Inspired by some beautiful farmers market brocoli and cauliflower, I decided to come up with a fun recipe that might inspire Sophia to eat some veggies. As I have mentioned before, Sophia will not always eat plain veggies (I think many babies and kids are like this) so I keep trying to find ways to include veggies mixed with other food. Generally, this seems to work pretty well. She really liked these broccoli cauliflower coins, especially because she could feed them to herself.

Broccoli and Cauliflower are super veggies. They are high in vitamin C (which helps in iron absorption), contain folic acid, potassium, fiber and have large amounts of vitamin K and A.

Organic Broccoli Cauliflower Coins

Ingredients

• 3/4 Cup of Mixed Organic Broccoli and Organic Cauliflower (you can use just broccoli if you prefer)
• 1/3 Cup of Grated Organic Cheddar Cheese
• 2 Organic Eggs
• 2 TBSP Organic Ground Flax (Optional)
• 1/4 Cup of Organic Breadcrumbs (I like to use Italian for more flavor)
• 1 TBSP of Organic Parsley
• 1/2 TSP Pepper
• 1/2 TSP Salt

Even before I had Sophia, deciding what to make for lunch has always been a challenge for me. I can only eat so many sandwiches a week and salads often leave me hungry and unsatisfied. Now that I have a one year old to feed at lunch too, I need to make sure I have some fast and healthy options available for both of us.

Most kids love quesadillas. They are a great finger food for babies. The cheese is a great source of calcium for little ones. However, a traditional quesadilla has little other nutritional value. Therefore, I decided to jazz up the quesadilla by using a spelt tortilla (you can find these at Trader Joes) and adding a black bean puree.

Black beans are a great source of fiber and protein. They are also filled with phytonutrients (both antioxidant and anti-inflammatory).

Spelt is an ancient whole grain. It is similar to wheat, but it does not seem to cause sensitivities in most people who are intolerant of wheat. Spelt is also a great source of fiber and contains many phytonutrients.

Organic Black Bean Spelt Quesadillas

Ingredients

• Spelt Tortillas (you can substitute whole wheat or flour tortillas)
• 15 0z can of Organic Black Beans
• Organic Sharp Cheddar Cheese

Directions

1. Drain the can of black beans. Make sure to reserve the liquid in the can.
2. Place black beans in a blender or food processor. Add 2 TBSP of water to beans and puree. Keep adding reserved bean water until you reach the desired consistency (should be the consistency of hummus or a paste).
3. Grate the organic cheddar cheese
4. Heat a skillet with some butter and place one tortilla in the pan. Sprinkle grated cheese on the tortilla.
5. Spread black bean puree on another tortilla and place that on the top of the tortilla with cheese.
6. Cook approximately 4 minutes per side or until golden brown and the cheese is bubbling.

**Note: You could also make these quesadillas using the microwave if you are really short on time.

Serving Suggestions: Cut these in strips or bite size pieces for baby. Add smashed avocado. You can save the bean puree and feed it to your baby at another meal or use it as a dip with tortilla chips for older children or adults.

is no walk in the park. Most toddlers have a very strong opinion on what they like and dont like, and whether they let you know by simply letting the food fall out of their mouths, or by throwing it across the room, getting good nutritious meals in their little tummies gets harder and harder every day! I often turn to my all time favorite cookbooks for infant/toddlers- Organic Baby and Toddler Cookbook by Lizzie Vann(you should be able to find this in your local book store- I have this linked to Amazon so you can see the cover and read some reviews). Here are a few fun facts and recipes from the book…

Potatoes- These guys are high in fiber, rich in Vitamins B and C as well as potassium and can be served in many ways to cater to your little one’s taste buds! I personally like mashing them with a little milk, butter and parmesian cheese then adding some peas and ground turkey for a wholesome meal. You can also bake it, then add a lentil soup as a topping or side dish. Just make sure you keep the skins on while you boil or bake to maximize nutrition, and always always choose organic!

Parsley- “is very rich in vitamins A and C as well as iron, calcium, and potassium”- Organic Baby and Toddler Cookbook.

Try adding it to your dinner recipes including chicken, pasta, even couscous.

ROASTED LIMA BEAN GRATIN

Lima beans will make a creamy, white puree which will trick your little one into thinking they are eating something other than vegetables…this recipe adds vegetables for taste and texture. It’s a great dish when the weather starts turning colder…and is rich in iron, vitamin B, fiber, protein and potassium.

Makes- 2 child size servings

Great- for vegetarians or those intolerant to gluten or trying to minimize gluten in their diet

Stores- for 24 hours in the fridge or 1 week in the freezer

Prep time- 15 minutes

Cook time- 20 minutes

INGREDIENTS

1 tsp vegetable oil

1 small leek, finely chopped

1/2 small carrot, grated

1/2 tsp crushed garlic

2 tbsp canned or cooked lima beans, rinsed and drained

2/3 cups water or stock

1 tsp finely chopped parsley, thyme or basic

1/4 red pepper, finely chopped

1 tomato, cut into thing rings

1/2 cup cheddar cheese, grated

1/2 cup bread crumbs

Preheat oven to 350

Heat the oil in a pan over medium heat. Add the leek and carrot and fry gently for about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and lima beans and cook, stirring occasionally for another 5 minutes. Add the water or sock and herbs.

Puree the mixture in a blender, then pour into an ovenproof dish and mix in the red pepper. Arrange the tomato rings on top. Mix the cheese with the breadcrumbs, and sprinkle over the top. Bake in the oven until golden brown and bubbling hot, about 20 minutes.

Clearly I am a huge foodie…this is not my first post on what foods I find the most tasty, the most effective and the most healthy. And so my love affair with fresh new ideas for meals a mommy will love continues with what I call Breakfast Brilliance. Last time I posted about breakfast it was centered around that fabulous thing we call oatmeal. And while I still hold oatmeal at the top of my fabulous food list, I have a new option for you morning mommies. Try this gorgeous concoction for a protein filled, sweet tasting, organic treat…

Start with an organic whole wheat english muffin, toast it then spread it with crunchy organic peanut butter and top it off with sliced organic strawberries. Yep, that’s it…basically an “unpreserved” PB and J! This quick treat is as yummy as it is gorgeous! (and it will keep you nice and full till lunch thanks to the peanut butter).

There are already many good reasons to eat organic fruits and vegetables, but it seems that with each passing day the reasons get more serious, more intense and more critical to the health of our children. NBC recently conducted a study to explore the connection between pesticides and ADHD. Maryse F. Bouchard, a researcher at the University of Montreal in Quebec, led the study. She took 1,139 children ages 8-15 (selected from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey) and measured the levels of six pesticide metabolites in their urine. What she found was down right frightening…

“She found that kids with a 10-fold increase in the kind of metabolites left in the body after malathion exposure were 55 percent more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD.”

“The most alarming finding was a near-doubling in odds of ADHD diagnoses among kids with higher-than-average levels of the most common of the six metabolites detected. Kids with high levels of dimethyl thiophosphate were 93 percent more likely to have the disorder than children with with undetectable levels of the marker.”

Because pesticides work by interfering with the nervous systems of insects, it’s no surprise that they can have the same effect on mammals. So what does that mean? It  means we should buy organic whenever possible. There are certain fruits that seem to have much higher residues of pesticides, and therefore should be the first on your list to choose organic- those identified in the study include STRAWBERRIES, FROZEN BLUEBERRIES and CELERY.

You can also try and follow the dirty dozen list when choosing which fruits and vegetables to buy organic…”It is estimated that if a consumer avoids eating non-organically grown produce in the top 12 (”Dirty Dozen”) on this list, pesticide exposure can be reduced by up to 80%.”

The Dirty Dozen:

• Apples
• Cherries
• Grapes, imported (Chili)
• Nectarines
• Peaches
• Pears
• Raspberries
• Strawberries
• Bell peppers
• Celery
• Potatoes
• Spinach

The cleanest fruits and vegetables, which should be bottom of your list to buy organic are as follows:

Yes its possible and I intend to prove it through this blog from here on out…
I know it seems like maintaining a sense of style while schlepping your lil one to and from the park, or to music class, or school or swimming lessons or the grocery store, or soccer practice…(you get the idea) seems like a waist of time or simply too much work. And I know too, that choosing to make a salad for lunch instead of eating a few o your lil guy’s chicken nuggets or string cheese seems like it would take an impossible amount of self control and there is no way on this green earth that you could do it everyday…trust me, I know! It aint a cake walk, (but then again neither is being a parent) but I think it’s completely doable and totally necessary! We are strong, beautiful women who deserve the confidence and second looks that we got just a few years back.

I have always (well, at least since high school when I FINALLY got out of a uniform and had permanent free dress) loved fashion, and over the years have developed my own sense of style that in a way, defines me. If I had to describe “my style”, I guess I would say its a large scoop of the 60’s, mixed with a tablespoon of beachy comfort, an topped off with a pinch of glamour. What in the world does that look like, you ask? Here’s a picture of one of my favorite dresses…I have worn it to weddings, out to dinner, when pregnant, when slim- its an amazing dress that captures the essence of my style in a nutshell. (and no, that is not me in the picture!)

So…you have a glimpse into my style, now how do I qualify as healthy? Well, I do a few things that keep my mind and body feeling fresh and alert and sometimes even toned. 1. I run. First thing in the morning after I feed my little guy his oatmeal and fruit- we hit the strand in Manhattan Beach and I run. Sometimes its 2 miles, sometimes it’s 7…depends on how I feel that day. Sometimes it’s just walking at a brisk pace- but unless there is rain, we are out and about by 9am. Then, on the way home, I reward myself with a Latte or Iced Coffee…everyone deserves a treat after working hard! 2. I eat almost exclusively organic food…and I say almost exclusively because there are a few fruits and veggies or dried goods that do not need to be organic (things like avocados, broccoli, pasta etc), and because I LOVE to eat out on the weekends- and lets face it, not all restaurants serve local, organic foods! 3. I drink tons of water, then a touch of red wine. That’s right, I look forward to my glass of wine each night as I wind down the day and enjoy a homecooked meal. Afterall, like I said before, everyone deserves a treat after working hard…and after a long day of being a mom and business owner, I like to enjoy a treat of red wine.

So is it possible to be stylish, healthy AND a mom? I think so. I think it’s critically important to hold on to the things that made you proud, made you confident, made you who you are before you were pregnant and before you were a mommy. Of course, now that you are a master of parenthood and your life is richer, fuller and more meaningful, things are a bit different and some priorities have changed (lets face it, blow drying your hair takes a distant second to feeding your baby or getting some much needed laundry done)…but keeping yourself feeling great will only bring more happiness and life to your home. I hope that sharing my tips and tricks through this blog will bring you inspiration and new ideas on how to keep your style and your health in fabulous shape! Afterall, you have already taken on the greatest challenge of all- being a parent, the rest is easy…

Yep- I jumped on the bandwagon and tried this new AMAZING snack for little ones…squeezable fruit! My guy tried the Peter Rabbit Organics (conveniently available at starbucks) brand in Mango, Banana and Orange…and he LOVED it! I tasted it too, of course, and its much like a fruit smoothie. Completely organic, with nothing but fruit in it, I know he is getting a healthy snack. With a simple packaging design that allows you to grab the pouch and take it anywhere, then feed right through the opening at the top (and reseal if you dont finish it all), there is virtually no mess at all (not like dragging fresh cut fruit somewhere, or even letting your little one go after a banana…which we all know ends up between fingers, behind the ears and somehow down the pants)- this fruit snack is easy and clean and healthy. The particular flavor and brand I chose has 33% of his DV for Vitamin C, which after a week with croup and other viruses, is very important to me! You can also try the Revolution Foods Mahsups organic brand (available at Whole Foods), or Smashies Organic (available at Amazon.com).

It’s surprisingly easy to get your own bumper crop of herbs going in your backyard, porch, windowsill or even kitchen counter. Herbs are remarkably tolerant to people with brown thumbs, like me, and produce not only a delicious, organic treat, but also add a clean and refreshing smell to your home. There are a few things that herbs MUST have….sunlight, lots of water and good water drainage. Other than that, they are pretty much fool proof. Start with organic seeds, of course. My favorites to grow are basil (so yummy on pasta or with fresh mozzarella and tomato- and the key ingredient in pesto!!), chives (which add great flavor to potatoes, salad or any casserole dish), and Sage (which is easy to grow and perfect for roasted chicken or home made soups).

These are just a few…but to learn more about getting your own garden up and running, check out these great sites!
backyardgardener.com
herbgardeningtips.com
organicgardentip.com

All you have to do to find local, sustainable and organic food in your area is log on to Eat Well Guide! This super easy website will ask you for either key words (like farmers markets, caterers, restaurants etc) or your zip code or state…once you give it this simple information, it will pull up all the registered vendors, locations and stores that offer local, sustainable and organic food. It sorts it for you by business type…bakery, grocery store, coffee shop, even personal chef…Viola, it’s that easy! You can also Travel Guide for trips, Personal Guide for your hometown, or my favorite the Seasonal Food Guide- which will tell you what fruits and veggies are in season based on your location!

It’s not often that one retailer will comment, blog or praise another one publicly (especially when they might offer some of the same products), but in this case, speaking from one parent to another- I just have to. If I can make another parent’s life a bit easier and suggest a way that he or she has more time to spend with her little ones, then I feel the need to do so. We need to look out for one another, as parents first and foremost, and as business entities second. As a mom who finds convenience and customer service to be priceless and invaluable, I have to tell you that you will find both at Diapers.com.

This is where I order my son’s diapers (Naturecare) and formula (Earths Best), and while it not only saves me money (vs going to Target or Whole Foods), it also saves me a trip in the car, precious time and valuable energy. Their mission is clear “To offer the lowest prices moms (and dads!) will find online, along with the convenience of fast, free shipping and the best customer service around” and its exactly what you will get when you shop there. They do offer the lowest prices (at least on the items and brands that will allow a price reduction- some brands such as plan toys and miyim will always be the same no matter where you shop), and their shipping and customer service is top notch! I find that for your necessities (food, diapers, wipes etc) this is a great option and they have a decent assortment of green products to choose from. However, when you are looking for a more special, personal and unique experience for things like gifts, clothing, bedding and baby registries, you will find that a site like Bloumebaby.com will be more of what you are looking for:)