Power of Advertising Processed foods are broken down, rebuilt reconstituted foods. They may be missing up to 80 percent of the vitamins and minerals once found in the food. Manufacturers have to “enrich” these foods, adding back a few of the hundreds of nutrients, which were removed. Ninety percent of the food found in the [...]

When baby is ready for solid food, pediatricians often suggest processed rice cereal…white rice cereal. The boxed instant kind is easy on mom, but not best for baby. David Ludwing, director of the Optimal Weight for Life program at Children’s Hospital. Boston, says there’s no scientific basis for the recommendation that rice is healthier for [...]

A recent study from Italy found dietary habits impact kids’ gut function. Italian researchers did a comparative study in children from Europe and Burkina Faso, a rural African village. Children from Burkina Faso ate a diet high in fiber content, similar to that of early human settlements at the time of the birth of agriculture. [...]

Less is more, especially when it comes to processed food. The less you eat of it, the healthier you’ll be. When you eat a processed food, the fewer ingredients, the healthier it is for you. Less is more. When the demand for organic foods rose, more items became available. You vote with your pocketbook. Today, [...]

Party Time Cause for celebration: I read this in yesterday’s morning paper, “Unilever spreads to lose trans fats.” YIPEE! I was rejoicing when the article stated, “Unilever, which sells more tubs of soft margarine spread than anyone, will unveil today plans to remove (Yes, it said REMOVE.) all partially hydrogenated oils—artificial trans fats—from its soft-spread brands including [...]

I’ve been making my own dog food for over a year. It all began when my two little pooches got sick. The vet recommended I purchase expensive canned food for them. He didn’t encourage me when I said I would make their food instead. It turns out that vets don’t like the idea of people [...]

How much sugar is there in processed foods? Turns out a lot! We tend to overlook added sugars in processed foods. But, sugar is a primary ingredient in most of our processed foods and breakfast foods are the worst. Sugar is an early riser, who loves to ambush your child first thing in the morning. [...]

Don’t Skip Breakfast After a long night of sleep, your child’s engine is on empty. A healthy breakfast, containing protein and fiber, will get his engine going. Protein and fiber will satisfy your child’s hunger and keep him feeling full until lunchtime. In fact, studies show children who eat breakfast do better in school. Mornings are [...]

The Sunday Denver Post ran the article “Healthy Lessons,” about the cost of school lunches. Most of the article discusses the school lunch program. Some schools are now including salad bars, fresh fruit, and other healthy food options. A Big Nonna Hug to them! Regrettably, the article also reinforced the notion that preparing healthy foods [...]

I made a trip to the grocery store in preparation for a talk I was giving. We constantly hear how expensive organic foods are and I wanted to make my own cost-comparison: Processed Snacks to Organic Munchies. How much will purchasing organic foods actually impact your budget? Turns out it depends. We know organic cost more than conventionally grown fruit and veggies. It’s usually [...]