Pesto Pizza Poppers!

A great snack for little fingers!

Pesto Pizza Poppers – say that 10 times fast!

No these are not related to the Pizza Pops you are thinking of…  I was making up my big batch of pizza dough, some to freeze and some for dinner tomorrow night and I made this quick little snack.  I love it because they are tasty and a snack full of good greens and grains.

This snack is good for 10 month-old babies, who have had seeds.

Pizza dough is very versatile and you can do many different things with a little dough,  your favourite sauce and your creativity.  Look at my ideas below but then use your imagination!  You can try any combination with cheese, tomato sauce, pesto, finely chopped chicken, veggies & herbs, make it your own by using your family favourites.

Get my easy recipes for Spelt Pizza Dough and Pepita Pesto.

Pesto Pizza Poppers - Roll out a small piece of dough to a rectangle, about the size of a piece of paper.  Spread pesto on the entire piece of dough.  Roll up the long side of the dough.  Using a sharp knife, cut 1 inch piece off the ‘tube of dough & pesto.  Place on parchment paper on a baking sheet and drizzle 1 tsp on olive oil on each popper.  Place in a 350 deg. oven and bake for 10 minutes!

Pizza Pretzels - roll out the dough to a rectangle, about the size of a piece of paper.  Cut the dough into 1″ long strips.  Shape the dough any way you like (hearts, pretzels, circles, let older kids do it!).  Place on parchment paper on a baking sheet.  Brush the dough with olive oil and sprinkle on parmesan cheese.  Place in a 350 deg. oven for 10 minutes!

Maple-Cinnamon Treats – in a small bowl combine 2 Tbsp of maple syrup with 2 tsp of cinnamon.  Have 1 tbsp of chopped almonds on stand-by (optional).  Roll out a small piece of dough to a rectangle, about the size of a piece of paper.  Cut the dough into squares.  Brush each square with the syrup-cinnamon mix and sprinkle with chopped almonds.   Place on parchment paper on a baking sheet.  Place in a 350 deg. oven and bake for 10 minutes!

Pizza Pops - You can make your own Pizza Pops too!  roll out a large piece of dough and cut the dough into large circles (5″ wide).  On one half of the dough circle spread a generous amount of pizza sauce.  Add a sprinkle of cheese and some chopped veggies (broccoli, carrots, zucchini, peppers).  Fold over the other half of the dough circle.  pinch the edges together.  Place on parchment paper on a baking sheet . Brush each top with olive oil and sprinkle with Parmesan Cheese.  Place in a 350 deg. oven and bake for 20 minutes!

Do you have other ideas for pizza dough?  Feel free to share!

Egg Rolls… a great snack?

A great carry along snack or meal is homemade ‘Egg Rolls’.  Many years ago I lived in South Korea, and these snacks were often served.  I have North Americanized this great little treat.  Not only are they a great way to serve up more veggies, they make great finger food too!

I know what you are thinking… Egg Rolls?  But these are nothing like the deep fried Egg Rolls you may be imagining…

Veggie Egg Rolls

These are good for a one-year old.

• Finely chop 3/4 C steamed or leftover cooked vegetables
• In a small bowl beat 2 eggs and pour onto a hot non-stick pan.  Tip the pan so the egg covers the entire pan in a thin layer
• Reduce heat to medium and watch the egg closely, when it is mostly cooked on the bottom, but not cooked through, sprinkle the chopped veggies across the egg.  You can also add grated cheese.
• Using a spatula, carefully pull the egg up from the pan and begin to roll the egg.
• Roll it until the entire egg ‘crepe’ is a big roll.  Carefully remove it from the pan and thinly slice the egg into sushi-like rolls.  Serve it warm or cool with steamed veggies, or on it’s own as a snack!

With these egg rolls the trick is really the frying pan.  I have tried this in my cast iron pan to great failure, the only pan it seems to work with is my non-stick (non-teflon) pan.  Try to make sure the egg does not cook completely while you are rolling it.  It will cook itself once it is rolled, but if you wait too long it won’t roll well.  If it fails, serve it like an omelet; but if it works it makes a fancy treat for a toddler!

Help The Toronto Zoo!

Hi Readers, I know this is a nutrition post, but I am a part of an exciting fundraising project I wanted to share and invite you to take part! 

Do you consider yourself a fiber artist?  Do  you have a secret love of creating things with yarn?  Do you enjoy spinning, knitting or crocheting?  Do you love animals?

Join Project Zoo!  An energetic crafter in Toronto came up with a terrific idea and we are looking for more people to help make it happen!  Hair from the Toronto Zoo animals (alpacas, camels, and others) will be collected in the spring, crafty folks will be spinning this into yarn, and local knitters, crocheters, crafters and fibre artists will make them into items which will then be sold in the Toronto Zoo gift shop.  If this sounds like a project for you, click here for further information!

 

Eating Out with Kids

One of the toughest things for parents can sometimes be eating out with their kids.  I am not talking behaviour here.  Although the wiggly, let me down so I can run amok toddler is difficult to handle in a restaurant; choosing food that is not going to add to that behaviour is often toughest.

With a baby it is fairly simple.  Bring your own food.  Whenever you go out with your little one have some good food in the diaper bag.  But what about when they are older?  Once your child is over one-year it becomes more difficult to carry everything you need and sometimes you just might find yourself in a restaurant because it is late, you are all hungry and its a lot easier than going home and cooking.

I am going to be hard-core here.  I know what you give your child in a restaurant, I know what is on the menu, I know what you say to justify your choices.  I also know that it isn’t impossible to make good choices.  With the illnesses that children are being diagnosed with (heart disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity) I really believe that we need to set the bar high for our children.  And ourselves.  There is nothing wrong with a treat once in a while, but remember that when it is a treat everyday or even weekly, it is actually a habit. Make the right choices for your child.

Here are my Top 5 things to remember in a restaurant

#1 – Sweet Potato Fries are not healthier. They are fried.  They are fries.  They are not an appropriate choice for a child.  Neither are French Fries.

#2 – Milk or water are the only beverages you should choose. Never soft drinks.  Never juice.  And never chocolate milk!  I don’t think I need to go into why soft drinks (including Diet) are terrible, and I don’t think it is news that I don’t like juice, but in a restaurant you really don’t know what kind of juice you are giving your child.  As for chocolate milk, no matter what you may read or hear about how it is a good source of calcium, unsweetened white milk is a good source of calcium, without all the sugar.  If your child is not happy with boring white milk or water, let them use a straw & blow a few bubbles.

#3 – Pick the ‘freshest’ food on the menu. This means something that did not come out of a box and go into the fryer.  A pasta dish or sandwich would be better.  You can always ask for a kid’s version of an adult menu item.  You can also consider sharing your meal with your child.

#4 – Order all bread products on whole wheat. The grilled cheese, the french toast, the tuna salad sandwich.  Your child should not know that white bread exists.

#5 – Have dessert at home. Not only is this cheaper, but you can control the portion size and maybe by the time you get home the interest in dessert will be gone?!?!   You can also control what dessert is offered by providing a snack or treat that has your ’seal of approval’.

#6 – Don’t go to fast food restaurants. Ever.

Eat out! It is important for kids to learn how to behave in new environments and try different food, just make sure you give them healthy choices along the way.

Blossom(ing) Holistic Mom

Do you remember Blossom?  Mayim Bialik has some interesting thoughts on natural parenting.  She’s become a real Holistic Mom.  Read the article at Huffinton Post.com

I Want Candy!

Read my recent newsletter on Halloween Candy by  clicking here.   I give ideas on how to manage the influx of candy throughout the end of October and helping your kids learn about moderation and enjoyment.

If you would like to receive this monthly newsletter, please send me an e-mail at laurie@lkmnutrition.ca

Raising Baby Green

Read my recent review of the book ‘Raising Baby Green’ by Dr. Alan Greene on the blog Domestic Affair

Domestic Affair is the blog of my R.H.N. colleague jae steele.  I have referenced her cookbook ‘Get it Ripe’ often as one of my favourites.  Check out her blog to read my review and to get some great vegan recipes.

This Mom Likes these Crackers!

Kids love crackers and parents like to give them, because they are an easy snack to have on-the-go.

Unfortunately today most crackers are made of refined flour and are not very healthy.  I don’t often go to Loblaws, but I do make a special trip for the PC Ancient Grains Crackers.  These are good for kids one-year or older.

I feel comfortable recommending these crackers after looking at the ingredients…

Stone ground whole wheat flour, enriched wheat flour, ancient grain blend (quinoa flour, spelt flour, millet flour, kamut flour), sunflower oil and/or canola oil (contains ascorbic acid), glucose, malt extract, wheat germ, natural flavour (contains autolyzed yeast extract, onion powder, modified corn starch), salt, baking soda, honey, soy lecithin, rosemary extract, protease.

The trick when reading labels for crackers is to look at the ingredient list & see what is the first ingredient. Ingredients are listed by greatest amount to least amount.  If the first ingredient is wheat, enriched wheat, stone ground flour, or flour it is essentially white flour with a better name.

You need to always look for that special adjective: ‘WHOLE‘.  Whole Wheat, Whole Spelt, Brown Rice, Whole Rye.  This means what it says… that the whole wheat (as in all of it) is being used. When manufacturers make crackers or bread and they do not use the whole grain, they have removed all of the nutrition from the grain, leaving only the clean shiny white grain.  When they use enriched flour it means that they took out all of the nutrients and put a few back in.

You may notice that with these crackers the second ingredient is enriched flour, and there may be other ingredients I don’t love; however when it comes to the world of crackers, unless you want to make them yourself, beggars can’t be choosers.  I have found it is nearly impossible to find a whole grain cracker that is not rock hard.  I love those  wholesome hard rye crackers myself, but for young kids they are too hard on their new gums and teeth.  Even the crackers from that ‘healthy’ brand Kashi are not as good as these because they lack whole grains.

Crackers are a necessity in any parent’s purse or bag, and these are the best ones I have been able to find.  If you have any others you would like to suggest, send me a note or comment!

For detailed nutritional information on these crackers, go here.

Fighting Colds!

An apple a day, keeps the doctor away!

Since my family and I have been out of commission lately fighting off a bug that still doesn’t want to go away, I thought it would be best to share some ideas and thoughts to get your family’s Holistic Medicine Cabinet in order.

I am not a doctor or a naturopath so I will not recommend any homeopathic remedies, super vitamin combos or over and behind the counter magic; but I can give you some ideas for your cupboards and fridge.  By the way I just recommend brands/products that I have come across, I have no affiliations nor do I sell anything

The very best thing is to feed your child fresh food and a diet that has a lot of variety.

Make sure that every day your child gets fresh fruit, fresh vegetables, a healthy source of protein, good healthy fats and organic dairy products.

Also make sure that you and your kids wash your hands, keep fingers out of noses & mouths and get plenty of rest

Here are some ideas to supplement your cupboard…

By the way Mom & Dad, these are good for parents too, just buy the adult formulas…

Probiotics - You have heard of probiotics in yogurt, and there are plenty of commercials touting the benefits of this healthy bacteria.  Probiotic is a bacteria that lives in the intestines.  It helps digest food, synthesize vitamins and prevent/help diarrhea as well as boost immunity.  Make sure your 10 month old baby eats lots of plain organic yogurt.  I would also recommend getting  an infant probiotic and give this to your infant once a day during cold and flu season; just follow the directions on the bottle.  You cannot overdo it with probiotics. Double the dose for a couple of days if your child is constipated, gets diarrhea or is prescribed antibiotics (which kill probiotics).  You can find these in the refrigerator section of your health food store.

Vitamin D - The Sunshine Vitamin.  You were probably prescribed this Vitamin when you brought your baby home from the hospital.  It is an important vitamin, especially in winter when we get little sunshine.  Not only does this vitamin help develop strong bones & teeth and prevent cancer, studies are showing that it helps prevent colds and flu.  It is hard to get the recommended Vitamin D from fish liver, butter and egg yolks!  I know that many new mothers are given a red liquid supplement in a long dropper that babies tend not to like.  I would recommend buying something like Carlson’s Baby D Drops.  One drop has all the Vitamin D your baby needs, just put a drop on your nipple, a bottle nipple or your finger; it is a lot easier to give to your baby.  I found these in my neighbourhood pharmacy, you could also ask at your health food store.

Vitamin C - We all know that Vitamin C is good for colds, but do you know why?  It does lots of things but when it comes to colds it enhances immunity and protects the body from infection.  If you are buying a Vitamin C supplement, get an Ester-C , this kind of Vitamin C enters the bloodstream, cells and tissues much faster than other forms.  I have not looked for a baby friendly Vitamin C, choosing instead to make sure that my son’s Vitamin C comes from berries, citrus fruit and dark green vegetables.

Fish Oil – (Omega 3’s) - Essential Fatty Acids are necessary for immunity, brain development, healthy tissues, proper fat metabolism, lots & lots.  Omega 3s are deficient in the North American Diet.  Taking a fish oil helps your child stay healthy year-round. I like Natural Factors Learning Factors.  It comes in a Lemon-Lime flavour.  If you have a family history of fish allergies, or are concerned about giving a child under one-year fish products, try flax oil instead.

Here are some things to consider when your child gets a cold.

• Dairy increases stuffiness & phlegm production, so no dairy if your little one has a runny nose or cough
• Oranges also increase stuffiness & phlegm, so even though you might be tempted to give your child some oranges, try mango or apple instead
• Sugar decreases immunity, so no treats.  That’s right, no Ginger Ale (in one can there are 8 tsp of sugar!!!!).  Instead try herbal tea, fresh fruit, lots of hugs & kisses
• Lemon is high in vitamin C and for some odd reason many children love lemon!?!?  Try giving your one-year old a slice to try
• It is important to drink lots & lots of fluid.  Water is choice number one.  Herbal Tea is a good way to add variety.  If you must give juice, be sure to water it down

Good Luck this cold & flu season!  If you have any other ideas to share, I would love to get your comments!

Pumpkin!

Happy (Canadian) Thanksgiving Everyone!

I love pumpkin!  Not just in pie form (although that is pretty good), but in soup, muffins and as a side dish!

You can give your baby pumpkin puree at six months

Pumpkin is considered a winter squash.  It is high in Vitamin C, B1, potassium, folate and fiber; because of it’s rich orange colour, pumpkin is also an excellent source of carotene.  Carotenes have been shown to help prevent cancer, heart disease and  type 2 diabetes. Pumpkin seeds are also healthy.  Pepitas are the green seed inside the hard shell, but you can roast up the seeds from your carving pumpkin or your cooking pumpkin for a tasty snack.  These seeds are high in zinc which are great for healing.

When choosing a pumpkin, choose a small pumpkin, not the large ones for carving.  These are called sugar pumpkins or simply, pie pumpkins.  You can also buy pumpkin canned, just make sure you are buying real pumpkin, not the pie filling, which is already sweetened.

To cook up a pumpkin, cut it in half and scoop out the seeds.  Rinse out the pumpkin, but don’t dry it and put the pumpkin cut side down on a baking sheet.  Place in a 375 deg oven and bake for 30 – 45 minutes.  You know it is done when a knife is easily inserted into the pumpkin, through the skin.  Let it cool and then scrape out the flesh to be used for muffins, soups and the like. Mash it into a smooth puree with a fork.

For your 6 month-old baby, just serve her some fresh cooked pumpkin.  Try mixing it with apple or sweet potato, or just serve it as is!

This Thanksgiving I made my Sweet Potato Scones, but used Pumpkin instead – they were a hit!

Fluffy Pumpkin Pancakes or Waffles

Because of the eggs, these are good for a one-year old.  These can be made wheat-free and dairy-free.

• 2 C whole grain flour (spelt or wheat)
• 2 T sugar
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp each: salt, ginger, nutmeg
• 3/4 C pumpkin puree
• 3 eggs, separated
• 1 1/2 C milk (cow’s, rice or almond)
• 1/4 C sunflower oil

Sift together the flour, sugar, baking podwer, cinnamon, salt, ginger and nutmeg

In a small bowl mix together the pumpkin, egg yolks, milk and oil.

In a small bowl beat the egg whites until they are fluffy, but not stiff.  (soft peaks if you can).

Add the pumpkin mix to the dry ingredients, stor to combine, ignoring the lumps.  Fold the egg whites into the batter.  Cook in a hot frying pan or a hot waffle iron.  Enjoy!