Archive for Parenting
Cinnamon Ornaments
Posted by: | Comments
These cinnamon ornaments are a great homemade gift that your kids will love making…and giving to friends, family, teachers, etc. As a kid, I used this dough like a clay to make cinnamon bears with my mom. Now, I’m making cinnamon ornaments with my kids. With two ingredients, this is a fast and easy craft to make. However, it does take time to dry before you can decorate them, so plan accordingly.
As a kid, we started with a bottle of ground cinnamon and just started mixing in the applesauce until we got the right consistency. Recently, I’ve had good luck using the recipe below from the McCormick website. (I may have slightly modified the wording.)
Last year, we made two batches of these and gave them to all of the kids’ teachers for Christmas. The kids loved being able to give all their teachers, aides, coaches, instructors, etc. something that they made.
Cinnamon Ornaments Recipe
Ingredients:
3/4 Cup applesauce
1 large bottle (4.12 ounces, or 1 cup + 2 TBSP) ground cinnamon
Equipment and Other Supplies Needed:
cookie cutters
drinking straw
oven and baking sheets, or wire drying rack
colorful ribbon
fabric paint or glitter glue to decorate
Directions:
- Mix applesauce and cinnamon in a small bowl until a smooth ball of dough is formed. Adjust amount of applesauce and cinnamon as necessary to get a good firm consistency — not too crumbly nor too sticky.
- Using about 1/3 of the dough at a time, roll dough to 1/4-inch to 1/3-inch thickness between two sheets of plastic wrap. Peel off top sheet of plastic wrap. Cut dough into desired shapes with cookie cutters.
- Make a hole in the top of ornament with a drinking straw if making ornaments. Place ornaments on a baking sheet.
- Bake 2 1/2 hours at 200° F. Large or thick ornaments may need a little longer to dry. Cool ornaments on wire rack. (Or, to dry ornaments at room temperature, carefully place them on wire rack. Let stand 1 to 2 days or until thoroughly dry (turning about every 12 hours).
- For ornaments, insert ribbon through holes and tie to hang. Glitter glue is great for decorating them.
Additional Notes:
- Makes about 16 medium-sized ornaments.
- For my frugal friends, visit your local dollar store. You’ll find everything you need for this project, even the applesauce and ground cinnamon (which can be pricey).
- If you like the gingerbread smell, consider adding ground cloves, nutmeg, and ginger to the dough. Making gingerbread boys and girls to hang on the tree? Add some googly eyes and glitter glue to give them some dimension.
- You can also use these as air freshners — a bowl full of balls in the bathroom or some flat shapes to put at the bottom of the kitchen trash can or the ashtray in the car. The scent should last 3-6 months. You can add cinnamon oil to them later to extend the scent.
Energy Bars for Kids
Posted by: | Comments
Last month I received samples of Can Do Kid energy bars in the mail. I love getting packages in the mail, especially when there are gluten-free goodies inside. Honestly, we don’t eat a lot of energy bars in my house, but since two of the flavors were chocolate, I was eager to try them. 
Timing was good, too. With the start of school and after school activities and sports, the kids need a little more sleep and a little more to eat. Sometimes an apple or banana just isn’t enough energy to get through soccer or swim practice.
My husband took some to work for sampling, while the kids and I had our own taste test at home. The bars come packaged in two small pieces, which is great for us because it’s easy to split between a 4-year-old and 6-year-old. At my son’s request, we tried the Can-illa Vanilla first. Being the chocoholic that I am, I assumed the chocolate flavors would be my favorite. Surprise! We all agreed that the Can-illa Vanilla had the best flavor.
The Can-illa Vanilla bar has a slightly chewy texture and is covered with a thin, smooth white chocolate coating. We were pleasantly surprised by the cinnamon flavor. I was expecting it to be a little bland, but I think it had more flavor than the chocolate varieties.
The other two varieties are both covered with a thin chocolate coating. The Chocolate Crunch is all chocolate with a little bit of soy crisps inside. It actually had the chewiest texture of the three bars – almost like a fudge. I actually thought that the Cookies and Cream variety had a little more crunch. The flavors of both of these were very mild. All three of the bars are made with soy, but I wasn’t overwhelmed with the taste of soy. If you have other allergies, you should know that they are also made with milk and peanuts.
The company says these bars were developed with active kids in mind. They are packed with protein (9 grams) — more than you would get from say a rice bar or granola bar (2 grams), but less than you might get from an adult, high-energy bar (20-30 grams). Each bar has 85 calories, or 170 calories for both in the package, and are low in sugar (no high fructose corn syrup). These bars are gluten-free, of course, and are made with natural, organic ingredients (70%).
We all liked these. Even my husband was looking for more to take to work. So now the problem is finding them. I looked for them at 7-Eleven and Whole Foods Market, but wasn’t able to find them in our stores. After checking their store locator, I confirmed that they weren’t in the stores near me. Fortunately, you can order online at the Can Do Kid website or at Amazon
Gluten-Free Snacks for School
Posted by: | Comments
Back to School Week continues at Celiac Family. Today my daughter starts preschool! She attended the same preschool last year, and will have the same teacher my son had two years ago. So, we feel comfortable that we can maintain her gluten-free diet without much ado. However, I did put together a list of gluten-free snack ideas to share with the teacher (and parents, if they request it). The items I included on the list are snacks you should be able to get at just about any grocery store. Perhaps I’ve got one or two new ideas for you? Please leave a comment if you have some other gluten-free snack ideas that aren’t on the list. I can always use some new ideas.
Gluten-Free Snacks:
Fresh fruit – most fruit cups are gluten-free, too
Fresh vegetables
Cheese – sticks, shapes, string, etc.
Raisins – Sun-Maid
Applesauce – most brands without added flavorings are gluten-free
Chewy Fruit Snacks – most brands are gluten-free. Betty Crocker has even started printing “Gluten-Free” on the front of the box!
Juice – most brands (especially “100% juice”) are gluten-free
Yogurt – most brands without any added toppings; Stoneyfield’s, Yoplait Go-gurt, Trix, Dora
Rice Cakes
Corn Thins
Cereal – Make a trail mix with cereal, raisins, M&Ms, nuts, etc. Chex cereals are now gluten-free but to make sure, it should say “Gluten-Free” on the box: Rice Chex, Honey Nut Chex, Chocolate Chex, Cinnamon Chex; Erewhon Brown Rice Crisps; Koala Crisp; Panda Puffs; (Kelloggs Rice Krispies is not gluten-free.)
Popcorn – most brands are gluten-free; Orville Redenbacher’s, Jiffy Pop, Act II (except extreme butter)
Kettle corn – LesserEvil Classic, Orville Redenbacher’s
Gelatin cups – Jello, Wegman’s brand
Pudding cups – Jello, Swiss Miss, Hunt’s, Wegman’s
Potato chips – most brands without added flavorings are gluten-free; Lays original, Lays Staxx, Wegman’s, Utz, Ruffles, French’s potato sticks; (Pringles are not gluten-free.)
Tortilla Chips – most brands without added flavorings are gluten-free; Tostitos, Mission, Wegman’s
Corn Chips – Fritos, Wegman’s
Other snacks – Cheetos, Original Tings, Pirate’s Booty, Cheddar Airs
I know that the list leaves room for error, but I was trying to make the point there is plenty of gluten-free food out there that doesn’t have to come from a specialty food mart. Please keep in mind, that I plan to check the ingredients of the daily snack everyday when I take my daughter to school. You, too, should check the food labels because manufacturers can change the ingredients at any time.
For specialty gluten-free snacks, check out some of our favorites at Celiac Family’s Amazon Store.
Keeping Celiac Kids Gluten-Free at School
Posted by: | Comments
It’s Back to School Week at Celiac Family. My son starts Kindergarten today! We’re all pretty excited about it. But, being the mother that I am, I’m a little nervous, too. He’s been gluten free for more than four years, and is very good about making sure foods are gluten-free before eating them. But, this is the first time I won’t be walking him into the classroom. When he was in preschool, I could see what activities were planned for the day, check the snacks in the classroom, and the teachers could ask me any questions about craft products they were using. I know it’s time to let go of some of the control, but it’s hard to let go when it’s about his health.
Not knowing the Kindergarten teacher or the school, I didn’t know what the typical day would be like or what kind of student activities might be an issue for us. So, I wrote a letter to the teacher to express my concerns. I also enclosed with the letter some more detailed information about Celiac Disease. (It never hurts to raise awareness about Celiac Disease, right?) We found out who my son’s teacher would be a day before Open House, so I hand delivered the letter to the teacher. We got to speak briefly about it, but she was busy meeting the other new students and parents. Even if you get a chance to speak to your child’s teacher at length, I think it’s a good idea to put your concerns in writing. That way there’s less chance of miscommunication. Plus, it gives the teacher something to refer to later. I also gave a copy of the letter to the school nurse.
I’ve copied my letter below for you to use for inspiration. When I sat down to write the letter, I did a quick search online to find some sample letters. I knew there were some out there, but couldn’t find one at the time. After I took the time to write the letter, I found some other great resources to help prepare yourself and your child for the new school year.
- “GF Letter for School” at Gluten-Free is Life
- Form letters to schools/child care providers at Dallas R.O.C.K.
- “Back-to-school checklist for celiac families” at The Savvy Celiac
- “Back to school tips for gluten-free and food allergy kids” at Sure Foods Living
- “Navigating the School System” at the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness – This addresses the issue of getting the school to accommodate the gluten-free diet. Be sure to scroll down the page for information about a 504 Plan, a letter to educators and a physician’s letter.
______________________________________________________________________
September 3, 2009
To: Teacher
CC: School Nurse
Re: Student’s name
Our son is so excited to start Kindergarten in your class at Willow Springs Elementary. We have completed all the required forms and paperwork. You will notice in the health forms, that he has been diagnosed with Celiac Disease. Celiac Disease is an autoimmune disease that is triggered by ingesting gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley, rye and malt. Our son is actually very healthy, but he must manage Celiac Disease with a strict adherence to a gluten-free diet. It is very important to his health that he remains gluten free.
Since he has not yet started Kindergarten, we are not familiar with the procedures for activities and snack time in your class. So, I am providing this information to you in order for our son to avoid any possible contact with gluten.
We will provide our son with a gluten-free snack everyday. He is aware of his condition, and has been instructed not to trade snacks or eat any other food without first confirming with an adult that it is gluten-free. He should also avoid any contact with other classmates’ snacks, or crumbs of snacks, that contain gluten.
In addition to snacks, our son should also avoid contact with craft products that contain gluten. Of most concern to me is play dough, pasta, hay/straw, fingerpaints and paper maché, since they are products that almost always contain wheat and/or are likely to get under his fingernails. Other products that may contain wheat are glue, paint, and ink. To be clear, our son does not get a reaction just from touching gluten, however if it gets on his hands and fingers it could be transferred to his mouth. I would be happy to review the ingredients of any craft products in the classroom to determine if they do contain gluten. If they do, I will be happy to provide a suitable substitution.
If our son does accidentally come into contact with gluten at school, I ask that you immediately have him wash his hands thoroughly. He does not have an allergic response, such as anaphylaxis, so no medicine nor medical attention is required. I would simply request that you make me aware of the contact with the gluten (through a note sent home with him and/or a phone call/email) so that I can monitor his health. And, we can determine how to avoid it in the future.
If you allow students to bring in birthday treats to share, I ask that we be made aware of it a day or two in advance. Cupcakes and cookies, unless made with special alternative flours, are not gluten-free. If notified in advance of what will be brought in, our son can bring a gluten-free alternative in order to celebrate with the other students. If it works for you, I can also provide you with a box of safe, gluten-free treats to store for our son in cases of surprise treat occasions.
For your information, I have enclosed documents that provide detailed information about Celiac Disease. Please feel free to call or email me anytime with any questions or concerns.
Thank you,
[Be sure to provide your name and contact information here.]
Enclosures:
“What Is Celiac Disease?” (I copied several pages from Danna Korn’s “Kids with Celiac Disease“)
“Unsafe Gluten-Free List”
“Safe Gluten-Free List”
Kids Make Fruit Kabobs
Posted by: | Comments
I love to get the kids in the kitchen and have them help prepare meals. Well… that’s what I like to say. But honestly, when dinnertime comes around, I’m often rushing around to get it done. Instead of finding something the kids can do, I’m often scooting them out the kitchen, out of my way. With our summer activities finally slowing down this week, we were able to take our time and make something together. We decided to make something that’s always a kid favorite: Fruit Kabobs!
Fruit kabobs are a great activity for kids. You can use almost any fruit, they are in bite-size pieces, and the kids can put it together themselves (or with minimal help, depending on their ages). Melon is a perfect fruit to use on the kabobs because it is so easy to cut. I did the big cuts, and removed the rind from the fruit with the big, sharp knife. But then the kids could use a butter knife to easily cut the melon into bite-size pieces. They thought it was great. We had a cantaloupe, but watermelon and honey dew would be good additions. You can see from the picture that we used strawberries and grapes, too. Go ahead and use up whatever you have in the house. Of course, some fruit turns brown quickly, so if you’re making them in advance you’d probably want to avoid those.
Cutting the fruit. If your kids are older, consider letting them cut the fruit themselves with Rachael Ray’s Young Cooks Cutting Set
The Sticks. You can use a variety of sticks for skewering the fruit: toothpicks, bamboo skewers, coffee stirs, small skinny straws, or even chopsticks. But my favorite is plastic swizzle sticks, or Drink Stirrers
Good for kids and the family. This activity encourages kids to help out in the kitchen. Kids feel good about what they created. They get to pick the fruit they want, and then eat it! With the kids going back to school soon, I’m also thinking this activity is great for helping kids build fine motor skills.
Now that I got the kids back in the kitchen, I’m hoping to continue it more often. So, when I sit down to plan our meals for next week, I’m going to include one or two items that the kids can help prepare. Planning in advance will allow me to schedule around after-school activities and give us plenty of time to get it done. If you’re looking for some kid-friendly recipes, or maybe a little more inspiration, check out these online posts and articles:
Gluten-Free Kids in the Kitchen
Happy Kitchen Jam Tarts (gluten-free, dairy-free, egg-free)
Kids in the Kitchen: Spaghetti and (Gluten-Free) Meatballs
Other Online articles about Kids in the Kitchen:
Cooking with Kids Teaches About Simple Snacks
Dads and Kids Cooking Together
Why Invite Your Kids Into The Kitchen?
.
Cantaloupe is the theme ingredient this week for Friday Foodie Fix at The W.H.O.L.E. Gang. So check it out for more gluten-free recipes with cantaloupe.
