Tuesday, 27 November 2012

More Information for November

Here are some other ingredients we have researched:

Annato Colour is a natural ingredient used to colour things like cheese, yogurt and salad dressings. Although it is a natural ingredient, some people can still be allergic.



Calcium Carbonate is an additive that helps baked good rise (like yeast). It is also a calcium supplement and can be found in  vitamins.

Maltro Dextrin is a carbohydrate made from potatoes, rice or corn. It is used to thicken foods and can also be found in sugar substitutes.

Disodium Guanylate is a flavour enhancer that comes from fish.It is often added to instant noodles and potato chips.


RECIPE
White Bean Soup with Spinach and Couscous

2 tsp of olive oil
2 leeks- chopped
2 large cloves of garlic, minced
8 cups of chicken broth
3 cups of white kidney beans rinsed and drained
2 dry bay leaves
1/2 cup whole-wheat couscous
2 cups fresh spinach
kosher salt and black pepper

1. Heat oil in large soup pot over med-high heat. Add leaks and garlic and saute for 2 minutes until tender.
2. Add broth, beans, and bay leavese, and bring to a boil.
3. Add couscous, reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for 5 minutes.
4. Remove bay leaves, discard , and stir in spinach, add salt and pepper to taste.


Serves 6





Thursday, 1 November 2012

November

We spent the last few weeks learning about our teeth and how to care for them. Students went home with a Oral Care Calendar that will help them monitor their brushing. This is due back on December 1.

Our next unit will be about sleep and learning more about why sleep is important and how we can get a better night's sleep.

We will be working on our next installment of recipes and ingredient information soon!

Friday, 28 September 2012

Cells

Cell  Basics


A cell is the very smallest unit of living matter.
All living things including plants and animals are made up of cells.
Cells are made of atoms, which are the smallest units of matter.
There are many different kinds of cells.
Cell membrane: surrounds the cell, holds the other parts of the cell in place, and protects the cell.
Nucleus is a dark structure located in the middle of the cell. It controls the cell's activities, and acts like the cell's brain.
Cytoplasm is a jelly-like substance inside the cell where most of the cell's activities take place.

Monday, 24 September 2012

Ingredients and Food Additives

When we started to look at the food we eat, we realized there were many ingredients that were hard to recognize. As a class, we will research these ingredients to find out more about how they affect our food and our bodies. We will add to this post each month with more information.

Monosodium Glutamate (MSG)

MSG is a flavouring added to many processed foods that adds a "meaty, brothy" taste to foods. It can be found in a lot of food including soups, Asian foods, canned vegetables and processed meats.

It is used to add flavour.

Some people experience headaches, dizziness and nausea after eating foods with MSG.

Alternatives to MSG  which could enhance food flavour include: 
  1. aged cheeses
  2. meats
  3. seaweeds
  4. mushrooms
  5. tomatoes
  6. red wine
  7. asparagus
  8. anchovies
  9. sourdough bread
  10. walnuts

Agar

Agar is a plant-based ingredient used to thicken foods like puddings, soups and sauces. It is a good source of calcium and iron. It has no calories and has some benefits like helping with digestion, inflammation and calming the liver.

Protease

Proteases are enzymes. Some found naturally in our bodies, and some added to foods.  Protease can help in bread making. It works with yeast to help bread to rise. Some proteases come from fruit like papaya and pineapple.
Proteases are beneficial in fighting colds, flues and even cancer!
Papain is a type of protease.

September


 
This month we will be learning about cells, the four food groups and the food pyramid. We have also been talking a lot about ingredients. Please see the food additives post for more information. 

Banana Snack
Great for breakfast or afterschool!

Ingredients:
1 banana
1-2 TBSP peanut butter

Steps:
Peel banana and lay on plate
Spread with peanut butter
Cut into small pieces

Serves 1

Enjoy!


Welcome!

Welcome to Grade Three's Health Nut!

We know that everything belongs to God- even our bodies- so we can honour God by living a healthy lifestyle.

Throughout the year we will share what we learn in class with our schoolmates, family and friends.

We will be adding to our blog throughout the year. You can expect to see healthy recipes, healthy lifestyle tips and more!

We hope you enjoy and learn from our blog!