Photos in this Article courtesy of Smart Food Healthy Kids. (See Green Talk reader discounts below)
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JnzV33PKMNA[/youtube]
As busy parents from car pools, jobs, and sports, who has time to figure out what to serve our children that is healthy, organic, and tasty at the same time? Even if you try and cook healthy food (been there), our children just sneer at it and push it away. With reports of the increase in childhood diabetes 2, ADHD, and food allergies, Smart Foods Healthy Kids is a much needed beacon to empower parents to create a healthier lifestyle for their children.Kelly Corbet, founder of Smart Foods Healthy Kids, is like the mom next door dispensing helpful advice that is easy to understand and simple to follow.
“As a mom with two children, and a Harvard masters degree focused on environmental policy, I know too much about chemicals not to share what I know with other mothers. And, since the greatest chemical exposure kids are likely to experience comes from the very foods we feed them, I can’t help but “dish out” healthy recipes.”
Besides her background as a biomedical engineering professor, Kelly brings to the dinner table her own personal experiences of raising a child with food allergies and intolerances. I always believe that our paths are chosen for a reason, and clearly Kelly’s calling was to help parents to understand how unhealthy food practices and household chemicals affect our little ones with much greater magnitude than adults. The Company offers video, audio clips, articles, newsletters, and recipes to help families to create a healthier household. Smart Foods even offers a section just for moms on how to make them healthier and more balanced in their lives.Although some of the materials are free on the website, in order to reap the full benefits of the site, you must become a member similar to buying a magazine subscription. There are no advertisements on the site. According to the Company, the decision not to have advertisements as their revenue source allows them to give their readers unbiased information. A one year membership is $12.99. Discounts are given for signing up for more than one year. If you are unable to afford membership, scholarships are available. 
So, what did I like about the website? One my favorite parts was the recipes on how to incorporate more vegetables in your child’s diet by including them with other food groups that I did not even consider. It’s not all about hiding the vegetables, but shedding a new light on them.My kids hate vegetables so of course I am intrigued with Kelly’s recipes. Would they be willing to try zucchini hummus? Add some carrot sticks. Yum! How about a veggie packed meatloaf that your kids won’t notice?
How about incorporating foods that are good for you in soup? Kelly added astragalus root to a chicken soup recipe, which boosts the immunity power of the soup. Your kids would never know. Clever, huh? My all-time favorite had to be healthy cookie dough recipe. Yep, you heard me. Dairy, Soy, and Gluten free to boot.
Believing that just eating right is not enough, Kelly continues to teach parents about the chemicals we use in our household. One video I urge you to watch is the dangerous chemicals in our laundry and dishwashing soaps and their effects on our children. It was refreshing to watch Kelly explain the chemical hazards in these products in an easy to understand manner instead of lecturing why you should not use certain products. It all makes sense after she is done explaining the “whys.”The holiday season is upon us and a membership to Smart Foods would be a wonderful gift to your sister, best friend or daughter. Perhaps, treat yourself. Don’t be surprised if your kids are not the only ones getting healthy as well.
Note: Until January 1, 2008, Green Talk readers will get a 10% discount on any of the Company’s subcriptions. Use the coupon code, green_talk10.
karen says
December 21, 2007 at 11:11 amI signed up for smart kids healthy foods and loved it but two weeks later …. the site is down and no one returns my emails! I think they have taken my money and shut down.
Green Talk says
December 21, 2007 at 6:35 pmKaren, I emailed my contact at the Company to help you at. The website is up. Anna
Green Talk says
December 21, 2007 at 6:38 pmReaders, I have heard from the Company and are working with Karen as to what the glitch was. They told me that the website was not down but obviously if Karen was having a problem something was up. Karen, let us know if everything is straightened out. Anna