Monthly Archives: April 2009

Apr 29Unite for Hunger and Hope - Get Your Kids Involv...

All it takes is one look at my blog and you can tell that I am passionate about teaching kids how to eat well and how to help others. While the two might not seem connected, they can work together beautifully to promote sustainability and help to end hunger. After my educator study tour to Honduras with Heifer International, I am acutely aware of the hunger issues that families face across the globe. All over the world, families are being lifted out of poverty as they develop sustainable practices...

Apr 27Kids Cooking Party Tips

Tips for Hosting a Cooking party for kids: If your family is like ours, you have been to more gymnastics birthday parties than you can count. And when it is time to think of a party for our own kids, it is easy to fall back on the familiar. Consider trying something different and perhaps less expensive. What about a birthday party where the kids learn something, get to be creative and have fun all at the same time? Cooking parties are gaining popularity - and for obvious reasons. Almost...

Apr 24Include Your Kids in Meal Planning: 6 Ideas To T...

It's almost impossible to find a parent who doesn't eagerly share his or her woes about his or her child's food "issues." Some kids refuse to eat anything green. Others only want to eat food that is white. Some love crunchy while others will abstain. Taking each person's preferences and aversions into account can certainly put a crimp on planning family meals. Don't despair. By getting your kids involved, they will be more likely to participate peacefully in the family meal (even if they...

Apr 22Earth Day Post: Chickens Recycle, Too

One reason I was so eager to jump on board when my daughter asked to do the 4H poultry project is that they are such great recyclers. Huh? Chickens recycle? But they can't sort the cans and paper and drag the bins to the curb. True, but they can eat nearly all of the scraps from our plates after dinner. And they love the veggies that I have forgotten about on the bottom of the bin in the refrigerator. And not only do they divert lots trash (from the landfill or my compost bin), they take...

Apr 19Bake Sale Recipes: Animal Treats

As I looked at the calendar yesterday, I realized with a shock that my 2 events for the Great American Bake Sale are only a month away. It's time to rally the troops and coordinate the baking efforts of my students, our 4H group and the other kids at our school. Our 4H group will be baking and selling home-made animal treats to sell at the Olompali Heritage Day in Petaluma on May 17. (Proceeds will be donated to Share our Strength and will be used to fight childhood hunger in America.) ...

Apr 17Help Improve School Nutrition & Win a Panini...

The state of our National School Lunch system is abysmal. If you would like to play a role in making a positive change in the broken system, share your thoughts! Simply visit the Healthy Schools Campaign website and describe your most vivid memory of school lunches. Get your kids involved and be creative. Submissions can be in any format, including words, images or videos! There are several prizes available including a Panini Party Package. The deadline for submission is May 1.

Apr 15Earth Day Contest - Win a Kids Konserve Lunch Ki...

If you have been to my blog before, it is pretty obvious that I care a lot about helping families to eat healthy foods and protect our planet. For that reason, I simply detest garbage - especially unnecessary garbage that comes from packaged foods. Don't get me wrong - I don't buy everything from the bulk bins at the natural foods store (and then dump them into reusable bags or pillow cases...). But I DO pay attention to what I buy and how much trash it will generate. Keeping trash out of...

Apr 13Cooking With Kids for Community Service

On the surface, cooking with kids and community service might seem like they have nothing in common. But if you just take a moment to consider it, they share several characteristics. Both require a serving of cooperation, a dash of patience and a pinch of creativity. Think it might not be worth the effort? Close your eyes and recall the expression on your child's face when you praised her cooking or his participation in the kitchen. Now, imagine her sharing the fruits of her labor with a...

Apr 9Playing with Food - Using Food to Dye our Easter...

As you might suspect from my posts about Passover, I am Jewish. So what am I doing talking about dyeing Easter Eggs? We simply couldn't help ourselves! We have eggs on the brain...Our young adult bantam chickens should start laying their tiny eggs any time now. Plus, we enjoy every opportunity we can get to play with our food. I have seen several blog posts recently about using natural ingredients to dye eggs, instead of purchasing kits full of artificial chemicals. Since I am trying...