What's for lunch 12/13/13

 Burrito

Marinated Southwest Chicken

Brown Rice, Black Beans

Whole Wheat Tortilla

Corn Tortilla Chips n’ Salsa ‐GF

Cucumber Sticks

Fresh Fruit

GF w/o tortilla

The brown rice is a great whole grain. The black beans are canned. 

The southwest-style chicken is from Tyson and described as diced, cooked "chicken meat." Read more about farm animals raised by industrial giants like Tyson,  antibiotics and hormones.  The tortillas are from Tyson and contain:  Bleached Enriched Wheat Flour (Flour, Malted Barley Flour, Niacin, Reduced Iron, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid), Water, Soybean Oil, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil (Contains one or more of the following: Cottonseed Oil, Soybean Oil), Mono- and Diglycerides, Contains 2% or less of the following: Salt, Baking Powder (Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate, Sodium Bicarbonate, Corn Starch, Monocalcium Phosphate), Fumaric Acid, Sodium Bicarbonate, Dough Conditioner (Wheat Flour, Calcium Sulfate, Sorbic Acid), Preservative (Sodium Propionate and Potassium Sorbate).  Sodium is 380mg. 5g of fat (1 of which is saturated).

The cucumbers and carrots  are fresh along with the fruit. 

Are you looking for a healthy breakfast to serve over the holidays ??? Try this, it is easy and delicious !

 

Mini Veggie Frittatas

This easy, clean egg dish can be made the night before and reheated in the morning.  Or you can get your family involved with picking their own veggies in the morning, which can quickly be sautéed and added to your scrambled egg mixture before baking your veggie frittatas.  Since I like spinach and mushrooms in my eggs, the recipe below is one of my favorites.  However I have also included a bell pepper and onion version of the recipe for those who (to quote my husband) thinks “green stuff in eggs is gross.”

Printable version of Mini Veggie Frittatas recipe

Makes: 12 frittatas   Servings: 4 (3 frittatas per serving)

Prep time: 10 minutes   Bake time: 20 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
• 1/4 cup of chopped red onion
• 1 1/2 cup of chopped mushrooms*
• 3 cups of organic baby spinach*
• 4 large eggs 
• 8 egg whites
• 1 cup shredded light swiss cheese, divided
• 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper

Directions

• Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. 
• Heat olive oil in a pan over medium heat.  Saute chopped red onion for 1 minute then add chopped mushrooms and saute 4 minutes, stirring constantly.  Add spinach and cover to 1-2 minutes or until spinach wilts.  Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together whole eggs and egg whites.  Mix in 1/2 cup of shredded cheese and season with salt and pepper.  Pour the veggie mixture into the eggs and mix well.
• Fill each muffin pan 2/3 full with egg mixture, then top each muffin tin with the remaining 1/2 cup of shredded cheese.
• Bake for 18-22 minutes until eggs are puffed and lightly browned around the edges.  Allow to cool in pan for 2 minutes before serving.

*Bell Pepper and Onion Version – Substitute the mushrooms and spinach for 1/4 cup each of chopped red and green bell peppers.  Saute onion for 1 minutes, then add bell peppers and saute for 2-3 minutes more.   Then prepare frittatas as directed.

What's for lunch 12/12/13

Applegate® Hot Dog

on

Whole Wheat Bun

Corn On The Cob

Veggie Sticks

Fresh Fruit

If you are going to have a hot dog then this is the one to have...... but the ingredients are not great. 

The hot dogs are from Applegate Farms - so they are far better than many hot dogs but are hot dogs nonetheless. They have 8g of fat and 330mg of sodium. The ingredients are just: beef, water, sea salt, less than 2% of the following: celery juice, sodium lactate (from beets), lactic acid starter culture (not from milk), onion powder, spices, garlic powder, paprika. They have 6g of fat(2.5g saturated) and 380 mg of sodium. They are dairy-, casein- and gluten-free. They promote it as nitrate-free but this NYT article indicates the nitrate issue is tricky - and cites the company saying their bacon has the same level (naturally) of cancer-causing nitrates as conventional brands.  You may also not want your kids growing up thinking hot dogs are a good lunch given the potential link between processed meats and cancer. The bun is whole wheat.  The veggie sticks are fresh. 

What's for lunch

Souvlaki Plate

Marinated Chicken w/

Sweet Peppers & Onions

Warm Whole Wheat Pita

Tzatziki Sauce

Greek Salad

Fresh Fruit

Gluten free without the pita

The chicken is a frozen Tyson product. I believe it is supposed to be Tyson's "dark meat strips with grill marks" which have 7g of fat and 340mg of sodium, Ingredients are: Boneless, skinless chicken leg meat, water, seasoning (dextrose, salt, brown sugar, chicken stock, maltodextrin, flavors, yeast extract, molasses, disodium inosinate and disodium guanylate), soy protein concentrate, modified food starch, sodium phosphates.BUT we have also gotten diced chicken breast for both Tyson and a company called Pierce before. AND we have also gotten a  USDA commodity chicken from Tyson and described as "fully cooked boneless skinless chicken dark meat chicken fajita strips -smoke flavor added." Here are the ingredients: "Chicken dark meat, water, seasoning [salt, spices, dehydrated garlic, dehydrated onion, sugar, chili powder (chili pepper, cumin, oregano, salt, garlic powder), lemon juice powder (corn syrup solids, lemon juice, lemon oil), modified corn starch, natural mesquite smoke flavor (maltodextrin, natural smoke flavor), natural flavor (from partially hydrogenated soybean and cottonseed oil)], modified food starch and sodium phosphates."  The "partially hydrogenated" oil is a source of trans fat.  Chicken has 7g of fat (2 of which are saturated) and 490 mg of sodium.  Read more about farm animals raised by industrial giants like Tyson,  antibiotics and hormones. 

The peppers and onions are fresh and still do not have izatziki sauce recipe.   The salad is fresh and so is the fruit. 

The greek salad is homemade with feta.  GF without the pita. 

What's for lunch

 Trattoria Tuesday

Chicken Parmigiana w/

Whole Grain Rotini Marinara

‐ORWhole

Grain Rotini Marinara

& Cheese Stick

From the Farm..

Sautéed Broccoli

The ziti is a white flour pasta with some protein by Barilla Plus. The ingredients are:  Semolina, Grain and Legume Flour, Blend (Lentils, Chickpeas, Egg Whites, Spelt, Barley, Flaxseed, Oat Fiber, Oats), Durum Flour, Niacin, Iron (Ferrous Sulfate), Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid.

The sauce is a Red Pack vitamin enhanced tomato sauce. The sodium at 140mg is much lower than we previously used.  Here are the ingredients: Tomato Concentrate (Water, Tomato Paste), Sugar, Soybean Oil, Potassium Chloride, Onion Powder, Salt, Citric Acid, Spice, Garlic Powder, Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid), Black Pepper, Vitamin E (DL-Alpha Tocopheryl Acetate), Natural Flavor, Vitamin A (Retinol Palmitate)

The chicken is from Tyson but the parmigiana is prepared fresh along with the broccoli. 

Salad bar is available. 

What's for lunch 12/6/13

 Better Than A Pizzeria

French Bread Pizza

Sautéed String Beans

w/ Garlic & Oil

Fresh Fruit

This is a white-flour pizza (not whole grain). The sauce is a Red Pack vitamin enhanced tomato sauce. The sodium at 140mg is much lower than we previously used.  Here are the ingredients: Tomato Concentrate (Water, Tomato Paste), Sugar, Soybean Oil, Potassium Chloride, Onion Powder, Salt, Citric Acid, Spice, Garlic Powder, Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid), Black Pepper, Vitamin E (DL-Alpha Tocopheryl Acetate), Natural Flavor, Vitamin A (Retinol Palmitate).  The cheese is a USDA commodity part skim mozzarella.  Ingredients are cultured pasteurized milk, salt, enzymes. The sodium is 240mg/oz - I think we use 2 ounces.

The string beans and fruit are fresh.  The Boar's head sandwich bar and salad bar are available. 

Do you ever run out of ideas for breakfast ?? I know I do.  I stumbled upon this recipe today and going to give it a go.  I know cookies for breakfast does not sound like something I would encourage but these have some nutritious ingredients.  You could substitute the chocolate chips with dried fruit or use GF dark chocolate chips. 

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Quinoa Cookies

by The G-Spot

Keywords: bake breakfast dessert cookies snack gluten-free vegan vegetarian whole grain quinoa cookie

Ingredients (16-18 cookies)

• 2 cups cooked quinoa
• 1/2 cup natural peanut butter (chunky or smooth)
• 3 Tablespoon pure maple syrup
• 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
• 3/4 cup gluten-free rolled oats
• 1/2 cup unsweetened, shredded coconut
• 1/2 cup vegan, gluten-free chocolate chips

NOTE

• I used Bob’s Red Mill Gluten-Free Rolled Oats and Enjoy Life Mini Chocolate Chips.

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Combine quinoa, peanut butter, maple syrup, salt, and oats in a large mixing bowl. Using an electric mixer on low/medium speed, combine ingredients well.

Stir in coconut and chocolate chips.

Scoop and mold dough into round, tablespoon-sized cookies.

Place cookies on parchment-paper-lined baking sheets and bake for approximately 20 minutes, until bottoms are nicely browned.

Allow to cool completely before storing.

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What's for lunch 12/5/13

From the Ranch to you…

Beef Taco Thursday!

Hard Corn Tortilla— GF

or Sour Flour Tortilla

Romaine Lettuce, Cheese,

Salsa, Sour Cream,

Brown Rice & Black Beans

Veggie Sticks

Fresh Fruit 

Our district has contracted with a New York State farm to provide beef raised without antibiotics and hormones. It is more expensive and there is less beef on the menu as a result but it is a huge improvement in the quality of our lunches. We season and prepare this dish. 

The hard taco shells from Mission foodservice contain: whole grain corn, water, vegetable oil (one or more of the following: cottonseed oil, corn oil or palm oil), contains 2% or less of niacin, reduced iron, thiamine, mononitrate, riboflavin lime. No sodium - 6g of fat (2 of which are saturated)

The salsa is actually organic by Green Mountain and the ingredients are: tomatoes, fire-roasted chiles, onions, tomatillos, jalapeno peppers, pasilla peppers, apple cider vinegar, cilantro, parsley, garlic, sea salt, spices. 

The tortillas are from Tyson and contain:  Bleached Enriched Wheat Flour (Flour, Malted Barley Flour, Niacin, Reduced Iron, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid), Water, Soybean Oil, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil (Contains one or more of the following: Cottonseed Oil, Soybean Oil), Mono- and Diglycerides, Contains 2% or less of the following: Salt, Baking Powder (Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate, Sodium Bicarbonate, Corn Starch, Monocalcium Phosphate), Fumaric Acid, Sodium Bicarbonate, Dough Conditioner (Wheat Flour, Calcium Sulfate, Sorbic Acid), Preservative (Sodium Propionate and Potassium Sorbate).  Sodium is 380mg. 5g of fat (1 of which is saturated).

I am not sure what the ingredients in the corn tortilla's are besides corn.  It is nice there is a gluten free option. 

The beans are canned and the rice is whole grain.  Veggie sticks and fruit are always available, as well as the salad bar. 

What's for lunch 12/4/13

 Barilla®

 Whole Grain Rotini 

Pomodoro

w/ Mozzarella

Sautéed Spinach w/

Garlic & Oil

Fresh Fruit

This is a whole grain rotini by Barilla.   The sauce is a Red Pack vitamin enhanced tomato sauce. The sodium at 140mg is much lower than we previously used.  Here are the ingredients: Tomato Concentrate (Water, Tomato Paste), Sugar, Soybean Oil, Potassium Chloride, Onion Powder, Spices, Salt, Citric Acid, Garlic Powder, Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid), Black Pepper, Vitamin E (DL-Alpha Tocopheryl Acetate), Natural Flavor, Vitamin A (Retinol Palmitate).

We usually use the Red pack tomatoes for the sauce but I am not sure about the pomodoro.  The spinach and fruit are fresh.  The salad bar is available. 

What's for lunch 12/3/13

 Brunch For Lunch

Cinnamon Challah

French Toast

Boar’s Head® Ham

Oven Baked Potato “Puffs”

Apple Crisp 

This is a very popular meal. That's why we serve it. But it's not good for you.

Join me in saying "No" to meal declared to be "cake" for lunch by our committee's nutritionist.  Plus, the liberal allocation of syrup is basically HFCS.  (News Flash! Next year we will replace the high fructose corn syrup with actual maple syrup! But it won't make up for the lack of any whole grains in this meal.)

Then there are the commodity potatoes processed by McCain's into tater tots -- although they are labeled "frozen pre-formed potato rounds."  They have 7g of fat (one of which is saturated) and 190mg of sodium. Ingredients are: potatoes, vegetable oil (contains one or more of the following oils: canola, soybean, cottonseed, sunflower, corn). Contains 2% or less of dextrose, salt, sodium acid pyrophosphate added to maintain natural color.

The apple crisp is homemade.  I am hopeful we will be replacing this meal with a better option in the near future. 

I was at the MS today and was able to take some great photos of the salad bar.  The chefs in this kitchen work very hard to provide the kids with healthy food. Pictures to follow !

What's for lunch 11/25/13

Burrito

Marinated Southwest Chicken

Brown Rice, Black Beans

Whole Wheat Tortilla

Corn Tortilla Chips n’ Salsa‐ GF

Carrot Sticks w/ Dip

Fresh Fruit

GF w/o tortilla

The brown rice is a great whole grain. The black beans are canned. 

The southwest-style chicken is from Tyson and described as diced, cooked "chicken meat." Read more about farm animals raised by industrial giants like Tyson,  antibiotics and hormones.  The tortillas are from Tyson and contain:  Bleached Enriched Wheat Flour (Flour, Malted Barley Flour, Niacin, Reduced Iron, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid), Water, Soybean Oil, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil (Contains one or more of the following: Cottonseed Oil, Soybean Oil), Mono- and Diglycerides, Contains 2% or less of the following: Salt, Baking Powder (Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate, Sodium Bicarbonate, Corn Starch, Monocalcium Phosphate), Fumaric Acid, Sodium Bicarbonate, Dough Conditioner (Wheat Flour, Calcium Sulfate, Sorbic Acid), Preservative (Sodium Propionate and Potassium Sorbate).  Sodium is 380mg. 5g of fat (1 of which is saturated).

The carrots are fresh with an organic full fat ranch dip. 

What's for lunch 11/22/13

 Brunch For Lunch

Cinnamon Challah

French Toast,

Applegate® Sunday Bacon,

Sweet Potato “Puffs”

Fresh Fruit

 Nutrition wise this is not the lunch your kids should purchase. Although they make like it, 

it is filled carbs and many, many, ingredients. Have them bring their own lunch or head for the salad bar. In 2014 the cafeteria won't be able to serve white bread due to the changes in the federal lunch program.  

 Say "No" to meal declared to be "cake" for lunch by our committee's nutritionist - basically white flour bread.  The syrup is basically HFCS.  They are looking for an affordable maple syrup but do not have one yet - but they will be limiting the serving size this year in the meantime.  Actual lunch from our schools above. This meal has a lot of sugar, simple carbohydrates -- no whole grains

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 here.

I do not know if the wrap used for the egg and cheese is whole grain.  But they do use actual eggs like you would use at home. 

"Puffs" are commodity potatoes processed by McCain's into tater tots -- although they are labeled "frozen pre-formed potato rounds."  They are flash-fried before they get to the frozen part.  They have 7g of fat (one of which is saturated) and 190mg of sodium. Ingredients are: potatoes, vegetable oil (contains one or more of the following oils: canola, soybean, cottonseed, sunflower, corn). Contains 2% or less of dextrose, salt, sodium acid pyrophosphate added to maintain natural color.

What's for lunch 11/21/13

From the Ranch to you…

Hamburger or Cheeseburger

w/ all the trimmings

Homemade Cole Slaw

Oven‐Baked “Fries”

Fresh Fruit

After much work, discussion and research, our district has discontinued the use of most USDA commodity beef for a variety of health reasons and contracted with a New York State farm to provide beef raised without antibiotics and hormones. It is more expensive and there is less beef on the menu as a result but it is a huge improvement in the quality of our lunches. So, enjoy your hamburger on a whole grain bun.

The potatoes are from McCains. The ingredients are: Potatoes, Vegetable Oil (contains one or more of the following: Canola Oil, Soybean Oil, Cottonseed Oil, Sunflower Oil, Corn Oil), Corn Starch - Modified, Dehydrated Garlic, Spices, Salt, Dehydrated Onion, Rosemary, Dehydrated Red Bell Pepper, Autolyzed Yeast Extract, Paprika, Dextrose, Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate Added to Preserve Natural Color.   Note that the autolyzed yeast extract is potentially similar to MSG. They have 3.5g of fat and 160mg of sodium.

The coleslaw is homemade but I am not sure if where the cabbage is coming from. The salad bar and Boar's head sandwich are options. 

 

What's for lunch 11/20/13

 An Early Feast!

Oven‐Roasted Turkey

with Pan Sauce

From the Farm...

Smashed LI Potatoes

Sautéed Garlic String Beans

Baked Apple Crisp

GF w/o Sauce or Roll

This is so nice to have an early feast at school !! I have to be honest I don't know where the turkey is from. But , I will get back to you on that.  The potatoes and string beans are fresh and the apple crisp is homemade.  So enjoy ! 

There are so many people on long island in need this holiday season.  Island Harvest does a wonderful job in collecting food donations and distributing them to food pantries cross the island.  Here is how you can contribute.  

 Homemade Baked Ziti

w/Barilla® Whole Grain Pasta

Romaine Salad w/ Chickpeas

Fresh Fruit 

The ziti is a white flour pasta with some protein by Barilla Plus. The ingredients are:  Semolina, Grain and Legume Flour, Blend (Lentils, Chickpeas, Egg Whites, Spelt, Barley, Flaxseed, Oat Fiber, Oats), Durum Flour, Niacin, Iron (Ferrous Sulfate), Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid.

The sauce is a Red Pack vitamin enhanced tomato sauce. The sodium at 140mg is much lower than we previously used.  Here are the ingredients: Tomato Concentrate (Water, Tomato Paste), Sugar, Soybean Oil, Potassium Chloride, Onion Powder, Salt, Citric Acid, Spice, Garlic Powder, Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid), Black Pepper, Vitamin E (DL-Alpha Tocopheryl Acetate), Natural Flavor, Vitamin A (Retinol Palmitate).

The romaine is fresh and the chick peas are canned.  

Salad bar is available. 

If you are interested in learning more about exercise and nutrition for your MS child come to the PTO meeting tonight.  There will be a panel of experts to discuss how to get your child healthier and fit.  7pm in the MS library.  See you there ! 

What's for lunch 11/18/13

 CBLT

Breaded Chicken Cutlet

Applegate® Sunday Bacon,

Lettuce, Tomato

on Whole Wheat Bun

Cucumber & Tomato Salad

Fresh Fruit

Chicken is a flash-fried product from Tyson with 10g of fat and 620mg of sodium. Ingredients: Boneless, skinless chicken breast filets with rib meat, water, modified food starch, sodium phosphates, salt. PREDUSTED WITH: Enriched wheat flour (enriched with niacin, reduced iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), wheat gluten, salt. BATTERED WITH: Water, enriched bleached wheat flour (enriched with niacin, reduced iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), modified corn starch, salt, dextrose, spices, garlic powder, xanthan gum, oleoresin paprika and annatto. BREADED WITH: Enriched wheat flour (enriched with niacin, reduced iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), salt, spices, garlic powder, extractives of paprika, natural flavors (spice extractives). Breading set in vegetable oil. 

In Turkey Bacon: 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 says otherwise - and cites the company saying their bacon has the same level (naturally) of cancer-causing nitrates as conventional brands. 

Ingredients in 'regular' bacon: 

Ingredients Water, Salt, Sugar, Sodium Phosphate, sodium ascorbate, sodium nitrite

**
Sodium Nitrite helps prevent the growth of Clostridium botulinum, which can cause botulism in humans and is also used alone or in conjunction with sodium nitrate as a color fixative in cured meat and poultry products (bologna, hot dogs, bacon).

Cucumber and tomato salad are fresh along with the fresh fruit.  

Not the best meal, tyson chicken with bacon.  Head for the salad bar. 

What's for lunch 11/15/13

Beef Taco!

Hard Corn Tortilla— GF

or Soft Flour Tortilla

Romaine Lettuce, Cheese,

Salsa, Sour Cream,

Brown Rice & Black Beans

Veggie Sticks

Fresh Fruit

For the ranch to you !  Our district has contracted with a New York State farm to provide beef raised without antibiotics and hormones. It is more expensive and there is less beef on the menu as a result but it is a huge improvement in the quality of our lunches. We season and prepare this dish. 

The hard taco shells from Mission foodservice contain: whole grain corn, water, vegetable oil (one or more of the following: cottonseed oil, corn oil or palm oil), contains 2% or less of niacin, reduced iron, thiamine, mononitrate, riboflavin lime. No sodium - 6g of fat (2 of which are saturated) 

I think we use Tyson's whole wheat tortillas. They have 4.5g of fat and 320mg of soidum. The ingredients are: Whole Wheat Flour, Water, Potato Starch with Monoglyceride, Soybean Oil, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil (Contains one or more of the following: Cottonseed Oil, Soybean Oil) with Mono- and Diglycerides and/or Citric Acid, Honey Wheat Seasonong (Dextrose, Wheat Germ, Caramel Color, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Sucralose, Tricalcium Phosphate), contains 2% or less of the following: Vital Wheat Gluten, Salt, Leavening (Sodium Bicarbonate, Calcium Acid Pyrophosphate, Monocalcium Phosphate), Dough Conditioners (Wheat Flour, Calcium Sulfate, Sorbic Acid, Fumaric Acid), Preservative (Sodium Propionate (Propionic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide (for pH adjustment), Water and Potassium Sorbate). 

The brown rice is a whole grain but as previously discussed cannot be cooked in a way that minimizes the arsenic content.

The black beans are canned and the ingredients are "BLACK BEANS, WATER, SALT, AND CALCIUM CHLORIDE" with 140mg of sodium.

The veggie sticks are fruit are fresh.  If you a vegetarian don't take the meat and fill up at the salad bar.  Except for some of the ingredients in the taco shells and flour tortilla I like this lunch !!   

The subject of seaweed has come in twice in the past week for me.  With two different people. Kind of odd !! My kids used to bring in seaweed for a snack but now as Middle Schoolers only eat in the privacy of their own home !!

Here is some interesting info. 

4 Reasons to Eat Your Ocean Veggies

Because fish aren't the only, well, fish in the sea...

By Tova Gelfond

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Photo: Dan Saelinger

A staple in Asian diets since ancient times, seaweeds are among the healthiest foods on the planet, packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. And now we know they're great for the waistline, too: A 2010 study found the algae can reduce our rate of fat absorption by 75 percent, thanks to its inhibitory effect on a digestive enzyme called lipase. (Scientists at Newcastle University are about to begin clinical trials on a "wonder bread" made with alginate fibers and designed to speed weight loss.) Here are four briny plants to sample, all available at Whole Foods or edenfoods.com.

Wakame (Undaria pinnatifida)

Pappardella-like leaves with a salty-sweet zest

Nutrition Perks
Nutritionist Gillian McKeith, PhD, author of the You Are What You Eat Cookbook, calls wakame the woman's seaweed because it is loaded with osteoporosis-preventing calcium and magnesium and acts as a diuretic (which helps reduce bloating). Wakame's pigment, fucoxanthin, is known to improve insulin resistance, and a 2010 animal study found that fucoxanthin burns fatty tissue.

Kitchen Prep
Soak the leaves in cold water until tender, then enjoy them in a cucumber salad, dressed with rice vinegar, sesame oil, and soy sauce. To make miso soup, add wakame, tofu, and a few tablespoons of miso paste to a kombu stock (see below).

Nori (Porphyra species)

Papery sheets with a mild earthy taste

Nutritional Perks
Among the marine flora, nori is one of the richest in protein (up to 50 percent of the plant's dry weight), and one sheet has as much fiber as a cup of raw spinach and more omega-3 fatty acids than a cup of avocado. Nori contains vitamins C (a potent antioxidant) and B12 (crucial for cognitive function) and the compound taurine, which helps control cholesterol.

Kitchen Prep
For a snack, toast strips of nori in the oven at low heat. Or cover a sheet with cooked brown rice; add a layer of sliced carrots, celery, or avocado, and a dash of wasabi. Roll it up and dip in a sauce of tamari, toasted-sesame oil, ginger, and rice vinegar.

Kombu (Laminaria japonica)

Leafy kelp with a full-bodied, savory flavor

Nutrition Perks
Kombu is prized as a source of iodine, which is needed to produce the two key thyroid hormones that control metabolism. The kelp is also rich in fucoidan, a phytochemical that acts as an anticoagulant; a 2011 study found that kombu contains properties that stop clots from forming in blood vessels—which may make it a promising subject for cardiovascular research.

Kitchen Prep
To make a flavorful broth called dashi (the chicken stock of Japan), simmer a strip of dried kombu in water for five minutes. And next time you cook beans, throw a kombu leaf in the pot; the plant's glutamic acid renders the beans more easily digestible and less gassy.

Arame (Eisenia bicyclis)

Long, thin, sweet-tasting strands

Nutritional Perks
Arame provides a good amount of potassium, a mineral known among athletes for preventing muscle cramps. Research has shown that arame has antiviral properties, too, and even an antiobesity effect: In a 2010 experiment, researchers discovered that mice on a high-fat diet experienced less weight gain when their food was supplemented with arame powder.

Kitchen Prep
Soak the strands in cold water for five minutes. To make a summer salad, toss them with pasta, sautéed mushrooms, tomatoes, basil, and olive oil. Dress up any cooked grain with chopped arame. Or add to stir-fried vegetables; arame pairs well with turnip and squash. 

What's for lunch 11/14/13

 All White Meat

Oven‐ Baked

Chicken “Bites”

 Whole Grain Dinner Roll

Sweet Potato Crinkles

From the Farm...

 Homemade Coleslaw

Fresh Fruit

This is one of my least favorite meals.  Keep reading and you will see what I mean. 

The chicken is a Tyson "fully cooked chicken breast nugget fritter with rib meat" with 10g of fat and 420mg of sodium. The ingredients are: Boneless, skinless chicken breast nuggets with rib meat, water, modified food starch, sodium phosphates, salt. PREDUSTED WITH: Enriched wheat flour (enriched with niacin, reduced iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), wheat gluten, salt. BATTERED WITH: Water, enriched bleached wheat flour (enriched with niacin, reduced iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), modified corn starch, salt, dextrose, spices, garlic powder, xanthan gum, oleoresin paprika and annatto. BREADED WITH: Enriched wheat flour (enriched with niacin, reduced iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), salt, spices, garlic powder, extractives of paprika, natural flavors (spice extractives). Breading set in vegetable oil.

The Crinkles are the french fry version of the sweet potato tater tots shown above with 190mg of sodium and 7g of fat (one is saturated). The ingredients are: Sweet Potatoes, Vegetable Oil (Contains One Or More Of The Following Oils: Canola, Soybean, Cottonseed, Sunflower, Corn), Corn Starch - Modified. Contains 2% or less of Annatto (color), Beta Carotene (color), Caramel Color, Corn Starch, Dehydrated Sweet Potatoes, Leavening (Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate, Sodium Bicarbonate), Natural Flavor (Contains Wheat), Rice Flour, Salt, Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate Added To Maintain Natural Color, Sugar, Tapioca Dextrin, Xanthan Gum. 

The coleslaw is made fresh and according to the description it is "from the farm" I can not confirm  nor deny that.  There is fresh fruit available. 

Although I am not a fan of sweet potato crinkles, I am a fan of sweet potatoes and here is why:

Sweet potatoes and yams look similar.

Sweet potatoes and yams are often used interchangeably in recipes, and many people don't realize there are significant nutritional differences between the two foods. While both are good for you, sweet potatoes contain higher doses of most nutrients. If you like the taste of yams more than sweet potatoes, don't kick them out of your diet; they are still a highly nutritious food.

Fiber

Most diets don't get close to the 20 to 35 grams of fiber recommended for health, the Harvard School of Public Health reports. Fiber helps you digest your food properly, which can cut your chances of getting constipated or developing hemorrhoids. When you eat fiber regularly, you are also less likely to get heart disease and certain types of cancer. A 1-cup serving of sweet potatoes supplies 6.6 grams of fiber and a cup of yams provides 5.3 grams.

Nutrients

One cup of sweet potatoes supplies 950 milligrams of potassium, and a cup of yams contains 911 milligrams, which is about 20 percent of the 4,700 milligrams you should get each day. Potassium keeps your heart beating normally and helps your muscles work right. A serving of sweet potatoes supplies 1,922 micrograms of vitamin A, a nutrient that keeps your eyes, skin, teeth and bones healthy. This is more than the 700 to 900 micrograms you need on a daily basis. Yams contain vitamin A, but a serving only supplies a trace amount. Sweet potatoes and yams contain vitamin C and iron, two nutrients that you need for a strong immune system, and folate, which can prevent certain birth defects.

Health Benefits

Sweet potatoes and yams contain antioxidants, which are compounds in plants that protect your cells from damage. A 2008 study published in the "Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture" reports that sweet potatoes might reduce cholesterol levels, which can reduce your risk of heart disease. Yams have similar properties that can help reduce your risk of heart disease. The antioxidants and vitamin B6 in yams can also help reduce premenstrual symptoms, according to Michael T. Murray, author of "The Encyclopedia of Healing Foods."

Eating Sweet Potatoes and Yams

Replace your usual baked potato with a baked sweet potato and you'll get more fiber and vitamin A. Add cubes of sweet potato to soup or stew or roast the cubes with olive oil and minced garlic for a tasty and nutritious side dish. Stir pureed sweet potatoes into bread or muffin recipes or add it to a bowl of oatmeal. Slice yams and saute them in olive oil with minced onions or grill the slices for a side dish that complements the flavor of grilled steak. Combine cooked yam cubes with jalapenos and lime juice and use the mixture to top cooked chicken breasts.

What's for lunch 11/13/13

 Homemade

Mac N’ Cheese

Barilla® Whole Grain Pasta

&

Wisconsin Cheddar

From the Farm...

Sautéed Broccoli w/ Garlic

Fresh Fruit 

The noodles we're using for the Mac n cheese are Barilla Plus. The ingredients are: Semolina, Grain and Legume Flour, Blend (Lentils, Chickpeas, Egg Whites, Spelt, Barley, Flaxseed, Oat Fiber, Oats), Durum Flour, Niacin, Iron (Ferrous Sulfate), Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid. The sauce is made from Wisconsin Cheddar. 

The broccoli and fruit are fresh. Salad bar is available.

If you like McDonalds french fries and silly putty you will be interested in the article below. 

Dimethylpolysiloxane 101 (a.k.a. Silly Putty)

Dimethylsiloxane is commonly used in vinegary-smelling silicone caulks, adhesives, and aquarium sealants, a component in silicone grease and other silicone based lubricants, as well as in defoaming agents, mold release agents, damping fluids, heat transfer fluids, polishes, cosmetics, hair conditioners AND IN OUR FOOD!

There have been no major studies conducted on the safety of dimethylsiloxane in food by the FDA or the Food Industry since it was approved in 1998, but the food industry is allowed to use it in anything they want (except milk). Chick-fil-A Chicken Sandwiches, McDonalds French Fries, KFC Mash Potatoes and Biscuits, Taco Bell Cinnamon Twists, Five Guys French Fries, Dominos Bread Sticks, and on and on – the list of guilty restaurants is mind-blowing.

Dimethylsiloxane Can Contain Formaldehyde

The FDA allows dimethylsiloxane to be preserved by several different chemicals that don’t have to be listed on the label either, including formaldehyde! Formaldehyde is one of the most highly toxic substances on earth. It is linked to allergies, brain damage, cancer, and auto-immune disorders. See chart below directly from US Code Of Federal Regulation:

Dimethylsiloxane is commonly used as a filler fluid in breast implants, however this substance has started to be phased out due to safety concerns. If this substance is considered to be a hazardous ingredient when it’s placed inside our bodies, it makes you wonder, how can the FDA allow us to eat it?

American Companies Exploiting Us Once Again

When I compared the ingredient list of McDonald’s french fries in the US vs. the UK version, I was floored to witness the drastic differences. Europeans do not use dimethylsiloxane. Look closely at the ingredients in McDonald’s french fries below. Do you see how the french fries in the U.K. version are basically just potatoes, vegetable oil, a little sugar and salt? How can McDonald’s make french fries with such an uncomplicated list of ingredients all over Europe, but not over here? Why do McDonald’s french fries in the U.S. have to have an “anti-foaming” agent? Do the brits like extra foam? No, they don’t, Europe actually regulates this ingredient because they know this man-made chemical was never intended to be consumed by humans. This whole time McDonalds has known about this and chooses to continue to serve it’s US citizens silly putty.

A Secret Ingredient In Fountain Drinks

When I drank soft drinks as a teenager, I always wondered how and why fountain drinks tasted better. My friends and I would go on and on about this and say to each other “fountain drinks are the best!” and hit up the local gas station to get our fix. Thank god those days are over.

During my research, I found out that fountain drinks have a totally different formula than their bottled counterparts found on store shelves. Dimethylsiloxane is found in Diet Coke, Dr. Pepper, Sprite, Fanta and other countless fountain drinks. The food industry doesn’t want you to know about the differences either. Coca-Cola was sued for being misleading to consumers and not disclosing that Diet Coke has two different artificial sweeteners in the fountain version vs. one in the bottle version. I wonder if there will be another lawsuit regarding this ingredient!? How many people do you think actually know that silly putty is in their Sprite?

We all know drinking soft drinks is not good for us, but does Chipotle, who prides themselves as a pioneer for better quality in the food industry, know they are feeding silly putty to their consumers by serving a wide variety of fountain sodas at their establishments? Chipotle recently phase out GMOs from their restaurant food by next year, but in order to do this, are they planning to remove their Coca-Cola fountain drinks too? I am pretty sure this isn’t part of the original plan. Maybe being associated with silly putty and formaldehyde will finally give Chipotle the nudge to switch over to drinks without GMOs and chemicals. It’s crazy, that even the companies that are trying to make a difference, are still pulling these dirty secret industry tricks in our food right under our noses.

Restaurant Cheap Shortcuts

Many fast food and causal restaurants use a butter substitute product called “Phase Oil”. You may have never heard of this substance, but I can almost guarantee you have eaten it. My husband first introduced it to me, when he said his cook at his fraternity house used it to cook all of their meals. (College kids, listen up!). Needless to say it was horrifying finding this out after looking up the ingredients.