Category — Health and Nutrition

When my two children were still babies, I used to do Infant Massage with them. I would tear up every time because it was such a special bonding experience. Those squishy little cuties would just lay there and stare into my eyes and I would get overwhelmed with feelings. It probably didn’t help that I was an emotional basketcase for at least a year after I had given birth. But it really is a special time when you can focus solely on your little one, and I think it’s something that every parent should experience.

Dads, if you’re looking for a way to bond with your new baby, this is it! It doesn’t take a lot of time but it provides many benefits for both you and baby. You can learn more about it in our new article:

Infant Massage – A bonding experience full of health benefits for you and your baby.

If you use infant massage on your baby or have in the past, please share your experiences in the comments!

I mentioned in my last post that wraps were great to pack for lunch, and since Mondays will now be Recipe Mondays, I thought I’d kick it off with a delicious wrap recipe.

Enjoy!

Healthy Chicken Salad Wrap

Ingredients:
2 – 3 medium flour tortillas
2 cooked chicken breasts, diced
¼ cup red and yellow bell peppers, diced
1 celery stalk, diced
1 tbsp mayonnaise
1 tbsp plain yogurt
¼ cup cheddar cheese cubed or shredded
Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:
Add chicken, cheese, mayonnaise, yogurt, bell peppers and celery into a bowl and mix well. Add salt and pepper. Warm tortilla slightly to make it easier to fill. Place ½ – 1 cup of chicken filling on top of the tortilla and wrap.

A wrap is a nice break from boring sandwiches and there are lots of great flavors for tortillas like spinach, sundried tomatoes, pesto, etc. that you can choose from.

My daughter just started Kindergarten so packing lunches has been added to my list of things to do. That list is quite long already so I’ve been keeping my eye out for quick and easy lunch ideas to help make sure that particular task doesn’t take up too much of my time.

There are no microwaves or fridges at the school for student use so everything has to be made ready-to-eat. Here are some ideas that you can use for your own child if they’re heading to school, or they make great lunches at home when you’re busy with other things and don’t have time for a long lunch.

Fruit – My kids are fruit fanatics so sending any kind of fruit along with lunch always gets a little 5-yr old thumbs up. You can cut a kiwi in half and pack it in a container with a spoon. Bananas, apples and grapes are oldies but goodies. Watermelon, strawberries, raspberries pears, nectarines and peaches are easy to pack too.

Veggies – Baby carrots and snap peas are quick and easy to send for lunch. You can buy them pre-washed so all you need to do is throw them in a baggie and you’re set. You can cut up other veggies like celery, cucumber, cauliflower, or even broccoli if your kids like them like mine do. You can send a small container of ranch dressing if they like to have a dip with their veggies. If your child isn’t a huge fan of vegetables, here are some ideas to get them to eat more.

Cheese – After you buy a block of cheese, cut half of it into slices and keep it stored in the fridge in a container. You can throw a few slices in a baggie each morning.

Buns – Sandwiches are always a good option for lunch but they take up a lot of space in a small lunchbox so I like to make buns instead. A whole wheat bun with some cheese and ham is what I send. My mom used to make me peanut butter and jam sandwiches when I was in school but since allergies seem to have increased, schools now ask parents not to send anything that contains nuts. (Not to mention a PB&J sandwich isn’t the most nutritious choice.)

Pizza – We like to make pizza from scratch since it’s cost efficient and a lot healthier than delivery. My kids love to eat cold leftover pizza the next day so a slice of pizza once in awhile would be a nice change from buns or sandwiches every day.

Wraps – A tortilla wrap can be rolled around just about anything to make a tasty lunch. If you have some leftover chicken or turkey, add some lettuce and a bit of cheese in. If you don’t have leftover meat, some canned tuna or salmon also works.

Beverage – My kids don’t drink juice very often so I have a reusable drink container that I send with filtered water. The school also has a milk program and I think most other schools do as well.

Dessert – Around here, fruit is dessert, not cake and ice cream. I have some fruit cups, apple sauce, etc. that I send with my daughter. Homemade pudding is a nice treat occasionally. When we’re running low on fruit, I pack a little bag of crackers like Wheat Thins or Triscuits.

You know when your child comes home with an empty lunchbox that you packed a winner. Either that or they traded someone else’s lunch for their lunch.

If your toddler loves to eat anything hot like oatmeal or soup, then you know how time consuming it can be to cool it off so they can eat it safely.

If you have an ice cube tray, freeze milk in it and keep it in your freezer so you can throw a frozen milk cube in the oatmeal to cool it off quickly.

If you don’t have time to freeze milk for hot cereal, toss in some frozen berries if you have them. My kids love eating frozen blueberries in their oatmeal.

For soup, frozen vegetables works wonders. It cools it off fast plus you can sneak in some extra veggies.

If you’re trying to conceive your first baby, or you are working on baby #2, #3, etc., it helps to have some tips that can make you conceive sooner. I’ve got a few for you today:

Chillax. Stress is thought to be a factor in infertility. Trying to conceive can be extremely stressful. You can help relieve stress by exercising, getting enough sleep, and meditation. You can also relax with some regular yoga and massages.

Become a health nut. Cut out habits like smoking, alcohol and caffeine. Start eating a healthy diet full of fresh fruits and vegetables and lean meats. Get organize, natural food as much as possible. Foods that contain hormones and other chemicals can decrease your chances of conceiving.

Make sex fun. Don’t let it become an item to check off on your “to do list”. Add some variety, if ya know what I’m sayin’. There is no evidence to prove that one position is best, so try them all!

Roll out the welcome wagon. Douches, vaginal sprays, scented tampons, lubricants, etc. can all mess with your vagina’s environment and pH levels. Avoid them while you’re trying to conceive.

Monitor your cycle. Fertility monitors will take the guesswork out of knowing when you’re most likely to conceive. The window of opportunity is small, so it’s helpful to know your cycle as best as you can.

Wait a couple days in between “tries”. Having sex too often can lower a man’s sperm count. Waiting about two days will allow it to go back up so you can get a good dose the next time.

Start taking a prenatal vitamin. A regular multi-vitamin doesn’t contain the right combination for a woman trying to conceive or who is already pregnant.

Don’t let gravity do it’s job. Stay horizontal for as long as you can after having sex. Give those little guys a chance to reach their destination. You don’t need to stand on your head, but laying down with a pillow under your hips for at least 20 minutes will help.

Talk with your doctor. They can offer you advice tailored specifically for you, your body, and your lifestyle. They can also test both you and your partner to see how fertile you each are.