Family Food | Hidden Valley

Healthy Snacks for School-Age Children

Wed, 12 Oct 2011 01:33:56 +0800

Giving snacks to your kids isn't as simple as it used to be. Before research on trans fats and sodium levels, cookies and chips seemed like a fine after-school or daytime snack. With childhood obesity and diabetes at elevated levels, finding healthy snacks for your kids that also taste good is a challenge. With a bit of effort and creativity, put together nutritious snacks that your kids will love, while helping them harness the energy they need to get through the school day.

Good Meals for Mothers

Thu, 08 Sep 2011 12:16:31 +0800

Mothers are so concerned about feeding healthy meals to their children that they often forget to eat properly themselves. Like the rest of their families, moms need to take care of themselves and eat meals that provide loads of energy and nutritional value. A good meal for mothers balances all of the major food groups, is low in fat and empty calories and, most importantly, is quick and easy.

The Best Microwave Dinner

Thu, 08 Sep 2011 12:18:54 +0800

Microwave dinners have come a long way from the high-fat, sodium-loaded concoctions first introduced to supermarkets. If you're tight on time, don't feel guilty about serving your child a microwave dinner. With so many options on the market, you can easily select a prepared dinner that meets your child's dietary needs and your health-conscious desires.

How to Cook a Turkey After Defrosting Overnight

Thu, 08 Sep 2011 12:16:55 +0800

It's easy to be intimidated by cooking a turkey for the first time. It's big. It takes a long time to cook. You have to cook it to just the right temperature, lest you make everyone ill. How are you supposed to know the difference between dressing and stuffing, and isn't it really better to be dressed than stuffed? The easy answer is that cooking a turkey is a straightforward, step-by-step process once you've properly defrosted it in the refrigerator overnight.

Preschool Lunch Menus

Fri, 14 Oct 2011 14:32:54 +0800

Preschoolers are highly active and require about 1,000 to 1,400 calories per day to keep them going throughout the day. These calories should be spread out in five or six "mini-meals" throughout the day. Of these meals, lunch should ideally contain a balance of protein, complex carbohydrates and healthy fats that will provide a sustained source of energy to carry them through the afternoon.

Great Meals on the Grill

Thu, 08 Sep 2011 12:17:43 +0800

If you're looking to create a quick and easy meal for your family without getting your kitchen hot and dirty, step outside and cook up an entire meal in no time using your trusty grill. You can prepare an entire meal, including a protein centerpiece, a healthy side dish and even a tasty dessert right on your hot grill grates. And the best part of all -- it won't take you long!

The Top Foods Kids Won't Eat And How to Get Them To

Thu, 08 Sep 2011 12:19:06 +0800

Many of the top foods that children don't like, such as broccoli, fish and cottage cheese, are healthy and good for their development. But sometimes it can feel like an endless tug-of-war getting kids to eat food which they hate, especially when you can't monitor their eating habits during school lunches. Instead of trying to force-feed them their least favorite foods, use simple and creative techniques to sneak these healthy items into everyday dishes.

Vegan Meal Plan & Grocery List

Thu, 08 Sep 2011 12:16:33 +0800

Whether you've recently omitted meat, eggs and dairy from your diet or you've maintained a vegan lifestyle for years, creating a meal plan helps you and your family eat healthier. Plan your menus to make sure each meal includes proteins, complex carbohydrates, and plenty of fruits and vegetables. Meal plans also help you save money -- when you shop for preplanned meals, you are less likely to buy extra items or foods that will spoil before you eat them.

What Do You Put on a Steak Before Cooking It to Make It Tender?

Thu, 08 Sep 2011 12:16:24 +0800

Tenderness in steaks is a variable thing. Some cuts are always more tender than others, but differences between grades and individual differences between animals can make one steak notably more tender than another, even when they appear exactly alike. Fortunately, there are several ways to tenderize steaks before cooking them.

Easy and Tasty Weeknight Dinners

Thu, 08 Sep 2011 12:15:33 +0800

With everything you've got going on in your busy life, you don't have time to waste preparing complicated weeknight dinners. Fortunately, feeding your family right doesn't have to involve elaborate techniques or specialty ingredients. There are plenty of easy and tasty weeknight dinners you can make that keep everyone full and satisfied.

Butterfly Kitchen Activities for Preschoolers

Thu, 08 Sep 2011 12:20:03 +0800

Have fun with your kids in the kitchen by letting them help prepare some snacks for the entire family. Let your preschooler help you create a few butterfly-themed treats that are fun to make and good to eat. She'll have fun and be proud of her work. And when you're done, you'll have some tasty snacks that the whole family can enjoy.

How Much Protein Do I Need for Breakfast?

Thu, 08 Sep 2011 12:16:55 +0800

Starting the day off with a breakfast that's rich in protein will ensure your body functions normally throughout the day. Proteins are essential for such functions as metabolism, cell signaling, cell adhesion and keeping your immune system operating. Protein is even more crucial for children whose bodies are still developing.

Ideas For Lunch

Thu, 08 Sep 2011 12:18:42 +0800

Breakfast and dinner compete for the title of the "most important meal of the day," while lunch is sometimes overlooked. Although it may not get as much attention as other meals, lunch is an important part of every day. Lunch boosts energy in the middle of a busy schedule and allows for plenty of creativity.

Low-Carb Menu Schedule Plan

Thu, 08 Sep 2011 12:16:34 +0800

Leading low-carb diet advocates Dr. Robert Atkins and Dr. Arthur Agatston both emphasize that weight-loss success comes through keeping your metabolism cooking along by eating frequently and wisely. That means you start as soon as you get up in the morning and make eating the last thing you do at night. Both doctors recommend a little fat, protein and fiber with every meal and advise that you eat slowly and avoid heaping your plate with piles of food at a single sitting. The point is to eat low-carb foods frequently, not to eat more than you can comfortably hold. When you shop for your family's meals, read food labels religiously. Acquaint yourself with the glycemic index and learn to calculate net carbs on the fly.

Summer Meat Appetizers

Thu, 08 Sep 2011 12:17:33 +0800

Appetizers with meat as a primary ingredient offer a hearty way to start a meal; the protein helps keep guests' blood sugar even to tide them over to dinner. By choosing appetizers that don't require cooking or that can be made on the grill, you can create easy, quick food for a summer party or dinner without having to turn on the stove.

Easy Baking Sweets

Thu, 08 Sep 2011 12:16:07 +0800

Contrary to popular belief, you can top off any meal with an easy-to-make dessert, and without the onslaught of high calories or fat content. For baking, there are healthier substitutes for problematic ingredients like butter or sugar, and many of these alternatives do not impact the flavor or consistency of baked goods. Even your kids' discerning taste buds won't know these treats are healthy.

Low-Sugar Menu

Thu, 08 Sep 2011 12:19:40 +0800

Some foods, such as fruits, contain natural sugars that provide healthy energy. Added sugars, though, can increase your family's calorie intake without adding any other nutrients. This is why such sugars are often called "empty calories," and they're easy to avoid if you know how and where to look. If you are feeding a diabetic child, talk to your pediatrician about which foods that are naturally high in sugars are safe and which ones to avoid.

Low Carb Brown Bag Lunch

Thu, 08 Sep 2011 12:18:19 +0800

Foods like bread, fruit and beans tend to be high in carbs. Unfortunately, these are the same kinds of foods that typically make up you and your family's brown bag lunches. Creating a low-carb brown bag lunch without these foods can be challenging, but is possible if you stick to high-protein salads, alternative sandwiches and other creative options.

Menus for Children With Diabetes

Thu, 08 Sep 2011 12:15:56 +0800

Planning meals for children can be a daunting task. Add a special dietary requirement like diabetes, and it is understandable to feel overwhelmed. Diabetes affects every food choice that your child makes, and you must make sure you have safe options available for him. Understanding the basics of menu planning for diabetes is essential to creating a kid-friendly menu that will not send his blood sugar skyrocketing. Armed with the recommended carbohydrate grams that he should eat per meal from your child's nutritionist or physician, help him make the right selections.

Is Cooking Food in a Pressure Cooker Good or Bad?

Thu, 08 Sep 2011 12:19:22 +0800

Don't let memories of your mother's pressure cooker sway you from using this effective tool for making meals. Technology has improved the modern pressure cooker from the hissing, clanging pot you may have seen explode in your childhood kitchen. With a safer design and a multitude of benefits, pressure cookers are making a comeback. The advantages of cooking with this tool, including speed, flavor and nutrition, far outweigh the logistical inconveniences.