Petite village

     by  Gabriella Vetere, RD   There has been a lot of hype lately concerning certain food items that contain the compound arsenic that has been linked to cancer, and developmental effects especially in children.  Today while watching the news I saw a new research study that actually alarmed me because high levels of the compound was found in foods I may consume, that my sister consumes every morning before her run, and infants everyday!   From Today Health.com: "High levels of arsenic, a chemical linked to cancer, chronic diseases and developmental effects, have been found in foods that...

   By Gabriella Vetere, RD   Now that all the holidays are out of the way, there are no more excuses for not cooking a healthy meal or spoiling your dinner with cookies.   I know it’s sometimes hard to stick to healthy eating habits when you are constantly rushing to a meeting, picking up kids, or studying for exams-but with thoughtful planning and thought, things can be easier on you.   One big tip is to make a healthy recipe that you can keep in the refrigerator for days, yet gets better with time. One recipe that my mother...

Gabriella Vetere, RD   This month it seems as if everyone has at least one holiday party to attend and with parties comes high calorie appetizers, entrees, desserts, and libations. Now most people might say: “Well hey it’s the holidays!  Why do I have to watch what I am eating?” Unless you want to gain 5-7 pounds this holiday season, you better care why!   The average person at a holiday party can consume an extra 350-500 calories just on booze itself. With all these extra calories mixed with stress, decreased exercising from wanting to stay in, and treats everywhere...

Leeks are a delicious vegetable that adds great flavor and French flair to a dish, and they are everywhere at the farmers markets right now.  Last night I decided to make Potato Leek soup for dinner, but I decided to make it differently from its original recipe. I wanted to give this normally rich and heavy soup a makeover.  Now, you might think you would not like a potato leek soup if it is not creamy and rich and made without heavy cream and butter, but trust me, you will be happy and so will your waist line after you...

  Looking for an eco-friendly gift for this hoiiday season or birthdays?  This non-toxic tea set from Green Toys is not only colorful and durable, but also eco-friendly.  It is made from recycled milk jugs, and contains no BPA, phthalates, or lead paint.   This tea set has been FDA approved, and is a great gift for children age three and up.        Product Features:  (From Amazon.com) Meets FDA food contact standards Dishwasher safe Encourages gross and fine motor skill development Great for indoor and outdoor play For 3 years and above Set includes a tea pot with...

  Are you looking for some inspiration and activities to do with your children?  Pretend Soup has many wonderful and delicious recipes that your children will love.    Give it a try!     Book Description   (From Amazon.com) Age Level: 3 and up | Grade Level: P and up     In this sequel to her classic Pretend Soup--considered by many to be the gold standard of children’s cookbooks--award-winning author/illustrator Mollie Katzen works her magic with 20 new, child-tested recipes including such delicacies as Counting Soup, Chewy Energy Circles, and Polka Dot Rice. Each illustrated recipe offers the child chef...

       by Gabriella Vetere, RD *     I don’t know about you all, but I LOVE Sundays. I get to wake up, grab some coffee, go on a run, go to the farmers market, and most importantly, spend a night cooking with my sister and watching great shows on the cooking channel.   Last night’s meal was so good that I have to share it!   My twin sister is just as much of a food enthusiast as I am, and it is a pleasure to cook with her. She has a love for cooking and adds...

    by Gabriella Vetere, RD *     Eat Your Way to a Healthy ... Mood!: How Nutrition Relates to Depression    Today’s article will probably be relevant to many people reading it because you may be coping with the disease or know at least one person who has it. The disease I am talking about is depression. Depression affects more than 21 million American children and adults annually.   I read an article in Vogue yesterday about a mental health clinic in Mill Valley that chooses to use nutrition over pharmaceutical drugs to help most clients cope with...

      by Petite Village   Getting dinner on the table by 6 pm for our families can often be challenging. As a working mom, I often struggle with, “What should we have for dinner?” I have a few dishes that I consider as my basic repertoire, but these limited numbers of dishes get old quickly. Aside from a lack of creativity, there’s often a lack of time, so I decided to start planning my meals for a week's time.   Starting to plan meals for a whole week can be a bit daunting at first, but once you have a...

        Product Features - Adapted from Amazon Dispenses baby food one bite at a time Convenient one-handed feeding, great for on-the-go Includes matching cap for storage Large easy-to-clean bulb holds up to 3 ounce of baby food Dishwasher-safe and BPA-free, Phthalate-free, and PVC-free     Product Description From the Manufacturer Genius (There. We said it.) Squirt isn't just a spoon; it's a revelation. It takes baby food, removes the jar and the mess, packs it into a single utensil and with one squeeze- boom. You get easy, one handed feeding. Pop on the cap to seal food...