Thrifty Thursday: Cut the Chemicals (and cost)

We got a waffle maker for Christmas that we've loved. As we were making a cozy snow day breakfast a couple days after Christmas, my sister in law informed us that Bisquick has aluminum in it (cue the Downer Debbie "wah waaaahhhh"). That fact had never dawned on me and I tried to disregard it because we had a big honkin' box of Bisquick in our pantry that we use all the time.

BUT since then, everytime I've fed the children something with Bisquick, I can't help but think "aluminum, aluminum, aluminum" since it's linked to ADD (and also Alzheimer's). I've been looking more closely at the ingredients on boxes of similar mixes. Turns out, aluminum is in many pancake mixes as well. The only mix I've noticed it's not in is Krusteaz.

I've found 2 recipes that are easy peasy and give me a piece of mind knowing what my kids are putting in their mouths. Most of the things you probably have on hand so it should cut your costs to use these mixes whenever a recipe calls for Bisquick or pancake mix. My kids seem to likey, too, so it's a win win!

Homemade DRY Pancake Mix
4 cups all-purpose flour (I use 3 cups of the flour and 1 cup of wheat germ)


2 cups whole wheat flour

2/3 cup sugar

2 tablespoons baking powder (without Aluminum)

1 tablespoon baking soda

Mix dry ingredients and store in air tight container. You can use this mix in a recipe that calls for pancake mix OR make pancakes by adding 1 egg and 3/4 cup milk (plus an optional medium banana and/or 3/4 cup blueberries).

I most recently used this mix in Jessica Seinfeld's Pink Pancake recipe and my meat n' taters husband said, "These are the best pancakes I've ever had!" Now, THAT's a compliment. Another healthy pancake recipe you may want to try (it does not call for pancake mix) is posted here on The Carolina Clipper.

Dry Bisquick like mix (can use for anything that calls for Bisquick)
3 1/4 Cups all purpose unbleached White Flour


1/2 Cup White Sugar

1 Cup Non Fat Dry Milk Powder

1/4 Cup Cornstarch

1 tbls Baking Powder (without Aluminum)

2 tsp baking soda

1 1/2 tsp Salt

• In a medium/large mixing bowl, Add flour, non-fat dry milk powder, and sugar, mix with spoon until blended.
• Add cornstarch, baking powder, baking soda, cornstarch and salt, mix together with flour mixture.
• Store in an Airtight Container in a cool dry place. Mix ingredients before using for a recipe.

This Chicken Pot Pie recipe is one of my favorite's where I typically use Bisquick. I think I'll give this mix a whirl instead.

By the way, I've also learned most deodorants are full of aluminum. Haven't researched a way to make that or cut that cost yet. Let me know if ya'll come up with something--besides settling for BO. :)

Happy Thursday!
HPS

Train Up Tuesday: Food Novelties

I love summer time food. It’s often so lite (meaning you can eat lots) and much of it requires little prep. Raw veggies and fruit and voila - instant snacks and meal sides ready!

However....I have to confess, that even as inspiring the summer foods are, I still get stuck in rut when it comes to fixing meals. Even the same different foods (does that even make sense) can still create such a rut.

Fortunately my boys (the little ones and my hubby) don’t seem to complain or mind it. But, still, something different (and EASY) is always great. Novelty is a great source of inspiration for me from time to time.

A couple of years ago, I became fond of using muffin tins as ways to present food to my toddler. I came across the idea after stumbling on a blog that mentioned “Muffin Tin Mondays” (sorry, I can’t remember the original one I stumbled across - it may have been Sycamore Stirrings or Michelle’s Journal Corner aka “Muffin Tin Mom”). You can Google that phrase ("Muffin Tin Mondays") and see several blogs for inspiration!

The idea behind using a muffin tin is much like using a bento box. The thing that is so nice in using these tools is that it gives you a good sense of portion control (not serving too much for small bellies). Also, filling up the different compartments helps you visualize a little more clearly how much of each food group you are giving. Besides all of that important stuff...it’s just a fun and different way to introduce food (or presenting the same stuff in a new way). Also, since there is a whole little world of “Muffin Tin” fanatics, there are also a wealth of ideas on foods that are great for toddlers. SOoooo many that I haven’t explored. I’d also like to get my hands on some of those bento tools that make ordinary foods into unique shapes (I’ve yet to find a store in my area that carries this type of thing).

If you like this idea you should really check out Laptop Lunches. I learned about them through an article a couple of years ago in “Parents” magazine. It has the bento idea as well. I bought one when my oldest was 2 years old for his 2 day preschool experience. It was nice to be able to send him with something that he could take care of himself. You simply open the box and the food is there unwrapped and sitting where it should be. It also makes it easier for the teachers, not having to unwrap each item and clean up trash afterwards (I've been asked several times by teachers or other parents where I bought them because of this). They are a little pricier than your traditional lunchbox, but ours has been worth the investment due to the simplicity, durability, and longevity (not a character lunchbox, so it grows with your child). Be sure to check out their website, too for some great lunchbox ideas with pictures!

I wish I had my own pics to show you of these ideas...but alas, my camera is still out of the picture (I know *groan* at my little pun).

One last favorite: “Deceptively Delicious,” by Jessica Seinfeld. I pulled that one back out for more creative ways to add extra veggies to our diets. You can read more on that great book in a few of our archived articles. Also, fyi, I saw in the Sunday circulars this week that you can now purchase this book for only $5 at Kohl’s right now (part of their Kohl’s Cares Causes Merchandise).

Please, please, PLEASE, share your ideas of easy lunches and snacking ideas that your kids love!!!! I have 2 boys (and another on the way), so I think “food” will always be a big deal at our house ;-D ...plus, don’t forget that if you comment you are automatically entered into our most recent giveaway.

What’s for lunch?
-Ashlie

Training Up Tuesday: Get Your Children to Eat Veggies!

My children are very picky eaters--my 4 year old daughter, especially. It takes a lot of coaxing and bribes to even get her to take one "no thank you bite" as we call them at our house. My 19 month old is a little less picky, but it can still be a challenge to get anything green into his belly! Last year I was really getting tired of making peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and heating up Tyson chicken nuggets each day, so I bought the cookbook, Deceptively Delicious , on Amazon and I became a puree-ing maniac!

This book was written by Jerry Seinfeld's wife, Jessica, and it gives great recipes that kids will eat...and they're all made with fresh vegetables and healthy ingredients! The trick is to puree your favorite veggies and fruits and add them to whatever you're cooking. I saw her on The View last year when the book first came out and she made everything look so good and easy, so I thought I'd give it a try. For my first experiment, I tried the chicken nuggets with a broccoli puree and I have to say they are scrumptious! They were so easy to make and the best part is that my daughter LOVED them. She had no idea she was eating fresh broccoli! These can be made it large batches and then placed in the freezer, too.

My husband is a very picky eater, as well--our children get it honestly. There are only a few vegetables he will allow onto his palate, so I have used our dinners, as well, to sneak some veggies in that I know he would NEVER eat. I will admit that he has been able to tell a few of the items that I snuck in. One of his veggie enemies is spinach and once in a while I will add 1/2 cup of pureed spinach into spaghetti sauce. He figured out my trick early on, and now when he calls to ask what's for dinner and I reply "Spaghetti," he'll quickly ask me not to add the spinach. :) But, I did add a butternut squash puree into a mac and cheese recipe in the cookbook, and I smiled with pride as he ate it with NO clue! Mission accomplished.

Now, some people may look at this cookbook and think "I will never have time to do this. It's too much work and it makes me tired just thinking about it". Not true. I put aside a few hours once in a while when my children are napping and use this as my pureeing time. Now that it's summer time, all the produce stands have their fresh fruits and veggies displayed. Pick some that you like and some that you normally don't buy. Wash them, peel them if necessary and them steam them until soft. Place them in your blender with a little bit of water and puree until they reach a nice liquid form. I store mine in 1/2 cup increments in a ziploc bag and then label with a black sharpie. When you're ready to use them, you can thaw the bag and place in your recipes. Get creative! You'd be surprised what vegetables you can sneak into certain recipes. Some other favorite recipes of ours from the book are the mac and cheese, the salsa (my husband even likes it!), the quesadillas and the blueberry/spinach oatmeal bars...trust me, they are DELICIOUS!

This process is also a great way to make fresh baby food. When I started this process, my son was about 4 months old. Once he started baby food, I fed him from my Deceptively Delicious stash and he loved it! It was so neat to watch him devour things like cauliflower and spinach and I felt great knowing what was going into his body. Again, you'd be surprised what vegetables you can get your children to eat!

Training up Tuesday: Autism, ADHD and Your Child's Diet

It is summertime!!!! School has almost ended for the year. It is time for family time, fun in the sun, and summer time treats. With that in mind, I wanted to remind you how important it is to make sure our children are not filling up on food that can actually be harmful to them. I love ice cream…don’t get me wrong! What I do not care for are the flavors that are infused with color and artificial flavors. The reason I am so careful these days is because I have seen how removing these “additives” has helped my children. They are more focused, less irritable, and not as hyperactive.

Eliminating foods with these additives has played a role in the recovery of my son with autism. We have gone to a greater extent and have removed all casein (found in dairy foods), gluten, and soy from his diet. Watching Charley regain a vocabulary and cease his hour-long tantrums made me realize what we put into our kids’ mouths is vitally important. Not only that, his stemming and autistic behaviors decreased dramatically.

Why did doing this help, you may ask? Well, according to Dr. Jerry Kartinel, one of the top autism doctors in the nation, the goal behind changing diets is to remove chemicals, toxins, and potential neurotransmitters, which are liberated when foods are broken down (in the process of digestion). These substances could be toxic for the brain and cause behavioral trouble in kids who are sensitive to them. Whether kids test as allergic or not, often they are causing a negative effect on the child and they must be removed. Nitrites and nitrates (preservatives found in bacon, hot dogs, and lunch meats), sorbic acid (found in cheese, frosting, and dried fruits), dyes (especially yellow dye #5), MSG (found most commonly in some Chinese restaurant food, chicken broth, and bouillon), and aspartame can exacerbate symptoms for some children with ADHD and autism. A 2007 Lancet study found that artificial colors and preservatives increase hyperactivity in young children. Listen to this…food dyes are derived from petroleum and coal tar. You don’t want that stuff in your child’s body!

Also, try to go organic. Limit a child’s toxic load – which is especially important for kids, such as those ADHD, who have decreased ability to handle toxins-by choosing foods free of pesticides and other chemical residue.

Another example is with my daughter, Georgia. We noticed a rash on my daughter her face along with extreme constipation. We figured she wasn’t getting the fiber intake needed. After some research, we decided we would try taking her off of gluten and casein as well. After about a week of elimating these foods, she began having regular bowel movements. Her face rash began to slowly go away. It flares up if even a trace is ingested.

Some of the best advice I received as a parent with a child on the spectrum. Bowel movements must be daily and complete. Many children need daily help (not just “once in awhile”) Consistency is the name of the game if you’re looking for improvements in language, behavior and ability to connect socially. Trust me~ I could write a whole blog post on our kid’s poop. :)

Here is a great analogy that I read in Jenny McCarthy’s latest book, “If you get behind a car and it is choking out blackish blue, foul-smelling smoke, you do not have to be a mechanic to figure out that there is something wrong with that internal combustion engine. It’s not doing its job properly. The stool is what comes out of the child’s exhaust pipe and can be very revealing!”

I could go on and on…I have learned so much this past year and would love to be able to share what I know with other moms who are going through any of these issues. God uses us in so many ways and I really feel He wants me to reach out to those Moms who feel they are at a standstill with their child suffering from ADHD, autism, language delays, etc. Please feel free to contact me!
Here is a picture of Charley enjoying a yummy homemade chocolate cake that is free of gluten, casein and all additives! AND…it tastes GREAT!