8 Month & Up Crowd

At this point your child’s digestive system is maturing and a slightly bigger variety of foods are good to be introduced.  Continue to use the Square One® Organics Superfood Guide for suggestions on what new foods to introduce.  In addition to continuing the daily avocado routine, here my top 3 things to keep in mind during for this age group.

1.     Two more SQ1 resource materials can be helpful: The Square One Organics Food Family Awareness Chart http://www.squareoneorganics.com/awareness.php. This chart shows you which foods are members of the same food families.  As you introduce foods, try to work inside a handful of food families.   Dr Nimmagadda recently wrote an article for Square One Organics about how children may react similarly to foods inside the same food family.  To read Dr. Nimmagadda’s complete article go to https://squareoneorganics.wordpress.com/2010/11/12/whats-up-doc-2/.  Second, The Square One Organics Daily 8 Month and Up Journal http://www.squareoneorganics.com/8monthguide.php can help with eating frequency, appropriate portion sizes, sleep, liquid intake quantities etc.

2.     Pincer practice and spoon grabbing! Yes these two things are part of the age territory.   Here are some tips.  As part of my feeding gear, I would always have a number of plastic table spoons on the twins’ highchair trays so they could practice their spoon grabbing skills.  They see us feeding them with a spoon and they just want to try too.  It can get messy but that’s how they learn!  For Pincer practice try some ripe avocado pieces and/or soft tofu pieces on the highchair tray.

3.     Mango, Quinoa and Broccoli – These are probably my favorite foods at this age.  Mango because it is an excellent source of Vitamin A and C.  Mango is also a superfood for immunity and the heart. 
Quinoa is a favorite because it is Gluten-Free, has the highest protein count of any other grain on the planet and possess all of the essential amino acids.  Finally, Broccoli, one of my favorite supergreens because is such a multi-tasker.  Broccoli is a superfood for bone, heart, brain, immunity and antioxidant.  It is an excellent source of Vitamin A, C and Folate.  It is such a great food for your child to learn to love!  For more food facts check out http://www.squareoneorganics.com/superfoods.php

SQ1 Loves EWG

 

Thanks to Environmental Working Group scientists for putting together these easy-to-use tips on how to read labels on personal care products. Check out the new video below:

It’s the mission at Environmental Working Group to use the power of information to protect human health and the environment. EWG’s Skin Deep database gives you practical solutions to protect yourself and your family from everyday exposures to chemicals. Their staff scientists compare the ingredients on personal care product labels and websites to information in nearly 60 toxicity and regulatory databases. Now in its eighth year, EWG’s Skin Deep database provides you with easy-to-navigate safety ratings for a wide range of products and ingredients on the market. At about one million page views per month, EWG’s Skin Deep is the world’s largest personal care product safety guide.

SQ1 Loves Children’s Books!

Thanks MOCHA for this great list of children’s books that talk about food allergies.  All of these now can be found at the Northbrook Public Library.

MOCHA (Mothers of Children Having Allergies) is a group of parents sharing information and supporting each other. The 350+ Chicagoland members make up an amazing organization that does so much to advocate for kids with food allergies. Thanks again for making this happen, MOCHA!

Love these books? They can also be found on Amazon.com – don’t forget to add some delicious SQ1 Superfoods to your cart before checking out!

Yes I Can! Have My Cake and Food Allergies Too – by Julie Wethington

Food Allergies and Me by Juniper Skinner

The Bugabees: Friends with Food Allergies

Everyday Cool With Food Allergies

No Biggie Bunch series (this is actually a series of 4 books that address different issues (birthday party, Halloween, etc.))

The BugyBops – Friends for All Time

Snack Smart Solutions App Makes Snacking Healthy at the Tip of Your Fingers

By Jasmine Jafferali

Our good friend, Jasmine Jafferali, MPH, ACE-CPT has written a fantastic article to share with the SQ1 crowd on her new mobile phone app, Snack Smart Solutions.

Jasmine is the Program Director for Healthy Results, Ltd, and Program Coordinator for Educational Fitness Solutions, Inc. She has a diverse fitness background with over ten years of fitness and wellness industry experience working in campus recreation, corporate wellness, and a high-end commercial health club setting. She has presented on a wide range of health and fitness topics for the community, at major corporations, and at national and international conferences. Jasmine specializes in Maternal and Child Health and Wellness focusing on pre and postnatal fitness and is a Master Trainer for Healthy Moms® Fitness and Resist-a-ball®.

I am super excited to launch my new app called Snack Smart Solutions.  I originally met with Kim Koeller of Gluten Free Passport (http://glutenfreepassport.com/ ) to talk about writing an ebook.  She talked me out of it and said doing an app is the way to go.  I left a tad stumped, but it made sense to me.  As I was getting ready to go to bed that evening, right on my night stand was notes on a seminar I just did for Active Mom’s Club (www.activemomsclub.com ) called Smart Snack Solutions.  It was aimed to help new moms have get quick healthy snacks to keep up their energy and not over eat.  I had a list of several snacks that were creatively paired to naturally help boost energy in the body.  The light bulb went off and the next day I began working creating and pairing up more healthy snacks.

I read a study where Americans eat 200 calories over each snack they consume.   If each snack is 150-200 calories, it meant Americans are consuming calories that is equivalent to a meal.  Snacks are meant to be low in calories just enough to sustain blood sugars and help us get through to our next meal.   The problem is we unconsciously eat snack foods while sitting at our desks, we snack out of boredom or while waiting in traffic not realizing how much we are consuming.

While working with clients or conducting seminars I was learning that we don’t know how to snack.  I did a survey on Facebook and learned the favorite healthy snack food was fruit.  While fruit is good, it is not great as it often leaves you hungry again in 30-45 minutes, if not sooner.  The reason being it has not been paired with a protein to help sustain us to our next meal.

There are 40 different snack solutions on this app and 20 more will be uploaded by March of 2013.  My goal is to have 100 different healthy snack solutions so there is no excuse not to be prepared and make smart snack choices.  My 3 p.m. Snack Slump is filled with foods that synergistically work in your body to create energy or give you that boost you need to get you through the afternoon.  The Evening Snack Attack section has foods that paired to help boost serotonin levels and rich in magnesium to help you relax and go to sleep at night.  Though, you can eat any of the snacks any time of the day.   There is something for everyone in this app from Gluten Free Snacks, Nut Free, Vegetarian and Paleo, you will not be lost in finding at least two weeks ‘ worth of healthy snacks so you can plan ahead.

  

I want to thank Square One Organics for being a part of my app.

My goal was to begin working with local food companies to be featured in my app.  You will see that more in the next phase as I work with healthy, organic food companies that want to be featured on Snack Smart Solutions.

Snack Smart Solutions is available on both Droid and Apple.

Link for Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/snack-smart-solutions/id575981638?mt=8

Link for Droid:  https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.app_jasmine.layout&hl=en_GB

Happy Holidays Everyone!

I hope your Thanksgivings were full of family, friends and fabulous food!  Our day was a double celebration.  We had a Birthday party and Thanksgiving all on the same day.I just can’t believe my twins are 11, so amazing and so crazy at the same time.  Moments like these make you stop and reflect on how far we have come since 2001 and what is left to do.

Regarding food, we have come a long way to raise aware on issues like, BPA plastics, the importance of recycling, why organic food is important for infants and kids, quinoa, superfoods and the benefits of gluten-free.  As any parent will tell you, there really isn’t a finish line and there is always something else to be done.  Many times major change starts with baby steps and this year I was so impressed by three important strides.

First, the documentary Carbon Nation, which everyone in my family watched twice.  It is so well done, so easy to understand and most important, very inspiring and uplifting. Watch it to the very end because they give action steps that you can take.  I love action step #5, which says raise your kids allowance when they help reduce the utility bill.  Here is a link to order a copy. http://www.carbonnationmovie.com/  Stocking stuffers for my family members for sure!

Second would have to be Prop 37.  While it did not pass in November, it is an important step to raise awareness and get the conversation about labeling food into the mainstream.  Gary Hirshberg is the CEO of Stoneyfield Farms and a passionate advocate for labeling food.  Here is a link to his new E-Book – Label it Now.  http://www.stonyfield.com/blog/2012/01/03/label-it-now-what-you-need-to-know-about-genetically-engineered-foods-new-ebook-release/.  Check out what he has to say on the topic.  I have watched his interviews and read his writings on the topic. You have to love a CEO with a strong moral and social compass.

Finally, I must applaud the amazing and tireless work done at the many food depositories all over the country.  If you follow us on Facebook and twitter, you know we do all we can to support The Oak Park Food Depository and The Greater Chicago Food Depository.  The fact that child food insecurity in this country is 26.7% in unacceptable to me and that is the reason why SQ1 is involved whenever we get a chance.   Feeding America, through its network of food depositories feeds 37 million Americans a year, has a public policy that is based on the values and a mission that together, we are working to ensure that:

• No child is at risk of hunger
• Food banks are well stocked to help those in need
• Families have a solid foundation by having access to nutritious food
• People can get help during hard times

Looking for a great gift idea? Check out this gift catalog https://secure.feedingamerica.org/site/SPageServer?pagename=GiftCatalog

SQ1 Superfriend: Miss Lori!

Each Month, we’re putting a Spotlight on a Superfriend. This month we are thrilled to feature Miss Lori.  She has a passion for children and performance.  Miss Lori has a focus as an entertainer, teacher, and writer to unite families together through her artistic contributions. In 2005, already a mother of 3 and a celebrated performer, Miss Lori founded her company, The CAMPUS Inc, now known as Miss Lori’s CAMPUS.

Children and families across the country have fallen in love with Miss Lori’s boundless energy, passion and commitment to the development of young minds and bodies. Her ability to foster creativity and imagination is a gift to treasure for many years to come.

Check out this exclusive SQ1 interview with Miss Lori, and don’t forget to SMILE 🙂

Miss Lori, tell us a little bit about how and why did you came to your position at WTTW and misslori.tv?

 I was selected as the first ever live host for the PBS Kids Preschool Block after a Nationwide search of over 1500 contenders. I started airing interstitials on the National Broadcast in 2006. Then in 2007 through my company Miss Lori’s CAMPUS, I released my first CD, iparenting award winner Music ‘n Movement TOGETHER and immediately began touring. The National feed didn’t want to combine my reading talents with my singing prowess, but Grace Winston at WTTW PBS Kids Chicago did. She and I met, as many mothers do, in the park with our kids. I was coming from performing a Miss Lori’s CAMPUS concert and she was just a few days away from starting her job at WTTW. She had goals and I had ideas. It was a match made in heaven! Summer 2008 we launched our first tour, The Great Food Fan Van anchored by my original 2 hour concert style musical AWESOME Health. When the Summer ended our enthusiasm was just beginning, so we crafted a second tour Readers are Leaders dedicated to literacy, and anchored by my Playstory Time content including my original interactive story series, Little Miss Lori Adventures in Five Year Old Living. We partnered with The Chicago Public Libraries and toured from October to April alone, and picked up The Great Food Fan Van tour from May through September. Even though my role on the National Feed came to an end in 2009, WTTW and I just kept rolling long. With the two tours I am performing around 70 concerts a year on average with WTTW PBS Kids. All of the shows are free, and none of the shows would be possible without the support and sponsorship of companies like Square One Organics. Community, that’s what we are all about. And that’s what I am about on MissLori.TV too. I launched my blog in the middle of all of these tours back in late 2007. It was first known as Miss Lori’s B.etter L.iving O.ptions G.uide. I would muse about my concerts, parenting, social issues. That work and my presence on TV caught the attention of Jill Asher head of SV Moms Blog which owned Chicago Moms Blog. She chased me for 6 months, anxious for me to become a contributor to the feed. I was so busy with my company my role on PBS and of course being a mother to three kids, but she impressed upon me that it really was my duty to my community. (Yes, guilt works.) But I am forever indebted to her for welcoming me into this World of New Media and social influence. What a thrill! What an amazing time of personal empowerment we are living in. My blog grew so much that I needed to break it off from my Miss LorisCAMPUS.com site and give it its’ own space renaming it Musings From My Mininvan parked at MisLori.TV. I loved the Minivan title because it so clearly described my life. With my kids growing and getting more involved in, well, everything, plus all of my tour performances, I did everything in my minivan but shower. But as often happens my community chose the title they wanted to know me for, and MissLori.TV rose to prominence, overshadowing my descriptive self title. It made sense though because the concept of my blog grew and involved during this time as well. I realized with all that I was doing I wasn’t merely an entertainer or a social media marketer, I was a Marketainer. And with that Marketainment my goal is to help brands and campaigns masticate their information so that they can better reach the families they are targeting. And that’s exactly what I have done for brands like Tropicana, GM, Quaker, 1800Baskets, Nintendo, Gatorade, ReadingEggs.com, Cricket Wireless and more.

How has your work impacted your life and what about your job brings you the most joy?

My work is my life, along with my kids. But everything that I do has been inspired by, or is for them. Music ‘n Movement TOGETHER! was actually born from a need to find a program for my son to express himself and celebrate his early gross motor skill development. He started walking at age 9 months, so docile music classes were completely out of the question. What is now my CD started as a 45 minute program for mothers and their activated children like mine. All three of my kids have performed with me live, as well as on my CD, DVD and self produced interstitials. They advise me about lyrics and story content for Miss Lori’s CAMPUS, but they also contribute to my posts on MissLori.TV. We are like the black Partridge family, and that makes my work priceless to me. I get to entertain, educate and inspire my public all while working through or alongside my kids. What could be better?

What gets you through juggling your family life and work?

Keeping my eyes closed! When people ask me how I do what I do in a day, I tell them I just close my eyes and keep moving. I live life as though I don’t have a choice. I don’t get to collapse under the weight of stress or commitments, I have to keep going. And that’s just what I do. It isn’t very pretty, most of the time, (Please don’t come to my house!). My minivan is a trough, my purse is a catch all, my calendar is a blurr, but the results make it all worthwhile. I have children and company that I am wildly proud of. That’s everything.

What was your life like pre-parenthood?

Before children I lived an 8 show a week existence. I started performing live theatre at age 9 and never stopped, from coast to coast. Heck, I didn’t stop even when I was pregnant! I found out that I was having Skyler while I was in the middle of my run of Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom at The Goodman Theatre with Harry Lennix. Believe it or not Former Vice President Al Gore, his wife tipper and Former Mayor Richard Daley and his wife Maggie, were some of the first people I told because they were in attendance at my show the day I found out! Yeah, I guess my life has never really been average.

 If there was a movie about your life what would it be called?

Sybil. Oh wait, that’s already been used. The truth is my life has sooo many layers, layers that my public don’t get to see. Although I try to give a glimpse or two through MissLori.TV, relating some of my underbelly experiences in a way that hopefully helps others. So, even though I am known for my SMILE in truth my life sports every emotion and facial expression. So maybe “Eyes Closed, Heart Open; Miss Lori Unplugged”.

 

 

 

 

What’s Up Doc? Lather Up!

Warm weather and sweet sunshine rays are just around the corner! We’re looking to the experts in the industry for the 411 on sunscreens.  Check out what Environmental Working Group has to say below:
Does your sunscreen actually protect your family? Or are the claims just marketing hype?

Only a quarter of the more than 800 beach and sports sunscreens analyzed by Environmental Working Group for our 2012 Sunscreen Guide meet our standards for effectiveness and safety. But we’re happy to report that’s actually progress! The sunscreen industry is taking notice. This time last year we could only recommend 20 percent of the sun protection products we evaluated, and in 2010 it was even worse: just 1-in-12.

You demanded that the market offer you better options, and sunscreen makers listened. To keep up the momentum, we need you to keep demanding improved sunscreens. One-in-four is better than last year, but it’s not good enough for your family.

A quarter of this year’s products still contain vitamin A ingredients that accelerate the growth of skin tumors and lesions on
sun-exposed skin, according to recent government studies. Also, 56 of the products we reviewed had no active ingredients that protect against the sun’s damaging UVA rays. And the industry continues to load store shelves with sunscreens that claim misleading, sky-high SPF ratings that may protect against sunburn-causing UVB rays but leave skin vulnerable to UVA.

Sort through the sunscreen noise – click here for EWG’s 2012 Sunscreen Guide.

You’ll find:

• Our top-rated sunscreens.
• Our updated Hall of Shame, which highlights many of the gimmicks used to market children’s sunscreens.
• How your sunscreen ranks in our database. (Hint: Leading brands like Hawaiian Tropic and Banana Boat didn’t make the cut.)

We hope our research helps your family enjoy the sun safely this summer.

Tuesday Blog: 10 ways to boost fertility naturally

By: Jasmine Jafferali, MPH, ACE-CPT

Jasmine is the Program Director for Healthy Results, Ltd, and Program Coordinator for Educational Fitness Solutions, Inc. She has a diverse fitness background with over ten years of fitness and wellness industry experience working in campus recreation, corporate wellness, and a high-end commercial health club setting. She has presented on a wide range of health and fitness topics for the community, at major corporations, and at national and international conferences. Jasmine specializes in Maternal and Child Health and Wellness focusing on pre and postnatal fitness and is a Master Trainer for Healthy Moms® Fitness and Resist-a-ball®.

Getting pregnant seems like the easiest and most natural process in the world, until you hit a roadblock.  In fact 1 in 8 couples in the United States are challenged with this word “infertility.” Both mainstream and alternative doctors point the finger at a host of issues, medical, environmental and social factors including pesticides on our produce, hormones used in our foods that disrupts the body’s natural process and everyday related stress.  The Center for Disease Control states that 20 percent of women are facing the issues of not becoming pregnant.  In fact, one-third of women will be diagnosed as being infertile, however, up to 40 percent of the time, it can be traced back to the man.  There is so much both men and women can do to enhance their fertility naturally, technology should be used as a last resort.  A 90-day lifestyle change can do wonders to help boost your fertility.  Here are some ways you can boost your fertility naturally:

1. Ditch the white stuff.  Avoid eating foods that cause major blood sugar spikes which can can cause shifts in your hormones.  These foods include, white sugar, white flour, white rice, white pasta, white breads, breakfast cereals, baked and packaged goods.  Increase foods that enhance fertility, including fresh produce such as avocados and sweet potatoes, as well as red peppers and good fats like coconut oil, olive oil and raw pumpkin seeds.
2. Buy organic.  Reduce your exposure to pesticides, which has been linked to reduced sperm counts, and purchase organic produce that you consume the most of by following the dirty dozen list.  A study in the Lancet found men who ate pesticide-free organic foods had a 43% higher in sperm concentration.
3. Exercise at least 30-minutes three days per week.  High-intensity, extreme workouts can throw your hormones out of whack.  Stick to circuit-style training programs that is easy to fit in without spending hours at the gym.
4. Try a yoga class.  Reducing stress levels is key in helping the body to relax can help put your mind at ease.  Not to mention increasing cortisol levels is another way to throw your hormones out of sync. Adding hip openers to help relax the pelvic muscles can also increase blood flow to the pelvic region.  Try laying in bed with your legs on the wall to increase blood flow to the ovaries and uterus.
5. Consider herbs and supplements.  Magnesium is a natural muscle relaxer and is thought to help keep the fallopian tubes relaxed, helping the sperm and egg meet.  If you are not familiar with DHA, then you should be and it will be important for your growing baby.  Fish oils help reduce internal inflammation and balance your hormones.  Nordic Naturals Ultimate Omega + Vitamin D3 is a favorite among health professionals.  The best studied supplement for infertility is FertilityBlend for women, which helps improve circulation to the reproductive organs.
6. Don’t be afraid to get poked. Acupuncture is a non-invasive way to help increase the blood flow to the uterus.  It also helps normalize the hypothalmic-pituatary-ovarian axis, which is considered the control center for hormones.  A recent study also proved that acupuncture increased one’s chances by 65 percent when used with IVF.
7. Think positively.  Negative emotions can reduce IVF success by 93 percent. Just having an optimistic attitude can help relax your body and reduce cortisol levels. If you think of yourself as infertile, then you become what you are thinking.  Consider joining a mind-body program to help feel good about your body and self.
8. Boost your protein.  Consider adding more plant-based proteins, such as beans, raw nuts, quinoa and lentils  Eating less animal proteins reduce the amount of insulin levels and decrease the risk of ovulatory infertility by 50 percent.
9. Get your Zzzz’s.  While we sleep, our bodies are busy repairing cells and regulating our hormones.. One special hormone, leptin, is a key link between sleep and fertility. Leptin can also increase our appetite for high sugary and fatty foods.  Sleep has a powerful influence to the body’s hormonal system, which controls a woman’s cycle and regulates ovulation.  The same goes for sleeping in a dark room, which can boost growth hormones.
10. Just go out and have fun!  Many couples are taking vacations that are centered in helping them conceive.  Check out the Miraval Spa in Arizona, and The Fertile Soul Retreats has various locations throughout the U.S.

 

Superfriend of the Month: Parenthesis Family Center

Each Month, we’re putting a Spotlight on a Superfriend. this month we are thrilled to sit down with Kathy Kern, Executive Director of Parenthesis Family Center for an exclusive SQ1 interview!  Parenthesis Family Center provides a wide range of parenting education and coaching, counseling, respite, and case management services focused on building strong families.  We even got to talk with Kathy about the big fundraiser coming up!  On Saturday, April 28, between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., rain or shine, groupings of dedicated kitchen design buffs will be shuttling themselves to and from homes to participate in Parenthesis Family Center’s 27th Annual Kitchen Walk.

Kathy, tell us a little bit about Kitchen walk and how this exciting event came about.
Parenthesis needed a fundraiser.  So, in 1985 one of the Board members suggested that a few members, who had just had their kitchens remodeled, open their homes for a tour.  Thus began a 27 old year event that has become the largest fundraiser Parenthesis has ever had.  Today, the event includes 10 amazing kitchens, special events in houses, and tons of information for those who are researching their own kitchen renovation.

1 day, 10 Kitchens, Endless Inspiration. Parenthesis Kitchen Walk.
Buy tickets at http://www.parenthesis-info.org.

How and why did you come to your current position at Parenthesis Family Center?
In 1982, I was working in a suburb north of Oak Park when my Director asked me to visit Parenthesis to learn about their drop-in program.  20 years later I found a job posting for Parenthesis, applied and was hired.

 How has working with Parenthesis Family Center impacted your life and what about your job brings you the most joy?
I have always been a positive person, but working at Parenthesis has shown me what hope and joy can mean in the lives of persons who are working toward sustaining their families.  It’s truly amazing what happens at Parenthesis.  My most joyful moments are looking back over several years and seeing the positive growth in so many of our parents and children.

 What’s the one thing that you now know that you wish you knew when you were growing up?
As a young child I was encouraged to take risks and that anything I wanted to do in life was possible.  I now know how that thinking impacts a child for the rest of their lives.  Never give up!

What is the best advice anyone has ever given you?
Finish your education.  It took me ten years to get my BA and six more to get my first MA.  The road was long, but so worth it!

What is your biggest accomplishment?
My family; they amaze me everyday.

If you could say something to the next generation what would it be?
Believe in the possibility and potential that is within all of us.  Grow every day, learn something new.  Be curious!  Be joyful!   The rest will fall into place.

Wednesday Blog: Check out the M.O.M-Cave!

What mom doesn’t deserve a little getaway, and what better place than the comfort of your own home?! Divas N’ Design, Inc has designed a super cool M.O.M-Cave that you could WIN! Submit your most absurd mom moments, make-shift methods of escape, you deserve a space to call their own. Divas N’ Design will choose one lucky winner in time for Mother’s Day to win their very own M.O.M-Cave. Good luck friends!!

WIN A $20,000.00 MOM-CAVE RETREAT!

M.O.M-Cave contestants are asked to submit their stories, photos and/or videos to Mom-Cave.com.  The most outrageous stories will be highlighted weekly, beginning February 26th, on the Divas N’ Design Facebook.  One lucky winner will come out triumphant, to be announced on Mother’s Day, May 13, 2012.

Check out these super-cute pictures: