Ask Holly: Alternative to Cow’s Milk?

Hi Holly-

My daughter is turning one in March and I wanted to know what you suggest as an alternative to cow’s milk.

-Veronica

Rancho Viejo, TX

Hi Veronica!

You can try goat milk. It is often easier to digest for babies. If you decide to give her cow’s milk, try to find it non-homogenized (not un-pasteurized which is raw but the kind where the cream will rise to the top). It is better for all of us in that form.

This is a question I am asked quite often. Click here for more suggestions.

Congratulations on your baby’s milestone birthday!

Holly

Babies, Nutrition

Sardines!

Holly Leave a comment

Proof that toddlers will try unknown foods, and maybe even like them:

Today my 17 month old ate sardines on whole grain bread, with a side of sauteed mustard greens and steamed carrots for lunch. I can hardly believe it myself- even I won’t eat sardines, though they are one of the healthiest fish options out there. With his first bite he said “mmmmmmmmm,” happily chewed and swallowed, then kept opening his mouth for more.

Try giving sardines to your child. I dare you! They are packed with vitamin D, omega 3 fats, protein, calcium, selenium, and vitamin B12.

Even though I don’t eat them, it made me feel really good seeing him consume all of that powerful nutrition.

Recipes

Sweet Potato Black Bean Burgers

Holly 2 Comments

I got this recipe from a friend of mine, Emily Rosen who is the wellness and nutrition director for a weight loss camp for children and the executive chef at a retreat center in Western Massachusetts. It is a crowd favorite, even amongst meat eaters and toddlers!

Black Bean Sweet Potato Burgers:
• 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
• 1 small onion, small dice
• 4 cloves garlic, pressed
• 2 tablespoons diced spicy pepper (like jalapenos)
• 1 tablespoon ground cumin
• 2 (14.5 ounce) cans black beans, drained and rinsed
• salt and black pepper to taste
• 2 cups grated raw sweet potato
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• 1/2 cup plain dried bread crumbs
1. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a small skillet over medium heat. Cook onions until softened, about 1 minute. Stir in garlic, 2 diced jalapenos, and cumin; cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
2. Transfer contents of skillet to a large bowl. Stir in black beans, and mash with a fork. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Mix in sweet potatoes, egg, and bread crumbs. Use medium ice cream scoop to shape them into even portions, than flatten into patties.
Place bean patties on sprayed parchment paper on baking sheet and bake at 350 for 20 minutes.

They are SO good…

Here is a link for more of her recipes!

Products, Recommendations

Roomba!

Holly Leave a comment

Santa brought me the best Christmas present ever this year. Seriously- I have told anyone who will listen about this thing. I haven’t been this excited about a Santa gift since I got my first Cabbage Patch Kid. Does that get my point across?

I got a Roomba! If you’ve seen these in the stores and wondered if they work, I am here to tell you that not only do they work, but they are awesome! The first time I ran mine, I had mopped and vacuumed the floor about 3 days earlier. When the cleaning cycle was over, I was shocked at how full the dust tray was! Shocked, but also very happy that this device picks up every speck of microscopic dust in is path. It goes around table legs, onto carpet from wood floors and vice versa, under sofas, and in and out of all the rooms. All with the push of a button. As we all know, life with children can make for some very dirty floors. Now my floor is always crumb free. I wish I had this when my son was 6 weeks old and the only thing that would soothe him was the sound of the vacuum cleaner. As I sat bouncing him on the stability ball, with the vacuum buzzing loudly next to us, I often thought to myself, “too bad it’s just sitting there and not actually vacuuming my floors!” If I’d had the Roomba then, I’d be multitasking like crazy! Now the only issue I have is that my toddler is scared to death of it. He thinks it’s an alien invasion or something- I’m not sure, but he is definitely suspect. No problem though- I run it when we go to bed at night, or while we’re out, and I come home to fresh, spotless floors.

I think every mom needs one.

Click here for more info.

Babies, Nutrition

Life After a Food Strike

Holly 3 Comments

I’ve heard so many moms say that their toddler used to eat really well, until she got sick and then they “lost her to sugar” or he wouldn’t eat anything while teething, and then he became really picky. After hearing this over and over, I just expected it to happen. Sure enough, one day he just stopped wanting to eat anything. Then I realized he was getting molars- no fun at all. Now at this point I had a theory to prove- I could just give him junk knowing that no child would turn down sugar or fried food no matter how bad he feels. “At least he’s eating something,” right? Or I could trust he is instinctively doing what his body needs to feel better and keep offering him nutritious foods, hoping that he will resume eating them when he’s ready. I’m so glad I did this! The report? The molars are in, and this week he has eaten wild Alaskan salmon, quinoa, kale, broccoli, blueberries, dark chocolate, an orange, brown rice pasta with turkey bolognese, sprouted bread, organic spelt pretzels, whole wheat tortillas, strawberries, broccoli water, vegetable soup, sweet potato black bean burger, scrambled eggs, an apple, herbal tea,barley, kasha, oatmeal, lots and lots of hummus, salsa, a pear, guacamole, sweet potato hash browns with onions, raisins, Plum Organics Fingerfuls, goji berries, unsweetened local organic yogurt with brewer’s yeast, a blueberry bran muffin, fresh squeezed orange juice, potato curry soup, corn bread, and bacon.

Whew! All that in the last 5 days and this doesn’t even include his daily smoothie! I’m glad I kept a food journal so I could share this list with you. Hopefully this will encourage you if you’re in the midst of a food-strike, mono-diet, teething, or cold. There IS hope- try not to give in to the temptation of feeding him candy or sweets or chicken nuggets just so he’ll eat something. Our job is to offer a variety of healthy, nutritious meals and snacks to our children at regular intervals throughout the day. They won’t starve. If this is the food that’s served to them (without the option of junk!) they will eat it, and perhaps even enjoy it!