We could fill our lives with endless fascinations and occupations, and we often do.  Whenever possible, I try to prioritize the priorities (crazy I know).  Family, friends, health, laughter.  The good stuff.

For me, food is more about sustenance than joy.  I get that for some people, cooking and eating is a very visceral part of their life experiences.  That’s something yoga, reading, and gardening do for me.  To each their own.

In that vein, my dinners and meals are kept pretty simple.  As I’ve discussed before, it’s about eating as clean as possible and keeping my peanut-allergic son safe.

Here’s another example meal from last week.  So simple and pretty clean.  I felt good about this one.

Meal 1: For my little guy…

Trader Joe’s Fish Sticks

Annie’s Mac & Cheese (leftover from night before)

Cucumber Slices

Birds Eye Steamer Green Beans

Seeds of Change Organic Quinoa (in the small yellow bowl…he only took one bite but my rule is you have to at least try everything)

Meal #2: For the grown-ups…

Trader Joe’s Shrimp (cooked with olive oil, garlic, and red pepper flakes)

Same Green Beans as Kid

Same Quinoa as Kid

Salad with Annie’s Organic Dressing and Cucumbers

See?  As simple as can be.  Cooking time was….oh maybe 15 minutes, with virtually no prep.  I would say we are eating about 90% clean here.

Some of you may be asking why I end up making two meals.  I do and I don’t.  As you can see, most of the food that is on my plate is on my son’s, and vice versa.  I want my son to try things, but I’m also realistic.  I know he wouldn’t eat the shrimp, so he had fish sticks instead.  I knew my husband and I would enjoy the quinoa and that is a little lighter than the mac and cheese for us.  My son will have a bite of lettuce, but he wouldn’t eat a whole side salad.

Some meals are entirely “matched”.  For example, we made yummy homemade pizzas this weekend with a side of homemade french fries and a veggie on the side.  That meal looked the same on my plate as my son’s.  But a lot of the time we do some slight modifications, ask him to take at least one bite of the grown-up stuff, and call it a day.

Eating clean and simple also helps protect my son from dangerous chemicals, as well as hidden peanuts in processed foods.  Also, I am what I call “Gluten-Aware”.  My celiac blood tests came back negative, but when I eat gluten for extended periods, I’m in nearly constant pain.  My meal above was gluten-free.

What about you?  What are some simple recipes that are constantly in your cooking rotation?  Do you cook separately for kids and grown-ups?

My main goal for this website/blog, other than to release some of my own frustrations and anger with our crazy world in a positive way, is to give parents practical tips they can use.  I am constantly reading books and websites about health and food, and one of my main criticisms is that they can feel unrealistic.

I don’t know about you, but I’m a busy gal!  I teach part-time, I’m in school full-time, I take care of my son and I also try to have a life!  I don’t have a ton of time to be cooking crazy complicated recipes for every meal.  I’m not perfect, but I am informed!

So in the spirit of being healthy, informed, and practical, here’s a sample of my son’s food intake yesterday.  I hope this helps you build healthy choices into your own lives.  FYI-My son is three years old and is a pretty good eater.  As you know, he also has a peanut allergy.  So when I cook for him, I have a few goals in mind.

No nuts. No GMOs. No food additives or preservatives.  Preferably organic.  Do I meet all of these goals for every meal?  Nope.  But if you look at his overall day I think you’ll see that I met these goals MOST of the time.  Remember, the goal is to stay informed, not to stay perfect.

Breakfast

Van’s Organic Waffle, Trader Joe’s Organic Maple Syrup, Strawberries, Organic Cow’s Milk

Snacks

Enjoy Life Chocolate Snack Bar

Organic Tortilla Chips & Sabra Hummus

Lunch

Grilled Cheese (Land o Lakes Butter, Barowsky’s Organic Wheat Bread, Horizon Organic Sliced Cheese)

Kettle Brand GMO-Free Potato Chips

Hannaford Organic Baby Carrots

Claussen Pickle

Dinner (Note these are BPA-free plastic containers pictured)

Annie’s Organic Mac & Cheese

Bird’s Eye Steamfresh Broccoli (GMO free per an email from them)

Hannaford Organic Applesauce

Stonyfield Farms Organic Yogurt

Dessert

So Delicious Organic Neapolitan Ice Cream (Organic & Made with Soy Milk)

And that’s it!  As you can see, I highlighted in red any products I’m not sure about.  Since I’m slowly transitioning my kitchen to GMO-free products, I have made a note that next time I’m at TJ’s or my other market, I will buy TJ’s or organic versions of these.

I hope this helps to give you all an idea of how I make healthy choices for my family.  I will keep trying to post at least one practical meal plan or recipe choice one or two times a week to help you all make positive changes in your own lives.

Stay informed!

When my son was diagnosed with his peanut allergy, after doing a little bit of research, I decided that my family would start eating super-healthy, as opposed to the somewhat-healthy approach we had previously taken.  Before his diagnosis, we rarely ate fast food, did not keep sweets or ice cream in the house, and since I don’t eat any red meat, my husband and son only had red meat once every couple of weeks.  Our diet consisted of lots of whole grains, lean proteins, fruits, veggies, and dairy.  Not too shabby right?

But I wanted to crank it up a notch, to see if we could increase the chances (about 20% we are told) that he will “grow out of” his allergy.  I decided that we would start eating natural products.  Yes that’s right, natural foods were going to fix everything.  NATURAL FOODS TO THE RESCUE!

This was one of our staples.  The Kashi Cereal Bar.  See right there on the front?  It says “All Natural”.  Phew.  Kashi met the bill.  We went through about 2-3 boxes of these per week in my house.  We were filling our bellies with all kinds of goodness….right?

Here is another one of our favorites.  Newman’s Own Salsa.  I wanted the best for my family of course, so I bought this “All Natural” salsa.  We ate about two jars per week.  And even better, we were contributing to a great cause.  A win-win….right?

And not to beat a dead horse, because I could post 20 pictures here, but one last illustration.  These are the “100% All Natural” chicken nuggets I fed my son.  I spent time in the frozen food aisle reading every frozen chicken out there.  For the price, on our budget, this was a no brainer.  And it is 100% All Natural, not just All Natural, so like, duh, of course I can feed this to my son. Right?

WRONG.  WRONG.  WRONG AGAIN. I have contacted all three of these companies, and all of them have sadly explained that they contain GMOs (Genetically Modified Ingredients).   Today, if they were giving any one of these items away for FREE at my grocery store, I would run in the other direction.

Aside from the dangers posed to us from eating GMOs, which are increasingly coming to light as more states fight to require GMO labeling, how can these companies get away with blatantly lying to their customers?

Like many of you, I had been living in a dream world, or maybe a nightmare.  I trusted these companies and their labels.  I knew what natural meant to me, but when you put profit over people, natural can mean ANYTHING you want it to.

Do your research.  Contact companies one by one.  If they use GMOs, tell them they no longer have your business.  Buy local.  Buy organic.  Buy products certified as Non-GMO.  Or best yet, grow your own food.  But please, PLEASE, don’t buy from companies who care so little about you and your family that they lie without conscience or hesitation.

 

Is organizing your recipes a nightmare for you too?  Do you have to write down recipes you see in books?  Who has time for that?! Do you have messy pages torn from cooking magazines?  Do you usually end up throwing them away because your are sick of the mess?

I did too!  But my beloved iPad has fixed that!  Now, I just take a picture of the recipe, sync my iPad to my computer, and voila!  I can print out a perfect copy of the recipe.

Then I throw the recipes into my binder.  I have binder tabs that help my organize by meal-type, such as salads or main meals.  That’s it!  Having a simple system has encouraged me to try new recipes with no stress.

Have a great day all, and remember, stay informed!

After my son was diagnosed with a peanut allergy about 18 months ago, we searched and searched for a cereal bar type product that was peanut-free.  While Kashi does process nuts and peanuts in their factories, after speaking with a very knowledgeable customer service rep about their manufacturing processes, we made the choice to purchase Kashi cereal bars as my son’s main snack.  The bars were great.  All natural, full of vitamins, and so easy to travel with.  I felt confident in the choice I was making for my son’s health.

Imagine my surprise when I first read that Kashi products contain both GMOs and pesticides.

Here’s a picture of where trash goes in our house.

 

 

 

After spending some time on the Kashi Facebook page, I’ve noticed there are a few people who actually support Kashi, or at least people who are annoyed with those of us that are surprised by this turn of events.  Apparently, the average consumer like myself is supposed to know that “All Natural” on a product means nothing.  Only the term “organic” rules out GMOs and pesticides.

Now I don’t know about you, but I missed the “Oh products labeled natural aren’t REALLY natural you silly goose” lecture in college. I didn’t see that sign in my local grocery store.  I didn’t see the story on the tv news.  I had to seek this information out by reading very specific books and websites geared toward this issue.  This is not public knowledge and Kashi knows that.  And like any smart company they capitalized on it.

I don’t give a rat’s ass if Kashi puts agent orange-ridden soy in their products.  Have at it.  I’m sure it will fly off the shelves.  My problem is that when you create a brand and image around health and families and the joy of food, and then you use GMOs and pesticides, you are, in my opinion, morally corrupt.

Diet Coke is probably one of the worst things you can put into your body.  As a grown-up, I load up on it everyday.  Last time I checked, Diet Coke is not billing itself as a health food.  I’m cool with that.  But Kashi is.  That’s the problem.  And the average consumer is not educated enough to know the dangers of GMOs (infant mortality and sterility just off the top of my head).

Kashi wants us to believe that they didn’t take advantage of our trust.  But they did.  The good news is that in the past two weeks, with the good work of the people of Vermont and California to fight for GMO labeling, there has been a groundswell of information on this terrifyingly widespread issue.  Kashi’s betrayal hurts, but the good news is that it might very well by just what this movement needed to reach the masses.

So thank you Kashi.  Thank you so much for being so deceptive and for putting dangerous products on the market for our kids.  Sincerely, InformedMom

 

I went to the store this morning to pick up a few things.  Mostly, I need to get my SoDelicious chocolate ice cream bars because I’ve been having some serious chocolate cravings!  Dairy Free, Soy Free, and Organic!  And at only 80 calories they are a great choice if you are watching your weight. They are a little pricey, about five bucks, but a good option for our house.

 

Then, of course, I had to pick up a carton of the SoyDelicious vanilla

ice cream for my son.  He has a peanut allergy and I’m very hesitant for him to eat any “normal” ice cream.  Aside from worrying about cross-contamination, I’m also trying to stay Informed about avoiding animal protein and dairy when possible.  We use the ice cream sparingly with him, and it is part of his reward system when he does something well.

As I looked down at the carton, a light bulb went off in my head.  See it right there?  Coconut milk.  Coconut milk….hmmmm….I walked quickly to the milk section and there it was!  A carton of coconut milk.  

My little guy has already tolerated it well in the ice cream, so logically he will be able to handle this as well. It is organic and loaded with tons of vitamins like D and B12.  The cost for half a gallon was $2.99.

So right now in my fridge I have soy, rice, cow, and coconut milk!  I figure everything in moderation right?  But right now I feel pretty good about transitioning our family to coconut milk.  Today, I feel a little more confident, and a lot more Informed!

 

 

Like any good Informed Mom, I’ve been spending time lately reading about the dangers of milk.  Until a few weeks ago, my family and I were drinking the generic milk sold at my local supermarket.  It cost me $2.44 a gallon.  Since we go through a little over a gallon/week, this was a great option for us…..or so I thought.

This milk had a lovely label that stated, “Our farmers pledge not to use artificial growth hormones.”  I thought that kept us in the clear.  But after reading the jaw-dropping book The Unhealthy Truth by mom turned author/activist Robyn O’Brien, I started to feel my stomach turn every time I poured a glass of the white stuff.  I’ll buy organic, I thought.  That will fix it.  $5.99 a pop but we could swing it right?

And this week, after delving into the seminal nutritional study of our time, The China Study, my stomach is no longer turning, it’s in my throat.  These authors argue that not only milk, but ALL animal protein, cause the diseases that most of us live in fear of, and I’m sure all of us have experienced, either in our own bodies or among friends and family.

I made a special trip to the store yesterday to purchase some alternatives.  Here’s what I found….

Soy Milk-Now if you read The UnHealthy Truth you won’t touch soy with a 10-foot pole.  I’m wondering if organic soy is an okay option?  Soy seems fraught with peril at this point.

Rice Milk-Has an awesome label on it that says, “For children under 5, consult with your doctor.”  I have NEVER seen a label like this on a food product!

Almond Milk-My son has a peanut allergy so I’m passing on this one for the time being, even though Blue Diamond is peanut free.

So what did I decide?  I decided not to decide.  I bought a half gallon of good ol’ organic cow’s milk, organic rice milk, and organic soy milk.  And I don’t have a damn clue what to do with them.

Every time I look at these milks, I feel angry, then I feel confused.  Why is it so hard to get straight answers about our health?  It would take me five seconds to find out Justin Beiber’s middle name (Drew) or Angelina Jolie’s bra size (36C) but I can’t get a clear answer on which type of milk to provide for my family.

What type of milk do you use and how did you make the (apparently) difficult decision?

 

We have to work at being Informed Moms, don’t we?  If it were easy, everyone would do it, and most don’t.  One of the things I’ve spent a lot of time on is researching and visiting various stores to find out where I can purchase organic products and where I can do it without breaking the bank.

One of my most recent finds is a New England store called Ocean State Job Lot.  It is comparable to Big Lots for those of you familiar with that chain, but OSJL has one HUGE benefit….cheap organic foods!

Exhibit A: Guiltless Gourmet Chili Lime Chips (made with organic corn): $2.00

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other great finds?  A huge bag of plain organic tortilla chips for $2.00, Non-GMO gluten-free pasta for $1.50 per bag, and Suzie’s brand organic crackers for $1.50.  I got a TON of food (along with a few other great finds like cheap batteries and toilet paper) all for $24.46. Who knew?

OSJL is a hidden treasure in my area for organic shopping, and is now officially in my weekly shopping rotation.

What stores surprise you with their organic offerings?

I had the pleasure of attending a speech last night by Gloria Steinem, in support of a local non-profit in my community that supports women and children.

Twice in my life, I’ve been at a mental crossroads, and “coincidentally” (the quotes should tell you I don’t believe in coincidences) attended a speech that clarified my course.  The first speech was given by Freeman Hrabowski (google Freeman Hrabowski 60 minutes and you’ll get it).  The second was last night.

I have recently taken on two new ventures in this blog/website, and another on the topic of community college retention.  I’m new to this, but feel called to put these words on the screen.  Of course it’s daunting though!  What am I doing?  Who will read this?  Should I just quit?

Gloria said two things last night that opened my eyes and mind.

Act as if everything you do matters, because you never know when it might.

The process of revolution begins with the simple act of telling the truth.  As the saying goes, “The truth will set you free”.

She spoke to my heart.  I had been wondering if my words and ideas matter.  Maybe they don’t today, maybe they won’t tomorrow….but maybe a week, or a month, or a year from now, they’ll matter a hell of a lot.  So until then, act like they do.

And the truth.  In our world bombarded with a media that tells us what to think and feel about our lives and ourselves, where corruption is normalized, I believe many of us have been taught to feel like the truth is optional.  It’s not.  It can’t be.  Enough spin already, tell us the truth.  Label our food.  Be honest about what you are pushing on our families.  Do the right thing, not the profitable thing.  But if we want corporations and government to tell the truth, we have to start doing it ourselves.

So whatever this blog/website becomes, there will be honor in having a place where I can speak my truth.  I hope you will do the same in your own way.

Take a look at me!  So getting to the grocery store and buying healthy, safe food for yourself and your family is a great step in the right direction.  Want to go a step further?  Think about starting your own organic, or organic-ish garden!

For the record, if the thought of dirt, bugs, or hard labor turns your stomach and makes you run for the spa, don’t despair. I’m that girl too.  Last year, before I’d learned so much about the dangers of our food supply, I happily let my husband do all the work in the garden.  I liked picking the veggies and posting pics of them on Facebook, oh and buying plants at Home Depot, that was fun too.  Other than that, I wanted nothing to do with the actual work of starting and caring for a garden.

Take a look at this picture.  The proof is in the pudding folks!  I did 75% of this myself, I’m proud to say.  Yesterday I was out shopping for shoes for an event I have tonight and all I could do was rush through it because I was thinking of getting home to work in the garden. You can do it too!  Here’s how:

1. Start with a raised bed.  From everything I’ve read, raised beds give you the best shot at raising a bountiful garden.  We made our own.  I went to Home Depot and bought three 2″X8″X8′ pieces of untreated pine and one 4″X4″X8′.  Now a lot of people will tell you to get cedar, but I’m on a budget.  This should last me for about five years at least I think.  Also, make sure you ask for UNTREATED wood.  Treated wood could leach into your soil and then  you are no better off than you were before. My husband then sawed one of the pieces of wood in half (for the two shorter ends) and nailed the pieces together in a rectangle.  Pretty easy.  Then he sawed the 4X4 into four, two-foot long pieces.  Those became the stakes you can see here.  I’m assuming these will hold up in high winds.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2. Throw some money at the problem!  If you aren’t up to that plan, just buy a raised bed kit.  I’ve seen them at Ocean State Job Lot for about 20 bucks.  Or you can get one at Home Depot.  Doing it yourself is going to be a little cheaper and more fulfilling, but you do what you need to do!

3. Fill with dirt.  Seems self-explanatory huh?  I researched fricking dirt for like two weeks until I came up with a plan.  In most cases, you can get a crapload of dirt (1 cubic yard) to fill your bed, but you will need to pay about $20-30 for delivery.  Or you can buy it bagged, but that costs you about $2/bag and for a bed my size you’ll need about 25 bags.  At the end of the day, we found bags on sale for $1.09/bag at my local Agway and did it that way. Delivery is probably a little easier if you can get the dirt dumped near your bed.

4. Buy your seeds.  I recommend Burpee seeds.  Check out their stance on GMOs in their seeds.  Love it!  You can also purchase organic seeds in most places to insure they are GMO-free.

I filled it up and coated it with a layer of cow shit and now I’m in business.  My first seeds and plants won’t be going into my raised bed until mid-May at the earliest.  Right now, I’m most excited for my carrots.  I read somewhere that there is no greater joy in life than pulling a carrot you’ve grown from the ground.

Think you’re up for it?  Just try it!  Start with a 4X4 close to your house with some easy plants and see what happens.  Zucchini and Summer Squash are hard to screw up.  Tomatoes are always popular but can go a little crazy I’ve found.  Peppers and eggplant are good options too.  Whatever you chose, you’ll know what you are eating and what your family is eating, because you grew it yourself.

Good luck, and stay informed!