Raising Healthy Children

I am very thankful that I understand the value of health, after all we only have one body and if we treat it right, our body will do us good, if we treat it wrong? Well... the same goes. The difference with internal vs. external is that years of abuse cannot be erased with plastic surgery when it comes to your internal organs or your immune system... it just won't happen. I am honestly baffled when I drop my kids off at school, when I go to the local mall, or the grocery store and see the amount of children; YOUNG children who are well on their way to morbid obesity. I often look at the parent wondering "what are you thinking?"  It is very hard to understand how they can look at their child and not at some point realize what is happening. Sometimes it's obvious that the parents are unhealthy while other times they are strutting their yoga pants; each of those scenarios tell a different story but the stories have the same ending; an unhealthy child with an unfair road ahead trying to erase the neglect of their parents. If that last sentence was too harsh for you, don't stop reading, because if it struck a chord perhaps this is just what you need to hear that nobody else will say to you, and since you don't know me it won't hurt as badly.

We have a responsibility as parents to teach our children. What we teach them becomes involuntarily "hereditary" and is passed down from generation to generation; yes, eating habits included. We use McDonald's as a "treat" when in reality its not a treat at all... it's an unhealthy decision that we should probably surpass, at maximum allow them to get the ice cream, not the entire meal. It's hard to do the right thing... it more expensive, it's inconvenient... I get it, but it all comes down to a few questions. What price do you put on your child's health... their life, their well being and their self esteem? What about your grandchildren? I am not fanatical...  I do allow my kids "treats" from time to time but I make sure that they are as healthy as possible simply because I care about their future... for the days when I won't be here to kiss their boo boo's or take care of them if they become sick. 

It is proven that artificial ingredients (aka chemicals) as well as petroleum based ingredients, GMO's, and parabens contribute to this epidemic we seem to have of cancer, they disrupt endocrine systems causing hormonal imbalances, they create erratic behavior and disrupt the brain's ability to focus on tasks, but the worst thing of all is that they break down our natural immunity which enables us to fight disease when it does come into play. Does any of this strike you as bad? 

I remember the day when school lunches were home cooked, and if you did not eat it you went hungry. There were no options other than to perhaps have fish instead of chicken. We did not have Dominos on demand in the cafeteria nor did we have french fries available every day. We got one meal and one meal only. We did not have an option to buy more if we had the money in our account. We had recess to burn calories and gym class for physical fitness... all of which has ended leaving an even bigger responsibility on us... the parents. 

In a way, I feel that I have been blessed with children who have dietary restrictions due to allergies and sensitivities, as well as my own sensitivities that have now been discovered, because it has made me even more aware than I already was. Not to say it's not frustrating and downright annoying at times... because it is, however when flu season rolls around, we don't have to get shots because our immune systems work VERYwell. We have had a few 24 hour stomach bugs and a handful of allergy scares but at the end of the day, out of all 4  of my 4 children the oldest being almost 21 years old, I can count on one hand how many times I have had antibiotics in this household. In this day and age... that feels pretty amazing, and I KNOW it has everything to do with what I allow them to eat. 

Do they feel deprived? No... perhaps at times my son wishes he could have the "made with real juice" artificially flavored and colored "fruit snacks" that they hand out at school... but it's more the  feeling of not being included instead of not being able to taste it. They have been raised on healthy, organic, naturally flavored and colored things that taste good so they really are okay with it. It's never too late to switch, and I will promise you that you will feel better inside knowing you are being a better, proactive parent. You are doing your child a HUGE favor, trust me.

I am going to share some of my kids favorite things... 

Instead of cheetos:

http://piratebrands.com/products/piratesbooty/agedwhitecheddar

Instead of Doritos:

http://www.foodshouldtastegood.com/

Skip the fruit juice: go for water with fresh lemon, lime or orange:
Myth vs. truth: http://www.topendsports.com/health/myth-fruit-juice.htm
A great thing to have: http://alturl.com/j8yqm

Skip the cow's milk AND the soy milk:
(Cow's milk can create respiratory issues by causing an overproduction of mucous, Soy mimics estrogen once it enters the body,  disrupting the endocrine system... too much estrogen=cancer)

http://www.tastethedream.com/products/rice_dream.php

No nut allergy? Then you have this option too:
http://silk.com/products?category=130&gclid=CP3AjK-OnrUCFQ0GnQodAyIA4A

Yes, they eat brownies, cupcakes and cookies: There are many pre-made mixes that are SOOO yummy! We use sunflower oil, agave nectar and Earth's balance butter when baking from scratch.
http://www.bobsredmill.com/gluten-free-brownie-mix.html
http://allrecipes.com/recipe/gluten-free-chocolate-cupcakes/

Other snacks:
Homemade Chex mix (recipes on box of chex)
Natural popcorn
Snyder's gluten free pretzels with hummus or for a sweet treat go for almond butter (unless there is a nut allergy)
Celery sticks with organic/natural salad dressing, hummus or almond butter (unless there is a nut allergy)
Carrots
Fruit ; but if you choose berries of any kind, go organic!!! The porous flesh absorbs the chemicals which won't come out with washing.
Smoothies made with fresh fruit, kale and rice milk (they will never taste the kale)
Black bean salsa with corn tortilla chips
Raw unsalted nuts for those without a nut allergy

The point is... do your homework, make it fun... explore new ideas. It does not have to cost a fortune, it just may take a bit more time to prepare.

Until next week!

STAY HEALTHY!

~Shelley Giard~

Recipes Yummy Recipes... GLUTEN FREE!

If you are gluten free for either a sensitivity,  an intolerance,(like me) an allergy, Celiac disease or simply because you know it's healthier and you want to be proactive about your health, it can be tough to find resources for good yummy gluten free recipes. I know... I have looked and being that I am also lactose intolerant it makes it even tougher. I wasn't always this way... so it was seriously learning to cook all over again. Finding substitutes, taste testing, price comparing... it can all be pretty daunting and very time consuming. HOWEVER... persistence always pays!

Luckily, there are a lot more companies catching on as they are jumping on the "gluten free fad wagon" and for those of us that have no choice in the matter I am for once THRILLED about a fad diet! It's making things more available for me. I have some plans in the pipeline for late 2013... which I am excited about and will share on a later date, however I was introduced to a FANTASTIC magazine recently called Delight Gluten Free  by a dear friend of mine who picked it up with me in mind. I was then led to the website www.delightglutenfree.com and it got me super excited, because although I love to cook and am pretty good at it, sometimes I am just too tired to THINK up my own recipes. Many of the ones I was finding had bizarre ingredients  that were hard to find or they were so bland blah and weird that I would not even attempt to eat  the stuff. This magazine ROCKS! And it covers meals, deserts and even drinks. AWESOME!

This is a simple blog tonight... simply to share some resources but I hope it can be helpful to you!

So... here are a few more...

http://www.livingwithout.com/topics/recipes.html

http://www.glutenfreeliving.com/recipes.php

http://allrecipes.com/recipes/healthy-recipes/special-diets/gluten-free/desserts/

http://www.celiac.com/

Until next week stay healthy!

Shelley Giard

My first recipe of 2013: Gluten and Dairy Free

HELLO everyone! Happy New Year! Can you believe a new year is upon us? I can't! I honestly feel like last year zoomed by without a wink because I was super busy. When I am busy and my "things to do plate" is really full, I find myself having to prioritize and sometimes that means putting things I love to do on the back burner. I have three kids at home, (2 are toddlers) a career as a stylist and makeup artist and I write a motivational/inspirational blog 3 times a week. Unfortunately, writing this blog was what ended up on that back burner during the hustle and bustle of the holiday season. The upside however is that because 2012 was my first year being gluten and dairy free, I had to plan all my holiday meals to fit into that new lifestyle and will be able to share what I did with you in a future blog post, or perhaps even something even cooler (hint hint... I have something up my sleeve this new year!)

Previously I have posted my blog on Mondays, however am finding that my audience is much heavier on the weekends. Therefore I have decided to publish the posts on Fridays from now on. (Or at least until I change my mind again; I am a woman ... I am allowed so I hear. HA!)

I am SO happy that I had some experience under my belt for having to approach the holidays gluten and dairy free... I could picture a nightmare of disappointment and stress if I had not. Needless to say that the meals came off without a hitch and none of my guests would have even known had I not opened my big mouth and told them. What can I say... I was proud to prove that this lifestyle is not tasteless and boring... in fact it can be tastier and exciting if you just think positive about it and stop feeling like a victim. (that last comment is for those of us who HAVE to do this because of sensitivities or allergies) Feeling victim to this really sucks.

So... this is my intro to 2013... short sweet and complete with a great recipe that I created by doing what I do best "winging it" . Here's to another year of being healthier, therefore happier! Guest blogger coming soon!

Okay so this is my recipe to share. I made this for our New Year's party to replace the all time favorite Taco dip traditionally made with beef, beans lettuce cheese and sour cream. It is always the first to go at every party I have been to. I made it simple by using canned vegetarian re-fried beans, black beans, and tomatoes but making it without the canned goods is certainly an option. PS> I forgot to take a picture of it before it was eaten, but I can tell you it is a pretty and colorful dish!



No Joke Tasty Layered Taco Dip
(gluten and dairy free) 

What you will need:

Re-fried Bean Layer:
1 can vegetarian re-fried beans
1 cans Rotel tomatoes with green chili's (mild) 

1 Tbs chili powder
1 Tbs onion powder
1 Tbs garlic powder
1 Tsp kosher salt
Black pepper to taste



For Guacamole layer:
2 Avocado's 
1Tbs. minced garlic (fresh chopped or jarred)
2tsp. Cilantro Paste (typically found in refrigerated produce section)

1 Tsp kosher salt
Black pepper to taste
1tsp. Lime juice (fresh for best taste)
1 can Rotel tomatoes with green chili's (mild)


Top Layer:
1 can sweet kernel corn 
1 Tbs onion powder
1 Tbs garlic powder
1 Tsp kosher salt
Black pepper to taste
1 can black beans (unseasoned)


Prepare:
Preheat oven to 350º

Bean Layer: 
Mix all ingredients in a bowl and spread into the bottom of a glass baking dish or shallow trifle bowl.

Guacamole layer:
Cut avocados lengthwise to split. Remove seeds and scoop out flesh with a spoon into a small bowl. Mix in and mash minced garlic, cilantro paste, salt, pepper and lime juice into the meat of the avocado with a fork leaving somewhat chunky for better texture and taste. Fold in (think of gently folding a sheet) 1 cup of the Rotel tomatoes with green chili's with a mixing spatula so you don't crush tomatoes. Pour onto the bean layer, spread lightly and evenly without mixing into bean layer.

Top Layer: 
Combine all ingredients in a small bowl and mix well to distribute seasonings. Gently pour on top of guacamole layer  again, without mixing the two layers. 

Bake in oven for 25 minutes. Finish with fresh chopped or freeze dried parsley (found in refrigerated produce section) for added color just before serving. Serve immediately with Gluten free corn tortilla chips. Is also great cold.Trust me it's a hit! And a much healthier, more filling version than the traditional one not to mention that your digestive system will be much happier as well!

Until next week! Stay Healthy!

~Shelley~

The Beauty Nerd /Wellness Geek