Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Feeding the Fam

This is a compensated review from BlogHer and Ragu.

When I went back to working in an office about a year ago, dinners began to suffer. During my two-year stint of working at home (loved working at home; hated my job), I'd really begun to get serious about feeding my family better foods which equaled, to me, homemade foods (or, rather, homecooked foods). And I'd gotten really serious about feeding them healthier foods...about cutting out as many preservatives as possible, about avoiding HFCS, that kind of thing.

And when someone with more than a tetch of OCD says she got serious about something, well...It means that most of my friends now roll their eyes at me whenever I start talking about food. Remind me to tell you the time N, who was maybe 6 years old, announced to my friend Deb that the colored Goldfish she'd given him "are made of chemicals." (Of course, didn't stop him from eating them, mind you. In fact, I think he loved them all the more for that. I said I was serious about it. I didn't say my kids were.)

Now, among my food prejudices is one that, loosely stated, finds that all foods from my "why breastfeed when you can give your baby some nice made-in-the-lab formula" mid-60s upbringing are tainted with suspicion. The assumption? They're filled with anything but food.

I am here to admit that, in the case of Ragu, at least, I was wrong. The ingredient lists of the sauces I tried for this review were pretty simple. And the sugar, when it is added? Is sugar. Not corn syrup. The ingredient lists for the recipes themselves are equally simple and...I want to say pure, but that sounds overly gushy. They're ingredient lists of real foods. Real foods that are easy to put together for a meal at the end of the day. Which is exactly what I'm looking for in trying to feed my kids these back-at-the-office, no-time-to-bake-bread-from-scratch, what-can-I-feed-them-that's-healthy days.

And so, without further ado, I present you the three recipes I tried with my family, and our reactions to them. You may want to try some others; there's a slew of them on the Ragu site. And because they're so simple, they're also amenable to modification. (I'll talk about the modifications I made to each below.)

First up: Chicken Alfredo with Fettucine. (For some reason, I can't get that to link directly to the recipe, so just skim down to the Cs...You'll find it!)

These are the ingredients, with one modification. (I substituted olive oil for the suggested I Can't Believe It's Not Butter spread.) Don't I seem like one of those really awesome food bloggers, all organized and stuff?





Here's the meal in progress. Yum. Real food. Note the product placement. Am I good, or what? (OK, OK. I didn't even realize the jar was there when I took that shot. But I'm exploiting it now!)






And here's Em, the only family member aside from me who will actually eat fettucine alfredo, digging in. Except, in our case, it's linguine alfredo, because someone wasn't thinking when she was shopping, and got the two mixed up. (That someone would be me, by the way. It just sounds better when I say it in an accusatory, third-person voice.)


So, yeah. Em loved this dinner; she's an alfredo fanatic. She said the sauce was excellent, and she's a bit of a food snob herself. I liked it, too. Alfredo sauce is a wee bit too rich for me; not the kind of thing I normally choose to have on my pasta. But this wasn't overwhelmingly thick, and it had flavor. (The blandness of alfredo sauces is often my complaint about them.) So, two thumbs up for this one...from the only two thumbs that ate it. (See further below for my mini-rant about my family's annoying food preference issues.)

Next one (which was, hands-down, N's favorite, even before the words were out of my mouth): Easy Homemade Pizza. (And yes, another that won't go directly to the recipe. It's OK. A little scrolling won't kill ya.)

A look at the ingredients. My main modifications? I made two pizzas instead of one...a veggie pizza on whole-wheat crust for me, a pepperoni pizza on regular crust for the rest of them. The crusts weren't prebaked, but that didn't make a difference in how the recipe cooked up. Also, I simply must point out (for my ego's sake) that the onion I used for the veggie pizza? From my garden. (TC bows deeply to acknowledge your standing ovation.)


I love watching my kids do some of the cooking. N is very engrossed in spreading the tomato sauce just so here. Isn't he adorable?

























I'm terrible at blog-picture editing and placing, but the point of the above is to show you the pre- and post-baking pizzas. I think you probably got that.

These were awesome. We turned it into a movie-and-pizza night, and I didn't even feel guilty about the 'crap' I was putting into my kids' bodies...because it wasn't crap! It was fresh ingredients (we'll pretend that pepperoni is a plant for the sake of argument here), prepared by me, with nothing else added. The pizza sauce was simple, and delicious. All four of us ate what I prepared (banner day!) and all four of us were happy and sated afterwards.

Score!

And then, to finish it all off, came Chicken Margherita.










Again with the 'can't seem to place the photos where I want them' thing.

The first shot, ingredients: I added salt and pepper to the chicken, and I forgot to go out and pick the basil from my garden until the end, so it's not in here. Nor is the olive oil I used. In other words, that whole organized thing I patted myself on the back about for the first recipe? Had already fallen apart by now.

Second shot: Chicken cooking in sauce (mmmmmmm) and one plate already made up. Third shot: A closeup of that plate, which was mine.

And the last shot, by the way? Well, that's there for one reason and one reason only: To make you all pity me for having to cook for this group of heathens. The plate on the right, with the recipe in all its gorgeous glory, is mine. The plate on the top, which has the pasta, the chicken, and the sauce, is Em's; she doesn't like cheese. The plate on the bottom, which has the chicken and the sauce only, is Baroy's; he doesn't like pasta or cheese. (I KNOW! It's definitely a character flaw. WHO doesn't like PASTA for crying out loud!) Both Baroy and Em, by the way, will eat cheese on pizza...just not anywhere else. Oh, and Em loves parmesan. But not cheese, Mom! Huh? Again...pity me.

But the worst of the bunch is the plate over there on the left; N's plate. Note that while he has chicken and pasta, they are plain: He doesn't like sauce. Of any kind. Ever. Except, of course, on pizza. Where it's not sauce, somehow.

Which is why anyone else's opinion of this recipe (Baroy and Em loved it and gobbled up the parts they were willing to eat; I liked it, though I am found it just a bit too sweet for me, which is why I don't normally 'do' margherita sauces, since they all tend to be sweet) is pretty much moot. Because here's the little miracle that happened the next day, when N decided he didn't like what I'd made for dinner and asked for pasta. I told him the only pasta I had was the stuff from the night before, with the sauce on it. He knows that while I'm willing to add or delete ingredients when possible, I do not short-order cook, and so would not be making him a separate meal; thus, he decided to have some of the saucy pasta. And...he LIKED it! Mikey liked it! (Yes, that reference ages me. Whatever.)

Actually, he loved it. "This is the best sauce I ever had!" he exclaimed. I declined to point out that it was probably the only sauce he'd ever had.

Still, if that's not a glowing recommendation, I don't know what is.

For more kid-friendly recipes, healthy tips and more, be sure to visit Ragu.com.

*******
And now, on with the show: Your chance to win a $100 Visa gift card. And all you have to do is leave a comment on this entry (or a link to a post on your own blog) answering this question: What obsesses you about feeding your kids, and how do you go about feeding them well?

The contest will begin on 10/1/2009 and will end 11/11/2009. Make sure that the e-mail address you leave is correct (and that you leave one in the first place), or I won't be able to contact you if you win!

The Rules:
  • No duplicate comments.
  • BUT...you may receive an additional entry by linking on twitter and leaving a link in the comments.
  • OR...you may receive an additional entry by blogging about this contest and leaving a link in the comments.
  • This giveaway is open to US residents, aged 18 and older.
  • Winners will be selected via random draw, and will notified by email.
  • You have 48 hours to get back to me; after that, I'll select a new winner.

    Check out the rest of the BlogHer Reviewers' Ragu meals--you have 10 chances to win a $100 Visa gift card.

138 comments:

  1. I obsess about getting my kids to eat enough. I feed my kids well by trying to give them fruits and vegetables whenever possible.

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  2. I blogged about this:

    http://grand-giveaways.blogspot.com/2009/10/visa-100-gift-card-sponsored-by-ragu.html

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  3. I do try to get my kids to eat well. It might be trying something NEW! I love to see what the reaction will be...
    Michelle
    couponfreak at ymail dot com

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  4. I obsess over my kids eating their fruits and veggies-neither one of them are good about it, but I always make sure to offer them just in case they change their minds :-)

    khmorgan_00 [at] yahoo [dot] com

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  5. I have picky eaters so it has always been a problem getting them to eat the right foods. As they have gotten older, I noticed that they follow my example, so I try to eat lots of veggies and fruit.
    jedoggett@embarqmail.com

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  6. I just started using E-Mealz. It's only $5 a month and you get to pick from several different meal plan options. Since my husband is doing Weight Watchers, I chose the Point System Wal-Mart for two meal plan. They put out a new list every Wednesday, complete with instructions and an aisle-by-aisle shopping list. It's saving us money and helping us stay slim and trim!

    kstabler@cbizmmp.com

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  7. I try my best to disguise extra fruits and veggies into anything I make. My toddler daughter can't even tell the difference, but it is much better for her!

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  8. thankfully my kids aren't too picky. they have their favs but i keep giving them chances to try things they may not like- they usually end up liking it after a few tries:)

    Jenny
    jennyhasquads (at) yahoodotcom

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  9. We don't have kids yet....but I do obsess over feeding my husband well! He used to lack veggies in his weekly (forget daily) diet, so I keep him filled with veggies and fruit. He says now that after 2 years of marriage he can tell when he's not getting enough, because he just feels icky!

    kaleemarie@yahoo.com

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  10. I love Ragu. My favorite thing to use it for is to buy that frozen breaded chicken from TJs, bake that for 10 minutes on one side, 10 on the other, then put a dollop of Ragu on, then sprinkle TJ's mozzarella on and bake, giving me chicken parm in about a half hour with minimal work.

    In order to eat well I have to plan out all the food to be eaten for the day, ahead of time.

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  11. I worry that they are going to become obese...to combat it...I offer a ton of veggies with every meal and am teaching them portion control and serving size...I am also teaching them that McDonald's is not good for you...instead of getting a happy meal every time that a new toy comes out ... we stop by and buy the toy separate. I am also teaching them about branding and how companies will put their favorite characters on products to get them to want them.

    mellisarock at yahoo dot com

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  12. What I obsess about is that being a working mom I don't have time to make really good meals. By the time we get home my little one is getting into the pantry for a snack because she is so hungry!

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  13. I just try to keep everything balanced. Moderation is the key.

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  14. I worry that they don't get enough fruits and veggies - so what I do is I try to make "kabobs" as often as I can - for some reason, my kids will try and usually eat anything that I put on a stick!

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  15. This past year I have been working really hard at getting veggies in everyday somehow. Fruits are usually not a problem. I try use fresh as much as possible.

    I hide veggies in soups, spaghetti sauce, etc. So don't know he he he

    grissell.barros@gmail.com

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  16. I obsess about organic/natural/nonchemical foods for the kids and their parents. It is hard because they obsess about eating only what they like to eat - HFCS and unpronounceable ingredients are just a bonus. So I sneak in good stuff where I can - whole wheat "white" bread (it's off-white) - whole grain pasta (which they have gotten used to) - organic milk (which they now accept). It's work in progress.
    w
    p.s. loved the honesty of your review regarding the last sauce - that it was too sweet for you (even if it wasn't too sweet for N - which means of course that 3 out of 4 liked it and it will now be your go-to sauce).

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  17. I try to buy as much organic as I can. Fruits, veggies, meats & dairy.

    Great giveaway!

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  18. My little boy is picky so he mainly will only eat carrots and ranch dressing and sometimes corn on the cob!! I have received a lot of help from the comments on how to get him to eat more veggies! He loves fruit so I have no problem there!!

    gregandhil@gmail.com

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  19. Smothering veggies in cheese and low fat dressings always does the trick to get the picky eaters in my family to dig in (:.

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  20. I don't have kids, but I obsess about eating lots of fruits & vegetables as well as other healthy things and drinking lots of water.

    That pepperoni pizza makes my tummy growl!

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  21. I don't really obsess over food at all. Just try to provide high quality healthy options


    lkish77123 at gmail dot com

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  22. Keeping the amount of processed food in the fridge to a minimum so that we can't help but make healthy choices, even when we're famished!

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  23. I obsess about getting more healthy ingredients in to meals I cook to make them healthier. ( low fat or fat free items, some shredded carrots in meatloaf)--- are a few examples. Lots of water.... lots of fruits and veggies

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  24. My current obsession is trying to adjust our meals to accomodate a newly diagnosed medical condition. What I'm happy about doing to feed our family well is growing our own organic vegetables in our garden. The results were delicious and the project was great fun.

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  25. I obsess (sort of, I realize you're using it jokingly) over setting up an eating disorder in my daughter by rigidly controlling what goes in her mouth. Some of my daughter's friends come over for play dates and are shocked and awed by the fact that Holly is allowed to eat things like Cheetos and cookies. They get this feral, glowing look in their eyes when I say, "Sure you can have some chips," and end up standing in my kitchen shoving food in their mouths while Holly taps her foot and waits for them to get over it so they can go ride bikes. I find that sad and weird. And most of these girls are overweight, by the way. Whatever their moms are doing isn't working. I have let my daughter learn to regulate her eating because if I control her intake, how will she ever learn how to eat? Also, I have to say I love the red sauces by Ragu, but that Alfredo sauce is just flat out bad for you. So high-calorie and fatty. Sorry, Ragu.

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  26. I made the Ragu, Chicken Alfredo dinner for a lady and family when she had her baby. The dinner turned out great.
    Jolynn_Reads@yahoo.com

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  27. My kids are allowed to eat fruits (in moderation) & veggies whenever they want.
    Offer them a "choice" between milk & water when thirsty... they almost always pick water, especially if they can use the ice dispenser on fridge!

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  28. Upside down deep dish Pizza will definitely be a hit at my house! I will substitute ground turkey for the beef. Can't wait to try it.

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  29. I try to have the "good stuff" easily available so they can make good choices. I try not to "obsess" about any area of eating/feeding...too many kids have eating disorders as it is.

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  30. I always have fruit in the house for my picky eater. He may not be big on veggies but he LOVES his fruit.

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  31. I try to make food with the freshest ingredients possible to ensure they get good food. If the ingredients aren't available, I try to balance my meals by adding veggies, dairy and proteins.

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  32. blogged http://theartofrandomwillynillyness.blogspot.com/2009/10/ragu-and-blogher.html

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  33. tweeted http://twitter.com/carogonza/status/4657724472

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  34. tweeted http://twitter.com/annedoggett/status/4658700559
    jedoggett@embarqmail.com

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  35. I obsess about too much processed food...I make my own baby food to encourage healthy eating!!

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  36. blogged
    http://givemeagiveaway.blogspot.com/2009/10/ragu-and-blogher-giveaway.html

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  37. I worry that they are not getting the proper nutrition. We try to eliminate as many high processed and sugary foods from the pantry that we can and encourage fresh food and lots of fruit.

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  38. I make sure they get the 5+ fruits and veggies a day in a variety of forms, from fresh fruit, frozen veggies, canned veggies, in meals and in snacks. It's work and takes lots of planning, but I like to think my girls have a pretty balanced diet.

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  39. My obsession is trying not getting processed food and meals. And I love having my own organic garden, it's great to know you feed them well, eat well!

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  40. http://twitter.com/tcarolinep/status/4676851992 tweet

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  41. http://tcarolinep.blogspot.com/2009/10/giveaway-i-try-things.html blogged.

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  42. I worry about getting my toddler son to enough veggies. I mix veggies in with his meals, and experiment with ways to make them delicious for him.

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  43. I plan all my meals in advance. I try not to give them they same old thing. They get veggies with all meals. ajsahm@gmail.com

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  44. I used to stress about getting my kids to eat their veggies. Now we grow and preserve veggies from the garden and fruit from our trees. The kids eat a lot more of these fresh and healthy fruits/veggies because they taste better and because the kids grew and harvested them.

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  45. mainly just trying to cook at all and avoid eating out all the time

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  46. I feed my family whole grain breads, rice, pastas with plenty of fresh vegetables and fruit. Instead of using ground beef I now only use ground turkey and the children do not even notice it.

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  47. Ok, so I don't have kids. But I do have a darling boyfriend. And a farmer brother, who brings me fresh produce every week, which forces me to get creative. Soups are a great way to get veggies into your diet.

    Also -- Thanks for pointing the non-corn-syrup bit about Ragu! Totally not what I would have expected, and definitely a reason to reach for Ragu over other brands.

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  48. I obsess about what is in the food I give my child (only a 6 month old right now). I also try to give him 2 different foods (Fruit, veggie, grain) at each meal.

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  49. I obsess about not knowing what my kids are eating when they're not with me but with their dad, who thinks candy is a food group ...

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  50. The thing that is very important to us is eating natural foods without anything "fake" in them or as much organic as possible. It's definitely not cheap, but it's a good investment in our eyes!

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  51. I also stress so much about my little boy eating enough! He is so picky sometimes! I try to feed him at least one fruit and veggie each meal...a lot of times the veggie doesnt happen.

    kliver5150 at yahoo dot com

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  52. Nothing obsesses me about it anymore. I don't force them to finish what is on the plate. I do however save the plate in case they get hungry. No over-eating, no bad habits forming, no fussing at the dinner table, we all smile and the kids know that they don't get a treat unless dinner is done.

    pleasantandchad (at) yahoo (dot) com

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  53. I love to get kids involved in cooking - it helps them to learn to eat well for life and they love to help. Thanks for the giveaway!

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  54. I don't have any obsession with my kids except making sure they eat a good balance of foods. This is going to sound a little strange, but one thing I do is not allow snacks every day. Everybody I know thinks kids need at least 2 snacks a day. I think they’re wrong. Sometimes it makes sense, like when dinner is going to be a bit late or breakfast was rushed, but normally, snacking just keeps them from eating the nutritious foods I want them to have at meals. They love everything I feed them, clean their plates at most meals, and haven’t learned that snacking is a way to cure boredom.

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  55. Tweeted: http://twitter.com/Getalonghome/statuses/4793565301

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  56. Blogged: http://getalonghome.com/?p=1641

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  57. I try and buy organic when possible and I make my kids try everything more than once. They have to try things in order to like them.
    I also sneak veggies whenever possible!

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  58. Is it an obsession to try to get a decent breakfast in before school? If my child isn't hungry in the morning, I make smoothies with yogurt, powdered milk, fruit juice, and fresh fruit.

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  59. I obsess about food and always making enough. I had to have leftovers ,a huge pot of sauce ,spagetti and meatballs ,I believe that food is love .I always had the neighbor kids eating at my house and growing boys are hungry an hour after they eat!
    Fresh veggies,homemade foods and I am the type ,your here,you eat!

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  60. I obsess over whether or not my son is going to end up a picky eater - and always put a bit of everything on his plate so that hopefully he WON'T be!

    Our secret is just variety!! We try to switch up between heavier meals and lighter meals, veggies and salads to breakfast for dinner, meats and pizzas and pastas - the key to finding THE perfect family meal!! :)

    jamieandandre at bellsouth dot net

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  61. Tweeted!!

    http://twitter.com/SavinginStyle/status/4850500786

    jamieandandre at bellsouth dot net

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  62. well I don't have kids, but I try to feed myself and my boyfriend well by making lots of veggies, which we both love, and introducing him to more fruit. I love fruit. especially fruit salad.
    mpelosi at partners dot org

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  63. blogged http://abdoggett1.blogspot.com/2009/10/you-can-win-100-visa-gc-from-ragu_14.html
    jedoggett@embarqmail.com

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  64. I'm obsessed about fiber. :) I think it's very important, cleans the body out, and gives energy. We always munch on crunchy snacks-- whether that is whole wheat or veggies, I'm happy either way. Great q and great giveaway!! --Michelle, blogattoday[-at]gmaildotcom

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  65. Fruit & Veggies w/ every meal is a must!

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  66. I worry the kids don't get enough fruits and veggies. Hubby is a better cook so I let him cook as much as possible.

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  67. I'm not big on taking vitamin pills so I obsess on making sure that my kids get a balanced diet packed with nutrients. I make sure they get plenty of vegetables and fruits.

    jmomblogs@gmail.com

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  68. Blogged here: http://amoores.com/2009/10/16/how-do-you-feed-your-family-well/

    jmomblogs@gmail.com

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  69. i am obsessed with making sure they are not eating all junk food. I try to prepare nutritious meals.

    misaacmom at gmail dot com

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  70. http://twitter.com/misaacmom/status/4952618848

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  71. Luckily I have a lot of nutritional background which helps make sure everyones nutritional needs are met, but I use a local farm share to make sure there is ALWAYS a supply of fresh fruits and veggies around so there is no excuse not to have nutritious meals.

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  72. I obsess over my youngest child who seems to eat nothing! He's also very skinny and I'd love to get more food into him.

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  73. My problem is the two kids never what to like the same meal, but they will both eat fresh red peppers and tomatoes so I feel good about one part of their meal.

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  74. we try to eat organic when we can

    rachelcay (at) aol (dot) com

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  75. My son was a preemie baby so, he's always been small and my other two are PICKY eaters. I really obsess with feeding them a lot! Ragu recipes are something we can all agree on and afford, too! It's also healthy!I can't stand to know anyone in my house might be hungry! I love feeding my family!Ragu simplifies meals in my house! Thanks for the chance to win!

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  76. I obsess about getting my kids to eat enough veggies. I try to make dinners from scratch and I have found they will eat their veggies more.

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  77. I don't obsess. I don't have any kids at home.

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  78. blogged http://vickieb52.blogspot.com/2009/10/win-visa-gift-card.html

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  79. i'm always wanting my kids to eat more fruits and vegeatables, i keep fruit around all the time and they love it but vegetables is another thing, i make vegetable soup and they love it and i hide vegetables in it.
    lmurley2000@yahoo.com

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  80. tweeted
    http://twitter.com/lmurley2000/status/5314660255
    lmurley2000@yahoo.com

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  81. I feed my family well by starting from scratch as often as possible so I know exactly what goes in our meals.

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  82. I tweeted! http://bit.ly/DcuWp

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  83. I blogged about it http://savingsonaisle9.blogspot.com/2009/10/giveaway-round-up.html

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  84. We obsess over them having the proper nutrients! We also substitute healthy ingredients whenever possible.
    clarissa at digitaldeacons dot com

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  85. I obsess about my kids getting enough vitamins and minerals as well as calcium in their diets. I feed them well by trying to cook nutritious meals that incorporate veggies and fruits into their meals and encouraging them to drink milk and juice. Thanks so much for such a wonderful giveaway!

    Eloise
    furygirl3132[at]comcast[dot]net

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  86. I tweeted: http://twitter.com/furygirl3132/status/5513862821

    Eloise
    furygirl3132[at]comcast[dot]net

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  87. I had to laugh, the only sauce I will eat is on pizza. I will not eat red sauce on anything else, lol. I do like fettuccine sauce on noodles though :)

    The biggest thing I obsess about is my kids getting too much sugar, especially the high fructose syrup. I try really hard to limit it. My youngest is a good eater, so I've never had to worry about her luckily. My oldest is a pickier eater, but still eats better then me. I figure since they eat better then I do (I'm super picky) I lucked out, lol!

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  88. I let my kids work with me in the kitchen alot.
    They love to help, my kids have always been good eaters! thanks for a chance

    jeccica
    primitivelyours@hotmail.com

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  89. I tweeted about this giveaway

    http://twitter.com/jessa1130/statuses/5514680570

    jeccica
    primitivelyours@hotmail.com

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  90. Tweeted http://twitter.com/momof2dancers/status/5514611546

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  91. I like to get them to eat more healthy foods, so I buy fresh fruits and veggies.
    donna444444@yahoo.com

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  92. I stress the fruits and veggies,and so far I am really lucky that I have no picky eaters!
    jennette6963@msn.com

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  93. Well, I took more biochemistry classes that I wanted to back in college, so I find that I obsess about eating all the vitamins/nutrients/minerals/amino acids that the body needs daily. Things like, vitamin A cannot be absorbed by the body unless you have vitamin E always preoccupy me. It's very tiring. But I generally try to feed them organic food (at least milk and meats). To my kids, fruits = Candy, so I'm lucky in that department. I get them to eat greens by juicing them along with apples, mangoes and strawberries -- makes a very tasty juice.

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  94. I tweeted this giveaway:

    http://twitter.com/THEotherCYNtwit/status/5546779734

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  95. I try to keep my daughter on a balanced diet. I also give her more veggies and fruits verses candy and junk!

    Jeanette Huston
    chewysmum79@yahoo.com

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  96. I blogged this giveaway here

    http://myentries79.blogspot.com/2009/11/visa-100-gift-card-sponsored-by-ragu.html

    Jeanette Huston
    chewysmum79@yahoo.com

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  97. I tweeted this giveaway here

    http://twitter.com/gijeanie/status/5547399045

    Jeanette Huston
    chewysmum79@yahoo.com

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  98. The best way I've found to help get the kids to eat more healthy foods it to get them involved w/ food prep. Easier said than done most days. Oh, and as for spaghetti sauce...I've found that Hunt's doesn't have any added sugar or corn syrup and I stock up when it's on sale for $1/can.

    ReplyDelete
  99. Daily tweet
    11.08.09

    http://twitter.com/jessa1130/statuses/5549221831

    jeccica
    primitivelyours@hotmail.com

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  100. Now that they are 10 and almost 14 -- I know how they eat at home, but I don't know how they eat elsewhere. I know the elder one will eat three sides or whatever if he can scrounge them from other kids rather than buy his own lunch. I try to make up for that by offering fruit as snacks, having a veggie at dinner, etc. The good news is that they have started to request broccoli and cauliflower!
    -- Susan M.

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  101. I obsess a little about making sure they get a balanced diet. I try to make sure we get enough fruits and veggies, and cook from scratch.

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  102. I feed my kids well with Ragu of course !

    jtrophy at gmail dot com

    www.icoulduseadeal.blogspot.com

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  103. http://twitter.com/jtrophy/status/5552091141

    tweeted

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  104. I grew up eating a balanced diet and I feel horrible if they're not getting everything they need! Things have been hectic here since August, with football practice and games, but now that's over, we'll be good to go. Gotta have those veggies!

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  105. I tweeted! http://twitter.com/pricousins/status/5552203199

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  106. The cost of food in stores.
    So I go about trying to buy foods that are healthy in bulk when on sale at the stores and prepare them right away in recipes where I can freeze them for later use.

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  107. We shop local and organic. I try to pack as many lunches as I can.

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  108. I'm always worried about getting good nutrition into great tasting food! I am constantly changing things up and having my family try new things. My motto "you'll never know if you like something unless you try it!".

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  109. Blogged: http://asahmlookingforadeal.blogspot.com/2009/11/ragu-is-giving-you-10-chances-to-win.html

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  110. Tweet: http://twitter.com/coriwestphal/statuses/5566421504

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  111. I am obsessed with making sure my kids get all the vitamins that they need. I try to incorporate fruits or veggies into their meals.

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  112. Tweet!

    http://twitter.com/simplyandreah/status/5567713170

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  113. I obsess about Ethan eating enough! He likes snacking and not eating meals with us!

    Amanda@ Shawnmckee.net

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  114. I sneak the veggies in when I can. I hide them in spaghetti and pasta dishes. The kids love them and never even realize how many veggies they are getting!

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  115. http://scsoldierswife.blogspot.com/2009/11/ragu-contest.html

    my blog

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  116. Honestly, I don't obsess over feeding my kids. I make a healthy meal every night, and I make sure there are one or two things on the table I know they will eat, like bread or applesauce. I serve them each a small serving of everything, and they either eat or go hungry. The main rule is they are not allowed to complain about the food, they have to be polite. I also don't keep much junk food in the house, which helps, and I try to make sure I don't serve too many things a row I know they don't like.

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  117. tweeted
    http://twitter.com/lunaj1456/status/5590017320

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  118. I blogged about the contest
    http://lunaj1456.blogspot.com/2009/11/win-from-ragu.html

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  119. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  120. I tend to obsess about getting the right amounts of vitamins and nutrients, but eating a wide variety of veggies and fruit takes care of most of it.

    decadent87@gmail.com

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  121. tweeted - http://twitter.com/jsoldham/status/5596661878

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  122. My kids are grown, but they eat at our house often. My biggest obsession with feeding them has to do with my son who's a vegetarian. I've always been concerned he won't get enough protein & nutrients, but as an adult, he has embraced cooking and nutrition, so he eats better than the rest of us!

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  123. Blog post:
    http://fibrofoggy.blogspot.com/2009/11/giveaways-around-blogosphere.html

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  124. I make sure my son has a cup of water available at all times--it cuts down on the snacking and asking for juice! Also he loooves fruit so I give that in place of unheatlhy snacks

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  125. My children are healthy eaters so luckily I don't obsess over anything.

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  126. making sure they get enough fruits and veges in them every day

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  127. I never obsessed over feeding my kids I figured if they didn't get enough of one thing one meal they'd make it up at another and their peds backed me up.
    It helped that they were pretty willing to try most anything unless it smelled nasty. ;)

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  128. Blogged left sidebar http://myloonyverse.com

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  129. http://twitter.com/dddiva/status/5619037692

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  130. I worry about them not getting enough protein! We are vegetarians! I solve this by serving yogurt, milk, beans and rice, eggs, soy protein shakes, etc whenever I can.

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  131. We do a lot of Ragu meals.

    timkelly@tds.net

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  132. I have to be sneaky when it comes to getting my kids to eat healthier things. For instance, I’ll add wild rice and cauliflower to chicken noodle soup. They never know the difference. Maybe one day I’ll tell them. :)

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  133. tweet here
    http://twitter.com/tnshadylady/status/5622624381

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  134. blog link here
    http://tnshadylady.blogspot.com/2009/11/i-try-things-feeding-fam.html

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  135. I need to take over the cooking from my husband. I work late so he does a lot of the cooking. But he thinks that CORN is a vegetable. Pretty much the only vegetable he will eat. I like corn, but it's just not that good for you. I like lots of nice green veggies.

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