I grew up on a farm, and we had a large garden, but as an adult, I've always lived in the city. I have had varying spaces and had to adapt to where we lived, so I started with a few pots and gradually expanded over the years. I have transformed my present backyard into a wonderful garden that gives us a lot of produce each year. As a mom who prioritizes holistic health for my family, I constantly seek ways to incorporate nature and wholesome practices into our daily lives. Gardening is one activity that has brought joy, education and well-being for my whole family.
If you are hoping to bring these things into your life, but you have limited space, you can do this! If you have the luxury of a large backyard to cultivate, more power to you! Be sure to start small and expand gradually to avoid overwhelm. Your family will thank you for incorporating gardening in your home.
The benefits of home gardening are plentiful!
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As a holistic mom, you strive to provide your children with nourishing and wholesome foods. Snack time doesn't have to be dull or unhealthy! In this blog post, we'll explore creative ways to transform fruits and veggies into fun and delicious treats that your kids will love. Get ready to add a burst of color, flavor, and nutrition to your snack repertoire!
Fruit Fun: Creative Ways to Serve Fruits as Snacks
Discover innovative and fun ways to turn fruits into delightful snacks that your kids will love. From fruit skewers to rainbow fruit salads, make snack time a colorful experience!
Unleashing the Rainbow: Create a vibrant rainbow fruit salad by combining a variety of colorful fruits. Let your kids help assemble the different fruit layers, adding a touch of creativity to their snacking experience.
Fruit Kebabs with a Twist: Make eating fruits exciting by threading bite-sized fruit pieces onto skewers. Encourage your little ones to create their own fruity kebabs, exploring different combinations and patterns.
Silly Fruit Faces: Transform ordinary fruits into whimsical characters by using edible markers or small fruit cutters. Engage your child's imagination while they enjoy a playful and nutritious snack.
Veggie Crunch: Turning Veggies into Tasty Nibbles
Learn how to transform veggies like carrots, cucumbers, and bell peppers into crunchy, nutritious snacks. Explore dips, dressings, and seasoning ideas to make these treats irresistible.
Dippity-Doo Veggies: Pair crunchy veggies like carrot sticks, cucumber slices, and bell pepper strips with homemade dips such as hummus, guacamole, or yogurt-based (use plain greek or coconut yogurt) dressings. The combination of textures and flavors will keep your little ones coming back for more.
Seasoned to Perfection: Add a burst of flavor to your veggie snacks by experimenting with different seasonings and spices. Try sprinkling some nutritional yeast, garlic powder, or even a hint of cinnamon on roasted veggie chips for a delightful twist.
Smoothie Bowl Magic: Healthy and Fun Fruit & Veggie Treats
Dive into the world of smoothie bowls! Learn how to combine fruits, veggies, and toppings to create visually appealing, nutrient-dense treats that your kids will enjoy eating.
Blend and Beautify: Whip up delicious smoothie bowls by blending a variety of fruits, leafy greens, and healthy fats like avocado or nut butter. Top them off with a sprinkle of granola, chia seeds, or fresh fruit for added texture and visual appeal.
Sweet Green Surprise: Introduce your kids to the wonders of green smoothie bowls by adding a handful of spinach or kale to their favorite fruit blend. They'll be delighted by the vibrant color and won't even notice the hidden veggies!
Frozen Delights: Healthy Ice Pops from Fresh Fruits and Veggies
Beat the heat with homemade ice pops! Find out how to use fresh fruits and veggies to create refreshing, healthy frozen treats that are perfect for hot summer days.
Fruit Pop Extravaganza: Blend together your kids' favorite fruits with a splash of coconut water, then pour the mixture into popsicle molds. In just a few hours, you'll have nutritious and refreshing fruit popsicles that beat store-bought options.
Veggie Cool-Down: Experiment with veggie-infused popsicles by incorporating ingredients like cucumber, beetroot, or even sweet potato. The natural sweetness of fruits balances out the flavors, creating a unique and nutritious frozen treat.
Veggie Chips: A Healthy Twist on a Favorite Snack
Discover how to make homemade veggie chips, a healthier alternative to store-bought snacks. Learn about the best vegetables to use and how to season them for maximum flavor.
Baked Goodness: Swap out greasy potato chips with homemade baked veggie chips. Slice vegetables like zucchini, sweet potatoes, or kale into thin pieces, toss them in olive oil, and bake until crispy. These guilt-free chips are packed with nutrients and flavor.
Flavor Explosion: Elevate the taste of your veggie chips by experimenting with different seasonings. Sprinkle them with a combination of sea salt, paprika, or garlic powder, for a savory twist that will keep your kids reaching for more.
Fruity Desserts: Turning Fresh Fruits into Sweet Treats
Satisfy your kids' sweet tooth with desserts made from fresh fruits. Learn how to make fruit parfaits, baked fruit treats, and more that are both delicious and nutritious.
Parfait Paradise: Layer fresh fruits, Greek or coconut yogurt, and granola in a glass to create a tempting fruit parfait. Let your kids customize their parfaits with their favorite fruits and toppings for a delightful and healthy dessert.
Baked Fruit Delights: Experiment with baked fruit treats like apple or pear crisps. Slice the fruits, toss them with a sprinkle of cinnamon and a touch of honey, then bake until they become golden and crispy. Serve them warm with a dollop of Greek or coconut yogurt for a comforting and guilt-free dessert.
Snack time can be both nutritious and exciting by using fruits and veggies as the main ingredients. With these creative ideas, you can transform ordinary produce into fun and delicious treats that your kids will love. So, go ahead and unleash your creativity in the kitchen, and enjoy guilt-free snacking with your little ones!
Have picky eaters? Grab this guide: 7 Strategies to Help Picky Eaters Eat!
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As mothers, we are often the primary caretakers of our families' health. From putting food on the table and caring for our home to bandaging scraped knees or soothing a feverish child in the middle of the night, it's up to us to ensure our loved ones are in good shape physically, mentally, and emotionally. This role is not just about responding to health crises as they arise; it's also about preventing them through proactive measures and instilling healthy habits that will serve our children well throughout their lives.
Recognizing the Role of Moms as Health Advocates
The first step in this process is recognizing our critical role as health advocates. Our actions, attitudes, and decisions significantly impact the overall health and wellness of our families. We set the tone for our family's health culture. By prioritizing health and wellness ourselves, we can inspire our children to do the same. We can do the research and find all the different ways to support our families best. We are also the gatekeepers of our home. We decide what comes through our door: junk food vs whole food, toxin laden products vs clean products, etc.
Teaching Healthy Habits to Kids
One of the most effective ways to promote health within our families is by teaching our children healthy habits from a young age. This includes basic hygiene practices like hand washing and oral care, as well as regular exercise, sufficient sleep, and most important of all, balanced meals. Nutrition provides the foundation for our children's health for their whole lives, and we can help them have a fantastic start! Holistic remedies, such as essential oils, can also play a valuable role in maintaining health and treating minor ailments.
Remember, teaching is more than just telling; it's about showing and doing together. Make these activities fun and engaging – turn hand washing into a game, cook healthy meals together, or go for family walks or bike rides.
Navigating Health Information
In today's digital age, we have a wealth of health information at our fingertips. However, not all sources are reliable or applicable to our unique circumstances. It's essential to discern reliable sources, understand the information presented, and apply it effectively. Consider turning to reputable health organizations, holistic health practitioners, herbalists, aromatherapists, nutritionists, and others with many years of experience in their respective fields and positive results to show. Don't be afraid to ask questions or seek second opinions. Remember, informed decisions are empowered decisions.
Communicating with Healthcare Providers
When it is necessary to visit a healthcare provider, open communication with is crucial. Don't hesitate to ask questions, voice concerns, or share observations. You know your family best, so trust your instincts and advocate for what you believe is in their best interest. Your perspective is invaluable, and a good healthcare provider will appreciate your input and partnership in caring for your family's health. If your healthcare provider will not listen to you or discounts without merit the holistic options you would like to try, you are perfectly free to get a new healthcare provider who is more informed and is willing to work for you. This is a mindset shift I was able to make years ago. Your healthcare provider is not all-knowing, is not your boss, and you can fire them to find a better one who will work for and with you.
Be the Change You Want to See in Your Home
Finally, remember that as a mother, you are a powerful role model. The choices you make, the habits you cultivate, and the attitudes you display toward health and wellness will significantly influence your children. If you want your children to value health, show them what that looks like through your actions. Take responsibility and model what a healthy person eats, does, says, etc. This may take some adjusting, but we are all a work in progress, so do the best you can with the knowledge you have, and always seek to learn more! Let's empower ourselves to be the change we want to see in our homes.
Advocating for family health at home is a multifaceted endeavor. It requires us to recognize our role as health advocates, teach healthy habits, navigate health information, communicate effectively with healthcare providers, and lead by example. It's a challenging task but one that comes with significant rewards. Together, we can raise a generation of children who understand the importance of health and are equipped to take responsibility for their wellbeing.
Have picky eaters? Grab this guide: 7 Strategies to Help Picky Eaters Eat!
My blogs contain some affiliate links.
Any purchase made is a blessing to my family at no extra cost to you!
Thank you for supporting us!
Being a mom can be overwhelming at times, and the hustle and bustle of everyday life can make it difficult to find time for meal planning and preparation. However, with some simple strategies and plant-based nutrition in mind, you can provide your family with nutritious meals even on time-crunched days!
Here are some tips for eating plant-based nutrition when you don’t have much time:
- Stock up on Easily Accessible Plant-Based Foods - Keeping staples like beans, nuts, seeds, whole grains, and frozen fruits & veggies in the house makes it easier to whip up meals quickly without having to grocery shop often. And they won't go bad in the back of the fridge.
- Pre-Cook Larger Portions - Try batch cooking large portions of whole grains such as quinoa or brown rice over the weekend so they’re ready to heat up later in the week. Batch cook more complicated meals and freeze for an easy meal you can time bake on a crazy day. Make several meal portions of bean burgers and freeze to use later. Enjoy them alongside cooked veggies, leafy greens and easy sauces/dressings for flavorful meals that come together in no time!
- Use Convenient Alternatives - If you’re pressed for time, pull out those frozen bean burgers or casseroles! Just pop them into the oven or air fryer before serving with a quick side salad or roasted vegetables.
- Get Creative With Smoothies - Smoothies are an ideal way to get an energy boost during busy mornings; blend together some frozen fruit (even some veggies) with non-dairy milk or yoghurt and add superfoods like chia seeds or flaxseed meal for added nutrients! Kids love these frozen into popsicles, too!
- Prepare Quick Snacks - Healthy snacks like trail mix, kale chips or overnight oats are easy to put together ahead of time. Pre-chop your veggies and fruits and put them in the fridge in individual servings. Just grab them as you head out the door!
Eating plant based nutrition doesn't have to be hard when you're short on time– just remember to keep some healthy staples handy so you can easily create delicious meals that everyone will love!
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Any purchase made is a blessing to my family at no extra cost to you!
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Being a mom is the most rewarding job in the world. But let’s face it, it can also be incredibly emotionally and physically draining. That’s why today, we are talking about the unspoken secret of being a mom: mom-brain. Let’s explore the science behind this all too common phenomenon.
The Science Behind Mom-Brain
The term “mom-brain” has become popular amongst moms to describe when they feel like their brain is foggy and their memory isn’t what it used to be. To some extent, this is normal for any person who gets less sleep than usual or experiences high levels of stress. But for moms, this feeling seems to occur more frequently because there are always little ones around needing care and attention that can easily take precedence over everything else.
Hormones also play an important role in why being a mom can feel so draining on the brain. During pregnancy and after childbirth, hormonal fluctuations can affect your mental state as well as your energy levels. Hormones like oxytocin (which helps you bond with your baby and causing you to focus on his/her needs) and cortisol (which is released during stress and overwhelm) are especially important in this regard – both come into play when you become a mom and can make the experience even more emotionally taxing than ever before, especially if you do not have a good support system. All these work together to create mom-brain.
The Impact of Self Care on Mom-Brain
It’s easy for moms to get caught up in taking care of everyone else first before themselves – but that won’t help you stay energized! That’s why taking time for yourself every day is essential if you want to avoid feeling drained all the time as a mom. Taking just 10 minutes each day to do something you enjoy – whether it be reading a book, going for a walk, or just meditating – can help restore your energy levels and improve your overall mental health. Holistic approaches such as yoga, meditation & prayer, proper nutrition, herbal remedies, essential oils – whatever works best for you - should also be part of your self-care routine to ensure that you remain happy and healthy while parenting small children!
Ask For Help
Moms need more support, period. Spouses must step up - ask and be specific with what you need, whether it's washing dishes, folding laundry, or enabling you to take a break. Extended family and friends in the area are usually more than happy to help out - just ask. If you don't have a village to help and support you, start now to develop friendships. Join a church, community organization, or bookclub, go to the library or the park, or reach out and meet your neighbors. This may seem counterintuitive, since it takes time and energy, but when you develop friendships, you will have support when you need it, and you can also reciprocate! Create your village.
Being a mom is one of the most rewarding jobs in the world but unfortunately, it can also be pretty draining at times, causing the all too familiar mom-brain. Understanding why being a mom is so emotionally taxing will help you manage better through those tough moments! From hormones to lack of sleep and everything in between, there are many reasons behind why being a parent feels so exhausting sometimes - but don't forget that self-care and support play an important role too! If you take some time out everyday for yourself and have others helping, then chances are you'll be able to handle the anything that comes with motherhood better than ever before! So go ahead and give yourself some much deserved TLC - because when mama's happy everybody's happy!
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