Trend Setter

Folks who know me for a long time identify me this way. If this term applies to my latest book, Let’s Cook Together – Adult & child cook up a storm for fun & good health!, so be it. However, I cannot take full credit since the movement for healthier children is no longer an infrequent topic. Concerns loom large with schools, parents, and caretakers alike, each often not knowing where or how to begin to make a positive change.



This is where Let’s Cook Together qualifies as a wonderful tool for both parent and caretaker. Like a primer, it presents the basic elements needed to introduce healthy yet appealing, optimum nutrition for even a very young child - before he or she can be mesmerized by the media and brainwashed by peer groups towards junk food.

The book stems from my passion to envision and ensure healthy, well-built children who are rarely, if ever, sick. While not totally vegetarian or purely hygienic, its recipes and articles are devoted to highly organic (when possible) plant-based nourishment, grains, and some protein. It offers a common sense approach, emphasizing that children both prepare and serve their delightful dishes at the family table. Although some of this info has already been mentioned, it plainly deserves repetition.

I use “primer” to express the book’s intention to encourage its readers to consider other choices … perhaps vegetarian (meatless) and vegan (includes fish) diets, or a totally hygienic (raw foods) program.

To appreciate and become familiar with nature’s bounty, it is vital for children to share in the anticipation and joy of food shopping with an adult as often as possible. With its colorfully illustrated index highlighting veggies and fruit, LCT’s Yummyum segment is a cheerful encouragement for such a venture.

As an aside I was a vegetarian for a long time, consuming a plethora of veggies, fruit (organic), grains, and beans. Then I modified my diet to include some organic eggs, wild fish, and small amounts of organic meat, turkey or chicken. I begin each meal with a raw veggie. Breakfast is a blended, green drink consisting of fresh kale, collard, ginger, aloe vera, and sometimes raw beets or celery, etc. Blending leaves all of the goodness of the vegetable bulk to enjoy.

Join the trend that puts children’s health up front. Put Let’s Cook Together – Adult & child cook up a storm for fun & good health! on your reading list today!

Tears in Her Scrambled Eggs

On a recent family visit, the typical 8 A.M. scenario consisted of five minutes of “What do you want for breakfast, Andy?” Then I heard three-year-old, flawlessly beautiful, tiny Andy sobbing and sighing, emoting as she ignored a huge pile of scrambled eggs. Her little heart broke as her stressed, beautiful mommy hovered over her with recriminations: “You told me you wanted scrambled eggs; you must eat these eggs!”

I had an ache in my heart, gravel and rock in my throat. Fortunately for their ears, I was tongue-tied. I witnessed this revealing moment with sadness, and I was frightened for the unnecessary torment this child was going through as she drowned the scrambled eggs on her plate in her tears.

Two more mealtimes that day gave rise to an epiphany! I cannot express this sadness verbally, but just as I published my To Your Health magazine when those near and dear to me would not hear my fears for their health, I will now find another venue especially for children.

For now, let’s create a mood-altering situation: Mommy sits at one end of the table with an oversized mug of strong black coffee and a large bagel smothered with cream cheese. A newspaper absorbs her attention. At the other end of the table Andy quietly scrutinizes her dish of a small organic scrambled egg topped with a berry and surrounded by a triangle of nutritious toasted bread. She seems to enjoy the sweet taped background music. Peace reigns supreme at this breakfast. Andy eats as much of as she desires. Perhaps she will call attention to her empty plate. She will then have a small glass of orange juice and a handful of raisins as a healthy mid-morning snack, which can be transported if necessary.

Mommy is a stay-at-home mother, so at lunch time Andy assists in the preparation of a grilled cheese sandwich. Andy places a slice of tomato on top of her sandwich and then decorates the plate with a slice of cucumber and carrot. She carefully carries it to the table, feeling so proud and important. Her dessert is a whole grain cookie and a beverage of choice. Once again there is serenity as Mother sits at the table, hopefully enjoying an organic green salad, as she is dieting.

So what do I want to convey? Mealtime should be pleasurable and serene. The adult or caretaker makes the decision for the nutritious wholesome meal, and whenever conceivable the adult shares mealtime with the child or children. In addition little children who play pretend cooking games can assist the adult in little ways in the kitchen and also in shopping for beautiful fruits and veggies. The cutest vision in some avant garde markets are the little shopping carts children fill as they shop with an adult. My point is that little children are as easily swayed with good information as they are by the horrific media bestowed upon them daily.

When I arrived home after my family visit, I spoke to three young mothers. One was an attorney and two were stay-at-home, sad moms frustrated with their young children’s poor eating habits, horrible choice of food, and doctor visits for earaches and medication. Okay, Bernice this is it!

Over 20 years ago there was an array of natural healing options utilizing the collective wisdom of alternative medical professionals and metaphysicians. A few crusaders, including myself, chose this precipitous moment to publish. My To Your Health magazine was one of the publications that offered healing and hope through holistic alternatives for “challenged” individuals. Emphasis and focus was on adults. Children’s issues dealt with allergies, Ritalin as a quick fix, and little else.

Time moves on sadly as we now face incredible health issues that affect our children. “We are what we eat!” The junk food and trans fat take its toll in the adult as well as the child. Today obesity has become the scourge of our young people with Type II Diabetes infiltrating their future, interfering with a happy, healthful life.

Let’s go back to the family dining together, munching on veggies, fruits, grain, and high-quality protein. Let’s get the children involved in food preparation. Even a three-year-old will be enthralled in marketing for and preparing salad. This endeavor assures both their enjoyment and the opportunity to share a basic “old world” tradition ¾ a family that dines together whenever possible.

I recently published Let’s Cook Together to express my down-to-earth philosophy. It features a selection of fun recipes simply drawn and easy for adult and child as they cook together. Recipes include plant-based fruits and vegetables, organic eggs, wild fish, tofu, organic poultry and a smattering of organic meat. It also includes a convenient seven-day menu plan for very busy moms. The following recipe is an example of the array of delightful recipes in my book:


Millet Stuffed Apples

In itself, millet is the least allergenic of all grains. Rich in minerals, it also contains an abundance of nitrilosides, which Dr. Ernest Krebs, the renowned cancer researcher and discoverer of Vitamin B17 or Laetrile, identifies as a cancer preventative. Include this well-balanced grain often in the child’s diet. The slightly bitter taste of millet cereal is easily improved with raisins, cranberries, and blueberries.

Yield: This recipe fills 4 large or 5 small apples. Refrigerate leftover grains up to 2 days, or freeze in small portions for future use. You may want to prepare the recipe, and stuff the apples the night before and then bake in the morning.

Ingredients:

· ½ cup millet
· ½ cup hot water
· 4 - 5 apples
· Handful of raisins or dried cranberries
· Generous sprinkle of cinnamon
· 1/3 cup apple juice, organic soy milk, or milk of
choice
· Handful of sunflower seeds

Preparation:

· Adult washes millet in a strainer and dries in a saucepan at low heat.
· Adult or child adds the hot liquid to the millet.
· Cook covered about 20 minutes or until moisture is absorbed. Do not stir. To soften further, add a bit more liquid and cook for another 5 minutes.
· Adult cuts off apple tops and sets aside.
· Child scoops out a large enough space from the apples for the filling with an apple corer.

Filling:

· Adult chops or cuts apple pieces and adds pieces to millet.
· Child adds raisins, cinnamon, juice, and sunflower seeds to the above.
· Child places the millet mix into the scooped apple, filling any empty spaces with millet.
· Child covers the apples with apple tops.
· Bake in 350-degree oven 45-60 minutes or until soft. Baking time depends on the natural firmness of the apples.

When adults and parents are unaware of their health needs, how can they raise a healthy child? Again, considering the present plethora of obese, diabetic young children, were we too complacent? We must inspire a new direction and turn the tide of our children’s health. Our precious children are our future!

Bernice on Sally Jesse Raphael

Bernice was interviewed by Sally Jesse Raphael! The interview was broadcast on Sally's radio program this morning. You can listen to the interview by visiting Sally's site.