Intrepid Murmurings

Monday: Crock pot lentil stew and brown rice (all from freezer), green salad

Tuesday:  "Swimming Rama" (chicken & spinich over whole wheat pasta with peanut sauce), leftover veggies

Wednesday:  Pork spare ribs (not sure yet on a recipe), crusty bread OR home fries, glazed carrot coins 

Thursday: Shrimp fajitas (shrimp, onions, red/yellow/orange peppers, avocado, sour cream, flour tortillas), fruit salad

Friday:   Salmon Burgers (from Costco) on homemade bread machine rolls, steamed green beans

Saturday:  Homemade pizza?  Leftovers?  

Sunday:  Chicken jambalaya (Lonnie's specialty), steamed chard/kale

And here are a couple food related pictures from ONE YEAR AGO.  Wow, time flies! 

Monday:  Black beans & couscous, tomatoes & avocado, roasted beets

Tuesday:  roasted chicken & zucchini, pasta, beet greens 

Wednesday: Calamari (an Emma fave!) & sweet potato leek soup (our invention, but similar to this, I imagine.  Still trying desperately to use up our huge leek harvest!), dairy-free biscuits, applesauce 

Thursday:  Pork/Turkey meatloaf (probably this, with Lonnie's "super secret" glaze), bread, beets 

Friday: Salmon Burgers (Frozen from Costco) on whole wheat buns, coleslaw, frozen pureed squash

Saturday: Leftovers or homemade pizza (ham/pineapple)

Sunday:   Family dinner out @  Fresh Bistro (kids eat free!) as mentioned last week -- we didn't make it this week b/c we had a date night instead, woo hoo!  

Breakfasts/lunches:  leftovers, soups/sandwiches, oatmeal and cereal, oatmeal applesauce raisin bread (for the bread machine), pumpkin muffins & whole grain pancakes (from the freezer). 

Snacks: Harvest spice granola rounds, fruit, baby carrots, cheese, crackers, dried fruit, cereal...

Welcome to the November Carnival of Natural Parenting: What is natural parenting?

This post was written for inclusion in the monthly Carnival of Natural Parenting hosted by Hobo Mama and Code Name: Mama. This month our Carnival coincides with the launch of Natural Parents Network, a community of parents and parents-to-be who practice or are interested in attachment parenting and natural family living. Join us at Natural Parents Network to be informed, empowered, and inspired!

Please read to the end to find a list of links to the other carnival participants.

***

Over the past 10 years together, Lonnie and I have made significant progress on the healthy eating front.  When we first met we were in high school and eating nachos washed down with a Mountain Dew was not unusual.  Ha!  But, we were lucky to both come from families who valued healthy eating and home cooking, and from that absorbed both a love of food and a love of cooking.  

In our early days, as a kid-free couple in our twenties just starting out in our careers, we cooked less, ate way more convenience foods, and ate out a lot.  We still ate our vegetables and cooked at home, but true healthy eating was not as big of a priority.   We were young and had years ahead to deal with all that!  

With the onset of Lonnie's dairy allergy, things changed.  Suddenly we were reading labels.  A lot.  We saw how much crap was in all that stuff we were eating.  Taking the dairy out of foods (and later beef, too) really can make a dent in the amount of fat you are consuming withsome meals!  Eating out was more of a challenge, too -- we had to start avoiding certain restaurants altogether, and asking questions more often when at the places we did (mostly Asian restaurants -- which are generally dairy-free and sometimes fairly healthy -- and abundant! --  here in Seattle).

When kids came along, there was the added pressure to feed them well and to model healthy eating -- because it sure is hard to hand them the bowl of oatmeal and then eat a doughnut or potato chips right in front of them!  While they were very young, it was definitely hard to find the time to cook all the time, but for us, more of a challenge to take them out to a restaurant, so we just figured it out.  Key, for us, is the fact that BOTH of us can (and like to) cook -- when I was too sick and tired with pregnancy, or nursing fussy babies all evening, Lonnie took over, for months or years at a time.  Thank goodness!  And over time, we've just made more and more gradual changes that have added up to a pretty decent level of healthy eating, I'd like to think.   Honestly, we really don't miss our old habits much at all! 

So, what does healthy eating mean to me now?  Here is what I strive for:

Serving my family home-cooked meals from whole foods -- fruits, vegetables, grains, proteins and fats (including meats and dairy products, for us) -- often, every day, for most, if not all, of our meals.  

Buying organic or sustainably raised foods when possible, particularly with regards to "the dirty dozen" and to meat, fish & dairy.  Learning to cook or eat differently (i.e. more vegetarian) to make this more affordable!  

Buying basic ingredients and cooking our own foods, instead of buying things processed.  This applies to main meals as well as snack and "convenience" foods.  I try to make -- instead of buy -- things like bread, waffles & pancakes, biscuits and muffins, granola bars, snack/trail mixes, cookies and treats, etc.  My next challenge -- making or baking homemade crackers & cereal bars -- two things my kids adore!

Eating whole grains, not "white" foods.  Whole grain pasta, brown rice, quinoa.  Whole wheat couscous, whole grain breads, tortillas, cold and hot cereals (some of these are obviously somewhat processed, but we at least aim for whole grain/high fiber!). 

Eating nutrient dense foods (avocados, berries, greens, beans and meats, etc) to make the most out of our food calories.    

Aiming for variety -- serving a range of different foods each day, while also keeping mealtime simple without overwhelming my kids with too many options.  For each snack or meal, I try to serve a fruit or vegetable, a grain, and a protein (ideally with some fat).  Sometimes snacks are just fruit -- I am trying to do this more, actually -- but I do find my kids & I often need a little protein and fat to "make it stick".  

Striking a balance --  making no foods forbidden or "off limits".  While the bulk of our foods are whole foods and the like, we also buy some of the processed stuff (see Emma's birthday dinner -- box mac & hotdogs!).  I do sometimes buy (and we all enjoy) things like deli meats, box mac & cheese, tater tots, Oreos, soda and chips. We do the occasional take out and fast food (emphasis on the occasional!).   We eat sweets -- in moderation -- including ice cream, cookies, chocolate and candy.  We serve fried chicken and fish and chips (cooked at home, generally) and go through a fair bit of mayo, because man, they're delicious!  I personally don't have the willpower (or the desire) to avoid these things altogether, and believe that the only way for kids to learn how to moderate their own consumption of these kinds of foods (and eat healthfully in the long run, once they are in charge of their own menus) is to model it ourselves at home. 

And finally -- sitting down together, to eat as a family, daily.  I really believe that its important for kids to be a part of family meals from as early on as possible, to see and eat what the adults are eating, to come together as a family and to talk to each other about our day.  We are so lucky, I know, to be able to do this easily -- Lonnie's work schedule (and ability to choose his hours, to some degree) allows him to be home with us for a family dinner every night.  I could be better about sitting down and being present with the kids during breakfast and lunch, for sure -- I think this is important too!  It is easy to use this time to catch up on various things (chores, making my own different food, checking email) but I know my kids would prefer  (and be better off) if I sat down and connected with them -- at least some of the time -- instead! 

***

Stop by Natural Parents Network today to see excerpts from everyone's posts, and please visit a few to read more! Visit Hobo Mama and Code Name: Mama to find out how you can participate in the next Carnival of Natural Parenting!

Please take time to read the submissions by the other carnival participants. Three of the participants below will instead be featured on Natural Parents Network throughout the month, so check back at NPN!

This list will be updated by afternoon November 9 with all the carnival links. We've arranged it this month according to the categories of our NPN resource pages on "What Is Natural Parenting?"

Attachment/Responsive Parenting

1. PREPARE FOR PREGNANCY, BIRTH, AND PARENTING:
   • "Preparing for Pregnancy, Birth and Parenting" — Sheryl at Little Snowflakes knows better now how to prepare for her second baby, focusing on attachment rather than nursery curtains. Watch for her post, which will be featured on Natural Parents Network on Tuesday, November 23. (@sheryljesin)
   • "Begin at the Beginning" — Alison at BluebirdMama examines the first type of natural parenting she experienced: birthing at home. (@BluebirdMama)
2. FEED WITH LOVE AND RESPECT:
   • "Going With the {Tandem Milk} Flow" — Despite being told she would never be able to nurse her toddler through pregnancy, Jessika at Job Description: Mommy successfully nursed through her entire pregnancy, and she continues tandem nursing her two little ones fifteen months later! (@JobDescMommy)
   • "Breastfeeding with Love and Respect" — Resisting the pressure to give up, breastfeeding was the way Dionna at NursingFreedom.org persisted in nourishing her son. (@NursingFreedom)
   • "Why Should I Call It Extended?" — Amy at Toddler In Tow provides scientifically based research to support child-led weaning.
3. RESPOND WITH SENSITIVITY:
   • "Attachment Parenting Chose Us" — For a child who is born "sensitive," attachment parenting is more a way of life than a parenting "choice." Dionna at Code Name: Mama shares her experiences. (@CodeNameMama)
   • "Parenting in the Present" — Acacia at Be Present Mama parents naturally by being fully present.
   • "Parenting With Heart" — Kat at Loving {Almost} Every Moment parents naturally because healthy attachments early in life help our little ones grow into healthy, functioning adults.
4. USE NURTURING TOUCH:
   • "Nurturing through touch" — Lauren at Hobo Mama finds that loving touch is a thread that runs through all her natural parenting practices. (@Hobo_Mama)
5. ENSURE SAFE SLEEP:
   • "Sometimes I Wish We Coslept" — Sheila at A Gift Universe has started to add cosleeping into her sleep routines and has found frequently unspoken benefits. Watch for her post, which will be featured on Natural Parents Network on Tuesday, November 30. (@agiftuniverse)
6. PROVIDE CONSISTENT AND LOVING CARE:
   • "Attachment Parenting . . . and Nanny Makes Three?" — When Jen at Grow with Graces first started interviewing nannies, she was looking for practicalities. After a few months with her first nanny, she's going to hire someone new, and this time, she'll make sure the nanny believes in AP principles. (@growwithgraces)
   • "Do You Have This?" — For Rachael at The Variegated Life, natural parenting is about love and giving, rather than the alienation and longing present in so many in our Western culture. (@RachaelNevins)
   • "What Natural Parenting Looks Like in Our Family" — Sybil at Musings of a Milk Maker shares what natural parenting is like as your little ones grow up.
7. PRACTICE GENTLE/POSITIVE DISCIPLINE:
   • "Unconditional Parenting" — The philosophy of Alfie Kohn resonates with Erin at Multiple Musings, who does not want to parent (or teach) using rewards and punishment. (@ErinLittle)
8. STRIVE FOR BALANCE IN PERSONAL AND FAMILY LIFE:
   • "Reducing Screen Time" — How does Mrs. H. at Fleeting Moments meaningfully connect with her kids every day? She turns off the TV.
   • Also see our October Carnival all about finding balance!

Ecological Responsibility and Love of Nature

• "Healing Through Elimination Communication Part 1" — Amy at Innate Parenting explains how practicing elimination communication has helped her whole family gain awareness and healing in many areas of their lives. (@InnateWholeness)
• "Growing Out of Little Potties" — Stacy at Mama-Om is proud to be the "weird lady" who practices elimination communication with her babies. (@mama_om)
• "Let's Talk Diapers" — Lindsey at Mama Cum Laude started using cloth diapers because she felt they were a safer choice for her child; she stuck with them because they are convenient.

Holistic Health Practices

• "Supporting Natural Immunity" — If you have decided against the traditional vaccination schedule, Starr at Earth Mama has some helpful tips for strengthening your children's immune systems naturally.

Natural Learning

• "Acceptance as a Key to Natural Parenting" — Because Mrs. Green at Little Green Blog values accepting and responding to her daughter's needs, she was able to unravel the mystery of her daughter's learning "challenges." (@myzerowaste)
• "Let Them Look" — Betsy at Honest 2 Betsy makes time to look at, to touch, and to drool on the pinecones.
• "Why I Love Unschooling" — Unschooling isn't just about learning for Darcel at The Mahogany Way — it is a way of life. (@MahoganyWayMama)
• "Is He Already Behind?"Ever worry that your baby or toddler is behind the curve? Danielle at born.in.japan will reassure you about the many ways your little one is learning — naturally — every day. Watch for her post, which will be featured on Natural Parents Network on Tuesday, November 16. (@borninjp)
• "How to Help Your Child through Natural Learning" — Deb Chitwood at Living Montessori Now offers tips on how to understand and nurture your child's natural learning style. (@DebChitwood)

Healthy Living

• "What 'Healthy Eating' Means to Me" — Wonder how a family of five makes healthy eating a priority? Kristin at Intrepid Murmurings shares some common sense tips. (@sunfrog)
• "What is Natural Parenting? Embracing Real Food" — Melodie at Breastfeeding Moms Unite! has always wanted to give her children the most nutritious foods possible: first through breastfeeding, and later through healthy, whole foods. (@bfmom)

Parenting Philosophies

• "Natural Parenting — Lazy Parenting" — To Olivia at Write About Birth, natural parenting isn't about a fixed set of ideals, but about what is instinctual. (@writeaboutbirth)
• "I'm not the most crunchy, but I'm still au naturel" — Jessica at This is Worthwhile follows her gut and parents with respect, and that's what feels natural to her. (@tisworthwhile)
• "Because Natural comes Naturally" — Breastfeeding, babywearing, cosleeping — Bess at mommakesmilk does these things because they feel right. (@MumtoEve)
• "What Do You Mean 'Natural Parenting'?" — Luschka at Diary of a First Child fell into natural parenting by listening to her baby and her own instincts. (@lvano)
• "One Little Change at a Time" — Ashley at Domestic Chaos made one small change at a time until "natural parenting" wasn't a punchline, but a way of life. (@ashleympoland)
• "WHY Attachment Parenting?" — While they might take some work to put into practice, Momma Jorje at A Slightly Crunchy Momma finds that all of the tenets of attachment parenting fit her family.
• "Yours, Respectfully" — For Kellie at Our Mindful Life, natural parenting is about being respectful: to yourself, your children, and your surroundings.
• "The Natural Parenting Label" — Michelle at The Parent Vortex explains that natural parenting is a mindset, not a set of specific choices or a few fancy acronyms. (@TheParentVortex)
• "When Our Children Are Grown" — Mandy at Living Peacefully with Children parents naturally, because she is building a firm foundation for her children.
• "What is Natural Parenting to a Witch Mom?" — Lily at Witch Mom has planned out what she wants for her son, from health to socialization to interactions with the natural world. (@lilyshahar)
• "Attachment Parenting and Our Family" — Semi-crunchy Mama at Adventures in Mommyhood takes us through the way the Baby Bs have transformed their family of four. (@crunchymamato2)
• "I'm a Mama...Naturally" — Andrea!!! at Ella-Bean & Co. didn't intend to parent naturally, but it happened by instinct.

Political and Social Activism

• "A Private Matter" — Amy at Anktangle, who is a Registered Nurse, describes her encounters with circumcision in a medical environment and why they guided her decision to leave her own baby boy intact. (@anktangle)
• "Natural Parenting, Following Our Instincts, and Keeping Our Son Intact" — Kelly at KellyNaturally went against the tide and refused to circumcise her son. (@kellynaturally)
• "Relying on Kindness" — Sure, Navelgazing Bajan at Navelgazing wants her son to be kind — but kindness is not enough. (@BlkWmnDoBF)

No fancy posts today -- I will try to come back and link to some recipes when I find the time, which is not tonight!  I am SO glad to have my menu planned, though, I've been missing having that organized lately!

Monday:  Pork Stew (crock pot, from freezer), whole wheat macaroni pasta, steamed broccoli

Tuesday:  Stir-fried Chicken and chard with peanut sauce and brown rice

Wednesday:  Shrimp, corn and coconut milk chowder, coleslaw, bread

Thursday: Crock pot Lentil Stew, dairy free biscuits (made from whole wheat pastry flour), brussels sprouts

Friday:  Leftovers or "bangers and mash" (sausages and mashed potatoes), green salad

Saturday:  Homemade Pizza (canadian bacon and pineapple),  squash & applesauce

Sunday:  Eat out!  Sunday evening we are going to try out Fresh Bistro here in West Seattle, which I've been meaning to go to forever, as their menu looks great and is based on local, sustainable foods.  I just got word that KIDS EAT FREE on Sundays and Mondays (with adults $40 purchase) and that is incentive enough for us to give dining out a go. Haven't done it (other than pizza once and dim sum with the extended family several times) since I can remember!  Yeeps!  I think it will be fun, though.  I'll let you know how it goes!  

I am a huge fan of eggs and a huge fan of bread.  When you can make bread out of eggs, how can you go wrong?  Here is my current recipe for dairy-free popovers (note, we are clearly not vegan, ha ha, just dairy free! Vegan popovers would be quite a feat!).  I love it because its fairly quick and makes a double batch, which is great for us -- I usually have a few left over to pop in the toaster the next morning!  

I will admit that these do not always rise as high as the beautiful pictures in Martha's Stewart's Baking Book (which is where I got the recipe), and I assume that's due to the soy milk, or to the fact that my eggs are too small (I've had better luck when I add in an extra egg). Or perhaps my oven is just cheap and unreliable!  Ah well.  I am also working out what is best to grease with  -- I usually use margarine but I think the whipped stuff (all we have right now) is not so great -- too much water in it, maybe? Mine stuck a bit, but came out with "encouragement" using a rubber spatula.  Last time I used coconut oil and that worked pretty well -- and gave it a bit of a coconut-y taste that is not traditional, but ended up pretty delicious!  

Dairy Free Popovers 

• Dairy free margarine or coconut oil, room temp or slightly softened, for pan
• 1.5 cups plain soy milk (I mix it from dry soy milk powder -- 3T dry to 1.5 cups water)
• 6 large eggs (I have better luck with 7 if they are on the small size, as my large eggs sometimes are)
• 1.5 cups all purpose flour
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1.5 Tablespoon powdered sugar 

As I've mentioned a few times, this year, the one apple tree in our backyard was Very Productive.  WAY more than the previous two years since we moved here.  During the late summer all the branches were draping down to the ground under the heavy load, but not too many dropped early, which we had problems with in the years past.  

August, 2010

We had a mega-apple starting early September and going all the way through the end of November.   Basketloads.  Bucketloads.  Tubs and tubs and tubloads.  We still have no idea what type of apple they are, but they are quite delicious.  Tart, but not too tart, sweet, but not too sweet.  Perfect.  

We did a fair bit of just collecting drops each day, to make into applesauce or apple butter.  Some of the nicer apples, including many we picked off the tree, we stored for eating.  We still have a load of them in the fridge, which should last us another month or so.  They seem to be storing really well.   It is SO AWESOME to have a free source of organic apples for this long -- we eat a lot of them!  

I have to say, Lonnie really did a ton of the apple work -- he spent many, many nights peeling, coring and slicing apples.  He is WAY better with a knife than I am, and goes so much faster!  He would literally fill our huge stock pot each night with peeled apples.  I helped by making some of applesauce or apple butter, and helping with the canning. But all in all, he was way more the apple guy, and I so appreciate it!  I will be putting all the applesauce and apple butter to good use this year, in baked goods, crock pot meals, and more.  Yum yum!  

We ended up with 4-5 batches of dried apples, 6 batches of canned applesauce (plus at least two frozen), and 6 batches of apple butter.  We gave a few to Emma's school for snack, and ate (and are eating) a LOT.  Hooray for apples!  It is lucky that apples are one of the few fruits all of my kids will eat! 

I'll leave you with some pictures from under (and in!) our apple tree...

First three photos above are from April 2009 (Emma almost 3, Elsie 11 months).  Last photo, Elsie now, 2.5 years.

Tonight, Lonnie & I headed out for a date night, thanks to Auntie Emily, who called yesterday and offered to come hang with the girls.  We hadn't decided until Lonnie came home tonight after work whether or not we were going out or just hanging out here at home with Emily, but how can you turn away free babysitting?  At night? You can not!  And I cannot tell you how awesome (and amazing) it is to be in a place now where all three kids go to bed easily, without us.  There were no tears, it was easily manageable for just one person (!), they all had dinner, a bath, teeth, jammies, and stories, the whole shebang.  The little ones will probably be more insistent to nurse when they wake in the night, but, eh, what's new?  (I know, I know, I have been working on re-night weaning, and its going decently!).  

Emily did mention at one point AFTER she had gotten all three girls in PJs and ready for stories, Elsie and Delia came running in buck naked.  Ha ha, their newest trick with their current snap on jammies!  Sometimes, they help take each other's diapers off, though they usually can do it themselves in a pinch...  

Back to our date, for those Seattleites following who care, we headed to the West Seattle Junction and landed at Spring Hill.   Great place for hard core food fans, for sure!  Fancy yet not snobby (at least one of the waiters had on jeans, I noted -- we are still in Seattle!!!), with a totally sleek and simple decor and and upscale, seemingly super clean open kitchen.  Admittedly, some menu items kind of freaked me out (roasted beef marrow bone or rabbit pate appetizer, anyone?) and there were side dishes that I am sure are divine but I just could not decipher (such as the halibut, that came with "smoked clam with pale ale crispies, malted celery root, remoulade relish?" Um, what?).  We noted that Lonnie's bro (Unkee Chah-lie) who is cooking up such fab things at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris right now would have been a great help when deciding on our dinners.  

Seriously though, the food was great -- I had an amazing bacon cheese burger with "beef fat fries" (which I obviously did not share, but brought home to reheat tomorrow) and the waiter and chefs were very helpful and aware of the allergy stuff -- they made Lonnie some great fancy side dishes to go with his perfect pork chop that did not have beef or dairy (a challenge in this restaurant, I think -- there is a lot of delicious butter, cheese, and beef products going on in there!).   

We then wandered the Junction a bit more and picked up some dessert for me at Bakery Nouveau (nothing dairy free there, ha ha!).  I got the praline dream mousse that was awarded "the best chocolate dessert in Seattle" in 2007.  And indeed, it is still going strong now in 2010 -- it was AMAZING!  I ate it while enjoying while watching another episode of our geeky Netflix TV series at home on the couch.  

All in all, a great, relaxing evening.  And so far, no peeps from the kiddos!  I've got to head to bed -- here's to an entire peep-free night!  One can dream, right...?

Yesterday the girls headed out with Lonnie after work to harvest our carrots.  Here in Seattle we've had an unseasonably cool, cloudy summer which means some of our crops have not fared well -- though many have finally come around in the past few weeks, woohoo!  All three of the girls love carrots, and there is something about the surprise of the "reveal" that is kind of fun.  

These photos (and the video at the end) were taken with my brand new point and shoot camera, which Lonnie found on sale (online) this week!  Nothing fancy, but it will do the job for capturing moments when we are out and about.  The video sound quality is pretty bad (the hissing noise is annoying!) and some of the photos were blurry, but most turned out well and I am sure I will learn its quirks as I use it more. I love having a camera that fits in my pocket or backpack easily!  

Emma & Delia examining the carrots


Emma shows off the harvest


Emma


Elsie harvesting "baby" carrots


Elsie


kale


chard


kids and tomatoes (they are finally ripening!!!)


where the curls come from


Delia's "rat tail" curl, ha ha!


Lonnie with more carrots


Washing the carrots

This is where I tried taking some video on the new camera:

Sunday:  Chicken apple sausages, buns and/or rolls, steamed artichokes (a Costco meal!)  

Monday:  Garlic shrimp & veggie stir fry (different veggies than that recipe though) on whole wheat pasta or rice, corn on the cob for the kids

Tuesday:  Potato leek soup (Lonnie's on creation with the first leeks from our garden! From freezer), Asian grilled salmon, green salad w/fruit & nuts

Wednesday:  Crock pot lentil stew, cornbread, steamed chard

Thursday: Turkey sloppy joe's (very similar to this) on whole grain buns, corn on the cob (from CSA box, yum!)

Friday: Marinated grilled pork tenderloin & baked potatoes, kale or chard 

* We often add kid-friendly additions to our dinner menu, depending on preferences.  Things like frozen peas, applesauce, fresh fruit, yogurt or shredded cheese are added to supplement their options & round out their plates.  Things like salmon, pork tenderloin, lentil stew or kale are definitely foods not all of them will eat, but we keep offering, and hopefully someday they will!  

Breakfasts: cold cereal, oatmeal,  bread, eggs and fruit, in various combinations

Lunches & snacks:  Banana zucchini pumpkin muffins (based on this recipe, with some changes), kale chips, fresh & dried fruit, cheese, deli turkey and whole grain crackers

Treats this week:  peanut butter cookies, possibly homemade almond milk-based rocky road ice cream????  

Its hot here!  Finally!  Here's some ideas I have for this week to avoid doing a lot of indoor cooking in the heat of the day:  

Sunday: Grilled marinated pork chops, grilled flatbread, corn on the cob (for the kids, only 2 from our CSA this week!) & green salad

Monday:  Pasta salad with tuna, chickpeas, tomato & basil, beet greens

Tuesday:  Meatloaf (pork & turkey combo, cooked in the bread machine!), grilled pattypan squash & grilled potato packets 

Wednesday: Crock pot turkey legs (probably something like this, not exactly sure yet!), bread or brown rice, kale from the garden

Thursday: Homemade pizza (dough from bread machine, cooked on the grill if its still hot out!) & fruit

Friday: Camping!  I need ideas (dairy and beef free) for something yummy and easy!  

Saturday:   Camping!  Send those ideas my way, please!

Its Muffin Tin Monday! This week's muffin tin meal was a last minute thought as I pulled out tons of little containers of leftovers from the fridge. What better way to highlight (and separate) them than a muffin tin!  

Counterclockwise from the bottom left:  rotisserie chicken, whole grain pancakes, good old box mac & cheese (with corn and a little taco meat added), watermelon, maple syrup for dipping, avocado and/or maple glazed carrots.  And milk!  And new map placemats!   The inside of my fridge was SO much better looking after clearing some of this stuff out, too... 

Trying to get back to more organized meal planning!  Here are my thoughts for the week.  Trying to use up the plentiful veggies supply right now, and work around a trip to Costco tomorrow AM.  I try to stick to the plan for the most part, though I often end up switching days around to suit my fancy or how the day's schedule shapes up.   

Monday:  Leftover ribs, cornbread (we love this one from Martha Stewart's baking book, minus the dairy, and adding half whole wheat pastry flour instead of all white flour), coleslaw and corn (from Sun night dinner with Lonnie's family).  YUM!  

Tuesday:  Rotisserie chicken (from Costco), sweet potato fries, steamed green beans 

Wednesday: Ground turkey & Fritos haystacks (with lettuce, tomato, avocado) & maple glazed carrots

Thursday:  Shrimp with Roasted Garlic Pesto Pasta, green salad with fruit and nuts

Friday:  Crock pot pulled pork on buns (adapted to work with this awesome recipe for balsamic BBQ sauce), kale/mixed greens

Saturday:  Leftovers!  Or, rice and beans.  

Sunday:   Homemade Pizza (cheesy for me and the kids, cheese free for Lonnie)! Green salad for us, cooked or raw carrots for the kids (depending on kids preference)

Obviously these are just dinners.  I really want to work on planning out breakfast and lunches more, too, but haven't done that yet.  Anyone have a good print-out calendar type form that works for this?  I am sure I can find one, just need to poke around.  

Its Muffin Tin Monday again!  I've been slacking lately and not doing this as much, but last week we had this lunch with the tins, and the kids enjoyed it quite a bit.  

From bottom right: cheesy brown rice, hummus, deli turkey & ham, fresh cherries, carrots, pretzel M&Ms.  And milk.  Guess what was gone first?

Welcome to the July Carnival of Natural Parenting: Let's talk about food

This post was written for inclusion in the monthly Carnival of Natural Parenting hosted by Code Name: Mama and Hobo Mama. This month our participants have written about their struggles and successes with healthy eating. Please read to the end to find a list of links to the other carnival participants.

As a mama to a family of 5, I spend a fair bit of time thinking, planning, shopping for and preparing meals and snacks.  We rarely eat out (or get take out) due to the logistics of eating in a restaurant with three small kids, and because of my husband's food allergies (dairy and beef --all things cow) which make eating out more challenging.  Lonnie works (and eats) from home 2-3 times a week, too, and also takes his lunch sometimes on the other days as well.
Making Sushi. Yum Yum!

We go through a LOT of food.  A little more than a year ago, when Elsie and Delia had just turned one and were ramping up their solid intake (eating anything we gave them, oh, I miss those days!) I was shocked to discover how huge our grocery budget had become.  It was amazingly high.  Lonnie and I both love to cook and are "foodies" by nature; while we don't spend much at all on entertainment, travel and recreational activities, we definitely splurge on the types of food we buy, both for taste and convenience.  Not tons of processed foods (those are hard with the dairy allergy!) but things like storebought breads & cereals, crackers and other snack foods, special jarred sauces, fresh and dried herbs, imported ethnic ingredients. Tons of fruit. Some frozen prepared foods.  Quite a bit of meat & fish.  We don't eat vegetarian much -- maybe once a week. 

After my initial freakout over the the high grocery bills, I started trying to rein in our spending a bit.  Not all that successfully at first, but over time things got better.  I stopped buying breads, and mostly made our own with our bread machine.  I tried to buy less crackers and snack foods.  I started buying in bulk more, and stocking up  and working our menus around what I found on sale.  I started shopping at bargain food places like "Grocery Outlet".  I started meal planning.  I stopped trying to replace everything we ran out of, and just worked with what we had in our (very plentiful) pantry and extra freezer.  

These things did help, though I know I could have taken it a lot further, too.  I could have been a better shopper and planner.  I could have clipped coupons.  We worked on being better about food waste, but it still happened.  We still ate somewhat extravagantly.   On the other hand, I was sometimes sacrificing things that I really wished I didn't have to.  I stopped buying as much organic foods and "natural" brands, and bought more conventional ones.  The meats & dairy products we were buying in those super cheap "family packs" at the regular grocery store were not the nice free range, local, organic options I'd have liked my family to be eating.  But, oh, the prices were so good!    

A few months ago, Lonnie and I watched the movie, Food Inc.  I had known about it for awhile, and was kind of avoiding it (both the movie itself, and the big problems with our food system in general).  But, it was time.  After watching that movie, I made a commitment to shop and feed my family differently.  But how to do that, and also stay on budget???  It's so unfortunate that there can be such a disparity in cost between "good" and "bad" foods (not only for our bodies, but our society, and the planet, as well).  

In the couple months since then, I have made some changes, gone back to my previous ways on others, and have more in mind to tackle. Here is a list of some of the things I do (or am hoping to do) to balance our desire for high quality, sustainable, healthy food while keeping our food bills from rocketing through the roof.  I will totally admit, we are not there yet!  

Fruits and Veggies

• Belonging to an organic CSA.  We've been doing this for a couple years now, and will continue.  I feel like it's a pretty affordable way to get organic fruits and veggies and "buy local" (though I will admit our current one, which we love, does not grow all its own produce -- we get some things from California, too, especially in the off-seasons).  With ours, I can edit or substitute what I want in our box online, to best fit our needs and make the most out of our money.
• Growing our own!  We have two raised beds and a host of other little beds with tomatoes, beets, chard, lettuce, peas, blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, apples, plums, artichokes and a ton of herbs.  We don't always get enough harvest to feel like we are being super productive, but it's something, and we know our own fruits and veggies are healthy for us....  
• Buying local whenever I can.  Buying organic for the "dirty dozen" and conventional for the "clean 15".  All the others -- it depends on the source and the price.  But, if conventional is the only option, I go for it -- I figure conventional fruit & vegetables are better than no fruit & veggies, right?
• Buying in bulk what is in season (and therefore inexpensive), either to flash freeze or to can (ha ha, we'll see)
• Buying canned or packaged frozen fruits & veggies in bulk or in deep discount, as sales happen 
• Farmer's markets.  Sadly, we don't do this much, right now.  I want to!   It's been hard, though, with three little ones that get bored pretty fast.  I think it should be doable, though, and could be a great outing for us -- I just need to work on the timing and logistics.  

• Spending more money on high quality meats, but cooking less of it and doing more vegetarian meals to balance out the cost.  I need to work harder on the vegetarian stuff, for sure.    
• Buying a large quantity (high quality/free range/sustainable/organic) meat share -- half a hog, for us, since we don't do beef.  For Seattlites, we bought from Thundering Hooves.  I am still looking for a good (and affordable) organic chicken source -- for now, it's organic chicken from Costco.  I also want to find a good, somewhat cost effective source of sustainable fish & seafood.  Any ideas, Seattlites?
• We get our milk and eggs delivered to our doorstep, and while it's not always cheaper than the store, it's competitive enough for me to keep using it.  I like having a face-to-face connection to the person we buy from and our supporting (our milkman, Jerry).  This also means I don't have to make unnecessary trips to the store (meaning fewer impulse buys) AND I know the milk is local and fresh off the cow.  I splurge for organic for the kids, conventional for me, though I toy with getting all organic. 
• Someday (not now!) we want to raise chickens.  Lonnie also wants bees.  I, however, can't handle caring for (and cleaning up after!) any more beings, right now.  This is definitely a future goal.    

Other Foods & Shopping

Pancake Thief!

• Baking our own whole grain breads with the bread machine.  Making muffins,waffles, and pancakes in large batches and freezing them. 
• Making more of our own snack foods, like granola and granola bars, popcorn, somewhat healthy (am I kidding myself?) cookies, cereal bars.   Easing back on buying as many packaged snacks such as crackers -- and getting them on sale when I do. 
• Drinking water instead of juice or other beverages (other than milk for the kids & me)
• Buying in bulk (and doing the research to know for sure if it's truly cheaper), buying sales, buying from discount stores.  
• Sticking to the list in the store.  Oh, man, is this hard for me!  Especially because I can only get to the store once a week or so, sometimes, and just want to stock up.  Must stick to the list, unless I am truly on a bargain hunt and needing to fill the pantry.  
• Using coupons?  I really don't do this regularly.  Perhaps I should.  I know some folks swear by it!  Any pointers for a busy mama?

 Meal Planning

• Planning ahead enough to shop and use food efficiently, but being flexible enough to work around great sales and fresh ingredients. 
• Planning not just dinners but breakfast, snacks, and lunches too, so I don't just grab what's easy or in front of me without thinking it through
• Budgeting time in the morning to pack snacks and lunches for outings with the kids, so we don't resort to high-priced snacks or unhealthful fast food when we are out (the occasional treat, though, is still totally fine by me!)
• Consciously using pantry foods instead of letting them sit. 
• Looking up/creating (and writing down so we remember them!) new "budget friendly" meals that we all enjoy
• Making double batches of meals, and freezing them, in large sizes for family dinners, or single serve portions for lunches. 
• Incorporating leftovers into the meal plan, and using them more efficiently
• Serving my kids smaller portions (with second helpings available, of course) and teaching them to self-serve their own portions effectively, so that there is less kid-related food waste. This is hard, and on one hand drives me NUTS, but on the other is really just a part of kids learning to estimate their appetite.   A very hard, but critical skill! 

I know we have quite a ways to go, and also that we are lucky to be able to afford what we are currently doing.   Also, I know that some of these things will become easier to follow as my kids get older (and hopefully less picky!).  What have I missed?  What are your thoughts or ideas about how to plan, budget, shop & cook in a way that is healthful for growing bodies and the planet, time efficient, and pleasing to the palate, as well?  

 
Picking Organic Blueberries at Finnriver Farm 

***

Visit Code Name: Mama and Hobo Mama to find out how you can participate in the next Carnival of Natural Parenting!

Please take time to read the submissions by the other carnival participants:

(This list will be updated July 13 with all the carnival links.)

• Welcome to Two — All About Food — In case you hadn't heard, there is a conspiracy afoot from the two year olds of the world. Shana at Tales of Minor Interest stumbled onto their newsletter!
• Four Seasons of Eating Locally — Jenn at Monkey Butt Junction has pointers for what fresh produce can be found year-round. (@MBJunction)
• Happy Families Can Have More Than One Diet — Deb Chitwood at Living Montessori Now has figured out a way for her family to live happily as vegans and vegetarians with relatives who eat meat. (@DebChitwood)
• My Own Omnivore’s Dilemma — Seonaid at The Practical Dilettante prioritizes responsible consumer choices for her family.
• No Gluten — No Cry — Joni Rae at Tales of a Kitchen Witch Momma learned to cook balanced meals when her son's food sensitivities prompted a diet overhaul. (@kitchenwitch)
• Try, Try Again — Stefanie at very very fine has become an enthusiastic consumer of locally grown food.
• CSA — Week 1 — Casey at What Love Is wants her children to know where their food comes from, so she joined a friendly CSA. (@CBerbs)
• Food: Parenting or Homemaking? — Michelle at The Parent Vortex sees food as part of a parent's nurturing role. (@TheParentVortex)
• 5 Tips to Help Kids Develop Healthy Eating Habits — If you struggle with healthy eating, helping your child develop healthy habits might be a challenge. Dionna at Code Name: Mama shares five easy tips that will help your kids learn to make good food choices. (@CodeNameMama)
• Family Food: Seeking Balance Between Healthy, Sustainable & Affordable — Kristin at Intrepid Murmurings has a whole list of ideas for how she can improve her family's eating, both now and into the future. (@sunfrog)
• Whole Foods in, Wholesome Feelings Out — Jessica at This is Worthwhile has turned her back on the processed, preservative-ridden food of her childhood. (@tisworthwhile)
• When to Splurge on Organic (and When It Is Okay to Skip It) — Becoming Mamas tell you what foods to prioritize when buying pricier organic food, and where you can find it cheaper. (@becomingmamas)
• A Locavore's Family Meal — Acacia at Be Present Mama tells a story in pictures of her family taking a trip to the local organic farmers market and then preparing a summer meal together with their bounty.
• Eat Your Food, or Else — Why should we not bribe a child to eat? TwinToddlersDad from Littlestomaks (Science Driven Real Life Toddler Nutrition) explains. (@TwinToddlersDad)
• Food, Glorious Food! — Luschka at Diary of a First Child describes three easy ways her family has started eating healthier. (@diaryfirstchild)
• Celebrating Food — Mrs Green at Little Green Blog believes in food as medicine and thinks it's worth paying more to keep healthy. (@myzerowaste)
• Oil and Yogurt — What have you been motivated to do with the current oil spill crisis? midnightfeedings has started making her own yogurt. (@midnightfeeding)
• Growth-Spurt Soup (AKA "Beannut Stew") — BeanMa has a special stew to help her baby through growth spurts that keep her up all night. (@thebeanma)
• Why I Love The Real Food Community — Much like many people who follow AP/NP values, Melodie at Breastfeeding Moms Unite! takes the parts of the "real food" philosophy that work for her family and leaves the rest. (@bfmom)
• Feeding a Family of Six — Mandy at Living Peacefully with Children gives helpful tips for feeding a family of six.
• Starting Solids at 6 Months — Did your doctor recommend that you give your baby cereal? Sheryl at Little Snowflakes discusses how whole foods are so much healthier (and more delicious) than traditional cereal. (@sheryljesin)
• Am I What I Eat? — Andrea!!! at Ella-Bean & Co. has figured out a way to avoid grocery stores nearly altogether.
• Are We Setting Our Kids Up To Fail? — Megan at Purple Dancing Dahlias found that cutting out the junk also transformed her sons' behavior problems.
• Changing your family's way of eating — Lauren at Hobo Mama has techniques you can try to move your family gradually toward a healthier diet. (@Hobo_Mama)
• Real Food — What kinds of fake foods do you eat? And why?! Lisa C. at My World Edenwild talks about why she chooses real food.
• A Snackaholic’s Food Battle — Julie at Simple Life wants to stop snacking and get into the old ways of cooking from scratch and raising her own food. (@homemakerjulie)
• Food, Not Fight — Summer at Finding Summer doesn't want her kids to grow up like her husband: hating everything green. (@summerm)
• How Do You Eat When You Are out of Town? — Cassie at There's a Pickle In My Life wants some tips on how to eat healthy when you are out of town.
• Carnival of Natural Parenting: Food! — Sybil at Musings of a Milk Maker hopes that by serving her children healthy, balanced meals, they will become accustomed to making good food choices. (@sybilryan)
• There's No Food Like Home's — NavelgazingBajan at Navelgazing revels in the Bajan food of her upbringing. (@BlkWmnDoBF)
• This Mom's Food Journey — Kat at Loving {Almost} Every Moment made a journey from not paying attention to food to growing her own.
• Who Knew Eating Was So Hard? — The challenges involved in changing to healthier eating habits take on a whole new dimension when you have a child who has difficulties eating. kadiera at Our Little Acorn shares her own experiences. (@kadiera)
• Loving Food — Starr at Earth Mama truly believes food is her family's medicine and is willing to spend days preparing it the traditional way.
• Food Mindfulness — Danielle at born.in.japan details how her family spends money on each category of food. (@borninjp)
• Food for Little People — Zoey at Good Goog wants to bless her daughter with happy traditions built around good food. (@zoeyspeak)
• Eat Like a Baby — Have you been told that you should not equate food with love? Kate Wicker at Momopoly shows us why that's not necessarily true. (@Momopoly)
• Food — Deb at Science@Home tries to teach her children three rules to help them eat a healthy diet. (@ScienceMum)
• Healthy Eating Lactose-Free — MamanADroit gives us tips on how to eat healthy if you are lactose intolerant (or just don’t want cow milk). (@MamanADroit)

Last week I had a huuuuge pile of overripe bananas (some wrecking havoc in my freezer, too) and a brand new bag of bran, which I have never baked with before.  Bananas are a beloved food around here, but also rationed quite heavily due to their ability to "stop up the works", if you catch my drift.  Oh, the tragedy!  But paring them with whole wheat, bran, flax meal, carrot and dried fruit makes it all okay!  These are really healthy muffins and quite delicious, too.  Even my non-muffin eater devoured them (well, the ones with chocolate chips anyway, lets not go overboard).   I froze half, which we've been enjoying for snacks or mealtimes all this week.  

The original recipe was found here.  I doubled it and altered it just slightly, as noted.   

• 1/2 cup butter/margarine, softened (I used half coconut oil, half dairy-free margerine)
• 1/2 brown sugar
• 3 overripe bananas, mashed (I put in slightly more, due to the banana monsoon we were having)
• 1/4 milk (I used soy)
• 1/2 cup applesauce
• 3 T ground flax seed
• 1/2 cup raisins (I used currants/nuts in half of the batter, chocolate chips in the other half)
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 2 eggs
• 1 finely grated carrot 
• 1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
• 1/2 cup wheat bran
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup chopped nuts (I used pecans)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease a muffin pan or line with muffin papers (I made some mini muffins as well as regular sized muffins).

In a large mixing bowl or stand mixer, cream shortening(s) and brown sugar.

Add mashed bananas, milk, vanilla, raisins, applesauce, grated carrot and eggs; mix well. Add bran so it can soften.

In separate bowl, mix together flour, flax seeds, baking powder, soda and salt. Add to wet ingredients, just mixing until blended. Stir in nuts (and/or chocolate chips, which I highly recommend!).
Spoon batter into prepared muffin cups of choice.

Bake at 375 for 18 - 25 minutes, depending on size of muffins.  YUM YUM YUM!