Parents Need to Eat Too by Debbie Koenig

You know he drill. It's 5:30.  Or 6pm.  Your kids are starting to melt, and so are you.  What do you feed them?  You have NO inspiration or motivation. All you need is one idea, a simple, fast, tasty meal idea with most of the ingredients present in your kitchen.

Oh, how hard that is some nights!

The new cookbook (and baby food book) Parents Need to Eat Too by Debbie Koenig is here to help.  Just listen to the subtitle:  Nap-Friendly Recipes, One-Handed Meals, and Time-Saving Kitchen Tricks for New Parents.

How ridiculously awesome is that?  And exactly where was this book when I was nursing for 4 years?  

Where do I even begin.  This is not only a cookbook, but a baby food making book, a guide for healthy living and caring for yourself as a parent, a breastfeeding guide and a cooking methods book.  I kid you not. 

Brilliant chapters include: The New Mom's Pantry; Nap-Friendly Cooking; Quick Suppers; Mom's New Best Friend: The Slow Cooker; Big Batch Bonanza; One Handed Meals; Lunchtime Pumping and Last-Minute Dinners: A Chapter for WOHMS; Un-Recipes for Partners Who Can't Cook; Galacta-whats? Recipes to Support Breastfeeding; Nutritious Nibbles; Easy Indulgences; and a rockin' appendix loaded with resources.

See what I mean?  Seriously comprehensive and encompassing of mama-dom. 

I am so impressed by the creativity and compassion the author shows for creating one handed meals for mamas.  I remember being "stuck" hungry and thirsty, but not wanting to move and disturb a just settling in baby.  That desperate feeling of-- who will get MY food or drink??

The recipes are all simple to follow, easy to make, mama reviewed (love that!) and each describes how you can turn the ingredients (if possible) into baby food.  There are loads of tips about how to cook in big batches, freeze and thaw foods.  Sprinkled throughout the text are "crib notes" with a summary of important tips for those of us with the attention span of a fly-- which is most of the new parents out there. 

I am particularly excited to try some one handed meals even though I am not nursing-- they sound so dang tasty.  Here's a few on my short list: Curried Kale and Apple Empanadas, Potato and Mushroom Pie-Rogies, and the Vegetarian Tamale Pie.  See what I mean?  Don't those sound amazing?

The text is peppered with tips from moms, experts, and the author-- such totally helpful stuff, too much to even relate. Like this section on Skipping Meals (which I STILL do) and how to avoid it-- it's loaded with real advice from real people.  

Tonight's dinner.  Yum!

I could actually kiss the author for honoring mamas so wholeheartedly in this book. Truly.  A section all about pumping, and how to eat your lunch while doing it?  Add to it support for breastfeeding, baby food making, how to cook for even the most challenged among us?  Well, my love for Debbie Koenig is a little embarrassing. 

This book would be one of the most helpful gifts you could give to your new mama friends.  Or, your veteran mama friends.  This book is a goldmine of healthy, quick, and tasty recipes and resources for any parents.  

Tonight I made pesto quesadillas from this book--- so tasty. Truly, all I needed was the inspiration and I didn't need a recipe.  Love that!  

Thanks Debbie for helping mamas everywhere feed and care for themselves and their families.  

**FCC guidelines: I did receive a review copy of this book.  My opinions are independent and based on my own experiences and those of my chef assistants, 4 and 6 year old girls). 

Book Review: 1,000 Mitzvahs

You’ve heard the expression, “A picture is worth a thousand words” but have you heard this one? “A death is worth a thousand mitzvahs.” – Margie Boule, Oregonian Columnist

Get ready to be inspired.

So much of the news about our health, the environment, and endless heated political rhetoric...it can make you feel small and useless.

I am both validated and inspired by this new book from Linda Cohen, called 1,000 Mitzvahs:  How Small Acts of Kindness Can Heal, Inspire, and Change Your Life.

Don't be afraid of the title, this is not an overly religious book.  Sure, a mitzvah is a Jewish word, and it means small acts of kindness.  The themes in this book are something we can all ascribe to, no matter your religion (or lack there of).  

Often it is the emotional hot spots of our lives that define and shape us, and spur us into action and clarity.  It was that way with the author, Linda Cohen, when her father passed away.  She decided to perform one thousand acts of kindness in his honor. What a simple and beautiful way to celebrate and remember her beloved father. 

This book is a chronicle of her journey completing these acts, in between working, parenting, and living.  These are small, realistic, but infinitely powerful ways that we can all make a difference in the lives of others and to make the world a better place.  

The book is packed with ideas for how to live better, care more, and give back.  I felt validated about many of the tasks I try to do on a regular basis-- and found many more ideas to try.  

Out of the darkest times come so much beauty.  When I think of all that Linda was able to do, everyone and everything she was able to help, improve, and show love for-- and what if we all did that for our loved ones, how much better the world would be. 

And what a lesson for our kids.  To see their parents practicing continuing kindness and generosity on a regular basis, as a beautiful way to live.  That may be the best mitzvah of all.  

I think in honor of the author, and her father, I will send this book to a dear friend whose father recently passed away.  In that way, I will continue my own mitzvah journey.  If you are inspired to begin (or continue yours), you can visit the author's website for guidance, goal setting, and inspiration.

What is one act of kindness that helped you?  I remember the only thing that kept me fed after I had my daughters was my friends and family! It was such an act of kindness and love and truly helped me heal and regain strength.  What about you?  

Sh*t Crunchy Mamas Say (part 2)

After this weekend's news roundup, I could use a laugh or two.  Just thinking about those issues makes my brain hurt.  Luckily, I just got an email from Genevieve at Mama Natural.  Here's another installation of Sh*t Crunchy Mamas Say!  

And it looks like she read our minds (and comments!).  My favs?  The mason jar!  I have a million and use them all the time.  But that is actually very common here in Vermont.  

And, the cascade of frozen milk from the freezer, I remember that exact thing happening to me many times.  Ugh!

The comments about screen time and juice made me laugh out loud because I have uttered them on several occasions.  By the way, loved the breastfeeding shirt she is wearing in one of the scenes.

Rock on, Genevieve, thanks for reminding us that we are not alone, and to laugh at ourselves.  Or else we'd go mad!

What about you?  Maybe we can help her with part 3!

Sunday Reading (antibiotics in eggs, BPA and obesity, fired for breastfeeding)

I hope you've all had a lovely weekend.  What are you reading?  In addition to the second Hunger Games book, borrowed from a student, these articles are what I am reading tonight.

New research strengthens the link between BPA, obesity, and Type 2 diabetics, according to this article at Huffington Post.  

"When you eat something with BPA, it's like telling your organs that you are eating more than you are really eating," says Angel Nadal, a BPA expert at the Miguel Hernandez University in Spain.

The result is a spike in insulin, which can lead to weight gain and diabetes, according to research published last week in PLoS ONE.  

Noteworthy parts of the article point to how BPA is showing negative health outcomes even at low levels, much like lead. Indeed this article and research explains how this chemical is most concerning for pregnant women and developing fetuses.  The article says:

"The fetus is not only exposed to BPA but also to higher levels of insulin from the mother, making the environment for the fetus even more disruptive," says Nadal. "This is a very delicate period."

Predictably, the American Chemical Council continues its stance that the chemicals is harmless, despite mounting scientific evidence to the contrary.  When will Americans say enough is enough and protect people from this hormone altering chemical for good?

And in the another reason to buy only locally, humanely raised and organic meats (or going vegetarian) file, is this article also at the Huffington Post.  It details the half measures of new FDA rules regarding antibiotics used in livestock, and the power of Big Ag.   

While banning the practice of injecting eggs with antibiotics (did you know they that that??  I didn't!), the FDA stopped short of meaningful regulations on the use of antibiotics in livestock farming.  According to the article:

"More than 70 percent of antibiotics go to livestock, not people, says the bill, and they are used on more than 83 percent of grower-finisher swine farms, cattle feedlots, and sheep farms and found in 48 percent of U.S. streams."

I wrote here about the promise of regulations of a certain kind of antibiotics, but it looks like that has been watered down even more.  Big pharmaceutical companies deny any connection between the use of antibiotics in factory farming and the growth of antibiotic resistance in humans even while the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that hospital-associated infections, which are likely to be antibiotic resistant, cause or contribute to 99,000 deaths each year.

This is a confusing topic but also illustrates the growing power of corporations over public health when the almighty dollar is involved.  When will people realize that our health is priceless, and that corporations, no matter how much we want them too, can't regulate themselves?

And lastly, an article about the firing of Donnicia Venters because she discussed wanting to express milk at work so she could continue breast feeding her baby.  This article shares the stunning comment of the judge who decided there was no discrimination involved in this case because:

"The law does not punish lactation discrimination," U.S. District Judge Lynn Hughes, who is male, ruled in a three-page order. Dismissal because of pregnancy, childbirth or a related medical condition is illegal, Hughes noted, but "lactation is not pregnancy, childbirth or a related medical condition."

First of all, how is it possible that in 2012, the law does not punish lactation discrimination?  With doctors and medical professionals the world over showcasing the health benefits of breastfeeding, and the skyrocketing rates of obesity and other conditions breastfeeding is shown to decrease?  I know our society has come a long way, but this reminds me how much farther we have to go. When a women is not even protected in her job from firing based on her choice to continue breastfeeding her baby, we as a society should be ashamed.  

Secondly, how is lacatation not a childbirth related medical condition?  I'd have to agree with Venter's lawyer on this one:

"Under the law that prohibits discrimination on pregnancy, childbirth or related medical condition, lactation is a related medical condition to pregnancy and childbirth," argued Timothy Bowne, an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission attorney. "There are no people that we know of who lactate who haven’t given birth recently."

We need national legislation protecting all women from being fired for wanting to express breast milk at work, and clearly, a new definition of lacatation if that is what it will take.  That's why I am supporting the Breastfeeding Promotion Act which will:

*Amends the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to protect breastfeeding women from being fired or discriminated against in the workplace.

*Protects breastfeeding mothers by ensuring that executive, administrative, and professional employees, including elementary and secondary school teachers (in addition to non-exempt employees covered by the previous amendment), have break time and a private place to pump in the workplace.

Join me and send a message to Congress with Momsrising.  

What's your take on any of these stories?

High-Risk Pregnancy: Why Me? Understanding and Managing a Potential Preterm Pregnancy

(Here's a guest post from mama, doula, birth advocate and author, Kelly Whitehead.) 

Every year, 1 million U.S. women with high-risk pregnancies are placed on bed rest to protect their developing babies. Despite that, every year, about 500,000 newborns – one of every eight – arrive too early, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

Enduring a high-risk pregnancy can be an overwhelming experience of stress, fear and unknowns, leading to more questions than answers. Many of these moms adhere to strict regimes of bed rest; face major changes in lifestyle and relationships; and are subject to dozens of doctor visits and even surgery or medications to protect their unborn children. For them, birth may not be the joy-filled event most families expect.

Knowing those feelings all too well, research scientist Kelly Whitehead wrote High-Risk Pregnancy: Why Me? Understanding and Managing a Potential Preterm Pregnancy(www.hrpwhyme.com), which is backed by fetal and maternal medicine specialist Dr. Vincenzo Berghella, a top pre-term birth researcher. Whitehead’s first child died following his premature birth. During her next pregnancy, she spent 4½ months in bed worrying over and trying to protect her daughter.

The book is both a medical reference and provides emotional support for mothers-to-be, with Whitehead providing answers in layman’s terms to the myriad medical questions families have. Whitehead also shares coping strategies she discovered, along with what she’s learned through benefit of hindsight, and insights from other mothers.

• Try to enjoy being pregnant. Don’t miss out on this experience because you’re high-risk. Do the normal prego things, even if you have to modify them: Shop online, get a belly cast, shoot expanding-belly photos, and savor those kicks and body changes. Don’t forget or stop dreaming about the actual birth and your desires for what it will be like. I regretted missing out on so much while carrying my daughter. Rather than enjoying the pregnancy, I kept focused on the end and my hope she would survive.

• Don’t let your emotions become your enemy. Say goodbye to guilt – this is not your fault! It’s okay to be bitter, angry and upset at the world, and to hate “normal” pregnant women, but it isn’t going to change anything. So go get mad, yell, and cry, and then move on.

• Pelvic rest sounds easy, but it isn’t. It’s not fun being forced to become a nun, so don’t. There are still ways to enjoy intimacy; you just need to get creative. Think high school – remember how much fun necking was? Try body oil, a massage…whipped cream? Sexy lingerie is still hot, even if you’re pregnant. Flaunt your new assets - they surely went up a cup size or two.

• Educate yourself about your situation. Don’t go reading about every other possible scenario out there; you don’t need to worry about problems that aren’t a likely issue for you.

• Ask and you shall receive. It may sometimes feel as though people have forgotten about you, but the reality is they’re busy and they have no idea what’s it’s like for you. If you want company, reach out and invite someone over.

“I know it’s tough to be going through a high-risk pregnancy and living in fear every day,” Whitehead says. “Though this will be the toughest time of your life, many of us have been through it and now have our children. You can, too.

“Keep your chin up and keep hoping. Healthy babies are born every day to families who’ve walked the same path.”

Kelly Whitehead is a scientist-mom, who lost a preemie son and went on to have two high-risk pregnancies. She wrote High-Risk Pregnancy: Why Me? Understanding and Managing a Potential Preterm Pregnancy as an educational tool and emotional guide for those experiencing a difficult pregnancy and the providers who work with them. She is also a trained doula, birth advocate and spokesperson for Sidelines National High Risk Pregnancy Support Network. For more information, check out www.hrpwhyme.com.

New Post: 3 Clean Air Legislations to Love

(Here's a new post on Moms Clean Air Force from today.  Happy Valentine's Day, readers!)

It’s the season of love, and I want to express my deep parental gratitude for legislations that provides cleaner air for our kids:

♥ The Clean Air Act
♥ The Mercury Air Toxics Rule
♥ The Cross State Pollution Laws

Providing guidance, sustenance, education, and clean water, air, and land is essential for growing strong, healthy, and smart kids. With hard work, patience, time and energy, as parents, we can take care of most of this list.

But clean air, water and land?

Well, for that, we need help. Thankfully, Moms Clean Air Force, many individuals and groups have worked tirelessly for clean air for our kids and have made a dramatic difference. I love them for it.

Without further ado, my love this Valentine’s Day goes to the laws that help our kids breathe easier:

(read the rest of this post here, and spread the love for clean air!)

World Read Aloud Day 2012

Worldwide at least 793 million people remain illiterate.

Imagine a world where everyone can read...

World Read Aloud Day is about taking action to show the world that the right to read and write belongs to all people. World Read Aloud Day motivates children, teens, and adults worldwide to celebrate the power of words, especially those words that are shared from one person to another, and creates a community of readers advocating for every child’s right to a safe education and access to books and technology.

By raising our voices together on this day we show the world’s children that we support their future: that they have the right to read, to write, and to share their words to change the world.

It’s time to join the Global Literacy Movement.

Accomplished so far:
• Reached 35 countries and 40,000 participants on March 3, 2010
• Reached 60 countries and all 50 states and 200,000 participants on March 9, 2011
• Preparing for March 7, 2012: Let's make it a million participants or more!

Register for World Read Aloud Day 2012 here!

I'm happy to be the Vermont ambassador for World Read Aloud Day 2012. My class will be practicing reading aloud, reflecting on the importance of global literacy, and writing their thoughts about the power of reading in advance of World Read Aloud Day.  Then, every child in my school will be read to during the day by my sixth grade students.  We'll also make bookmarks and raise fund for LitWorld's global literacy efforts. 

Want to join me?  

Simply commit to reading aloud to a child (or many!) on March 7, 2012.  Want to do more?  There are fantastic resources to help you plan a small or large World Read Aloud Day event in your community.  Together, we can promote literacy and change the world.