ML Interest Tag: yogurt

Common Baking Substitutions Real People Swear By

by Amber Guetebier

We’ve all been there: all set to bust out your favorite recipe or do some baking with the kids and you find yourself short on a key ingredient. Whether you’re looking for a baking soda substitution or you are in need of an egg substitution, or it’s just not practical (or safe) to go to the store, we’ve got a handy list for those just-in-case moments.

photo: cottonbro via Pexels

Baking powder: The following are equal to 1 tsp. baking powder. 

1/4 teaspoon of baking soda + 1/2 teaspoon of cream of tartar

1/2 cup plain yogurt + 1 tsp. baking soda. Mix dry ingredients together first before adding yogurt. dded to dry ingredients. (Reduce amount of water or other liquids).

1/2 tsp. lemon juice + 1/4 tsp. baking soda.

1/4 cup of molasses + 1/4 tsp. baking soda.

1/2 tsp. vinegar + 1/4 tsp. baking soda.

Baking soda:

Baking powder at a 3x ratio (i.e. 3 tsp. baking powder = roughly 1 tsp. baking soda).

Brown sugar:

1 cup white sugar + 1 tbsp. maple syrup or molasses

Maple syrup, agave nectar or molasses at the ratio of 2/3 cup liquid to 1 cup of brown sugar. Reduce your other liquids in the recipe by 1/4 cup each.

photo: evita ochel via Pixabay 

Butter: The following are the equivalent to 1 cup of butter:

1 avocado (mashed)

1/2 cup applesauce

1/2 cup pumpkin puree

3/4 cup vegetable oil

1/2 cup buttermilk

1 cup coconut oil

Buttermilk:

Add one tbsp. of white vinegar or lemon juice to 1 cup of milk.

Cake flour:

Add cornstarch to flour as follows: 1 cup of flour minus 2 tbsps. Sub in 2 tbsp. of cornstarch. Sift together well.

Cornstarch: 

As a thickener, you can add in flour in place of cornstarch at a 3 to 1 ratio (3 tbsp. flour = 1 tbsp. cornstarch).

In baking you can substitute arrowroot powder on an even basis, but it’s not a very common ingredient.

Cream of tartar:

1 tsp. white vinegar or lemon juice for every 1/2 tsp. of cream of tartar

photo: skitterphoto via Pixabay 

Egg: You won’t believe the things you can swap for an egg in recipes! The following are equal to one egg in a recipe:

1/4 cup of applesauce, avocado or pumpkin puree. (Go! Go! Squeeze to the rescue.)

1/2 of a medium-sized banana, mashed.

Baking soda + vinegar: 1 tsp. of baking soda to 1 tbsp. of vinegar

Chia or flax seeds, processes to a 1 tbsp. of powder. Mix with 3 times the water, use warm water and let it sit for several minutes.

1/4 cup of pureed tofu.

3 1/2 tablespoons of an gelatin blend made by using 2 tsps. of unflavored gelatin to 1 cup of boiling water.

Pectin: 1-2 tsps added directly to your mix.

3 tbsp. of nut butter.

1/4 mashed potatoes or 2 tbsp of (rehydrated) instant mashed potatoes.

1 tbsp. vegetable oil + 2 tbsp. water + 2 tsp. baking powder.

Aquafaba, aka bean water! This is the liquid leftover from canned beans. Use 3 tbsp. per egg. This is great to sub for whipped meringues or when a recipe calls for egg whites.

Flour:

It’s Pretty hard to sub out flour, but you can create your own flour from dried oats if you powder them. Other flours, such as almond flour or coconut flour, can be used on a 1 to 1 ratio but don’t expect the same results. Liquids bind differently with these flours, so if possible try for a half regular/half alternative flour recipe.

Half and half or heavy cream:

Add 2 tbsp. of cornstarch to regular milk.

Melt 1/4 cup butter into 3/4 cup regular or skim milk.

Lemon/lemon juice:

You can sub in vinegar, orange juice, lime juice or white wine in place of lemon juice.

Powdered sugar:

DIY your own powdered sugar by putting regular (castor) sugar into a food processor until it’s…well…powdered!

Sour cream:

Add 1/4 cup vinegar or lemon juice to yogurt.

Yeast: 

There isn’t really a great substitute for yeast, but in a pinch you can try using equal parts baking soda + vinegar (or another acid like lemon juice) to create a leavening effect.

 

photo: calum lewis via Unsplash 

Other Clever Substitutions 

Sub a little of your water for vodka and your pie crust somehow comes out flakier. And now you have an almost-full bottle of vodka on hand. Just sayin…

If you run out of food coloring, Use Jello to tint decorative icing.

—Amber Guetebier

featured image: Gustavo Fring via Pexels 

 

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Party Like It’s 1998 Because Creme Savers Are Back

by Sarah Shebek

Remember Creme Savers? The creamy swirled hard candy that you secretly loved to find in your grandparents’ treat dish? After a 10 year hiatus, two of the most popular flavors are back!

Back in the day, you could find this candy in multiple flavors, including tropical and dessert swirled blends. And Grandma’s house wasn’t the only place to enjoy it, since you could purchase whole bags or rolls at the store, as well as spinoffs like flavored yogurt and JELLO. Now you’ll be able to buy two of the top flavors once more: Strawberry & Creme and Orange & Creme.

Each piece is individually wrapped, as all proper hard candy should be. One taste of those fruit and creme swirls will likely bring on the nostalgia, big time. And like many good treats of the early 21st century, they’re sugar free.

Iconic Candy teamed up with Mars Wrigley to reformulate the original flavors and bring back Creme Savers. You can find them at Big Lots stores in 47 states starting in mid-September. No word on if we can look forward to other flavors…yet.

—Sarah Shebek

Featured image courtesy of Mars Wrigley

 

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Surprise Your Kids with These Clever After-School Snacks

By Kara Reynolds

Back-to-school season is here, which means you’re going to have to get creative with the back-to-school snacks you offer your kids once they return home for the day. Luckily, fun snacks are easier than ever to create, and while some may take more effort than others, you can be sure your kids will get a nutritious snack that keeps them satisfied until it’s time for dinner.

What could be greater than the look of surprise on your child’s face when you pull out a snack for them that is cute, cool, or otherwise interesting to them? Snacks aren’t just about how yummy they are—their visual appeal matters, too!

Consider giving your child an age-appropriate job to do regarding snack preparation. They’ll feel confident in the knowledge that they contributed to a creative and productive endeavor!

1. Cheese Roll-Ups
If you don’t have much time for snack preparation or didn’t get around to making much for the week ahead, a cheese roll-up can still offer your child a tasty snack while costing you very little time. All you need to get started is mozzarella string cheese and thinly sliced deli meat.

Cheese is an excellent source of calcium, which is necessary for bone strength and promotes growth. Mozzarella cheese, specifically, is low in sodium. You can give this snack to your child guilt-free as you prepare a nutritious dinner for them later that evening.

2. Ants on a Log
One of the most well-known nutritious snacks, ants on a log, remains a favorite of many children. All you must do for an exciting snack time with your little one is take stalks of celery, coat them in peanut butter, and then place raisins on top.

3. Grilled Cheese Bites
Grilled cheese bites are perfect for kids who love grilled cheese but can’t have a sandwich after school, lest it spoils their dinner. These small snacks can be made relatively quickly, with only a handful of ingredients, and can be frozen and reheated for a few weeks.

4. Frozen Chocolate Banana Pops
This simple snack mixes the fun of chocolate with the healthiness of bananas. You can have a fun time dipping banana halves in the melted dark chocolate, and if your child is old enough and interested, they can help you dip the bananas, too. Make this recipe ahead as it has to chill for four hours after you’ve finished dipping the bananas.

5. Hummus & Pita Chips
Chips and dip are standard after-school snacks for many kids. Pita chips are an excellent alternative to salty, greasy potato chips. Hummus also tastes great and is a healthier alternative to a cream-based or fatty dip. Hummus can help regulate food intake and control appetite, improving your children’s diet quality overall.

6. Dirt Cups
While this snack isn’t particularly healthy, it’s a fun treat that can be served once in a while. It might be best suited for Friday, when your family can celebrate the transition of the work and school week to the much-awaited weekend. Filled with layered chocolate pudding, cookie crumbles, whipped cream, and more, it’s an easy-to-make treat that’s been passed down through the years—you might remember eating it as a child—and so might your parents! The key lies in refrigerating it so it’s cool and tasty, which could be great during the warmer days of the school year.

7. Yogurt Bowls
Yogurt bowls are typically lauded as healthy, but you may have to choose flavored yogurt over Greek yogurt for the sake of your children’s taste buds. Yogurt bowls are better when they’re made fresh, so make sure to set some time aside before your children come home if offering them a yogurt bowl is on your schedule. Adding berries, like strawberries and blueberries, that are rich in antioxidants, add a healthy boost to flavored yogurts. You can also add granola and nuts for extra protein.

8. Apple Rings
Apple rings are made of thin apple slices in the shape of—you guessed it—rings. Be sure not to slice them too thinly so they can still support food. Once you’ve cut the rings, you can top them with peanut butter and additional nuts or chocolate chips. Your children will be sure to appreciate such an exciting snack that works excellently with several toppings.

9. “LEGO” Rice Krispie Treats
This after-school snack is made of brightly colored and fun Rice Krispie Treats! Take regular Rice Krispie Treats and divide them, then pour icing over them and use face-down M&Ms for the buttons. Make sure that you use icing instead of frosting, as the hardened, glossy cover is needed to make the snack look more like a LEGO toy.

Planning out snacks for after school can make for an exciting time, especially if your kids get in on the conception and preparation phases. With just a little prep work beforehand, you can create snacks that will give your children a dose of nutrition while satisfying them after a long day of learning and leave them looking forward to dinner.

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Kara Reynolds is the Editor-in-Chief and founder of Momish Magazine.  A mom of four and matriarch to her big blended family, Kara wants nothing more than to normalize differences in family structures.  She enjoys peeing alone, pancakes, and pinot noir - but not at the same time. 

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The 5 Best Foods for Baby According to a Registered Dietitian

By Lauren Manaker, MS, RD

Starting to introduce solid food to your baby is a rite of passage that can be both exciting and nerve-wracking at the same time. While this rite of passage can certainly make for a cute Instagrammable pic when your little one has its face covered in pureed goodness, it can also cause some stress when parents are deciding which foods are safe choices.

As a pediatric registered dietitian, I have seen my fair share of parents who stick to the old-school pureed fruits and veggies as first foods out of fear of feeding babies “the wrong thing.” But there are so many foods that are safe (and recommended) to be a part of a baby’s early diet that offer a slew of health benefits.

No matter whether you are team baby led weaning, team puree, or you are somewhere in the middle, these five foods can be fantastic additions to your little one’s plate when they are being exposed to the wonderful world of food.

1. Chicken
Feeding your baby chicken during its early years is one of the best things you can do for its overall health. Besides being an excellent source of high-quality protein that can help support baby’s growth and development, both dark and white meat chicken contains vitamin B12 and choline, which together may promote brain development in children and help the nervous system function properly.

Lean proteins like chicken are important first foods for infants and toddlers (0-2 years old) as sources of iron, zinc, protein, choline, and long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids. Choline is a nutrient that pregnant or lactating women don’t get enough of but is critical for a child’s normal brain development—and chicken has it! In fact, choline plays a role in good health throughout the lifespan. Young children need choline for continued brain development and recent research is even shedding light on the role of choline in impacting mood and preserving cognitive function into adulthood.

To offer chicken to a baby, simply puree it with some liquid (something like no-salt-added chicken broth or even breast milk) or serve up soft pieces of the meat for the baby led weaning crowd.

2. Peanuts
Imagine no longer having to worry about a young child developing an allergy to peanuts. While there is no magic bullet to prevent peanut allergy in every child in the world, there is a simple step that caregivers can take to help significantly reduce the risk, and that is feeding the infant peanut foods early and often.

Yes, it may sound scary to give your child a food that is a common allergen. But data shows that those fed peanut products later in life have a 10-fold increase in peanut allergy prevalence when compared with those who eat peanut products early and often. Specifically, eating peanut foods early and regularly (2 grams three times per week) reduced the risk of peanut allergy by more than 80 percent, compared to peanut avoidance.

When feeding babies peanuts, choking hazards need to be monitored. Offering your baby a bowl of shelled whole peanuts is obviously a no-go. Instead, add peanut butter to pureed dishes or offer up a soft piece of toast with a thin shmear of creamy natural PB.

3. Salmon
Since baby’s brain is continuing to grow and develop, offering up key nutrients that support this organ’s health is essential. And DHA omega-3 fatty acid is one nutrient that can have a profound impact on baby’s brain.

Feeding your baby salmon early will fuel it with this healthy fat in a natural way. Just watch out for the bones!

4. Yogurt
Babies should not drink cow’s milk until they are one year old. But dairy foods like yogurt can be a satisfying and yummy choice for little ones once they start eating solids. Yogurt will offer up some important nutrients like calcium and protein to support their growth in a natural way.

When considering which yogurts to feed your baby, skip the options that have added sugars and artificial colors. Instead, opt for plain, full-fat Greek yogurt, which is the most appropriate choice for this age group.

5. Eggs
Guidance on whether eggs should be introduced to little ones has taken a 180-degree turn from old-school recommendations. Eggs are recommended as a first food for a slew of reasons. In fact, the recent Dietary Guidelines for Americans specifically calls out eggs as an important first food for babies once they are developmentally ready to start eating solid foods.

First, similar to peanuts, eating eggs early (typically around 4-6 months of age) and often may reduce the risk of baby developing an egg allergy—good news for caregivers and babies alike.

In fact, a recent analysis showed that early introduction of eggs was effective in preventing the development of food allergy in specific groups of infants at high risk of developing food allergy. Plus, the early introduction of potentially allergenic foods into the diets of the non-high-risk infants was not associated with any increased risk of food allergy.

Plus, eggs provide eight essential nutrients and varying amounts of all the nutrients listed by the American Academy of Pediatrics as essential for brain development—including choline and high-quality protein.

Babies can enjoy eggs that are scrambled, pureed with some breast milk, or even cooked a-la an omelet and cut into easy-to-grab strips. Just make sure the eggs are fully cooked before they are enjoyed.

Starting Solids With Choices Beyond Fruits & Veggies
Feeding your baby should not be a cause for angst, and being armed with a list of foods that are “dietitian-approved” can help you navigate this exciting stage. Of course, feeding your baby old favorites like carrots and sweet potatoes that are packed with nutrients will be well-received by little palates and are a totally safe and smart choice. And along with the tried-and-true fruits and veggies, offering up these important first food choices can help your kiddo start out their feeding journey on the right foot.

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Lauren Manaker, MS, RD
Tinybeans Voices Contributor

Lauren Manaker is an award-winning registered dietitian, lactation counselor and author. Lauren's work has been featured in numerous publications and demostrates her committment to sharing evidence-based nutrition guidance that simplifies healthy eating. When she is not writing, Lauren can be found boating with her husband, daughter and rescue pup on the waters of Charleston, SC.

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Get Your Vitamins: 13 Recipes for Kid-Friendly (& Healthy!) Popsicles

by Katie Taylor

Healthy, homemade popsicles are a cool treat and a clever way to up your child’s intake of fruits and veggies. Keep them in the freezer for hot days, teething pain, sniffles and any other time your child can use a boost. Make extra; you’re going to want some too!

Pin all 13 recipes for baby-friendly popsicles.

Dole Whip Popsicles

One Lovely Life

If you can't travel to Disneyland for a Dole Whip, these Vitamin C-rich popsicles are the next best thing. These pops from One Lovely Life are made with just two ingredients: diced pineapple and coconut milk, but you can add a sweetener like maple syrup or honey if you'd like (avoid honey for babes under age 1). 

Wild Blueberry & Almond Butter Yogurt Popsicles

The View from Great Island

If you're introducing your child to nuts, these filling and flavorful popsicles are a great way to let them snack on almond butter in a baby-friendly form. Blended with yogurt and blueberries, they offer a nutritional boost along with kid-friendly flavors. Head to The View from Great Island for the recipe.

Blueberry Pomegranate Popsicles

Gimme Some Oven

Superfoods for your super babe! Made with just blueberries, pomegranates and Greek yogurt, these super cute popsicles from Gimme Some Oven are tangy, creamy and sweet. Freeze them in Dixie cups to get this baby-friendly shape.

Swirly Strawberry Creamsicles

Mama Papa Bubba

This fruit-sweetened frozen novelty is packed with protein and calcium. Mix them with your favorite berries (fresh or frozen) to create this picture-perfect, yummy treat. This recipe from Mama Papa Bubba uses medjool dates for sweetness, instead of honey, so it's safe for kids under a year old. 

Veggie Pops

Wanderson1 via Pixabay

Babies get their daily dose of vegetables with these colorful popsicles. The Kids Activities Blog shares recipes such as Berry Red Veggie, Orange Carrot Mango and Lime Green Popsicles (spoiler: this one includes iron-rich spinach!).

Yogurt & Veggie Popsicles

LiveSimply.com

These popsicles are full of calcium and vitamins, thanks to the yogurt, veggies and fruits. Kristin from Live Simply has created three popsicle recipes: Orange Delight (carrots, strawberry, mango), Green Dinosaur (spinach, bananas, pineapple) and Tickle-Me-Red (beets, strawberry, banana). If your child is under age one, swap out the honey for maple syrup.

Rainbow Popsicles

TheFirstYearBlog.com

Taste the rainbow with these beautiful frozen treats. There's prep work involved to blend and then layer smoothies in each of the rainbow colors, so save this one for a special occasion like a birthday or holiday. Get the recipe at The First Year Blog.

Breastmilk Pops

Amazon

Here's a tasty treat for breastfed babes that also provides instant teething relief. Pour pumped breast milk into the cap of a pacifier (1 to 2 ounces per cap), then insert pacifier and freeze for 3-4 hours. 

Strawberry & Yogurt Popsicles

popsicles are a good thing to add to a summer bucket list

Consider this a baby-fied version of the summer favorite strawberries with whipped cream. Full-fat vanilla yogurt replaces cream in this version and adds a little extra sweetness. Head to Pint Sized Baker for the recipe.

Pea & Spinach Green Smoothie Popsicle

My Fussy Eater

This green machine combines peas, spinach, Greek yogurt, banana and chia seeds for a powerhouse snack that includes vitamins A, C and K, magnesium, manganese and fiber. Head to My Fussy Eater for the recipe.

Super Kale Pops

Super Healthy Kids

Kale has many health benefits, including a high amount of fiber that can aid your little one's digestion. Super Healthy Kids blends the greens with frozen berries to sweeten them up.

Fruit & Veggie Pops

Hello, Wonderful

Hello, Wonderful shares four popsicle recipes that are sure to please your baby’s budding palette. Pro tip: To save on prep time, buy cold-pressed veggie juices to mix with your favorite frozen fruits.

One-Ingredient Fruit Popsicles

Ben Wicks via Unsplash

It’s as easy at sounds, and endlessly customizable. Freeze your babe's favorite fruits for a treat they're sure to love. Slice larger fruits like pineapple and watermelon into long pieces. Keep smaller fruits like strawberries, mangoes, raspberries and bananas whole. Avoid dense fruits like whole grapes that could pose a choking hazard. If you’re feeling fancy, insert a popsicle stick into the bottom of the fruit so it’s easier for baby (or you) to hold. Freeze for 3-4 hours, and then enjoy.

—Katie Taylor

featured photo: Wanderson1 via Pixabay 

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The 5 Secrets of French School Lunches

By Alexandra Gabalda

It’s no secret that the French have a way with food. But did you know that school lunches served to French kids in their school cafeterias make parents jealous all over the world? What exactly makes their lunch menus so enviable? We looked into the basics of lunchtime in France and decided to go figure out the specificities of French school menus so that we can easily apply them to our lunch packing routine!

1. Start with the Main Course.
French kids who eat at school get a menu as if they were in a restaurant: the menu usually includes an appetizer, a main course, “cheese,” and dessert. The main course is the most important part of the meal, with vegetables, proteins (meat, fish, eggs, beans, or lentils), and cereals. Our first advice when thinking about your next menu is to start with the selection of the proteins you want to include: fish? meat? vegetable proteins? Then, what cereals would pair well with these proteins? Rice, couscous, pasta, or potatoes?

Note that if you don’t want any cereal in your main course, you can always add some bread to your menu, as you can see in a lot of French school menus available on Teuko.com.

Last but not least, what vegetable(s) would match your previous choices? This looks like a difficult question only a chef would be able to answer but look into kid-friendly foods like zucchini, grated carrots, bell peppers, and green beans.

2. Add a Side.
An appetizer is most and foremost what restaurants in the USA call “sides” so just add extra raw veggies or fruits to complete your food groups, and you’re all set! During winter, kids can be served a soup as an appetizer: leek soup, carrot soup, pumpkin soup, mushroom soup are all good, non-offensive options.

3. Don’t Forget the Cheese.
If you want to pack lunch the French way then don’t forget the cheese! And if your kids are not into cheese? You can always switch to yogurt to make sure to pack all the calcium they need to grow strong. Pick fruity yogurt, or just plain yogurt, and add yourself some fresh fruits.

4. Dessert Is a Must.
Now for the last part of a French meal: the dessert! What’s interesting when looking at all the school menus demystified in Teuko.com, you’ll see that the desserts served to French kids are mostly made up of fruits in season! From time to time, they do get sweet treats like cakes, pies, cookies. You can always keep it simple by adding one chocolate chip cookie or a mini donut and or “beignets”—a donut filled with applesauce, jam, vanilla cream, or chocolate cream.

5. What about the Drink?
Water is the only drink served to the French schoolchildren nowadays but that was not always the case. In fact, it was only in 1956 that the French government mandated that no wine would be served to the kids under the age of 14 years old! And it was only in 1981 that the law was extended up to the kids in high school.

If plain water doesn’t cut it with your kid, try sparkling water, or just add some slices of lemon in tap water… and voilà! Your lunchbox is finally complete… the French way.

Teuko is the first platform that empowers families to simplify lunch packing. Using Teuko, they can find and share kid-approved lunchbox ideas, recipes, and tips, all in one place. Teuko is transforming the lunch packing experience by boosting inspiration and motivation week after week. 

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One Cool Thing: Gerber’s New Subscription Service

by Erin Lem

Give baby nutritious meals to meet her growth and development without any chopping, steaming or pureeing on your part. Gerber makes it easy. Their brand-new subscription service ships stage-based foods, carefully selected based on your baby’s developmental age, straight to your door. Simply set it and forget it—you’ll love the convenience and baby will devour the delicious food. Read on to find out more.

How it works:
Fill out Gerber’s uber quick form (we’re talking 5 easy fields to fill out) where you specify baby’s age, name and your contact info. Gerber will then provide you with your subscription box, outlining all the goodies that will arrive on your doorstep.

The goods:
Gerber’s organic box is carefully curated to fit baby’s developmental stage and it also includes educational and nutritional content, such as guided menus, hunger and fullness cues, recipes, and ingredient source content to help parents feel like feeding pros.

Our box included for our 9-month-old baby included an assortment of veggie/fruit grab-and-go pouches, glass jar containers, oatmeal, yogurt melts and puffs. Gerber nailed the picks as our baby is just beginning to eat a larger variety of food and flavors, and enjoys feeding himself and working on his hand-eye coordination.

The price:
The organic boxes start at $69.99 per box/month or just under $2 per serving.

Online: gerber.com/subscription-boxes

—Erin Lem

photos: Gerber

 

 

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Sun-Maid Offers New Options for Halloween Including Glow in the Dark Packaging

by Jennifer Swartvagher

This Halloween may be different this year so why not try something new? Sun-Maid wants to help parents out by offering new better-for-you snacks to enjoy or hand out. Just in time for Halloween they are revealing a whole new alternative to candy treats. 

Peanut Butter Yogurt Raisins

New Peanut Butter Yogurt Covered Raisins

After the success of popular Yogurt Covered Raisin mashups like Strawberry and Vanilla and Chocolate and Vanilla, Sun-Maid reveals its latest raisin recipe flavor: Peanut Butter. Peanut Butter is perfect for the Yogurt Covered Raisin and pairs for two new products: Chocolate and Peanut Butter Yogurt Covered Raisins and PB&J Yogurt Covered Raisins. These new combinations are the first new Yogurt Covered Raisin offerings of 2020 and create 10 kid-friendly flavors in Sun-Maid’s mix of Yogurt Covered Raisin options. Sun-Maid Yogurt Covered Raisins are non-GMO and always made with natural flavors.

Chocolate and Peanut Butter: The chocolate and peanut butter combination is made with whole fruit with a raisin at the core, surrounded by a creamy mix of rich chocolate and nutty peanut butter. Inspired by the peanut butter cup, the new release comes just in time for Halloween when the popular flavor combination sweeps shelves.

PB&J: The classic marriage makes its way to whole fruit with a familiar flavor for kids and parents. Made with strawberry – PB&J Yogurt Covered Raisins pack a sweet and savory punch and a welcome alternative to or complement for the traditional sandwich.

Sun Maid Halloween

Sour Raisin Snacks, Yogurt Covered Raisins in Glow-in-the-Dark Packaging

Adding even more inspiration for spirited fun, Sun-Maid is releasing limited edition, glow-in-the-dark packaging in Sour Raisin Snacks and Yogurt Covered Raisin variety packs. The Halloween-themed Sour Raisin Snacks come in 24 fun size pouches with 12 Strawberry and 12 Blue Raspberry flavors. The Sun-Maid Yogurt Covered Raisin snacks for Halloween are available in an 18-fun-sized pouch box including Chocolate and Vanilla covered raisins. Available via Walmart.com and Amazon.com, the packages feature bats that glow after being held up to a UV or smartphone light. 

Sun Maid Halloween

Sun-Maid Sour Raisin Snacks are fruit snacks the way nature intended – they taste like sour candy but are whole fruit. Taking the raisin up a level, Sun-Maid uses golden raisins and simply adds a little sour pucker of natural fruit flavoring. No added sugar, and northing artificial – these treats provide an entirely new flavor experience.  Sour Raisin Snacks come in four flavors for other tastes – including Watermelon and Mixed Berry in addition to Strawberry and Blue Raspberry.

—Jennifer Swartvagher

All photos courtesy of Sun-Maid

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5 Simple Ways Parents Can Help Boost Their Kid’s Immunity

By Sonal Patel

I often get asked “How can I build my child’s Immunity?”  Here are some suggestions from an Immunologist (hint: it’s me).

1. It starts with a great diet.

You are what you eat! There may be something to the old saying. Healthy things in everyday foods—from yogurt to walnuts—may help boost a kid’s natural defenses. So whether you’re arming your kid for cold and flu season or just aiming for good health year-round, immune-boosting foods may help. Foods that may boost immunity include…

Yogurt

Yogurt contains helpful germs called probiotics. You may already know that these organisms live in your gut and can improve the way your body uses food. But they’re also important in helping your body fight sickness. What type of yogurt should you get? Look for brands that say they contain live cultures. Just stay away from artificially added sugars, colors, etc.

Walnuts

Walnuts have healthy omega-3 fatty acids, which are good for you in lots of ways. Experts believe that omega-3s help your body fight illness. Walnuts are easy to sprinkle into a snack mix or on cereal and are an especially great way to get natural omegas for vegetarians.

Fruits & Veggies

To help your immune system, some experts suggests aiming for ones that are high in vitamin C, like citrus fruits, strawberries, bell peppers, broccoli and sweet potatoes.

Sugar has been shown in many clinical trials to actually suppress immunity. To keep kids well, limit their overall intake of additives like sugar and find out which foods are allergens. Focus on plenty of fresh veggies, whole fruits, nuts, seeds, legumes and eggs.

2. Maintain your child’s microbiota!

Probiotics are the friendly helpful bacteria that naturally occur in our guts. They protect our digestive tracts, help us to digest food, and shield us from invading bacteria and viruses. When this bacterial balance becomes disrupted in children, we can see changes in a child’s ability to fend off infections.

You want your child to eat food that has probiotics like yogurt and avoid unnecessary antibiotic use. Urging your pediatrician to write a prescription for an antibiotic whenever your child has a cold, flu or sore throat is a bad idea. Antibiotics treat only illnesses caused by bacteria, but the majority of childhood illnesses are caused by viruses.

Studies show, however, that many pediatricians prescribe antibiotics somewhat reluctantly at the urging of parents who mistakenly think it can’t hurt. In fact, it can. Strains of antibiotic-resistant bacteria have flourished as a result, and a simple ear infection is more difficult to cure if it’s caused by stubborn bacteria that don’t respond to standard treatment.

3. Help calm their stress and anxiety.

In today’s fast-paced world, parents are overstressed, children are over-scheduled and everyone suffers. Children’s bodies have the same response to stress that adults’ do—their cortisol and adrenaline rises. When this elevation in stress hormones is sustained, their immune systems’ response is lowered. It’s important for children to have lots of down time, time for creative play and simply times of rest.

4. Make sure they’re getting enough good sleep.

Most children are not getting the required amount of sleep. Depending on age, children need between 10 and 14 hours of sleep per day.

5. Remember that fever helps fight infection and infections develop your immunity.

Although many parents panic at the first sign of a rise in temperature on the thermometer, it’s important to recognize that fever is only a sign of and not an illness itself. Fever is your child’s body’s natural response to an infection and without it; her body isn’t as effective at fighting the illness.

Minor illnesses are part of life, and not every infection can be prevented or treated. When you do have an infection, your immune system builds immunity and memory to that particular virus or bacteria.

How are you keeping your kids healthy this cold and flu season?

RELATED STORIES:

What You Need to Do to Protect Your Kids from the Flu Epidemic

I Think My Kid Has the Flu—Now What?

This Common Symptom in Kids Could Actually Be the Flu
 

Dr. Patel is an allergist in Pasadena California. She is board-certified in Allergy-Clinical Immunology and Pediatrics. She is the co-author of The Mommy MD guides to Twins Triplets and More! She understands that parenting is the hardest and most fulfilling job you can have. You can find her @TMommyMD.

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