Category Archives: Reviews

Books, Prevention, Reviews

Organically Raised

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Lately I’ve been in a rut with the food I’ve been serving my toddler, so when I was asked to review Organically Raised: Conscious Cooking for Babies and Toddlers by Anni Daulter, the timing was perfect. This book is exactly what I needed to reinvigorate my excitement for cooking.

It opens with reasons to buy organic, locally grown and seasonal food.  No matter how many times we read or hear those concepts it’s always great to be reminded, and Daulter nudges us in a graceful way. 

There are also inspiring Mama Mantras throughout the book, such as “Preparing healthy, delicious food is my gift to my family,” and “I am learning and growing with my baby, and every day I see the world with new eyes.”  These paired with the beautiful photos of both children and food add such a refreshing touch and  make the pages stand out from the monotony of most other cookbooks.

Organically Raised is filled with simple, delicious recipes that are easy to follow and incredibly nourishing. Each recipe clearly recommends the season it is best for, and the ingredients that will support your child’s health throughout the year.  There are also tips on what to keep in your kitchen, appliances you will need, how to start solids and the best way to expand your baby’s palate.

I have a 23 month old toddler, and he has loved every recipe I’ve made for him.  His favorite so far is the “Enlightenment” Eggplant and Red Bell Pepper Puree with Red Lentils.  Even though he has tried a very wide range of foods, flavors and spices, Daulter recommends some that I hadn’t thought to serve him- such as Cold Watermelon Soup and Sweet Potato Fries with Ponzu Dipping Sauce, as well as healthy “mix-ins” as she calls them, like goji and acai berries.

I urge you to get a copy of Organically Raised, whether you are pregnant, have a baby, or are past the baby food making stage.  These are recipes the whole family can enjoy (so you won’t be cooking two separate meals!). 

Perhaps the most important reason I recommend this book is because too often I rush to get my son’s food on the table. Organically Raised reminds me that the most important ingredient I put in his food is love.

Books

Play-Doh!

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I forgot how much fun it is to play with Play-Doh.  I recently bought the name brand kind for my 18 month old, because he has never really been the kind of baby that puts things in his mouth…and part of being integrative is using conventional products if that will be more convenient.  I checked the website and was assured the product is non toxic,  but for all the moms out there with kiddos who put everything in their mouths, Ruth Yaron has a non toxic play dough recipe in her must have cookbook Super Baby Food.
Oh- and apparently I bought the Play-Doh more for myself than my son who immidiately grabbed a peice of blue, rolled it in his hands, proudly exclaimed, “BALL!” and threw it across the room.  Turns out I could have saved my money since we already have lots of balls in this house!

Books, Reviews

The Last Nutrition Book You Ever Need to Read

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Hi all!
I am back with another book recommendation! The difference this time is that if you get this book, you don’t need to read another nutrition book ever again for the rest of your life- unless you just like to learn about anti-oxidants, phytonutrients, good fats vs bad fats etc…but that’s why I’m here for you. To read, research and digest all of the information out there, and then process everything for you. Seriously, who wants to spend time reading about scientific components of food when you’d rather just enjoy the food itself? So here’s the last book on nutrition you need to read.

Food Rules: An Eater’s Manual

It makes all the confusion surrounding what to eat seem completely unnecessary. Don’t let the name fool you- it’s a fun and quick read, and also quite fascinating. With directions such as “drink wine with dinner” it has lots of rules you’ll want to follow.

Books, Recommendations, Websites

Beat the Winter Skin Blues

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For years I searched for the answer to my skin breakouts, and since I believed dermatologists and beauty magazines assertions that “what you eat has nothing to do with your skin” I tried anything and everything. Seriously: extremely harsh prescriptions, antibiotics (needed to be taken for life), crazy 3 step skin care regimens, peels, scrubs, new pillowcases every night, you name it, I tried it- unless it was diet related. Then I found Dr. Nicholas Perricone and the wisdom he had to offer! Here was a dermatologist on the Upper East Side of Manhattan saying that what you put in your body has everything to do with the health of your skin! Of course since then most people have wisened up and recommend eating cleaner for healthier skin, but Dr. Perricone gives us exact foods to eat and recommendations for clear, vibrant, radiant skin.
It was in his book The Perricone Prescription that I happened on a little factoid that changed my life- dairy may cause breakouts. What? Why had I never heard of this? Sure enough, I removed dairy from my diet and within a week my skin started clearing up completely. If only I had known this while I was modeling full time, it would have saved me from many worried filled nights before big photo-shoots! (I painfully remember showing up to film an Oxy commercial with the biggest zit I’d ever had. Everyone on set was laughing at the irony…must have been that Ben & Jerry’s I was somewhat addicted to!) These days of motherhood I have a lot less time to spend on my skin care routine (and by less time I mean sometimes i wear the same make up for a week. You know it’s true…) The beauty of taking care of your skin from the inside out is that you don’t have to add any steps to your already crazy life! You eat no matter what!

Oh- and now I get to decide what I’d rather have: clear skin, or a latte. And yes, sometimes I choose the latte. As I said in my Oxy commercial many years ago, “It’s called balance.”