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Will these tight economic times make people’s waistlines bigger? Is there a correlation between the two?

People on tight budgets sometimes choose take- out or quick-order meals rather than preparing food at home. This may mean they are eating higher calorie foods and even quite possibly eating more food than is necessary since many servings are super-sized.

Some think it is much cheaper and quicker to go out to catch a bite to eat. Then when they do, it is only a matter of “filling up” or eating to be satisfied rather than savoring the food. Eating out may, or may not be cheaper and quicker. It may, however, impact health, and waistlines.

Many families just haven’t learned how to cook a basic meal. if you grew up making food or helping prepare food for the family, this may sound unbelievable, but it is true. That is why I started this blog. I knew that in order to stay healthy, people need to know how to prepare nutritious meals. I was a family and consumer sciences teacher and realized first hand the need for young people to know simple basic skills in the kitchen, such as:

• How to prepare fruits and vegetables, eggs, and meats.

• How to boil, bake, roast, fry, broil, saute,  etc.

• How to plan meals for the whole day.

• How to shop for food.

• How to store food properly.

• How to keep the food preparation area clean.

• How to organize work and use time management .

Young people really want to know how to do this. Lots of young kids watch the TV cooking shows.

If a family wants to eat healthy, someone is going to have to spend some serious time in the kitchen. Eating fast-food or pre-packaged foods may be contributing to not only an expanded waistline but other health complications as well.

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I want to share with you my absolute favorite strawberry shortcake recipe. This is not one of those individually wrapped bland cakes always found in the strawberry aisle of your grocery store. No, yours will be a piping hot, melt in your mouth treat, heaped with juicy, luscious strawberries.

Your Dad will want you to make this dessert again and again – until the strawberries run out…

Strawberry Shortcake

2 pints fresh strawberries

2 cups flour
2 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup shortening
1 cup milk

Wash strawberries in cold water with a dash of vinegar. Swish and drain. Children can help remove stems by using a plastic knife and cutting each in half. Add about 1/2 cup sugar over berries and let stand at room temperature about an hour.

Grease 1 – 8 x 1 1/2 inch cake pan. Preheat oven to 450 degrees.

In a large bowl, measure flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Cut in shortening using two knives or a pastry blender until shortening pieces are the size of peas. Stir in milk and stir with fork until just blended. Spread batter into prepared cake pans. Dot with butter.

Bake 15 to 20 minutes, until lightly brown and crusty.

Cut into 6 or 8 pieces. Split each piece in half on serving plate. Have butter available at table so each can spread butter on hot shortcake according to individual wishes. Then pass the strawberries that have oozed some of their juice upon standing.

Enjoy, and wish your Father a Happy Day!

Lee Jackson
Books for children, families, and parenting professionals
http://www.SnaptailPress.com
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• Recipe: Strawberry-Sour Cream Scones with Brown Sugar Crumble (thekitchn.com)

Helping children cut down or eliminate sugar from their life seems to be a never-ending task. I admit that sugar has been very hard for me to cut down, too. I believe the culture of life is different now than when I was growing up, though. Then the long-term effects of what we eat were not as well publicized. Now, most persons are aware of the excesses of sugar and the problems it can cause.

But, do we do anything about it?

I just read a blog with great information about a method worth trying to help get over the sugar craving. This blog by Connie Bennett is at http://www.sugarshockblog.com/2009/06/delay-to-conquer-sugar-cravings-kicking-sweets-culprit-carbs-can-be-easy.html.

Connie has lots of other good ideas on her blog and in her book, Sugar Shock!

I must try her method, and it sounds like a good method of helping children and others cut down, too.

Here’s to better health,

Lee Jackson

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• Watch What You Eat: The Sugar Content is Deceptive (treehugger.com)

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Before you go grocery shopping, think of foods your family would like for quick “pick-me-up” snacks. This could be your family’s “fast food”.

Raw fruits and vegetables are great to include. You might consider fruit such as grapes, apples, oranges, bananas, strawberries or other berries. Add some veggies like carrots, cut up cauliflower, celery stick and others. And you might want to have on hand non-sweetened cereals, granola bars, yogurt, dried fruits, cheese, whole grain crackers, and nuts.

Especially now when children are home from school for the summer, it’s good to have nutritious grab-and-go foods available.

Here’s to happy and healthy snacking.

Lee Jackson

Children are influenced in their food choices by their friends, family, the media, and other outside factors. The commercials on TV make a huge impact on what children want to eat. This often influences what they want their parents to buy.

What is a parent to do?

• You can explain to the child that the commercials on TV are one way companies use to let the public know about their product. They make products look very special because they want you to buy their product. Sometimes they may not tell you the whole story about whatever they are trying to sell. It may not always be a wise buying choice if it is not nutritious, costs more than its worth, or other reasons.

• Perhaps it is time to limit the child’s TV viewing, or, to be more selective in the types of programs that the child watches. There are many educational programs on TV that can present learning experiences.

• Yes, sometimes you have to give in. It’s times like these that you need to let the child know why you think the food is not what you want your family eating.

To help satisfy your child’s craving for junk food, have some ideas on how you can help them make some special foods at home. The following is one suggestion, which incorporates fresh fruits and is fun and easy to make:

Fruity Freeze

1 large ripe banana
1 teaspoon lemon juice
6 medium strawberries
1/4 cup frozen unsweetened apple juice concentrate

Child can peel the banana and slice into a small bowl. Drizzle lemon juice over banana and toss lightly so all banana pieces are covered. This will help prevent them from turning brown. Cover with plastic wrap and freeze.

Wash strawberries thoroughly in cold water that has a drop or two of vinegar. Using a plastic knife, children can help hull strawberries by cutting off the bloom end, and cutting each berry in half.

In a blender, add strawberries and banana slices. Turn blender on and off briefly to chop up the fruit. Add apple juice and process until smooth. Pour into small sauce or dessert dishes and serve immediately. Makes 4 servings.

Here’s to you and your family’s good health,

Lee Jackson

Most parents will tell you they know when their child overdoses on candies, cookies, and sweetened sodas. Their once-lovable, mild-mannered child becomes that exasperating, rawdy, hyperactive brat.

Does sugar cause hyperactivity? There is still much debate over this, but those who live with, or work with children, will tell you that sugar has been the culprit.

Helping your child cut back, or eliminate, sugar can be one of the best things you can do for your child. This can help him or her do better in school, have more friends, possibly sleep better, and certainly be much more pleasant to be around.

But what is a parent to do?

• Get rid of the sodas! If it’s not around, it will not be a temptation.

• Get rid of the cookies, candies, and ice creams. Some people can cut down gradually. For others it needs to be “cold turkey”.

• Set a good example. Cut back or eliminate your own consumption of sugar.

• Reinforce good behavior. Remember to praise and reinforce your children for choosing wholesome, healthy foods over others.

But what will take its place, you ask?

Keep lots of fresh fruits and vegetables ready to eat.

Have water in pitchers handy. Tell them they need to stay “hydrated”. That sounds like what an athlete might say – it sounds better than saying, “drink lots of water”.

Encourage your children to get outside and exercise. Playing video games or watching TV doesn’t require much action. Help them create healthy habits from a young age.

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I have just come back from Kansas City where I attended my grandson’s confirmation at Our Lady of Presentation Church. It was a very beautiful and inspiring ceremony with Bishop Finn presiding. Over 80 young people were confirmed in the Catholic faith.

Alongwith ceremonies, there are usually guests. And the guests came bearing food on Sunday. You may know that Kansas City is known for its barbeque beef. We did not have barbeque beef from a restaurant, though. A relative brought his own secret recipe barbeque with its special sauce and it was wonderful. This was probably the most flavorful, mouth-watering barbeque I had ever tasted. It was the epic barbeque experience.

I am trying to cut down or eliminate meat from my diet, but this was food to break rules over. Along with the barbeque we had baked beans, cole slaw, potato chips, assorted relishes, and mixed fruit in season. How much more mid-west summer can a family get-together be? Oh yes, there was key-lime pie for dessert later. It was a memorable day.

My only contribution food-wise, was to bring two loaves of poppyseed bread, which were served for breakfast. This is the recipe I would like to share with you.

Poppyseed Bread

3 cups flour
2 cups sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder (make sure it is no older than 6 months as it may not work if older)
1 1/2 teaspoon salt
3 eggs
1 1/2 cups milk
1 1/2 cups oil
1 1/2 teaspoon almond flavoring
1 1/2 teaspoon butter flavoring
3/4 cup poppyseed

Glaze:
Juice from 1 lemon
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 teaspoon almond flavoring
3/4 teaspoon butter flavoring

In large bowl, mix together dry ingredients except poppyseed. Beat eggs with hand mixer in separate bowl. Stir in milk, oil, and flavorings.

Make a well in dry ingredients and pour in the liguid. Beat until well blended and free from lumps. Stir in poppyseed.

Pour into 3 medium pans, 7 1/2 x 3 1/2-inch, or two large, greased and floured loaf pans. Bake in oven for 50-60 minutes, depending on size of pan. Tops will crack.

To make glaze, mix together all ingredients but do not cook. Let baked breads rest about 5 minutes, then poke holes in breads with fork or toothpick and pour glaze over breads in pans. Let cool 15 minutes and remove from pans to cool.

Enjoy!

Lee  Jackson