Food Mistakes In The News

I just finished reading an on-line version of the article, 6 Food Mistakes Parents Make, published in Sunday's New York Times. My friend Lori sent it yesterday but I only got around to reading it this evening. In short, the 6 food mistakes are (1) sending children out of the kitchen, (2) pressuring them to take a bite, (3) keeping 'good stuff' out of reach, (4) dieting in front of your children, (5) serving boring vegetables, (6) giving up too soon. One line in particular caught my eye. "Although obesity dominates the national discussion on childhood health, many parents are also worried that their child’s preferred diet of nuggets and noodles could lead to a nutritional deficit." This is a good article but it made no mention of the role of childcare centers in reinforcing the nugget and noodle diet. I realize that the article is focused on the mistakes that parents make. But when your child eats at a childcare center three times a day, five days a week, their role in cultivating children's dietary habits can't be ignored. Chicken nuggets, fish sticks, Ritz "cheese" crackers, cookies, brownies, pie, cake...these are all things that are regularly served at the childcare center. When children are eating these foods, it means that they are missing opportunities to improve their diets by eating one of their favorite healthful snacks or to maybe trying a new fruit or vegetable. For about a month or so early in the spring, the cook was menuing more fruits and vegetables and fewer processed and sweet foods. But when there is no oversight of the food program - the food and nutrition committee no longer exists - its easy go back to the same old, same old.

Caroline's Lunchbox Menu, September 17: Breakfast - ten grain hot cereal, currants, banana; Lunch - cheese and zucchini (Owosso Organics) quesadilla, carrots, cantaloupe (Greenman Produce); Snacks - Flaming Fury peach muffin (Clearview Orchards peach), cucumber (Owosso Organics)

Childcare Center Menu, September 17: Breakfast - cream of what, bananas, raisins; Lunch - veggie tacos, grapes; Snacks - pumpkin pie, cucumbers

Feeling Overwhelmed

I am officially feeling overwhelmed by food. It is canning season and it seems like our boiling water canner has been on non-stop since last weekend. We've canned peaches, pears, and corn in the last couple of weeks and now we're canning tomatoes. I am grumpy tonight because Geoff and I have been canning tomatoes since last night and almost half of every batch (about 3 quarts) isn't sealing. Every batch needs to be processed for 85 minutes so it is maddening when I pull out a batch and 3 quarts have tomato juice spewing out of them. The quarts that don't seal have to be eaten, frozen, or reprocessed (for another 85 minutes). We bought the tomatoes - two bushels - on Saturday from Titus Farm for $15 per half bushel, or $30 per bushel. We have half a bushel left to process. Even though I am stewing now, I know that in the middle of winter, I will be glad that we went through the trouble to can our own tomatoes. Store-bought canned tomatoes tend to have added ingredients like salt, sugar, etc. and some of them leave a metallic after taste in my mouth. Each quart of our home-canned tomatoes have a couple of tablespoons of lemon juice (an extra measure to prevent them from spoiling) and nothing else. And they taste like tomatoes.

Caroline's Lunchbox Menu, September 15: Breakfast - peach (Clearview Orchards), O's; Lunch - mac n' cheese with chard and cabbage, broccoli (Cinzori Farms), banana; Snacks - plain yogurt, watermelon, corn bread (Titus Farm corn)

Childcare Center Menu, September 15: Breakfast - Orange juice, Cheerios, Rice Krispies, Golden Grahams; Lunch - macaroni and cheese, broccoli, banana; Snacks - pudding, crackers

Chocolate Chip Cookies and Celery?

Caroline loves cookies. We went to my friend Mary's house for tea this afternoon and the first, second, and third things that Caroline wanted to eat were the cookies. She had one cookie but after that, I felt like that was enough. After whining for more cookies for a few minutes and realizing that I was not going to give in, she moved on to the rice crackers and cantaloupe. Chocolate chip cookies and celery are on the menu tomorrow for afternoon snack. I don't know very many two-year-old children who would choose celery over a chocolate chip cookie. In fact, I don't know very many children - or adults for that matter (including me) - who even like celery unless it is served with ranch dressing or used to add crunch to a salmon, egg, or tuna salad sandwich. But I digress. I am sure that Caroline will want one of those chocolate chip cookies tomorrow. And my guess is that if I observed her through the one-way mirror tomorrow during lunch, I would see Caroline munching on one. It's not that I don't think children should eat cookies. I just don't think cookies are appropriate snacks to serve at a childcare center. Children get plenty of opportunities to eat cookies outside of school. What their small bodies need are nutritious foods that are packed with vitamins and minerals. I'll pack a pumpkin carrot muffin in Caroline's lunch tomorrow. I hope she eats it but I won't be surprised if it makes its way back home in her lunchbox untouched.

Caroline's Lunchbox Menu, September 12: Breakfast - peach (Clearview Orchards), French toast sticks (Zingerman's bread and Flying Goat Farm eggs); Lunch - salmon salad, 100% whole grain bread, cucumbers (home garden), watermelon (Greenman Produce); Snacks - pumpkin carrot muffin, pear (Kismet Farm)

Childcare Center Menu, September 12: Breakfast - applesauce, French toast sticks; Lunch - tuna fish pitas, cucumbers, watermelon; Snacks - chocolate chip cookies, celery

Homemade Pizza Dough or English Muffins?

Last night, Caroline and I made pizza for dinner. We made a whole wheat crust using my standby pizza dough recipe (makes two pizza crusts) and topped it with mozzarella cheese, a huge heirloom tomato we bought from Rebecca Titus last Saturday and chopped basil from our garden. On one half of the pizza - the half that Geoff and I ate - we also added minced garlic and freshly ground black pepper. The tomato was so sweet! Caroline surprised me when she said (or mimicked), "Oh my gosh, this tomato is soooo sweet." Instead of using all of dough for dinner last night, I used half. After kneading the dough (and before letting it rise), I divided the other half into four balls. I placed them on a cutting board and put the entire board in our deep freezer. When they were firm, I put them into a Ziplock bag and back into the freezer. Pizza is on the menu tomorrow. In the past, I've always used whole wheat English muffins as my pizza crust...but they don't even come close to tasting like a pizza. So tonight, I pulled out one of the frozen pizza crusts and put it into the refrigerator to thaw. Tomorrow morning, I will put it in a warm place (like my oven, turned off) to rise until it doubles in size. It will probably take about an hour and a half to double in size. And once it does, I will make a couple of mini pizzas for Caroline's lunch. Altogether it should take...two hours. What??! That means that I have to wake up at some crazy hour just to make @$#@%!$ homemade pizza for Caroline's lunch. Maybe I should have stuck with the English muffins.

Caroline's Lunchbox Menu, September 11: Breakfast - cantaloupe (farmer), 100% whole grain toast, sunflower butter; Lunch - pizza with heirloom tomatoes (Owosso Organics), zucchini (Owosso Organics), apple (Clearview Orchards); Snacks - hummus, whole grain crackers

Childcare Center Menu, September 11: Breakfast - cantaloupe, French bread, strawberry jam; Lunch - cheese pizza, carrots, apples, Snacks - hummus, pita bread

Who's That Farmer?

I don't know his name but at the Saturday Meridian Township Farmers' Market, there is a farmer from Mason (I think) who sells a variety of fruits and vegetables at a stand just outside of the east entrance. His products aren't certified organic but he does not use sprays. Until last Saturday, I had never purchased anything from him. But last weekend, I bought a cantaloupe from him. Cantaloupe is on the menu later this week but the aroma was so lovely that I cut it open this morning. It was beautiful inside - firm, cantaloupe-colored flesh. And it tasted great too. I don't know why I've never patronized this farmer before. Well, it's probably because he's stuck in the corner and is easy to miss. Next week, I'll try to buy something else from him. And I'll find out his name.

Caroline's Lunchbox Menu, September 9: Breakfast - cantaloupe, French toast sticks (Zingerman's sandwich bread and Flying Goat Farm eggs); Lunch - cheese and zucchini (Owosso organics) quesadilla, corn-on-the-cob (Titus Farm), apple (Clearview Orchards); Snacks - tomatoes (home garden), fresh mozzarella cheese

Childcare Center Menu, September 9: Breakfast - pears, French toast sticks; Lunch - flour tortillas, cheese, corn, beans, apples; Snacks - sweet potatoes, grapes

Fruit in Season!

There are so many lovely fruits in season right now - peaches, watermelon, cantaloupe, raspberries, apples, and pears. We bought some of each this weekend so we will be munching (or gorging) on fruit all week! Unfortunately though, I'll be throwing a banana into the mix tomorrow. Caroline's new teacher, Angie, told us last week that Caroline was asking for a banana after seeing the other kids eating one. I felt badly about her feeling left out so bought a couple of bananas at the co-op on Saturday. It's a shame that the childcare center serves bananas flown in from who-knows-where when we have so many different types of delicious fruits available to us right here in the Lansing area.

Caroline's Lunchbox Menu, September 8: Breakfast - Flaming Fury peach (Clearview Orchards), O's; Lunch - zucchini lasagna (Owosso Organics zucchini), banana, raspberries (Swallowtail Farm), Sun Gold and Yellow Pear cherry tomatoes (home garden); Snacks - whole grain crackers, watermelon (Titus Farm)

Childcare Center Menu, September 8: Breakfast - Orange juice, Cheerios, Golden Grahams, Rice Krispies; Lunch - turkey lasagna, mixed vegetables, banana; Snacks - pretzels, watermelon

Swallowtail Farm U-Pick Raspberries Now Open!

This morning we headed to Swallowtail Farm in Mason to pick raspberries. My friends Anne and David (and their son Quinn) own and operate this small farm. It was lightly raining when we arrived at 10:00 am but we were able to pick several pints. The raspberries are $2.50 a pint. We took two pints home but paid for four since Caroline ate about two pints while we picked the berries! The farm is not certified organic the berries are not sprayed with any harmful chemicals. To learn more about the farm, visit the Swallowtail Farm website.

Clearview Orchards Peaches!

Last year, I bought beautiful organically grown Queen's Lace peaches from Jane Bush at Appleshram Organic Orchards. But this year, her peaches got frosted out. I thought I wouldn't have any peaches to eat or can this year but found Flaming Fury peaches from Clearview Orchards at yesterday's farmers' market. Clearview Orchards is a family-owned and operated farm in Haslett, Michigan that grows peaches, apples squash, and asparagus. The apples and pumpkins are pre- or U-pick. They also have hay rides during the fall. The peaches aren't certified organic, but they are grown using IPM (integrated pest management), the next best thing. The peaches were last sprayed (very lightly) early in the summer and haven't been sprayed or treated with anything (biological or chemical) since. I bought peaches and apples from Clearview Orchards a couple of years ago and they were delicious. I ended up buying 3 baskets of peaches ($7 per basket) and a basket of apples on Saturday. Tonight, I'll can most of the peaches and eat the rest fresh. Yesterday may have been the last farmers' market day for peaches from Clearview Orchards but they will be available at the farm throughout the week and if we are very, very lucky, there may be a few leftovers next Saturday. To find out for sure, call the farm at (517) 655-1454.

Meridian Township Farmers' Market Picks: broccoli, Cheddar cauliflower (Cinzori Family Farms); corn, a huge heirloom tomato (Titus Farm); pac choi, Harukai turnips (Green Eagle Farm); mixed heirloom tomatoes, baby eggplant, flowers, zucchini, sweet red bell pepper (Owosso Organics); watermelon (Greenman Produce); Flaming Fury peaches, apples (Clearview Orchards, salad greens (Stone Cloud Gardens), cantaloupe (the nice farmer from Mason)

Back to School Supplies

For weeks now, I have been ordering and receiving back to school supplies for Caroline: name labels, insulated lunch bag, SIGG water bottle and thermos food jar. They have been trickling in slowly. The insulated lunch bag (pictured here) just arrived in the mail. I bought it on one of my favorite websites Reusable Bags. These bags made using recycled juice boxes, are 100% lead-free and come in three different sizes - the medium ($19) is the perfect size for lunch. They are made by a women's co-op in the Philippines. The Phillipines is far away from Michigan but I loved the ideas of supporting a women's co-op and recycling old juice boxes. Plus, I love the surprise factor: each bag is unique and you don't know which one you're going to get until it makes its way to your doorstep. I had to laugh at the irony of a dietitian's daughter carrying around a lunch bag made using recycled chocolate milk boxes!

Caroline's Lunchbox Menu, September 5: Breakfast - pearsauce, 100% whole grain toast, sunflower butter; Lunch - whole wheat pasta, fresh mozzarella, Sun Gold cherry tomatoes (home garden), watermelon; Snacks - pumpkin carrot muffin, cucumber (home garden)

Childcare Center Menu, September 5: Breakfast - applesauce, wheat bagels, strawberry jam; Lunch - chicken lo mein, watermelon; Snacks - banana bread, cucumbers

Ope's Veggie Burgers

I found Ope's Veggie Burger Patties in the freezer section at the co-op on Monday. I was so excited to find these patties because I love burgers and because they are made in Kalamazoo, Michigan. I must admit though that I was a bit skeptical because most veggie burger patties that I've tasted are dry and bland. But we ate these for dinner tonight and they were very good - moist and tasted great. The ingredient list is relatively short - organic non GMO soy textured protein, organic grains (brown rice, oats), organic shredded vegetables (carrots, kidney beans, dried diced onions), organic vegetable gum. I served the patties with Zingerman's hamburger buns (also from the co-op), condiments (mayo and ketchup), sliced tomatoes (Titus Farms), and roasted potatoes. Caroline loved the burgers!

Caroline's Lunchbox Menu, September 4: Breakfast - ten grain hot cereal, currants, peach (Heritage Acres Farms); Lunch - tomato soup (Titus Farms tomatoes), grilled cheese sandwich, carrots (Crane Centennial Farm); Snacks - egg (Flying Goat Farm), whole wheat crackers

Childcare Center Menu, September 4: Breakfast - cream of wheat, bananas, raisins; Lunch - tomato soup, grilled cheese, mango, carrots; Snacks - egg, saltines