Veggie Skeleton

This week we were studying the bones.

The kids built this vegetable skeleton to help remember some of the bones. 

Oops, someone ate one of the phalanges on the foot! 

After constructing the skeleton the kids were instructed to pick one of the vegetables and research the nutrients it provides for our body.

Micah immediately said, "Carrots, and they have vitamin A which is helpful to our eyes." 

Guess the eyeballs and carrot smoothie pops we made during eye unit actually helped him retain some nutritional facts.  This mom says, "Hip Hip Hooray!"

Hannah researched zucchini.  Zucchini is full of water, potassium, fiber, vitamin A, and vitamin C.  The minerals and vitamins help boost your immune system, and promotes the health of your eyes, heart, lungs, and skin.

Lauren and I researched mushrooms.  A medium portabella mushroom has more potassium than a banana. Potassium helps lower elevated blood pressure and reduce the risk of stroke.

Cauliflower Smoothie & Pops

 



 

 

Another home run!  I have mentioned before how my son will not eat most vegetables.  Thank goodness for our Blendtec and smoothies.

 

 

Ingredients:

 

1 head of cauliflower

1/2 tbs of chamomile flowers - immune boosting properties

1/2 cup water

2 red gala apples (do not peel)

1 cup vanilla yogurt

2 cinnamon sticks

2 frozen bananas

 

 

Directions: 

1. Blanch cauliflower and quickly add to cold ice water.  I read somewhere that this helps get any bugs out that might be hiding within the cauliflower.  I then juice the cauliflower in the juicer.
2. In a saucepan boil 1/2 cup water.  Once it begins to boil turn off the heat and add 1/2 tbs chamomile flowers and 2 cinnamon sticks and let steep for 4 minutes then strain.
3. Once it has cooled add this to your blender.
4. Core your apple; I keep the peel on because a majority of the vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients reside in the peel.  (livestrong.com) Throw that into your blender.
5. Add remaining ingredients and choose the smoothie button.
6. I give a glass to my kids and pour the remaining amount into 6 rocket molds and place in the freezer.

YUM!  That is it.  Hope your kids enjoy!

 

 

NUTRITIONAL FACTS

 

This stark white vegetable provides allicin, an important compound that actually reduces the risk of stroke and heart disease while detoxifying the blood and liver. 

 

Cauliflower also provides potassium.  Potassium an essential mineral for maintaining normal blood pressure, heart function, and good nerve and muscle function.

 

Usually when someone mentions vitamin C you think of an orange, but did you know cauliflower is packed with it too.  Vitamin C is an antioxidant that promotes skin and brain health.





Monkey Milkshake & Monkey Pancakes

Monkey Mike’s Merry Berry Milkshake

&

Monkey Pancakes

 

Lexi helping me cook breakfast.

Ingredients for Milkshake:

·        1 banana

·        ½ cup cashews

·        10 strawberries

·        1 ¾ cups cold water

·        1 cup frozen blueberries

·        1 tablespoon honey

Directions: I place cashews in my Blendtec and pulse for a few seconds.    Then add the water to the blender and pulse for about 20 seconds, until you have a milky foam.  Next add your honey and fruit to the blender, I use my milkshake button. recipe from www.terawarner.com/blog2011/11getting-your-kids-involved-with-raw-foods/

For the Monkey Pancakes:

Make your favorite pancake batter.  Divide it in half and in one of the portions add cocoa or cacao powder.  We used blueberries for the eyes, nose and mouth simply because we were out of chocolate chips. recipe from  www.kitchenfunwithmy3sons.blogspot.com

I made the first one for me and the kids had fun playing with their own food.

Nutrients in Cashews and the Health Benefits

Cashews are an excellent source of minerals: copper, magnesium, zinc and manganese. -http://www.livestrong.com/article/260050-health-benefits-of-cashews/#ixzz2HV0p9tw1

Cashews are particularly rich in magnesium. It's a well-known fact that calcium is necessary for strong bones, but magnesium is as well. Most of the magnesium in the human body is in our bones. Some of it helps lend bones their physical structure, and the remainder is located on the surface of the bone where it is stored for the body to use as it needs. Copper found in cashews is vital for the function of enzymes involved in combining collagen and elastin, providing substance and flexibility in bones and joints.  - http://www.healthdiaries.com/eatthis/7-health-benefits-of-cashews.html