The Green Smoothie - Trick, Treat, or a Little of Both?

For about six months now, I've been serving up a mysterious green beverage at lunch each afternoon. This unique drink can scare the faint of heart if they happen to be watching what gets dumped into my blender, but what they may not realize is how delicious and addictive it is!

I'm talkin' green smoothies here. They're loaded with nutrition and taste like dessert, so don't let the strange hue throw you. If you're looking to sneak veggies into your kids' diets, this is the perfect way. And with Halloween around the corner, you can pass the beverage off as a witch's brew or eye of newt or bug juice. Just get gross about naming it and I'm sure they'll be intrigued.

Here's how I do it: Most of my smoothies have 1/2 a banana in there for sweetness, but sometimes I use a couple of dates (without pits - your blender asked me to remind you). Then I may toss in 1/2 a cored apple or a peeled kiwi. A handful of grapes (with or without seeds) makes a nice addition. After that, the fun really starts. I usually have a tub of fresh baby spinach in the fridge. One handful of that or a Swiss chard leaf adds nutrition that is virtually tasteless! (Read: They'll never know it's in there if you don't tell them.) I sometimes add a small amount of sprouts or dried seaweed for an extra vitamin kick. After that, I fill the blender to the 2-cup mark with our favorite juice or soy milk and blend it until smooth.

The possibilities are endless here. The best part is, when you blend the fresh fruits and vegetables, you're breaking down the structure of the plant much more than chewing it, which releases all its goodness. Something about the little cell walls being smashed.

When my son hears the blender, he gets excited and can hardly stand waiting for his smoothie! The amount I discussed here is enough for two adults to have a glass if they each promise to share with an eager toddler. But lately I've been making a little more so my son can have his own portion and Mom and Dad can enjoy their own!

The Recipe Onslaught

When I started The Mommy Spot, I also started another blog called Nature's Kitchen. Nature's Kitchen is a place I post recipes featuring whole foods and healthy cooking that can be done simply. I originally thought that blog would be my focus and this one would be off to the side, but I was wrong. The Mommy Spot has been a lot of fun and so rewarding that it wasn't long before Nature's Kitchen was getting set to the side, neglected like a sick houseplant. But I enjoy the recipes, and people who know me keep asking why I'm not putting more recipes out there. Then I got the big "Aha".

The Mommy Spot is all about health, raising your children in a wholesome way, and making a natural way of life as simple as possible. Well, we gotta eat, don't we? Why not bring the recipes over here where I can share them with the natural mommy crowd? (Besides, I can alleviate some guilt - it won't be tragic if I only add one or two recipes a month here, whereas on the other blog it was looking kind of skimpy.)

So check out the Recipe label in the sidebar and start cookin'! I'll leave Nature's Kitchen up for those of you who like to visit, but the new stuff will be posted here. And don't worry - I'll still be cranking out the goods on natural cures and home remedies for babies.

Disease-Proof Your Child - Dr. Fuhrman's Book

I've just finished reading (devouring) "Disease-Proof Your Child" by Joel Fuhrman, M.D. If you really want to understand childhood nutrition and how it affects your child later in life, you must read this book. Every page had information I wanted to reread, just trying to retain it. In fact, this book has changed my own eating habits, and I thought I ate pretty darned healthy already!

Dr. Fuhrman discusses how the eating of live fruits and vegetables reduces asthma, ear infections, and allergies in children. He also states what a child eats now can protect against diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer later in life. The book is full of scientific evidence and studies (ooh, I like that stuff) presented in an easy-to-understand way, and it's never a dull read. In fact, what I learned there will certainly surface in this blog - I'll be writing more on it in the near future.

The back of the book has over 50 recipes in it, which go along with his eating plan to consume lots of fresh fruits and vegetables. I'm going to try some of these, but I must admit some of them are kind of radical, even for me. But if there's one thing I've learned about changing eating habits, it often takes time and lots of small steps to get to your dietary goals.

And speaking of dietary goals and recipes, I have another blog called Nature's Kitchen which is chock full of healthy recipes. (Smooth segue!) In the interest of time and sanity, I will slowly be transferring my recipes from that blog to this one. I think it will be a nice fit to keep the recipes here, as they focus on nutritious whole foods that are simple to make - perfect for busy families! My other blog will still be there and functioning, but when a new recipe comes along to share, it will be found here. Make sure to check them out under the Recipes label in the sidebar. Oh, and never fear - The Mommy Spot will continue to feature all the natural cures, home remedies, and WAHM stuff it has in the past.

The Telecommuting Mommy - Part II (or What's for Dinner?)

It's 4:30. You've just put in a hectic day of computer work, the baby is teething, and everyone's hungry! Order a pizza? Chinese takeout? These options get old very quickly, and let's face it - as busy as you are, you need energizing food to get you through. It's always best to have healthy, whole foods, but cooking them takes too much time, right? It doesn't have to. There are options to get you through and have everyone eating better.

One of my favorite tools for cooking while telecommuting is the crockpot. In the morning or right after lunch (depending on whether or not you use high or low heat), you can throw in a nice piece of meat and some vegetables, a few spices, and 4 - 6 hours later, dinner's done! Use a larger portion of meat and vegetables, and baby, you got leftovers for tomorrow. There are lots of great slowcooker cookbooks out there that are loaded with wonderful ideas. No one will tire of slowcooked food!

Whenever you find a recipe that works for you and your family, save it in an easy-to-find spot. I have a recipe box, and in the front are partitions for the days of the week. On the weekend, I take a couple minutes to put recipes into two or three of those slots so I know what's coming and we can plan and have the groceries onhand. Try and pick recipes that will make enough to last you a couple of days. If you only have to cook two or three days a week, it will take a huge load off.

Here's a fun one: Let someone else do it! Try and set aside a day every week for the older kids or dad to take care of dinner. You may be eating pickle sandwiches, but it will be a great learning experience for older children and a night off for you. And don't totally rule out going out to dinner or having something brought in. While eating out on a regular basis can be unhealthy, occasional trips out with the family or just you and your spouse can be a great way of releasing the pressures of the day.

For some great meal ideas, do an online hunt. There are so many great websites that feature easy, healthy recipes. One of my favorites, www.allrecipes.com, is loaded with every conceivable recipe known to man. And of course there's my other blog, www.natureskitchen.blogspot.com. I add a new recipe every day that focuses on ease and health. I've included a link on the sidebar for you.

So when dinnertime rolls around, don't despair. There are ways of feeding the family that can make life easier. The best thing for us telecommuting mommies is simply to plan ahead, so thoughts of "What's for dinner?" aren't taking up valuable space in our already busy minds!