"Sunshine" Vitamin

"I'd suggest buying some Vitamin D for your kid," says my baby's pediatrician on my regular baby check up. "Is something wrong with my child?" I started to worry. "No, don't worry. The problem is kids don't get enough Vitamin D through the sun in the US North West area, so it needs to be supplemented…"
This made me think to do a research about this essential for our living Vitamin. Why is Vitamin D so important? And what are the natural ways of getting it? Let's talk about this now.
Vitamin D plays such an important role in building our healthy bones and teeth as it helps to absorb calcium.  And it's not just about the bones. It keeps up the immune system. If you will have healthy immune system, your body will fight off many infections.
Now guess what is the main natural source of Vitamin D? It's a sun shine :) The more you are out with your child, the better chance to get in some Vitamin D. However, the body is not able to produce it when the skin is covered with the clothing or sunscreen lotion.  Even though it still not enough of sun exposure for the body to make all needed amount of Vitamin D, it is a great and natural way to get it.
I found a great article on this web site BabyCenter. It talks about Vitamin D in the child's diet. There is some interesting information that I wanted to share from it.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that all infants, children, and teens take Vitamin D supplements of 400 IU each day. Kids who are too young for chewable vitamins can take liquid supplements.
Some of the best food sources of Vitamin D:

• 1 ounce salmon: 102 IU
• 6 ounces fortified yogurt: 80 IU
• 1 ounce canned tuna, drained and packed in oil: 66 IU
• 1/2 cup orange juce, fortified with 25% daily value for vitamin D: 50 IU
• 1/2 cup fortified milk (whole, low-fat, or skim): 49 IU
• one slice fortified American cheese: 40 IU
• 1/2 cup fortified, ready-to-eat cereal: 19 IU
• 1 ounce mackerel: 11.6 IU
• 1/2 large egg yolk: 10IU
• 1/2 teaspoon fortified margarine: 10 IU
• 1/2 ounce Swiss cheese: 6 IU

The other interesting fact is that getting more Vitamin D than recommended by health experts might be harmful, because excess of Vitamin D is not going out with urine as some other vitamins. Vitamin D is stored in the body tissue. So to be safe, stick to the recommended amount of 400 IU; and get to enjoy every single sunny day to fulfill  your child's Vitamin D needs. There is nothing as much enjoyable than to see your children happy and full of energy. 

Russian Borsch with Beans

This kind of Borsch is our favorite in my family. My husband and my 3 year old son just love it. The good thing is that I can always adjust ingredients and it will always taste so special each time. 
I do it usually with chicken broth, but it tastes slightly differently with with beef broth. Also you can always skip the beans if you are not a favor of it. I do love them, and add them each time I cook Borsch. Adjust potato and cabbage depending on your preferences. I prefer cabbage, that's why I only use 3 medium potatos for 6 quarts pot. Basically adjusting a little bit ingredients according to your taste, will create a new special Borsch. The only thing Borsch cannot exist without beets and tomato pasta. But again you can always manipulate the amounts of it. Would you ever want more sweet taste - put more beets. If you prefer a little sourish - use more tomato paste.

Ingredients:

2-3 chicken tights for cooking broth
3 potatoes
2 medium carrots
1 medium onion
2 medium beets
6 oz tomato paste
 Can of Kidney Beans (that's the ones that I prefer but you can use any kind)
1 Tbsp of Vegeta Seasoning (oh that's my favourite seasoning)
2 Tbsp of parsley or dill
 Salt
2 Tbsp of any oil (canola, vegetable, etc.)
1 small cabbage

Process:

1. Cook chicken tights in 6 quarts of water and 2 Tbsp of salt for 40 mins after the water boiled.

2. While the broth is cooking, peel vegetables. Slice potatoes (leave it in a water so it won't get dark), chop cabbage.

3. Saute diced onions, carrots and beets in 2 Tbsp of oil.

4. Mix 1 cup of hot water with 6 oz of tomato paste. Add it to the sauteed vegetables. Saute additional 1-2 mins.

5. When the broth is ready, add sliced potatoes to it.
6. Boil 3 mins, then add chopped cabbage to it.
7. After adding cabbage, add sauteed vegetables with tomato paste.

8. Add 1 Tbsp of Vegeta Seasoning. (it adds special wonderful taste to any soup) And taste if it needs any more salt.

9. Check if the the potato is ready. It's ready when it easily can be pierced with the fork.
10. Add can of Kidney beans (you can either drain it or add with the liquid).
11. At the end add 2 Tbsp of chopped parsley or dill.

ENJOY!!!

About Me

Welcome to my "Be the Best Mommy" Blog!

In this blog, I am going to post my favorite recepies that I tried to cook, and my family just enjoys it so much. I will post as I'll cook. I was very inspired by www.natashaskitchen.com recepies. I also have my own book of my favorite recepies that I am going to share in here with you.
Cooking is my hobby. I enjoy cooking! When my husband comes home from a long work day, a fresh and yummy dinner is waiting for him. I have my little helper, almost 3 years old son. He loves not only to observe how his mom cooks, but at the same time he just loves helping his mommy at the kitchen. He is always happy each time I say: "Emik, please help your mommy to take those peeled off potatoes into the garbage!" or "darling, can you help me to peel off the onion?" If I get so busy with cooking, he can even start washing all the dishes that I put away into the sink. So I am not by my self at the kitchen. Plus there is one more guy is growing up! Not sure if he'll be passionate about cooking, but I won't refuse any additional help :)
Anyways, join me at my blog! Leave any comments or suggestions. I'll be happy to hear from you :)

Tanya