Featured Food: Figs

This week's featured food: FIGS. They are one of the most ancient fruits with some nutrient power, including fiber, potassium, manganese, vitamin B6. The body needs vitamin B6 for more than 100 enzyme reactions involved in metabolism. Vitamin B6 is also involved in brain development during pregnancy and infancy as well as immune function.

Adam & Eve may not have known this, but FIG LEAVES can be eaten, too. "They have repeatedly been shown to have antidiabetic properties & can actually reduce the amount of insulin needed by persons with diabetes who require insulin injections." Don't have direct links to the studies, but World's Healthiest Foods (George Mateljan Foundation) has some great info.

Use Figs in these recipes:

Roast Chicken w/ Figs, Thyme, Garlic, and Sweet Potatoes

Kid Tip: Tap your Kid's Inner Explorer

Today's Tip Sponsored by Melanie Potock &:

Want to know how kids learn about food?  They use all their senses. 

An outstanding researcher, Dr. A. Jean Ayres, introduced the theory of Sensory Integration over 40 years ago, explaining how a multitude of sensory input flows into the brain to be sorted and organized for learning.  She said “Sensory integration puts it all together.  Imagine peeling and eating an orange.  You sense the orange through your eyes, nose, mouth, the skin on your hands and fingers, and also the muscles and joints inside your fingers, hands, arms, and mouth…All the sensations from the orange and all the sensations from your hand and fingers somehow come together in one place in your brain” which allows you to make decisions on how to peel and eat the orange. 

So, here’s a tip: Get your kids involved in preparing the food for mealtimes.  Garden.  Get messy – make a yogurt finger painting.  Experience food via all of your senses.  It leads to trying new tastes and healthier eating.  Enjoy!

Read More:

How to Teach Your Kids About the Joy of Food

Tasty Tip: Satisfy Your Inner Buddy with Maple Syrup in Your Coffee

After attending an event at some friends' "sugar shack" one spring, another friend said, "have you ever tried maple syrup in your coffee?"  I thought, "How brilliant!"  I usually don't put any kind of sugar in my cup, just a little almond milk, but once in a while, my Inner Buddy wakes up and wants the World's Best Cup of Coffee!

So, if you are a sugar addict and trying to wean yourself away, start with a touch of real maple syrup in your cup of coffee instead of sugar.  You don't need more than a drop of two, and Voila!  There is less sugar in your cup.   You will love me, you will thank me and you will add important trace minerals like zinc and manganese -- instead of empty calories to your java (and your bod).

Love,

Elisabeth

Party Survival Tip #5: Bring Your Auto-Injector

In the hustle and bustle of toole, ties, high heals and host gifts, remember that accidents can happen and be prepared.

#5.    Bring your auto-injector If you are at risk of anaphylactic shock, remember your auto-injector/ Epi-Pen, just in case you ingest something unexpected that gives you an allergic reaction.

For More Holiday Survival Tips:  Six Tips to Help Your Stick to Your Eating Plan by David Fisher, R.D.

Party Survival Tip #4: Pull Out the Allergy Card

Communicating properly to your host about your allergies is an important step in allergen-free partying.  Sometimes simply exposing your "weakness" is all you need to do.

4.    Pull out the allergy card

When offered something off limits, revealing that you have an allergy to an ingredient is not only smart, but also very effective. People are becoming more aware of the different allergic or adverse reactions to food.  If you’ve known the person for a while and this is new, explain that you recently discovered the problem.  Then thank them and assure them that you are fine, absolutely satisfied with what you have on your plate, and that the food that you are able to eat is simply delicious.

For More Holiday Survival Tips:  Six Tips to Help Your Stick to Your Eating Plan by David Fisher, R.D.