Who doesn't like a smoothie? You can pay up to $6.00-$8.00 for a smoothie at health food stores. Why not make it at home? This way, you control what's in it. I add protein powder to mine to boost the nutrition. It's a great way to make sure you have enough fruit and veggies during the day.
You can also get daring and add kale or other green leafy veggies. Try it. You just might like it.
Here are a few ideas to get you started..
Refreshing, Low-Cal Smoothies - Health.com
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Saturday, March 3, 2012
Is Organic Really Worth It? For Me, YES!
Interesting piece on whether or not it's worth it to buy organic food. My rule of thumb with fruits and vegetables is .. if it has a peel-able skin such as a banana or avocado, it's safe to choose non-organic. But if you are eating the skin, then I always go organic. As far as dairy goes, I'll only buy organic and free of antibiotics. And that goes for meat & eggs as well.... nothing but local for this mom.
One other tip is to stay away from processed foods whenever possible. Cooking your own meals is the best way to go. If you need convenience, have a cooking day where you make a big pot of soup or one of your favorite meals and freeze some. I also do this when I make chili, marinara sauce or even my kids favorite homemade chicken nuggets. All I have to do is pop them in the oven on those busy nights when I don't have time to cook. Make your own TV Dinners with healthy choices. These will be a crowd pleaser for sure since you know what your family likes to eat. Eating healthy can be easy.
So yes, when I can, I choose organic. It's worth it to me.
What to Buy Organic - Best Vegetables and Fruits to Buy Organic - Parenting.com
One other tip is to stay away from processed foods whenever possible. Cooking your own meals is the best way to go. If you need convenience, have a cooking day where you make a big pot of soup or one of your favorite meals and freeze some. I also do this when I make chili, marinara sauce or even my kids favorite homemade chicken nuggets. All I have to do is pop them in the oven on those busy nights when I don't have time to cook. Make your own TV Dinners with healthy choices. These will be a crowd pleaser for sure since you know what your family likes to eat. Eating healthy can be easy.
So yes, when I can, I choose organic. It's worth it to me.
What to Buy Organic - Best Vegetables and Fruits to Buy Organic - Parenting.com
Friday, March 2, 2012
Hello Again!
I know it's been a while since I have written a post on here. With the birds chirping in this spring-like weather, I thought it was time to get writing again!
Yes, I have my garden on my brain. Although this year, I am not starting my seedlings as early. My kitchen looked like a green house last year and I had plants in every window and very little room on my counters.
This year, I will stagger my crops focusing on tomatoes (2 or 3 varieties), lettuce, herbs and a separate squash garden. Of course there will be other veggies but I have to pick and choose since I am working with a small space. I did quite will with my container plants. We had some nasty weather last year so it was nice to be able to bring the containers in the house during Hurricane Irene. My garden did surprisingly well during that whopper!
I will once again do everything organically. For me, that's a no brainer and there is no other way to do it.
I continue to buy my eggs from my friends farm and I try real hard to only eat meat that was raised by people I know. Yes, that gets pricey but in my opinion, it is worth every penny. We are not big meat eaters in this house so when I do serve it, I want to know exactly where it is from and what it was eating. There is no comparison in taste.
It is March 2nd and spring is knocking on our doors... Although I should know better than to say that since March often brings quite a lot of snow in New England. Either way, spring is near.
I would love to hear about what you all are doing in preparation for your gardens. Happy gardening everyone!
-Lisa
Yes, I have my garden on my brain. Although this year, I am not starting my seedlings as early. My kitchen looked like a green house last year and I had plants in every window and very little room on my counters.
This year, I will stagger my crops focusing on tomatoes (2 or 3 varieties), lettuce, herbs and a separate squash garden. Of course there will be other veggies but I have to pick and choose since I am working with a small space. I did quite will with my container plants. We had some nasty weather last year so it was nice to be able to bring the containers in the house during Hurricane Irene. My garden did surprisingly well during that whopper!
I will once again do everything organically. For me, that's a no brainer and there is no other way to do it.
I continue to buy my eggs from my friends farm and I try real hard to only eat meat that was raised by people I know. Yes, that gets pricey but in my opinion, it is worth every penny. We are not big meat eaters in this house so when I do serve it, I want to know exactly where it is from and what it was eating. There is no comparison in taste.
It is March 2nd and spring is knocking on our doors... Although I should know better than to say that since March often brings quite a lot of snow in New England. Either way, spring is near.
I would love to hear about what you all are doing in preparation for your gardens. Happy gardening everyone!
-Lisa
Saturday, February 19, 2011
A Healthy Home For Abby
Hello Friends,
As a mother of 2, I have many stories to share of this journey through life. I write this post to share with you how and why I removed the toxic chemicals from my home.
My first born. My sweet baby girl Abby. She came into this world two months early. Small but mighty. My little 3 pound bundle of love. I knew my life from this day forward would never be the same.
Within an hour of her birth, the nurse detected a problem. She could not swallow. Her esophagus went into a sack instead of emptying into her tummy. I will never forget those words from the NICU doctor..." Your daughter has a condition that is not sustainable to life. She needs surgery immediately.." She was rushed to a New York City Hospital. My heart began to break. No words could express how I felt.
After 8 long weeks in the hospital, I finally got to take my baby girl home. I was terrified. We were able to successfully breast feed and she began to heal..
Abby also has a compromised immune system along with asthma. She's one of those kids that gets REALLY sick when she gets a cold. This is why I began to detox my home. It is something I CAN do to help my daughter.
Abby had a long stay in the NICU. I watched those nurses like a Hawk! They cleaned with white vinegar and taught me so many ways to clean and disinfect in an Eco friendly, safe way that won't hurt my baby's fragile lungs. Those nurses were amazing.
~~~>So here are the cleaning products that I use. No need to lock them up..
I have a spray bottle of h2o & white vinegar. I use this as my all purpose spray. It's also good for glass and mirrors for no streaks. I know the smell is a turn off at first but keep in mind that it dissipates fast. It is also very inexpensive but more importantly, it won't hurt your lungs!! You can't say that about most all purpose cleaners. How many cleaners do you have that you can also ingest? I've got two for you!
Okay, so you need something to get rid of the soap scum in the tub or the icky, sticky stuff your child left in the potty. Try baking soda. It will not only get rid of the slimey soap build up but it will also whiten the grout on the tiles. And again, you can eat it...although I don't reccommend it unless you are baking ;)
One other big change we made was to clean with a Steam Cleaner. You use WATER!!!!!!! I use this on my tile and wood floors. You can also get attachments to clean sinks, tubs...the possibilities are endless. You can click on my Amazon link and search "Steam Cleaners" to see what would work for you. They are reasonably priced and worth every penny.
I made these changes for my daughter. That was 8 years ago and I would never go back to buying those toxic cleaners. Why not clean with items that you cook with? Such a simple way to make a difference.
I would love to hear from you so please share you ideas on how to keep a healthy home. It's so worth it.
Thanks! -Lisa
As a mother of 2, I have many stories to share of this journey through life. I write this post to share with you how and why I removed the toxic chemicals from my home.
My first born. My sweet baby girl Abby. She came into this world two months early. Small but mighty. My little 3 pound bundle of love. I knew my life from this day forward would never be the same.
Within an hour of her birth, the nurse detected a problem. She could not swallow. Her esophagus went into a sack instead of emptying into her tummy. I will never forget those words from the NICU doctor..." Your daughter has a condition that is not sustainable to life. She needs surgery immediately.." She was rushed to a New York City Hospital. My heart began to break. No words could express how I felt.
After 8 long weeks in the hospital, I finally got to take my baby girl home. I was terrified. We were able to successfully breast feed and she began to heal..
Abby also has a compromised immune system along with asthma. She's one of those kids that gets REALLY sick when she gets a cold. This is why I began to detox my home. It is something I CAN do to help my daughter.
Abby had a long stay in the NICU. I watched those nurses like a Hawk! They cleaned with white vinegar and taught me so many ways to clean and disinfect in an Eco friendly, safe way that won't hurt my baby's fragile lungs. Those nurses were amazing.
~~~>So here are the cleaning products that I use. No need to lock them up..
I have a spray bottle of h2o & white vinegar. I use this as my all purpose spray. It's also good for glass and mirrors for no streaks. I know the smell is a turn off at first but keep in mind that it dissipates fast. It is also very inexpensive but more importantly, it won't hurt your lungs!! You can't say that about most all purpose cleaners. How many cleaners do you have that you can also ingest? I've got two for you!
Okay, so you need something to get rid of the soap scum in the tub or the icky, sticky stuff your child left in the potty. Try baking soda. It will not only get rid of the slimey soap build up but it will also whiten the grout on the tiles. And again, you can eat it...although I don't reccommend it unless you are baking ;)
One other big change we made was to clean with a Steam Cleaner. You use WATER!!!!!!! I use this on my tile and wood floors. You can also get attachments to clean sinks, tubs...the possibilities are endless. You can click on my Amazon link and search "Steam Cleaners" to see what would work for you. They are reasonably priced and worth every penny.
I made these changes for my daughter. That was 8 years ago and I would never go back to buying those toxic cleaners. Why not clean with items that you cook with? Such a simple way to make a difference.
I would love to hear from you so please share you ideas on how to keep a healthy home. It's so worth it.
Thanks! -Lisa
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Homemade Organic Fertilizer
Why not make your own organic fertilizer? It's so easy. Check out this link for tips how..
How to Make Organic Fertilizer for Vegetables Garden Guides
How to Make Organic Fertilizer for Vegetables Garden Guides
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