Family Food Experts

What are the hot food and beverage trends this year? Predictions include locally and sustainably grown produce, raw veggies, coconut and socially responsible products and packaging. Along with ancient grains such as spelt, amaranth and millet. Even tea is on the list – will Starbucks' new Tea Bars be successful? Is cauliflower the "in" vegetable? What about the popular weight loss program for 2014 – should it be the Paleo Diet? If so, why? Guest, Deanna Segrave-Daly, RD (Teaspoon Communications and co-founder of The Recipe Redux) will discuss the current trends with co-host Kathy Siegel, RD (NutritionBabes) and Ellen Briggs (Kid Kritics Approved).

Menu: Feed a Family of 4 on $126 a Week! RECIPES Host: Ellen Briggs (Family Food Experts Home of Kid Kritics Approved, Author) Co-Host: Carolina Jantac, MS,RD,LD (Kid Kritics Approved) Guest: Stacey Antine, RD (HealthBarn USA, Author: Appetite for Life) Given this challenge, Stacey Antine RD (HealthBarn USA) spent $126 on healthier food to feed a family of 4 for a week. Find out how she organized her menus to use leftovers for next day meals, be they for breakfast, lunch, snacks or dinner. Learn how she combined food to get the most for her limited budget. She also shares what she discovered most useful for saving money among coupons, circulars and other discount offerings.

1/2/2014 Forget New Year’s resolutions. Forget making promises you won’t keep. Instead, develop a new healthy habit every month. We are giving you 12 healthy habits that you can that you can stick to throughout the year. Gradually grow healthier throughout 2014. Remove stress and enjoy your days thanks to your newly donned lifestyle changes. Join Family Food Experts co-hosts, Stacey Antine, MS, RD (HealthBarn USA) and author of Appetite for Life along with Ellen Briggs (Kid Kritics Approved). We will inspire you to get started on a new healthy lifestyle. You can be that family that only goes to the doctor for well check-ups. Build balanced energy and be more productive in 2014! 

Sweet Treats as a Reward. Yes or No? Host: Ellen Briggs (Family Food Experts Home of Kid Kritics Approved, Author) Co-Host: Carolina Jantac, MS, RD, LD (Kid Kritics Approved) Guest: Casey Hinds (kyhealthykids.com) We train dogs with treats. Should we do the same with kids? Listen to our honest discussion about the short and long term consequences of teachers and parents rewarding kids with candy and cookies. If you haven't ever heard of the Magic Apple, you will know what it is when you listen to this show. It will become clear why even as an adult, you associate good behavior with sweet treats. The question of whether any food at all should be used to say, "Good Job" is debated.

When you see Sugar-Free on a label, is that a good thing? Are Sugar-Free foods really sugar free? What naturally Sugar-Free foods are ones your kids will want to eat? How do you make sweets sugar-free and still have them taste good… or can you? Why even bother? The good news is we have answers for you. Our guest, Brenda Bennett, founder of the popular Sugar Free Mom blog will have you salivating over her sugar-free recipes, ones her kids and their friends love. Our Better Food Choices co-host, Carolina Jantac RD (Kid Kritics Approved) will give you the nutritional truth about Sugar Free labels as well have you salivating for some of her recipes.

Finger food is the easy ticket to satisfying hungry guests and kids whether it’s at a dinner party, cocktail party, pot luck, picnic, or a meal at home.  Kids, especially young kids, love to eat with their fingers.  Some of us “grown-ups” do to!  Finger foods also work great for snacks to-go so why not serve healthy and delicious options?  Our guest, Robin Plotkin, RDN (RobinsBite) is a Culinary and Nutrition Expert who tweets, teaches, talks and tastes food for a living. Join host, Ellen Briggs (Kid Kritics Approved) along with our Family Food Expert, Tracee Yablon-Brenner, RDN, chef, author and founder of Real Food Moms, we are going to give you our best finger food ideas and recipes so you can not only serve healthy appetizers to guests, but also have a menu of finger food options for your family’s daily grazing and meal needs.

All year long Carolina and I field questions from moms about how to feed their kids healthy foods they will eat. What to do for kids with constipation? How to feed a picky eater? Are children's vitamins recommended? When is appropriate to start a child on a diet? Whether we are in the school car line, at a grocery store or playground, at church or communicating on the internet or this radio show, moms turn to us for answers. We know you all want to feed your children healthy foods. We also know kids want to eat healthy food – it just has to taste good. This show is devoted to answering the top 10 questions we are asked. No doubt at least one of yours will be one of them

Are you entertaining guests with food allergies?  Do you have food allergies in your family? Whether it’s dairy, tree nuts, peanuts, seafood, soy, eggs, gluten, or wheat, these food allergens make it challenging to serve one meal for the whole family or at a dinner party.  Learn tips and tricks from a pro.  Guest Katie Cavuto is a chef, dietitian, TV personality, writer, and was a finalist in season 5 of The Next Food Network Star.  Join Katie along with hosts Ellen Briggs (Kid Kritics Approved) and Registered Dietitian Kathy Siegel, RD (Nutrition Babes) as they reveal healthy ways to cook for people with food allergies (and make the food taste great at the same time!)

Do you often indulge in unhealthy food at parties or during holidays?  Tune in to learn how to prepare healthy recipes that will have you and your guests drooling with desire. You, your family and friends deserve to enjoy delicious food when it’s time to entertain.  Our guest expert, Michelle Dudash, RD, is a Registered Dietitian, Cordon Bleu Chef, Cookbook Author (Clean Eating for Busy Families), Food & Nutrition Writer, and TV Personality.  Joining us in our Family Food Experts Kitchen are co-hosts, Stacey Antine, MS, RD (HealthBarn USA), author of Appetite for Life and Ellen Briggs (Kid Kritics Approved). Between these food experts, we have your healthy entertaining menus and recipes covered.

Super Snacks for Super Heroes - Your Kids! RECIPES Host: Ellen Briggs (Family Food Experts Home of Kid Kritics Approved, Author) Co-Host: Carolina Jantac, MS,RD,LD (Kid Kritics Approved) Guest: Natalie Monson, RD (Super Healthy Kids) There is a hero in every child. Find out how to feed them so they can be the best they can be. Listen to how to feed them super healthy foods for breakfast, lunch, snacks and dinner, ones they will love to eat. Together Natalie Monson RD (Super Healthy Kids) and Carolina Jantac, RD (Kid Kritics Approved) share their hands-on experience of feeding kids fresh vegetables, fruit and other wholesome food.

What should you feed your babies and toddlers?  Why does it matter? You are setting a template for the rest of their lives. What you feed yourself before and during pregnancy, and what you feed your child thereafter sets the stage for short and long term health.  Today, we are going to help right from the start!  Our guest, Zak Normandin, is known as “Daddy Duck.”  Zak is so passionate about how his two young girls are fed that he started a company called Little Duck Organics, a food company for babies and toddlers!   Join Zak along with Family Food Experts hosts Ellen Briggs (Kid Kritics Approved) and Tracee Yablon-Brenner, RD (Real Food Moms, co-author of Best Food for Your Baby and Toddler).  Zak’s motto:  “If you can’t find what you want, then make it yourself!”

What should you do, pack school lunches for your kids or give them some lunch money? Well that all depends on what is being served at your school for a few dollars a day. From public to private schools, we will be reviewing how well schools are nourishing your kids. And, we'll remind you why, what your children eat in the middle of their school day, will make a difference in their class room, artistic and athletic performance levels. Joining co-host Carolina Jantac, RD (Kid Kritics Approved) and me is Hillary Feerick, author of the Mitch Spinach book series, full time teacher and mom. She will speak from her experience of spending years in school cafeterias and school halls and classes. She's going to tell us what kids are eating, regardless of what they are being served. And, we'll share what we know kids will eat for lunch that will set them up for a positive school year!

Do you have "Grain Brain?"  Neurologist, Dr. David Perlmutter says, "Gluten is this generation's tobacco."  Get ready to hear the latest startling reveal about how foods impact the health of your command center, your brain. Dr. David Perlmutter author of the book, "Grain Brain", was recently on the Dr. Oz show and he's talking to us about the latest research on how grains, wheat, carbs and sugar affect your brain and risk of dementia, Alzheimer’s Disease, cancer, and many more. Join Family Food Experts CoHost, Tracee Yablon-Brenner, Registered Dietitian, chef, and author (Real Food Moms) along with me to find out what we should eat to develop and maintain a healthy, vital brain and body for the rest of our lives! … for the health of your family, ellen www.FamilyFoodExperts.com www.KidKritics.com

Can music really feed your child's brain? Would rap qualify or just Beethoven? Are those music lessons really worth it? If so, when should they begin? Are there foods that specifically help children musically? Our guest, Graham Hepburn, former concert pianist and a talented performer, educator, and entertainer, has had invaluable experience in making the learning of music exciting and fun for kids. This made him the perfect choice to take on the character of Quaver in the Marvelous World of Music! For your children's improved performance in school, balanced intelligence and emotional growth, healthy social skills plus the potential of talent discovery, you will want to tune into this show. Our Better Food Choices co-host, Carolina Jantac RD (Kid Kritics Approved) will share our list of Fuel Your Dreams foods targeted to giving your young musician the best odds. Not all children will become professional musicians, but all musically trained kids will have great potential to be the best they can be at whatever they chose to do! We'll give you what you need to serve your kids foods they'll love – RECIPES! … for the health of your family, ellen www.familyfoodexperts.com www.kidkritics.com

Living Vegan is a trend spreading across this country.  Many have questions about the wisdom and application of this eating lifestyle.  Is it healthy?  Should children be eating vegan too?  Isn’t it hard to find food to eat when you are limited to vegan foods. What is VEGAN?  Our guest is the perfect person to answers these and other questions as he is a voice of medical authority and practices being vegan personally, Dr. John Westerdahl (Nutritionist, Registered Dietitian, Health Scientist/Health Educator, Master Herbalist, Author, Director of the Bragg Health Institute). He has devoted his life to teaching people how to achieve optimal health and longevity through a healthy plant-based and vegan diet. Co-Host, Kathy Siegel RD (Nutrition Babes) and I will be digging into the pros and cons of Living Vegan with Dr. Westerdahl in our Family Food Experts Kitchen. Look forward to some mouth-watering recipes you will want to serve your family, whether you are wholly vegan or not! ellen www.FamilyFoodExperts.com www.KidKritics.com