What the Heck Are Natural Flavors?
March 9, 2010 | 1 Comment
It was pretty cool to see my friend Christine Steendahl quoted here in this issue of Earth Talk. And just recently on Twitter I was expressing my confusion and aggravation with the whole MSG/autolyzed yeast issue. When you see the words ‘natural flavors’ on an ingredients list, it’s often a code name for MSG.
After some research I still haven’t decided whether MSG is truly evil, but I do my best to avoid processed foods just to be on the safe side. Even organic and natural foods that are processed at high temperatures (canned soups, boxed goods etc) contain glutamates – whether artificial or naturally occurring.
Dear EarthTalk:
I see a lot of “healthy snacks” being marketed for kids that list “natural flavors” but don’t identify them. Should I use these products?
– John Stein, Methuen, MA
Beloved food writer Michael Pollan recommends steering clear of foods that advertise their green attributes on their label.
According to his line of reasoning, why give a child a fruit roll-up when you can give him or her a piece of fruit?
Only processed foods need to advertise what’s natural about them, whereas an apple speaks for itself, providing wholesome nutrition without the need for marketing hype.
But most of us depend on the occasional packaged or processed food, so choosing between the lesser of two evils sometimes has to be the way to go.
If a product lists natural ingredients on its label—anything from real fruits, vegetables and nuts to cereals, grains and other healthy foods you can recognize without a food dictionary on hand—it’s probably better than a food reliant on artificial flavors and sweeteners.
“One way for your kids to enjoy healthy snacks is to get them started on naturally sweet foods,” says Christine Steendahl of Kid Approved Meals, which sells menus and shopping lists to parents looking for guidance in meal preparation. “Since most kids crave sweets…naturally sweet foods such as fruits are perfect,” she says. Real bananas, oranges, apples, cherries, strawberries and other fruits are popular with most kids. “You can mix in yogurt or even make a fruit smoothie with some milk and a drop of chocolate or other natural flavors,” Steendahl suggests.
(Note from Carrie: Christine Steendahl is also the mom behind Dine Without Whine and Menu Planning Central.)
“One thing to recognize about children is that if they try enough types of natural and healthy snacks, they will find one that they enjoy,” says Steendahl. “The problem is that many times parents give up trying to find the snacks that their kids like and settle for popular junk foods instead.” She stresses the importance of teaching kids which snacks to eat and which to avoid early in life so that they can sidestep obesity problems altogether. Nuts and dry cereals, for example, are good alternatives to chips and other junk food.
According to California-based pediatrician and author William Sears, who markets his own line of healthy kids snacks called Lunchbox Essentials, parents should make sure that any snack foods they give their family members provide both fiber and protein, which give the feeling of fullness, and taste good as well. He adds that parents should learn to read labels so they can tell which products contain hydrogenated oils, artificial colors, preservatives and high-fructose corn syrup—all of which should be avoided.
As a last resort for especially finicky kids, parents can find packaged snacks that might look like junk food but are actually healthy and nutritious, including certain brands of fruit roll-ups and granola bars. Look in the snack aisle of your local natural foods market for such items, and don’t be afraid to ask store personnel for recommendations. It’s important to take your child’s nutrition seriously. Whether he or she ever realizes it, you are setting patterns that will enable them to live healthier and longer lives.
Brainwashing
February 24, 2010 | 4 Comments
At least with my oldest child, I think that perhaps the brainwashing I mean education has been particularly effective.
Case in point, today he began throwing up and having diarrhea. Evidently it’s going around?
I offer him some homeopathic Ipecac.
“No. I would rather my immune system take care of it.”
“Honey, it’s harmless. Homeopathics support your immune system. It won’t hurt you.”
“No.”
Clamps hand over mouth.
Sigh.
Apparently he was listening all those times I talked about the evils of pharmaceuticals and Big Pharma.
A few minutes later after referring to my trusty Smart Medicine for a Healthier Child, I tell him I’ll be giving him some acidophilus later.
“NO! I don’t want anything killing off my healthy bacteria!”
“Sweetie, acidophilus IS the healthy bacteria. You’re thinking of antibiotics. See? It says it right here in the book…”
photo credit: freeparking
I take him a small glass of water and suggest he take small sips, not gulps.
I’m surprised when this doesn’t lead to an argument about fluoride and estrogen in the water supply.
Foods That Reduce Inflammation
November 11, 2009 | Leave a Comment
Dr. Arculeo is an upcoming guest on the show. I thought this article on reducing inflammation with foods was excellent. Anything we can do to avoid medicine and make ourselves feel better with food is a win in my book!
Decrease Pain and Inflammation Safely, with Ingredients Found In Your Own Kitchen Cabinet
By ChicagoHealers.com Practitioner, Dr. Steven Arculeo, DC
“Each year, use of NSAIDs (Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs), account for an estimated 7,600 deaths and 76,000 hospitalizations in the United States.”
(NSAIDs include aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, diclofenac, ketoprofen, and tiaprofenic acid.)
(1) Although promoted as safe, when taken for long term basis, they been show to cause damage to the digestive track, kidneys, liver and other vital organs(2) (Robyn Tamblyn, PhD).
Many individuals are looking for natural alternatives to reduce pain and inflammation without the damaging effects of these drugs. These drugs just treat symptoms and ignore the causes of pain and inflammation. To truly improve ones health above ones symptoms, you must first find the cause and build your treatment from there.
Inflammation is a natural response of the body but if you are in a chronic state of inflammation it can cause pain in your joints and tissues. Inflammation can also cause many physical and neurological diseases, including heart disease. One of the biggest factors that causes inflammation is diet. Depending on what you eat you may be contributing to increased inflammation in your body.
Most everyone utilizes a kitchen whether they cook elaborate meals, grab something to go or heat something up in the Microwave. But could your kitchen be setting you up for pain and sickness?
Foods that cause inflammation in the body are
1. Hydrogenated or Trans Fats
2. Processed foods
3. Caffeine
4. Red Meat
5. Sugar
6. Soda
7. Alcohol
Instead, fill your kitchen with fruits, vegetables, lean meats and cooking ingredients which can decrease inflammation and rid yourself of sickness and pain:
* Apples & Blueberries: these fruits are packed full of nutrients and are natural anti-inflammatories 
* Kale: contains over 80 nutrients per serving
* Fish: one of the most powerful anti-inflammatory foods, fish contains heart healthy and anti-inflammatory Omega-3 fatty acids. Choose cod, salmon or tilapia instead of the fatty deep water bottom dweller fish such as shrimp or catfish
* Ginger: aids in digestion
* Garlic: lowers hypertension and cholesterol
* Basil, Parsley, Rosemary, Turmeric, Thyme, Chili Peppers & Cinnamon: all are proven to have anti-inflammatory properties
* Oil: use cold pressed extra virgin olive oil to aid in decreasing inflammation
By eliminating the inflammatory foods and adding these anti-inflammatory foods to your diet you will be on your way to decreasing the inflammation of your body and riding yourself of sickness and pain.
ChicagoHealers.com Practitioner Dr. Steve Arculeo, DC
References:
1. Robyn Tamblyn, PhD; Laeora Berkson, MD, MHPE, FRCPC; W. Dale Jauphinee, MD, FRCPC; David Gayton, MD, PhD, FRCPC; Roland Grad, MD, MSc; Allen Huang, MD, FRCPC; Lisa Isaac, PhD; Peter McLeod, MD, FRCPC; and Linda Snell, MD, MHPE, FRCPC, “Unnecessary Prescribing of NSAIDs and the Management of NSAID-Related Gastropathy in Medical Practice,” Annals of Internal Medicine (Washington, DC: American College of Physicians, 1997), September 15, 1997, 127:429-438, from the web at , last accessed Feb. 14, 2001, citing Fries, JF, “Assessing and understanding patient risk,” Scandinavian Journal of Rheumatology Supplement, 1992;92:21-4.
2. Renal Effects of nonselective NSAIDs and Coxibs, Mathew R. Weir, MD, Cleveland Clinic Journal Of Medicine.
3. http://eating.health.com/2008/02/21/anti-inflammatories-the-new-superfoods/2/
4. http://nutrition.about.com/od/dietsformedicaldisorders/a/antiinflamfood.htm
photo credit: Shootingsnow
What’s Living Inside Your Vacuum Cleaner?
October 30, 2009 | 3 Comments
Most of us are set on auto-pilot when we’re vacuuming our home. We run through the motions without thinking about what we’re cleaning up or where its going.
Plug in, switch on, use. Simple right? But what about after we’ve used our vacuums? What happens to all the stuff we just picked up off the floor – or better yet, what did we pick up off the floor?
Many of us go further still with this bad habit – not only are we unaware of what we’re cleaning, we’re unaware that we’ve left a pile of dirt sitting and festering in our vacuum, and in our home. If we consider the fact that vacuums don’t have an air tight seal preventing picked up particles from floating back out, we begin to start seeing the importance of realizing what’s living inside our vacuums.
To find out what’s living inside your vacuums, you have to start by looking at what’s on the surface. And if you start thinking back to people and pet traffic, food spills, and odors – we start seeing what a scary picture this really is.
What’s Living in Your Carpet?
Your carpet is not as clean as you’d like to think. Even on an otherwise clean and healthy looking carpet, a close up microscopic view of the surface would show legions of bacteria and micro-organisms scouring your carpet. If you start thinking about all the ways you use your carpet, you start seeing how troubling this can be.
We enjoy our carpets by lying on it, our children play on it, your belongings fall or rest on it. Nearly everything in your home touches (or will touch) the carpet at some point. Now we begin to see the importance of a clean carpet.
Scientists observe that even in carpets without any reported damage, there is the very real possibility of indoor fungal growth. They determine this by the amount of carbon dioxide released into the air by micro-organisms living in your furnishings. Simply, they breathe, they release carbon dioxide, and high amounts of repeated releases can result in indoor fungus.
So how can scientists figure out the respiration rate of tiny microscopic beings? Quite simply actually. Scientists can extract dust from the carpet surface and test it to arrive at a pretty accurate estimate of the number of micro-organisms based on the respiration rate evident in the dust.
In one study, scientists analyzed these organisms by sprinkling dust samples on a special filter. The result of this test “revealed 18 species were living in the carpets.” Their findings also showed a frightening similarity between what’s crawling around in your carpet and what’s crawling around in soil samples.
Additionally, “the rate of respiration showed that the fungal species detected were living in the furnishings, and were highly metabolically active.”
What does this mean? This means that fungal micro-organisms can grow in your home even if your home has no moisture damage, has average indoor air moisture, and has no other traditional problem-causing situations.
So now you know – bacteria, fleas, mold, and other microscopic organisms can all thrive in your carpet. But the number one thing that every home has is dust…and with dust come the notorious dust mites.
What is Dust?
Even the cleanest home has dust. The National Institute of Standards and Technology has even come up with a very scientific term for this: “standard house dust”. And yet, even with this basic element in every home, scientists stress the importance of home dwellers to realize that even this ’standard house dust’ can be host to harmful chemicals.
In collaboration with the E.P.A, scientists collected dust from vacuum cleaner bags in home, hotels/motels and at cleaning services. With a sample of collection from several states, scientists then filtered and analyzed the samples with test results confirming a minimum of 33 harmful toxins. Another test into this matter revealed over 80 harmful chemicals.
Clearly, tests are showing that there are harmful contaminants living in your carpets and then transferred to your vacuum cleaner – where many of us leave them to thrive multiply and escape back into the air. So what exactly is in dust that is a living breathing invader? Dust mites.
What are dust mites?
The dust mites are microorganisms living on the dust particles. They eat mainly dead human skin cells. And considering that dead human skin cells comprises about 70% of all household dust, we quickly begin to see how we’re creating an environment in which dust mites can thrive freely.
If we take in the respiratory rate, and the fact that in our vacuum we’ve clumped both mites and food supply in lock stock barrel, we begin to realize the hazards of not cleaning out our vacuums.
How dust mites make you sick
Many people believe they have an allergic reaction to dust. However, the truth of the matter is that it isn’t so much the dust or dust mites you’re allergic to. The thing your sinuses are rattling in response to are dust mite excrements. Dust mites produce ridiculous amount of droppings. Considering they live up to 15 weeks, dust mites can produce up to 300 their weight in bodily waste.
Their by products are so small, that these excrements end up being part of the in-house air. It is this dust-mite excrement air that you’re then breathing into your lungs and having strong allergic reactions to.
Uses for Used Tea Bags
October 19, 2009 | Leave a Comment
If you’re a big tea drinker, you may go through several bags of tea each day. While some prefer loose leaf tea (tea purists do, typically bagged tea is inferior quality), nothing beats the convenience of tea bags, and most of us use them for drinking or medicinal purposes (be sure to use tea packed in unbleached tea bags!).
photo credit: diongillard
And those used tea bags can be used for several good purposes.
Here are some ideas on what to do with all those leftover tea bags.
(This post makes me feel very Tightwad Gazette-ish! If you’ve never read the books, I highly recommend them for ideas and inspiration on how to re-use things that would otherwise be discarded.)
Uses For Used Tea Bags
Compost.
This one’s fairly obvious, but used tea bags make wonderful compost for your garden. Simply add them to your compost heap and let nature takes its course.
Under eye cosmetic.
Used tea bags can be cooled and placed on the eyes for a wonderful soothing relaxant. If your skin is irritated, try chamomile. If you have bags and puffiness, try something with caffeine (like black tea), as the caffeine will help shrink the tissues (many of the over the counter depuffer products for eyes contain caffeine). I throw my used tea bags in the fridge in a bowl and keep them just for this purpose.
Cool sun burns.
Peppermint tea bags are great for sunburns because the menthol has a cooling effect on the skin. (Ever noticed how it hurts to drink water after eating an Altoid? Yeah.) Leave tea bags to cool then place the bags on the burnt areas.
Use on cuts.
Used tea bags are also great on cuts and bruises. You can use any variety but green tea, peppermint and chamomile have good soothing qualities. Some claim that used tea bags are also good for bee stings and other insect bites.
Decaf. 
photo credit: House Of Sims
Did you know that if you reuse a tea bag, the second cup is decaf?
Now you do.
Many times you will hardly notice any change in flavor when you put fresh hot water on a used tea bag.
Got any other uses for used tea bags? Leave them in the comments below!
p.s. You can shop online for tea here.
Flavor Your Coffee Naturally
October 18, 2009 | Leave a Comment
I tend to be a coffee “purist”, and have a strong dislike for flavored coffees. However, I know a lot of the coffee drinkers who read this blog may love the taste of flavored coffees but want to avoid the questionable ingredients in many flavored coffee creamers.
Egads. 
photo credit: feverblue
Just reading the labels on those things makes me sick!
Partially hydrogenated oils (loaded with trans fats) almost always top the list.
Besides, it’s easy and cheaper to flavor your own coffee using healthier, natural ingredients. Here are a few ideas.
Flavor Your Coffee Naturally
Vanilla
Vanilla beans will add a lovely aroma to your coffee. Try adding a small drop of pure organic vanilla extract to your cup of coffee. And using cream mixed infused with a natural vanilla pod is also nice. Buy whole vanilla pods at the health food store where you get bulk herbs, and steep them in cream overnight.
Cinnamon
A simple way to do this is to dip a few whole cinnamon sticks into a large pot of coffee and leave to infuse for 5 minutes. Or, grind a cinnamon stick into your whole beans. The downside to this method is that your coffee grinder will have the flavor of cinnamon until you clean it well, maybe even after. And of course, it’s easy enough to simply shake ground cinnamon into your own cup.
Nutmeg
A friend of mine from the Dominican Republic likes freshly ground nutmeg in her coffee. It imparts a lovely flavor. Use one of those tiny nutmeg graters, and just grind a little into your cup.
Ever notice those little shaker bottles at Starbucks? They have vanilla powder, ground cinnamon, chocolate powder and ground nutmeg in them. Especially nice on top of freshly steamed/frothy milk.
Dried orange peel
Place the dried orange peel in a pot of water and boil for a few minutes. Then sieve the water into your coffee pot and use this orange water to make the coffee. Also nice in hot tea.
Chocolate
Making your own cafe mocha is easy enough. Simply make a simple chocolate syrup by mixing cocoa powder, a little water, and a little sweetener of choice. Cook this on the stove for a bit, then use to taste in strongly brewed coffee. Top with hot milk and you have a mocha without the hefty price tag.
Win $100 from Whole Foods
October 14, 2009 | 1 Comment
Thought I would pass along this sweet giveaway from Whole Foods. Personally, I find that I have to work at maintaining a positive outlook in the darker days of winter. Taking a high quality cod liver oil supplement and exercising help a lot to beat the winter blues. These podcasts have more tips.
——-> Win a $100 Whole Foods Market Gift Card!
As part of its “Be Good to Your Whole Body” campaign, for the month of October, Whole Foods Market has created podcasts focusing on maintaining a healthy mood.
As the seasons change, these simple, free tips, consider how conscious breathing, herbs, and eating well, can help maintain a healthy mood.
Just listen to one or all of our podcasts and leave a comment telling us what you think of our work.
On October 30th one of you will be randomly chosen to receive the gift card!
To listen to the podcasts please visit: Whole Body Podcast
Please comment on the following podcast fields: Breathe and Meditation for Stress Relief, Herbal Approaches for Healthy Mood, Boost your Back to School Brain Power.
Sleep Apnea In Kids?
July 9, 2009 | Leave a Comment
I got an email a few minutes ago from a sleep specialist. I usually don’t delve into topics like this on the show or the blog, but recently a friend mentioned on a message forum that her son suffers from sleep apnea. I had no idea that kids could have this issue, but apparently it can cause all sorts of symptoms in a child that can mimic other problems.
Evidently some children who “snore” actually have sleep apnea. During the day these kids may be tired, have dark circles under their eyes and have problems in school that look like learning disorders.
Here’s the article:
In today’s stressful times, a good night’s sleep is hard to come by. Issues that arise in your everyday life can take a toll on your ability to relax your mind and rest soundly. If able to get some shut-eye, problems such as snoring may wake you and have a detrimental effect on your everyday life. The issue of snoring does not only affect adults, however. More than 10% of children suffer from snoring part or most of the night while sleeping. What most people do not know is that your child’s loud snoring can be an indicator of a far more serious problem- Sleep Apnea.
photo credit: lepiaf.geo
According to Dr. Dan Smith, “approximately 100 to 200 million Americans suffer from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Sleep Apnea can cause long-term health risks such as heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, diabetes, and impotency.” Below is Dr. Smith’s list of the 4 symptoms of Sleep Apnea that should not be ignored:
1. “Snoring that is loud enough to wake your child up” is the first indicator of OSA, according to Dr. Smith. This is not the occasional snort or two but that incessant, honking-level snoring
2. “If your child ceases breathing intermittently while sleeping.” When OSA occurs, the tongue can be sucked against the back of the throat. This blocks the upper airway and airflow stops or is greatly diminished
3. “Suddenly waking up because he or she can not breathe and has shortness of breath or gasping.” This is directly linked to symptom #2, says Dr. Smith. When the oxygen level in the brain becomes low enough due to the blockage, the sleeper partially awakens, the obstruction in the throat clears, and the flow of air starts again, usually with a loud gasp
4. “If your child is excessively drowsy during the day.” This does not mean hitting the proverbial wall at 3 pm that a quick snack can fix or throwing a temper tantrum due to exhaustion. This means actually accidentally falling asleep during the day (not during nap time)
Dr. Smith states that “while snoring is typically a problem that is associated with men, it is a condition that does not discriminate.” Dr. Smith says men, women and children can suffer from OSA. It is one of the most misdiagnosed medical problems – especially in children. Loud and regular nightly snoring is often abnormal in otherwise healthy children. If a child suffers from OSA, he or she may be getting too little oxygen and too much carbon dioxide. This condition can lead to poor heart and lung development, behavioral problems, and even death if unchecked.
Thankfully, health centers have opened to help diagnose and treat sleep apnea. Dr. Dan Smith recently opened the Focus Center for Sleep Apnea and Snoring. This Center provides care from a team of Medical and Dental Specialists, to create a more complete solution to OSA by combing the highest technology available in the field as well as continued advanced education.
If your child suffers from the above 4 symptoms, it is in his or her best interest to be given medical attention. At the Focus Center for Sleep Apnea and Snoring, the diagnosis process is easy and follows these steps:
1. Patients (or the parents of the patient) are given a questionnaire that will indicate if they are suffering from “daytime sleepiness” and gauges the amount of noise they make while sleeping (snoring)
2. After the questionnaire is returned, they are evaluated and it is decided if the child needs further testing
3. A thorough exam by a sleep physician is done utilizing technology that allows doctors to “see” the airway without utilizing x-rays
4. Further testing can include the use of an ambulatory sleep computer (sleep study for the home) that will tell doctors the extent of OSA your child has. The Watch Pat is an electronic computer that is taken home for your child wear overnight in his or her usual sleep environment. It is extremely comfortable to wear and does not affect their usual pattern of sleep. It tells the doctors how much true sleep your child get, how much and how loud he or she snores, and what position he or she snores the most in. It evaluates your child’s sleep stages (including REM sleep) and the oxygen content of his or her blood at different times of their sleep. Finally, it analyzes their personal data and generates a report
5. Further studies might indicate the need for an overnight sleep study (PSG). Treatment will consist of the best methods that can include a dental device, CPAP, or surgical procedure
No Benefit to Filling Kid’s Cavities?
June 23, 2009 | 2 Comments
A couple of months ago I shared that one of my biggest regrets as a mom was allowing my son Julien to undergo oral surgery as a toddler.
I have found in this whole mothering gig that every time I ignore my strong instinct, I regret it.
This is just another example.
Today I came across this link from BBC News that points to the possibility that there is “No proof” that filling kid’s cavities does any good. According to the article:
“…anecdotal evidence gathered from the case notes of 50 dentists suggests filling baby teeth may achieve nothing but expose children to the discomfort of an injection and the sound of the drill.”
Obviously more research needs to be done. The article also mentioned:
“Professor Martin Tickle, of the University of Manchester, found no difference in the numbers of extractions for pain or infection whether baby teeth had been filled or not.”
Like Doctors, Dentists love to use scare tactics to frighten parents into doing unnatural, painful things with to their precious children. Things that go against every fibre of their moral sense.
Things like:
- You have to jab that child with a needle every couple of months starting from the time they’re 5 minutes old with a concoction of poisons so they won’t die of a loathsome disease.
- You have to tear that child away from your bosom before he or you are ready, so they will become “independent”.
- You must not let that child sleep in your bed or (gasp!) “use you as a pacifier” because you’ll make them needy.
- You have to send that child away to school so they can get a “proper” (who the hell gets to decide what *that* is?) education.
- Oh and last but not least, you have to cut off nearly 80% of your son’s genitalia and reduce his sensitivity by 75% so he will be “clean”.
Then we find out from those very experts that this stuff is, well…
photo credit: holisticmonkey
No Cook Summer Recipes
June 17, 2009 | Leave a Comment
Did you see my recent post on cool food for hot times?
Here are 3 more recipes for your dining pleasure. Enjoy!
3 No Cook Summer Recipes
Tuna Salad
(Tuna is full of essential fatty acids (Omega 3’s) which are good for your brain and heart, among other things.)
Ingredients:
- 2 cans of tuna
- Juice of ½ lemon
- 1 carrot
- 2 tomatoes
- 1 stalk of celery
- 1 cucumber
- 1-2 pickles (such as Bubbies, which are naturally fermented)
- 2/3 cup mayonnaise
- Cheddar cheese
- Whole wheat pita pocket, bread or crackers
Start by draining a couple of cans of albacore tuna packaged in water. Pour fresh lemon juice over it while you cut up the veggies.
You can get creative with the veggies of your choice or follow these recommendations: shredded carrot, chopped tomato, chopped pickles, and chopped celery for crunch.
Toss the tuna and veggies together in a bowl with mayo. Sprinkle with shredded cheddar cheese. Serve inside whole wheat pita pockets.
photo credit: mynameisharsha
Red Grape Chicken Salad
(You can still prepare a chicken salad without having to cook the chicken itself on the stove. You can either cook the chicken in a crock-pot overnight on low, then refrigerate in the morning until you’re ready to use, or you can buy a pre-cooked, rotisserie chicken.)
Ingredients:
- Leftover chicken or chicken breast
- 1 cup of red grapes
- 1 cup chopped apples
- ½ cup raw sliced almonds
- ½ cup mayo
- Swiss cheese slices
- Croissant, whole grain bread or crackers
The first step in creating a chicken salad is to chop the chicken into small pieces. You’ll also want to chop your apples into small pieces. Any kind of apples will do, but red delicious or granny smith can make a good addition, or a combination of the two. Grapes can be left whole.
Toss the chicken, apples and grapes into a bowl with mayonnaise. Fold in your raw, sliced almonds and your chicken salad is done.
Slice open croissants, add a slice of Swiss cheese, then scoop in your chicken salad.
You can use crushed walnuts instead of sliced almonds, or a fancier cheese, such as brie, instead of Swiss.
Now how about a beverage? No hot stove required! Take advantage of theheat by using it to do the cooking for you.
Raspberry Sun Tea
Ingredients:
- 4 bags of organic black tea
- ½ bag of frozen raspberries
- Sweetener of your choice (Sucanat, honey, or stevia is best)
In a large mason jar, add several tea bags and water. Place the jar in the sun for a day.
When 3 hours have passed (this timing may vary), bring the jar inside.
Remove the tea bags and pour the tea in a pitcher. Be sure to add ice and sweetener as you desire.
What makes this recipe extra special is the frozen raspberries you’ll add to the pitcher.
Pour into glasses and serve with your tuna or chicken salad for dinner.
