Healthy Little Cooks

5/17/13 – Weekend Food Challenge: Artichoke

HLC — Fri, 17 May 2013 01:54:46 +0000

Featured Food: Artichoke Challenge Weekend May 17, 2013 Silly Food Fact Did you know that artichokes are one of the oldest foods known to man and because of its beautiful bloom, some consider it to be a flower? A fully grown artichoke plant can spread up to nine feet wide and five feet high? Why Our Body Loves it! Artichokes are an excellent source of vitamin C, folic acid fiber. They also extremely high in antioxidants. Artichokes ranked as the top 7th antioxidant rich food in a USDA study compared to over 1000 foods. learn more about these benefits and more here Care & Picking Artichokes come in three sizes (small, medium and large). To select a fresh artichoke, make sure it’s heavy in hand, has plump leaves and has a healthy-looking green color. One of the keys to selecting a great artichoke is making sure its plump and full of water. Some even bend a leaf to see if it snaps off easily. If it does, it’s plump and ready! If not, it’s old and should be left at the market or store. Tips & Warnings There are many ways to cook an artichoke. From roasting and baking to microwaving and steaming, each method has it’s own technique. Because of its unique make-up, we thought you’d appreciate this quick video demonstration on a few methods on how to best prepare and cook an artichoke. How to Cook Artichokes — powered by ehow Our Favorite Recipes Nutritional Info Our Challenge Submit a Video Upload a Picture Share ...

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5/10/13 – Weekend Food Challenge: Spinach

HLC — Fri, 10 May 2013 01:54:44 +0000

Featured Food: Spinach Challenge Weekend May 10, 2013 Silly Food Fact Spinach is a native plant of Persia. Today, there are three types of spinach: Flat leaf (mild taste with un-wrinkled leaves), savory (crinkly dark green leaves) and semi savory (lightly curly leaves). Why Our Body Loves it! Spinach low in calories, and is an excellent source of iron, vitamins A & C, minerals, and fiber. Spinach also contains 3 grams of protein per serving. Care & Picking Spinach grows in the ground, it should be washed thoroughly. Look for leaves that are green and crisp with a nice fragrance. Avoid ones with spotted leaves. Store your spinach in a plastic bag in the refrigerator. Tips & Warnings Spinach contains a chemical called oxalic acid, which can prevent the absorption of its natural high iron and calcium content. To improve your iron absorption, eat spinach with vitamin C-rich foods such as orange juice, tomatoes, or citrus fruit. Our Favorite Recipes Nutritional Info Our Challenge Submit a Video Upload a Picture Share your Recipes

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Watermelon Slushie

MSeelRD — Fri, 03 May 2013 13:37:56 +0000

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5/3/13 – Weekend Food Challenge: Oatmeal

HLC — Fri, 03 May 2013 13:35:26 +0000

Featured Food: Oatmeal Challenge Weekend May 3, 2013 Silly Food Fact Did you know that almost 80% of US houses have oatmeal in their pantry? The most popular toping for breakfast oatmeal is milk. other silly facts neat ways to use oatmeal around the house Why Our Body Loves it! Oatmeal can also help us stay healthy. The beta-glucan found in oatmeal helps boost our immune system so it can respond better to infections, especially bacterial infections. learn more about these benefits and more here Care & Picking Oatmeal is pretty easy to care for. It should be stored in a cool dry place and in an air-tight container. Check out more tips on how to care for your oatmeal Tips & Warnings Because of the high levels of fiber, oatmeal can cause bloating or gas in some people. If this happens, just lower the amount you eat and increase that amount slowly over time until your body gets used to it. ** This is not medical advice. If you’re having a problem digesting oats, please go see your doctor. It could be a serious condition. Our Favorite Recipes Savory Oatmeal Low-Fat Oatmeal Fruit Bars Nutritional Info One cup oatmeal = 11 g of Protein 8 g of Fiber .4 mg Thiamin .1 mg Riboflavin 2.9 mg Manganese .2 mg Manganese 23.4 mg Selenium Our Challenge Submit a Video Upload a Picture Share your Recipes

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4/26/13 – Weekend Food Challenge: Celery

HLC — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 01:39:03 +0000

Featured Food: Celery Challenge Weekend April 26, 2013 Silly Food Fact You use more calories eating celery, than there are in celery itself! Celery was first brought to America in Kalamazoo, Michigan in 1856 by a Scotsman named George Taylor. Why Our Body Loves it! Celery has high levels of vitamin C and contains pthalides, which have been shown to lower blood pressure. It’s also widely known as a diuretic , which helps flush out excess fluid from our bodies. Care & Picking Most of the time, when we purchase celery from the store, it comes in a plastic bag. You can typically store it this way for about 7-10 days. However, if you see brown areas, you should cut them off immediately. Video: How to pick celery: Tips & Warnings Be careful not to store your celery in an area of your refrigerator that is super cold. If it freezes, the leaves will go limp and remain soggy even when it’s thawed. Our Favorite Recipes Nutritional Info Our Challenge Submit a Video Upload a Picture Share your Recipes

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4/19/13 – Food Challenge: Lemons

HLC — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 01:38:59 +0000

Featured Food: Lemons Challenge Weekend April 19, 2013 Silly Food Fact Did you know that lemons turn from green to yellow because of temperature changes, not ripeness? Also, lemon trees bloom all year and can produce 500-600 pounds of lemons a year! Learn how to grow your own lemon tree. Why Our Body Loves it! One whole lemon (including the rind) contains a full day’s supply of vitamin C. It has strong antibacterial, antiviral, and immune-boosting powers and has been known to help treat throat infections and other ailments. learn more about these benefits and more here Care & Picking Pick a lemon that feels heavy in your hand and when you give it a gentle squeeze, it gives a little. Hard lemons don’t have much juice. Also, be sure to check the color and skip picking lemons that have brown spots. Video: How to pick a lemon How to Pick Out Lemons — powered by ehow Tips & Warnings In addition to being a great food for our body, lemons can be used around the house as a degreaser, all purpose cleaner and antibiotic. To make your own cleaner, add equal parts of lemon and water to a spray bottle and start cleaning! If you prefer to use homemade vinegar-based cleansers, add a little lemon to help eliminate that vinegar smell. More neat ways to use lemons Our Favorite Recipes Nutritional Info Our Challenge Submit a Video Upload a Picture Share your Recipes

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4/12/13 – Weekend Food Challenge: Rasberries

HLC — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 01:38:55 +0000

Featured Food: Rasberries Challenge Weekend April 12, 2013 Silly Food Fact Question: What is the difference between raspberries and blackberries? Nope, not the color … raspberries can be red, gold, purple, or black! Answer: Raspberries have a hollow core, but blackberries do not. In the United States, 90% of all raspberries are grown in the Pacific Coast states of California, Oregon, and Washington. Why Our Body Loves it! Raspberries have tons of fiber—more fiber per calorie than any other fruit: 17 grams per cup. They are also a rich source of vitamin C and manganese. Raspberries rank very high in antioxidant properties, and their leaves can be used in herbal and medicinal teas. Care & Picking Raspberries grow best in areas with mild winters and cool summers. Plant in a sunny spot with well-drained soil that is slightly acidic. A trellis may be needed to support the growing canes, and proper pruning is critical for maximum harvest. Raspberries are fragile! Pick early in the morning before the sun has softened the berries, and gently pull each berry off the bush. If the berry doesn’t come off easily, it is not ripe enough to eat. Is your green thumb itching to try something new? Learn how to prune a raspberry plant here! Tips & Warnings Don’t plant raspberries where potatoes, eggplants, or tomatoes have previously been planted—a fungus can remain in the soil that may infest your raspberry crop. Once berries are picked, they will not ripen further. Raspberries are both ...

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4/5/13 – Weekend Food Challenge: Ginger

HLC — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 01:38:51 +0000

Featured Food: Ginger Challenge Weekend April 5, 2013 Silly Food Fact Did you know that ginger is native to India and China? It can be used fresh, dried and powdered, or as a juice or oil. Also, although it’s known as a spice, it’s actually an herb. Why Our Body Loves it! Ginger has a ton of positive health effects. Some people believe it can help cure diabetes, colds, sore throat, nausea and headaches. learn more about these benefits and more here Care & Picking Fresh ginger can be stored for several weeks in refrigerator. Dried and powdered ginger can be stored in your pantry in an airtight container. Ginger root can actually be planted and does very well stored that way. Tips & Warnings Don’t freeze ginger root, it can turn soggy. Also, avoid storing ginger in paper bags. It lessens its lifespan and can cause premature mold. Our Favorite Recipes Nutritional Info Our Challenge Submit a Video Upload a Picture Share your Recipes

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