Ok, so throw away that sucker and chunk that bag of gummies.
Lets stop loading up our kids on toxic High Fructose Corn Syrup and food colorings (like yellow#5 and red#40). Did you know gummy candies are also a source of Gelatin… most candy is made from gelatin rendered from factory farm animals (toxic, sick animals). Wisegeek.com points out “A rendering plant is a processing operation where dead animals are recycled into products from human food to biodiesel. The remains and waste from slaughterhouses are the primary contributors to these facilities. Heads, hooves, bones, blood, offal (internal organs) and anything else that cannot be used ends up at a rendering plant.
“Carcasses of dead animals from livestock and confinement operations are the secondary contributors. A rendering plant will also take dead horses, llamas and other farm and zoo animals. Remains of dogs and cats, roadkill (deer, skunks, rats and raccoons) end up there as well. Veterinary clinics and animal shelters also rely on rendering plants for their euthanized animals. They also accept throwback or rejected meat from supermarkets.”
There is higher quality gelatin made from pasture/ grass fed animals. This is good for our bodies and traditionally stocks was made by boiling the bones of whatever meat was available to a family. It’s rich in nutrients and good for your gut.
SUGAR – a great explanation about why too much sugar is bad for us, is shown here in this video by Sean from Underground Wellness
So….what SHOULD we feed our kids?
1. FRESH FRUIT – I like to take easy things like grapes and blueberries on the go. I peel up some apples and stick them with some chopped pineapple to keep them from turning brown!
2. POPCORN – Though we know that 90% of the corn grown and eaten in this country is GMO corn, popcorn comes from a different seed and has not been genetically modified. You still want to steer clear of microwave popcorn. Take the time to pop your own and toss on some real butter and sea salt. Even better, melt down some rapadura and a little organic whole milk and drizzle on for caramel popcorn!
3. HOMEMADE GUMMIES – Gummies…….did I just say gummies??!! Yes, my daughter loves these homemade HFCS free gummies made with a healthy gelatin source. I started with this recipe from Mommypotamus for gummy stars and changed it up using different fresh made juices and rapadura instead of honey. These literally take like 10 min to make!!! I keep some in the fridge at all times 🙂
4. HOMEMADE BEEF JERKY – Make beef jerky from leftover roasts
leftover roast pieces
honey or maple syrup
garlic, crushed
black pepper
apple cider vinegar to make wet marinade
olive oil
smoked paprika
cayenne
ginger
sea salt all to taste
Cover beef pieces in a ziplock bag with all ingredients. Place in refrigerator overnight.
Place them on a tray in the oven on 155 F for 7 hours or on 200F with a towel keeping the oven cracked open a little. You can also put these on dehydrator trays and set it on high at 155 for 7 hours.
Delicious and nutritious snack!
5. RAW CHEESE – Organic Valley is putting out some raw milk cheeses, I’ve seen these recently in Winn-Dixie. Cube these up and serve with a few pieces of carrots julienned.
6. KALE CHIPS – Tear up your kale and LIGHTLY coat with some olive oil. Sprinkle on some sea salt and seasoning of your choice. Bake them at 305F for 10 min. Flip them half way through if needed. They will stay crispy in a ziplock bag. YUMM!
7. EGGS – hard boil a few eggs or make deviled eggs. Cut in 1/2 or 1/4 for your toddler.
8. HOMEMADE POPSICLES – They may not be good “on-the-go” snacks make a delicious treats. Mix up any smoothie in the blender with fruit, honey and milk or Kefir and pour into molds. Or try this recipe from The Nourishing Gourmet for Homemade Creamy Tropical Popsicles.
9. SMOOTHIES – You can sneak tons of good things into a smoothie! I always start with a sweet fruit like mango, blueberries or bananas and add whole organic milk or homemade kefir and ice. If its not sweet enough I add local raw honey or Rapadura. Because we get fresh yard eggs from a source I trust, I add a raw egg yolk here and there. Sneak some green leafy veggies in there too. They will never know 🙂
*Raw egg facts: The sulphur amino acids help to keep you young, raw eggs also contain an abundance of other vital substances including protein, essential fatty acids along with niacin, riboflavin, biotin, choline, vitamins A, D and E, magnesium, potassium, phosphorous, manganese, iron, iodine, copper, zinc and sulphur. Egg yolks are one of the few foods that contain vitamin D. Source: Regenerative Nutrition and Mommypotamus
10. ORGANIC FREEZE DRIED FRUITS AND VEGGIES – these are easy to tote and perfect for on the go! Try the Just Tomatoes Brand.
Any healthy snacks that you like to make in your home? Leave your suggestions in the comment section and let me know!
