Tag Archive for: chef

Getting kids in the kitchen early is a healthy pursuit in more ways than one.

Food is a sensory experience. As we see from the time they are babies and start putting hand to mouth, kids learn through sight, touch, taste and smell. The sooner we get little ones into the kitchen to enjoy food as a sensory experience, the more likely they will be to experiment with color and texture at meal time.

Since cooking is a tactile activity that you can break down into dozens of tasks, each child can take on easy or challenging ones. First, show them the task and then let them do it on their own. Only step in to help if they are truly struggling or if you see a danger. Maturity and dexterity differs in each child so work within your child’s ability and interest level.

Of course, safety is a big concern but it presents parents with a teaching and bonding opportunity that benefits not only the child but Mom and Dad too.Here are some valuable SAFETY TIPS.

Working together to create simple dishes will help kids build their math skills by counting and measuring ingredients for a recipe.  It can also increase their dexterity and improve their fine motor skills and overall coordination. How about reading the recipe out loud and hunting down the ingredients? That is mini scavenger hunt in the making.

Let’s not forget the feeling of accomplishment which builds self-esteem and sharing skills.  Getting kids into the kitchen can be a joyful experience for all. Motivating your kiddo to expand their interest and the variety of foods they are willing to eat: Bonus! Be adventurous and create memories that will be there for years to come.

Try my Kid-friendly Pizza recipe!

Depending on the age of your little ones, they may be able to do many of the prep tasks in this recipe. Use this guide to help you decide what will be age/ability appropriate. I will tell you that my little one did most all of the tasks (except oven/grill) with my supervision and she is just 4 years old.

 

RESOURCES

https://www.nutrition.gov/life-stages/children/kids-kitchen

http://www.choosemyplate.gov/sites/default/files/audiences/KitchenHelperActivities.pdf

https://www.cdph.ca.gov/programs/wicworks/Documents/NE/WIC-NE-CookingWithChildren-SafetyTipsForCookingWithChildren.pdf

One of my favorite cooking sprays-http://winonapure.com/

http://www.parents.com/baby/safety/food/toddler-kitchen-safety-basics/

 

 

 

Why Eat Canned Tuna

Why Eat Canned Tuna

Why Eat Canned Tuna:
As a food and fitness blogger, I spend a whole lot of time researching, testing, tasting (my favorite part) and creating recipes from foods passed my way from various companies. Although I have had great success in the types of companies that approach me, I cannot always recommend their products for various reasons. From safety to ethical practices, when it comes to food, there really are so many areas for me to consider. Such is the case with canned tuna. Over the years canned tuna has gotten a bad rap for many reasons.
When I met the crew from Safe Catch Tuna and received samples to play around with, I dug deep into the health and safety factors surrounding canned tuna has well as this particular company’s background. You can read more about Safe Catch here and try recipes I created with their wild caught albacore and skipjack tuna. In the meantime-good news-Canned tuna has a place in your pantry and on your table once again.

The Good Stuff
Research suggests that consuming canned tuna may provide a wide range of health benefits, from improving blood vessel function to boosting weight loss. Besides containing high-quality protein, selenium and potassium, canned tuna also possesses omega-3 fatty acids and B vitamins.

Cardiovascular Function
Canned tuna is a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids: eicosapentaenoic acid, or EPA, and docosahexaenoic acid, or DHA. These are healthy unsaturated fats that might improve blood vessel function, lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Healthy men and women were randomly assigned to eat a meal rich in omega-3 fatty acids or a control meal. Scientists reported in the March 2010 issue of the journal “Clinical Nutrition,” that subjects fed the omega-3-rich meal experienced less stiffness in their arteries compared to subjects fed the control meal.

Lean Protein
Canned tuna serves as an excellent source of lean protein. Each 6-ounce portion contains 33 grams of protein, but less than 2 grams of fat. Your body needs protein for cell growth, a healthy immune system and uses protein to maintain your muscle tissue, and the Harvard School of Public Health mentions fish, including tuna, as a healthy protein option.
No doubt about it, tuna and salmon are super foods. Not only are they great source of lean protein and packed to the gills with B vitamins, they also taste great and can be made into dozens of dishes. What has nutritionists and scientists really excited about tuna and salmon is the omega-3 fatty acids they contain. Omega-3s have lately been associated with all kinds of health benefits from warding off depression and cognitive decline to reducing inflammation and the risk of heart disease. The evidence is so good that the American Heart Association recommends we eat fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids — like tuna and salmon — twice a week.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids
The small amount of fat present in canned light tuna is mostly the healthy unsaturated kind, including omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids support a healthy brain and promote proper growth and development. These essential fatty acids reduce inflammation in your body, which can reduce your risk of heart disease, cancer and arthritis. Omega-3 fatty acids have been linked to lowering high cholesterol and high blood pressure, and they aid in the treatment of certain mental disorders such as depression and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center.

Niacin
A 3-ounce serving of canned light tuna contains 11.3 milligrams of niacin toward the 14 milligrams women need each day and the 16 milligrams that men need. Niacin is a B-vitamin that helps keep your digestive system, skin and nerves healthy. Niacin supplements might help reduce harmful cholesterol levels and increase beneficial cholesterol as well, according to the website MedlinePlus. A niacin deficiency can cause skin disorders and mental problems.

Vitamin B12
You need 2.4 micrograms of vitamin B12 each day, and a 3-ounce serving of canned light tuna supplies 2.5 micrograms. Vitamin B12 supports the normal function of your brain and also aids in the formation of red blood cells. You also need vitamin B12 for DNA production and to help your body to turn the food you eat into usable energy.

Tuna Nutrition Sources:
http://www.livestrong.com/article/376793-is-canned-tuna-good-for-you/
http://www.healthyeating.org/Healthy-Eating/All-Star
http://healthyeating.sfgate.com/canned-tuna
http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/protein-questions/
https://safecatch.com/making-pure-tuna/

Learn more-Safe Catch Tuna

Disclaimer– I received free samples from Safe Catch to review and provide you with my honest opinion on the products. I am not paid to do so. These are my opinions based on my experience with the products themselves and my interactions with the staff of the company. The opinions in my posts are my own, authentic views. Your experiences and sentiments may vary from my own. Thank you for taking the time to read my post/s. Kind regards, Carol Takakura

Carol TakakuraAbout Carol
Everything about My Sage Gourmet is intended to nurture and support you to thrive in every sense of the word. From the Kitchen Coaching, and my artisan kitchen blends to Nutrition Consulting, and the Tone and Sculpt Yoga and weight loss programs, My Sage Gourmet is here to support you!

Carol is a Certified Nutrition Coach, Food and Fitness Blogger, Well Kitchen Coach, Cooking Instructor & Yoga Instructor. She partners with clients in reaching their wellness goals both in and out of the kitchen. Grill, Bake, and Sauté, using Carol’s line of Herbed Salts. From her garden to your table, you will taste the quality in every beautifully organic bite! learn more

Visit me at My Sage Gourmet, where Wellness is Always in Season!
Carol Takakura, CHHC, E-RYT, AADP
Food and Fitness Blogger, Nutrition Consultant, Chef
Blog, recipes, great food tips, fitness, giveaways, reviews and more
818.312.3125
Photographs courtesy of Jttphotography

healthy life
Let’s talk about the Magic Bullet, you know the one I mean, it’s that solution you have been looking for. The Magic Bullet that will fix among other things, issues such as feeling tired all the time and your digestion. The magic bullet that will reduce your pooch, lower your blood pressure and give you back your vitality.

Boy do I have some Great news and some not so great news… Which one do you want to hear first?

“Let food be thy medicine, let medicine be thy food”-Hippocrates
First, Please indulge me for a moment or two while I reacquaint you to an old friend and Greek Physician from 460 BC-Hippocrates. It was his fervent belief that what we put into our bodies has the ability to heal us of many maladies, including a generous amount of diseases that we struggle with today. Diseases that are much more prevalent today due in large part to our dietary choices and our lack of knowledge about what is in the food we are eating, diseases such as heart and liver disease, cancer and diabetes.
When you consider that the average lifespan on an adult male in 460 BC was 45 years, and that Hippocrates lived until between the age of 83-90, some say till over 100, that man must have been on to something with this whole Food be Thy Medicine concept. . I would say that this extraordinary man who truly practiced what he preached.

When I see clients, almost every single one at some point says the same thing to me, I am tired of not feeling well. I don’t know why I feel this way. Or I don’t know what is right for me.
I don’t want to be reliant on meds. Basically they are sick and tired of being sick and tired.

So, I ask you what if anything is the MAGIC BULLET?
Much of what these clients and what you may be experiencing can be reduced, if not cured by adopting some simple food solutions.
You have heard me say it before but it bears repeating. What works for your body, will not work for other folks, just as what works for them may not work for you.
How do you find out what is serving your body, and what is not. How do you know what your needs are?
Your belief system or previous mindset may dictate that Meat is a no go for you. Or that meat is only way you can get your protein.
You might not be able to imagine yourself without a plethora of choices in the cheese department. Or simply cannot do without that sweet treat after your meal.
Here’s the thing, if you are experiencing health problems and you are not dissecting you diet, then you are actively deciding not to address your health issues. Perhaps, for you the Magic Bullet is more palatable than a shift in your kitchen and lifestyle
I am not telling you not to eat cheese, or meat or dairy or grains… At least not for good. What I am suggesting is that you take 10
Let’s try an experiment. I call it Take 10
By Laying off of just 10 foods and drinks in your regimen for just 10 days.
At the end of the 10 days, you can slowly add items back in one at a time. The great news about this experiment is that you also get to add 10 foods. So, in essence you are eating more good foods, gaining new habits and letting your body re-assess your needs.

Take 10 out- 10 foods to remove for just 10 days
1-Dairy-Milk, Ice Cream, Butter and cheese
2-Eggs
3-Night shades (goji berries, huckleberries and gooseberries), potatoes (potato starch, eggplant, tomatoes and peppers
4-Gluten-wheat, rye, oats and barley
5-Alcohol
6-Fruit Juice
7-Processed meats cold cuts, bacon, hot dogs, canned meat, sausage and shellfish and pork.
8-Coffee/Caffeine
9-Sugar-no added sugar at all and no artificial sweeteners
10-Condiments-Salad Dressing, mayo, ketchup, tartar sauce

Add 10- Foods to Add

1. Raw nuts and seeds-Walnuts, Almonds, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds
2. Raw Apple Cider Vinegar (tablespoon every day in water)
3. Small amounts of good fats found in olive, grape, sesame and avocado oil
4. Fish Oils- capsules and in fresh, wild caught fish-Salmon- — a great source of omega-3 fatty acids, which have been linked to a reduced risk of depression, heart disease, and cancer.
— A 3-ounce serving contains almost 50 percent of your daily dose of niacin, which may protect against Alzheimer’s disease and memory loss.
5. Fermented foods-Sauerkraut, kombucha, miso (fermented soy beans)
6. Beans and Legumes
7. Greens and lots of them every day! Spinach, kale, Red leaf lettuce, arugula
8. Fresh dark fruit-Especially red or purple grapes, pomegranates and berries
9. Avocados- Rich in healthy, satisfying fats proven in one study to lower cholesterol by about 22 percent.
— One has more than half the fiber and 40 percent of the folate you need daily, which may reduce your risk of heart disease.
10. Vitamin C- in the form of citrus-Just one lemon has 100% of the daily recommended amount, which may help increase “good” HDL cholesterol levels and strengthen bones. — Citrus flavonoids found in lemons may help inhibit the growth of cancer cells and act as an anti-inflammatory.
After your “Take 10” experiment, slowly add foods you are still interested in eating back into your diet slowly. That was you will be more likely to be able to tell if something isn’t agreeing with your system. Listen to your body’s clues about how you are feeling.
Enjoy the journey!

Other suggestions for success:

Keep a pad of paper near your kitchen table/ and/or night stand- on the pad, making note of your Mood, Sleep Patterns, Digestion, Skin Clarity, Hairs texture, eye clarity and Elimination.
Cook at least once a day, preferably more
Share your adventure with friends and family and invite them to join you
Move a minimum of 30 minutes every single day-No exceptions

Will this Take 10 experiment be Your Magic Bullet? I think you will find, there is no need for a Magic Bullet when you are cued into your body’s needs and conscious about what you put into your body!
I will look forward to hearing about your experience soon!

Do you want to take this a healthy step further? Ask me about my Spring 10 Detox program. Free coaching, recipes and gifts are included! Find out more

100th Monkey Mushroom Farm

100th Monkey Mushroom Farm
Have you ever tried growing you own mushrooms?

I can honestly say that the thought never crossed my mind. Yes, me the “granola girl” “”hippy chick” as I have been called by those who know me; had never entertained the idea of growing mushrooms. That is until I met the peeps from 100th Monkey Mushroom Farm at the Natural Products Expo West. Their crew was kind enough to send me home with a blue oyster mushroom kit to try and write about.
I wish I could say I jumped right into the product wholeheartedly but the procrastinator in me took over and it sat, and sat. Then I moved it into a spot I would have to pass by every day and still it sat and sat… Until one day when my Bugs (aka Mitch-my son) offered to help me set it up. Once I opened the box and saw how easy and quick it was to set up (5 minutes tops) I kicked myself right in the procrastinating spot prominently displayed on my bottom. This was such a great project. From growing then suddenly seeing my on crop to harvesting and creating a meal with the gorgeous mushrooms, it was so much fun! My only regret is that I waited to so long to get started.

I highly encourage you to jump on the 100th Monkey Mushroom Farm website and grab a few kits for yourself, your kiddo’s classroom or anyone you know that is interested in good food, fun, learning and good health.

Below I have included three videos-set up, harvest and recipe for you to enjoy so click on over to get the skinny on this way cool simple product. Please share with your friends this fun and easy project and of course the videos from My Sage Gourmet.

My Mushroom Farm videos
Get the Recipe
About 100th Monkey Mushroom Farm Founders
Health Benefits of Mushrooms