A HEALTHY START TO THE DAY IN 2010!!

A Healthy Start to the Day

Eating breakfast is an important part of powering-up your body for the day. Eating a balanced breakfast can help keep your family alert, improve mood and reduce mid-morning food cravings.

Ten Tips for a Healthier Breakfast:

Oatmeal in an Instant
Instant oatmeal is great on a cold morning and contains fiber and vitamins. Choose oatmeal that is not already pre-sweetened. Sweeten it with raisins or fresh fruit.
Smoothie madness
Blend frozen fruit (bananas and berries are great), low-fat or fat-free milk, and 100% fruit-juice for a quick, tasty breakfast smoothie with lots of nutrients.
Go 100% whole grain
100% whole-grain, fiber-containing cereals served with low- or fat-free milk are a healthier alternative to sugary cereals. Whole-wheat muffins with smashed banana are easy and tasty as well.
Eggxactly! Boil, scramble, or poach eggs and serve on whole-wheat toast - they're packed with nutrition and, in appropriate portions, are great for kids.
Toaster Treats
Frozen whole-grain waffles take almost no time to make. Top them with berries, low-sugar apple sauce or sliced bananas instead of syrup.
Go Nutty!
Spreading peanut or almond butter on whole-grain toast is a great to get both protein and fiber.
Go Fruity
A fresh fruit cut up with a dollop of low-fat or fat-free yogurt is a great way to start the day. Apples contain fiber and bananas contain potassium.
Try All-Fruit Spreads
Instead of butter or margarine on toast, try all-fruit spreads, fruit butters, or even sliced bananas or strawberries.
Bagel Classics
Try a whole-wheat or sunflower seed bagel with low-fat cream cheese or nut butter.
Breakfast On-the-Go
Don't have time to eat breakfast at home? Keep whole-grain mini bagels on-hand or muffins, nuts and dried and fresh fruits that can be taken in the car (apple slices and bananas are also easy and not too messy!).

Did you know?
People who eat breakfast are significantly less likely to be obese and diabetic than those who usually don't.
• Children who eat breakfast are more likely to have better concentration, problem-solving skills and hand-eye coordination.
• Studies have seen that "students who ate breakfasts before starting school had a general increase in math grades and reading scores, increased student attention, reduced nurse visits, and improved student behaviours.
• Unfortunately, many breakfast foods contain a lot of sugar and have been stripped of their natural nutrients. Try to avoid frosted and chocolate cereals, donuts, white bread and high-sugar breakfast bars. Instead of sugary juices, provide your children with 100% fruit juices or fat-free or low-fat milk. Eating only sugary foods may cause your child to have erratic energy levels. Eating a balanced breakfast will help get them going and sustain their energy until lunch time.
A healthy breakfast does not have to take a lot of time. Stick to the basics and serve simple foods that are nutritious and quick in the morning.

Eat up and have energy for a great day! I will post one of my yummy homemade pancake recipes soon..........

Happy Cooking, Lori
Little Chefs
www.thelittlechefs.ca
519-940-1131

Happy Valentine's Day!

In honor of this sweet holiday Valentine's Day I wanted to give you a recipe I found that is great. Chocolate cake in 5 minutes. How great is that??
Make some now for your sweetie!

5 minute Chocolate Cake in a Cup!

Ingredients:

- 4 tbsp flour
- 5 tbsp sugar
- 2 tbsp cocoa
- 1 tsp baking powder (I used 1/2 tsp and it turned out fine)
- 1/2 tsp coffee powder (optional)
- A pinch of salt
- 1 egg
- 3 tbsp milk
- 3 tbsp oil
- 3 tbsp chocolate chips or flakes plus 2 tablespoon extra (I omitted these)
- A small splash of vanilla extract
- Microwave safe coffee mugs

1. Mix all the dry ingredients in a big bowl.

2. Next, add in the milk, oil, vanilla extract, egg and mix well.

3. Pour mixture into mugs (at the halfway mark).

4. Microwave one mug at a time. Cook for 1 minute on medium heat. It will bubble and rise as it cooks, so make sure you provide ample room for that. Leave it for a few seconds, then microwave for another 30 seconds on medium again. The mixture will solidify, but still look a little molten. That is fine because it will continue cooking on residual heat. Overcook it and you get a chocolate rubber ball.

5. Allow to cool a little and start digging in. Of course, nothing is stopping you from embellishing your cake and eating it too!

Have your cake and eat it too!!
Enjoy with your Valentine! Have a sweet one,

Lori
Little Chefs
www.thelittlechefs.ca
519-940-1131

Upcoming Classes / Cookshops for Little Chefs

Come PLAY with your Food!

Learning to cook is more than just knowing how to follow a recipe. It is an adventure into the basics of chemistry; an exercise in the applications of math and reading comprehension, and the visual art of nature’s palette.
Whether your children see themselves as the next Rachel or Emeril- or they simply love to be in the kitchen- we’ll teach them how to truly play with their food!

New Upcoming 2010 Winter Classes / Cookshops:

February
All things chocolate...........Come out to make some yummy chocolate treats for your loved ones! $ 30.00
Saturday Feb 13th. @ Alder Street Recreation Centre in Orangeville from 2 - 3:30pm
Sunday Feb 14th. @ What's Cookin in Erin from 2 - 3:30 pm
*Bring in something for local food bank and receive a valentine's gift for yourself!

Parent Child Cookshop # 1 - Baking that can be made ahead of time? Fast and delicious Freezer Pizza Doughs and Slice and Bake cookies are as convenient as store-bought, but you know what goes into it! $ 45.00 for child parent team
Saturday Feb 27th @ Alder Street Recreation Centre in Orangeville from 2 - 3:30pm
Sunday Feb 28th @ What's Cookin in Erin from 2 - 3:30pm

March
March Break - Animal Treats - Good Enough to Eat! Come out and learn how to make some healthy treats for your furry friends. Contact 519-940-1131 for more information

Parent Child Cookshop # 2 - Ready to create some salads and snacks together? Crunchy salads and healthy delicious snacks for the whole family. $ 45.00 for child parent team
Saturday March 27th @ Alder Street Recreation Centre in Orangeville from 2 - 3:30pm
Sunday March 28th @ What's Cookin in Erin from 2 - 3:30pm
Advanced registration and payment to reserve your seat(s) is with Little Chefs info@thelittlechefs.ca or 519-940-1131

*Classes / cookshops for all age levels include discussions on safe food handling, sanitation, and cleaning up.
*All class /cookshop fees include food costs, food sampling and results to take home.
*Private groups, such as girl guides /boy-scout troops, play groups, parties etc. can be arranged at your area location or one of ours for regular fees. Minimum of 8 participants.

Lori Tinella
Little Chefs
Have a Party that COOKS!
www.thelittlechefs.ca
519-940-1131

Pizza party and lots of baked goods, Yummy!!!

Recently I held a young girls birthday pizza making party and then finished off with the decorating of cupcakes! All the girls ( 12 of them ) had fun with lots of flour, dough and yummy topping to make their customized pizza's. After the pizza's we moved on to the sweetness of chocolate cupcakes, chocolate icing and coloured sugars! All the guests signed the birthday girls apron and left with a custom loot bag filled with a few ccoking items.
If you would like to host a cooking party for your child please give me a call or e-mail.

Happy Cooking!
Lori
Little Chefs

www.thelittlechefs.ca
Have a Party that COOKS!!

Wow has it really been that long since my last post??

I must apoligize for my absense but the worldwind leading up to Christmas had me very busy with all my Little Chefs events ( school class visits, holiday cookshops, and parties) that my postings have been lacking.

During my blob posting absense I decided that I really needed to take some time to regroup and spend time with my family. It has been an amazing and challenging year as a small business owner. Trying to balance my day-to-day live with young kids and building my small business of Little Chefs! I am not complaining but it does come at a price, the balancing dance we much do in order to get done alot of things that you take on when running your own business.

Part of this past month or so I have used for evaluating, testing and planning for the future.
I needed to discover what was working, what was not and what needed to change for the future of Little Chefs.

I hope that you all had wonderful, happy, healthy holidays and are enjoying the new year of 2010! The tenth year of the millennium!

It is a year of new possibilities and hope for health, peace and love.

Thanks to all of you whom I have shared experiences with and hope can share more.

Stay tuned for what is in store for Little Chefs in 2010.........

From my heart and kitchen,

Lori Tinella
Little Chefs, founder

www.thelittlechefs.ca

Gingerbread Dreams this past weekend

Friday the 27th at 5 & 7pm and Saturday the 28th at 12:30pm was the Gingerbread Dreams workshops at What's Cookin' in Erin. There was alot of icing and tons of sweet decorations flowing and the houses were decorated beautifully . Everyone had tons of sweet fun and the Saturday group got to finish up and see the Santa Claus parade go by. Above are a couple of pictures of some of the great participants. Thanks to all the parents who stayed and had fun creating memories with their children!
Last chance to participate and do a house of your own is Sunday December 6th @ 3pm at Noinkee's in Orangeville and Saturday December 12th at Alder Rec Centre in Orangeville @ 1pm.
Call to reserve your spot 519-940-1131

Yours in sweet health,
Lori
Little Chefs
www.thelittlechefs.ca

Cookies, cookies everywhere!

This past weekend I hosted a young girls birthday cookie making party. What a blast it was. All the girls were very happy to get right into creaming the butter, adding the sugar,egg, and dry ingredients! They all had loads of fun mixing, rolling, pressing and decorating some yummy sugar cookies. The girls ranged in age from 3-6 years of age. The children didn't go home with just their cookies to share but with inspiration to get in the kitchen to help mom or dad!
If you are interested in booking your child's cooking or baking party please contact me as I am already booking for into the New Year! Little Chefs holds parties and classes for kids aged 3 and up!
We still have some spots available for the Gingerbread Dreams classes being held in December in Orangeville. Spots are filling up so contact us today to reserve your spot.
info@thelittlechefs.ca or 519-940-1131