Sweet Potato Fries

Sweet potatoes were a first food for both of my children. They both loved them and I was thrilled as they are a nutritional powerhouse loaded with antioxidants (vitamin A in the form of beta-carotene and vitamin c) and fill the bodies natural desire for something sweet. However, like all things that you do too much of, my kids and I were getting tired of the same old baked sweet potato.

Fighting colds and flu- things to consider

Tumeric- One of our favorite spices for winter ailments!

 As cooler weather approaches so does cold and flu season. As parents we think about how our families will be affected.  How can we better prepare our families’ immune systems for this time of year? Is there something we can do to stay healthy?  If we do get sick, what can we do to speed up our return to good health?

Easy and delicious homemade Granola Bars

 

My son went through a phase where all he wanted to eat were granola bars for snack. Because they are so convenient, and easy to bring to the go, it was hard to “get away” from the monotony of it all, and I found myself mindlessly grabbing granola bars for the car ride at every turn. I continuously questioned the ingredients, and even tried to stick to the “raw bars” to ensure he was getting the most nutrients possible at every convenient snack. I kept thinking I could do this myself. It was just a matter of doing it- and now they are so easy to whip up. 

Meat and veggies all in one

 

 

While visiting NYC, the friend I was staying with told me she makes an amazing meatloaf chopped vegetables in it – not just a few, but half of the recipe. As a mom of two small children who is stuck in meal-rut hell, this was a treasure of a recipe she shared with me! To the store I went upon returning to Alexandria, Va. and this is what I bought.

 

An Apple a Day (From the archives)

For many of us, apple season has begun. We were torn about featuring this wonderful, nutritious and easily transportable fruit, as it is one of the highest ranking in pesticide residue. We could have picked (no pun intended!) another food and avoided this altogether, but true to our philosophy here at nourishingmoms, we want to bring information, create discussion, and let you make your final choices.

Pilates and Pregnancy- Safe ab exercises

Georgie's Pilates Loft

 

A great reprint of an article that Debra Goodman wrote for prenatal pilates professionals- but the info here is great for all who are pregnant. If you are in my area (Alexandria VA) be sure to check out the DC METRO resource page to see when I teach prenatal pilates classes. Hope to see you there!

Oatmeal cookies

 

 

Jasper wanted to make oatmeal cookies the other day. I do not love to bake and mostly because I just cannot seem to follow a recipe. So, true to form I looked at several and came up with one that would have a bit more nutritional punch. What is fantastic is that these are egg and dairy free. Also, because I used Spelt flour- they may be tolerated by some with wheat sensitivities.  My kids liked them- the littlest took a few tries to get used to the texture and my husband told me that after each bit they grew on him more and the flavor made him want another! I put some in the freezer for later use- but found out they taste good that way too!

Child-care in gyms

 

Luckily- my littles love the caretaker at are our gym. While Jasper is outgrowing the playroom a bit, Dakota thinks of it as his preschool!

 

Finding time to exercise with small children can be difficult. Fortunately there are many gyms now that offer childcare on sight- and this can be a wonderful thing for both baby and mom! Thinking of dropping your little one off in the care of strangers can be difficult, but I assure you, I if you do your homework and find the right fit, you will both be enjoying your days a bit more. When mama is happy … well, you know the rest.

Gazpacho

 

 

Gazpacho is a great way to use the abundance of tomatoes that we get at the end of the summer. I saw this recipe posted by a friend of mine on Facebook and asked if I could share. I altered at bit- as you will probably do as well. It came out sooooo delicious!

Connecting with your partner

Once a baby comes into the picture, the dynamic of the relationship with your partner changes — in many ways. One of the things that seemed to be a running issue in our house was finding time to connect with my husband. I would be home all day, and he at work, and the minute he came through the door I would want to rattle off a million things. I was desparate for adult conversion and also wanted to share any news about the baby. I also often had questions about  things that we needed to decide together, but that I handled on the detail end. He, in turn, had been dealing with adults (I use that term lightly) all day and just wanted “peace”, as he would put it. He was at his limit for complaints, making decisions, and quite frankly, even  just making conversation.