Healthified Carrot Cheesecake Bars

From one of my favorite websites Eat Better America, a great recipe that is healthy and yummy!

A dessert perfect for sharing with your little ones!!

Spiced Carrot Bars Nonstick cooking spray 3/4 cup all-purpose flour 1/4 cup  whole wheat flour 1/2 cup sugar 11/2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice 1 teaspoon baking powder 1/8 teaspoon salt 1 cup finely shredded carrots 3/4 cup chopped walnuts or pecans, toasted 1 egg, lightly beaten 1/4 cup cooking oil 1/4 cup fat-free milk  Yogurt Fluffy Cream Cheese Frosting 1/2 cup frozen light whipped dessert topping 1/4 cup  vanilla low-fat yogurt 8 oz Reduced-fat cream cheese

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 9x9x2-inch baking pan with foil, extending foil over the edges of the pan. Lightly coat foil with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside. 2. In a medium bowl, combine all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour, sugar, pumpkin pie spice, baking powder, and salt. Add carrots, 1/2 cup of the nuts, the egg, oil, and milk. Stir just until combined. Spread mixture evenly into prepared pan. 3. Bake for 15 to 18 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near center comes out clean. Cool bars in pan on a wire rack. 4. Using the edges of the foil, lift the uncut bars out of the pan. Spread top evenly with Yogurt Fluffy Cream Cheese Frosting. Sprinkle with the remaining 1/4 cup nuts. Cut into 20 bars. 5. Yoplait® Yogurt Fluffy Cream Cheese Frosting: In a medium bowl, beat half of an 8-ounce package reduced-fat cream cheese (Neufchatel), softened, with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Beat in 1/4 cup Yoplait® vanilla low-fat yogurt until smooth. Fold 1/2 cup frozen light whipped dessert topping, thawed, into cream cheese mixture.

Sounds good! Enjoy and click here for nutritional information and tons more Healthified recipes

More from the Stonyfield/Seventh Generation Party!

So, as I blogged about yesterday, some of my friends and I had a very nice time hanging out together talking about and sampling products from Stonyfield Organics and Seventh Generation.

The companies sent us some great samples to try out- and we had fun talking about all of them. Some of my friends were regular users of the products, and some of us were introduced to new items!

My son's absolute favorite thing lately is the Stonyfield Organic Yogurt Squeezers! I put them in the freezer and he gets a little yogurt popsicle! He literally squeals with joy every second and every bite. It is very cute. Some of the Mom's were very excited about these because they are so convenient and are so much better for you than some of the other brands (all of which add yucky ingredients that none of us want in our kids bellies!)

Here are some fun pictures from the party! Some are silly and all show off how much fun we were having!

Look at all of the yummy yogurt!

Amazing! Look at the wholesome ingredients!! (Thanks to Erin for being such a great model!)

Isn't Baby E the cutest thing you have ever seen?! He was enjoying the Seventh Generation chlorine-free diapers!

This is the fun box of goodies that Stonyfield/Seventh Generation sent for us to enjoy! Games, helpful information and lots of great coupons and samples. 

Again, it was a really fun afternoon! It is always nice to learn about new things, find out how to provide the best for your family and get to try out new products. Thanks to Stonyfield Organics and Seventh Generation for sponsoring our party!

(as a disclaimer, I was not paid by the companies to host this party, but was given free samples and coupons to share with my friends! They just wanted me to blog about it to spread positive word-of-mouth!)

Stonyfield Organics/Seventh Generation Party

So- awhile back I was chosen to host a party for Stonyfield Organics/Seventh Generation. The company sent me a great box full of samples, coupons and great information about their products and information on the safety of the things we eat and have around our house.

It was a great time! I invited some friends over to enjoy food and some nice conversation away from the kiddos! It was great to relax, take it easy and enjoy the samples.

I will be posting more information about the party and the products in the next few days as well as posting pictures from our get together! (My son is currently asleep where my camera cord is located...not going to wake him up for anything, haha!)

I will also be sharing some amazing information given to us at the party about how we can reduce waste, pollution and other toxins from our daily lives that research is showing to cause all sorts of really bad health issues.

Thanks to Stonyfield Organics/Seventh Generation for the products!

(as a disclaimer, I was not paid by the companies to host this party, but was given free samples and coupons to share with my friends! They just wanted me to blog about it to spread positive word-of-mouth!) 

From Wholesome Baby Foods

You all know that I love the website Wholesome Baby Food. They give so many great recipes and tips- it was my go-to site when I started making food for my son. I found an interesting article and thought I would share and see what you think about the topic!

(http://www.wholesomebabyfood.com/babyledweaning.htm)

"What is Baby Led Weaning and is it the right approach to Introducing Solid Foods?

More and more parents are turning to "Baby Led" approach to weaning and introducing solid foods to baby. Many parents choose to offer their babies food that is puréed while others prefer to jump straight into "table foods". Introducing your baby to "table foods" rather than purees is what Baby led Weaning is all about.

What is Baby Led Weaning?

So what exactly is Baby Led Weaning as relates to solid food introduction?  In short, Baby Led Weaning (BLW) is skipping thin and runny purées and not feeding your baby with a spoon.

Baby Led Weaning means offering your baby (age appropriate) foods that are soft-cooked and cut or mashed into small easily manageable pieces. These foods are then given to your baby to eat.  You do the cooking, the dicing or mashing and the offering of the foods and your baby does the rest.  You may choose to offer your baby a large hunk of apple that she can easily hold and gnaw on or a bowl full of soft cooked mashed apples; the choice is yours. It is important to note that your baby should be in control of what he is eating and you should never put the foods into his mouth!

As with breastfeeding on demand, Baby Led Weaning is a method of introducing solid foods that leaves it up to your baby to decide what, when and how much to eat.  While not necessarily a "hands off" approach, Baby Led Weaning does advocate allowing your baby to make all food choices for him or herself.

Visit our new Baby Led Weaning Recipes and Food Ideas page!

Do I just give my baby the food and then "walk-away"?

Many who have researched BLW have the misunderstanding that the "hands off" approach means that there should never be any intervention by the parent.  This is a common misconception and one we feel is in need of clarifying. I have had many parents ask "how can I just give my baby food and then not help her eat it or feed her the food?".

While Baby Led Weaning does encourage the infant to lead the way, parents must realize that they need to help guide and direct their babies through the weaning process.  It might be easier to think of Baby Led Weaning as paying strict attention to your baby's cues rather than trying to establish set feeding schedules and set portion sizes. Watch your baby as she experiments with the food and if need be, show her how to guide the food to her mouth. You will not be spoon-feeding your baby, rather your baby will be feeding (or smooshing and squishing and tossing) herself. When it is time for introducing solid foods and weaning a baby onto solid foods, you must feel comfortable in the methods and the foods that will make up the introduction to solid foods.

As we noted in our How Much Should My Baby Eat? page, "following your baby's cues during feeding time will ensure that your baby is eating the proper amounts of food for him or her." You see, the majority of healthy babies will eat just the right amount of foods that they need.  Many who advocate Baby Led Weaning believe that babies who feed themselves early on are better able to control just what their bodies need to nourish them.

Offering your baby a well balanced diet of solid foods will help ensure that your baby is eating the right amount of the right foods. It is important to pay close attention to your baby's cues as your baby's feeding patterns will change daily and may be affected by the goings-on around him.  You do not want to accidentally override your baby's ability to self-regulate his or her feeding by continuing to try and feed your baby.  The Baby Led Weaning approach is much the same as we noted above. 

Is it dangerous to skip purées and begin with "table foods"?

The answer to the above question is both yes and no.  If you are delaying solid foods until after the age of 6 months old, then your baby may readily accept textures and "table foods".  On the other hand, if you are beginning solid foods between the age of 4 and 6 months old, it is highly unlikely that baby would be able to handle "table foods".  You should ensure that these foods are offered in a manner so as not to pose a choking hazard. 

Please keep in mind that all babies are different and will eat textures, bits and chunks of foods at their own pace.  For more information about solid food and weaning, read our Ready for Solids page.

Is Baby Led Weaning right for your baby?  

Visit these links to learn more:

Baby Led Weaning - "The Bible" that help start this approach(1)

La Leche League Discussion of BLW

IVillage - Mom or Baby Led Weaning?

Association of Breastfeeding Mothers (U.K.)

We have received a few emails asking why our website has recipes for purees and why we are promoting baby food in purée format; purees are dangerous for babies they say. Baby Led Weaning is a great option for introducing solid foods to your baby! However, many advocates say that if you don't practice Baby Led Weaning, then a baby is just not learning to eat real foods. Real foods are prepared in your kitchen from fresh ingredients whether they are pureed or not, they do not come out of jars. Homemade baby food in puree form is real food as is "homemade baby food" in chunks, pieces, mashed bits, etc. Of most interest [and concern] is the assertion that if you feed your baby purees, then your baby will become ill, will not learn to chew and will become obese and constipated. After many days and hours of scouring through various medical resources such as the AAP, WHO and UNICEF, no studies or firm professional conclusions could be found that purees are dangerous for babies and feeding babies purees will lead to various and sundry complication"

http://www.wholesomebabyfood.com/babyledweaning.htm


So- after reading this- what do you think? Would you just skip straight to table foods or do you believe that purees are the way to go? For me, this offered great comfort because my son was never very interested in purees. He only wanted mama's milk and would only eat a few tablespoons of pureed food at each meal for several months. I fed him solids at 6 months, but at around 8-9 months, I just ditched the purees and gave him age-appropriate table foods. He ate much more and loved it! It worked out great for us and made me less nervous...it does seem strange to see a baby eating big people food.

Let me know your story!

Healthier School Meals Ahead!

(Thanks to One Hungry Mama for the post) 

Today, the senate unanimously passed the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010. YES! Now the bill will move on to the House, where it is expected to pass as well.

In a statement from Spain, Michelle Obama (who wrote her first op-ed about the bill in the Washington Post earlier this week) explained that the bill “will help us provide healthier school meals to children across America and will play an integral role in our efforts to combat childhood obesity.”

According to Obama Foodorama, the bill will provide a $4.5 billion investment, the largest ever, in child nutrition programs over ten years. It will also set nutritional standards, making sure that schools are serving healthier meals. You can read more details on the bill at NY Times.

What a great victory for all of our children!!

www.onehungrymama.com

Nursing Made Normal

Another article on breastfeeding! I know, I have posted a lot lately, but there has been so much great literature available since it is World Breastfeeding Week. I love it!!!!!! Thanks to my friend Mairi for the link!

 Nursing Made Normal

Posted by Lillian Shipman on August 10, 2010 at 8:00am At one of my first prenatal appointments my midwife asked if I was planning to breastfeed. Apparently my “yes!” was resounding and refreshing, as she explained that most women said “Well…I’m going to try.”

The thought of bottles and breastfeeding never entered my mind during my pregnancy. Nursing my baby was just something I would do.

It seem fitting then, that through my troubles with nursing my first baby I met and got to know one of the first and best known breastfeeding experts to propose we ditch “breast is best.” In her 1996 essay “Watch Your Language,” Diane Weissinger argues that this phrase formulated by the formula industry elevates breastfeeding to an unattainable fantasy. So little in our lives falls into the "best possible" or perfect dreams we have for ourselves. Putting breastfeeding in this category makes it easy to brush aside as one of those parts of parenthood that only the special few attain. While this mind set can definitely affect individuals, I believe it is best looked at on the societal level. It is also a two-fold issue; nursing needs to be a normal action in culture, just as breastfeeding deserves to be recognized as the biological norm.

The cultural issue basically comes down to this rarely heard point: girls and young women learn about breastfeeding by seeing it. I often hear that contrary to popular thought nursing does not happen naturally but needs to be learned. But how much of that would change if a woman had seen her mother, sisters, friends and even strangers on the street navigating their end of the nursing relationship, instead of retreating to another room or covering up for a feeding. We as women would know what a normal latch looks like, what positions are comfortable and the differences between each mother and baby pair is a wide sea of normal. No longer would we require “experts” to tell us how to do it, except in the most necessary cases. The difference would be that of over time soundly learning material for a test compared to cramming for it at the very last moment.

Recognizing breastfeeding as what a baby is biologically expecting adds another level to this. This is a beautifully complex system that has worked for thousands of years. If it didn’t none of us would be here. At this time only a fraction of it is scientifically understood. But it is known that it is more than food; it is comfort, part of a baby’s early immune system, and access to vital skin-to-skin contact that promotes brain development. These things are not just nice side affect, but part of the normal development of a human being.

We can see that formula has silently become the norm of measurement when the health difference in breastfed children over formula-fed children are called benefits, advantages, and the like. Rarely are tables turned and we label formula in this way. What would we call this substance when compared to breastmilk as the biological standard? With increased chances of later obesity, childhood ear infections, even death (yes, even in the US) words like risky and substandard come to mind.

When my own first son was born I wouldn’t call our situation normal. He was born at 34 weeks gestation. He had twig like arms and the tale-tell bug eyes of a preemie. After a twelve hour separation breastfeeding was a struggle. When supplementation started I was heart-broken. From years of learning since then, I know there was much mismanagement of our case, and I still debate with myself whether the formula was necessary. I have come to terms that if it was a necessity then it was truly life-saving in our situation where no donor milk was available. There is no denying that formula is a lifesaving substance for those who truly cannot breastfeed and are unable to obtain donor milk.

I feel fortunate to have worked through my difficulties nursing, stopping supplementing by six weeks and to go on to have a long-living nursing relationship. I give a large chunk for credit for this to my belief from the beginning that this was just what was done.

What this all comes down to for society, women and babies, is that changes in out perception of breastfeeding need to change. Until the healthcare community recognizes breastfeeding as the norm, formula will continue to be pushed with little regard for the risks. Situations like mine, in the mean time can leave mothers with guilt, denial and confusion as they wonder if the risk was worth it, along with the babies left more vulnerable. Struggles in nursing are generally solvable with more breastfeeding. Support focused on this from the medical community, paired with a lifetime of exposure and learning behind them could very well empower women to continue breastfeeding when faced with difficulties.

[Photo: Flickr member c r z licensed for use under Creative Commons license Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic

(http://www.wearegoodkin.com/family/community-story/nursing-made-normal)

I Want Your Reaction!!

There was a recent magazine article where supermodel Gisele Bundchen made the comment that breastfeeding until 6 months should be enforced by law.

Of course- this comment drew wild criticism and people are up in arms abut her criticizing formula feeding moms.

A doctor, Dr. Jay Gordon,  has written a response to this in an article on the Huffington Post:

"Gisele Bundchen- Nutrition Expert?

Yes!

In a recent magazine article, Ms. Bundchen was quoted saying that breastfeeding should be the legal norm for all babies for the first six months of life.

Of course, this generated a storm of protest about "feeding choices" and whether or not we should listen to someone with her lack of credentials. Lost in the fabricated drama and controversy is the fact the we must listen if her advice and high profile can save babies' lives. I'm sure that this one famous mother's words will be heard and heeded by more mothers than we pediatricians can possibly reach. (Ms. Bundchen's statement that post partum weight loss is faster because of breastfeeding is very much in line with current medical literature and will certainly appeal to most new mothers.)

It's easy to misinterpret a forceful metaphorical statement about "chemical food"--infant formula--and the crucial lifesaving value of breastfeeding for six months. And, that's exactly what pundits did to turn this into an "us against them" issue. "How dare she . . . "

While it is tragic that a supermodel-mom dispenses better advice than many doctors and most governmental agencies, it's impossible to misinterpret what the World Health Organization says about these artificial (chemical) feeding options:

The protection, promotion and support of breastfeeding rank among the most effective interventions to improve child survival. It is estimated that high coverage of optimal breastfeeding practices could avert 13 percent of the 10.6 million deaths of children under five years occurring globally every year. Exclusive breastfeeding in the first six months of life is particularly beneficial, and infants who are not breastfed in the first month of life may be as much as 25 times more likely to die than infants who are exclusively breastfed." ...
There is a common misconception that in emergencies, many mothers can no longer breastfeed adequately due to stress or inadequate nutrition, and hence the need to provide infant formula and other milk products. Stress can temporarily interfere with the flow of breast milk; however, it is not likely to inhibit breast-milk production, provided mothers and infants remain together and are adequately supported to initiate and continue breastfeeding. Mothers who lack food or who are malnourished can still breastfeed adequately, hence extra fluids and foods for them will help to protect their health and well-being.
If supplies of infant formula and/or powdered milks are widely available, mothers who might otherwise breastfeed might needlessly start giving artificial feeds. This exposes many infants and young children to increased risk of disease and death, especially from diarrhea when clean water is scarce. The use of feeding bottles only adds further to the risk of infection as they are difficult to clean properly."

Moreover, not breastfeeding has been found to double the risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome)

Read just one sentence above aloud:
"Infants who are not breastfed in the first month of life may be as much as 25 times more likely to die than infants who are exclusively breastfed."

No parent in America is allowed to let their infant travel in a car in the "second best" way possible: Car seats are the law in all 50 states. A breastfeeding law will not be passed soon, but there is a moral, ethical and medical imperative to get this nutrition information to mothers and families any way we can. Hyperbole is easy to ridicule but, in this case, the hyperbole will prevent the deaths of many, many babies worldwide.

The World Health Organization estimates that one-and-a-half million babies die from lack of breast milk each year. 1,500,000. 
 
If Gisele Bundchen's magazine interview, comments and the resultant furor cause more mothers in developing nations to breastfeed, thousands and perhaps tens of thousands of babies will be alive a year, two years or five years from now who might otherwise have succumbed to diseases caused or fatally exacerbated by lack of mother's milk.

I certainly wish that this legal proposal/metaphor had been issued by the government, health insurers or the American Academy of Pediatrics. In lieu of those recommendations, the very intelligent suggestion of a really smart mom will have to do."

(http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jay-gordon/gisele-bundchen-nutrition_b_675130.html)

Now- I want your opinion!!! What do you think? Should people really speak up and share the facts of breastfeeding? Should doctors use stronger language warning of the risks of formula feeding? Should we all just keep our mouths shut and be supportive?

My opinion, if anyone cares, is somewhere in the middle. I strongly support breastfeeding. I think everyone who has children needs to breastfeed their child. Nursing is hard, and I think education is hugely lacking in our country to help Mom's successfully nurse. I think doctors and professionals, as well as Mom's, should make breastfeeding the norm. Not "What is BEST" just "what you do" when you have a child.

But, I also strongly believe that being a Mom is so freaking hard, that attacking each other in such a mean way is completely unnecessary. I just try and reach out to my friends who are pregnant and talk to them about breastfeeding, offer my support and let them know that I am here if they need anything while beginning the breastfeeding journey.

Share your thoughts!!!!!!What do you think???