GO MEDITERRANEAN !

Some unsettling facts about Americans health,,

- It is predicted that the average american child will start developing hardening of the arteries even BEFORE they enter HIGH SCHOOL

-Americans suffer a higher incidence of degenerative diseases than people just about any place else in the world!!!

-Eighty million americans have some form of heart disease and,,,

-20 MILLION children and adults have diabetes.
-The amount of overweight children in America has TRIPLED since 1980

-1/3 of Americnas gets almost 1/2 of their calories from junk food.!!!!!!!!!!

WHY ? you ask,,, In a country that is suppose to be the most powerful country in the world full with knowledge and technology is our health suffering so??

Because we eat CRAP ! Because we are in a HURRY! and because we are LAZY !

Americans have become so hurried, so obsessed with convenience they have forgotten that what we eat is ESSENTIAL to how we thrive. Put crap in,, get crap out. In the form of disease.

In my opinion,, our children deserve better. So,, here is where we can start...

"Think Mediterranean"
I read an article recently in "Chicago Parent" Good Sense Eating article,, sites eating a Mediterranean diet is more than just HUGE bowls of pasta or bread dipped in olive oil.. Its a "Whole diet" approach that involves eating from a well rounded flavorful menu while enjoying the company of friends and family... ( that means not in a mad rush out the door or in front of the TV) Overwhelming research dating back to the 50's suggests that eating a Mediterranean type diet is associated with a longer healthier life.

TRANSLATION: We can learn a thing or two about a healthy diet from our Mediterranean neighbors,, Spain, Greece, Crete, Southern France and Italy.

Pediatrician Alan Greene, assistant clinical professor at Stanford Medical School was quoted saying,,, and I LOVE this,,
" We should erase the idea that there should be a separate kids menu" especially in restaurants. Children should be raised eating adult foods. He cites howmothers in other countries give their young children the same food the rest of the family is eating without judgement. They dont proclaim "this is good for you "

I couldn't say it better myself. On the rare occasion my family goes out to eat,, Lily never eats off the childrens menu. Lily usually eats a sampling of mine and her dads meal. Most childrens menu's are shrouded with preservative filled tasteless unbalanced meals.

I hear ya,,, "my child wont eat fruits and vegetables"
The best thing we can do for our children is start them early and start them flavorful.. As early as,,,,, "in the womb" Research suggests that spicy ( not necessarrilly spicy, "hot" but spicy,, flavorful" foods our lil ones can taste while in utero.

Breastfeeding moms,,, fill up on foods filled with flavors. Fresh herbs and spices,,, and
guaranteed,, your child will have a much more accepting palette when table food is introduced.

To eat the Med way learn how to prepare vegetables and legumes. Cook them in Olive Oil. which is LOADED with good heart healthy Omega ! Add spices,, garlic, onion, tomatoes and fresh herbs.

Dont be afraid to experiment with FRESH herbs and spices. So many Americans only know one flavor of vegetable. BLAND... With a dousing of salt, pepper and possibly garlic "powder or salt"

Most vegetables consumed are either bland sodium packed canned veggies or overcooked steamed limp veggies drowned in butter.

Instead of butter,, try Olive oil. Add sliced almonds and fresh chopped garlic.. Try adding lemon and olive oil to freshly tossed salad instead of sugar filled syrupy salad dressing.

I truly believe one has not LIVED unless they have smelled fresh ginger, fresh rosemary, fresh basil, fresh mint and fresh lemon verbena !

Sometimes,, when I need a quick pick me up,, I grab a snippet of fresh rosemary from the rosemary plant I have in my kitchen window,, rub it in between my fingers and sniff. !!!!
aaaaah ! What a refreshing scent that never fails to put me in a better mood.

Try buying some "Fresh " fruit instead of canned or frozen. There is ALWAYS fresh bananas, apples and oranges in our house eveyr week.. The other produce varies depending on season but Lily wakes up every morning in eager anticipation of her "nay nay" She LOVES clementine oranges and grapes and dips slices of apple in peanut butter atleast three times a week.

Im sorry if this sounds a little "pie in the sky" preachy,, but it's not. It truly just

IS
NOT!!!!

My beautiful daughter is living proof ! She never backs down on hardly any flavorful spicy meal. Her meals are surrounded with new flavors all the time and I am proud to keep giving them to her.

Try this,,, take a muffin pan,,, sliced into matchstick size ( u can also but them pre chopped,, but they cost more ) carrots, celery and add some pretzels for fun.. Place each individual veggie in separate muffin containers,, add some ranch dip.. and youve got yourself a healthy snack that your kids can munch on all afternoon... No preservative, sodium, hydrogenated oil,, dye filled chips.. but good. healthy, fresh nutrient enriched yummies. And it makes it FUN for them too. Add some apples sliced thin and some peanut or almond butter too ! ( I got this idea from none other than "Dr Bill Sears" website)
I find myself dipping in it as well.

Back on the mediterranean kick..
I learned to cook from my former mother in law who was an Italian mom who's parents were from the "old country" She never measured anything,, a pinch of this,, a dash of that and all FLAVORFUL foods ! My son,, who she cooked for regularly, never ate frozen chicken nuggets or fries, or boxed mac n cheese. He ate freshly cooked food,, fresh marinara sauce,, hand tossed salad with oil and vinegar and ALWAYS the same food the adults did.

My son ,, while in his teenage years, has naturally become a "tad" picky but he still has experienced enough freshly made, all natural home made food to set his tastebuds in the right direction for a lifetime. He loves to cook. He loves to experiment with food. He already knows how to chop fresh garlic and adds it to a lot of his own "Creations" which sadly,, most adults I know still use " garlic powder" NOT EVEN CLOSE to the same flavor.

I urge everyone to check out this website
http://www.oldwayspt.org/ for more info. on the mediterranean diet,,, it has a neat link for the Mediterranean Food Pyramid for Children and adults.

BONUS ! it even has the Vegetarian food pyramid,, which you can download and print for your own refrigerator.

Do you and your family a favor,, buy a head of garlic, a juicy lemon and some Extra Virgin Olive Oil this weekend and make something fun with it ! You will already be on your way to eating healthier...