Nothing Says Love....

When the sweet aroma of cinnamon wafts through the house, you know something tasty is in the oven. In times past, cinnamon was considered an expensive luxury and has even been used as an aphrodisiac. Today, it is a common spice in everyday cooking which adds minimal calories and much flavor to foods. One teaspoon contains just 6 calories and 1.4 grams of fiber. You will also find manganese and calcium in it's nutrient mix, and a myriad of flavinoids such as proanthocyanidins, which exhibit antioxidant effects. Cinnamon also contains the essential oils cinnamaldehyde and eugenol, which inhibit bacterial growth that play a role in food preservation. The jury is still out however, on it's health benefits in lowering fasting blood glucose, hemoglobin A1C and lipid levels in people with diabetes. Doses of ground cinnamon used in the studies were 2 to 3 teaspoons - much more than what you would sprinkle on your morning latte.
As with other spices, cinnamon should be stored in a cool, dry, dark place in a tightly closed container to prevent clumping. Exposure to heat will denature the aromatic essential oils and diminish the flavor. Shelf life is about 2-3 years for ground cinnamon; 4 years for sticks.

Cinnamon and Raisin Bread Pudding

6 slices (1/2 inch) Hawaiian Sweet Bread or buttermilk bread, cut into small squares
2 tsp. ground cinnamon
2 large eggs
1/3 cup raisins
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 Tbs. brown sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
1/4 tsp. salt
1 & 1/4 cup nonfat (skim) milk
1/4 cup Half-and-Half
Nonstick cooking spray

Preheat oven to 350 F. Place 6 - 4oz. ramekins or custard bowls on a baking sheet and lightly coat with nonstick spray. In a bowl, toss bread with cinnamon and raisins. In another medium bowl, whisk together eggs, sugars, vanilla, salt, milk and Half & Half. Add cubes, gently fold to evenly soak bread and spoon into ramekins. Bake about 40 minutes.
*Calories: 240, Total fat: 5 G. Cholesterol: 80 mg. Sodium: 340 mg. Carbohydrates: 39 G. Fiber: 1 G. Sugar: 23 G. Protein: 8 G.

Bisphenol A

BPA is a chemical used to make plastics and resins. Some cans used in food production have a plastic lining to prevent corrosion, particularly foods of high acidity such as tomatoes. Consumer Reports and Prevention published articles concerning the safety of several food items tested for BPA. The FDA agrees there is concern about the potential effects of BPA on the brain, behavior, and prostate glands of fetuses, infants, and children. How harmful is BPA and just how much is considered a "safe" level? It seems the controversy lies in the research. Studies on lab animals have been at very high levels of BPA, where humans are generally exposed to one-millionth of the amount. The FDA is currently funding a $30 million research program for toxicity studies.
In the meantime, there are the options of fresh and frozen tomato products, and canned vegetables processed in glass containers. Home canning is also an option. Tomatoes are an excellent source of vitamin C, A and lycopene, which is more easily absorbed in the body after they have been processed. There's no need to exclude canned tomato products from a healthful diet.
~ ADA Times

Chocolate Lover's, Rejoice!

Chocolate really can be good for you, but not all chocolate is created equally. If you're after health benefits, forget the chewy, caramel, marshmallow or cream-covered chocolates and look for solid dark chocolate. Research has shown that when dark chocolate is part of a healthy lifestyle, it can improve heart health, blood pressure, reduce LDL (bad cholesterol), and increase blood flow to the brain. It may also improve blood sugar and insulin sensitivity, reducing diabetes risk.
The health benefits of chocolate come from flavonoids, a type of phytochemical found in the cacao bean. Dark chocolate contains a higher percentage of cocoa than white or milk chocolate. And the more cocoa a chocolate product contains, the richer its health-promoting content. The greater the percentage of cocoa, the higher the concentration of flavonoids. Look for dark chocolate with at least 70% cocoa for the finest dark chocolate rich in healthy flavonoids.
Limit the portion size because even though dark chocolate contains good-for-you flavonoids, it also has not-so-good-for-you fat, sugar, and calories. Overindulging in chocolate can undo any health benefits and lead to weight gain and related health problems. About an ounce will provide chocolate's health benefits without widening your waistline. A standard-sized bar of Hershey's Dark Chocolate has 531 calories, compared with 150 calories from an ounce of dark chocolate or about six Hershey's Kisses.
~ Kathleen Zelman, MPH, RD, LD

Getting Tots to Eat Right

Power struggles at the dinner table can be avoided if you start early. Children's food preferences start early and habits are formed by the parents, good or bad, intentional or not.
Parents need to choose what, when, and where the child will eat. Let the child decide how much. They won't go hungry! A child who fills up on between-meal snacks will never eat broccoli or much of anything at dinner. Take control, but offer choices. For example, let them decide between 2 or 3 vegetable options that you choose for dinner. Don't allow french fries, for instance, to be one of those options! Also, don't be alarmed over an occasional lack of appetite. Pediatricians agree that it is normal for children to eat less during some stages of growth, and eating patterns vary from child to child. Toddlers are busy. They have a whole world to explore and it’s hard to sit for a meal. They need less food and are less interested in eating. You can keep them more focused on meals by keeping distractions such as loud noises, toys, and T.V. out of kitchen. Typically, a toddler of 6 months to 2 years needs about 40 calories a day per inch of height. And an average 2 - 6 year old requires almost 1300 - 1800 calories a day.
It is best not to use food as punishment or reward; this teaches emotional attachments to food. Explain to kids that treats are fine on occasion, and other foods are meant for meals.
Encourage kids to eat a wide variety of foods, and practice what you preach! You are their most influential example. Cooking together is a good way to encourage kids to try new things. Think bright colors and fun shapes. Like adults, toddlers eat with their eyes first. Use cookie cutters to make almost anything into an appealing shape. Make foods attractive and fun, and cut things in small pieces for young children. Although they may not eat perfectly every day, they tend to eat well enough over the course of several days or a week.

Weight Control Tips for Kids

Following the rapid growth phase in infancy, teen years are the fastest growth stage of life. A moderately active teenage boy requires about 2800 - 3000 calories per day, and about 2200 - 2300 for girls. Calories supply the energy needed for growth and physical activities. The healthiest way to control a child's weight is to serve foods with enough calories (but not too many) for normal growth and activity. Restricting calories for very young children is not advised since it can have a negative effect on growth and development. The best way to control weight gain is through exercise. Approximately 40% of all children in the U.S. are overweight and not physically fit. Let an overweight child "grow into their weight" by limiting empty calorie snacks and increasing physical activity. Typically, children ages 6 - 12 grow about 2 inches in height and gain about 5 lbs. per year. Teen boys can grow as much as 4 inches in height in one year.
To help your child to become more active, encourage them to walk to school and get involved in sports as well as limiting TV and video games. Active kids require 6 - 8 cups of water each day, in addition to fluids every 15 minutes during sporting events and physical exertion.
Even with some knowledge of nutrition, teenagers may develop poor eating habits due to peer pressure, busy schedules, and readily available fast foods. Poor food choices often lead to low amounts of iron and calcium in their diets, which are crucial for bone, muscle, and mental development. Low iron levels can especially be a problem for girls due to their menstrual flow. Encourage kids and teens to drink milk and calcium enriched orange juice instead of sodas. Iron rich foods such as red meats, poultry, shellfish, eggs, dark leafy vegetables, and fortified grains are good ways to increase iron intake. When you serve plant sources of iron, also serve foods high in vitamin C (i.e. orange juice) to increase the amount of iron your teen's body can absorb. Monitor what your child is and isn't eating. Seek professional help if you think your child is beginning to develop an eating disorder. Eating disorders are deeply psychological - not just an issue of food preferences or weight control.