#Breastfeeding Basics: Going Back to Work #born2eat #Moms #Pregnancy

Did you miss our hangout today on Breastfeeding and going back to work? No problem! Check it out here.

#Breastfeeding Cookies – A tasty milk-stimulating treat for lactating #moms #newmom #borntoeat

Like I mentioned last week, breastfeeding isn’t always unicorns and lollipops. We can run into trouble with milk supply but there’s hope. Along with utilizing your local lactation specialist, you can make these tasty cookies full of food-based galactogogues, which are breast milk promoting substances. When you’re breastfeeding, your body needs approximately 500 additional calories. These tasty cookies can help you get the job done. Enjoy!

Magnificent Milky Cookies (a tasty milk-stimulating treat for lactating moms)

Ingredients

¼ cup water

2 heaping TBSP flaxseed meal

1 cup sugar

1 cup brown sugar

2 sticks REAL butter, softened

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla

2 cups flour

1 TSP baking soda

1 TSP salt

3 TBSP Brewer’s Yeast

3 cups oatmeal (bulk)

1 cup dark chocolate chips

Mix it Up!

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Mix flax seed meal and water together and set aside. Using a stand (or hand) mixer, cream together the butter and sugar (regular and brown).  Mixing at medium speed, add eggs then moistened flaxseed meal and vanilla to the mixture.  Slowly add flour, baking soda, salt and brewer’s yeast. Then mix in the oats and chocolate chips.

Lightly coat a small serving spoon (or cookie scoop) with oil. Scoop cookies and place a non-stick baking sheet. Bake 8-10 minutes until the edges are firm.

Recipe yields approximately 4 ½ dozen cookies. If desired, cook one dozen at a time. Freeze remaining in dozen cookie portion bags to bake as needed.

May the milk be with you!

Workplace #Wellness – Is your workplace killing you? #health #bodyimage

Recently, I read a study about stress in the workplace and how it can increase inflammation and cardiovascular risk. What happened to workplace “wellness?” In my opinion, we’re going about it all wrong. Wellness isn’t about biggest loser contests or diets. If you think about it, wellness is a broad term that envelops so much more than an employee’s diet or weight.

Stress in the workplace can obviously come from work tasks, time management issues, personality conflicts, spending too much time seated, and feeling undervalued, just to name a few issues. Did you know it could also come from situations that negatively impact your diet or self-image? Let me provide a few examples… (names have been changed to protect the innocent and not so innocent).

So it’s Sheila’s birthday. Let’s go out lunch and then have cupcakes. Oh, Kelly was out yesterday so let’s do lunch and dessert again…. OR just leave all the cupcakes in the middle of everyone’s cubical. I wonder how many cupcakes you’ll want or actually eat? Visual triggers (a.k.a. food in your face) usually isn’t a good idea for anyone.

How about the boss who has no clue how completely obvious it is that he or she is giving you the once- over. You know what I mean; the scrutiny about how you look, what you’re wearing or how you’re wearing it with no words spoken. Could this be someone’s perception?  Sure it could. However, it may also be a very real and rude. This type of behavior can impact self-image and work productivity. It’s helpful for no one!

In a post I wrote last year called It’s None of your Business, I addressed how many people in our culture feel it’s appropriate to comment on someone else’s body or dietary habits. Arg! Diet talk… It’s not okay. Are you a victim of workplace ignorance, weight stigma, or even an offender? It’s time to give it some thought…

#Breastfeeding Basics. Did you miss it? No problem. #health #moms

 

#Nutrition in its Most Natural Form isn’t always a walk in the Park #moms #breastfeeding #pregnancy

Ten months ago I entered the sisterhood of moms. What a wonderful time it has been! Doing what I do, I knew all the benefits of breastfeeding and made the decision to feed my daughter this way.  The World Health Organization (WHO) suggests that all mothers can feed their baby this way given that they have accurate information and adequate support. One would think if you have the equipment, it just works right? Well, in the wise words of my sister “it’s not all lollipops and unicorns.”

Many people choose to breastfeed and have no issues—milk comes in, baby latches, gains weight, mom and baby bond and it’s great. It seems it doesn’t work that way for everyone. This natural process can be delayed and even derailed by any number of issues like labor complications, dietary issues, baby’s lip or tongue ties, poor general information, lack of support, etc…

Fortunately, my sweet baby and I worked with a great group of pediatricians who support and educate on breastfeeding even when difficulty ensues. It takes a ton of patience and motivation to keep it going. It also takes a body that can produce the milk supply baby needs coupled with a baby who can latch and suck appropriately. If you want more info on Breastfeeding Basics tune in to our Google + Hangout today at noon (CST)!

Pushing kids to eat may cause obesity later

Reblogged from The Chart:

While growing up, many children may have heard "clean your plate" or been denied candy. But how do parental attitudes toward food affect a child's weight?

Denying certain foods to children or pressuring them to eat every bit of a meal are common practices among many parents. But researchers at the University of Minnesota found parents who restricted foods were more likely to have overweight or obese children.

Read more… 534 more words

Great post. Pushing food, or restricting it, often backfires...

Cooking just isn’t that hard! #health #mefirst #selfcare #nutrition #recipe

I’ve been doing this food thing for a long time. The main reason someone avoids cooking never changes. Besides lack of time, which I totally throw out because most people have plenty of time for watching TV or playing on Facebook, the underlying issue that prevents people from cooking is simply fear. It may be fear of spending money, trying new foods, not knowing the difference between baking or broiling, or having burnt a dish in the past. We’ve all been there. Some people grow up cooking which, I feel is a life skill. Everyone needs to know some basics. However, with a cooking show or food celeb at the press of a button, we simply have the wrong idea about it.

Cooking is assemby. Sometimes, chopping, heating, and mixing, but ultimately, assembly. “Cooking” doesn’t always result in a dish that came from a five-star kitchen. It’s getting food on the table. Just real food. I mean, I like a jazzy meal like the next person but that isn’t everyday cooking! You have to be willing to try, possibly mess it up and try again. You’ll get the hang of it! If you want to eat well, cooking for yourself is essential.

You can get started in a flash (& don’t forget there is a youtube video for how to cook darn-near anything).

Try picking your meat and then a veggie. Here’s a quick idea for BBQ Chicken & Veggies.

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.

Spray a 9 x 13 pan with cooking spray or coat with one tablespoon olive oil. Place 4 thawed/fresh boneless, skinless chicken breast in dish.

Cover with 3/4 cup your favorite BBQ sauce. Put in preheated oven for ~35 minutes. Forget to thaw, no problem, dump the breasts in and cook about 20-25 minutes extra. The juice of the chicken breast should run clear when fully cooked.

When the chicken is almost done (about 10 minutes left). Pop some frozen veggies in the microwave. You can use steam bags or a glass dish with a lid. The veggies, say green beans, take about 5 minutes per pound (usually printed on the bag). Keep checking and stirring. I drain, add butter and salt/pepper to taste.

You may be thinking… that’s too much for me–wrong! You can carry for lunch or eat it again in the next couple of days*.

Start there and feel free to share your ideas!! Get cooking!

*Only keep leftovers for about 4 days. If you don’t plan to eat it within that time, you can freeze it.