Easy Ways To Get Your Kids To Devour Broccoli

Most kids are picky when it comes to eating green vegetables. They have their favorites and then there are the ones that they won’t eat at any cost. If your kid won’t venture to try anything green, learn ways to get them to consume it and appreciate the flavor. Today, we’ll be starting with broccoli.

The quickest way to convince your child to eat broccoli is to add it to a dish that they already like. If your child has never tried broccoli, this will make it easier still. The taste of the other foods will mask the taste of the broccoli. Broccoli doesn’t taste bad, but it does need some sprucing up to taste better.

Add broccoli to a dish of macaroni and cheese. Almost all kids like to eat macaroni and cheese. Steam a pot of broccoli until it is almost done, but still very green. Once the macaroni and cheese is done mix the broccoli in. Before you mix it, cut off the stalks. The tops are easier to eat. Sometimes the stalks have hard parts that you could chew on for days and they still wouldn’t disappear. If you don’t want to chop all of those stems, buy bags of broccoli that just contain the florets.

Does your kid crave hot dish? Add broccoli to your favorite casserole. Transform a cheesy chicken and rice hot dish into a cheesy chicken, broccoli, and rice hot dish. A beef and noodle casserole could get a touch of green with some broccoli florets. Your kids will be so glad that they don’t have to eat peas that they won’t even care about what’s in the hot dish.

My kids crave chicken potpie. Many potpies contain chunks of potatoes, carrots, and green beans. If you are making it from scratch, add a few baby broccoli florets to the veggie mixture. Once the vegetables soften and combine with the chicken, and the cream soup the taste mixes right in. You can add broccoli to a turkey or a beef potpie in addition.

Offer broccoli as a snack. Many times, kids will snack on vegetables when they are raw and they taste better to them that way. Set out a plate of broccoli with the stalks and a bowl of ranch dressing. Ranch dressing on vegetables is tasty and a convenient snack to munch on while watching television or doing homework. It fills them up for the moment and there’s no sugar in it to ruin their dinner. If ranch dressing is not their thing, try cottage cheese, yogurt, or another type of dressing.

Broccoli works well as a side dish with a sauce. Often you see broccoli with a sauce, it is cheese sauce. Beware of the fat content though. Use a low-fat cheese to melt over the top or try Velveeta® light cheese spread. Light salsa con queso (with cheese) is also an option for a sauce topping.

Broccoli is a wonderful vegetable to consume. It can be added to any pasta dish or casserole, or used as a side dish with a sauce for flavor. Getting your kids to consume broccoli is a task but it can be completed if you use their favorite foods as a decoy.

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Disadvantages of Organic Food and Organic Agriculture

Organic food is expensive

Unfortunately, at the moment retailers are charging artificially high prices. I was in Tesco last week which is a rare occurrence as I shop locally where possible, and I nearly died when I saw the prices being charged for organic yogurt and eggs compared to the non-organic brands. I understand that we have to pay more for organic produce because there are more crop failures due to the fact that the farmers cannot use pesticides, but what is an acceptable percentage and does this vary from product to product. Should organic fish be 10 percent more expensive than non organic fish and vegetables 20 per cent etc? If we have to pay more for crop failures how does this work with processed food that uses less fresh ingredients and higher volumes? Should we still have to pay a premium or are they just jumping on the band wagon and making us pay higher prices? At the moment most organic items are too highly priced to be affordable to most people. Furthermore, many argue that there is not enough evidence that supports the benefits of eating organic food to warrant the additional cost. For example its difficult to quantify; can organic potatoes be 10% better for us, should we then pay an extra 10% on the price? or are we paying for a lifestyle choice? Is this not the same as any branded clothes, toiletries, cars? We could buy cheaper clothes, toiletires or cars as they all do the same as dearer branded ones yet we choose them because it makes us feel better and due to peer pressure and advertising.

Organic Food Safety and Benefits

There is evidence that organic farms are more sustainable and environmentally sound, among other benefits. These claims, however, are subject to dispute and are not settled among scientists.
Another contentious issue surrounding organic produce is the fact that nearly 70 per cent of produce sold in UK supermarkets is imported, generating thousands of food miles to get to its destination and causing damage to the environment.

Often organic food produced in England is sent from one side of the country to the distribution warehouse at the other side, only to be sent back again to the Supermarket. One supermarket has been run a pilot where the farmer and his tractor deliver the organic produce to the supermarket direct. Now that is progress!

Non organic food does contain pesticides of varying amount. Many toxicologists and scientists consider the amount to be so low as to have no effect on the consumer. For example, have you fallen ill the past due to the chemicals in your food? I doubt it! Only those that have an allergic reaction or eat vast quantities of the same food may do so. Food is not allowed to be sold by law that is unsafe.

In todays society, it is virtually impossible to grow produce pestivide free and even organically grown foods do not claim to be completely free of chemical residues. Presticides are carried in the air and rivers. Non GM crops around the world have been found to contain Genetically Modified seedlings as these have been carried in the air from GM farms miles away.

Organic food has "sold out"

Organic food began as a small movement decades ago with gardeners and farmers rejecting the use of conventional non organic practices. With the growth of the Organic food market now outpacing much of the food industry many big companies have moved into this market. With these large often multi national companies, and with the creation of a legal certification framework such as the Soil Assocaiton, there is worry that the very definition of organic food will change from what it used to be and become just another mass produced brand which will over time be replaced by another emerging sector.

For example, Heinz is producing an organic version of baked beans and has different ingredients and packaging, it uses 100% certified organic vine-ripened tomatoes. The label will also reflect an organic quality--with Heinz traditional red label replaced with a green version. Another difference: the organic version will cost about 50% more than regular Heinz. Does certified organic vine-ripened tomatoes cost 50 percent more to buy when bought in bulk, I doubt it!

By keeping it small are we not keeping it beautiful and under control?

A final thought…… Organic is more than just a brand, its a way of life!

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Davinos Greeno works for the organic directory This green directory lists 100s of Organic Food and Drink Companies and Eco Jobs and Campaigning Videos

Mix It Up! A Salad Boost Can Keep You Healthy

by: Donna Monday
All the health experts agree that you need to eat lots of vegetables to benefit from a variety of nutrients that your body needs to stay fit and strong. Many people often skip eating vegetables because maybe they don’t like the taste, or just don’t want to bother cooking them.

A fast and easy way to eat your veggies is just a bag away. There are many pre-made salads available at your supermarket that makes it easy to add fresh greens to your diet.

I like romaine lettuce because the deeper the green color the healthier it is for you. However, good ole iceburg lettuce is good too. Often these bags of salad contain carrots, radishes, and cabbage - all immune system boosting foods. You can add tomatoes, mushrooms, onions, croutons, peas, cheese, and anything else you may have in the fridge.

These days, you can literally make a healthy salad side dish in under five minutes!

Chicken Ceasar Pasta Salad

3-4 chopped boneless chicken breasts
Caesar or Italian Caesar salad dressing
2 cups broccoli florets
handful of cherry tomatoes (optional)
pimientos (optional)
4 cups Rotel pasta noodles
1 tsp. olive or vegetable oil

Directions

Cook chicken breasts until they are tender and chop into bite size pieces.

Cook Rotel noodles in boiling water for 7 minutes or until tender in water with oil.

Steam broccoli florets (over stove or in microwave) until slightly tender (do not overcook!).

Cut tomatoes in halves and wash thoroughly.

Mix noodles, chicken breasts, broccoli and optional ingredients(pimentos and tomatoes). Drizzle salad dressing until pasta is slightly covered and stir salad until covered in dressing.

Serve either chilled or warm, accompanied by a bottle with extra dressing at table.

You can store leftovers in refrigerator for up to 4 days or freeze for up to two months.

If you enjoy making your salad from whole fresh lettuce, make sure you wash it thoroughly to remove dirt and any pesticide residue before cutting it up.

With a little more effort, you can make a nice pasta or potato salad. Some popular meat salads are chicken salad and tuna salad. These salads include a serving of protein and can often be substituted as a deliciously nutritious lunch or dinner.

If you’re a vegetarian, you can subsitute beans and chick peas for the meat without missing out on flavor and texture.

Salad made with fresh fruit also makes a great breakfast or lunch treat.

Remember, you don’t have to make the same bland salad every time. Mix it up with various flavors and ingredients. Salad should be a regular part of your meal plan. There’s a salad combination to suit everyone’s taste buds. Go ahead and try out a new salad recipe today.

About The Author

© Donna Monday - Great salads, soups, breads and more... http://www.best-salad-recipes.com

Why Vegetarian Nutrition Stands Out

A vegetarian diet is considered to be the best among all types of diets. Many studies can prove this claim. A Columbia University study has shown that the human body’s structure is actually not suited for animal meat consumption. It was found that the small and large intestines of carnivores are both short. Humans, however, have small and large intestines that are long.

When humans consume meat, especially in huge proportions, it stays in the intestines for longer periods, which can decay and lead to the formation of toxins. These toxins have been found to be trigger diseases such as colon and rectal cancer, liver and kidney problems and many others. Excessive consumption of meat can also increase saturated fat and cholesterol counts that can slow down the body’s metabolic functions, thus leading to cardiovascular problems.

Even when you think the meat has been inspected for cleanliness and safety, you can still never tell whether it is really free from disease carriers. Moreover, the presence of antibiotics, hormones and other drugs in animal produce can pose a serious threat to human health as well.

With a vegetarian diet, you may not have to worry about these possible health risks. Plant food is a direct source of more nutrients compared to animal food. Especially when vegetarian diets are well planned, you can be sure that you will be getting proper nutrition that you need, which is necessary for good health.

Too often, it has become a common misconception that nutrition from meat consumption is better than vegetarian nutrition, which may not always be the case. In fact, a study in Yale University showed that vegetarians have more endurance than those who eat meat. Vegetarians can still get adequate amounts of protein by increasing intake of wheat, whole grains and vegetables without ever resorting to meat.

Moreover, the nutrition that a vegetarian diet provides can give you a leaner physique, a healthier body, a sharper focus, which in totality can lead to a better quality of life. In fact, vegetarians are known to live longer lives than meat eaters. Of course, while modern science may have already introduced approaches to prolonging life, perhaps nothing can top up with the health benefits that a vegetarian diet can give.

Above all else, your health should be your topmost priority. Without it, you may never live your life at its best. Now that you know what vegetarian nutrition can give you and why it is the best option for your health, all you need to do is to make the switch.

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By: Margo Tuazon

Margo Tuazon is a dermatologist and an expert author who writes for HealthContent.net. A site specialized in health information & tips. Visit us to read more Nutrition, Diet and Wellness articles.