Archive for the ‘Books’ Category

31 Jan

Blogiversary I: Get Ready For This!

Posted by Crunchy Hot Mama in Books, Crunchy, Food, Gardening, Organic. Tagged: , , , , , , , .

Can you believe it’s been a whole year since I started this bad boy?  Yeah, me neither.  I have to say it’s been a wild ride with lots of learning along the way.  I’m happy that this blog is going where it’s going, but I definitely have plans to make it better.

Aww yeah, let’s get your Thursday started right!  For those that know me, my life is either a movie quote or a song, so this is only appropriate.  Random fact: ‘Get Ready for This’ was one of my color guard routines in high school.  Yep, I was a band nerd allstar.

In order to Get Ready for 2013, I’d like to share with you a few of my Crunchy Goals:

#1) Get A Water Filtration System

Berkey water system

I know there are tons out there, and I have heard so much about Berkeys, so I’m determined to find out more about these puppies.  I have always disliked the taste of our hard water and would lurve to get rid of the chemicals (fluoride) in our home, so I can give my family the best water possible.

#2) Learn To Can

home canning guide

This might sound silly to some, but I am dying to know how to can food.  I know my Italian grandmother canned the tar out of some tomatoes growing up, and I would love to know how she dunnit.  I think it would be neat to have my own (homegrown if possible) foods, that have been canned in glass jars, so as not to worry about BPAs in metal cans, right at my fingertips.

#3) Get A Dehydrator

excalibur dehydrator

At the forefront in the Paleo/Raw world seems to be the beloved dehydrator.  I have definitely heard of them but have never used one.  There are tons out there and I have heard great things about Excalibur, though they are pricey.  Who wouldn’t love to have their own homemade grass-fed beef jerky while knowing exactly what’s in it?  I know this snack queen would!

#4) Have A Garden

raised garden beds

If you recall in this post, I did a small garden in pots last year and was somewhat successful.  Josh promised he would build me a raised garden bed this year to A) make it official and B) get the pots off our tiny patio.  Hooray!  I think it’s a win-win for all parties involved, if you ask me.  There’s a local plant nursery that will come out and draw up plans for you, for the low price of $65.  This fee will go back into items you purchase at their store (which I already planned to do), should you decide do so.  Done and done.  My hope is to get them out here next month, so we can start saving our pennies to make my garden grow a reality.

#5) Read More

Nourishing Traditions

When I say read more, I mean crunchy literature.  As I mentioned here, I’m a reading fanatic, but have slacked off lately.  I want to be able to educate myself as well as my readers more, so that involves finding the balance between blogging into the wee hours of the night, and getting lost in some book that tells me sugar causes cancer.  Yippee.

BONUS: #6) Dance!

dance like no one's watching

I may have mentioned before that I love to dance, but have not done much this past year.  Why?  I have no idea.  I am definitely no stranger to the rain shaking my tail feathers, so this is bizarre to me.  I grew up watching my parents dance around the house, my sis and I were in competition dance, and my family closes wedding receptions down cutting a rug.  So, why have I stopped?  Honestly, I’m not sure, but I do want to pick it back up for my sake along with Emma’s.  I do have big aspirations to be a dance mom (not like on TV), though I think Emma wants to do karate, so I need to expose her now.  Even if she has no interest that’s fine, I’d like to take an adult ballet class for me, as a time to get away and reconnect with my first love.

Jess dancing

Nice, huh?

Well, that’s all I have to say about that…for now.

Thanks for stopping by and encouraging me on this blogventure.  I have met so many wonderful people in person and via the world wide web, that it encourages me to keep this train chugging along.  If I can reach just one person, or educate them on something crunchy they had never heard about, then my mission is complete!

Feel free to give suggestions/tips/happy comments about my goals.  I’d love to hear from you on if you own or have tried any of these items on my list.  Crunch on!

Note: Photos from here, here, here, here, here, and here.

27 Nov

Baby-Led Weaning: Self-Feeding

Posted by Crunchy Hot Mama in Baby, Books, Food, Gluten-Free, Natural Parenting, Organic, Paleo. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , .

Picture it with me…baby girl (or boy) sits down to a meal, feeds herself a bowl of scrumptious salmon chowder (you lovingly prepared) with a spoon, enjoys every bit of it, then asks for more, all the while none of it ends up on the floor. You think you’re dreaming, right? Then you open you your eyes to realize this is your reality, all day every day for EVERY meal. Think what I’m talking about is nuts? Guess again. Does this sound more like it: you pop open a delicious jar of some puréed meat and veggie/oat/fruit/bean blend, dip the spoon into said jar, aero plane the food towards baby’s smiling mouth, only to have it brutally rebuffed and spat on you in disgust. Sound familiar? I thought so.

What if the first scenario really existed and you didn’t have to fight to get your little one to eat? What if you didn’t have steam, steam, steam those veggies only to puree them and store them in those cute little freezer trays? Or, what if you didn’t have to peruse the baby food aisle thinking ‘peas, broccoli, turkey, bananas, and lima beans’ sound yummy right? Cuz you would totally eat that…NOT!

Okay, so you think I’m kidding, but the first scenario does exist and it can happen in your home or at a restaurant every.single.day! Want to know what in the world I’m talking about? Let me tell you about a little thing called Baby-Led Weaning (BLW).

Baby-Led Weaning was coined by Gill Rapley from England and it’s a means of “adding complementary foods, not giving up breastfeeding.” It’s not necessarily about weaning baby from mama’s milk, so much as getting them to feed themselves. She states that if it were up to her, “it would be called Baby Self-Feeding, but that ship has sailed, my friends, and Baby-Led Weaning it is.”

I have to say this was one of the funnest experiences we had with Emma when it was time to start ‘solids.’ I had first heard about BLW from my crunchy/celiac friend while I was pregnant with baby girl. She only knew of the website but I happen to stumble upon the actual book while perusing Amazon. I needed to get a better handle on this concept, and when I started doing BLW the website wasn’t user-friendly, so I got the book. If you are like me and you need more ‘proof’ or encouragement get the book pronto! I don’t care if you’ve already been doing the jarred mush with your little one GET THIS BOOK!

Maybe you were like me in thinking, “hmph I don’t need those jarred foods-I’ll make my own and they’ll be 10x healthier.”  Right?  Yeah, I had the same mindset until I discovered this little gem.  Instead of making additional food, in those cute little baby bullets, you could just feed baby boy or girl the same thing you were eating.  There’s that crazy talk again!  Let me explain…

We decided to start Emma on solids right around 6 months since she seemed to be showing interest in what we were doing.  I did do a bit of the rice cereal, which seems to be all the rage, but after trying it myself and finding it disgusting, I tossed that in the trash.  My mom said the same thing when we were little…apparently I should still be listening to my mom after 30 years.  Ha!

Some of the first foods we started her on were avocados, bananas, sweet potato ‘fries’, and steamed veggies.  And when I say steamed veggies, I mean a boatload of steamed veggies.  I was fortunate to have my mom get me one of those double decker steamers by Hamilton Beach, and little did I know how handy that contraption would be with feeding Miss Emma.  Since going Paleo though, I would probably be sautéing veggies a lot more in some good ole grass-fed butter or bacon fat.

I kinda sorta cleared it with our Pediatrician when the 6 month check-up rolled around.  I think.  They told me what I could start doing with her and I smiled and nodded, like a good mama, and may or may not have mentioned that I was doing BLW.  One thing you’ll learn about me, if I put my mind to it, I’m doing it come hell-o or high water.  And when we went back for other check-ups and they asked if she was eating this or this and staying away from that, I said yes.

This isn’t to say you should go against your doc.  This is to show you you don’t have to do the norm when it comes to eating.  My friend, Amy from Simply Sugar and Gluten Free, finally called me up and got on board after her son refused to have a spoon come at his face and was determined to do it himself.  It’s hard at first to TRUST your child and let them do it, but YOU MUST!  There were several times when Josh and I put the food in her mouth to get her to try it-but that’s a NO NO.  It takes all your will power not to stare at them, like the book says, but it’s so darn cute and fun to see them explore this eating thing like mama and daddy do.

I will add for those who are worried about choking-don’t be.  Or rather, try not to be and TRUST your child.  Their gag reflex is so far forward that they will spit the food out themselves if it travels too far back.  Should they choke (I don’t recall it with Emma), ‘ just smack them on the back and move along,’ as the book states.  It’s tough, especially being a control freak, to trust your baby and let them handle it themselves, but I think it’s a good lesson early on for parents and kids alike.

To give you an idea of how to feed them: cut foods into French fry-like sizes for just about everything!  Broccoli and cauliflower can be left as is, that way it gives them a handle and is easier to keep an eye on.

If you need ideas:

  • steamed, sautéed, or raw veggies cut into 2-inch sticks
  • all fruits (I didn’t wait on any of them)
  • pasta with homemade sauce
  • mashed potatoes/parsnips/turnips/etc.
  • grass-fed ground meats
  • shredded pork, chicken, or turkey
  • wild-caught steamed or canned fish
  • toasted bread cut into ‘sticks’ with hummus or smashed avocado
  • soups

I personally didn’t do any sugars, juices, or cow’s milk, but that’s up to you.  I wanted to give Emma the best foods I could, especially since she was so little and it was a very formidable time for her.

Hopefully that gets you started.  Don’t be afraid of good fats like butter and seasonings-they are used to flavors from the womb and in your milk if you are nursing.  I will suggest that you offer utensils from the get-go, too.  They like to mimic mama and daddy, so if you get them started early, they will be pros in no time.  Try not to stress about it and have fun exploring the world of eating with your baby, you won’t regret it!

I’m pretty sure I could go on forever talking about this subject, but I’ll just let you explore it for yourself.  Don’t get hung up on the choking or not trusting your child to do for themselves, just give it a shot.

Like I said, it was truly the most enjoyable time with Emma (though not always the cleanest), plus being Italian and cooking 3 squares a day, I feel like my world revolves around food.  And for those that missed it in the beginning-Emma has NEVER HAD A SINGLE PUREE since she started eating at 6 months old.  Okay, I may have made her some homemade applesauce in the Vitamix and added some cinnamon, chia, and flax seeds, but I swear that was it.

I will leave you with this…offer everything under the sun to your child, they are literally blank slates just waiting to try new things.  Even now Emma loves sardines, marrow bones, capers, lemons, olives, etc.  She doesn’t know those are supposed to be ‘nasty’ just because a lot of people don’t like them.  Who knows, maybe it will get you to try new things for the first time since kids like ‘to monkey see, monkey do.’

Give me your feedback.  Did you do BLW or are you doing so now?  Is this a beyond crazy concept or have I grabbed your attention?

Note: I wasn’t paid or perked for this.

1 Nov

Cookbook Challenge Week 4: Practical Paleo

Posted by Crunchy Hot Mama in Books, Food, Gluten-Free, Paleo. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , .

Happy November everyone!  I will be back later to post on our Halloween experience or lack there of…

Let’s hear it for week 4 of my self-imposed cookbook challenge (see the previous weeks here, here, and here)!  Last week’s cookbook was a VERY informative one to say the least.  If you are even remotely considering the Paleo diet lifestyle and don’t know what book/cookbook to pick up…get this one stat!  Check out my posts on Paleo here, here, and here.

I decided to go with Practical Paleo by Diane Sanfilippo, BS, NC, of Balanced Bites, when I came across it while shopping at Costco.  Sure enough this one caught my eye.  There is so much info in here that I can’t begin to fit it all in…and honestly I haven’t read my way through it yet.  I did peruse Diane’s 30-day menu plans which include a month’s worth of her recipes depending on certain issues you may have.  I feel it’s important to list these, so bear with the length of this post.  *Also, I wanted to note, she is on tour this month in Texas, so if you’re in Houston, San Antonio, or Austin, go check her out!

Half of her 400+ page book focuses on the what and why of Paleo, along with these detailed menu plans for certain health issues (that seem to cover every person I know).

Autoimmune Conditions:

  • Addison’s Disease
  • Alzheimer’s Disease
  • Asthma
  • Celiac Disease
  • Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
  • Chron’s Disease
  • Eczema
  • Grave’s Disease
  • Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis
  • Lupus
  • Multiple Sclerosis
  • Parkinson’s Disease
  • Pernicious Anemia
  • Psoriasis
  • Raynaud’s Disease
  • Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)
  • Scleroderma
  • Type 1 Diabetes
  • Vitiligo

Blood Sugar Regulation:

  • Dysglycemia
  • Hypoglycemia
  • Diabetes Type 1 & 2

Digestive Health

  • Leaky gut
  • Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
  • Inflammatory Bowel Disease
  • Crohn’s Disease
  • Colitis and Ulcerative Colitis (UC)
  • Celiac Disease (CD)

Thyroid Health:

  • Hypothyroidism (autoimmune Hashimoto’s or otherwise)
  • Hyperthyroidism

Multiple Sclerosis, Fibromyalgia, & Chronic Fatigue

Neurological Health:

  • Parkinson’s Disease
  • Alzheimer’s Disease
  • Epilepsy
  • Type 2 Diabetes
  • Anyone seeking a ketogenic diet approach

I wouldn’t be surprised is several of you had one of these mentioned above.  If you do and are unable to get relief or need some assistance, please look into this way of eating.  Yes, it’s hard at first, but I guess to me I’d rather say ‘no’ to crap and ‘yes’ to a long, healthy life (if I can help it).  So without further ado, here was last week’s menu.

Breakfast

Bacon & Egg Salad

Zucchini Pancakes

Pumpkin Pancakes

Lunch/Dinner

Monday: Lemon & Artichoke Chicken

Tuesday: Spiced Lamb Meatballs with Balsamic-fig Compote

Wednesday: Cumin Spiced Pork Tenderloin with Root Vegetables

Thursday: Bacon-Wrapped Smoky Chicken Thighs (Super Easy)

Roasted Figs with Rosemary

 

Friday: Pesto Shrimp & Squash Fettuccine

Saturday: Hayley’s Skirt Steak Tacos

Sunday: Chorizo Meatballs

Treat

Pepita Goji Berry Bark

YUM to the above bacon-y goodness bark!  In case you didn’t notice, Diane uses bacon grease A LOT and it makes my tummy happy.  I used to be the type the threw away bacon grease (the gall!) thanks to my parents.  Then again, I grew up on well done filet mignon, beyond dried out chicken breast, and buttery spreads-how did I ever survive!?  But as I got older and wiser and read a boatload of books, I have since mended my ways and turned a new leaf in cooking.

I thoroughly enjoy cooking these days (especially with a plan) and my hope is that sharing these super easy Paleo recipes has inspired you.  If you’re curious to give it a whirl, try out one of Diane’s 30-day menu plans and see how you feel…it won’t kill you, I promise!

Let me know if you try any of these delicious recipes and if you are a lover of bacon like I am.

26 Oct

Cookbook Challenge Week 3: Everyday Paleo Family Cookbook

Posted by Crunchy Hot Mama in Books, Gluten-Free, Paleo. Tagged: , , , , , , .

Sarah Fragoso, of Everyday Paleo, did it again!

To continue with my month-long cookbook challenge, I finally picked the Everyday Paleo Family Cookbook.  I received her book from my hubby for my b-day last month, and decided I had put it off long enough.  Her first book, Everyday Paleo, was a huge hit for me and her second book did not let me down.

I’ll admit it, after looking through this latest one, I was not impressed with the pictures.  Yes, I just said that.  Her first cookbook may have not had the best ‘foodie’ pictures but the recipes were delish!  This new cookbook had pretty pictures but the recipes didn’t sound appealing-a lot had curry in them and I don’t think I like it very much.  But alas, Sarah came through with delicious yet easy recipes that can please a crowd.

Here’s what last week’s menu looked like.

Breakfast

Pesto Baked Eggs

Family Frittata

Lunch/Dinner

Monday: Best Ever Chicken Wings

Everyday Paleo Ranch

Simply Coleslaw

Tuesday: Everyday Paleo Chili Verde

Wednesday: Scrumptious Seafood Chowder

Thursday: Mini Meatloaves (Super Easy and Delish)

Friday: Whole Greek Chicken with Roasted Garlic

Turkey “Sushi” Rolls

Saturday: Out of Town

Sunday: Out of Town

Snack: Rocket Fuel

Overall, I did swoon for Sarah’s second cookbook and give it two enthusiastic thumbs up!  If you haven’t checked out her website-do so now!  She is a wealth of knowledge and inspiration for going Paleo or seeing what this lifestyle is all about.

Have you made any of the recipes I’ve posted or are you doing your own self-imposed cookbook challenge?  Let’s see if we can get each other motivated to plan our weeks in advance.  Next week is Practical Paleo and it’s full of bacon grease goodness…

16 Oct

Cookbook Challenge Week 2: Paleo Comfort Foods

Posted by Crunchy Hot Mama in Books, Food, Gluten-Free, Paleo. Tagged: , , , , , , , .

I’m back with week 2 of my self-imposed cookbook challenge (check out week 1 here).  I have to say it’s been fun exploring my Paleo/Primal cookbooks and forcing myself to plan a week’s worth of meals for the fam.

This week I went with Paleo Comfort Foods, and according to my hubby, ‘this is the best one yet!’  I’m sure that it helps being ‘comfort foods’ as the title implies, but has me wondering if the food is too comfortable (in my belly).  That’s okay because it had me making dishes I had heard of but never had the desire to try on my own.

Week 2 looked like this.  (I apologize for the pic-it’s hard to snap a photo without flash on a glaring dry erase board).

The verdict is, I was pleasantly surprised with how they turned out and how close to the ‘originals’ they were.  I never would have dreamed of making Paleo Shrimp and Grits with cauliflower or eating gluten and grain-free biscuits and gravy.  Needless to say, it was a very comforting week.  The one thing I didn’t like about this cookbook, is that they don’t give you the cook time, prep time, nor serving size.  It wasn’t on my radar until I was asked by a friend to post them on my recipes page.  So bear with me as I guesstimate on all three of those…I hope it will help make your life a little easier.

Breakfast

Morning Glory Muffins

Crustless Quiche

Sawmill Gravy (&) Biscuits

Lunch/Dinner

Monday: Leftover Chicken Scramble

Tuesday: Paleo Shrimp and Grits

Paleo Grits

Wednesday: Eat out/leftovers

Thursday: Bangers and Mash

Friday: Fish Tacos

Chipotle Dipping Sauce (aka Adobo Sauce)

Saturday: South of the Border Stuffed Acorn Squash

Sunday: Farmer’s Pie

Mashed Cauliflower

Treat: Strawberry Shortcakes

Whew!  That was a crazy week of comfort cooking and I’m looking forward to this coming week with Sarah Fragoso’s new Everyday Paleo Family Cookbook-yes, I’m finally busting it out.

What’s on your menu for the week or have you planned it yet?  Did you do anything fun this weekend to get out and enjoy this gorgeous weather or are you a homebody?  We went to the Dallas Farmer’s Market and discovered yet another local Rancher, where we can get some grass-fed beef that’s close to home.

29 Sep

Great Expectations: Talking And Signing With Your Child

Posted by Crunchy Hot Mama in Baby, Books, Child Rearing, Gardening. Tagged: , , , , , .

I have to gush a little bit.

Emma and I just completed our 2nd shift at our work share this week and was given a very nice complement.  My friend Casey happened to be working the farm as well and once Emma saw her, she just walked right over and sat down.  Emma loves my girlfriends and for some strange reason likes to pet them.  Don’t ask.  It was time for me to get to work, so I asked Emma if she wanted to come plant kale with me across the field, and she said no.  She had decided to stay and ‘play’ with Casey.  No biggie.

Casey had to leave half an hour after we got there, so after planting I went over to get Emma.  I asked how it went (and happen to catch Emma putting the lettuce in the hole Casey had dug) and was told she did good!  Casey continued to say that Emma is actually enjoyable to be around.  They even had a conversation about Emma’s favorite vegetables (strawberries then peanuts) while passing the time together.  Casey volunteers in a church on Sunday and deals with a boat load of toddlers, so I thought that’s pretty good to hear for a two-year-old.

Now don’t get me wrong, Emma has tantrums and fits like the rest of them.  She also goes limp when I try to put clothes on her and will test the waters on hitting now and then.  BUT, the girl minds pretty well for going through toddler transitions and seeing what she can get away with.  I also vowed to call them the ‘Totally Awesome Twos’ since I want to have a better mindset going into her third year of life.  I figure if I expect the twos to be awesome then MAYBE they will.  Don’t worry, I’m not that naïve but I try to not contend with the norm.

Now I will say, I’m a pretty laid back mom for a 1st timer.  I feel very safe when Emma is with other people, whom I trust, and I don’t fret when Josh and I go away somewhere together.  I also encourage her to go play in the dirt and try not to say ‘be careful’ but instead ‘watch out’ or ‘let’s not do that.’  I never thought I’d be this way but I guess seeing other people’s parenting has helped me over the years.  I took some bits here and there from others (without them or me noticing) and came up with my own concoction style.

As I’ve mentioned before, I’m a reader.  That’s where I get most of my inspiration from and it’s not uncommon to hear me say ‘today I read something about ____.’  And along with reading a lot, I’m easily influenced…which can be good and bad.

After giving birth to Emma, just 10 short months after we were married, I became a different person.  Yes, I know becoming a parent does that to you, but it was the feeling of ‘we weren’t planning to have a kid just yet and now I’m growing a baby and about to become a mama-here we go!’  Whatever I thought I knew or read just went out the window, cuz a baby changes everything.

A flip was suddenly switched and I was crunchy!  Not in the hardcore sense, but in a way of I wanted to try different approaches of rearing our child.  Basically, I had no expectations.  Wait.  Maybe I had higher expectations.

I wasn’t very good at the baby talk.  That seemed weird for me, so I talked to her like a person since that just felt right.  I constantly pointed things out to her and narrated what I was doing.  At six months old, I told her ‘Emma you need to lay still, mommy’s going to suction your nose to help you feel better,’ and she just stayed still while I did my thang.  No kid likes getting their nose suctioned, but you can’t blame them for throwing a fit when you come at them with some device that they think is sucking out their brains!  So I thought, why not just tell her what I’m doing and why I’m doing it.  Seemed logical to me.

This way of thinking carried through to the one year mark.  In my mind when babies turned one, I thought they began speaking.  How was I to know that wasn’t the case?  I’ve been around kids but didn’t remember their milestones and when they were ‘supposed’ to happen.  I will say, ‘What to Expect the First Year‘ was a good guide for us but I kind of skimmed over it once Emma turned one.

I went back and forth on if I wanted to sign with her as I heard mixed reviews on delayed speech.  But when the pediatrician said she once saw a mother and child hold a 50 word conversation in signs, that went out the window.  We did some basic signing: milk, more, please, all done, water, thank you, etc.  The part I think some parents forget to do is actually say the word(s) along with what they are doing.  I’ve fallen victim to saying ‘Do you want this?’ and grabbing what she was pointing at without ever saying the actual word.

We made it a point to say/explain EVERYTHING that was going on.  I even had to constantly remind Josh to clarify what ‘that’ was or narrate what he was doing.  I did the Your Baby Can Read videos and flash cards from about 7 months on and tried my best to watch it with her and repeat everything she was seeing.  Suffice it to say, Emma talks.  A lot.  It probably didn’t help that my parents called me Maggie the Magpie growing up.

I am also in the habit of having her say all sorts of words and in different languages.  I would say a word like ‘accoutrement’ (ac-cou-tre-ment: French for accessories) then ask if she could say it or get her to sound it out.  She could because I didn’t think it was too big for her.  We would walk around outside or in the mall/zoo/store and I would ask her to say all sorts of words.  She never said no because I think she was genuinely interested in learning.  These kids are little sponges and willing to soak up all they can, if the opportunity is presented.

So get out there and talk to your kids!  Explain every.single.thing-the world is open to them if you encourage it.  Don’t think they are dumb or too young to understand…they are SO much smarter than we give them street cred credit for.  Just because they may not be able to speak doesn’t mean they’re not comprehending it all.

To add to that, I also taught Emma the correct names for the body parts, and I intend to explain to her about the birds and the bees when the time comes.  I guess I would rather be the source of her information than some kids at school or the TV.  Just sayin’.

I know, I know, I could go on forever with what kids are capable of but I think I’ll stop here.  I hope you are inspired to teach your child(ren) the world and all that is has to offer.  We are their first and most influential teachers, so let’s show ‘em what we got!

Magpie out!

2 Jul

Going Paleo: Part Tres

Posted by Crunchy Hot Mama in Books, Crunchy, Food, Gluten-Free, Paleo. Tagged: , , , , , , , .

I just got back from a week-long roadtrip to my hometown and can’t wait to share a ton of info with you, like my edible shampoo and conditioner!

But first, I think it’s only fair to do one last post on Going Paleo.  See part one and two if you need to catch up.

I was talking to a high school friend the other night, about going paleo, and was raving about how great I feel and how my hubby and I happened to lose weight while eating.  She said she was a busy college girl (studying chemical engineering) and would love it if I could do a post on a breakdown of how I eat throughout the day.  I thought that was a great idea!  Sure I can give you recipes but sometimes people just need you to tell them where to start.  This was right up my alley since I had even printed up menu ideas for newly diagnosed celiacs a few years back.

Like I told my friend-we eat A LOT of eggs.  It’s not uncommon for us to go through two dozen easy in one week.  I feel like the Costco people should know me by now, always coming in babywearing Emma in my Ergo, just to get their two dozen cage-free eggs.  Can I tell you secretly how much I heart Costco?  If you have one close to you, check them out stat.  I will run in there when I’m in a pinch for dinner and grab one of their $4.99 rotisserie chickens, that has no added hormones or antibiotics and is gluten-free.  It usually lasts a couple of meals and is always a good snack when we’re out and about.

Here’s what I usually get from there:

  • Organic Blueberries $8.99
  • Fresh Broccoli (3 lb bag) $4.59
  • Brussels Sprouts (2 lb bag) $3.99
  • Organic Carrots (10 lb bag) $5.99
  • Peeled organic Carrots (5 lb bag) $4.99
  • Kerrygold grass-fed butter $6.89
  • Organic boneless skinless chicken breasts $5.99/lb
  • Fresh organic thigh meat $3.99/lb
  • Fresh organic whole chicken fryers $2.49/lb
  • Organic spinach (1 lb clamshell) $3.99
  • Organic spring mix (1 lb clamshell) $3.99
  • Wild-caught Atlantic salmon: fresh-$16.70, frozen (3 lb)-$27.99
  • Wild-caught frozen Cod (2 lb) $15.99
  • Wild-caught frozen Mahi-Mahi  (3 lb) $24.99
  • Wild-caught frozen raw Scallops (2 lb) $26.99
  • Frozen organic Broccoli (4 lb bag) $5.89
  • Frozen organic Wild Blueberries (4 lb bag) $13.79
  • 13 pound bag of baking soda (for cleaning) $6.59
  • 1.32 gallons of distilled white vinegar (for cleaning) $3.29
  • 2 dozen cage-free eggs $6.39
  • Canned Wild Sockeye Salmon (3/6 oz.) $9.99

A few weeks ago, I happened to snag a pound of their fresh wild-caught sea scallops for a quick dinner and they were delish!

Now don’t get me wrong, just because I stay home with baby girl it doesn’t mean I can’t get in a rut bind with cooking.  I don’t mean to complain about cooking every.single.meal, but it does get old sometimes not having enough leftovers for the following day or for Josh’s lunch.  It constantly feels like I’m doing dishes every time I turn around-blah.  I might have to see if I can tempt my mom to come up and be dishwasher since she’d rather do that than cook.  Ha!  Fat chance.

So to give you a breakdown of what we typically eat during the week, this is what it looks like.  You can check my recipes tab for more inspiration.

Breakfast

-Egg cupcakes with fresh fruit

-Leftover chicken or salmon (breakfast doesn’t have to be just eggs and bacon) with sautéed veggies or a poached egg

-A couple of boiled eggs with fresh fruit and a cup of herbal tea

-Ham and egg cups

-Fried eggs over sweet potato hash with onion and bell pepper

-Scrambled eggs with broccoli, Brussels sprouts, spinach, zucchini, bacon, nutritional yeast, etc. The sky’s the limit with what veggies you could put in your eggs-you could even do an omlette and toss it all in.

Snacks

-Trail mix (any combo of raw nuts with some toasted unsweetened coconut flakes, unsweetened dried cherries, and golden raisins)

-Sliced celery and carrot sticks with fresh ground almond butter

-Boiled egg (these are great to take with you on the go) and piece of fruit

-Fried plantains and fresh guacamole

-Diced tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchini, and avocado with extra-virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar and garlic powder.  Yum!

-Organic Beef Jerky, LÄRABAR, ReBar, Rise energy bar, or  Tanka bars *I swear by these!

Lunch

-Roasted chicken with cauliflower mash and sautéed Brussels sprouts with fresh garlic in bacon grease or butter

-Grilled wild-caught salmon or cod with broccoli and cauliflower

-Salad with cooked chicken, turkey, or fish and veggies (to your heart’s content) topped with extra-virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar

-Thai shrimp soup

-Scrumptious salmon chowder

-Homemade chicken, tuna, or salmon salad nested in a tomato or avocado

Dinner

-Bean-less chili

-Sirloin or Chicken Dijon with spinach or kale

-Pork tenderloin with cherry sauce over mashed cauliflower

-Paleo chicken piccata with Brussels sprouts

-Garden-fresh meatballs (can be chopped up with eggs for breakfast)

-Lasagna with zucchini noodles and kale

Dessert

-Bedtime blueberries

-Strawberry shortcakes

-Paleo apple muffins (can be used for breakfast, too)

-Nutty cookies

-Chocolate pudding (made with avocados)

-Sliced banana with almond butter

Yes, it appears that we are constantly eating but it doesn’t seem to be bad for us.  I know veggies give you the fiber that beans never could and protein gives you the energy you need to sustain throughout the day.  I kid you not, I was telling my friend that I had a new-found energy once we went paleo.  As many of you know, toddlers can wear you out, but I would wake up with renewed energy even after only getting six hours of sleep.  No good reason why I go to bed so late-guess I’m a night owl por vida baby!  Like I said, I’m a work in progress in regards to exercise and sleep (it is 12:37 as I write this).

I did want to take a minute to rave about the Everyday Paleo Cookbook by Sarah Fragoso I mentioned in the last post.  In her book, you can find easy, delicious recipes, lunch ideas for kids, a shopping list for 4 weeks of food, AND a workout routine.  You now have no excuse to say ‘I don’t know what to eat or how to work out in going paleo’ especially since it’s only $18!  Sarah also has another book coming out in September called Everyday Paleo Family Cookbook with 80+ new recipes that the family can do together.  I am letting the hubby know I’d like that for the b-day since it comes out around my special day.  She even has a book for kids, called Paleo Pals, to get them started on their paleo journey and help them understand what is happening.

In case you’re wondering what a typical day of grocery shopping looks like (besides the above mentioned Costco), check this out.  The family all headed to Sprouts for some grocery shopping after Josh and I donated some good ‘ole red blood yesterday afternoon.  I think we made out like bandits with all our provisions and spent just under $100!  I still can’t believe it.  This picture shows a boat load of meat, sans two 6-packs of chicken thighs (those were already on the Big Green Egg for dinner), that SHOULD last us a couple of weeks.

Does that help?  I thought it might be easier if you actually have a rundown of how to eat paleo, especially if you don’t know where to start or are intimidated.  I just gradually made the changes and once I felt amazing we just kept going.

Tell me, are you inspired to check out this lifestyle or are you content with your bag of carby goodness and yelling ‘Heck no we won’t go!”?

Note: Pictures from here and here.

Note: Once again-I wasn’t paid or perked for this.

18 Jun

Going Paleo: Part Deux

Posted by Crunchy Hot Mama in Books, Crunchy, Food, Gluten-Free, Paleo. Tagged: , , , , , .

Welcome back and sorry for the delay!  Here is part deux of the ‘Going Paleo’ saga.

The biggest part about eating paleo is the FOOD.  I’m no stranger to the rain eating my fair share of it since I feel like food is all I think about, especially being gluten-free.  ‘What are we having for lunch, what will I snack on until then, what in the world is for dinner (and didn’t I just finish making lunch and now I gotta cook again)?’  Seriously, it seems like I’m fixated.  Even when Emma and I go run errands I always make sure to pack snacks because A) it’s cheaper B) I always take longer than expected and C) I know exactly what’s in my food.

I think the biggest part of going paleo that most people don’t realize, is that it’s not just about cutting out the crap carbs.  You really have to re-think the way you go about getting food and checking their sources.  Besides eating NO sugar, carbs/grains, legumes, alcohol (gasp!), dairy (wtf?), and processed foods (see ya later!), the point is to eat better quality foods.  For example: beef & butter need to be grass-fed, fish needs to be wild-caught, eggs need to be cage free, and a few fruits and veggies need to be organic.  Don’t worry-not everything needs to be organic like my bro-in-law thinks.  I don’t believe organic is a scam especially once you figure out what they are spraying on our crops to make them disease resistant and the size of small mammals.  Just say no to Monsanto and Roundup™!

A great resource for fruits and veggies is this list from the Whole9 in regards to eating seasonally and organically. Not everything needs to be organic like I said and the items in BOLD are very beneficial for you.

We used to be part of a Food Co-op, where you pick up a big container full of fresh and local fruits and veggies every other week.  It was $50 every two weeks and we stopped it after several months because we couldn’t use all that food fast enough (or I wasn’t very creative in the kitchen) and I hated to throw it in the trash…enter the composter.  But I would like to consider joining a CSA (Community-Supported Agriculture).  ‘A CSA refers to a particular network or association of individuals who have pledged to support one or more local farms, with growers and consumers sharing the risks and benefits of food production.’  I think it would be wonderful to not only support local farmers but be able to partake in their crops throughout the year.  Check out Local Harvest to find one that’s close to you.  I found one that is only 15 miles away and the cost is $100 per month for a full share.  I know a lot of places offer a half share if you’re not sure if you can eat it all or just want to try it out.  You can’t beat knowing where your food comes from and what exactly they put on it.  The co-op was fun though, because it opened my eyes to new veggies like golden beets and parsnips.  Who knew Emma would gobble up mashed parsnips when made like mashed potatoes at the ripe age of 8 months.  I’m thinking I may have to try those on my next round of Farmer’s Pie.

Farmer’s Pie

From Paleo Comfort Foods

  • 1 TBSP coconut or avocado oil
  • ¼ cup fresh chopped garlic
  • 2 pounds ground lamb (beef, deer, bison, or turkey)
  • 2 cups onions chopped
  • 2 cups carrots, peeled and sliced
  • 2 stalks celery, chopped
  • 1 TBSP fresh rosemary, chopped fine
  • 2 tsp dried thyme
  • 4 cups canned tomatoes
  • 2 TBSP Worcestershire sauce
  •  6 cups Mashed Cauliflower (about 3 head’s worth)

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.

2. Heat a large skillet over medium/medium-high heat. Add the oil and once hot, stir in the garlic, being careful not to burn.

3. Add in the lamb and stir, combining with the garlic. Cook until the meat is browned.

4. Remove the lamb/garlic mixture from the pan, then add in the onions, carrots, celery, rosemary, and thyme.

5. Cook until onions are translucent and carrots and celery softened.

6. Add the meat mixture back into the pan, and stir in the tomatoes, and Worcestershire and bring to a simmer.

7. Pour meat/vegetable mixture into a 9″ x 13″ baking pan, and with a rubber spatula spread a layer of the mashed cauliflower over the top, forming a solid layer of the mash.

8. Bake for 20 minutes or until the mashed cauliflower is slightly browned on top.

9. Enjoy!

What I did notice early on, was how hungry I was all.the.time!  I think my body was going through carb withdrawals since I didn’t have those to carry me during the day.  Once you get over that hump and you start feeling better-it’s totally worth it.  I just received an email today from Underground Wellness about a man who reversed his diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) by following the paleo diet. Woah!  Who knew a diet could change your life…I guess food really is medicine (and poison at the same time).

Check out books and resources if you have an issue that a doc just can’t cure; and I don’t mean with a Rx.  I often will hear people complain about ailments and think to myself, you (and everyone else) could probably benefit from a paleo diet.  Just sayin’.

If you’re wondering where I get my cooking inspiration, I have three cookbooks that I refer to.  Everyday Paleo seems to be my go-to book because I usually have all the ingredients and they are pretty simple if you’re not into to cooking, yet.  There are a few more books I’d like to add to my répetoire but I will just have to wait til the big 3-2 in a few months.  You can also check out my Recipes tab for more inspiration!

The other books are Paleo Comfort Foods and The Primal Blueprint Cookbook.  This last one was my first introduction to Primal eating (a friend got a signed copy for me when he saw gluten-free on it).  If you’re confused on the difference between paleo & primal, like I was, primal follows the 90/10 rule.  Ninety percent needs to be from the list below, while ten percent can ‘cheat,’ meaning some dairy and alcohol in moderation.

The point of this diet is to eat like our ancestors did, before the dawn of grains and mass-produced agriculture, in order to give our body what it really needs.  If you noticed there have been a lot of  kids coming up with food allergies and ADD/ADHD which can be attributed to the SAD (Standard American Diet).  I’m also hearing about young girls getting their period between the ages of 7 and 9!  What!?  Come on, they’re still babies and if you ask me I intend for Emma to hold out as long as possible.  That’s why I will spend the extra money on buying grass-fed and organic foods, knowing they haven’t been pumped full of hormones that then gets ingested by baby girl.  Sorry Aunt Flow-you’re not welcome for at least another decade in this house.

My latest obsession is to buy our own half a cow.  Don’t wory, not a live one.  I have friends that buy a whole or half a cow from a local farmer that raises and finishes them on grass.  I figure that’s a great option to stock up our outdoor freezer since the purpose of it was for my extra breastmilk (that has since thawed and been thrown in the trash).  Now it sits half empty just waiting for a truckload of meat-so I don’t have to run to the grocery store every other day.  Check out U.S. Wellness Meats for delivery straight to your door!

Sometimes I do get a late-night craving and even though sugar is a big no-no, I will occasionally indulge in some sweet goodness but only in moderation.  I’ve made quite a few recipes using sugar substitutes, like raw honey or maple syrup, and some aren’t half bad.  There are a couple where a touch of sugar would really help finish it off but I know I need to work harder on weaning myself off of the addictive stuff.

Grok Rocks

From The Primal Blueprint

  • 500 grams high quality dark chocolate, at least 60-70+% cocoa solids, broken into pieces
  • 1 pound soft pitted prunes (sometimes called dried plums)

1. Heat 1-2″ water to a gentle simmer in the bottom of double boiler or in a 2 quart saucepan. Place the top section of the double boiler over the bottom section, or fit a stainless steel or glass bowl (larger than the pan diameter) over the saucepan. Place the chocolate pieces into the top double boiler pan or the bowl. Stir every few minutes with a nonstick silicon spatula until completely melted. Or you can melt the chocolate at 30 second intervals in the microwave, stirring until completely melted.

2. While chocolate is melting, prepare rack and sheet pan. Line a sheet pan with aluminum foil (or use a silicone baking liner in the pan). Place flat cooling rack into pan.

3. Remove pan/bowl of melted chocolate from heat and let sit a few minutes to cool and thicken slightly. Stir in pitted prunes until they are entirely coated with chocolate.

4. Using a dinner fork, scoop out prunes one at a time, letting excess chocolate drip back into the pan of melted chocolate, then place chocolate covered prunes on the cooling rack. Continue until all prunes are on the cooling rack and not touching each other.

5. Place rack in a cool location (or refrigerator) until chocolate is solid again. Remove “rocks’ from rack with the tip of a blunt butter knife to avoid creating fingerprints in the chocolate. Store in an airtight container in a cool place or in the refrigerator.

6. Enjoy!

The crazy thing is there are so many substitutes for the carbs you are replacing, and they sometimes taste a ton better!

Food::Substitute

Margarine::Grass-fed butter or Ghee

Mashed Potatoes::Mashed Cauliflower

Milk::Unsweetened Coconut Milk or Homemade Almond Milk (NO SOY)

Pasta::Spaghetti Squash, Sliced Eggplant, or Sliced/Julienned Zucchini

Salted Nuts::Raw Nuts & Seeds

Vegetable Oils::Coconut, Extra-Virgin Olive, or Avocado Oil

Like I’ve said before, I’m not a doctor, I just read a lot.  If you have any doubts or questions on the topic of paleo/primal eating, check out the resources I listed on Part 1.  Mark from Mark’s Daily Apple writes wonderful posts on debunking a lot of questions/myths people have about the way we eat; like why a high-fat diet is healthy and is going grain-free healthy?

Hopefully you won’t think I’m too nuts for changing my family’s diet for the better.  I know this road may not be for everyone but it has been pretty awesome for us.  I definitely have a new-found appreciation and respect for food that I never had while being gluten-free.

Are you on board or even curious about this latest eating ‘craze’?  Or did you stop reading at no alcohol?  Let’s discuss where you are at in your ‘diet’ travels and if it’s working for you or are you looking for a change?

Note: photos from here and here.

Note: I wasn’t paid or perked to promote these items; nor am I a doctor or pretend to play one.

13 Jun

Going Paleo: Part One

Posted by Crunchy Hot Mama in Books, Food, Gluten-Free, Paleo. Tagged: , , , , , , .

Hooray!  It’s finally here; the post about my journey of going paleo over six months ago.

What is the Paleo/Primal Diet you may be asking?

‘The modern dietary regimen known as the Paleolithic diet (abbreviated paleo diet or paleodiet), also popularly referred to as the caveman diet, Stone Age diet and hunter-gatherer diet, is a nutritional plan based on the presumed ancient diet of wild plants and animals that various human species habitually consumed during the Paleolithic era—a period of about 2.5 million years duration that ended around 10,000 years ago with the development of agriculture.’ ~Primal Docs

So easy a caveman can do it, right?  That’s the first thing I think of when people ask what is paleo/primal.  I usually start off by saying it’s what the caveman ate sans wooly mammoths and saber toothed tigers.  What got me interested in this: read ‘lifestyle’ not ‘diet’ was a book called Primal Body, Primal Mind by Nora T. Gedgaudas.  I had heard about it from my celiac support group and when a friend of mine won it in the raffle from our Gluten and Allergen Free Expo, I asked if I could ‘borrow’ it.  Yeah so borrow turned into have because of all the highlighting and dog-earing that occurred.  Not to worry, I bought her her own copy so she can get hooked, too!

This book is AMAZING as it explains how food/diet is linked to all kinds of aliments people suffer from and basically why we get cancers.  It’s serious stuff I tell you.  For those that know me, know I am VERY passionate about certain things and this is my new obsession.  I promise to try not to preach but rather educate.  I get why Jillian Michaels gets ramped up about people eating right and exercising…it’s called passion!

Here’s a detailed infographic explaining the Paleolithic breakdown.

Before I get to how & why I landed on paleo, allow me to give you a little back story.  I was diagnosed with Celiac Disease over 30 years ago when I was just 18 months old.  My parents decided to finally take me to the doctor due to my foul-smelling stools and classic distended belly.  The pediatrician took one look at me and said I either had Cystic Fibrosis or Celiac Disease (CD) and after a traumatic biopsy (which I still vividly remember) the diagnosis was CD.  I don’t think my parents were exactly stoked to hear the diagnosis but they were glad to know what in the world was going on with me and my belly.

So after several years of having lasagna made with corn tortillas and noshing on this tiny, dry gluten-free bread shipped frozen from Wisconsin, called Cybro, we slowly began to get the gluten-free diet rolling.  It still wasn’t a walk in the park with the cross-contamination and lack of ingredients on food labels, but we did the best we could.  I even had two more biopsies where one doc said I’d grow out of it and the other said, ‘she only has it a little; if she was my daughter I’d let her eat it.’  Fail.

I think the straw that broke the camel’s back was when I came down from Texas A&M to visit my parents and my mom and I went to lunch at Subway.  I thought I could skate by with going for a simple salad with all the toppings but when I saw them slice the meat on the same board that the bread touched, I lost it.  I went back to the car and cried.  I told my mom I couldn’t take it anymore-this being different and not being able to eat out like most people.  It was a huge pain in the rear wakeup call for me.

Fast forward a few years later and enter the love of my life, Josh.  I have to say this guy saved my life.  He gave me the confidence and courage I lacked when ordering meals at a restaurant and was always a shoulder to cry on.  Lucky for me it was never a big deal having my allergy.  Josh is such a laid back guy that he pretty much just goes with the flow, man.  I seriously have been blessed.  The guy has always been an excellent cook and has spoiled me the 10 years we’ve been together.  On our first Valentine’s Day, he made me gluten-free shrimp fettuccine alfredo and flourless chocolate torte with chocolate ganache.  Jello!  I was not about to let this one go…even if it took seven years to get married…he was definitely worth the wait!

When I picked up Primal Body, Primal Mind last September and let him know we were going to change our lifestyle yet again, he said ok.  Well first he asked if we were still eating meat-to which I said yes.  He wasn’t too keen when I tried to go vegan a few years ago, and once he tempted me with the smoked sausage, that ship had sailed.  Thankfully he is a good sport and happily tries all my new recipes (I think he’s just excited that I am cooking again).

To add another explanation of what paleo is, here’s a quote from Primal-Palate:

The Paleo diet is based upon the idea of eating the foods our bodies were designed for through thousands of years of evolution. These foods were available to early people through hunting and gathering [meat and fish, nuts and seeds, fruits and vegetables].

During modern times, advances in technology have made other forms of food available for consumption [grains, dairy, and processed foods], which are suboptimal forms of nutrition. The foods recommended in the Paleo diet provide our bodies with long-lasting energy that also aid in burning fat.

For those of you who are visual, like me, and need an infographic, here ya go.

I know what you’re thinking.  Why on earth would you want to limit yourself beyond gluten?  I must be nuts I tell ya!

The reality is, I don’t want to get cancers (if possible) and I want a better quality of life for myself and my family.  Even while being gluten-free I would still get bloated daily.  I knew dairy was a culprit and after getting allergy tested, I found a few more foods that I’m allergic to, like yeast, coffee, and green beans.  I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again…being on a paleo diet is THE BEST I HAVE EVER FELT.  I can even tell a difference with Josh.  People comment about the weight he’s lost, all the while all he is doing is eating three homemade squares a day.  We still need to get on the workout horse regime though; I know that will greatly enhance the lifestyle once we find the motivation/time.

I’m not trying to sell you anything but I would like you to look into it.  Check out Nora’s book or others out there like Robb Wolf’s The Paleo Solution or Mark Sisson’s The Primal Blueprint.  There are so many resources out there; you just need to browse the web and your local library.

Here are a few sites and blogs that have given me inspiration along the way.  The resources out there are endless-just do a bit of searching if you don’t get the answer you want.

It may not be an overnight transition for you but give it a shot.  Who knows, maybe several of your ailments will go away or your skin will be glowing from not eating crap.  For me, my stomach bloating after every meal finally went away.  I do have to admit that I have fallen off the bandwagon lately and need a mental recharge to get back on track.  I can definitely tell that I feel terrible when not eating paleo and now even gluten-free grains bother me.  Boo for school.

Yeah, so I thought I could get everything into one post…fat chance.  I will make this a two, possibly three, part post since there is so much information out there that I want you to be armed with.  The next post will show recipes and food substitutes that I suffer through and feel deprived surviving on-just kidding.

So whatcha think?  Have you ever heard of paleo/primal before or is this your first time?  Do you eat this way now and what improvements has it had on your health?  Do you think I’m crazy for missing out on carb-tastic foods by limiting myself even more than I do?  Lay it on me and let’s get talking.

Note: I wasn’t paid or perked to promote these items; nor am I a doctor or pretend to play one.

31 May

Love and Logic

Posted by Crunchy Hot Mama in Baby, Books, Child Rearing, Natural Parenting. Tagged: , , , , , .

I know I’ve been on the gardening/green kick lately, so let’s switch gears and get back to bébé…

Last month my sis flew in from Houston to attend a Love and Logic seminar with me here in Grapevine, TX.  It was yet another one of those, I had heard people using it and kind of got the gist of it from my friend Sheri, and I have to say it is the best.decision.we.ever.made for raising Emma!  Basically parenting with Love and Logic is ’an approach to raising kids that provides loving support from parents while at the same time expecting kids to be respectful and responsible.’  They don’t believe in spanking and don’t do time-out, though you are able to put the kid in another room for a period of time or just remove them from the situation.

Love and Logic is a philosophy founded in 1977 by Jim Fay and Foster W. Cline, M.D. It is the approach of choice among leading educators, parents, and other professionals worldwide.

If you don’t believe me, ask my friend who told me her teacher friends were shocked that I picked the Love and Logic seminar over going to the zoo (whaa?).  She claimed a teacher would thank me later for going and getting started early.  It seemed like a no brainer at the time…gotta get baby girl on the right track PRONTO!

The basic concept is about giving kids choices which enables them to feel heard; even when they are very little.  For example, when Emma was about 6 months old, I would hold up two onesies for her to choose from to wear for the day.  Don’t worry, I’m not going to say that she told me which one she wanted, because she didn’t (but that would be amazing!).  At my friend’s advice, I followed her eyes and where ever they looked, that was the winner.  I know it sounds silly but really it’s just clothes so I figure Emma deciding what to wear was the least of my worries.

Another few examples of how we use Love and Logic: when Emma started eating foods at around 6 months and she got the hang of throwing the food down or dropping the sippy cup on purpose, we either removed her from the situation (eating) or became a onetime drop mama/papa (the sippy cup).  Homey Mama don’t play that ‘how many times can I drop my sippy cup and watch mama pick it up’ game.  No dice.  And now that she is soon-to-be two, and plays the games of ‘no like it’ with dinner (and dresses) or gets down from her chair at a restaurant, so sad, someone is going to be very hungry.

Don’t fret, it’s not like you are going to starve your kid, it’s getting them to understand and respect that meal time is just that-time to eat and enjoy each other’s company.  If they don’t like it or play around with their food for forever, you set a timer and once that timer dings, the meal is over.  Guess they’ll just have to wait until the next meal which is sometimes the next day.  Trust me, they learn pretty quickly (or so I hope) that mama’s not monkeying around.

The reality is that if you give them choices now and have them deal with the consequences while they’re little, when they get older they will be wise enough to make responsible decisions.

The Love and Logic technique in action sounds like this:

Dad: “Oh, no. You left your bike unlocked and it was stolen. What a bummer. I bet you feel awful. Well, I understand how easy it is to make a mistake like that.” (Notice that the parent is not leading with anger, intimidation, or threats.)

Dad then adds, “And you’ll have another bike as soon as you can earn enough money to pay for it. I paid for the first one. You can pay for the additional ones.”

Love and Logic parents know that no child is going to accept this without an argument, but Love and Logic parents can handle arguments. Jim Fay advises “just go brain dead.” This means that parents don’t try to argue or match wits with the child. They simply repeat, as many times as necessary, “I love you too much to argue.” No matter what argument the child uses, the parent responds “I love you too much to argue.” Parents who learn how to use these techniques completely change, for the better, their relationships with kids and take control of the home in loving ways.

Does is sound a bit extreme for you?  It did for me at first but then it started to make sense.  I want Emma to feel heard yet at the same time let her know I’m the adult and ultimately make the final decisions.  My hubby recently asked how we are supposed to do the night-night time ritual after giving her so many choices throughout the day (thankfully he was on board from the get-go).  I told him, if baby girl tries to fight and say ‘but I want to go to bed in 10 minutes instead of now,’ I calmly remind her that ‘you made a lot of choices today didn’t you?’  ‘Well now it’s my turn and it’s night-night time.’  End of story.

I have to say the hardest part is following through.  I’m not going to pretend like I stick to my guns every time but I have been getting better at it lately.  I have to tell myself, I just told her no more blueberries-after she just ate about 20 of them-and stand firm by my statement.  I do notice that if I say they’re all gone or you ate them all, she’ll usually give up.  Thank goodness because I probably would have caved in another millisecond.  I guess it’s never too early to learn we can’t always get what we want.  Would be nice though, huh?

The other big factor I like about Love and Logic is that kids get to A) make mistakes and B) learn how to deal with them at an early age.  I love my parents and appreciate all they did for me but wish I was able to fail/fall on my butt when I was younger.  I think it would have helped me make better decisions once I became an adult…especially in regards to money.

The takeaway here is if you are looking for an alternative to spanking (I was somewhat onboard since I was spanked) and want a fun and different way to rear your child, check out Love and Logic.  They have a plethora of resources for any age and cater to different parenting styles.  My mom and sis got me the Early Childhood Package for Christmas 2 years ago and it was a great investment start.

They also have an Insider’s Club where you can get emails with their tips and how to handle specific situations.  You can even call their toll-free number (1-800-338-4065) if you are stuck and need help with a solution.  Seriously, you definitely can’t go wrong here!  Check it out if you’re curious and don’t dare think it’s too late to start; your child and their teachers will thank you.  PS: They even have a Marriage-Love and Logic book which I picked up at the seminar…I figure it couldn’t hurt.

Have you ever heard of this technique or do you practice it now?  What has worked for you in rearing your wee little ones or are you at your wits’ end and need a drink different solution?

Note: I wasn’t paid or perked for this.  The pictures are from here and here.

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