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GMO's and the affects they will have...

I really like what this mother has to say about GMO's and she has done quite a bit of research. Read the article below and check out her website.

What are your thoughts about GMO's and the effects it might have on our bodies (and our children's development) years down the road? I would love to hear your opinions.
Evie

“She actually said that?” I marvel, when a gossip magazine at the grocery checkout counter reveals a star’s latest faux pas. Then I gather my bags and continue my day, forgetting the insignificant indiscretion. But the headlines I read recently were different. They weren’t in a gossip magazine, and they weren’t uttered by a publicity-seeking celeb. They were in a financial journal, ostensibly more fact-oriented than a tabloid. The authors—recounting huge financial rewards from a company’s genetically engineered seeds—declared, “genetically engineered crops are now viewed as essential, if not crucial.” Crucial? To whom? By Whom? I’m a mom of two adorable boys, and I happen to have a masters degree in public policy, so I come to the idea of “crucial” from a different street. “Crucial” from this mama’s perspective would include a lot more research on the safety of genetically altered food relative to our children. (I’ve seen NO independent studies stating genetically modified—GM—food is perfectly safe for our kids…though I have read reports showing that GM-fed rats are smaller and die much sooner than non-GM-eating rats.) It seems more than coincident that, since the introduction of GM bovine growth hormone in 1993, and GM soy three years later, there’s been a crazy epidemic in autoimmune problems among kids. A 400% increase in asthma; 300% increase in ADHD; and a whopping 1,500 to 6,000% increase (depending on the source and definition) in autism. And we haven’t even gotten to the B’s! Then there’s the explosion of increased food allergies. Today in the US , about one in fifteen kids under three has a food allergy. Who had food issues when we were little? Something’s changed. OK, a lot of things have changed, but probably the biggest change in terms of foods and our evolutionary history is the inclusion of GM foods in our diets (our grandparents certainly weren’t dining on it). Only here in the US , we don’t actually know which foods are GM, like folks in many other countries do (even Paraguay mandated the labeling of genetically modified foods). This is where I put on my public policy glasses, and see that keeping consumers in the dark may be linked to the “crucial” impact of GM foods on some company’s balance sheet. Around the time my second-grader was born, stock in that firm sold for just under twelve bucks a share. Today you’d have to fork out $120 for a piece of the Purveyor of All Things Genetically Modified. And I’ve noted that they spend at least some of that money paying folks in our government. A surprising number of top guns at the Defense Department, the Department of Agriculture, the EPA, and even the Supreme Court have received salaries or donations from that firm or a subsidiary. It’s not unpredictable then, that many of those government officials think it’s fine to forego long-term health-impact studies. They don’t seem that crucial, I guess. But, as a mom who reads the stats, and watches the increasing GM acreage coincide with increased sick kids, I know what is crucial to me. “Crucial” means keeping my kids away from foods that have been altered genetically. My greatest treasures are not Guinea Pigs. Please share this with every woman you know. Women spend about 94% of the food dollars. We can make changes for our children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews…Start saying NO to genetically modified organisms! If not us, who? Gratefully, Kelly Corbet www.SmartFoodsHealthyKids.com What the UN says about GMOs. What the World Wildlife Fund says about GMOs.

 

 

Rice Cereal with Cinnamon apples + bananas

2  Cups water (or milk)
1 cup arborio rice
1 ripe banana
1/2 cup apple sauce
1/2 t. cinnamon

Bring water to a boil, add rice. Allow to simmer until the rice begins to soften and get creamy. Add more water if necessary.

Add banana pieces, apple sauce and cinnamon. Stir and cook for 2 minutes. 

Puree if your child isn't quite ready for this consistency.

*Alternative: use milk to cook the rice or add milk to reach desired consistency.  Maple syrup would also be nice with the bananas and apple sauce!

New Years Resolutions

With the new year upon us, it sends me straight to the kitchen to begin preparing some healthy meals for our children.  I cooked over 10 hours yesterday and have some great meals to introduce and of course, plenty of the favorites. 

During the holidays, I found myself starring into the cupboard one morning wondering what I was going to feed my 8 month old.  I had some arborio rice on the shelf, bananas that would other wise rot and apple sauce that i had defrosted the day before. With all those ingredients, I made him a delicious, creamy rice cereal ~ which he ate right up. Naturally that warms my heart to have a child who loves food!  I wish I could say the same for my 5 year old.

If you want the recipe for the rice cereal, you can find it under Infant & Kids recipes here on my blog.

Lentil Rice Patties

Great Vegetarian recipe that kids enjoy

14 oz chicken broth or vegetable broth
3/4 C. water
1/2 C. chopped onion
1/3 C. uncooked regular brown rice
1/2 t. red pepper
3 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 C. brown lentils, rinsed & drained
15 oz. garbanzo beans, rinsed & drained
1 C. regular rolled oats
2 slightly beaten eggs
1/4 C. fresh, chopped basil (fresh makes a big difference)
1 T. worcestershire sauce
1/4 t. salt
1/2 C. chopped walnuts or almonds, toasted (optional)

In  med. saucepan, combine chicken broth, water, onion, rice, pepper and garlic. Bring to a boil, reduce heat. Simmer covered for 20 minutes. Add lentils. Simmer covered for 25 minutes or until the rice & lentils are tender.

Remove from heat.

Add mashed garbanzo beans to saucepan and mix. Stir in oats.  Let stand for 5 minutes

Combine egg whites, basil & worcestershire sauce & salt. Add to lentil/rice mixture stirring to combine. Stir in nuts if used.

Pan fry on med heat until light brown.

Add shredded lettuce, chopped tomatoes or plain yogurt as toppings.

enjoy

November 15, 2007

More menu items available to order...

As always, Thanksgiving falls on a Thursday, which is also the day that I update the weekly menu items.  Because of the holiday, I will NOT be making deliveries on Monday, November 26 (after the long weekend) but will resume the following week, December 3.
{I don't anticipate many people will want to order MORE food during the long weekend}

So, in an effort to help you stock up for the long stretch and to give you more menu options, I have added a number of choices for your convenience.

Go to EviesOrganicEdibles.com to see what is available. There are too many to list!

Yesterday, I sent out an request to answer 10 questions that will help me serve you and your children's needs better.  If you didn't receive the invitation, and have a few seconds to help me out, here is the link: http://survey.constantcontact.com/survey/a07e271yow6f9018n6z/start
I would sincerely appreciate your feedback.

Happy Thanksgiving!   Evie

November 18, 2007

Comfort Foods for your children...

When it begins to get cold outside, do you automatically think of hearty meals that comfort you and make you feel warm inside? Since it seems that fall is finally here, I have been thinking of foods for your children that are easy to reheat and serve without all the fuss. 

This week, Chicken & Winter Vegetables is fresh on the menu. I roasted carrots, celery, sweet potatoes & leeks, then baked them in a broth with seasoned chicken, and ended up with a meal that definitely fits the bill for comfort food. You can add a whole grain to add more substance or serve it as is. The consistency is great for toddler & kids who feed themselves. For babies who are 10-11 months+, the ingredients are also good for them. Just put the meal in a food processor for 2-3 seconds and make the pieces smaller to prevent them from choking.

Apple, Banana + Kiwi:  I roasted the apples and added the bananas + a few really ripe kiwis for a hint of tartness.  The texture is perfect for babies. My son had it with is breakfast this morning and like a little bird, kept opening his mouth for more! 

Shepherd's Pie: Every now and then, I like to highlight meals that I always have on the menu...just to remind you why it's there. I prepare my shepherd's pie with lamb, add carrots, mushrooms & onions for vegetables, but it's the golden raisins that the kids always look for (at least my 5 year old does). They add a nice sweetness but the benefits of the whole meal are amazing. Rich in iron, protein, vitamin A and potassium, and topped with my homemade mashed potatoes, it's a top seller! 

November 1, 2007

White Turkey Chili and Split Pea Soup

I decided to call this recipe White Turkey Chili because I used white navy beans instead of the traditional black or kidney beans. Navy Beans have a robust flavor and when slow cooked, turn out creamy. Top this with monterey jack or feta cheese and sour cream...wonderful meal.

For toddlers with developing taste buds, try the Split Pea Soup. 
I seasoned it by using a ham bone (though no meat is in the soup) and added roasted carrots, celery and potatoes. I never served my 5 year old soup when he was young, but what a great idea to introduce it early.  They're easy to prepare and it adds a lot of variation to your meals.

Also on this weeks menu, Portobello Mushroom Risotto. I slow cooked the risotto in a red wine reduction, (don't worry, all the alcohol has been cooked off) and the residual flavor makes a big difference in any meal. Topped with freshly grated parmesan cheese, this has been a favorite in our home for years.  It's easy to get Kids to eat this. 

October 25, 2007

Don't miss out on these homemade chicken pot pies...

Each pie is in it's own 6" crust and packed full of organic chicken vegetables and a bit of cheese...it's a perfect size for kids and a simple solution for dinner. Of course, order early.

Lucky infants this week. Pear, Banana, Cherry + Oat is a great fruit blend for infants who need a bit more substance for breakfast and Pear + Avocado is on the menu again. Perfectly ripe & sweet pears & avocados blended together for a healthy combination of fat & fiber.

Of course I didn't forget the toddlers: We called it  Dirty Brown Rice in the south, but my 5 year old told me the other day that he didn't want to eat dirty rice...So the recipe goes, seasoned organic ground beef simmered with long grain brown rice with added vegetables & spices. Why we call it "dirty" is beyond me. 

October 18, 2007

A taste test between Yams & Sweet Potatoes

Can you tell the difference?  This week, if you purchase "sweet potatoes" from the Infants menu, you will get sweet potatoes, not yams. Often times, we refer to yams as sweet potatoes, but the difference is definitely in the taste and a bit in texture. Contrary to what the name suggests, sweet potatoes are not as sweet as the yams ~ but try them for yourself.

While we're on the topic of taste testing: If you have thought about ordering food from Evie's Organic Edibles and you're not sure if your child will like it...now's the chance. On Tuesday, October 30, I will be sampling my food at Park Avenue Nutrition & Spa located at 1108 Park Avenue, on the west side of the street between 89th and 90th,  www.ParkAveNutrition.com Lisa Cohn, a family nutritionist will be there to answer questions you may have about your family's diet & nutrition and I will be there with plenty of samples between 2-5 p.m.

This weeks menu:  Since my Homemade Mac 'N Cheese sold out in record time a few weeks ago, it's back with plenty of portions to offer (but not an endless supply). Order early.

Chicken Tetrazzini was also a popular choice and back on the menu for Kids. Sprinkle a bit of fresh parmesan cheese on top for added flavor!

Granny Smith Apples & Apricots. A fusion of fresh, tart apples and sweet apricots really give this apple sauce a kick. Tart foods are an important part of a child's brain development and as the old saying goes, "an apple a day, keeps the doctor away". 

October 1,, 2007

Sweet Potato Rutabaga...

Since root vegetables are an important part of a baby's growth and development, I combined two of them to give your baby a healthy dose of Vitamin C, potassium, fiber and beta-carotene. The texture is smooth and creamy. For toddlers who are a bit older, add a 1/4 teaspoon of maple syrup and some cooked rice and you'll have two different meals in one package.  My baby loves this blend...

Finally, it seems as though fall has arrived along with some cooler weather. So, I begin thinking of hearty meals that warm you up inside. Vegetable Stew + Beef has fresh mixed vegetables, organic beef and spices for a delicious stew and easy for a toddler to manage.

One of my best sellers is the Shepherd's Pie, which is always available on the KIDS menu. Packed full of vegetables, golden raisins and then topped with my southern style mashed potatoes ~ Kids and parents love this meal.

The Braised Beef, Potato + Carrots is a toddler meal with texture. By slow cooking the organic beef with spices, adding a variety of potatoes, carrots and a few rutabagas, this meal definitely has everything a child needs in one meal. Enjoy