Tag: food and nutrition

Family Rituals: Saturday Morning Pancakes (and Bacon)

Posted on May 18, 2009 in family fun, parenting

I love the smell of bacon. In part, because it’s so darn tasty (though I’m not sure how I feel about Bacon Lip Balm). But also, because it takes me back to the Saturday mornings of my childhood. Pancake breakfasts, with a pound of bacon. (In his Odes to Common Things, Pablo Neruda really should have written an “Ode to Bacon.”)

Man, I’m hungry.

I recently read a thought-provoking article entitled, The Importance of Family Rituals. I have a strong desire to establish some family rituals, to create a time and space in our family that says, “Family comes first,” before all else. Years ago, my parents did this; I just didn’t realize the value of it at the time.

Pancake breakfasts gathered us together around a shared meal. We joked, teased, shared the comics, and filled our bellies until all we could do was roll ourselves in front of the TV to watch the Saturday morning cartoon marathon. This ritual was nourishment for our bodies and souls, and it all happened in our pajamas. Does it get any better than that?

What I’ve learned: It isn’t about the ritual, per se (although you can’t go wrong with one that is bacon-centered). It’s about standing firm as a family and of nurturing the bonds with those you love the most.

Please comment below with your favorite family rituals. I might have to steal a few!

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Go Green Expo NYC

Posted on April 19, 2009 in family fun, food and nutrition, go green

Go Green. Go Recycle. Go sustainable. Go solar powered. Go this, go that. It’s everywhere. This weekend I checked out the Go Green Expo in NYC, and I’m back to share some of the highlights!

Did you know that Alka Seltzer cleans toilets? Or that lemon and hydrogen peroxide are natural alternatives to bleach? Featured speaker, Julie Edelman of The Accidental Housewife, put an interesting spin on being green. Here’s the good news: It’s about “being green enough,” she said. ”Light green.” Okay, I can do that. Edelman offered some practical, fun advice on greening your cleaning. I particularly liked her Alka Seltzer jingle: “Plop, plop. Fizz, fizz. Away will go the poop and whizz.”

LittleChickieWear had adorable 100% organic cotton onesies and tees:

IAGmedia displayed DVDs, CDs, books, and more that teach kids about caring for our environment. Let’s Go Chipper: Into the Great Outdoors was an iParenting Media Award Winner!

Good Food Gardens displayed a live outdoor garden system that supports healthy, eco-conscious living. I WANT ONE! These gardens promote family cooperation and interdependency. And with access to their own fresh produce, children develop healthy habits for life . . .love it!

SodaStream distributed free samples for soda and sparkling water lovers. It was a delicious alternative to the bottles and cans “that are suffocating our planet.” In fact, the average American consumes 600 cans or bottles of soda and sparkling water each year. SodaStream boasts less sugar and sugar-free options . . .with fizz. Santa, please add this to my list!

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Baby Food: The Courage to Make Your Own

Posted on April 17, 2009 in books, food and nutrition, go green

Expectant mothers have great intentions . . .that die. Reality sets in, and hectic lives necessitate actions you vowed never to take, like feeding your child that strangely orange mac & cheese from a box. You know what I’m talkin’ ’bout!

In the beginning, while I wasn’t about to boycott the jarred stuff, I had a desire to experiment with homemade baby meals. I was surprised by how quick and easy they were to prepare with my trusty old blender, (Forget the expensive Beaba Babycook from Williams-Sonoma.) and I found a real sense of purpose- to raise a happy, healthy baby with an adventurous little palette.

It’s comforting to know that there are alternatives to mass-produced food. Once I garnered the confidence to make my own, I knew that my daughter was gobbling up the freshest, most nutrient-rich foods possible. “The jarring process necessitates the use of very high heat under pressure, much more than you can generate when cooking at home. Unfortunately, many vitamins are destroyed by heat,” says Lisa Barnes, founder of Petit Appetit, a cooking service for infants and toddlers in Northern California, and the author of The Petit Appetit Cookbook. I never would have blended black beans and yogurt if it wasn’t for Barnes.

I recently stumbled upon a great website: NurtureBaby, founded by loving mother, Christen Babb. This site provides healthy, budget-sensitive, simple recipes for busy mommies. Take a minute and stop by.

As a new mom, it’s empowering to know that you can make conscious decisions that will impact your child’s health and well-being. And yes, sometimes that means packing jarred food. I love this motto: You do the best you can in every situation, and your best always changes. And when all else fails, trust your gut, and your tastebuds.

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The Staycation Report: 3 Things I Learned

Posted on April 11, 2009 in family fun, life lessons, relationships

1. Planning is Key. Spontaneity is the spice of life… in an ideal world. When you take a vacation, there’s a lot of prep involved- packing, stopping the mail, taking out the trash, yada yada yada. In some ways, it’s no different when you go on a staycation, even if it’s only for the weekend.

Meal planning allowed us to stock the fridge and steer clear of last minute trips to the supermarket for one last thing (I’m famous for that!). Rachel Ray’s “Make Your Own Burrito Bar” recipe was a big hit. Yes . . .we ate out too (ahh…no dishes), and left room for spontaneity; my sweet tooth couldn’t resist stopping at Ben & Jerry’s for some mint chocolate chunk ice cream. Twice. But the second time- totally planned.

Often, the weather dictates how you’ll spend the day, take it or leave it. Thursday turned out to be a beautiful afternoon, one Tim fondly referred to as a Ferris Bueller day. After visiting the Children’s Museum of Manhattan, we strolled through Central Park and people-watched over a packed lunch. Plan B involved sleeping bags, popcorn, and Mary Poppins. While that would have been fine, nothing compares to breathing in some fresh, spring air!

2. Get Unplugged! We live in a fast-paced, impatient, dot-mom world. Phone calls, text messages, emails, downloads. They’re all nice, in moderation. The problem is that we don’t moderate. I wanted to eliminate these distractions and be more attentive to what matters most in my life . . .spending time with the people I love. Besides, someday I’ll never wish that I’d spent more time on my computer. Eat more ice cream? Maybe. (Hence the two trips to Ben & Jerry’s.)

I did tell friends and family about our staycation, just as I would if we were vacationing. Yes, in case of an emergency, I could still be reached via cell phone. Yes, people still called. No, it wasn’t an emergency. At one point, we did check messages. Big mistake. The bottom line: it’s uncomfortable being disconnected, especially when you’re lying on your own couch. I think it actually takes practice, something I’m more than willing to work on. You know, the “stuff” was all still here when I got back. I didn’t miss much, if anything at all.

3. Make it a Habit of Smelling the Roses. For me, the whole point of a staycation is to practice slowing down and to live well (which doesn’t require $$$) right in your own backyard. Every now and then, I think it’s important to break up the monotony and do something fun or different, inspiring or creative, whatever that means for you. My husband felt that this was definitely easier to do once we hopped in the car, destination bound. It was much more challenging to ignore the to-do list at home and to relax, or god-forbid, do nothing. We’re so accomplish-oriented; it’s a tough habit to break.

Every adult speaks of how quickly children grow, and heck, I’m not about to miss these awesome years. My personality necessitates that I have to consciously put on blinders, carve out time, and create a space that offers enrichment of the soul. The flowers are on the table. At least that’s a start.

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Go Green: The Top 10 Fruits and Veggies to Buy Organic

Posted on March 19, 2009 in food and nutrition, go green

If you’re like me, and find that buying all organic puts a drain on your wallet, here is a list of produce that is mostly likely to contain high levels of pesticides: