It has been awhile since we've sat down to watch a DVD. Sure, the kids have their old TiVo'ed favorites on the television, but I haven't introduced any new shows to them other than those they have found on their own (curses that the Cat discovered Sponge-Bob!) We've been busy with end-of-school things and grandparent-visits and other away-from-the-TV things.

Last week when we drove to Santa Cruz I finally had the opportunity to stick in a new DVD. With the kids captive in the back seat, it was a perfect chance to introduce them to something new. In this case, it was the Raggs Kids' Club Band. Although Raggs has been a live-action show for awhile, it didn't launch as a TV show in the US until recently. (It is from Australia.) The distribution of the show increased in February 2008 and it is shown on PBS. The Raggs Live Dance Party is also on tour, a safe-bet for a fun afternoon, although unfortunately they aren't coming my way. Their 2001 Raggs Kids Club Band "Pawsuuup!" Tour DVD, apparently won several awards according to Wikipedia.

At the moment, the Raggs website is going through a revision; I've found a few funny mistakes that will no doubt be corrected prior to the official re-launch this September. But the show itself is polished.

I recognize the characters and know I've seen pieces of the show here and there, but until recently it wasn't a show for which we've seen full episodes.

The kids enjoyed the stuffed animals that the Raggs-folks sent us along with the DVD and Dance Party CD. (Thanks Lindsey!) They played with the animals in the "way-back" of the van while they watched the DVD, occasionally telling their grandparents in the row ahead of them "Bend to the side, please!" At the next stop, the kids asked to switch places with their grandparents. Suddenly the appeal of the "way-back" was trumped by their desire to see Raggs clearly.

I ended up having to replay the DVD several times, and now What's The Dealio has been stuck in my head for days. The target-audience for the show is 3-6, but the Cat - who is 7 - really enjoyed it. Although he is called "the Cat," he has a real thing for dogs as well, so a troupe of singing dogs is right up his alley.

The show includes clubhouse-scenes (where a problem-solving topic is introduced) as well as concert scenes (in front of an actual audience) and clips of real kids: both q&a and action-shots set to music.

Initially I was a bit surprised by the format since the topic jumps around a bit. For example, in the episode "Who Am I?" Razzles' friends try to pick out an appropriate birthday present for her. The characters chose things that were special to them, but B. Maxx explained to each that while their selections were very nice, they weren't appropriate for who Razzles is. This is a very important social-skills lesson, one that the Cat still has to learn, so I smiled when I saw this topic unfold. But then after B. Maxx explains that they must discover who Razzles is, the show jumps to the live-action song (which has no direct connection to the problem that needs to be solved.) I understand the idea of keeping the youngsters' attention, but will they remember the first segment after the song?

Fortunately, the characters reiterate the problem, and do so again after a live-action-kids segment. As it turns out, the various segments end up being fun because there are so many things that will appeal to different kids. The real kids' answers are wacky and are bound to resonate with viewers. Spliggle, for example, is in agreement with one little boy "Sam," who declares that he is going to be a pirate when he grows up. "Aaaarrrr!" says Splig. Dumpster the cat, who provides questions to the real kids, is hilarious with his comments.

The varied interests and talents of each member of the Raggs Kids Club Band emphasizes that each kid is similarly free to have different interests than another kid, and that their talents will differ, too.

Raggs is definitely a fun show, and I imagine the in-person concert would be high-energy. If they will be in your area, check it out; otherwise, check your local PBS listings to see Raggs on television!

PS: Shortly after returning home, the boys caught an episode of Raggs on television. They have since asked to add it to their TiVoed shows.

One of the staples of childhood is the Oreo cookie. Do you twist the lid off and lick the frosting, do you just bite into it straight, or do you set the filling on the side for a final treat after the chocolatey-cookie part is gone?

I used to save as much filling as possible before chomping the now slightly off-colored-white ball. Of course it was sugary-shortening with a waxy taste, but it was supposed to be the best part, yes?

But, since I was on the Feingold Diet, Oreos were a no-no. The only times I had them were when I was "cheating" on the diet, or after I had gone through puberty and was no longer having trouble with impulse-control and other behavioral issues that led my parents to put me on the diet in the first place.

Fortunately, there were "imitation" Oreos that were actually anything but "imitation;" instead, they were all-natural. Called "Hydrox," they were made by the Sunshine company. According to the Wikipedia entry, Hydrox came out before Oreos and it appears that they are coming back in August of this year, but under the Keebler/Kellogg label. Still, I can't say whether the reinvented Hydrox will be Feingold-safe; when Sunshine was sold to Keebler, my beloved vanilla wafer suddenly had vanillan in it instead of pure vanilla.

When we put the Cat on the Feingold Diet when he was around three, we discovered that although Hydrox were no longer around, Whole Foods' generic brand 365 carries both vanilla and chocolate sandwich cookies that are on the diet. Ever since, we've had a stash in our cupboard.

When the Cat pulls out a bag of chocolate sandwich cookies, his friends likely believe he is eating "just Oreos." Fortunately, more families are into organic and natural food these days, so even if the cookies had a distinctive look it probably wouldn't be a big deal, but for those who are brand-conscious, these 365 cookies look just like "the real thing" even though they are literally more "real" than the artificial-flavored popular brand.

As for taste, the 365 cookies taste wonderful. I can't say with certainty whether they taste like a "real" Oreo because it has been so long since I've had the latter. I know the 365 cookies tend to become stale faster than their brand-name counterparts, but only because they don't contain the petroleum-based preservatives that we avoid. I'd rather have a fresh cookie anyway.

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Whole Foods has not sent me any free samples, paid me to say anything nice about the product, or otherwise encouraged me to write about their product. Similarly, the majority of other products I mention in the "Feingold Tips" section are simply those which our family happens to use. I share them here just as information to other families interested in the Feingold Diet and all-natural alternatives to "popular" brands.

Awhile back, I reviewed Noah's Pals. They have been a big hit in our household. The kids love them. Spliggle has become quite the zookeeper. In fact, he pulls up the couch cushions to create his "doctor house," which is really a veterinary clinic. The animals we received back then, as well as some additional figurines that Santa brought last Christmas, have stood up to my boys' rigorous play-acting.

Recently Spliggle acquired some other figurines for his collection. While on a trip to Target to purchase who-knows-what, Splig made a beeline for a display of Anamalz (such as this tiger and the polar region set pictured above) conveniently displaying Target's orange "clearance" stickers, boasting prices of around $2 per pack.

Score!

Anamalz are wooden animal figurines touted as being "environmentally friendly." They are made of organic maple wood and textile (ie, the legs are rope.) They are water-based (ie, no crazy lead or oil paints,) created in a sustainable environment, and are handmade. The felt of the crocodile's back or the lion's mane is created from recycled materials. These toys are safe for children to play with, and through discussion of how they are made and what they represent, quite educational as well.

The product and concept was created in Australia, a country for which I have a great deal of fond memories; in less than a month it will have been twenty years since I went there to perform at the World Expo in Brisbane. But I digress...

Like Noah's Pals, Anamalz also contributes a portion of its proceeds to environmentally-friendly groups in the hope of saving real-life animals through the purchase of their handmade ones. I hope that since Splig plays with so many animal figurines that he will be compassionate to real-life ones.

When I visited the Anamalz website, I was delighted to discover that they do music as well.

These are truly great toys, and the company seems to be doing much more than just "toying around." I am glad Splig happened upon these; they are frequent patients in his "doctor house," although they are in perfect condition!

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Anamalz has not sent me any free samples, paid me to say anything nice about the product, or otherwise encouraged me to write about their product. We simply happened upon the product by complete luck. I was impressed enough with the product and the company to create this post.

Holidays can be tough for Feingold Families. Cousins, friends, and neighbors have appealing-looking artificially-colored cupcakes and tasty-looking hot dogs. Fortunately, there are products out there that provide decent substitutes.

The ol' Fourth of July red-white-and-blue salad with strawberries and blueberries might turn into something a bit more Christmasy when you substitute kiwi for strawberry and forget about those salycilate-containing berries. But kiwi, cantaloupe, honeydew, watermelon, and pineapple make a tasty (red, yellow, and green) fruit salad. Add some mango or passionfruit and you've got quite a variety of tastes.

One of my favorite salads is ambrosia, but maraschino-cherries are the epitome of NON-Feingold-safe food. Marshmallows are not out of the question, though, as I will reveal later...

Most Fourth celebrations include a BBQ. Regular meat for hamburgers is fine (I really like turkey-burgers although Husband just made a red meat-onion-garlic burger that is so divine) but the hot-dogs can be tricky with all those nitrate/nitrite containing brands. Similarly, the hamburger buns and hot-dog buns can be a challenge since many breads contain BHA and/or BHT to keep them fresh.

We use Wellshire Farms hot dogs (and are also big fans of their deli-sliced ham; it comes in several types of which the Turkey-Ham is our most frequently-bought.) For buns, we've used both Rudi's and the Whole Foods Market-made brand. Oroweat also has Feingold-safe breads and these are available at traditional grocery stores.

What do most folks put on their dogs or burgers?

Ketchup.

And what is in ketchup?

Tomato. Which is unfortunately a salycilate, and one of the Cat's biggest triggers, at least when he was younger.

Fortunately, Feingold has an "Un-Tomato Sauce" recipe and an associated "Un-Ketchup" recipe. See the end of this entry for both.

What about dessert?

Many holidays have festively-shaped chocolates associated with them. The Fourth is not one of them, but I imagine the summer atmosphere might inspire some s'mores. Either way, I'd like to mention an excellent site that is my source for candy and baking needs: The Squirrel's Nest.

Nancy of the Squirrel's Nest (please read her history; she's the real deal) creates Feingold-safe candies for nearly every holiday. I've gotten some adorable white-chocolate ghosts and dark-chocolate cats for Halloween. I've purchased chocolate Christmas Trees and Stars for Christmas (she also has Hanukkah candy.) The Cat has gobbled up maple-sugar leaves and beautiful sugar-sticks, both from the Squirrel's Nest.

Through the website I've purchased the India Tree sprinkles that are Feingold-safe (not all of them are,) and the Let's Do Organics "Sprinklez" (in chocolate and rainbow colors.) These baking products look just like their artificial counterparts, but they are all-natural. Amazingly, there are candy canes that have RED stripes, yet don't contain that horrid "FDA-approved" red dye found so prevalently in children's food. (The "FA1" on the listing indicates that it is safe for Feingold Stage 1.)

When a classmate has a birthday party, I can easily create a rainbow-sprinkled cupcake for the Cat (although our school district has a wellness policy, so that whole cupcake-notion is hypothetical, though it wasn't in our old district.) For the holidays, I can easily hand the Cat a Feingold-safe candy cane, and nobody can tell the difference. Time and time again, I've created homemade food that "looks store-bought" for the purposes of "blending in." (When the Cat is older and his friends are chewing gum, fear not, I know where to get Feingold-safe gum!)

The Squirrel's Nest also sells Feingold-safe marshmallows (including some chocolate-dipped ones, YUM!) This is so useful. Yes, I have a serious love of marshmallows, but really they are the basis of some great things: homemade fudge, "Rice Krispie" treats (we use EnviroKidz Organic Koala Crisp Cereal,) and the aforementioned s'mores. Do not underestimate the power of having Feingold-safe mini-marshmallows around the house! (Or pack 'em away to camp where you know the s'more making will be a-plenty!)

Similarly, Sunspire makes a pretty convincing M&M substitute, "Sun Drops." Pull out just the red ones (there are no blue) and you could have at least a red-and-white sundae for the Fourth!

We use Trader Joe's Midnight Moo as our chocolate syrup of choice for sundaes or chocolate-milk-making, although we've also used AH!Laska Organic Chocolate Syrup (which also makes a Feingold-safe hot-chocolate mix: again, a good summer camp staple!)

Last but not least, the Squirrel's Nest also has various food colorings. Since the Cat doesn't really like the "Un-Kechup," I made him "green sauce" which was really green food coloring in mayonnaise. Yes, I know I shouldn't encourage him to eat mayo, but when he was younger we used the "green sauce" to help him try new foods. (Green is his favorite color.) These days, he prefers his food without the "green sauce," though.

Most of the time I use the food colorings for cookies or to color frosting, although with the festive colored organic all-natural sprinkles, it has become less of an issue that the base frosting or cookie is white. I've admittedly gotten lazy about trying different colors there. Also, my favorite food coloring, made by Dancing Deer, is hard to find. Some Whole Foods stores carry it, but apparently the market was not strong enough to keep much in stock. As the food coloring is perishable, this is a tricky proposition. (I had purchased tons awhile ago, but it went bad) Such is the downside of wanting by definition preservative-free foods!

Homemade food-coloring is possible: spinach for green, tumeric for yellow, cabbage for purple, beets for red. Refrigerate the colored frosting overnight to depend the color. Small amounts of these ingredients don't really alter the flavor, but these colors should be used for decorating rather than frosting the entire cake! (White base, colored lettering / designs.)

In sum, there are many products out there, particularly through The Squirrel's Nest, that can create a great holiday treat.

Oh, did I hear you say you wanted some beer?

Sam Adams is Feingold-safe. How do you feel 'bout that?

Anyway, it is possible to have a BBQ and associated festive cupcake on the Feingold Diet!

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And here are the "Un-Tomato" recipes (which I prefer in recipes like meatloaf rather than as a stand-alone sauce or condiment, but try it out to your taste!) These recipes are from The Feingold Association:

1 1-pound can beets, drained well
2 1-pound cans carrots, drained
2 Tbs lemon juice
1 C. water
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp oregano
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp. basil
1/2 tsp sugar

Puree completely in processor or blender (no chunks of carrot left.) Let sit for several hours in the refrigerator for flavors to blend. Onion, garlic, spices, mushrooms, and cooked hamburger may be added to taste for spaghetti sauce, pizza sauce, etc.

For Un-Ketchup:

1 recipe Un-Tomato Sauce
2 sticks celery, diced fine
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp dry mustard
1/4 C. onion chopped
1/2 C. Heinz white vinegar
1/4 tsp. black pepper
4 tsp. sugar

Add all ingredients to pan and boil until reduced and thick. Stir frequently to prevent sticking. This usually takes about one hour. Strain sauce. Freeze whatever will not be used within one week. Makes about 3 cups.

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None of the products mentioned here have sent me any free samples, paid me to say anything nice about the product, or otherwise encouraged me to write about their product. Similarly, the majority of other products I mention in the "Feingold Tips" section are simply those which our family happens to use. I share them here just as information to other families interested in the Feingold Diet and all-natural alternatives to "popular" brands.

(And NO, the Feingold Association has not paid me to say great things about them, either; after all, it was Dr. Feingold's Diet that made such a difference in my life so many years ago that really I don't need any official compensation because I've already gained so much... both for my life and for the Cat's.)

Kids love cheddar-flavored crackers. So do adults. In fact, Husband has several little fish under his desk right now.

But Goldfish aren't Feingold-safe. (They used to be, but they changed their ingredients; and then there are those brightly-colored ones that are a no-way! for those of us trying to avoid artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives)

Fortunately, Healthy Handfuls Organic Lucky Duckies Crackers are Feingold-safe. Healthy Handfuls also makes Lemon Vanilla Koala Krackers, crackers which really taste more "cookie" than "cracker," and yet are made with organic whole wheat flour. (Sure, there is some cane juice in there, so it isn't like it is totally sugar-free, but still!)

Although I've linked to the product through Amazon (and my first purchase was a case from them,) I've found the crackers in my local grocery store. Initially I could only find the individually packaged boxes. These were handy to put in lunches, but the box was a bit big: the Cat only needed about half of the amount in the package. I've since found larger boxes where I can dole out my own portions for the boys' lunches.

During the Cat's Kindergarten year, the students took turns bringing snacks for the whole class. I used the Healthy Handfuls crackers every time it was the Cat's turn. They were a big hit! Similarly, when the Cat brought the crackers to playgroups, the other moms wanted to know what they were and where I got them.

Just like the "popular brand" of cheddar animals, Lucky Duckies taste cheesy and are easy for toddlers (and older people) to eat by the handful. They are a more healthful alternative than other crackers, although all crackers aren't by definition the healthiest snack foods. Still, I'll take organic whole wheat flour over processed who-knows-what any day!

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Healthy Handfuls has not sent me any free samples, paid me to say anything nice about the product, or otherwise encouraged me to write about their product. Similarly, the majority of other products I mention in the "Feingold Tips" section are simply those which our family happens to use. I share them here just as information to other families interested in the Feingold Diet and all-natural alternatives to "popular" brands.

I love Glass Plus. While Windex and other high-profile glass cleaners tout their "no-ammonia" formula, to be honest Glass Plus has been the only glass cleaner that has worked well for me. I've tried some of the eco-friendly brands like Seventh Generation and random orange-based things that I've found around Whole Foods. But, they didn't work as well on a variety of tasks as Glass Plus did. (But wait...)

I've been without Glass Plus for awhile. Our local grocery store stopped carrying it, as did a major-chain multipurpose store (no, not Walmart - how dare you think I'd set my foot in there!? Harumph!) Whole Foods and other upscale stores have the more natural, eco-friendly stuff, which given my experience, I thought didn't work. I have found all the cleaning products under the sun, but no Glass Plus.

I thought perhaps the company had gone out of business, but it still has a website and I see I can order it online. But, in my desperation to actually have a clean house, I tried Seventh Generation again. This time, I purchased their Natural Glass & Surface Cleaner with ruby-grapefruit and herb. Previously I had used their Free & Clear glass cleaner (since I LOVE the Free & Clear dishwashing formula.) I found it in the discount aisle of Whole Foods.

I have since determined that the product I purchased on clearance must have actually been water poured into the container. After all, why would it have been on clearance when all other Seventh Generation products were priced normally, and why would it have essentially cleaned like just cold water? (Honestly, for a lot of cleaning tasks I've started using hot water, a clean slightly-but-not-super-abrasive sponge, and my arm muscles. But sprayed room-temperature water wouldn't do it.)

In other words, by purchasing a full-price Seventh Generation product, I purchased a product that actually works. Fancy that! Sure, it could be pure psychology at work, but I don't think so. I cleaned up a rather gross mess that Splig created this morning with no problems.

My one hesitation about the product thus far is the smell. Grapefruit with herb is an odd combination. I saw a lemongrass version right next to it on the store shelf; perhaps I'd prefer that smell. Or, I'll get used to this one; it isn't unpleasant, just not expected. Surely breathing in this particular combo is much better for my health than Glass Plus' ammonia. Also, I should note that the smell is only around during the actual cleaning process. I sprayed a ton to clean Splig's mess, but I cannot smell it at all anymore. If I really don't want to smell my cleaning, I may try Free & Clear again, but just not in a discounted-state in case such things are a bum-batch or expired or something.

By the way, cleaning products do matter on the Feingold Diet! Laundry detergent especially is important since you breathe in the scent of your clothes. We use any "free and clear" type formula. Seventh Generation has this, but so do Tide, All, and the Kirkland/CostCo brand; fortunately a lot of companies recognize that people don't want their clothes to smell, so there are many no-dyes, no-fragrances formulas out there now.

(This was the one point that many of us bloggers found hard to convince the Johnson & Johnson folks of during Camp Baby: we recognize the price-point is different for these types of products, but combined with recyclable "retro-packaging" a whole lot of new moms and my-generation folks purchasing baby gifts would be tickled to purchase a J&J gift basket, even if it costs more. A trusted company but with a modern upgrade? Absolutely! I do happily pay more money for products that are all-natural, dye-free, fragrance-free, organic, eco-conscious, recyclable, or all of the above. Most importantly, I think that more and more folks are willing to pay more, too. Don't make a "New Coke" mistake by completely eliminating the "traditional stuff" but provide choices and see what comes out on top moving forward.)

Strangely, dishwasher detergent is less of an issue, even though you may think otherwise. (Like I mentioned before, I use Seventh Generation dishwashing liquid for our hand-washed dishes, but I actually use regular ol' Cascade for the dishwashing machine.) What does matter though, is something like Jet-Dry because this actually remains on your dishes. It took us awhile one summer to realize that the Cat's sudden regressions during a period of time of absolutely no dietary changes may have been related to our sudden desire to use Jet-Dry in our washer. Duuuuuh. After stopping that, the Cat came back.

So... if I see Glass Plus on the shelves again, will I buy it? Well, for the time being, no. I'm happy with my Seventh Generation glass cleaner and my hot water supply, at least until the drought cuts that off too.

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Seventh Generation has not sent me any free samples, paid me to say anything nice about the product, or otherwise encouraged me to write about their product. Similarly, the majority of other products I mention in the "Feingold Tips" section are simply those which our family happens to use. I share them here just as information to other families interested in the Feingold Diet and all-natural alternatives to "popular" brands.

Initially people laugh, "What is the Cat eating?"

They chuckle a bit more, "Did you just give him a chocolate bar for breakfast!?"

Well, yeah.

The Cat is addicted to chocolate Balance Bars.

Now, don't get so fussy. They aren't as bad as they sound. Sure, the Cat pretty much doesn't need an "energy bar" since he has plenty of energy, but the low-glycemic index and high protein are great for him. He isn't a cereal-guy and in the morning doesn't want to drink much milk. He'll drink a few sips, but then want a Balance bar.

(Many kids on the spectrum are on the gluten-free, casein-free diets; although we do not go completely casein-free, avoiding too much milk is a good thing for us.)

Later in the day he'll drink milk galore and will be more likely to try other foods, but first-thing in the morning, the Balance bar wins. The only thing that might trump a Balance bar is pancakes, but before school or summer soccer practice (which is much too early in the morning) that is a rarity.

The other bar that gains great support in our household is Clif Z-bars. There are several types that are Feingold-safe, including peanut butter, chocolate chip, and honey-graham. Splig is a Z-bar fan, frequently bringing them in his lunch (along with his tofu, heart-sandwiches, and carrots.)

Splig is a great eater, so I am less concerned with his nutrition because he already does well, but knowing I can shove a healthful bar at the Cat is a good thing. Of course, for many people, these "all in one" bars can be a diet-disaster; but the Cat is slim and very picky. For our family, jamming as much (good quality, vitamin-rich) food as possible into him is a priority.

In "my day" my mom packed me a Tiger's Milk Bar for lunch. (Some people think carob is gross; I really like it.) I must have had the same dietary urges as the Cat, for I completely craved the bar. Typically I'd eat it at homeroom time ("snack") instead of waiting for lunch. The full-sugar chocolate bars really didn't hold appeal; I wanted the "health bar" even if some would argue that it isn't really healthful. Still, I'd like to cling to my belief that a "health-food" is better than grabbing something out of the candy aisle.

Alas, Tiger's Milk no longer appears on the Feingold list, so I haven't introduced it to my sons. But really, they are content with the Balance bars and the Z-bars, so there is no need to add to their bar-obsessions!

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Balance Bar and Clif Foods / Z-Bars have not sent me any free samples, paid me to say anything nice about the product, or otherwise encouraged me to write about their product. Similarly, the majority of other products I mention in the "Feingold Tips" section are simply those which our family happens to use. I share them here just as information to other families interested in the Feingold Diet and all-natural alternatives to "popular" brands.

No discussion about Feingold-safe food would be complete without mentioning Ian's Natural Foods.

They are the end-all, be-all of Feingold-safe and Gluten-free/Casein-free food. They are the type of food that if you only read the label, you'd think it would taste like cardboard because of all the things it isn't. It is so allergen-free that really, you'd expect tastelessness.

But NO.

Ian's is tasty. It is so tasty!

Now, not all Ian's products are completely allergen-free; however, their labeling system is very clear. Upfront, the consumer knows that their bread crumbs contain both wheat and dairy, for example. It is easy to know at a glance whether a product is appropriate for a consumer's particular needs.

Fortunately, many of the Ian's products are a-OK with us. The aforementioned bread crumbs are perfect for various recipes, from Breaded Chicken to Eggplant Parmesan. One concern people just starting out on the Feingold diet have is whether their "family recipes" can be translated appropriately. Ian's steps in for some of those ingredients that otherwise might be tough to replicate without using the (highly processed, petroleum-based-preservative-containing) "common brands" our grandmothers used in their dinners.

My boys' favorite Ian's product is their SuperTots, french fries in the shape of the alphabet, created from potato, peas, carrots, and cauliflower. They are quick to make, and also quick to disappear into my kids' tummies. Ditto for the French Toast Sticks. Mmmmmm. French Toast Sticks!

Surprisingly, the boys haven't gotten into the chicken nuggets (they prefer actual grilled chicken,) although they give the fish sticks a thumbs-up. Both these products are good substitutions for the artificial deep-fried variety if your child is interested in those foods deemed by the public-at-large (literally) as "kid-friendly" that actually aren't. Ian's kids' stuff is healthful, though.

I am an onion-ring addict, so I think I'd better try Ian's version, especially because they are apparently okay to go in the microwave. You know, in case I am just too darn impatient to wait for the oven...

Ian's also has tons of other kid-friendly organic, all-natural, wheat-free, gluten-free food like cheeseburgers, meatballs, and pizza. I haven't explored these yet, but I expect I will.

Really, Ian's is worth a look if you are looking for all-natural, preservative-free food. Plus, they have a whole series of wheat-free/gluten-free products (which in many cases are casein-free as well.)

See, "convenience food" need not be complete junk!

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Ian's has not sent me any free samples, paid me to say anything nice about the product, or otherwise encouraged me to write about their product. Similarly, the majority of other products I mention in the "Feingold Tips" section are simply those which our family happens to use. I share them here just as information to other families interested in the Feingold Diet and all-natural alternatives to "popular" brands.

Sure, the dentist has that little dish of cola with a tooth in it to show his patients what happens when we drink the sugary-stuff. Sure, the world tells us to drink fewer cans of soda. But for those of us who are addicted to carbonation, isn't it better to have an all-natural soda than some of those completely chemical-laden beverages?

Also, the key to a great-looking and tasting fruit salad is to splash on a little lemon-lime soda. Yes, your mother told you lemon juice keeps the banana from turning brown, but too much lemon creates that sour taste; easier to just douse with soda that contains the lemon plus suuuugar! Really, if you use a slotted spoon to serve the salad, not much of the soda ends up in your tummy anyway.

When I was a kid, the "other kids" may have been sipping Coke, but I preferred Hansen's Key Lime Twist (which has lemon in it too) or Grapefruit. As it turns out, 7-up ended up being Feingold-safe, but then they changed their recipe. They - and Sprite - have gone back and forth with their recipes, so although I generally believe both of these commonly-found lemon-lime sodas to be "safe" (and actually Coke is safe, too, depending on your child's particular sensitivities,) I know that Hansen's is safe.

Hansen's sodas are 100% natural and do not contain any preservatives, caffeine, sodium, high fructose corn syrup, artificial flavors or colors.

Also, Hansen's was one of the first soda companies to have "unique" flavors beyond just those found at the corner fast food joint. These days, you can find sodas like Izze if you want your blueberry juice with a little sparkle, but Hansen's always had flavors like black cherry and mandarin-lime (technically both contain salycilates, but I could tolerate it. Once you have a favorable reaction to Feingold Stage I, you can move on to Stage II to try out some of the salycilates to see which are fine and which are triggers)

From their website: "In 1935, Hubert Hansen's simple motto 'only the best will do' earned him a loyal following among Hollywood movie studios who clamored for his all-natural fresh juices. From these humble beginnings, a star was born."

Their root beer was the only type I could have as a kid: extra-important for those root-beer floats! Their root-beer ingredients are: pure triple filtered carbonated water, cane sugar, caramel color, natural spices of wintergreen, birch, anise, sassafras, tahitian vanilla extract, and citric acid. Nope, not high-fructose corn syrup-made!

Their ginger ale is similar to the grocery-store type rather than that type that has the huge "bite." There were several "crunchy" soda companies that had those "bite-type" sodas, but I wanted the more mellow variety. (Yes, that goes against everything else in my "got-to-have-spice!" menu preferences, but I guess I need subtlety in my drinks.)

These days, Hansen's has a new line of sodas described as "sparkling water with flavor from pure fruit." I like the dragonfruit and pomegranate-blueberry varieties the best. These are less caloric (90 calories per 10.5 oz) than the regular sodas (140-160 depending on the flavor, for a standard 12 oz can) and similarly do not contain high-fructose corn syrup, sodium, or any of the nasty artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives. Plus, one can of dragonfruit soda is 25% of the US RDA of Vitamin-C! They produce no-sugar varieties (using sucralose) of these "Sparkling Sleek" varieties, too, but I haven't found them at my local store. (I would buy these for me, but wouldn't give the Cat products containing artificial sweetener.)

It is the original soda line that is attractive to my kids. The Cat likes the key lime twist soda the best, saying that the grapefruit variety is too "spicy." I think he might like the vanilla-cola variety; I should pick some up to see what he thinks. (He likes the Whole Foods 365-brand cola and adores vanilla, so we'll see.) I have to look for their Sparkling Green Tea Sleek products, too. It seems that while I've been a Hansen's fan for years there are many products they carry with which I am not yet familiar!

Truthfully, the Cat is more of a vanilla-shake, water, and milk guy than a soda-guy, but on occasion he wants a soda. Fortunately, whether it is a lemon-lime, cola, ginger ale, or root beer craving, we can find Feingold-safe alternatives through Hansen's (and Whole Foods' 365.)

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Hansen's and/or Whole Foods/365 did not sent me any free samples, pay me to say anything nice about the product, or otherwise encourage me to write about their product. Similarly, the majority of other products I mention in the "Feingold Tips" section are simply those which our family happens to use. I share them here just as information to other families interested in the Feingold Diet and all-natural alternatives to "popular" brands.

A long time ago, I used to help my mom collect little cardboard "points" off of cake mixes. That was decades ago. Of course these days, the carboard-collection has shifted to Box Tops.

At one of the Cat's old schools, the office had a little bank that looked like an old-fashioned schoolhouse. Coupons were stuffed there. An additional cardboard box they used to collect the box-tops was always overflowing: little ziploc bags filled with coupons ended up on the floor. At the Cat's new school, though, I know they have a collection-container, but I think most of the publicity for fund-raising has encouraged other avenues (eScrip, auctions, and so forth.)

But those other methods are not mutually exclusive: purchase a Box Tops participating product with a credit/debit card linked to eScrip, but cut off the box-top, too. You can cash-in both ways. It is easy, and yet I admit that I haven't done it... yet.

Honestly, I thought box tops were only on cake mixes and other more highly processed food. (I guess it was Betty Crocker points that are infringing upon my memory.) Since we follow Feingold, I didn't think I buy any products that qualify. Quite the contrary, Cheerios (which is Feingold-safe and a healthful cereal choice) and Ziploc bags (which we don't eat, of course, but we use to store our food) are both products with a Box Tops Coupon. I just checked out my box of Ziploc: the coupon is 10 cents. I've been throwing away 10 cents every time I recycle a box of plastic bags? Even better, brands such as Kotex, Huggies, Scott, Cottonelle, Viva, Kleenex, and Depends all include coupons.

Be ye not as foolish as I have been: check the boxes in your cupboard (or the participating product list) to find out what money for your school you might already have lying around the house.

As if the Box Tops Program itself wasn't exciting enough, Kimberly-Clark presents Rock Your School, a sweepstakes to win a concert with Jordan Pruitt and 100,000 bonus box tops. Plenty of other prizes will also be given out, so check out their website for details! You can enter daily until September 15th. The winner will be chosen on or around September 22nd.

Even if you don't win the bonus box tops, check your pantry and your bathroom closet to discover what box tops might be lurking inside. Many of our school districts are underfunded, and while it may seem that a single box top won't make a difference, a whole slew of them will.

(Check out other Box-Tops-related promotions on their website.)

Splig (age 4) had a playdate recently. He took out a Kubit2Me cube and immediately his friend's eyes opened wide, "What is that?" He thew the cube at her and she stroked the fur on the side. They ended up playing the Lil Scholars ABC's game. While Splig is still learning his letters, his nearly-age-5 year old friend was able to identify nearly all of them. Meanwhile, the Cat (age 7) wanted to play, so I told him he had to give an example of a word that started with that letter, and it couldn't be the item pictured on the card, since that would be too easy. If they had done the 123's version, I would have had the Cat do a multiplication exercise, while Splig and his friend would have only had to identify the number and/or a simple addition problem. All three kids were essentially playing the same game, but it was adjustable to their particular academic levels.

The basic tools of Kubit2Me are a large fuzzy cube and a set of cards. The user places several cards in each of the cube's pockets. What happens next varies depending on the game played. Although the "official instructions" recommend the players choose to whom to throw the cube, I modified it: I had the kids throw the cube to specific people. The reason for this was two-fold: First, so nobody was left out; Second, so the kids were not confused or conflicted (ie, Will I hurt his feelings if I toss it to her?)

The person who catches the cube pulls out a card from the pocket that is facing upwards on the cube (or any other direction agreed upon by the group.) In our case, I had the kids yell out the color that it landed on so they could also practice their colors (of course all three kids found this easy.) The player then either identifies what is on the card (letter, number) gives an example of what is on the card (what is the letter's sound, what is that number multiplied by 3), or if the card contains a question, answers the question.

Some of the games for older kids include "Truth or Dare," and "Now You're Talkin'." A related exercise is the downloadable-for-free "Free to Be Me Icebreaker" All games use the same cube, so simply get a deck of the question-cards to play a new version of the game.

While the "Lil Scholars" games are more "basic preschool education" in focus, the question-related cards are more social-skills related. These cards contain basic questions like "If you could live under the ocean or on the moon, which would you choose?" A variation of the game ("How Well Do You Know Your Friend?") has the other players guess the cube-holding player's answer before he or she answers.

The variations of Kubit2Me are numerous, so it is definitely important to establish the ground rules before playing the game. The Cat likes to invent rules as he goes for any game, so while the game is flexible, it is important to stay consistent.

Lil Scholars was too easy for the Cat (unless I added more challenging requirements for him,) but was definitely a good exercise for Spliggle. The social-skills oriented aspects of the game are great for the Cat, though. In fact, it was through one of my posts about the Cat's social difficulties that Kubit2Me's creator decided to contact me about her game. She describes it as "a line of self expression games that are all about getting kids to open up." Indeed, Creative Child Magazine recently named the game its 2008 Creative Child “Game of the Year” Award - although this distinction does not appear to be on the website (which reads 2007) yet - From the press release:

"A unique interactive, relationship-building game called Kubit2me Lil’ Scholars Edition has earned the 2008 Creative Child “Game of the Year” award in the preschool educational games category. Two other Kubit2me games, Truth or Dare and Now You’re Talkin’ Editions, also received a 2008 Preferred Choice Award."

The game provides the questions which is half the struggle when making conversation. This way, kids can appreciate the opportunity to answer (it is their turn to talk!) and learn to listen (rules are rules, when another player has the cube, it is their turn!) In this way, kids like the Cat who have difficulty with social convention can learn these rules in a non-threatening way. Logical thinkers can literally "play by the rules" to practice listening to others and taking turns. One possible variation of the game is for the player holding the cube to select the question and ask it to the next player in the rotation. This way, the player gets the practice in asking questions as well as in answering questions.

According to its creator, Kubit2Me is regularly being used in therapeutic settings. I can definitely see how this social game can be used as a tool for conversation and taking turns. For kids who do not yet know their body parts, 123's, or ABC's, these quizzes can be useful as well. An "emotions" deck also presents a challenge to kids for whom reading emotions is difficult. For kids with sensory needs, the cube is soft and quite fun to touch. (I would like one in a pillow shape!) Likewise, it is large enough and soft enough so those kids with low muscle-tone (as some kids on the spectrum have) would be able to catch it without a problem.

My kids enjoy Kubit2Me. Splig's playdate was definitely intrigued, so perhaps her mother will go purchase it as well. I need to get some of the Cat's classmates over so they can play the Free to Be Me Icebreaker - that is, unless they go play soccer first.

But...

My one concern about the game is that it does seem a bit "girly." The cube has cute denim pockets and comes with little stickers and glittery bracelets (which Splig loves.) I can see groups of young girls playing the game for fun, but my gut reaction is that boys would only play it if they were in an educational setting or in a mixed-gender gathering. Since Splig is rather "girly" for being a boy, and since the Cat doesn't seem to notice gender roles, the game is definitely fun for them, but there are certainly some of the Cat's classmates who I wouldn't want to suggest play the game. That said, there are a few young men who I think would enjoy the game.

All in all, this game can be used for many different reasons in many different settings. The kids love the cube and the questions provide fun icebreakers. Check out the Kubit2Me website to learn more

See that large quiz-link in my sidebar? Take the quiz. Really.

Everyone knows I am not much for developmental-stages quizzes; after all, it is deviance from such things that ends up with those pesky labels and what-not about which I write on The Karianna Spectrum. Every kid develops at a different pace, and I dislike anything that causes panic about "delays." But this quiz isn't about trying to measure developmental stages; rather, it is designed to suggest activities based on the particular point your child happens to be. It isn't a "tsk tsk" task, but rather a suggestion, a personalization. If your child knows "a" but doesn't yet know "b," Savvy Source will suggest activities to build on "a" to help develop "b." No judgment on whether your child is "behind," just ideas about fun things that might be appropriate for your kid while trying to develop things he or she hasn't yet mastered.

The quiz is from The Savvy Source, sponsored by LeapFrog's TAG system. Of course it doesn't surprise you that this all comes via The Parent Bloggers Network.

I took the quiz using Spliggle's abilities and then created some activities based on their list, such as listening to a song while using makeshift "rhythm sticks" and playing a simple rhyming game. Although some activities may seem "obvious," I frequently can't think in creative ways when faced with the dreaded "Mommy! What can we do?" question, so suggestions are very welcome. The graphic above-left is a screen-shot of Splig's links. It shows the various categories for which Savvy Source will recommend activities. Inside each category, specific activities are tagged with your child's name as a particular interest.

Savvy Source is more than just the quiz: members can access preschool ratings and descriptions of camps and classes. The quiz data is stored along with the suggested activities, so it isn't necessary to complete the entire quiz in one sitting or to memorize all the suggested activities. The activities are free, by the way. Although there are recommended products to buy, the real benefit of the quiz is finding out what parents can do at home to enrich their child without joining the flashing-lights and loud-sounds bandwagon.

So what about the LeapFrog TAG? That is a plastic "gizmo," yes? Yes. But it is worth it.

I've got to admit that while I was a fan of LeapFrog's earlier reading systems in theory I was less a fan in practice because those plastic book-holder thingies were a bit heavy and the kids couldn't snap-in the books without assistance. Storage was an issue, too, since the rigid plastic thing was larger than what typically fits in a bookcase, and the book cartridges inevitably ended up lost. Still, I was impressed with the work that LeapFrog has been doing.

But the TAG is such a fabulous improvement. The "reader" is a single wand that serves as a "remote" for the books as well as a storage device (no lost cartridges!) The wand can read the entire book, specific words, or create a little quiz based on the book. There are many titles of popular books available in TAG format. Splig loved the "Ozzie & Mack" book that came with the TAG, but has been reading "Pirates! The Treasure of Turtle Island" over and over and over again. (See his selection of books in the graphic at right)

The Cat knows how to read, but he still appreciates having the TAG wand available to properly pronounce a word about which he may be uncertain. Both boys enjoy having the books and wand in the van, a place where Mommy certainly can't read a book but would like to encourage her kids to do so. The wand is so portable that it is easy to bring along in the "busy bag" with a few of the TAG books.

The TAG reader wand holds five books at a time. The child's library online holds all the books, so it is easy to upload whichever books desired into the wand. The wand also reports back via the child's "Learning Path" to show the parent what skills the child has worked on, what activities the child enjoys doing, and how their learning is progressing. (To use this properly, I should ban the Cat from picking up his brother's wand, since that would skew the data - Ooops!) Readers can collect rewards for finishing various activities.

The LeapFrog TAG is a truly interactive and personalized system. Both it and the Savvy Source quiz are good opportunities to learn more about our kids' interests, learning styles, and progress, all while having lots of fun.

I have fond memories of baking with my mom. Especially memorable are those days we ended up covered in flour on purpose. My brother had even more of a cooking-knack and soon started making "no recipe cakes," which initially tasted okay, but some of his more adventurous versions were rather disgusting. Still, we ate them up with glee because he had made them with such pride. He later took cooking classes and is now an excellent chef in addition to his computer-related day job.

Although we've baked Christmas cookies, I don't do much baking with my kids. They enjoy trips to Grandma's for that (Splig recently helped her make lemon-milk sherbet) and beg Daddy to let them help him with his kitchen creations. Yes, Husband logs more cooking time than I do.

Thanks to Mom Central and Kellogg's Snacktivate! Ideas, my kids and I just spent part of the afternoon creating a version of "Sassy Sun-pops." The original recipe calls for almonds, but since the Cat follows Feingold and almonds aren't allowed on Stage One, I created one pan of the cookies with cashews instead. Also, I didn't actually make the cookies "pops" with candy sticks, although perhaps I'll give that a try next time!

The boys had a blast making these cookies. The Cat counted out the 60 mini-wheats necessary for the recipe, and Spliggle enjoyed crushing them. (Surprisingly, mini-wheats do not contain BHA, BHT, or artificial flavors that we avoid on Feingold, although there is BHA in the packaging itself. For those concerned, there are other mini-wheat-like cereals out there that can be used in this recipe.)

Splig helped me measure ingredients, and both boys enjoyed decorating the cookies. The Cat created a smiley-face which Splig then replicated. I gave them each a "big cookie" to decorate in their own style.

These cookies are definitely more healthful than the ordinary cookie. I'd bet they would pass our school district's "wellness policy." Of course because they contain peanut butter and include nuts on the top as decoration, they are not safe for those with nut allergies; however, Snacktivate! has plenty of recipes which do not contain nuts, such as the Butterfly Quesadillas that I hope to try next.

As for the taste of the cookies we made? Well, Splig immediately gave the thumbs up with an enthusiastic "Yummy!" I thought they tasted fantastic and am trying to think of other ways of sneaking in flaxseed to my meals (I didn't realize I actually like the taste!) The Cat, who fears novel things, said "It tastes kind of weird," but then he hid a smile. I think he wants to make sure it isn't too easy to introduce new foods to him.

We had a fun afternoon. The kids enjoyed creating what they later ate, and I didn't worry about them having another cookie since they aren't of the high-caloric, heavy frosting variety. Check out Snacktivate! to find some fun and healthful recipes for your own family.

No doubt you Harry Potter fans have heard about Ms. Rowling's handwritten Tales of Beedle the Bard. Only seven were created.

Not surprisingly, Amazon is now publishing the stories contained within, to be released December 4, 2008, just in time for the holidays (heh.) Both a "Standard Edition" and a "Collector's Edition" are available for presale. The "Collector's Edition" includes ten additional illustrations (not in the Standard Edition,) a velvet bag, and other fancy trappings to make it appear as close to the original handwritten version as possible.

If anything, check out the Collector's Edition page to also see photographs of one of the original books: it looks like quite a treat!

Try as I might, you know I'll be preordering it. I must. And if you are a Rowling fan, you must, too.

Net proceeds from both the Standard Edition and the Collector's Edition support of the Children's High Level Group, a charity co-founded in 2005 by J K Rowling and Emma Nicholson MEP.

Last night I finished reading The Beach House, a fun and thought-provoking novel by New York Times bestselling author Jane Green. This afternoon, I had the pleasure of speaking with Ms. Green on a conference call with other bloggers.

I admit that I first thought The Beach House would be a light, quick read, something someone might read at - say - a beach house, resting on an Adirondack, toes buried in the sand. I was correct about the "quick" part, particularly because I didn't want to put it down, but "light" isn't a good descriptor. Rather, Ms. Green creates a complex situation that at its core is about simplifying. The take-home message is one of finding oneself or reinventing oneself, and essentially about coming "home" in many senses of the word.

During the conference call, Ms. Green notes The Beach House is a character-driven book, whereas her next novel (due out next year) is more a plot-driven novel. Indeed, the characters in The Beach House are richly developed. Instead of hearing a tale from a single perspective, the reader is delighted by learning the other sides as well.

I remarked that it was as if there were no true "villains" in the book. Indeed, there is only one person who seems completely corrupted. Other characters have flaws, some of them very serious, but we also see why. A fellow blogger challenged me to explain how a particular female character wasn't evil. Although I choked a bit with my response on the call, I can say with certainty that I can understand where she was coming from. I shall not reveal any plot points, but while this woman does some rather unfortunate things, it comes out of needy vulnerability.

I identified with many of the characters simultaneously. I also recognized many ways in which I was distanced from the characters. This is important, for anything that hits "too close to home" becomes more about therapy and less about entertainment. Nonetheless, reading The Beach House made me think a great deal about the portions of the book that made my gut turn because of my own vulnerabilities.

As I slept last night, I had a funny dream about junior prom. I was surrounded by friends from many years ago, people with whom I could just be "myself." Indeed, my friends told me I could just wear jeans to the dance, because it was all about being comfortable. They had arrived rather unexpectedly, and I felt awkward despite seeing friendly faces. I searched through my wardrobe to discover what I would feel best about wearing. Meanwhile, the friends sat in the limo, waiting for my decision. Alas, my alarm clock went off before I could find out what I would have chosen. I suspect the dream was motivated by the themes in The Beach House. So, you could say I was touched by this novel.

I enjoyed the call this afternoon since it is fun to hear the author's thoughts about her own book as well as some of the "back story" in developing this and her other novels. Thank you to Beth Feldman of RoleMommy and BeyondPR for arranging the call, and to Jane Green for answering our questions and chatting with us about The Beach House and beyond.