talk (Head Talk). Never say negative things about the food served.

Now I’m certain Stacey, has issues with texture. That’s for sure. People, who only eat fast food, are used to the way the food always has the same texture and taste. Multi-sensory learning will be vital for Stacey. She will most likely need the assistance of a psychiatrist at this point as well. It’s imperative the negative self-talk about whole foods changes. It all begins in the brain.

Stacey is an extreme case, but many American kids are not much better off. If you have a picky eater there is hope! You can transform your picky eater into a healthy eater. That’s what Baby Bites is all about.

Click Here for a synopsis of Baby Bites: Transforming a Picky Eater into a Healthy Eater.

I’ve written a new book, Want Flies With That? It details the startling consequences of fast food and chemicals in our diet. Click Here for more about Want Flies With That?

Click Here for information about the FREE Baby Bites Ezine.