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joyfalzonepumpkin flax homemade baby purée
No CommentsRead moreMy baby started eating food! (Although almost all of his calories are still coming from breastmilk) By baby number three there’s no documenting anymore. I’m not even sure when he started, sometime within the past two months. He’s eight months and has one tiny tooth poking through, but unlike my other two babies, he loves purées! I did BLW (baby led weaning) with my other two babies because they hated purées and figured i would do the same this time around.
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joyfalzonemy breastfeeding essentials & a giveaway!
No CommentsRead moreBreastfeeding is HARD. It’s a huge commitment and sacrifice. I really think that so many more women would breastfeed if they had RESOURCES and SUPPORT! After my first baby was born, I had tearing/stitches in my lady parts, I was in so much pain I could barely get in and out of bed. I felt like I got hit by a truck for the full 6 weeks postpartum. Thankfully, breastfeeding came easy for me and my son, he was a champ. I remember thinking that if I had trouble breastfeeding on top of the painful recovery, there was no way I could have done both. Then, with my second baby I felt like nothing had even happened the day after she was born, but breastfeeding was a struggle. My daughter would barely drink a half ounce and pass out, I became engorged and had to deal with clogged ducts and fever/chills. Again, I remember thinking, how could I possibly have mastered a painful recovery on top of breastfeeding, never mind any other challenge thrown in the mix like having a preemie or inverted nipples or a baby with tongue and lip tie. Some women really have the odds stacked against them! In this post I’m sharing the most important factors that kept my milk supply strong and I hope they might help someone else too! This is not to pass judgment on anyone who could not or did not breastfeed, this is solely a resource to help other mommas who are struggling!
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joyfalzonespiced apple overnight steel cut oats
No CommentsRead moreWarm oatmeal on a cold morning is the ultimate comfort food AND it is also good for you! The consumption of 3 servings of whole grains every day is as powerful as high blood pressure medications! Just a single serving of whole grains daily can lower cholesterol! The fiber in whole grains also causes an increase in the diversity of bacteria in your microbiome (community of bacteria in your gut). This is a really good thing because is strengthens your immune system in the process, reduces inflammation and your risk for chronic disease! I also don’t want to forget to remind the breastfeeding mommas that oats are a galactogogue, which means they naturally increase a mother’s milk supply! Today’s post isn’t so much of a recipe as it is a method which I learned from Anne-Marie over at Zero Waste Chef. If you haven’t tried making steel cut oats this way, give it a go!
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joyfalzonelet’s talk supplements
2 CommentsRead moreDiving into probably the most asked question I get… supplements! I will always stand true to my belief that there is NO substitution for a plant based diet which includes a variety of vegetables, fruit, beans, mushrooms, nuts and seeds. Food is our most powerful medicine and the answer to chronic disease. This is the part I work on most with my clients, because it is the most basic foundation for health! Supplements can be necessary and helpful but that is certainly not the first thing I look at. There is no magic pill, magic drink, or even magic superfood that you can take once a day and cure all your ailments. If any supplement has weight loss claims or any other extreme health claims that is a huge red flag for me! Weight loss and health does not come in a supplement or superfood powder, it comes from a lifestyle of eating nutrient dense foods, reducing animal products, exercising, good sleep, good relationships, clean water and stress management!
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joyfalzonewhat c-sections and breastmilk have to do with your baby’s health
2 CommentsRead moreA few weeks ago I posted about the importance of a healthy microbiome and easy ways to improve those gut microbes! Today I want to talk about how the these microbes get inside of us in the first place and how they set the stage for our entire life.
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joyfalzone3 easy recipes for you & your baby
2 CommentsRead moreI tried making homemade baby food for both of my babies and it always ended up being a waste. I would steam all these wonderful fresh vegetables and puree them with some filtered water or breast milk and maybe spices and neither of them were into it. After trying and trying, and the baby food eventually finding its way into my smoothies, I just gave up. Some babies love purees but mine never did. My son who is now 2, was completely disinterested in anything but breastmilk until 12 months and then baby led weaning worked well for him. My now 10 month old daughter is a lot more interested in solids than her brother and I’ve been making chunky baby foods that I can feed her if I just don’t feel like cleaning up smeared food from every crevice of the high chair (which goes along with BLW). Today I am sharing three “recipes” of sorts for some baby food that my 10 month old daughter has been into lately. I often just use my pinky finger to put it in her mouth because it works better than a spoon. The great thing about these “recipes” is that if your baby doesn’t eat them, you can eat them yourself!
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joyfalzonewhy chiropractic care is important for pre-conception, pregnancy, postpartum and beyond
No CommentsRead moreToday I have the privilege of interviewing my chiropractor Dr. Kim Barber. She went to school at Life University and received her Doctor of Chiropractic Degree (D.C.) in 1996 and has been practicing chiropractic for 21 years. She practices in Bridgewater, NJ with her husband Dr. Joe Barber. I’ve been her patient for about 4 years and I can say that she truly has a passion to help others live their healthiest and feel their best! I have been bringing both my babies as well since they were just a few days old! I love her approach to chiropractic because she looks at the whole person and understands that emotional stress can affect our bodies just as much as physical stress. Chiropractic care is important for everyone regardless of their age but today we are talking specifically why it is important for women who want to become pregnant, are already pregnant and beyond!
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joyfalzonetaking care of yourself in the 4th trimester
2 CommentsRead moreThere’s a reason that the six sacred weeks after the birth of a baby are called a woman’s fourth trimester. Her body is still going through so many changes and a massive healing process, regardless of the type of birth she had. Navigating all the bodily changes all while getting to know a brand new human and keep them alive is no easy feat. She is a new person, a mother, or maybe a mother again, which brings on a whole slew of emotional changes as well. I’ve rounded up some ways to take care of yourself postpartum, some of which I learned the hard way, and I hope you don’t have to!
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joyfalzonehemp protein bars
No CommentsRead moreI know some of you were asking for granola bars, and while these aren’t granola bars per se, they are delicious! Made with four types of seeds, they’re packed with protein, iron, B vitamins, magnesium and omega-3s (those essential fatty acids you keep hearing about that reduce inflammation). Omega-3s are important for baby’s brain development as well as brain health for all ages! Both hemp and chia seeds are complete plant proteins, meaning they contain all 9 essential amino acids we need as humans. Hemp is also one of the world’s most sustainable crops because it grows in nearly every climate and is used all over the world as a source of food, fiber, textile, paper and even fuel! To make these bars a little more toddler friendly, I cut them up into bite sized chunks.
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joyfalzoneall fat is not created equal
No CommentsRead moreWe need three types of macronutrients to live – carbohydrates, protein and fat. However not all fat is created equal. I think most of us know that saturated fat from meat (red meat, white meat, dairy, eggs and fish) creates plaque in our bodies and increases risk of heart disease and stroke and that trans-fats (partially hydrogenated oils) are even worse still. But what is considered healthy fat? It’s best to stick with whole food forms of fat, and limit oil consumption. Although I do use small amounts of olive and coconut oil for dressings, cooking and baking, it is not what I would consider a health food. Comparatively, it is high in calories and low in nutrients and for the majority of our food, we should stick with foods low in calories and high in nutrients. Dr. Fuhrman, who I received my Certificate in Nutritarian Studies from, says H=N/C (health = nutrients/calories), in other words, the more nutrients per calorie, the better for our health. Below are the fats that give you the best bang for your calorie buck.
breastfeeding
hello wholefoods > breastfeeding