What's for lunch 10/26/12

Whole Wheat French Toast with Orange Rounds

Applegate Breakfast Bacon 

Sweet Potato Puffs 

Fresh Fruit

The question this menu leaves unanswered is: Will the kids still be served a syrup whose first and main ingredient is high fructose corn syrup?  I know the food service consultant has been trying to find an affordable maple syrup instead.

Ingredients for the bread in the french toast: We use Nature's Own Whole Wheat Bread for the french toast . The ingredients are: STONE GROUND WHOLE WHEAT FLOUR, WATER, BROWN SUGAR, YEAST, WHEAT GLUTEN, CONTAINS 2% OR LESS OF EACH OF THE FOLLOWING: SALT, VEGETABLE OIL (SOYBEAN OIL OR CANOLA OIL), DOUGH, CONDITIONERS (SODIUM STEAROYL LACTYLATE, CALCIUM, STEAROYL-2-LACTYLATE, MONOGLYCERIDES, CALCIUM IODATE, ETHOXYLATED MONO AND DIGLYCERIDES, CALCIUM PEROXIDE, DATEM), CULTURED WHEAT FLOUR, VINEGAR, CALCIUM SULFATE, MONOCALCIUM, PHOSPHATE, YEAST FOOD (AMMONIUM SULFATE), SOY LECITHIN. Eggs and milk are used as well but they are not organic.  

And then we have The Return of the Tater Tot - a product we thought we had sent packing years ago.   This processed potato product comes from McCain's - a product called Harvest Splendor Bites.  The ingredients would then be: Sweet Potatoes, Vegetable Oil (Contains One Or More Of The Following Oils: Canola, Soybean, Cottonseed, Sunflower, Corn). Contains 2% or less of Corn Starch - Modified, Dehydrated Potatoes, Dextrin, Maltodextrin, Molasses, Salt, Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate Added To Maintain Natural Color, Sugar, Tapioca Starch - Modified, Xanthan Gum.  We do bake them but I don't know yet if they are pre-cooked (fried?) before being frozen and shipped to us.  

The turkey bacon is by Applegate.  Here are the ingredients: Turkey (Turkey Used Never Administered Antibiotics, Growth Promotants or Animal By-products), Water, Sea Salt, Maple Sugar, Celery Juice, Onion Powder, Spices, Lactic Acid Starter Culture (not From Milk.)  They promote it as nitrate-free but this NYT article indicates otherwise - and cites the company saying their products have the same level (naturally) of cancer-causing nitrates as conventional brands. Read more about nitrates at www.ehso.com/hotdogsandcancer.php.

This is not one of my favorite lunches. The kids like it because it is sweet and many of them love bacon. The salad bar would be a better choice or one of the other meals that are offered.  

Are you often shopping and not sure what foods are better then others ??  I am of course referring to items other then fruits, veggie and certain meats. Then you should try the Fooducate app.  Fooducate's scientific algorithms grade each product and provide simple, concise explantions. Grading system  developed by scientists, dietitians and concerned parents. It is a simple and easy way to get the information you need to make the best food choices for your family. Check it out it's free. Another website that I love because it has a lot of gluten free, dairy free plant based recipes is Yum Universe. www.yumuniverse.com.

I made delicious Almond and oat pancakes the other day. The kids loved them ! Tasted even better the next day with a pile on apple sauce on them.  Since their is not dairy they don't need to be refrigerated. You can take them on the go for an easy snack.  Go here for the recipe http: www.yumuniverse.com/?s=almond+oat+pancakes.