Check out this AMAZING little foodie, Birke Baehr! Birke is doing his part to make a difference in our food systems, "one kid at a time".
So, next time you see a little foodie on the bus, at your own dinner table, in your classroom or at a family gathering, see them with different eyes and ears. These kids are the future of our food systems and they will be the recipients of the food culture we create in our lifetimes. Plus, they are obviously way smarter than we may think!
Think about Birke Baehr next time you're tempted to pick up the "sparkly cereal" for your little one at home, and challenge your little foodies to try new, healthier options!
Showing posts with label Healthy Food. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Healthy Food. Show all posts
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Saturday, May 29, 2010
follow up...Get Stuffed!
Here are some pics of the children's opera Get Stuffed! (with the good stuff!) that I went to see a couple weekends ago at the Distillery District. We caught the last show of the day and it was very enthusiastic. The performers were so great and the crowd (adults & children alike) seemed to enjoy it. It was educational, colourful and funny - the perfect combo to teach kids about making the right choices when hunger strikes as they reach for their snacks!
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Check Out These Little Foodies in Hawaii!
Allow me to introduce you to the beautiful folks of Akamai Backyard in Kauai, Hawaii! Akamai Backyard is a home schooling project that teaches kids how to grow their own food, appreciate what the land provides, and learn about their community and the world through their natural surroundings.
This is all an exercise in permaculture, which is defined as "A unique approach to the practice of sustainable farming, ranching, gardening and living, by designing constructed ecosystems that serve the needs of human populations without degrading the natural environment. Permaculture sites integrate plants, animals, landscapes, structures, and humans into symbiotic systems while requiring a minimum of materials, energy, and labour to maintain". This definition came from Green Destinations.
In short, permaculture is "an agriculture style that mimics nature". Not only does it cut down on food miles considerably, permaculture also restores the connection to the land that has been lost through modernization, and decreases the reliance on outside sources for food.
In addition to growing food and raising animals, the kids also learn about science, the environment, politics, current events, music, Hawaiian culture, public speaking, mathematics, yoga, cooking and other life skills.
What they are doing is so inspiring! I hope you enjoy learning about it as much as I did.
CLICK HERE to check out their amazing video!
This is all an exercise in permaculture, which is defined as "A unique approach to the practice of sustainable farming, ranching, gardening and living, by designing constructed ecosystems that serve the needs of human populations without degrading the natural environment. Permaculture sites integrate plants, animals, landscapes, structures, and humans into symbiotic systems while requiring a minimum of materials, energy, and labour to maintain". This definition came from Green Destinations.
In short, permaculture is "an agriculture style that mimics nature". Not only does it cut down on food miles considerably, permaculture also restores the connection to the land that has been lost through modernization, and decreases the reliance on outside sources for food.
In addition to growing food and raising animals, the kids also learn about science, the environment, politics, current events, music, Hawaiian culture, public speaking, mathematics, yoga, cooking and other life skills.
What they are doing is so inspiring! I hope you enjoy learning about it as much as I did.
CLICK HERE to check out their amazing video!
Monday, May 3, 2010
Cute Book Alert!
I came across this colourful little book today which I wanted to share with you! Although I am partial to my book, I think this is also a cute kids book about healthy food!
Are you eating something RED? is a colour based produce book teaching kids about different fruits & veggies organized by colour. It is also a good reminder to eat colourfully to ensure that your diet includes a wide variety of fruits & vegetables.
They have also created a co-ordinating colouring book of placemats (great idea!).
Images of both books from Amazon.com
-Wendy
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Tasty Pop Alternatives!
While thinking about some ideas to share with you here on Little Foodies, I got a thirst for one of my favourite beverages: iced tea! I'm not talking about powdered sugar crystals mixed with water or even the bottled stuff. I've found that many different teas served cold can be just as tasty as fruit juice or pop, and are better for you. There are also a few other beverages I drink to satisfy my palate while keeping my teeth "acid erosion free" and my sugar intake low. I thought perhaps you might want to test these ideas out on the little ones in your life, and see if you can eliminate pop (soda) from your home entirely! I don't claim to be a nutrition expert; I am simply sharing my opinions about what I think are healthy drink options. With any of these drinks you can always add a splash of sparkling water to add a bit of fizzy fun!
Iced Tea
Experiment with different green teas and herbal teas. This is very easy to make ahead and chill for the next day. Brew the tea as usual and steep for the appropriate time (this is different for different types of teas). If you can, loose leaf tea is best, but I often do this with bagged tea as well. Allow the tea to cool, then transfer it into a pretty pitcher for the fridge. Sweeten it lightly with either Agave syrup or honey, or just add some mint sprigs or citrus slices. In the morning you'll have a refreshing, tasty beverage that's good for you and the kids too! My favourites so far have been green mint tea and blueberry rooibos. Depending on the age of your kids, I would recommend using herbal teas with the least amount of caffeine.
Almond Milk Shake
Almond milk has a nutty taste which often makes it taste slightly sweet. It comes in chocolate and vanilla, but I recommend simply opting for the original flavour. Combine in a blender: almond milk, a banana, and some berries or other fruit your kids enjoy. Blend it up and serve in a fun glass. I like to grate a tiny bit of dark chocolate (90% cacao) on top just for fun! This drink can be a great stand-in for dessert; you can even freeze some of the milk into ice cube trays to give the feeling of ice cream in the shake. Almond milk is a great choice for a special milkshake because it's lower in fat and has less sugar added than soy milk. Obviously you can use cow's milk if that is what you drink anyway, but almond milk can be a healthier alternative because it has no cholesterol, less fat and more antioxidants. It's a great choice for kids who are lactose-intolerant, but obviously not a great choice for kids with nut allergies. The bottom line is that this milk with the addition of the banana creates a tasty sweetness without the need for adding sugar, syrup or honey to the shake.
Infused Water
This one is so easy! Grab a pitcher of cold water and throw something in to infuse it with flavour! You can do this one of two ways: Throw some cut fruit and/or herbs into the water and let it sit overnight in the fridge; or blend fruit into a puree and mix in with water. So far I've tried: lemon and lime wedges, cucumber slices and mint sprigs, cherry puree and pineapple puree.
Have fun trying these suggestions and let me know how they go over with the little foodies in your house!
Cheers!
Heather
image via Flickr user lila kahn
Iced Tea
Experiment with different green teas and herbal teas. This is very easy to make ahead and chill for the next day. Brew the tea as usual and steep for the appropriate time (this is different for different types of teas). If you can, loose leaf tea is best, but I often do this with bagged tea as well. Allow the tea to cool, then transfer it into a pretty pitcher for the fridge. Sweeten it lightly with either Agave syrup or honey, or just add some mint sprigs or citrus slices. In the morning you'll have a refreshing, tasty beverage that's good for you and the kids too! My favourites so far have been green mint tea and blueberry rooibos. Depending on the age of your kids, I would recommend using herbal teas with the least amount of caffeine.
image via Flickr user floridecires
Almond Milk Shake
Almond milk has a nutty taste which often makes it taste slightly sweet. It comes in chocolate and vanilla, but I recommend simply opting for the original flavour. Combine in a blender: almond milk, a banana, and some berries or other fruit your kids enjoy. Blend it up and serve in a fun glass. I like to grate a tiny bit of dark chocolate (90% cacao) on top just for fun! This drink can be a great stand-in for dessert; you can even freeze some of the milk into ice cube trays to give the feeling of ice cream in the shake. Almond milk is a great choice for a special milkshake because it's lower in fat and has less sugar added than soy milk. Obviously you can use cow's milk if that is what you drink anyway, but almond milk can be a healthier alternative because it has no cholesterol, less fat and more antioxidants. It's a great choice for kids who are lactose-intolerant, but obviously not a great choice for kids with nut allergies. The bottom line is that this milk with the addition of the banana creates a tasty sweetness without the need for adding sugar, syrup or honey to the shake.
image via Flickr user mygeneralmailbox
Infused Water
This one is so easy! Grab a pitcher of cold water and throw something in to infuse it with flavour! You can do this one of two ways: Throw some cut fruit and/or herbs into the water and let it sit overnight in the fridge; or blend fruit into a puree and mix in with water. So far I've tried: lemon and lime wedges, cucumber slices and mint sprigs, cherry puree and pineapple puree.
Have fun trying these suggestions and let me know how they go over with the little foodies in your house!
Cheers!
Heather
Monday, April 26, 2010
simple tips + grocery lists
Last November, I had the opportunity to hear Jamie Oliver speak at Roy Thompson Hall (Toronto) in promotion of his new cookbook & tv show Food Revolution. (Which has now ended - did everyone enjoy? are you inspired?)
The talk was very enjoyable and touched on many topics concerning healthy food, education and the new show Food Revolution. It was a packed house that afternoon and the format was loose, basically Jamie chatting with some q&a at the end. He was an honest and entertaining speaker with lots of laughs.
The talk was very enjoyable and touched on many topics concerning healthy food, education and the new show Food Revolution. It was a packed house that afternoon and the format was loose, basically Jamie chatting with some q&a at the end. He was an honest and entertaining speaker with lots of laughs.
I took away a couple things that day, including a small list of tips for how to eat healthy for kids. Paraphrased below is the list which he shared with us, which I think can be helpful to parents/caregivers/adults alike:
1) Don’t call it healthy food! It's so simple, but so true. If food is presented simply as 'this is what we're eating', then there is no pretense or build up to it. Also, call it proper or real food - to distinguish it from junk food.
2) Don't put kids on diets.
3) Don’t go by a rule book, kids tastes and habits change, what will work for 1 child may not work for another. They may try a food and hate it and then a month later try it and like it.
4) With food - have fun & get messy! Include kids in decisions about food, get them involved in groceries, meal planning, meal making etc.
5) Focus on what they do like and add in extra veg here and there where you can. For this he gave the example of a tomato sauce which can be full of extra veggies.
One of my favourite tips is #4, to have fun with food, experiment, and involving kids in daily food activites, such as grocery shopping.
With that in mind, I thought it would be a great idea to put together a little kid-friendly produce based grocery list where kids can colour in the fruits & veggies that are on your list and participate in the grocery store outing by finding the foods on their list.
I would like to create this produce based colouring page grocery list - yet there are so many fruits & veggies to include! If anyone is interested, I can draw up a little list of some common fruits & veggies for you to print out and try with your kids. Post a comment on this post & I'll get out the markers!
For the adults out there, I came across this grocery lists site. It is the world's largest online collection of found grocery lists. Quite an interesting concept that has made itself into a book!
They also have a free pdf download for your grocery lists - looks like a good one. Have fun on your next trip to the grocery store!
- Wendy
With that in mind, I thought it would be a great idea to put together a little kid-friendly produce based grocery list where kids can colour in the fruits & veggies that are on your list and participate in the grocery store outing by finding the foods on their list.
I would like to create this produce based colouring page grocery list - yet there are so many fruits & veggies to include! If anyone is interested, I can draw up a little list of some common fruits & veggies for you to print out and try with your kids. Post a comment on this post & I'll get out the markers!
For the adults out there, I came across this grocery lists site. It is the world's largest online collection of found grocery lists. Quite an interesting concept that has made itself into a book!
They also have a free pdf download for your grocery lists - looks like a good one. Have fun on your next trip to the grocery store!
- Wendy
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Rising to the Real Food Challenge
I tried a new recipe tonight for the real food challenge and of course it was from Jamie's Food Revolution cook book! I wanted to try out a simple, quick one to add to our 'just got home from work & need dinner now!' list of quick meals. I chose the Salmon Fish Cakes, a basic recipe.
Ingredient list:
salmon
potatoes
italian parsley
egg
flour
lemon
salt & pepper
olive oil
I followed his recipe for the most part, but made it for 2 servings instead (4 salmon cakes) and kept the skin on my potatoes. Overall, they were so quick and easy to make, tasted yum (especially with the lemon squeezed on top) and got 2 thumbs up!
In the book he recommends to try it with a tomato, olive, basil and chile sauce (recipe in book) which I may do next time. I just served it with broccoli as we were wanting a light meal. But any other green side would be nice, especially a salad.
A fun idea to make these salmon cakes more kid-friendly: prior to cooking, shape the salmon mixture using cookie cutters, such as a fish cookie cutter and add a pea for the eye! Or present your salmon fish on a sea of peas!
- Wendy
(image courtesy of The Cookie Cutter Shop)
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Rising to the Real Food Challenge: Marie-Eve and Claude-Emilie!
Well, I threw down the gauntlet as they say, and two passionate friends from Quebec picked it up! Marie-Eve and Claude-Emilie prepared a lovely vegetarian meal using only "real food" and nothing processed! Their meal consisted of a lovely fresh salad and a large cold roll, served with homemade green tea with ginger and honey! Tasty and healthy!
Salad:
lettuce
carrots
beets
zucchini
tomatoes
3 kinds of sprouts
Cold Roll:
rice paper
rice noodles
peanut butter/honey/gomasio sauce
(gomasio is a combination of toasted sesame seeds and sea salt)
grated carrots and beets
sliced zucchini and mango
lentil sprouts
shallots
mint
coriander
Thank you Marie-Eve and Claude-Emilie! This looks like a delicious, light meal to enjoy and Little Foodies thanks you for sharing! You can read Marie-Eve's inspiring thoughts on her blog, A Commitment to Shine.
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