Brookfarm bar

Brookfarm bar- this is a 35g bar which is gluten free & contains both macadamias and cranberries. Best of all it is GM free and a Product of Australia. (Byron Bay, N.S.W.) Ingredients listed are: buckwheat, organic tapioca,dried cranberries (13%), puffed rice, rice bran, honey, macadamia nuts (8%), pumpkin kernels, macadamia oil, sunflower kernels, soy flour, currants, puffed buckwheat, puffed amaranth, prune juice, cinnamon.
Part of the proceeds from every bar sold goes to Rainforest Rescue to help preserve rainforest in the Daintree area of North Q'ld. Available in health food stores and some juice bars. Enjoy!

Sanitarium One Square Meal

Sanitarium One Square Meal (Cranberry) consists of 2 bars & costs $3.98.  It does tick some boxes- no artificial flavours, no artificial colours, no trans fats, and is low GI. It was pleasing to see coconut oil & manuka honey in the ingredient list. However, 5th, 12th, 22nd, and the last 2 ingredients are all forms of MSG (isolated soy protein, maltodextrin, natural flavour, natural flavour & malted barley). Not a good idea to consume this as a meal replacement or even a snack.
My next blog will feature an alternative snack bar that qualifies as a 'slow food for fast people'!

Orange & Rosemary Chicken

A quick & easy dinner dish: Orange & Rosemary Chicken

Ingredients:

1 Tb olive oil
2kg chicken wings (substitute 1.2 kg chicken legs if preferred)
4 Tb tamari soy sauce
2 tsp dried rosemary

 (use fresh if available)
zest of 1 large orange

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 200C.
2.Line a baking dish with baking paper. Drizzle oil over the bottom of the dish.
3. Using a large sharp knife cut the chicken wings into 3 pieces each at the joints. Place chicken in baking dish.
4. Drizzle chicken with tamari sauce and sprinkle with rosemary and orange zest.
5. Cook in preheated oven for 30 minutes. Turn & cook a further 15 mins.
Serve with steamed vegetables or a green salad. (recipe by Collette White) ENJOY!

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Tamari soya sauce

Tamari soya sauce: this is a wheat and preservative free Soy Sauce.
Ingredients are whole soybeans, filtered water and sea salt. It is made from natural fermentation and is a unique sauce with a delicate aroma and colour. Enjoy!

PRODUCT OF THE WEEK

PRODUCT OF THE WEEK: 100% True Fruit, Apricot & Apple. I used to include these bars occasionally in my own children's lunch boxes many years ago. It was pleasing to see that they are still around. There are no additives or colours, no fat, are low GI & high in dietary fibre and protein. Ingredients listed are 100% Dried Fruit. Apricot & Apple. If you children suffer from asthma however, it may be wise to avoid these bars as I suspect the dried fruit that is used may be preserved with sulphites. Remember there is a 5% loophole in Australia- i.e. food manufactures are not obliged to tell us everything on the label!
They are made by Sun Valley, N.S.W and available in the health section of Woolworth's supermarkets.

Brooklea Squishy Yogurt

Aldi sell Brooklea Squishy Yogurt in their dairy section so, upon request, I investigated the ingredient list on their packaging. I am so pleased to say that the Vanilla and Tropicana have absolutely no colours or other nasty additives in them! Banana has 160a, Carotene, which is safe.
 However, it would be wise to avoid the Strawberry as it has Colour 120, Carmines or cochineal which has been linked to hyperactivity. Otherwise, the first 3 flavours are safe eating for your young children. Enjoy!

Yoplait Squeezie Yogurt (Strawberry)

Squeezie Yogurt- this form of yogurt was not available when my children were young. However, I thought it was about time I looked at this product more closely as our children deserve 'safe' foods.

The 2nd ingredient is sugar & the 7th is fructose! The 11th ingredient is 'natural flavours (i.e. MSG) whilst the next ingredient listed is 'natural colour Cochineal'- i.e. 120 Carmines or Carminic acid. This additive is linked to hyperactivity. Malic acid is listed towards the end of the list. Notice how there are no ingredients listed as numbers. This is there to confuse the consumer who is becoming more familiar with numbers!
 Malic acid is in fact, No.296. This is regarded as an additive that is not suitable for children as it is unknown if they can digest it fully. Allergic reactions and skin irritations may also occur. Far from the best choice for our next generation of children.