Turning Over a Green Leaf Juicing Segment

So 5 Flavors of Chi did a kale,carrot and apple juicing demonstration for two of the fitness components of our initiative PHIT and Zumba (click each link to see video of both fitness classes) . The kids loved it!!They continue to ask me when are you doing the juice demo again Ms.Kim !! We do this as part of our "Retraining the Taste Buds" segment.The goal of the initiative is to emphasize the importance of nutrition and fitness together, developing habits at a young age while addressing the issue of childhood obesity, and improved nutrition for optimal health.

Recipe for juicing is below at the bottom of the page along with the ANDI (aggregate nutritional density index) definition and link to nutritional info
http://www.eatrightamerica.com/erni-superfoods/

This particular juicing segment was done a few weeks ago at the Creative Minds International Public Charter School before the Thanksgiving holiday.

The goal of the initiative is to create awareness and to give parents a voice on something important as it pertains to their concerns as parents. The intention is to provide resources, recipes and nutritional information through different events and activities for parents to be able to make informed decisions concerning their child's health.

The intention was to also address the Healthy Hunger Free Kids Act Mandate for  higher nutritional standards in schools. With the goal of involving the parents and the community in developing new wellness policies for the schools. The initiative addresses these concerns in it's conception as a pilot program.

  The juicing segment was successful and got lot's of positive feed back from several parents.Clara's mommy said that since the juicing was introduced her daughter is excited about juicing and now loves to juice kale,carrots and apples.

The issue for most mommy's (Clara's mommy included) is getting your child to eat enough fruits and veggies to get the right amount of nutrients especially with most families having busy lifestyles.

But of course when someone else introduces it to them, then they really want to try it because it's not coming from mommy, she shared with me. I agreed kids sometimes respond to things more when it comes from someone else that is not an authoritative figure.. Then it's great stuff and exciting to them!!. Then another parent said that having other kids doing it and enjoying it made it even more attractive for kids to participate in the taste demo.

 "The juicing demo inspired us to go out and buy a juicer that week and juice" ...thank you for being here said one of the moms.". It's amazing that such a small thing could impact my life the way that it did".The mom also mentioned that her daughters mood was also different in a positive way when she juiced. Clara is excited about doing exercise she mentioned .Mommy we have to exercise she says. Clara is enrolled in the fitness PHIT (Proper Head Start In Training) class.

Another satisfied parent..Yeah... that's what we love to hear about the positive impact that something small can make on someones life!! So thank you parents for listening ,participating ,and contributing your thoughts and experiences!! You are why we do what we do!! We know as parents how important your children are to you!! Because we know how important our daughter Gabriella is to us.
Thank you for reading

Recipe Below

Kale,Carrot, Apple Juice

Put all of the fruit and veggies into a juicer individually and the juice tastes best when produce is cold instead of room temperature.

1 leaf of Kale   
2 apples (cut into fourths to be safe with my juicer I put in the whole apple)
1 medium carrot

Drink the juice immediately to ensure freshness in the taste and be merry ...and feel the difference in your energy over time!!!

I have a Jack Lalanne juicer in case you wanted to know you can buy them at Costco

Fruits and Vegetables the real benefits

www.mindbodygreen.com/0-4408/Top-10-Health-Benefits-of-Eating-Kale.html

http://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/fruit/health-benefits-of-apple.html
http://www.ehow.com/about_5064031_vitamins-apple.html

What does ANDI mean?

http://www.health-alternatives.com/fruit-nutrition-chart.html

ANDI also known as Aggregate Nutrient Density Index

 is the nutrient density of a food.

 Low Nutrient Foods promote food cravings and overeating.
High Nutrient Foods promote a normal caloric drive and a normal weight

What is the nutrient density of food?

 Nutrient density is a concept pioneered by Dr. Joel Fuhrman, and is simply the measurement of the concentration of micronutrients in food. Some foods, like green vegetables have very high nutrient density measurements. Processed foods have very low nutrient density measurements. Foods that are nutrient dense are associated with greater health, increased energy and weight loss.

 

Juicing at Creative Minds International PCS 

Recipe is below

Yesterday 5 Flavors Of Chi "We are the Why" Healthy Eating and Fitness Initiative did one of it's  many nutritional components called Retraining the Tastebuds to support two of it's fitness components one of which is PHIT(Proper Headstart In Training). We believe nutrition without fitness or vice versa is like hopping on one foot.

In this segment we did a recipe for Homemade Sherbert Lemonade as an alternative to sugary loaded soda's and juices that may have fructose corn syrup,dyes,sodium and other preservatives.It's loaded with vitamins A,B and C,calcium,magnesium, and potassium.It is also all natural with no sugar added.

 Thanks to donations through Safeway http://www.safeway.com/ShopStores/O-Organics.page
 we used their O organic's line of apples,lemons and strawberries to make samples for parents and kids to sample.Thank you again Sam for your support!!

Sherbert Lemonade or Organic http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organic_food homemade lemonade with strawberry is something I make for our daughter and she loves it!! We have made a habit of juicing everyday with our daughter Gabriella.

The lemonade was sucessful the kids really loved it!! So much that some of them asked their parents to get more kid friendly recipes from 5 Flavors Of Chi! Thank you Creative Minds International PCS for having us....Thank you parents and kids for stopping by and supporting the program!!
   http://www.creativemindspcs.org/newsletters/CMI%20PCS%20October%20Newsletter.pdf      
    
Please join us on November 7th and 8th for another juice taste test

Til next time
Kim


SHERBERT HOMEMADE LEMONADE  with added strawberries optional for extra zing
Will need to invest in a quality juicer

2 organic gala apples or golden delicious(cut apple's into fourths unless your juicer has the capacity to take in apples whole)
1/3  organic lemon(wax free with rind)
2 organic strawberries(optional)
2 ice cubes

simple juice the apples and lemons and pour over ice...


 • No Preservatives
• No Added Sugar
• No Artifical Coloring
• No Artifical Flavoring

 

Benefits of Juicing (how many fruits and vegetables do you need?)

http://www.cdc.gov/nutrition/everyone/fruitsvegetables/howmany.html

Being Healthy consists of many different things.Eating a daily intake of 5-9 servings of fruits and vegtables is recommended by to keep our bodies healthy. Juicing gives you more energy and the nutrients and enzymes the bodies different systems and cells need for nourishment.

 Juicing gives tremendous amounts of vitamins, minerals, nutrients and enzymes without having to digest and breakdown the food first. While It is still very important to consume whole foods as well to get the much needed fiber, juicing is a quick way to hydrate the body and get the natural vitamins and minerals while bathing the cells with vital nutrients and enzymes in just one glass!

WHEY BREAKFAST SMOOTHIE

Recipe is from the Rouxbe Online Cooking School Blog  www.rouxbe.com

Smoothies are healthy, give you lots of energy and keep your blood sugar balanced  and they keep you full.

 Here is a great recipe for those mornings where you need something quick for the kids or yourself!!

By the way my daughter also likes this recipe substituting strawberries for the mango...

 Nutrient dense liquid drinks give your digestive tract a little break, due to the fact that everything is broken down into little pieces. This way your body does not use up its energy to break down big particles of food.

It is important to nourish your body with liquid food such as soups, pureed vegetables or smoothies. They can give us more energy, contribute to better bowel function and allow our body to use energy to heal and reduce inflammation.

This smoothie recipe provides your body with:

Raw enzymes (Speed up chemical reactions in the body, which in turns allows the body to function more efficiently) from the raw fruit.
Potassium (Regulates heartbeat) in the banana.
Antioxidants (Fight free radical damage) from the blueberries.
Calcium (Strong bones) from the almond milk
Electrolytes (Essential for normal cell and organ function in the body) from the coconut water.
Raw honey (Immune supportive and contains raw enzymes for proper digestive health)
Protein (Builds muscle and tissue, provides energy) from the protein powder.

GOOD Fat (Provides energy, carries fat soluble vitamins throughout the body and every cell is coated in fat) from the coconut oil.
Pure vanilla extract is the flavor of love!

1/2 fresh or frozen banana
1/2 cup fresh or frozen blueberries
1/4 cup fresh or frozen mango
1/2 cup coconut water
1 tablespoon raw local honey
3/4 cup unsweetened plain almond milk
1 teaspoon coconut oil
1 scoop protein powder (I use a whey isolate protein powder that has about 18-20g per scoop. If the scoop has 40g of protein, use half a scoop for one smoothie)
1 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

Method
Buy a whole bunch of blueberries, mangoes and bananas and portion 1/2 cup of blueberries 1/4 cup of mangoes and 1/2 a banana into small re-sealable freezer bags. Done, frozen and ready to go in the morning!
In a glass jar with a hand blender or in a regular blender, add all of your ingredients and blend until smooth and creamy. Adding icecubes is optional

 

 

Gabriella's Corner Quick Summertime Treat for all kids!!


What a wonderful summer!! We hope everyone had a great summer. ...Wow it's almost over already!! But you can have these treats anytime!!

Here are Gabriella's favorite fast,easy,delicious recipes that she
pulled from our Vegan Dinner Cookbook, and our Vita Mix Whole Foods recipe cookbook thanks to her fantastic Nana!!

Thanks mom!! Thanks to her always supportive grandpa for helping her buy the ingredients from Whole Foods!!

Here goes

1st recipe:
http://www.juliehasson.com/julies-books/
  Dark Chocolate Chunk Ice Cream

from the cookbook Vegan Dinner by Julie Hasson

Please try to use organic ingredients as much as possible to avoid processing and unhealthy chemicals and preservatives

1 cup nondairy semisweet chocolate chips
2 1/2 cups vanilla soy milk(not low or non -fat
1/2 cup coconut milk(not light)
1/2 cup dutch process cocoa powder,sifted
2/3 cup granulated sugar
4 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoons xanthan gum

Place the chocolate in a microwave safe dish and heat on high for 30 seconds.Stir and if chocolate is not almost melted, heat for another 30 seconds or as needed. When chocolate is almost melted, stir gently and chocolate should melt the rest of the way from the heat of the bowl. Don't overheat the chocolate or it will burn and tum gritty. Alternatively, you can melt the chocolate in a double boiler.

In a blender jar, combine the soy milk,coconut milk,melted chocolate,cocoa powder,sugar, and vanilla.

Blend until the mixture is ultra-smooth. Add the xan-than gum and the blend again until smooth.

Pour the ice cream mixture into an ice cream maker and freeze according to the manufacturer's directions. Serve the ice cream right away or transfer to an air-tight container and freeze until ready to serve.

Tip: This ice cream is best served the day that it is made. Even if xanthan gum is something that you do not have at home, find some because it creates the magic in this ice cream recipe.

Add what ever toppings you like nuts,cherries,brownie pieces,sandwich cookies.

Enjoy!!!

2nd Recipe:

Frozen Blueberry Cobbler 
 from the Turbo Blend 4500
Vitamix Cookbook p. 79

1 cup skim milk(240 ml) milk  skim, soy, almond
2 cups (300g) frozen blueberries
3/4(170g) sugar/sweetener of choice
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

 Please ...use organic for all products if possible to avoid GMO'S and to avoid any hormones ( Bovine growth hormone in particular) Genetically Modified Bovine Growth Hormone is found in most milk at schools across the country.
http://www.organicconsumers.org/rbghlink.cfm

http://www.cancer.org/Cancer/CancerCauses/OtherCarcinogens/AtHome/recombinant-bovine-growth-hormone
,anti-bio tics, and other pain killers please see link below on the 20 pain killers found in milk.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2012050/The-cocktail-20-chemicals-glass-milk.html?ITO

Gabriella thanks you for trying out her recipes and reading and considering her healthy tips on the links above!! Eat Healthy, Think Healthy, Be Healthy!!!







 

4th Of July Treats for Kids(Healthier)

Happy 4th of July to All who celebrate this Great Country!!!

I wanted to share this wonderful recipe from Whole Food with parents to do today with their kids that I think is a great alternative to some of the other unhealthier desserts that are out there. It's called Grilled Bananas with sweet toppings!!! Delicious!!This can substitute ice cream sundaes or Smore's.
Enjoy!!

Ingredients

4 bananas
1/4 cup semisweet chocolate or carob chips
1/2 cup chopped strawberries or peaches
1/3 cup granola or graham cracker crumbs
1/2 cup mini marshmallows
1/4 cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)

Grilled Banannas with Sweet Toppings Recipe
http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/recipes/2564

Also another great treat for this wonderful Holiday for kids and adults is a drink called Sherbert Lemonade  from the Juicemaster Jason Vale it's super refreshing and Delicious!! Please try it my daughter loves it!! It's better then anything we've tasted before!

 But even better then that it has no added sugar it's 100% natural,nothing artificial, it has vitamins A,B,C along with potassium,calcium,magnesium, antioxidants and lots of fiber.

2 Golden Delicious Apples

1/3 of a lemon - where possible, wax free and with the rind

2 ice cubes

http://foodmatters.tv/food-matters-video-series/sherbet-lemonade-juice-recipe

It is also a cleanser for the kidneys and liver!!
Please let me know how much you like it! You will need to invest in a Juicer but you won't regret it!!

2 Golden Delicious Apples

1/3 of a lemon - where possible, wax free and with the rind

2 ice cubes

• Simply juice the apples and lemon and pour over ice!!

       I am off to see the Fireworks!! Happy 4th of July to all!! Til next time! Eat well..Drink well...Be well!!!
       

To Market to Farmers Market to buy some Capital Kettle Corn

(Gabriella’s Corner at the Market)

This Saturday in May we visited the Silver Spring Farmers Market

http://freshfarmmarkets.org/farmers_markets/markets/silver_spring.php to buy

some fresh produce (local veggies and fruits) and we found JC Clark owner of Capital Kettle Corn http://capitolkettlecorn.us/ a local business that supplies once in a while treats to everyone!! Sugar is okay in moderation...

Gabriella interviewed him and found out that he purchases his corn from a local source usually within a 150 mile radius and it has no GMO very important!! His source is one of the only corn sources locally that does not have GMO’S. (Genetically Modified Organisms)

 JC expressed to Gabriella the importance of supporting the environment with sustainable food and how getting it locally from the only local producer of popcorn the Chesapeake Bay food shed is important. Rather then having to have it come in from as far as the Midwest or California which could take 4-5 days which of course causes more gas emissions and pollution !!

His efforts of buying local also supports local farmers so that they can get a fair shake at earning a living and continuing to grow and supply healthy locally grown food to everyone!!! Which is healthier!!

 The flavors are very unique and creative Gabriella’s favorite was the chocolate and cinnamon flavor. Delicious. Delicious…..Thank you JC for enlightening us!!! We enjoyed learning from you!

By till later…Eat Well Be Well!!

K

I Scream You scream We all Scream !!! Home Made Banana Ice Cream!!

(Gabriella’s Corner at School Nutrition and Fitness Event)

We did it!! Home Made Banana Ice Cream as part of the "Retraining the Taste Buds" Summer Sweet Treats Segment for 5 Flavors of Chi

 YEAH Vita Mix Blender you made us proud!!

Thank you Ms. Baity.? For your support and for inviting us!!

RECIPE  FOR ICE CREAM  IS BELOW!!!

We had our puppet Chef Alfonso making his appearance debut and dancing for anyone and everyone!!

The health benefits of Almond milk, Rice milk and Agave were discussed by Gabriella and Mom. Samples of the ice cream were given out to everyone!!

Pedramin Valzari  a (nutritional consultant/Holistic Wellness Counselor) that works with us had yummie-licious banana cake with banana frosting samples made with all organic ingredients and coconut oil.

They were gluten free and vegan. She discussed the differences in the agave sweeteners vs. refined sugars health wise and the benefits of using coconut oil instead of traditional cooking oils.

 The therapeutic benefits of her ingredients were discussed with parents, students and faculty and her information was greatly appreciated!!

Hand outs were made available with the cakes ingredients, health benefits and recipe, at the table for everyone.

The health benefits of one of the many wonderful essential oils used in the cake from do’terra http://doterra-essential-oils.com/cinnamon-essential-oil essential oils was discussed also.

The recipe is as follows below:

Banana Ice Cream

Serves 4 -6 people: use food processor or vita mix blender and blend until creamy serve right away

5-6 very ripe bananas peeled and frozen ( freeze overnight 1 inch pieces in plastic freezer bag)

1 cup ice

1cup almond milk or soy milk( vanilla flavor)

2 tablespoons agave sweetener or honey

1teaspoon vanilla

Enjoy!!

Capcs 2 Pal Breakfast !!! Pink What !!! Pink Slime !!

Capcs 2 PAL Breakfast

5 Flavors Of Chi attended the last Pal Breakfast for the school year hosted by academy leader Mrs. Tanya Morgan. She is absolutely the best!!

Thank you for having us and for all of your support Mrs. Morgan.

We introduced the Initiative again to parents attending the breakfast. They received Go Mambo sample packets again thanks to Go Mambo!! They also received Safety Food Shoppers Guides.

The ingredients and benefits were listed on a handout flyer. We discussed the programs focus and goals.

Also touched briefly on why educating children at a young age on the importance of eating healthy and developing habits at a young age are important. The Pink Slime http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pink_slime controversy was talked about and discussed Yuk!!!

We discussed the state of our health nationally among children (mainly the obesity epidemic) and adults and the overall food system in general and why it needs to change.

There was also a viewing of video excerpts from a educational health documentary.

The parents were engaged and interested in the information and message.

One of the parents wanted to start juicing right away which was great!!

It’s always a treat to inform and educate others!!! Especially when they get it and it helps them become aware of other choices!!!

Eat Well!! Be Well!!

K

Great Wolf Lodge’s Restaurant’s Chef Shops Locally !!

Great Wolf Lodge’s Restaurant’s Chef Shops Locally !!!

Hello there again!! We traveled to www. Great Wolf www.greatwolflodge.com and had a wonderful stay over the school spring break with our daughter.

We dined at their restaurant which we almost avoided because of we assumed it was the typical cafeteria style of unhealthy food loaded with loads of fats, lots of sugar, high sodium content and un-fresh produce with little to no nutritional value.

Boy! Were we wrong!! When I approached the maître d and asked if the food was local she asked me right away if I wanted to meet the chef. "Really I said"? Of course I would love to talk to him!!

Low and behold he was extremely friendly, forth coming about his produce and meats and excited about our interest in his food preparation and ingredients.

"Yes he replied the food here is locally purchased at our Farmers Market"!! So it is fresh every day with no chemicals etc. Yeah!! Thank you Chef Lopes. It was really a treat to dine in your restaurant!!!!

The Chef was very friendly and more importantly knowledgeable about the importance of eating locally grown; organic, sustainable foods .The food was superb!!

It never hurts to ask especially as it concerns your family’s health. If you want good food you have to ask for it and the supply will meet the demand!!

The power is with the people!! The end customer makes or breaks a business. Ask and you shall receive !!

Eat Well, Be Well

K

"Retraining the Taste Buds Segment" Why is this important !!

Today I am updating my blog with some of the most recent events attended by 5 Flavors of Chi “We Are the Why” Healthy Eating and Fitness Initiative. February 28^th we attended a Health Fair for Browne School Education Campus.

We talked to the parents, students and faculty about the importance of eating foods without chemicals due to over processing, preservatives, Gmo's http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetically_modified_organism (Genetically Modified Organisms and other flavor enhancers).

We also touched on the importance of reading labels when food shopping and what to look for.

Questionnaires were given out to individuals to fill out about family eating habits for general awareness.

We offered as part of our” Retraining the Taste Buds” Segment samples of alternative cheese puffs thanks to Pirates Booty www.piratebrands.com  generous contribution and donation.

Pirates Booty( aged white cheddar puffs) is a healthier rice and corn snack for kids and adults that is natural, trans fat free, gluten free ,chemical free and delicious.

 The kids loved it  We give our daughter this snack all the time .You can find these at Whole Foods, Yes Organic and other grocery chains that carry natural and organic products.

We also gave out sample packets for our “Retraining the Taste Buds” segment with a list of ingredients and general health benefits thanks to www.mambosprouts.com Samples of Green Tea, Sweet Tea, Basmati Rice, Nature’s Path Granola Bars, Santa Cruz Organic Apple Sauce, Seasonings, and coupons for Yogi Teas, Natural Essence sunscreen, and Santa Cruz Organic juices among other things.

 “Retraining The Taste Buds” is a segment of the initiative created to introduce healthier alternative foods to parents to be able to incorporate a healthier way of eating and lifestyle for their child.

Many parents in the population that we speak to do not have exposure to healthier products because of availability issues in their local grocery stores.

 Also more importantly, not having the awareness, that they should, be seeking out different products. One of the issues we cover first is why change is necessary and how to begin the process of having accessibility to those foods.

 Safety Food Shopping guides were distributed to parents thanks to the generosity of 
 www.centerforfoodsafety.org a local non-profit organization that advocates with great persistence food safety for the public  and other public safety environmental issues. I am so grateful for all of their hard work protecting us citizens.

There were also video excerpts on healthier eating for parents and students to watch.

Bye for now and  remember!! Knowledge is Power or you are at the mercy of other’s!!! Eat Well Be Well!!! Till next time…..

Baking Substitutes and Banana Bread Recipe

Hi,

I wanted to share a great banana bread recipe with you and some baking egg substitutes for those of you who are concerned with allergies,cholesterol, and cardiovascular disease or for those of you that are are vegan or vegetarian.This is something you can make with your kids for breakfast on weekends.Yummy!!

For egg substitutes please read below. Recipe is towards the bottom of the page.

Bananas and Applesauce

 mash up or blend about a half a banana or 1/4 cup applesauce to use as an egg replacer in baked goods such as muffins, pancakes or yeast-free quick breads, such as pumpkin bread, and of course, banana bread! Bananas and applesauce add the perfect amount of thick moisture, like eggs, but they won't help your dishes rise or turn out light and fluffy, so be sure the recipe you are using includes a bit of baking powder or baking soda to help it rise if needed.

Tofu

Silken tofu is also an appropriate egg substitute in baked goods. To use, blend 1/4 cup silken tofu with liquid ingredients until tofu is smooth and creamy. While it won't alter the flavor of a recipe, using tofu as an egg substitute will make baked goods a bit on the heavy and thick side, so it works well in brownies and pancakes, but wouldn't work well in something like an angel food cake that needs to be light and fluffy.

Other Substitutes

In a pinch, or with a good recipe, vinegar mixed with water or even plain run-of-the-mill soda can work as a decent egg re placer.

For other egg substitutes visit www.egglesscooking .com

Recipe: All organic ingredients is best

Amaranth Banana Bread

 Makes 1 loaf

You'll appreciate the rich flavor in this banana bread thanks to nutty amaranth flour.

Ingredients

1 1/4 cups whole wheat pastry flour for (gluten free) substitute kamut or spelt or all purpose flour.
3/4 cup amaranth flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
1 cup mashed ripe bananas (about 3)
2 large eggs
1/3 cup fat-free plain yogurt (lactose intolerant) substitute soy or coconut yogurt
2 tablespoons canola oil, more for the pan
3/4 cup sugar (organic)
3/4 cup chopped walnuts, divided (optional)

Method

Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly oil an 8-1/2- x 4-1/2-inch loaf pan.

In a large bowl, whisk together whole wheat pastry flour, amaranth flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. In a separate bowl, whisk together bananas, eggs, yogurt, oil and sugar. Add banana mixture to flour mixture and stir just until combined. Fold in 1/2 cup walnuts. Pour batter into prepared pan and top with remaining 1/4 cup walnuts.

Bake 1 hour or until bread is golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center of the loaf comes out clean. Let cool slightly then loosen sides from pan, remove loaf and serve warm or let cool completely before serving.

I substitute coconut oil for for the canola oil because it is healthier. I will talk more about which oils are healthier next blog.

Til next time Enjoy!!

Kim

5 Flavors Of Chi Attends Spingarn Senior High School Health Fair

5 Flavors Of Chi attended a Health Fair last Friday on January 18th at the Spingarn High School in N.E Washington D.C. We talked to the students about the importance of knowing what is in their foods and what is not. Also emphasized was how ones diet can effect a person mentally, physically, and emotionally and change their life for better or worse and how they perceive their lives.

What we discussed was how adopting a healthier lifestyle of eating the right foods with the proper nutrients can in most cases reverse most diseases, and more importantly prevent chronic illnesses like diabetes, cardiovascular, obesity, ma-nutrition and a host of other ailments.

They were asked about their current diet and  to fill out a questionnaire getting them to take a closer look at what they were eating on a daily basis ,where they were eating when dining out with their families,  taking a closer look at where their food is really coming from and how unhealthy certain food choices are because of the chemical processing,preservatives,colorings,additives and more, all having little to no nutrients or fiber all necessary for a body to function normally.

The students were also given a True Food Shoppers Guide courtesy of The Center for Food Safety to help them determine what foods to eat for optimal health and well being and what foods to stay away from. The guide specifically covers how to avoid foods made with Genetically Modified Organisms.

Also Covered was how sugar in large quantities can be very harmful to the body, effecting the nervous systems. The students were offered drink alternative samples with much less sugar content then they were used to thanks to Honest Teas Beverages. They really enjoyed trying something that was healthier for them and  actually wanted more!!  Recommended was that they challenge themselves and their families to eliminating soda from their diets for one month to experience the effects of less sugar and no fructose corn syrup also discussed.

Label reading was also mentioned as well as how and where they can get Organic foods and produce when it is not available in their immediate areas.  Links were suggested and offered to help them research and start them with the process of becoming  first aware of  the importance of "Why" they should develop better eating habits and fitness routines for themselves for  a life time. That is the question "We are the Why" Healthy Eating and Fitness Initiative till next time Be Health !!!!

Kim

INTRO TO HEALTHY EATING AND FUNDRAISING PROGRAM AT DC PTA CONGRESS CEREMONY

Last Friday evening 5 Flavors Of Chi/ABC Fundraising attended an event to honor Washington DC PTA School Presidents and Principals thanks to our friend Vicki Davis who is doing a fundraiser with us on behalf of the Preparatory School of D.C. They were celebrating schools that are officially part of the DC PTA Congress  and introducing the MyDcPta.Org website.The event was  attended by the DC mayor Vincent Grey, the President of the DC Congress of PTA'S Gwendolyn Griffin and the the DC School Chancellor Kaya Henderson.We were there to speak to individual PTA school presidents about how we could help them with fundraising for their different projects and to speak to them about initiating our "We Are the Why" Healthy Eating and Fitness Program at their schools. There was a great interest and we made  a lot of very good contacts!!!

Til Next Time
Kim