You Really Are What You Eat

Wow- did you know that the American Association of Pediatrics recently changed its stance on food colorings and preservatives? It’s true- they now agree with what many of us moms already know- artificial flavors and dyes in our children’s food increase hyperactivity, depression and behavioral problems in children and could be linked to other illnesses such as chronic ear infections and asthma. For a great article on the subject of diet for behavior modification in children, click here.

What can you do to decrease your child’s consumption of non-food, aka artificial ingredients?

Feed your children real fruits and vegetables (The teething babydoll in this family will opt for frozen bluberries over “puffs” any day!)
Avoid packaged/processed food as much as possible, but when it’s a must, buy it at the health food store, scour the ingredient list and only buy food that is labeled organic, non gmo, all natural, preservative free. (Easier than it seems with all of the great options out there now such as Plum Organics, Oatios, Happy Baby, Sprout Organic baby food, Tasty Baby, organic Mum-mums, Healthy Times, Late July saltines, and more!)
Cut whole grain, sprouted bread (such as Ezekiel) into strips and put in baggies for an alternative to crackers
Don’t get into the habit of feeding your children “kid-food.” Simply feed them a smaller portion of what you’re eating, and you’ll never have to make two separate meals. Please don’t harm your toddlers curiosity for new tastes and flavors by falling into a pattern that is convenient for you. and feeding them the same, easy microwaveable food for each meal. This is how children end up “monovores” and refuse to eat anything but (tasteless) chicken nuggets (which, by the way, have no place in a baby’s diet.)

Think outside the box! (or bun, or bag, or package of Blue’s Clue’s Mac&Cheese)

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.”

Recommendations

Do 1 Thing for 2 Weeks

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My high school economics teacher (who was also the state championship winning football coach) told our class that it takes 2 weeks to create a habit. He was telling us this on the first day of school when we all had our brand new agenda books, crisp notebooks and fresh pencils with which to take notes and organize our sophomore lives. He wanted to make clear that most of us would forget our daily planners the next day, and probably not come to class prepared at all by the end of the week. He encouraged us to thoughtfully and methodically do what we set out to do (in this case, write our homework in our agendas and take helpful notes with sharpened pencils) day by day, for 2 weeks and by the end, we wouldn’t have to be so intentional about it- it would become habit. I have thought about that lesson many times over the years and have sought to apply it in all areas of my life. I’ve found that most things that are worth doing don’t come easily, and require some effort on my part. This new year I encourage you to pick one thing- any thing you have been wanting to change (eating in front of the TV? feeding your kids nutrient-free but convenient junk food instead of taking time to prepare them health-giving meals and snacks?) or a new habit you have been hoping to employ (drinking more water? going to bed by 10PM? writing in your journal? “unplugging” from your blackberry and spending more focused playtime with your kids? going for a walk with your family after dinner?)- and do it consistently everyday for two weeks. You’ll be surprised how quickly your new actions become your healthier, happier lifestyle!

Resources, Websites

Pocket Guide for Reducing Pesticide Exposure

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Go to The Organic Center for a free download to reduce your toxin exposure, nd for lots of great resources and other information and facts, such as:

“Organic fruits and vegetables are on average 25% higher in 11 key nutrients and 30% higher in antioxidants than their conventionally produced counterparts. Certified organic products are farmed without the use of toxic, synthetic pesticides and fertilizers or GMOs.”

Products, Recommendations

Elle Macpherson Saves the Day

Holly 4 Comments

So I had mastitis more than once, and if you’ve had it, you know it is not fun. I treated it naturally all the times I had it, but by the 4th time I was really over it…not to mention my husband was working on the other coast and I was alone caring for my 8 week old. Since he had to fly home early he mentioned to one of the women on his job what was ailing me, and what she suggested really made a difference. She said, “I know it might sound weird, but I had mastitis all the time until I bought the Elle Macpherson nursing bra.” When my husband told me this, I quickly flashed back to the time I tried on an Elle Macpherson nursing bra at the Upper Breast Side (an amazing full service store for nursing mothers- check it out if you live in the New York City Area!). I didn’t buy it at the time because it looked and felt like a piece of sexy lingerie and I thought I needed soft stretchy boring cotton. Anyway, I quickly ran back out and bought that Elle Macpherson nursing bra, and what do you know- I never had mastitis again! It’s neither organic, nor green in any way, but it’s black and lacy and beautiful and that’s part of being integrative- we incorporate what works best for us to create happy, holistic, healthy lives.