A Fascinating Find!

When I am done with my schooling, and acquire more knowledge about nutrition/health, I would love to write a book called "Roots." Roots would be about finding the cause of our health issues versus putting a band-aid on them.

As I have mentioned before, I have Grave's disease and have been under a lot of pressure to have my thyroid removed and then be placed on a synthetic hormone for life. I am excepting of this but first need to see if I can some how uncover the real reason I suffer from this autoimmune disease. I have been consulting some wonderful health care practitioners that are teaching me a lot about my disease. My nutritionist ran several tests only to find out that I have food sensitivities and a yeast overgrowth in my intestinal track. This is soooooo gross and probably way too much information. However...we need to get real here. This is what it is about...trying to find the root of our health issues. Anyway, she put me on some supplements to help kill off the yeast and parasites. Food sensitives and a yeast overgrowth can be linked to autoimmune disease so it was something I felt I needed to do. Even if it did not cure the disease, I knew it would improve my overall health at a minimum.

I ended up having a pretty intense die-off reaction called Herxheimer reaction. This reaction causes fatigue, flu-like symptoms, anxiety, etc. It was very unpleasant to say the least and lasted several weeks. I ended up seeing a holistic MD recently to assist me with me thyroid disease and the die-off reaction I was experiencing. He put me on charcoal for three days and told me to take an Epsom salt bath every day. He also told me to put a pinch of Celtic sea salt under my tongue 3-4 times a day. With in three days, my headaches were gone and I felt great. So great that I am going to continue to do the baths and the salt treatment.

My fantastic find is the Epsom salt bath. My nutritionist and Md were both in agreement that these baths are so beneficial. Not only would an Epsom salt bath 3-4 times a week force you to carve out some time for yourself, it would be extremely beneficial for your health. Please read the article below I found online that would better explain the tremendous health benefits of an Epsom salt bath:

"Most of us know about the importance of iron and calcium for our bodies, but what about magnesium? It is the second most abundant element in human cells and the fourth most important positively charged ion in the body. It helps the body regulate over 325 enzymes and plays an important role in organizing many bodily functions, like muscle control, electrical impulses, energy production and the elimination of harmful toxins.

Most of us are deficient in magnesium, so I’m going to put on my wise-granny hat on here and tell you this: soaking in a bath with Epsom salt, which is high in magnesium, is one of the easiest ways to get a boost.

According to the National Academy of Sciences, American’s magnesium deficiency helps to account for high rates of heart disease, stroke, osteoporosis, arthritis and joint pain, digestive maladies, stress-related illnesses, chronic fatigue and a number of other ailments. Who knew?!

Our magnesium levels have dropped by half in the last century due to changes in agriculture and diet. Industrial farming has depleted magnesium from soil and the typical American diet contains much less magnesium than that of our forefathers. And in fact, the modern American diet with its fat, sugar, salt and protein actually works to speed up the depletion of magnesium from our bodies.

Another factor in decreased magnesium levels has been our focus on getting enough calcium. It’s a delicate dance–calcium depletes magnesium yet calcium functions best when enough magnesium is present. Studies indicate that taking a calcium supplement without enough magnesium can increase the shortage of both nutrients. Researchers have found that many Americans have five times as much calcium as magnesium in their bodies, although the proper ratio for optimum absorption of both minerals is two to one.

With such widespread magnesium deficiency one might think that magnesium supplements would be called upon, but studies show that magnesium is not easily absorbed through the digestive tract. The presence of specific foods or drugs, certain medical conditions, and the chemistry of a person’s stomach acid can render magnesium supplements ineffective.

This brings us to Epsom salt. Known scientifically as hydrated magnesium sulfate, Epsom salt is rich in both magnesium and sulfate. While both magnesium and sulfate can be poorly absorbed through the stomach, studies show increased magnesium levels from soaking in a bath enriched with Epsom salt! Magnesium and sulfate are both easily absorbed through the skin. Sulfates play an important role in the formation of brain tissue, joint proteins and the proteins that line the walls of the digestive tract. They stimulate the pancreas to generate digestive enzymes and are thought to help detoxify the body of medicines and environmental contaminants.

Researchers and physicians suggest these health benefits from proper magnesium and sulfate levels, as listed on the web site of the Epsom Salt Industry Council:

• Improved heart and circulatory health, reducing irregular heartbeats, preventing hardening of the arteries, reducing blood clots and lowering blood pressure.
• Improved ability for the body to use insulin, reducing the incidence or severity of diabetes.
• Flushed toxins and heavy metals from the cells, easing muscle pain and helping the body to eliminate harmful substances.
• Improved nerve function by electrolyte regulation. Also, calcium is the main conductor for electrical current in the body, and magnesium is necessary to maintain proper calcium levels in the blood.
• Relieved stress. Excess adrenaline and stress are believed to drain magnesium, a natural stress reliever, from the body. Magnesium is necessary for the body to bind adequate amounts of serotonin, a mood-elevating chemical within the brain that creates a feeling of well being and relaxation.
• Reduced inflammation to relieve pain and muscle cramps.
• Improved oxygen use.
• Improved absorption of nutrients.
• Improved formation of joint proteins, brain tissue and mucin proteins.
• Prevention or easing of migraine headaches.

All this from a bath? Hurray! While there are many different brands of Epsom salt, they are all the same product chemically, and can be found at most drug stores. Add two cups of Epsom salt and soak for at least 12 minutes. Do this three times weekly.

If you are pregnant or have any health concerns, please check with your doctor before using Epsom salts."

Read more: http://www.care2.com/greenliving/health-benefits-of-epsom-salt-baths.html#ixzz19ZHZ7cAs

Americans consume a ½ pound of sugar a day.

1 tsp= 4 grams

1 cube =1 tsp

SugarStacks.com provides a great visual for children and adults of how much sugar is in certain foods. Have your child look up certain foods they enjoy to see how much sugar is in those selected foods.

Excessive sugar is the culprit of so many health problems ranging from obesity, diabetes, cavities, heart disease, suppressing the immune system, etc. etc. Even complex carbohydrates have sugar, like vegetables. That is why it is important to monitor your sugar intake and be sure to include fruits and vegetables in your tally.

Try to substitute refined sugar and artificial sweeteners for a better sweetener like maple syrup, honey or stevia (or stevia extract). Rapdura is a good alternative for baking. It has a lot simpler processing then evaporated cane juice and even has some health benefits. You can buy it at Whole Foods but need to ask for it. It has a little stronger flavor but is not that noticeable. Agave is not a good alternative. It is similarly processed to HFCS and has more fructose that HFCS.

Information taken from Kelly Scanlon and Sheryl Shenefelt at the Growing Connection Conference/2010.

Household Chores/Allowance

Anyone have some good tips on chores/allowance?? I had this one parent when I was teaching that did this amazing allowance program for her kids. I remember that she read some book about the wonderful lessons that come from instituting an allowance. I don't remember what age she recommended to start the program but she made it very clear that a child should not get an allowance for chores... Her big thing was that chores are required and every family member needs to contribute to the household. You should not pay your kids for chores. That was her take. I like the idea of not paying them to clean their room, do the dishes, etc. She gave them so much money every week and they had to put a certain amount in long term savings, short term savings and for donations. If the kids wanted a toy, they had to pay for it. My four year old twins are probably too young for such an extensive program but I was wondering if anyone had some good tips on how they orchestrate chores in their household? What type of responsibilities do your toddlers/kids have around the house? The kids love to do certain chores, like setting the table (as seen above) but picking up their toys is a battle everyday. I sometimes feel like a broken record. Thanks in advance for your thoughts. :)

PS) Any tips on getting a "spiderman crazed" four year old to wear something other then his spiderman pjs, underwear and socks? God help me...he is obsessed!!!!!!!

Unbleached Parchment Paper

Unbleached parchment paper is a cleaner, greener substitute for aluminum foil. I read that cooking acidic foods, like tomato based products, on aluminum foil/cooking equipment doubles the aluminum content in your food. Pretty gross!

Girl Stuff 101

Maddie gave her cousin a lesson in girl stuff today! Thanks Maddie
for sharing your fun dress-up stuff with Lana! :)

Hot Topic: Farm Raised Fish

This hot topic has been circulating for a while however, after I read this Dr. Mercola article, I am going to be a lot more selective about which fish I purchase. The only adult interaction I get during the day, other then some random calls to friends, is the meat/fish guy at Whole Foods. :) Sad..I know! When I get brave enough to take the kids with me, he is extremely patient with my little crew and ALL of my questions. He told me that it is imperative that you buy your fish from a reputable vendor. Recently, he was telling me that Tilipia is typically a dirty/bottom feeder fish and he wouldn't buy it from anywhere but WF. Now, he is an employee of WF so I am taking that into consideration. It definitely made me think twice about getting my fish from Kroger.

Dr. Mercola said he would depend on getting his Omega threes from a clean fish oil versus from fish. He recommends Krill oil. I personally take Carlson's Cod Liver Oil. This brand/oil has come highly recommended by MANY experts. The kids take a 1/4 t. a day and I take 1 t. a day. Typically, you take a 1/4 t. per 25 pounds. Again, please check with your doctor if you are going to supplement.

It is most important to take CLO third trimester of pregnancy and while nursing. Studies show that it (Omega 3) has a significant impact on I.Q. until the age of two. Once you stop nursing, give it to your baby in their water/juice.

I do love fish and can not give it up. Soooo I will be doing more homework on the fish we purchase/consume. Check our part of the article from Dr. Mercola for more information:

"Farmed Fish Also Pose Additional Human Health Hazards

In addition to being an unsustainable practice and an economic disaster, farm raised fish can also spell disaster for your health.

It's important to understand that ALL farm-raised fish – not just salmon -- are fed a concoction of vitamins, antibiotics, and depending on the fish, synthetic pigments, to make up for the lack of natural flesh coloration due to the altered diet. Without it, the flesh of caged salmon, for example, would be an unappetizing, pale gray.

The fish are also fed pesticides, along with compounds such as toxic copper sulfate, which is frequently used to keep nets free of algae.

Not only do you ingest these drugs and chemicals when you eat the fish, but these toxins also build up in sea-floor sediments. In this way, industrial fish farming raises many of the same environmental concerns about chemicals and pollutants that are associated with feedlot cattle and factory chicken farms.

In addition, fish waste and uneaten feed further litter the sea floor beneath these farms, generating bacteria that consume oxygen vital to shellfish and other bottom-dwelling sea creatures.

Studies have also consistently found levels of PCBs, dioxins, toxaphene and dieldrin, as well as mercury, to be higher in farm-raised fish than wild fish.

This fact alone would be cause to reconsider consuming farmed fish!

Wild caught fish have already reached such toxic levels, it's impossible to recommend eating them with a clear conscience anymore. For example, according to a recent U.S. Geological Survey study, mercury contamination was detected in EVERY fish sampled in nearly 300 streams across the United States!

More than a quarter of these fish contained mercury at levels exceeding the EPA criterion for the protection of human health. Another study on fish from US lakes and reservoirs found that more than half contained excessive levels of mercury -- so much so they were deemed unsafe for children and pregnant women to eat.

So, when you consider the fact that factory farmed fish typically are even MORE toxic than wild caught fish and also contain an assortment of antibiotics and pesticides, avoiding them becomes a no-brainer – at least if you're concerned about your health."

Meal Idea: Mexican Casserole

My friends and I have passed a few versions of a Mexican casserole back and forth and this one I came up with as I was experimenting with some left overs. The left overs were actually from the stuffed cabbage recipe below. This recipe is great if you have left over ground beef or rice.

1 lb. of ground beef (grass-fed beef would be the best)
1 serving of basmatti rice (cooked with chicken stock)
4 brown rice tortillas from Food For Life. (These are in the refrigerated section of Whole Foods with other tortillas. I do not like them uncooked. They are amazing when baked in casseroles, like this one. This is a healthy substitute for flour tortillas.)
handful of chopped spinach
1 jar of salsa
1 can of beans, black or pinto
shredded cheese

If meat is not cooked, cook and add salsa, spinach, and beans. In a bowl, add cooked rice and mix well. Layer a 9x13 pan starting with tortillas, meat/rice mixture, and then cheese. Repeat layers one more time. Bake at 350 for 45 minutes or until cheese is golden brown and bubbly.

Enjoy! :)

No Winter Groceries??

AMAZING....one last thing about my new favorite blog. The author of the blog cans, dehydrates, etc. so she can be fully stocked with seasonal food all winter. Its a no spending plan for her family but also an amazingly healthy and proactive plan. Check out this post:

http://www.nourishingdays.com/2010/12/no-groceries-til-february/

Wouldn't it be sooo cool if she taught classes on how to do this? Not sure I could give up the grocery store for the winter but how nice to be stocked with healthy, locals foods at your finger tips! :)

Food For Thought

http://www.nourishingdays.com/2009/12/why-our-family-eats-animal-
products-part-one/

If you are like me, you may enjoy learning about food and healthy/green living. However, if you are like me, you may get confused from time to time on what's the right thing to do... I hope my 11 followers (HA! Didn't think anyone read this...but thanks for checking in! The blog is my tool for documenting my personal studies on nutrition, green living, and family tribulations) know that I am student...and that is it! I am not an expert!!!!!!!!! I truly have a passion for learning and hope that I still feel like a student when I am 90 years old! I want to maintain my curiosity. Again, my blog helps me document and record my own personal studies and finds. I also feel like it is a tool that allows me to connect with smart moms that are interested in the same things I am. Bottom line, I am an eternal student trying to learn about what is right for my family. Ok...point made.

Kelly, my mentor, sent me this blog the other day and I think it is wonderful. This woman is an expert who has done her homework...plus some. I will be spending a lot of time on her blog trying her recipes and learning more about soaking oats/nuts/seeds, making fermented veggies, etc. She shares a lot of the same views as my health mentors.

Our group of friends have recently converted to raw/whole milk, grass fed meat/eggs, eating butter, etc. Many people have asked me why? Why do you drink whole milk and eat butter? Why do you eat meat? This woman explains it all so well. Click on the link above to get a better understanding of why we/I do the things we do.

A Fun Challenge

Once a month, think about a vegetable that you do not eat and research a recipe that has the foreign vegetable in it, and give it a whirl. This month, I challenged myself with finding a cabbage recipe. I made the winter stew delight (with cabbage) from Emily and loved it, so I decided to go one step further and try stuffed cabbage. Maria's Busia has hooked us up with so many recipes! Thank you, Busia! :) Here is the delicious recipe:

PS) Next month, I am going to do something with leeks. I need to talk to my girlfriend Jodi...I think she has a potato/leek soup recipe. Stay tuned! :) (Aren't you on the edge of your seat?? HA)

Ingredients: 1 medium cabbage, 1 lb. ground beef/sirloin, 1 cup of cooked rice, 1 1/2 tsp. salt, dash of pepper, 1 sweet onion, 1 can of tomato soup, 1/2 can water, 2 TBSP butter, 1 egg

1. Cook your rice.

2. Bring a large, wide saucepan of water to a boil. Add cabbage leaves (after carefully tearing them off as whole leaves from cabbage) to water and cook 2-4 minutes until softened. Drain and cut the middle core so they are easier to roll.

3. In a mixing bowl, combine raw meat, rice, chopped onion, egg, salt and pepper, and 2 TBSP of tomato soup. Mix.

4. Divide the meat into balls and roll the cabbage. Place, seams down, in a large skillet over medium heat with 1/2 can of water. Mix the can of tomato soup with the melted butter and pour over the tops of the cabbage rolls. Cover and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer for about 45 minutes. Stir and baste the cabbage rolls with the liquid often.

Additions: You can also add other veggies to your meat mixture: chopped up peppers, kale, spinach, etc.

Healthy Substitutions

http://allrecipes.com//HowTo/common-ingredient-substitutions/Detail.aspx

I really like this article/chart on the above link. There are certain ingredients I try to avoid when cooking/baking and this chart will give you some good examples of alternatives. It would also be helpful if you or one of your family members suffers from a food allergy. For example:

1 cup of shortening = 1 cup of butter (use organic raw or cultured butter)
1 cup of corn syrup = 1 cup of honey (use raw, local honey)
1 cup of beer = 1 cup of chicken stock (use homemade chicken stock)
1 cup of mayo = 1 cup of plain yogurt

Meal Idea: Quinoa Salad

Moms always share dinner ideas, but we hardly ever talk about breakfast or lunch ideas. This salad is super easy and very healthy. I like to serve it with Mary's Gone Crackers, shown above. As I have mentioned before, I am trying really hard to limit gluten and make our snacks/meals more diverse. These wanna be crackers are so healthy. They are made up of brown rice, quinoa, flax seed, sesame seeds, etc. No oil, no gluten, all natural, healthy ingredients. When I first started giving them to the kids, they did not like them at all. After seeing me eat them, they decided to give them a try. Dipped in hummus or quinoa salad, they closely resemble a cracker. Warning: These do not taste like a Ritz cracker! They do taste different. My goal is to help my body learn to crave new/healthy foods. It requires work/effort/time/money to make your health a priority. We all like to complain (including me!) about how hard it is to make positive changes in our diet/life, but in the end, it is worth it.

Quinoa Salad:

I eyeball the ingredients.
Add more or less of the items you like.

-cooked quinoa
-leftover cubed chicken or salmon
-grape seed oil mayo
-chopped up celery or onion
-shredded cheese
-garlic powder
-celtic sea salt

Mix all ingredients and serve as a sandwich, in a tortilla or with crackers.

Shopping Tip of the Week:
Consider Grape Seed Oil

Grape seed oil is a great alternative to vegetable oil. It can withstand high heat and be used for baking, salad dressings, and pan-frying. I use it for anything that calls for vegetable oil. Making brownies, cup cakes, etc. You can't tell the difference at all. Its one more small baby step to better health.

Question?

How do you organize your recipes? Do you have a good system you could share? Please share in the comments section. Thanks!

Funny Pictures from our weekend!
We like to try to get around to see all of the local Santas and these were some of the pictures. The "professional" photographer took these outstanding pictures. Ha ha ha! In the first one, you will notice one of my kids is missing...you can just see his hat. Good memory for him! :)

I especially like this one, Jake is in it but now Kevin is cut off. Ohh and Josh and I are especially photogenic in this picture. :) We will be visiting Three Cedars soon for a second try.

And the last funny photo is one of my daughter Lana, who thinks her baby is Spider man. I hope this isn't going to cause long term issues for her... :)

Finally....A Mud Room!

The dust and chaos is finally settling. Our mud room is completed ...Hallelujah! We built our house five years ago and my husband would comment daily that he wished we had a mud room. So we finally decided to take the plunge and move forward with our dream mud room. We kept it simple and cheap but put a lot of thought into designing it. It is now my favorite room in the house. :) I can't believe how much a few extra square feet has organized our life. Now we need to retrain the kids to go in their and use their designated locker. Hopefully it will meet our expectations.

The last picture is this little photo strip I bought at Michaels for $4.99. I just love their cute pre-school pictures but never know where to put them. I thought this frame was a nice place to put their pictures.

Tortellini Soup

THANK YOU AMY! This recipe comes from my dear friend, Amy. We make this dish 2-3 times a month. The boys request this dish weekly. It is sooo good and easy to prepare. Enjoy!

1 tbsp. olive oil

1 tbsp. butter

3-4 cloves garlic
1 can stewed tomatoes or chopped up fresh tomatoes

1 handful of baby spinach, chopped up

2 cans 14 oz. chicken broth or 1 box (or homemade chicken stock)

9 oz. cheese or pesto tortellini

1 tsp. basil

1/4 cup Parmesan cheese

Saute butter and/or olive oil & garlic in the bottom of the pot. Add 2 cans (or 1 box) of chicken broth and a can of stewed tomatoes. Bring to a boil. Add tortellinis and cook 10 minutes. Then add basil, chopped baby spinach and Parmesan cheese. Cook 10 more minutes and top with more cheese to serve.

Picky Eaters!

Getting your kids to eat certain foods can be such a chore. I have had people comment that they are surprised about the weird foods my kids eat but I take that as a compliment! My thoughts on this topic, from my own personal research/experience, is that kids are not genetically picky! It is a process. It should be a well thought out process.

One phrase that I try really hard to ban from our vocabulary is "He won't eat that" or "He won't like that." I don't want to put those thoughts in their head, before they even try a new food. Don't get me wrong, my kids have actually used the word "disgusting" when describing a meal that I've prepared. I tell ya...they are true food critics! :) We then have a discussion on how it is not polite to say things like that when someone works hard to make you a meal. I have also had kids turn away a meal twenty times before they finally get brave enough to try it. I really try to be consistent and reintroduce foods over and over until they decide it is worthy of trying. Kids need to feel a comfort level with food. It has to be familiar.

It is very stressful when a toddler turns away a meal. Some parents resort to making two meals every night. I am not a fan of making two meals. My husband and I have held our ground on this and it has not been easy. Especially, because one of my twins is very small for his age. If they don't want what I serve, they do not get dessert. I also explain to them that in order to grow and be big and strong like "spider man" they need to eat a healthy meal. Right now, they are obviously more focused on dessert! :) Dessert is usually a healthy treat like apples and peanut butter, organic ice cream with nuts and fruit, etc. Then, we usually do a healthy snack (leftover dinner, fruit, nuts, cheese, yogurt, etc.) before bed time, just to ensure everyone has a full belly before bed.

Meal time so often becomes a tug of war. I think the important thing is to keep meal time calm and enjoyable. We have to remember that there are nights we don't clean our plate or feel like eating all of our vegetables. Kids are entitled to the same rights. I never get upset or angry if they don't eat every carrot stick or their entire salad. I just compliment them on being brave and trying a new food. I just explain to them that they need to try every item on their plate, if they want dessert. They know the rules and I let them make the decision on how they want to proceed. Sometimes they are not happy with the consequences and that's fine with me.

If you have any other tips for meal time success, please share.

Top Ten Ways to Enhance a Meal!

We certainly don't enhance every meal, as you can see from the picture above. :) But when I can, I try to boost the nutritional value of a meal. Enhancing a meal is EASY! Here is a list of some simple ways you can enhance a meal:

1. Add chopped kale, spinach, peppers, onion, or whatever veggies you have on hand to spaghetti sauce, hamburger meat, meatloaves, taco meat, meat balls, etc. The key is to chop the veggies up small. It enhances the flavor and nutritional value.

2. Add sweet potato or pumpkin puree to pancakes or waffle recipes.

3. Add chopped up onion and homemade chicken stock to rice.

4. Add zucchini or squash purees to mac and cheese.

5.Smoothies are an excellent way to squeeze in a few extra vegetables. We use frozen strawberries, spinach or kale, one carrot, kifer, coconut oil, honey, and water. It sounds like an odd combo but if you can get the consistency how you like it, it is a yummy drink. I usually add their cod liver oil and probiotic to this drink as well. It is a great way to start their day. You can play with different fruits and veggies, but be careful to not use too much fruit. It will go from a healthy drink to a high sugared beverage. If you are really brave, and have a vitamix, you can add root vegetables, seeds, nuts, etc. Smoothies are all about experimentation.

6. When making oatmeal/brown rice cereal add coconut oil, cinnamon, chopped walnuts or almonds, and apple slices.

7. When making eggs, use cultured butter, Celtic sea salt and organic/cage free brown eggs and you have an amazingly healthy dish. Of course adding chopped veggies and raw cheeses is also a great addition.

8. Spice it up! I add Turmeric, garlic, Celtic sea salt and onion to everything. Turmeric is a wonder spice. I give it to the kids with coconut oil and honey when they are coming down with a cold. I especially like adding it to taco meat and spaghetti sauce. I am not a huge fan of the flavor, but mixed in with other foods, you can't even taste it. Here are just a few reasons you should have Turmeric in your diet:

"1. It is a natural antiseptic and antibacterial agent, useful in disinfecting cuts and burns.

2. When combined with cauliflower, it has shown to prevent prostate cancer and stop the growth of existing prostate cancer.

3. Prevented breast cancer from spreading to the lungs in mice.

4. May prevent melanoma and cause existing melanoma cells to commit suicide.

5. Reduces the risk of childhood leukemia.

6. Is a natural liver detoxifier.

7. May prevent and slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease by removing amyloyd plaque buildup in the brain.

8. May prevent metastases from occurring in many different forms of cancer.

9. It is a potent natural anti-inflammatory that works as well as many anti-inflammatory drugs but without the side effects.

10. Has shown promise in slowing the progression of multiple sclerosis in mice."

9.When making pancakes, consider adding ground flax or wheat germ. I personally like wheat germ because it is easier. When we went on our shopping tour, Angelle said that Flax goes bad if you don't use it immediately. Basically, you should grind it every time you use it. Wheat germ sits in your fridge and you can just scoop it out and add it to your food. We get our DHA/EPA's from taking cod liver oil and eating salmon, walnuts, etc., so I don't worry about the flax.

10. Add to the basics: fruit/veggie puree, cinnamon, wheat germ, flax seed, probiotic, etc, can all be added to yogurt or applesauce.

We are setting up a life time of healthy eating habits by prioritizing our child's health in these formative years. When I talk about enhancing/hiding vegetables in food, I would like to suggest introducing vegetables and fruits to your child at every meal. I'd like to second Jessica Seinfeld's, author of Deceptively Delicious, views on serving vegetables with a meal as well as hiding them in a dish. The goal is to have your child enjoy eating healthy foods, but if one night is a total fail, at least you have insurance. :)