Wheat Germ

For a while now, I've kept a jar of wheat germ in my fridge. I'm not sure what originally compelled me to buy it, but I'm sure it was a moment of guilt while wandering down the cereal aisle. Hmm, if I buy this, would it negate the Fruit Loops? Well, I rarely buy Fruit Loops anymore, but I still buy wheat germ. At first, I didn't think much of it: bland, with a sawdust texture. But now that I'm more enlightened nutritionally, I can appreciate wheat germ as the powerhouse it really is: a concentrated source of several essential nutrients, including iron and zinc and folic acid. There's even some protein in it.

These days, I'll sprinkle it on my oatmeal in the morning. I encourage the kids to sprinkle it on yogurt (DS12 calls it "freckles"). If I bake muffins, I'll add some wheat germ to the batter. You could even mix some into bread crumbs, boosting the nutrition of meatloaf, for example.

I usually buy Kretschmer Original Toasted Wheat Germ, but recently tried Hodgson Mill Untoasted Wheat Germ and might like it better. It's blander, but it seems less adulterated in a way. It's also ground finer (maybe because it's untoasted) and would be an easier substitute for some flour in a recipe, I think.

Sick kids and food

It feels like I can't get my head above water. DS12 has had a sore throat/fever/virus for a few days now. It's not strep, but I almost wish it was so that he could get some antibiotics and perhaps feel better sooner. Yes, I know antibiotics are overprescribed, but when you haven't slept for three nights due to a sick child, you get desperate.

He seems to want lots of comforting, starchy carbs so that's what's been on the menu for the last few days. But I did sneak in some lentil soup for the rest of us, so I'm hoping that will counteract all the pasta. Thank goodness lentils are now touted as one of the new "recession" foods...cheap, good for you, etc. I can use that as a weapon on the rest of the family in my quest to put healthy, vegetable-heavy meals on the table. Not that I care that much what the media touts as trendy, but it's nice to have some validation.

Spring

Well, Lent this year was all about our daughter. It seemed like a personal season of sacrifice and pain, starting with surgery on Ash Wednesday. But now that Easter has passed, as well as the official recuperation period, we feel we can breathe a sigh of relief. Surgery went well with no complications, and DD17 seems mostly back to normal. Recuperation involved much rest and no heavy lifting. The area of hair the surgeon shaved was on the hairline and easily covered up. She missed three weeks of school and is still catching up. The high school has provided tutors, but school issues seem secondary after what she went through, again. I try not to dwell on it, nor the future. One thing is certain, though. Going through an event like this (again) puts everything else into perspective, rapidly. And it encapsulates all that is bad and good in the world. Bad: major illness, especially of a child. Good: the people who dedicate their lives to caring for the sick and injured.