In light of the new "Slurpee Lite" at 7-Eleven aka chemical cocktail - even if it has only 20 calories (please save yourself and avoid this sacrificial artificial load on your body)....I'm coming up with a healthier Slurpee knock-off recipe.
I recently asked my Facebook fans what flavor they wanted for a healthier “Slurpee” copycat recipe – strawberry lime won (fizzy berry came in second), so here they are -  equally as refreshing, delicious and fun, without all the artificial color, sweeteners and chemicals!

Strawberry Lime Slushy
Makes 4 servings –
1/4 cup pomegranate or cranberry juice
juice of two limes (about 1/3 cup fresh lime juice)
2 tablespoons sugar, ideally raw
4 ½ cups ice cubes
5 cups fresh strawberries, washed and caps removed

Fill blender or food processor with pomegranate and lime juices, first, then sugar, ice, and strawberries. Blend or puree until thick and smooth, stopping to mix contents and push ice to bottom, if needed.
Serve in a tall glass with a straw.

Fizzy Berry Slushy
Makes 2 servings – 
2 ½ cups frozen mixed berries
2 tablespoons sugar, ideally raw
1 cup seltzer water or club soda, unsweetened

Fill blender or food processor with frozen berries, sugar and seltzer.
Serve in a tall glass with a straw.
 

Yes, I’m The Sneaky Chef and I’m known for hiding healthy foods in kids’ favorite meals…..however, this post is from my alter ego, The not so Sneaky Chef! There are certain fun, healthy foods that most kids will eat without any arm-twisting. This is probably the least sneaky of all of my tricks because most mothers have figured out which fruits and vegetables their kids will think of as snacks and not resist. More often than not, they are finger foods of some kind. For reasons child psychologists haven’t figured out, children like little foods they can hold in their hand and pop in their mouth. They provide kids with a kind of mini-adventure in the culinary realm. The moment they have to use a knife and fork, it isn’t so fun anymore.

Through experimentation, I have pinpointed the top 10 unusual, surprisingly popular fruits and vegetables that (most) kids will eat without a fight:

1. Artichokes, whole
2. Edamame (soybeans), in pod
3. Strawberries
4. Sweet green peas, in shell
5. Grapes
6. Cherries
7. Pomegranates
8. Popcorn
9. Snap peas, raw
10. Corn on the cob

And just in case your kids aren't willing to try these new foods, here are my top 5 ways to entice kids to eat the above healthy foods in their natural, undisguised state:

1. Offer the new food without competition - don't put out the snap peas you want them to try next to their favorite bowl of chips.
2. Make sure the kids are hungry when you set out a new food.
3. Don't tell them this new food is "healthy" or that they "must" try it.
4. Eat it yourself - let the kids see you enjoying the food you want them to try.
5. Call the new food a "special treat."
   
   What's your child's favorite fruit or vegetable?

Some Healthier Alternatives
Although it may seem a bit out of the ordinary to forgo candy at Easter, there are a number of healthier alternatives – some that aren’t even consumable at all – that should be considered for kids today.
Filling Baskets with Treats You Can’t Eat
In taking the focus completely away from eating, there are a wide variety of items that can be used to overflow the Easter baskets of your little ones. In fact, many of these items may even be much more preferable and longer lasting than candy. Here are some suggestions:

● Small Toys – Depending upon the age of your children, small toys such as super balls, a set of jacks, or even a deck of cards can do the trick. For those with fancier tastes, gifts such as iPods or video games will also suffice.

● Movie Passes – Putting some movie passes or other types of gift certificates in kids’ baskets are another great way to say Happy Easter, without a lot of sugary candies.

● Money – For any age child, you would be hard pressed to find one who would not be happy to find money in their Easter basket. This can be cleverly disguised inside of a plastic egg or other similar item.
Good Tasting Treats that Won’t Cause a Sugar High
For those who simply want to keep Easter somewhat traditional in that baskets should be filled with something eatable, there are several suggestions that will help keep the tradition alive, while at the same time not spiking kids’ sugar levels. Some of these can include:
● Nuts and Seeds – Treats such as sunflower seeds, cashews, and pistachios can make for wonderful Easter basket treats, while also offering protein rather than a mouth full of sugar.

● Fresh Fruits – Fresh fruits such as blueberries, grapes, and strawberries can not only make for a healthy basket but can also add a great deal of color.

● Hard Boiled Eggs – Certainly, no Easter basket would be complete without some colorful hard boiled eggs. And, by adding just a touch of salt, these can be a much healthier alternative to the chocolate egg version.

Janet Lynch works with people to help them meet their weight-loss goals. Through a well chosen delivery diet many of the people she helps are able to easily achieve their goals.

Sammy did, indeed, get increasingly dizzy, nauseous, confused (uh, even more than usual!) and complained of wicked headaches. She couldn't concentrate. And her vision became so blurred that she couldn't read a word. Her doctor diagnosed her with a mild concussion and prescribed both physical rest and "cognitive rest" for two weeks -- as in, no heart rate elevating physical activity of any kind -- and no texting, video games or any other kinds of electronic stimulation. Research has shown all of these things to be mentally taxing -- even more so than schoolwork -- which can slow the healing process. Sammy was allowed only one hour of TV a day, which had to be broken up into two half-hour sessions.

We're not all that big on screen time in our house in the first place. But take away that and reading and anything active and I couldn't help but think: What the heck is she going to do for the next 14 days? Sammy is super athletic -- not the type of kid who would be content to just blob around in bed. This was all completely new and eye-opening to me. No one ever talks about how to handle that aspect of helping a kid with a concussion, right? I'll tell you two key things that worked for me -- about how to pass the time, as well as how to actually speed the healing process.

Considering that nearly half a million kids are admitted to the ER each year with a traumatic brain injury -- and many more cases of concussion are diagnosed by pediatricians -- this advice may come in handy someday. (Of course, I do hope you won't ever have to use it!) First, Sammy and I raided the craft store. It was a goldmine. She spent hours and hours making friendship bracelets -- and have you seen all the other cute projects and kits that are out there, too? And since Sammy couldn't actually read, I got her a bunch of audio books (the entire Hunger Games book series downloaded from iTunes). Baking -- muffins, cookies, you name it -- also helped pass a lot of time. And we took a lot of nice, easy walks together.

What made the biggest difference, however: Her diet. A few days into Sammy's recovery, I remembered my New Year's Eve dinner partner, Dr. Michael Lewis, a physician who, after retiring recently following a career in the Army, started the Brain Health Education and Research Institute to continue his work on the role of omega-3s and concussions. Michael makes the case that omega-3s are the foundation of the brain and, if they are essential for the brain to develop, maybe they would help the brain heal when it gets damaged. There's some evidence that healthy doses of it may reduce inflammation in the brain and could even help it recover faster from an injury. Omega-3s are good for so many other reasons, anyway -- like heart health and mood -- that I thought why not give it a shot.

I mashed sardines into Sammy's beloved tuna salad. They don't really alter the flavor, but they do boost -- by a ton -- the amount of Omega-3s you get from just the tuna (while reducing the mercury). I fed her edamame, put extra beans and veggies in the muffins we baked, and sprinkled flax seed on her morning cereal -- all foods rich in Omega-3 fats. And I whipped up a batch of what I dubbed "concussion chowder," made with clams, sardines, broth and veggies. 

Within 7 days Sammy felt better, and by day 10 she was able to read again. The doctor had told me the symptoms would probably last two weeks -- and that Sammy wouldn't be able to read or concentrate until the tail end of that time. I have no way of knowing for sure if Omega-loading my daughter helped her recover as fast as she did. But I believe it did make a big impact. I'd tell any parent to give it a try. At the very least, you'll have a kid who is happier and heart-healthier. And who doesn't want that?
 

The following story was reprinted from The Sneaky Chef to the Rescue. I wanted to share it with you in recognition of World Autism Awareness Day.

My son’s teacher came up to me after two weeks and asked me what I had done. She told me that my son was now working alone without needing much help and his spelling and English had improved dramatically. My 9-year-old daughter is amazing. Since starting with the purees and other things in the book, her speech has improved dramatically and she had now at least twice the amount of words. When she got out of the car the other day, and just before she ran off to school, she turned and called out. "I love you mummy." I sat and cried because that is not something she says. If I could meet Missy I would give her the hugest hug because without this book I would definitely not have the kids I have today. Thank you, thank you, thank you for giving my kids back to me.” Tina E., Australia (mum of 6)

A delicious Manhattan-style clam chowder loaded with brain-boosting omega-3 fish oil from clams & sardines - suggested to aid in the recovery from concussions and other brain injuries.

Concussion Chowder
Makes 4 servings
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 medium-size onion, diced (about 1 cup)
1⁄2 teaspoon salt
3 to 4 garlic cloves, minced
1⁄2 cup White Puree or Orange Puree
1 (6-ounce) can tomato paste
3 (8-ounce) bottles clam juice
1 (28-ounce) can diced, peeled tomatoes, with liquid
1 large russet potato,* diced, with skin
2 (61⁄2-ounce) cans chopped clams, with liquid
1 (3- to 4-ounce) can skinless and boneless sardines, packed in water, drained
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Dried red pepper flakes, to taste
Optional extra boost: 2 celery ribs, diced

Heat the oil in a large soup pot over medium heat. Add the onion and salt and sauté until they are slightly translucent, about 10 minutes. Add the celery (if using) and sauté for another 5 minutes. Add the garlic, White or Orange Puree, tomato paste, clam juice, diced tomatoes, potato, and clams with their liquid. Stir to combine well. Add the sardines, breaking them up with the spoon, slightly mashing them into the pot so there are no remaining visible pieces. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer for about 30 minutes or until the potatoes are tender. Ladle into 4 soup bowls, and season with freshly ground pepper and red pepper flakes.

Sneaky Time Saving Tip:
Use low-fat frozen hash browns instead of dicing fresh potatoes

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