Category Archives: Recipes

Dates For a Faster Labor

Looking for ways to have a quicker labor? Try eating dates! I recently found this study showing that eating 6 dates per day in the last 4 weeks of pregnancy has a significant impact on a woman in labor.

In the trial, women who ate 6 dates per day were compared to women who ate none. The women who ate the dates:

  • Were more dilated upon admission to the hospital than those who had none
  • Were more likely to have intact membranes (meaning their water had not broken) upon hospital admission. (This is significant if you know what it’s like to labor before your water has broken compared to after. That cushion makes a difference!)
  • Went into labor spontaneously (date consumers-96% versus non date consumers- 79%)
  • Had a lower need for Pitocin use

If all of the above is not enough to convince you to try eating 6 dates a day in the last 4 weeks of pregnancy, the women who did not eat dates labored for 6 and a half hours LONGER than those who ate the dates. That sold me.

Dates are high in fiber, iron, potassium, b vitamins- especially b6 which helps with pregnancy related nausea, vitamin K, calcium, manganese, copper, and magnesium.

Here is an easy way to get your 6 dates per day!

faster labor recipe

Banana Date Smoothie

Ingredients:

  • 6 pitted raw dates
  • 2 ripe bananas
  • 2 cups organic milk or alternative milk
  • 1/4 cup raw almonds or cashews
  • dash of cinnamon
  • 3 or 4 ice cubes
  • optional- 1/2 to 1 tablespoon chia seeds (for those brain building omega 3s!)

Combine all ingredients in a powerful blender and blend until smooth.

Pour in a tall glass and enjoy!

 

 

Eggs-in-a-hole Recipe

My boys have been eating eggs and toast every morning for breakfast since they were about one year old.

Lately, they have been snubbing this protein packed breakfast. I’m not sure why (probably because it’s getting boring?) so I had to mix things up a bit.

One little change, and now they love their old standby breakfast again.

james cagney eggs

How to make Eggs-in-a-hole:

-punch holes out of bread using a glass or fun cookie cutter (extra points!)

-heat about a tablespoon of grassfed butter in a skillet over medium heat

-put bole-y bread in the skillet

-when butter sizzles, crack an eggs into the hole

-let it cook until the egg is partially set, then use a spatula to quickly and carefully flip it over.

-Cook it about one more minute on the other side, depending on your egg-yolk runniness preference

-sprinkle lightly with salt- my favorite is Maldon sea salt

As an added treat, I serve the punched out circles with almond butter, apple butter or jam on the side.

Serve and enjoy!

kid friendly breakfast

 

 

 

Organic India Review

OIlogo

I love superfoods, and feel great when I know my family has had at least one serving daily. I love hearing about new (or new-to-me) superfoods, which is why I was so excited when Moms Meet asked me to review Moringa Powder by ORGANIC INDIA.

moringa

ORGANIC INDIA’s mission is to provide true wellness for all by offering 100% organic, pure, and natural products. ORGANIC INDIA also strives to create a sustainable global environment by working with thousands of family farmers in India on tens of thousands of acres of certified organic farmland. The company actively promotes sustainable agriculture and pays these farmers premium prices for their crops.

Something that is extremely important to me is finding out how the employees are treated- from their website: we “treat all employees with fairness, respect and dignity. We also empower poor and disadvantaged people to become self sufficient by improving their skills and economic security.

Our manufacturing and marketing departments employ over 500 people. In addition, it is estimated that thousands of farmers, tribal people and their communities around India have been impacted in some way by the work of ORGANIC INDIA.
Just the facts about Moringa:

*Moringa is considered one of the most complete, nutrient-dense plants on Earth, containing over 90 nutrients, 46 antioxidants, and abundant
minerals.
• Moringa leaves have been eaten for thousands of years as a superfood nutritional supplement, and are often used to combat malnutrition in impoverished countries.
• Daily use of Moringa as a dietary supplement can help restore nutritional imbalances.
• This concentrated superfood is both alkalizing and energizing, and is abundant in vitamins, minerals and complex amino acids.
• ORGANIC INDIA Moringa is USDA Certified Organic, Non-GMO Project Verified, Kosher and Halal certified, gluten-free, and vegan.

I used Moringa powder daily in our smoothies, sprinkled it on salads, and tried some of the recipes they offered- these are great ways to add a dose of superfood to things you are already eating!

My favorite was the Moringa Garlic Aioli- just add 1 tsp. ORGANIC INDIA moringa powder to 1 cup mayonnaise, 3 Tbsp. lemon juice, 2 Tbsp. black pepper, 9 cloves of garlic, minced, and sea salt to taste. Whisk everything together, season with salt, and serve with veggies, fries or crackers! Enjoy!

Head to ORGANIC INDIA to learn more!

Disclaimer: I received this product for free from the sponsor of the Moms Meet program, May Media Group LLC, who received it directly from the manufacturer. As a Moms Meet blogger, I agree to use this product and post my opinion on my blog. My opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of May Media Group LLC or the manufacturer of this product.

 

Emeals Slow Cooker Meal Plan + Recipe

 Slow Cooker Meal Plans
There are many days that call for a slow cooker meal. I love the extra hour I have before dinnertime on those days.

Lots of people ask me what I make in my slow cooker. They are stuck in a rut of the same recipes- pot roast, stew, cabbage and sausage– you get the picture.

I have a solution- the eMeals Slow Cooker meal plan!

Once a week they send a meal plan with a list of ingredients easily sorted by area of the grocery store.

You head to the store, grab your groceries, and life just got a little easier.

This morning I threw together this delicious recipe from eMeals.

Beef Sweet Potato Chili recipe

I encourage you to try it, and if you like it, sign up for the plan. There are lots more where this one came from.

slow cooker clean eating plan beef and sweet potato chili

How To Prepare Fennel Seed Tea For Babies

How to prepare fennel seed tea for bottle fed babies.

Fennel seed tea is a great home remedy for colicky babies.

Fennel helps alleviate gas in the digestive tract and will comfort a fussy baby.

Fennel tea is easy to make.

  •  Add one teaspoon of fennel seeds to eight ounces of boiling water
  •  Cover and steep for 30 minutes.
  •  When it is completely cooled, strain it, and then add one half to one teaspoon of the tea into your baby’s bottle.
  • You can also give the tea directly to the baby using a dropper.

If you are a breastfeeding mom, you can drink the fennel tea yourself and the benefits will pass through to the breast milk.