Food Tuesday: Cabot’s Lactose-Free Cheese for Kids

Cabot's Lacose-Free Cheese

Lately, it seems like more kids are lactose intolerant.  They can’t handle milk or other dairy-laced products.  Even a small amount of butter could make a child sick.  This leave parents having to rework recipes, which is tricky when cheese is the main ingredient in a meal, like tacos.  Who doesn’t love a cheesy taco for dinner?

Once you start omitting cheese, milk and other dairy products, you realize lactose is in everything.  One solution for parents is from Cabot, the cheese maker in Vermont.

Several of Cabot’s cheese selections are “Naturally Lactose Fee,” which means kids can still get the calcium they need and indulge in nachos, cheese and crackers, chili with shredded cheese, grilled cheese, and other appetizers and meals without having to worry about upset an tummy.  Try Cabot’s “Smooth Sharp Cheddar Cheese” and “50% Reduced Fat Sharp Cheddar Cheese.”  The cheeses are also gluten-free, an added perk for those on a gluten-free diet.

Cabot’s website has lactose-free recipes, as well information about the different cheeses available from the company.  The site also has useful information and links on lactose intolerance.   Look for these logos on the Cabot cheese packages:

MommaJam on 95.9 WATD-FM: Go Geocaching!

Here is the instant replay of MommaJam on 95.9 WATD-FM on Oct. 6, 2011 where we talk about Geocaching on the South Shore with Rob Hakala and Lisa Azizian.  News reporter Steve Dodrill chimes in with his favorite spots to hunt for themed geocaches.

CLICK TO PLAY AUDIO  

Geocaching at O'Neil Farm in Duxbury, Mass. as seen in South Shore Living

Getting Started with Geocaching

To get started, go to Geocaching.com for a $10 membership for 3 months.  This gives you access to longitude and latitude coordinates that you plug into a GPS device or a smart phone that has the geocaching app on it.  Then, you set out on trails to find trinkets stashed in containers tucked under logs or hidden in trees.

Geocaching is a great way to learn navigation skills because you need to understand how to use a compass.  It’s a good idea to print out maps and location information ahead of time because it’s easy to get lost if you can’t read your compass correctly.

One key rule when you geocache:  If you take a trinket, leave a trinket.

For more information, check out my geocaching article, “High Tech Hunt” in the October 2011 issue of South Shore Living.

Enjoy!

Back-to-School: Go Trash Free with Laptop Lunches

This week on MommaJam, we interviewed Amy Hemmert, co-founder of Laptop Lunches, the leader in bento-box-style lunch boxes for kids and grown ups.  Tune into the interview to hear Amy talk about the bento box design and what inspired her to launch the company with Tammy Pelstring.

(CLICK ARROW TO PLAY INTERVIEW WITH AMY HEMMERT FROM LAPTOP LUNCHES)

Laptop Lunches Bento Box

Parents can subscribe to get a weekly menu of lunch ideas on Laptop Lunches.com.  The website overall is a great community to learn about eating healthy and packing food in an eco-friendly way.

We’ll continue the conversation about Laptop Lunches on 95.9 WATD-FM on Thursday, Sept. 22 at 7:10 a.m. with Morning Show cronies Rob Hakala and Lisa Azizian.  Tune in and listen live on the dial or from your desktop at 959WATD.com.

Rip It, Hear It, Play It!   Listen to MommaJam on the Go with iTunes.

Related articles

• MommaJam on 95.9 WATD-FM: Summer Grilling (mommajam.wordpress.com)
• Back to School BPA-Free (healthyworkingmom.wordpress.com)

MommaJam on 95.9 WATD-FM: Cycle Chic and Bling Bike Bells

Celebrate Cycle Chic

This week on MommaJam, we are talking about a new trend called Cycle Chic, the mixing of fashion and bike riding.   Think wheels and heels or baskets and bling bells.

The flagship Cycle Chic website, which put a name to the trend, launched in Copenhagen, Denmark, and now there are numerous sister sites around the U.S. and world.

Hear MommaJam on 95.9 WATD-FM discuss this new trend with the morning news team, Rob Hakala and Lisa Azizian.

CLICK ARROW TO PLAY AUDIO 

Cycle Chic Accessories Popular – Bling Out Your Bike!

Brrring, bling!  You can get a Pink Flower Bling Bell from Cruiser Candy.com which sells fantastic bells and baskets for cruiser bikes.

Nantucket Bike Basket Company offers wicker cruiser baskets that come in all sorts of great colors and styles.  The company does not sell direct, so check online for stores near you.

Always wear a helmut, even though the totally chic lady from Italy (above) is not wearing one.   Helmuts are getting fashionable, and don’t have to be the typical racer bike helmut that points to the front and back.  The Bell Faction helmuts come a range of styles and colors suitable for trendy moms.  One of my favorites is the black and pink Diablo Drifter helmut from Bell.

You can find cruiser bikes for both women and men everywhere.  Check your local bike store or search online at places like Amazon.com.  I found a Pink Schwinn Lulu Rigid Cruiser bike at Target.com for $159.  This would make a great Mother’s Day present this season!

Green And Fun!

People are getting into green living and don’t want to drive to run errands.  For recreational bike riding, beach cruiser bikes are a lot of fun.  Look for bike paths near your home or in neighboring towns.

For listeners on the South Shore of Massachusetts, check out the bike trails around Wompatuck State Park in Hingham for a day of family riding.  The South Shore coast line is also a great place to bike ride for exercise and the scenic views.  Start in Hull and ride South through Cohassett to Scituate.

No matter what your destination, for an any kind extensive bike excursion, plan ahead with protein snacks, water, a map, and, of course, your helmut.

Rip It, Hear It, Play It!   Listen to MommaJam on the Go with iTunes.

MommaJam Minute: Fresh Scents of Spring

Lavender, lemon, eucalyptus – the fresh scents of spring and fresh air.  Create your own indoor spring season oasis by adding a few drops of your favorite essential oil into basic house hold items and you’ll feel refreshed.

• Plain unscented body and hand lotion, for soothing or energizing your mind

• Unscented dish soap for a squeaky clean smelling kitchen

• Spray bottle filled with water and two shots of unscented liquid dish soap for fresh counter tops

Tips for Shoveling Snow

Hear the Instant Replay of the Live Radio Interview on 95.9 WATD-FM on Thursday, Feb. 24, 2011.

At the end of this live radio interview (after the conversation on colleges), you’ll get tips on shoveling snow without killing your back.

Click Arrow Below to Play Audio.

The Aches and Pains of Shoveling Snow

We’ve had so much snow this year that you probably have a sore back from shoveling.

Most injuries are in the lower back from muscle strain.  To get you ready for the next snow storm, we checked in with the Massachusetts Chiropractic Society.  Here are suggestions for staying safe:

• Believe it or not, you should stretch before you shovel (is this an exercise class or chore?!)
• Layer clothing to keep your muscles warm and flexible.
• When you do shovel, push the snow straight ahead.  Don’t try to throw it.  Walk it to the snow bank.  Avoid sudden twisting and turning motions.
• Bend your knees to lift when shoveling.  Let the muscles of your legs and arms do the work, not your back.
• Take frequent rest breaks to take the strain off your muscles.  A fatigued body asks for injury. (In other words, have a cup of hot chocolate, throw snow balls at the kids and then go back to shoveling.)

If you need help and feel you have an injury, you can go to a local chiropractor to relieve the pain.  Go to Massachusetts Chiropractic Society’s website, http://www.masschiro.org, to get more information.

Also, try yoga and pilates, but talk to the instructor before the class to make sure you get special attention or instructions on how to modify the moves to support your lower back.  (Pull your abs in as hard as you can!)

Be safe shoveling!

Rip It, Hear It, Play It!

Listen to MommaJam on the go with iTunes

 

Cookie Momsters Mix Up Gluten-Free, Casein-Free Desserts for Autistic Kids

CLICK ABOVE ARROW TO PLAY PODCAST INTERVIEW WITH COOKIE MOMSTERS

This Podcast Originally Aired Jan. 25, 2010.

If you have a child with a special diet, whether from autism, food allergies or something else, you know how hard it is to meet the daily demands of making meals, attending parties and eating out in restaurants that are “safe” and contain the ingredients you need.  One diet in particular is the gluten-free, casein-free diet that can help kids with autism.  It’s not a cure per se, but the diet does help soothe certain behaviors, according to moms and experts.

One mom who knows first hand about the benefits of the gluten-free, casein-free diet is Lynn Yeager, co-founder of Cookie Momsters, a Florida- based dessert company that makes and sells cookies and muffins for autistic and allergy prone kids.

This week’s podcast features an interview with Lynn, who talks about her struggles with her son, Jacob, all of the different cookies and muffins at her store front and online bakery, and the recent controversial report refuting the gluten-free, casein-free diet (ABC News, Jan. 5, 2010) as a solution for autism.

Cookie Momsters is a great resource for parents who need gluten-free, casein-free cookies, which you can order for everyday living or for special occasions.  Even “civilian” moms can order these products because they taste great, are healthy, and make a great option when inviting autistic or food allergy children to your house for a birthday party or playdate.  In fact, one in 110 children today have autism, according to Autism Speaks.

To order the cookies and muffins, go to Cookie Momsters.com.  You can also get recipes, blog and other pertinent information.

Cookie Momsters products are available in select Whole Foods and other specialty markets in Florida.  Go the website to find a location.  If you want Cookie Momsters in a food store near you, print out the pre-made form at the Cookie Momsters website and bring it into your store today (scroll all the way to the bottom on the home page).

Other sites that Lynn suggests are:  Talk About Curing Autism Now, which is put together by moms to help you get started with the gluten-free, casein-free diet, and Allergy Kids.com.

Related Articles

• GFCF Diet for Autism (justslimming.com)

MommaJam on 95.9 WATD-FM: Healthy School Lunches & Tomato Season

CLICK ARROW TO PLAY AUDIO

Healthy Lunches for Kids

Check out the Sept. 9, 2010 MommaJam on Rob Hakala’s Weekday Morning Talk Radio Show on 95.9 WADT-FM.

This week’s MommaJam is all about simple back to school lunches.  Tune in to hear Rob and Sara debate grilling techniques, plus new, healthy lunch options for kids, retro lunches and peanut butter alternatives for food allergy families.

It’s tomato season.  You can get fresh tomatoes in your garden or at farm stands.  If you’re driving home from work or out running errands, stop by and pick up fresh, sun-kissed tomatoes.

You can make a ton of salads by pairing tomatoes with just one or two ingredients like mozzarella and fresh basil or oregano and feta cheese.  Just add olive oil and Kosher salt and serve with crusty Italian or French bread and you have a delicious meal.

If you are feeling ambitious, buy a bushel of Roma tomatoes to make homemade sauce.  There’s a process to it.  This is a great weekend project.  It takes several hours, but the payoff is great.  You can have jars of fresh tomato sauce through the winter.

For information on the Scituate Duathlon, go to: www.scituateduathlon.com

The MommaJam Minute is a regular feature on 95.9 WATD-FM, an adult contemporary radio station in Boston’s South Shore.  If you live in the area, make sure you tune in every other Thursday.

You can also access the radio station online and listen live right from your computer.  Just go to WATD 95.9.

Rip It, Hear It, Play It! Listen to MommaJam on the Go with iTunes.

Related Podcasts and Blogs

PB Green Snack Bags and Lunch Mats

MommaJam on 95.9 WATD-FM, March 10, 2011:  Geen Chic Snack Bags and Retro Lunch Boxes

Tips for Healthy School Lunches