ChowBaby

It took longer than expected even when we expected it to take longer. But, at last, ChowMama is here! Our Posterous blog started as an experiment where Michelle and I could share tidbits and info we came across while working on our organic baby, toddler and big-kid food business, ChowBaby. We ended up posting much more frequently and much more substantial content than expected. And quickly realized that we should get more serious about this blogging thing.

ChowMama will feature one kid- (and adult!) friendly recipe every day M-F along with an in-depth look at a food topic every Monday, a food-related parenting tip every Wednesday, and a digest every Friday that features products we crave, the week in food news, and other great resources.

Like ChowBaby, ChowMama is all about raising children who love food. Because the foods we feed our children when they're little help share their eating habits for life. So join us in saying no to a steady diet of bland mac-n-cheese and chicken fingers. And say hello to nutritious yumminess that appeals to you and even the youngest eaters in your family.

Can't wait to keep the conversation going at ChowMama.com. See you there!

-S
www.ChowMama.com
www.ChowBabyfoods.com

i know. it's taking a little bit longer than anticipated. but isn't that always the way it goes? that said, we are on schedule for re-launch early next week. i'll post an announcement with our new URL and format next tuesday or wednesday. then we can all get cooking together. can't wait!!

-S

What a week ahead! Michelle and I are especially busy. Not only are we celebrating MLK day (happy happy to all!) and gearing up for tomorrow's inauguration, but also getting ready to implement some big changes to this blog.

We started blogging on Posterous to capture the tips, recipes, and family food related news that we learn about while working on ChowBaby, our frozen organic baby food business. As it turns out, we really enjoy blogging and want to take it more seriously. It's empowered us to connect with other parents about feeding our children in way that gets them excited about real food and lays the foundation for healthy habits. It's been incredibly fulfilling, even just as an experiment.

Among other things, we've been refining our content focus (this has been a bit of a stream of consciousness free-for-all!) and working on making our blog more full-featured. There's a lot to do this week, so we're likely to be pretty quiet. Towards the end of this week or early next we'll officially announce the changes. And we hope you'll be happy with them. We're pretty excited.

Here here to CHANGE!

-S

This isn't about food, but it's hard to come across a story about children's health and safety and not report it back to you all. According to a recently released study, VicksVapo Rub may be hazardous to children under 2-years-old. Pick your news source to read more here.

-S

Whoa! Millions of bass larvae at a fish farm in Australia were growing two heads before dying en masse. Tests excluded a virus or bacteria, and it's thought that the culprit is one of two insecticides being used at a nearby macadamia nut farm. The problem presented when water from the Noosa River was used on site or bass from the Noosa River were introduced to the farm.

I wish it was clear whether this fish farm is raising fish for human consumption (none of the news stories I've found say--are there other reasons to raise fish on a farm?). Even if not, seems pretty clear that the river is contaminated. Not to mention the macadamia nuts being sprayed with the toxic stuff.

The two chemicals in question are an insecticide called Endosulfan and the fungicide Carbendazim. Scientific America gives a quick overview of the legal status of both of these around the world (they are both widely, but not universally, banned due to their high levels of toxicity). But I wanted to know more about the status of these incredibly toxic farming chemicals in the US.

Endosulfan
This chemical is known to be an endocrine interruptor and is banned in over 50 countries. A global ban on the use and manufacture of the chemical is being considered under the Stockholm Convention. (The EU submission to the Stockholm Convention states, among other things, "Endosulfan was found among the most frequently reported intoxication incidents, adding unintentionally further evidence to its high toxicity for humans.") In the U.S., the EPA recently closed comments on a petition to ban the chemical here. But it appears that, for now, it is legal and used on cotton, tomatoes, potatoes, and apples. I've called (703-308-0128) and emailed Tracy Perry, the EPA's chemical review manager for Endosulfan, to confirm this. Will keep you posted if I hear back!

Carbendazim
It's much harder to find info about Carbendazim. The EPA's page on the chemical doesn't give much info, but links to this scorecard which lists 4 suspected human health hazards, among other disturbing details. The European scorecard for Carbendazim says:

PREVENT DISPERSION OF DUST! AVOID EXPOSURE OF (PREGNANT) WOMEN! AVOID EXPOSURE OF ADOLESCENTS AND CHILDREN!

It's the only thing on the page in ALL CAPS. The good news is that the chemical was withdrawn from the U.S. market in 2001. Phew... well, at least for us here in the U.S.

-S

[via Yahoo]

related resources:
the Pesticide Action Network
Pesticide Watch
Pesticide Action Network's overview and updates on Endosulfan

I should start by telling you that I woke up feeling annoyed this morning. And, no, it has nothing to do with the time of the month. Ah, shit! Saying that makes it seem like it must have something to do with that time of the month, but I promise it doesn't.

See, last night I read about a new book written by a pediatrician and the chief of infectious diseases at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia that presents a case against the link between vaccines and autism. Notice I'm not linking. I don't want to step into that fray today. Especially since it wasn't anything about either side of the vaccine debate that got me worked up. Instead, it was a (probably throwaway) quote by actress Amanda Peet who has become a spokeswomen for a vaccine advocacy group. Here's what she said:

“Where I live in L.A., there’s this child-rearing trend—only feed your kids organic food, detoxify your house. And there’s a lot of anticorporate fervor, anti-pharmaceutical company fervor.” She went on, "I'd have lunch with my friends who were moms, and they'd say they wouldn't vaccinate, or would space out their vaccinations and hadn't I heard?" 

Wait! How did organic food come into this? (And, side question: is detoxifying your house a bad thing?)

I think I know the answer to my own question. Organic has become trendy. Something no longer associated with an authentic movement, but with mega corporations that market over processed foods and questionable nutritional claims trying to get in on a new consumer interest. Organic products are often exorbitantly expensive (and, ironically, bringing the price down often means hoping that the big, bad companies who can produce and distribute on a scale that makes the whole enterprise more affordable get in the game). There is uncertainty over what organic even means and if the label can be trusted. This is related, at least in part, to the issue of industrial organic (which is also related to the fact that over sweet, over processed foods can be made with organic ingredients--i.e., organic doesn't necessarily mean healthy), and the fact that organic products can only be truly organic under particular conditions that are supposedly overseen by the USDA. You know, the same agency that also oversees industrialized meat production and processing. And that's worked so out well, right? And all this isn't just news of the past. Our soon-to-be secretary of agriculture, Tom Vilsack, who will oversee the USDA, has a history of supporting biotechnology and genetically modified foods. What are we to make of all this? Especially in a time when related government agencies have failed parents with their positions on bisphenol-A and melamine in our baby formula? Oh, there's more, but I'll spare you. Needless to say, I get it. I understand why you're skeptical. I am, too.

That's why, along with my wicked sense of humor (oh yea), I'm the first one to make fun of the whole obsessive mommy questioning, "Is it organic?" about every "O" shaped cereal and puffed fruit snack you try to hand a kid these days. Even though I'm one of those moms. And why, depending on my mood, I laugh or cringe every time I write a recipe for this blog and specify "organic" next to every single item in the ingredient list. But, let's take a moment and breathe. Or at least give me a moment to catch my breath. 

Organic means grown without the chemical pesticides, chemical fertilizers, sludge sewage, bioengineering, antibiotics, or ionizing radiation. I know that this requires diligent oversight that has been brought into question, but go with me for a minute. Seems pretty straight forward that we would want our government to ensure that our food is grown in as natural a ways as possible. If we can support natural growing techniques without jeopardizing health or food supply, we'd want to. Right? It would not only result in less toxic food, but also cleaner soil and water supplies. I'm guessing we're all, more or less, on the same page here.

Now, are organic products in the US actually less toxic and reliably grown on farms that have cleaner soil and help keep water supplies clean? Not an easy question to answer. I'd guess that, realistically, we can say "some". But some is better than none. And some can lead to many. Many leads to most. Support for organic farming and products both in the form of consumer purchase and activism can help push us towards stricter policy and oversight and greater organic supply. In the meantime, I get that most of us can't be cavalier about spending extra money on organic just to help push us towards a tipping point. (Though, for the record, I don't believe that's all your doing when you buy organic. I believe there is compelling evidence that an organic diet reduces the amount of toxins that you and your children take in.) If that's the case, you might want to consider buying organic just for your little ones (since they eat more fruits and veggies relative to their body weight and developing bodies cannot break toxins down as effectively as ours) or focusing on the dirty dozen (also listed here along with the 12 least contaminated foods, and on Greenopolis with some useful notes on why certain produce is safe to buy non-organic). If you can afford organic and are interested in considering pro-organic research data, here are some points that I find compelling:

• The Environmental Protection Agency reports that children receive 50% of their lifetime cancer risks in the first two years of life.
• According to the Environmental Protection Agency and the National Academy of Sciences, standard chemicals are up to 10 times more toxic for children than for adults. The fact is that children take in more toxic chemicals relative to their body weight than adults and their developing organ systems are less capable of detoxifying chemicals.
• According to the Food and Drug Administration, half of the produce currently tested in grocery stores contains measurable residues of pesticides.
• According to the Department of Health and Human Services, organophosphate pesticides (OPs) are now found in the blood of 95% of people tested. OP levels are twice as high in blood samples taken from children than in adults. Exposure to OPs has been linked to hyperactivity, behavior disorders, learning disabilities, developmental delays, and motor dysfunction.
• The Food and Drug Administration conducted laboratory tests of eight top-selling baby foods which revealed the presence of 16 pesticides, including three carcinogens.
• In blood samples of children aged 2 to 4 years, concentrations of pesticide residues are 6 times higher for those eating conventionally farmed fruits and vegetables when compared with those eating organic food.
• The Centers for Disease Control reports that one of the main sources of pesticide exposure for children comes from the food they eat.

(Source: Organic Consumers Association, US Government Fact Sheet)

Dr. Green, renowned "green" pediatrician, adds, "In 1993, a congressionally mandated study by the National Academy of Sciences expressed concern that existing methods of risk evaluation for pesticide exposure were failing children. More recently, the Consumers Union and Environmental Working Group have released studies confirming that children are overexposed even if their exposure is within legal limits. The Food Quality Protection Act of 1996 mandated a review of agricultural chemicals in light of this new information about risk assessment. Included in this act is a requirement to impose a 10-fold margin of safety to protect children when setting standards for the use of pesticides on food. While safety standards have become more strict, buying organic products, if they are available and you can afford them, and supporting organic agriculture may be your best protection."

Phew. Lots of info. I know. One last thing, though. The American Academy of Pediatrics. Despite what I believe are dubious positions on various child health and safety issues, I feel it would be irresponsible to not report the AAP's position that there is no evidence that "organic, natural, or health foods are any more nutritious or taste better than regular foods." You know, the same way a little bit of melamine in your baby's formula won't kill them. OH snap! (And, as a side note, a prerequisite for joining the AAP is dead taste buds.) But, seriously. While I couldn't find the full text of any of their source research without paying (which I didn't do), I've considered their position and thought that you might want to, as well.

There you have it. Why I buy into organic. But convincing you isn't my point. You being indifferent to, pro-, or anti-organic isn't what makes me mad. It's that damn Amanda Peet and her quote, which I feel was irresponsible.

First off, it's judgmental. And, sadly, baby and kids food tends to be a lightning rod for judgement. Breast milk or formula? Organic or not? All natural or processed? Homemade or store bought? And don't get me wrong--I've been a perpetrator as much as (okay, more than) I've been a victim. And I say that even as someone who was emotionally and physically pulverized by breast milk supply issues that forced formula on Isaac starting at 3-months-old. I guess that in a time like ours, when an obsession with self-awareness has intersected with a massive parenting industry that churns out books and products and advice, feeding is one of the last primal ways we have left to nurture our children. But I wish we could find more compassion for each other. And respect for natural food as a fundamental element of our existence and history.

I also find the comment to be dismissive of sound research on both sides of the issue (certainly the pro-organic side, but she also diminishes the anti-organic stance by chalking the whole thing up to some "in-the-know" privileged mommy trend). Lastly, I find it dangerous that she flippantly brings together the organic and vaccine debates. While there is some interaction--some parents promote organic, gluten- and casein-free diets for autistic children--there is no direct relationship between organic and vaccines (i.e., not all parents of autistic children who believe organic matters necessarily believe that vaccines caused their child's autism, and vice versa). These are not just fads that can be clumped together as part of some cockamamie natural movement. They are globally debated health and environmental issues that have sound research--and smart, informed, outspoken parents--on both sides of the debate. And we're all just doing our best to figure it all so we can make the best decisions we know how for our families.

Poor Amanda Peet. She probably doesn't even remember saying the quote. And I can imagine how she meant it differently than I took it. (See? Compassion. And I'm not being sarcastic!) But she is a public person and has chosen to be a spokeswoman. With great power comes great responsibility. I hope she'll be more careful about how she speaks about her issue at hand. And, if she did mean her comment the way I took it, I hope she'll consider (re-consider?) the research on organic as carefully as she did the research on vaccines. If she ends up feeling the same way and wants to talk about it publicly, maybe she'd be willing to speak more specifically so that moms, like me, who are interested in the issue can reflect on a new, educated, parent-centric point-of-view. Because those are always helpful, even when we disagree. 

-S

related posts:
obama's food policy & choice of tom vilsak for agriculture secretary
dr. alan greene goes organic--is all organic really better
US (non) regulation of baby products
top foods to buy organic
Tree Hugger's "Green Basics" overview on organic food (including criticisms of organic)

when i was growing up in rural pennsylvania, people didn't talk about their kids' social skills. but they did talk about manners. like respect your elders. say please pass the scrapple. and always thank mr. smith for giving you a ride home from field hockey practice.
 
as i got older and started thinking about starting my own family, i began noticing how parents did (and didn't!) teach their kids manners. and, like most parents-to-be, i took mental notes. about the things i wanted to do with my own kids. and the things i NEVER wanted to do with my own kids. (of course, i later realized that a lot of my parenting plans have nothing to do with actually being a parent. yes, even MY little pumpkin would one day have a meltdown on a busy sidewalk because he just needed to scream and throw himself on the ground and i would walk ahead of him and say "well, i'm going home and i'd like you to come with me so i'll start walking and you catch up." nope, not how i pictured motherhood at all.)
 
anyway, the manners thing? that's one that i was committed to both before AND after becoming a parent. my husband and i started teaching "please" and "thank you" when atticus was preverbal and using sign language. and we kept at it when he stared speaking. even after the millionth time he said, "i want water" and i followed it up with "i want water pleeeeeease." we've found mealtime to be the perfect opportunity to reinforce good manners. now, atticus orders "sticky rice, please" and "please i want dumplings." he says, "thanks, mama" when i hand him his napkin to put on his lap. he doesn't throw his food on the floor at restaurants because he knows it's "not nice" to the people who work there. and each night at dinner, we practice listening by taking turns telling stories about our day—whoever has the mouth (a picture of a mouth, not a real mouth!) talks while everyone else listens. without interrupting. and when i say, "we practice listening," i don't just mean atticus. because we all need a little refresher in good manners. and by trying to set a good example for our son, my husband and i find ourselves with better manners ourselves. read more about kids and manners in the most emailed article from today's New York Times.

thank you very much.

--m

if they can do it, so can you (and your kids)!

-S

[via: The Kitchen where you can take their chopstick survey]

related posts: how to make your own kid friendly training chopsticks

Since I'm working from home today, I decided to flip on the TV while eating lunch (leftover orzo risotto--yum!). I caught about 15 minutes of a documentary called Le Cirque: A Table in Heaven that's currently airing on HBO and was totally gripped! I set the DVR to record the whole thing. Seemed like pure entertainment for foodie and restaurant junkies, with an added dash of family drama. You'll especially like it if you have a mediterranean restauranteur father like me (Sirio Maccioni reminds me so much of my dad)! Check out the airing schedule so you can watch, too.

Besides on Thanksgiving, we don't eat much turkey. Well, not counting sliced turkey deli meat. The truth is that I don't think of turkey as coming in any way other than the whole bird. And who wants to deal with that more than once a year? But this week, I noticed antibiotic free turkey tenderloins on Fresh Direct. Over the years, I feel like I've repeatedly heard about turkey being better for you than chicken. So, I thought, what the hell. But, in true Stacie fashion, I bought the turkey before checking the validity of the turkey health claim. Oh well. I think I just wanted to try something new that wasn't too high maintenance. And turkey caught my eye.

As it turns out, nutritionally speaking, turkey and chicken are pretty much the same. Turkey is leaner--less fat and fewer calories. So maybe all the chatter about it being better for you is the result of our pathological fat-free, super low calorie mind set. (Even though I just poked fun, mamas trying to lose baby weight might consider turkey over chicken for just this reason.) You can compare the relative health benefits and nutritional profiles of turkey and chicken for yourself. Here, too (beef is included in this comparison). See? Six in one, half dozen in the other. I will say, though, I preferred working with the turkey tenderloins. They were, well, less fatty, and not nearly as slimy (yes, that's the technical cook's term) as chicken.

At $5.99/lb through Fresh Direct, the turkey was still affordable, though not quite as inexpensive as chicken. It was comparably priced to a pound of boneless, skinless chicken breasts, but more expensive than the $3.99/lb price for a family pack of boneless, skinless chicken breasts or the boneless, skinless chicken thighs that I usually buy. As for taste, I found the turkey tenderloin to work a lot like chicken breast. I made Paprikash and the turkey absorbed the flavor of dish's seasonings and sauce. If I wanted the flavor of the meat to take center stage or I wanted juicy meat, like if I were grilling or broiling meat with a simple rub, I'd definitely opt for the more flavorful chicken thighs over either turkey or chicken breast.

So, I'm sold on turkey for saucy dishes like this Paprikash even if just for the fact that turkey was more pleasant to work with. I'm also sold on this Paprikash. It was simple, quick, and tasty for the whole family. (I tried adding peas to Isaac's portion, but he was ADAMANT about them being on the side... I feel a new phase coming on!)

So there you have it, my chickens. Hope I cleared up the turkey talk. Now go make this:

Turkey Paprikash
adapted from Martha Stewart Everyday Food
(for adults and kids 10+ months already eating poultry and sour cream)

salt and pepper
1 lb organic, whole wheat Rotelle pasta (or egg noodles for a more traditional plating)
2 pounds organic turkey tenderloin or breast, cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces
2 tablespoons paprika (I used 1 1/2 tbs sweet and 1/2 tbs smoked paprika; while any paprika will do, the type and quality will definitely make a difference in this dish)
1 tablespoon organic olive oil
1 tablespoon organic butter
1 medium organic onion, chopped
1 can (28 ounces) organic whole peeled tomatoes in juice
3/4 cup organic reduced-fat sour cream (feel free to use the full fat kind, especially if you're feeding a child under 2-years-old)

1. Cook noodles in a large pot of boiling salted water until al dente. Drain and set aside.

2. Meanwhile, toss turkey with 1 tablespoon paprika, salt, and pepper. Heat olive oil over medium heat. Working in batches, brown turkey and set aside.

   

Click here to download:

talking_turkey_with_you_chicke.zip (344 KB)

3. Once all the turkey is cooked, add butter to your pan. When it starts to sizzle, add onion. Saute scraping up any brown bits from the turkey. Cook until tender and all of the onions take on a nice red/brown color.

4. Return turkey to pan, along with any accumulated juices. Add tomatoes one by one, crushing with your hands. Pour in remaining juice and add remaining paprika and 1/2 cup water. Bring to a boil and then reduce to a simmer. Cook until the sauce thickens up a bit, about 20 minutes. (You don't want the sauce to reduce too much or it won't coat the pasta, but you also don't want it to be too thin. The sauce is just right when it takes a moment to pull back together as you run a spatula through it.)

5. Remove from heat and stir in sour cream. Season with salt and pepper. (I added the sour cream immediately upon removing the pan from heat and the sour cream curdled a tiny bit. It wasn't a big deal either for appearance or taste, but I'd wait a tiny bit longer next time.) Serve over noodles.

I just realized that this would also be a great recipe for my shredded chicken, frozen spinach, can of beans experiment. I'd go with chickpeas. Yum.

-S

related posts: 1 rotisserie chicken + 1 box frozen spinach + 1 can of beans = 6 easy dinners