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Organic Makeover
Simple Steps to "Go Organic" with celebrity mom Bridgette Wilson-Sampras and Registered Dietician Ellie Krieger

Green Chile Quesadillas
Four-Grain Yogurt Pancakes

(Family Features) - Is it time for a makeover in your house? Horizon Organic(r), assisted by Organic Makeover Coach Ellie Krieger — author, nutritionist and TV chef — is helping moms make over their families' approach to healthy eating. Visit www.horizonorganic.com where Horizon Organic and Krieger are dishing out all of the simple and practical steps, tips and ideas moms need to go organic — from writing out their grocery lists to stocking their refrigerators. Celebrity mom Bridgette Wilson-Sampras, wife of Pete Sampras, highlights her own recent experiences working with Krieger to transition to an organic lifestyle.

"It's easy to go organic without making big changes to your family's eating habits," Krieger said. "Organic dairy products — with all the nutritional value of protein, calcium, vitamins and minerals of conventional dairy products — make everyday meals healthful and delicious. Although the popularity of organic foods is growing, moms still need information on how to incorporate organic into their lifestyle."

Wilson-Sampras adds, "National brands like Horizon Organic produce delicious milk, yogurt, butter and cheese without the use of antibiotics, added growth hormones or dangerous pesticides, so I feel good about feeding them to my family and recommending them to your family. For me, going organic was a simple choice that has made a big difference in the health and lifestyle of my family."

Moms who visit the new Horizon Organic Web site will not only learn tips and strategies for going organic from Wilson-Sampras and Krieger, they also can enter to win great prizes by submitting their own organic tips.

Seven Simple Steps to an Organic Lifestyle

Makeover program features distinct steps for incorporating organic foods into a family's everyday life:

Step 1 — Take inventory and read labels

Look inside your family's refrigerator and pantry. Be sure to look beyond the nutritional panel to the ingredient list. Do the labels include many ingredients you've never heard of? Steer clear of added chemicals by adding organic foods to your grocery lists.

Step 2 — Start with staples

It's easy to make simple choices that make a big difference in your family's eating habits. When creating your grocery list, start adding organic "staples" like organic dairy, fruits, and vegetables.

Step 3 — Refuel with snacks

Going too long without eating can make you feel tired and cranky. Healthy organic snacks that include protein and carbohydrates — like organic cheese sticks or apples — will help keep your energy levels high throughout the day, and they are easy grab-and-go snacks.

Step 4 — Make lunches fun to educate kids on organic

Eating habits are formed during childhood, so it's important to consider what's in kids' lunchboxes and make preparation fun by involving the kids — provide them with several organic choices and let them choose what they eat for lunch. One of the easiest ways to increase school lunch nutrition is to pack some of your kids' favorite foods while opting for organic alternatives where you can.

Step 5 — Look for the organic seal

Products that have not been certified cannot be labeled "organic." You should look for the USDA seal on products to know the products are organic.

Step 6 — Experiment with organic recipes

Once you have taken the step to add organic foods to your refrigerator or pantry, use organic in your everyday recipes to show your family that organic foods taste great! For instance, add some blended butternut squash to organic macaroni and cheese — this provides your family with a vegetable and adds fun, natural color to the meal. For variety, look for delicious recipes for any meal or occasion online at www.horizonorganic.com.

Step 7 — Be a role model

If you lead by example and feed yourself nutritious organic foods, your kids will develop similar healthy eating habits. Teach your kids valuable lessons in nutrition and good eating habits that they'll carry with them.

Green Chile Quesadillas
Extremely quick and easy to prepare, these make a great vegetarian alternative to traditional burgers and dogs.
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: 5 to 10 minutes
Yield: 4 small quesadillas

8 small tortillas
1 1/3 cups Horizon Organic Mexican shredded cheese
1/2 cup canned diced green chiles
2 tablespoons Horizon Organic unsalted butter, melted
Salsa, guacamole and Horizon Organic sour cream, as accompaniments

Preheat grill to medium high. To assemble each quesadilla, sprinkle a tortilla with 1/3 cup cheese and 2 tablespoons diced green chiles. Top with a second tortilla to form sandwich. Brush one side of each quesadilla with melted butter and grill, butter-side down, until tortilla is golden and crisp and cheese begins to melt. Brush other side with butter and flip to finish grilling. Cut quesadillas into wedges and serve warm with salsa and sour cream.

Nutrients per serving: 243 calories; 10g protein; 14g carbohydrates; 17g fat ; 10g saturated fat; 42mg cholesterol; 404mg sodium; 273mg calcium (27% DV)

Four-Grain Yogurt Pancakes
A great, healthy start to the day. Kids love to help mix the batter.
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cooking time: 5 to 10 minutes per batch
Yield: About 12 pancakes

1 cup unbleached flour
1/2 cup whole-wheat flour
2 tablespoons each: cornmeal, soy flour, wheat germ and oat bran
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons sugar
2 large Horizon Organic eggs
2 tablespoons Horizon Organic unsalted butter, melted
2 cups Horizon Organic fat-free plain yogurt
3/4 cup Horizon Organic fat-free milk

In large mixing bowl, combine flours and grains, baking powder, baking soda and sugar. Beat in eggs, melted butter, yogurt and fat-free milk. Batter will be lumpy. Lightly oil hot griddle. Bake pancakes on griddle at medium temperature. Serve immediately with butter, fresh fruit and syrup.

Nutrients per serving: 125 calories; 3g total fat; 2g saturated fat; 41 mg cholesterol; 230mg sodium; 18g carbohydrates; 1g dietary fiber; 4g sugars; 6g protein; vitamin A 3% DV; vitamin C 1% DV; calcium 13% DV; iron 6% DV

SOURCE: Horizon Organic Dairy