Italian food holds a special place in the hearts and palates of people around the world, and it's not just adults who appreciate its delicious flavors and comforting dishes. Italian cuisine is often considered one of the best choices for children to try for a variety of reasons. If you are looking to expand the meals you can make for your children, here are some top reasons you should first focus on Italian food.

Kid-Friendly Flavors

Italian cuisine is renowned for its simple yet flavorful ingredients. Children tend to prefer mild and familiar flavors, and Italian dishes like pasta with tomato sauce, pizza with cheese and toppings, and creamy risotto are perfect choices. These dishes are not only delicious but also easy for kids to enjoy, meaning if you go to Terra Rossa Italian restaurant in St Pauls, they will have something they can eat, and you can have an enjoyable night out. The bonus is that Italian restaurants tend to be family-friendly places with a warm and inviting atmosphere, too. They often have a relaxed ambiance that makes children feel welcome and comfortable.

Versatile Menu Options

Italian menus offer a wide range of options that cater to different tastes and dietary preferences. Whether your child is a picky eater or loves trying new things, Italian cuisine has something for everyone. From vegetarian pasta dishes to meaty Bolognese sauces, there's a variety of choices to suit every palate.

Fresh and Wholesome Ingredients

Tomatoes, basil, olive oil, garlic, and various vegetables are staples in Italian dishes, providing essential nutrients that are important for growing children. These ingredients not only taste great but also contribute to a healthy diet.

Texture Variety

Italian cuisine offers a delightful variety of textures that can appeal to children's sensory preferences. Whether it's the silky smoothness of pasta, the crispy crust of pizza, or the creamy richness of gelato, Italian food provides a diverse sensory experience that can engage kids' senses and make mealtime enjoyable.

Interactive Dining

Italian meals often encourage interactive dining experiences. Children can have fun making their own pizza or customizing their pasta with different toppings and sauces. This involvement in meal preparation can make dining more engaging and enjoyable for kids.

Balanced Meals

Italian cuisine inherently combines different food groups, providing a balanced meal that includes carbohydrates, proteins, vegetables, and dairy. This balance is essential for growing children who need a variety of nutrients for their development.

Cultural Exploration

Introducing children to Italian cuisine can also be an opportunity for cultural exploration. You can share stories about Italy's rich culinary heritage, the traditions behind certain dishes, and the importance of food in Italian culture. This can help children develop a broader cultural understanding.

Healthy Options

Italian cuisine includes many healthy options that can satisfy children's cravings without compromising their health. For example, whole-grain pasta, lean proteins, and vegetable-based sauces provide nutritious alternatives to traditional dishes.

Dessert Delights

Italian desserts like gelato, cannoli, and tiramisu are irresistible treats that most children adore. While they are indulgent, they can be enjoyed in moderation as part of a balanced diet.

Who else is ready for autumn yet? I'm certainly ready for some cooler air and being able to be outside more. And with being outside more, comes making sure we don't catch anything that's going around! Last year right in the beginning of December, we all caught the flu. It was such a strong strain of it that we never even had a Christmas. We spent about 3 weeks in bed because we were all so sick. So this year we really want to make sure that doesn't happen again.

In our household, we also have a few different health conditions. Two of the biggest are Mary's brain surgery to remove a tumor from her brain last year and my own Ulcerative Colitis. Because of these larger health problems, we try to make taking vitamins a priority around here. Not just for our day to day health but also to help prevent us from getting sick which is a huge priority here. And when you have existing health conditions, sometimes it makes it harder to fight off an illness as simple as a cold. But sometimes certain health conditions make it harder to actually absorb vitamins into our systems. 

Take for instance my Ulcerative Colitis. I can't take B-12 pills because my gut can't absorb them as well. So every month I have to take a B-12 shot instead. Pills themselves can be hard to absorb unless your gut is working perfectly well. But with Superior Source Vitamins, they are instantly absorbed under the tongue for maximum absorbency. 

Superior Source uses Microlingual instant dissolve melts that you don't have a swallow and they get into your blood stream faster than digesting. This is a huge bonus for anyone who can't absorb horse pill vitamins well! They are pure and clean and don't use GMO's either. Plus they are made in the USA. 

Superior Source vitamins can be found at Amazon and Walmart and other great stores locally too.

Superior Source was founded by Ron Beckenfeld who started the company in 1998. Ron started it because his father had Parkenson's Disease and his own father couldn't swallow large pills anymore. His dad had small nitroglycerin tablets that quickly dissolved under his tongue and that's what inspired Ron to create instant dissolving tablets. 

Would you like to win a bundle of Superior Source vitamins? One lucky winner will receive a pack of SSV 5 Pack of Best Selling Vitamins ($75 value!)

I'm so happy that it's finally autumn! Fall is my favorite time of the year. All the coziness of the season makes we just want to snuggle in a blanket with a cup of tea. 

When the months get colder, I love making homemade soup for my family. I think I could probably live off soup!

Last night I made a homemade Tomato Basil soup and it turned out so delicious. I hope you can try it out this upcoming autumn season!

Tomato Basil Soup

Ingredients

5 Beefsteak tomatoes, chopped

1 small yellow onion, chopped

6 cloves of garlic, chopped

5 Tbsp olive oil

1 jar of homemade (or store bought) chicken bone broth

Fresh basil

Salt and ground pepper

Tomato Basil Seasoning from Dollar Tree

1/2 cup milk

1 small carton of sour cream

Water as needed

Directions

1. Pour olive oil into a cast iron pot. Turn heat on medium high and add tomatoes, onion and garlic. Let simmer for about 10 minutes, stirring. 

2. Add in bone broth and enough water to get mixture to the halfway point of your pot. Add in fresh basil (to your liking) and bring heat down to  medium. Let simmer. Add the rest of the spices to your liking.

3. Once the soup has cooked for about 30 minutes, add in the milk and sour cream. Stir until blended. Now using an immersion blender, blend the soup until smooth. 

4. Serve with a fresh loaf of Italian bread.

Note

I measure my spices with love, meaning I don't use any specific measurement. I just use my eyes to see how much my family will like. If you like to measure your spices, go ahead!

Paul Flanagan is the author of the 'Riley MacLeod Series'. The first book to the series is titled 'Carving Up Riley'.

The 'Riley MacLeod Series' is a clean comedy series that is written for families who enjoy a good laugh without vulgar or sexual content.

The main character is Riley MacLeod. Riley MacLeod lives in a quiet neighborhood in Vermont. Riley is married, has two daughters and writes movies for a living. Ah, a nice, peaceful life...right? Well...no.

Riley is insane. He has an imagination and mouth that knows no bounds. He is always getting into trouble. He has a best friend who is almost as crazy as he is, an old man who lives across the street who wants him dead, and a wife who is two steps away from going insane—not to mention a crazed tom cat that is always ready to slice and dice poor Riley up.

What begins as a nice, romantic road trip from Vermont to Minnesota for Thanksgiving turns into a hilarious adventure filled with every kind of disaster a person can dream of. Riley is tied up by by his best friend, has his clothes stolen by the Cunningham Kid and his gang, gets shots at by a crazed tow truck driver, has his clothes stolen again, gets chased by a killer truck driver, sprayed with mace, attacked by two elderly criminals, tased by an insane cop—and all of this before he even reaches the Vermont state line.

No matter. Riley is determined to prove that he can overcome...well, kinda of. After finally making it to Minnesota he ends up in the hospital. But there's always a silver lining...Riley has to take a trip to California to meet his boss. Oh boy. Another road trip!

Author Interview

Question: What made you begin the 'Riley MacLeod Series'?

Answer: I love clean comedy and Riley is hilarious. He's a nincompoop who is always getting into trouble, but he's also a loving husband and dad who truly cares for his family. He's funny, clumsy, goofy and down right disastrous, but he's a good guy who just wants to make it through the day without ending up in the hospital. Riley is the type of guy you feel sorry for, love, cringe at and in the end...wonder how he's not locked up in a mental home. The 'Riley MacLeod Series' is perfect for anyone who loves clean comedy.

Question: Why do you write only clean comedy? Is there anything that a parent might be concerned with?

Answer: I love comedy but I hate comedy that a family can't sit down and watch together. Comedies that have vulgar and sexual content carry an awful stench to me. I love Jesus and want to honor G-D in all I do. Humor is important in life. Laughter is precious. Writing a clean comedy allows me to create books that a family can sit down and read and laugh at together.

Riley does get beat up by his wife, tied up by his best friend, shot at, chased, tased...and the old man who lives next door doesn't hesitate to lift his leg and fart. It's important to remember that the book is a clean comedy and the situations are comical. For instance: You laugh at the three stooges even though there is 'Comical Violence'. If you are reading a comedy you have to understand what comedy is. If you want to read a drama or mystery go read a drama or mystery. My books are rated PG.

Question: Tell us about the 'Riley MacLeod Series'? Why will the series appeal to people?

Answer: The 'Riley MacLeod Series' is a six book series. Each book is 40K words apiece (a fun and easy read). Each book is based on Riley MacLeod going on some type of crazy adventure. For instance, right now I'm working on 'A Riley MacLeod Christmas Carol'. The beginning of the book is absolutely hilarious. From book 1 to the last book in the series Riley is always getting into trouble one way or the other. But there is a child-like innocence to him that you root for. He's just a big kid trapped in an adult body. He manages to always somehow make it to the end of each book without ending up either dead or in a mental home. Each book is different, funny and filled with laughter that is good for the heart. Why will the series appeal to people? The series will appeal to people who simply want to laugh at a book that is aimed at creating clean laughter. Nothing more and nothing less.

Question: Are you a Christian? If so, does your Christian faith guide how you write?

Answer: I'm a Messianic Jew. My faith in Messiah Yeshua does guide how I write. I look at the world and see that children are being bombarded with filth and smut on a daily basis. I want to write clean comedies that prove it's alright to laugh at something that doesn't have vulgar or sexual content. We are to do what is right and good in the sight of G-D. Laughter is precious. But when laughter is tainted with sin it becomes lifeless. Laughter needs to be filled with life. Yeshua is Life.

Question: What do you do for a living?

Answer: I work as a ghostwriter. I love my job. The 'Riley MacLeod Series' is the first series I'm publishing under my own name. It's scary but exciting.

Question: What authors do you like?

Answer: I like non-fiction authors. Robert Fulghum and Lewis Grizzard are two that immediately come to mind. It's strange because I rarely read fictional books at this stage in my life. I read my Bible everyday and when I'm not reading my Bible or working, when I have some quiet time, I read non-fiction books.

Question: When did you begin writing books?

Answer: I began writing books when I was sixteen years old. I didn't have a desk. I used a Monopoly board to press down on. I remember writing one night and I scared myself. At that moment, I think, that's when I knew I wanted to be a writer. I began working as a ghostwriter in my early thirties. It's been a wonderful and amazing journey.

Question: What inspires you to write books?

Answer: I don't write books to become famous or rich. I write for the sake of writing. I write because I believe imagination is the most precious gift G-D has given us. In a world where everyone is trying to be 'Intellectuals', they are forgetting how to laugh and be a kid at heart. These people lock themselves in gray, stone rooms. When I write a book I'm free as the wind. I close my eyes and blast off into the universe with my imagination and see what planet I land on.

Question: What do you want people to walk away with after reading your series?

Answer: Simple: Laughter.

Question: You say Fred Rogers who is known as 'Mister Rogers' is an inspiration to you. Why?

Answer: Fred Rogers understood that children need to be children and that imagination is vital and beautiful as well as laughter. Life is hard enough—growing up is hard enough—without adding extra hardships. When I write a book I want the reader to go to their own 'Neighborhood of Make Believe' and leave the world for a little while. Fred Rogers is an inspiration to me because he created a simple show that still lives on in the hearts of people today. That's how I want my books to be. I want people to laugh.

Make sure to check out Carving Up Riley by Paul Flanagan on Amazon. The current price is $0.99 on Kindle and $5.99 on paperback. Also check out his clean comedy blog as well where he posts daily clean jokes.

When your dog has sensitivities or allergies, finding the right food for them can be a nightmare. It's really frustrating testing out different diets and discovering that so many of them seem unsuitable for your pooch. Even foods that seem fine at first can soon start to cause problems, meaning you have to start all over again. Your vet can provide advice to help you find the right food, but even they might not have perfect answers for you.

It might require some trial and error, but you can find the right diet for your sensitive dog. There are just a few things you might need to do to discover what works and which foods you might need to avoid.

See Your Vet

If you think that your dog might have food sensitivities, seeing your vet is a good first step. You might notice that your dog is having digestive problems, but there can be other signs of allergies or sensitivities too. For example, you might see your dog scratching or licking themselves a lot. It's especially important to see your vet if your dog has been vomiting multiple times, if they have had diarrhea for several days, or if there have been changes in their stools. Watch out for unexplained weight loss too, as well as signs that your dog might be experiencing abdominal pain.

Test for Allergies

One of the things that your vet might be able to do is test your dog for allergies. Allergy tests can be done through a blood sample, which is usually the easiest method. Another option for finding allergies is intradermal skin testing, but this can be a bit more complicated. It needs to be performed by a dermatologist and the dog has to be anesthetized, which means it's not the best option for everyone. Allergy testing may be useful in finding things your dog is allergic to, but it's not always as helpful as you might want it to be. There can sometimes be better ways of finding the right diet for your dog.

Trial an Elimination Diet

Another way of finding ingredients that your dog might be sensitive to is to try an elimination diet. This involves eliminating ingredients from your diet and slowly reintroducing them to see which ones could be causing your dog's problems. This might mean starting with a food with a single protein, ideally one that your dog has never had. You then feed your dog that food to see if their symptoms improve. If they do, you can start adding other ingredients to their diet to determine what could be causing their problems. Speak to your vet if you want to do an elimination diet to get the right advice.

Add Some Natural Ingredients to Their Diet

It can be helpful to add certain natural ingredients to your dog's diet to help support their digestive system and overall health. If you see if brown rice is safe for dogs to eat, you can learn the benefits of brown rice for a gluten-free dog diet. Some dog foods are made with high-quality natural ingredients and might offer features such as being grain-free or raw. If you're not sure what ingredients could benefit your dog, speaking to your vet or a dog nutritionist can help you work out what your next steps should be.

Look at Specially Formulated Foods

There are various dog foods that are specially formulated for dogs with sensitive stomachs or allergies. These can be an easy thing to start with if you're looking for the right diet for your dog. Steps such as elimination diets can be time-consuming and difficult to follow, so they can be better as a last resort. Talk to your vet to see if they can recommend a food for sensitive dogs or do your own research to see which products are available and what other dog owners recommend.

Always Switch Foods Slowly

If you're giving your dog a new food, make sure you always introduce it slowly. If you suddenly change their diet, it can cause its own stomach issues. Start by mixing a small amount of the new food with your dog's current food. Each day, add a little more of the new food and a little less of the old food until your dog has been switched over completely. It should take around 7-10 days to make the swap.

Finding the right diet for your sensitive dog can take time, but it's worth it to ensure your pooch is happy and healthy.