Ever wonder why water isn't offered as a school lunch tray beverage "choice" but chocolate cow's milk is? #SaveSchoolLunch

Ever wonder why Congress says, "pizza" is a vegetable?

Our teenage daughter can not "choose" water as a beverage "choice" with her school lunch.  (It costs extra.)  She's told that she can "choose" one type of cow's milk (including chocolate) but no water!  Huh?

And, in your elementary schools, you can check off the box for chocolate cow's milk, but there's not one for water? We can select french fries and chocolate milk, but no water?

The reason:  "the federal government sees no nutritional value in water and won't reimburse your school lunch program if it's offered on the school lunch menu."  (My husband has always felt that chocolate milk has flavoring added because it's about to spoil.)  Wonder what industry got water banned from the lunch menu?

Join me in supporting the "real" change to our children's school lunch programs that's taking place and tell corporation's hungry to get on our children's lunch AND breakfast trays that we want to keep "real" change and keep creating "real choices."

Join me in supporting the "real" change that's helping keep America's children healthy and strong

Back to the water issue: a simple solution would be to offer filtered water - and let everyone refill their own water bottles.  Our children play sports and the last time I checked they don't run off the courts or fields looking for a milk bottle.

Common sense is not so common. - Voltaire

p.s. This is not a promo for Dansai water (manufactured by Coca Cola) because, as my niece pointed out, Dansai water's ingredients include: "water, magnesium sulfate, potassium chloride, salt." Be sure to read your labels .  Most of these water's are "enhanced"and not just water. UGH!

Join me in keeping "real" food on our school lunch trays

Food Revolution Day - Making Salmon Fishcake's from scratch

Signed up and cooking Salmon* Fishcakes for dinner in honor of Food Revolution Day!  Thanks Jamie for the recipe: Salmon Fishcakes - From Food Revolution.

Plus, terrific, free resources: Food Revolution Day.   Here's a quick resource below (makes you wonder what U.S. children would say.)

According to an Australian survey, 20% of children believe that pasta comes from animals and 27% believe that yoghurt comes from plants. In the UK, one in ten secondary school children believe that tomatoes grow underground, and nearly one in five primary to an Australian survey, 20% of children believe that pasta comes from animals and 27% believe that yoghurt comes from plants. In the UK, one in ten secondary school children believe that tomatoes grow underground, and nearly one in five primary school children say that fish fingers come from chicken. Children from around the world are so out of touch with what's on their plate that they can’t even recognize where fresh ingredients come from.

Best health always,

SuperMom-in-training

*Wild caught and not farm raised :)

Fed Up - The Movie - Ever Wonder Why America (and her children) have never been fatter or sicker?

Terrific movie! Finally an explanation as to why America (and her children) have never been fatter or sicker. (Here's a hint: has nothing to do with lack of exercise and self control.) 

Very much appreciate the family physician explaining the difference between eating real food and all the "nutritional nonsense" from the food and beverage industries. 

After I experienced cancer at age 38, I had no idea about America's highly processed, genetically engineered, sugar addicted, chemically manufactured, artificially flavored, food supply and I thought I as eating healthy.

p.s. Thankfully that was over 12 years ago and if I can't pronounce the ingredient (or "manufacture" it in my kitchen) - it doesn't go in the shopping cart.

p.s.s. Let's get the "daily amount of recommended sugar" on "nutrition" labels!

Best health always,
SuperMom101

"No Kid Hungry" - Me Smells Something Fishy - Check out the partners . . .

UGH!  Why do I think we're being played?  Does this feel like a way for the food and beverage industry to get a hold of our children for breakfast too!

Seriously? These are the "partners" that want to keep our children healthy and strong?  

https://www.nokidhungry.org/partners - 

be sure to open "National Partners" and see the full list

Mother's Day + Watching Fed Up = Psyched Because I'm "Fed Up" Too

Congress says pizza is a vegetable.
(They also say water has no nutritional value but chocolate milk does.)

p.s. Thanks to our daughter for the awesome books from the library she gave me this morning.  Maybe she'll join me for the movie tonight?

How much sugar is in your can, bottle or carton?

Our elementary school gym teacher does the same display and it's very powerful.  Only drinks missing are the "sports" drinks - they are the worst.

Chocolate milk = candy in a carton

Soda = candy in a can

Sports drinks = candy in a container

p.s. Artificial sweeteners and High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) are no good either.

Coke and Pepsi removing controversial BVO from "Sports Drinks"

Many, many years ago our elementary gym school teacher displayed a baggie full of sugar next to the "sports drinks".   Pure (un-enhanced) water is still the best!

So, what is BVO anyway?

According to Snopes.com,  Brominated vegetable oil (BVO) is vegetable oil which is bonded with atoms of the element bromine. BVO has long been used as a food additive in the soft drink industry, primarily to help keep citrus-flavor oils suspended in beverages and prevent them from floating to the top of the fluid. BVO is commonly found in popular citrus-flavored soft drinks such as Mountain Dew, Squirt, Fresca, Sunkist Peach, and Fanta Orange, and also n sports drinks such as Powerade.  The status of BVO differs in various parts of the world:  It is allowed as a food additive in Latin American and North American countries (Including the U.S. and Canada), but not in Japan or European Union countries.  


Read more at http://www.snopes.com/food/warnings/bvo.asp#zD1AGK1aU1frYgIJ.99

Super shrimp scampi (yes, it's dairy-free)

Shrimp scampi with whole wheat pasta

Servings: 2 hungry adults

1/2 lb large (uncooked, raw) shrimp* - approximately 10 peices
1 1/2 cup chicken broth (low salt)
3 large garlic cloves
1 tablespoon Extra Virgin olive oil (first cold pressed)
1 tablespoon (dairy-free buttery spread - Earth Balance)
1/8 cup white wine (optional)

1/2 lb whole wheat pasta (time the cooking length to coincide when the shrimp will be ready)

Peel and devein (if needed) shrimp.  Set shells and shrimp aside.  (Don't discard the shells.)

Place chicken broth in saute pan and bring to a low simmer.  Add empty shrimp shells to broth and turn as needed until the shells are pink.

Discard shells and remove broth in to a glass proof container.

Place Earth balance and olive oil in sauté pan and bring to a high simmer.  Add garlic and sauté for approx. 3 minutes until garlic is soft.  Add broth (minus the shells) back in to sauté pan.  Add white wine and simmer for approx. 2 minutes.   Place raw shrimp in pan.  Cover and gently cook shrimp at a high simmer turning as the tails curl and the sides become pink.  (Be careful not to overcook.)

Drain cooked pasta.  No need to rinse.  Take saute pan with shrimp and broth and toss in to the cooked, drained pasta.  Serve immediately.

*U.S.A. wild caught - Toxic Seafood Overview from ABC News.

Oatmeal with raisin cookies (dairy-free and delicious)

True story: My husband (who is known to scrape the bread on the inside of a container and not use a knife) asked me when he caught a glimpse of the Earth Balance container, "Is this one of your organic things?"  To which I nodded, "Yes."  He quickly quipped, "I like it.  How long have I been eating it?"  I muttered, "about five years."

(Please be sure to read entire post for complete recipe.)

Preheat oven to 375º
Mix the following ingredients in large mixing bowl

1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 Earth Balance* (softened on counter for  approx. 1 hour)
1 egg

                                           

USDA ORGANIC

Stir in the following - sprinkling around the batter:

1/2  teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2  teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

Stir in:

1 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon baking powder

Stir in oats and raisins:

1 1/2 cups oats

1 cup (or more) raisins

Drop dough by a kitchen spoonful and place about 2 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake until light brown, about 8-10 minutes.  Let sit on cookie sheet for 2 minutes if you prefer a crisper cookie.

*Ingredient insight:  Earth Balance - All Natural Spreads.  Have been using this product for over 12 years now for all our baking and cooking needs in place of butter or margarine.   True story: My husband (who is known to scrape the bread on the inside of the container) asked me when he caught a glimpse of the container, "Is this one of your organic things?"  To which I nodded, "yes."  He quickly quipped, "I like it.  How long have I been eating it?"  I muttered, "about five years."