The 4 million dollar sugar industry’s Halloween festival could be just the opportunity you have been waiting for to introduce new foods to your child’s diet. Instead of the normal refined sugar and high-fructose corn syrup candies that give their body a roller coaster ride, try making them a healthy treat that is also fun. We want to protect our children from harm in all aspects of their lives and diet is a crucial way of protecting them.
The Journal of the American Dietetic Association published in 1998 showed that children consumed an average of 29 teaspoons of sugar each day, and it is scary to think how much sugar they can ingest in a single day around Halloween and the holidays. Sugar breaks down the immune system and stresses the body severely, contributing to diabetes, obesity, tooth decay, and a host of other health problems.
Halloween, however, allows a parent the opportunity to use the spooky goblin, monster theme to make new dishes seem fun and exciting. Did you ever think that purple food is the perfect choice for a ghoulish goulash? This anti-oxidant rich soup can help counteract all the sugar dense-foods they may be eating elsewhere.
Children’s organs are forming up into their twenties and the food they eat goes directly into the formation of these organs. Therefore, it is crucial that the foods they eat have a pure, nutrient-dense nature. This makes choosing organic food much more important for children than adults
I highly recommend making this purple soup or even a green smoothie for a fun treat on Halloween. These foods can be incredibly healthy. It may sound spooky to you at first, but give it a try; you may be surprised by the taste. We create and renew taste buds about every two weeks if we are healthy and eating well; which means we are creating new taste buds to adjust to what we are continually eating. So if a healthier change of diet is desired, try eating the new healthful food for at least two weeks. This will give the body a chance to renew itself and add taste buds adjusted to the new healthier diet.
When adjusting a child’s diet to include better quality food, a helpful method of encouragement can be rewarding them for trying (a few bites, at least 10 times or for two weeks) this new food. There is a good chance that when those two weeks are over, they may actually like the new food. Gold stars, a special outing, playing a game with them, or a morning of art can be wonderful rewards for children trying new and interesting dishes.
When your child comes down for breakfast on Halloween week, have a green (smoothie) monster drink or ghoulish goulash (purple potato/asparagus soup) ready in the fun spirit of the holiday, and know that you’re giving them something nutritious.
Ghoulish Goulash
(Purple Potato – Asparagus Soup)
This is one of my absolute favorite soups. A woman from India
shared this recipe with me as we sat and watched our daughters practice
gymnastics. I changed it just a little bit over the years. Everyone who eats
it just loves it. Milk makes the soup richer and creamier. I leave the skins
on the potatoes in this recipe.
Be careful when blending hot ingredients. The steam and heat can
build up, and it can explode though the top of the blender, burning
you and making a terrible mess. I always do it very carefully with small
amounts, and I cover the blender with a large dish towel to help protect
me (and the kitchen) from a mess.
Ingredients:
1 onion, chopped in large pieces
2 T. ghee, butter, or extra-virgin, pure coconut oil
1 bunch asparagus
3 large purple potatoes
6 c. water
1 tsp. sea salt
1 c. milk (any variety)
Directions:
1. Sauté onion in ghee, butter, or oil in a large soup pot, until onion starts to look a little clear.
2. Cut off and discard hard ends of the asparagus (about a half inch).
3. Cut asparagus and potatoes in large chunks.
4. Add asparagus to onion mixture and sauté a moment more.
5. Add water, potatoes, and sea salt, and bring to a boil.
6. Reduce heat and cook over medium heat until potatoes are tender.
7. Remove from heat.
8. When soup is cooler, blend mixture in blender until creamy.
9. Add milk, if using.
Variation:
Use another type of potato. The original recipe called for russet potatoes, but any variety is delicious. Purple potatoes taste great, but sweet potatoes are one of my favorites in this recipe.
For more information go to www.organichealthylifestyle.
