2011 : One step at a time

"The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step" -Lao-tzu


photo credit


Our heater broke the other night and I had to make an emergency trip to Wal-mart to pick up some space heaters. As I walked in, I saw carts full of leftover Christmas candy on sale. Just past the junk food, I saw aisles full of Slim-Fast, diet pills, and workout gear all on sale for new years. Sigh. It just makes me sad. People stuff themselves with "forbidden" food over the holidays and think that they have to start some drastic, unsustainable diet on January 1st.

Dear women of the world, do not subject yourself to such self-torture.

You are beautiful, just the way you are. (Yes, you)

You are allowed to eat anything you want, anytime.

You have all the power you need to change your world.

Stop chasing after the "perfect life/diet/etc" and enjoy where you are right now on the journey.

Stop worrying about your face, your behind, your tummy, your double chin. Spend your time loving your children, loving your husband, enjoying the fresh air, loving the beautiful earth, and loving your double chin.

We are all at different places, on different paths.....and that is ok.


Is my diet perfect? No.
Are my kids well behaved angels? No.
Is my house clean and organized just the way I want it? No.

Am I going to eat chocolate in 2011? Yes.
Am I going to raise my voice and not be a perfect mom in 2011? Yes.
Is my house still going to not be straight from a Pottery Barn catalog in 2011? Yes.


I try not to get too wrapped up in making resolutions. Over the years, I've found that the more rules I make for myself, the more disappointed I am with my life. I'm ok with where I am right now, today. Our food choices aren't always what I wish they were, but we are leap years ahead of where we were 4 years ago. Sometimes I get down on myself for not being the perfect Weston A. Price/natural parenting/hippie chick wife and mom. But, then I look back and realize how far I've come. Our health has improved, our son has healed, our family is happier, and we've made huge life changes towards our end goals.

Real change happens when you decide it is what is best for you, not because someone told you so. I don't eat at McDonald's because it makes me feel like a bucket of poo, not because everyone says I shouldn't. Each change should come naturally and gradually to have true staying power. Please don't join a gym, buy up your Wal-Mart's supply of Slim Fast, starve yourself, and then binge into old habits all within the first few days of 2011. How about you just make a green smoothie next week? Eat an apple? Drink an extra glass of water? Buy some real butter? Sit down and enjoy your meal, instead of eating in front of the TV? Start Small.

I sat down this week and made a list of health/parenting/money/household goals for the next 6 months. I wrote out small steps that I can take each month to achieve those goals. That way, by June (not January 2nd) our family may have made more huge strides.

So, women of the world, pat yourself on the back instead of beating yourself up. You are where you are, and it's a great place to be. Please do not subject yourself to short-lived, unsustainable resolutions. Enjoy the journey, and take it one step at a time.


photo credit

A simple thought

"Love, joy, and peace are all Divine gifts, Divine properties. They can work miracles even on their own. Love unites and makes everything whole; peace radiates from a person and exudes silence; and joy takes away the pain of the soul. When a joyous person meets a sorrowful one and speaks a few kind and peaceful words, all of a sudden it is as though the sun has risen for the sad person. Separately, love, peace, and joy work miracles, but united they can rule over all things. When they are united and deeply rooted in a person's heart, wherever that person emits a thought, there is peace, for such a person radiates peace."

"You must strive to have peace in your homes. Peace starts with each one of us. When we have peace in us, we spread it around to others. You can see for yourself that there are very few humble and meek souls on the earth - but also that they are truly blessed. They will not be offended if you insult them in any way. Whatever way you treat them, they are quiet and peaceful and they are truly sorrowed because you are in such spiritual torment."

Elder Thaddeus of Vitovnica

Found here

Movie Trailers

I love love love documentaries, and I love love love food. What more can a girl want?

Farmageddon Trailer from Kristin Canty on Vimeo.

NourishMd.com

I am featured as Mom of the Month over at NourishMd.com!

You can check out my article here. It's full of tips on staying healthy this winter, meal plans, and how to take care of yourself.

Have a fabulous weekend full of golden leaves, warm foods, and happy families!

Lots of links

The inspiration from around the web never ceases to amaze me. Here are a few things I've had in my browser lately.

Worthless women and the men who make them.....this left me speechless. The world needs more men like this.

John Durant on The Colbert Report.....this combines my two of my favorite things: nutrition and laughing. What more could you want?

Parent like a caveman....If you're eating like a caveman, might as well parent like one.

Everyday chemicals may be harming children....wake up America!

Piece Together Peace....a wonderful remind of the simplicity and joy of childhood

New Traditions....some wonderful ideas for Christmas traditions

Fudge....this needs no explanation

The marvelous health of unvaccinated children....my Ella is one example

The Emotion of Eating

What else are you swallowing with your meal?




What do you think of when you see this picture? How does it make you feel? Who does it connect you to? Where did this food come from? Who has handled it? Was it made with love and thanksgiving?

With the rise of industrial food, we have become more and more disconnected from our meals. Other than loads of chemicals, fillers, toxins, altered fats, refined carbohydrates, and high fructose corn syrup, what else are we ingesting?

***



What about this picture? What kind of emotion does this provoke in you? For me it is warmth, connection, and healing.

Warmth - Homemade food is full of warmth and love. Food just tastes better when it's been made with loving hands.

Connection - By eating local and seasonal, you can connect with the earth in a very intimate way. You get a variety in taste and in nutrition. Just think of a crisp cucumber from the garden in August, and of a comforting pumpkin in November. How beautifully the earth produces foods that are perfect for our bodies in the different seasons. By eating at home and with local ingredients you can also connect with those that grow your food. You can know the land and the hands that your food has been in. I just can't say the same thing for McDonalds. Can you?

Healing - Everytime we sit down for a meal we are making a choice. One step closer to health, or one step away. Healthy, homemade food brings us healing in so many more ways than one. Food like that can bring families together after a long day to recconnect. It can comfort and uplift. Food is healing to the body and the soul.





Food is not just food. Food is celebration, beauty, joy, and health.

Sit down. Breath. Light a candle. Enjoy laughter and a warm meal with your family. Feed your body and your soul.

The Lunch Box

There are tons of great lunch ideas going around right now, since it's back to school time. Here are some of the best I've found.

Back to School, Back to Lunch! by Wendolonia. She's included a printable PDF file too!

20 Easy Bento Lunch Boxes Some of these are so elaborate, and I would never find the time to do it. But, cute ideas!

The Lunch Box Post An oldie but goodie. I've had this one saved for a while. Tons and tons of great ideas!

School Lunch Pictures This is a link to Weelicious' facebook page. She posts a picture of her son's school lunch every day. Beautiful, balanced meals!

Laptop Lunches Flickr Page I will be frequenting this page a lot!

Weelicious School Lunch Video

Simplify, Simplify

I love to research, dig around, read books, etc. If I've got a spare minute, I'll open up a nutrition book and get sucked right in. I've learned so much about food and health over the past few years. It's great having my mind full of good information, but it can also get very overwhelming. Body Ecology Diet, Gut and Psychology Syndrome, Primal, gluten-free, grain-free, dairy-free, vegetarian, raw, and on and on and on and on and on. We are always evolving our diet around here to see what best fits our family. But, it really can make you crazy after a while.

It was nice having my brother here this summer. He was a neutral third party that could see things for how they were. He helped me simplify all of the thoughts in my head. Here is what he came up with.

Blake's Life Principles

Diet: Try to eat more 'real' foods than 'processed' foods
Have plenty of color diversity in your meals
Eat organic grass-fed meats

Exercise: Walking and running will give you a healthier heart
Weight training will strengthen and tone the muscles
Doing anything is better than nothing

Leisure: Scriptures are first priority
Conference talks and books authored by General Authorities come next
Email is the main use for the Internet
Watch movie/TV programs sparingly, that are uplifting and bring a calm spirit into the home

Home: Enjoy wholesome music (secular and spiritual)
Cleanliness invites the Spirit of the Lord
Enjoy the outdoors at much as possible

Church: Attend church each week
Make a plan for monthly Temple visits and follow through
Have weekly Family Home Evenings


Could it really be that simple? Yes, indeed, I think it is.

Thanks, Blake.

august 9

august 8

Just more links today. Pictures are coming tomorrow.


Valedictorian Speaks Out Against Schooling in Graduation Speech


3 Forgotten Hunter-Gatherer Secrets of Raising SuperKids


How to Give Your Kids Extra Omega-3s


NPR: Meat-Based Diet Made Us Smarter.....thoughts?

august 4

.links


Primal Snacks

Egg on Their Faces....food for thought if you are use to eating by the junk-food pyramid guide

The importance of seasonal eating

Photos and Food

The kids and I are loving these warm summer days. Lazy mornings, easy meals, and playing outside all afternoon. Here's what we've been eating/doing the last couple days.












**Links**

Benefits of Extended Breastfeeding

I don't wear sunscreen...here's one reason why

Green Goddess Grilled Chicken Pasta

Maximize Nourishment & Minimize Toxicity for a Healthy Pregnancy

Ladybug Snack

Raw Chocolate Ice-Cream Perfected....wanting to try this

Raw Pizza (warm weather = craving raw food)

Sally Fallon is my hero

Breakfast - Pancake saturday. Soaked hearty oatmeal pancakes with raspberries.




Lunch - Bean and cheese quesadillas on whole wheat tortillas with guacamole.




Right after lunch my brother and I left Rhett and the kids and headed out to the country. Sally Fallon spoke at a small family farm about nutrition and children's mental/emotional health. Here are my condensed notes...

- The brain is an organ that needs to be nourished by food, just like every other organ in the body.

- The crisis among young children (autism, adhd, allergies, etc.) is a direct result of our dietary guidelines since the 1960s (industrial "foods", fats, oils, etc)

- We need saturated fats and cholesterol in our diets

- If the brain isn't getting enough sufficient saturated fats, it will create cravings for refined carbs

- Vitamin A is the number one vitamin you need when your baby is being born. This is critical to have before you get pregnant. The best sources are cod liver oil, butter, liver and egg yolks.

- Vitamin D makes endorphins in our body. Our bodies are actually designed to be "high" all the time. We are suppose to feel good from the moment we wake up until the moment we go to bed. If we're not making enough endorphins then we will look to drugs, thrills, sugar, addictions, etc. as substitutes.

- Vitamin K is critical for brain function. Sources are cod liver oil and high vitamin butter.

- Vitamin B12 deficiencies show themselves as obsessive compulsive disorder, depression, anxiety, etc. This vitamin can only be found in animal foods. Seafood is a good source.

- Salt (real sea salt, not iodized salt) is essential. Salt helps the brain with creative thinking.

- A healthy intestinal tract (also known as "the second brain") carries 6 pounds of good bacteria. The good bacteria coats the gut and helps to eliminate toxins, digests your food, and keep yeast out. What wipes out your good bacteria? Antibiotics, fluoride, chlorine, sugar. How do you replenish good bacteria? Fermented foods, homemade sauerkraut, homemade yogurt/kefir, homemade bone broth.

- "To the young women, the entire future of the world is on your shoulders" - Sally Fallon

- The foods that a woman needs to consume during preconception, pregnancy and breastfeeding to ensure a healthy baby are:
1 quart whole raw milk a day
lots of butter every day
2 eggs yolks a day
cod liver oil daily
organ meats 2-3 times/week
raw cheese from pastured animals
meat, seafood
lacto-fermented foods
broth
all the animal fat you want
fruit and vegetables

- The best cure for morning sickness is raw milk

- The best food for babies are:
breastmilk for at least to 1-2 years
liver, pureed with butter and salt
soft boiled egg yolks

- Sally Fallon said that the way she would get her kids to take their cod liver oil was in shot glasses. She called it "cowboy whiskey shots". She would mix it with a little water or fresh orange juice. Genius.


I got to shake her hand and talk to her for a few minutes about Seth. She said he needs raw milk. Lots and lots and lots of raw milk. I told her about his sensory issues. How he has eaten the same foods for the last 3 years. She said I might want to look into zinc deficiency. She said that zinc supplementation has helped autistic kids with texture issues. I will be looking into that.



Afterwards, they served dinner. I can't believe how good this was.