My husband went out and did the grocery shopping, and this is what he came home with:
Organic groceries indeed!
Me Do It!
A really good way to get children to enjoy healthy eating is by including them in the process of making it.
One of the Food Rules Michael Pollan suggests is to eat anything you want, as long as you make it yourself. I really like this idea because as he says, you can use quality ingredients, and it takes lots of time and energy (so it’s not like you’ll be making chocolate chip cookies every day!).
We feel the same about juice- it’s not something we want our son to have very often, but all kids love it. Our son particularly loves orange juice, and by teaching him how to make it, he seems to appreciate it more. And since this is the (first) phase of his life where he wants to do everything himself, it’s meeting a need in his development.
Even though it’s a bit of a messier process, I really enjoy seeing him so focused on a task, and proud of his accomplishment.
And I love hearing him exclaim, “It’s deelicious!”
Ask Holly: Can I Drink Alcohol During Pregnancy?
Hi Holly-
I’ve heard so many different things from everyone to my friends, doctor, mother and sisters, and I wanted to ask for advice from you. You obviously research everything thoroughly and I will follow whatever recommendation you have. Can I have a glass of wine or a beer while I’m pregnant? Thank you!
Amanda G.
Los Angeles, CA
Hi Amanda!
Thanks so much for asking such an important question- and having such confidence in my advice! That means a lot to me.
Yes, it seems like everyone you talk to you has a different opinion on the safety of alcohol during pregnancy. With my first pregnancy, I didn’t touch a drop of alcohol once I found out I was having a baby. My thinking was this: There is absolutely no reason why I need to drink, it doesn’t sound good at all, and if there is any chance at all it can do any harm, why risk it?
This time around I have a more relaxed approach (to everything about my pregnancy actually) and I will have an occasional sip of wine or beer.
Recently a study came out that showed women who drank moderately during pregnancy had smarter babies who were better adjusted and hit their developmental milestones faster. I can agree with this since my grandmother was advised to drink a beer every night while she was pregnant with my dad to ward off morning sickness, and my dad is the most brilliant man I know.
However, I personally doubt the recent findings have anything to do with the alcohol consumed, and more to do with the type of mother who is more laid back in her approach to life thereby reducing the stress her baby is exposed to, is educated enough to limit her consumption to a minimal amount, and will parent accordingly.
On the other hand, many physicians I respect say there is no safe amount of alcohol during pregnancy.
In his book, From First Kicks to First Steps
“Drinking alcohol even once during the third trimester can permanently damage the brain of your baby. Alcohol has its biggest effects when the synapses (connections) of the brain are forming-during the last trimester of pregnancy and the early childhood years. When the developing baby is exposed to alcohol for even a few hours, a number of brain cells and synapses are permanently deleted.”
I find that to be quite a sobering statement.
And Dr. Tori Hudson, in Women’s Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine: Alternative Therapies and Integrative Medicine for Total Health and Wellness
So with all of this information, what should we do? I can’t make the decision for you one way or the other. As with everything else you are questioning, talk to your midwife or obstetrician about it.
As for me, I will have a tiny glass of wine or a few sips of beer when it sounds good as long as it’s not during the crucial times highlighted above- which is basically only the 19th-23rd weeks. Wow- I only have 3 more weeks to swig!
The rest of the time, I indulge in natural ginger ale, sparkling water with a twist of lime, and good old fashioned water.
Congratulations, thanks for your question, and Cheers!
Baby Friendly Bakery in Austin, TX
I absolutely LOVE when I discover a coffee shop where I can go and meet my friends whether they have children or not AND take my 2 year old without wondering whether or not I’ll actually get to have any adult conversation. This (combined with the fact that pain au chocolat is probably my favorite food on the planet thanks to my time living in Paris) led me to my new favorite place in Austin.
The owner is a friend of a friend, and I’ve also heard many other moms mention how great it is.
Yes, the macarons, millefeuille, and eclairs are reason enough to go, but what makes me want to return again and again is the corner of the shop they safely sectioned off as a play area for babies and toddlers.
There are books and toys and a kid sized table and chairs all enclosed by a baby gate, and my husband and I had coffee, French pastries and actual conversation! It was a glorious day and we were ready to leave long before our 2 year old- which means I can meet friends there and we can linger over lattes.
Thank you La Patisserie!
Sauerkraut
While feasting on sauerkraut today during lunch, my 2 year old exclaimed, “I love sowlerkowt!!!” I told him- “I’m so glad you do. Mommy ate tons and tons of sauerkraut when you were in Mommy’s tummy.” He replied, “Oh, yeah, I remember.” I said, “You do? What was it like in Mommy’s tummy?” He thought for a few seconds, then said, “It was dark.” I said, “yes, I’m sure it was- what else was it like?” He said, “FLOWERS!”
Aaah the joys of hearing my son speak are endless. Everything that comes out of his mouth these days is entertaining in some way. Especially when I told him not to look at the sun and he said, “It’s not the sun Mommy, ACTUALLY it’s an egg yolk.” And yesterday when he told me, “It’s really IMPORTANT for me to cross the street without holding your hand.”
Oh, right. What was I thinking?
But back to the kraut. Fermented vegetables of any kind are really important during pregnancy and breastfeeding, since they contain enzymes and probiotics that help digest food and eliminate wastes. This is a huge plus when the hormones of pregnancy slow down digestion.
They also help build up friendly bacteria in the intestines. During the first trimester the vegetables also help alleviate morning sickness. That must be why many pregnant women stereotypically crave pickles, and I ate sauerkraut straight out of the jar during my last pregnancy.
Cultured and fermented foods include unpasteurized miso, naturally fermented vegetable pickles and sauerkraut and yogurt.
Another intriguing fact is that studies show that sauerkraut and other cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli, cauliflower, etc., when eaten by women during pregnancy can prevent the babies from developing certain types of childhood cancer, and from lung cancer later in life.
This time around, I’m making my own sauerkraut with the copious amounts of cabbage I’m receiving in my weekly CSA share.
Here is a great and very easy sauerkraut recipe from Nourishing Traditions: The Cookbook that Challenges Politically Correct Nutrition and the Diet Dictocrats
Homemade Sauerkraut
A one-cup serving of sauerkraut has:
- 4 grams of fiber
- 35% DV vitamin C
- 102% DV vitamin K
- 12% DV Iron
- Plus vitamin B6, folate, calcium, potassium, and copper
Enjoy! Don’t forget to feed it to your kids too- they might also love sowlerkowt!