Healthy Recipes

Frances Flower While organic produce, and even organic dairy, often gets the glory, I thought it would be good to talk about what makes organic meat and poultry organic. If you’ve been tempted to buy organic meat or poultry but you’re not sure what it means, read on! In order to be certified to the US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) organic standards farms and ranches must follow a strict set of guidelines. A third-party certifier inspects these farms and ranches annually to ensure the standards are met. Here are a few of the key requirements for organic poultry, cattle and pigs: Must be raised organically on certified organic pastures Must be fed certified organic feed for their entire lives No drugs, antibiotics or growth hormones are allowed* Must have year-round outdoor access *Federal regulations prohibit the use of hormones in raising pork and poultry. The animals’ organic feed cannot contain animal by-products, antibiotics or genetically engineered grains and cannot be grown using persistent pesticides or chemical fertilizers. For details about the National Organic Program and access to the organic regulations, visit the USDA website. In addition to offering organic options, all the chicken, turkey, beef and pork sold at Whole Foods Market® (whether organic or not) are from animals raised without the use of antibiotics and added growth hormones*. They’ve also been certified to the Global Animal Partnerships’ 5-Step™ Animal Welfare Rating Program. This program rates how pigs, chickens, cattle and turkey are raised for meat and is dedicated to continually improving the lives of farm animals. Next time you are in your local Whole Foods Market store, be sure to ask our butchers to point out our organic meat and poultry. Have you tried organic meat? Why is it important to you?

One of the main principles of healthy eating is that you are going to have to stop eating fast food and prepared processed food..... continue reading

As we get older (and no, we will NOT reveal our real ages), we’ve been thinking more about the connection between what we eat and how we feel and look … inside and out.  The link is quite strong. Take berries for example. Strawberries, blueberries, and blackberries are rich in antioxidants, which protect against the daily wear and tear of our cells and cell membranes and guard against premature signs of aging. And then there are foods like Swiss chard, kale, spinach and other dark green leafy vegetables that contain vitamins A and C (both powerful antioxidants), vitamin K, a strong bone builder, and a nutrient called biotin, good for the health of hair and skin. On this week’s Cooking with the Moms radio podcast, we outline both everyday and surprising foods that boost beauty and keep us young … and we serve up two recipes filled with life-enhancing ingredients: Apple, Rhubarb & Berry Crisp and this Rustic Red, White and Green Pizza. Our intern, Catherine, joins us on the show, and she helped with all the research. We haven’t met too many kids who don’t love pizza, so we cooked up this thin-crust pizza with a 16-ounce pizza dough, sauteed red onion and Swiss chard, basil pesto, and fresh mozzarella cheese. When you buy Swiss chard—this happened to be an organic bunch—wash it well, and then slice the leaves away from the stems. Give the leaves a rough chop and then saute in extra virgin olive oil just like you would spinach. It takes about seven minutes on medium heat for the leaves to soften up compared to spinach, which takes about three minutes. If you can’t find Swiss chard at the market (though this time of year it’s EVERYWHERE), use a 6-ounce bag of baby spinach instead. Before the cheese melts … after the cheese melts. Rustic Red, White and Green Pizza Makes 2 Smallish Pizzas, 6 Servings When we dream up nutritious recipes for families, we always think about keeping things flexible. So in the case of this recipe, if “green” is not your family’s favorite food color, saute diced red or orange bell peppers and use those instead. Or sub out the green with sliced mushrooms. For more tweaks, you can sprinkle with fresh thyme for a more herb-y flavor or use goat cheese or feta in place of the mozzarella. 2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil, divided 1/2 red onion, cut into 1/4-inch pieces One 12-ounce bunch Swiss chard (leaves alone weigh 9 ounces), washed, leaves trimmed from stems, and roughly chopped One 16-ounce pizza dough, brought to room temperature 2 tablespoons basil pesto One 8-ounce ball fresh mozzarella cheese, cut into 14 thin slices 1. Preheat the oven to 425°F. 2. Heat 1 teaspoon of the oil in a large nonstick skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring frequently, until it softens and browns, about 5 minutes. Stir in the Swiss chard and continue to cook, stirring frequently, until the chard wilts and softens, about 7 minutes. Set aside. 3. Lightly oil or spray two small baking sheets with nonstick cooking spray. Divide the dough in half and place on each of the baking sheets. Top each dough ball with 1/2 teaspoon oil. Use your fingers and the heel of your hands to gently stretch and flatten each dough ball until it covers most of the baking sheet. The dough should be thin and the shape can be oval, round, or just plain ol’ rustic. 4. Spread 1 tablespoon of basil pesto evenly over each of the pizzas. Top evenly with the red onion and Swiss chard mixture. Arrange the mozzarella slices evenly over each pizza. Place the baking sheets in the oven and bake until the bottoms are golden brown and the cheese is melted and bubbly, 12 to 15 minutes. (Depending on the size of your baking sheets, you may need to cook the pizzas one at a time.) Slice and serve. Nutrition Information per Serving:   320 calories, 16g fat (6g saturated), 400mg sodium, 35g carbohydrate, 2g fiber, 13g protein, 60% vitamin A, 15% vit

I wrote a post a couple weeks ago listing my Top 10 Ways to Save Money on Real Food. I talked about why I save with Amazon Subscribe & Save. In the comments, some people wanted to know what I buy on Amazon Subscribe & Save. If you are planning on getting started with Amazon Subscribe & Save, I hope this post gives you some ideas of what you can add to your order. How To Use Amazon Subscribe and Save In case you’re not familiar with Amazon Subscribe and Save, here’s how it works. Think of an item that you buy over and over again. Like paper towels, maple syrup, that kind of thing. If you’re buying it in bulk (i.e. a case of something) look for something that has a long shelf life and you can store in a cupboard or in the garage. Like natural soda pop, batteries, paper towels, dog food. Now, go to Amazon Subscribe & Save and start shopping. The shipping is FREE (you don’t have to be a Prime member). You just have to have 5 items in your Shop & Save delivery, in order to save 15%. Click here to read more about how to save money with Amazon Subscribe & Save. What I Buy on Amazon Subscribe and Save OK, so here’s my list… 1. Ziploc Freezer Bags Ziploc Freezer Bags – THis is one of those plastic things I can’t seem to find a way to stop using. We don’t use a ton of them but they come in very handy for freezing that roasted pumpkin that you want to use later to make soup. 2. Ziploc Sandwich Bags Ziploc Sandwich Bags – Another thing we use, mostly for Kate’s lunches. 3. Kitchen Trash Bags Kitchen Trash Bags – Another plastic thing I still buy. 4. Grain-free Cat Food Grain-free Cat Food – Most cat foods are full of grains. This doesn’t make sense because cats are carnivores. I used to buy specialty grain-free cat food at the pet store. I had to go out of my way to go pick up a bag, and it used to be a pain when we’d run out. Now that I have this cat food on Subscribe & Save, I never have to think about it. We always have cat food. 5. Organic Kona Coffee Beans Organic Kona Coffee Beans – This a Kona blend, featuring Hawaiian Kona beans blended with South American beans to create a cup very similar to 100% Kona — at a fraction of the cost. 6. Paper Towels Paper Towels – I love never having to go to Costco again to buy paper towels. Now they just show up on my front doorstep every few months. 7. Toilet Paper Toilet Paper – Ditto on the paper towels (above). No more Costco! 8. Batteries Batteries – Never run out of batteries again. And you don’t have to go to Target or a hardware store to get them. 9.Feline Pine Cat Litter Feline Pine Cat Litter – We have 2 cats and I’ve tried all kinds of cat litters and litter boxes. This is the one I like the best. It’s composed of 100% natural pine. It’s totally odorless and super easy to use, especially if you get a special Sifting Litter Tray that is designed to be used with it. 10. Kitchen Sponges Kitchen Sponges – Again, one of those dumb things that you always run out of and you have to make a special store to the grocery store. I never shop at the regular grocery store — I only go to Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods and the farmer’s market, so going to the regular grocery store is a pain. Now I just get these shipped directly to me and I never have to worry about it. 11. Olive Oil Potato Chips Olive Oil Potato Chips – Now we’re getting to the good stuff! We love these olive oil potato chips. We used to buy them at Trader Joe’s but it’s so much easier to just order them on Subscribe & Save. 12. Maple Syrup Maple Syrup – Maple syrup has a lot more minerals and vitamins than white sugar. Grade B Organic is the best one to buy because it has a richer flavor and a higher nutrition content. 13. Non-Chlorine Bleach Non-Chlorine Bleach – I use non-c

4.56 / 5 Stars | 222 Reviews by mamaiscookin "A great way to get your kids to eat greens! You will be amazed by this yummy fruity smoothie. Experiment with different amounts or types of fruit and make your own." View Complete Recipe Details and Reviews

4.35 / 5 Stars | 92 Reviews by Doug Hightower "Enrich your favorite bottled barbecue sauce with a little honey, catsup and onion, splash it over chicken, and you have dinner." View Complete Recipe Details and Reviews

4.2 / 5 Stars | 39 Reviews by OOMPAH "I came up with this fresh-tasting, spicy recipe one night as we fired up steaks smothered in a smoky hickory BBQ sauce on our new grill. The combination was a hit and this has definitely become a new favorite. We like our food spicy, so adjust the amount of chipotle and onion to suit your taste." View Complete Recipe Details and Reviews

4.05 / 5 Stars | 134 Reviews by SUE416 "In this simple preparation, baked flounder fillets take on a delicious Italian-inspired flavor." View Complete Recipe Details and Reviews

4.33 / 5 Stars | 64 Reviews by Komal "Tender cooked chickpeas are simmered lightly with tomatoes, lemon juice and onions in a spicy blend of toasted cumin seeds, chili powder and lemon pepper. Served warm, this makes a deliciously fragrant appetizer." View Complete Recipe Details and Reviews

4.28 / 5 Stars | 23 Reviews by CHRISTYJ "Yogurt and guacamole dress this salad beautifully. There are lots of beans, cucumbers, tomatoes, and onions in this hearty salad, which is served with shredded lettuce and corn chips." View Complete Recipe Details and Reviews