Why we Eat Cereal for Dessert, and NOT for Breakfast (Making a Better Choice)

The demands of the world dictate that cereal must be consumed by children. How could I be so cruel and keep such a treat away from them? Those circular colorful treats, that taste sweet, and even change the color of the milk... We like them as a topping on yogurt or as a dry snack. I know, are you reading the right blog? YES! I am the same mostly healthy mom trying to accommodate my children/s demands and their healthy needs. Can you imagine such a conversation at home "Hey Kids, We aren't ever eating cereal again for breakfast?" Oh the Drama. . . But When I DID SAY "What do you guys think of moving Cereal to Dessert Time?" was a success.

I recently picked up a thrift store copy of the book "Eat This Not That, Supermarket survival guide." I saw this book authors presentation on some talk show years ago... it was informative, extremely. We put in so many unknown ingredients into our bodies when we eat packaged foods. I can't even pronounce some of the ingredients!
 

So when I came across the book I purchased it. Just initially thumbing thru I saw the few packaged items I do purchase listed and they're great alternative ideas. As well as some great sauces and condiments that are referenced (which I have totally forgotten about as a nice way to dress up meals and for sides). These said sauces and condiments are a nice way to substitute flavor as you remove unnecessary calories to help in weight loss/maintenance.

I recently lost over 25 pounds last year, and not intentionally which is the ironic part. It was totally accidental loss... I swapped white sugar for agave nectar in my coffee, I added more fruits to my day as a snack, I stopped buying kid selected desserts and went back to old habits of only High Quality Desserts. I Made a lot of other changes in our home before this 25 pound weight loss and you can read about them here.

As we all should know weight gain, and excess weight gain especially, comes from
1. Eating Larger portions (calories) then our bodies and activity levels need, and
2. Eating excess amounts of sugar, often unknown quantities to us!

(*As an Aside: I read an awesome article in National Geographic magazine on the history of sugar and how we have arrived at our current American sugar intake levels. The results were SHOCKING as consumers average 22 teaspoons of added sugar per day!  I personally lost over 25 pounds this last year and I credit my number 1 reason for successfully loosing the weight and keeping it off is switching from white sugar to agave nectar. I'll have to write a separate post about this amazing life changing step that I took. And NO I didn't completely cut out sugar/y sweets because I want to enjoy the finer things in life....see the post.)

In "Eat This, Not That" the authors cover many packaged products, including cereals. The little thought bubble inserts are loaded with helpful information on MAKING A BETTER CHOICE. The book lists brands of popular cereal, and their top nasty ingredients and grams of sugar per serving. On the opposing page they list alternative brands and better choice ideas in the cereal category including healthier or better ingredients and lower sugar quantities. However the best information on this page was our life changing decision... "Treat Cereal as Dessert."



Our visit to Wagner Farm, where a cow took great interest in us. We always ask the kids "Where did our food that we are eating come from?" If they can't tell me it is usually a quick way of identifying "highly processed" foods, like cereal.

Cereal has just as much sugar as Desserts do. Do you serve ice cream for breakfast, eclairs, chocolate cake perhaps (and I am sorry to say toaster strudels, donuts and the like fall into the dessert category). Well for us, NO WE do NOT serve dessert for breakfast, so why should I serve cereal with the same amounts of sugar in it?

I bookmarked this page, and after dinner shared it with the family at the dinner table. I read from the book to the kids. Even my 5 year old son understood what it meant to eat one bowl of cereal or 3 candy bars... he responded "mommy, my tummy would hurt!"

Good Bye Cereal
Cereal is a great marketing campaign, similar to Orange Juice, making it a "Must Have Staple" in the American diet. Granted serving cereal is Easy and fast, and that has helped maintain the popularity. But serving sliced apples and peanut butter (which I have served for breakfast) is full of healthy natural sugars, and is in NO COMPARISON to cereal so much healthier for the breakfast eater. My kids feel full longer eating real foods - and not cereal. They don't have that pre-lunch crash after eating a sugary breakfast either.

Once last thing. My kids were all over this "Cool" idea of "eating cereal for breakfast" when we first agreed to it. And for the first 2 weeks (only) they requested cereal for dessert. Then the idea sort of lost it's appeal, I don't know why? It could be because when I do serve dessert at home 2-3 times per week, it is good quality dessert. We don't serve too many refined sugar treats. Instead we use/purchase desserts made with fine quality ingredients: real creams (not cool whip), butters (not margarines), and high quality sugars. The taste of the desserts are amazing, and sometimes very simple.

Desserts We buy:
- Lindor or E. Wendel High Qulity Chocolate Bars, and each person gets 2-3 squares for dessert. Our local fruit store carries these brands, but Godiva, and even Hersey's are "better" qulity chocolates.
- Assortments of nuts or shelled Pistachios. These always go fast.
- Desserts from international bakeries and friends travels like Truffles from France and Baklava from the Middle Eastern Grocer on my monthly visit.
- Angel Wings, or Chrusciki,  from our local bakery. A light butter treat thats great with coffee or tea.
- Good quality ice cream, gelatos and Italian ice.
- Cakes from our local bakery (not Jewel or chain store bakeries). Including Apple Pie, Fruit Pies, Small Tortes made with fresh ingredients.

THE NO COST DIFFERENCE OF QUALITY DESSERT

We have a small local bakery and a nearby international grocer that bakes there own bread and desserts daily. The ingredients are high quality and sometimes pricier then some items that sit on shelves for a few days. But in the end THE COST IS THE SAME. Why?

First of all we eat less dessert, only 2-3 times a week and the servings are small. So we consume less calories less often.

Second, because we are eating small portion and less often we are basically spending the same amount of money, just the per serving price is higher, however the quality is far improved. Quality matters (said the women who lost 25 pounds!) because your body processes natural sugar differently then highly processed ingredients that maintain a products shelf life. Your also consuming less unnatural ingredients which is also better for your body and weight loss / weight maintenance.

As I said before, helping the kids make a change to Eating Cereal for Dessert is also a great way to move away from eating cereal for breakfast.

Good luck in making changes at home for healthier eating. It's not always easy, but the journey is fun.

Orignal Post April, 2014
Make Mistakes. Breathe, Reflect, and Laugh.Out.Loud.

Poem: The Cycle

The Story Behind the Poem:

Abuse and neglect carry over generations, it becomes a "parenting style."  How could a child raised in such an environment: ... know how to raise her own children? Break the cycle? Lift herself out of such hopelessness and tragedy for a beautiful life? 

My husband worked as an administrator in the inner city schools for several years. The stories he told me inspired this poem. Many many scary stories. All the more horrifying BECAUSE they were TRUE. Working in the ghetto, gives you perspective on issues you cannot even begin to understand, unless you've been there. All of the stories collided in my mind as if lived thru the eyes of a little girl. 

I wrote this poem in 2008. However, years later another accidental ride through the inner city reminded me of this time in my life, a Visit to the Westside of Chicago through photos. 

Westside of Chicago, a photo by areyousureaboutthatblog on Flickr.

The Cycle

Growin' old, age 3, didn't get beat,

Gettin McD's and somethi' sweet.

'Cause My mama gave me $5 today,

Gonna sit now on a porch 'n play.

Mama came home, she didn't say hi,

Sat next to her watchin' the bruise heal on her eye.

Watchin' TV, sesame street, 

Elmo the monster is cute, he has Red feet.

Starting school, I didn't know why?

Grandnana said education Is mine.

Walked in, my belly aches,

Wishin' for some hotcakes.

Sitting in the office again, I was yellin' at my friend.

A mama came 'n, her boy was 8. 

Signin' him up for school a little late.

He touched a pencil 'n the desk, 

When she looked at him her eyes popped out of her head!

He put his hand down real fast,

He looked at her know'n this peace wouldn't last.

She said he was dumb, she didn't know what to do, 

so she decided to send him to skoo'.

Graduat'n today, mama was late,

My diploma shows I did great.

High schools ah'ight, boys get'n in so many a fight.

My boyfriend asked me if I'm gonna have my baby tonight.

by: Areyousureaboutthatblog Author

Not Authorized for Reproduction Without Permission
Make Mistakes. Breathe, Reflect. and Laugh.Out.Loud

My Infant is Constipated - this is NOT normal!

Constipation

So I went to Grandma for this one! Babies on formula need to drink a little extra water to help wit the constipation. When I talked to my pediatrician, he gave me a nice range of options. “There is western medicine that can help with constipation, and there are many natural remedies.” That is what you want from your pediatrician! Options. A range of them so you can pick what you want to do as a parent! You should know the variety of solutions available and fit the one that meets your lifestyle and is safe for baby!

If your baby has constipation review the following possible causes and solutions.

We breastfeed and formula fed our son. I only produced 1 ounces or so of breast milk but I was determined to breastfeed. So up until 5 months I breastfed first, and then I gave the formula bottle (before I discovered the SNS, supplemental nursing system). But our older baby son still had really bad constipation in the first few weeks.

The human body naturally processes waste. And when a bowl movement happens it shouldn’t be hard to do. Common Sense, right? Well the foods we eat – mom and baby, affect our stomachs ability to process food and then the waste by product, bowl movements.

Formula AND Breast Fed Baby

If you are breastfeeding and your baby is constipated, you should try adding more fiber to your diet. Yes, mom you! Since breast milk is processed in mom’s body, if mom eats more fiber, baby gets more fiber.

For Mom:
Eat more high fiber food, including:
· 3 servings of fruits and vegetables a day (A serving of fruit is 1 apple, or 1 banana, or 1 pear. Or you can have a ¼ grapefruit, mellow or cantelope.
· drink 8 8 ounce glasses of fluid a day (but not 8 glasses of soda, coffee or caffeine tea! This causes constipation too! As does milk.)

For Baby:
After each feeding I'd mix 2 ounces of baby water (store bought, but I just boiled our city tap water and let it cool in a pitcher. That was my baby water for the day) I'd add 1 teaspoon of light karo corn syrup. It helped tremendously!! But don't add too much syrup, that cause discomfort in those newly formed baby intestines too.

· Dill tea: in Europe, women give a light, not full strength, dill tea. It helps ease gassyness and passing gas, an constipation. This too helped. And through the years I've continued to rely on dill tea for gut/ intestinal issues. And I give chamomile tea to help us relax at night, coughs, colds and sniffles. 

Do your best ... As a new mom that's all we can ask of you. And ask other moms how they help there babies. Use caution with any advice you get.

The days are long, especially in the first year, but the years are short - and our babies grew up fast!

Old Mom meet New Mom

I used to be a far worse mother then I am now.

I have been reflecting on how I used to be very strict, very schedule driven, and a little uptight. And I always felt good outside with my son. Maybe because I was a little bit "away from it all" when we left the house. He got to run, and I got to breath fresh air.... or maybe it was something I was missing. Something I didn't "get" as a new mom?

Old Mom: when my son wouldn't fall asleep right away at night, I'd get frustrated. If he was thirsty, I'd say "no." If he wanted another story, I'd say "no." And he toss and turn, for 30 minutes or longer..... I'd feel frustrated.

Meet New Mom: one boy is now two boys, and how quickly has time gone by. we have a regular bedtime routine, and if for some reason one or both boys can't sleep, we bend the rules. Now I'll go to my kids bed and snuggle with them. If they can't sleep and they're thirsty we go to the kitchen together and get a late snack (full tummies sleep better). I read them one more book. I rub their back, and give them bunches of kisses. I've learned that saying no in these rare times (maybe 2-3x's per year) just keeps us BOTH up late... I'd rather have a snack, and snuggle until we both fall asleep.

Old Mom, Meet New Mom

Old Mom: Nearly 8 years ago I would rock my son to sleep while playing games on my phone. I'd struggle saying nursing didn't work. I'd tell him to "ssshhhh, be quiet, it's sleep time." I'd put him to sleep in his crib, waking at night to rock him again. Leaving him, alone, in his room to sleep. I'd feel frustrated.

Meet New Mom: now I lay down for naps and bedtime with my daughter. The first moments are for her, to look at her, and to enjoy our fleeting time together. I look at her when she nurses. I rub her head and back. She puts her fingers in my mouth. She'll say "hmmm mmmmn" (whatever she's attempting AS she nurses). And I say "yes" "um hmmm" right back. And then she drifts off to sleep. Next to me, tummy to tummy. And stays asleep all night! And wakes me with a cute "coo" or "mama." And were much happier.

Old Mom: I'd wouldn't let my older son come into our bed at night. We'd always snuggle while reading a book, in his rocking chair, in his room. Only a few times did he ask to come to our bed, and we always said no. I don't know why. And deep down it made me sad.

Meet New Mom: after young son was born, and co slept with us until 18 months, we realized how fast our babies grew up. So we started letting both boys occasionally fall asleep in our bed, and then we transfer back to their beds. Now, when baby girl makes 3 kids, we often let them fall asleep in our bed (Fridays and weekends are to be expected, often more, at least on "moms side" of the bed). And now I get hot faster, and often stuck, pinned, between sleeping kids, and I'm thrilled. 

Old Mom: I would say clean up time, and send my son to clean up. I'd come in and see the work wasn't done, I'd start to get angrier and angrier, and then yell at him that he didn't clean up!!! This continued thru my young sons learning to clean up. Sometimes I'd help. Then I helped more when I heard a song on my older sons cd about cleaning up: 

"It's a busy day there's so much to do, can you help me (child's name). Put the books back on the shelf so we leave it neat for somebody else.... You can reach where it's small, and I can reach where it's tall... 20 fingers is what you need, it's fun when it's you and me." I was frustrated. 

Meet New Mom: I know that "modeling" the behaviors you want your child to do is critical!! They need to see ME cleaning up, CARING for my things, HELPING them clean up, TELLING them where things go, and They PUT it away. Sometimes I have to watch dinner in the pan, or change a diaper, or tend to something (because there's always something), but I always help, for at least 1-2 minutes and start the "clean up time." Modeling the behaviors I want them to have. Yes it takes more time in the beginning but within a few months you stop yelling and seeing the kids doing what's expected! And do you know what? It's helped! I rarely yell (about) cleaning up. I've let go of "I'll do it" and instead say "let me show you how." What a Tremendous wonderful change for us!!

I am really learning every day. I know there are so many more examples I can give. Discipline, Schedule, and Hard Work all hold the same value for us as a family, but my approach to teaching these skills and maintaining our lives has - - - grown. I've learned from most of my mistakes, I hope to keep learning and changing. For my sake as well as there own.

I heard those interview with an author who resides with his family in New York City. The book was something about the Archway in Central Park. And entering the gates of Central Park. Anyway, this author was talking about how he tried so hard to do the best for his kids when they were little, and he tried to be the best dad and do everything "just right." And then his son, who grew up and said to his dad 25 years later, "Dad, when I was little you always used to do this one thing.... {Parents: insert here what you do}." The author said, we can try hard at a lot of things like home work every day, and tossing the ball around on Saturdays, but no matter how hard we try we will still do something wrong and something to "screw our kids up."

I laugh at this all.the.time! Especially when we are having really good family moments, and I'm looking at my kids lovingly in the distance, and it hits me. This moment, right now is great, but somehow I'm still making mistakes elsewhere in their lives. Don't think of this as twisted, it's simply true, so I use it as motivation. To keep evolving as a mom, to keep reflecting on my actions, and theirs. To keep thinking about how I can be better. I will make small changes here and there, because it helps to try and be better. Even if it's a little at a time.

 

 

Make mistakes. Breathe, Reflect. And Laugh.Out.Loud

Walgreens pulls air fresheners

Our generation of kids are constantly getting sick. From flus and colds to severe disorders, allergies and ailments. I'm not saying chemicals cause these diseases, but the proof on the negative impact of chemicals in our lives just can't be ignored anymore!! Do chemicals cause these problems? I dont know the answer to that, but I do know that in 20 years - when the facts are common knowledge - I want to be on the side of caution. Company's want to make money, thats their right. But my job as a mom us to be an advocate for my amd my familys health and safety. And a clean smelling house is not worth our health.

My PINterest boards are full of "clean" fresh smelling alternatives. We have already cut out chemicals as cleaning agents, using only vinegar, lemon, and murphys soap for wood. Occasionally for extra tough water stains I use soft scrub - occasionally! When my older son was born I read lots about chemicals due to the rise of autism (in 2005 when he was born rates were a mere 1 in 56 kids) and the possible links. Accordingly I used detergent that was fragrance free and biodegradable. Vinegar goes in the rinse cycle of everything - amd if pooped, peeped and spaghetti sauce stained clothes needed a cleaning boost I use borax and feldspar or coconut based soap. Yes really!! Way pess expensive than oxy and pess toxic. Does it really make a difference? I wont get into my beliefs here, but Id rather err on the side of caution.

We do not use lysol, evah. In that regard, my last sin is coming off the shelves.

Back to fragrance ...

A day after a group of environmental organizations asked the federal government to start assessing the risk of air fresheners, Walgreens has pulled three of its products off store shelves, according to a story by Jane Kay in The San Francisco Chronicle.

An estimated 75 percent of households use air fresheners, a $1.72 billion industry in the U.S. But the scented sprays, gels and plug-ins used to mask odors aren't routinely tested for hazardous chemicals.

When the environmental group the Natural Resources Defense Council analyzed 14 common products, it found 12 contained hormone-disrupting chemicals known as phthalates, which can be dangerous to pregnant women or young children.

"This isn't really just about air fresheners, you know," wrote NRDC senior scientist Gina Solomon on her blog. The real issue here is that hazardous chemicals and endocrine disruptors can be in a wide range of consumer products, and the government has little authority or inclination to do anything about it."

Air fresheners have been linked to breathing difficulties, developmental problems in babies and cancer in laboratory animals, according to the petition to two federal agencies from the NRDC, the Sierra Club, Alliance for Healthy Homes and the National Center for Healthy Housing. The chemicals in the products can also cause problems for asthmatics.

Walgreens told the Chronicle that it plans to have the air fresheners tested independently and that one of its manufacturers was already in the process of reformulating for a non-phthalate air freshener.

Making a Healthy Food Change S-L-O-W-L-Y but Permanently

Examples Of Best, Great, and Good,

So now that you have paid attention to what’s around you, here's my simple category system that helped me manage my changes. I want you to know there is NOT ONE CHOICE on healthy living. We all live different lifestyles, some are fast paced, some are pay check to pay check, most are too stressful, so making a difference in your life and your families life is a process and there are always Good, Great and the best Choice. Understand that picking anyone of these choices IS A BETTER choice then doing nothing.


Example 1 - Fruit

Light Syrup/Heavy Syrup means that the fruit is canned in Corn Syrup. Usually High Fructose Corn Syrup (Read XXX on HFCS). Canned fruits in their Natural juices are best. Since there is no added preservatives. So what was in your closet? Clearly if it’s Natural Juices that’s great. And even if you have light or heavy syrups that’s OKAY too. Yeah – really. The next time you are preparing to serve the syrup canned fruit, simply rinse the fruits and dispose of the syrup before serving or baking. Yeah that’s it – rinsing the fruit and getting rid of the syrup in it IS the difference. You have just made a healthier eating choice!

 
More details on the fruit choices we make everyday... You know you should eat 5 fruits a day. (I am going to assume you do eat fruits, if not, this is an important place to start!). Eating a good variety of fruits doesn’t mean you have to buy all organic fresh fruits. But you have several good and better options:

Best
But fresh fruits (and vegetables). Make sure to wash them with running tap water and scrub the skin with a sponge. If you want to buy organic start simple. What do you eat at home? Try to buy those items fresh, and if possible try to buy 1 or 2 fresh fruits organically grown (see side bar on the top 12 preservatives used list) and switch to organic. Organic Fruits and Veggies are naturally grown, preservative and pesticide free. A BETTER choice then preservative sprayed fruits and veggies.

Great
Do you buy canned fruits? You have 2 options here.
Can you buy frozen fruits? Frozen fruits are cleaned and frozen at the peak of freshness. We don’t know yet if any9like they loose when heated) nutrients are lost because of freezing , but they are more beneficial then canned fruits. I recognize that sometimes the frozen version of fruit is out of season and too expensive so look at option b.

Good
Or If you prefer canned fruits buy fruits that are preserved in their natural juices. This way you not adding “preservatives” or added sugar to your diet. If natural juices are hard to come buy then but fruits canned in light syrup and rinse the fruits before serving. YES – get rid of the canning syrup – its not good for you.


How I learned about these options. Many places. i read reliable websites, and watch local TV that has educational tid bits. The organic advice comes from a afternoon news broadcast on WGN-TV Channel 9 in Chicago about the 12 most pesticide-laden foods. The Natural Juice versus corn syrup from the Book Mommy Made. To learn more here are some resources:

ü Mommy and me book
ü WGN TV Article & Book: induce "panic if it ain't organic," according to Renee Loux, author of "The Balanced Plate" (Rodale, $22.95). WGN TV Article web site: http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/features_julieshealthclub/2007/09/best-foods-to-b.html
ü Sited Environmental group - The Environmental Working Group – great resource!

Prenatal Iron Supplement helped me change my Life & Health

When I was pregnant with my first son I decided to stay home and be what we lovingly refer to as “family manager.” My method of learning is to read everything I can get my hands on and see where the opinions range from Left or Right, and then I decide where I stand. So I started reading about pregnancy tips, and symptoms of carrying a baby. I started to learn about the bodies natural way of dealing with illness and more importantly the natural remedies to helping some of my common troubles.

Of course I talked with my doctor about my concerns, but even in that instance there was a variety of opinions. My prenatal care and delivery doctors was a practice of five women OBGYN. The process was that you had an assigned primary doctor but then you also saw the other four women in the practice on a rotation, since we don’t know our delivery dates, anyone could be on call.

My first sons doctor said I was anemic and prescribed a prenatal iron supplement – which also caused constipation. So with that prescription I also received over the counter prenatal vitamins with a stool softener. A common issue in pregnancy apparently. Well as many moms know there are natural ways to relieve constipation for a baby. Prune juice, mixed with water is gentle enough or babies still developing intestines and is a great support for adults to. By my sons 2nd birthday I was learning even more about nutrition and things like the importance of Omega 3 fatty acids, and fiber in the diet or the lack there of as was in my case…

I was now pregnant with my 2nd son and had a different primary doctor in the same womens OBGYN practice. My anemia was significantly less of a problem (by now I had a new diet eating fairly healthy with lots of green leafy vegetables – a great source of natural iron). But here is the kicker. My doctor said "I could take a supplement for the iron but the way that iron was absorbed in pill form it wouldn’t make a significant difference for me. And it has not been proven to be an absolute necessity in pregnancy."

But do you notice what’s lacking in the information from both doctors? No discussion of nutrition or healthy eating. Granted the 2nd time around my doctor was more conservative in her "prescription" approach, but still didn’t mention overall the need for iron in my diet or during my pregnancy by encouraging specifics on healthy eating. But neither doctor (even though they were both great!) said eat more green leafy vegetables and broccoli! Wouldn’t that be the easiest solution. Yes it would.

I am not going to tackle if that’s the doctors main role in my pregnancy. An OBGYN is there to care for mom and the unborn baby within reason. Mostly looking for something wrong. If I wanted nutrition advice I should see a nutritionist right?

Well I did something about it. I continued reading and learning. I paid attention to specials on “alternative programs” on public television, snipits on evening news broadcasts about new studies, and even followed some celebrity authors on these subjects. No, I am not a celebrity junkie, but I do understand the power of the media. Celebrities use there fame to get onto talk shows to inform the public about serious issues facing us today.

How to change?

Mostly importantly I understand how hard it is to change our lifestyle. It is so much easier to pop in a frozen dinner or use a pre-made meal in a box for dinner. Who wants to cook when they get home from a high stress job, a long commute and still have homework and bath time all before 9 p.m. I realize not everyone has the benefit of staying home but for our healths sake we have to find the time to make small changes.

OK my fellow family manager moms your day is hard, I know, and you manage A LOT, I know. For all of us it is really a matter of priority in our lives. Do we want to live long or should we be made a part of this big chemical experiment?

How to change? Slowly, yes slowly. Nothing changes overnight.

1. My first goal was to start thinking about the issues and what I was putting n my mouth. Yeah, that’s right, if you just start thinking about the issues discussed here you will start to change because you will inherently know what’s right for your family. There is no one formula for everyone, but a small change, any change, is positive. (For example eating white hard cheese are healthier then orange cheese, there you just made a change.)

2. I simply acknowledged that some of these things talked about regarding health and packaged processed food did affect my life. "Maybe" is a common family illness so are some of those pre-made boxed products in your pantry.

3. And finally I started actively “paying attention.” Look I know your busy in the hustle and bustle of life, but take a moment to pay attention to what’s around you right now. That means if you hear about a study on the news and it sparks your interest, just pay attention. Think about the story and how it impacts your life. Maybe its an online article or newspaper article.

I have listed 3 examples below of what you can “pay attention” to in your life RIGHT NOW. Read the examples below, pick one, do it and then keep reading, and try the next perhaps.

For example:

Do you buy canned fruit – go to where you store them and read on the front label how many cans are with “light syrup, "heavy syrup” or “in natural juice.” When you cant buy fresh fruit, buy canned fruit in its own natural juice. It's cuts down on the excess sugars in the syrup version.

Did you recently spray your home with a disinfectant and you now have that “clean” smell? That's the smell of chemicals in your home. We Americans have been conditioned to think this smells are clean, meaning germ free and keeping us healthy. Not so!

What kind of laundry detergent do you use, what does it say on the Packaging? “Eco-Friendly,” key words like “Free” or “Clear,” or it just says it’ll clean your clothes?

This is my favorite tip::

Go to your medicine cabinet, take a look at your prescriptions, vitamins, lotions potions and get a mental picture – or jot down a few items on a pad of paper. Are you constantly taking mess to calm your stomach, anti acids, allergy relief, etc. maybe the problems what your eating CAUSING you these stomach issues.


Doing nothing and just continuing to do things like we have always done is no longer an option. Whatever it is to male you start to make a change, you'll be glass you did. Start somewhere now. It's not just about me or you anymore, we have babies to care for.

"The days are long, the years are short."

The Evolution of What’s Good for Your Baby and Good and Changing Advice

What we hear one day, changes on the next. Yes, new or updated information can get frustrating, but its so important as a parent to pay attention. And them there's your mother's advice and every stranger thinking they can give you great baby tips!

One day you will be reading that something (insert subject here) is good for your baby. Then you will read that same something is bad for your baby, or a variation of how much, when, or where is good, or bad, again, for your baby. UGH! Frustrated with the constant change in information, well me to! But you need to remember knowledge is evolution. We are on a journey through this thing called parenting.

Yes, advice from doctors and scientists is always changing because everyday are learning more. If you picked up the book that I recommend for everything baby and kids, Dr. Spock’s is a great example of how information, advice and science changes through the years. The book gives you current advice, and it highlights some things that haven't changed (like taking babies and kids outside everyday for at least 20 minutes of fresh air).

So when you hear advice, on TV, from your co-workers, fellow mom, or anywhere, remember to always think about what you are hearing and make a conscious decision about it.

Please, don't just ignore the latest information. Or be assuming that "it always changes and really doesn't matter" as a friend once said.

I like to consider new-er information like this:

· Is this a trend? (Like the 2006 movement to start potty training babies at birth, yes really! Or how baby signs are getting bigger in popularity and studies say better for baby and showing higher IQ scores.)

· Is this a health concern? Then listen up! (High intake of antioxidants has even touted for a few years, but recently on Dr. Oz they talked about how excess amounts of berries and other high antioxidants can actually be countering the benefits of moderation.)

· Is this a Consumer Issue? Is some company making money on selling you a new "must have item?" Well then listen with caution! (One of my favorite items in this category is masked as a "health" concern but I think it's mostly sales. Reflux in babies. Yes, I am certain there are cases where babies have legitimate reflux, but many times in my personal experience with family and friends it's been mom over feeding the baby formula!)

· Does this fit in my lifestyle?

Most importantly, take the new information in, think it over and decide IF it works for you. And make adjustments as needed.

"The days are long, the years are short."

How to Survive all the baby advice?

Is every women on earth required by law to give unsolicited advice? I think so…I think women live and breath to tell you to this or that, but don’t forget ot this, and please don’t that! UGH! So why write this book? Well, frankly – its practical advice that I have gathered from reading other books, by the droves. Most moms don’t have time to read. Or sleep. So here is a quick read, east guide to the who, why how and where you can find it if you need to read further.

Good luck, you will do great!

Now I'm not telling you to READ!! But that's what I did. I remember when I was 2 months pregnant, I still hadn’t told anyone at work or in my family, I went to a area book store with my husband to find a nice pregnancy guide. Then I came across the “mom section” with scores of books on parenting, newborns, breastfeeding, baby sign language (WHAT?!), more on pregnancy journaling, baby journaling, scrap books, and I had my first emotional breakdown. OH MY GOD! How hard can this possibly be? All these books on babies and parenting, (and here I am writing one more?)

Well, I gathered up a stack of 10 books, and sat on the floor in a corner and started reading. For those who are pregnant (B.C. – before children), I recommend this type of moment, where you are alone, and it’s quiet, and you can sit and read all day. . . for those mom’s who already have there babies in hand (A.D. – after domination, child takes over your life) I know you are giggling. Well stop you are scaring the new moms.

So amongst my stacks of books (they grew) I learned a lot! Really great practical advice, and some books, you know the one that’s really popular one with the month-to-month “what if” guides, scared my to death with all the “this could be wrong if” scenarios. DON’T READ THOSE BOOKS! You have enough of other real time mom stuff to handle!

After my trip to the store, I brought home 3 books. In the what to read section, I have given you my “short” shopping list that I recommend for all mom’s and dad’s (and all the great support people, family, friends, in our lives).

Make Mistakes. Breath, Reflect. and Laugh.Out.Loud

Moments of Mommy Freedom - get them when you can

Needless to say its difficult to catch a moment of silence with 3 kids. Our naps aren't always in unison, our school and activity schedules aren't either. So I take my "secret deep breath" moments when I can... Ssshhhh - don't tell my kids!

1. Mommy moment - Getting buckled in. So once the kids are all strapped into their car seats, whether we are in the garage or in a parking lot, I stand outside the car - in the silence - and take a deep breath, or 2, or 3!!

Sometimes I will get everyone in and then lock the car and return the cart to the wind stalls. I take my time, I walk slow, I take many deep breaths and enjoy the silence. Believe it or not these mini-moments help me keep my sanity.

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2. Moments while grocery shopping!
When baby girl is strapped into her seat, the 4 year olds in the cart (busy with a cracker or a toy) and I have the older one fetch some items as we go thru the store together. He gets me 5 beautiful red apples, grab that juice, etc. Everyone's actually doing their own thing and I get a little sanity. Their all quiet and busy, as long as our shopping trips short!

"The days are long, the years are short" Enjoy every Moment (of Silence).

Want to live like the Downton Abbey Crowleys? Make More Time Appear so you can Do Nothing.

Do you ever watch Downton Abbey and think, I would love to live like the Granthems. Have a servant wait on you for every Little need, time for tea, take a leisurely walk, or go to a luncheon, Change your clothes for dinner, take time to write a note, call on family for extended visits and these activities ARE the extent of your day!?!

Obviously the Granthams don't have a "full-time job" or work like we do today, or have to pick up their sons from school and take them to soccer class. Then do homework and make dinner. Because of course so much is done for them. And the servants would do these "mom jobs." And the money, obviously there was oodles and oodles of money!!

But what if I told you that some aspects of this Aristocratic life is possible, even in the 21st-century. The Downton Abbey life is slow, slow, slow, not go, go, go like ours. Our days have so much packed into them it's amazing we get anything done at all. And then I stop and think: why don't I make a life for myself similar to the Granthams? Granted I can't just make money appear, but I can make time appear.

For sometime now I've been looking around my home thinking I haven't touched that (insert item here: picture frame, decorative box, fancy plate, 27 sweaters of which I usually wear only 6) in a year or I haven't done anything with my fancy dishes in two years because my life now is all about the children for me. It turns out De-cluttering our lives is definitely one step toward the Downton Abbey way of life. But the second is prioritizing what we do with our time.

If you are reading this post, please post a comment below on what you liked - or didn't  - about this read. Does the topic interest you and you want to know more? Submit a question and I am happy to tackle it.

It's funny how often a friend will comment I can't believe you have time to do all "that stuff" with your kids (blog readers know we are ALWAYS going to museum, making a project, taking a walk nearly every night after dinner, etc.) With homework and soccer and (insert errands and tasks here) it's nearly impossible to "do it all." So we don't. But in our home all "that stuff with the kids" happens because it's THE Priority!

Recently I came across a couple books at our library, one by Lisa Lynn called Life's too short to fold fitted sheets. And a few more about de-cluttering and getting organized from moms who have done it already. (I have no financial association with these books.)  After reviewing these books, and reflecting on my own life... and more importantly the LIFE I WANT to have... I realized a few key imperatives.


Here's a few steps to how we try to live an Abbey lifestyle.

Number 1: Simplify. Take a look around the house. You notice how in the Abbey there's paintings on the walls, lots of books on the shelves, beautiful simple furniture and that's pretty much it. Simplify, simplify, simplify. Otherwise there's so much to constantly straighten up and clean!! An those projects we've been "meaning to do." (See my giving up on lent post which helped me de-clutter over 40 days.)

-- I have taken the dishes that I don't entertain with and put them in storage, just temporarily. I'm not getting rid of the things that I love. I'm just moving them out of the way (until we entertain again).

-- On the other hand I AM minimizing. Because putting everything in storage doesn't solve the problem either. I limit myself to one or two bins for kitchen supplies and the rest can go into my garage sale (where the proceeds go to my vacation fund)... well, the rest ended up being donated because I don't have time for a garage sale. And the funds raised would've been $100-150. And no, that amount IS NOT worth 2-4 days of my time.

Step Number 2: Simplify with the Children. (And I can only stress the importance of doing this WITH your children.) We filtered through their toys over a period of three days. Again, the more toys there is, then the more there is to clean and straighten. And yes I did it WITH the kids, and not sneaking the toys away while they were sleeping or at school.

How we Worked with the Kids to De-Clutter their Toys.

Day 1:  We made a list of the toys that we love. You may think this step is unnecessary, but later when it comes time to start getting rid of the toys, it's great to be able to reference the list that your children wrote, to remind them of what was important to them. Because its normal as you start filtering's toys, children start to feel a certain level of anxiety and want to save this or that toy.

Day 2: start sorting. So during the process of sorting, I left them put all those "I love that toy and can't get rid of it," into a pile. After we're done filtering I let them keep three or four toys from that "I love it but it wasn't on the list" pile. This way we still get rid of the majority of toys that we don't use, but they get to lower their level of anxiety by keeping those few that they forgot that they love.

Day 3: find a home and keep it there. When we started our Montessori-esque play, we are using trays more with our toys, which helps generate less mess. (Put the toys away on the tray before you get the next toys.)

-- You see once your children go through this process, it's harder for them to go back to just collecting more and more toys. You can use this experience as a reinforcement of why we only will buy what we truly truly need (otherwise we have too much to clean up after).

Step 3: Change your mindset, Keeping it this way, Simple. (And don't keep adding to the clutter you just got rid of.)

-- On our way to the zoo my son said to me mom I saw this toy that I really want you to buy me for my birthday and he began to describe it. I interrupted him and I said "honey I don't buy you toys for your birthday. Mommy and daddy like to buy you "an experience," we go to a special museum, or the zoo, or an activity that you've been meaning to do. Maybe even a hotel overnight. We aren't buying more toys. Other people can buy you toys, but not mom and dad. Mom and dad will buy you an experience."

-- So now we've de-littered and gotten Rid of the "stuff" that keeps us busy straightening and cleaning up, and what eats up our time moving the mess and cleaning the mess. Now that you've gotten rid of it all what are you going to do with that time.

This goes for you too mom! No more kitchen gadgets, 3 more sweaters in different colors, etc.

Step 4. Making the time.

About those books, obviously there was no TV in the Downton Abbey days. And living without TV might not be a reality today. But limiting TV CAN be a reality. See my post about having a schedule which include limiting TV time. When you start to limit TV / tube time, you need to make sure you have a plan for what to do with that time. For us it's often a project, a walk outside, going into the yard. Anything and everything out and about keeping ourselves busy. For us that means no TV on weekdays - no cartoons in the am, and no TV unless we watch something during dinner (not often).

Step 5: what to do with the time.

I caution you when it comes to scheduling (or over-scheduling) activities. Each of my kids goes to school. Then they have maybe one activity that they get during the week like soccer practice and again the game on Saturday. Which us plenty!! (See my post on why education reform doesnt matter. your kids are learning plenty.) That still leaves four weekdays for plenty of that Downton Abbey slow, slow easy-going time. Time to make dinner during homework time or before kids get home from school, clean up after dinner, make a project / time for the kids, talking a walk, hitting the library for an hour, and more for fun time in the tub. Lots more time.

Since chores still need to happen, get help. 

Kids helping empty the dishwasher, so we can go outside - together!

Oh and by the way, here's my separate blog post about mom not being a slave and quality time for mom and kids. Why it's super important to involve your children in cleaning up after dinner and cleaning up their own toys. You shouldn't be the maid to their mess. They need to participate in the chores because that is the world WE live in. (Unlike this blog post about are we upstairs or downstairs 100 years later.) We don't have nannies and governesses surrounding us all the time to do it for us. This way you will ALL have equal amounts of time to share being leisurely, and not MOM'S cleaning up while the kids are playing. Instead we clean up together and have more EQUAL free time together. Simplify and you too can be more leisurely, just like on Downton Abbey.


Make Mistakes. Breathe. Reflect. and Laugh.Out.Loud.

Rules for Laundry, Folding Clothing and Responsibilities

My boys needed a little visual reminder on their responsabilities. Clothes was ending up on the floor or (my pet peeve) clean clothes in the laundry. Laundry meaning: Cause mom will just wash it an put it away for me.

So I quickly drafted and taped to their closet door the Clothing Rules and Kid Responsabilitles. My boys are 7 and 4 and YES they can handle this! Its follow the rules or mommy gets frustrated and yells. Which clearly they voted for the rules.

Clothing Rules:

- Put your PJ's on the bed when you change

1. Change after school

2. Uniform goes on your chair back

3. Play clothes

put in the laundry if they are dirty with spots or were worn outside ofthe house.

put them back in the drawers, folded, if we only used them indoors

4. Sox go in the dirty socks bag

**If you don;t know where clothes should go ask for help!*

Kid Responsabilities:

1. Make your bed

2. Say "Good Morning"

3. CLear the table after you eat

4. Put food on the counter

5. Help eachother, and play nice! Ask for alone time if you need it and Have Fun! (the boys can seperate if they need a break from eachother, they know they have to respect that seperate time for at least 30 minutes).

6.  Take care of your responsabilities

7. Respect your self and your parents.

8. ** See clothes chart

Bag It, How to Get Rid of Plastic in your Life

Enjoying our summer vacation from school, with a lot of playing outside, and on these horribly hot days, we catch a movie on Netflix. Recently we watched "Bag It" an excellent movie about the life cycle of those uber convenient plastic bags carried by nearly every grocery store. Super Informative, non-preachy, funny approach and shocking, scarily shocking.


I had already done quite a lot to make changes so we waste less, and remove excess environmental toxins from our home. I also had a fabulous conversation with our first pediatrician about childhood diseases like Austism and ADHD and it's relation to environmental toxins. Our pediatrician enlightened me saying that it is NOT the vaccines on.. their.. own.. causing illnesses. Instead we need to look at all the toxins in our lives like, laundry detergent, boxed foods, plastic use, cleaning chemicals, even our clothes. She said if we take ALL those toxins into consideration, we can see how much toxicity is in our bodies...and then in our little tiny babies bodys that just can't filter it out fast enough.

Thats one reason why my A-Ha moment was so shocking! I had already done so much for a healthier life, I guess we had become a dreaded - content.

Later in this blog I'll recap some facts about those little plastic conveniences that have saturated our lives. But on to the I had a big A-Ha moment mid-way thru the movie... right in the part where the director was getting a blood test to monitor his chemical levels. Blood samples were taken before, and then after, eating for 2 days out of plastic containers - food storage, baby sippy cups, aluminum cans (turns out their lined with plastic), etc. No surprise, his toxicity level went up, shockingly fast too.

...And it hit me, my kids are drinking everyday from those disposable kids cups with lids, plastic cups that we reuse. Yes there BPA free, but Bag It has made it very clear that all forms of plastic are toxic, even BPA free.

I got up, left the living room and walked to the kitchen, I grabbed a garbage bag and started throwing out the kids cups. I called in my oldest son to help me, and the 3 year old tagged along. WE threw out all those plastic conveniences! From the cupboard, dishwasher, in the "deli" cups left around the house...all gone. Now the documentary makes it clear these plastics do not actually get recycled, they end up in a landfill in China (I know, what? Why China? See the movie!)...but they are not staying in my house...

But the Good News is that the environmental toxins we absorb are REVERSIBLE.

So Now What Do I Do??

No more plastic cups, geez now it'll be spills, breaks and chaos around any drinks we have at home? Well, not really. I learned when my eldest was in preschool that they can pour their own beverages into cups, limit spills, wipe up their own mess, etc., etc.

1. -- Instead of plastic sippy cups WE USE: Cups, you know those ceramic "coffee" cups. Safe, non toxic, and fairly durable since itll take a pretty big hit before they break.

2.-- Do not heat any food in plastic. Not in the microwave or oven. Here we've reverted to ol' skill methods, WE USE: the pan! Just like my 80 year old grandma still does, we re-heat leftovers on the stove. It's easier than you think, and tastier.

3. -- Do not store food in plastic containers. I am taking this plastic issue to the next level. The heating of food, in a plastic container, cause a chemical exchange of the leaking chemicals to enter the food. Less is exchanged when the food is cold, but none the less, I'm certain it's not any healthier. WE USE: glass jars left over from jam, spaghetti sauces, etc or ceramic bowls covered by a plate. Again old school style, like our moms and grandmothers did 30-50 years ago.

4. -- Eat as natural as possible and you will buy less plastic packaging. If it doesn't come from the earth, don't eat it. Foods should be as close to their natural state as possible. And let's move away from the brown plate syndrome. When you look at your plate of food it should be colorful, not just filled with brown or yellow color foods. Meanwhile helping cut down on packaging demands.

When I started staying home to raise my son, is when I started reading more and more about the toxicity in our environment. I kept a diary, for my son of what life is like, and the changes I was making to improve our quality of a healthy life. Here are some excerpts from that diary stared a few years ago:

Bag It the Movie Suggestions, Top Ten Ideas, and more on how to live a life less plastic....

Here some facts from bigger institutions studying the impact of plastics.

The Breast Cancer Fund and Silent Spring Institute conducted a study, published today in Environmental Health Perspectives. We enlisted five families for a week-long investigation. First, the families ate their normal diets. Then, we provided them with three days’ worth of freshly prepared organic meals that avoided contact with BPA-containing food packaging, such as canned food and polycarbonate plastic. Finally, the families returned to their normal diets. We measured their BPA levels at each stage.

While the families were eating the fresh-food diet, their BPA levels dropped on average by 60 percent. Those with the highest exposure levels saw even greater reductions: 75 percent.

These groundbreaking results tell us that removing BPA from food packaging will eliminate our number one source of BPA exposure.

That means you can make changes right now to reduce your family’s levels of this chemical linked to breast cancer. It's as simple as cooking at home with fresh foods and making some very basic changes in your kitchen, such as limiting canned foods, choosing glass and stainless steel food and beverage containers, and not microwaving in plastic. You might also consider eating fewer meals out—especially at places that don't use fresh ingredients.

The CDC also has some tips on lowering carcinogens in your home and life:

1. Filter your tap water. Common carcinogens in tap water include arsenic, chromium, and chemical byproducts that form when water is disinfected. A simple carbon tap-mounted filter or pitcher can help reduce the levels of some of these contaminants. If your water is polluted with arsenic or chromium, a reverse osmosis filter will help. Learn about your tap water and home water filters at EWG's National Tap Water Database.

2. Seal outdoor wooden decks and play sets. Those built before 2005 are likely coated with an arsenic pesticide that can stick to hands and clothing. Learn more from EWG.

3. Cut down on stain- and grease-proofing chemicals. "Fluorochemicals" related to Teflon and Scotchgard are used in stain repellants on carpets and couches and in greaseproof coatings for packaged and fast foods. To avoid them, avoid greasy packaged foods and say no to optional stain treatments in the home. Download EWG's Guide to PFCs.

4. Stay safe in the sun. More than one million cases of skin cancer are diagnosed in the United States each year. To protect your skin from the sun's cancer-causing ultraviolet (UV) radiation, seek shade, wear protective clothing and use a safe and effective sunscreen from EWG's sunscreen database.

5. Cut down on fatty meat and high-fat dairy products. Long-lasting cancer-causing pollutants like dioxins and PCBs accumulate in the food chain and concentrate in animal fat.

6. Eat EWG's Clean 15. Many pesticides have been linked to cancer. Eating from EWG's Clean 15 list of the least contaminated fruits and vegetables will help cut your pesticide exposures. (And for EWG's Dirty Dozen, buy organic.) Learn more at EWG's Shopper's Guide to Pesticides.

7. Cut your exposures to BPA. Bisphenol A (BPA) is a synthetic estrogen found in some hard plastic water bottles, canned infant formula, and canned foods. Some of these chemicals cause cancer in lab studies. To avoid them, eat fewer canned foods, breast feed your baby or use powdered formula, and choose water bottles free of BPA. Get EWG's tips to avoid it.

8. Avoid carcinogens in cosmetics. Use EWG's Skin Deep cosmetic database to find products free of chemicals known or suspected to cause cancer. When you're shopping, don't buy products that list ingredients with "PEG" or "-eth" in their name.

9. Read the warnings. Some products list warnings of cancer risks -- read the label before you buy. Californians will see a "Proposition 65" warning label on products that contain chemicals the state has identified as cancer-causing.

"Latch On" New York initiative - It's Not About You!

I've been reading some blogs about the Latch On initiative in blogs and twitter, all I see is women saying get out of my bra Mayor Bloomberg! I won't delve into the initiative specifics, for that you can read here. Well guess what ladies, "Latch On" is Not For or About You! Or you, yeah you, reading this right now.

Now, in 2016, this 2012 post is still relevant. In that many women still dont see other women nursing. So much in our lack of time lifestyle doesnt allow us the comfort of nursing. That sentence stands out to me still. Im so glad Latch On was an initiative I witnesses. It reminds me that my awareness level - and personal learnings from family and friends - arent always the same with other mothers.

Back to Latch On...

Middle class women, educated women, and women reading blogs are arguably aware of the choices they make when breast feeding or formula feeding their babies. Because we are reading, and engaging in conversation, we understand it's a choice, and our personal pros and cons that come with our choice.

But hundreds of thousands of women don't make a conscious choice, they just do.

Think for a moment about how much formula advertising there is in the world? Bus stops, tv commercials, bottle fed babies are arguably seen throughout urban areas, "free formula" bags at the hospital, and direct mail to new mom's... But where are the moms who are breastfeeding? Where is the breastfeeding advertising? And please don't say "it's natural" so women should know how. The CDC study shows "While 75 percent of U.S. babies start out breastfeeding, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says, only 13 percent are exclusively breastfed at the end of six months."

Most women post-baby boomers generation, born and raised in the U.S., haven't seen a women breastfeeding, let alone their mothers or family members breastfeed. So no, most women don't instantly think about breastfeeding, but they do have $688 millions of dollars of formula advertising in their ear, according to Nielsen data.

The Latch On initiative is to ADVERTISE to women that they have a choice, to breastfeed or formula feed. Women, who may be poor, uneducated, and have limited resources, will for The First Time be given information on breastfeeding, education they didn't have before. You have this information tho. You are probably a women who - if you desire - can bring your own bottle and formula to the hospital. But at least breastfeeding information will be provided - and ADVERTISED!