Health
by Rachel Kalina
PARENTGUIDE News March 2010
A Necessary Ingredient
The Culinary Institute of America Cookbook (Lebhar-Friedman Books) features more than 375 recipes and a plethora of tips and prep techniques. Chefs are treated to helpful illustrations that walk them through the finer points of making meals. Get cooking by visiting www.amazon.com.
Treat Your Teeth
Take good care of your pearly whites with the Mouth Watchers nano-silver anti-bacterial toothbrush. The first brush to use nano-silver technology to bust germs, the toothbrush works with any toothpaste to deter tooth and gum decay. Each Mouth Watchers brush features more than 2,000 bristles. Check out www.mouthwatchers.net to learn why this is excellent for your family’s oral care.
Dinner With Ease
Interested in using a slow cooker but don’t know where to start? Turn to Semi-Homemade Money Saving Slow Cooking (John Wiley & Sons, Inc.) by Sandra Lee, host of the Food Network’s Semi-Homemade Cooking. Good for your sanity and your budget, Lee’s recipes are accessible and affordable. To make your mouth water, log onto www.semihomemade.com.
Lighten the Lunchbox
Give your little ones a new healthy treat for lunch with Jammy Sammy sandwich bars by Revolution Foods. Wheat-free and filled with whole grains, these snack-size bars come in a variety of flavors like PB & Grape or Strawberry, Blueberries & Oatmeal and more. Pick up these snacks for your brood the next time you hit your local Whole Foods Market.
Pass on Plastic
By now, you’ve probably got an assortment of totes in cool patterns and colors that allow you to forgo plastic bags when shopping. However, you can make a difference in the health of the environment before you even hit the register with the help of the ECOBAGS Produce Bag Set. These natural cotton bags are great for weighing and holding fruits and veggies, and they also brighten up your shopping experience with their colorful block prints. To snag your bags, head to www.ecobags.com.
Food for Thought
Enjoying a special diet can be difficult. But the Wheat-Free, Gluten-Free Cookbook for Kids and Busy Adults (McGraw-Hill) eases stress and takes the boredom out of eating for kids with celiac disease. Readers receive 180 easy-to-prepare recipes. An authority on the condition, author Connie Sarros also throws in tips for preparing casein-free dishes in this latest iteration of her book, which was initially released in 2003. Available at www.celiac.com, the cookbook is also helpful to parents of children with autism.
Feeding Frenzy
Andrew Weil, M.D., presents Weil Baby, a new line of feeding devices and accessories for infants. The collection of bottles, sippy cups, pacifiers and more were developed with the use of Dr. Weil’s extensive medical and nutritional background. Bottles and sippy cups in the line feature a special venting system that reduces air bubbles to aid in preventing colic and gas. Weil Baby products are recyclable and made with sustainable processes. Find them in select Babies ‘R’ Us stores.
Hop to It
Try what moms in the United Kingdom are already touting when you give your child a Peter Rabbit Organics puree pouch. These organic fruit purees are a tactile delight for little hands and a secret weapon for parents who want to incorporate healthy servings of fruit into their children’s diets. The pouches are free of sweeteners, preservatives, water, fillers or artificial ingredients. They’re available at select Whole Foods Markets in Apple and Grape, Strawberry and Banana, and Mango, Banana and Orange.
Keep Germs in Check
The Dr. Fresh Float’n FireFly with Feet toothbrush helps little ones stay healthy by encouraging superb dental care. The brush comes in a variety of hues so that youngsters can avoid mixing their own brushes with those of siblings. It also has a foot-shaped stand to keep the toothbrush upright, as brushes that are left in contact with the sink when laying down may lead to the spread of germs. A light-up timer on the Float’n FireFly brush indicates the length of a proper brushing session. Protect your tykes’ smiles at www.firefly.us.com.
Delightful and Delicious
Bean Appétit: Hip and Healthy Ways to Have Fun with Food (Andrews McMeel Publishing) is chock full of yummy recipes. Authors Shannon Payette Seip and Kelly Parthen strive to make mealtime both entertaining and nutritious for families. As owners of Bean Sprout Café in Wisconsin, the duo is well-versed in the art of creating imaginative eats. Along with offering insight on the foods featured, the book has a variety of games, crafts and conversation starters to enhance memorable mealtimes.
Rachel Kalina is an associate editor.