First Bites

First Bites By: Accidentally Green "First Bites: How to instill healthy eating habits during your baby’s first year" by  Hilary Kimes Bernstein will help expectant and new parents understand: - How breastfeeding and formula feeding are so different; - Why making your own baby food with an easy recipe is healthier than store-bought baby food; - When certain solid baby foods can be introduced; - What common – and preventable – food choices are harmful to children; and - What the Bible has to say about feeding babies. Filled with understandable explanations of scientific research, practical solutions, and lots of stories  from real-life moms, First Bites is a fantastic resource for new moms who simply don’t have the time  to do all of the research by themselves but want their babies to reap the rewards of a healthier start. For more information, visit firstbitesbook.com.

The Perfect Drink for Children: Rooibos Tea

For anyone who has never heard of Rooibos tea, you are in for a real treat! Rooibos tea is originally from South Africa where even the oldest civilizations realized the amazing benefits of tea. Because most teas contain caffeine, parents are often reluctant to feed their children any such products. However, Rooibos tea is one drink that you should be feeding your little one. Discover how Rooibos tea can be beneficial to your child’s health and how to encourage your tots to drink this delicious tea.

How can children benefit from drinking Rooibos tea?

Hydration

We are always encouraged to consume a sufficient amount of fluids every day and this basic rule doesn’t only apply to adults. Parents need to encourage their children to drink enough liquids too. Keeping your body hydrated helps your organs function better and can help prevent problems involving the bladder, kidneys and urinary tract.

Encourage healthy habits

Instead of giving your child a constant supply of sweet fruit juices or sugary drinks, offer them Rooibos tea instead. It is naturally sweet and there is no need for added sugar. A tiny dash of honey can be added if you desire, but in very small amounts. Healthy eating and drinking habits are essential from an early stage, as they influence the quality of life later on.

Tastes great hot or cold

This tea can be consumed throughout the whole year. During the winter months, it is delicious served warm with a squeeze of lemon and a drop of honey to help give the body’s immune system an important boost and to add a bit of extra sweetness. During the summer, you can do the same, but this time you can serve Rooibos as an ice tea.

Other health benefits of Rooibos tea

Pure natural goodness

There are a number of varieties of Rooibos tea on the market. You can find anything from vanilla to caramel flavors. However, plain Rooibos tea has a sweet aroma and enjoyable taste that even a child will enjoy. Unlike many other types of tea, Rooibos does not contain any caffeine and is perfectly safe for toddlers and children.

Antioxidant

Rooibos tea contains a host of amazing antioxidants including Nothofagin and Aspalathin. Nothofagin is known to aid in the prevention of heart disease, cancer and strokes. Aspalathin is only found in Rooibos tea and is extremely effective in getting the body rid of free radicals. It’s even more effective than Epigallocatechin Gallate (EGCG) found in green tea.

Good for your heart

Like a handful of other select types of tea, Rooibos tea is known to have significant cardiovascular benefits. Drinking this tea can help with high blood pressure and heart disease. Green tea and some other black teas also boast similar results but are not suitable for children or toddlers.

Breathe easy

Rooibos tea is also believed to have a positive effect in the case of respiratory and gastrointestinal problems. It is known to be abronchodilator as well as antispasmodic. If you find that your child is having such problems, consult with your doctor regarding supplementing your child’s treatment with Rooibos tea.

Why should I encourage my child to drink Rooibos tea?

As a parent, it is my responsibility to teach my child the correct habits. It’s not just a matter of teaching them how to say “Please” and “Thank you”, but also teach them nutritional habits. The sooner you begin telling them about healthy food and drink options, the better. If you allow your child to consume sugary drinks or soda at an early stage, it will be much tougher later in life to get on a healthy track.

How to get my child to drink Rooibos tea?

• Never force your child to any kind of food or drink. You will only cause unnecessary emotional trauma and your child could end up resenting that specific food or drink for a long time.
• If you are introducing Rooibos into your toddler’s diet, put a little bit of lukewarm tea into his bottle or sippy cup. Avoid adding any honey at first. He might not be accustomed at first, but try once again. If he still refuses, set the tea aside and try later. Remember, a young child is used to the sweet taste of milk and it can be difficult for them to accept anything that isn’t quite as sweet.
• Set a good example as a parent. Your child will usually want to eat and drink what you eat and drink. So, when you want to introduce your child to Rooibos tea, start by making a cup for yourself and make a big fuss over how delicious it is. Your child will surely ask for some and it’s perfectly fine to give them a sip. Just make sure it’s not too hot. If they don’t like it at first, say something like, “You don’t know what you’re missing!” and keep on making those yummy noises. Your child will come around eventually, so be patient.
• If your child is old enough, make this experience fun and show him how to make a cup of tea. Don’t leave him unattended and do not allow him to come too close to the boiling hot water. A fun and interesting demonstration will grab their attention! Feel free to sing and go a little crazy to get your child to laugh. Explain every little step and answer any questions they might have. Let them hold and smell the box of loose leaf tea and hand it over to you when you need it. Making your child feel part of the process is a great confidence boost! He will want to taste what you’ve made together, for sure.

RiverTea has a life mission to accompany you on your journey to discovering the flavourful universe of teas. Join us before launch and subscribe to our blog - we want to tell you all about tea and healthy living.

Make Traveling Easy With Some Simple Advice




Travel extends past boarding a plane to a new destination. Travel has the potential to be an exciting and joyous adventure. When it comes to planning your trip, you have lots of different options available. Can you do what is necessary? Here is some helpful advice to make sure you are ready for your big trip.


To prevent injury or illness from ruining your trip, check that your medical insurance policy applies when you are away from home – especially if you are planning a trip abroad. If you find out that you are not covered, don’t worry. Check with your travel agent or online for vacation insurance.



TIP! Be respectful and patient towards security checkpoints and customs officials. In most cases, these exist for your safety.



Ask family and friends for suggestions on places you should visit when trying to plan your next vacation. Often times they will not only be able to give you good suggestions for places that you should go, they can also steer you away from places that they didn’t have such a good time.


When booking your hotel stay, pay attention to cancellation policies and fees for date changes. Prepaying for a cheaper rate only benefits you if you can definitely travel on those dates. If you might have to change dates, you can save more money by paying a higher rate at a hotel with a more lenient cancellation policy.


When eating at a restaurant where you are still unsure of the culture, pay attention to the habits of the other diners. Not only will copying them help you decide what to order, it could even prevent you from committing an embarrassing faux pas in front of the other diners.



TIP! When traveling, always be prepared to have things stolen. Make advance photocopies of all of your important papers.



If you need to find a travel destination, you should watch some documentaries about foreign countries and perhaps look at some travel guides. This should give you a better idea of what kind of landscapes and monuments you can see in different parts of the world. Choose what interests you the most.


If you’re going to be staying in a hotel for less than a week, don’t bother unpacking. It may not be fun to live out of your suitcase, but by not unpacking things you lower your chances of leaving something behind. You wouldn’t want to risk leaving something important behind.


Get to know the names of the hotel employees. These are the people that will be taking care of you during your stay, and if you make an effort to get to know them, they will go out of their way to make your stay better. Tipping these people never hurts!



TIP! Always make sure that you have a set location for your important paperwork and documents when traveling. It is easy to lose or misplace these things.



Sleeping pills can get you through a red-eye flight. Lots of people aren’t comfortable sleeping on planes, because the place isn’t familiar, the seats are uncomfortable, and the passengers and airplane make noise. If you feel anxious about flying, think about taking a sleeping pill. Nonetheless, don’t take pills before takeoff. This could be bad for you in case the plane needs to return to the airport due to a problem.


If you’re far away from home and find that you’ve left your phone charger at home, call the front desk of your hotel and explain the situation. Most hotels save the abandoned or forgotten chargers that are left in hotel rooms; if your phone is a fairly common model, it might save you from paying fifty dollars for a charger that you only use for one or two days.


Before you travel out of the country, make sure your immunizations are all up to date. There’s no way to know whether your fellow travelers are all current on their shots, or what diseases they might unknowingly be carrying. Keeping yourself vaccinated will help protect you from any diseases you may encounter.



TIP! Sanitize your area. You may get a few sideways glances, but in the confined space of a crowded aircraft, you are just asking to get sick.



Try to schedule layovers that are a minimum of two hours. While direct or nonstop flights should be your first choice, sometimes a layover is inevitable. By scheduling a long layover, you may slightly increase your travel time, but you will also be less likely to miss a connecting flight if there is a delay.


Travel can be an adventure that is far more than just visiting a new place. It requires a little preparation to make the trip as enjoyable as possible. The above tips should have given you some advice.
This author is a writer and content producer for Cru Chalets Chamonix, offering five star chamonix accommodation. Our chalets are perfect for summer and winter activities for all the family.

Trending: Convenience at the Expense of Your Kids

TRENDING: CONVENIENCE AT THE EXPENSE OF YOUR KIDS

By: Leah Robinson

How many times have you had that morning rush? You know, that one where everyone needs to be out by 8am, but at 7:55 your family is still running around with one shoe on, and last night's homework is still sprawled out on the table? There's no time for a full breakfast, so the kids roll out with pop tarts and toaster strudels in hand. Surely, without a doubt, the kids are happy and content with their sweet morning treat and you're patting yourself on the back for making it out on time. Everyone wins, right?

In today's time-conscious world families rely heavily on quick meals. Although getting the kids fed is important, what's even more prominent is what's going into their bodies. According to a study conducted in 2010, the diet of most American kids consists of 40% unhealthy and processed foods.

"Eating is a learned behavior. Kids eat what their parents eat. If busy parents throw a frozen pizza in the microwave, that's a bad meal that sends a bad message."- Dr. Charles Clark, professor of medicine at Indiana University School of Medicine

Dr. Clark is directly referring to the influence parents have over the habits picked up by kids in the home. Given the fast paced demand of daily life, parents are often time forced to make quick food decisions for the family. Sure, pizza night once in awhile is fun, but how often do these unhealthy, empty-calorie meals happen? Consider back to the morning rush scenario and let's move forward into lunchtime. How many sugary snacks and beverages are in your child's lunch box? Better yet, how many of his lunch items are fresh as opposed to pre-packaged foods? And after school, perhaps in those 20 minute gaps on the way to soccer practice or the dance studio, how many processed carbs and sugars are in their snacks? How about before bed, when the kids want a little snack. Do hand them over one more cookie? All of these unhealthy habits have lasting effects on kids.

Kelly Strogen, registered dietitian and nutritional advisor for the healthy meal distributor Fitly®, states that "When children consume unhealthy snacks, they are basically filling up on empty calories that are not nourishing their body in any way. By eating lots of refined carbohydrates (think cookies,soda, etc), a child may actually end up eating more later because their blood sugar rises quickly, then drops, and the body wants to restore that balanced blood sugar, so they become inclined to eat more." Empty calories do provide energy, but they fail to nourish your kid's body due to their lack of crucial vitamins and nutrients. These bouts of hunger can encourage kids to crave for more carbohydrate-rich foods, but then the moment of truth arises when it comes to what item the child chooses; the apple or the candy bar?

If surrounded by a household with poor eating habits, a child can fall into the vicious cycle of relying on junk foods for meals, experiencing hunger more often and then turning to more junk food to satisfy their needs. Future consequences of this behavior include childhood obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and childhood type 2 diabetes--all of which a healthy diet can help to reduce and control.

Despite the contemporary trend, convenient does not have to mean unhealthy. Parents may argue that they simply don't have enough time to commit to healthy eating, but Kelly provides simple food alternatives that are all available in your grocery store. The next time you make your supermarket trip, switch out the high preservative, high sugar, processed snacks for some of the these items:

-Fruit -Hard boiled egg

-Yogurt (nonfat or low-fat) -Whole grain thin bagel with

-Whole wheat crackers or pretzels with peanut butter reduced fat cheese and

-Greek yogurt tomato slices (like pizza)

-Nuts (almonds, walnuts) -Natural ingredient snack bars

-Light popcorn (KIND, Larabars, Kashi)

-Vegetables and hummus -Multigrain tortilla chips

-Whole grain cereal with low-fat milk, with low-sodium salsa and

almond milk, or soymilk and some fruit guacamole -low-sodium cheese sticks -"ants on a log" (celery with

-whole wheat tortilla with part-skim peanut butter and raisins)

ricotta and sliced strawberries

Parental Life at Ease: The Grocery Shift to the Online World

PARENTAL LIFE AT EASE: THE GROCERY SHIFT TO THE ONLINE WORLD

By: Leah Robinson

According to Steve Murch, CEO of BigOven, the percent of household income that Americans spend on groceries has dramatically declined over the past five decades.  The percent of funds spent on groceries has shifted from 30% in the 1950s to relatively 13% by the 2000s. A major contributor to this decline? The professional life of the modern day parent.

Traditionally, women manage the food in the household and while that is still very true today, the time allotted to devote towards meal planning has decreased.  In 61% percent of two-parent households with children under 18 years of age, both parents work. Additionally, 72% of single mothers are employed. Ted Boscia of the Cornell Chronicle reports that American moms with full-time jobs spend about 3.5 fewer hours per day on family planning than unemployed mothers.

As eating habits and food intake are crucial to developing healthy kids, this loss of time has a prominent impact on the household.  Families begin to devote more time to eating out, or to purchasing pre-made, processed meals and more snack foods typically not high in nutritional value.  As a result, children begin to rely on third parties, such as schools and child care facilities, for meal planning and nutritional guidance. In response to the modern day lack of time and available effort has come the emergence of the online grocery shopping community.

Online grocery shopping stems from the idea of how much media influences our relationship with food. The Hartman Research Group claims that 49% of consumers say they learn about food via social networking, and 40% say they learn about food via websites, blogs or apps. On the other end, much influence for online grocery shopping is related to the growth of the online shopping world as 75% of consumers say they shop online for products and services.

How does online grocery shopping aid today’s parent? With the grocery inventory in the hands of the mouse-holder, parents can cut out the time spent at the store, and the gas and mileage spent eating out by sorting out their groceries and meals online.  By having the ability to do grocery and meal planning online, parents can take just 10 minutes out of their day to grocery shop while on a lunch break, or even just relaxing at home compared to 40 minutes to an hour required to commute and browse in the store.

Many stores like Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, and Wegmans have taken advantage of the opportunity to provide families access to fresh food options online. There are even a number of companies devoted to partnering with grocery suppliers and delivering these healthy foods directly to families such as Good Eggs in San Francisco, Relay Foods in Richmond, and Fitly® in Philadelphia.

Anthony Ortiz, founder + ceo of Fitly®, a DreamIt Health startup, is a addressing the childhood obesity epidemic at its core, by providing busy parents with a free and convenient delivery service of healthy meals and simple meal prepping instructions, straight to the workplace, school, or community. His motto is “Eat healthy ever after.” and he believes that online grocery shopping, meal planning, and delivery add convenience to parents’ busy lives by saving them time, energy and stress. More time to devote to family leads to healthier meals, better eating habits, well-being and an overall more positive environment for the kids. Compared to just grocery shopping a-la-carte style online, Fitly is extending their parental time-saving focus even further by providing full meals for parents to choose from on their website and then delivering the needed ingredients and simple prepping instructions straight to their workplace, school, or community. “The real reward is that we’re delivering healthy groceries for same price you currently see at the supermarket – but - we deliver it to you for free! It’s a no brainer. As a busy parent, I couldn’t think of anything more convenient and easy to use that can save the average family up to 2 hours a week in grocery shopping. To a busy household, this is gold.” said Ortiz.

Fitly® is currently in pilot-mode and has partnered with Independence Blue Cross, Penn Medicine, DreamIt Ventures, Towers Watson & Venturef0rth to bring about this amazing opportunity to families, employers, and retailers. Here’s how Fitly works…

Although the idea of online grocery shopping has been around for a little over a decade, its services are more prevalent now than in times before. With parents, more directly mothers, holding so much influence on what foods shape the household, ample time must be available to ensure families are healthy and children receive the best care.

5 of The 50 Things to Know Before Having a Baby

Having a baby is such an exciting time in your life! When I became pregnant with my first child there were many things to learn. I did not have any siblings for close friends with children at the time. After the pregnancy I wrote the book 50 Things to Know Before Having a Baby. This book has many pregnancy tips in one place for new parents. Here are five tips from the book. I hope that can help you or someone you know with your pregnancy

1. The First Two Weeks Home
The first two weeks were hard for me and my partner. My body was making big changes in a small amount of time. Someone told me the first two weeks are the hardest but after that you will be fine. I agree with that statement. Be mentally prepared because as hard as you try before pregnancy your body won't be in the best physical shape right after having a baby. Along with taking your medicine, you need to take care of yourself. Try to change pajamas every day. Also, try to shower every day. A shower will give you time to relax. Once you will take a shower you realize how much it was really needed. I also put a little makeup on each day to make myself feel better. Remember to brush your teeth too! You will get a heavy first period around 6 weeks after birth. Keep those extra giant pads that they give you when you have your baby because you may need them in the future. After pregnancy some women lose some hair. A good thing to know when you are in the shower for the first couple months after birth is not to panic. Your first bowel movements may be difficult after giving birth. As the uterus gets bigger it presses against your bowel and may cause constipation. Constipation could be caused by hormone changes, a lack of fiber in your diet, not enough water or too little exercise. The milk coming into breasts can be painful for some woman.
2. Get Help
Just because someone comes over to watch the beautiful one for a while does not mean you failed! It takes a whole village to raise a child is not just a saying. Everyone benefits from you getting help including your baby, your helpers, and you! You can hire support including a nanny, baby sitter, or a house cleaner. If you have any of problems, even what seems like a little one, you should seek help. You are not alone. Talk to your medical provider, faith leader, family or friends about how you are feeling. Depression and anxiety during pregnancy can worsen and continue after the birth (postpartum depression) if not treated.
3. Your Perineum Will Need to Heal After Giving Birth
After birth you must keep this area clean. You can do this with a warm bath once a day. After going to the bathroom you can use wet toilet paper, and a squeeze bottle with paper. The hospital gave me tucks pads for the area too.
4. Linea Negra
The linea negra is a pale line that can run from the pubic bone to the belly button that usually appears around the second trimester of pregnancy produced by hormones. This will go away after giving birth but may take longer for breastfeeding women.
5. Stretch Marks
You may get stretch marks on your belly as well as your breasts. I did not get stretch marks until the last week on my belly. I got them on my breasts when the milk came into them.

About Lisa Rusczyk



Lisa Rusczyk is the founder of Charlie The Cavalier (a blog about Charlie her dog, and her friends, family and home) and founder of 50ThingsToKnow. Lisa is a Doctoral student in Educational Leadership who happened to start writing her first book 50 Things to Know Before Having a Baby after her little girl was born. Her book sold over 1,000 copies in the first year on Amazon. Today, she has over 10 books and helps others self-publish. Further, she shares this information with the public via this blog, Facebook, YouTube, Pinterest, Twitter, and recently on a local television station. Lisa knows that like her there are a lot of people who would like concise information on a topic in one digital location. Lisa is known for her simple and effective tips.

           

           


            

ORGANIC BABY SLING

- A healthy and safe way to carry your baby Nothing is more comforting to a baby than to be snuggled up next to you. Your warmth, scent and heartbeat provide soothing reassurance and nurturing that every baby thrives on. As nice as it would be to spend every minute hugging your baby close, your arms and back can struggle with the weight and you simply can't get things done easily with only one arm to spare. An organic baby sling can provide a healthy and safe way to keep your child close, but allow you the freedom to have both hands free, and ergonomically support your back and spine from undue strain. Everyday tasks like going shopping, getting some housework done, hanging out the washing or simply going for a walk is so much easier if your baby is safely supported and you won't always need to be lifting a pram in and out of the car all the time, if you use a baby sling.

What features you need to look for in an Organic Baby Sling Baby wearing must be safe, easy and comfortable for both of you. A good quality Organic Baby Sling will provide anatomical support for mother and child. You need to be able to choose whether you carry your baby on your front, back or on your side. Your baby must be correctly positioned and receive appropriate support for healthy hip and spine development. The straps must be well padded to protect your shoulders, and must provide optimal weight distribution.

Be wary of cheap imitations Choosing a Superior Organic Baby Sling will provide you with high quality and durability. Made from non-toxic fabrics rather than synthetic cheaper alternatives, they are machine washable and that makes life easier. Able to carry up to 20kg in weight, you will be able to use your Organic Baby Sling for 3 - 4 years, so you want it to last the distance and not fall apart after only a few months of use. An Organic Baby Sling will be one of the best purchases you can make for you and your baby and by buying a quality Organic Baby Sling , you will be able to get out and about for years with your child easily, safely and happily.

Little Organics Organic Baby Food|Melbourne Organic Baby Products Online Shop