MANGO MADNESS!!!

I confess... we are OBSESSED with Mangoes over here! We just can't get enough of them... and lucky for us there are so many GREAT health benefits to go along with the amazing flavor and tropical vibe, that you can justify splurging on them. They are a little more expensive than most fruits (check out Costco, a box or 8 for $6.50) but 1 of them can be enjoyed by a few hungry fingers. We have them with breakfast or as a snack or mixed in with another fruit like strawberries for dessert- and I {confession} eat one almost every night (when we don't have them for dessert) before I hit the hay! They are so delicious and this is the warm season to enjoy them- so dig in before they are gone!

Our current favorite dessert in this household...

Here are some known Health Benefits of Mangoes:

• Super good for digestion because they are high in Pectin & Fiber
• High in Vitamin A, B, C, & E as well as Iron, Copper, Magnesium & Potassium--- see they are loaded with good stuff!
• Help lower levels of LDL cholestrol
• High in Antioxidants therefore, a fighter of cancer and heart disease

Random fact: Mangoes are from the same family as pistachios & cashews?? Yes it's true! Weird huh??

Don't forget, you can also make some Mango salsa, or Mango Sorbet, add it to smoothies or puree it for baby food.... the possibilities are endless!

U-Pick Fruit

Hey y'all... I haven't posted in a while.... a LONG while.... life has been busy with babies and pureed food, visiting family far away, and PICKING FRESH, LOCAL, RIPE, DELICIOUS FRUIT!!!!

Mother's Day 2011

Murray Farms

For Mother's Day this year, I asked to take a trip to our local u-pick farm, Murray Farms- all I wanted was to pick and EAT fresh, ripe, scrumptious fruit... so that's just what we did! So here's where I URGE you, especially if you have kids- find a local u-pick farm where you live, show your kids where produce REALLY comes from (not the grocery store! ha!) and let them get their little fingers on it straight from the bushes and trees- so much finger-licking fun to be had!

If you live locally, in the Kern County Area (or are passing through) I really encourage you to take a trip or stop on by Murray Farms.... they have just about everything you can imagine picking from blueberries, strawberries, cherries, peaches, plums, apricots, pluots, blackberries, and so much more! They offer a tractor ride to the fields, a pet zoo for the kids, clean bathrooms and buckets for picking your fruit, kid friendly carts to load up your diaper bags (and babies!) and buckets of fresh fruit! It costs $3 to pick and then the fruit is anywhere from $.99 - $2.99 per pound and on weekends they give you a pound for free plus fresh, hot pancakes to to enjoy your fresh fruit with! YUM!!! And that $3 admission gives you access to the petting zoo and the ant maze and fresh flower maze you can pick from.... so much good stuff in one spot- please go check it out, it's a great trip for young and old alike!!!

Our first trip was strawberries and blueberries, then we went back for more blueberries, and well, next week we are going for the peaches! Check it out and take a trip to your local U-Pick!

Calcium and Vitamin D

I am doing it. I need to step up on my Soap Box for just a minute, I promise it won't be long... if you don't want to read it, close the tab, I am not offended.

So I found this latest article by Dr. Fuhrman very interesting and really wanted to share it with others, hence my copy and paste job to my blog. I find it so interesting, especially as a mom of young children, that calcium absorption can actually be BLOCKED by too much salt, caffeine, animal products, and SUGAR in our diets... Sometimes (actually, often) I get razzed/made fun because I monitor my child's intake of sugar and I don't allow her to indulge in it everywhere we go- but then when I read studies like this, I am affirmed in my decision to continue to monitor it and be okay with denying it (for her and for me) throughout the day. If I DO ACTUALLY get adequate greens in her diet, then I don't want to go overboard and dump all these "other things" in her system that will end up blocking the absorption of the vitamins and minerals that her body NEEDS to stay healthy. Again moderation and balance is my goal, I am in no way advocating nixing it all out...

Also, I wanted to point out HOW IMPORTANT it is to be eating vegetables, and how important it is for our children to be eating GREEN VEGETABLES.... did you see the part that states "32% of calcium is absorbed from milk, whereas 50 % of calcium is absorbed from green veggies".... that's a BIG DEAL.... we should be just as concerned (or even more so) that our kids are getting veggies in their diets as we are milk.... not to mention all the other wonderful health benefits that veggies bring. I could go on here, but I am trying to contain it.

So, are you thinking, "my kid doesn't eat veggies so now what???" Well, let's learn and share our ideas with each other. Let's open it up, how do you get your kids to eat veggies... Do you serve them first before they are allowed anything else on their plate? Do you mix them in smoothies?? (if so check out this recipe). Do you not allow them dessert until their veggies are gone?? Are you eating them as an example?? Or, do you just have then angelic children that ask for more broccoli please??? :) Share with us your wisdom... and read the article too! Leave your thoughts and insight PLEASE!!!

Ok, I will step down from my soap box now.... read it for yourself:

Calcium, Vitamin D, and Osteoporosis

About 10 million Americans already have osteoporosis, and 34 million are at risk.¹ Contrary to popular belief however, low intake of calcium is not the primary cause of osteoporosis. While Americans have the highest calcium intake in the world, we also have one of the highest hip fracture rates in the world.²The standard American diet causes much of the consumed calcium to be lost in the urine. Excess salt, caffeine, sugar, and animal products leach calcium out of bones and promote urinary calcium loss.³The Nurses’ Health Study followed 72,337 women for over 18 years and found that dairy intake did not reduce the risk of osteoporosis-related hip fractures.⁴

In contrast, vegetables, beans, fruits, nuts, and seeds are rich sources of calcium and other important minerals, and do not promote the urinary excretion of calcium. A three cup serving of raw, chopped greens – like kale, bok choy, or collards – provides the same amount of calcium (or more) as one cup of whole milk. Only 32% of the calcium in the cup of cow’s milk can be absorbed by the human body compared to about 50% for many green vegetables.⁵

Calcium isn’t the only important nutrient for bone health

It’s also important to keep in mind that the effect of nutrition on bone health is more complex than just getting adequate calcium. For example, vitamin K also supports bone health, and vitamin K is abundant in leafy greens.⁶ Of course, vitamin D also plays a critical role in regulating bone health. Vitamin D promotes the absorption of calcium in the intestine as well as the activity of bone building cells. Medical studies show vitamin D is more effective than calcium for treating osteoporosis.⁷ The most natural way to obtain vitamin D is through sun exposure, but because of indoor jobs, our climate, and skin cancer risk it is virtually impossible to achieve optimal levels of Vitamin D from sunshine alone. Vitamin D supplementation is necessary for most people.

How much calcium and Vitamin D are necessary to protect against osteoporosis?

Most Americans take inadequate amounts of Vitamin D and excessive amounts of calcium. Approximately 50% of Americans are deficient in Vitamin D.⁸ For optimal bone protection, I advise having a blood 25(OH)D test, and then supplementing accordingly to keep Vitamin D levels in the range of 35-50 ng/ml.^9,10 If you have not had yet your blood tested, 2000 IU is a reasonable daily dose to start.

Quick Garlic Tip...

Here's something that I usually keep on hand for those times when you run out of garlic, forget it at the store, don't have time to mince your own, or realize yours is growing green unwanted sprouts :)

This is the greatest little invention, they sell frozen Garlic Cubes as well as cilantro, basil, and parsley in little tiny ice-cube-like-trays. I pick mine up in the frozen section at Trader Joe's, but other markets carry them as well. There are some dishes where fresh is still best, but for others like soups, crock pots, and other warm entrees, these do the trick quite nice! Just a tip for you this Wednesday to help simplify your time in the kitchen!

Tips for hosting a Party...

I love to throw parties, I love to have people over, I love to let my creative juices flow and have fun showing others so that they know I enjoy having them in my life! I think I might have inherited this from my mother. Here just a few ideas for some of your parties- big or small...

To add a splash of color to the bottom of your vases, thinly slice some citrus (limes, lemons, oranges, blood oranges, even grapefruit), it will give an extra pop of color and a pleasant aroma too!

Don't feel like you have to confine yourself to vases either, there are lots of fun holders for flowers, just start looking around your kitchen, garage sales, and the Good Will for fun and unusual finds! Like this...

and this...

Need a centerpiece for Easter coming up?? Grab a small wooden box or clay pot and grow some grass in it (great project for kids too!) Then add a small fluffy chick or fuzzy bunny to it- simple, inexpensive, and springy... And low enough for your guests to talk over.... don't you hate it when people move your centerpieces! (Sorry this isn't the best picture, it's always awkward to take pictures of other peoples centerpieces at a large BBQ!)

Another centerpiece of table decoration that's great for showers or events is glass jars full of colorful candy (which always seems to be snacked on throughout the event!) with homemade pinwheels poking out the top! These are great for kids and adult themes alike, they are a great way to incorporate colors and themes to any party.

How about making your own block signs?? Super simple. Cut a 2x4 into different size blocks, paint, and letter them with a message for your next holiday or season! These could make their way out for the 4th of July, Memorial Day, Veteran's Day and more!

Here is a picture of my dear friend Monica's wedding- it was SO beautiful I wanted to share it with you! The thing I loved about this was the way she used bright colors that contrasted each other so well- with the turquiose and yellow. Every table was a little different, don't confine yourself to making everything the exact same... and her attention to detail was awesome! Notice the clocks?? The only number on the clock represented the table number in order to let guests know where to sit... creative huh?? She made them with Target clocks and cardstock- super ingenious!

Here's a picture of my baby shower that my girlfriends threw for me when I was pregnant with my son- I LOVED every detail! The were really creative and went with a bird/nest theme... it's always fun & more interesting to chose a theme! Notice the wreath with the blue Letter "J" on it, the cake pops made like Robin Eggs, the cupcakes with shredded coconut to look like a birds nest, the birdie tags on the treats that read "A Tweet for YOU!". Choosing a theme can really tie a party all together!

Choose a fun topper for your cupcake stand! You of course can reserve the top of the stand for the cupcake with the candle on it, but why not top it with something creative like a flower, baby toy or mini bride... something out of the ordinary... again to help tie in the theme!

For tips on how to make your OWN EASY letters for on top of your next cake, check out these SIMPLE directions!

And here's a fun thought, give your guests something simple and fun to leave with- even big kids like party favors!

Consider this your virtual Party Favor... thanks for stopping by!

Tips on the Top 10 Kitchen Tools...

If you were to ask me to pick my Top 10 Favorite "Tools" for the kitchen, the things I use most (besides the obvious ones like a good set of pans, cutting board and sharp knife set), the things that are most versatile, the things I would take with me if I were stranded on a deserted island with an empty kitchen... here's what I would say :)

10. Garlic Press- I used minced garlic almost everyday in everything from marinates, to dressings, to main dishes and more- and there is no easier more convenient way to add garlic to a meal than with a good garlic press. Oxo, Pampered Chief, Crate & Barrel, and Williams Sonoma have great ones if you are in need of this essential.

9. A Silicone Basting brush. This is essential if you BBQ or use marinates frequently... I use to use the ones that looked like a paintbrush until it started shedding all over my food and grossing me out! These are a great alternative, dishwasher safe, and come in a variety of fun colors!

8. A Cookie Scoop. Do you bake?? Then this needs to be in your drawer- no questions asked. From cookies to granola snacks to scones to nutballs- this is a time saver! Not only does it quickly distribute your goods, but it helps to make sure they are all the same size for even cooking. OXO makes a small and large scoop, check them out!

7. A Pastry Blender. Now, I know this is for pastries, so you can definitely use it when making baked goods like lemon bars and shortbread's, but can I fess up that I use it for so much more! I use it to squish my avocados for guacamole, for mashing bananas before they go into banana bread, for smashing my potatoes when making mashers... the list could go on and on- it's a great tool with many different uses when you think outside of the box!

6. A zester. This is wonderful for not only zesting citrus, like lemons, oranges, and limes for marinates and dressings and chicken dishes, but it can also be used for Parmesan cheese and dried spices like cinnamon sticks. Add a fine sprinkle of grated goodness to your dishes.

5. A lemon/lime juicer. My favorite one is the hand-held squeezer that will allow you to squeeze the juice from a lemon or lime and add it to drinks, baked goods, marinates, dressings, guacamole and other dishes that call for a splash of citrus juice. A lot of times mine sits on a cutting board with half a lemon in it and I continually squeeze it into my water glass throughout the day to freshen up my water! The only time this tool isn't so cool is when your lemons are bigger than the tool... this happens to me at the end of the citrus season with our home grown Meyer Lemon tree.... so if you think that might be your case... then this would be my second choice for Tool #5:

5.5 A rounded cutting board and chopper. This was one of my favorite wedding gifts I received.... and I think it was purchased at Costco along with a giant cutting board- but they also sell them online and at specialty cooking stores. It is so wonderful for chopping nuts, dried fruit, and other small bits without them flying all over the counter. Check them out!

4. A Vegetable Scrubber Brush. This sits on my window sill and I am constantly using it to scrub carrots, potatoes, parsnips, and other root veggies and fruits too before eating them. An inexpensive find.

3. Glass Storage Containers. Honestly, these are the best thing EVER. I love them for so many reasons. They don't crack and age like plastic, they don't stain like plastic or obtain odors from foods, they are dishwasher safe, and OVEN safe (that's HUGE! That means if you have left overs one night, you pop them in this dish and the next day for lunch you take off the lid and put it directly into the oven (or microwave) to reheat.... easy peasy, time saver!) They sell a set at Costco and sometimes have a coupon for them as well, keep you're eye out!

2. My precious Vitamix. I love this beast. It was by far the best investment ever (cuz they are an investment, I am not going to lie, they are a pretty penny- but worth every bit of prettiness!) I use this almost every day. I make hummus, ice cream, sorbet, smoothies, dressing, baby foods, sauces, and more. You can make your own rice cereal, puree tomatoes, grind oats, the list could go on and on. Need I say More?? cuz I can.... (If you are interested in getting one, call your local Costco and see when the Vitamix rep is coming because they travel from place to place selling them, then start saving those pretty pennies!)

1. MY SALAD SPINNER! Honestly, Mr. Salad Spinner, where would I be with out you??? I will tell you where...I would be wasting a lot of time in the kitchen! I make a salad almost daily, and if not a salad - kale, herbs, Swiss chard or some other leafy green! There is no better way to wash, spin, and DRY your leaves for a crisp and crunchy salad or side. There is nothing worse than a soggy salad or watered-down dressing, so invest! Do not spend any more time blotting your leaves dry with a paper towel or whacking them against the sink! Make this your next addition to your arsenal of kitchen tools!

** I purchase some of these items online, or at Bed, Bath, Beyond (you can use a coupon for every item you buy!), some at Costco, and at other cooking stores.***

Tips on Essential Oils

Today's guest blogger is Krissa, from More than mundane. She has so much good stuff to share, check out her blog for recipes, recipe reviews, ideas for learning with young kids at home, book recommendations, and so much more! Really her blog is AWESOME! For now we pick her brain on Essential Oils and how to incorporate them into our lives:

"Hi, I'm Krissa--wife, mom to two beautiful children, and teacher. When I'm not busy grading papers I enjoy trying new recipes (especially Andrea's), learning with my preschooler, and blogging about it along the way. I also love learning about ways to use natural remedies to improve my family's health and daily life. Please feel free to leave a comment if you have any questions about using essential oils, and I'll do my best to answer...or if you have a favorite use for essential oils to share with me, I'm always looking to learn more!"

My Top Ten Uses for Essential Oils

For the past six months I’ve been using essential oils in a variety of ways in our home. Here are my top ten:

1. Lemon Oil in my Water-I put lemon oil in my water every day to build immunity and because it tastes great! However, not all essential oil brands are safe for internal use, so please make sure you read the label carefully before using any essential oil internally. I use a brand called DoTerra, which is CPTG (Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade) and is safe to take internally. Learn more about the health benefits of lemon here.

2. On Guard for Immunity-On Guard is one of my favorites. I mix it with a carrier oil and apply it to my children’s feet at bedtime. For myself, I put a few drops in a capsule and take it that way. Read more about On Guard and how it can protect you from getting sick here.

3. In my Homemade Deodorant-I use Melaleuca (Tea Tree) or a blend called Purify in my homemade deodorant to scent it. Learn more about how to make your own deodorant here.

4. In my Husband’s Facial Toner-I make a facial toner for my husband and use Melaleuca (Tea Tree) Oil in it. Tea Tree helps with acne, but you can also use lavender.

5. Breathe for a “Vapo-rub”-When my kids are congested or have a cough a use a blend called Breathe mixed with a carrier oil and rub it on their chest and on the bottoms of their feet. It’s a great natural alternative to Vapo-rub.

6. For Cleaning-I often take Lemon essential oil or a blend called Citrus Bliss and drop a few drops on a sponge to wipe down my counters. Not only does it clean but it also smells great!

7. Lavender for a Calming Room/Linen Spray-In a small glass spray bottle, I mix water with Lavender essential oil and use it as a room and linen spray. Lavender has calming properties so it’s great to use at bedtime.

8. To Soothe a Sore Throat-Add a drop of Lemon to honey and take it to soothe your throat. Or use On Guard: rub (diluted) on the throat externally or take a few drops internally to relieve sore throat.

9. In Bath & Body Care-I’ve made body oils, body scrubs, bath sachets, and lotion and scented them with lavender, ylang-ylang, wild orange, and other essential oils. I also enjoy dropping a few drops in the shower before I hop in.

10. Aromatherapy-I use a diffuser to diffuse essential oils in our home, especially in the kid’s rooms. It purifies the air and smells great.

For information on using essential oils to build immunity, check out my previous post on essential oils here.

Tips for around the kitchen

Today's guest blogger is Danika over at "Is it Lupus" her awesome blog shares lots of details, tips, wisdom, and recipes that she has discovered along her path of searching out health and wholeness while living with Lupus. It has tons of helpful information- whether you have Lupus or not- on how to seek out healthy living, physically and spiritually. I encourage you to stop on by.

For now she shares with us her top 10 tips in the kitchen:

1. To keep strawberries fresh for a long time keep them in a sealed container in the frig with a paper towel in it.
2. To keep leafy greens fresh, store a paper towel in the bag they are kept in to absorbs the moisture and only wash them right before using them.
3. Keep onions in the frig and you won’t have much of a problem with tearing or burning eyes while chopping them.

4. Store mushrooms in a brown paper bag in the frig and they stay fresh much longer.

5. When using fresh ginger root, if you have some left, freeze it. When you need if for later use, it’s actually easier to use frozen because it grates really easy (just don’t forget to peel it as you use it).
6. Freeze liquids or soups flat in the freezer, once they are frozen, you can stand them upright so that stack nicely and it saves tons of room.
7. Anytime you’re roasting vegetables, potatoes, ect. lay parchment paper down on the baking sheet and it makes clean up a breeze with no sticking.
8. When making cookies, use a 1 inch scooper and scoop all the cookies onto a plate and freeze (I’m talking the raw dough). Once hardened, about an hour, transfer to a zip lock or container and you always have cookies available. Just take out however many you need and bake, just add an additional 2-3 min because they are frozen. This is my favorite tip because it allows us to only cook what we should eat, not what we want to eat which is the entire batch!
9. Leave a small bowl of distilled vinegar on the counter to get rid of bad odors

10. Put a penny in the bottom of a vase of tulips and they stand right up!

Tons'O'Tips...

Alright everybody... here we go! This upcoming week I have some guest bloggers and we are going to share with you some tips that we use- around the kitchen, the house and in our everyday life! They are all things I have wanted to share about, so we decided to do a whole week on "Tons'O'Tips" just for you. Please feel free to leave any comments, questions or tips of your own!

Here's what you can look forward to this week:

Monday: Tips for the Kitchen

Tuesday: Tips on Essential Oils

Wednesday: Tips on the Top 10 Kitchen "Tools"

Thursday: Tips on Vinegar

Friday: Tips on Hosting a Party

Powder Concoction for Helping a Lingering Cough

I know what you are thinking right now, "What is this crazy girl trying now?!".... do you know how I know you are thinking that... because my family thinks the same thing! HA! That is until they try it.... and then have to zip their lips because it really does work!

I was searching online for something to try to get rid of my pesky cough. I am willing to try just about any crazy concoction that's natural, especially if it means forgoing an antibiotic. And well, I found this little mixture and I gave it a whirl and in less than 2 days my cough was 90% better- I can live with that! If you are desperate (or crazy too!) and you are sick of coughing- try it, what can it hurt!

*** Disclaimer: I AM NOT A MEDICAL DOCTOR, this is just a home remedy that has worked for me so I am passing it on, try it at your own risk!***

Ingredients:

1/4 tsp. pepper

1/4 tsp. dried ginger

1/4 tsp. dried cloves

honey

Directions:

Mix all 3 dry ingredients in a small bowl. Then get a cereal spoon, squeeze a glob of honey the size of a quarter onto the spoon and shake about 1/8 tsp. of your powder mixture onto the honey on the spoon and lick it off. Do this 3 times a day until your cough subsides.

Soothing & Healing Warm Ginger Beverage

This is an oldie (AND goodie!) from my growing up years that my mom would make for us when we were feeling a little under the weather- suffering from a sore throat or worse yet- a hacking cough that wouldn't leave. I also returned to it when I had morning sickness during my pregnancies because ginger is so great at relieving nausea. This is simple to make, only takes a quick minute and I almost always have the ingredients on hand. I sip on it throughout the day and just continue to refill my cup as needed. I enjoy the taste and sometime just make myself a cup on a chilly day if I am short on tea.

Ingredients:

hot water

a slice of lemon

1/2 slice of fresh ginger root, peeled

a drizzle of honey.

Add all the ingredients together in a mug, poor in your hot water and let steep for 5 minutes. Sip on it continually as your sore throat or cough persists.

**Ginger has great anti-inflammatory & anti-viral qualities that are great in fighting the flu or colds.

TIPS ON FRESH GINGER ROOT: You can store fresh in the fridge in an air tight container for up to 3 weeks, or you can store it in the freezer in an air tight container for up to 6 months (in both circumstances, the ginger should be left unpeeled).

Why Grape Seed Oil???

I received a comment the other day asking about the difference between Grape Seed Oil and Olive Oil and when I use which and why... so here's a brief breakdown of MY understanding...

I switched over to Grape Seed Oil with my cooking when I first heard about the high Smoke Point it has (421 degrees F) which means that you can use it to cook food up to that temperature without the oil breaking down or deteriorating or really changing flavor. Olive Oil on the other hand has a lower Smoke Point (350 degrees F) which means that when you cook with it, be it sauteing, frying, or baking it will begin to break down, change flavors, and possibly even let off a toxicity which you can often smell when cooking with it at high temperatures. So almost always, I use Grape Seed Oil when cooking with heat- with the exception of Coconut Oil (I use that when cooking eggs and when making baked goods, it's Smoke Point is 360 for reference) and I leave my Olive Oil for "cold cooking" such as salad dressings and the like.

All 3 oils that I mentioned above have great health benefits as well. For instance, Grape Seed Oil contains antioxidants as well as Vitamin E & C and beta-carotene. It has also been shown to lower LDL cholesterol ("bad cholesterol") and increase HDL ("good cholesterol"). Similar findings have been shown with Olive Oil, as well as it's benefits for the heart and preventions of cancer.

Gluten-Free Flours....

So, lately- thanks to my sister and a few friends who eat (or are beginning to eat) "Gluten Free" because of health issues- I have become more curious about the option and the ways to incorporate a wheat free or "less wheat diet" into my own family's eating habits. If you talk around enough, you know that a lot of people (especially little kids) have allergies or intolerances to gluten. I also know, that a lot of diseases (especially autoimmunes) like Celiacs, Lupus, Leaky Gut, Crohn's and Hyperthyroidism do better on a "wheat free" diet.... all that to say, why not try to incorporate other options into our diets for a possible better physical feeling outcome. To me, the most important thing about my diet (and my new curiosity!) is that it is balanced and not extreme when it doesn't need to be. For me that means tons of fresh fruits and veggies, grains & legumes, clean meat, and limited processed foods (and of course my home baked goodies, cuz life would be boring without them!)... with an EMPHASIS on the Balanced PART! I want to enjoy life, eat healthy and not be a slave to my kitchen or my menu! Extremes have never been good for me and things seem to stick better when they are slowly incorporated and changed over time and not quickly overdone and forced.... but that's just me speaking. I'd like to be thinking that I would be continuing to grow and learn each year, eating better in 5 years than I am now... it's all a learning process :)

Here's a snip-it on what I have tried so far, and really, it's just a snip-it!

All Purpose Gluten Free Baking Flour

Oat Flour

Here are two of the products that have been recommended to me that I have just merley scrapped the surface with- I am not an expert in them at all! I have only tried baking a few things, but for what I have used it for, they have worked great for me and seem to be worth the switch. But I wanted to get your input! So, if you are avoiding gluten or wanting to incorporate other kinds of flour beside white and wheat into your diet, give us an update and tell us your findings- I would love to hear what you all use if you choose white or wheat alternatives! Please leave a comment and share with us your wisdom!!!