Freeze Your Fruit

Parents,

We are now in the season of harvesting for many of our fruits.  Sales are abundant at local stores and farmer markets.  Buy the fruits in bulk or large quantities, wash, cut them or leave the smaller berries/grapes whole, put them into freezer bags and freeze them. I like to spread them out into a single layer in the bag.  This allows me to take out the portion I need and then re-zip the bag.

Tip for peaches - My son and daughter loves the taste of peaches, but they don't care for the skin.
*Take a large pot and fill half way with water.  Bring pot to a boil.
   Wash fruit and then put them in boiling water for approximately 45 seconds to a minutes. 
    Take them out and submerge in cold water to stop them from cooking :)
    Now take a paring knife and peel the skin off.  It should come off very easily.

I sprinkle the peaches with a bit of cinnamon after I have sliced them up. My kids love cinnamon.  Also try nutmeg or allspice.  Just a sprinkle goes a long way.

You and your children will be able to enjoy the sweetness long after the season is over. Use the frozen fruit in recipes or just eat them plain.  Frozen mango has a creaminess to it that kids often enjoy :)

Team Nutrition

First Lady Obama is leading the way in fighting childhood obesity.  She is actively speaking out on ways to change school lunches, challenging chef's to become more involved with local schools, and there is also a website http://teamnutrition.usda.gov/.  We must have total buy in from the bottom to the top in order to give our children a fighting chance.

Check out the website.  I found some very interesting things on it and will continue to check back on the site to look for updates.

Reusable Lunch Containers

You don't have to go broke beause you are providing your children with cold lunches.  Here are some recommendations for places to get containers.  Also, gladeware and tupperware are very good affordable options.

starting at $21; laptoplunches.com
http://www.reuseit.com/store/lunchskins-sandwich-p-1883.html
http://www.reuseit.com/store/wrapnmat®-regular-p-2.html
http://order.tupperware.com/coe/app/!tw$shop.p_category?pv_ic_code=7000

First Lady fighting against childhood obesity

http://www.ebonymagazine.com/politics/education/index.aspx?id=17448

Sandwich Pinwheels

SANDWICH PINWHEELS


1 or 2 slices of whole wheat bread (remove the crust)

2-4 slices of turkey or your child's favorite deli meat

1 tsp of mayo or mustard (I like to use light mayo)

2 slices of your child's favorite deli cheese



-Flatten the pieces of bread with a rolling pin or use the side of a drinking glass. Then lightly spread on your mayo or condiment, add half of your deli meat, and then add one slice of cheese. Next roll it up tightly and cut into 4 pinwheel slices :) Do not pull them apart, unless you are serving immediately to your child on a plate. Otherwise just slice, wrap in saran wrap or sandwich bag and refrigerate immediately.


Repeat with remaining ingredients.

*This variation makes the equivalent of 1 whole sandwich.



GETTING THE VEGGIES IN

Try adding slices of bell pepper ( red, orange and yellow taste sweeter than green), sweet yellow banana peppers (from jar, like the ones at subway), cucumbers, or tomato slices, or spinach to the pinwheel after adding your cheese. Or sprinkle with a little dried oregano. You may have to use toothpicks to keep the pinwheels together.
 
"Nourishing our children's bodies as well as their minds is just motherly nature"

School lunch leaves families desiring more.

I received my Milwaukee Public Schools - School Nutrition Services Calendar today and I am appalled at the lack of choices.  They have literally come up with an even smaller list of repeating items for their lunch menu.  Pizza, hot dogs, cheese garlic bread, diced chicken, and a handful of other items make up the menu.  I am not happy and it leaves me desiring more for my children. I can't wait for Jaime Oliver to come to Milwaukee and start a Food Revolution. Therefore, I am starting this blog at the request of a friend.

I will post recipes, tips, and ideas for creating healthier lunches for our children.  We can no longer send our children to school and trust that they will receive the nutrition they need to keep their bodies fueled for learning.  Remember parents, Charity starts at home.  Let's show our kids how much we love them.

"Nourishing our children's bodies as well as their minds is just motherly nature"