Friday, October 21, 2016

AN APPLE A DAY - 365 DAYS TO A HEALTHIER LIFESTYLE - DAY 116





WHO IS GOING TO MONITOR GRANDMA?  (DAY 116)
(Written by Sheila Gail Landgraf)

This article won’t tell you the usual truth about how sweet and wonderful grandmas are and how blessed you are to have them looking after your kids while you are away.  Nope!  Being a grandma myself, I must boldly proclaim the truth, because until recently I had not known how dangerous we can be to children! 

Go back and read it again.  I DID say that Grandmas can be very dangerous to their grandchildren! 

In their defense – it is totally out of ignorance and not a deliberate act, but; it is high time that a few grandmas became educated about the dangerous foods they are giving to those that they love to spoil. 

I will include myself among the guilty; but my ways are changing!  I have become a MORE AWARE GRANDMA; and I’m begging you to do the same.  Those wonderful treats you are giving those precious children are not good for their health!  Grandmas; you must educate yourself and change your ways!

What on earth am I talking about? 

Even a few Moms, Dads and Grandpas are going to be shocked at some of these facts! 

All I can do is break this down for you product by product. 

Are you ready? 

We all grew up with a dated food pyramid and our nutritional education amounted to “eat your vegetables” and “don’t’ eat too many desserts.”   We actually thought it was good for our kids to have a million snacks a day!  The times have changed right around us.  We must come into the world that we are living in NOW and open our eyes a bit wider.  We didn’t worry about chemicals, pesticides and prepackaged meals.  We never realized that bread, potatoes and rice turned to sugar later on inside our bodies.  We were used to a whole different way of approaching our meals; but fortunately our children have picked up on these things that we often thought “unimportant.”  Now WE are the ones needing to be re-educated and re-trained on proper nutrition and how to eat healthy.  Yes, we did all of these wrong things and lived through it; but let’s face it; our generation is facing more obesity and heart disease and diabetes than ever before; not to mention cancer and chronic diseases.  We have all become old enough and sick enough to understand that some major health changes need to happen.  Most of those come in the form of proper nutrition.

Maybe you better sit down because once you discover what you have been feeding the grandkids you may have a hard time forgiving yourself.  What has been done in the past can’t be changed; but there is hope for the future with a little education.  Here are the products you must be aware of right away:



OREO COOKIES:  I hate to spoil your good memories about Oreos, and I understand how you want to pass on those “feel good” moments you enjoyed as a child!   I know – you want to see the joy when they discover the fact that you need to open them and eat the middle first!  You want to see them realize how good they taste when you dip them in milk!  Then there is the fact that you can make a million and one CUTE crafty food treats out of Oreos! 

Sit down and listen carefully, because I’m going to ask you to quit buying Oreos for your grandkids.  Please don’t send me e-mails!  There are several good reasons for saying this!   I’m telling you:  Oreos contain polysorbate 80 and Titanium dioxide which are ingredients that are also found in paint and sunscreen.  If that isn’t enough to make you stop buying Oreos for those innocent little babies, then consider the fact that studies have shown that Oreos have the same addictive characteristics in our brains as cocaine and morphine.  The reason your grandchild wants to eat the WHOLE box is because these little cookies are extremely addictive.  The “pleasure center” of their brain is activated whenever they eat an Oreo cookie!  Now you wouldn’t give them cocaine or morphine (I hope) which would actually make them feel the same way; so why should you be feeding them boxes full of Oreos?  Stop and think about it.  This just isn’t a good practice! 

The next problem with the world’s most popular cookie that has been with us for over 100 years is the partially hydrogenated oils they contain.  As much as I hate to pass on the news, it seems that partially hydrogenated oils are found in about 40% of the food products we buy in most grocery stores.  That is a high percentage and you probably won’t hear a lot of people talking about the fact.  It would clearly cut into the profit margins of many food products if it became a more widely known fact.  You find partially hydrogenated oils in almost every cookie or cracker product on the shelves.  It is also in most microwavable popcorn products.  Many recent studies have shown that partially hydrogenated oils are linked to debilitating diseases.  The typical American consumer is not educated or aware of this fact.  We have been consuming tons of this stuff over the years.  These “trans-fats” seem to be a huge factor in heart diseases.  One researcher showed that eliminating the amount of trans-fats in our diets could prevent 7,600 to 17,000 cases of coronary heart disease and 2,500 to 5,600 deaths each year.  So all those Oreos you ate as a child didn’t kill you?  You were one of the lucky ones!  You won’t be hearing that on your local news channel though.  Most Grandmas are simply unaware!  The food labels are very deceptive about trans-fats.  They either don’t report them or they disguise them in some unobvious way.   These are simply the facts about the cute and adorable cookies that the schools love to promote that have fascinated us for a long time.  The truth is they are very dangerous to our health. 
 
If you aren’t worried about all of the above, then just look at the common sense fact that they contain too much fat and sugar with no real nutritional value.  This fact alone can lead to high cholesterol and heart disease later in life.  Ever dealt with that problem Grandma?  Then you know you don’t want that for your grandchild.  S-T-O-P the Oreo machine!

GRANOLA BARS:  I know, everyone thinks that granola is the healthiest thing around.  I have news for you – some of the brands of granola bars contain almost 20 grams of sugar per bar!  The Dark Chocolate Cherry Cashew + Antioxident bars that SOUND so healthy contain 14 grams of sugar and 2.5 grams of saturated fat (which is actually nutritionally worse than the above mentioned Oreo cookies!)  If you are going with granola make sure you do not serve the prepackaged ones that contain all of the wrong things.  There really isn’t much health value to them at all!

YOPLAIT GO-GURT:
Along with the genetically modified dairy you will find modified corn starch and WAY too much sugar.  The thickener is carragenan which is known to cause intestinal problems.  Another product used is potassium sorbate.  Potassium sorbate can cause allergic reactions, nausea, diarrhea and DNA damage.  A good alternative treat to substitute in place of Go-Gurt would be Stonyfield Greek Plain Yogurt.  It is pure and organic, high in protein and low in sugar.  You can blend it with some fresh fruit for more flavor or freeze it to create a healthy Greek yogurt popsicle.

YOPLAIT FLAVORED YOGURT:  The original flavors contain 18 grams of sugar per container (which is bad enough), but the FLAVORED brands contain 31 grams of sugar per container.  So why am I so against things that contain a high content of sugar? 

Since you asked: 

SUGAR IN GENERAL:  You really should check the sugar content of all of the snacks you provide.  It DOES matter.  Most of us know that too much sugar and fats with no real nutritional value leads to high cholesterol and heart disease.  We DO NOT want to be the cause of this for our grandchildren.  Health risks from sugar overloads include obesity, increased chance for heart disease and type-2 diabetes.  Also; more recent research by the Mayo Clinic has proclaimed that there is some evidence consuming large amounts of sugar is associated with increased risks for certain cancers.  Please don’t overdo the sugar; it just isn’t a healthy practice!

M&M’s:  In 1976 the red M&M’s were taken off the market for a good reason.  It was thought even back then that carcinogens could be found in FD&C RED #2 (the artificial dye used in red M&M’s) .  The red M&Ms stayed off the market for 10 years because of this theory; then in 1976 they were added back into the mix once more.  Everyone seemed to have forgotten the health concerns and we have all been consuming these candies since that time.  Now we are concerned with more than just one artificial dye.  It is now known that the RED #40 causes damage to DNA.  It can cause swelling around the mouth, give you hives and produce hyperactivity in children.  Cancer is also suspected from this dye.  (Ever notice how the red ones are the ones they like the best?)  The Yellow #6 artificial dye also causes cancer, hyperactivity, allergic reactions, diarrhea, vomiting, nettle rash, migraines and skin problems.   The Yellow #5 artificial dye used has some of the same problems.  Blue #2 is also used as a dye.  It is a petroleum based product with a chemical formula (C16H1ON202.)   It increases hyperactivity in children and has caused brain tumors and abnormal cell developments in rats.  The Gum Acacia found in M&M’s is a dietary fiber from the Acacia tree.  This fiber has glue-like binding qualities.  It is very bad for the digestive system.   It causes gas, bloating, nausea and loose stools.  It has been noted that these petrochemicals found in M&M’s worsen the behavior of some children.  The soy lecithin in M&M’s is genetically modified.  Soy lecithin can cause breast cancer, has negative effects on fertility and reproduction.  Soy lecithin also may lead to behavioral and cerebral abnormalities.  Most of the dye colors are labeled as “Lake” colors.  This means that salt has been added to the dye and that means the color would be insoluble in liquids.  The Blue #1 dye is said to produce malignant tumors in rats and has side effects such as asthma, hives, hay fever, low blood pressure and allergies.  These artificial dyes contain benzadine which is a well known carcinogen.  So you have eaten M&M’s all your life and you are still alive.  I hate to tell you this but chronic diseases and cancer have never been more prevalent in our society.  Why not consider what is causing some of them?  Looking the other way and ignoring the facts isn’t healthy for our children and grandchildren; or us either for that matter.

GRAHAM CRACKERS:  Maybe you consider Graham Crackers to be a fairly healthy snack.  I know I thought this in the past.  They are not!  Most of these “crackers” are made of refined flour and not the whole wheat flour that most people just assume they are made with.  Refined flour is very bad for your health.  So!  We have been eating refined flour for years; what could possibly be wrong with that?

Glad you asked:

REFINED FLOUR:  White or “refined” flour raises your risk for diabetes.  It is stripped of its original fiber lessening the nutritional value and it is processed heavily with chemicals that bleach.  Refined flour also contains gluten which is a problem for many people.  The main food to avoid when we are speaking of “refined” flour is white breads, cakes and cookies.  That would include biscuits and rolls!  These foods simply turn into sugar later and create circumstances that often lead to diabetes.  They are said to be the main factor that contributes to the American problem of obesity.    At our house we have started substituting whole wheat pita bread for white bread.  It tastes very good and we haven’t missed the unhealthy breads at all.

POP TARTS:  Speaking of refined flour; let’s discuss pop-trats.  They usually say they contain real fruit.  The filling is actually about 10% fruit and the other 90% is something else altogether!  It consists of enriched flour, soybean and palm oil, and GMO after GMO.  There are artificial colors and LOTS of sugar.  These processed treats contain dextrose, sugar, corn syrup and high fructose corn syrup.  All are made with GMOs.  The sugar usually comes from genetically modified sugar beets instead of cane sugar.  The refined sugars spike insulin levels and feed cancer cells.  The “real fruit” listed is actually dried apples, strawberries and pears that have been sprayed with pesticides.  (Apples are now the most contaminated item on the EWG’s dirty dozen list because of pesticides. Please buy organically grown apples!)   These Pop-Tarts also contain artificial dyes such as Red 40, Yellow 6 and Blue 1.  These dyes create toxins and cause cancer and other symptoms that you do not want to see in your grandchildren.  The caramel coloring often used is noted for causing lung cancer in mice. 

A good alternative to these treats might be Nature’s Path Frosted Maple Brown Sugar Toaster Pastries.  They are certified organic non-GMO products that are trans-fat free.  An even better alternative – make your own sweet treats from scratch and limit the servings.

FRUIT LOOPS:  You have probably noticed that most cereals for children are loaded with sugar, in the case of Fruit Loops; they also contain all the dangerous artificial dyes mentioned above when speaking of M&M’s.  These dyes are very dangerous and should not be eaten, especially when you are a young child and your body is forming, growing and changing. 

CHERRIOS:  The GMO company that produces Cheerios claims that it is a healthy food made from oats which is low in sugar and full of fiber.  That is very misleading.    Cheerios are thought healthy because they are said to contain “natural” oats.  In the seven out of twelve varieties of Cheerios sold, oats are not even listed as the main ingredient.  They DO contain whole grains, but whole grains ground into flour do not have the same benefits as natural unprocessed whole grains.  Cheerio’s whole grains are PROCESSED.  Only three brands of Cheerios out of the twelve brands sold have less than nine grams of sugar in a serving.  The serving sizes also vary according to the type of Cheerios you are buying; so the sugar content you are getting for the nine other flavors, though they sound very healthy, is MUCH too high.  Back in 2009 the FDA sent a letter to the company that manufactures Cheerios because of “unauthorized health claims” and because said claims would mean that Cheerios would fall under the label of an “unapproved new drug.”  Cheerios has reworked their marketing programs because of this and have changed their message to read that Cheerios CAN be a part of a healthy diet that COULD reduce the risks of heart disease. 

The new words used in marketing and commercials are based on the cereal’s fiber and whole grain content.  The whole truth of the matter is that ONLY Regular Cheerios, Honey Nut Cheerios and Yogurt Burst Cheerios contain soluble fiber.  Cheerios have just 1 gram per serving, Honey Nut Cheerios have 0.75 gram per serving and Yogurt Burst Cheerios have “less than 1 gram of soluble fiber.”  That really isn’t much fiber at all, and as we said before, it isn’t whole grain fiber but processed whole grain fiber.  Only regular Cheerios would provide the adequate amount of fiber required to start a healthy day. 

Cheerios also contain BHT a possible carcinogen.  Other ingredients that are not healthy in Cheerios are Trisodium Phosphate, artificial colors (mentioned above under M&M’s, vanillin (which is synthetic Vanilla), corn syrup, soy lecithin (see details under M&M’s), maltodextrin and glycerides.  Each of these ingredients have been linked to negative health issues in various studies. 

A huge issue is that the corn comes from fields in the US that have been genetically modified.  The Vitamin E content of Cheerios comes from mixed Tocopherols which are commonly derived from soy, corn or cotton.  Soy corn and cotton are the most extensively genetically engineered crops out there.  You won’t find this information on the labels; you just have to know your cereals and foods!

CAP’N CRUNCH:  Aside from the small amount of added vitamins in this cereal, it is full of worthless empty calories, food-like particles and chemicals.  The bulk of this brand of cereal is made up of corn flour.  It is held together with sugar, brown sugar and coconut oil.  It is coated with loads of food colorings.  A good substitute would be Cascadian Farm Clifford Crunch. 

GOLDFISH:   These are thrown at kids everywhere they go!  I’ve seen them in the church nursery, kindergarten classes and diaper bags everywhere.   The popular ones are made by Pepperidge Farms.  They usually all contain “enriched” wheat flour.”  Here is how they have been “enriched”:   The added iron is the metallic form of iron which the human body cannot fully absorb.  They have added folic acid also.  At first the folic acid actually sounds good, but research now shows that the fortification of foods with folic acid is linked to cancer.  The cheddar cheese is not organic.  This means that the cows that produced the cheese used in the product ate genetically modified grains and then produced the milk for the cheese.  More than likely these same cows were injected with genetically engineered hormones that stimulate milk production.  Best plan; eliminate the constant consummation of goldfish! 

AUSTIN CHEESE CRACKERS WITH CHEDDAR JACK CHEESE:   These snacks have been labeled “the worst packaged snack” by many food experts.  Each package contains 2 days worth of transfats.   

APPLE JUICE:  Did you know that one glass of the typical apple juice marketed for children can contain as much sugar as a Krispy Kreme Donut?  Not only is this much sugar a risk for heart disease and diabetes; but it can also cause tooth decay and other dental problems down the road.  Most toddlers tend to walk around with a sippy-cup full of some type of juice all the time!  A good solution to this problem is to use filtered water for their drinks and flavor it occasionally with just a few spoonfuls of natural organic juice.  Diluting the juice if it must be served is a great idea.  They hardly notice when you do this!  I have bought the cute little animated drinks that come in containers of their favorite characters, poured them out and repackaged them with filtered water and a tiny bit of healthy juice.  The kids never know the difference and they are delighted because they are served in containers of their favorite characters.   Please don’t tell my secret!

SUNNY D ORANGE DRINK:  This is definitely not REAL orange juice!  There is only 5 percent of real juice in each bottle.  The other 95 percent is sugar water.  The sugar left is equivalent to a dozen Chips Ahoy cookies.   A good substitute might be Capri Sun’s Tropical Fruit Roarin’ Water.

NESTLE NESQUICK CHOCOLATE MILK:  Most schools are still serving this one.  It is loaded with sugar.  One bottle contains 48 grams of sugar!  Excess sugar consumption leads to heart disease, diabetes, cancer, high blood pressure, obesity, reduced brain power and liver problems.  The term “natural” is used a lot on their ingredients list and it is deceiving.  These drinks contain hundreds of chemicals with side affects ranging from allergies to behavioral issues in children.  It contains the thickening agent carrageenan which has been shown to cause animals to have gastrointestinal inflammation, intestinal lesions, ulcers and malignant tumors.  There is a high possibility that MSGs are in the carrageenan.  If you must allow your children to drink chocolate milk use Organic Valley Chocolate Milk.  There is still a high amount of sugar even in this pure product.  Best solution; encourage more water!

SOFT DRINKS:  Most Grandmas are already on to this one.  We pretty much know how harmful soft drinks can be to children.  For those who have not yet caught on, I’ll just say that sodas act as dehydrating diuretics and can inhibit proper digestion.  Drinking soda can upset the fragile, acid-alkaline balance in the stomach and create an acid environment.  A prolonged acid environment can lead to inflammation of the stomach and duodenal lining.  Diet soda is especially bad (for ALL people – not just children.)  Diet drinks usually contain aspartame which is a potent brain toxin and endocrine disrupter.  Drinking soft drinks every day can lead to blood sugar disorders and diabetes.  These drinks contain caffeine which is known to create physical dependence and upsets the normal balance of neurochemistry in the developing brains of children.  There are 35 to 38 milligrams of caffeine in most 12-ounce cans of cola.  A can of Pepsi One has 56 milligrams of caffeine!  If caffeine is the only issue you are concerned with a good alternative choice in drinks would be Sprit, 7-Up, Ginger Ale or some brands of Root Beer; which are all caffeine free.  Another thing to consider about soft drinks is the link to tooth decay.  The sugar causes cavities and the acid erodes the enamel of your teeth.    The citric acid found in soda may contain traces of MSG.  MSG is another potent brain toxin.  The artificial flavors found in sodas may also contain traces of MSG. 

If the above isn’t enough to convince you just realize that soft drinks contain zero nutrients, are high calorie and contain LOADS of sugar.  They are probably the heaviest contributor to childhood obesity.  Sodas tend to suppress the appetite so kids are less likely to crave nutritious foods at regular meal time.  Phosphorus is a common ingredient found in soft drinks.  Phosphorus can deplete bones and calcium.  Girls who drink more soft drinks are prone to broken bones.  More and more doctors are becoming very concerned about the health impact of carbonated beverage consumption on teen-aged girls.

I’m sure you are convinced.  Just remember that our children and grandchildren tend to imitate every move that we make.  If you are forbidding soft drinks to your toddlers and teens and not giving them up yourself; you are not only unhealthy; you might also be a hypocrite!  Just don’t buy soft drinks!

PROCESSED CHICKEN NUGGETS:  This is typically the first thing you will see on children’s menus when you eat out.  Who erroneously proclaimed that all children want to eat is chicken nuggets and mac and cheese?  They are bo so unhealthy!  I’m speaking here about the PROCESSED chicken nuggets; not the freshly cooked unprocessed ones.  Unfortunately most processed chicken nuggets are stripped off the bone and then ground up into a chicken “mush” then combined with a variety of stabilizers and preservatives.  These are usually pressed into shapes.  They are then breaded and deep fried, then freeze dried and shipped to somewhere.  The “mush” they call chicken is usually about 50% fat and contains about 360 mgs of sodium.  They contain a very low percentage of calcium, protein fiber, vitamins and antioxidants.  A steady diet of these would mean your child isn’t receiving anywhere near the nutritional value they need at meal time.  Most fast-food chicken nuggets contain a high content of chemicals and preservatives.  One thing that is especially bad is the TBHQ found in the hydrogenated soybean oil that they fry with (in the vegetable oil.)  This is a chemical preservative the FDA only allows processors to use SPARINGLY in food.  It can comprise no more than 0.02 percent of the oil in a nugget.  We now know that ingesting a single gram of TBHQ can cause nausea, vomiting, ringing of the ears, delirium and a sense of suffocation and collapse.  Ingesting five grams of TBHQ can kill. 

Citric acid is also added to preserve freshness.  Have you ever read how citric acid is processed?  It is highly educational reading.  Any time you see citric acid beware; it isn’t very healthy despite the deceptive labeling.  The antifoaming agent added into your usual fast food nugget mix is dimenthylpolysiloxane which is the same form of silicone that is also used many of your cosmetics.  It is a suspected carcinogen and an established mutagen, tumorigen and reproductive effector (it is also flammable.) 

I guess that is enough about fast-food chicken fingers.  I would highly recommend that you save this treat until you can cook it yourself inside your own kitchen using fresh whole ingredients and carefully selected chicken pieces.  Your grands are worth the effort. 

A good way to make your own chicken fingers is to marinate strips of chicken breast in 1 percent buttermilk for 20 to 30 minutes.  Cover the strips in whole-wheat bread crumbs and bake them at 350 degrees for six to seven minutes per side.  Kids will love how they taste and you will too!

MACARONI AND CHEESE:  Kraft was stopped by the FDA from using the artificial dyes they put into their mac and cheese.  They now use turmeric, which was a smart move. 

There are still things about constantly stuffing a kid with macaroni and cheese that are disturbing.  One author I know described mac and cheese as “a serpent in a beautifully disguised package.”  I tend to agree with her!  This even applies to that mac and cheese that you make yourself using the noodles from a box!  Why?  Your mac and cheese and the prepackaged mac and cheese actually probably contain many of the same ingredients.  In terms of nutrition; they are also probably even.   So is cooking the cheesy dish yourself approximately the same results as using the box?  No.  The big difference is saturated fats, sodium and preservatives which can condition kids to crave more salty, artificial foods.  If you look on the label you will see a long list of non-food ingredients on the boxed products.  When you grab that easy box, you really don’t know what you are feeding them.  When you put in the ingredients yourself; you can be sure to know.  Also you should be using whole wheat organic noodles when you make it yourself.  One helping of most packaged or fast food mac and cheese works out to around 418 grams of fat and 1760 milligrams of sodium.  This definitely offsets the benefit of the mac and cheese being low in sugar.  Eaten to excess sodium has been tied to many hazardous health conditions such as high blood pressure, stroke, cardiovascular disease and cardiac enlargement, edema, osteoporosis, heartburn and even death in the worst cases. 

Just be aware that mac and cheese is a very high calorie food.  If you eat it constantly, you are probably going to get fat. 

SALAD DRESSINGS:  They are loaded with untested Franken ingredients.  The bulk of oils in non-organic salad dressing come from genetically engineered soy or canola crops that have never been tested for their impact on humans.  They are crops that use massive amounts of pesticides and you know some of that may wind up inside the food that is produced from them.  Most of the popular brands of salad dressings are using high fructose.  Scientists have discovered that ingesting high-fructose for just six weeks could make you less smart.  The raspberry vinaigrettes sometimes harbor deceivingly high amounts of sweeteners.  Another thing that is happening with salad dressings is the use of titanium dioxide which is what people working in the paint industry use to make colors brighter.  This chemical is often contaminated with lead.  We all have used and loved the Hidden Valley Farmhouse Originals.  Some of the color in this company’s Pomegranate Vinaigrette comes not from real fruit, but Red #40.  I’ve already covered how harmful these artificial dyes can be to children, but I don’t think I’ve yet mentioned that this particular dye is also linked to ADHD in children.  Kraft’s creamy ranch dressing contains Yellow 5.  Many of the honey mustard dressing and the Ceasar of creamy balsamic dressings rely on caramel coloring to give them rich brown or golden hues.  Caramel colors have been linked to cancer.  Trans fats are those dangerous fats that your taste buds love but your body hates.  They are required to be labeled on food products but often they are not clearly labeled on salad dressings.  Monosodium glutamate is a food additive often found in salad dressings.  Animal studies link these food additives to nerve cell damage in the brain.  Humans ingesting MSG often complain of headaches. 

HONEY:  This one is tricky.  Local organic honey is usually good and healthy for adults.  Many do not know or understand that children under two should never be given honey.  This is because honey can contain a toxic bacteria causing botulism.  This bacteria won’t hurt adults; but young children do not have the immune systems yet to fight this off.  Honey, even local and organic, has recently been noted to contain pesticides that were brought in by bees feeding on heavily sprayed fields. 

KETCHUP:  Most ketchups are loaded with GMO-derived high fructose corn syrups.  They are bursting with sodium, yet no one ever thinks twice about using ketchup or the contents in its ingredients.  We put this stuff on everything!  Our children always imitate whatever we do.  The ketchup market is worth over $800 million strong, right behind mayonnaise and salsa.  I was once told this sauce was a good condiment to use because it is low in calories; so just how bad could it possibly be?  You might be surprised to learn (as I was) that about ¼ of the bottle is sugar!  It is also loaded with high fructose corn syrup and sodium.    

OTHER DIPPING SAUCES:  It is trendy these days for parents to use dipping sauces to convince their kids to eat more vegetables.  By adding the extra flavor of the sauce you entice them to get used to eating their vegetables, even if they have to dip them.  This is only a good idea if you want your kid to be hooked on that particular sauce for the rest of their lives.  If you must do this; try steering them toward healthy organic alternative sauces.  For instance substitute Greek yogurt mixed with organic seasonings for ranch dressing.  Make your own ketchup and honey mustard from natural ingredients. 

FRENCH FRIES:  The hard truth about French fries is that they are just TOO convenient, both at home and in restaurants.  We need to quit putting convenience ahead of health.  French frying at fast food establishments usually involves using saturated fats, or the bad fats that cause problems.  When our children consume these bad fats they make the platelets in their blood stickier.  These sticky little platelets then form clots that attach to the walls of arteries which supply vital areas of the body with oxygenated blood.  These sticky little clots create walls of plaque that can eventually lead to heart attack or stroke. 

French Fries, even when not fast food are made from white potatoes.  Once in the body white potatoes have been noted for converting to sugar.  When we continually consume quickly absorbing carbohydrates the high conversion of sugar causes a surge in insulin production.  When we continually spike our insulin we develop a resistance to insulin that has been linked to a higher risk of diabetes and heart disease. 

Not all fats are just “good fats” and “bad fats”  There are fats that are “damaged fats.”  Damaged fats act as carcinogens.  French fries have high levels of acrylamide, reported to be a possible cancer-causing substance.   This comes from the deep frying techniques used.   While there are not yet any conclusive studies in children that show a link has been established to consuming French fries and cancer, it has been reported that cancer in children is on the rise in children ages 2- 4 years old.  Why take chances?  Bake your fries from home sliced potatoes and use less salt (sea salt preferably) in order to eliminate a lot of the sodium.  Don’t serve them all the time with everything; but only on occasions when they are already properly filled to the brim with good nutrients to counteract any harmful activities.  If they are constantly filling up on fries; they will never want their vegetables.

CHIPS:   Kids seem to love spicy chips like Flamin’ Hot Cheetos.  Doctors are now warning that many of the spicy chips have harmful effects.  They originally will cause stomach pain that can go on for weeks.  If your child is complaining of a burning in their left side it could be caused by eating spicy chips!  Doctors are reporting seeing five or six cases a day of kids with gastritis due to eating spicy chips.  Gastritis is an inflammation, erosion or irritation of the lining of the stomach.  It can come on gradually or suddenly.  Symptoms include bloating, burning, vomiting and hiccups.  Sometimes, if not treated, this can lead into ulcerations, erosions and peptic ulcer disease in children.  Several schools have already banned these snacks due to lack of nutritional value; but the stomach problems are an even more serious reason not to feed your child spicy chips.  The Frito-Lay company actually made a statement that they would no longer market these chips to children under twelve. 

What about chips in general though?  Kids love even the NOT spicy chips.   Scientific studies have been conducted on the foods that kids eat and what makes them lose or gain weight.  The kids who regularly ate potato chips tended to gain the most weight.  French fries, fried chicken and fish, processed meats and butter were in close to the same category.  Foods cooked in oil, whether fried, sautéed or roasted were linked to weight gain.     

We need to remember that chips are PROCESSED FOODS.  That means they are going to be made from things that are not all natural and nutritious. 


TWINKIES:  Most people already know that Twinkies are not very healthy.  The details though are that they include partially hydrogenated vegetable oil, shortening and beef fat.  All of these items contain trans-fats.  Twinkies are full of enriched bleached white four, high fructose corn syrup, dextrose, MSG and artificial colors.  These are all toxic food additives that should be avoided at all costs.  Arrowhead Mills makes organic cake mixes.  This might be a good switch.  Make your own cake snacks using applesauce instead of eggs and oil to get a moist cake with fewer calories and fat.  Bake them in cupcake tins to make them smaller in shape and easy to carry.  It might also be a good idea to read up on the health and nutrition facts about Little Debbie Cakes.  I don’t have time to go into it here.

KRISPY KREME DOUGHNUTS:  A Krispy Kreme Original Glazed doughnut is made from at least 50 ingredients.  Most of these ingredients are artificial food additives that will increase your risk of cancer, diabetes, heart disease, allergies and digestive disorders.  It is well known that dyes, chemicals and synthetic hormones are causing serious health problems.  Since we have covered most of the problems with several of the following ingredients, I will just list the ingredients found in a Krispy Kreme doughnut and I think you will be able to analyze them for yourself:  Enriched bleached wheat flour-  (contains bleached wheat flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamine, mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), dextrose, vegetable shortening (partially hydrogenated soybean and/or cottonseed oil), water, sugar, soy flour, egg yolks, vital wheat gluten, yeast, nonfat milk, yeast nutrients (calcium sulfate, ammonium sulfate), dough conditioners (calcium dioxide, monocalcium and dicalcium phosphate, diammonium phosphate, sodium stearoyl-2-lacrylate, whey, starch, ascorbic acid, sodium bicarbonate, calcium carbonate), salt, mono-and-diglycerides, ethoxylated mono- and diglycerides, lecithin, calcium propionate (to retain freshness), cellulose gum, natural and artificial flavors, fungal alpha amylase, amylase, maltogenic amylase, pantosenase, protease, sodium caseinate, corn maltodextrin, corn syrup solids and BHT (to help protect flavor).  Glaze also may contain: Calcium carbonate, agar, locust bean gum, disodium phosphate, and sorbitan monostearate.

Convinced?  Me too!

GUMMY BEARS:  Gummy Bears are basically pure sugar!  Even the sugar-free Gummy Bears are harmful though.  Most brands of gummies contain high fructose corn syrup.  Over 78 different diseases and health problems are linked to fructose!  Consuming fructose is essentially consuming fat.  The metabolism of fructose causes toxins in the body.  It is now known that fructose and ethanol have immediate narcotic effects that lead to overconsumption and which eventually damages the internal organ systems.  Refined fructose has a worse effect on your metabolism than sugar.  Most food labels are misleading concerning fructose and the way it is mixed with other products that sound healthy, but are actually very unhealthy.  Most of these same facts can be applied to Fruit Roll-Ups and other “fruit” labeled snacks.  These days a lot of fruit snacks say “made with real fruit” or “made with real fruit juice” but these claims simply mean a lot of added sugar.  If you are looking for an easy snack with some actual nutrition just go with dried real fruit instead.

If you still want to give your grandchild gummy bears in spite of the above information – at least go visit a web site called Mommypotamus.  There you will be able to find a healthy gummy bear recipe that you can make at home containing all natural ingredients. 

SHREDDED CHEESE:  I hate to tell you this one.  You may already know.  Shredded cheese is usually manufactured with wood chips in the mix to keep the cheese looking fresh and not wilty.  Wood chips are not good for a child’s stomach.  They pick up enough stuff from the floor and put it into their mouths without you adding wood chips into the mix.  Solution:  buy blocks of natural organic cheese and shred it yourself.  It really doesn’t take that long and it taste better. 

PROCESSED FOODS:  (CAKE MIXES, COOKIE MIXES, PREPARED WAFFLES AND PANCAKES AND MIXES, CERTAIN SAUCES AND CONDIMENTS, ETC.)  Processed foods are usually all bad for nutrition because of the preservatives, GMOs, chemicals, etc.  Read your labels and do your homework and make everything you can from scratch.

KRAFT OSCAR MEYER LUNCHABLES:  The little prepackaged lunches have been very popular with the kids.  They are easy to fix and they save time.  I’ve often used them with my grandchildren in the past.  Then I had to stop and examine the ingredients.  The artificial coloring and flavors elicit behavioral reactions and a difficulty in staying focused!  These lunches are so processed that the cheese isn’t really cheese at all!  You’ll find GMOs, trans fat and even nitrites in these convenient little containers that are so easy to use.  There is an alternative to the Lunchables.  Just cut squares of organic lunch meat and cheese and pack them up in a food container along with an organic cracker.  You can pack these ahead and they will be just as quick and easy to use for fast lunches for on-the-go days.  My granddaughter loves the pre-packaged lunches that come in the Mickey Mouse shaped containers.  I have simply emptied a few of these pre-packaged containers into the garbage and filled them with natural treats and fruit and covered them with foil until she wants to eat them.  I wash the containers and re-use them over and over.  She is always delighted and hasn’t noticed one time that they are not the same ones you find in the store. 



This list, unfortunately, could go on forever.  I had to stop writing!  I’ll probably be bringing up more of these facts only one at a time in this column later.  For now; I think you are beginning to see how we grandmothers can go astray!

I’m so sorry to be having to tell all of the above to all the Grandmas out there!  I’m sure reading this has made your day; but did you know your daughters and sons are all noticing and discussing these issues when you aren’t around?  They worry that you might not know these things, and let’s face it….they are important facts to know.  Nothing is more important than the health of our grandbabies! 



Let’s just pitch in and do our part to help with this.  It has to start with the parents at home and the grandparents they visit.  Hopefully the baby sitter and the school lunch workers will follow suit.   Of course these things all take common sense and balance to work; just like everything else in life.  We don’t want to make a bunch of paranoid kids by preaching to them every time they put something unhealthy into their mouths.  This will only backfire on us and cause the kids to be anorexic or have food disorders.  Be silent about the negatives here; just try to reinforce the positives.  There will be times to smile politely and look the other way.  There will be times to remain silent and let some unhealthy things happen.  A LITTLE of all of these things will not harm anyone; it is when these things are ALL that a kid is consuming in their diet that it really makes a difference in their overall health.  Go ahead and have fun on the holidays and birthday parties!   Take them out occasionally for that special usually denied treat they are longing for (it will be even more special now); but for the most part find a way to present healthy snacks to them.  If you use your imagination they will never know the difference.  Simply saying “we don’t have any of that” is much easier than them looking at the unhealthy things in your pantry and being told they can’t have them.  Keep your kitchen stocked with healthy fruit and vegetables and alternative snacks.  Soon you will see strong and healthy grandkids.  You might be amazed at the changes in their behavior too.  They will grow up before you can blink and their parents will always trust that you are looking out for their best interest.  It is worth the effort. 

I intend to write more on this subject in the future and include some good menus and ideas for healthy snacks.  Keep reading!  Until then – enjoy those grandkids!


Thursday, October 20, 2016

COME AS A CHILD LESSON 140 - THE FIRST PART OF TEN WAYS TO A GOOD LIFE





THE FIRST PART OF TEN WAYS TO A GOOD LIFE
(Written by Sheila Gail Landgraf)

So we find Moses still on the top of the mountain listening carefully to God.   

God has begun to explain to Moses about the ten ways that all of His people can have a better life.  God wishes for Moses to teach these ten ways to the people.  

These ten ways are the very basic steps to having a happy and joyful life full of love and health and order.  They applied back in the days of Moses; they apply now.  Jesus did not come to destroy the law; but to fulfill it!  

Jesus Christ kept every single law as He walked the earth.  That is what qualified Him to be The Perfect Lamb of God.  We are to follow Jesus and to immitate Him as best we can.  His grace is always sufficient when we fail; but we are to focus on trying not to break the laws of God; they are in our own best interest.  They were a gift from God that day as He spoke from the smoke and the lightning on the Holy Mountain.




These are the words that God uses as He begins to speak:

“I AM the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.”

Based on the way God begins to communicate here, do you think it is important for Moses and the people to know WHO God is and to recognize what all He has done for them so far?  

Yes!  I think that is very important!  

God had found them in their misery and toil.  He had rescued them from a life of bondage.  He had brought them out of a pagan land and a pagan culture and was bringing them back to a place of freedom, a place where they would be able to worship God as The One True God again.   He wanted to give them a GOOD life!

If you determine to worship God with all of your heart you must know that one thing is very important to God; and it is included in that first statement that God makes to Moses after God clearly states His soverign identity.  

That one important thing is: “YOU SHALL HAVE NO OTHER GODS BEFORE ME.”




The God who brought the Israelites out of Egypt IS the ONLY, ONE AND TRUE GOD that exists.  He makes this clear to the people right away.  They are not to worship the gods of the Egyptians any more.  They have seen how God has destroyed all evidence of these mythical, pagan gods being real, and that the God of the Israelites is the ONLY God that truly has power over the earth.  

God proved this evidence with the plagues.  

God proved this evidence with the parting of the sea.  

God proved this evidence with the water from the rock.  

God proved this evidence with the Manna from Heaven.  

God proved this with the pillar of cloud and the pillar of fire that they followed through the dessert.  

There is NO EXCUSE for the worship of other Gods.  

Just because we do not have a statue of Baal in our home does not mean that we are free of idols in our lives!




Have you ever taken a close examination of your own daily life to see if there is any evidence of pagan worship?   You might be very surprised at the way the world rubs off on you before you even notice what is happening.  Here are a few questions to study and consider:

Even your thinking process can be full of idols.  Are you taking every thought captive in order to obey the Word of God and His way of life?  

What is your "self-talk" like?  Does it match God's word?  If not; you are telling yourself lies and setting up false idols inside your head.

Is your mind free of the world's systems and human ideas and imaginations that do not match the ways of God?

Are you controlled by the media, your neighbor's ways, the public school system's ways, your parent's ideas, your friend's suggestions and actions?  

Do you find yourself living in doubt and denial of the power of God over your life?

Is your pride more important to you than the ways of a loving God?

Put out an all points bulliten for the idols in your life; even those that only lurk in your thoughts!  Identify them and take them captive.  

"High places" or places of pagan worship do not belong in the life of the Bride of Christ.  Get a perspective of God's places and live there.  

Is there somewhere that you are going that puts you in spiritual jeapordy?  

Is there something that you are doing that needs to come under control?  

If you have a shrine or an altar that does not belong to God, destroy it immediately and receive the freedom from the bondage of sin that will come to you from your loving Father.
   
In speaking to Moses on the mountain, God went on to explain this a little further.  Since HE was the ONLY God that truly exists; he explains: 

“YOU SHALL NOT MAKE FOR YOURSELVES AN IMAGE IN THE FORM OF ANYTHING IN HEAVEN ABOVE OR ON THE EARTH BENEATH, OR IN THE WATERS BELOW.  YOU SHALL NOT BOW DOWN TO THEM OR WORSHIP THEM; FOR I, THE LORD YOUR GOD, AM A JEALOUS GOD, PUNISHING THE CHILDREN FOR THE SIN OF THE PARENTS TO THE THIRD AND FOURTH GENERATION OF THOSE WHO HATE ME, BUT SHOWING LOVE TO A THOUSAND GENERATIONS OF THOSE WHO LOVE ME AND KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS.”

There seems to be serious consequences for those who break the first of these ten ways to have a good life.  God says He will punish the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate Him; but God will show love to a thousand generations of those who love Him.

I think God used such stern words to help the people grasp the importance of the matter.  He is telling them things that will benefit them in their lives and God wants them to know how best to live a full and happy life.  If they do not listen to Him and heed God’s words; the laws that God set into motion as Creator of the Universe will take effect and work against them and their children and grandchildren.   God wishes for ALL generations to be taught His ways and for ALL generations to follow them.  This is much to the advantage of the people. 

Putting God first and above all other things has become a way of life that we relate to following the First Commandment of God.  

Surely, after living in misery for so long in a foreign land as slaves the people of Israel had seen what NOT putting God first was like.  Why would they ever want to go back to that way of life that they had miraculously escaped?  Why would they ever bow before a pagan god or make a pagan image to worship after seeing how powerless the pagan gods were before The One and Only True God?

This little talk with Moses on the top of the mountain is simply God’s way of helping them to ALWAYS remember. 

In Matthew 22:37 – 38 Jesus called this first commandment of God the “greatest” commandment.  We will hear God summing this up later to the people of Israel by stating:  “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all of your strength.”  (Deut. 6:5). 

Do you get the idea that God wants us to remember that He loves us and we are to love Him back?  It is all about love, God’s love for us and our love for God.  




Love is the spiritual intent of the law.  The time on Mount Siniai with God was considered to be the wedding between Israel and God.  

In order to take wedding vows; total love and devotion is required of both parties.  The people have already promised and sent Moses to tell God that they will do as He has said.  God is merely stating the conditions of the relationship and vowing to keep His part and expecting the same from the people that He is taking as a bride under the covenant of marriage; a covenant that should never be broken or annulled.   

The goal of the people from this point forward will be to seek God and His righteousness above all other things.  As a bride is true to only her husband, so should the people be true to only worshipping The One True God of Heaven and Earth.  There are to be no other lovers!  They should never bow before anyone or anything else in worship.  God is a jealous God!  Their focus is to be on God and God alone; never leaning toward their own understanding but trusting in His every word and listening and obeying His every command. 



The right response to God will carry reverence and deep respect for His almighty power and majesty.  It is a fear that comes from deep love, a type of fear that is respectful and in awe; not a fear that leaves one in panic or trembling.  It is a healthy fear; one that is in our best interest and one that keeps our lives in check and on the right path.  When we obey God and put Him first in our lives because of this healthy fear; we begin to grow more and more in love.  Sooner or later the love replaces the fear and peace and contentment come from the knowledge of knowing that God has our best interest in mind and is always looking out for us by showing us the best ways to live. 

It seems that God’s main objective in teaching us this is to keep sin far away from our lives.  Anytime that we put anything before God in our living; sin creeps in to destroy us and rob us of our joy.  

False religion and false gods are a sin.  

Self worship is a sin.  

God must always have first place in our hearts for us to be truly happy.  We need to continually be seeking to see things from God’s perspective.  Our own view of the world can get skewed and twisted if we aren’t very careful to be putting God first. 

This commandment to love God above all else was the wedding vow of Isreal, and thus the wedding vow of God’s people forever.  It should never be considered a burden but always be considered a delight.  When you truly love God with all of your heart and put Him first in your life you receive a gift of tremendous joy in your heart. 




The love of God has rescued us from a heavy bondage.   Whether it is from the bondage of physical slavery like these Israelites experienced or the bondage of sin; the results are the same.  God’s love has saved us and we are to respond by loving Him and serving Him forever.  

Knowing and following The One True God sets us free from bondage and gives us an abundant life. 

The first commandment is God’s wedding vow to us.  

It is a heavenly gift that is priceless beyond compare.  

Let us love God and always honor this first best way to live!


Monday, October 17, 2016

PEN ART - LEAVING



(I wrote this poem several years back when I thought we were going to have to sell our home.  Fortunately, by yet another miracle of God in my life, things got better and it did not happen; but God did let me capture the moment and the truth of the whole emotional experience here in words.)


LEAVING

(Writing and photography by:  Sheila Gail Landgraf)

"I'm leaving,"
I speak to a house than cannot even speak back to me.
Somewhere deep in my heart I imagine hearing answering words,
Could it just be my imagination?
"I have served you and loved you for so long!"
"Yes."
It is all that I can answer back, for no mere words are sufficient.
Fourteen years I have laid my head on your pillows,
Watched how the sunlight slanted from your windows,
Sought my refuge here at the end of the day,
Saw the rainbows that formed from the sunlight on the kitchen walls around seven a.m. each morning.
I fed my family in your rooms,
Heard the sound of children's laughter from your halls,
Warmed myself in front of your fires,
Baked cookies after school and helped kids with homework here,
Prayed with only you for company.
I cleaned you,
Painted you,
Dressed you up in new clothes.
I kept renewing you as you grew older.
But alas, you cannot do the same for me;
You are just a house,
With walls that cannot speak.
You do not have a soul,
Or do you?
You are helpless to help me,
But I sense your compassion as I softly take the last deep breath before I leave you.
You must know my breaking heart,
And you must feel the pain I feel from leaving you behind.
The place that I have always known as home
Has been abruptly ripped away from me.
I'm so sorry that I could not save you this time,
Like so many times before.
There was nothing I could do.
I shall not return except in the dreams of night,
And through memories that will be sure to fade over time,
No matter how hard I hold on to them.
I thought I would grow old here,
But it isn't to be.
May your new faces love you as much as I have.
May I somehow find your peace and joy in the next place,
Where ever they let me go.
Finally the words come that I've been searching for;
Just two little words,
"Thank you."
Then four more,
"I will miss you."
I gently close the door on fourteen happy years and walk away.
The azaleas on the stoop wave goodbye.
The redbird in the front yard plumb tree chirps his farewell.
The fig tree stands silent and green as I leave my heart in a trail of little pieces down the road.


Sunday, October 16, 2016

SEASONS - A PRAYER FOR RAIN

(Writing and photography by Sheila Gail Landgraf)


This is the song the ancient people of God sang as they processed with the priests from the pool of Siloam through the Water Gate and to the Temple for the water pouring ceremony at The Feast of Tabernacles each year:

Psalms 118
1Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good!

  His faithful love endures forever.

2Let all Israel repeat:

  "His faithful love endures forever."

3Let Aaron's descendants, the priests, repeat:
  "His faithful love endures forever."
4Let all who fear the LORD repeat:
 "His faithful love endures forever."
5In my distress I prayed to the LORD,
  and the LORD answered me and set me free.
6The LORD is for me, so I will have no fear.
  What can mere people do to me?
7Yes, the LORD is for me; he will help me.
  I will look in triumph at those who hate me.
8It is better to take refuge in the LORD
  than to trust in people.
9It is better to take refuge in the LORD
  than to trust in princes.
10Though hostile nations surrounded me,
  I destroyed them all with the authority of the LORD.
11Yes, they surrounded and attacked me,
  but I destroyed them all with the authority of the LORD.
12They swarmed around me like bees;
  they blazed against me like a crackling fire.
  But I destroyed them all with the authority of the LORD.
13My enemies did their best to kill me,
  but the LORD rescued me.
14The LORD is my strength and my song;
  he has given me victory.
15Songs of joy and victory are sung in the camp of the godly.
  The strong right arm of the LORD has done glorious things!
16The strong right arm of the LORD is raised in triumph.
  The strong right arm of the LORD has done glorious things!
17I will not die; instead, I will live
  to tell what the LORD has done.
18The LORD has punished me severely,
  but he did not let me die.
19Open for me the gates where the righteous enter,
  and I will go in and thank the LORD.
20These gates lead to the presence of the LORD,
  and the godly enter there.
21I thank you for answering my prayer
  and giving me victory!
22The stone that the builders rejected
  has now become the cornerstone.
23This is the LORD's doing,
  and it is wonderful to see.
24This is the day the LORD has made.
  We will rejoice and be glad in it.
25Please, LORD, please save us.
  Please, LORD, please give us success.
26Bless the one who comes in the name of the LORD.
  We bless you from the house of the LORD.
27The LORD is God, shining upon us.
  Take the sacrifice and bind it with cords on the altar.
28You are my God, and I will praise you!
  You are my God, and I will exalt you!
29Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good!
  His faithful love endures forever.



There is a water-pouring ceremony at The Feast of Tabernacles!

In ancient times it was the service to ask for rain on the crops in the days to come while thanking God for the provision He has already given.   
We not only need physical rain to survive our life in this world, we need the rain that falls called the Rauch Ha Kodesh, The Holy Spirit.  
This is the Living Water that Jesus Christ has to offer to us.
This is how our spirits are refreshed each year as our bodies are physically refreshed with water.  
It is the Spirit of God who causes us to imitate Jesus in his death and resurrection.  
The Spirit of God is as refreshing as rising from the grave to a new and restored life in The Kingdom of God.  This is the Spirit that causes us to grow in grace and it is the Spirit of God that allows us to experience Emmanuel; 
God with us.  




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