Real Food Holiday Traditions: Nourishing Kids with Food as Medicine

Defining Real Whole Foods

• 💡 Real whole foods are identified by how many of their edible parts remain intact, seeking ingredients with minimal stripping, refining, or chemical treatment.
• ✨ They are described as 'god food' versus man-made industrialized products, possessing a 'life source' rather than being sterilized or chemically adulterated.
• ⚠️ Avoidance of synthetically reenriched or chemically manufactured ingredients is crucial to prevent disrupting children's bodies, behavioral issues, and inflammation.

Festive, Dye-Free Colors

• 🎨 Food dyes are recommended for elimination due to their association with hyperactivity, cancer risk, migraines, and inflammatory conditions.
• 🌈 Instead, vibrant colors can be achieved using antioxidants and plant-based pigments like turmeric (yellow), berries (pink/red), blueberries/blackberries (purple), matcha (green), or spirulina/chlorella.
• 🌿 These natural colorants also contribute nutritive value and can add complexity to flavor profiles.

Lowering Glycemic Impact

• 📉 Recipes can be made more low-glycemic by using bases like almond flour (containing protein, fat, and fiber) instead of refined flours.
• ⚡ Adding protein to recipes, such as a scoop of whey protein in muffins, helps offset the glycemic index.
• 🧠 Managing blood sugar is important to prevent immune disruption, behavioral issues, and concentration problems, especially during the holidays.

Incorporating Health-Supporting Ingredients

• 🍲 Functional ingredients can be added to recipes, such as bone broth in hot cocoa or even organs in stuffing or gravy.
• 🍫 A family favorite is Bone Broth Hot Cocoa, made with gut-supporting bone broth, cacao powder, and maple syrup for sweetness and nutrients.
• 🍬 It can be paired with Vanilla Bean and Honey Marshmallows, made with honey, gelatin, and vanilla bean powder.

Empowering Families with Food as Medicine

• 📚 The book "Naturally Nourished Kids" offers over 100 anti-inflammatory, low-glycemic, gluten-free recipes designed for the whole family.
• 🎁 The book is presented as a stocking stuffer and a way to inspire families with food as medicine solutions.
• ✅ The goal is to provide families with the confidence to nourish their households and enjoy the holidays with delicious, nourishing food.