Can your kids eat their Vitamins?

I saw this info in Kiwi magazine today, on line. I think it is a great guide for childrens health. I support taking vitamins and supplements to fill in the gaps where your diets fall short. But if you can get the nutrients from foods, all the better.
I say build your house on a good foundation so start your day with a complete mutli vitamin/multi mineral.
A great one for kids is
http://moyragorski.myshaklee.com/us/en/category.php?main_cat=Nutrition&sub_cat=ChildrensHealth




Read on for some suggestions for foods and 'eating your vitamins".


Your family’s schedule is already packed, and once you add the holiday bustle to the mix, stress levels can go through the roof. This increased stress can weaken immune systems, making your clan more likely to get sick this winter, says nutritionist Keri Glassman, author of The O2 Diet. One way to stop illness in its tracks? Make sure you and your kids get enough of these essential immunity-boosting nutrients:




How much kids need


Where you’ll find it

Vitamin C


Age 4 and under: 40 mg, Age 5 and up: 60 mg


Kiwifruit, broccoli, red bell pepper, citrus fruits

Vitamin E


Age 4 and under: 10 IU, Age 5 and up: 30 IU


Whole grains, leafy green vegetables, nuts, seeds

Selenium


Age 3 and under: 20 micrograms, Age 4-8: 30 micrograms, Age 9-13: 40 micrograms, Age 14 and up: 55 micrograms


Brazil nuts, tuna, turkey, oatmeal

Zinc


Age 3 and under: 3 mg, Age 4-8: 5 mg, Age 9-13: 8 mg, Girls age 14 and up: 9 mg, Boys age 14 and up: 11 mg


Oysters, beef, poultry, beans, nuts

Holiday Stress!!!! Did it catch up with you?

Happy holidays to all of you. I feel like I am coming out of the fog of Christmas chaos. It was all good but the preparing really can take over,sometimes with out you even knowing.
This year it caught up with me. Me who is 'never' sick, caught a little something. It cramps your style when you get sick. And at this time of year it sure gets in the way.
A few things that happened.
Sore throat
SI joint and low back pain!!!
Fatigue.
Sore muscles.
Stuffy nose

What I did to help.
Increased my immune support. By that I mean I took more vitamin C, more vitamin D3, more probiotics and more Nutriferon, one of my favorite herbal supplements. http://tinyurl.com/2b8mj41 Clinically proven and patented by Shaklee, these four plant extract, when taken together, actually help your body produce more interferon, a component of your immune system (similar to the spark plugs of a car). It is safe to take 6 a day. And I did. I look enough Vitamin C until I felt like it was causing a mild diarrhea. That is when you know you have had enough. Vitamin C is water soluble so it will get rid of what you don't need. I needed a lot.

What else did I do?

Got a massage and an adjustment. I loved the massage as my chiropractor used essential oil during the massage. They helped to reduce the pain and relax my muscles. My favorites( as well as my chiropractor ) are PanAway, Valor and Peppermint. All from Young living oils. Wonderfully effective and smell great.

Hot Yoga: my local health club has a hot yoga class I just love. The past few weeks leading up to Christmas, the instructor has been leading in a practice of detox. 1 1/2 hours of 100 degree temps and twisting and Vinysa flow yoga, and you feel great. I highly recommend some type of yoga as a form of relaxation, stretching and quieting the mind. So essential at this time of year.

Cut down on my sugar intake.
Sugar impacts your immune system in a negative way. By decreasing your sweets and adding a pro biotic can help you combat the attack on your immunity. I often add B complex along with Optiflora to help reduce my cravings for sweets and increase my energy.

Rest, rest, rest. It was hard with so much to do but taking a little nap during the day and trying to get to bed a little earlier can make a difference. I tried but now that all the presents are opened and relatives gone home, I am not setting the alarm.

Holidays can catch up with you for sure. I don't think I was prepared as well as I should have been. Next time I will remember how I felt this Christmas and start boosting my immunity a few weeks before the holiday.

******Click into the product guide on the right to view products mentioned above.

Winter Wellness Kit______

Keep yourself healthy through the Holidays.

Vitamin C: 500 mg sustained release

Nutriferon: Powerful, clinically proven natural immune support that stimulates own bodies Interferon production

Defend and Resist: Echinacea and Zinc: take at the first sign of a cold , decreases the duration of illness.


$78 for all 3 products

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*tax not included

Breaking the Sugar Habit

Breaking the Sugar Habit

This information was shared by nutritionist Barb Lagoni. It is wonderful information to think about as we head into a time of year where sugar is just running rampant.
It's tough to break the habit, but once you do, you feel SO much better.

One of the biggest challenges of eating healthy is removing simple carbohydrates, sugars and empty-calorie snacks from our diet. Sweets, snacks, chips, pasta, crackers, pretzels, potatoes, rice, soda pop and juices are just not good for us.

These foods are high-glycemic. That means they spike your blood sugar...only to see it plummet an hour or so later thus creating fluctuating blood sugars that lead to cravings and bingeing and no room for healthy choices.

Such cravings are not about will power. They are about metabolic imbalance that creates cravings for fast sugar and carbohydrate snacks.

The following are ways many people have successfully kicked that sugar habit and enjoyed good healthy food again.

The Ideal Diet - The ideal diet emphasizes fresh raw vegetables, some fresh fruit and fish and poultry.

Breakfast - include high protein foods... eggs, turkey sausages, or a smoothie made with a high quality Soy Protein or a meal in a bar- ours has 10 grams of protein!

Fresh fruit (avoid high glycemic fruits such as pineapple, banana and grapes)

Swiss oatmeal ( rolled oats softened overnight in milk or plain yogurt and fresh fruit.. blueberries, strawberries, etc and almonds) Yum!

Lunch is a great place for a main dish salad

Be sure to include lots of vegetables whether in salad or with a plate of fresh veggies, maybe with a dip.

Ideas for salads :

Try a variety of at least 6 different ingredients to create crunch, color, and flavor...

Veggies, veggies, veggies... try lightly steamed green beans or asparagus, a variety of greens ( except no iceberg lettuce .. no nutritional value there),sprouts, red cabbage, green cabbage, peas, shredded carrots, chopped broccoli, cauliflower, fresh white mushrooms, green onions, baby bok choi, spinach, assorted peppers, grated beet, cubed roasted squash etc

Add a little sweetness occasionally with dried cranberries or dried cherries, 1 fresh orange, rind removed and chopped, sliced apples, pears, grapes,

Add crunch with sliced almonds, pecans, walnuts, pistachios, pine nuts, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds...or Shaklee Fiber Plan Daily Crunch

Add flavor with sundried tomatoes, fresh herbs ( water cress, parsley, cilantro, ),pesto, artichoke hearts

For protein ...chopped, cooked chicken, turkey, tuna, garbanzo beans, chopped hard-cooked eggs, etc

Don't forget to make your own salad dressing.

Mid afternoon snacks... snack bars, energizing tea, vegetables and dip, fresh fruit, nuts, make some peanut butter fudge ( 1 cup organic peanut butter, Soy Protein - 1 cup, 1/3 cup honey)

Dinner - avoid high glycemic starches like potatoes, pasta and rice, avoid fried foods... Include, LOTS of vegetables... fresh or lightly steamed, meat, poultry and fish

Beverages... filtered water in a glass pitcher with cinnamon sticks, ginger root slices, or fresh mint for flavor

Evening snack - no popcorn... (high glycemic carb) nuts, veggies and dip, fruit,

Basic Supplements...to stop cravings for sweets and carbohydrates

High Quality Multi-Vitamin

A Complete B Complex (consider one with each meal)

Glucose Regulating Product

Fiber Tablets

Friendly Bacteria

Advanced Supplements - a daily all in one strip - great for on the go people!

All of these products are sold by Shaklee. You can find them in the product guide to the RIGHT. Please post if you want more information.

All the best for this holiday season !

stickers on produce: what do they mean?

Have you ever wondered if the numbers on those little stickers on the produce that we buy has any significance? I read something recently that helped me understand what all those numbers mean.
All conventionally grown produce contain 4 numbers
If it is organic, the code contains 5 numbers and begin with a 9
If the produce is Genetically modified, the code also contains 5 numbers but it begins with an 8.

Examples:
Conventionally grown Banana: 4011

Organic Banana: 94011

Genetically Modified (yuck ) banana: 84011

Good to stay informed about what you are buying out there. I always try and suggest organic if available and the price is right. I don't like the word Genetically modified at all...but it is happening more and more. I want to eat real food, not something that someone changed or is trying to make into a food...

Energizing Soy protein from Shaklee is made from a non-GNO soy...and I love that. Great shake in the morning as well as protein powder for those yummy peanut butter balls.

Stay healthy everyone.

Recipe for Chicken and Dumplings

My son Paul, 15 years old, loves to cook. He thinks he may want to be a chef and restaurant owner some day. He occasionally cooks dinner for the family. I love it as I as a mom get a break and I am NOT allowed in the kitchen while he cooks. He is good, neat and his food is always great. He made this last night and we all loved it. Many have requested the recipe so here it is.
Not sure of the caloric content but it sure is good. We had some fresh cut up fruit along side but you could also make a wonderful green salad for a side.
Enjoy.
Picture is Paul and me a few years ago....





Chicken and Dumplings

For the Soup:
2 T olive oil
1 3 pound chicken, cut into pieces. ( we used 3 whole skinless, boneless chicken breasts, cut up )
1/4 c. flour, season ed with salt and pepper to taste
1 medium yellow onion, peeled and cut in chunks
2 carrots, peeled and cut in chucks
1 bay leaf
1 sprig thyme
1/4 tsp turmeric
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
4 c. low sodium chicken broth

For Dumplings:
1 1/2 c flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 c. coarsely ground cornmeal
1 T sugar
1 teas. kosher salt
1 3/4 c. heavy cream

In a wide, heavy pot with a tight fitting lid, heat the olive oil.
Dredge the chicken piece in the seasoned flour then brown in oil over medium heat., about 2 minutes per side. Remove chicken from the pot and set aside
Add the onion to the pot and cook for 1 minutes
Add the carrots, celery, bay leaf, thyme, turmeric, salt and pepper and cook for 1 minute more.
Stir in the broth.
Return the chicken to the pot, cover and simmer for 15 minutes.
Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine the first 5 dumpling ingredients.
Add the cream and mix until just combined.
Drop about 12 heaping tablespoons of the dumpling mixture into the pot.
Cover and simmer 12 minutes more.
To serve, scoop the dumplings and chicken into bowls then cover with broth.
Garnish with some fresh parsley if you like.

Back to school

It is here. The start of another school year. It is hard to believe. I am both happy and a little sad.
We had a wonderful summer albeit very busy. Trips, construction, camp, hockey, pool and friends. Now back to a routine and that is sure what I love. We get out calenders out and fill them up. It's all great and a little overwhelming at times. But what I always hope for is that my kids will have a great year...their best year ever. We start talking about healthy snacks, what is a 'good lunch' , washing hands, getting to bed early and building up our army of defense with good supplements.
Shaklee has some great choices for childrens nutrition that do not contain harmful ingredients or anything artificial. They are packed full of nutrients to keep our children healthy, alert and ready for learning.
Children: Preschool-Elementary school
1. Incredivites: The worlds best chewable Multi-vitamin
* packed with 600IU vitamin D and other critical bone-building nutrients.
* loaded with 23 essential nutrients for healthy development.
* sweetened with xylitol and contains no artificial colors

2. Mighty Smarts: chewable Omega 3
*100% natural, ultra pure DHA--essential for early brain development.
* gluten free
* taste like orange starburst candies.

3. Meal Shakes: yummy meal replacement shakes
* cocoa or french vanilla
* they provide 19 essential vitamins and mineral and are a rich course of calcium and protein when mixed with milk.
* Low-fat and low glycemic
These are great to serve to the picky eater in the morning or to the soccer player who has to run off to practice at 5pm or so and you don't have dinner ready.


My all time favorite snack for kids of any age:

Peanut butter balls
These are yummy and chewy little snack balls that taste like peanut butter cup candy but are good and healthy for you. They do not need to be refrigerated but I do keep a container of them in the fridge at all time.
1 cup soy protein powder; Shaklee energizing soy protein in either vanilla or chocolate.
1 c natural peanut butter: use one with nothing but peanuts and no added sugar. I like Trader Joes the best. so creamy
1/2 c. honey.
Mix it all together in a bowl until the powder is incorporated. Then break off some and form them into little balls. Yummy.....great after school snack, before an early morning workout or just about anytime....

My kids are getting home now so I will close now. Next time some good nutrients for the teenage years.
So let's hope for perfect attendance and the best year ever.