A Parent's Role...

I have had my moments of sheer exhaustion and utter frustration.  I've had times I've just wanted to lock myself up in the bathroom and cry.  I've even had moments where I feel like screaming bloody murder.

But no matter how I feel, I always remember Nya is just a sweet little soul that is full of innocence, curiosity, and enthusiasm for discovering this new world she is a part of.  Today we were out at a children's discover and play center, and I was reminded just how important my words and actions are in shaping who she becomes, and how critical my role as her parent is.

Nya and I were playing in the kitchen (she was bringing me all of the dishes and silverware that she could find), and about five feet away, playing with the trains, were two children around the ages of 3 or 4.  They were playing quietly, but being silly and laughing, as children often do.  Nya stopped to watch them, and I found myself doing the same.  In an instant, the excitement and joy on one little girl's face completely disappeared as her mother began reprimanding her and repeating, "What are you doing?!  Get up off your butt and walk the train around the track. It's not that hard."  And that was it.  The mother went cheerfully back to her adult conversation without a second thought.  But the look in the daughter's eyes told a different story, and it broke my heart.  In that instant, all of the joy and curiosity in those eyes was washed away.

I've been there, numerous times, and I know I will be there again.  I  have no idea what was going on in this woman's life, or what she had been dealing with prior.  I don't even know her. It wasn't about disciplining her child, it was about robbing her of her confidence and innocence.  And it made me aware.  What happens to a child over time when little by little, their spirit and innocence is washed away?   And over such a trivial comment that I'm sure the mother meant no harm by.  In that moment, the little girl looked over at me and I offered a sympathetic smile.  And then I looked at Nya and all I wanted to do was hug and kiss her and tell her how great I think she is.

Life is hard work.  Unfortunately, it doesn't always come easy like we think it should, or desperately want it to be.  We all have our breaking moments and get wrapped up in the busy-ness of life.  But I always make sure I am 100% in the moment with Nya.  How I speak to her becomes her inner voice, and thus will determine how she views herself and the world.  I know she will be faced with many challenges.  Kids may make fun of her because of what she eats, or how she looks, or if she has a silly quirk that isn't considered "normal" by our society's standards. 


My job as her parent is to help her develop her self through questioning, thinking, and doing. To allow her to become her own person, and not the person I want her to become.  To nurture her interests and allow her to explore them deeply, even if I don't agree with them.  To always show love and tell her how proud I am of her...just for being her.  To tell her over and over that who she is, is good enough.  My job, is to help her discover the confidence within herself, and develop it to its fullest capacity.

So when the time comes and she is faced with these hard times in life; kids teasing her, an adult speaking harshly, losing an important game, being treated poorly by a boyfriend, whatever, she will remember that these are all external circumstances that have no value to her internal self worth. 

It's hard as a parent.  As a human being.  We all have stressors and limits.  Every day is a challenge.  But it's one I'm committed to accepting because I want Nya to see the world through loving eyes, and not lose her excitement, love, and curiosity for endless possibilities available in this life.

 

* So on a side note, after writing all this today while Nya was napping, I caught myself at dinner.  Not with Nya, but with my husband.  He was 2.5 hours later than he said he would be.  I was struggling to finish dinner and Nya was hungry, and teething.  And that combo is not a good match.  When Jamie finally arrived home, and sat at the table to relax and start eating (while I'm still trying to finish the salad as I entertain Nya), I ask him to please fill in for me and sing the song that Nya kept asking me to repeat for her.  He replied, "I don't know how."  My response?  "It's not that hard." 

Immediately when the words left my mouth I stopped and thought of the mother and child I saw earlier today.  I have to remember that Nya isn't the only soul I need to love and nurture.  We all have that innocent child within us that desperately seeks approval and love, and our words, tone, and actions can either build that spirit up, or break it down. 

I'm a work in progress and still learning! :-)

 

To connect with others and share in all the joys, struggles, and adventures of parenting, please visit our Facebook page Loving Green at Loving Green FB.

 

 

Ice Cream Every Day...? Sure! Why not?!?

At our house, Nya is allowed to eat ice cream every day.  Sometimes she'll have it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.  It's always available, whenever she wants. 

Now before you start thinking I'm a horrible parent for giving my child ice cream on a regular basis, I'll let you in on a little secret.  It's GOOD for you.  And I make it myself.  It has the creamy consistency of soft serve, and the richness of real ice cream, but it's made with bananas.  Bananas and whatever whole food you want to mix it with.  No sugar or dairy is needed!


Strawberry Ice Cream

Yonanas.  Perhaps you've heard of it?   It is a simple machine that uses overripe bananas as a base in which anything can be added to.  Instead of making banana bread every time your bananas turn brown, put them in a zip loc bag and store in the freezer.  Whenever you're ready to make soft serve ice cream, pull them out, along with whatever other ingredients you plan to use as your flavoring.  Let them defrost on your countertop for fifteen minutes, and then you're ready to go!  Within minutes you'll have delicious soft serve ice cream .  And the best part? Your kids will be thrilled to eat it and you will feel good about giving it to them.

Now I'm not a big fan of bananas other than in a muffin or eaten whole.  I don't care for them in smoothies because I think they're a little over powering.  So I was a skeptic at first.  My mom insisted on buying me one, and it sat in my pantry for a couple of months.  The first time I had it was at her house when she made some for Nya and I had no choice but to try it.  I was shocked how much I enjoyed it.  It doesn't give you that fatness feeling that ice cream has (where you feel good, yet sick all at the same time from eating the real thing).  But it's not really about me, as it is about our children.  It's a perfect treat to start your baby out on, and great to carry on into their toddler and adult years. 

My idea is this:  Why not get my child excited about eating ice cream? She can have it any day, every day if she wants.  I'm trying to break the relationship that has rampantly become mainstream in our society between junk food and rewards.  I don't want Nya to associate food as a forbidden special treat she only gets on certain occasions.  My goal is for her to believe all food I give her is a treat, and can be eaten ALL THE TIME.  Because it's healthy, whole foods!

There are many different combinations you can throw together to make any flavor you want.  I have even heard of recipes where you crush up Oreos and use those alongside the bananas for "cookies and cream" (Not necessarily the healthiest, but way better than the original!). 

So far for Nya, I have just done fruit, veggies (yes I know, but Nya eats it so why not!?), and almond butter (my favorite!).   I tend to always make Nya a mixed fruit of whatever is on hand, and will add a veggie if I have some frozen because to me, the more variety, the better.  The latest combination contained blueberries, strawberries, peaches, pineapple, and beet (I happened to have some frozen that I cooked a couple days before), and of course, bananas.  Be creative and try whatever combo sounds good to you!

Here are some of our favorites:

Peach

Strawberry

Mixed Berry

Peanut Butter/Almond Butter (Especially great if your baby needs more fat in their diet!)

Mint Chocolate Chip (dairy free chocolate chips and either fresh mint or mint extract)

Chocolate Coconut (shredded coconut & dairy free dark chocolate)

Click here to find more recipes.

 

The possibilities are endless, so be creative and involve your toddler!   You can have a topping station set up to make sundaes afterward.  Even if your goal is to get your child off of all artificial ingredients, start slowly.  Begin with this ice cream as the base and let them add whatever they want to the top (M&Ms, Reeces Peanut Butter Cups, chocolate syrup, whatever).  Every step towards a healthier life for our children is the goal, and you need to take whatever road works for you to get there.  If you're just starting out with a baby, you will have a head start toward that. 

It does store well in the freezer, yet always tastes the best when fresh because the consistency is perfect.  Otherwise, I let it sit out for a few minutes before serving (if it's been stored in the freezer). And you can find them almost anywhere, or even order online for convenience. 

You can find it just about anywhere.  Amazon, Kohls, and Bed Bath & Beyond usually offer great deals.  So go ahead and let your child eat ice cream every day.  Why not?!?

To discuss more whole food recipes for your child,

please visit our Facebook page Loving Green at Loving Green FB

 

Balance

The other night I went over to a girlfriend's house for a girls night in.  While I was trying to get myself out the door, my heart was breaking to miss this special time with my family.  Night time is my favorite time, because it's when we get to all be together for those few short moments before another day begins, and before my little girl will no longer be so little.

I hate missing the moments of life, and got to thinking that lately, I feel like I'm constantly having to choose.  To choose between my daughter, my husband, my family, my friends, my work, my exercise, my sleep...everything. If I choose this, than that will suffer.   It used to be so easy to juggle, and somewhere along the line (having a baby), that all changed.  I'm still trying to hold on to a chapter of my life that has ended.  And as I've moved in to this new chapter, nearly 14 months later, I'm still struggling to figure it all out.

How do moms balance it all?  Sometimes I make it through the day and am proud; I feel rested, inspired, I've accomplished so much, and I can tackle anything!  Other days, I'm stressed to the limit because it's been days since I returned that phone call or text, the house is a disaster (again), I haven't worked out in five days, I spent zero time getting my business going, and, oh yeah, when was the last time I slept more than 5 hours? 

Today was one of those days that I was reminded just how miserably I'm failing in keeping it all together.  Apparently, checking in via text is not sufficient enough. In the midst of feeling discouraged and guilty, I began to get angry.  I'm doing the best I can! Don't people get it??

And I realized, probably not all.  Maybe some moms and/or dads have managed to balance everything.  Maybe some try to do it all and feel like an area of their life is having to give.  Maybe some just pretend.  And maybe some are like me; just trying to keep their head above water, doing as much as they can, and doing it the best they know how.   

Since I've had Nya, my time has become very limited.  Being a stay at home mom, every minute of my time during her waking hours is devoted to her.  Nya is my first priority, and most likely always will be.  She will come before anyone and anything else in my life at this point.  While she's still at this young stage of her life, and is dependent on me, I choose to be there for her, at whatever cost to another area of my life.  I don't want to admit that, or for it to have to be that way, but that is the truth.  She is my priority.  I know one day she won't need me as she does now, and for that reason, I want to hold on to these moments for as long as I am given them.

...

And that's when it finally hit me.  I still will try to do it all, even when I'm failing miserably.  And it's ok.

To connect with other parents and share the joys and challenges a child brings,

please visit our Facebook page Loving Green at Loving Green FB

Who is Monsanto? What are GMOs? And why should you care??

In 2012, Proposition 37, which would label GMO foods, was defeated in California. 

Two days ago Washington State had the opportunity to vote for labeling of GMOs in Proposition I-522.  Another opportunity for change in our country.  I was ecstatic!  Until I learned the bill was defeated.  What?!?

This led me to talk with more people in my quest for understanding why a bill such as this would not be passed.  What I came to discover, is that not many people really understand what GMOs are and how they are effecting us.

Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)  are plants or animals that have been genetically engineered with bacteria, viruses, or other plants and animals.  These are experimental combinations of genes that would never happen naturally in the world we live in, and have never been present in the human body. 

Why do we want to take a chance on something that has proven in animal testing to be unsafe?  Because "money makes the world go round."  Monsanto, is the giant behind GMO and GE (Genetically Engineered) crops and animals.  They are a multinational agriculture, chemical, and biotechnology corporation that has paid billions of dollars to prevent investigation and labeling of our food supply.  And they are the makers of Agent Orange (herbicide dropped on Vietnamese crops and forests in the 60s and 70s that have been directly linked to cancer and other health horrors) and Round Up (America's choice of herbicide).

We keep trying to change nature and where are we getting ourselves?  Fat, sick, and nearly dead. 

In animal testing, GMO foods were shown to destroy organs, cause reproductive problems, increase infant mortality, and promote excessive cell growth (which has been linked as a precursor to cancer), just to name a few. Also, reported by farmers in Europe and Asia, four species of animals died after eating GMO corn.

Over 60 countries have serious restrictions or outright bans on the use and sale of GMOs.

So why does labeling continue to fail here in the United States?  We are not even debating a ban of these GMOs, just labeling. 

We need to educate ourselves.  Learn more about it.  And if you don't agree with it, don't purchase it.  If demand is not there, supply will decrease.

How do you know which foods contain GMOs and which do not if they're not labeled?  It's difficult.  Over 80% of processed foods contain GMO in this country.  (Think everything packaged: cereal, bread, granola bars, cookies, pudding cups, etc.).  The Non GMO Project  is a great non-profit organization that is helping educate the population about GMOs and provide information for which companies use GMOs and which do not.  On their webpage, they provide a detailed list of all foods safe to eat that have passed GMO inspection, including baby formula, pet food, and cleaning products.

The best thing you can do for yourself, your baby, and your family is to educate yourself.  Ask the questions.  Find the answers.  Support your local farmers. 

Below are links to more information about GMOs, Monsanto, and food companies that support GMOs. 

http://www.nongmoshoppingguide.com/what-is-organic.html

http://www.naturalnews.com/041559_Monsanto_GMOs_lies.html

http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_11361.cfm

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2013/06/09/monsanto-roundup-herbicide.aspx - RoundUp toxicity

http://www.naturalnews.com/042208_agent_orange_monsantos_chemicals_cancer.html - Agent Orange damages

http://www.silverdoctors.com/31-percent-of-u-s-honey-bees-were-wiped-out-this-year-who-will-pollinate-our-crops/

http://www.truth-out.org/news/item/19698-revealed-big-processed-food-companies-spend-millions-to-defeat-washington-gmo-labeling-initiative

http://www.takepart.com/article/2013/09/12/money-flows-defeat-was-gmo-labeling-ballot-measure

http://www.ucsusa.org/food_and_agriculture/our-failing-food-system/genetic-engineering/monsanto-fails-at-improving.html

http://www.nongmoshoppingguide.com/what-is-organic.html

http://biostat.mc.vanderbilt.edu/wiki/pub/Main/JoAnnAlvarez/ten-things-monsanto.pdf

http://www.nongmoproject.org/  - Use this!  It will guide you and tell you everything you need and want to know about GMOs. 

"Who controls the food supply controls the people; who controls the energy can control whole continents; who controls money can control the world."

~ Henry Kissinger

To learn more and connect to others dedicated to living naturally, visit our Facebook page Loving Green at Loving Green FB

Make your own Vegetable Stock...For Free!

You know all of those leftover vegetable scraps that you toss down the sink or throw in the trash....Don't!  Save them.  And turn them into homemade vegetable broth.  It's simple, quick, and won't cost you a cent.  Here's how:

Wash all veggies beforehand.  Instead of throwing out the scraps and peels, put them in a gallon size zip lock freezer bag.  Store in the freezer and keep adding to until your bag is full (it won't take long!). 

Once you have a full bag and you're ready to make your broth, dump the entire bag in a large pot and fill one inch from the top with water.  Cover, and cook on low heat all day (or all night).  You may need to add more water halfway through as it cooks down.  After cooking anywhere from 8 - 12 hours, pour through a colander to strain. Start your favorite soup or store in mason jars.  Keeps well in the fridge for two weeks and holds up very well in freezer.

I keep an ongoing supply "scrap bag" in my freezer and continuously add to it.  It's the easiest thing in the world and you know exactly what you're getting with no added preservatives.  And you can't beat free.  I like to add a dash of salt to my broth before storing.

Ready to store

Scrap Suggestions for Broth:   

Carrot peels and stalks
Celery stalks
Sweet potato peels
Russet potato peels
Tomatoes
Spinach stems
Onion Ends
Garlic
Any vegetable that is about to go bad!
Herbs

*Remember to wash all veggies beforehand!

My Top 4 Favorite Soups/Stews:

Black-Eyed Pea and Quinoa Chili
Cream of Broccoli Soup (Great Cream of Base to add any veggies of your choice!)
Creamy Fire Roasted Tomato Soup
1 Pot Chickpea, Lentil, and Butternut Stew (Can sub pumpkin for the butternut!)

To find more plant based whole food recipes,

visit our Facebook page, Loving Green at Loving Green FB



Loving Green Pancakes... A Baby's First Treat!

I must ALWAYS have these on hand for Nya.  She is a great, healthy eater, but these nutrient dense pancakes are a favorite of hers.  They're simple, whole food ingredients that are easily digested, and they are a great first finger food for your baby as they begin their journey with solid food.  (Once you have worked through some single purees of course!)

Now before I go further, I want to say this: I don't like them.  As they are. 

Nya eats them up as they are and asks for more. She usually has two, sometimes three in one sitting. Me?  I need to top mine with something.  I like to add chopped walnuts, banana, and about two tablespoons of pure maple syrup or honey.  So if you want to eat these for yourself, give them to your toddler, or even husband, be prepared that you may need to alter the recipe slightly and you will most likely want something on top.  But don't most people like their pancakes that way?  (I will give some additional options below the recipe.)

Nya doesn't know differently because she has grown up with whole, plant based foods.  So I look at it like this: why add more of what she doesn't need (syrup, etc) when she's happy the way they are?  I have to explain this to my husband every time (who lathers his with butter and syrup).  Our natural inclination is to do what we've learned.  If you learn to eat healthy without adding sugary ingredients, that is what you will want to eat. 

So start your child on these early!  They are great for traveling because they're soft and mess free.  And they make a complete meal by packing all the right nutrients into one tiny pancake. To your little ones: enjoy!

Loving Green Pancakes

Ingredients

1.5 cups Chickpeas
2 cups Old Fashioned Oats
2 Cups Spinach
2 Tbsp Ground Flax
2 Tbsp Raw Shelled Hemp Seeds
2 Cups Water
1 tsp baking powder
Dash of Cinnamon

1.  Combine all ingredients in a high speed blender such as the Vitamix.  Blend until batter is smooth.  Should be fairly thick, but pourable. 

2.  Coat griddle or skillet with a thin layer of oil (I like to use sunflower oil because it handles high heat well).

3.  Pour two heaping spoonfuls of batter onto warmed griddle.  (You can choose to make pancakes any size you wish.  The nutritional information below is based on this size).  When starting to bubble, flip.  Cook about 3 minutes per side, until slightly golden.  Makes about 20 pancakes.

4.  Store spread out in freezer for 5 minutes, then bag them together.  This will prevent sticking.  Take out the night before you're ready to serve, or reheat in microwave.


Remember, eating whole foods takes time for the body to readjust to if it's been living off refined flours and sugars.  So take baby steps.  If your little one is having trouble adjusting to this food...don't give up, just slowly integrate the whole foods until they're all the way there.  And make it fun!  Create shapes out of the pancakes with cookie cutters.  You can also pour into a waffle iron to make waffles.  Whip up canned coconut milk for healthy fat and a sweet treat on top!  If you're toddler protests the sign of green because they immediately think veggies and are "just not into them right now", perhaps try serving this up around Christmas or St Patrick's Day.  Or, try some of the options below.

Additional Options:
To batter:
Add 3 - 4 dates (or 1 Tbsp of sweetener of choice)
Cacao Nibs or Dark Chocolate chips (make sure they contain no dairy)

Toppings:
Nut Butter (Almond, Peanut, Etc) with Banana
Coconut Whip
Pure Maple Syrup
Be creative! :-)

Nutrition Info Per Pancake:

Calories: 61

Fat: 1.5g

Saturated Fat: 0

Protein: 3 g

Carbs: 9 g

Fiber: 2 g

Sugar: 0.7 g

Sodium: 4 mg


To find more whole food, plant based recipes for your little one and connect with other loving parents, visit our Facebook page Loving Green at Loving Green FB

1 Pot Chickpea, Lentil, and Butternut Stew

Here's a yummy fall soup recipe your family will be sure to love.  Feel free to play around with it, adding more veggies, lentils or chickpeas to create the chunkiness you like!  You can substitute pumpkin for butternut squash, but make sure you use the red lentils.  Other lentils will not substitute well.

Ingredients

1 Pound cubed butternut squash
3 cups cooked chickpeas (or 2 15 oz cans)
10 medium carrots, peeled and cut
2 cups red lentils
4 Tbsp tomato paste
2 Tbsp fresh chopped ginger
5 cloves chopped garlic
1 med onion, chopped
2 1/2 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp turmeric
1 tsp salt
10 cups veggie broth (or combination or veggie broth and water)

*If using mostly water, you may need to up the spices.

Makes about 10 servings


Directions

1. Wash and strain the red lentils

2.  Combine everything in one pot and cook until it begins to boil.  Once boiling, reduce heat, stir, and cover. 

3.  Let cook over low heat for a couple hours until red lentils seem to "disappear", and carrots and squash are soft.

Enjoy!

Nutrition Info Per Serving:

Calories: 284

Fat: 1.4 g

Saturated Fat: 0.1 g

Protein: 15 g

Carbohydrates: 52 g

Fiber: 14 g

Sugar: 8 g

Sodium: 52 g

 

To find more plant based whole food recipes,

visit our Facebook page, Loving Green at Loving Green FB.