Food Allergies & Children: Why Fresh is Best!

Leave a comment November 11, 2014 DrD4Health

Why Fresh Food is Best! Part I

Babies deserve the best of everything that can be offered. The first year of life is the most critical for a child, particularly from a nutritional standpoint. Since parents are primarily responsible for their baby’s health, it is extremely important for them to understand Allergies and the unique nutritional requirements of infants & children.

During this period, an infant experiences the most rapid growth and development period in their entire lifetime. Nutrition is critical at this time, as the baby’s diet must support this rapid growth rate by getting adequate Phytonutrients and Complete Nutrition.

For at least the first year of life, Breast Milk is essential for a babies complete nutrition to be met. Nursing moms are giving their baby essential phytonutrients through their own diet and breast milk.

Some women have been told that their baby is allergic to their milk, when 99% of the time they were actually allergic to the food mommy was eating while pregnant & breastfeeding, as opposed to the breast milk itself. If a mommy removes the top allergens from her own diet, chances are, the baby will begin to tolerate her milk, colic will stop and eczema and rashes will likely disappear. If not, it is important to have baby checked for inborn genetic errors.

If you have adopted your baby or have some other reason why breast milk is not available, please consider making homemade Coconut Milk Formula, instead of synthetic store bought formula. Please see my recipes page.

The most common allergies in babies are dairy, eggs, citrus, gluten, soy and nuts. Allergies are common in babies who have parents or relatives with allergies, so if you or a close relative has food allergies, skin disorders, auto-immune diseases, environmental or pet allergies, please observe your baby closely and do an elimination diet.

According to BabyCentre Medical Advisory Board and The Department of Health, although many people start feeding babies food at 4 months of age, the majority of baby’s digestive systems are immature and may not be ready for solid foods. Babies usually still lack digestive enzymes and early solid foods may actually induce allergies. In addition, if they get food poisoning or a food born illness, their immune system may not be ready to handle it, especially if they are a preemie baby.

*Unless your baby has started losing weight and seems very very hungry after a good good milk feeding, then consider waiting until 6months before adding solid foods. Age 6-8 months old may be a more appropriate time to start introducing foods, ONE FOOD AT A TIME- ONE WEEK AT A TIME! It is essential that you don’t get too excited and give your baby another food, drink, oil, herb or spice, without truly observing him/her for a week.

A great Starter Food is Avocado. Avoacado is a complete protein and has a mild taste. Simply mash a tiny sliver of Avocado… Wait 3 days, Observe for the following symptoms:

rash, hives, diarrhea, pain, vomiting, hiccups, constipation
personality changes, drastic mood swings, colic
If no reaction, proceed with 2 more slivers of Avocado, wait 3 more days.

Do this ELIMINATION DIET WITH EVERY SINGLE FOOD AND DRINK YOU INTRODUCE TO YOUR INFANT or CHILD. If you do this with every food and drink you give your child, then you will most likely save your baby the pain of being poked and you the heartache, time & money of having to go to the doctor and have his blood tested. This method increases the likelihood of you just figuring it out yourself.

Many Doctors & Allergist forget to tell you:

Allergies can present as a psychological/behavioral reaction
ADHD, Tantrums, Brain Fog, Psychosis, can be food related.
Some allergies do not appear for days
Skin Disorders like Eczema & Psoriasis are Food Allergies.
Many allergies do not show up on standard allergy testing.
Some allergies do not show up unless they are repeatedly eaten

According to a study by Aristo Vojdani, based on clinical presentation and antibody response, immune-mediated adverse reactions to foods can be divided into immediate and delayed hypersensitivity reactions.

Vojdani stated that immediate reactions to food antigens are IgE-mediated and dependent on activation of mast cells in specific tissues, including the skin, respiratory tract, gastrointestinal, mucosal, and cardiovascular system. Vojdani concluded that the delayed immune reaction to food antigens are mediated by IgG, IgA and IgM. Unlike the immediate effects of IgE-mediated allergy, the IgG, IgM and IgA-mediated food allergy and intolerance reactions can take several days to appear.

Vojdani also reported that levels of IgG, IgM and IgA antibodies in the blood can be measured against different food antigens for demonstration of delayed food allergy and intolerance reactions.

If you suspect a child or anyone in your life has allergies, make sure you stand up and advocate for your right to have a complete allergy panel of the most accurate testing, such as, IgG, IgA, IgM, IgE and also DNA testing for Microdeletions and MTHFR polymorphisms that may impact what a person should eat.

Mixed Carrots, Coconut Oil, Cinnamon

Why is Fresh Food Best? From a Nutritional & Whole Food Vitamin standpoint, store bought food, does not even begin to compare to real fresh food.

Harmful Ingredients banned in many countries are still used in the U.S.
Store Food has additives & preservatives not always listed on labels.
Organic Label does not always mean 100% Organic.
Synthetic ingredients allow Processed Food to sit on shelves for years.
Child may be allergic to additives & preservatives, not the actual food.
Nutrients are pretty dead by the time they are processed & put in a jar.
Baby kidneys & liver have a hard time metabolizing these preservatives.
Food processing includes thermal & non-thermal treatments,
Food Processing has a different effect on a Child’s Allergen Reactions.

Home-cooked meals and fresh Yummy Yummy Baby food has the real Phytonutrients your child’s brain and body requires and will thrive on!

If it’s impossible to prepare meals, please choose organic baby foods.
Organic store bought food still contains additives & preservatives!
Freeze a portion of family meals you cook in glass containers for baby.
Make sure to feed your baby & loved ones, every color of the rainbow.
Go easy on meat protein, there are many ways to give your baby protein.

Meat is only one source of Protein! Remember, ounce for ounce and calorie for calorie, Broccoli and Kale provide more Protein than Porterhouse Steak!

I will be sharing more kid-friendly foods in the future, but here are a few simple Yummy Yummy Baby Recipes:

Sweet Potato Delight

Sweet Potatoes, Carrots, Bananas, Coconut Butter, Cinnamon!

Cut & Slice veggies, Steam 8-12 minutes (medium heat)
Mash Veggies & Bananas all together
Mix with Coconut Butter or Coconut Oil
Mix in a dash of Cinnamon
Remember to TEST EACH FOOD INGREDIENT first, one at a time.
Buy only Organic Ingredients for Baby Food

Here is a toddler version she can eat with her fingers. Great thing is, you can make this as a side dish for your own meal!

Strawberry Deelight

Yummy Yummy Baby Breakfast:

Coconut Yogurt (Homemade or Store bought)
Honey Dew Melon
Strawberries
Persimmon
Sliced Walnuts (Wait one year)
Sliced Bananas
For an infant- Puree all together (except nuts)

Have fun, go very very slowly with each food and remember it takes only a couple of minutes to prepare.

You will spend more time & money taking care of a sick or allergenic child, so put the time in at the front end to prepare your baby a Real Fresh Organic Yummy Yummy Baby meal!

Stay Healthy & Happy ~ Dr. Dee

Edible Plants & Fruits that Help You Survive The Wild

2 Comments November 5, 2014 DrD4Health

Pocahontas had to learn how to collect wild edible plants along with planting and harvesting vegetable crops, in order to be considered an adult woman. As a result, she would need to identify the various kinds of useful plants, fruits and vegetables, and have the ability to recognize them in all seasons. Pocahontas learned these survival skills by age of 13.

Pocahontas also helped ease starvation and illness among Jamestown Colonists by teaching them how and what foods to eat. By my accounts, that makes Pocahontas America’s first Nutritionist.

Passion Fruit, Persimmon, Guava, Horned Melon

If you were in the wild, would you know some of the edible wild plants and fruits? Some of the foods Pocahontas ate are the Virginia peas, Corn, Pumpkins, Crooked neck Squash, Putchamins (Persimmon), Paw Paw fruit, and Gamma Rays (spider wort).

While on a hike in Kauai, I quickly learned that I was far from Pocahontas material and had to learn more about wild plants and survival foods. My hiking partner and I took a wrong turn, got lost and had to spend the night in the pouring rain in a remote area. We had no cell phone service, no rain gear and we quickly ran out of water. Fortunately, I was familiar with the wild Guava and had collected some for nourishment during our day hike. It was an unforgettable adventure, but also a painfully cold and enlightening experience.

Wild Kauai Guava

Wild Guava in the Stream

Most of us are familiar with the Persimmon, Crooked neck squash, Pumpkins and Peas, so I’m sharing more information about some of the less known edible plants and fruits like the Spiderwort.

Spiderwort plants and flowers grow in clusters, with each individual bloom lasting only part of a day. All parts of many Spiderwort can be eaten- leaves, flowers, stalks and roots.The spiderwort (Tradescantia ohiensis) also has medicinal properties. The plant’s crushed leaves are purported to alleviate the sting of insect bites and when in tea form, it can be used for kidney and stomach pain, as a laxative and increasing breast milk.

Some other edible wild plants are Amaranth, Burdock, Cattail, Clovers, Nasturtium, Chickweed, Dandelion and Chicory. You will love this Nasturtium Blossom Salad. Nasturtiums can be used as an antibiotic for bronchitis, sore throat, flu, etc…

The Paw Paw fruit is not very well known among the mainstream, but people have enjoyed the vast health benefits for at least 500 years. The Paw Paw has a smooth, custard-like texture and a subtle but excellent strawberry-banana type flavor. The Paw Paw fruit is not only the largest fruit native to North America, it also brings with it a wide range of unbelievable health benefits and is called the “newly discovered superfood”, despite its long history of use. It has 70 times the Iron as many fruits, has high levels of antioxidants, 20 times the Magnesium of apples/bananas and more Vitamin C than Oranges.

See more at: http://althealthworks.com/1134/the-health-benefits-of-paw-paw-vitamins-minerals-and-possible-anti-cancer-effects/#sthash.cfV6A54m.dpuf

Other fruits not well known to some North Americans are the Cactus Pear Fruit and the Horned Melon Fruit. Cactus Pear Fruit or Prickly pear cactus, also called Nopales, is promoted for treating diabetes, high cholesterol, obesity and hangovers. It is also ued for its antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties and is popular in Latin America. The edible parts of prickly pear cactus are the leaves, flowers, stems and fruit. Prickly pear cactus are found in all of the deserts of the American Southwest. Most prickly pears have large spines on their stems and vary in height.

Sliced Cactus Fruit

Although I have heard so many stories about the prickly pear cactus fruit and it’s defense mechanisms to protect it’s fruit, I truly did not grasp how dangerous it is to collect this delicious fruit. It was one of the most painful lessons I ever had to learn while hiking in Oracle, Arizona. Let me just say that pliers were used to remove the needles from my hand. If you are stranded and need to eat this, please take great care when collecting the cactus fruit… Yummy but Ouchy!

Horned Melon & Persimmon

Native to the Kalahari Desert in Africa, the Kiwano is also known as the Horned Melon, the melano, the African horned cucumber, the jelly melon, and hedged gourd. When ripe, the fruit tastes like a mix of cucumbers, kiwis, honey dew and bananas. During the dry season, the Horned Melon is the only source of water in the African desert and may help save your life. The horned melon is really an unusual looking fruit. It has a nearly ancient physical appearance and is now grown in Australia and New Zealand. This melon contains high levels of Vitamin A and organic types of vitamin E tocopherols.

There are so many fruits and wild plants to share, but I will share one more called the Loquat.

There was a massive gas line leak in our neighborhood and my toddler and I had seconds to unexpectedly evacuate. It was 107 degrees outside and my husband was stuck in traffic rushing to get home to us. We wandered to a local neighborhood exploring and made the best of our situation. We discovered a tree with a succulent, tangy and yummy fruit called Loquat.

Loquat fruit is rich in vitamins, minerals, and anti-oxidants. This unique fruit originated in the wild mountainous, evergreen rain forests of Southeastern China, but has now spread all across the world, including Japan.

If you can not clearly identify a plant and you are unsure about whether it is poisonous, it is best you don’t eat it. Some common toxic plant signs are: three leaved growth pattern, grain heads with pink, purplish or black spurs, almond scent in the woody parts and leaves, bitter or soapy tasting plants, beans, bulbs or seeds inside pods, spines or thorns, milky or discolored sap. (Brett & Kate McKay, surviving in the Wild).

I hope this article has inspired you to get to know the terrain you plan to explore or the terrain local to you in case of an emergency. If you are already well versed in the area of wild plants and fruits, maybe there are children, a community or people you can be a Pocahontas for!

*This picture is used to embrace my Native American Heritage.

Stay healthy & happy, ~Dr. Dee

Super Moist Vegan Raspberry Pumpkin Spice Cake: Healing Benefits of Raspberries

9 Comments October 28, 2014 DrD4Health

When things in life look really really bad… it’s time to get to work!

Did you know that when Ludwig van Beethoven discovered he was going deaf at age 26, he didn’t give up composing his music? Beethoven started working more diligently and told people he knew there was work he was born to complete…

When our newborn son was diagnosed with H-Pylori, a bacterial infection of the stomach, we were told there was nothing we could do but give him antibiotics and synthetic medications that would cause all sorts of horrible side effects and probably not cure his infection. So our choices were to give up or be inspired by Beethoven!

Helicobacter pylori or H pylori is a bacteria that causes peptic and duodenal ulcers and many other types of stomach inflammations that cause burning, pain, nausea, bloating and extreme distress. In some people, some strains of the bacteria do not cause any symptoms, while other strains develop life threatening conditions like stomach cancer.

Inspired by Beethoven, instead of believing there was nothing I could do, I went straight to work and was more determined to find some relief for our 8 month old infant. I started researching what people around the world were doing to naturally cure H-Pylori.

This mom on a mission discovered so much more about fruits which have strong antibacterial qualities and are potent in treating Helicobacter pylori and many diseases. Fruits heal because they are also rich in phytonutrients which are antibacterial, anti carcinogenic, and antiviral in nature.

In addition, I discovered there are many other natural powerhouses that can help slow down the growth and pain associated with the ulcers and bacteria, which gives the gut a chance to heal. Some of these natural remedies are: Tumeric, Garlic, Apple Cider Vinegar, Fresh Wasabi, Baking Soda, Broccoli Sprouts, Mastic gum and of course, Raspberries. Luckily, Bodhi’s favorite remedy is Raspberry.

Raspberries are considered a Super-Fruit and really carry a lot of healing power in every little berry.

Tests conducted at the Hollings Cancer Center at the Medical University of South Carolina have revealed that the human body benefits from raspberries in so many ways.

The Medical Benefits of Raspberries:

Raspberries have Ellagic acid, an anti-inflammatory, kills Cancer cells & kills H-Pylori Bacteria.
Raspberries do not have any fat, saturated fat, sodium or cholesterol.
They are high in Fiber, Vitamin C, potassium and folate.
Raspberries contain antioxidants such as Quercetin & Gallic acid.
Gallic acid fights against cancer, heart and circulatory disease and age.
They are also high in polyphenolic compounds which also fight cancer.
The Anthocyanins in raspberries are antioxidants that protect against heart disease & mental decline.
The oil from raspberry seeds is rich in Vitamin E & Omega-3 fatty acids.

Raspberries can be eaten any way you like: fresh, frozen, cooked or preserved, the ellagic acid remains intact even after cooking or preservation. Make sure that you have a continuous supply of ellagic acid in your diet to prevent the recurrence of the H-Pylori condition, which is very common.

When Beethoven lost the majority of his hearing and his greatest love… he composed Immortal Beloved, When life handed me tart raspberries… I made Sweet Raspberry Cake! 🙂

Today, I’m sharing a recipe for Raspberry Pumpkin Cake… a Yummy Yummy dessert that is so soft and moist, it’s filled with healing raspberries, and is just one big tasty holiday party in your mouth! This cake has all of your favorite holiday spices, but with a frosting that has a twist!

Yes, there is sugar, but it is super Moist, Vegan and Gluten Free! Shhh your guests and family will never ever know!

Vegan & Gluten Free Raspberry Pumpkin Spice Cake:

Cake Ingredients:

3/4 Cup homemade pumpkin puree
1/8 teaspoon of Fresh Ginger Shavings
1/4 Cup Granulated Sugar
1/4 Cup Light Brown Sugar, packed
1/3 Cup Coconut Oil, melted.
1/4 Cup Vanilla Almond Milk, room temp (or coconut, rice milk)
2 Tablespoons Coconut Nectar (or Molasses, Agave)
1 Tablespoon Vanilla Extract
1 teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
1 teaspoon Pumpkin Pie Spice
1 teaspoon of All Spice
3/4 teaspoon of Ground Cloves
1/2 teaspoon of Ground Nutmeg
1 Cup plus 2 Tablespoons Gluten-Free All-purpose Flour
2 teaspoons Baking Powder
pinch of Sea Salt (optional)

Instructions for Cake:

Preheat oven to 350F. Spray 3 medium ramekins with cooking spray.
Wash your sugar pumpkin and clean it inside and out.
Dry pumpkin, cut a round cap, then cut pumpkin into slices & squares.
Remove pumpkin skin, then boil Pumpkin Meat squares until soft.
In a large mixing bowl, combine all dry ingredients, whisk to combine.
In a separate bowl, combine room temp milk & melted coconut oil.
Once Meat is boiled, place in a high speed blender with Ginger, blend.
Now add all the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix well.
Evenly pour the batter into each prepared ramekin.
Bake about 28-30 minutes, until center is set & toothpick comes clean.
Allow cake to cool in ramekin, on top of a wire rack, for at least 30 minutes before placing on the rack to finish cooling completely. While cake cools, make the frosting.

Frosting

1/4 Cup softened Coconut Butter (or butter of choice)
2 Cups Confectioner’s Sugar
3-4 Tablespoons of Coconut Milk (or milk of choice)
In a large mixing bowl, combine vegan butter, 2 cups confectioners’ sugar, 3 tablespoons Vegan milk of choice, and beat with an electric mixer on medium high speed until smooth. If needed, drizzle in more milk until desired frosting consistency is reached. If frosting is too loose, add a bit more confectioners’ sugar or milk until you have desired consistency.

Raspberry Garnish

3 packages of Raspberries
Set 1/3 of the raspberries aside to garnish the cake.
Using a small knife, split the remaining raspberries down the middle so they can be opened flat.
Put one cake layer on a serving plate. Spread with one third of the frosting and add one half of the split berries.
Add a second layer and repeat with another third of the frosting and the remaining split raspberries.
Top with the last layer of cake and remaining frosting, garnish top with the remaining raspberries.

Oh your house is going to be filled with the aroma of the holiday spirit! This will be an absolute hit with all your family and guests! Looking forward to hearing how much you loved this Yummy Yummy treat!

Stay healthy & happy ~ Dr. Dee

What is Detoxing? Why is it important? Detox Smoothie Recipe!

3 Comments October 20, 2014 DrD4Health

Do you think it is important to change the oil in your car’s engine?

Detoxing our body on a regular basis is as critical as changing the oil in our car regularly! Strive to be a finely tuned machine that is cleaned, lubed and given great fuel!

What is Detox?

According to Cambridge Advanced Learners Dictionary & Thesaurus, Detox is a process or period of time in which one stops taking unhealthy or harmful foods, drinks, and other substances into the body for a period of time, in order to improve health. Basically, detoxification means cleansing the blood by removing impurities from the blood in the liver. The body also eliminates toxins through the kidneys, colon, gall bladder, intestines, lungs, lymphatic system and skin.

Why is Detoxification important?

A typical car needs to have the oil changed about every 3000 miles. The accumulation of miles on an engine results in more unburned fuel to be dumped into the crankcase, which causes the oil to degrade. Over time, this can bring about rapid and undue engine wear and all the problems that come with it, such as loss of performance and fuel economy, and increased emissions and oil consumption.

Blood Detox is very important because our body is constantly being bombarded with toxins from every aspect of our lives. Un-natural chemicals in your drinks, in your food, in your vitamins, medication, the air you breathe, in the lotions, pesticides, and beauty products, all result in a blow by blow degradation that cause undue wear and tear and major over-load on your organs. Mucked up and dirty blood causes a loss of body performance and poor food fuel efficiency.

Changing your oil is one of the easiest and cheapest ways to make sure that your engine and car stays in good shape. This is such simple maintenance, but people often let it go for thousands and thousands more miles than is safe.

This is also true for clearing out the dirty blood and toxins in our body. Cleansing our blood is one of the easiest and cheapest ways to make sure that our system stays in good efficient shape. By detoxing your blood, you can improve the functioning of all your main organs, especially your liver, your kidneys, your pancreas and gall bladder.

5 Signs Your Body Needs a Detox:

1) Unpleasant Noises: Are you constantly full of gas, bloated, retaining fluid, have congested sinuses? Is your stomach constantly making weird knocking and pinging sounds? Do you get constant cravings? It’s time to examine the fuel you are putting in your body and consider a Detox!

2) Color: The color of your tongue should be a pretty pinkish color. If your tongue is White or yellow-coated, and/or you have bad breath, then consider a Detox!

3) Red Flags: Trouble with fertility? Have you had issues with your gallbladder or had it removed? Are you diagnosed with an auto-immune disease like Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue, Lupus,Celiac? Do you have Acne, Rosacea, Itchy skin, mood swings?

4) Sluggish Body: Do you have early morning Insomnia? Are you always feeling fatigued, even after sleeping a long time? Is your body really sluggish about losing weight even though you exercise and diet regularly? Do you get overheated and sweaty really easily?

5) Chemical sensitivity: Is your body sensitive when drinking alcohol? Are you easily affected during and after having alcohol, medicine, vitamins? Does the smell of fragrances and chemicals leave you feeling really sick and/or anxious?

According to Harvard-educated physician, Sara Gottfried, M.D., author of The Hormone Cure (Simon & Schuster, 2013), there are many signs that tell us that it is time to Detoxify our body. She goes on to say that if you have 4 or more of these signs listed within the examples, you may have a Congested Liver that needs Detoxing.

There are so many types of Detoxing programs out there for you to choose from. It is imperative that you do your research and figure out what works for you! It is best to have a mentor help support you with your detox. Consider seeing a Functional Medicine MD, Homeopath, Holistic Nutritionist or someone who is considered a true expert in Detox and Nutrition.

It is important to clearly understand there is not a one size fits all! Some people use Juicing, Eating Cruciferous vegetables, Extracts, Teas or Herbs… Research!

It is important that you go very very slowly at first so that you can learn what is best for your genetics and sensitivities. For example, if you are sensitive to sulfur, sulfites, sulfates… then high levels of cruciferous vegetables are something to be very careful with. Cruciferous vegetables are high in sulfur and may lead to greater pain and inflammation. What are your genetic food sensitivities?

According to Mark Hyman, M.D., regardless of the Detox program you choose, do the following while Detoxing:

– Drink at least 6 -8 glasses of filtered water daily
– Are you having regular bowel movements? (Consider Magnesium?)
– Allow more time for sleep while Detoxing. (Consider Magnesium)
– Exercise Daily! (Min of 30 minutes)
– Help an upset stomach with Ginger or Peppermint Tea. (4 cups a day)

As a Holistic Nutritionist, I can tell you that juice cleanses are an absolutely wonderful way to thoroughly cleanse your entire body. Juicing helps you skip chewing and breaking down food, so your digestive system is given a big break and time to repair and heal. Juicing your food will fill your body with live enzymes and an abundance of antioxidants that help not only neutralize free radicals but also strengthen and support your immune system, lower blood pressure, and improve your sleep and memory. An added bonus is these antioxidants have anti-aging properties! Juice cleansing is an excellent way to inundate your system with antioxidants and enzymes. We use the Nutribullet daily!

Again, start very slowly and please remember to consult a trained health care professional before you begin!

Here are a couple of Yummy Yummy recipe ideas to discuss with your Detox mentor:

Nice-Cream Cilantro-Lime Detox Margarita:

2-3 Frozen Bananas, 1/4 Cup Cilantro, 2 Tablespoons of Mint, 2 Cups Cold Dairy Free Milk

Detox Margarita Instructions:

Chop Bananas in chunks, Mix all ingredients in a Food Processor or High Speed Blender, Enjoy!

Green Machine Smoothie

1 handful each of Spinach, Mint, Parsley; Juice of half one Lemon; 1/2 a Cucumber, peeled; 1 large Celery stick; 1 inch piece of Fresh Ginger, peeled

Green Machine Instructions:

Blend all ingredients together in a juicer or blender until smooth. Serve over ice & enjoy!

Ask your Detox mentor how often you should detox, which depends on how toxic you are and what you are trying to achieve.

Remember to keep your car’s oil clean and your body’s blood clean and Oh the places you will go!

Stay Healthy & Happy ~ Dr. D.

Edible Dragon Fruit finger paint! Healthy Snack turns into homemade fun! Vegan, GMO & Gluten free.

Link 1 Comment October 16, 2014 DrD4Health

Dragon Fruit Finger-Paint: Healthy & Loads of Homemade Fun!

So I’m working on a snack for my lil one – I turn around for one second and this is how Dragon Fruit Finger-Paint was born!

Finger painting is a great activity to do with your toddlers- but we all know lil ones love putting things in their mouth, so its tough on kids who are gmo-free, gluten free and vegan!

No worries – here are our some easy breezy instructions to make your own Edible, Safe, Homemade version of finger-paint with some ingredients you may already have at home!

The added bonus is that while you are having your healthy snack, you can explain that this is how paint was made a long long time ago… Fruits, flowers, herbs – all Nature!

Dragon Fruit Paint Ingredients:

– Ripe Red Dragon Fruit

– Glutenfree Flour

– GMO free Sugar

– GMO free Salt

– Spring Water

– BPA Free Cups

Dragon Fruit Paint Instructions:

– Add 2 Tbsp of Sugar into a sauce pan.
– Add 1 tsp of Salt into it.
– Next add 1/3 cup of flour to the pan.

– Mix with 2 cups of spring water and whisk well until it is very smooth. Turn on low heat and stir continually until the mixture thickens.

– Carefully pour mixture into the plastic cups equally.

– You will need one cup for every color of paint you’d like to make…

* Hot Pink – Red Dragon Fruit
* Purple – Blueberries (heated)
* Gold – Tumeric or Cumin

*My toddler had a great time using only one color, but have at it!

– Mix in about 17-26 drops of Ripe Dragon Fuit juice and stir until completely dissolved!

– Allow the paint to cool completely before allowing your little toddler to stick their fingers in and get really Hot Pink & Silly!

So why Dragon Fruit?
It’s filled with Vitamin C and Vitamin Bs all while improving your immune system and lowering your cholesterol and blood pressure! Dragon Fruit, also known as “Pitahaya” or “Pitaya” is also low in fat and full of fiber – so it’s healthy & beautiful!
Dragon Fruit is also a good natural source of anti-oxidants which help to prevent the dangers of free radicals in our body! The number, quantity, and variety of antioxidants in real food like this is unmatched – so go for it!

Send me some pictures… I’m looking forward to seeing the yummy yummy baby magic you create with the lil one in your life!
Wishing you health & happiness
~ Dr. Dee