Sign Language for Babies

We started doing some signs with my son when he was about 6 or 7 months old. It took a few months, but then he started to respond and I have to tell you that's it's been great! It's so nice to know what he wants when he doesn't have the words to say it yet. His two most commonly used signs are "drink" and "all done", which is extremely helpful! I really think that being able to communicate through signs has helped him to not only have his needs met easier (less tantrums), but in early language development. Everytime we say the sign, we say the word as well, and he now also will try and say the words along with us.

We have some books on the subject of baby sign language, but it's sometimes hard to judge what exactly you are supposed to do in the picture, so having someone show you is extremely helpful! I saw the link to this website in a forum I was looking at today and I thought it was so great that I had to pass it on! http://www.aslpro.com/cgi-bin/aslpro/aslpro.cgi This link is for the baby sign language, but you can click on the main dictionary to learn more about other words.

If you aren't already doing sign language with your children, I highly recommend trying it out!

Natural Health Remedies for Kids

Saw this story in my Parent's Magazine last month and just had to pass it on! I love natural health remedies and I believe as long as you know it's safe (check with the Dr. if you are not sure) then why not try that first??

I love Parent's magazine stories and I recommend the magazine as a nice gift idea for new parents. Here's the link for the full story and all the details:
http://www.parents.com/baby/health/sick-baby/natural-health-remedies-for-children/?page=1

Here's a quick overview of the ideas:
1. Honey and Lemon Juice for a sore throat-Remember not to give honey to kids under 1!
2. Chamomile Tea for Colic
3. Baking Soda for Bug Bites
4. Cayenne Pepper for Nosebleeds
5. Duct Tape for Warts
6. A Bubble Wand for Anxiety
7. A Bandana for Headaches
8. A sock for neck or tummy pains-I gotta tell ya that when I was pregnant I had some really bag backaches. So I took my warmed rice filled heatwrap and stuck into a long tube sock and tied two of em together and tied em around my waist (or what I had of a waist then) and I could wear it around the house-worked like a charm! (Just be sure to not overheat the rice!!)
9. Your blow-dryer for Swimmer's Ear
10. Contact-lens solution for Congestion
11. Fresh Ginger tea for Car Sickness-I would recommend adding the honey!
12. Cucumber for Mild Swelling
13. A Credit Card for a Bee Sting
14. A Stick of Gum for Indigestion

Let me know if you have any ideas of natural remedies for adults and kids. Have a beautiful day!

Healthier Snacks!

I like to snack...for those of you who know me well, that will come as no surprise. I enjoy eating and I like to do it often, but even though I sneak in chocolate, etc. here and there, I try to make healthier choices. I came across this list today of healthy food choices and thought I would pass it onto everyone.

The forum that I read it on was from the Holistic Mom's Network (HMN) http://www.holisticmoms.org/ which is a group that I recently joined in my area, but they have groups all over the USA. It's a great resource for moms, dads, grandparents, and caregivers to learn about more natural alternatives for parenting. It's been a great resource so far and I am looking forward to all I can learn from them!

Some good snack ideas:
1. I've read this before, but the forum today mentioned using a muffin tin as a snack tray (you can use a larger muffin tin for bigger kids or a smaller one for younger kids or if you want more variety). In the morning you can put in liners and fill the tray with a variety of different healthy items that kids can serve to themselves! Yea!
2. Individual Trail Mixes: Buy foods in bulk, like cashews, almonds, pecans, peanuts, soy nuts, dried cranberries, apple chips, pumpkin seeds, pretzels, cereal, etc., Have each child decides what she wants in her own container, write name on it, and take it along in the car for trips or other outings.
3. A Big Old List of Healthier Snack options (From HMN Forum):
*Baby Carrots
*Red seedless
*GrapesPineapple
*Korean Pear cut-up
*unsalted pretzels
*crackers
*cheese
*nut butter
*nuts
*seeds
*dried fruit
*raisins
*cherry tomatoes
*dates
*rice cakes
*olives
*unsweetened carob chips
*orange sections
*berries
*snap peas
*frozen veggies (yep, still frozen!)
*popcorn
*figs
*organic cereals
*hummus
*Homemade granola
*puffed rice/millet (or kamut/wheat)
*Blueberries
*Beans
*baby spinach leaves
*apple pieces
*grapefruit
*Edamame (cooked & shelled)
*Nori (strips to chew on)
*Sweet Potato (cut into chunks, toss in oil, roast)
*hard boiled eggs
*piecesfrozen blueberries
*cooked pasta
*cucumber slices
*pita wedges
*fruity booty, veggie bootie, pirate's booty
*toast
*tortillas
*healthy mini muffins
*stuffed grape leaves
*cheerios
*banana pieces rolled in oatmeal
*cooked beans
*toasted English muffins
*avocado chunks
*steamed broccoli
*cooked yucca chunks
*nut butter balls (rolled with pretty much whatever your child likes)
*black bean patties (homemade)
*cantaloupe
*Honeydew
*Mango
*Fruit leathers
*dried cranberries
*little beef jerky bits (depending on # of teeth and age of child, of course)
*cut up cherries
*Pear slices dipped in fruity yogurt
*prunes (not too many)
*sliced Nectarine
*sliced plum
*croutons (homemade)
*diced lunchmeat
*leftover pizza
*cut up fruit and grain bars
*Annie’s bunny grahams
*Barbara’s Bakery cheese bites
*Annie's Whole Wheat Bunnies
*Whole Grain pancake strips
*Whole Grain waffle strips
*canned, rinsed mandarin oranges
*diced watermelon
*Clementine slices
*pieces of a Larabar
*homemade baba ganoush
*chicken taquitos
*bagel pieces

So the next time you're looking for some snacks, I hope you can find some ideas here!

What does "Raw Food" mean anyway?

It is my opinion that the concept of raw foods is largely misunderstood by the general population. My recent readings have started to open my eyes to this concept and it's not at all what I expected.

Wikipedia's defination is "raw foodism is a lifestyle promoting the consumption of uncooked, unprocessed, and often organic foods as a large percentage of the diet. Depending on the type of lifestyle and results desired, raw food diets may include a selectıon of raw fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds (including sprouted whole grains), eggs, fish, meat, and unpasteurized dairy products (such as raw milk, cheese and yogurt)."

Now, you are not going to catch me eating raw eggs, fish, meat, or dairy products anytime soon...just not my cup of tea. But the first few foods on the list: fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds. Those are foods I think we should be eating anyways and lots more of it. The thing I like about raw foods cookbooks is the way they make food taste good by using sweeteners found in nature (honey, dates, agave) and avoiding sugars, flours, etc. What's so bad about that?? And most of the cookbooks that I've read so far don't even include recipes for the raw eggs, meats, etc. They are mostly fruit and vegetable based recipes and they are simple, and I like simple!

A recipes that I've seen over and over again is for "Banana Ice Cream" and all it includes is bananas broken into chunks, frozen, and then blended. It makes a nice little smoothie type dessert and you can add flavors, like vanilla, berry, or peaches. Or what about salads, or guacamole, or dried fruits? All can easily be made "raw" and you've probably had it that way numerous times. So maybe "raw" is not so weird, in fact maybe I'll incorporate a little more "raw" in my diet.

Wikipedia says that it is believed that "raw foods contain enzymes which aid digestion, meaning that the body's own enzymes may work unimpeded in regulating the body's metabolic processes, and heating food above 110-120 degrees Fahrenheit degrades or destroys these enzymes in food." So basically when we eat foods like fruits and vegetables that are uncooked we are getting the best we can from many of those foods. I thinks it's good and simple to be able to eat things the way they come from nature.

I think what it all comes down to is that we should listen to our mothers..."eat your fruits and vegetables".

Green Spring Cleaning: Natural Alternatives

We've had some pretty beautiful days in the last few weeks and lots of rainy days as well, but everything is starting to turn green around here and I'm pretty darn excited!! It's spring!! So if you're ready to start your spring cleaning, here are some great ideas for going green!

I recently read that most of today's commercial cleaning products are simply chemical versions of what older generations used to clean, for example, lemon juice. But when someone figured out they could make a cheap synthetic version, bottle it up, and sell it for more, chemical cleaners took off...so why not take a step back and use the real, natural and homemade versions. They work great too and they are better not only for your health, home, but the environment too.

Need more convincing?? This link tells which chemicals you should try to avoid in common household cleaners and the reasons why. Green Cleaning: Common Household Hazards

Make It Yourself: Supplies
1. Spray Bottles or Glass Jars
2. Cotton rags and cloths (microfiber also works nice for dusting)
3. Distilled White Vinegar
4. Baking Soda
5. Lemon Juice
6. Liquid Soap (for some mixtures)
7. Essential Oils (optional)

Vinegar, baking soda, lemon juice, and water can make most of the cleaning products you'll need, in fact you probably already have them in your house! Now I was planning to list all of the different cleaners you could make yourself, but these websites that I'll provide next, have already done it!! So here they are:

1. This link has a ton of great Green Cleaning Ideas to make yourself. Clean and Green: Making Your Own

2. Here's a great link for natural cleaning products with ideas on products to buy or ones to make homemade. Eurphoric Organics Green Cleaning Solutions

3. And this is a pdf format buyers guide to some of the "greener" household cleaning products. The Green Guide Smart Shopper's Guide

Books to Read:
1. Better Basics For the Home by Annie Berthold-Bond One of my absolute favorite books that I have read on creating your own non-toxic products. I love all of her simple (usually less than 4 ingredients) recipes for everything from cleaning products and hair care products to moisturizers, deoderants, and art supplies. I love the way she lays out the book, it makes it easy to find what you are looking for. She also gives recommendations for how to keep and how long to keep any product that you make. An absolute read for anyone interested in making your own products.

2. Home Safe Home by Debra Lynn Dadd A really nice book that goes through each area of your house and helps you identify potential toxins and gives safe solutions to each. Talks about foods, pesticides, fabrics, cleaning products, beauty products, and medications, along with many other topics. I like all the information in the book, but it's not as easy to read as the previous book.

Happy Spring Cleaning!

My Current Way of Grocery Shopping

So I promised that I would update about how I am eating more natural and organic foods now, but actually spending less on my groceries. It's all about choices and going for the fruit and vegetables.

My favorite quote from Marion Nestle's book, What To Eat, is "the basic principles of good diets are so simple that I can summarize them in just ten words: eat less, move more, eat lots of fruits and vegetables". And so I took that same philosophy and applied it to my life and my way of shopping for groceries....I have decided to try and eat less in general and of the things that I know are not good for me, exercise more (which includes moving through the aisle of junk food faster-or completely passing them by) and eating lots more fruits and vegetables.

So here's what I do:
1. I try to spend 50-75% of the grocery money on fruits and vegetables alone. If they are in my house I tend to eat more (and if there not there, there's no way I'll go out of my way to get em).
2. I use the list that includes the dirty dozen fruits and vegetables, so I can spend the extra money on the organics that are more important and buy conventional fruit/veggies for those further down the list.
3. I have also stopped buying premade and prepackaged food almost completely (even if they are natural/organic-it's much cheaper and usually still healthier to make them myself).
4. I spend some of the remainder of the money on organic chicken and eggs. I do have a freezer full of natural beef, so that does help.
5. I try to get more iron and protein from natural sources, such as spinach for the iron and beans for the protein (which happen to be cheaper than meat anyway!).
6. I have stopped using coupons, except for the occasional items. They tend to make coupons for overpriced items that I don't really need and that have a lot of packaging! Besides store brands are usually cheaper even without a coupon.
7. I write a list of general things I need, watch for good sales on items I use regularly and try to avoid the aisle that are full of foods my body doesn't need.

At home, when I feel a want a snack I try to eat a fruit or vegetable first...that doesn't always fill me up, but then I don't eat quite as much of something that isn't as healthy. And eating the fruit and veggies first insures that I'll reach or get closer to the recommended daily value. Feel free to share you ideas for lowering your grocery bills while eating healthy.

Hope you are all having a beautiful spring day :)

Labels: Eggs and Meat

If you choose to eat them, meats and eggs can be a costly part of your budget, especially if you want to go more natural or organic. I've been confused by all the different information out there about meats and eggs and all the labels (all natural, antiobiotic-free, etc.).

The ideal, for me, is straight from the farm....lol, and for a lot of people I know that's not an option. But I happen to live in an area and have family in areas that do have access to farms. I currently get our beef from a small farm that raises just a few cows and is not going to be using any growth hormones on the beef. This summer I hope to get access to farm fresh chicken and eggs. Even if you don't live in an area that you would think would have access to natural meats and eggs, you might consider looking into it. Here’s a link to get you started http://www.eatwellguide.org/i.php?id=Home Farmer's Markets are also a great place to get information about who might sell natural meats and eggs.

Now, just because something is grown on a farm and say, you've met the chickens :) doesn't always mean that something is "organic". How those farmers choose to raise the chickens and cows can make a big difference: what they are fed, what shots they are given, etc.

Here's what I've learned about what is important when it comes to going natural with meats and eggs. I'm no expert, so all my information is correct to the best of my knowledge and I hope it helps you with your food choices.

“Here’s what the government allows in feed or to be used in production of the following (conventionally grown) animals:
Dairy cows—antibiotics, pig and chicken byproducts, hormones (for growth), pesticides, sewage sludge
Beef cows—antibiotics, pig and chicken byproducts, steroids, hormones, pesticides, sewage sludge
Pigs—antibiotics, animal byproducts, hormones, pesticides, sewage sludge, arsenic-based drugs Broiler chickens--antibiotics, animal byproducts, pesticides, sewage sludge, arsenic-based drugs. Growth hormones are prohibited.
Egg laying hens--antibiotics, animal byproducts, pesticides, sewage sludge, arsenic-based drugs” Source: http://www.greenerchoices.org/products.cfm?product=meat&pcat=food

So those items are what is allowed in conventionally produced meat and eggs. Those types of things are what made me start to look for natural and organic alternatives!!

“So what can you count on when you buy organic? No animals, except dairy cows prior to being moved to organic farms, can be given antibiotics, growth hormones, or feed made from animal byproducts, which can transmit mad cow disease. No genetic modification or irradiation is permitted, nor is fertilizer made with sewage sludge or synthetic ingredients, all of which are allowed in most conventional food production.” Source: http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/food/diet-nutrition/organic-products/organic-products-206/overview/index.htm

Here's what I think is interesting when it comes to meat and eggs and their labels:

Cows, Beef, and Pigs—In her book, What To Eat, Marion Nestle says "beef producers use hormones to promote more rapid growth in cattle and sheep" and while it hasn't been definitely been proven as a safety concern, the European Union has banned the use of beef treated with hormones. (I tend to think that the European Union is stricter on what they will allow in their food and cosmetics and I think it's a good thing!)
-"Grass-fed, organically raised cattle are leaner and healthier overall...and their meat can have about five times the amount of brain-building omega-3 fatty acids as regular beef. Though the cost of organic meat can be double that of regular...treating it like a side dish and eating smaller servings to keep the meal cost the same. If you'd rather spend your money elsewhere, simply buy lean cuts of beef and stick to four servings or less a week." Source: http://www.ewg.org/node/26097

Chickens-- "No added hormones" labels are not important for chicken, they never have hormones added.
-“Human antibiotics are fed to chickens to speed growth. But bacteria in the birds’ intestines can develop resistance to them. People who eat chicken harboring those bacteria can fall ill if they don’t handle and cook meat properly, and they may not be cured by the drugs typically used to get rid of their illness”. http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/food/food-safety/animal-feed-and-food/animal-feed-and-the-food-supply-105/chicken-arsenic-and-antibiotics/index.htm?resultPageIndex=1&resultIndex=1&searchTerm=arsenic%20and%20antibiotics

Egg laying hens--"All-natural" doesn't really seem to mean much and does not seem to be regulated strictly on how it can be used.
-"Egg-laying hens aren't given growth hormones (like chickens raised for food)...nor are the eggs likely to be exposed to antibiotics. The birds stop laying if they are sick." Source: http://www.ewg.org/node/26097%22%3ehttp:/www.ewg.org/node/26097
(So when you see that certain brand of chicken in the grocery store that is labeled "All-Natural", "Antiobiotic-Free", and "Hormone-Free" you can choose to either buy the conventional chicken that is half that cost or go for organic chicken, which is definately more expense, but I have decided to go organic and simply eat chicken and other meat a little less. I've also decided to buy organic eggs and use them more sparingly-there is actually a lot of calories and cholesterol in eggs and I think I would be okay with a few less.)

Eggs-The term free-range as stated by the FDA, is that hens have access to the outdoors, even if they don’t actually go outside. Cage-free means they are not stacked in cages but allowed to roam in the barn, which can be important thing if you are interested in how the animals were treated. Check out this link for these and other labels for eggs: http://www.greenerchoices.org/products.cfm?product=aneggs&pcat=food

So I personally have decided to make the switch to natural meat and organic eggs and chicken. I feel that it is the best option for me and my family. But how will I fit it in our budget? Well, that answer is coming in my next post. Hope this information was helpful and I'll update it as I learn more.

Other interesting articles:
1. “You Are What They Eat”
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/food/food-safety/animal-feed-and-food/animal-feed-and-the-food-supply-105/overview/index.htm

2. “Label Report Card for Meat” (Which labels really mean something!)
http://www.greenerchoices.org/eco-labels/reportProductArea.cfm?productArea=Meat&mode=view