tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46900364817028870912024-03-08T00:14:52.732-08:00Additive-free KidsKatie's Mumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16861647298432261350noreply@blogger.comBlogger36125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4690036481702887091.post-49980597499739342009-05-11T22:22:00.001-07:002009-05-11T22:26:06.786-07:00Plum sauceCan't have tomatoes? Then <a href="https://secure.acclipseweb.com/barkers.co.nz/index.cfm/PRODUCTS/Savoury_Sauces.html?pidVal=46">Barker's</a> Plum sauce is just the thing - gluten free, it can be used for dipping and more or less in place of tomato sauce. We even tried gluten free pizza at the weekend with the savoury plum sauce as a base. Good on Barkers!<br /><br />Just about all of their products are gluten free - and they are very good at limiting the additives and junk.Katie's Mumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16861647298432261350noreply@blogger.com74tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4690036481702887091.post-85992949532261613312009-05-11T22:10:00.001-07:002009-05-11T22:21:01.133-07:00Why no interest here in new zealand regarding additives?When there moves in Europe to ban some of the food additives, I thought more would happen here. Now my eldest has started school it is really intersting to see what sort of food goes into the lunches. I hear lots of parents complaining about what their kids will eat - namely that their diet is somewhat limited. I rarely hear of other parents of the 5's and unders saying how they love their fruit and veges and are keen on hummus and the like.<br /><br />Here it is still very easy to buy additive laden foods that masquerade as healthy foods for kids. I really did think that manufacturers would take a bit of notice what was happening in the UK. To be honest, some did and changed sugar levels, swapped to natural colourings etc - but there was no big public outcry.<br /><br />Parents who borrow my copy of 'they are what you feed them' which is so well researched and readable - and now very dog-eared - are amazed at what is in the food that they feed their kids - but find it very daunting when everything in the pantry seems to have 'forbidden nasties'.<br /><br />I actually look back at the days when we only had to contend with a few e-numbers as bliss. Now my husband and younger daughter have gluten intolerance, etc etc.<br /><br />Food that is fresh tastes better. As for the kids - they love going to the orchard and picking which apples to have, tastings at the cheese shop and helping with the baking. It's just the simple things which are so much pleasure.Katie's Mumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16861647298432261350noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4690036481702887091.post-15942868157751620362008-10-03T21:59:00.001-07:002008-10-03T22:06:32.192-07:00We keep losing foods - are lectins the reason?Annabelle now has a problem with quite a few foods. Going out to a restaurant is quite an issue as she can't really eat any of the food and I have to take some with me - and a lot of places don't like it.<br /><br />Issues now are: gluten, oats, A1 cheese, yoghurt and milk, almonds, cashews, tomatoes, capsicums, avocados, eggplant, potatoes, soybean oil, oranges.<br /><br />Even going for a quick bite to eat is a nightmare. "Is it gluten free? Yes? lovely - Is it almond free and potato flour free? great. How about Cheese...?" And so the list goes on.<br /><br />Oranges are the latest nasty food. The other day I had ordered her the only thing on the menu - a fresh fruit salad - made sure there was no yoghurt or cream - forgot about the oranges. There were three tiny pieces buried under some apple. And she ate them before I realised. Stomach pain, bloated tummy and several bouts of diarrhoea later I felt terribly guilty. I should start carrying a list.Katie's Mumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16861647298432261350noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4690036481702887091.post-85949299587227556042008-05-02T16:39:00.000-07:002008-05-02T17:08:40.457-07:00NutritionHere's some advice - and please correct me if I am wrong:<br /><br />Replacing dairy - there are many ways to get dairy. If A1 milk (normal for many countries) is a problem - then try A2 - human milk, goats milk and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">specific</span> types of cows are A2. Annabelle has no problem with A2 cows milk but gets chronic diarrhoea and stomach cramps with any type of A1 - milk, cheese, cream or <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">yoghurt</span>. Milk can be replaced in recipes by other liquids. Rice milk is low in many nutrients. Soy milk is not the answer - as it interferes with thyroid function, other nutrient absorption- <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">particularly</span> iron, and has other health concerns - not which the least is affecting blood clotting ability! However available calcium can be found in oranges, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">bok</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">choy</span>, broccoli, almonds, dates...<br /><br />Wheat flour replacements - usually taste gritty, leave a sour aftertaste and are expensive! So unless it is ground almonds (packs a protein and calcium punch) then don't bother! Many foods were never designed to have anything to do with wheat flour.<br />- fish cakes<br />-steak and chips<br />-beef stew<br />-<span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">omelet</span> and salad<br />-lamb shanks with veges and mashed potato<br />-grilled salmon, new potatoes and light veges<br />-prawn and pea risotto<br />-pumpkin soup.....<br /><br />...the list is really very long.<br /><br />Tasting good without soy - use other spices and fresh herbs. Just season well.<br /><br /><br />Make the most <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">of</span> what you CAN eat - I buy whole free range chickens - use them for roast dinners and curries for the leftovers and then make a soup from the carcass. No waste. No additives. A NZ$15 free range chicken does our family of four for a roast dinner, cold cuts with chips and salad, leftovers make curry (just add cheap rice!) and then soup. Far cheaper than buying mince or $21/ kg chicken breast!<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Lycopene</span> - is a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">micronutrient</span> - abundant in tomatoes. Which Dave and Annabelle can't have. It is also in watermelon, peaches, nectarines...<br /><br />Fibre - a big argument with taking out bread and wheat from the diet is that fibre may be a problem. Well a lot of people I know eat white bread -and there isn't a huge amount of fibre in that. But apples, avocado, kiwi fruit, orange, peas, sweet potatoes - are all good sources of fibre. They also contain potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, calcium, selenium.... as well as a whole host of vitamins. If you want to know more check out <a href="http://www.healthalternatives2000.com/fruit-nutrition-chart.html">this great site</a>.<br /><br />So maybe people need to examine the food they dish up to their kids. Where is the potassium, the B12, the fibre, the available calcium? At least now I know if a nutrient is low. After all I now know that potassium is essential for heart health - but too much can damage kidneys. Selenium is essential for a healthy brain. And everyone knows about iron.<br /><br />It's a balancing act - but if you are reading this and still reaching for the frozen manufactured meat, oven chips (I haven't even mentioned <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">salicylites</span>) with a dollop of tomato ketchup on the side - then think of putting vitamins, minerals, protein, good fat, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">carbs</span>... on the plate.<br /><br />Please.Katie's Mumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16861647298432261350noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4690036481702887091.post-42874997983112613442008-05-02T16:23:00.000-07:002008-05-02T16:37:42.772-07:00Food and nutrition is so importantI have been doing load of research since my last post. First an update:<br /> Hubby is now dairy and gluten and soy free. But not <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">celiac</span>. He had the blood and stool test - and then a biopsy - which you can read about on his <a href="http://gaspodethewonderdog.blogspot.com/search?q=drugs">own blog </a>. Annabelle had the tests too - but the results were negative even though she has a rash, stomach cramps and diarrhoea to boot if she has a hint of gluten!<br /><br />Katie continues to react to any <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">azo</span> dyes and we stay as additive free as possible. Though she is fine with the gluten and dairy and soy.<br /><br />So I have spent a lot of time <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">examining</span> tests, reactions and recipes. I am becoming quite an expert on <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">the</span> protein content of certain foods - and the potassium, sodium etc. And where to get <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">lycopene</span> if you can't eat tomatoes - like two in my family can't.<br /><br />It made me realise that you really are what you eat. And some people can eat what they like without any effect. And others can't. I have read a lot of books and don't hold with the blood type theory. Though interestingly my husband is AB-. We are now busy looking at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">lectins</span> and the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">possibility</span> that him and daughter #2 have a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">lectin</span> intolerance with most families. So he is on a strict diet and we are challenging him every few days with a new food for signs of intolerance.<br /><br />Anyway there is a lot out there on the web about foods. But not a huge amount about <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">lectin</span> intolerance. It is a very new field. Meanwhile I shall be carefully balancing nutrition whilst waiting for the hospital <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">dietitian's</span> appointment. It's a good job I aren't working at the moment as I have time to research replacement foods.<br /><br />I have also been looking at 'additive free' type blogs and I am a bit disappointed. I feel very behind - but we have been doing this for three years now and I thought there would be a lot of info out there. No-one seems to be talking nutrition. Disappointing.Katie's Mumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16861647298432261350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4690036481702887091.post-88544271210875859402008-02-12T00:17:00.000-08:002008-02-12T00:22:57.058-08:00Wine and beerLove them! Although I prefer my drinks additive free I do understand that sulphites are part of the wine making process. Here in New Zealand we have some incredible wine makers (some just up the road from here) and are renowned for the whites - sav blanc, chardonnay... But even these seem to have added sulphites.<br /><br />However the fantastic news is that Steinlager have brought out <a href="http://www.steinlager.com/Splash.aspx">'steinlager pure'</a> - additive free and just totally delicious. Apparently the company can't keep up with demand.<br /><br />I wonder what will happen when the first winery announces 'no added sulphite white wine...?"Katie's Mumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16861647298432261350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4690036481702887091.post-19467932189383459942008-02-09T20:40:00.000-08:002008-02-09T21:03:16.671-08:00CeliacWell the reason for no posting is that we have just found out (and are still going through the process) that husband and bub (now 16 months) are celiac. Wow that came as a shock! And so we have been plunged into the world of no gluten. Or A1 dairy. And it is either very easy and incredibly unpapatable - or very hard and delicious. I bake even more than I did before.<br /><br />The funny thing is that it is soooo complicated. It is not enough to read the ingredients list on a packet and use or discard, you actually have to have an understanding of the food industry practices, constituent ingredients and e numbers. So for a start I didn't know that most icing sugar contained gluten. Look at the ingredients: sugar. No mention of wheat or anything. But it is there - a free flow agent - that is part of the manufacturing process - so doesn't have to be declared. So lollies (sweets, candies...) are out - unless you are 100% certain that they are gluten free. This isn't actually a big deal in our house as most contain artificial colourings...<br /><br />Rice flour doesn't taste nice. And potato flour is pretty bad too. And the idea of sticking things together with gum that don't naturally emulsify? Why even go there? I have borrowed one book after another about wheat free, celiac cooking, eating right - but they all seem to list ingredients that contain those additives (again) or gums or 4 types of flour and extra eggs, producing some eggy monstrosity.<br /><br />So why do it? We now eat more fruit and veges than we did even before. And eat wonderful eggs (free range from open air chooks) and they are great! Bread has been replaced by rice and potatoes. Well not literally. It's just that no matter what sort of bread we have tried (home baked, store bought, gluten free bakery...) it's just not nice. And as you know we like nice bread. But who said bread HAD to be a part of the diet? We did without for a good few thousand years...<br /><br />A1 milk has ben replaced by A2 - goats cheese occasionally and did you know that you can get A2 cows milk? Cakes work with cornflour or cocoa or ground nuts. And they taste GOOD! Fatless sponge with cornflour has been around for years - with fruit spread in the centre... YUM!<br />Biscuits made with eggs and almonds - no rice flour or potato flour here. And NO ADDITIVES!<br /><br />No take-aways now. So it actually works out cheaper than it did before. I have had lots of celiacs recommend rice cakes to us - you know the crispy things - but most are flavoured - we occasionally have plain. We eat more things now. Lunch is hard. And so is breakfast but we are slowly getting there. It's a good job the kids like fruit!Katie's Mumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16861647298432261350noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4690036481702887091.post-19289777022882634952007-11-16T19:04:00.000-08:002007-11-16T19:12:04.230-08:00Castle Hill WalkToday was a bright clear sunny day so as it has been a long weekend we figured we would take Katie (and baby sister) out to Castle Hill for walk. It is very suited for little kids really - and even has toilets! It was great to be able to take them into the mountains as it is something we don't do enough of! The walk up to the rocks was pleasant and quite busy with tourists and locals alike as well as climbers hauling their matresses around, practising.<br /><br />The snow on the tops was beautiful and there was plenty of scrambling in and around the huge boulders. Very exciting for a three year old. And Springfield made a great stop (with toilets and a couple of great cafes) for the kids. Well worth the effort to drive to!Katie's Mumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16861647298432261350noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4690036481702887091.post-69544636339380729692007-11-13T00:50:00.000-08:002007-11-13T01:20:03.666-08:00Specialist organic shopsI like food. I like tasty food. I love additive free food. So you would think that me going into a specialist organic shops would be heaven. Well it's not! The one I used to like closed down. And I keep trying new ones but I have yet to find anyone that I trust!<br /><br />For a start, most places are tiny and carry a very limited stock. They all seem to have the usual cereals and tinned beans, identical to the ones which can be found at a fraction of the cost at the major supermarket down the road. They also sell small weighed bags of organic raisins and small foods - with a 'use by' date penned in. Obviously taken from a large container of the same. But how long has that been opened for? No way of telling.<br /><br />The fruit produce is always Expensive. I buy local apples at around 99c a kg currently. Usually I can get them from the local orchard - I even drive past the trees. They aren't organic - but they are very local. The latest organic apples I saw were $3.99 a kg. And they were shipped from north island. Wow.<br /><br />I would love to buy organic - but it is so incredibly expensive. Everyone I talk to tells me it isn't - but whenever I venture into one of these places I walk out amazed at the prices.<br /><br />I particularly love seeing 'flavours' listed in ingredients of organic food. Personally I like real vanilla - with lots of those black seeds floating around the mixture - not a 'flavour'.<br /><br />I am actually pro organic. It's just that I like to think I am sensible too. I would rather we ate the quantity of fruit and veg that we eat, than have to buy only a third of organic. As it is I spend about $90 a week on fruit and veges. That has really gone up since changing our diets. $250 a week??? I don't think so!<br /><br />As for the staff at most of the organic places I have so far visited. I thought they would be passionate people. Ready to tell the customer the benefits of organic, the 'history' of the produce on their shelves. The name of the chicken that laid the eggs even. Nah. Not interested. The new butcher where I tried this week - not bothered about explaining the ingredients to me (in my quest to find safe additive free sausages). I thought these people would talk my ear off. I know I would if I could source decent quality produce!<br /><br />And it leaves me wondering - what sort of rich people use these places? My guess? Ones who like to tell everyone about how they only eat organic. Even if it costs the earth.Katie's Mumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16861647298432261350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4690036481702887091.post-14808230105797852462007-11-02T23:02:00.000-07:002007-11-03T00:24:05.688-07:00More walks in and around ChristchurchA few weekends ago we drove over to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Glentui</span> falls. I'd looked at lots of walks to try to find something that would appeal to the kids. It is a lovely spot. Katie is 3 1/2 and enjoyed the walk - although I was holding her hand really tightly at the drop off parts! We didn't manage to do the complete loop - a combination of factors - not enough food, Katie only having shoes on, underestimating the time it took to drive there...<br /><br />We got as far as the little bridge that crosses the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Glentui</span> river - <em>almost</em> half-way. But as we are trying to build up her little legs we decided it would be prudent to return the way we came.<br /><br />The waterfall was stunning. The kids didn't get bitten - but we did - so now insect repellent is part of the kit.<br /><br />And today? We did the Barnett Park loop. Katie loved the cave at the top - we didn't manage to get to Paradise cave. It's a long walk for little legs and by then she was starting to flag. We set off quite early and had the track to ourselves initially. After our picnic it got pretty busy with locals walking dogs. And about 5 minutes before the end, Katie sat on the path - shattered. She didn't say anything! So we carried her for a few minutes - more food needed I think! And maybe emergency chocolate!<br /><br />I just wish there was a website where you could see what walks were suitable for kids. You know, something interesting and about the right length. I would also suggest doing the loop anti clockwise (as the regulars do) as there is more loose stuff on the path on the descent if you do it as the books suggest.<br /><br />Most 'family' walks are rather boring I find - too short and too flat. We like hills, not too many drop offs - and if there's a toilet at the start all the better!!Katie's Mumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16861647298432261350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4690036481702887091.post-10702203519682259502007-11-01T00:44:00.000-07:002007-11-01T00:56:19.329-07:00The latest on the supermarket thing...Well my idea of going to the supermarket less often is working however - I managed three weeks. I am going to carry on doing this as there are some valuable lessons I have already learnt:<br /><br />We don't use as much toilet paper as I thought (maybe Katie has stopped unravelling it <em>all</em> off the roll and ripping it up like confetti at long last).<br /><br />We eat <em>heaps</em> of easiyo yoghurt. At least twice as much as I thought we did. We don't like greek and honey. That's the only flavour I had left...<br /><br />Never underestimate the amount of toothpaste a preschooler can go through if they are in a tooth brushing mood.<br /><br />Jam and fruit spread is important. You will <em>always</em> want the type you don't have in. No matter how many varieties you have in.Katie's Mumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16861647298432261350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4690036481702887091.post-41791676227824397512007-10-21T19:16:00.000-07:002007-10-21T19:34:57.507-07:00Introducing Katie to the outdoor lifeKatie is now three and a half and we have decided that it's time to start taking her out walking, with a view to building her up for tramping in this great country. Now for some people this would be easy - but Katie is a runner, jumper, explorer and absconder. In the shopping mall she is always 'being a butterfly' and bumping into people by accident. She loves stopping and touching things then running off without taking any notice of her immediate surroundings. So it has taken us this long to trust her! Annabelle goes in the backpack so we don't have to worry about her too much yet.<br /><br />Anyway this weekend we took her to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Godley</span> Head for an introduction. The day was beautiful - windy but very warm. She loved running round and exploring. It actually took us over an hour to do the 30 minute walk - but we did see everything. At least twice. And most rocks were scrambled up on. And all sheep bleated at. You get the idea.<br /><br />Today we went over to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Glentui</span> falls. It was another glorious day. We had left the house by just after 9am. At least when you have early risers then you get quiet roads and easy parking! We took the path to the falls first. Katie was quite worried - as there have been a lot of waterfalls on TV and her favourite characters only just manage to escape from plunging into the icy depths! Anyway her ideas have changed and she thinks that they are 'very pretty' now. We started the loop track and got as far as the river and then picnicked. I guess you have to stop a lot when you have little kids! All told we were walking over an hour - quite enough for little legs - for now.Katie's Mumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16861647298432261350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4690036481702887091.post-63213727607774056222007-10-21T00:04:00.000-07:002007-10-21T00:23:33.220-07:00Big supermarketsI have grown tired of spending far too much in my local supermarket and seemingly getting not much in my trolley. So last week I sat and wrote a shopping list for a month's supplies of 'staples'. I've decided that I will allow myself visits to the butchers and veg shop. And to the bakery for 'emergency' bread and milk. But nothing else. For me this is a big deal.<br /><br />Anyway I went down to try my local butcher - a nice guy who told me about where the free range chickens came from and how he was trying to source decent organic meat. It's not perfect - but it is pretty close and he even held the door open as I left so I could manage the stroller and toddler!<br /><br />But the thing is I am fed up with supermarkets. Meat comes heavily packaged. And I have no idea where it comes from. And when I want to get the milk I have to walk all the way round of course with toddler in tow and pushing the stroller just to buy a few dollars worth! There's lollies at the checkouts and bright eat-me-now packaged goodies on every shelf at toddler height - lollies, chocs, pink-iced buns, biscuits, cakes, chippies, flavoured popcorn...<br /><br />Why do I put myself through it every week? So this month is an experiment. How much will it save me or cost me - to do the one big monthly shop and then to use the local suppliers?<br /><br />I think that this is the start of the decline of the big impersonal supermarket and the rise of the local specialist. I will let you know the results of the experiment in the new year.Katie's Mumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16861647298432261350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4690036481702887091.post-11949397358673200502007-10-11T01:21:00.000-07:002007-10-11T01:31:12.489-07:00EggsI have been buying free range for as long as I can remember. Personally I like to think that happy hens produce happy eggs and a happy consumer, but recently I got to thinking about the nutritional content. Are free range eggs actually more nutritionally sound? After all we know that wild salmon has a different <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omega_3">omega-3</a> structure to farmed and that game is leaner than farm reared meat. Surely a hen that is free to roam about and is fed a varied diet would produce eggs that would nutritionally differ from ther caged counterparts?<br /><br />Well I am still trawling through the research to find anything that might sufficiently answer this question in an unbiaised study. I will let you know if I actually find the answer!<br /><br />Meanwhile I am still happy buying happy eggs, trying to do my bit for the poor caged birds that lead such a miserable existence.Katie's Mumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16861647298432261350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4690036481702887091.post-54728779996676518392007-09-17T01:37:00.000-07:002007-09-17T01:50:01.059-07:00Inside New Zealand Doco on food additivesHooray for <a href="http://www.tv3.co.nz/TVShows/Reality/InsideNZ/tabid/86/articleID/33600/Default.aspx">Inside NZ- what's really in our food</a>! Finally some prime time exposure about this issue! It was I thought a well put together doco. It could have been very sensationalist but was quite restrained. Enough info to be the informative and a great place to start for the average kiwi!<br /><br />I am keenly watching what is going on in the UK press - <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.dailymail.co.uk">The Daily Mail</a>, <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.guardian.co.uk">The Guardian</a>, <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.timesonline.co.uk">the Times</a>, just to watch the big companies switching ingredients and ditching as many additives as possible!<br /><br />I am hoping that this doco is the first in a long line of them. Trans fats next please!Katie's Mumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16861647298432261350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4690036481702887091.post-12294371479297342712007-09-08T03:22:00.000-07:002007-09-08T03:44:41.814-07:00Finally more details regarding the Southampton University study on food additives done for the FSAWell at long last there are a few more details about the study being released. I am still longing to get my hands a full report. My friends and family in the UK tell me that it has made a big media splash yet again but so far down here in Godzone it remains quiet with attention focussed on the rugby of course!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article2402722.ece">I hear that supermarkets are pulling the 'nasties' from their own label products</a>. So I guess the big name brands will follow. About time. Then hopefully our government will follow suit and I might actually be bale to go shoppping without having to read most labels.<br /><br />How exciting!Katie's Mumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16861647298432261350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4690036481702887091.post-29395762893893979262007-08-09T03:17:00.000-07:002007-08-09T03:30:00.229-07:00solvent as an ingredient?This seems to be cropping up more and more. It started with a fruit bread based snack for DD#1 - and for once it had an icing - white of course - no food colourings allowed... And there it was 'solvent'. yuck. I have been trying to find out what it is of course and so far as I can tell it will be propylene glycol . <a href="http://www.sefsc.noaa.gov/HTMLdocs/PropyleneGlycol.htm">There are some interesting findings about this stuff.</a> Now I understand that like all chemicals they can be quite hazardous in large amounts - or at 100% concentrations. However I don't want to eat solvent. Thanks. I also don't want it near me - and why? Well my mother-in-law suffered a bad reaction to our babies wipes - and perfumes and air fresheners -anything with this stuff in it. And if she could have such a bad reaction and need an inhaler from just walking into a room where I had changed a nappy - WHAT IS IT DOING TO ME AND MY BABY?<br /><br />So read the labels. As for me - I am throwing out the wipes and will buy some flannels - we'll go back to doing things the old-fashioned way. And as for DD#1 - we won't be buying any more fruit bread 'treats'.Katie's Mumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16861647298432261350noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4690036481702887091.post-11259454641686654392007-08-09T02:28:00.000-07:002007-08-09T03:17:34.534-07:00BreadI love bread. Fresh baked, golden, crispy. It fills the home with its <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">unmistakeable</span> aroma. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Mmmmmmm</span>. So when I make soup, I make fresh bread - yeast, strong flour, sugar, salt and water. Sometimes I even add rosemary or garlic or something a bit special. What I don't add are <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">improvers</span>. Or emulsifiers. Or other such garbage. But it amazes me how common they are in shop-bought bread. I don't really want a loaf to last several days. I want it to taste nice. I want it to have a great texture and be wonderful spread with butter or whatever I fancy.<br /><br />Anyway, things have been busy at home and I had the ends of 3 shop bought loafs on the counter top- ready to feed the ducks actually. Looking through the ingredients aside from the ingredients I mentioned previously I found:<br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">soya</span> flour<br />vegetable oil<br />vinegar<br />canola oil<br />263<br />471<br />472e<br />481<br />170<br />300<br />516<br /><br />I don't want vinegar in my bread. My husband can't stand vinegar and when you try and toast this sort of bread the kitchen is filled with a strong acidic waft. Yuck! I don't actually want oil in my bread either. And I like my flour to be normal from wheat rather than <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">soya</span> - or am I just a purist? I will happily exchange honey for sugar on occasions as the loaf demands - or add grains or fruit, or malt extract. But it makes me annoyed that I have to stand in the supermarket with two kids as I try to work out which is the best loaf - that is to say - the one that most closely resembles <em>real bread</em>.Katie's Mumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16861647298432261350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4690036481702887091.post-82532978160223351982007-08-08T02:35:00.000-07:002007-08-08T02:49:55.184-07:00normal service will be resumed shortly...Well baby has kept me up a lot recently hence the lack of postings! But I've also had food poisoning. It seems that when we go out not only am I more aware of what is in my food but that some standards aren't exactly as good as my own!<br /><br />Seriously - going out for food is getting hard. Burger places are loaded with additives and trans fats, Chinese has MSG usually. Family places have too many to list. It makes going out for food rather hard.<br /><br />We have discovered going out with kids is really hard. First we have to please everyone - now baby is 10 months and has gone right off baby food, we have to find somewhere that does high chairs and food that she will eat. And that DD#1 will eat - without additives. And the food has to be ready right now. Or in no more than 5 minutes. Or there's trouble.<br /><br />Doesn't leave many options does it? Recently I've being trying to explain why we 'don't eat things that are brightly(luridly) coloured' in our family. Ever tried to explain to a three year old why she doesn't get lollies? Or bought biscuits, or gingerbread men with hundreds and thousands on them? Or bread with pink icing or doughnuts with blue? Or flavoured chippies? And the list goes on and on. I don't think we do too badly all things considered. She seems to have grasped that it makes us 'poorly' - not that it turns her into a unreasonable, defiant monster. So maybe that's okay for now.<br /><br />We made gingerbread men the other day. I wondered what we would do for decoration. I needn't have been concerned: they got eaten before the cookies were cool.Katie's Mumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16861647298432261350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4690036481702887091.post-55696524033156209172007-06-05T00:15:00.000-07:002007-06-05T03:02:02.496-07:00Take one chicken...Ever noticed how expensive portions of chicken are? Buy a whole chicken instead. First make sure it isn't one that <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">somes</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">prestuffed</span> or <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">pre</span> injected with all sorts (they usually come in an oven bag ready to roast). Then roast it. Easy. Make the gravy with cornflour and the meat juices from the pan - it really helps to season the chicken and stuff it with an small onion and a bay leaf! If you are going all out for excellent gravy then 1/2 a celery stick, a couple of peppercorns and some sticks of carrot in the cavity help.<br /><br />Then slice all the meat - and tear off the bits from underneath and dig into the wings and everywhere on the carcass - you'll be amazed how much there is if you don't normally do this!<br /><br />So go for it with a roast dinner. Make it easy by doing dry roast potatoes, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">kumara</span>, carrots, pumpkin and parsnips at the same time as the roast chicken.<br /><br />So what do you do with the leftovers? Ideas...<br /><br />have another roast dinner in a giant <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">yorkshire</span> pudding<br />eat in sandwiches<br />warm and make a mushroom and white wine sauce to top it<br />toss with pasta and pesto<br />add to pizza (if <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">thats</span> your thing)<br />throw it at your neighbours<br />puree it then freeze it into bullet shapes and then shoot fat people with it<br />make it into a hat<br />sell it on <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">trademe</span><br />try to clone it and re-create the original living organisms<br />use it to lure homeless people into your car and then sell them on <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">trademe</span><br />parcel it up and send it to Ethiopia<br /><br />Is anyone reading this?Katie's Mumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16861647298432261350noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4690036481702887091.post-15266517502172314922007-06-03T23:59:00.002-07:002007-06-04T00:20:42.092-07:00The deli counter at the supermarket<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">This</span> is not a friend of anyone who is trying to avoid food additives! It all looks so good - but when you read the labels they go on and on: salts, nitrites, honey, MSG...<br /><br />I have never found anything that is really <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">ok</span> to eat and doesn't contain heaps of the nasty chemicals! We do indulge in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ham">ham</a> on the bone occasionally.<br /><br />Really it seems that you get what you pay for. Budget end is sausage and luncheon. Dare you look at the ingredients? Top end is prosciutto and ham on the bone. Even <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">sundried</span> tomatoes usually have preservative in.<br /><br />A lot of hams contain honey - how many parents read <em>that</em> label before giving it to the kids? Most contain MSG and are bulked out with water/brine. Ever had <em>real ham?</em> It is drier and slightly sweet and a different shade of pink than the average. And totally delicious. Unfortunately it is now very hard to get hold of here. I know. I've tried. If anyone knows of a place here in Christchurch that does it properly then please reply!<br /><br />Bring back the old fashioned butchers!!!Katie's Mumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16861647298432261350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4690036481702887091.post-51646865866915391352007-06-03T15:03:00.000-07:002007-06-03T15:22:01.673-07:00SandwichesOne of the questions I get asked the most is just what I put in sandwiches for the kids. I think we eat a more varied diet than most because of avoiding certain products. So here is a list of the regular fillings - with or without salad of course:<br /><br />cheese<br />cream cheese<br />marmite<br />tuna and mayo (with sweetcorn sometimes)<br />poached salmon and mayo or tinned salmon<br />ham (occasionally - and the best quality I can buy)<br />fruit spread<br />almond butter<br />nutella (occasionally) - and always on wholemeal grainy bread<br />leftover cold roast chicken<br />leftover beef joint<br />egg<br /><br />There are plenty of other options too that my daughter doesn't really like<br /><br />tomato<br />cottage cheese<br />peanut butter (sometimes with fruit spread)<br />smoked salmon<br />prawns<br />hummus<br />banana<br />honey<br /><br />And then there's the toasted sandwich with a salad garnish:<br /><br />cheese and onion or pineapple or tomato<br />mashed up baked beans ( protein and fibre!)<br /><br />I love that daughter will eat these as they are a really quick and easy balanced meal - if you put some cherry tomatoes, celery and carrot sticks, cucumber stars (use cookie cutters)and lettuce on the side too.<br /><br />Who said that avoiding food additives was hard?Katie's Mumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16861647298432261350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4690036481702887091.post-54141491930362137342007-06-03T02:36:00.000-07:002007-06-03T02:50:16.644-07:00Food additivesSo how widespread are food additives? Particularly the ones that the latest research tells us our kids should avoid at all costs. They are in just about every processed food from bread and spreads to canned goods (once upon a time didn't canning actually eliminate the need for preservatives?), drinks, puddings... Frozen foods even contain them.<br /><br />I make my own bread. I confess - I do own a bread maker to help things along. All the recipes use <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">surebake</span> instead of regular yeast. It took trial and error to work out the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">actually</span> quantity of yeast I really needed. It's half. So by omitting the additives I get to buy just yeast (which is cheaper) and use only half the quantity. You also don't need the milk/dried milk. Real bread. Oh -don't expect it to last. It's wonderful on the day and great for toast the next morning but then use it as breadcrumbs as it will be too hard and dry. I wonder how the manufacturers manage to make theirs last 3 or 4 days? Oh that's right ;-)Katie's Mumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16861647298432261350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4690036481702887091.post-22587711343107259892007-06-03T02:10:00.000-07:002007-06-03T02:30:40.173-07:00Not all cheese is equal...<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cheese">Cheese</a>. Now there's a topic. Nowadays not only do we get 'normal' cheese, but <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Processed_cheese">processed cheese </a>triangles, processed cheese singles, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">squirty</span> cheese in a tube, cheese string... I see so many friends hand over a flat shiny square fresh out of the plastic to their kids and explain that it's "cheese".<br /><br />Well that isn't cheese. Real cheese is a living organism and doesn't keep well unless in the correct conditions. Here in Christchurch we have a brilliant shop called <a href="http://www.cheesemongers.co.nz/cheese.asp">'the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">canterbury</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">cheesemongers</span>' </a>and if you think that 'cheese' will cover it - pay them a visit.<br /><br />My eldest daughter knows her cheddar from her <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">edam</span> and her fresh mozzarella from her <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">parmesan</span>. And <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">gouda</span>. And so on. I think I used the word "cheese" when she was under 18 months - and then it was "try this...." type. It's fun and the flavours are amazing - goats and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">sheeps</span> cheeses, blue, waxy ones, ones with holes... She even helps me choose!Katie's Mumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16861647298432261350noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4690036481702887091.post-23340804066261772792007-05-26T23:42:00.000-07:002007-05-26T23:51:35.805-07:00Party Pooper 2Well we knew that additives affected daughter #1, but boy! What a terrible day! Today yesterday's party, she has been argumentative, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">shouty</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">screamy</span>. She has refused to co-operative and has had several time-outs when she normally doesn't need any! She has deliberately wee-ed on the carpet three times! And she has not been herself at all. Normally pretty articulate, she has gestured and grunted her way through the day. Around 5.30pm she started to 'come out of it'. She still isn't back to normal yet. I am hoping like crazy that she has them out of her system but tomorrow morning.<br /><br />So the question is - is it worth it? After a day like today, if it <em>is </em>the additives then I would definitely say <strong>no.</strong> But then how do you persuade a three year old that they can't eat the party food? The only thing I can think of is that you stuff them full of food <em>before</em> the party. Any ideas gratefully received.<br /><br />Just how long <em>do </em>additives take to clear through the body?Katie's Mumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16861647298432261350noreply@blogger.com0