The Benefits of eating Organic Tomatoes

The Benefits of eating Organic Tomatoes

We planted a family garden this year. And it was so exciting to eat fresh veggies from our garden. 

So again I have done a little digging and found some great info. A new study has shown that Organic tomatoes have a higher level in antioxidants the the conventionally grown ones.

Researches from the university of Barcelona and the institute of the health is Spain. Did a a comparison and the natural amount of Polyphenols ( which are found to protect against heart disease ) and some cancers. Are much higher. Polyphenols are produced as the lovely tomatoes ripen and are affected by the plants growing conditions. Researches state that antioxidants increase in response to the "stress Conditions"( how hard the plant has to work to access the nutrients from the soil.)

So to break it down....organic Tomatoes have to work much harder, because there was no nitrogenous fertilizers. Which means that the tomato plants have to activate their own defense mechanisms. Which in return releases increasing levels of all antioxidants. hmmm very cool.

Another tid bit of info...Spain is one of the Top exporters of tomatoes...I didn't know that.

They study that I read this info was from from the journal of agricultural and food chemistry.

So go grab some organic tomatoes, it might help fight against heart disease.

Have a great day!

Peanut butter

I have tried for a very long time to introduce real peanut butter. So here is the scoop. Husband and I will eat it. lil miss will eat it. Lil man will NOT. I tried making some apple and peanut butter  treats and he took one bite and said...YUK that's the gross peanut butter. So I caved and put a tablespoon on of the Skippy. This is going to take a lot longer that I thought to completely convert over for the kids....So baby steps it is.

Why am I trying to change peanut butters???

Well Are the ingredients....

Real peanut butter from the health food store  Ingredients : Crushed Peanuts

Skippy Peanut butter ingredient :Fresh roasted peanuts, Soybean oil, Maltodextrin, Icing sugar, Hydrogenated Vegetable oil, salt.

I am currently working on a list of ingredients that I have no clue what they are and on a later day....I am going to reveal what each ingredient truly is. Anything Highlighted in Red with be researched!!!! If there is a certain ingredient that you are wondering about. Leave a comment. I will do some digging for you.

Organic finds.

This is a spaghetti sauce that I have been using for a few years. The ingredients are all organic Tomatoes, basil,salt, chopped onions, garlic powder, oregano and Chopped garlic.
3 jars for 8.95 Costco

Apple sauce...I do make my own applesauce in the fall. When we drive through Meaford and go apple picking. But I also grab this one....Just apples and ascorbic  acid. Found at Costco

3 jars for $ 4.95

Snacks

Here is a healthy snack including:

Carrots

Snow peas

Cucumber

Fresh ranch dip made by   http://www.fresh-a-fare.com/ 

Strawberries

Fresh Peaches 

Organic Raisins From Natures best   http://naturesbest-glenwood.foodpages.ca/ 

Quick and Easy.

Greek Yogurt with fresh fruit puree

So here is me trying to eliminate the kids sugar filled yogurt. NOT EASY!!!  first attempt. FAIL!
I pureed some fresh peaches in my kitchen Aide Mixer. And put it into some Greek plain yogurt. Well my kids did not like it. It was WAY to tart for their liking. So today at lunch I am excited to say....They ate it. Chloe loved it. Jake said I will eat it...I don't like it, but I will eat it. ( that's good enough for me. haha, I am a mean momma eh.)

So here is the proof. One kid devoured it. What was my secret that changed the deal for me? I added a little honey. A real sweetener.
This is an easy peasy snack!! I filled the little Ziploc containers and in the fridge they go.

Discovering this blog has helped me so much!

 So Like I have said earlier, I have gained some weight. Nothing to be alarmed about, but that is not why I am starting this journey. I am not counting calories or only eating protein or eliminating carbs. I am simply just wanting to kick it old school. Our Grandparents couldn't just run to the store and grab a frozen t.v dinner. They used whole foods. Whole milk, fresh meats, veggies from the garden. etc. So that's what I am doing. going Organic as I can. Shopping local as I can.
Here is the blog that has some pretty amazing recipes. Tips and information. Please take a look. she is also on Facebook. It will help you if you are wanting to switch your food thinking :)
http://www.100daysofrealfood.com/

I made these last night. Whole wheat banana pancakes with real maple syrup. I froze them in piles of 4 cause that's how many my Lil man will eat. I threw them in the freezer. And boom ready to go. I need to make some more though. Cause My lil man got into them for dinner last night.


http://www.100daysofrealfood.com/


To find her recipe.
Have a blessed day!

The Journey begins.....

        This past weekend gave me a chance to do a little running around and exploring. I must say...I had fun. With a coffee in my hand I set out on my food journey. Actually it started by my going to the mall to do some back to school shopping and stopping at the near by Shoe store. I stumbled upon a gem. It was called Fresh a fare. It totally inrigued me. So Stepped in. I was so excited. I was like a little kid in a candy shop. it looked like a yummy sandwich shop, but I wanted to dig a little deeper because the name said fresh. So....I read and asked a lot of questions. Anne ( a staff member ) was amazing. If she didn't know the answer she found out. She even grabbed the ingredient list for each product and read what was in it.

     So what did I find??? AMAZING FOOD....with NO preservatives and additives. And with only a 2 week life span...YES! I found some stuff that I could actually read the label. I was excited to find Soups made from scratch. And they only have 4 made daily out if their list...And the list is awesome.

Chicken noodle, cream of mushroom, Creamed tomato and rice, oriental chickpea, butternut squash, carrot ginger, cream of broccoli, sweet potato, split pea and ham, minestrone, spicy goulash, curried apple and zucchini,beef barley, fire roasted vegetable, clam chowder, chili, potato fennel, beer cheddar, potato spinach, corned beef and cabbage soup.    
 Price-$ 8.95

 I also bought some salad dressing. I must say...I tasted all of them when I was there and there was not one that I did not like. But I brought home the ranch. It is sooo yummy. And the owner offers a free bag of lettuce with every purchase. BONUS!
Here is the list of dressings they have. 

Balsamic vinaigrette, maple walnut chili, caesar, ranch, yogort buttermilk dill, Asian sesame, mango vinaigrette.
                  Price $3.95

I also bought Some fresh made mayo. There were 3 different kinds. Normal mayo, Jalepeno and lemon garlic.   Price $3.95

I was very impressed and excited that I don't have to make any of these items at home. I can buy them and feel good about it. 
Here is the link to Fresh a fare. Check it all out there. is So much more there. Fresh breads and pretzels and cookies etc. oh and some pretty amazing gelato...yes I tired every flavor!! And I brought home the lemon and strawberry.
http://www.fresh-a-fare.com/

Wanting to eat real food. Not processed crap.

      As most of you know...I love food. I have catered for someone else and for my own company since 2005. I love reading about food and cooking and baking. But something lately has been alarming me. I am gaining weight. I am not the size of the moon ( yet ) but I feel like if I keep going on this path...I will be.

       I have also been reading a lot about ingredients and what is in the food that we eat. And what is not in the food that we eat. I have really tried to not buy the frozen meals pumped full of the chemicals and all the processed stuff. But this last year, I have slipped. I have bought more then I would like to admit. Why??? Maybe stress, maybe to busy of a schedule, Maybe I was lazy. Maybe it was all the above. hmmmmm....Well This past month. I have been reading ALOT...in between lacrosse playoffs and holidays etc. I am feeling very empowered to make a change. And I have started!!! I am going to share the info that I come across. I am hoping that my hectic schedule will slow down. Seeing that there is one week left to school and both my babies are in full time this year. I will have time to devote to cooking, planning, getting fit. and blogging just a bit more. So watch for my posts.  And see the transformations take place. I am praying that I can do this!!

I have never been able to make you do it.

      So Jacob has always loved to try new things, but ONLY, I repeat only if HE wants to try it. So yes...In life this has presented us with lots of challenges. But From when he was young, I learned and understood him. Take Potty training for instance. Sure we tried at a young age to try and toilet train, but I quickly learned that if this boy does not want to do it. It ain't getting done. So I tried for a couple of weeks and then threw in the towel. I didn't give up the fight. I just thought it wasn't worth the fight. So....I waited for him to tell me he wanted to do it. Yes he was 3 years old and 4 months until he was Fully potty trained. and he did miss the first few months of preschool cause he was still pull ups cause he didn't go #2 in the toilet. but then he turned to us one day and said I have to go Poo..( I know poo talk is gross. Sorry about that. ) So from that day forward. He was toilet trained. 

      Which leads us to today....He finally wanted to learn to tie his laces :) Jacob and I went back to school shopping and he found these really cool skater shoes ( with laces.) And wanted to buy them. I said no I am not buying them until you learn how to tie your laces. So sure enough he said ok I will learn how to tie laces. So this morning. He stated he wanted to try and sure enough on his second try he did it. Yippeee!!

     It has been a challenge to find velcro shoes for a size 13-1 and it felt like every other kid in the world could tie laces. except Jake. But honestly...I have not let myself compare and say well, so and so can do it, so you should. I have just reminded myself. I can't make him do it. And he will learn to do it in HIS time not mine. I just wait...and tell myself it will happen before he is 21. ( I hope)