Serving of Veggies

The start of a new school year is like New Years, a brand new year for resolutions and goals and a chance to start fresh! Do your kids eat enough vegetables in their diet? I am sure most of you will say no. Make the commitment this school year to get more veggies in your kids!

This chart shows the amount of vegetables the USDA suggests for children and what they are actually consuming.



OK lots of room for improvement here! All of our products have real servings of vegetable in them so you don't have to guess how many servings your kids are actually eating. Also, we use REAL broccoli, carrot and cauliflower and NOT dehydrated powders!

Here is a photo of our Cauliflower Tots... this IS a full serving of vegetables! We would happily eat 2 or 3 servings of these guys, they are THAT good!

Source: USDA, www.choosemyplate.gov

Get your Freezer Ready for Back to School

Now is the time to enjoy the last moments of summertime R&R. Yes, school has started, but it’s not yet Labor Day, the days are still long, PTA meetings have yet to begin and the holidays are still off in the distance.  This weekend is a great time to organize your household so that come GO time (the non-stop marathon that is September, October, November and December) you’re ready!

 One of the best ways to make your life easier this Fall is to utilize your freezer so that even on your busiest nights, dinner can be hassle-free and ready in a jiff. 

Load up on your family’s favorite homemade entrees:  pack your freezer full of meals made with love by you that  also freeze well.  Our favorite frozen homemade meals are enchiladas, lasagna, soup and stew (broth based soups, as dairy based soups don’t freeze well), Peas Protein Burgers, veggie casserole and shepherds pie.  When packaging these frozen meals, make sure that they have thoroughly cooled and are loaded to the brim; too much space in the container will cause freezer burn.

Load up on premade staples:  Next time you make grains, beans or some kind of sauce, prepare extra and freeze for a rainy (busy) day.  You can use these sides as a base for a quick meal, adding fresh veggies to freshen up the dish.

Peas of Mind will save the day:  Stocking your freezer with Peas of Mind products will leave you and your little ones happy, satisfied and feeling good about the fact that you’ve all eaten your daily dose of veggies. All of our products have clean, simple ingredients loaded with FULL servings of veggies. Not to mention the fact that cook time is minimal. 

 Now is your time to utilize your nice long weekend and get your freezer back to school ready; your future self will thank you!

A Back to School Freezer Meal!

If you haven’t noticed, here at Peas of Mind we love the freezer! We think that busy families deserve natural, healthy and totally delicious meals that take minutes to prepare.  This month, in honor of back to school season, we’re making a hi-protein veggie burger. This burger is perfect for the whole family as it’s full of protein, fiber and (of course) veggies, not to mention the fact that it’s a fast freezer meal! Make this recipea now in preparation for the busy school season that’s coming up. Simply follow the directions below but just skip the pan-frying step, let the burger patties cool, put them in an air tight container and pop them in the freezer for a busy night.  When you’re ready to devour this scrumptious burger, don’t forget to throw some Peas of Mind veggie fries in the oven for a veggie-infused American classic combination. A burger and fries has never been so healthy and peas-ful!

Ingredients:

2 Cloves finely chopped garlic

1 cup diced onions

2 Tbsp olive oil

1 cup frozen peas

1 cup cooked grains (we used a mix of brown rice and quinoa)

1/2 cup of breadcrumbs

1 can of chickpeas

1 can of kindey beans

¼ cup chopped parsley

2 Tbs of mayo

1 Tsp salt

pepper to taste

Method:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees

Sauté onion, garlic and olive oil until the garlic is golden brown and onions are translucent.  Stir in parsley and continue to cook for another minute. Remove from heat (don’t wash the skillet because we’re going to use it again).

In a food processor combine peas, grains and beans and pulse together until completely chopped (do not over blend).  In a bowl, combine bean mixture with breadcrumbs, sautéed onions, garlic and mayo.  Mix together then with your hands (this is where some help from the kiddos might be fun) form the burger patties and place on a baking tray covered with parchment paper.

Bake burger patties in the oven for about 30 minutes or until brown.  Grab your skillet and heat up about 3 Tbsp of olive oil.  Pan fry burger patties for about 2 minutes on each side or until crispy and dark brown. 

Toast a burger bun, top with your favorite condiments, serve with a side of veggie fries and ENJOY!

Back to School :: Breakfast of Real Champs!

We see many creative back to school lunchbox recipes around this time of year, but we can’t forget the most important meal of the day, breakfast. Peas of Mind wants to be sure the kids get off to the best possible start of their school year! This reci-pea combines ALL of the “super grains” and seeds that you’ve been hearing about over the last couple years. You can serve this hot or cold, for breakfast or as a snack. Here is a snippet of the health benefits of each of the reci-peas components:

Chia Seeds: These seeds slow the conversion of carbohydrates into sugar which translates to a longer lasting fuel source for your body. It’s the food version of turning your body from a gas guzzler to a hybrid car!

Quinoa: These seeds are a complete protein, which means they contains all of the 9 essential amino acids that are required by the body for building muscles. Typically, you must eat meat, or combination foods such as rice and beans, to obtain these nutrients.

Amaranth: These ancient grains contain an incredible amount of essential nutrients: protein, iron, fiber and calcium, along with essential amino acids required for brain cell maintenance.

Agave Syrup: This is a wonderful alternative to using regular processed sugars. It has a low glycemic index, even lower than sugars from fruit, which means it will not cause a sharp spike in sugar levels. In other words, parents, no more kids on crazy sugar highs!

Flax Seeds: These seeds are pretty amazing for their size! They help regulate blood sugar levels, increase energy and stamina, and help with Attention Deficit Disorders (ADD.)

Brainy Grain Cereal

Serves 6

• 1/2 cup amaranth
• 1/2 cup quinoa
• 1 tablespoon flax seed
• 1 tablespoon chia seed
• 2 tablespoons light agave syrup
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• ¼ tsp salt
• 6 whole graham crackers (optional)
• 1 tablespoon toasted coconut (optional)
• Dark chocolate chips, melted for drizzle (optional)

In a saucepan combined the amaranth with 1 ½ cup of water. Bring to a boil, then let simmer on low heat for about 20 minutes, or until all water is absorbed (it has a consistency similar to Cream of Wheat.) In another saucepan combined the the quinoa with 1 cup of water. Bring to a boil and, then let simmer on low heat for about 10 minutes, or until all water is absorbed (cooking quinoa is similar to cooking rice.)

In a large bowl, combine the amaranth, quinoa, flax seeds, chia seeds, agave syrup, brown sugar and salt.

To serve, spread 2 tablespoons of Brainy Grain Cereal onto graham crackers, sprinkle with toasted coconut, and drizzle with chocolate. You can omit the graham crackers especially if anyone in your family is allergic or intolerant to gluten. Serve Brainy Grainy Cereal straight out of a bowl or in a muffin cup! Another delightful treat, Brain Grainy Cereal right on top of a Nanna’s Banana Puffet.