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Posts Tagged ‘guest post’

Nov
21

Raising Thankful Kids

Posted in Family, Life with Kids, Things to do

It’s almost Thanksgiving!

photo credit: The Vault DFW via photopin cc

The calendar obligates us to be thankful on Thursday! Thankful for an epic mess in the kitchen, Uncle Eddie-types at our table, eating more food at one meal than anyone should consume in two days!

I’m totally kidding, a little bit, but seriously–sometimes I think it’s easier to be more thankful on a different day than Thanksgiving. But, it can be endearing; Grandma’s cornbread stuffing (with a LOT of sage!), Auntie’s home made pecan pies, the inevitable jello mold, great grandma–so happy to be all dressed up and surrounded by her umpteen grandchildren, new babies in the family, the construction-paper turkey napkin ring holders on the table. There’s no denying that it is a memory-making day, no matter what happens.

Every year, I vow to keep my priorities straight and make intentional actions to be grateful and to continue with that heart into the Christmas hustle and bustle that is around the corner. I never pull it off just-right, but I am convinced that getting back up on the horse every year is half the battle! This year, I made a Thankful Tree. I saw it on another blog and loved the idea of making a little table-top tree from branches and gravel in a pot with paper leaves  to write “I’m thankful for…” by everyone in the family each day so that you can read each one on Thanksgiving. Here’s where I report the tear-jerking stories of my family flocking to the tree to fill it with leaves of their expressed sentiments of heart-felt gratitude….only they did not flock. No flocking, only mocking! Turkeys, they are!

photo credit: Sugar Daze via photopin cc

While that project didn’t quite have the breadth and depth I had hoped for, I will keep my little turkeys around a little longer considering we have gained ground in other areas of expressing thanks. Here are a few ideas for the season, but can also be incorporated throughout the year.

  • Cookies: This is a great one for families with little ones. Have a baking day and take cookies to the fire station! Have your little ones draw a picture and help them write “THANK YOU” on it. It may not seem like it makes a big difference, but you’re teaching your child that when we take the time to give and serve it makes others feel appreciated and it makes us feel good, too! And, hello? The fire station? What a cool trip to make! Win-win!
  • Serve: If your kids are older, find a shelter or mission to serve or help prepare the Thanksgiving meal. It’s less work than you think and it makes for great follow-up conversations.
  • Give: Participate in an Angel Tree program (Angel Tree Christmas works by connecting parents in prison with their children through the delivery of Christmas gifts. ) or something similar. Let your kids help you shop for the item or items. It’s a great exercise for our little ones to go to Target and buy a gift for someone else and not go home with anything for themselves–you know what I’m talking about!
  • Thank you notes: I’m a big believer in the discipline of writing thank you notes. It’s a lost art to mail a hand-written note, but I’m campaigning to keep it alive! Birthday presents, Christmas money, guest coming to your recital–thank you goes a long way!

One year, my sister and brother-in-law gave my then three year old son his gift: an envelope saying that they had bought a soccer ball for a child in Africa, in his name. His reaction was honest and memorable, “BUT I WANT THAT SOCCER BALL!” Bahahaha, we laughed and still look back and laugh. Generosity and gratefulness is not always in our nature, but we can choose it, practice it and nurture it in ourselves and in our children.

-posted by Jenny Leggitt from SoundSteps in Dallas, who is thankful for turkeys; on and around her table.

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Oct
1

T is for Time

Posted in Life with Kids, parenting, Things to do

You know, I think the British have something with tea time. Tea time is typically around four or five o’clock. Of course, hot tea is served and usually some sort of cookie or cake. It’s observed religiously. Everyone stops, sits down, and enjoys a civilized cup of tea and some conversation. Now, transfer that to your typical four o’clock…match? or no match?

A couple of years ago I instituted tea time in our home. My youngest had started full-day Kindergarten and I really didn’t want to miss out on hearing about his day, while my oldest was starting sixth grade and entering the era of “I’m too cool to tell you anything on command.” My middle one, a third grader, had things to say but needed space to process and share.

So, I amped up “after school snack time” with a few fancy snacks and an agenda. Ironically, though I referred to it as “tea time,” I did not serve tea. I served water and whatever food item I had planned for the day. Sometimes, it was as simple as cut up fruit. Sometimes, it was a plate of cookies. The “what” was not as important as the “what happened.” Here’s how ours usually plays out:

  • photo credit: Wendy Copley via photopin cc

    We ALL sit down at the table

  • We take turns sharing about our day (including Mom).
  • We review who has homework.
  • I wrap things up with directives about chores, backpacks, homework and free-time!

I really feel like “tea time” is a great pause in everyone’s day. I think I could have used it years ago, when the kids were younger and we suffered through those afternoon witching hours before dinner/bath/bedtime. Besides the talk time we engage in, I know it helps stabilize blood-sugar and is a great opportunity to rehydrate, both biological factors in maintaining good moods and level heads. I’m always surprised at how much I appreciate the time to sit down and rest and really listen to what they have to share.

After school can be a busy, chaotic time, but with a little bit of intention, I look forward to three o’clock, all three coming through the door asking with their faux British accents, “What’s for tea?”

Life moves so quickly and finding these little resting places are the times we’ll remember and they will, too.

Happy new week, to you!!

-posted by Jenny Leggett, of SoundSteps, who loves her version of “civilized” tea time!

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Sep
3

Garbage In… Garbage Out

Posted in Bits and Pieces, Family, Life with Kids

It is after 11.  I just ran down my stairs like it was nothing.  A month ago you would have thought I was a sixty year old by the way I hobbled down the stairs at the end of the day.

After a good year and a half maintaining a pretty solid victory over food and especially sugar (most days), the past month or two have put me in a tailspin on the self-control department.  By tailspin I mean eat a whole one pound bag of sour watermelons.  Or a dozen Darcy’s Dinky Donuts THREE times in a week.  Or a slice of pizza at Costco AFTER eating a whole dinner at home.  It wasn’t pretty folks.

But food makes me feel good.  Or at least that is the assumption I was operating under.  Even if for a brief moment, it was tasty bliss and I liked it.  Like may be an understatement.  Love might be a better term.

As I lost my normal “try to eat relatively nourishing and healthy food” paradigm and replaced it with “eat what feels and tastes good” any semblance of self control I was holding on to was vanishing.  But I wasn’t vanishing.  Oh no, I was increasing and it was the natural outcome of the age old principle of cause and effect which applies to nearly everyone and everything, except my husband because he can live at McDonald’s and look like the high school hottie I married 13 years ago.

I digress.  Now, I must give the disclaimer that there were difficult circumstances at hand.  But before that settles in too much, aren’t there always?  I mean really, there is always, always something tough going on.  So if I can’t get a handle on my food choices on a super tough day then when can I?  The other factor is that as a home educating, full time mom of five little people, I sometimes deserve a treat.  Yes, I do.  Problem is when I determine over the course of twelve hours that a ‘treat’ is earned by me merely making it through the day.  Is it a treat when I find a reason to indulge in a chocolate covered Haggen Daz bar on the way home from the grocery store and then to have another one after I unpack the groceries?  No, I think not.  I’m fairly sure that’s called gluttony.

photo credit: roboppy via photo pin cc

Ew.  Gross word.  I hate typing it out.  But that’s sort of where I feel like my intake was headed. And I felt AWFUL.  Tired, completely dependent on loads of coffee and moody.  Unpredictable.  Crabby and foggy and generally unpleasant.  After a few long days of this I decided a major course correction was in order.

I thought I’d try and see if I could spend the same amount of money on my weekly Costco trip but buy at least 75% fruits and veggies.  What would I give up?  I wasn’t sure but I made my list and gave it my best.  Besides the super cute bathing suit that wasn’t in my grocery budget I spent exactly the same and came out with 80% produce.  How would we survive seven days without my favorite chips or Darcy’s Dinky Donuts?  We would.  I committed to no harried fast food runs on the way home, to planning snacks to go and breakfasts so we weren’t starving once we were out and about.  And to no sugar, bread, carbs of any kind, sweets, dessert, crackers, etc – for me.  For the kids I would go easy and simply cut nearly all sugar (except the fruit popsicles I had stocked up on).

It has been one week.  After a very unpleasant day 1 and fairly tough day 2, I have not felt so good in a long time.  I have juiced the heck out of loads of vegetables and though they still hate that its green, the kids will drink their glass without complaint.  We have snacked on cherries, kiwi, berries, carrots, cucumbers and more.  No one has gone hungry.

photo credit: Night-thing via photo pin cc

My whole body hurts exponentially less.  My clothes fit a little better.  I am more fun to be around (I think).  I can get through an afternoon without standing in the pantry for ten minutes looking for something sweet to get me to dinner.  I have more time to play and clean and write and all sorts of other stuff when I know what we’re eating for the next meal.

Though I have read and learned a great deal about food over the past few years, this was a great lesson for me.  A great reminder that if I put gross stuff not intended to sustain and nourish me into my body, then I can’t expect to feel like I want to.  If I put yucky stuff in, I am choosing to feel yucky and act yucky because I feel so……yes, yucky.

Props to my endearing hubby who agreed to go without McDonald’s for one week just because I dared him to (and because I offered to make him lunches).  I hope he feels a tiny bit better from giving his (smokin’) body a break from the golden arches.

-reposted with thanks to Karissa Strovas, who is looking ahead to another week without donuts or sour patch kids…

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Sep
1

Eating Clean

Posted in Bits and Pieces

photo credit: Rosa Say via photo pin cc

All the dermatologist could tell me was, “Yes, it is eczema” and could give me creams but nothing was working and in fact, everything we did aggravated my chin even further. I even subjected myself to a full week without getting my back wet to determine what possible skin allergy I might have. So after 5 different dermatologists tried to treat a chronic case of eczema that had mysteriously invaded my face, I finally sought a different type of treatment.

One of the parents in my Kindermusik classes, a Naturopathic physician, had been talking with other families and helping them out so I figured I’d see what she could do. I pointed to my face and she looked at it and, without hesitation, immediately said, “It’s dairy.” After all these tests and creams and opinions, that’s it? One look? She said I was likely sensitive (not allergic) to something I was eating and that was showing up on the outside as lots of little red spots.

I was exhausted of the doctor visits so I thought, “What the heck, I’ll see where this goes.” Now, at that point, I was pretty much the picture of a very good diet: vegetarian for about 14 years, exercised 6 days/week, not a lot of junk food. Still, she said something in my diet, she suspected dairy, was causing inflammation at a cellular level and that’s what was coming out—literally—on my face.

I’m not going to sugarcoat it. The treatment was just plain miserable: to completely clean out my diet for a minimum of 3 weeks, then gradually add in one food at a time to identify the culprit. This wasn’t for wimps because those first 3 weeks, when I couldn’t have dairy, sugar, corn, soy or gluten, I thought I was going to starve (that left, um, a few plants—nuts, beans, fruits and veggies). The entire clean out/add in process took an entire summer.

photo credit: flickrich via photo pin cc

It didn’t come easily. I spent at least an hour at Whole Foods on several occasions reading labels in total awe. Even though I was a healthy eater, I hadn’t taken the time to read what was in stuff. It was shocking how few choices I could find of clean food. So, in desperation, I just went crazy with fresh stuff, plus nuts, beans and flaxseed. Thank goodness it was summer when everything was a peak flavor and freshness!

But I did it, strictly and exactly, because I was determined to get my skin cleared up and guess what? It did, almost magically. And as I added in each food, I could see, with perfect clarity, my body’s reaction. When I added in gluten and corn with no adverse affect, I was relieved. But when I added in dairy, wow, it was instant. Immediately, the little redness cropped right back up and my skin was inflamed again.

Now, up ‘til this time, I was committed to vegetarianism and for ethical and environmental reasons, would have liked to have been a vegan, but I thought it was too difficult. So during that summer of clean eating, exactly 4 years ago, I converted to a full vegan diet and haven’t looked back! And because I experience slight inflammation when I increase sugar in my diet, I have mostly eliminated it as well. So now, my diet consists of all fresh foods all the time with very little sugar and no animal products and no processed foods.

Yes, it is a lot of work, but more rewarding than I could have imagined. I remember when I first switched to vegetarianism and got a huge energy boost. I couldn’t imagine having more energy but that’s exactly what veganism did for me. (If you read any vegan literature or websites, most people testify the same is true, even if it does seem counterintuitive.)

I eat very clean about 95% of the time. (1-2 meals a week out, plus an occasional vegan dessert). Everything else is prepared at home, usually raw or lightly cooked and fresh. Our refrigerator is always stuffed with fruits, veggies, and lots of green stuff! We don’t eat much of anything that comes from a box or a can in this house. Yes, groceries are pricey but no pricier than eating out. And I look at it as health insurance. The benefits of eating this way are well documented and the vegan movement is gaining a lot of momentum.

photo credit: SweetOnVeg via photo pin cc

I will add that my husband is NOT a vegan but he IS a clean eater, as much as possible with his work and travel schedule. He still loves his meat and eggs and I won’t ever try to make him vegan. He no longer eats dairy and rarely eats anything processed. Our philosophy for his diet is to eat “close to the ground.” I don’t have any problem with his eating meat because as long as it’s not processed or full of hormones, it’s as natural as my veggies. The trouble lies in the processed foods that look nothing like what’s growing out of the ground or in the pastures.

So we make it work in our house. We eat a lot of salads in the summers and soups in the winters. But besides the delicious food we enjoy, we both have much better energy, my skin is clear and better than any pill, Robert has reversed what was diagnosed as coronary artery disease!

-posted by Miss Lisa of SoundSteps, who in her 5% of non-clean eating, enjoys treating herself to a vegan chocolate chip cookie.

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Aug
26

Confessions of a Health Nut

Posted in Bits and Pieces, Recipes

You could say I married into a health(ier) lifestyle.

Prior to marriage, I worked out for two hours a day and ate a diet pretty much based on the food pyramid (except for gluten).  I thought I was healthy despite not feeling my best.

It wasn’t until nearly our third year of marriage with newborn in hand did I realize the decisions we were facing, all in regard to food.  Without getting into the debate of creating food preferences in the womb or furthering your child’s palate while breastfeeding, setting my child up for a healthy and hopefully disease free life meant feeding her quality food now. Of course there are environmental factors I can’t control but by offering healthy, flavorful options since nearly day one of our daughter’s solid food life, I hope to encourage healthy habits. It may be somewhat unconventional (although time efficient and easy), we didn’t stray far from our own diet when offering her meals. Turns out, at 13 months old, we have quite the carnivore on our hands; I think our little lady could eat salmon, broccoli and blueberries for every meal and never think twice.

While one percent of me feels guilty, and un-American, that I’m not feeding her Cheerios, in the grand scheme of things protecting her against obesity, diabetes, and digestive disorder – to name a few – is more important. What is also important is that as a family we grow together in health and encourage wellness.

As the wife of an athlete and owner of Xplore CrossFit, I also have to think about feeding my husband high quality fuel. So how do I juggle athlete and infant taste buds? Like I’ve said before, feed them delicious, seasonal and nourishing meals. I hate to say we follow the Paleo diet but we do try to adhere to eating lean protein, veggies, fruit, nuts and seeds 90% of the time. Most people hear this and ask what we eat. So let me repeat it: lean protein (think grilled salmon, hamburgers, meatballs, pulled pork), veggies (think roasted asparagus, bacon laced brussel sprouts, kale “nachos”), fruit (stone fruits, berries, tropical fruits, you name it), and even dessert (I make killer chocolate cupcake that are even good for you)!

You may be thinking I’m completely crazy or you may be wondering where to start. There are two basic camps: babysteps or cold turkey. It may sound extreme but personally I think it’s best to completely eliminate all of the allergen and tempting foods in your house. If it’s there you will seek it out. Or you can take baby steps. For example, eliminate soda or gluten or sugar for 14 days, 30 days or even 60 days.  Record how you feel. After eliminating gluten, it only took me a week to notice my body loving life again.

Don’t get me wrong, we can overdo it even when eating whole foods or healthier options. Did I mention the chocolate cupcakes (yes, even these gluten free, coconut flour chocolate cupcakes) I made tonight are nearly gone? Healthy, yes; delicious, perhaps too much.

 

You’ve heard it before but moderation is key. Be mindful of what you eat and how your body feels. Stop sabotaging your future for the instant satisfaction yet guilt-ridden promise of a bag of chips or pint of ice cream…or paleo chocolate cupcakes.

A few of our favorite recipes right now include:

Appetizer
Herbed Flatbread with Prosciutto, Pesto & Sheeps Milk Cheese (courtesy of http://www.roostblog.com/)

  • 3 cups almond flour
  • 1 TBS fresh sage, chopped
  • 2 TBS fresh oregano, chopped
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1/4 cup ghee, melted (or oil of your choice)
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 cup grated cheese (I used a mild sheep’s milk)
  • 2-3 big slices of prosciutto broken into smaller pieces
  • pesto (make or buy your own)
  • aged balsamic for garnish
  1. Preheat oven to 350F. Combine first five ingredients into a bowl. Add the ghee (or oil) and eggs. Mix until incorporated. Pat into a ball and then place on parchment paper. Place another piece of parchment on top of the ball and roll until desired thickness. Place rolled dough (still on the parchment) onto a cookie sheet and bake for 12-15 minutes. Remove from oven.
  2. Spread pesto all over dough, followed by the prosciutto and sprinkle with cheese. Place in oven for 5 minutes or until cheese has melted and edges have browned.
  3. Remove from oven, cut with pizza slicer and drizzle balsamic on top.

Entree
Slow-Cooker Salsa Verde Chicken

  • 1 pork roast or 3 chicken breasts (3-5 lbs)
  • 16 oz jar of salsa verde (this is the key ingredient so make sure it is a super star with a little bit of heat). I like the Mexican Grocer’s salsa in Pike Place Market
  1. Pour half your salsa verde into your crock pot. Set your pork roast in the slow cooker and place the other half of the salsa verde on top of it. Set on low for 4-8 hours. Remove from slow cooker and shred. You can add a little of the juice if you like after shredding.
  2. Now assemble to your hearts content…we like shredded cabbage and/or spinach, cilantro, tomatoes and avocado.

Dessert
Chocolate cupcakes (adapted from www.paleospirit.com)

  • 10 medjool dates, pitted
  • 1 cup of unsweetened applesauce
  • 3 eggs
  • 1/2 cup coconut oil
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1/2 cup coconut flour
  • 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon fine celtic sea salt
  1. Place the medjool dates in a food processor and pulse until completely pureed.
  2. Add applesauce and continue to pulse until pureed and combined with the dates.
  3. Add the eggs, coconut oil, vanilla and water and mix until well combined.
  4. Combine the dry ingredients in a separate bowl. Slowly add the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients and mix until you have a smooth batter.
  5. Grease a muffin pan with coconut oil and pour in the batter 2/3 full
  6. Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick stuck in the middle comes out clean.
  7. Eat plain or cover with freshly picked blueberries, cocoa nibs or walnuts. Enjoy!
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