Tag: raw vegetables

Philosophie voted "Top 50 Raw Food Blogs" for 2012!

Philosophie for Kids!

Now that I'm a mommy and wifey, I don't just have to think of my own nutrition and health. I have to consider my children and husbands well-being as well. 

 

My son, Kai, is a little over 2 years old. His first solid food was butternut squash pureed, followed by a puree of green vegetables. He didn't have any sugar until a few months ago when he went to a birthday party, and to be honest, he didn't even care for it much. I was terrified once he had the processed kind of sugar he'd never want to go back to his clean ways of eating. Au Contraire.

His palate is so sophisticated now. He can eat anything no matter where we go. He loves spicy foods- he's happy and at home in any Indian restaurant and equally safe at sushi or any other ethnic cuisine. We've traveled to Paris, Costa Rica, Tel Aviv & South America and he's happy no matter where we go and what we feed him. This takes a little more effort on my part, to pave the way to healthy foods being part of his normal routine.

Phases and Bumps along the way

Sometimes he's not in the mood for a certain type of food. He'll push things he's loved for months away or throw it on the floor for our dog to eat. My trick is to lay out ONLY fruits and vegetables to start with-- a huge variety-- some cooked, some raw. Some warm, some cold. All different colors and flavors to entice his little appetite. He LOVES organic frozen veggies, which makes it super easy for me. He especially likes peas & lima beans, eating them one by one. I don't usually add any butter or salt to the veggies because he eats them without. So what's the point? He takes "butter" (Smart Balance) on his gluten-free waffles in the morning as a treat and loves it, but doesn't expect it yet. He's never touched syrup and there's really no reason to introduce it.

 

 

The best time to give him the foods he's not in the mood for is when he's super hungry after playing outside. Sometimes I just need to give him a "gateway" food to get him started. When he was super little just a few little Organic Puffs would do the trick. Now I'll give him half a piece of an organic cookie or the green flavored Pirate's Booty (our version of junk food) and after a few of these snack items he moves right into veggie land. Works pretty much every time.

Other days he just doesn't feel like sitting in his high chair and eating. On those days I let him run around and snack as he pleases. He'll graze on the veggies and fruit I put on a plate on the coffee table and run around and grab what he wants when he chooses to.  Many parents are really militant about kids sitting in their chairs and eating, and I understand their feelings. I get that sentiment, that it's more "proper" to eat meals sitting in their high chair. With my lifestyle (always on the go) and my manner (I'm not a very "proper" person myself) I allow him to guide the way, as the most important thing to me is Kai getting the nutrients he needs to GROW "properly", while being a formal "correct" child falls a bit lower on the priority list. Every child is different. Some kids really need that type of structure to stay well behaved. Kai is (luckily) really flexible and adaptable with my crazy on the go lifestyle.

Green Dream and Philosophie superfood blends save the day

When all else fails, I can make a Green Dream smoothie and at least feel good about Kai getting all the nutrients and greens he needs for the day. In one smoothie I can be sure he's getting good fats, vegan sources of protein, no weird fillers and nothing processed. This makes things a lot easier and makes me feel secure in what he eats for the rest of the day. Lately one of the only ways I can consistently get green veggies into his body is through smoothies. And that's fine with me! Sometimes in the morning I'll add Cacao Magic powder to his oatmeal or even a dash of Green Dream. Other times I'll sneak it into an "ice cream" where I blend frozen bananas, spinach and green dream or cacao blend. These tricks ensure the love of my life is getting everything he needs nutritionally. Not to mention the hubby benefits from these tricks as well! If you're interested in buying Green Dream, Cacao Magic or Berry Bliss blends, email me: sophie@thephilosophie.com and mention this post for a mommy discount!

 

I'm not sure where the "green" phobia in kids begin, but I can't help but think it's from parents trying to drive the foods down their kids throats. Kai loves Green foods and actually gravitates towards these foods vs running away from them. I think this practice starts early, but that you can retrain your kids brains by sneaking greens into a smoothie or into an ice cream... so they don't feel they are missing anything. I mean let's revisit Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Suess! In the end, he lovessss the Green Eggs... it just took TRYING them!

In Gratitude and Elmo obsessions,

Sophie

PS. SPEAKING of Green Eggs... an easy way to make your own Green Eggs is to blend the eggs and fresh spinach in the blender until smooth. Then cook as you normally would! Kai loves them, your kids will too!

Philosophie for Kids!

Now that I'm a mommy and wifey, I don't just have to think of my own nutrition and health. I have to consider my children and husbands well-being as well.

My son, Kai, is a little over 2 years old. His first solid food was butternut squash pureed, followed by a puree of green vegetables. He didn't have any sugar until a few months ago when he went to a birthday party, and to be honest, he didn't even care for it much. I was terrified once he had the processed kind of sugar he'd never want to go back to his clean ways of eating. Au Contraire.

His palate is so sophisticated now. He can eat anything no matter where we go. He loves spicy foods- he's happy and at home in any Indian restaurant and equally safe at sushi or any other ethnic cuisine. We've traveled to Paris, Costa Rica, Tel Aviv & South America and he's happy no matter where we go and what we feed him. This takes a little more effort on my part, to pave the way to healthy foods being part of his normal routine.

Phases and Bumps along the way

Sometimes he's not in the mood for a certain type of food. He'll push things he's loved for months away or throw it on the floor for our dog to eat. My trick is to lay out ONLY fruits and vegetables to start with-- a huge variety-- some cooked, some raw. Some warm, some cold. All different colors and flavors to entice his little appetite. He LOVES organic frozen veggies, which makes it super easy for me. He especially likes peas & lima beans, eating them one by one. I don't usually add any butter or salt to the veggies because he eats them without. So what's the point? He takes "butter" (Smart Balance) on his gluten-free waffles in the morning as a treat and loves it, but doesn't expect it yet. He's never touched syrup and there's really no reason to introduce it.

 

The best time to give him the foods he's not in the mood for is when he's super hungry after playing outside. Sometimes I just need to give him a "gateway" food to get him started. When he was super little just a few little Organic Puffs would do the trick. Now I'll give him half a piece of an organic cookie or the green flavored Pirate's Booty (our version of junk food) and after a few of these snack items he moves right into veggie land. Works pretty much every time.

Other days he just doesn't feel like sitting in his high chair and eating. On those days I let him run around and snack as he pleases. He'll graze on the veggies and fruit I put on a plate on the coffee table and run around and grab what he wants when he chooses to.  Many parents are really militant about kids sitting in their chairs and eating, and I understand their feelings. I get that sentiment, that it's more "proper" to eat meals sitting in their high chair. With my lifestyle (always on the go) and my manner (I'm not a very "proper" person myself) I allow him to guide the way, as the most important thing to me is Kai getting the nutrients he needs to GROW "properly", while being a formal "correct" child falls a bit lower on the priority list. Every child is different. Some kids really need that type of structure to stay well behaved. Kai is (luckily) really flexible and adaptable with my crazy on the go lifestyle.

Green Dream and Philosophie superfood blends save the day

When all else fails, I can make a Green Dream smoothie and at least feel good about Kai getting all the nutrients and greens he needs for the day. In one smoothie I can be sure he's getting good fats, vegan sources of protein, no weird fillers and nothing processed. This makes things a lot easier and makes me feel secure in what he eats for the rest of the day. Lately one of the only ways I can consistently get green veggies into his body is through smoothies. And that's fine with me! Sometimes in the morning I'll add Cacao Magic powder to his oatmeal or even a dash of Green Dream. Other times I'll sneak it into an "ice cream" where I blend frozen bananas, spinach and green dream or cacao blend. These tricks ensure the love of my life is getting everything he needs nutritionally. Not to mention the hubby benefits from these tricks as well! If you're interested in buying Green Dream, Cacao Magic or Berry Bliss blends, email me: sophie@thephilosophie.com and mention this post for a mommy discount!

I'm not sure where the "green" phobia in kids begin, but I can't help but think it's from parents trying to drive the foods down their kids throats. Kai loves Green foods and actually gravitates towards these foods vs running away from them. I think this practice starts early, but that you can retrain your kids brains by sneaking greens into a smoothie or into an ice cream... so they don't feel they are missing anything. I mean let's revisit Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Suess! In the end, he lovessss the Green Eggs... it just took TRYING them!

In Gratitude and Elmo obsessions,

Sophie

PS. SPEAKING of Green Eggs... an easy way to make your own Green Eggs is to blend the eggs and fresh spinach in the blender until smooth. Then cook as you normally would! Kai loves them, your kids will too!

Want to Eat More Raw Vegetables?

The Best Ways to Eat Raw Vegetables

article adapted from livestrong.com - a great source for health, nutrition and fitness!
The Best Ways to Eat Raw Vegetables

Raw vegetables offer fiber, antioxidants and numerous vitamins and minerals, but munching on them plain can make you feel like a rabbit. You can kick up the flavor by using them in creative ways and as a substitute for higher-calorie, nutrient-poor fare like chips and pretzels. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), people who eat more generous amounts of fruits and vegetables as part of a healthy diet reduce their risk of chronic diseases such as stroke, cancer, type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

Salads

Salads are a natural for raw vegetables, but the salad often served up in restaurants or the American home consists of iceberg lettuce, a gassed tomato and a few slices of cucumber with a slathering of ranch or Italian-style dressing. Make your salads more appealing by focusing on richly colored greens such as romaine, spinach and baby arugula. Unlike iceberg, these lettuces impart flavor and contain significant antioxidants that help fight disease-causing free radicals in the body. Eat a spinach salad with dried cranberries, sliced raw onion and heart-healthy walnuts. Try arugula with shredded carrots, diced apple and pecans. Romaine may be the classic base for a Caesar salad, but you can add to its nutritional value by tossing it with avocado, salsa and black beans. Salads do not always have to include lettuce. Use celery as a base with diced bell pepper, jicama and walnuts, and dress it with a citrus vinaigrette. You may think of coleslaw as a cookout standby, but consider cabbage as a base for other salads. Shred raw Napa cabbage and add edamame, almonds and an Asian dressing. Thinly slice raw zucchini and yellow squash and toss with lemon, olive oil and basil as a pairing for simple roasted or grilled fish.

Smoothies!

a great way to get raw green vegetables into your body is by throwing a handful of spinach or kale into your blender! You won't even know it's in there judging by taste, so trust me when I say to give it a try! A quick and easy smoothie recipe with raw spinach or kale:

  • 8 oz almond, oat, hazelnut or coconut mylk
  • 1 handful spinach or kale, washed and de-stemmed
  • 1 banana or 1/2 cup mango
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 2 tsp agave
  • 1 handful of ice

Partner with Dip

A crudite platter with the ubiquitous cup of mystery dressing often sits untouched at a party. Make it appealing by dressing up the dip and the vegetable offerings. Try jicama, endive, green onions or fennel as dippers, and serve them with hummus, baba ganoush or tahini. Instead of using tortilla chips to dip in salsa or melted cheese, try endive leaves, which are cupped and make a perfect scoop. Serve a classic cheese fondue and offer raw vegetables as dippers instead of cubes of bread. Experiment with bagna cauda, an Italian broth-based dip made with olive oil, anchovies and garlic, which pairs well with raw zucchini and bell peppers.

In Lieu of Bread

Instead of reaching for nutrient-poor white bread, try wrapping your next snack with a large leaf of romaine or butter lettuce. Use lettuce leaves in place of taco shells to provide crunch and a cooling contrast to the warm filling. Spread nut butter on celery sticks to save calories and obtain more fiber than you would if you used white toast. Make a raw hummus with sprouted chick peas, but instead of spreading it on a roll, eat it dip-style with carrots, bell peppers and grape tomatoes. Here's a great recipe for a raw sunflower seed dip in place of packaged dips!

Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/83545-eat-raw-vegetables/#ixzz1A0QEwWY4

Want to Eat More Raw Vegetables?

The Best Ways to Eat Raw Vegetables

article adapted from livestrong.com - a great source for health, nutrition and fitness!

The Best Ways to Eat Raw Vegetables

Raw vegetables offer fiber, antioxidants and numerous vitamins and minerals, but munching on them plain can make you feel like a rabbit. You can kick up the flavor by using them in creative ways and as a substitute for higher-calorie, nutrient-poor fare like chips and pretzels. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), people who eat more generous amounts of fruits and vegetables as part of a healthy diet reduce their risk of chronic diseases such as stroke, cancer, type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

Salads

Salads are a natural for raw vegetables, but the salad often served up in restaurants or the American home consists of iceberg lettuce, a gassed tomato and a few slices of cucumber with a slathering of ranch or Italian-style dressing. Make your salads more appealing by focusing on richly colored greens such as romaine, spinach and baby arugula. Unlike iceberg, these lettuces impart flavor and contain significant antioxidants that help fight disease-causing free radicals in the body. Eat a spinach salad with dried cranberries, sliced raw onion and heart-healthy walnuts. Try arugula with shredded carrots, diced apple and pecans. Romaine may be the classic base for a Caesar salad, but you can add to its nutritional value by tossing it with avocado, salsa and black beans. Salads do not always have to include lettuce. Use celery as a base with diced bell pepper, jicama and walnuts, and dress it with a citrus vinaigrette. You may think of coleslaw as a cookout standby, but consider cabbage as a base for other salads. Shred raw Napa cabbage and add edamame, almonds and an Asian dressing. Thinly slice raw zucchini and yellow squash and toss with lemon, olive oil and basil as a pairing for simple roasted or grilled fish.

Smoothies!

a great way to get raw green vegetables into your body is by throwing a handful of spinach or kale into your blender! You won't even know it's in there judging by taste, so trust me when I say to give it a try! A quick and easy smoothie recipe with raw spinach or kale:

  • 8 oz almond, oat, hazelnut or coconut mylk
  • 1 handful spinach or kale, washed and de-stemmed
  • 1 banana or 1/2 cup mango
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 2 tsp agave
  • 1 handful of ice

Partner with Dip

A crudite platter with the ubiquitous cup of mystery dressing often sits untouched at a party. Make it appealing by dressing up the dip and the vegetable offerings. Try jicama, endive, green onions or fennel as dippers, and serve them with hummus, baba ganoush or tahini. Instead of using tortilla chips to dip in salsa or melted cheese, try endive leaves, which are cupped and make a perfect scoop. Serve a classic cheese fondue and offer raw vegetables as dippers instead of cubes of bread. Experiment with bagna cauda, an Italian broth-based dip made with olive oil, anchovies and garlic, which pairs well with raw zucchini and bell peppers.

In Lieu of Bread

Instead of reaching for nutrient-poor white bread, try wrapping your next snack with a large leaf of romaine or butter lettuce. Use lettuce leaves in place of taco shells to provide crunch and a cooling contrast to the warm filling. Spread nut butter on celery sticks to save calories and obtain more fiber than you would if you used white toast. Make a raw hummus with sprouted chick peas, but instead of spreading it on a roll, eat it dip-style with carrots, bell peppers and grape tomatoes. Here's a great recipe for a raw sunflower seed dip in place of packaged dips!

Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/83545-eat-raw-vegetables/#ixzz1A0QEwWY4

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