Passover Challenges

Before I begin this post I must apologize for the brief lull in blog entries. Both Grammie Flava and I have be preoccupied by Passover. However, the holiday ends today and we are eager to get back to our regular posting schedule.

Any event or trip, which requires a limitation in the food you have available to feed your baby/toddler can be a real challenge for a mom. Baby Flava is 15 months old so this is the first year we have had to face the question of what to feed her during the 8 days of Passover. Passover is the Jewish holiday which commemorates our people's Exodus from slavery in Egypt. During the duration of the holiday, Jewish people are forbidden from eating foods that are considered hametz (leavened). Hametz includes all bread products and anything that includes the grains wheat, rye, barley, oats, and spelt. In addition, Ashkenazi Jews (Jews of Central and Eastern European descent) do not consume any corn or legumes during this period.

At first I wasn't even sure were to begin planning for Baby Flava's Passover. How was Baby Flava going to get any grains during these eight days? I was pretty confident that matzah (the flat cracker which is the only "bread" we are allowed to eat) was not going to go over well. There are a slew of companies who produce boxed cake and pancake, etc. mixes that are Kosher for Passover (KfP) but most are loaded with sugar and none have any whole grains. So the first thing I realized was that something was going to have to give. BF was going to have to give up whole grains for the week. We purchased a box of KfP muffin mix, and they became a staple of her diet.

The next major decision we made about BF's Passover diet was that she was going to be Sephardi (Jews of Spanish, Arabic, or Persian decent) for the week. Allowing her to eat legumes was a big help because we were able to give her peas (an absolute favorite) and beans (like our Black Bean Patties). In addition to these two major decisions, we stuck to other traditional Passover fare to round out her diet. This week she enjoyed lots of potatoes, yams, brisket, gefilte fish (which was a huge hit), matzo balls, chicken and asparagus.

Although getting through the week was undoubtedly a challenge, preparation was the key. By making some decisions in advance that allowed us to prepare for what we could feed BF we saved ourselves a lot of aggravation and potential temper-tantrums along the way.

- Mama Flava

A Plethora of Produce-Organic or Conventional--Either, just make sure you wash it!!

Spring, my favorite time of year. The birds are singing their hearts out, the tips of the trees are sprouting wonderful shades of green, tulips, daffodils, crocus, all popping out of the ground bursting with color...and the coming of wonderful produce in the stores and farmers markets. Soon we'll have gorgeous greens, stone fruits, berries, fresh zukes and cukes...and tomatoes that actually taste like tomatoes.

This is the time of year to take advantage and introduce babies/toddlers to the wonderful bounty. The question many ask, organic or conventional-- does it really make a difference? We in the Flava Family lean towards organic for as much as we can. It's more expensive, but we feel it's a bit better for us and the environment to use organic when possible. However, whether you use organic or conventional...make sure you wash it!!

Organic vs. Conventional is a hotly contended issue with pros and cons: Is it better for the environment? No toxic chemicals or pesticides on the food; no toxic run off into our water BUT some of the natural or organic pesticides are toxic to humans and wildlife.

Is Organic food healthier than conventionally grown food? That too is contested...many studies show there is no difference, but go to Organicconsumers.org
and according to their studies Vitamin C, nitrates and protein are higher in organic products.

Go to the National Library of Medicine PubMED from the NIH and they find no difference in one article and then in another...

Organic fruits and vegetables can be expected to contain fewer agrochemical residues than conventionally grown alternatives. There is a widespread belief that organic agriculture products are safer and healthier than conventional foods. It is difficult to come to conclusions, but what should be made clear to the consumer is that "organic" does not automatically equal "safe". In the absence of adequate comparative data, additional studies in this area of research are required.


SO, what to do??? Here is a simple rule of thumb: if you eat the skin of the produce go organic--grapes, apples, peaches, berries etc. If you peel the skin off to eat it then go conventional--bananas, melons, oranges etc. Is this the right way to go... who knows. We all need to do the best we can within the confines of our time, budget and lifestyles.

If you can do all organic, great go for it. Try Trader Joes if you have one...ours is carrying lots of organic produce cheaper than any place else.

The one thing I do to ALL produce, if it is conventional or organic, I WASH IT. When I do my cooking demos I use a lemon as a simple example. I tell people I scrub lemons before I cut them--they usually laugh...think about it. How many lemons do you pick up before you decide on one? How many others have picked through the pile just like you do? How many times have you dropped a piece of produce and placed it back up on the pile.

Think of the people who unpacked the box of lemons placing them one by one on the pile. Your cashier picks it up...as does the bagger. The number of hands that touch your produce before you bring it home is astounding. So whatever it is, wash it-I use a soft scrub brush and lather it up using dish soap. My Dietitian friend is appalled at that...what if some soap is left on it, you can get sick. The soap is the least of my concerns.

Think about it the next time a waitress says...would you like lemon in your water?!

See Kai Run--shoes for toddlers

BF needed new shoes. She's grown out of the soft sole kind and needed something with a more sturdy yet flexible sole. Of course we could have taken her to this great "Littles" store we have in Pittsburgh but MF and I like to shop together, and since we live apart...we do it on line.

Our first thought was Merrells and then Keens. Looking at the REI website we found a pair of cute Keens that looked just like the adult kind so we ordered them. Not sure if this would be a good choice I did more searching. I ended up on some site and I honestly don't remember how I got there. Click here, click there etc.

There was a blog about shoes for toddlers and one comment was, "WTF, my daughter is three years old and they are showing heels for her. What happened to those adorable little kids shoes with a rounded toe..." and on and on it went. I read the responses many whole heartedly agreeing with her comments. Then there was one person who talked about this shoe --See Kai Run-- leather and flexible. Never heard of it.

So what does any tech savvy Grammie do...a Google search. There it was See Kai Run. The most adorable kids shoes round toes, sandals, booties, in soft lined leather with a firm yet flexible sole. I could have bought BF half a dozen pairs, but used restraint and ordered two. I figured MF can see what fits best and send back what she doesn't like/need.

There are stores that carry these shoes according to the See Kai Run website in both Baltimore (Bratt Decor)and Pittsburgh (Ona Boutique in the South Hills-no website found). I could not find any shoes on the Bratt Decor website and for me...ordering on line is much easier than going down to the South Hills.

MF received the two pair and LOVED them (I purchased a purple sandal and an outrageous orange sandal!!). BF put them on and was up and away immediately. What a great find. If you folks have other great finds, let us know, we want to spread the word about See Kai Run and other exciting finds!

Now I can't wait to help buy her fall shoes and winter bootie!

Calcium for Baby and Toddler

Calcium is the most abundant mineral found in our bodies. It is essential for all living things, in particular for your growing baby/toddler. Your little one needs calcium to help grow healthy bones and teeth and for good general health. Suggested daily intake of calcium for the average toddler can range from 500 to 1,000 mg a day. This means that even though they drink almost a gallon of milk a week, we still need to find other ways to add calcium to their diets.

Dairy products are the most conspicuous high-calcium foods. Yogurt, milk, soft and hard cheeses are easy to add to any diet. Prepare a grilled cheese sandwich (on whole grain bread) for lunch. Throw a yogurt or cheese stick in your diaper bag to serve an an afternoon snack. Add cheese to a scrambled egg or mix cottage cheese with some peas and banans for lunch. Most of this is pretty intuitive for a mom.

The greater challenge is to find non-dairy alternatives that are high in calcium. Here are some foods that you may be surprised to learn contain calcium: blackstrap molasses, tahini (sesame seeds), broccoli, oranges, beans, figs, seewead, and sardines. Instead of a grilled cheese sandwich for lunch how about a hummus (made from chickpeas and tahini) and roasted red pepper sandwich. Cut up an orange for an afternoon snack or try one of Baby Flava's favorites; figs with (or without) parrano cheese. If you are brave, try sardines on toast. On the other end of the spectrum, molasses is an ingredient in many sweet treats like spice cookies, muffins, and banana bread. For a special occasion make your little one some ginger snaps. This short list of high-calcium foods offer the opportunity to get creative and of course add nice variety (another essential ingredient) to your child's diet.

One other important note, as many of you know Vitamin D is essential in aiding in the body's absorption of calcium. Taking your toddler out into the sun for fifteen to thirty minutes a day will allow them to soak up their Vitamin D from the sun and is a great way to get out some of their excess energy.

- Mama Flava -

Mmmmm Omelets with Gribits

I have never been a fan of omelets when I go out to eat. Never enough "stuff" inside. I like a little egg and a LOT of filling in my omelets. If I am going to eat eggs, I'd rather just eat eggs; I like them over easy with a piece of toast to dunk in the yolk. An omelet to me is the filling, the egg is just the vehicle for the filling. Crazy huh!

Recently on my never ending quest to be healthy, I needed to decrease my fat intake. When you think eggs, the fat is in the yolk, that means no yolk. An eggwhite omelet...eeewwwww. Popop Flava eats eggwhite omelets plain for breakfast with nothing else. No thank you, not worth eating.
But, I needed protein and Go Lean "Sticks and Twigs" Cereal is OK some mornings, but others I need something more substantial, like an omelet.

OK, lets see what I have in my frig: leftover mushrooms, a half an onion, some roasted red peppers, a small piece of sauteed chicken from dinner last night, some cooked broccoli and I always have cheese.

I took out all these leftovers and chopped them up and sauteed the onions and mushrooms in olive oil until golden brown. Then I added the rest of the ingredients and sauteed them to heat through. This mixture I call "gribits". I had about 2 cups of "gribits" (grilled bits!) which was way to much for an omelet just for me, but I could use it for the next few days.

I opened a can of black beans, drained and rinsed them and threw a few in for good measure. I left about 1/2 cup of the gribits in my pan and added egg whites--probably the equivalent of 2 eggs and set the flame on low and covered it. While it was cooking I sliced some Manchego cheese (about 1/2 ounce). If I am going to have fat, I'd rather have in in a little cheese than the egg yolk.

I uncoverd the omelet and fliped it, added the cheese and covered for another couple of minutes until the cheese melted. Fold it in half, slide it on to the plate and YUMMMM!

I didn't need to use salt or pepper and it was tasty, tasty, tasty.

BF came a few days later and I made her an omelet using the pre-made gribits and I used two whole eggs. She almost ate the whole thing.

I made this omelet on a Cooking Segement for KDKA's Morning Show on what to do with leftover Easter ham. Instead of the chicken in my gribits I added the ham. I also made a grilled pizza on the show and added the gribits on top of the pizza. What a hit!

A great way to utilize leftovers in your frig for a healthy, delicious AND nutritious meal. You can tailor this to your family's like, your child and your leftovers. Chop the gribits fine if your baby isn't into the larger bites, and the adults will love the flavor no matter what the size of the gribits.