I recently, in less than a two-week time span, had the opportunity to have an autistic boy in childcare at church and then later have a discussion with a mom of an autistic son (the two mentioned are not related). This was my first up-close-and-personal experience with autism on either side of the coin- a child and a parent. Call it a God thing, but the two experiences stirred me a bit.
It got me to thinking about what you ladies know to be a passion of mine- FEEDING OUR KIDS. But then it went deeper than that- FEEDING OURSELVES. I got to thinking about all the crap in food now. The dyes, the additives, the preservatives, the artificial sweeteners, the artificial flavors, even the literal mold, saw dust, carcinogens and animal bone morrow in our food. Did I just get your attention? I thought so. I wonder if all of this has anything to do with fetal development? Surely you would think so....
Or I wonder if a child, already hereditarily predisposed to autism can't handle all of these chemicals in their systems, much like immunizations but these come from our own food!
Now I have no idea if immunizations cause autism. I don't know because I've really never taken the time to look into it. I do, however, trust the many, many moms with autistic kids that DO think that maybe the immunizations didn't cause their child's autism, but most definitely contributed to it. See, I don't need to hear this. Why? Because immunizations piss me off. I mean really, really piss me off. But the pharmaceutical companies have for more money than I do and a far greater political base than I. It's a money game, but one our kids are paying for.
If you look at different diets the autistic kids are put on, the parents are told to cut this and eliminate that. But the question should be WHY? Why gluten? Why milk? Why dyes? Why all the other numerous items? If they shouldn't eat it, why should we? Why should "typical" kids? I need to know this. And if you have one autistic child, since research shows that you have a much higher percentage of having another autistic child, should the mother avoid eating all of these things while pregnant? If so, this is a disturbing thought.
This is where I have to say it ladies. It's time to be "label whores." That term USED TO BE used to describe women who loved Gucci and Prada and Dolce and Gabbana. But no longer. Fortunately, the label has taken on some substance. It refers to being so scrutinizing while grocery shopping in reading every label before something goes into your cart. If you don't know what it is, put it back. I know this sounds extreme, but that's what we've come to.
Allow me to tell you two stories. The first is about me. I had this rice brand that I loved. Bought it for years. I felt pretty good about myself that this rice blend (whole grain mind you) had only five ingredients in it: whole grain rice, garlic, dried tomato, sea salt and %*&#@. I don't even know what it was. But I figured it couldn't be too bad, right? It was in the "Natural" section. It only had five ingredients. But one day, I popped into my study while making dinner to look this ingredient up. ONE OF THE TWENTY OTHER NAMES FOR MSG. Awesome. I was furious, but it was no one's fault but my own. I should've looked it up a long time ago. Way before I fed it to my family. Way before I fed it to my infants!
I had a mom telling me about how much her kids love Danimals (that nasty yogurt). She went on and on as if she really hit the jackpot with a healthy dairy. I didn't at the time have the heart to tell her about the dye in it. Why didn't she just buy Stoneyfield Farms? Yeah, it's a little more expensive, but 100% real. READ THE LABELS. All the dyes, etc. in foods? No wonder dyslexia, ADD and ADHD are on the rise. And no one out there but God himself could convince me that there is not a link in the two. And childhood obesity? It's all connected.
Recently, while watching the news which I rarely do before bed, there was a very, very interesting segment on. I still think about it quite often. Now open your mind a bit because this is going to sound like a stretch. There is a group of war veterans in our country that are convinced that the childhood obesity epidemic in our country is an act of TERRORISM. That terrorist strategists are counting on the fact in the near future, America will NOT HAVE A STRONG ARMED FORCES because we will have a nation of fat, lethargic, diabetes-ridden, out-of-shape men. WOW. I just layed there. My husband blew this notion off. I, however, did not.
I also, as of yesterday, decided I would no longer have my house sprayed for bugs. The smell was atrocious. "This can't be good," I thought. So, bring it on bugs. I'd rather have you than cancer. Per this decision and posting it on Facebook, I had several friends reply back that they not only have already nixed the bug spray, but they use all organic lawn care products and green/natural chemical-free cleaning products. Good for them I thought! I dig me some visionary friends! And per their insistence and cases they made, I will be doing the same.
That being said, there is a whole daunting world out there of chemical-laden foods and environmental products we are subjected to. There is no way any one of us can ever learn all there is to learn about the long-term effects this is going to have on us in our old age and our children. So, hooray for blogs and Facebook, etc. where we can all start to share information. Who knows, maybe if we all work together, we can make a difference. 'Cause the way I look at it, if a bunch of mad mommas can't do it, no one can.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Sunday, March 28, 2010
SKINCARE 2- Make-up is an accessory not a necessity...
I have this book that has changed my life. It is called, "The Truth About Beauty" by Kat James. I know I've mentioned it in a previous post before. I can not tell you passionately enough about why every woman in this country needs this book. Please make it your Summer read. I beg of you. Especially if you have daughters. Mine are going to read it and they are going to report back to me so that I know they've read it. It is that important to me that my girls know what real beauty is and where it comes from. And no, I'm not talking about "pretty is and pretty does" and "pretty on the inside too" and all that jazz. I am actually talking about the outside- hair, skin, nails, skin disorders, diet, water, chemicals, etc.
Kat discusses in her book a lot of what I talked about in my first skincare post but she just calls it "shedding." Shedding those mainstream beauty ideals that are crammed down our throats since the time were able to purchase our first Teen magazine. She lays out all the money that is spent not on the products themselves but on advertising and big-name celeb spokespeople. The products are crap. But we keep buying it. Please read this book. Please.
Since we are on the topic of daughters, I also wanted to challenge you moms to do something else. Instead of introducing make-up at an early age, why not start introducing proper skincare at an early age? I was fortunate enough to have a mother who instead of letting me wear make-up early, she bought me my first little tub of eye cream. She also had me drink water with lemon and cucumber and explained the benefits of this for my skin (and digestive system and liver....). Now this is a good time to admit that not only did I do a short stint of modeling, I was also a make-up artist for Bobbi Brown. I LOVE MAKE-UP. I love playing with it, owning it, buying it, putting it on my friends, doing their make-up for their weddings, etc. But for me, make-up is for fun. For going out at night. Make-up should be viewed as an accessory not a necessity. And that is the very mantra I will teach my girls. Once my husband told me that one of the reasons he fell in love with me in high school is because while all the other girls wouldn't have stepped foot out of the house without make-up on, I couldn't have cared less. But when it was time to get dressed-up, he said he was always in awe of how I looked. This meant a lot to me and shows me that smart guys, you know the "keepers," typically don't like girls with all that high maintenance fuss. I also had a guy in high school tell me I needed to start wearing more make-up to school specifically eye-liner. What the hell? This guy is now on his second marriage, has beer-bloat face, beer gut to match and is just a slob. His current wife (who I expect will not be his last) is a bleach blond, fake-tanning, Tammy Faye make-up wearing little thing. Someone my husband or any quality guy I know would EVER talk to or at least take in public. I think the difference in the two guys (the beer bloat guy and my husband) illustrates the two "camps" of wearing make-up. And this needs to be explained to our girls as well. Why do they feel like they need it? Are they trying to cover themselves up? Are they hiding from something? Are they trying to impress people? What is your daughter's root of interest in wearing make-up? If the answer is because "boys like it" or "all my friends are wearing this much" or "I'm just not pretty" we've got troubles! Teach them that "day" make-up should be nothing more than enhancing. Tinted moisturizer to even skin tone, concealer only for acne spots, cream blush on the apples of your cheeks, mascara and a tinted lip gloss (all with SPF in it if you can swing it). That's it. Now night for ME? Whole different ball game. But again, I see it as an accessory just like my clutch and heels! And P.S....I'm convinced I started the whole "smoky eye" craze!!! WINK.
Don't let mainstream media determine your daughter's idea of beauty or how to achieve it. It's just like talking to your kids about sex. If you don't do it, someone else will. And don't you want to control that information? Such important information? Start shedding your own beauty ideals and rituals and start feeding your hair, skin and nails from the inside out. Teach your girls to do the same. I so look forward to the days when I can have a blast with my two daughters doing the whole make-up gig. What fun! But they will never, ever be taught they can't leave the house without it or that they "need" it. And in the meantime, I'll just pray like crazy that they meet a guy like their Daddy and not "beer bloat" guy....
Kat discusses in her book a lot of what I talked about in my first skincare post but she just calls it "shedding." Shedding those mainstream beauty ideals that are crammed down our throats since the time were able to purchase our first Teen magazine. She lays out all the money that is spent not on the products themselves but on advertising and big-name celeb spokespeople. The products are crap. But we keep buying it. Please read this book. Please.
Since we are on the topic of daughters, I also wanted to challenge you moms to do something else. Instead of introducing make-up at an early age, why not start introducing proper skincare at an early age? I was fortunate enough to have a mother who instead of letting me wear make-up early, she bought me my first little tub of eye cream. She also had me drink water with lemon and cucumber and explained the benefits of this for my skin (and digestive system and liver....). Now this is a good time to admit that not only did I do a short stint of modeling, I was also a make-up artist for Bobbi Brown. I LOVE MAKE-UP. I love playing with it, owning it, buying it, putting it on my friends, doing their make-up for their weddings, etc. But for me, make-up is for fun. For going out at night. Make-up should be viewed as an accessory not a necessity. And that is the very mantra I will teach my girls. Once my husband told me that one of the reasons he fell in love with me in high school is because while all the other girls wouldn't have stepped foot out of the house without make-up on, I couldn't have cared less. But when it was time to get dressed-up, he said he was always in awe of how I looked. This meant a lot to me and shows me that smart guys, you know the "keepers," typically don't like girls with all that high maintenance fuss. I also had a guy in high school tell me I needed to start wearing more make-up to school specifically eye-liner. What the hell? This guy is now on his second marriage, has beer-bloat face, beer gut to match and is just a slob. His current wife (who I expect will not be his last) is a bleach blond, fake-tanning, Tammy Faye make-up wearing little thing. Someone my husband or any quality guy I know would EVER talk to or at least take in public. I think the difference in the two guys (the beer bloat guy and my husband) illustrates the two "camps" of wearing make-up. And this needs to be explained to our girls as well. Why do they feel like they need it? Are they trying to cover themselves up? Are they hiding from something? Are they trying to impress people? What is your daughter's root of interest in wearing make-up? If the answer is because "boys like it" or "all my friends are wearing this much" or "I'm just not pretty" we've got troubles! Teach them that "day" make-up should be nothing more than enhancing. Tinted moisturizer to even skin tone, concealer only for acne spots, cream blush on the apples of your cheeks, mascara and a tinted lip gloss (all with SPF in it if you can swing it). That's it. Now night for ME? Whole different ball game. But again, I see it as an accessory just like my clutch and heels! And P.S....I'm convinced I started the whole "smoky eye" craze!!! WINK.
Don't let mainstream media determine your daughter's idea of beauty or how to achieve it. It's just like talking to your kids about sex. If you don't do it, someone else will. And don't you want to control that information? Such important information? Start shedding your own beauty ideals and rituals and start feeding your hair, skin and nails from the inside out. Teach your girls to do the same. I so look forward to the days when I can have a blast with my two daughters doing the whole make-up gig. What fun! But they will never, ever be taught they can't leave the house without it or that they "need" it. And in the meantime, I'll just pray like crazy that they meet a guy like their Daddy and not "beer bloat" guy....
SKINCARE- On my soapbox again...
For those people who've known for me for a long time know that I did a short stint of modeling when I was a teenager. I had the opportunity to travel to New York a couple of times and I learned things about make-up and skin-care that most teenage girls only dream of or at least hope Seventeen magazine will provide for them. The funny thing is, the two main things I learned are not mainstream and my friends would never and have never done.
One, don't wash your hair every day. To me this is common sense. For some of my friends, they think I'm "fowl" that I don't wash my hair everyday or every other day for that matter. So let me see...what's grosser- my oily scalp or your dried-out, straw-like, over processed, burnt hair? I'm gonna go with burnt out. And which do you think holds-up better when you do need to style it (i.e. blow dry and then roll or straighten with a flat iron)? Mine? Or your burnt out hair? And which do you think makes it through a Summer of chlorine? Mine or yours? And what kills me is any hairdresser in the business worth their salt will tell you the same thing. Do you think putting spray leave-in conditioner or store-bought conditioners full of alcohol and parabens are healthier for your hair and scalp than your own natural oils? Seriously. Don't underestimate Mother Nature and give more credence to synthetic, cheap projects that are made in a lab. Your a major cosmetic company's wet dream. You're a sucker.
The other thing I learned while modeling is you don't wear make-up every day. This ages you and never lets your skin breathe. How does it age you, you ask? If you tug on your face every single day of your life putting your foundation on (rubbing down instead of upwards) and you "pat" concealer around your eyes (even with your index finger) every day and then you also powder-up the delicate tissue on your eyelids every single day and then put titanium dioxide on your eyelashes every single day, what exactly do you think happens over time? All of this can age your skin faster than the sun. But ironically, my friends who wear make-up every day also tend to be my sun-worshipping friends as well so they don't stand a chance. I don't have the heart to tell them that the sun damage they have already accrued from their many, many days in the sun tanning have caught-up with them already in their '30's. What the hell are they gonna look like in their '50's????? The damage is way past microdermabrasion too.
I'm getting to my main point to bare with me. See, I'm far more into skincare than I am my weight. Why? Because my weight isn't permanent, but my face is it. It's all I've got. I also have a lot of Irish blood in me and it shows. I also grew-up in West Texas with a pool and on a lake. I was a lifeguard and a water sports fanatic. Though I did use sunscreen way more than my friends (thanks Mom) the aftermath is rearing it's ugly head here in my '30's. Especially on my chest and my hands. Plus, the ladies I know who are hell-bent on staying a size 6 shouldn't really care about their size so much when their skin looks like they smoke a pack a day and the sun spots look like continents across their foreheads. Who cares about your True Religion jeans when professional t.v. make-up couldn't give you good skin? PRIORITIES PEOPLE.
All that being said, I wanted to share with you my new beauty find. My closest friends know I'm a beauty product junkie, but only for stuff that actually works and see results from. I rarely endorse products unless I've used them myself for awhile and I'm addicted. So here I go. Write this down. ROC DAILY RESURFACING DISKS. They are little pads that come in a gold-ish plastic tub. They are pretty potent and since I have sensitive skin, I can't use them every day. Heck, I can't even use them every other day. Point is, they are the first product I have used where I can actually see a major difference on my decollete area (the massive amount of sun spots and damage). I get naked and use them on my chest right before I step into the shower (while I'm waiting for the water to heat-up). I also have started using them on my hands only to see a major texture difference. Everyone should go get these suckers. Now if your pregnant, or plan on becoming pregnant, I might hold off. One, they are too potent for sensitive pregnancy skin and two, I'm pretty certain there might be Vitamin A and retinol in them. Two things not recommended for pregnant women. Go out and get yourselves some of these, ladies. Trust me.
But I also wanted to encourage you all to start really evaluating your beauty routine. All the chemicals, all the parabens, all the additives that you put on your skin every day. YUCK. You don't need to wash your hair every day. You don't need to wear make-up every day. What you should be doing is concentrating on your supplements, your diet (raw, fresh foods) and changing the products you use. I'd first like to challenge everyone to throw away your body lotions and go the nearest healthfood store and by some jojoba oil. This is the closest substance to your own body's natural sebum (oil). It is amazing. Put it on after a shower and your set. That, and drink lots and lots of water and take a good oil supplement like flaxseed! Nourish your skin from the inside out. Again, going against everything that you've ever been taught through the media (devil). If women started actually doing that, who's going to keep Loreal, etc. in business????
One, don't wash your hair every day. To me this is common sense. For some of my friends, they think I'm "fowl" that I don't wash my hair everyday or every other day for that matter. So let me see...what's grosser- my oily scalp or your dried-out, straw-like, over processed, burnt hair? I'm gonna go with burnt out. And which do you think holds-up better when you do need to style it (i.e. blow dry and then roll or straighten with a flat iron)? Mine? Or your burnt out hair? And which do you think makes it through a Summer of chlorine? Mine or yours? And what kills me is any hairdresser in the business worth their salt will tell you the same thing. Do you think putting spray leave-in conditioner or store-bought conditioners full of alcohol and parabens are healthier for your hair and scalp than your own natural oils? Seriously. Don't underestimate Mother Nature and give more credence to synthetic, cheap projects that are made in a lab. Your a major cosmetic company's wet dream. You're a sucker.
The other thing I learned while modeling is you don't wear make-up every day. This ages you and never lets your skin breathe. How does it age you, you ask? If you tug on your face every single day of your life putting your foundation on (rubbing down instead of upwards) and you "pat" concealer around your eyes (even with your index finger) every day and then you also powder-up the delicate tissue on your eyelids every single day and then put titanium dioxide on your eyelashes every single day, what exactly do you think happens over time? All of this can age your skin faster than the sun. But ironically, my friends who wear make-up every day also tend to be my sun-worshipping friends as well so they don't stand a chance. I don't have the heart to tell them that the sun damage they have already accrued from their many, many days in the sun tanning have caught-up with them already in their '30's. What the hell are they gonna look like in their '50's????? The damage is way past microdermabrasion too.
I'm getting to my main point to bare with me. See, I'm far more into skincare than I am my weight. Why? Because my weight isn't permanent, but my face is it. It's all I've got. I also have a lot of Irish blood in me and it shows. I also grew-up in West Texas with a pool and on a lake. I was a lifeguard and a water sports fanatic. Though I did use sunscreen way more than my friends (thanks Mom) the aftermath is rearing it's ugly head here in my '30's. Especially on my chest and my hands. Plus, the ladies I know who are hell-bent on staying a size 6 shouldn't really care about their size so much when their skin looks like they smoke a pack a day and the sun spots look like continents across their foreheads. Who cares about your True Religion jeans when professional t.v. make-up couldn't give you good skin? PRIORITIES PEOPLE.
All that being said, I wanted to share with you my new beauty find. My closest friends know I'm a beauty product junkie, but only for stuff that actually works and see results from. I rarely endorse products unless I've used them myself for awhile and I'm addicted. So here I go. Write this down. ROC DAILY RESURFACING DISKS. They are little pads that come in a gold-ish plastic tub. They are pretty potent and since I have sensitive skin, I can't use them every day. Heck, I can't even use them every other day. Point is, they are the first product I have used where I can actually see a major difference on my decollete area (the massive amount of sun spots and damage). I get naked and use them on my chest right before I step into the shower (while I'm waiting for the water to heat-up). I also have started using them on my hands only to see a major texture difference. Everyone should go get these suckers. Now if your pregnant, or plan on becoming pregnant, I might hold off. One, they are too potent for sensitive pregnancy skin and two, I'm pretty certain there might be Vitamin A and retinol in them. Two things not recommended for pregnant women. Go out and get yourselves some of these, ladies. Trust me.
But I also wanted to encourage you all to start really evaluating your beauty routine. All the chemicals, all the parabens, all the additives that you put on your skin every day. YUCK. You don't need to wash your hair every day. You don't need to wear make-up every day. What you should be doing is concentrating on your supplements, your diet (raw, fresh foods) and changing the products you use. I'd first like to challenge everyone to throw away your body lotions and go the nearest healthfood store and by some jojoba oil. This is the closest substance to your own body's natural sebum (oil). It is amazing. Put it on after a shower and your set. That, and drink lots and lots of water and take a good oil supplement like flaxseed! Nourish your skin from the inside out. Again, going against everything that you've ever been taught through the media (devil). If women started actually doing that, who's going to keep Loreal, etc. in business????
Monday, March 22, 2010
Jamie Oliver's Chopped Green Salad Recipe
This salad has endless possibilities as far as add-ins. Especially with Spring and Summer right around the corner. This will be winner with some Sauvignon Blanc or a Pinot Grigio and grilled halibut or any fish really.
One thing I wanted to mention that just really, really caught my attention is how Jamie served it on his show on the big ol' wood chopping board! It as awesome! Such a cool presentation. I'm off to Sur La Table tomorrow to get me the biggest chopping board ever and I plan on serving it the same way at my next dinner party! It would be awesome with some big pieces of homemade french bread croutons or toasts with goat cheese served on the cutting board as well!
Enjoy the recipe!
Jamie Oliver's Everyday Green Chopped Salad
The Chopped Salad Family Chopped salads are incredibly simple to make—you have to give them a go. If nothing else, they can offer you some chopping practice, so why not make something tasty while you're practicing your knife skills? Anyone can make these salads—just make sure you use a good sharp chef's knife and your biggest chopping board—and watch your fingers. What I want to show you here is that the sky's the limit when it comes to the different ingredients you can add to a chopped salad. –you can use whatever's available. The only rule I would give you is to always include a couple of handfuls of crunchy lettuce to give your salad a really good texture. Try out different things, and don't feel obliged to use the same old stuff all the time. Bell peppers, tomatoes, herb sprigs, different types of cheese…you can get any or all of these into a chopped salad.
"Everyday green chopped salad"
Serves 4
4 scallions
½ a cucumber
A handful of fresh basil leaves
2 small, just ripe avocados
1 butterhead lettuce
Large handful sprouted cress or alfafa
Optional 2 ounces Cheddar cheese
Extra virgin oil
Red wine vinegar
English Mustard
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
Get yourself a big chopping board and large sharp knife. It's best to start by chopping the harder, crunchier veggies first, so trim and chop your scallions and slice your cucumber. Slice your basil. Bring it all into the center of the board and continue chopping and mixing together. Halve your avocados around the big pit. Carefully remove the pit and peel the skin off. Add the avocado flesh, lettuce leaves, and cress or alfafa to the board. Crumble over the cheese, if using and continue chopping. When everything is well chopped, you'll have a big mound of salad on the board. Make a well in the middle and drizzle in 6 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil and 2 tablespoons of red wine vinegar. Add a teaspoon of English mustard and a good pinch of salt and pepper. Mix up so everything gets well coated and serve on the board or in a bowl.
One thing I wanted to mention that just really, really caught my attention is how Jamie served it on his show on the big ol' wood chopping board! It as awesome! Such a cool presentation. I'm off to Sur La Table tomorrow to get me the biggest chopping board ever and I plan on serving it the same way at my next dinner party! It would be awesome with some big pieces of homemade french bread croutons or toasts with goat cheese served on the cutting board as well!
Enjoy the recipe!
Jamie Oliver's Everyday Green Chopped Salad
The Chopped Salad Family Chopped salads are incredibly simple to make—you have to give them a go. If nothing else, they can offer you some chopping practice, so why not make something tasty while you're practicing your knife skills? Anyone can make these salads—just make sure you use a good sharp chef's knife and your biggest chopping board—and watch your fingers. What I want to show you here is that the sky's the limit when it comes to the different ingredients you can add to a chopped salad. –you can use whatever's available. The only rule I would give you is to always include a couple of handfuls of crunchy lettuce to give your salad a really good texture. Try out different things, and don't feel obliged to use the same old stuff all the time. Bell peppers, tomatoes, herb sprigs, different types of cheese…you can get any or all of these into a chopped salad.
"Everyday green chopped salad"
Serves 4
4 scallions
½ a cucumber
A handful of fresh basil leaves
2 small, just ripe avocados
1 butterhead lettuce
Large handful sprouted cress or alfafa
Optional 2 ounces Cheddar cheese
Extra virgin oil
Red wine vinegar
English Mustard
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
Get yourself a big chopping board and large sharp knife. It's best to start by chopping the harder, crunchier veggies first, so trim and chop your scallions and slice your cucumber. Slice your basil. Bring it all into the center of the board and continue chopping and mixing together. Halve your avocados around the big pit. Carefully remove the pit and peel the skin off. Add the avocado flesh, lettuce leaves, and cress or alfafa to the board. Crumble over the cheese, if using and continue chopping. When everything is well chopped, you'll have a big mound of salad on the board. Make a well in the middle and drizzle in 6 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil and 2 tablespoons of red wine vinegar. Add a teaspoon of English mustard and a good pinch of salt and pepper. Mix up so everything gets well coated and serve on the board or in a bowl.
Soapbox 3- Eating Together as a Family
So I recently had the opportunity to speak at a moms' group in The Woodlands (Texas). Among the many, many, many points I made while there, I got up on my soapbox about not only the importance of sitting down at the dinner table together as a family in general, but how this is the perfect time to teach (and model) table manners for your children. The main point I made was that it drives me crazy to see parents reprimanding their children out in public restaurants when I know damn well they aren't being taught table manners at home. How on earth can you scold your children out and about when they aren't even taught in your own home? And you must be consistent. Children don't have the cognitive ability to discern that they don't have to use their manners at home or the lake house but they do have to while in public or at a friend's house. It has to be consistent if you're going to be successful in "training them up" the proper way. The way you will be proud of.
While speaking, I surprised even myself at my very kind of 1950's view of the woman's responsibility to provide dinner for her family each night. I didn't say to cook it per say, but to provide it. And if that means you have your husband pick something up on his way home, then you can set the table for a nice, leisure sit-down dinner as a family. There are no excuses in my book. None. Trust me. Some of these women tried to give me some and I didn't hear one I agreed with. I know our lives are busy these days, but it is OUR responsibility to slow it down when necessary to facilitate the moments that actually matter in our family culture.
While speaking, I surprised even myself at my very kind of 1950's view of the woman's responsibility to provide dinner for her family each night. I didn't say to cook it per say, but to provide it. And if that means you have your husband pick something up on his way home, then you can set the table for a nice, leisure sit-down dinner as a family. There are no excuses in my book. None. Trust me. Some of these women tried to give me some and I didn't hear one I agreed with. I know our lives are busy these days, but it is OUR responsibility to slow it down when necessary to facilitate the moments that actually matter in our family culture.
Seasonal Recipe- March/April
My friend, Darla, who is fantastic in the kitchen, whipped-up this recipe for her daughter's 2nd birthday. I am not one to fancy carrot cake but this one was fantastic. And it was even more fantastic the next day straight out of the fridge. The cream cheese icing was the best I have ever tasted. Seriously. And it didn't hurt that she just covered the top and sides of the cake once iced with chopped walnuts. To die for. The colder the better. She also omitted the pineapples and raisins and added one cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips! Sound weird? I thought so too but OMG. Do it. Trust me.
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/carrot-and-pineapple-cake-recipe/index.html
This recipe will be perfect for Spring and specifically Easter! What a great family tradition to start! Enjoy! If you make it, let me know your thoughts!
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/carrot-and-pineapple-cake-recipe/index.html
This recipe will be perfect for Spring and specifically Easter! What a great family tradition to start! Enjoy! If you make it, let me know your thoughts!
My blog is neglected.
So, as you can see, it's been awhile since I've posted an article. Why? Because like most of you, anything I actually enjoy doing for myself is the last thing I get around to doing. And the reality is I've been over-scheduled and busy as hell, really. But two things inspired me to get back on my blog. One, the busier my family is (or I am) the worse I feed them. Sure, I know my "worse" isn't probably that bad, but for me and my goals when feeding my kids, I wasn't pulling my weight in meal planning. Luckily, when I realized this, I'm back on the bandwagon and have started to evaluate my life, my to-do lists, my priorities and "cutting the fat" if you will when it comes to commitments I'll say yes to. I encourage you all to do the same. I recently had a revelation and I praise God for one, giving me the smarts to listen to Him and two, giving me the wisdom to then do something about it. And that was this: I will never look back at my life and regret dropping the ball when it comes to volunteering at my church or at my kids' schools, but I will look back and regret volunteering my baby's infancy away. And that was that. Quality time with my children and my husband is center-stage again. As is meal-planning!
The other thing that inspired me to get back on my blog is something that I am so incredibly excited about I can barely see straight. That is Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution on ABC. They had the pilot last night. I cried. I mean I seriously cried. The premise of the show is worthy of you making sure you see it, follow it religiously or a the very least set a standing recording time for it on Tivo or whatever. The premier is Friday night. I by no means expect you to stay home on a **hot** Friday night to watch it but definitely record it or you can always watch it on ABC.com (link below). In one episode, Jamie challenged me personally to stick to what I know- raw ingredients (fresh meats and produce) are the best and only way to go. He shows you how to whip-up a healthy meal for your family and talks about the importance of sitting down together. He also inspired me to consider, as my children get older, to include them in the preparing and cooking of the meals and have a ball in the kitchen with my family! What memories! And he just rapes the way Americans feed children in public schools. I mean he is passionately disgusted with the dehydrated meats and additives and nutritional guidelines set-up for our children by you guessed it- OUR OWN GOVERNMENT. I was literally rooting for him as he challenged the "powers that be" on certain food labels. At one point in the show he held-up a piece of dehydrated chicken and said to a group of lunch ladies, "You don't have a problem eating this? Serving this? Well I don't have a problem with you eating it. I have a problem with children eating it." It was awesome. I'm hooked. OK. So I plugged it. Now you watch it!
Go to the website and watch the pilot from last night! PLEASE!
http://abc.go.com/
The other thing that inspired me to get back on my blog is something that I am so incredibly excited about I can barely see straight. That is Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution on ABC. They had the pilot last night. I cried. I mean I seriously cried. The premise of the show is worthy of you making sure you see it, follow it religiously or a the very least set a standing recording time for it on Tivo or whatever. The premier is Friday night. I by no means expect you to stay home on a **hot** Friday night to watch it but definitely record it or you can always watch it on ABC.com (link below). In one episode, Jamie challenged me personally to stick to what I know- raw ingredients (fresh meats and produce) are the best and only way to go. He shows you how to whip-up a healthy meal for your family and talks about the importance of sitting down together. He also inspired me to consider, as my children get older, to include them in the preparing and cooking of the meals and have a ball in the kitchen with my family! What memories! And he just rapes the way Americans feed children in public schools. I mean he is passionately disgusted with the dehydrated meats and additives and nutritional guidelines set-up for our children by you guessed it- OUR OWN GOVERNMENT. I was literally rooting for him as he challenged the "powers that be" on certain food labels. At one point in the show he held-up a piece of dehydrated chicken and said to a group of lunch ladies, "You don't have a problem eating this? Serving this? Well I don't have a problem with you eating it. I have a problem with children eating it." It was awesome. I'm hooked. OK. So I plugged it. Now you watch it!
Go to the website and watch the pilot from last night! PLEASE!
http://abc.go.com/
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
American Heart Month!
As you may know, February is American Heart Month. Research shows that heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. Even more alarming is the rising rate of children with high cholesterol. Not a good foundation for heart health as adults...
So I wanted to pass along the below info that yes, pertains to heart health, but also is just good ol' common sense! I will sometimes use these lists to not only piece together meals for my kids, but for my husband as well who battles high blood pressure....
STARCHES
Products high in soluble fiber have been associated with increased diet quality and decreased risk of cardiovascular disease.
PROTEIN
Protein, which is high in essential omega-3 fatty acids and vitamins are necessary for our survival.
VEGETABLES
Just like many fruits, veggies contain lots of vitamins, minerals and fiber which aid in lowering the risk of heart disease and stroke. Try the following veggies to keep a strong healthy heart:
FRUIT
Fruit contains lots of vitamins, minerals and fiber. Their flavonoids stregthen blood vessels and are strong antioxidants. Some also have a great effect on lowering your cholesterol levels. These fruits are know to be the best for your heart:
OATS
Oats are nourishing whole grains and an excellent source of vitamins, minerals and cholesterol-lowering fiber. Studies suggest that a diet high in oats can reduce the risk for heart disease and lower cholesterol levels.
BEVERAGES
Below are some that are rich in antioxidants which contribute to lowering cholesterol levels.
FAT
It can be good for your heart!
So I wanted to pass along the below info that yes, pertains to heart health, but also is just good ol' common sense! I will sometimes use these lists to not only piece together meals for my kids, but for my husband as well who battles high blood pressure....
STARCHES
Products high in soluble fiber have been associated with increased diet quality and decreased risk of cardiovascular disease.
- black or kidney beans
- brown rice
- sweet potatoes (an excellent source of vitamins A and C which are high in antioxidants)
PROTEIN
Protein, which is high in essential omega-3 fatty acids and vitamins are necessary for our survival.
- almonds
- salmon
- tofu
- tuna
- walnuts (preferably black walnuts)
VEGETABLES
Just like many fruits, veggies contain lots of vitamins, minerals and fiber which aid in lowering the risk of heart disease and stroke. Try the following veggies to keep a strong healthy heart:
- asparagus
- broccoli
- carrots
- red bell peppers
- spinach
FRUIT
Fruit contains lots of vitamins, minerals and fiber. Their flavonoids stregthen blood vessels and are strong antioxidants. Some also have a great effect on lowering your cholesterol levels. These fruits are know to be the best for your heart:
- apples
- avocados (yes considered a fruit)
- bananas
- blueberries
- tomatoes
OATS
Oats are nourishing whole grains and an excellent source of vitamins, minerals and cholesterol-lowering fiber. Studies suggest that a diet high in oats can reduce the risk for heart disease and lower cholesterol levels.
- oatmeal
- whole-grain bread (100%- look for the little yellow label that signifies this)
BEVERAGES
Below are some that are rich in antioxidants which contribute to lowering cholesterol levels.
- A glass of red wine can improve "good" HDL cholesterol.
- Soy milk can lower triglycerides, which help prevent cardiovascular disease and keep your heart strong and healthy.
- Tea (black or green) is rich in a certain antioxidant that can protect the artery wall against damage that causes heart disease and prevents formation of sticky blood clots.
FAT
It can be good for your heart!
- Olive oil lowers bad cholesterol levels and increases the good cholesterol levels.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Christmas on Crack
The title pretty much sums-up my thoughts on Christmas at my house. It's crazy. I'm basically just trying to "get through" the month. Now I do blame myself. I usually am way ahead of the game instead of waiting so late to do everything. I also have bitten off a little more than I can chew this year with a new baby, Room Mom stuff, church obligations, etc. So I have VOWED to next year enjoy the holiday season with my family instead of trying to figure out how for every one thing I cross off my December "to do" list, three more things get added. Which is why I've been a little MIA as far as my blog is concerned. I just haven't had ANY time. So I felt compelled to share my plan of attack for next year and the years following.
We just had a guest speak at my moms' group at church. Her topic was, "Surviving the Holidays with Blessings." It didn't hurt that she is a professional organizer with FIVE KIDS. She uses the binder system when organizing her holidays. A little OCD- yes. But the point, she is completely done with all things Christmas-related BY December 1st. That includes her baking, her shopping for her and her children's holiday wardrobes AND her house is clean and organized before the 1st of the month as well. I actually got to see her binder and flip through it. A work of art for sure. Now as type-A and OCD as I can be, some aspects of this notebook were a little much for me. But the beautiful thing is you just print the pages that you will use. You custom make your own notebook to your specifications. Sound like a lot of work? I've got no where to go but up people. Check it out:
www.organizedchristmas.com
Oh, and the pages are free. Get goin' ladies. Christmas '10 is right around the corner.
We just had a guest speak at my moms' group at church. Her topic was, "Surviving the Holidays with Blessings." It didn't hurt that she is a professional organizer with FIVE KIDS. She uses the binder system when organizing her holidays. A little OCD- yes. But the point, she is completely done with all things Christmas-related BY December 1st. That includes her baking, her shopping for her and her children's holiday wardrobes AND her house is clean and organized before the 1st of the month as well. I actually got to see her binder and flip through it. A work of art for sure. Now as type-A and OCD as I can be, some aspects of this notebook were a little much for me. But the beautiful thing is you just print the pages that you will use. You custom make your own notebook to your specifications. Sound like a lot of work? I've got no where to go but up people. Check it out:
www.organizedchristmas.com
Oh, and the pages are free. Get goin' ladies. Christmas '10 is right around the corner.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
"Brown-Bagging Fish"
I just came across this fish tip from a NYC chef, Seamus Mullen. I'm a huge fish person and appreciate any new way, especially a fun and creative way, to make it and serve it. One of my specialties when entertaining in the Spring and Summer is to do sea bass in parchment paper. I serve the "packets" like little presents to each guest and they get to un-tie the twine to "open" their meal. The steam and aromas from the fish and the vegetables just flood out. The parchment paper gets this really pretty golden brown hue and the edges really brown. It is so unique looking and I'm always proud of it! It's always a HUGE crowd-pleaser and quite the conversation starter. So when I saw this new presentation when serving fish, I was elated to put it mildly!
Brown-Bagging Fish- Instead of roasting fish in a pan, cook it in a plain brown-paper lunch bag set on a baking sheet. Brush the bag liberally with olive oil and add a well-seasoned piece of fish along with slices of lemon and vegetables. Close the bag, place on the baking sheet and cook at 375 until the fish is opaque; an eight-ounce fillet will take about eight minutes. Cut the bag open, remove the fish and serve. - Seamus Mullen, Boqueria in NYC
Brown-Bagging Fish- Instead of roasting fish in a pan, cook it in a plain brown-paper lunch bag set on a baking sheet. Brush the bag liberally with olive oil and add a well-seasoned piece of fish along with slices of lemon and vegetables. Close the bag, place on the baking sheet and cook at 375 until the fish is opaque; an eight-ounce fillet will take about eight minutes. Cut the bag open, remove the fish and serve. - Seamus Mullen, Boqueria in NYC
Food and Wine
Obviously you can see from the title of the article this has little to do with feeding your kids. However, it has everything to do with mommy's mental health if you know what I mean.
It is no secret that I am trying to get some baby weight off since have my ten and a half pound son six months ago. He was big. I got big. It is also no secret that I love beer. I don't mean a frat boy kind of love. I mean I really, really enjoy it. That being said, we all know it isn't diet-friendly especially in the problem area that follows two ten-pound children (my stomach). So in my quest to make better choices I have started to really try and develop a pallet and love for wine. I think it actually might be an acquired taste. The other reason for my pursuit of passion for wine is my husband's blood pressure. He has high blood pressure that is hereditary, it has nothing to do with stress or his diet or what kind of shape he's in. If you saw him, you'd know I'm not foolin' around. He's hot (i.e. he eats great and is in shape). Anyway, upon talking to my physician (who happens to be my husband's physician as well) about Brian's blood pressure and things we could be doing differently at home or I could be incorporating into our diets that aid lowering blood pressure, red wine and dark chocolate came up. My doc said that the research backing red wine and it's benefits for the heart and blood pressure is no joke. It is legitimate. As is all the hoop-la surrounding dark chocolate (the REAL stuff, not Hershey's) and the beneficiary, antioxidant punch it has.
Enter my new found love for Pinot Noir. Pinot is the highest antioxidant red wine (or wine period for that matter) that there is. I even made a point to drink it pregnant, obviously in very, very small quantities as research came out stating that red wine during pregnancy (again very low amounts) might benefit the fetus in later IQ studies. I have absolutely no idea if this has been confirmed but I was on board for selfish reasons. Now it is a staple in my home and I have my husband enjoying a glass a night and popping a handful of dark chocolate for dessert after dinner. It's something we look forward to as we try to unwind at the end of the day and according to my doc, it has legitimate health benefits.
Now on the point of my article. Recently I was reading Food and Wine magazine, the October 2009 issue, and came across an article that I found to be most interesting and so worth passing on to my fellow cutie patootie foodies. I think you all, wine people or not, will find it has a place in your kitchen when entertaining especially. It is regarding wine and food pairing. I was so glad to have come across this particularly right before the holidays since I was put in charge of wine for Thanksgiving. "No problem!" I said.
Champagne- Perfect with anything salty. Most dry sparkling wines, such as brut Champagne and Spanish cava, actually have a faint touch of sweetness. That makes them extra-refreshing when served with salty foods.
Sauvignon Blanc- Goes with tart dressing and sauces. Tangy foods won't overwhelm zippy wines like Sauvignon Blanc.
Pinot Grigio- Pairs with light fish dishes. Light seafood dishes seem to take on more flavor when matched with equally delicate white wines such as PG.
Chardonnay- For fatty fish or fish in a rich sauce. Silky wines- for instance, Chardonnays from California, Chile or Australia- are delicious with fish like salmon or any kind of seafood in a lush sauce.
Riesling- Pair nice with sweet and spicy dishes. The slight sweetness of many Rieslings helps tame the heat of spicy Asian and Indian dishes.
Rose Champagne- Is great with dinner not just hors d'oeuvres. Rose sparkling wines, such as rose Champagne, cava and sparkling wine from California, have the depth of flavor and richness to go with a wide range of main courses.
Dry Rose- Great with cheesy dishes. Some cheese go better with white wine, some with red; yet almost all pair well with dry rose, which has the acidity of white wine and the fruit character of red.
Pinot Noir- Great for dishes with earthy flavors. Recipes made with ingredients like mushrooms and truffles taste great with reds like PN which are light-bodied but full of savory depth.
Malbec- Won't be overshadowed by sweet-spicy barbecue sauces. Malbecs and Shiraz are big and bold enough to drink with food brushed with heavily spiced barbecue sauces.
Zinfandel- For pates, mousses and terrines. If you can use the same adjectives to describe a wine and a dish, the pairing will often work. For instance, the words rustic and rich describe Zinfandel as well as chicken-live mousse.
Cabernet Sauvignon- Fabulous with juicy red meat. California Cabernet, Bordeaux and Bordeaux-style blends are terrific with steaks or chops: Their firm tannins refresh the palate after each bite of meat.
Syrah- Match highly spiced dishes. When a meat is heavily seasoned, look for a red wine with lots of spicy notes.
* The above is taken from Food and Wine magazine, October 2009.
It is no secret that I am trying to get some baby weight off since have my ten and a half pound son six months ago. He was big. I got big. It is also no secret that I love beer. I don't mean a frat boy kind of love. I mean I really, really enjoy it. That being said, we all know it isn't diet-friendly especially in the problem area that follows two ten-pound children (my stomach). So in my quest to make better choices I have started to really try and develop a pallet and love for wine. I think it actually might be an acquired taste. The other reason for my pursuit of passion for wine is my husband's blood pressure. He has high blood pressure that is hereditary, it has nothing to do with stress or his diet or what kind of shape he's in. If you saw him, you'd know I'm not foolin' around. He's hot (i.e. he eats great and is in shape). Anyway, upon talking to my physician (who happens to be my husband's physician as well) about Brian's blood pressure and things we could be doing differently at home or I could be incorporating into our diets that aid lowering blood pressure, red wine and dark chocolate came up. My doc said that the research backing red wine and it's benefits for the heart and blood pressure is no joke. It is legitimate. As is all the hoop-la surrounding dark chocolate (the REAL stuff, not Hershey's) and the beneficiary, antioxidant punch it has.
Enter my new found love for Pinot Noir. Pinot is the highest antioxidant red wine (or wine period for that matter) that there is. I even made a point to drink it pregnant, obviously in very, very small quantities as research came out stating that red wine during pregnancy (again very low amounts) might benefit the fetus in later IQ studies. I have absolutely no idea if this has been confirmed but I was on board for selfish reasons. Now it is a staple in my home and I have my husband enjoying a glass a night and popping a handful of dark chocolate for dessert after dinner. It's something we look forward to as we try to unwind at the end of the day and according to my doc, it has legitimate health benefits.
Now on the point of my article. Recently I was reading Food and Wine magazine, the October 2009 issue, and came across an article that I found to be most interesting and so worth passing on to my fellow cutie patootie foodies. I think you all, wine people or not, will find it has a place in your kitchen when entertaining especially. It is regarding wine and food pairing. I was so glad to have come across this particularly right before the holidays since I was put in charge of wine for Thanksgiving. "No problem!" I said.
Champagne- Perfect with anything salty. Most dry sparkling wines, such as brut Champagne and Spanish cava, actually have a faint touch of sweetness. That makes them extra-refreshing when served with salty foods.
Sauvignon Blanc- Goes with tart dressing and sauces. Tangy foods won't overwhelm zippy wines like Sauvignon Blanc.
Pinot Grigio- Pairs with light fish dishes. Light seafood dishes seem to take on more flavor when matched with equally delicate white wines such as PG.
Chardonnay- For fatty fish or fish in a rich sauce. Silky wines- for instance, Chardonnays from California, Chile or Australia- are delicious with fish like salmon or any kind of seafood in a lush sauce.
Riesling- Pair nice with sweet and spicy dishes. The slight sweetness of many Rieslings helps tame the heat of spicy Asian and Indian dishes.
Rose Champagne- Is great with dinner not just hors d'oeuvres. Rose sparkling wines, such as rose Champagne, cava and sparkling wine from California, have the depth of flavor and richness to go with a wide range of main courses.
Dry Rose- Great with cheesy dishes. Some cheese go better with white wine, some with red; yet almost all pair well with dry rose, which has the acidity of white wine and the fruit character of red.
Pinot Noir- Great for dishes with earthy flavors. Recipes made with ingredients like mushrooms and truffles taste great with reds like PN which are light-bodied but full of savory depth.
Malbec- Won't be overshadowed by sweet-spicy barbecue sauces. Malbecs and Shiraz are big and bold enough to drink with food brushed with heavily spiced barbecue sauces.
Zinfandel- For pates, mousses and terrines. If you can use the same adjectives to describe a wine and a dish, the pairing will often work. For instance, the words rustic and rich describe Zinfandel as well as chicken-live mousse.
Cabernet Sauvignon- Fabulous with juicy red meat. California Cabernet, Bordeaux and Bordeaux-style blends are terrific with steaks or chops: Their firm tannins refresh the palate after each bite of meat.
Syrah- Match highly spiced dishes. When a meat is heavily seasoned, look for a red wine with lots of spicy notes.
* The above is taken from Food and Wine magazine, October 2009.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Meal-planning advice...it requires the couch, your jammies and a glass of wine...interested?
Below is an email I got from a girlfriend today. And following is my answer to her question. I hope my advice on meal planning (or at least making the time to do it) will inspire and help some of you!
"Ok so my question is - how in the world do you find the time to do all these things from scratch? How do you organize your weeks - do you plan your meals ahead of time? I think maybe I need some time management advice :) Anyways i would seriously LOVE to hear any advice on how you organize yourself to be so efficient with your meal planning/cooking!Thanks and hope you are doing well! -K"
HA! Don't be too impressed! My BIGGEST struggle is good time-management. I don't feel like I "use my time wisely" at all!
As far as meal-planning goes, it is a Sunday thing for me. I plan for the week, do my grocery shopping, sporadically do a few batches of homemade baby food. Sunday is the day. However, I don't make a bunch of overly complicated things. Fish is a 20-minute meal. A couple of chicken breasts or fillets on the George Forman take such little time, I don't even start until Brian walks in the door. I'm also into making things and freezing them. The pumpkin muffins I posted? Still have them in the freezer. Plus, my oldest loves to help me cook so I make it something she and I can do together. She is so, so very proud of "her" pumpkin muffins. It is also a good time to teach them about temperature, dissolving, measuring, etc. Good, intentional learning time. Plus, it is VERY, VERY important to me that my girls know how to cook. And honestly, it's important to me for my son to know, some-what, how to cook as well. So as he gets older, he'll be helping me too. I also plan on, when the kids are able, to make them plan one meal a week. They have to shop for it, make it and the rest of the family has to clean-up. Good life skills lesson there. Plus a good way to teach them to budget, etc. I can't wait for this day to come. I really just want them to learn to put meals together in a healthy way that is enjoyable as well! If my kids don't feed their kids like I do, I'll feel like a failure! Anyway, I digress, back to your original question. Here's kind of how it goes down for me...
My husband is kind of a baby. He likes me right by his side after the kids are down (he gets this from his grandfather). So when he's watching all his ridiculous shows I could care less about, I sit there "cuddling" and peruse my cookbooks or my recipe box for ideas and I make my grocery list. Even if I don't do the exact recipe, I'll use them to "piggy-back" off of and do my own thing, usually a much easier, low-maintenance version! Honestly, meal-planning and grocery list-making can be seen as a little relaxing down-time! It MAKES me sit still. And it makes me sit there with hubby. A lot of times with a glass of wine or a cup of organic "nighty night" tea. I'll wash my face and get my jammies on and sink down into the couch with my cookbooks, recipe box, spiral and pen and go to town.
I also have a calendar on my fridge that has each day of the week where I write-out what we're eating that night. Some days it notes that my husband will be out of town. Other nights it says soccer or swimming which means we'll pick something up. Other nights, I have meetings and I have to think of something easy for the rest of the fam. But this helps me glance up at the fridge each week and see what's going on.
Back to the freezer. A deep freeze was the best investment my husband and I ever made. If a recipe doubles well or makes a ton and I can get two or three meals of it, score. But if I make muffins or cookies that are healthy, I freeze them and keep them on hand for quick breakfasts and after-school or lunch box treats. Throw them in frozen! That's the best way anyway! They'll be perfect (and fresh) just in time for your kids' lunch hour.
I think there are ALWAYS things to have on-hand that no matter what you can throw an easy, healthy meal together. For me, those things are frozen vegetables, organic spaghetti sauce, a great pasta like Barilla's PLUS pasta and natural hamburger meat that is frozen but you can lay-out that morning. If you forget to lay-out the meat, big deal. Just have a veggie pasta. I know that if I'm low on groceries, I will always be able to throw together a veggie pasta that my kids will eat. And shredded mozzarella freezes (and thaws) great too. I find this to be a great emergency meal. Also great to have on hand, different fish fillets in which the cooking instructions say NOT TO THAW it. You cook it frozen- usually in under 20 minutes. Coat that sucker in olive or coconut oil and roll it in some bread crumbs or crushed nuts and your set! With a generous amount of seasonings of course! Wild grain rice is always a great staple too. Get out the frozen broccoli florets and some cheese and fruit and you've got a perfect meal! It doesn't have to be complicated and the freezer is your friend.
And don't be afraid to get creative with dessert. If my kids eat a great meal of a lean protein and veggies, I have no problem getting out ice cream or frozen yogurt as their dairy for that meal and putting chopped mango, strawberries, blueberries and other fruits on it. I also put the real, organic, dark chocolate chips on sometimes. Don't underestimate it's antioxidant punch. And nuts too. I think dessert is sometimes a great way to get some other things in their diet! My kids LOVE angel food cake with some Reddi Whip and just covered in berries. My next thing is going to be a "brownie sundae" made with the VitaTop's double chocolate muffin top!
So, in conclusion, get creative with your planning for the week and start viewing it as "down time" instead of a chore. Anything that MAKES you sit is a good thing! Start looking at it differently and you'll start actually looking forward to it!
"Ok so my question is - how in the world do you find the time to do all these things from scratch? How do you organize your weeks - do you plan your meals ahead of time? I think maybe I need some time management advice :) Anyways i would seriously LOVE to hear any advice on how you organize yourself to be so efficient with your meal planning/cooking!Thanks and hope you are doing well! -K"
HA! Don't be too impressed! My BIGGEST struggle is good time-management. I don't feel like I "use my time wisely" at all!
As far as meal-planning goes, it is a Sunday thing for me. I plan for the week, do my grocery shopping, sporadically do a few batches of homemade baby food. Sunday is the day. However, I don't make a bunch of overly complicated things. Fish is a 20-minute meal. A couple of chicken breasts or fillets on the George Forman take such little time, I don't even start until Brian walks in the door. I'm also into making things and freezing them. The pumpkin muffins I posted? Still have them in the freezer. Plus, my oldest loves to help me cook so I make it something she and I can do together. She is so, so very proud of "her" pumpkin muffins. It is also a good time to teach them about temperature, dissolving, measuring, etc. Good, intentional learning time. Plus, it is VERY, VERY important to me that my girls know how to cook. And honestly, it's important to me for my son to know, some-what, how to cook as well. So as he gets older, he'll be helping me too. I also plan on, when the kids are able, to make them plan one meal a week. They have to shop for it, make it and the rest of the family has to clean-up. Good life skills lesson there. Plus a good way to teach them to budget, etc. I can't wait for this day to come. I really just want them to learn to put meals together in a healthy way that is enjoyable as well! If my kids don't feed their kids like I do, I'll feel like a failure! Anyway, I digress, back to your original question. Here's kind of how it goes down for me...
My husband is kind of a baby. He likes me right by his side after the kids are down (he gets this from his grandfather). So when he's watching all his ridiculous shows I could care less about, I sit there "cuddling" and peruse my cookbooks or my recipe box for ideas and I make my grocery list. Even if I don't do the exact recipe, I'll use them to "piggy-back" off of and do my own thing, usually a much easier, low-maintenance version! Honestly, meal-planning and grocery list-making can be seen as a little relaxing down-time! It MAKES me sit still. And it makes me sit there with hubby. A lot of times with a glass of wine or a cup of organic "nighty night" tea. I'll wash my face and get my jammies on and sink down into the couch with my cookbooks, recipe box, spiral and pen and go to town.
I also have a calendar on my fridge that has each day of the week where I write-out what we're eating that night. Some days it notes that my husband will be out of town. Other nights it says soccer or swimming which means we'll pick something up. Other nights, I have meetings and I have to think of something easy for the rest of the fam. But this helps me glance up at the fridge each week and see what's going on.
Back to the freezer. A deep freeze was the best investment my husband and I ever made. If a recipe doubles well or makes a ton and I can get two or three meals of it, score. But if I make muffins or cookies that are healthy, I freeze them and keep them on hand for quick breakfasts and after-school or lunch box treats. Throw them in frozen! That's the best way anyway! They'll be perfect (and fresh) just in time for your kids' lunch hour.
I think there are ALWAYS things to have on-hand that no matter what you can throw an easy, healthy meal together. For me, those things are frozen vegetables, organic spaghetti sauce, a great pasta like Barilla's PLUS pasta and natural hamburger meat that is frozen but you can lay-out that morning. If you forget to lay-out the meat, big deal. Just have a veggie pasta. I know that if I'm low on groceries, I will always be able to throw together a veggie pasta that my kids will eat. And shredded mozzarella freezes (and thaws) great too. I find this to be a great emergency meal. Also great to have on hand, different fish fillets in which the cooking instructions say NOT TO THAW it. You cook it frozen- usually in under 20 minutes. Coat that sucker in olive or coconut oil and roll it in some bread crumbs or crushed nuts and your set! With a generous amount of seasonings of course! Wild grain rice is always a great staple too. Get out the frozen broccoli florets and some cheese and fruit and you've got a perfect meal! It doesn't have to be complicated and the freezer is your friend.
And don't be afraid to get creative with dessert. If my kids eat a great meal of a lean protein and veggies, I have no problem getting out ice cream or frozen yogurt as their dairy for that meal and putting chopped mango, strawberries, blueberries and other fruits on it. I also put the real, organic, dark chocolate chips on sometimes. Don't underestimate it's antioxidant punch. And nuts too. I think dessert is sometimes a great way to get some other things in their diet! My kids LOVE angel food cake with some Reddi Whip and just covered in berries. My next thing is going to be a "brownie sundae" made with the VitaTop's double chocolate muffin top!
So, in conclusion, get creative with your planning for the week and start viewing it as "down time" instead of a chore. Anything that MAKES you sit is a good thing! Start looking at it differently and you'll start actually looking forward to it!
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
"I am only human"...(humorous confession)....
So my husband and I went to a basketball game last night. Yes, it was date night and I'm the cool wife that will accompany my hubby to sporting events. Anyway, we're sitting in the stands noshing away on concession stand hot dogs, nachos covered in jalapenos and Cokes. Oh, and popcorn. So as I'm mid-bite on my hot dog, I think of you all! I think of my blog! I lean over to my husband, ball-park cheese running down my chin, and say, "If only my bloggees could see me now!" Anyway, I thought it was funny the conviction I felt and needed to repent to my cyber-space friends. This particular meal, the one listed above, it pretty much EVERYTHING I stand against. I would never, ever feed that madness to my kids. However, date night is date night and that's that! And don't think I didn't wash all that down with a beer afterwards. So though I may blog my face off about feeding your kids good, I myself fall into the grips of overly processed, by-product food. I'm only human after all.....wink.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Food for Thought- Mothers, Daughters and Body Image
Below is an email I just received from a good friend of mine. Having two daughters and currently obsessed with losing my baby weight, it somewhat jolted me back to reality and I will be far more careful about comments I make about my own quest to fit into normal jeans again...
“The essence of our findings are that while there are many factors that help determine how a girl feels about herself when she looks in the mirror - everything from the media to peer pressure to perfect body messages - there is one indisputable fact: mothers matter the most to a daughter's developing sense of her body and herself. A mother needs to take a good look at herself and her own ideas about body image because, as her daughter's primary female role model, everything she says and does is absorbed into her daughter's female DNA. Even if she has a different body type, if she's adopted or her parents are of different races, her mother is the main influence on her ability to develop a positive connection to her body. A mother needs to realize that when she is worrying about her three-year-old's chubby thighs, her daughter is hearing her and in ten short years those thighs will become her daughter's her main obsession."
This is from a book I have, “You Have to Say I'm Pretty, You're My Mother" by Stephanie Pierson and Phyllis Cohen.
Here is a link to an article they wrote that may be of interest to you: http://www.feminist.com/resources/artspeech/body/youhaveto.html
Love, K
“The essence of our findings are that while there are many factors that help determine how a girl feels about herself when she looks in the mirror - everything from the media to peer pressure to perfect body messages - there is one indisputable fact: mothers matter the most to a daughter's developing sense of her body and herself. A mother needs to take a good look at herself and her own ideas about body image because, as her daughter's primary female role model, everything she says and does is absorbed into her daughter's female DNA. Even if she has a different body type, if she's adopted or her parents are of different races, her mother is the main influence on her ability to develop a positive connection to her body. A mother needs to realize that when she is worrying about her three-year-old's chubby thighs, her daughter is hearing her and in ten short years those thighs will become her daughter's her main obsession."
This is from a book I have, “You Have to Say I'm Pretty, You're My Mother" by Stephanie Pierson and Phyllis Cohen.
Here is a link to an article they wrote that may be of interest to you: http://www.feminist.com/resources/artspeech/body/youhaveto.html
Love, K
My Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal
This oatmeal is a regular occurence at my house. My kids (and my husband) love it and I feel great about the breakfast they just had!
You need:
oatmeal (Quaker works just fine but try and find "steel cut")
coconut oil (which you should have in the pantry anyway)
ground flax seed (which you should have in the pantry anyway)
whole grain blend (which you should have in the pantry anyway)
cinnamon
raw sugar (the brown stuff)
brown sugar
1 apple, peeled and chopped finely (my kids prefer either a fugi or a pink lady but it doesn't matter)
finely chopped walnut (or any nut or an assortment of nuts- but finely chopped or ground)
*black walnuts have the most potent nutritional punch
* some times I throw wheat germ in
Make the oatmeal using directions on package. But right before you add the oatmeal, after a mild simmer/boil, add about a tablespoon of coconut oil, two tablespoons of raw sugar, one tablespoon of brown sugar. Stir quickly then add oats. Stir again. Add chopped apple, one tablespoon of ground flax, one tablespoon of whole grain blend and the nuts. And the wheat germ if you're using it. Add a couple of dashes of cinnamon. Stir. Let simmer mildly for a couple of minutes but don't let it get too mushy. I spoon into bowls and pour just a little heavy cream, half and half or milk on top. Feel free to sprinkle the top with more cinnamon!
The above amounts are really "to taste." I don't even measure. I'm just trying to give you an idea of ABOUT how much I put in! I make it to two servings on the oatmeal package. It makes two good-size bowls.
You noticed I put "should have in your pantry anyway" next to some of the above ingredients! I'm pretty serious about certain things you need to have on hand to "sneak" into recipes. The above items are just a few of them. GET 'EM! Trust me!
This is a quick, hearty and super-healthy breakfast! Enjoy!
You need:
oatmeal (Quaker works just fine but try and find "steel cut")
coconut oil (which you should have in the pantry anyway)
ground flax seed (which you should have in the pantry anyway)
whole grain blend (which you should have in the pantry anyway)
cinnamon
raw sugar (the brown stuff)
brown sugar
1 apple, peeled and chopped finely (my kids prefer either a fugi or a pink lady but it doesn't matter)
finely chopped walnut (or any nut or an assortment of nuts- but finely chopped or ground)
*black walnuts have the most potent nutritional punch
* some times I throw wheat germ in
Make the oatmeal using directions on package. But right before you add the oatmeal, after a mild simmer/boil, add about a tablespoon of coconut oil, two tablespoons of raw sugar, one tablespoon of brown sugar. Stir quickly then add oats. Stir again. Add chopped apple, one tablespoon of ground flax, one tablespoon of whole grain blend and the nuts. And the wheat germ if you're using it. Add a couple of dashes of cinnamon. Stir. Let simmer mildly for a couple of minutes but don't let it get too mushy. I spoon into bowls and pour just a little heavy cream, half and half or milk on top. Feel free to sprinkle the top with more cinnamon!
The above amounts are really "to taste." I don't even measure. I'm just trying to give you an idea of ABOUT how much I put in! I make it to two servings on the oatmeal package. It makes two good-size bowls.
You noticed I put "should have in your pantry anyway" next to some of the above ingredients! I'm pretty serious about certain things you need to have on hand to "sneak" into recipes. The above items are just a few of them. GET 'EM! Trust me!
This is a quick, hearty and super-healthy breakfast! Enjoy!
Milk...Does a body good?
I am not anti-milk at all. I grew-up clearing a gallon of Vitamin D milk a week with my Dad. I love milk. My kids love milk. You just have to understand it's place in your diet and your kids' diets. I'll simplify: Milk should be viewed as a meal, not a form of hydration or a form of dairy with a meal. Ideally, milk is the perfect snack. It's filling, it's full of vitamins and minerals and it does have it's health benefits.
However, know milk's affect on your body. It increases mucus production. It blocks iron absorption and other vital vitamins and minerals. It has been said to cause mild inflammation all throughout your body. It causes constipation. It is NOT hydrating.
Several years ago I congered up the courage to approach one of my good girlfriends to tell her that her son had an iron deficiency. She was stunned at my observation, not offended but just a little thrown off. She asked me how I knew. "I can tell by looking at him." That in addition to me knowing how much milk he drank a day. His skin was also very, very pale and pasty which is the first visible sign of an iron deficiency. I also told her that he was most certainly dehydrated since all he ever drank was milk. I then went on to explain to her that an iron deficiency causes stunting of growth and possibly speeds-up the lingering development of learning disabilities. Sure enough, after an appointment with their pediatrician, she called me in awe that I was right. He not only had an iron deficiency and had to get on iron supplements, but he was severely dehydrated.
For those of you that have the Caring for Your Child book from the American Pediatric Board, you will notice that they are not only very specific about the ounces your child should get, but in a sample diet for a two-year-old it has the two servings of milk as snacks- a morning snack and an afternoon snack. Though they do NOT do a good job of explaining why this is. I am convinced that though the American Pediatric Board is very well versed in how milk is completely over-rated in our children's diets, they won't come out and say it because of what that would do the economy. But that's just my own little conspiracy theory...
Research shows that "milk kids" tend to be "lower" on the growth curve. Is their a correlation? YES. If your kid isn't growing properly and you have any sort of a decent pediatrician, the first question they will ask you is how much milk your kid drinks a day. But sometimes, they don't ask until it's too late...
I also believe with every fiber of my being that the reason young ladies are going through puberty faster now is because they are not only fed improperly (growth hormones and other chemicals in our food) but they are given milk that is not organic. If you are going to spring for one organic item in your home, IT NEEDS TO BE MILK. And then meat but first milk!
Also, many of you were probably told not to take your pre-natal vitamin with milk. Or it might have even been specified on our pre-natal vitamin if they were prescription. The reason? Same explanation as above, it blocks nutrient absorption in the intestines especially iron. And there is a reason they test pregnant women for iron deficiencies (which I've had two of my three pregnancies though both of these kids were 10 pounds or more). I don't give my kids their multi-vitamin on cereal mornings. I wait until lunch or even dinner. Giving it with milk would be null and void. You should not take ANY vitamin with milk. I don't even give my kids any medications within a two-hour window of milk because I am not a "medicine mommy" and so if I do choose to give my kids meds, then there is a reason and I am not going to have it's absorption compromised!
The other night I made this fabulous baked penne pasta with meat sauce. It was incredible. My kids asked for milk with their dinner. NOPE, sorry. Why? Because I will not under any circumstance serve milk with red meat. We don't eat a lot of red meat in my house so when we do I want every single tiny bit of iron to be absorbed and serving red meat with milk is just out of the question. Now do I serve milk with cookies? Sure. Do I serve milk with cake or brownies? Sure. Because what the heck is in those items where I care if anything is blocked? NOTTA.
And I think it important to understand milk's role when it comes to congestion. Several weeks ago I had to once again mention to one of my girlfriends that the reason her kids' noses wouldn't ever dry-up and were constantly running was because she wasn't cutting-back on their milk intake. MILK CAUSES MUCUS PRODUCTION. If your kids are congested and you're giving them milk, guess what? Your just making it worse. And to give milk to a congested kid right before nap or bedtime? Well of course it's going to make their cough worse! You've got to give their bodies a chance to dry-up. Milk is not going to help aid this process. If you have an allergy kid, cut back on the milk or at least be more discerning about when you give it to them.
Research has been done on whether or not milk exacerbates ear infections, again looking at mucus production and then the fluid on the ears. Especially if milk is given right before bedtime and then your child lays flat and the fluid pools in their ears. This made so much sense to me that for my second child, who did have to get tubes, I completely altered her milk diet. I will do the same for my third.
And any dentist will tell you that they see a lot of cavities in "milk kids" because people don't realize the amount of sugar in milk. Kids have it right before bed or even worse, take it to bed with them, and then the sugar sits on their teeth all night. My dentist said you should brush no matter their age if you give milk at bed time or at the very least rinse their mouth with water after their bedtime milk.
In 1992 I broke my femur and my tibia literally in half snow skiing. I still to this day am convinced that the reason they healed so quickly was due to the amount of milk I consumed prior to my break. I wasn't, however, able to drink milk after my break because I became anemic because of blood loss and was put on iron supplements. It had one of those red stickers on the iron supplement bottle stating I couldn't drink milk with them. I didn't understand until years later why I wasn't able to drink milk while taking the iron. Now I know!
For those of you that are a little skeptical about all of the above statements, go drink a glass of milk and then tell me what your throat feels like and how many times you have to clear your throat. You know that nice, mucus-y feeling you've got? Same thing is going on in your stomach and your intestines.
I'm going to laugh when I get sued like Oprah...
However, know milk's affect on your body. It increases mucus production. It blocks iron absorption and other vital vitamins and minerals. It has been said to cause mild inflammation all throughout your body. It causes constipation. It is NOT hydrating.
Several years ago I congered up the courage to approach one of my good girlfriends to tell her that her son had an iron deficiency. She was stunned at my observation, not offended but just a little thrown off. She asked me how I knew. "I can tell by looking at him." That in addition to me knowing how much milk he drank a day. His skin was also very, very pale and pasty which is the first visible sign of an iron deficiency. I also told her that he was most certainly dehydrated since all he ever drank was milk. I then went on to explain to her that an iron deficiency causes stunting of growth and possibly speeds-up the lingering development of learning disabilities. Sure enough, after an appointment with their pediatrician, she called me in awe that I was right. He not only had an iron deficiency and had to get on iron supplements, but he was severely dehydrated.
For those of you that have the Caring for Your Child book from the American Pediatric Board, you will notice that they are not only very specific about the ounces your child should get, but in a sample diet for a two-year-old it has the two servings of milk as snacks- a morning snack and an afternoon snack. Though they do NOT do a good job of explaining why this is. I am convinced that though the American Pediatric Board is very well versed in how milk is completely over-rated in our children's diets, they won't come out and say it because of what that would do the economy. But that's just my own little conspiracy theory...
Research shows that "milk kids" tend to be "lower" on the growth curve. Is their a correlation? YES. If your kid isn't growing properly and you have any sort of a decent pediatrician, the first question they will ask you is how much milk your kid drinks a day. But sometimes, they don't ask until it's too late...
I also believe with every fiber of my being that the reason young ladies are going through puberty faster now is because they are not only fed improperly (growth hormones and other chemicals in our food) but they are given milk that is not organic. If you are going to spring for one organic item in your home, IT NEEDS TO BE MILK. And then meat but first milk!
Also, many of you were probably told not to take your pre-natal vitamin with milk. Or it might have even been specified on our pre-natal vitamin if they were prescription. The reason? Same explanation as above, it blocks nutrient absorption in the intestines especially iron. And there is a reason they test pregnant women for iron deficiencies (which I've had two of my three pregnancies though both of these kids were 10 pounds or more). I don't give my kids their multi-vitamin on cereal mornings. I wait until lunch or even dinner. Giving it with milk would be null and void. You should not take ANY vitamin with milk. I don't even give my kids any medications within a two-hour window of milk because I am not a "medicine mommy" and so if I do choose to give my kids meds, then there is a reason and I am not going to have it's absorption compromised!
The other night I made this fabulous baked penne pasta with meat sauce. It was incredible. My kids asked for milk with their dinner. NOPE, sorry. Why? Because I will not under any circumstance serve milk with red meat. We don't eat a lot of red meat in my house so when we do I want every single tiny bit of iron to be absorbed and serving red meat with milk is just out of the question. Now do I serve milk with cookies? Sure. Do I serve milk with cake or brownies? Sure. Because what the heck is in those items where I care if anything is blocked? NOTTA.
And I think it important to understand milk's role when it comes to congestion. Several weeks ago I had to once again mention to one of my girlfriends that the reason her kids' noses wouldn't ever dry-up and were constantly running was because she wasn't cutting-back on their milk intake. MILK CAUSES MUCUS PRODUCTION. If your kids are congested and you're giving them milk, guess what? Your just making it worse. And to give milk to a congested kid right before nap or bedtime? Well of course it's going to make their cough worse! You've got to give their bodies a chance to dry-up. Milk is not going to help aid this process. If you have an allergy kid, cut back on the milk or at least be more discerning about when you give it to them.
Research has been done on whether or not milk exacerbates ear infections, again looking at mucus production and then the fluid on the ears. Especially if milk is given right before bedtime and then your child lays flat and the fluid pools in their ears. This made so much sense to me that for my second child, who did have to get tubes, I completely altered her milk diet. I will do the same for my third.
And any dentist will tell you that they see a lot of cavities in "milk kids" because people don't realize the amount of sugar in milk. Kids have it right before bed or even worse, take it to bed with them, and then the sugar sits on their teeth all night. My dentist said you should brush no matter their age if you give milk at bed time or at the very least rinse their mouth with water after their bedtime milk.
In 1992 I broke my femur and my tibia literally in half snow skiing. I still to this day am convinced that the reason they healed so quickly was due to the amount of milk I consumed prior to my break. I wasn't, however, able to drink milk after my break because I became anemic because of blood loss and was put on iron supplements. It had one of those red stickers on the iron supplement bottle stating I couldn't drink milk with them. I didn't understand until years later why I wasn't able to drink milk while taking the iron. Now I know!
For those of you that are a little skeptical about all of the above statements, go drink a glass of milk and then tell me what your throat feels like and how many times you have to clear your throat. You know that nice, mucus-y feeling you've got? Same thing is going on in your stomach and your intestines.
I'm going to laugh when I get sued like Oprah...
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
A Seasonal Suggestion...
I'm a huge fan of Ovaltine. I mean regardless of how you feel about it you have to admit it is a heck of a lot better than Swiss Miss or whatever that stuff is. The earlier you introduce Ovaltine the better. I luckily stumbled across it early so as far as my kids are concerned, it tastes great because they don't know otherwise. If they want chocolate milk for a snack, great! As they get older, they will probably look back and realize Mom was always a quick "yes" when chocolate milk was requested. I don't mind Ovaltine and if you take a minute to look at it's label, you'll see why.
http://www.ovaltineusa.com/HealthAndNutrition.aspx
As far as my seasonal suggestion goes, forget hot chocolate the traditional way. Do Ovaltine instead. That way, at least they are getting milk AND the vitamin/nutrient-rich/low-sugar/80-calorie chocolate powder instead of just water and fake chocolate and sugar with zero benefit. Ovaltine has directions for a "hot drink" as well as cold. Follow the hot directions and then throw some Reddi Whip and some chocolate sprinkles on top. You as the Mom will feel good about your child's hot chocolate this winter! Ahhhh...a guilt-free holiday season!
http://www.ovaltineusa.com/HealthAndNutrition.aspx
As far as my seasonal suggestion goes, forget hot chocolate the traditional way. Do Ovaltine instead. That way, at least they are getting milk AND the vitamin/nutrient-rich/low-sugar/80-calorie chocolate powder instead of just water and fake chocolate and sugar with zero benefit. Ovaltine has directions for a "hot drink" as well as cold. Follow the hot directions and then throw some Reddi Whip and some chocolate sprinkles on top. You as the Mom will feel good about your child's hot chocolate this winter! Ahhhh...a guilt-free holiday season!
Juicing 101 (including some breakfast tips)
I have recently become a huge fan of juicing. My one regret in life? Not having a juicer during all three of my pregnancies. But it's never too late!
Several months ago, I went over to a girlfriend's house. This particular girlfriend was in the hellish midst of trying to get some post-baby weight off. I'm in that reality as we speak- BOO. Anyway, after telling her how great she looked, she told me she only had 10 more pounds to go to meet her goal. Pounds? I wasn't talking about weight! I was talking about her hair! Her skin! Her nails! She looked fabulous. "What are you doing?" I demanded. Juicing. Juicing everyday. I think I had a juicer in my possession within 48 hours...
First off, and I get asked this all the time, I do not endorse one particular juicer. I have mine, a Jack LaLanne, and I do love it. How does it stack-up to other juicers? I have no idea. Would one of the big-daddy stainless steel ones look so much more posh on my kitchen cabinet? Sure. But I spent $80 (with a coupon) at Bed Bath and Beyond and I was happy! I am still happy!
Secondly, get over the mess. What you are "creating" is so worth the stickiness that NO MATTER what will accumulate on your cabinets if not your floor as well. It is what it is.
This is a GREAT thing to do with your children. My oldest LOVES helping me dump all the fruit in the "tube" and then put the presser-thing down in it to mash the fruit into the machine. She loves making juice. I love the fact that when this kid goes off to college, one of the first things she'll want for a graduation gift will be a juicer. This is a HUGE part of my kids' lives now. And you know what? My kids won't drink the nasty bottled stuff anymore. Neither will I. It's almost a joke to me and you feel dishonest drinking it! Like it really isn't "feeding" your body.
Controversial comment: Your kids don't need juice. They don't need apple juice. They don't need orange juice. You know what the first question a pediatrician will ask if you take your overweight kid into the office? How much juice are they drinking? You know why? BECAUSE THAT EXTRA SUGAR PUTS ON THE POUNDS- NOT FAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Kids today are digesting far too much sugar. This is why the obesity rate in children is frightening. And parents think they're doing such a good thing by allowing their children endless amounts of juice. Gross. STOP NOW! If you're not making it, they don't need it. And don't even sit there and ask, "Well what about the vitamin C?" Please. There are 100 better ways to get vitamin c than juice. And if you're sitting here thinking, "Crap. I've gotta wean my kid off juice," start by diluting the heck out of it with water. And then cut it out completely. It has zero value. Almost as little value as milk....more on that one later.
Back to the juicer...every time I make juice I make Popsicles as well. You might as well. Because the juice needs to be consumed within 15 minutes of making it to preserve all the anti-oxidants and vitamins. Think of the juice as "live." But if you freeze it, you're still preserving it's nutrient content. And my kids think my Popsicles are the greatest thing ever. They think of it as a treat. I think of it as a fruit serving after a meal.
The other great thing about a juicer? It will save all the pulp in a container as it juices your fruits and vegetables. This is a great opportunity to freeze the pulp for muffin, cookie and pancake mixes! Every weekend almost I get out a bag of my frozen left-over pulp and plop the entire thing into the Fiber One muffin mixes. Then I add wheat germ and flax seed and tons of different nuts. And oats. Totally healthy, healthy breakfast (with some yogurt and a couple of poached eggs). You can put this pulp in your Popsicles too. Or make sorbet out of it as well (see recipe below).
For those of you with infants that your starting on the Baby Food Introduction chart, juicing can actually make life a little easier for you as well! I save some of the pulp to mix in with different baby food blends. Then your infant gets a whole assortment of goodness in one little cubey. I also put some of the juice in my little Snappies (breast milk storage containers- see below) for the freezer and I have frozen all kinds of juice blends for Walker when he's a little older. The Snappies hold only about 2 oz. each which is perfect since I will dilute with water for him when he's ready. He won't need anymore than 2 oz. of juice a day given his hearty solids program of fruits and veggies.
Also, just a side-note about juice and cereal for breakfast. Vitamin C aids iron absorption. Milk blocks iron absorption. Drinking a small glass of juice (even if it's the bottled junk) will help the intestines absorb the iron that is in (or ON I should say) fortified cereals. It doesn't even have to be juice, per say, but any high vitamin C fruit. Vitamin C and iron are friends. Remember that. Milk and iron are not. Very, very important since many young American children today have iron deficiencies because they drink too much milk and they drink milk with meals (which is a no no). OK. I'm going off on my milk tangent. I'll save that for a completely different article.
Here is a typical breakfast schedule for my kiddos:
Several months ago, I went over to a girlfriend's house. This particular girlfriend was in the hellish midst of trying to get some post-baby weight off. I'm in that reality as we speak- BOO. Anyway, after telling her how great she looked, she told me she only had 10 more pounds to go to meet her goal. Pounds? I wasn't talking about weight! I was talking about her hair! Her skin! Her nails! She looked fabulous. "What are you doing?" I demanded. Juicing. Juicing everyday. I think I had a juicer in my possession within 48 hours...
First off, and I get asked this all the time, I do not endorse one particular juicer. I have mine, a Jack LaLanne, and I do love it. How does it stack-up to other juicers? I have no idea. Would one of the big-daddy stainless steel ones look so much more posh on my kitchen cabinet? Sure. But I spent $80 (with a coupon) at Bed Bath and Beyond and I was happy! I am still happy!
Secondly, get over the mess. What you are "creating" is so worth the stickiness that NO MATTER what will accumulate on your cabinets if not your floor as well. It is what it is.
This is a GREAT thing to do with your children. My oldest LOVES helping me dump all the fruit in the "tube" and then put the presser-thing down in it to mash the fruit into the machine. She loves making juice. I love the fact that when this kid goes off to college, one of the first things she'll want for a graduation gift will be a juicer. This is a HUGE part of my kids' lives now. And you know what? My kids won't drink the nasty bottled stuff anymore. Neither will I. It's almost a joke to me and you feel dishonest drinking it! Like it really isn't "feeding" your body.
Controversial comment: Your kids don't need juice. They don't need apple juice. They don't need orange juice. You know what the first question a pediatrician will ask if you take your overweight kid into the office? How much juice are they drinking? You know why? BECAUSE THAT EXTRA SUGAR PUTS ON THE POUNDS- NOT FAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Kids today are digesting far too much sugar. This is why the obesity rate in children is frightening. And parents think they're doing such a good thing by allowing their children endless amounts of juice. Gross. STOP NOW! If you're not making it, they don't need it. And don't even sit there and ask, "Well what about the vitamin C?" Please. There are 100 better ways to get vitamin c than juice. And if you're sitting here thinking, "Crap. I've gotta wean my kid off juice," start by diluting the heck out of it with water. And then cut it out completely. It has zero value. Almost as little value as milk....more on that one later.
Back to the juicer...every time I make juice I make Popsicles as well. You might as well. Because the juice needs to be consumed within 15 minutes of making it to preserve all the anti-oxidants and vitamins. Think of the juice as "live." But if you freeze it, you're still preserving it's nutrient content. And my kids think my Popsicles are the greatest thing ever. They think of it as a treat. I think of it as a fruit serving after a meal.
The other great thing about a juicer? It will save all the pulp in a container as it juices your fruits and vegetables. This is a great opportunity to freeze the pulp for muffin, cookie and pancake mixes! Every weekend almost I get out a bag of my frozen left-over pulp and plop the entire thing into the Fiber One muffin mixes. Then I add wheat germ and flax seed and tons of different nuts. And oats. Totally healthy, healthy breakfast (with some yogurt and a couple of poached eggs). You can put this pulp in your Popsicles too. Or make sorbet out of it as well (see recipe below).
For those of you with infants that your starting on the Baby Food Introduction chart, juicing can actually make life a little easier for you as well! I save some of the pulp to mix in with different baby food blends. Then your infant gets a whole assortment of goodness in one little cubey. I also put some of the juice in my little Snappies (breast milk storage containers- see below) for the freezer and I have frozen all kinds of juice blends for Walker when he's a little older. The Snappies hold only about 2 oz. each which is perfect since I will dilute with water for him when he's ready. He won't need anymore than 2 oz. of juice a day given his hearty solids program of fruits and veggies.
Also, just a side-note about juice and cereal for breakfast. Vitamin C aids iron absorption. Milk blocks iron absorption. Drinking a small glass of juice (even if it's the bottled junk) will help the intestines absorb the iron that is in (or ON I should say) fortified cereals. It doesn't even have to be juice, per say, but any high vitamin C fruit. Vitamin C and iron are friends. Remember that. Milk and iron are not. Very, very important since many young American children today have iron deficiencies because they drink too much milk and they drink milk with meals (which is a no no). OK. I'm going off on my milk tangent. I'll save that for a completely different article.
Here is a typical breakfast schedule for my kiddos:
Fresh juice and an organic mixture of different cereals (all low sugar, all multi-grain) with organic 2% milk
Organic oatmeal with wheat germ, ground flax seed and dried blueberries served with Yo Baby yogurt with a probiotic capsule (the powder) "snuck" into it
Some sort of muffin or pancake mix with the wheat germ, ground flax seed and left-over fruit/veggie puree from my juicing served with some poached eggs and a dairy item
A quick, on-the-road breakfast always makes it's way into our week at least one morning. This is usually a Vitatop Muffin with a "snack trap" of fruit for the road.
And then on weekends, I do like to bust-out with a yummy breakfast casserole that will make plenty for leftovers for say......throwing on a tortilla with cheese and salsa! I just got the most fantastic breakfast cookbook yesterday. I'll be sharing some recipes from it very, very soon!
Get crazy on weekends! Breakfast should be fun and something your kids can help you do. Make that part of your meal planning for the week- at least one weekend breakfast that is guest-worthy! And speaking of guests, there is nothing quite like some girlfriends over for mimosas with freshly-squeezed orange juice! Who cares about the mess? Trust me, a couple of these bad boys and they won't care!Monday, November 9, 2009
Soapbox 2- Parents Today Not Teaching Character
I have seen this trend since becoming a parent myself. Parents are not teaching character in the home anymore. They confuse manners with character qualities. "Please" and "thank you" does not constitute character-building. So many parents are worried about the academic nature of their children so early. Do they know their ABCs? Do they know their shapes? Their colors? Their numbers? A few words in Spanish? But it never crosses their mind to teach empathy, honesty, kindness, helpfulness, compassion, charity, selflessness, teamwork, respect, love, sincerity, trust, keeping your word, diligence, work ethic. Then, of course, parents are putting their children in as many activities as they can flooding their family schedules with "gotta be here this night" and "gotta be here this morning." Family time is out the window. Family dinner time is definitely out the window. And when you have these young children? Ludicrous. This time goes so fast. This lack of genuine family time, a substantial time to actually connect is hurting the very foundation that is going to make these little people GREAT people some day. And when they are older and involved in so many extra-curricular activities through school, have their own friends and social calendar and then start driving? Where is family time going to go then?
Then, not-to-mention the lack of spirituality in the home. Notice I did not say religion. Do families even pray together anymore? Pray for their country? Pray for their world they live in? Pray for the leaders of both? Pray for their teachers, their friends, their families? Isn't this a great way to teach your children to think outside of themselves? So many children today live in "child centered" homes where the marriage is on the back burner thus the ridiculous rise in divorce. These children are so used to the world revolving around them in every way that I only pity them as they get older. They will have no friends or no real relationships at least because they are too selfish. These are going to be hard-learned lessons for them. Lessons they will have to learn the hard way I suppose. But just a prayer a day with your children whether it be at dinner time or bedtime will allow them to think of other peoples' strife and tribulations in their lives instead of always looking into themselves.
If you want your children to have a profound place in the world they live in, a place where they feel it an obligation to give back to others and serve others, it has to start young and it has to start in the home.
And it has to start by having solid parental examples doing the same.
Then, not-to-mention the lack of spirituality in the home. Notice I did not say religion. Do families even pray together anymore? Pray for their country? Pray for their world they live in? Pray for the leaders of both? Pray for their teachers, their friends, their families? Isn't this a great way to teach your children to think outside of themselves? So many children today live in "child centered" homes where the marriage is on the back burner thus the ridiculous rise in divorce. These children are so used to the world revolving around them in every way that I only pity them as they get older. They will have no friends or no real relationships at least because they are too selfish. These are going to be hard-learned lessons for them. Lessons they will have to learn the hard way I suppose. But just a prayer a day with your children whether it be at dinner time or bedtime will allow them to think of other peoples' strife and tribulations in their lives instead of always looking into themselves.
If you want your children to have a profound place in the world they live in, a place where they feel it an obligation to give back to others and serve others, it has to start young and it has to start in the home.
And it has to start by having solid parental examples doing the same.
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Mommy Find- My Tot Clock
Below you will find an email I just received from a good friend of mine. Check it out!
Ok ladies ... A MIRACLE has been sent to me from the HEAVENS. We have been having a HORRIBLE time with Sam and bedtime/naptime lately. Daylight savings made it worse. She has been so sleep deprived from her bedtime antics that she can’t even function. The more tired she gets, the worse it got. I went searching for something to help our bedtime routine and I bought something called My Tot Clock. http://www.mytotclock.com/home.php
IT IS AMAZING!!!! THIS THING IS FREAKING AMAZING. First, you can set bedtime and wake time (also has a feature for nap time) - the clock glows blue when you need to be sleeping and glows yellow when it is okay to be awake/leave your room. It also has an “alarm clock” function for those of you that need to wake your kiddos up in the morning at a specific time. It will wake them playing lullabies. At bedtime, it also has these cartridge things that include a bedtime story, 5 minutes of music and then white noise (optional). We introduced it to her tonight and she was OUT LIKE A LIGHT by 7:00 – no fighting, no struggles. She was soooo excited to turn off the lights, get into her bed and listen to the story. She wouldn’t even let me read our normal bedtime books. It also has buttons for “encouragement time” so you can use it for potty training, etc...This is the coolest little device EVER!!!! What makes it cooler is it was invented by a McKinney mom which I didn’t know until I found the website. She thought of EVERYTHING.Even if you don’t have bedtime issues, this clock is pretty cool and would make a great christmas gift. Wanted to pass it along. Please PRAY that it keeps working! My poor girl needs her sleep! xoxo- Amie
Ok ladies ... A MIRACLE has been sent to me from the HEAVENS. We have been having a HORRIBLE time with Sam and bedtime/naptime lately. Daylight savings made it worse. She has been so sleep deprived from her bedtime antics that she can’t even function. The more tired she gets, the worse it got. I went searching for something to help our bedtime routine and I bought something called My Tot Clock. http://www.mytotclock.com/home.php
IT IS AMAZING!!!! THIS THING IS FREAKING AMAZING. First, you can set bedtime and wake time (also has a feature for nap time) - the clock glows blue when you need to be sleeping and glows yellow when it is okay to be awake/leave your room. It also has an “alarm clock” function for those of you that need to wake your kiddos up in the morning at a specific time. It will wake them playing lullabies. At bedtime, it also has these cartridge things that include a bedtime story, 5 minutes of music and then white noise (optional). We introduced it to her tonight and she was OUT LIKE A LIGHT by 7:00 – no fighting, no struggles. She was soooo excited to turn off the lights, get into her bed and listen to the story. She wouldn’t even let me read our normal bedtime books. It also has buttons for “encouragement time” so you can use it for potty training, etc...This is the coolest little device EVER!!!! What makes it cooler is it was invented by a McKinney mom which I didn’t know until I found the website. She thought of EVERYTHING.Even if you don’t have bedtime issues, this clock is pretty cool and would make a great christmas gift. Wanted to pass it along. Please PRAY that it keeps working! My poor girl needs her sleep! xoxo- Amie
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