It aids in circulation and digestion. It’s a common ingredient used in tea for nausea during pregnancy. It’s also used following delivery to decrease hemorrhage. Cinnamon raises vitality, warms the system, stimulates all the vital functions of the body, counteracts congestion, improves digestion, relieves abdominal spasms and aids in peripheral circulation.

Cinnamon has long been used to cure everything from athlete’s foot to indigestion. Early civilizations recognized its ability to stop bacterial growth. The Egyptians used it in embalming. During the Middle Ages, it was mixed with cloves and warm water, and placed in the sick rooms of victims of the Bubonic Plague.

Nicole says, cinnamon is yummy in cocoa or coffee.

The health benefits of cinnamon can be attributed to its antibacterial, anti-fungal, antimicrobial, astringent and anti clotting properties. Cinnamon is rich in essential minerals such as manganese, iron and calcium. It is also rich in fiber.

Cinnamon boosts the activity of the brain and hence acts as a good brain tonic. It helps in removing nervous tension and memory loss.

Cinnamon helps to reduce blood sugar levels, as it helps to combat insulin resistance. It may be a factor in helping you lose weight. The fat cells in your abdomen are particularly sensitive to high insulin levels, and are very effective at storing energy–far more so that fat cells you’d find in other areas such as the lower body (i.e. hips, rear end, thighs). Because abdominal fat cells are so close to your digestive organs, and there is an extensive network of blood vessels circulating in the abdominal area, it’s even easier for fat cells to store excess glucose there.

Use Cinnamon Everyday
Most things taste better with cinnamon. Try adding it to your picky eater’s food:

• Steep your favorite herbal tea with a cinnamon stick, adding flavor to the tea.
• Add one-half teaspoon of cinnamon to unsweetened applesauce.
• Add cinnamon to breakfast cereal or oatmeal.
• Sprinkle cinnamon on toast.
• Adding cinnamon to butter or cream cheese.
• Sprinkle cinnamon on your morning cup of coffee, cocoa, or cappuccino.
• Add cinnamon to a smoothie.
• Cinnamon also combines favorably with many baked fruits like peaches and apples as well as fruit juices and ciders.

For more information about Baby Bites: Transforming a Picky Eater into a Healthy Eater, CLICK HERE.

CLICK HERE for the Baby Bites Store.

For info about the FREE Baby Bites Ezine, CLICK HERE

Nonna Joann on Denver’s Fox 31 News talking about her Happy Birthday to My Happy Meal blog:

Nonna Joann Bruso appears on several local news channels throughout the year. The first three segments are from a recent TV interview on DayStar. Following are short news segments on Fox31 and Denver News. Check back frequently to see her updated segments.

Nonna Joann Bruso on The Denver Celebration TV Show (3 Segments)

Following are videos from other appearances on FOX31 and Channel 2 News.
The first three are with feature reporter Dan Daru on Fox31.
These were shot in Nonna’s kitchen on January 6, 2009.

____

____

____

____

____

First the good news:
Dark chocolate has been found to have more flavonoids than any food tested so far, including blueberries, red wine, and black and green teas! In fact, dark chocolate has four times more flavoniods than tea. Dark chocolate has been found to have more flavonoids than any food tested so far, including blueberries, red wine, and black and green teas! In fact, dark chocolate has four times more flavoniods than tea.

Can you guess what hot drink Angel is wishing for?…Hot Cocoa
Studies suggest eating chocolate with at least a 70 percent cocoa content, in moderation, can be beneficial in conjunction with exercise and a healthy diet. If you eat chocolate, only eat DARK chocolate. Dark chocolate has antioxidant properties, which may actually help to protect the body from damaging oxidative stress.

Chocolate is derived from plants, as are fruits and vegetables. Flavoniods are plant pigments, which have antioxidant activity with health promoting benefits: they have anti-allergic, anti-cancer, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-viral properties.

Dark chocolate is far better than milk chocolate, as some say adding milk cancels out the chocolate’s antioxidant effects. However, just because chocolate is dark, it doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s healthy. Are you ready for the not so good news?

Even though chocolate contains flavonols and calcium, both said to have a positive effect on bone density, chocolate also contains oxalate, an inhibitor of calcium absorption, and sugar, linked to calcium excretion. Oxalate is a naturally occurring compound, which in large amounts may inhibit absorption of calcium. They occur in many plants, especially greens like spinach, Swiss chard, beet greens, rhubarb, and the cocoa bean.

This is disappointing news for those of us who love chocolate. Some research suggests that regular consumption of chocolate may weaken bone density. This could increase the risk of health problems, especially for women, such as osteoporosis and fracture.

According to a study, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, women who eat chocolate daily have an overall bone density about 3 percent lower than those who consume it less than once a week.

The study found that women, who ate chocolate less than once a week, had significantly stronger bones than those who consumed the treat on a daily basis, with calcium supplementation having little effect on the results. Additional studies are needed to confirm these observations.

In fact, another study from the Creighton University School of Medicine in Omaha, contradicted these findings. They said the body absorbs calcium just as well from chocolate milk as it does from unflavored milk. Because, milk contains much more calcium than oxalate so there’s plenty of free calcium left over. Only 6 milligrams of calcium is tied up, out of the 250 milligrams in a glass of milk.

These studies manage to really confuse the chocolate issue, don’t you think? One study links chocolate to weaker bones, another says the body absorbs calcium with chocolate just fine. There’s a lot were not told. What type of chocolate was eaten in each of the studies? How much did sugar compromise the results concerning weaker bones?

Chocolate Lovers Should Be the Healthiest People on the Planet

Did you know each person eats approximately 11½ pounds of chocolate in a year? Of course, real choco-halics eat more. Although chocolate-lovers often quote the study finding flavonoids in chocolate to be heart-healthy; they often ignore the fact that they may be eating inferior chocolate and sugar, which destroys the very benefit they’re hoping for. They also ignore the part about moderation, a healthy diet, and exercise.

Most cocoa is processed in ways destroying the majority of the beneficial flavanoids. Consumers are generally unaware that standard manufacturing removes as much as half the flavonols. But, you can safely assume all milk and white chocolate do not have these beneficial nutrients.

While the verdict may be out on chocolate, we know sugar is detrimental to health. Chocolate, even if it’s dark, it still contains sugar, and eating sugar compromises your immune system. A good rule of thumb is to eat dark chocolate occasionally and only eat it if you’re healthy.

CLICK HERE for sugar information.

For more information about Baby Bites: Transforming a Picky Eater into a Healthy Eater, CLICK HERE. 

This Five Cup Fruit Mold is not only yummy, but good for you, too!

Five Cup Fruit Mold

You’ll need:

2 11-ounce mandarin orange segments, rinsed and drained
1 20-ounce can crushed pineapple, drained (reserve juice)
1/2 cup water
2 cups pealed and sliced bananas
2 envelopes unflavored gelatin (or 2 tablespoons of Great Lakes Gelatin –beef unflavored)
2 cups plain yogurt
¼ cup mayonnaise
¼ cup honey or agave
1 cup chopped walnuts

Pictured: Fruit Mold with chopped cherries.

Optional: 1/2 cup chopped pitted cherries. If you want a pink fruit mold, put the cherries and the reserved pineapple juice in a blender and process. Then add and mix in the bowl with the other ingredients.

1) Combine drained orange and pineapple segments and bananas.

2) Stir gelatin, water, and juices reserved from the pineapples in a small pan. Heat until the gelatin dissolves. Add the honey and stir.

3) Blend in yogurt and mayonnaise with wire whip, until smooth. Add gelatin mixture to fruits and yogurt and stir in walnuts.

4) Pour into a 5-cup mold or bowl. Chill until set (2 to 4 hours)

For info about the free Baby Bites Ezine, Click Here.

Listen to today’s podcast, Click Here.

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

“I recently made a batch of pancakes for my healthy 14-year-old son, using a mix that was in our pantry. He said that they tasted funny, but ate them anyway. About 10 minutes later, he began having difficulty breathing and his lips began turning purple. I gave him his allergy pill, had him sit on the sofa and told him to relax. He was wheezing while inhaling and exhaling.

My husband, a volunteer firefighter and EMT, heated up some water, and we had my son lean over the water so the steam could clear his chest and sinuses. Soon, his breathing became more regular and his lips returned to a more normal color. We checked the date on the box of pancake mix and, to my dismay, found it was very outdated.

As a reference librarian at an academic institution, I have the ability to search through many research databases. I did just that, and found an article the next day that mentioned a 19-year-old male DYING after eating pancakes made with outdated mix. Apparently, the mold that forms in old pancake mix can be toxic!
 
When we told our friends about my son’s close call, we were surprised at the number of people who mentioned that they should check their own pancake mix since they don’t use it often, or they had purchased it some time ago. With so many people shopping at warehouse-type stores and buying large sizes of pancake mix, I hope your readers will take the time to check the expiration date on their boxes.”
Sue from Wyantskill, NY

While this incident may be true and it’s been documented to have happened in other cases, it’s also very rare. Although you might not want to have your family consume products that have passed their freshness date, most people do not have an allergy to molds. A person must have an anaphylaxis reaction to the molds (mold allergy) in outdated processed mixes (like pancake, Bisquick, cake, brownie and cookie) in order for a reaction.

Then again if your goal is to feed your family the most nutritious foods, you’ll want to make your own pancakes…from scratch. Nonna’s Favorite Pancakes are a snap to make! It doesn’t take any more time to make pancakes from scratch, than the boxed variety. What’s nice is that it’s less expensive and better for you. And even picky eaters will love them, especially if they’ve helped you in the process. You’ll also find the recipe in my book, Baby Bites: Transforming a Picky Eater into a Healthy Eater, in the recipe section on this site, and on my podcast.

Click HERE for the Book.

Click Here for the Podcast.

Click Here for my pancake Recipe.

Keep your pantry stocked with nourishing items! If healthful foods are easily accessible, while crackers, cookies, and chips are limited and kept out sight, then kids (and you) will eat wholesome foods. Here are some yummy snacks, which are effortless to prepare as well as healthy:

• Plain yogurt topped with banana slices or other fruit.
• Julienne slices of veggies with a tasty dip.
• Popcorn, edamamie, nuts, and sunflower seeds are healthy munchies.
• Fruit and cheese are quick and easy to eat.
• The only cookies in your pantry should be wholesome, made with real ingredients and low in sugar. When you bake your own, you can cut the sugar by a ¼ or more without anybody noticing.
• Top whole-grain cereals with sliced fruit instead of sugar.
• When the weather’s warm, 100 percent juice Popsicles hit the spot.
• Instead of buying a sugary instant breakfast, make a fruit smoothie. Super-charge it with healthful ingredients like barely green and flax seed oil.
• Apple slices dipped in peanut or almond butter.
• Don’t purchase soda and limit juice consumption. You can cut back on sugar even further by diluting fruit juices with water. Remember, 100 percent fruit juice is loaded with natural sugars.
• Serve sweets after a healthy meal so they won’t take the place of more nutritious foods.

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

For info about the free Baby Bites Ezine, CLICK HERE.

Ten-year-old Annie is extremely social. Even though she’s not a picky eater, she rarely finishes her school lunch, because she’s chatting with her friends After her mom noticed food returning in her lunchbox, she warned Annie to stop talking so much during the lunch break and “to eat her lunch!” Food did stop coming home.Regrettably, after their talk, in order to avoid a scolding, Annie began to throw away the uneaten portions of her lunch.

How do you convince your child to eat the lunch you send to school? Is your child a picky eater? This is a real dilemma for moms, who are concerned about developing healthy eating habits in their children.

The answer could be as simple as adjusting the amount of food you send with your child. A half a sandwich, with the other items in a lunch bag, might be all that a six-year-old can consume during the time allotted.

Since parents have no real control of what their kids eat at school, I suggested that Annie’s mom have another talk with her. She should once again explain the necessity of eating the lunch prepared for her. Her mom assured her that she wouldn’t be punished if she didn’t eat all of her lunch. Annie should do her best to eat during the lunch break and bring home what’s left over-that way mom will know exactly how much food was consumed.

For the child, who isn’t eating much of her lunch, control what you can at home. Pack fewer items, so that less food will be wasted. Send your child off to school with  a stick-to-your-ribs breakfast full of protein and whole grains. Then, make sure your child’s after-school snack is a mini-meal.

Trading is also outside of parents’ control. Eight-year-old Joey trades parts of his nutritious lunch for the junk food his mom doesn’t purchase. Sometimes children won’t ‘fess-up to their trading food in order to avoid discipline.

Affirm how much you love your child and the benefits of the food you’re including in his lunch bag. Discuss with your child the reasons why junk food is unhealthy might help some. Providing nutritious yummy treats will help more. Again control what you can at home. After school snacks should be healthful.

Many times kids don’t eat their lunches out of plain boredom. PB&J can be tolerated only so many times. Adjust your thinking to nutrients, not sandwiches. Many times appealing lunches involve “planned-overs.” That’s making enough of something for dinner for a “planned-over” lunchbox item.

Exciting lunches happen when you “think outside the lunchbox!” Try something different than the traditional PB&J sandwich. For variety, make an almond butter and banana sandwich cut into a fun shape with a cookie cutter. Or draw a funny face on a hardboiled egg.

Plan for left-overs: A meatball sandwich with sauce or meatloaf on a whole-grain roll. Get creative with egg, chicken, and tuna salad sandwiches on whole-grain bread, add sprouts for texture and extra nutrition.

Healthy snacks can become yummy lunches. Here are a dozen alternatives to the sandwich, just to whet your appetite:

>Hardboiled egg and whole-grain muffin. For the younger child, practice cracking and peeling eggs at home.

>Tuna in a 3 ounce can and a small plastic container with Italian dressing. Show him at home how to take the tuna out of the small can and mix it in the container with the dressing. You may have to practice opening a pull-top can, using the plastic fork as leverage.

>Apple, carrot, and raisin salad

>Veggie sticks and a dip

>Brown rice salad with bite-sized chicken pieces

>Cold slice of pizza

>Small cheese ball with whole-grain crackers

>Chicken wings or a drumstick

>3-bean salad (if you purchase this ready-made, be sure sugar isn’t listed in the ingredients)

>Any green salad; pack dressing separately

>Sliced apples and peanut or almond butter. Send the nut butter in a separate container for dipping. Add whole-grain crackers or a whole-grain muffin.

>3-grain salad made with barley, brown rice, and corn.

Baby Bites: Transforming a Picky Eater into a Healthy Eater has more ideas for healthy lunches!

Buy the Book at the Baby Bites Store Now! Click Here.