Thursday, February 10, 2011
We have moved!
Monkey Butt Junction has moved to Word Press! Please click here to go to the new site, and be sure to update your bookmarks.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Raised by the Internet...and my heart.
This month's theme in the Carnival of Natural Parenting is "Parenting Essentials: I cannot imagine parenting without __________." For me, the answer was at my fingertips.
Everything I know about being a mom I learned from the Internet. Almost.
When I felt my very first pregnancy symptoms, I raced to Dr. Google. When it came time to prepare for baby's arrival, I consulted baby message boards. As I readied myself for Jack's birth, I packed my hospital bag while consulting a list I found on the web. After my son arrived, I consulted the Internet for every little sniffle and cry. I routinely checked out baby milestone guidelines to make sure that he was progressing on track. I will admit to typing the phrase "is green newborn poop normal?" into Google. More than once. (Although I won't own up to making any comparisons by using a Google image search). When 2010's rash of baby recalls hit - everything from strollers to cribs to teething tablets - I checked the 'net for the latest data on what products were safe and what was recalled. And if I needed a fast answer to something, a simple "Hey, parents, I have a question" post on Facebook brought all kinds of answers right to my inbox. And how else would I fall in with the crunchy, whole foods, cloth diapering, amber necklace wearing crowd that I love so dearly? God knows my real-life crew find that nuts, but my Internet tribe is right with me.
How on Earth did people manage to have children before the Internet? I can't imagine parenting without it, yet it wasn't long ago that everything I've described here would have been classified as fanciful science fiction.
The old phrase that "it takes a village to raise a child" is certainly true. Our ancestors - heck, our parents - often had close families, friends and neighbors they could turn to when they had problems, questions, concerns or insecurities. The answers may not have been as fast as Google, but they were given with love and concern, and backed by experience. While I couldn't tell you the first name of a single person on my block, my mom grew up knowing the names and families of every child in her whole neighborhood. We've lost a lot of that community closeness, that knowledge base that people before our generation relied upon so heavily. In some ways, this big new world is okay: Google doesn't mind if you ask it about how to soothe a baby at 2:30 a.m.; Aunt Edna, on the other hand, probably wouldn't appreciate the late night call. But the Internet can't say, "hey mama, you are doing great but I think you need a little rest. Let me rock the boy for an hour while you get a nap." We miss out on some very special things without that kind of a village.
The Internet also brings with it lots of bad advice, and lots of viewpoints that conflict with my own. My Google searches on sleep advice showed me that an awful lot of parents believe in letting a baby cry it out. Some give the method fancy names, and some even back it with scientific studies, but to me it just sounds like letting my baby cry and ignoring his needs.That just doesn't sit well with me. The Internet is my guide, but my heart is my filter.
It's a whole new world, and I'm so grateful for my Internet village.
Everything I know about being a mom I learned from the Internet. Almost.
When I felt my very first pregnancy symptoms, I raced to Dr. Google. When it came time to prepare for baby's arrival, I consulted baby message boards. As I readied myself for Jack's birth, I packed my hospital bag while consulting a list I found on the web. After my son arrived, I consulted the Internet for every little sniffle and cry. I routinely checked out baby milestone guidelines to make sure that he was progressing on track. I will admit to typing the phrase "is green newborn poop normal?" into Google. More than once. (Although I won't own up to making any comparisons by using a Google image search). When 2010's rash of baby recalls hit - everything from strollers to cribs to teething tablets - I checked the 'net for the latest data on what products were safe and what was recalled. And if I needed a fast answer to something, a simple "Hey, parents, I have a question" post on Facebook brought all kinds of answers right to my inbox. And how else would I fall in with the crunchy, whole foods, cloth diapering, amber necklace wearing crowd that I love so dearly? God knows my real-life crew find that nuts, but my Internet tribe is right with me.
How on Earth did people manage to have children before the Internet? I can't imagine parenting without it, yet it wasn't long ago that everything I've described here would have been classified as fanciful science fiction.
The old phrase that "it takes a village to raise a child" is certainly true. Our ancestors - heck, our parents - often had close families, friends and neighbors they could turn to when they had problems, questions, concerns or insecurities. The answers may not have been as fast as Google, but they were given with love and concern, and backed by experience. While I couldn't tell you the first name of a single person on my block, my mom grew up knowing the names and families of every child in her whole neighborhood. We've lost a lot of that community closeness, that knowledge base that people before our generation relied upon so heavily. In some ways, this big new world is okay: Google doesn't mind if you ask it about how to soothe a baby at 2:30 a.m.; Aunt Edna, on the other hand, probably wouldn't appreciate the late night call. But the Internet can't say, "hey mama, you are doing great but I think you need a little rest. Let me rock the boy for an hour while you get a nap." We miss out on some very special things without that kind of a village.
The Internet also brings with it lots of bad advice, and lots of viewpoints that conflict with my own. My Google searches on sleep advice showed me that an awful lot of parents believe in letting a baby cry it out. Some give the method fancy names, and some even back it with scientific studies, but to me it just sounds like letting my baby cry and ignoring his needs.That just doesn't sit well with me. The Internet is my guide, but my heart is my filter.
It's a whole new world, and I'm so grateful for my Internet village.
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Sunday Surf: Food Scares Me, and Other Good Reads
I haven't gone to the gym this week because of this tenacious cough that I can't seem to shake, but the cosmos seem to have conspired to bring me a lot of written reminders on healthy eating.
15 Health Food Impostors - A list of healthy sounding foods that really aren't, along with a nice list of alternatives for each.
The Color of Trouble is a nice summary of the concerns associated with artificial colors in food.
Just so I can beat the high fructose corn syrup drum a little harder, I present you with this article on the Corn Refiners Association attempt to sway bloggers. Old news, but nevertheless a good summary of the primary objections to HFCS.
Right after the approval of GMO alfalfa, we now have approval for genetically engineered sugar beets. Keep on shopping organic!
Eat Wild is a wonderful resource for locating and learning about grass-fed meat and dairy.
Enough on food. Time Magazine has this wonderful short called Why Spoiled Babies Grow Up To Be Smarter, Kinder Kids. While I disagree with the use of the word "spoiled," I love the article itself.
If you live in my part of the country, you spent a lot of time mid-week digging out from underneath a ridiculous amount of snow. The Big Green Purse has a great list of eco-friendly ways to de-ice your driveway. Even the nongreen among us can appreciate alternatives that will reduce the schlepping of residue into the house from salt-covered snow boots.
Better late than never, we are beginning our foray into baby sign language. I've found that this site has a nice introduction to some basic signs (including videos for people like me who have a very hard time with written directions). I'd love to hear from parents who have had success with teaching sign language to their children.
15 Health Food Impostors - A list of healthy sounding foods that really aren't, along with a nice list of alternatives for each.
The Color of Trouble is a nice summary of the concerns associated with artificial colors in food.
Just so I can beat the high fructose corn syrup drum a little harder, I present you with this article on the Corn Refiners Association attempt to sway bloggers. Old news, but nevertheless a good summary of the primary objections to HFCS.
Right after the approval of GMO alfalfa, we now have approval for genetically engineered sugar beets. Keep on shopping organic!
Eat Wild is a wonderful resource for locating and learning about grass-fed meat and dairy.
Enough on food. Time Magazine has this wonderful short called Why Spoiled Babies Grow Up To Be Smarter, Kinder Kids. While I disagree with the use of the word "spoiled," I love the article itself.
If you live in my part of the country, you spent a lot of time mid-week digging out from underneath a ridiculous amount of snow. The Big Green Purse has a great list of eco-friendly ways to de-ice your driveway. Even the nongreen among us can appreciate alternatives that will reduce the schlepping of residue into the house from salt-covered snow boots.
Better late than never, we are beginning our foray into baby sign language. I've found that this site has a nice introduction to some basic signs (including videos for people like me who have a very hard time with written directions). I'd love to hear from parents who have had success with teaching sign language to their children.
Friday, February 4, 2011
Revisiting the ring sling with a toddler
When Jack was just a wee one, I bought a ring sling so I could wear him when we went out and about. I drank the Dr. Sears Kool-aid on the benefits of babywearing, and I mean that with no disrespect at all: I loved the idea of having Jack close to me, and after reading about the benefits of wearing a newborn, I saw no reason not to do so. Proponents of babywearing agree that wearing a newborn is comforting to the baby, and it is widely accepted that worn babies cry less. Dr. Sears suggests that worn babies learn more because they have more opportunity to observe and interact with their mothers. Because Jack was a winter baby, wearing him meant having him close for warmth, and it allowed me to keep him safe from the germy hands of strangers that just can't seem to keep away from a ridiculously cute baby. Overall, it was a great experience that we both benefited from.
As Jack got a little bigger and the newborn carry holds were no longer suitable, I retired my ring sling. There are ways to wear a six month old in a ring sling, but I could never get the hang of them without my husband's assistance, and I felt silly asking him for help all of the time. My gorgeous sling sat in Jack's closet for seven months and my babywearing days seemed to be behind me.
Then last weekend, as Jack was still struggling to get over a tenacious cold and cough, I remembered the ring sling. His cold had made him clingy, and I was worried about taking him out among people when he wasn't feeling his best. The ring sling sounded like a great solution: I could keep him close to me for comfort while shielding him from the coughs and sneezes of the general public. Now that he's a toddler, I could use some of the other carry positions, like the very comfortable hip carry.
I gave the sling a try, and my cranky, sick little man babbled his contentedness as we walked around the house and posed in the mirror. I wore him in the ring sling on two outings last weekend, and he and I both loved it. It gave him the comfort he needed while giving him the freedom to look around and enjoy a higher perspective than he gets sitting in a stroller.
The benefits of wearing a newborn are well-documented, but after that experience I began researching whether there were benefits of babywearing that are specific to toddlers. Obviously, Jack and I were both enriched from our experience, but our anecdote isn't a complete picture. I asked some toddler-wearing mamas what other benefits they experienced from wearing their toddlers and the answers I got really reinforced my decision to begin wearing Jack again. Among the reasons cited for wearing a toddler:
1. Safety - toddlers are beginning to learn mobile independence, and their moves aren't always predictable. A worn toddler is securely bound to his parent, and won't be able to dart into a crowd or a dangerous situation.
2. Maneuverability - strollers can be really unwieldy to navigate in crowds or close quarters. A worn toddler can move with his parent with much greater ease.
3. Observation - a worn toddler views the world from nearly an adult's-eye-view. Toddlers are naturally curious, and a worn toddler can observe adult interactions and tasks from a perspective that a stroller or the floor won't offer.
4. Verbal skills - a worn toddler is very close to every conversation that mom has, giving him the opportunity to listen more closely to the cadence of words during this vital language acquisition period.
5. Security from overstimulation - Toddlers love to stay busy, but when they get tired and overstimulated, they can get upset and frustrated. Holding a toddler close in a sling or carrier gives him security and seclusion and can help to short-circuit an overstimulation meltdown.
I have plans to wear Jack more when we go out this weekend. I'm glad I had the opportunity to revisit the benefits of wearing him.
As Jack got a little bigger and the newborn carry holds were no longer suitable, I retired my ring sling. There are ways to wear a six month old in a ring sling, but I could never get the hang of them without my husband's assistance, and I felt silly asking him for help all of the time. My gorgeous sling sat in Jack's closet for seven months and my babywearing days seemed to be behind me.
Then last weekend, as Jack was still struggling to get over a tenacious cold and cough, I remembered the ring sling. His cold had made him clingy, and I was worried about taking him out among people when he wasn't feeling his best. The ring sling sounded like a great solution: I could keep him close to me for comfort while shielding him from the coughs and sneezes of the general public. Now that he's a toddler, I could use some of the other carry positions, like the very comfortable hip carry.
I gave the sling a try, and my cranky, sick little man babbled his contentedness as we walked around the house and posed in the mirror. I wore him in the ring sling on two outings last weekend, and he and I both loved it. It gave him the comfort he needed while giving him the freedom to look around and enjoy a higher perspective than he gets sitting in a stroller.
The benefits of wearing a newborn are well-documented, but after that experience I began researching whether there were benefits of babywearing that are specific to toddlers. Obviously, Jack and I were both enriched from our experience, but our anecdote isn't a complete picture. I asked some toddler-wearing mamas what other benefits they experienced from wearing their toddlers and the answers I got really reinforced my decision to begin wearing Jack again. Among the reasons cited for wearing a toddler:
1. Safety - toddlers are beginning to learn mobile independence, and their moves aren't always predictable. A worn toddler is securely bound to his parent, and won't be able to dart into a crowd or a dangerous situation.
2. Maneuverability - strollers can be really unwieldy to navigate in crowds or close quarters. A worn toddler can move with his parent with much greater ease.
3. Observation - a worn toddler views the world from nearly an adult's-eye-view. Toddlers are naturally curious, and a worn toddler can observe adult interactions and tasks from a perspective that a stroller or the floor won't offer.
4. Verbal skills - a worn toddler is very close to every conversation that mom has, giving him the opportunity to listen more closely to the cadence of words during this vital language acquisition period.
5. Security from overstimulation - Toddlers love to stay busy, but when they get tired and overstimulated, they can get upset and frustrated. Holding a toddler close in a sling or carrier gives him security and seclusion and can help to short-circuit an overstimulation meltdown.
I have plans to wear Jack more when we go out this weekend. I'm glad I had the opportunity to revisit the benefits of wearing him.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Wordless Wednesday: Reason No. 43 to love cloth diapers.
I'm actually a little afraid to put this diaper on Jack. I'm not sure that I can handle the amount of cute that will be present in that combination.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
This is a judgmental post: Toddlers and TVs
I was perusing a parenting message board today, and some parents of toddlers were commiserating about how difficult it is to eat at a restaurant now that they have a mobile and inquisitive child. I'm thankful that Jack isn't quite to the point where dinner out is an all-out screamfest, but clearly the behavior that the parents were describing wasn't out of the ordinary: trying to stand in the high chair, yelling inappropriately and throwing food were all common experiences. Toddlers like to explore and expand their boundaries through vocalization and physical play. Requiring them to sit quietly for a meal really is asking a lot, and I'd never judge the parents who say that they prefer to stay home because eating at a restaurant is far more work than it is an enjoyable experience.
One mom chimed in with a response that met with some favor on the message board, but which made me raise an eyebrow: she said that they kept their toddler amused by bringing along a portable DVD player to the restaurant. Her daughter would sit for at least thirty minutes if she had a movie to watch.
I was astounded. Television has little place in a young child's life, but it has no place at a restaurant. Yet that mom wasn't alone in her thought - this article suggests that a portable DVD player can make a restaurant outing with a toddler "very enjoyable."
Maybe I'll eat my words on this. Maybe the moms of older toddlers are reading this post and shaking their heads at my naivety. Maybe six months from now I'll be heading to Target, heart filled with shame, to buy our own portable DVD player. Or, maybe it really is ridiculous to plug your kid into some electronic entertainment at every opportunity.
I totally realize that I write this from an ivory tower. My toddler likes to explore, but he is a new toddler: he isn't at the age where he needs to assert his independence much, and I know that may change someday soon. But even when he is two, or three, I won't expect him to sit quietly at the dinner table while my husband and I carry on among ourselves. Jack is a member of our family and dinner time is a time that we are together as a family. When we are out for dinner, we play games with Jack at the dinner table. We make maracas out of salt shakers, we play peek a boo with menus. We talk about the colors and shapes and patterns of the restaurant decor. We play with the toys that we've brought. We share our food with him (TGIFriday's Dragonfire Chicken is Jack's favorite restaurant meal). And we never, ever pick a quiet restaurant for dinner: the more boisterous and busy the place, the more acceptable an occasional squeal of excitement will be. Dan and I get our adult conversations in too, but we always, always include Jack. We keep him engaged. We enjoy him.
This has been a Judgmental Post from Monkey Butt Junction.
For some smart, non-electronic ways to keep your toddler busy during dinner, check out this list of suggestions.
Study: Increased television watching in toddlers is linked to struggles in school
One mom chimed in with a response that met with some favor on the message board, but which made me raise an eyebrow: she said that they kept their toddler amused by bringing along a portable DVD player to the restaurant. Her daughter would sit for at least thirty minutes if she had a movie to watch.
I was astounded. Television has little place in a young child's life, but it has no place at a restaurant. Yet that mom wasn't alone in her thought - this article suggests that a portable DVD player can make a restaurant outing with a toddler "very enjoyable."
Maybe I'll eat my words on this. Maybe the moms of older toddlers are reading this post and shaking their heads at my naivety. Maybe six months from now I'll be heading to Target, heart filled with shame, to buy our own portable DVD player. Or, maybe it really is ridiculous to plug your kid into some electronic entertainment at every opportunity.
I totally realize that I write this from an ivory tower. My toddler likes to explore, but he is a new toddler: he isn't at the age where he needs to assert his independence much, and I know that may change someday soon. But even when he is two, or three, I won't expect him to sit quietly at the dinner table while my husband and I carry on among ourselves. Jack is a member of our family and dinner time is a time that we are together as a family. When we are out for dinner, we play games with Jack at the dinner table. We make maracas out of salt shakers, we play peek a boo with menus. We talk about the colors and shapes and patterns of the restaurant decor. We play with the toys that we've brought. We share our food with him (TGIFriday's Dragonfire Chicken is Jack's favorite restaurant meal). And we never, ever pick a quiet restaurant for dinner: the more boisterous and busy the place, the more acceptable an occasional squeal of excitement will be. Dan and I get our adult conversations in too, but we always, always include Jack. We keep him engaged. We enjoy him.
This has been a Judgmental Post from Monkey Butt Junction.
For some smart, non-electronic ways to keep your toddler busy during dinner, check out this list of suggestions.
Study: Increased television watching in toddlers is linked to struggles in school
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Review: Bellies and Babies Boutique
The Boutique
Don't let the size of Bellies and Babies fool you: it is a small shop, but you'd be hard-pressed to want anything more in a cloth diaper store. They carry all of the major cloth diaper lines, cleaning supplies, and they even have a wonderful selection of resale diapers. Their consignment maternity clothes shop is likewise small but fabulous: I bought my favorite maternity clothes there and found them to be very affordable, with blouses and pants typically under ten dollars. The boutique also has a selection of baby slings and carriers, including makes that you don't see at the big box baby stores.
The Classes
I found Bellies and Babies when I searched for a prenatal yoga class, and the class was always small but it really was what ignited my passion for fitness that has grown over the past year. The class list goes well beyond yoga, reaching out to subjects like natural childbirth, breastfeeding, babywearing, cloth diapering, infant CPR, and more. My favorite part of the class offerings is that most of the classes are Saturday and evening classes, meaning that working moms get the opportunity to participate (unlike so many other child-centric classes out there).
What I Love
I love having access to a store where I can see cloth diapers and carriers hands-on. The Internet offers a wealth of knowledge on so many topics, but even the most detailed and illustrated descriptions of the different cloth diaper systems simply don't hold a candle to seeing the diapers up close and in person. Further, I have always found the staff on duty at Bellies and Babies to be very helpful and knowledgeable. I never felt like I left the shop with an unanswered question.
Less Than Impressed
My one beef with Bellies and Babies is that their posted store hours seem to be more of a suggestion than a hard and fast rule. As a former small store owner, I totally understand that sometimes things come up and an early close is unavoidable. However, when your store is a specialty niche, and particularly when it is the only one of its kind in the area, there is no doubt that the clientele comes from afar to shop, and it is really disappointing when you arrive an hour before the set closing time to find the shop closed. That said, a telephone call ahead is an easy way to remedy that problem - I won't let it mar my opinion of the Boutique.
If You Go
Bellies and Babies Boutique
N88 W16733 Main St.
Menomonee Falls, WI 5305
262.253.6510
Hours: Tuesday, Friday, Saturday (Learn from my error! Call!)
Calendar of Classes
Friday, January 28, 2011
I'm just a stay at home mom trapped in a working mom's body.
This week I decided to try sewing Jack a pair of wool longies. Now, everyone who knows me outside of this blog just had to go re-read that first sentence because I said that I was going to sew. I'm terrible at sewing. I have a brand new sewing machine that I haven't even figured out how to set up. I've owned it for nearly four years now and it has never made a single stitch. But I found a pattern for converting a wool sweater into long wool baby pants, and I thought I'd try hand-sewing them. They actually turned out okay, and they are currently keeping Jack's backside nice and warm on this cold winter night. I even got an unsolicited compliment on them when we were out tonight. Pardon the blurry camera phone photo.
I love stuff like that. I love making home cooked meals for my family. I love gardening and canning. I love baking bread and making our own condiments. I love little arts and crafts and projects. If I stayed home with Jack, I'd give some serious consideration to home schooling. I picture days filled with educational nature walks, classes at the YMCA, rainy afternoons at the library.
I think I'd make a great stay at home mom. Where do I apply?
I know that somewhere there's a stay at home mom rolling her eyes at my idyllic vision at SAHM-hood, and she'd kill to be able to just pop out for a latte or chill at Barnes & Noble on her lunch hour like I can. She'd tell me about the reality of the Bad Days, where sleep is nonexistent, babies are fussy and sick, and a shower is as rare as a unicorn sighting.I admit when I know Jack is going to have a rough day, it can feel good to head out the door, battle traffic for the better part of an hour, and look ahead to a ten hour work day. The grass is always greener on the other side isn't it?
Part of me will always wonder what it would have been like to experience those Tuesday morning mom and baby groups and mid-afternoon playdates. But my family is exactly as it should be, and while I wouldn't change a thing, I'll still allow myself the occasional SAHM fantasy as I sip my latte in my office.
I love stuff like that. I love making home cooked meals for my family. I love gardening and canning. I love baking bread and making our own condiments. I love little arts and crafts and projects. If I stayed home with Jack, I'd give some serious consideration to home schooling. I picture days filled with educational nature walks, classes at the YMCA, rainy afternoons at the library.
I think I'd make a great stay at home mom. Where do I apply?
I know that somewhere there's a stay at home mom rolling her eyes at my idyllic vision at SAHM-hood, and she'd kill to be able to just pop out for a latte or chill at Barnes & Noble on her lunch hour like I can. She'd tell me about the reality of the Bad Days, where sleep is nonexistent, babies are fussy and sick, and a shower is as rare as a unicorn sighting.I admit when I know Jack is going to have a rough day, it can feel good to head out the door, battle traffic for the better part of an hour, and look ahead to a ten hour work day. The grass is always greener on the other side isn't it?
Part of me will always wonder what it would have been like to experience those Tuesday morning mom and baby groups and mid-afternoon playdates. But my family is exactly as it should be, and while I wouldn't change a thing, I'll still allow myself the occasional SAHM fantasy as I sip my latte in my office.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Favorite Cold and Flu Treatments
It has been a rough week in our house. Both Jack and my husband have sinus infections, bad coughs and terrible flu symptoms. Jack just wants to be cuddled, my husband just wants to rest, and neither can seem to sleep for more than twenty minutes at a time.
Me? I'm exhausted just trying to keep up with all of this.
So I've been thinking a lot about natural cold and flu treatments and prevention measures. Both of my guys have been prescribed antibiotics for their sinus infections, but when it comes to easing the cold and flu symptoms we need to fall back on old favorites, and a few new ones.
Traditional Medicinals Tea: Organic Throat Coat and Breathe Easy
Even the tea skeptics agree with me on these choices, and I have converted quite a few with these two teas. Organic Throat Coat blends licorice root, slippery elm and other organic supplements to create a tasty and really effective cough reliever. While the taste isn't for everyone - it has a distinct black licorice note to it - it is much better than sucking on sugary menthol cough drops. Breathe Easy is a little spicier and promotes respiratory health. When I'm in the heart of a good cold, I turn to Throat Coat, but when I'm just beginning to feel the symptoms, Breathe Easy is my go-to tea. I find these at my local grocery store chain.
Ricola Cough Drops: Green Tea with Echinacea.
As fabulous as that tea is, sometimes you just need the fast relief of a cough drop. In those cases, I've been turning to Ricola because they actually taste pretty good, and they are just as effective as terrible tasting Halls cough drops. This week Jack's doctor recommeded a particular flavor - green tea with echinacea - as something to take at the start of cold symptoms to fight the cold as well as once a cough has settled in. So far, I love the recommendation.
Steam, or better yet, Vicks Vaporizer Steam.
We've always turned to a hot shower for cold, cough and sinus relief. For very young babies, it is one of the few options available to help ease respiratory ailments. When Jack was tiny, I'd set up his little swing in the bathroom, close the door, and run the shower hot so he could take in the steam. Between the sound of the running water, the movement of the swing, and the relief from the steam, it usually put him to sleep.
Just today we decided to take the steam a step further by purchasing a Vicks Vaporizer. Within minutes of setting it up, my husband felt the first sinus relief he's had in days. For under twenty bucks, this was a great buy and one that we will no doubt rely on whenever the flu is in our house.
Chicken Soup.
Few things are as cliche as chicken soup for a cold, but there's no doubting that this comfort food provides a whole lot of relief for not a lot of effort. While a can of Campbells will do just fine, if you want to avoid the some of the sodium, just add some cubed chicken breasts into some chicken broth, cut up a few carrots and some celery, add wide egg noodles, and you have some pretty fabulous soup.
Sleep, or at least, rest.
Telling a sick parent with a sick child to rest is pretty futile, but the bottom line is that rest is what is going give your body the break it needs to fight off what ails you. Even when other things are pressing, getting enough rest has to be made a priority. Housework can wait. Laundry can wait. Sometimes, work can even wait. Think back to the adage of those first months with your newborn: sleep when the baby sleeps. Your body will thank you, and the dirty dishes won't go anywhere without you anyway.
An ounce of prevention.
Not getting a cold in the first place is far better than treating cold symptoms, so prevention is always the best when possible. Simple things like hand washing go a long way. Be conscious of what you touch in public places, and what you touch afterward. Ever touch a doorknob and then later touch your face? You have, and now that you are thinking about it, maybe you'll be more aware of it the next time you are out. You never know whether the person who pushed that grocery cart before you had it just washed her hands, or whether she just sneezed without a tissue. I'm no germaphobe, but even little precautions like this can go a long way to keeping that cold out of your house.
Stay well, readers. I have a sick baby to cuddle, some chicken soup to prepare, and maybe even a nap in my future.
Me? I'm exhausted just trying to keep up with all of this.
So I've been thinking a lot about natural cold and flu treatments and prevention measures. Both of my guys have been prescribed antibiotics for their sinus infections, but when it comes to easing the cold and flu symptoms we need to fall back on old favorites, and a few new ones.
Traditional Medicinals Tea: Organic Throat Coat and Breathe Easy
Even the tea skeptics agree with me on these choices, and I have converted quite a few with these two teas. Organic Throat Coat blends licorice root, slippery elm and other organic supplements to create a tasty and really effective cough reliever. While the taste isn't for everyone - it has a distinct black licorice note to it - it is much better than sucking on sugary menthol cough drops. Breathe Easy is a little spicier and promotes respiratory health. When I'm in the heart of a good cold, I turn to Throat Coat, but when I'm just beginning to feel the symptoms, Breathe Easy is my go-to tea. I find these at my local grocery store chain.
As fabulous as that tea is, sometimes you just need the fast relief of a cough drop. In those cases, I've been turning to Ricola because they actually taste pretty good, and they are just as effective as terrible tasting Halls cough drops. This week Jack's doctor recommeded a particular flavor - green tea with echinacea - as something to take at the start of cold symptoms to fight the cold as well as once a cough has settled in. So far, I love the recommendation.
Steam, or better yet, Vicks Vaporizer Steam.
We've always turned to a hot shower for cold, cough and sinus relief. For very young babies, it is one of the few options available to help ease respiratory ailments. When Jack was tiny, I'd set up his little swing in the bathroom, close the door, and run the shower hot so he could take in the steam. Between the sound of the running water, the movement of the swing, and the relief from the steam, it usually put him to sleep.
Just today we decided to take the steam a step further by purchasing a Vicks Vaporizer. Within minutes of setting it up, my husband felt the first sinus relief he's had in days. For under twenty bucks, this was a great buy and one that we will no doubt rely on whenever the flu is in our house.
Chicken Soup.
Few things are as cliche as chicken soup for a cold, but there's no doubting that this comfort food provides a whole lot of relief for not a lot of effort. While a can of Campbells will do just fine, if you want to avoid the some of the sodium, just add some cubed chicken breasts into some chicken broth, cut up a few carrots and some celery, add wide egg noodles, and you have some pretty fabulous soup.
Sleep, or at least, rest.
Telling a sick parent with a sick child to rest is pretty futile, but the bottom line is that rest is what is going give your body the break it needs to fight off what ails you. Even when other things are pressing, getting enough rest has to be made a priority. Housework can wait. Laundry can wait. Sometimes, work can even wait. Think back to the adage of those first months with your newborn: sleep when the baby sleeps. Your body will thank you, and the dirty dishes won't go anywhere without you anyway.
An ounce of prevention.
Not getting a cold in the first place is far better than treating cold symptoms, so prevention is always the best when possible. Simple things like hand washing go a long way. Be conscious of what you touch in public places, and what you touch afterward. Ever touch a doorknob and then later touch your face? You have, and now that you are thinking about it, maybe you'll be more aware of it the next time you are out. You never know whether the person who pushed that grocery cart before you had it just washed her hands, or whether she just sneezed without a tissue. I'm no germaphobe, but even little precautions like this can go a long way to keeping that cold out of your house.
Stay well, readers. I have a sick baby to cuddle, some chicken soup to prepare, and maybe even a nap in my future.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
A Wake-up Story
I blog first and foremost because I love to write, but that doesn't mean that I'm never at a loss for words. I can't always adequately explain why I do what I do - the canning, the homemade baby food, the cloth diapers. It is a lot of work, and I'm not a gal that has a lot of leisure time to begin with. But those things are so very, very important to me, to my family, for reasons that I'm not always that articulate about.
Fortunately, I don't always have to do the talking.
Watch this video.
If you are impressed by what you see there, do visit their website at
http://awakeupstory.healthychild.org/ and learn more about this organization. Their Facebook page is particularly impressive, with readers sharing their ideas and knowledge. If you've been sensing a theme in my recent posts, I assure you that between the fake blueberries, the other-than-meat taco meat and the antibiotic-ridden honey, I'm really finding more and more reasons to be concerned about what we put in and around our bodies, and I when I can find such a goldmine of ideas and alternatives I'm glad to share them.
Fortunately, I don't always have to do the talking.
Watch this video.
If you are impressed by what you see there, do visit their website at
http://awakeupstory.healthychild.org/ and learn more about this organization. Their Facebook page is particularly impressive, with readers sharing their ideas and knowledge. If you've been sensing a theme in my recent posts, I assure you that between the fake blueberries, the other-than-meat taco meat and the antibiotic-ridden honey, I'm really finding more and more reasons to be concerned about what we put in and around our bodies, and I when I can find such a goldmine of ideas and alternatives I'm glad to share them.
Green Mama Blog Hop
I'm pleased to say that I'm participating in the Green Mama Blog Hop this week. If you like reading more about green living for your family, check the blog hop and find some new great sites. Check them out below!
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Wordless Wednesday: Man's Best Friend.
J.D. "Here Comes the Judge." Rest in Peace, dogman. Thanks for keeping an eye on my mom for the last few years. You were a great companion for her, and you will be very missed.
Thank you, Taco Bell, for making my resolution easier.
As 2010 grew to a close I made a list of eleven things I wanted to do in 2011, and one of those was to avoid fast food for the whole year. I didn't think it would be difficult as we never really ate much fast food, but it is nice when the universe comes together and makes an easy task that much easier.
Thank you, Taco Bell. The news today reported that a lawsuit has been filed against the restaurant chain alleging that less than half of the "taco meat filling" in their beef tacos is actually beef.
Gross. But I'm not shocked. Have you ever looked at their "taco meat filling?" It doesn't look, smell or feel like meat - apparently for good reason.
Let me share a story. If you have a weak stomach, you may want to skip this paragraph. When I was in high school in the 1990s, the local Taco Bell was the victim of a pretty scandalous allegation that one of its employees had defecated into the taco meat mix, causing a number of customers to get sick. I don't believe that was anything more than a disgusting rumor, but the damage was done. The restaurant's reputation took a huge hit. I was more troubled by the fact that, true or not, people had no problem believing that someone wouldn't notice an amount of poo in their dinner. "Shit? Or taco meat?" shouldn't be a tough game to play.
So yes, I am banging the healthy eating drum once again this year. I am really becoming a believer in the idea that we as a nation are making ourselves horribly unhealthy because we are eating so much trash. Between this story, the article on "honey laundering," and everything I've been reading on high fructose corn syrup, I have really spent a lot of time reevaluating my family's eating habits and I'm really happy with the changes we've made. We're making 2011 the year of healthy eating, even if it means we work a little harder for our food, meals take longer to prepare, and we miss out on a little convenience now and again. I think we'll thank ourselves for those little sacrifices.
And, a P.S.! Right after I published this blog, I finally got around to reading about the blueberry scandal. Nothing is safe.
Thank you, Taco Bell. The news today reported that a lawsuit has been filed against the restaurant chain alleging that less than half of the "taco meat filling" in their beef tacos is actually beef.
Gross. But I'm not shocked. Have you ever looked at their "taco meat filling?" It doesn't look, smell or feel like meat - apparently for good reason.
Let me share a story. If you have a weak stomach, you may want to skip this paragraph. When I was in high school in the 1990s, the local Taco Bell was the victim of a pretty scandalous allegation that one of its employees had defecated into the taco meat mix, causing a number of customers to get sick. I don't believe that was anything more than a disgusting rumor, but the damage was done. The restaurant's reputation took a huge hit. I was more troubled by the fact that, true or not, people had no problem believing that someone wouldn't notice an amount of poo in their dinner. "Shit? Or taco meat?" shouldn't be a tough game to play.
So yes, I am banging the healthy eating drum once again this year. I am really becoming a believer in the idea that we as a nation are making ourselves horribly unhealthy because we are eating so much trash. Between this story, the article on "honey laundering," and everything I've been reading on high fructose corn syrup, I have really spent a lot of time reevaluating my family's eating habits and I'm really happy with the changes we've made. We're making 2011 the year of healthy eating, even if it means we work a little harder for our food, meals take longer to prepare, and we miss out on a little convenience now and again. I think we'll thank ourselves for those little sacrifices.
And, a P.S.! Right after I published this blog, I finally got around to reading about the blueberry scandal. Nothing is safe.
Monday, January 10, 2011
Couponmania
I'm afraid I'm becoming one of "them."
On Sunday I realized that I happened to have a coupon relevant to my grocery list: 50 cents off of a dozen eggs. I shoved it into my pocket, fully expecting to forget all about it by the time I got to Target later that day. Much to my surprise, I remembered both the eggs and the coupon, and as I reviewed my receipt, I realized that I got a dozen eggs for just 47 cents, thanks to my coupon.
47 cents. That's freakin' amazing. The power of coupons!
Some of my Facebook friends have recounted their couponing adventure. They exchange lists and graphs and flowcharts, and bust out their coupon quadratic equations and slide rules to review the Sunday paper. It is intimidating, yet intriguing.
Apparently there's a whole world of couponers out there. I had no idea. There is an incredible number of websites, mailing lists, and books dedicated to the art and science of couponing. Everybody's doing it, baby.
I don't need another hobby, right? Right? Even if it is one that saves us some money?
I think I'll take a pass on this one and just watch the coupon madness from the sidelines.
But Target did give me another coupon for fifty cents off a dozen eggs, so we'll see. We'll see.
On Sunday I realized that I happened to have a coupon relevant to my grocery list: 50 cents off of a dozen eggs. I shoved it into my pocket, fully expecting to forget all about it by the time I got to Target later that day. Much to my surprise, I remembered both the eggs and the coupon, and as I reviewed my receipt, I realized that I got a dozen eggs for just 47 cents, thanks to my coupon.
47 cents. That's freakin' amazing. The power of coupons!
Some of my Facebook friends have recounted their couponing adventure. They exchange lists and graphs and flowcharts, and bust out their coupon quadratic equations and slide rules to review the Sunday paper. It is intimidating, yet intriguing.
Apparently there's a whole world of couponers out there. I had no idea. There is an incredible number of websites, mailing lists, and books dedicated to the art and science of couponing. Everybody's doing it, baby.
I don't need another hobby, right? Right? Even if it is one that saves us some money?
I think I'll take a pass on this one and just watch the coupon madness from the sidelines.
But Target did give me another coupon for fifty cents off a dozen eggs, so we'll see. We'll see.
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Five State Parks for 2011
I must be thinking spring because I've had state parks, state trails, and hiking on my mind all week. In my 11 for 2011 post I mentioned my love of the Wisconsin State Park system. Aside from the famously picturesque parks of Northern California (which I hope to see this summer) I think this State may have some of the greatest parks in the nation. One of my goals for 2011 is to visit five state parks that I've never been to before. My choices:
Aztalan State Park - This park is archeologically significant as it was the home of a native American civilization, sometime before the year 1200. In fact, there are pretty strong rumors that there is some significant paranormal activity there. This is so close to home that there's no excuse not to see it.
Kohler-Andrae State Park - Said to be among our most beautiful parks, I can't believe this is one I have never visited. Kohler-Andrae is right on Lake Michigan, so we have all of the amenities of the lake, plus miles of hiking trails and a nature trail. I'm told that this park also has a great area for sledding, so this may be a winter trip for us. Again, it is too close to home for us to miss out.
Richard Bong State Recreation Area - Yes, the photo of a road sign that says "Bong Recreation Area" isn't a Photoshop - we really have one. Richard Bong was a renowned wartime pilot, and the park area was actually originally intended to be an airstrip, but the project was abandoned at the very last minute. While this park offers typical activities like hiking, biking and snowshoeing, it also offers an area for flying model planes, rockets, hang gliders and hot air balloons.
Devil's Lake State Park. Whenever we are in the Wisconsin Dells, we opt for Mirror Lake State Park for its beautiful hiking trails and great canoeing, but Devil's Lake is also nearby and has much to offer. Devil's Lake is also a popular site for rock climbers, and someday I want to be able to give that a try.
Big Foot Beach State Park. I have been to this one, just once before: Big Foot Beach was the site of my very first 5K run, but I was the only one in the family who really got to enjoy the beautiful hiking trail. Big Foot Beach has so much to offer: amazing trails, a beautiful beach on gorgeous Lake Geneva. This is definitely a day trip for the family this year.
Aztalan State Park - This park is archeologically significant as it was the home of a native American civilization, sometime before the year 1200. In fact, there are pretty strong rumors that there is some significant paranormal activity there. This is so close to home that there's no excuse not to see it.
Kohler-Andrae State Park - Said to be among our most beautiful parks, I can't believe this is one I have never visited. Kohler-Andrae is right on Lake Michigan, so we have all of the amenities of the lake, plus miles of hiking trails and a nature trail. I'm told that this park also has a great area for sledding, so this may be a winter trip for us. Again, it is too close to home for us to miss out.
Richard Bong State Recreation Area - Yes, the photo of a road sign that says "Bong Recreation Area" isn't a Photoshop - we really have one. Richard Bong was a renowned wartime pilot, and the park area was actually originally intended to be an airstrip, but the project was abandoned at the very last minute. While this park offers typical activities like hiking, biking and snowshoeing, it also offers an area for flying model planes, rockets, hang gliders and hot air balloons.
Devil's Lake State Park. Whenever we are in the Wisconsin Dells, we opt for Mirror Lake State Park for its beautiful hiking trails and great canoeing, but Devil's Lake is also nearby and has much to offer. Devil's Lake is also a popular site for rock climbers, and someday I want to be able to give that a try.
Big Foot Beach State Park. I have been to this one, just once before: Big Foot Beach was the site of my very first 5K run, but I was the only one in the family who really got to enjoy the beautiful hiking trail. Big Foot Beach has so much to offer: amazing trails, a beautiful beach on gorgeous Lake Geneva. This is definitely a day trip for the family this year.
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Is this where bullies come from?
A few months ago, bullying was big in the news. Now that we are worrying about bigger things like football and the weather, we aren't seeing as many sensational stories about bullying but obviously the problem continues. Whenever I read about some of the horrible things that bullies have done, I wondered if their parents realized how their children behaved.
Apparently, some do. And apparently, some encourage it.
I read a really heartbreaking blog entry from one of my favorite bloggers entitled Fat Ladies Eat Small Children. A little background on the blogger: She is one of those incredibly gorgeous women who really turns heads. Gorgeous long dark hair, an incredible smile. And, she is overweight. She has talked extensively on her blog about weight loss, and by eating healthy she lost a great deal of weight this year before she became pregnant.
Her blog entry recounts her recent experience at a store where a small girl and her brother were ducking down in their shopping cart so that "the fat lady won't eat them." In her own words:
I was mortified as they pointed and squealed in their high voices: "there she goes, that was close but she might eat us next time" as I pass their cart.
I was shaking and as the tears started to fall and I purposefully went the opposite direction, I could hear that little high voice "Where did the fat lady go Mom?" And the mother replied? "I don't know, I'm sure you will see her again." "Will she eat us mom?" "She might."
My heart goes out to her, especially with all of the work that she has done to lose weight. Overhearing something like that would have torn me right down to my soul.
The children didn't know better. At that age - she estimates the girl was about three - kids don't have a real grasp on politeness, or whispering, and they certainly don't understand that weight issues aren't something to poke fun at. But the mom had a wonderful teaching opportunity that she failed to take advantage of, and she even went so far as to join in with her own jab. That makes me angry. Livid.
What those kids learned that day is that it is okay to make fun of someone's weight. They learned that it is alright to poke fun of someone who looks different from them. And they learned that mom will join right in.
Is this where bullies come from?
Apparently, some do. And apparently, some encourage it.
I read a really heartbreaking blog entry from one of my favorite bloggers entitled Fat Ladies Eat Small Children. A little background on the blogger: She is one of those incredibly gorgeous women who really turns heads. Gorgeous long dark hair, an incredible smile. And, she is overweight. She has talked extensively on her blog about weight loss, and by eating healthy she lost a great deal of weight this year before she became pregnant.
Her blog entry recounts her recent experience at a store where a small girl and her brother were ducking down in their shopping cart so that "the fat lady won't eat them." In her own words:
I was mortified as they pointed and squealed in their high voices: "there she goes, that was close but she might eat us next time" as I pass their cart.
I was shaking and as the tears started to fall and I purposefully went the opposite direction, I could hear that little high voice "Where did the fat lady go Mom?" And the mother replied? "I don't know, I'm sure you will see her again." "Will she eat us mom?" "She might."
My heart goes out to her, especially with all of the work that she has done to lose weight. Overhearing something like that would have torn me right down to my soul.
The children didn't know better. At that age - she estimates the girl was about three - kids don't have a real grasp on politeness, or whispering, and they certainly don't understand that weight issues aren't something to poke fun at. But the mom had a wonderful teaching opportunity that she failed to take advantage of, and she even went so far as to join in with her own jab. That makes me angry. Livid.
What those kids learned that day is that it is okay to make fun of someone's weight. They learned that it is alright to poke fun of someone who looks different from them. And they learned that mom will join right in.
Is this where bullies come from?
Friday, December 31, 2010
2010 - a year in review
I wanted to write a post about our family's most memorable moments of 2010, but how do you do that when 2010 marked your first child's first year of life? Every day is filled with all kinds of memories. There's just no way to really capture it all in a single blog post, but I'll try.
Best Family Moment
Let's get this one out of the way because it is the hardest. There were so many great moments as a new family of three. When I think of our best moments I think of our Christmastime stay in the hospital with newborn Jack, I think of Jack's first smile, and I think of the pure, giddy joy we felt when we watched Jack take his first steps. But overall I think that my favorite moments came on our hiking trip at Mirror Lake. Seeing Jack so excited about being out in nature - touching the rocks and the leaves and just being so inquisitive about everything really gave me a glimpse into what our great adventure with him will be as he grows up.
Best Moment with Friends
When Jack was just a few weeks old, a huge group of our friends gathered for a long dinner at the now-defunct Claim Jumper restaurant. We had such a fun time. A close second place goes to our outing to the Milwaukee Public Museum with dinner at Buca's afterward. In 2011, I resolve that we will spend more time with our amazing friends.
Best Vacation
Our trip to California in May was amazing. Dan's mother met Jack, her first and only grandbaby, for the first time - how can you top that? And taking Jack to Knott's Berry Farm was just the icing on the cake. It was a wonderful vacation.
Best Purchase
Our PT Cruiser, the replacement for my beautiful lost Mustang, was our best purchase. Don't be fooled by this car - as a convertible it turns heads in the summer - at least as much as the Mustang did - and so far it handles the winter roads beautifully. It was definitely a wise buy and I'm so grateful that we have it.
Best New Hobby/Interest
For me, obviously it is my newfound love of running. I can't overstate how much running has changed my life, and I look forward to more races, more long runs, and hopefully a little more speed in the new year.
What I'm looking forward to most in 2011
Our family road trip in May is the biggest thing I'm excited about. The planning is proving to be so much fun, if the trip itself is just as fun it will be a total winner. On a personal level, I look forward to challenging myself by running a 10K this summer and a half marathon by fall.
2010 was great, but I have a feeling that 2011 is going to be amazing. Happy New Year everyone!
Best Family Moment
Let's get this one out of the way because it is the hardest. There were so many great moments as a new family of three. When I think of our best moments I think of our Christmastime stay in the hospital with newborn Jack, I think of Jack's first smile, and I think of the pure, giddy joy we felt when we watched Jack take his first steps. But overall I think that my favorite moments came on our hiking trip at Mirror Lake. Seeing Jack so excited about being out in nature - touching the rocks and the leaves and just being so inquisitive about everything really gave me a glimpse into what our great adventure with him will be as he grows up.
Best Moment with Friends
When Jack was just a few weeks old, a huge group of our friends gathered for a long dinner at the now-defunct Claim Jumper restaurant. We had such a fun time. A close second place goes to our outing to the Milwaukee Public Museum with dinner at Buca's afterward. In 2011, I resolve that we will spend more time with our amazing friends.
Best Vacation
Our trip to California in May was amazing. Dan's mother met Jack, her first and only grandbaby, for the first time - how can you top that? And taking Jack to Knott's Berry Farm was just the icing on the cake. It was a wonderful vacation.
Best Purchase
Our PT Cruiser, the replacement for my beautiful lost Mustang, was our best purchase. Don't be fooled by this car - as a convertible it turns heads in the summer - at least as much as the Mustang did - and so far it handles the winter roads beautifully. It was definitely a wise buy and I'm so grateful that we have it.
Best New Hobby/Interest
For me, obviously it is my newfound love of running. I can't overstate how much running has changed my life, and I look forward to more races, more long runs, and hopefully a little more speed in the new year.
What I'm looking forward to most in 2011
Our family road trip in May is the biggest thing I'm excited about. The planning is proving to be so much fun, if the trip itself is just as fun it will be a total winner. On a personal level, I look forward to challenging myself by running a 10K this summer and a half marathon by fall.
2010 was great, but I have a feeling that 2011 is going to be amazing. Happy New Year everyone!
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Clean Eating - What is it, and why do we need it? (And, a great coupon deal too!)
While clean eating is often categorized as a "diet" program, I think it is better defined as an eating lifestyle. Using the word "diet" implies that weight loss is the desired goal, and that just isn't necessarily true. Clean eating, generally, means choosing whole foods over processed. It means whole grains, lean proteins, fruits and vegetables. Savory, good foods that haven't been saturated with unhealthy chemicals and preservatives. Many people who follow clean eating guidelines like to have several small meals a day instead of three larger meals, although that's just one of many options for living a clean eating lifestyle.
So why do we need clean eating? If my post about high fructose corn syrup wasn't enough to get you reading your food labels, let me share this gem from Yahoo this morning. (Warning: if you are currently eating a fast food burger, or would really like to enjoy one in the near future, just do yourself a favor and skip this. I'm pretty sure this segment has put me off of fast food forever).
Although it was labeled a weight loss article, The Truth About Weight Gain is more like a food horror show. The most appalling part about it was the truth about fast food burgers.
Are you ready? Take a deep breath and steel your stomach. Straight from the article:
Most fast-food hamburger patties begin their voyage to your buns in the hands of a company called Beef Products. The company specializes in taking slaughterhouse trimmings—heads and hooves and the like—that are traditionally used only in pet food and cooking oil, and turning them into patties. The challenge is getting this byproduct meat clean enough for human consumption, as both E. coli and salmonella like to concentrate themselves in the fatty deposits.
The company has developed a process for killing beef-based pathogens by forcing the ground meat through pipes and exposing it to ammonia gas—the same chemical you might use to clean your bathroom. Not only has the USDA approved the process, but it's also allowed those who sell the beef to keep it hidden from their customers. At Beef Products’ behest, ammonia gas has been deemed a “processing agent” that need not be identified on nutrition labels. Never mind that if ammonia gets on your skin, it can cause severe burning, and if it gets in your eyes, it can blind you. Add to the gross-out factor the fact that after moving through this lengthy industrial process, a single beef patty can consist of cobbled-together pieces from different cows from all over the world—a practice that only increases the odds of contamination.
Remember my resolution about no fast food in 2011? Pretty sure that will be a breeze after reading that. Ladies and gentlemen, this has to be why, as a nation, we are so damn unhealthy, doesn't it?
Back to clean eating. Reading things like that just affirms to me my resolution to eat more whole foods, to scour our labels and to know where our food comes from. I owe that much to my family. Eating locally, shopping at farmers markets, gardening - all of these are basic steps towards clean eating. Healthy eating.
And now, my coupon for you. For a limited time, Tanga is offering Clean Eating magazine at a huge discount - a one year subscription for just $5.99, no strings attached. Just use the coupon code "EAT" at the checkout. (It initially shows up as a discounted price of $24.99 - entering the coupon code will reduce the price by $19.00).
Click here to go directly to the deal, while it lasts. As of this writing, Clean Eating is already in the "second chance" section of the website, so it won't be long before the deal is no longer available.
So why do we need clean eating? If my post about high fructose corn syrup wasn't enough to get you reading your food labels, let me share this gem from Yahoo this morning. (Warning: if you are currently eating a fast food burger, or would really like to enjoy one in the near future, just do yourself a favor and skip this. I'm pretty sure this segment has put me off of fast food forever).
Although it was labeled a weight loss article, The Truth About Weight Gain is more like a food horror show. The most appalling part about it was the truth about fast food burgers.
Are you ready? Take a deep breath and steel your stomach. Straight from the article:
Most fast-food hamburger patties begin their voyage to your buns in the hands of a company called Beef Products. The company specializes in taking slaughterhouse trimmings—heads and hooves and the like—that are traditionally used only in pet food and cooking oil, and turning them into patties. The challenge is getting this byproduct meat clean enough for human consumption, as both E. coli and salmonella like to concentrate themselves in the fatty deposits.
The company has developed a process for killing beef-based pathogens by forcing the ground meat through pipes and exposing it to ammonia gas—the same chemical you might use to clean your bathroom. Not only has the USDA approved the process, but it's also allowed those who sell the beef to keep it hidden from their customers. At Beef Products’ behest, ammonia gas has been deemed a “processing agent” that need not be identified on nutrition labels. Never mind that if ammonia gets on your skin, it can cause severe burning, and if it gets in your eyes, it can blind you. Add to the gross-out factor the fact that after moving through this lengthy industrial process, a single beef patty can consist of cobbled-together pieces from different cows from all over the world—a practice that only increases the odds of contamination.
Remember my resolution about no fast food in 2011? Pretty sure that will be a breeze after reading that. Ladies and gentlemen, this has to be why, as a nation, we are so damn unhealthy, doesn't it?
Back to clean eating. Reading things like that just affirms to me my resolution to eat more whole foods, to scour our labels and to know where our food comes from. I owe that much to my family. Eating locally, shopping at farmers markets, gardening - all of these are basic steps towards clean eating. Healthy eating.
And now, my coupon for you. For a limited time, Tanga is offering Clean Eating magazine at a huge discount - a one year subscription for just $5.99, no strings attached. Just use the coupon code "EAT" at the checkout. (It initially shows up as a discounted price of $24.99 - entering the coupon code will reduce the price by $19.00).
Click here to go directly to the deal, while it lasts. As of this writing, Clean Eating is already in the "second chance" section of the website, so it won't be long before the deal is no longer available.
Monday, December 27, 2010
The Toddler and Eating Healthy
Have you heard? We now have a TODDLER. Not only did Jack decide to turn a whole year old last week, but he has decided that because now he's a big boy, he's going to walk.
For me, this means not it is time to revisit his diet.
I loved making his baby food back when purees were sufficient, and he still occasionally has some veggies and meats pureed because it seems to be a better way to introduce him to new flavors (we grownup types easily forget that our little ones are experiencing not just the tastes of new foods but also their textures for the first time). For the most part though, Jack has transitioned to eating what mom and dad eat, just in smaller bites. He needs more than just three meals a day though. He needs healthy snacks as well. We've bought him some of the toddler finger foods - organic fruit flavored cereal Os - but he needs more than that. And he deserves to eat food that comes from someplace other than a box on Target's shelf. He needs fruits and veggies and meats and grains.
Remember Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution - when the elementary school children couldn't recognize tomatoes or cauliflower, but they sure knew their McNuggets and ketchup? Horrifying. It was that show that inspired me to reevaluate what I eat on a daily basis.
And that show alone was enough reason for me to find some wholesome snacks for my little boy. In my searching, I found a fantastic website with some great nutritional recipes for toddler meals and snacks, including some that can be premade and frozen. Wholesome Toddler Foods is my new go-to site for cooking for Jack. I love some of their recipes - veggie pancakes, stuffed apples, stuffed pitas - all great ideas, reduced to toddler-sized portions.
Plus, I can't lie: I was sold at their definition of "toddler:"
A child who is between the age of 12 months and 48 months old (1 year and 4 years old)
One who loves to eat food one day and then dislikes that very same food the next day
One who requires a lot of clean laundry, tidying-up after, and lots of attention, and constant amusement and stimulation
One who is methodical and focused in his or her attempts at launching a spoonful of mashed potatoes as easily as a robotic arm assembles a car!
One who's innocence and wonder inspires us to do better
One who possesses an abundance of love to share
One who is unconditional in the giving, and delightful in the receiving of that love, along with showering hugs, kisses and smiles to those around him or her; a true joy and a true blessing to treasure
Yeah, I have a toddler. He's all of those things. And he's going to know his tomatoes from his carrots, and hopefully he'll like them all, because he deserves that.
For me, this means not it is time to revisit his diet.
I loved making his baby food back when purees were sufficient, and he still occasionally has some veggies and meats pureed because it seems to be a better way to introduce him to new flavors (we grownup types easily forget that our little ones are experiencing not just the tastes of new foods but also their textures for the first time). For the most part though, Jack has transitioned to eating what mom and dad eat, just in smaller bites. He needs more than just three meals a day though. He needs healthy snacks as well. We've bought him some of the toddler finger foods - organic fruit flavored cereal Os - but he needs more than that. And he deserves to eat food that comes from someplace other than a box on Target's shelf. He needs fruits and veggies and meats and grains.
Remember Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution - when the elementary school children couldn't recognize tomatoes or cauliflower, but they sure knew their McNuggets and ketchup? Horrifying. It was that show that inspired me to reevaluate what I eat on a daily basis.
And that show alone was enough reason for me to find some wholesome snacks for my little boy. In my searching, I found a fantastic website with some great nutritional recipes for toddler meals and snacks, including some that can be premade and frozen. Wholesome Toddler Foods is my new go-to site for cooking for Jack. I love some of their recipes - veggie pancakes, stuffed apples, stuffed pitas - all great ideas, reduced to toddler-sized portions.
Plus, I can't lie: I was sold at their definition of "toddler:"
A child who is between the age of 12 months and 48 months old (1 year and 4 years old)
One who loves to eat
One who requires a lot of clean laundry, tidying-up after, and lots of attention, and constant amusement and stimulation
One who is methodical and focused in his or her attempts at launching a spoonful of mashed potatoes as easily as a robotic arm assembles a car!
One who's innocence and wonder inspires us to do better
One who possesses an abundance of love to share
One who is unconditional in the giving, and delightful in the receiving of that love, along with showering hugs, kisses and smiles to those around him or her; a true joy and a true blessing to treasure
Yeah, I have a toddler. He's all of those things. And he's going to know his tomatoes from his carrots, and hopefully he'll like them all, because he deserves that.
Friday, December 24, 2010
One year. One beautiful, beautiful year.
A year ago today, it was snowing hard. I was in the hospital, admitted the night before. Our brand new Jeep was the only vehicle making it easily up the steep hill to Waukesha Memorial. The on-call doctor had told us to come in and see if it was time for Jack to make his appearance. I wanted to go to Denny's first, but my husband insisted that we just trek through the snow and get to the doctor.
We should have gone to Denny's first. They don't let you eat anything once they admit you. Lunch was long ago, and I was starving.
The night was hard, and when morning finally came my husband had to leave to make sure the snow was plowed from the driveway and the front walk. I wasn't going anywhere - I was in a lot of pain from the pitocin but we were a long way from seeing our baby. When he came back he said he stopped at our favorite diner for breakfast. Everyone there had wished us luck, and the cook prepared his order ahead of everyone else waiting for their meals because he knew my husband was in a special kind of a hurry.
We had bought the movie White Christmas and brought it to the hospital to watch, but one station was running a marathon of it all day, so we had our movie on replay. I felt like I was going to be there forever, as each nurse reported such little progress. Dan said Jack would be born in time for lunch. It was 10:00 a.m. I was highly doubtful.
It was my turn to be wrong. Jack was born at 11:20 a.m. on Christmas Eve day. Everyone marveled at his beautiful dark hair. We marveled at everything about him.
We spent our first Christmas as a family of three in the hospital, with no visitors because of the bad weather. We watched A Christmas Story and ate the surprisingly delicious hospital food and enjoyed our little boy. It was the best Christmas ever.
And since then? Every day is better than the one before it.
Happy First Birthday, Jack Donovan.
We should have gone to Denny's first. They don't let you eat anything once they admit you. Lunch was long ago, and I was starving.
The night was hard, and when morning finally came my husband had to leave to make sure the snow was plowed from the driveway and the front walk. I wasn't going anywhere - I was in a lot of pain from the pitocin but we were a long way from seeing our baby. When he came back he said he stopped at our favorite diner for breakfast. Everyone there had wished us luck, and the cook prepared his order ahead of everyone else waiting for their meals because he knew my husband was in a special kind of a hurry.
We had bought the movie White Christmas and brought it to the hospital to watch, but one station was running a marathon of it all day, so we had our movie on replay. I felt like I was going to be there forever, as each nurse reported such little progress. Dan said Jack would be born in time for lunch. It was 10:00 a.m. I was highly doubtful.
It was my turn to be wrong. Jack was born at 11:20 a.m. on Christmas Eve day. Everyone marveled at his beautiful dark hair. We marveled at everything about him.
And since then? Every day is better than the one before it.
Happy First Birthday, Jack Donovan.
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