Family Food Experts

Meet VEGGIE TALES Larry the Cucumber & Co-Founder/Creator Mike Nawrocki.    VEGGIE TALES has a NEW DVD, “The Little House that Stood!”  Of course, one of the stars is Larry the Cucumber, who learns what it takes to build a house that will stand strong… by making a few mistakes along the way.  It’s a parable, a story with a life-giving message for ordinary people… and extra ordinary cucumbers.  Join Show hosts Ellen Briggs (Kid Kritics Approved) & Jaimie Proctor, MS, RD (Kid Kritics Approved) as they speak with Larry the Cucumber and Mike Nawrocki (Executive Vice President, Big Idea Entertainment, Veggie Tales Co-creator) about why it's important to build our houses and our lives on a firm foundation rather than taking the quick and easy way. And, guess what?  Larry the Cucumber has a NEW Silly Song, "Happy Tooth Day!"  Learn what foods support healthy teeth and gums and a strong body.  And listen as Larry sings his new Silly Song for you. Be one of the first to hear both Mike and Larry talk about this new release.  Be prepared to smile and laugh during this show.  Of course there will be more than one take-away message for both adults and children. There always is when it’s by Veggie Tales.    … for the health of your family, ellen (host) KidKritics.com Family Food Experts.com  

Are you too exhausted to get everything done so you always feel stressed about being behind?  How do you ever catch up?  Dr. Joel Evans can help you find enough energy to keep up with your kids and still have some left over for yourself! So many moms feel tired morning, noon and night.  Being surrounded by your kids' seemingly endless energy can sometimes be overwhelming. Then there is the question, “how can I lose weight when I all I want to do is lay down and take a nap?”  How can you care for yourself while being a mom?  Dr. Joel Evans, a OB/GYN physician, offers holistic treatment modalities combined with cutting edge modern medical care at The Center for Women’s Health, the first fully integrated women's health center in Connecticut.  He knows women.  And he will give you practical steps you can take to rev up your energy levels so you can run with your kids! Come into our Family Food Experts Kitchen with Registered Dietitian, Tracee RD (RealFoodMoms) and me. … for the health of your family,ellen (host)KidKritics.comFamilyFoodExperts.com

Heart attacks are the number one killer of women.  Moms, even if you are in your thirties, you are at risk. Don’t become a heart disease statistic. Instead, “Go Red!”  Start by learning the symptoms of heart disease.  Then know what foods are your heart’s best friends, and those which are its enemy. Join our host, Ellen Briggs (Family Food Experts and Kid Kritics founder) along with co-host, Lauren Harris-Pincus, RD, (Nutrition Babes) and our guest, Registered Dietitian Sharon Palmer.  They all have a passion for spreading the word about delicious healthy eating. Together they will give you an “Eat This, not That” food list with heart healthy recipes so you can eat your way to good heart health.   Come into our Heart Healthy Family Food Experts Kitchen. Listen in while you are busy preparing or already enjoying your dinner. See you then! Tune in on www.W4WN.com.  Visit us at FamilyFoodExperts.com for more info.  

Is eating Gluten-Free considered a trend?  What about Low-Sodium and Fat-Free diets?  Is there increasing trend toward becoming Vegetarian or Vegan?  Eating Fresh and Local seems to be growing.  Are all trends healthy?  Who decides what's a trend and what’s not.  How do you wade through all the noise, be it from the Food Network, a national news network or advertising? How much should the trends influence your shopping lists? The good news is that you will be the first to know the answers when you join us in the Family Food Experts Kitchen.  Our co-hosts, the NutritionBabes, Kathy Siegel and Lauren Harris-Pincus, both Registered Dietitians, and I have just returned from the largest Natural Products Trade Show, Expo West, where we met with dozens of food companies. Joining us to give us the latest kitchen trends will be media personality Jackie Newgent, RD, a classically trained chef and award winning cookbook author. We have sorted through all the media noise and are ready to share our findings with you. You may be surprised which food trends qualify as the best for your family.  Be the first to know! Come into our Family Food Experts Kitchen on www.W4WN.com.  Listen in while you are busy preparing or already enjoying your dinner. See you then! … for the health of your family, ellen (host) KidKritics.com FamilyFoodExperts.com

When you are starving, feeling edgy and empty, instead of snacking on soda, potato chips and those deceiving sugar soaked granola bars, enjoy some popcorn trail mixes, fresh spring water, or some hummus and real food chips. Make these healthy snacks at home, or, if you are on the run, we have some new innovative grab and go healthier snacks you lean on to fill afternoon hunger and cravings.  Both are better choices for adults and kids alike. I find walking down the snack aisle of a grocery store depressing – so many empty fat-loving, sodium-laden bags of empty carbs.  Good news!  We are here to tell you about the new bright lights of packaged snacks showing up on those shelves.  Here in our Family Food Experts Kitchen, to help you fill your afternoon hungry tummies with needed nutrients, and, to identify those grab and go snacks that are worth your hard earned dollars is our co-host, Stacey Antine, RD, (HealthBarn USA, Appetite for Life).  And, we have the perfect guest to talk about healthy snack trends, Terry Meyer, Vice President of Good Health Natural Products.  He is an expert who lives, breathes and sleeps snacks and his news is delicious! Come into our Family Food Experts Kitchen on www.W4WN.com. Listen in while you are busy preparing or already enjoying your dinner. See you then! … for the health of your family, ellen (host) KidKritics.com

Do you want to avoid mood swings, hot flashes, depression, low energy or even weight loss issues and just plain feel great?  Then this show is a must for you.  What you eat, breathe, and how you deal with stress all play a role in whether your hormones are in balance.  And, by the way, hormones are not just those most often talked about, estrogen, progesterone and testosterone.  Your body produces many others such as cortisol, insulin, hCG, DHEA, T4 and glucagon.  Learn how food, supplements and even sleep patterns impact hormone production and how you feel from the moment you wake up in the morning until you fall asleep each night. We are designed to be in balance.  The production and release of hormones is a complex multi-faceted system within your body.   Our guest, hormone expert and author of best seller The Hormone Diet, Dr. Natasha Turner, ND (ClearMedicine.com) will join the Family Food Expert co-host, Dr. Heather Manley, Naturopathic Physician and author of the Human Body Detectives educational series for children. Together they will make it  simple for you to understand and manage your hormone systems so you can live in the bliss of balance. Dr. Turner was recently on the Dr. Oz show speaking about the importance of hormone balance.  Tune in for invaluable advice! Come into our Family Food Experts Kitchen on www.W4WN.com. Listen in while you are busy preparing or already enjoying your dinner. See you then! … for the health of your family, ellen (host) KidKritics.com

People fly to Italy or Greece and return raving about the food, the Mediterranean way of eating.  Truth is, it is so easy to do this at home.  And, the health benefits are limitless.  You don’t need to travel any further than your local supermarket to find the needed ingredients.  And, recipes are so easily accessed on the internet if you don’t have a cookbook collection at home.  My co-host, Tracee, RD, (Real Food Moms), chef and author of several food books including Cook Once, Eat Twice, and I are so honored to announce our guest for this show, Sara Baer-Sinnott, founder of the Mediterranean Foods Alliance and President of Oldways, a nonprofit food and nutrition education organization, with a mission to guide people to good health through heritage.  Sara knows the Mediterranean diet, why, what, when and how to serve it.  Having lived in Istanbul, I will attest to the ease with which you can bring those fabulously fresh Mediterranean flavors into your home for the whole family to enjoy! Come into our Mediterranean Family Food Experts Kitchen on W4WN.com.  Listen in while you are busy preparing or already enjoying your dinner. See you then! … for the health of your family, ellen (host) KidKritics.com FamilyFoodExperts.com

How Fresh are you?  How fresh is the food in your kitchen this month? Do you feel like your fresh fruit and vegetable choices are limited in the winter?  Thanks to imports, you can now find more in stores.  Question is, should you buy avocadoes from Mexico or grapes from Chili? Do you go down the frozen aisle to buy corn and strawberries instead? What is the best way, the most cost-efficient way to save money, to eat delicious ripe anti-oxidant filled mangoes, spinach and all those other power-packed fresh fruits and vegetables in the dark of winter? And, how do pick them out at the store and serve them to your family so they will gobble them up, keeping in mind you have no time to spare?  Learn to shop for and prepare fresh whole foods for a busy family without breaking the bank! This week, co-host Stacey Antine, RD (HealthBarn USA), author of Appetite for Life and I are so eager to introduce you to one amazing Celebrity Chef, Curtis Aikens, published author (Guide to the Harvest), Chef, Food Network TV Program Host and so much more. Vegetables and fruit are his passion. Come get fresh with us! Come into our Family Food Experts Kitchen. Tune in, www.W4WN.com. Listen in while you are busy preparing or already enjoying your dinner. See you then! … for the health of your family, ellen (host) KidKritics.com

What makes a party SUPER?  What do you remember the most after it is over? The food of course!  And what draws your attention to the food?  The aromas and appearance of the dishes.  No matter what team you support, you are there to have fun. Food is fun, especially at a Super Bowl Party or tailgating party.  The ticket to not regretting what you ate the next day is the quality of the food offered.  Our co-hosts, Kathy Siegel, RD and Lauren Harris-Pincus, RD (Nutrition Babes) have a mouth-watering array of healthier party recipes and ideas for you.  And, they have easy clever table set-up ideas to make the foods you serve look irresistible.  Our guest, Deanna Segrave-Daly, RD (The Recipe Redux, Teaspoon of Spice) will add in her party recipe expertise. If you are hosting a Super Bowl party, or are bringing a dish to someone else’s, this is a must listen to show.  Please, join us in our Family Food Experts Kitchen. Tune in on www.W4WN.com.  Listen in while you are busy preparing or already enjoying your dinner. See you then! … for the health of your family, ellen (host) KidKritics.com

Can foods help you ward off illness?  Learn how to fight colds and flu naturally. Joining us to talk about food strategies needed to win cold and flu wars is pediatritian, Dr. Robert Sears from the well-known pediatrician Sears family.  Dr. Bob Sears is the author of several books including The Vaccine Book and Happy Baby: The Organic Guide to Baby's First 24 Months. Flu reports are filling the headlines these days.  Everywhere you go people are sneezing and coughing, with or without a fever. Time to stoke up on antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables for cold or flu prevention and healing.  Learn the truth about flu shots.  And, there’s more in the food medicine cabinets of Dr. Sears and our co-host, naturopathic doctor, Heather Manley (Human Body Detectives). Get ready to find out how to beat sickening bugs. Have your notepad ready as you will want to take notes in order to manage the health of your family. Please, join us in our Family Food Experts Kitchen. Tune in on www.W4WN.com. Listen in while you are busy preparing or already enjoying your dinner… hopefully you are not sick in bed. See you then! … for the health of your family, ellen (host) KidKritics.com

Make your freezer your best friend so it will save you time and money!  Oh, and it will produce super delicious meals. Okay, you have to prepare the meals but we have the perfect food experts to help you make this easy.  Neither of them have a lot of extra time and money, either.  Join our host, Ellen Briggs, Family Food Experts and Kid Kritics Approved founder, in learning how to prepare delicious freezer meals.  This week, our Family Food Expert’s co-host is Tracee Yablon-Brenner, a Registered Dietitian (RD), chef, founder of Real Food Moms and author of 3 books.  Our guest is Jeannette Bessinger, CHHC, (The Clean Food Coach) a board certified health coach, whole foods chef, and award-winning lifestyle and nutrition educator.  Jeannette and Tracee co-authored the books Great Expectations: Best food for your Baby & Toddler, and, Simple Foods for Busy Families.  Jeannette is the author and co-author of a total of seven books featuring healthy eating.  From rescuing produce that looks like it is ready to be thrown out, to turning your boring leftovers into new improved frozen meals as well as showing you how to freshly freeze your healthy meals, Tracee and Jeanette will help you make your freezer your best friend!     Please, join us in our Family Food Experts Kitchen. Tune in on www.W4WN.com.  Listen in while you are busy preparing or already enjoying your dinner. See you then!

Making recipes is like doing a craft project – lots of hands-on fun!  Use this as an avenue to inspire and empower your children as you learn to cook together.  When kids are involved in the preparation, they are more likely to taste new foods and make healthy choices.  Start with easy pouring, stirring, measuring and running motors (kids love pushing those buttons).  Our co-hosts, Kathy Siegel, RD and Lauren Harris-Pincus, RD (Nutrition Babes) have a whole library of ideas for cooking with your kids.  This week’s guest, Catherine McCord, founder of Weelicious.com and author of her new book, Weelicious! One Family One Meal has had her kids in her kitchen since they were babies!  She knows the ins and outs of putting cooking into the hands of children – wait until you hear her stories!  From Green Monster and Wild Blueberry & Greek Yogurt Smoothies to Purple Cauliflower and Roasted Parsnips and Carrots Soups, during this show look forward to learning how to create nutrient-packed, colorful, yummy, kid-friendly recipes!     Please, join us in our Family Food Experts Kitchen. Tune in to  www.W4WN.com. Listen in while you are busy preparing or already enjoying your dinner. See you then! … for the health of your family, ellen (host) KidKritics.com

That four letter word: D I E T.  The first month of the New Year is when it is on most people’s minds.  On one hand everyone is upbeat about getting a grip on their weight and health – resolutions and a new start.  On the other hand they are begrudgingly thinking of deprivation and crummy food. Diets usually mean weight loss to most. Because of the overweight epidemic with children, childrens diets are becoming increasingly popular.  There are so many different diets out there. And, there are so many misunderstandings of the use of this four letter word. What is a person to do?  To start 2013 off right, our co-host, Stacey Antine, RD, founder of HealthBarn USA and author of Appetite for Life is here with me in our Family Food Experts Kitchen.  We will be joined by Dr. Lawrence D. Rosen, board-certified general pediatrician who is committed to family-centered, holistic child health care.  Dr. Larry Rosen knows kids and has an opinion on diets.  If you are even thinking of dieting or putting your kids on one, you must tune in to listen to Dr. Rosen’s expert advice.  Please, join us in our Family Food Experts Kitchen. Tune in to  www.W4WN.com. Listen in while you all are busy preparing or already enjoying your dinner. See you then! … for the health of your family, ellen (host) KidKritics.com

What grade would you give yourself in a Health Report this year? Would you get an A for effort but B for health?  What would it take for you to move your health grade up to an A+ next year?  These and other questions will be discussed and answered by my co-host, Dr. Heather Manley, Naturopathic Physician, and an aspiring nutrition mom, Kim Overpeck.  Their “How-To” list is practical, comfortable and doable – baby steps, you can do this approach.   Have your note pad ready when you join us in our Family Food Experts Kitchen where you will learn how to regain, save, and maintain the health of your family as well as your own, one day at a time! Please, join us in our Family Food Experts Kitchen. Tune in for the live show each week www.W4WN.com. Listen in while you all are busy preparing or already enjoying your dinner. See you then! … for the health of your family, ellen (host) KidKritics.com

Whether it be cinnamon, pepper flakes, vanilla or almond extracts, secret ingredients can take a recipe to a whole new level of excellence.  Wouldn’t you like to know what works with what, what simple addition can make a taste bud bonanza difference? Herb and spice expert, Joe Coffey of Simply Organic joins my co-host, Tracee, RD, author, chef, and founder of Real Food Moms.  It is hard to beat this combination in the Family Food Experts Kitchen. Tracee’s and Joe’s  secret ingredients will be revealed along with some out-of-this world recipes. Save this recipe tip date! Please, join us in our Family Food Experts Kitchen. Tune in live each week on www.W4WN.com. Call in with your questions or share your recipe ideas.  Or, chat in our Chat Room.  Listen in while you all are busy preparing or already enjoying your dinner. See you then!  #famfoodexperts. … for the health of your family, ellen (host) KidKritics.com