21

Praline Brownies + Jamie Oliver’s Revolution

by bhealthy on April 21, 2011

Anyone watch Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution, Season 2?

I think it is an exciting “reality tv show” that is ultimately for a good cause. Because Americans love reality TV (myself included), it seems like a great way to push the right buttons! It almost offends me simultaneously though! The issue for me is that there are so many programs currently running that NO ONE KNOWS ABOUT, like SNAP-Ed and EFNEP for starters. I have worked for both of those programs in the past two  years and found hardly anyone knows that we are in schools, state-wide, trying to prevent childhood obesity or change the trend by teaching kids ( & families) how to cook nutritious meals on a budget.  We aren’t the only ones either

 

I tend to get so worked up over this that it is hard to watch the show but one of the things that bugs me most is: flavored milk. Jamie Oliver is fighting to get those pink and brown containers out and I love that. I oversee Pre-K- 2nd Grade Programs, but SNAP-Ed tries to teach Youth through Older Adults to choose differently through nutrition education and explore other options through recipe taste tests.

In the taste test during my first site observation, ALL of the students drank all three of their milks (lactose free skim, skim, lowfat vanilla soymilk). Their favorite was the Skim Milk… unflavored, regular old Skim Milk. They drank it with no problem! Milk provides calcium, magnesium, phosphorous, potassium, protein and Vitamin D. Flavored milk provides all of that too… but unfortunately… added sugar, coloring AND flavored milk statistics are thrown around as if the only choices kids had were flavored milk or no milk at all. That just isn’t reality!  Check out this article on flavored milk (left side bar) that is basically placing flavored milk on top of the food pyramid as supreme.  Flavored milk is only an option if you allow it to be an option!

All this ranting about milk and it isn’t even in the brownies I just made!  I decided to make a milk-free brownie recipe for a friend of mine, whose daughter is allergic to cow’s milk.  Here’s my thing- it is a brownie, which is dessert and a treat and fabulous! If we enjoy treats like these, adding flavored milk just puts way too much sugar in your overall diet. We need three servings a day of milk/dairy so if we choose wisely, we can balance everything out!

 

Praline Brownies
Ingredients:

  • 2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups white sugar
  • 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 cup vegetable oil
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • (Or substitute all ingredients for a Dairy Free Brownie Mix, such as Cherrybrook Kitchen’s – Fudge Brownies)

Praline Topping:

  • 1/3 cup melted butter (I used Dairy Free- Earth Balance)
  • 1/2 cup pecan pieces
  • 3 Tbsp. oat flour
  • 1/2 cup light brown sugar

Preparation: (Twice Baked!)
Preheat oven to 350* F, Grease a 9 x 13 baking dish. In a large bowl, blend all dry ingredients (flour through salt). In a separate bowl, mix all wet ingredients (water- vanilla). Create open center in the dry mixture bowl, add the wet mixture to the dry in this well.  Pour batter into greased baking dish, bake for approximately 10-12 minutes, the center should still be liquidy and not set.

While baking, melt butter for praline topping. Add all ingredients (pecans, brown sugar, flour) mixing well with melted butter. Remove brownies from oven and spoon praline mixture onto unset brownies.

Bake for a second time for approximately 20 -25 minutes (or until a knife inserted removes cleanly).

What is your opinion on Flavored Milks?

Did you know about any of the school nutrition programs I listed or others ?

Blog Widget by LinkWithin
Nutrition News, Recipes
, , , , , , , , , , , ,
  • http://three-cookies.blogspot.com/ Three-Cookies

    From reading your blog I see you are quite frustrated. I am not from US so no, I don’t know either of those programs:) The programs you list are probably different in the sense that their sole objective is nutrition. Reality TV’s like Jamie’s probably have more than one objective – nutrition, more viewers etc. So its expected that they create more drama etc, and it works in getting more viewers

    I think there might be a big typo. Is it meant to say “We need three servings a day of these brownies?”:)

  • Anonymous

    I honestly didn’t know there were any efforts going on in schools until you started talking about the programs you’ve worked in. I think what you’re doing is just awesome. And what a fun brownie treat! I rarely make brownies, opting usually for cookies or other bars instead. I need to give these a go!

  • Clemente Nicolle

    It’s interesting that you post this today. I just downloaded a podcast about FDA’s look into food dyes and children’s behavior: http://www.npr.org/2011/03/30/134962888/fda-probes-link-between-food-dyes-kids-behavior. Haven’t heard it yet, but I try to avoid artificial ingredients as much as possible. Many flavored milks contain food dyes, and have for awhile. Some are starting to switch – I found Garelick Farms that uses Beet juice for strawberry milk (http://www.garelickfarms.com/products/flavored_milk-pl-strawberry.php), but it still has artificial flavor.

  • http://www.yummychunklet.wordpress.com Yummychunklet

    I’m familiar with a school food program in Wisconsin sponsored by Healthy Ovens (?) where “troubled” kids attend the school which offers only fresh, healthy food and it turns out those kids are excelling more than the ones in the “normal” school! I’m very impressed by this program. Also, based on my own tastes, I liked flavored milk if that’s the only thing I’m having as a snack. However, if I’m drinking milk with a meal or a healthy snack, then white is the way to go.

  • http://spoonfulofsugarfree.com Spoonfulofsugarfree

    I LOVE his second season so far!! I never saw the first one, but I recently got turned on to his second on hulu.

    My opinion on flavored milks-gross. It is just disgusting that they add so much sugar into it. It is no longer a healthy drink but the equivalent to a soda.

  • http://www.beinghealthier.com Laural (bhealthier)

    Spoonful- omg- thanks for the hulu reminder- I missed the first 30 minutes of this season! I wish everyone had the same view of milk, especially dairy council members!

  • http://www.beinghealthier.com Laural (bhealthier)

    Erica! you are too sweet! I only listed a few programs too! The program I work for is offered through cooperative extension in every state in the us! Each land grant university has nutrition education programs, though government budget cuts aren’t helping. California’s is huge, Vermont’s is great, Iowa State is an awesome program, their website/social media is insane!

    I loved the praline topping, so good I put it on my oats for b-fast!

  • http://www.beinghealthier.com Laural (bhealthier)

    yummy- that healthy ovens program sounds awesome! what fantastic outcomes too. I will check that out! I agree, flavored milk might be a good treat but that is what it should be viewed as – not a staple or “the only way to get your child the nutrients he/she needs”

  • http://www.beinghealthier.com Laural (bhealthier)

    Three- Haha, 3 servings of dairy/milk group foods a day provides enough calcium, vitamin D, magnesium, etc. when following the dietary guidelines…though 3 servings of brownies a day might be even better than 3 servings of flavored milk- check out the link Nicolle posted for food colorings! ick!

  • http://www.beinghealthier.com Laural (bhealthier)

    Nicolle-thanks for the links, i’m going to download that podcast, you are my hero.

  • http://mealsformiles.wordpress.com/ Kelly

    Bravo for mentioning some of the great school nutrition programs out there. You are so right – all of these programs get no press, recognition, etc. but that doesn’t mean they don’t exist and aren’t doing great things!

    I don’t think flavored milks have any place in schools or in a child’s diet, for sure. I will admit to drinking chocolate milk as a post-run recovery drink though, every once and a while!

  • http://swankydietitian.com Kristen (swanky dietitian)

    I work with kids and I would have to say that 99% of them choose flavored milk. I’m not sure how true this is, but some say that they don’t even see white milk offered. They probably just aren’t looking for it.
    Unfortunately I haven’t gotten a chance to tune it to the 2nd season. I am sure I can watch it online.

  • http://www.givelovecreatehappiness.com/blog.html Wendy Irene

    I’m so grateful for Jamie Oliver’s work to raise consciousness and provoke change. As far as flavored milk goes I definitely feel it needs to be seen as a treat, not an everyday thing.

  • http://www.banksyface.com sarah

    mmm delicious, i will most certainly be making these!

  • Caitlin Leff

    The brownies look delicious! I love Jamie Oliver too…sometimes the school reactions can be hard to watch but I love what he is trying to do. I am just finishing up a community health rotation for my dietetic internship that has all types of programs aimed at getting kids eating healthier and moving more. The families love them! I just wish they were more publicized.

  • http://www.beinghealthier.com Laural (bhealthier)

    Kelly- I read chocolate milk is pretty much the perfect post-run recovery drink!!!! That is just it- its a one time thing for recovery (quick glucose uptake) after a long run- you burn a ridiculous amount of energy so it justifies why something like that is a good drink. I hate that it becomes a staple go-to beverage!

  • http://www.beinghealthier.com Laural (bhealthier)

    Kristen- I definitely hear the participants in our program (we are only in schools with 50% or more free and reduced lunch participation) say they love chocolate milk or choose it often. I think its a huge problem that it such an available option because it makes too many kids default thinking they are making a good choice. My 2nd Grade curriculum has a dairy session, they fill out a worksheet for favorite dairy group foods and circle when they eat/drink them. I expected them to all draw chocolate milk for every meal- but only a few have! They all put down cheese on pasta or yogurt for snack, milk at breakfast with cereal, no prompting either! It’s amazing to see.
    I love that TV is available online- I usually record!

  • http://www.beinghealthier.com Laural (bhealthier)

    Wendy- Nicely stated! I wish more people realized or had a clearer definition of “treat” – it seems like flavored milk became equated to “milk”… which it should never have been because of the added stuff!

  • http://www.beinghealthier.com Laural (bhealthier)

    they were very crumbly sarah- just an fyi- still awesome but with no milk, they turned out more cake like! Let me know if you do and get the same result!

  • http://www.beinghealthier.com Laural (bhealthier)

    Hi Caitlin! What did you do for the community health rotation?! We are trying to get interns to do that rotation with SNAP Ed but it hasn’t been successful for a number reasons here- I would curious to know of other rotations for com. health! I agree- more publicity would be wonderful!

  • http://www.beinghealthier.com/2011/05/20/school-lunch-photos/ Taking Photos of What Kids Eat: Texas Schools’ Step into Realm of Food Blogging! « Being Healthier

    [...] to their programs that coincides. Programs like SNAP-Ed, EFNEP and the others mentioned in this post, all offer education AND smaller portions of food to enhance the learning [...]