Honest Meals:I have a few close girl friends back home who have one or two babies either breastfeeding or eating adult foods by now. All of my friends have seen me go through my transition towards more live foods over the past 8 years and have been intrigued about the whole deal but thought it was too extreme therefor not interested in applying any of the info I would share.
Wanting me to be proud of her, my friend Emily boasted about drinking “Naked” brand Juices and feeding her baby the “Organic” version of Gerber foods as fulfilling nutritional requirements for herself, her baby and her unborn only 12weeks into gestation. Emily, like most parents in the general public today, (me included 8 years ago) are under the impression that eating healthier means choosing whole wheat cereals, canned soups with less “fat” or sodium, brown bread verses the spongy white and making your own pizza from scratch instead of calling up Dominos for delivery. Some of these options are “better” yes; however there is plenty of room for improvement. I have realized just how much more information is needed to steer mommas towards truly healthier ways to not only feed their babies better but nourish themselves on a deep cellular level. Many parents are mislead on what is best for their children through creative advertising campaigns, commercials and poor public information about what is really food.
Now, eating an all raw food diet may seem a bit extreme to take on, but there is no need to feel intimidated. I invite all parents to just take a educated look at the types of foods in their fridges and cabinets and then take easy steps to improve the quality. This is not about taking on a all raw food diet, or even an all vegetarian diet. This it is about introducing more fresh, wholesome and alive foods and removing the junk.
Wanting me to be proud of her, my friend Emily boasted about drinking “Naked” brand Juices and feeding her baby the “Organic” version of Gerber foods as fulfilling nutritional requirements for herself, her baby and her unborn only 12weeks into gestation. Emily, like most parents in the general public today, (me included 8 years ago) are under the impression that eating healthier means choosing whole wheat cereals, canned soups with less “fat” or sodium, brown bread verses the spongy white and making your own pizza from scratch instead of calling up Dominos for delivery. Some of these options are “better” yes; however there is plenty of room for improvement. I have realized just how much more information is needed to steer mommas towards truly healthier ways to not only feed their babies better but nourish themselves on a deep cellular level. Many parents are mislead on what is best for their children through creative advertising campaigns, commercials and poor public information about what is really food.
Now, eating an all raw food diet may seem a bit extreme to take on, but there is no need to feel intimidated. I invite all parents to just take a educated look at the types of foods in their fridges and cabinets and then take easy steps to improve the quality. This is not about taking on a all raw food diet, or even an all vegetarian diet. This it is about introducing more fresh, wholesome and alive foods and removing the junk.
How and what we eat has been taught to us mostly by the “industries” and food companies. What we percieve as "food" MUST be re-evaluated.
1. Canned and bottled foods are dead foods period. The nutritional information on the back of these packaged foods are measuring the nutrition of the fruits and vegetables before they were preserved. Once these foods are canned or bottled for preservation, they offer nothing but flavor. This is because once a food is cooked, canned or oxidized in preparation; it loses most if not all nutrition.
What to do: Blend your own baby foods fresh in a blender, food processor or baby food mill. Use fresh and ripe fruits, vegetable and even a tiny bit of seasoning. You can find recipe ideas to get you started free online. Purchase a case of small ball jars to store these fresh creations in so that you have them handy for convenience. This will take you literally 10 minutes twice a week to have a stock of fresh baby food available to your child. They are so worth it!
2. Plan simple. Receive complex mineralization! A well balanced dinner does not have to include the whole food pyramid scam. A well balanced meal is simply a meal that offers high nutrition. One or two dinner items are sufficient in feeding your family especially if these dishes are made of fresh wholesome foods.
What to do: A huge dinner salad made with mixed greens, leafy lettuces and or spinach with avocado, tomato, cucumbers and spro
uts served with a side of cooked and seasoned lentils, quinoa or wild rice is a perfect meal! There is protein from greens and quinoa, and plenty of other rich minerals found in the fresh greens and vegetables. Eating this way may be very different than what you are used to offering your family. I invite you to try something new all for the purpose of feeding them right!
If your family is not quite ready to go all vegetarian (without meat) that is totally fine. Maybe go all veg a few nights a week as a test run or general practice. When you do cook meat, serve small portions with a large fresh salad to help digest. (bread with meat is a “sticky” internal situation and hard to digest) Most children do not have a taste for meat products. These preferences are taught to them thru repeated feedings from eager parents. Do not worry if your child is getting “enough” protein. They are getting plenty as long as you are feeding them fresh fruits and vegetables.
Eating more simple meals save big bucks as well as digest easily in you and your child’s bellies.
3. Boxed verses Real foods: Of course boxed foods are convenient and even fun to pack into lunch boxes. You must realize that anything on a shelf in a box is seriously lacking nutritionally and a waste of your money.
What to do: No matter what the colorful and catchy label says to sell you the product, think logically and rationally. Foods that have been man-made are no comparison to fresh whole foods found in the produce section. The bulk of your everyday meals should come from fresh produce not cardboard boxes and cans. Cans and boxes are cheaper and last longer yes. But at what cost to your health? HUGE!
If you want to indulge in a cookie here and there or make some brownies, go for it. But do not rely on this stuff for fuel, nutrition or as a true meal.
French fries, Cheerios, Mickey Mouse cheese sammich or a canned bean and cheese enchilada off the kids menu is not going to cut it nutritionally as a balanced meal for your child. Your baby’s are better off eating a single apple, orange slices or handful of grapes as a meal. And more times than not, a child will eat just that intuitively. If your child eats a few bites of fruit or fresh veggies and takes off to play again, let them. Their little stomachs are only the size of their fists and if they get hungry again, they will be back for more nibbles. There is no need to force them to eat more “bulk” or to eat foods void in nutrients just to “fill them up”. Parents must make the connection and feel confident that fresh foods grown from the ground are nutrient dense and will nourish their child far better! A little goes a very long way!
Examples of easy trade outs for superior nutrition:
Old option VS Better option
What to do: Blend your own baby foods fresh in a blender, food processor or baby food mill. Use fresh and ripe fruits, vegetable and even a tiny bit of seasoning. You can find recipe ideas to get you started free online. Purchase a case of small ball jars to store these fresh creations in so that you have them handy for convenience. This will take you literally 10 minutes twice a week to have a stock of fresh baby food available to your child. They are so worth it!2. Plan simple. Receive complex mineralization! A well balanced dinner does not have to include the whole food pyramid scam. A well balanced meal is simply a meal that offers high nutrition. One or two dinner items are sufficient in feeding your family especially if these dishes are made of fresh wholesome foods.
What to do: A huge dinner salad made with mixed greens, leafy lettuces and or spinach with avocado, tomato, cucumbers and spro
uts served with a side of cooked and seasoned lentils, quinoa or wild rice is a perfect meal! There is protein from greens and quinoa, and plenty of other rich minerals found in the fresh greens and vegetables. Eating this way may be very different than what you are used to offering your family. I invite you to try something new all for the purpose of feeding them right!If your family is not quite ready to go all vegetarian (without meat) that is totally fine. Maybe go all veg a few nights a week as a test run or general practice. When you do cook meat, serve small portions with a large fresh salad to help digest. (bread with meat is a “sticky” internal situation and hard to digest) Most children do not have a taste for meat products. These preferences are taught to them thru repeated feedings from eager parents. Do not worry if your child is getting “enough” protein. They are getting plenty as long as you are feeding them fresh fruits and vegetables.
Eating more simple meals save big bucks as well as digest easily in you and your child’s bellies.
3. Boxed verses Real foods: Of course boxed foods are convenient and even fun to pack into lunch boxes. You must realize that anything on a shelf in a box is seriously lacking nutritionally and a waste of your money.
What to do: No matter what the colorful and catchy label says to sell you the product, think logically and rationally. Foods that have been man-made are no comparison to fresh whole foods found in the produce section. The bulk of your everyday meals should come from fresh produce not cardboard boxes and cans. Cans and boxes are cheaper and last longer yes. But at what cost to your health? HUGE!
If you want to indulge in a cookie here and there or make some brownies, go for it. But do not rely on this stuff for fuel, nutrition or as a true meal.
French fries, Cheerios, Mickey Mouse cheese sammich or a canned bean and cheese enchilada off the kids menu is not going to cut it nutritionally as a balanced meal for your child. Your baby’s are better off eating a single apple, orange slices or handful of grapes as a meal. And more times than not, a child will eat just that intuitively. If your child eats a few bites of fruit or fresh veggies and takes off to play again, let them. Their little stomachs are only the size of their fists and if they get hungry again, they will be back for more nibbles. There is no need to force them to eat more “bulk” or to eat foods void in nutrients just to “fill them up”. Parents must make the connection and feel confident that fresh foods grown from the ground are nutrient dense and will nourish their child far better! A little goes a very long way!
Examples of easy trade outs for superior nutrition:
Old option VS Better option
Instead of : bottled juices/drinks spend your cash on Fresh fruits blended in the blender or Home fresh pressed OJ.
Toss out the boxed Pastas and try Quinoa or wild rice.
Instead of Boxed dry cereals make Quick & Fresh granola (recipe in last blog post).
Instead of your regular Wheat or white Bread reach for Ezekiel brand sprouted bread.
Cows milk can and should be swapped out for Rice milk. Home-made nut milk (recipe). We are no baby calves! Instead of the normal routine of Meat based tacos try use More sauteed vegetables or nut meats (recipe).
Canned marinara sauce is nothing compared to Freshly blended marinara (recipe) .
Spaghetti noodles can easily be traded for better option called Kelp noodles . When warmed and added to any dish they are amazing and very low calorie!
Cows milk can and should be swapped out for Rice milk. Home-made nut milk (recipe). We are no baby calves! Instead of the normal routine of Meat based tacos try use More sauteed vegetables or nut meats (recipe).
Canned marinara sauce is nothing compared to Freshly blended marinara (recipe) .
Spaghetti noodles can easily be traded for better option called Kelp noodles . When warmed and added to any dish they are amazing and very low calorie!
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XX Melissa
