Sorry for the confusion about the missing Pre-orders. 

Please check MENUS page for Updated and working Link to next Pre-order Form.

I'll be receiving them on Monday.

In Defense of Okra What did okra ever do to you? Besides being an itchy plant when it grows, it is harmless. But, throughout so much of the country it has gotten a reputation for being slimy, unappetizing or only good for frying. I am here to stand up for okra and tell you why you should give it a second chance. I first came across okra on a trip to India in 2007. In India they call okra “lady’s fingers”. The traditional dish is called bhindi masala where the okra is chopped up and mixed with onions, garlic, chilis, tomatoes and a variety of fragrant and mouth watering Indian spices. Serve me that and some warm roti (Indian whole-wheat bread) and I am in heaven. I fell in love with okra immediately. Upon my return to the states I began to seek it out. And it was then that I realized that we are a nation of okra-haters. Slowly but surely I had to make my case one dish at a time. I made jambalayas, I added it to stir-fries, I roasted it and I, of course, made a lot of bhindi masala. As a future dietitian I appreciate the fact that okra is low calorie (50 calories per cup) and high in fiber (3g per cup). But my favorite thing about cooking with okra is that it is a natural thickener. Instead of added flour or roux to a recipe, okra becomes a natural, low calorie – zero fat way of providing thickness and texture to dishes. So, the next time you see okra at the farmer’s market don’t run away. Pick out the smaller pods (they are the most tender) and go home and try this recipe for bhindi masala and tell me you haven’t come over to my side! Pippa’s Recipe for Bhindi Masala Ingredients: 1 Tbsp cumin 1 Tpsp coriander 1.5 tsp turmeric 1 tsp garam masala 1 tsp curry powder 2 tsp smoked paprika (it isn’t an exact science – if you don’t have all these spices it is not the end of the world – it will still be delicious!) 2 Tbsp minced ginger 3 cloves minced garlic 1 serrano chili or jalapeno, minced 1 large red onion, chopped or sliced 2 large fresh tomatoes, chopped (or use canned tomatoes if tomatoes are not in season) 3 cups sliced okra (1/2 inch thick) Vegetable or chicken stock for thinning What to do: Heat 2 Tbsp of canola oil in a deep skillet or pot Add the spices and mix into the oil until just fragrant (30 sec.) Add the onions, chili, ginger and garlic and stir constantly until coated with the spices Season with salt and pepper to taste Once the mixture starts to stick a little after a few minutes, deglaze with a little stock and get all the bits up off the bottom of the pan Add the tomatoes and okra Stir together and bring to a boil (the tomatoes and okra will release a lot of liquid), then turn it down to a simmer (med-low) Let the masala cook until the tomatoes have broken down and the okra is tender and has done its thickening duties. Taste before serving to make sure it is seasoned well. Serve with chopped cilantro and lime wedges It can be served over rice or with warm roti (my favorite!) Courtesy of

Run, Move and Playing tips for this week? What type of activity have you and your family done together to live healthier this week? Jot them down at mealtime together and discuss more ways you can be active together. Try keeping a written record for one week of your physical activities to keep you motivated and make your family proud of its accomplishments! Reward your family when they’ve completed AT LEAST 5 activities each week (30 minutes each activity) for 5 weeks in a row. Put some money in a jar each time a family member chooses do an activity and treat them to a fun, family day outdoors or a trip to the store for a toy that involves exercise – a new soccer ball, jump rope, or even a Wii Fit for the family! RememberNEVER use food as a reward. Now think about how you can role model a healthy activity this week? Promoting physical activity by being a good role model will help your family form healthy habits to take a positive view of exercise! Here’s some ways to get started below. Select what you plan to do then choose a day to get moving! I will pick a day and time that we will exercise together, as a family, each week I will chose to walk or bike rather than drive when time permits I will chose a fitness activity rather than watching a TV show or DVD I will sign up for a sports or exercise class rather than buying a new video game system or the latest electronic gadget I will play an exergame with my child or catch instead of curling up on the couch Courtesy of

FYI

Estoy aceptando formas de pre-orden este martes, debido a que varios padres me lo han solicitado.

I am accepting pre-order forms on Tuesday, due to the fact that several parents have asked me.  

Feliz Independencia

Felices Fiestas de la Independencia!
Disfruten el feriado largo.  Nos vemos el martes.  

Desayuno Tipico

On Thursday, September 13 students will celebrate Independence day with a typical Honduran Breakfast.  As this is a classroom event check with your teacher and homeroom parents.  Please confirm grade and number of meals per class when placing an order.  Orders need to be placed at least 2 days before event.  

The cafeteria is offering the following:

Baleadas (frijoles, mantequilla) L15

Baleadas + huevo L 20

Pan con frijoles y mantequilla L15

Pan + huevo L20

Pupusas con ensalada y encurtido L20

Platano entero con frijoles y mantequilla crema L25

Plato de platanos fritos en tajadas mas frijoles mas queso y 2 tortillas L35

Bebida: vaso de Horchata L10

Why Eat Less Meat? It’s not news that the typical U.S. diet—what researchers call the “Western diet”, loaded with meat, saturated fat, processed foods, salt and sugar and low in fruits, whole grains and veggies—is spurring all sorts of health problems, even for our youngest citizens. However, it is good news that the message to “eat more plants” is slowing creeping in. And it’s not just the long list of celebrities, from Anne Hathaway to Woody Harrelson that are praising the a plant-based lifestyle. It’s also the scholarly experts in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and nutrition experts have joined the campaign to promote a more plant-based way of eating. In my book released earlier this summer, The Plant-Powered Diet: The Lifelong Eating Plan for Achieving Optimal Health, Beginning Today (The Experiment, 2012), I explain the dramatic benefits of eating more plants and why hundreds of studies have led to one conclusion: The healthiest diet on the planet is a plant-based diet. Since a plant-based diet is simply an eating pattern that “emphasizes plant foods,” it covers a spectrum of eating styles and preferences. For some families, a plant-based diet may consist of no animal products. For others, it might be a more gradual process of shifting away from the traditional Western diet that is high in animal products towards more plant foods. The great thing about transitioning to a plant-based diet is that it doesn’t involve complicated instructions. It’s a simple shift towards more whole, unprocessed foods that come directly from plants – and the result is optimal health for your children and for your whole family. Learn how with the top ten tips to eat plant based kid friendly meals!

Top Ten Plant-Powered Kid-friendly Eating Tips Posted: 31 Aug 2012 01:49 PM PDT Planning to eat less meat as a family? To help jumpstart the transition to a plant-based diet in your family, here are 10 plant-powered kid-friendly tips. Ease into it. If meat is a staple in your household for every meal, you have room to cut back. Create a family goal for how many meatless meals you want to eat. You could start out slowly by having one completely plant-based meal per week, or even having an entirely meatless day. Breakfast of champions. With so many delicious and fun “veggie” friendly breakfast foods out there, it’s easy to pass on the meat in the morning. Your little one will be too busy feasting on oatmeal topped with berries and walnuts or buckwheat pecan pancakes with peaches to even miss the bacon. Change it up. Meat doesn’t necessarily have to be the center of the plate at every meal. Cut down on the amount of meat you consume by taking one individual portion of meat or chicken and using it to flavor an entire family-size meal of stir-fry, casserole, or stew.  One is the magic number. One way to make vegetarian cooking simple and delicious is to rely on more one-dish, kids’ favorites, such as chili, stew, casseroles, and pasta dishes. A crock-pot is a great investment when shifting to a plant-based eating style. Go on a family vacation – in your kitchen! Some cultures know how to do vegetarian meals right! But who says you need to travel far to enjoy ethnic cuisine? Visit a local ethnic restaurant, such as Mexican, Indian, Thai, and Vietnamese to find inspiration for adventurous, vegetarian meals at home.  Take a lesson from your kids. There’s a common misconception that preparing vegetarian meals is laborious and complicated – but tons of simple, kid-friendly recipes are already meatless. Think: black bean burritos or spaghetti and tomato sauce. Transform your family favorites. Does your family love pizza night? Trim the meat and load up on the veggies. Skip the processed meats, and top your pizza with broccoli, cashews, red onions and basil. Say “yes.” Take a trip to the produce section of your supermarket or visit a farmer’s market with the kids. Get excited, and feast your eyes on all the delicious plant foods you can enjoy as a family. Your excitement will be contagious and in turn, your kids will get excited too! Step away from the faux-chicken nugget. A typical assumption is that vegetarian meals are centered on soy-based meat substitutes that can easily be popped in the microwave for each meal. But the “whole” point of a plant-based diet is to reap the nutrition rewards of whole grains, fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, and seeds. It doesn’t hurt that many of these foods are nature’s perfect finger foods. Naturally delicious and convenient. What’s not to love? Get cooking with the kids! There is no better way to get kids interested in new foods and flavors than to involve them in the kitchen. Invest in one good vegetarian cookbook and choose one family night a week to experiment with a fun, new recipe.  If you need a recommendation for a delicious vegetarian recipe, try this Southwest Black Bean Quinoa Salad from The Plant Powered Diet. You can also watch Sharon prepare it here. SuperKids Nutrition recommends adding the Plant Powered Diet to your reading list to help grow a healthy family! Courtesy of