Bananas are high in vitamin B6, which helps synthesize feel-good neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin, which can lift your mood.

Cacao is a good source of magnesium, which reduces anxiety
and boosts the mood, as well as helps the function of over
300 enzymes in the body. Magnesium is also essential for bone and teeth structure.

You will need to start this recipe the day before or a few hours before you wish to serve them.

You will need some parchment or wax paper to allow them to dry after they are dipped into the mixture. Another option is to coat the bottom of a dish with healthy coconut oil so they hopefully won’t stick to the dish as they dry.

Recipe For Chocolate-Covered Bananas On A Stick

Ingredients

Ripe bananas (the number depends on how many you wish to make.)

Raw cacao nibs or dark chocolate chips (about 1/4 cup for each banana)

Raw, organic coconut oil or avocado oil (Adjust the oil for the amount of chocolate you are melting. I use about ¼ cup of oil to each ½ cup of chocolate.)

Optional: Ground-up Sprouted Nuts, sprouted seeds, or coconut flakes for coating the chocolate bananas (choose what you enjoy with chocolate and bananas.)

Directions

1. Cut ripe bananas in half. Then place a popsicle stick in the flat end of the banana, where it is cut, and slide it halfway up the banana.

2. Wrap the bananas in parchment paper, then wrap them in foil and freeze them.

2. If using a ground-up mixture to coat the chocolate-dipped bananas in, place them in separate shallow glass dishes and set aside.
3. Take some organic coconut oil and start to melt it in the top of a double boiler.

5. Put the coconut oil and cacao nibs or dark chocolate chips in a double boiler and stir them, and melt the mixture until it’s creamy.

The post Chocolate Covered Bananas On A Stick – Gluten-free & Vegan appeared first on Organic Healthy Life - Nancy Addison - Nutrition.

Sugar is usually the main ingredient in the treat of choice, but too much sugar (or the type of sugar) can be harmful to our health. I would like to share some wonderful alternatives to sugar with you that are not only healthy, but also enjoyable.

While children may not always appear to be listening, they are always watching, so send a consistent message that healthy eating is important—even on holidays.

This can be challenging when the rest of the country is trying to eat as many pieces of candy and sugary desserts as possible.

According to research, one teaspoon of sugar can shut down a person’s immune system for up to 5 hours. Yale University says that children should get only 3 to 4 teaspoons of sugar per day, and that an adult should limit their intake to 5 teaspoons.

This is possible, even on Halloween. We all benefit when we avoid going overboard on holiday occasions.

Try to find a healthy balance for your children’s food intake, and create an atmosphere of wise choices.

First, before going trick-or-treating with your children or sending them to a Halloween party, serve a filling and healthy meal so that tempting sugary desserts and candy aren’t eaten simply because of hunger.

You can also pass out non-edible treats as substitutes for candy. Try things like stickers, crayons, bubbles, kaleidoscopes, slinkies, yoyos, sidewalk chalk, small flashlights, glow sticks, hacky sacks, funny glasses, or other fun gifts.

You can find packs of these online or at the local party or craft stores. Make sure you pick age-appropriate treats for children, and especially make sure that the gifts do not include small parts that a child could choke on. Some gifts may be better for smaller children, while others may be more fun or safer for older children.

If you would prefer to hand out edible treats, try some commercially-packaged alternatives to candy like trail mixes, raisins, popcorn packets, or nut butter crackers. People will trust packages from the grocery store more than homemade items, as they are sealed.

For a home party, you can make healthy pumpkin muffins or popcorn with nuts and raisins. It is the perfect time to serve a green smoothie, which you can call the Magic Martian Mixture! Guests will think they are having a special Halloween drink, when in reality you are introducing a healthy green drink.

With childhood obesity on the rise at an alarming rate, and literally doubling over the last 30 years, it is good to be someone who isn’t contributing to the sugar disease epidemic. You’d be surprised how many people enjoy an alternative to the sugar-laden candy that is so common.

If your child goes trick-or-treating, instruct your child to wait and allow you to inspect the food they collect before they eat it. Tell them that if any candy or food they received isn’t wrapped professionally (commercially), they should throw it away, especially if it looks like there is any kind of tampering (tears, holes, discoloration, etc.) with the package.

I always threw out any kind of candy or treat that my children were given that looked suspicious in any way. Don’t take a chance. Just throw it out if there is doubt.

If you allow your children to eat candy or treats, be aware that some have a shelf life. If you are allowing your child to have one or two pieces per day, check the candy for freshness or an expiration date before he or she can have it.

Teach your children to do this as well. Children can be very responsible when given the chance.

Children’s teeth and gums are damaged by excess sugar. Dental decay can be painful and harmful to a child’s health. Conditions like this can challenge a person for their entire life. I recommend the non-toxic tooth powders, dental kits by Dirty Mouth. I think they ware extremely effective.

Help your children make the best decisions for their health now. Make certain they brush and floss after consuming sweets. Your children will always be grateful for the love you show them. They may not show it today, but they will recognize and appreciate it more as they grow older.

For Halloween, spend time together, play fun music, bob for apples, make jack-o-lanterns, and bake pumpkin bread or other items that benefit your family’s health.This shows your family how much you really care about them.

May you have a fun, safe Halloween holiday.

copyright@nancyaddison2014

If you like this article, you may link Nancy’s award-winning book,  “Raising Healthy Children,” Double Winner in the International Book Awards, 2017, For “Best Parenting Book Of The Year,” and For Best Family Book Of The Year!  Nancy’s books on Amazon worldwide: Click here for the universal link for her author page.

Sources: 1. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, “Albert”Sanchez,”J.”L.”Reeser,”H.”S.”Lau,”P.”Y.”Yahiku, “R.”E.”Willard,”P.”J.”McMillan,”S.”Y.”Cho,”A.”R.”Magie,” and””U.”D.”Register.”-“Role of sugars in human neutrophilic phagocytosis.” – “The”American”Society”for”Clinical” Nutrition,”Inc.”1973.”, Copyright © 1973 by The American Society for Clinical Nutrition, Inc, http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/26/11/1180.abstract 2,”Yale+Health+Newsletter.”“Be”a”Sugar”Detective.”http://yalehealth.yale.edu/sugardetective

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Ideas For Easy, Healthy Kids Snacks

Some of the best healthy kid snacks you can eat are simply organic fresh fruits or vegetables. Wash them carefully and cut them up into bite-sized pieces.  One idea you can prepare ahead of time is to place about half a cup of orange slices, grapes, raisins, pitted dates, celery sticks, or carrot sticks, etc. into small snack containers or ziplock baggies.  You can snack on them at home, or grab them quickly on your way out the door for healthy snacks throughout the week.  It is so much easier when they are ready to go!

Raisins and pitted dates are both good sources of carbohydrates for energy.  Dates are an excellent source of potassium, sulphur, iron, and magnesium.  Raisins are also rich in B vitamins, iron, and potassium. This might seem surprising, but compounds found in raisins fight bacteria in the mouth that cause cavities and gum disease.

Smoothies are another easy, delicious way to get intense nutrition.
Preparing them with the proper amount of healthy fats, super foods,
and protein will make them nutrient-dense and full of vitamins and minerals.

Hummus is a high-fiber, protein-rich food that is easy and inexpensive to make or buy.  I make mine with a variety of beans.  Hummus goes well with whole-grain, gluten-free crackers, chips, cut-up vegetables, (such as red bell peppers or sliced cucumbers), pita chips, etc.  I also use hummus as a sandwich spread.  It is a delicious, high-protein staple to keep around for emergency snacks or meals.

Avocado or guacamole is another nutrient-dense, healthy dip or sandwich spread you can serve with cut-up veggies, crackers, or chips. My grandson has mashed up avocado as baby food, for a whole meal and loves it.  An avocado is a kind of perfect food.  The avocado is a great source of potassium, Vitamin K, B, C, and E.  One avocado has around 4 grams of protein.  The avocado is also a great source of mono-unsaturated fat, which is considered a good fat.  Healthy fats provide the body with energy, and support brain function.

I frequently take raw, freshly-washed green beans or raw okra, and rub
or sprinkle unrefined sea salt on them to make a great snack!  Green beans have an insulin-type effect on the body, so they make particularly good snacks for anyone who has to be concerned with regulating their blood sugar.  Raw okra is really delicious eaten raw.

Be sure to wait until right before you eat them to put the salt on them, as the salt will make the foods soggy if put on too early, or stored too long.  I also keep a tiny bag or container of mineral-rich, unrefined sea salt in my purse to use when dining out.  Fruits and vegetables can taste more delicious, and the body will actually absorb more nutrients (like potassium) from the food when mineral-rich salt is added.  Always AVOID the white, refined salt.

Some children really crave crackers or chips. I have found some new chips and crackers that are made with sprouted, organic seeds, nuts, grains, etc. without canola oil or vegetable oil.

I do not buy or recommend foods made with canola oil (a GMO product), or vegetable oil.  Most vegetable oils, the ones that don’t list the ingredients, will contain cottonseed oil, which is not a food (and in my opinion, should not be allowed in food products), and can be toxic from the high levels of glyphosate sprayed on the crops.  Most cottonseed is not organically grown either.  So, I recommend taking your reading glasses and checking the ingredients label on the back of the package, to make sure to avoid these ingredients.

Also, they have recently come out with some new, delicious, healthier types of chips that are made with sprouted seeds, vegetables, potatoes, grains, and nuts.  One of my favorite brands of chips is called Late July.  Just be sure to look for organic, non-GMO, sprouted, multi-grain chips.

Now, if you are buying gluten-free chips, make sure there isn’t a huge amount of sugar in them.  One teaspoon of sugar can shut down yours and your child’s immune system for 5 hours.  It is so important to always check the sugar content in your foods.  Also, the type of sugar is important.  Sucrose and fructose, as an added sugar (not in a fruit naturally), can affect your health in dramatic ways.  Fructose, for instance, affects the way your body makes insulin, which can contribute to diabetes.

In addition, high levels of fructose added to products can actually make the “insulin” hormone tell cancer cells to use it as food.  This will make the cancer tumors accelerate their growth.  A fructose like high fructose corn syrup or agave, (which has higher fructose than high fructose corn syrup), is too high a sugar for our body to handle in a healthy way.

Fructose that is added to foods can also make the body create plaque in the arteries, causing heart disease problems. Having natural fructose in fruit is healthy, but added sugar can cause all kinds of health-related problems. Always be on the lookout for sugar in processed foods and try to avoid them.

Always be careful to avoid artificial ingredients and additives like dyes, flavorings, growth hormones and antibiotics (given to animals), and toxins from the ocean or environment (as in fish). They can be toxic to you and your child.

In 1994, researchers found that 73 percent of children with ADHD responded favorably to an elimination diet that included removing artificial colors. 

Increasingly since the 1960s, more people have come to depend on processed foods that contain colored dyes.

Many foods such as juices, soft drinks, candy, gelatins, breakfast cereals, baked and snack foods, salad dressings, frozen desserts, and even food you wouldn’t normally suspect, such as pickles or fresh produce, are coated in dye to make them look more pleasing.

Recently, a study by Purdue University showed some alarming things. “Until now, the amount of neurotoxic chemicals used in specific foods was a well-kept secret,” said CSPI executive director Michael F. Jacobson. “I suspect that food manufacturers themselves don’t even know. But now it is clear that many children are consuming far more dyes than the amounts shown to ’cause behavioral problems in some children.’ The cumulative impact of so much dyed foods in children’s diets, from breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks, is a partial reason why behavioral problems have become more common.”

“In 2011, the FDA acknowledged that food dyes (and other ingredients) cause behavioral problems in some children, but it has done nothing to protect children. Still, mounting public concerns about dyes has spurred several major companies to remove dyes in some of their foods. Kraft has removed food dyes from some child-oriented varieties of its Macaroni & Cheese, but not the most popular one. General Mills has removed dyes from Trix and Yoplait Go-Gurt yogurts. Chick-fil-A removed Yellow 5 from its chicken soup. Frito-Lay has removed dyes from Lay’s seasoned and kettle-cooked chips, Sun Chips, and Tostitos. Pepperidge Farm has removed dyes from its Goldfish Colors crackers.”

That doesn’t mean they have removed the dyes from other products, or that they have removed all the other harmful ingredients that may be in them, so please be aware of this.  (I expand on this, and how it can affect your child’s brain health, as well as their behavior and physical growth in my award-winning, #1 best-selling book/ cookbook, “Raising Healthy Children.”)

If you are concerned about pesticides or the high cost of organically grown food, you can check out the list created by the Environmental Working Group, and their list of the worst foods that tested highest for pesticides.  They call them the Dirty Dozen.  They list them from worst to least. Some of the most toxic are: strawberries apples, celery, peaches, spinach, imported nectarines and grapes, sweet bell peppers, potatoes, blueberries, lettuce, kale and collard greens.

The clean fifteen list of fruits and vegetables that had the lowest amount of pesticide residue were onions, sweet corn, pineapples, avocados, asparagus, sweet peas, mangoes, eggplant, cantaloupe, kiwi, cabbage, watermelon, sweet potatoes, grapefruit, and mushrooms.

Also, what we give our children as comforting food, when they are sick or hurt, will be their “comfort food” in the future.  They will crave those foods if they are having a tough or emotionally challenging time. It will remind them of the love they felt when you were giving it to them. So, if you want your child reaching for ice cream or high sugar cookies when they are older and having an emotionally challenging day, or if they are trying to avoid obesity, diabetes or cancer, be careful to choose healthy foods for them at all times. They will be grateful to you later in life.

I would give my children things like vegetable soup or healthy smoothies at those times. Thankfully, those are their comfort foods today, and they don’t have any weight or health problems.

In conclusion, fresh, organic whole food is best for a healthy kid snack, and if that is what they are eating, then that is what their tastes buds will adapt to love. Also, they watch what we do and eat. They may not always listen to us, but they will copy what we do. So, setting the example is of the utmost importance.

If you like this information, you may be interested in my award-winning book: Raising Healthy Children, It is a cookbook and a health book. It was a double winner this year. It won Best Parenting Book of the Year and Best Family Book of the Year, 2017 in the International Book Awards.

Here is one of my favorite recipes for you.

Recipe for a healthy kids snack

Guacamole 

Vegan/vegetarian/raw/gluten-free

Serves four.

I’m from Texas, and I love to eat guacamole. I use it as a dip or sandwich spread for meals, a healthy snack or appetizer. I always make it fresh and use it immediately.

I estimate 1 an avocado per person.

Ingredients: 

3-4 avocados, peeled, pitted and mashed.

1 small tomato chopped

1 tsp. sweet red onion, finely grated

1⁄4 cup chopped cilantro

1 T. fresh lemon juice

1⁄2 tsp. unrefined sea salt

Directions: 

1. Mix all ingredients together well.
2. Serve with healthy, organic cut up veggies (like sliced 
cucumber or red bell pepper) as the dipping chips, or multi grain, organic gluten-free tortilla chips.

Note: If you are not using immediately, place in container and put a piece of wax paper over the top.  Seal it in a way that will not allow air to touch the surface. Store in refrigerator in an airtight container. Will keep about 1 day.

copyright@nancyaddison2017

Leave a comment and join the conversation about healthy kid snacks!

If you like this information, you may be interested in my award-winning books:
1. Diabetes And Your Diet (Winner, “Best Health Book of the Year, 2017” of the International Book Awards.

2.  How To Be A Healthy Vegetarian (second edition, Winner for “Best Specialty Cookbook of the Year,” 2017, Book Excellence Awards and Winner for Best Diet and Nutrition Book of the Year, 2017, by the Beverly Hills Book Awards!)
3. Raising Healthy Children, It is a cookbook and a health book. It was a double winner this year. It won Best Parenting Book of the Year and Best Family Book of the Year, 2017 in the International Book Awards.
4. Lose Weight, Get Healthy & Never Be On A Diet Again! (Finalist in the International Book Awards)
5. Feeding Tube Recipe For Optimum Health
6. Co-Author of Alive & Cooking; An Easy Guide To Health For You And Your Parents

copyright@nancyaddison2017

Leave a comment and join the conversation!

The information from Nancy Addison and Organic Healthy Lifestyle LLC is not offered for the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of any disease or disorder nor have any statements herein been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). We strongly encourage you to discuss topics of concern with your health care provider.

Medical Disclaimer: Information provided in this article, book, podcast, website, email, etc. is for informational purposes only. The information is a result of years of practice and experience by Nancy Addison CHC, AADP. However, this information is NOT intended as a substitute for the advice provided by your physician or other healthcare professional, or any information contained on or in any product label or packaging.

The post Ideas For Healthy Kids Snacks That Your Kids Will LOVE! appeared first on Organic Healthy Life - Nancy Addison - Nutrition.

You want to be aware that your body also draws on its reserves, when you don’t get the nutrients you need from your diet and that can eventually make you become depleted. That is not good, because you need strength and stamina to handle the physical demands of caring for your new baby. So a high nutrient rich diet is recommended.

Some of the best snacks are simply fresh fruits and vegetables cut up into bite sized pieces. I frequently take raw, freshly washed green beans or raw okra and rub or sprinkle unrefined sea salt on them. They make a great snack! Green beans have an insulin-type of effect on the body, so they make particularly good snacks for anyone who has to regulate their blood sugar.

Place about a half of a cup in small snack containers or zip lock baggies. That way, you can then grab them quickly throughout the week for quick snacks. They taste delicious.

Hummus is a high fiber food that is easy and inexpensive to make or buy. I make mine with a variety of beans. Hummus goes well with whole grain, gluten-free crackers, chips, cut up veggies (example: red bell pepper or sliced cucumber), pita chips, etc. I use it as my sandwich spread for many things. It is a delicious high protein staple to keep around for emergency snacks or meals.

Be careful to avoid artificial ingredients and additives like dyes, sweeteners, flavorings, growth hormones and antibiotics (given to animals) and toxins from the ocean or environment (as in fish). They can be toxic to you and your child. I expand on this and how it can affect your child’s brain health as well as their behavior and physical growth in my healthy cookbook, “Raising Healthy Children.”

Raisins and dates (pitted) are both a good source of carbohydrates for energy.

Dates are an excellent source of potassium, sulphur, iron, and magnesium.. Raisins are also rich in B vitamins, iron, and potassium. This might seem surprising, but compounds found in raisins fight bacteria in the mouth that cause cavities and gum disease.

Also, nutrient dense smoothies with the proper amount of healthy fats, super foods, protein, etc. are an easy way to get intense nutrition in an easy effective way.

I have many great recipes in my healthy, award winning cookbook: “Raising Healthy Children.”

If you are concerned about pesticides or the high cost of organically grown food, you can check the list created by the Environmental Working Group, and their list of the worst foods tested for highest for pesticides, They call them the dirty dozen. They list them from worst to least. Some of them listed as the most toxic are: strawberries apples, celery, peaches, spinach, imported nectarines and grapes, sweet bell peppers, potatoes, blueberries, lettuce, and kale and collard greens.

The clean fifteen list of fruits and vegetables that had the lowest amount of pesticide residue were onions, sweet corn, pineapples, avocados, asparagus, sweet peas, mangoes, eggplant, cantaloupe, kiwi, cabbage, watermelon, sweet potatoes, grapefruit, and mushrooms.

If you are concerned about losing some of the weight you had gain from pregnancy, you might plan to take up to a year to get back to your pre-pregnancy/normal weight.

Some new moms find the weight just seems to fall off, while others don’t lose much. This will all depend your food choices, your activity level, your metabolism and on your own body,

I suggest avoiding any kind of weight loss plan for a couple of months after your child is born. A low calorie diet can drain your energy and limit your milk supply. Also, always stay hydrated. This is critically important for your and your child’s health and well-being.

When you combine healthy eating with moderate exercise, this can be a safe and effective way of losing weight and getting back into shape.

Enjoy this time with your child, it goes very quickly and it’s one of the most important parts of your child’s life. So, relax, enjoy and find peaceful moments in your time together.

By Nancy Addison CHC, AADP, CSN, CPT

copyright@nancyaddison2015

For more information go to: www.organichealthylife.com

To order Nancy’s award-winning (Mom’s Choice Award For Excellence and Double Winner of the International Book Awards, “Best Family Book of the Year” and “Best Parenting Book of the Year”

) and number one best selling cookbook: “Raising Healthy Children,” click here.

Leave a comment and join in the conversation!

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Finally, after many tests, she found out that she had parasites. We may not realize it, but we do get parasites in our systems from various foods, water, traveling, etc. She is taking her medicine, that her doctor prescribed, and is now feeling a lot better. If you are wondering about natural ways to help the body keep parasites to a minimum; one food that I frequently add to my diet is pumpkin seeds.

The interesting thing about pumpkin seeds is that they are terrific in helping the body get rid of parasites. I use them on a regular basis when feeding the wild animals I rehabilitate. (I am a licensed, certified, wildlife rehabilitator.)

I give the animals freshly ground (meaning that I grind them the moment I am using them) pumpkin seeds in their food, and it is amazing to me how many tapeworms and other types of parasites come out in their bowel movements. Because of this, I use pumpkin seeds frequently, in a freshly ground form, in my own foods.

Pumpkin seeds are a good source of protein and fiber, as well as minerals, including zinc, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, copper and manganese. Pumkin seeds are also a good source of  Vitamin K, E, and some B Vitamins..

• Sprinkle pumpkin seeds on salads
• Add some  pumpkin seeds to sautéed vegetables.
• Add ground up pumpkin seeds to your salad dressings.
• Add finely chopped or ground pumpkin seeds to your cereal.

by Nancy Addison

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