Category Archives: Food

Crap My Baby Will Never Eat: Frozen Pizza Bites

05/30/2014 R.C. Liley 6 Comments

Are we all so desperate that we have to rely on frozen processed food to feed our kids and ourselves? There are many products I can (and most likely will) speak on for being unhealthy snack options, but today I’m focusing on the ever popular frozen pizza rolls/bites. Mainly, Bagel Bites (H.J. Heinz) and Totino’s (General Mills).

Have you seen the Totino’s commercial with a mom on the phone with her hungry kids? I first saw it about a year and a half ago, but I’m sure there’s still something similar playing now.

The kids are looking for something in the freezer and are saying there’s nothing to eat, but of course Totino’s is right in front of their face. Apparently her kids are too dumb to see the bright yellow packaging until she tell them the exact location. Then they are all happy and the kids go off to make their food-like substance pizza rolls.

Here is the nutrition info for their basic cheese party pizza…

….and that’s the one with the least ingredients!

The seemingly most popular pepperoni pizza rolls look even worse….

….and you know being little bites that it’s easy to go over the standard serving size.

Bagel Bites are the lesser of evils here, but still have no place being called real food. They even pit themselves against Totino’s in an ad trying to make us (the consumer) feel like the are the better (and only) option. No thanks to either.

And really? Are they assuming we’re stupid and only eating cheese? NO! Here are the rest of Bagel Bites’ ingredients:

“Bleached Wheat Flour, Water, Mozzarella Cheese (Milk, Cultures, Salt, Enzymes)Tomato Puree (Tomato Paste, Water)Pepperoni (Pork, Beef, Salt, Spices, Water, Dextrose, Seasonings [Oleoresin of Paprika, Natural Spice Extractives, BHA, BHT, Citric Acid]Lactic Acid Starter Culture, Sodium Nitrate)2% or Less of: High Fructose Corn Syrup, Modified Cornstarch, Salt, Soybean Oil, Yeast, Whey Protein Concentrate (Milk)Nonfat Milk, Flavor Enhancer (Potassium Chloride, Ammonium Chloride, Yeast Extract, Maltodextrin [Corn]Lactic Acid, Citric Acid, Calcium Lactate, Natural Flavor)Methylcellulose, Citric Acid, Red Pepper, Natural Flavor, Dough Conditioner (Ascorbic Acid)Enzymes.”

Unfortunately, I am guilty of having these years ago and sure, they tasted good. But, I was also fat and out of shape. Now I make plenty of delicious snacks that taste great and offer wholesome nutrition I feel good about.

Right now we’re just starting to get Avery into eating solids through baby-led weaning, but soon she’ll be helping daddy cook in the kitchen and I can’t wait to teach her the benefits of real food. I will show her the frozen non-food “food” when we shop and explain how and why they are not a good food option.

Some, okay, a lot of people might call me anal when it comes to food, but why shouldn’t I be? You don’t know what you’re getting when someone is preparing food for you and I’m not okay with that. I am more at peace when I make everything myself and know exactly what goes into my meals.

The few times I do go out, it is rare to actually get what I order via special request. I don’t get why, because it’s usually asking to do less than the original menu item. If I get a salad, I ask for no dressing, cheese, croutons, and oils on the side. Sometimes that salad arrives with a seemingly extra amount of each!

I could make a full post over this (maybe I will), but for now my message is that I will not succumb to feeding our beautiful girl any processed junk. I realize many parents face time constraints, but obtaining healthier options is not that difficult.

This is why I’m working to start Avery on healthy veggies now and trying to put off the sweeter foods like bananas and other fruits. I will definitely share the joys of sweet fruits, but it’s veggies first. My mode of thinking is that she will grow up only knowing these nutritious foods and not craving something she can just throw in the microwave and mindless munch on while watching TV.

There will be more of these posts as Avery grows and I hope I am able to help parents strive to offer better, nutritious food for their little ones and themselves! I am already nervous about how I can keep her from having anything containing the worst ingredients in processed food when at a friend’s home or at school, but luckily, I have some time.

Back to the pizza rolls/bites; you can quickly make your own that can be frozen or cooked as needed with simple ingredients. Here are a few easy and healthy recipes to try with whole grain tortillas:

Tortilla Pizza

No-Bake Spinach Pizza Rolls

Another Easy Pizza Roll for the Road

What do you think about these types of foods?

Any tips on how to keep your little ones eating healthy when you aren’t with them?

Am I crazy?

Food

Simply7 Lentil Chip Crusted Baked Fish in a Snap

02/02/2014 R.C. Liley Leave a comment

Kelley and I were at Costco and happened upon this giant bag of Simply7 Lentil Chips about 2 weeks ago. We both said they sounded good, and after I scrutinized the ingredients, they seemed fairly decent. Non-GMO is a big one I look for too. After going back and forth, I repeatedly asked Kelley if she would help me eat the bag if we got this plus-sized potato sack of lentil chips. “Yes, I’ll help.”, she replied. Ha….

Fast forward to now and after her “helping” by eating about 10 of the eleventy million chips, I was almost through the bag. Since I was tired of throwing them on my salads, eating them with carrots (pretty good, by the way), dipping in Greek yogurt, and just straight up snacking on them, I figured I’d use the rest in a recipe.

Thus, the crusted baked fish idea came about. We had a giant pack (yes, from Costco) of wild Dover Sole that I needed to cook, so why not add some crushed chips?

All you need is an almost empty gigantic bag of lentil chips, white fish of choice (chicken would be good too), and an oven.

First off, you need to crush the chips. Being a parent, I made use of stroller and swing, as you can see. Hand crushing would work too, but it’s not as fun.

Once they are crushed, toss in about 5 Dover Sole filets (these are thin, so adjust accordingly with what you have), fold the bag, and shake to coat. The chips don’t stay on very well, probably needed to use egg wash, but there’s no time when working against a sleeping baby clock!

After they are coated, lay on a parchment lined baking sheet and bake in a pre-heated oven at 350 degrees for about 15 – 20 minutes. The house will smell pretty fishy, that’s a good indicator they’re almost done.

Remove from oven, let cool, then serve with a side of steamed veggies like broccoli or Brussels, and maybe quinoa or a sweet potato. For an extra kick, I like topping the fish with some salsa, so feel free to do the same.

Not the prettiest, but nothing is after it's broken down by your stomach acid. Just saying.... — Not the prettiest, but nothing is after it’s broken down by your stomach acid. Just saying….

There you go, quick, easy, delicious, and healthy all together. Make a lot for leftovers; as parents, we can always use the extra time!

Food

Grilled Goat Cheese Sandwiches and What I’m Eating Lately

01/31/2014 R.C. Liley 9 Comments

Food is the key to many of our hearts. Sadly, food is also what stops many people’s hearts because of their poor choices in fast food, going out, and just pure ignorance. Hey, I was there once, but I wanted to be better, so I read and experimented until I learned. Of course, you’re never done learning in this area.

Anyway, I could go on and on about that topic. I just wanted to share what’s been keeping Kelley, my wife, happy lately; at least in the food department. Grilled goat cheese sandwiches. It feels good to makes something that someone you love looks forward to, so I keep making them.

Baby Watching and Sandwich Making. It's a learned skill.... — Baby Watching and Sandwich Making. It’s a learned skill….

They are pretty easy to make, unless you’re doing it while holding a baby in one arm. Just add 20 minutes to the usually 10 minute process. I just made two while Avery is sleeping in her crib (yes!!!) to be ready for when Kelley gets home.

All you need is two slices of bread (I use sprouted whole grain like Ezekiel) and goat cheese. To make them extra special, I add green onions, garlic, smoked paprika, basil, and red pepper flakes. If we have it, I’ll spread hummus on the other slice of bread for extra nutrition and flavor. Sadly, no hummus today, as you can see.

If you really need instructions, you put the goat cheese somewhat evenly on a slice of bread. It doesn’t have to be perfect since it will melt once heated and distribute better. Then add whatever toppings suit you best. If you have it, I highly suggest spreading hummus on the other side. Any kind will do, but I normally choose red pepper hummus.

Heat a pan, griddle, or grill on medium high, let cook about 1 – 2 minutes on one side while pressing down, flip on the other side doing the same, then remove. Slice in half easier, less messy, eating and cautiously pass to your wife for approval. I will either have a salad or tomato soup to go along with this; both are good options.

As for me, I’m going crazy watching Avery squirm and trying to make something to eat for my one meal of the day. I sometimes get to eat again at night…

So, I steamed broccoli and carrots and decided using a spoon is the best way to eat them, along with my cup of coffee. Nothing weird about that, right? Meh, it’s all good.

At least this leftover pancake egg white sandwich with chocolate peanut butter is worthy of sharing. Yum, I want more….now!

Pumpkin protein pancakes with egg whites and peanut butter

My first day on the job yesterday went okay for the most part, but as the day went on, naps grew shorter, and then Avery did not sleep well at all last night. She spent half the night sleeping on Kelley, then I took her, fed her, and slept on the recliner the other half.

What did I do wrong? Hoping to improve this today. Maybe it was the lack of a poop yesterday. If that’s the case, problem solved as of 8 o’clock this morning!

We have friends coming in tonight to visit for the weekend, so we’re crossing our fingers nothing too upsetting happens. They do have a slightly older baby of their own, so at least they’ll be understanding.

Annnndddd my time is up, need to dry our cloth diapers and tend to Avery.

Ever make a grilled goat cheese sandwich?

Any other kind of grilled cheese you like?

Who else eats everything with a spoon? Besides salad, I seem to use a spoon all the time. I need spork to make life easier….