Hi Moms and Dads,
I would like to thank every working parent out there, for when we were all growing up it is you who put food on the table, clothes on our backs and kept a roof over our head! Yet in today’s modern world, times have gotten tough. Prices on everything are on the rise, while the governments try to maintain control of this and that. Yet one thing has remained consistent throughout the ages—– kids needing their parents love while depending on their choices for survival, health and over all well-being. Therefore know that Childhood Obesity is one of the worst epidemics children have ever suffered from, and it cannot be fixed with a shot or pill. And know that you can no longer use genes as an excuse, for the National Institute of Health reported last tear that studies show that NO genes are not linked to child obesity.
Therefore, realize that this site blog and associated cookbook are to offer you supportive solutions and easy affordable healthy recipes for avoiding childhood obesity at home. And today’s blog is especially for those of you who are at work all day, thus not there after school or on weekends to watch and monitor what your kids do and eat.
There is no doubt that holding down a full-time or 2 part-time jobs is difficult at best; yet especially so when raising kids. The bills have to be paid this one needs to go to the Dr. and your head is about to explode for everyone wants your attention once home while asking, “When’s Dinner”. So what do you do to make it easier on yourself while keeping the kids happy! Sure, it appears easier to open a frozen bag or dry box and heat the contents in the microwave or pick up the phone for delivery. But before you reach for that prepackaged bag/box, pick up the phone or get everyone in the car to go out for fast food remember these are the type of foods, especially for non-athletic children, that can put on extra pounds that lead to extra or large servings and increase the want for more food while also promoting the want to do nothing but sit around watching TV or playing sedentary video games.
So what can you do? You prepare some easy yet healthful meals in advance such as on weekends. Getting the kids into the kitchen to help can help them with basic math skills (fractions, adding, subtracting, etc.) while learning about the goodness and wealth of homemade food. Homemade foods also releases a succulent fragrance that can get your loved ones running to set the table while awaiting for the palatable goodness ahead. Prepackaged foods do not offer such fragrances–in fact they really just get eaten while offering no love, no lessons to last a lifetime, no skill promotion and no shared stories from the past such as when your dad tried to kiss your mom for the first time!
Yes lots of love and positive things go on within that warming glow of a home kitchen. USE IT TO YOUR ADVANTAGE—COOK, HEAL AND LOVE THROUGH HOMEMADE FOODS! Please, keep in mind that these are your children not those of a manufacture! It is your responsibility as their parents to raise them to be relatively healthy, rather than to be obese and potentially ill.
Therefore, you have choices to make such as you can raise them on a manufacturer’s chemicals, artificial flavors sugars and salts found in prepackaged ease; or you can raise them on memorable flavors filled with homemade love to be shared throughout the years ahead. The choice is yours; I’m just here to help by knowing that one of the easiest ways to induce and maintain weight loss and healthy weights in children is through the Power of Homemade Love. It doesn’t take long to throw a bunch of ingredients into a crock pot, set it on low and let it simmer all day in a protected container while at work. And on weekends, rather than just sit around relaxing, why not cook some foods for the week ahead. Oh my you could have breakfast sandwiches for on the go when morning routines run short, some healthful baked goods and healthful candies for snacks that also happen to freeze well for enjoyment at another time. You can take 10 minutes to toss a few fresh ingredients into a pot and then simmer large batches of soups, pot roast, chili, tomato sauce, veggies, or chicken so you have excess for another meal. And you know what you can spend some positive quality time with the kids when you bring them in to help, as the lessons learned in a home kitchen last for generations to come; while prepackaged/previously prepared just gets eaten. Plus they can learn about counting, fractions, multiplying and much more all in the warming glow of your home kitchen. And if you don’t live near a full grocery store, get a car pool in the neighborhood going and go as a group to shop.
You see, you can make all the excuses you want not to help your kids or you can do something about their excessive weight! As said, it is all about choices Mom and Dad!
Please be aware that I didn’t write the associated cookbook for fortune or fame, instead I wrote it only to offer you support, tips and recipes for these times when you are tired and can’t think of a quick recipe, don’t feel like cooking or who aren’t very experienced with preparing homemade foods. You see home cooking doesn’t need to be fancy; it needs to taste good! so included among the pages is help when blending the right match of spices/herbs as well as many recipe variations to help you feed healthful ingredients to even the fussiest of eaters.
Remember if you don’t buy those junky foods and sugary beverages, then it’s not there for your kids to eat or drink in your absence; and if they’re hungry, kids are kids and will usually eat or drink what is available! Also to help prevent over- eating at dinner, it is always a good idea to serve each person a glass of water before dishing out adequate but not too large serving sizes. The water helps to fill their bellies a little bit before the food is served—hence helping decrease the want for more food.
Before, I share a good, healthful and wonderfully easy recipe, know that later this week I will share a few tips for getting the kids more active, especially while you are still at work!
Yet for now, enjoy the ease of homemade love below!
Oodles of Noodles and Zuchles
TIPS:
>A block of cheese is commonly less expensive than those shredded or individually slices; and hard cheeses, such as Parmesan and Romano contain less fat than softer varieties.
> For those fussy eaters, know that the majority of the zucchini melts into the sauce, hence no worries.
> A good idea is to finely chop 2-3 large spinach leaves and mix them into the sauce prior to pouring over the zucchini, hence adding a double dose of un-detectable healthy goodness in that meal.

Serve 6-8 (This recipe can easily be divided in half if necessary)
Preheat oven to 350° F
2 tablespoons combined butter and canola or olive oil butter spread
3 medium-large zucchinis
3 cups of your favorite homemade or bottled sauce Tomato Sauce
1-2 teaspoons of minced garlic, or 1 teaspoon garlic powder (if using canned sauces)
6-8 ounces thinly sliced or 1 ½ -2 cups Mozzarella Cheese
2 tablespoons Parmesan and/or Romano Cheese
12-ounces package Rotini or Penne pasta
1. Spread the canola based spread all over the bottom and sides of a 9×13-inch pan.
2. Slice the zucchini into 1/4 inch slices and layer all over the pan. Pour the sauce over the zucchini, and then very gently mix the garlic only into the sauce. Bake for 25-30 minutes.
3. Prepare the pasta, according to the package directions while the Zucchini and sauce bakes.
4. Remove the pan from the oven and cover the entire top with the cheese. Return the pan to the oven and continue baking until the cheese has melted and begins to bubble, about 5-10 minutes.
5. Serve over the warm pasta.