An easy night for me. A simple family favorite.

Ironically, after just posting about school lunches and healthy sandwiches the other day my oldest son requested club sandwiches for dinner. He seriously loves sandwiches (anyone remember Dagwood?) He is so funny. He will actually make his own honey mustard with mustard and a little raw honey and then put it in a jar with his name on it.  I am not sure how many teenage boys are doing that. Anyway, once in a while I am ready for an easy night. Such as tonight knowing that I will be doing some big cooking tomorrow. Back before we began on the path to healthier eating I would put a lot of bacon on the club sandwiches and various types of meat that I now know contain nitrates, nitrites, hormones, steroids, additives, etc  So the sandwich I make now is a much healthier version.

 I start with 3 slices of toasted organic whole grain bread, slather a mustard of choice or mashed avocado. I prefer creole stone ground mustard. I have mentioned this before, but just a reminder, mustard contains the miracle spice TURMERIC. Place some freshly sliced swiss or grass-fed white cheddar, leaves of organic iceberg, kale or spinach, sliced tomato, sprouts or red onion or both! and if you don't make avocado spread then you can place thin slices of avocado on top of everything. You want to make everything THIN, and not put too much of any one thing, but just a little of each so that you can CLOSE THE SANDWICH, haha. I then add Sara Lee low sodium, nitrate and nitrite free, hormone and steroid free, gluten free, all natural oven roasted turkey from the deli...it is very, very good and the same price as the unhealthy sandwich meats. Take the third slice of toast and spread some mustard or healthy spread of choice. I almost forgot to mention that my youngest son does not like any type of spread so I put a little raw honey on his bread to hold the sandwich. He loves it. Then you lay the third piece of toast on one half of the sandwich and  place the other half on top. Press slow and gently to slightly compress. Slice the sandwich diagonally and have toothpicks handy! (Who doesn't love foods held by a toothpick.) Stab a toothpick into each corner and then slice the sandwich diagonally again to form 4 triangles held with toothpicks. Lay them down on a plate ends touching. You can sprinkle some seasonings on the sandwich for flavor and visual effect. 

This is one of those rare meals that I will serve with chips. Either homemade or Terra brand sweet potato and beet chips....and of course, THE PICKLE! If you can find a naturally fermented brand of pickles they are actually very good for you. Fermented foods help to promote healthy bacteria in your stomach which promotes good digestion and health. They are kept in a refrigerated section in stores that sell whole foods or health foods or can be easily made at home. You can find a good recipe at www.myhumblekitchen.com.

 Well, that is enough about sandwiches. I am planning something very good and different for Labor Day tomorrow. I bought a few things today that I have never bought before.  When I come out of the grocery store with some new healthy foods to experiment with the excitement reminds me of when I was a little girl and my mom would buy me a new coloring book when we went shopping. I could not wait to get home and start "creating" 

Here is a picture of David's club sandwich...he and the boys can eat...I can only tackle half of one.

Packing a healthy homemade school lunch for your child

There are some great recipes out there for things you could make for your child's lunch. Occasionally we may actually have time to whip up a batch of something fabulous but most of the time we just don't. Working moms are already accomplishing a lot to get a healthy dinner on the table. So I want to discuss quick, easy, and healthy lunches that we can feel good about sending with our children to school. Still much better than the tasteless processed and frozen foods served in school cafeterias today.

One of my boys has always been quite picky. He is so much like his dad in his food preferences. He loves meat, and he loves his sweets. Sadly I can't help but think that David's love of meat and sugar contributed greatly to his cancer. These things create an acidic body, and cancer thrives there. We want to create an alkaline body with a variety of healthy foods. I have encountered a certain mentality about healthy eating that it's okay to let the kids have what they want since they are young. It seems that most people think healthy eating is something that you begin at a certain age when you are starting to be concerned about illness and disease. Yes, many of our generation never gave much thought to what we were eating. We didn't know as much about what causes cancer, and we certainly didn't know about the things that were being added to or sprayed on our food. Knowing what I do now about how much what we eat affects us, of course I only want to give my children foods that will ensure that they  hopefully never have to deal with cancer.

That being said, kids do like certain things and working moms do want the lunches to be affordable and easy. I am going to list a few ideas for children who have no dietary restrictions due to lifestyle choices or allergies. Most lunch boxes today are insulated with ice packs and so it is easy to take things that need to stay cool. 

The good old sandwich is the first thing that comes to mind. Most kids like sandwiches. I have found organic nut butters to be a delicious and healthy protein. Whether it is peanut, almond, or hazelnut, a good nut butter with no added sugar, or sweetened naturally with pure maple syrup or honey, is delicious on a good organic bread such as Ezekiel. Whole grain breads are loaded with fiber and nutrient rich. There are many great choices. One of the best things you can do for your child is to never buy white bread again. 

When buying sandwich meats our family loves Sara Lee all natural, low sodium, hormone free, nitrate and nitrite free turkey. Cooking some organic chicken at home and making chopped chicken is very good for sandwiches too. Swiss cheese is the best sliced cheese you can purchase. It is the lowest in sodium and contains substantial amounts of Vit A, protein and calcium while also remaining low in fat. However, I do prefer to buy cheese by the block. Pre-sliced and shredded cheeses contain additives. I do not use mayonnaise, but mustard is actually a healthy choice. In case you did not know, mustard contains the miracle spice TURMERIC which gives it the golden color. Add things like lettuce or spinach leaves, tomato, sprouts and avocado if they are not picky. If they will eat a veggie sandwich, even better! My young cavemen need their meat.

Sorry, but I just don't feel that there are any chips I would recommend. To satisfy the need to "crunch" I pack fresh organic fruit such as apples or grapes, vegetables such as organic baby carrots and celery sticks, nuts or granola. We buy large bags of all natural almonds salted lightly with sea salt and everyone loves those. We have also grown very fond of certain organic varieties of Clif bars and KIND granola. Make batches of your own healthy dried fruit and nut trail mix. 

My kids love their dairy so Stonyfield organic yogurt cups are a great choice for them as well as cubed cheese. We make sure to buy all natural cheese from grass-fed pastured cows. Kerrygold is a great brand and is some of the best cheese we have ever tasted. Grass-fed dairy is hormone and steroid free and contains higher quantities of nutrients a growing child needs. I do not buy anything that contains added hormones or steroids. Just stop and think for a moment about how this can positively affect your children.

Finally, we must not forget their drink. Here is where a lot of kids may not be thrilled, but if mine can adjust I know that it is possible for all. No juice boxes! I just don't trust any of them. I mean, it wasn't long ago that we found out that NAKED juice, one of the top and most expensive brands, contained formaldehyde! The kids need WATER...pure natural spring water. I don't even trust filtered or purified. Do a little reading on the various types of drinking water and I think you will come to the same conclusion.

As a final comment, those who know me, know that I love to bake and often make treats for my kids. If you have the time, of course! lets show the kids some love and give them something to put a big smile on their face. I enjoy baking loaves of banana bread, pumpkin bread, blueberry bread, sweet potato bread, etc. sweetened with all natural things such as raw local honey, pure maple syrup, and organic coconut sugar. I use organic and whole grain flours, flaxseed, organic farmhouse eggs, organic butter, etc. It is super easy and just imagine your child at school saying " LOOK, my mom made homemade  banana bread...YUM"  Next time I bake I will be sure to take some step-by-step photos and post a recipe!

Public School Lunches--Not what they used to be!

 Some of you have heard me go off on school lunches before. It is the beginning of a new school year so just a reminder that these lunches are not what they used to be. Since Michelle Obama took on the program our children are not being fed better and healthier food choices, but rather, less satisfying, less filling, and just plain LESS.

Some of the children attending public schools may not have been fed anything at home before arriving at school and, in fact, the school lunch may be their best meal of the day. 

Very small portions of tasteless processed and frozen foods are what they are receiving with a tiny amount of a fruit or vegetable. These kids are starving when they get home from school for a reason. If you have children or grandchildren in school you need to see it with your own eyes....or start packing a lunch

Savory Marinara Sauce!

I have been finding every way possible to use my jars of homemade organic marinara sauce. This summer I used fresh tomatoes from my father-in-law's garden to make my own sauce. I combined the blanched and peeled tomatoes with extra virgin olive oil, carmelized vidalia onions and fresh cloves of garlic. I used my Ninja to puree these ingredients along with organic tomato paste, fresh basil, oregano, a little sea salt, and pepper. Then I followed the BALL guidelines for canning using sterilized jars and lids, organic lemon juice in the bottom of each jar as a preservative, and a boiling water bath to seal the jars. I can't tell you how pleased I was when I opened the first jar and it smelled and tasted delicious. I will totally be making my own sauce from now on when tomatoes are in season. We had eggplant marinara, organic chicken spaghetti with whole grain pasta, grass-fed beef meatballs and spaghetti, and vegetarian pasta bake which the kids really loved. Here is a little info:

 Marinara sauce is a fabulous source of vitamin C. Each serving provides 67 percent of the daily recommended value based on a 2,000-calorie diet, making marinara a good choice for promoting a strong immune system. You also take in 40 percent of the vitamin A you need each day as well as 10 percent of the iron and 7 percent of the calcium when eating marinara sauce. The vitamin and mineral content of tomatoes in marinara sauce may have benefits for diabetics. Research published in the December 2010 issue of the “International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition” reported that eating tomatoes may help lower the risk of hypertension. The researchers theorize that this can help diabetic patients lower their chances of developing cardiovascular disease, a risk factor for diabetes.

Because tomatoes feature heavily in marinara sauce, the sauce contains a high level of lycopene. This nutrient has antioxidant effects, and it may also help prevent a range of cancers. Evidence in the December 2010 edition of the “Journal of Oral Pathology and Medicine” indicates that the lycopene in marinara sauce may stop oral cancer by treating premalignant lesions in the mouth. More research is needed to support these findings.

Just a few good reasons why you should be eating eggplant

My favorite dish of this summer! --ORGANIC EGGPLANT MARINARA-- Here are the step-by-step photos!

1. Peel and slice two medium organic eggplant. Lay the slices on paper towels, sprinkle lightly with sea salt and let them "sweat" for about 30 minutes or more. This draws out the water so that the cooked eggplant will not be "mushy"---you will thank me for this tip!

2. I use an indoor grill to brown the eggplant on both sides. Brush with just a little extra virgin olive oil and a sprinkle (more or less) of basil, oregano, and pepper.

                                                     3. Brown on both sides.

4. Spread a little organic marinara on the bottom of a square dish ( I use my homemade marinara which is made from blanched and peeled organic tomatoes, carmelized onions and garlic cooked in olive oil and pureed with basil, oregano, sea salt and pepper) Place a layer of eggplant on top and then some fresh mozzarella cheese pearls or slices. You could also use fresh goat cheese. Then repeat with sauce, eggplant, cheese and ending with sauce.

 5. This time I had fresh mozzarella slices so I just tore the slices into pieces and scattered around very rustically. My kids will eat this thanks to this cheese.

 

6. Sprinkle some herbs on top!

 

 7. Now it is ready to go into the oven. Bake at 350 for 30 to 45 minutes until it is nice and bubbly with melted cheese. IMPORTANT TIP: DO NOT USE TOO MUCH SAUCE OR IT WILL NOT BE AS GOOD AND IT WILL BE A MESS. SPREAD THE SAUCE LAYERS VERY SPARINGLY.