- Handstand Kids Cookbook Company

20 Feb 2012

America’s Struggle With Childhood Obesity

According to a recent report from CNN, the childhood obesity problem in the US is not getting any better. In fact, not only are the students getting larger, but now furniture, clothing and more is expanding to support these children.

According to the CDC, 17% of children are obese and 1 in 3 kids are obese or overweight. We were terrified to see the report mention that the rate of childhood obesity has risen so much that pediatricians say growth charts no longer are applicable to today’s youth.

This article continues to describe new companies that sell adjustable desks for larger students, larger chair options and more. Unfortunately offering these larger options to students often times leaves them feeling different and as if they’re being called out.

What do you think about the rising issue of childhood obesity?

handstand | No comments | Tags: CDC, childhood obesity, CNN, cooking, cooking with kids, Handstand Kids, healthy cooking, healthy eating, healthy kids, healthy parents, Kids Cook, news, obesity, school

17 Feb 2012

Handstand Kids Tips

Weekend Activity: DIY

Happy Friday folks! This weekend we’re feeling crafty! We came across this AWESOME napkin ring DIY project from Good Housekeeping, which got us thinking: why not craft all new table settings with your kiddos this weekend?

When it comes to making cute tablecloths, we’ve fallen in love with Oh Happy Day’s DIY Confetti Tablecloth.

You can also pick up supplies to make your own mugs, bowls, plates, and napkins with your kids. Think ceramic paints in every color!!

Enjoy! And be sure to send us photos of what you make!

handstand | No comments | Tags: accessories, activities, cooking, cooking with kids, craft, diy, Handstand Kids, healthy cooking, healthy eating, healthy kids, healthy parents, Kids Cook, mug, napkin ring, tablecloth, weekend activities

13 Feb 2012

Handstand Kids Recipes • Handstand Kids Tips

Food Allergy Information: Gluten

You’ve probably heard quite a bit about gluten free diets and gluten lately.

First, what is gluten? Gluten is a protein found in rye, wheat and barley. Gluten is found in more than just breads, pastas, and wheat products. In fact, gluten is often times used as a binder in sauces, dressings and more!

Are you interested in cooking for someone with gluten sensitivity or Celiac Disease? Here are some of our favorite recipes:

Gluten Free Dairy Free Chocolate Peppermint Squares from GlutenFreeda.com. For instructions click here.

Chocolate Biscuit and Strawberries from Gluten Free Mommy. Click here for instructions.

Wondering how to make one of our meals gluten free? Many of the meals within our Mexican Cookbook kit are gluten free by nature. For some of our Chinese Cookbook kit meals, substitute Tamari (gluten free soy sauce) for your typical soy sauce. With our Italian recipes, substitute quinoa pastas and gluten free breads! Be sure to check all ingredients in our recipes and find a gluten free substitute to be sure your meal is 100% gluten free!

If you have more questions on which of our meals are already gluten free or how to make one of our recipes gluten free, post it on our facebook wall.

Happy cooking!

handstand | No comments | Tags: allergies, Chinese, cooking, cooking with kids, food allergy, fruits and vegetables, gluten, Handstand Kids, healthy cooking, healthy eating, healthy kids, healthy parents, Italian, Kids Cook, Mexican, tips

10 Feb 2012

Handstand Kids Tips

Cooking With Kids: An Added Benefit

Let’s talk about the educational benefits of cooking with kids!

Cooking as a reading tool:

Have your children read the steps and ingredients to you.
Cooking helps your children follow and understand an order of events within a story or recipe.
In our Handstand Kids Cookbook Kits, kids can learn to read and speak in a different language.

Cooking as a science tool:

Teach your children the difference between raw versus cooked ingredients.
Treat cooking as a science experiment and ask your children to make predictions, or a hypothesis, make observations and find results.
Discuss where the ingredients you use actually came from. For example, when using vegetables, ask your children how they grow, in what environment, and in what location.

Cooking as a math tool:

Cooking is all about measuring and counting ingredients!
Make sure your children are counting ingredients as they use or collect them.
Teach or practice measurements (cups, quarts, etc.) with your children

For more information, visit the Scholastic Parents website!

Have you had successes using cooking as an educational tool? Share with us on our facebook wall!

handstand | No comments | Tags: back to school, cooking, cooking with kids, Eat Your Fruits & Veggies, education, Handstand Kids, healthy cooking, healthy eating, healthy kids, healthy parents, Kids Cook, math, reading, science

09 Feb 2012

Handstand Kids Tips

Do It Yourself Valentine’s

It’s almost Valentine’s Day, folks and we’re totally feeling the love! Yesterday we sent out a Valentine’s Day email newsletter with lots of yummy holiday-themed treats to make with your kids!

Today we have another Valentine’s idea for you! How about making Valentine’s with your little ones over the weekend? Together you can make Valentine cards for their the whole classroom!

Here are a few of our favorites from across the web:

Perfect Pairings Valentine from Disney Family. Click here for instructions!

Lollipop Greeting Valentine from Education.com. Click here for instructions!

Gift Bag Valentine from Delish. Click here for instructions!

Candy Bar Valentine from Better Homes and Gardens. Click here for instructions.

Additional tip: Make sure you know if there are any food allergies in your child’s classroom. If there are, adjust the type of food Valentine you give accordingly.

If you end up making any of these Valentine’s Day cards with your kiddos, we’d love to see photos! Post them on our Facebook wall!

handstand | No comments | Tags: crafts, Handstand Kids, healthy cooking, healthy eating, healthy kids, healthy parents, Kids Cook, school, tips, Valentine, Valentine's cards, Valentine's Day

07 Feb 2012

Handstand Kids Recipes

Wanting Warmth

We’ve been extra chilly lately and have been filling up on soups and stews for extra warmth! Trying to stay warm with your kiddos? Stay indoors one afternoon, bundle up, and start cooking!

Our winter suggestion:

Mamma Mia Minestrone from the Handstand Kids Italian Cookbook Kit!

Serves 6, Level: 3

Ingredients:

1 can (15 ounces) of red beans
1 can (12 ounces) of whole peeled tomatoes (Pomodori)
1 yellow onion (cipolla)
2 potatoes
2 cups of green beans
2 chopped tomatoes (Pomodori)
2 cups of zucchini
2 cups of mushrooms
2 cups of celery
1 quart of vegetable or chicken broth
3 quarts of water
Salt and Pepper (sale e pepe)
2 cups of macaroni (maccheroni)
1 cup of grated parmesan cheese (Parmigiano)

Tools:

Cutting Board
Knife
Soup Pot
Measuring Cup
Oven Mitts
Wooden Spoon

Instructions:

Chop the vegetables and potatoes into bite size pieces.
Place all the ingredients, except the maccheroni and parmigiano, into the soup pot on the stove on a high heat setting.
When the water boils, pour in the maccheroni while wearing oven mitts and let it cook for 30 minutes on medium heat.
Spoon the soup into bowls and sprinkle with parmigiano.
Enjoy!

Alternative: For a heartier soup, add a handful of cooked meatballs to the soup pot 5 minutes before the soup is ready.

If you end up making your own minestrone, be sure to post photos on our facebook wall!

handstand | No comments | Tags: cooking, cooking with kids, Eat Your Fruits & Veggies, food revolution, fruits and vegetables, Handstand Kids, healthy cooking, healthy eating, healthy kids, healthy parents, Italian, Kids Cook, minestrone, soup, Tomatoes, vegetables

31 Jan 2012

Handstand Kids Charity of the Month

Learn More About Our Charity of The Month

It’s the end of the month and we’re hoping you haven’t forgotten about our Charity of the Month, Share Our Strength®. This national non-profit organization is ending childhood hunger in America by connecting children with the nutritious food they need to lead healthy, active lives. Through its No Kid Hungry®Campaign—a national effort to end childhood hunger in America by 2015—Share Our Strength ensures children in need are enrolled in federal nutrition programs, invests in community organizations fighting hunger, teaches families how to cook healthy, affordable meals, and builds public-private partnerships to end childhood hunger, at the state and city level.

Sign the NO KID HUNGRY PLEDGE today! What are you waiting for?

handstand | No comments | Tags: Charity of the Month, Handstand Kids, healthy cooking, healthy eating, healthy kids, healthy parents, Kids Cook, No Kid Hungry, Share Our Strength

30 Jan 2012

Handstand Kids Recipes • Handstand Kids Tips

Easy and Quick Kid’s Cooking

Who says cooking with kids has to be difficult or time-consuming? We recently came across this 30 Minute Meals with Rachael Ray episode where she teaches little ones to cook some of her favorite kid-inspired 30 minute meals.

We are especially excited to try her Creamy Salsa Dip, pictured here!

Total Time: 10 minutes

Level: Easy

Serves: 4 kiddos

Ingredients:

1 cup mild salsa, any brand
1/2 cup sour cream
12 carrot sticks, store bought or cut by your GH (Grown-up Helper)
12 celery sticks, store bought or cut by your GH
12 cherry or grape tomatoes, rinsed
12 sugar snap peas, washed and dried

Directions:

Stir together salsa and sour cream.
Scrape the dip you made into a small bowl.
Put the small bowl in the middle of a big plate. Arrange veggies all around the dip and serve!
Enjoy!

We think this salsa would be delicious with one of our meals from the Mexican Handstand Kids Cookbook Kit!

Let us know if you have any other 30-minute meal suggestions on our facebook wall!

handstand | No comments | Tags: 30 minute meals, cooking, cooking with kids, Eat Your Fruits & Veggies, fruits and vegetables, Handstand Kids, healthy cooking, healthy eating, healthy kids, healthy parents, Kids Cook, Mexican, rachael ray, vegetables

27 Jan 2012

Handstand Kids News • Handstand Kids Tips

Eat Together As A Family

Does you family cook and eat together regularly? While families seem to be busier and busier, there are some seriously awesome benefits of eating together as a family. We absolutely love this WebMD article we stumbled across and hope that this will inspire your family to cook and eat together more consistently.

Most notably, younger children who share meals with their families, are far less likely to be overweight than their peers. Here are some other major benefits the article highlights:

Each family member is able to eat a healthier meal.
Kids are less likely to end up smoking cigarettes, drinking alcohol, and doing other drugs.
Kids who eat with their families will have better grades and focus in school.
As a family, everyone will bond and talk more openly and often.
As a parent, you’ll be more likely to hear about serious issues your children are having.
Your children will feel like you’re proud of them and enjoy the time you share together.
Eating together as a family lends itself to a stress and tension-free home.

Let us know if you eat as a family and why you think it’s so important!

handstand | No comments | Tags: cooking, cooking with kids, family meals, Handstand Kids, healthy cooking, healthy eating, healthy kids, healthy parents, Kids Cook, tips, WebMD

26 Jan 2012

Handstand Kid of the Month

Meet Anya, Our Handstand Kid of the Month

Meet Anya, a bubbly, adorable young lady who LOVES to cook! Anya made our Leaning Tower of Eggplant from the Handstand Kids Italian Cookbook Kit and added tomatoes, for her own special touch.

Watch this video to learn how to make your own Leaning Tower of Eggplant, featuring our food of the month, the eggplant. We think Anya did a great job!

And guess what? Anya enjoyed the dish so much, she just HAD to dance! Thanks Anya for sharing this with us!

handstand | No comments | Tags: cooking, cooking with kids, Eat Your Fruits & Veggies, eggplant, Food of the month, food revolution, fruits and vegetables, Handstand Kids, healthy cooking, healthy eating, healthy kids, healthy parents, Italian, kid of the month, Kids Cook

« Older Entries

America’s Struggle With Childhood Obesity

Weekend Activity: DIY

Food Allergy Information: Gluten

Cooking With Kids: An Added Benefit

Do It Yourself Valentine’s

Wanting Warmth

Easy and Quick Kid’s Cooking

Eat Together As A Family

Meet Anya, Our Handstand Kid of the Month

Connect with the Handstand Kids!

Celebrity Ambassador

Children’s Food Advocacy

Food of the Month

January’s Handstand Kid