As a mom of three small children, starting out with a healthy breakfast always makes me feel better about our day. If lunch and dinner don't meet my perfect vision of healthy eating, at least we hit a home run with one meal, right? Related: Allergen Free Breakfast Hummus Getting Kids to Eat Healthy Breakfasts Since focusing a lot of our efforts on healthy breakfasts, we've noticed a big difference in our family's general health. We're lucky that none of our kids have been particularly picky … [Read more...]
The Easiest Gluten-Free Dairy-Free Summer Birthday “Cake” Ever!
As a very uncrafty mama who does not love putting on elaborate birthday parties and does not excel at party planning, I’m dedicated to making birthdays special but simple. Because that’s just how I roll. I have friends who create amazing Pinterest-worthy parties for their children's birthdays because they are crafty and the love the details of planning a beautiful party. If that's you, fantastic! Use those awesome gifts! But if party planning stresses you out, I know exactly how you … [Read more...]
Tomatoes 101: Your Guide to Tomato Varieties and a Cherry Tomato and Fresh Herb Salad Recipe
Tomatoes are the perfect addition to any garden! Fairly simple to grow, you can plant specific types to eat fresh all summer long or plan ahead and grow them for long term storage (canning tomatoes is really easy). Now a staple in my garden, I want to help make it super easy for you to decide which of the different varieties of tomatoes are best for your needs! I was in my twenties before I realized I liked tomatoes. Using them in fresh salsa or homemade pasta sauce was one thing, but … [Read more...]
Simple Paleo Sweet Potato, Broccoli, and Egg Breakfast Hash Recipe
I recently took my six-year-old to the pediatrician for his annual check up. The doctor was shocked to see on his chart that the last time he was in the office was his five-year-old check up--a full year ago. “You’re the healthiest kid I’ve seen all week!” she said. I started to wrack my brain to remember when the last time I took ANY of my three kids in other than their well-child visits. What a change from last year! A year and a half ago it felt like we lived at the pediatrician’s … [Read more...]
Food Allergies and the Art of Hospitality: Tips for Hosts and Guests
Food Allergies Are Isolating Whatever the cause (or causes) may be, food allergies seem to be everywhere these days. If no one in your immediate family suffers from them, you probably know someone who does. When my oldest child was diagnosed with food allergies, it wasn’t the end of the world, but it changed our family’s eating habits, made dining out difficult, and complicated meals with other families. Comparatively speaking, we’ve got it pretty easy. We just have to avoid gluten in … [Read more...]
Spiritual Resolutions for the New Year: Centering Our Homes in Prayer
While we’re all considering our health goals (like improving digestion or losing weight) for the new year, it’s also important to take some time to think about our spiritual health. What steps can we take to bring life to our faith this year? I’ve always had a hard time maintaining any kind of consistent prayer routine. I typically start every year with an abstract desire to pray more, but without much result. However, my prayer life is something I really tried to work on in … [Read more...]
Nourish Your Spiritual Life with Advent (And Avoid the Holiday Burnout)
sale Thanksgiving is right around the corner and then the whirlwind to Christmas Day begins--parties, concerts, family engagements, travel. Did you know that traditionally, the holiday cheer didn't begin until Christmas Day? December the 25th is just Day One of a twelve day season of Christmastide that doesn't end until January 6th! Does that make your head spin? Some of us are beginning to already feel the holiday stress in the air. Twelve days of Christmas after we’ve … [Read more...]
7 Beginner’s Steps to Gluten-Free Survival Mode
Haley's story of discovering a gluten allergy in her child will help anyone exploring a gluten sensitivity or just hoping to gracefully host a friend who is gluten-free. With gluten sensitivity and Celiac both on the rise, figuring out how to go gluten-free, especially for families, is really important! When my oldest child was diagnosed with asthma, we were a little bit devastated. My husband has always struggled with asthma and hoped it would be something our kids wouldn’t have … [Read more...]
