Many people in the United States have never heard about miso because they don’t eat Asian cuisine. Doctors’ reports, however, have agreed about the healing properties in miso. If you’re curious about it, here are six good reasons to start preparing miso as a recipe for kids.

For those who aren’t aware, miso is a paste made from fermented and ground soybeans which has been fermented for two months up to two years. It is often mixed with rice, barley, or wheat to speed up fermentation. Normally, it can be found in the international aisle of most grocery stores.

1. Miso is versatile. It can be made into a dressing for salads, soup, or made into a tea. Miso comes in white, brown, deep red and creamy beige, each with its own distinct flavor. Flavors range from sweet and mild to savory and earthy.

2. Miso is also high in fiber and probiotics. It increases the enzymes your body produces in your digestive system by increasing beneficial micro-organisms. These micro-organisms will break down foods better which will enable more nutrients to be absorbed, giving you more energy.

3. Most people eat meat to get protein. However, miso provides high quality vegetable protein that is highly usable in the body. In fact, if you were to eat miso with whole grains, the proteins you consume would be increased. It also contains unsaturated oils and zero cholesterol, which doctors recommend as part of a heart-healthy diet.

4. Some reports have confirmed miso as being beneficial by helping prevent some cancers, heart disease, and other illnesses. It has also been touted to eliminate heavy metals, nicotine, and air pollutants from your system. Women who eat miso regularly have been shown to be less likely to develop breast cancer.

5. Miso is high in essential minerals such as zinc which aids the immune system. Iron, copper and manganese are also in ample supply in miso.

6. If you’re moving toward a more vegetarian diet, miso would be a great addition. It is high in vitamins K and B12, both essential for a healthy body.

How on earth do you use miso? There are a number of ways you can try to start using miso in your family’s meals: use it instead of a stock (chicken or vegetable) when making home-made soups, spread it on toast similar to butter, use it as a salt substitute when you’re cooking, or mix it with sesame oil and your favorite seasonings to make an Asian-inspired salad dressing.

Although doctors in the West can be slow to acknowledge the health benefits of foods used traditionally in the East, it seems they’re taking notice of miso. By reading these six reasons to start eating miso, you can see how this food from Japan can improve your health and help you avoid some diseases. Maybe it’s time to find it in your grocery store and make it a part of your family’s diet.

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If you’re looking for a budget recipe for kids which can serve up to four people and yet not sacrifice sumptuousness and nutrition. then the Grilled Salmon Sandwich specialty should be the first among your consideration. We all know how nutritious fish is for our children. Here goes the recipe:

Ingredients:
1 medium cucumber, sliced
½ cup red pepper, sliced
1 small onion, chopped
2/3 cup plain yogurt
1/3 cup mayonnaise
2 fresh and deboned fillets of salmon
1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
1 tsp dill weed
1 tsp parsley
1 tsp ground coriander
1 tsp rosemary
1 tsp oregano
2 tbsp olive oil

Instructions:
Heat olive oil in a large skillet and add rosemary and oregano. Fry the salmon fillets until nice and golden. In separate pan, heat 1 tbsp olive oil, then sauté red pepper, cucumber slices and onion.

Mix yogurt, mayonnaise, lemon juice, dill weed, parsley and coriander in a bowl.

Serve the cooked salmon on your choice of bread or bread roll, top with the dressing and sautéed vegetables. Top with another piece of bread or the top of the bread roll and enjoy this delicious salmon sandwich.

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Milk is still very important for child development - even if they are no longer babies. Sadly, children are starting to leave their milk glasses for sodas and sugary drinks so parents should step up and ensure that milk is still part of the diet of the child because it can have long term benefits to your child.

According to the Milk Processor Education Program study in the United States, calories consumed from milk (which includes flavoured milk), drop as children mature. ‘Our study found that milk is a primary source of nutrients in a child’s diet,’ said Mary Murphy, who works at the Environ Health Sciences Institute, Arlington, adding, “But milk consumption steadily declines as children grow older, which may prevent older children and teenagers from consuming the nutrients they need for growth and development.”

Here are some facts on the calories that milk provides for children over the years:

* Ages 2 to 5: 13 percent of daily calories.
* Ages 6 to 11: 9 percent.
* Ages 12 to 18: 6 to 7 percent.

So make sure to prepare a glass of milk for your child. You can join him/her drink milk while you’re at it.

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