Toasty Beef Sandwich and Roasted Roots

The advertising shift from toys and gadgets to fitness memberships and diet plans is a predictable one this time of year. It makes sense. My indulgent eating over the holidays not only impacted my waistline, but my immune system, too. Now I find myself starting out the new year with a stuffy nose and raspy cough.

I didn't always make the connection between what I eat and how I feel. All my life I've enjoyed food, and while I've always eaten vegetables, I would freely partake of junk as well. When I found out I was pregnant I suddenly felt a great responsibility for my health. I realized that now I was nurturing two bodies instead of one and I began to make a shift in my eating habits. This burden has continued now that I breastfeed my little girl; she receives nutrients that I put into my body. She is also starting to share what we have for dinner. I still have a long way to go in cultivating a healthy food culture in my home, but so far I think the key for me is balance. There is no way I will ever eat a salad for every meal, nor should I. Today I'm sharing a simple comfort food recipe that will fill you up with beneficial nutrients and satisfy your taste buds on a cold winter's day.

Toasty Beef Sandwich and Roasted Roots

Sandwich ingredients
2 slices of your favorite bread
Roast beef from the deli
Mayonnaise
Dijon mustard
Raspberry jam
Cheese (I love brie with roast beef, but today I settled for provolone)
EVOO or roasted garlic (optional - but delightful!)
Get creative with add-ons (I love caramelized onions on mine!)

 

Roasted roots
Carrots

Parsnips

EVOO

Salt & pepper, to taste

Preheat your oven to 425 degrees.  Scrub your vegetables well as you rinse them if you want to keep the skins on like I did.

Cut the veggies into fairly even pieces and toss with EVOO in a bowl to coat evenly.

 Put some foil on a baking sheet to make cleanup easier, then pour your veggies on. Spread them out so that they are not on top of each other, then salt and pepper them. Throw them in the bottom rack of your oven for about 30 minutes, or until edges are brown and middles can be cut with a fork.

While the veggies are cooking, line another baking sheet with foil and assemble your sandwich. If you have roasted garlic on hand (which you always should), use the oil that it's packed in to spread on each piece of bread. If not, just use EVOO. Put one piece of bread oil side down on the foil. Spread this piece with mayo, then dijon, then raspberry jam. I know this sounds weird, but it is marvelous. Trust me.

Top that bread with your deli meat and cheese and any other delicious add-ons you'd like: caramelized onions, bacon, etc. I like to put the other piece of oiled bread oil-side-up next to it so the cheese can get melty faster.

Throw it in the top rack of the oven, above the veggies. Turn your broiler on and watch closely because that bread will brown quickly! Once the lone piece of bread looks toasted, put it on top of the sandwich, flip it, and broil again so it's toasted on the other side. (If you have a toaster oven, obviously that would be the easier method!)

I realize this is not an earth-shattering recipe by any stretch of the imagination. I didn't include amounts in the ingredients because I estimate. The carrots and parsnips pictured made two baking sheets of roasted vegetables. I like to make them all at once and keep them in the fridge so little Boo and I can have them for lunch all week. I also like to switch up the sandwich and veggie combo. I'm crazy about this peanut butter bacon sandwich or sometimes I'm in the mood for turkey and avocado.  I love to use beets, squash, or sweet potatoes for the vegetables as well.

The point is, you can have your veggies and comfort food and use your own favorite stand-by ingredients to eat well and feel well.  I love having a full belly and knowing I'm nourishing myself and my daughter with vital nutrients. Happy New Year, and happy eating!

The Vanishing Finish Line

Before my son was born, I obsessed over the birth process. I read every book, every website, haunted message boards, practiced yoga and meditation, spent weeks drafting a birth plan, and so on. Then, the day came, and through an unexpected set of circumstances, I got my perfect birth. I was sitting there in the hospital, snuggling my squishy little 6lbs 15oz burrito and basking in the glow of having finally crossed the finish line, when I overheard a nurse saying "....his latching score is pretty low...."

Wait, what?

And it suddenly hit me that with all my preoccupation of how to bring this baby into the world, I hadn't given a single thought as to how I was supposed to keep the little squirt alive! Oh sure, I'd put a breast pump on my registry and somehow managed to pick up a couple of nursing bras, but had I read a thing about breastfeeding? NOPE.

Remember what the nurse said about his latching score? Yeah. Suddenly my boob was a "sandwich" and nurses were jamming my baby's face onto it, handing me a little tube of Lanolin and telling me that I might feel "sore" for a few days. I don't know about you, but when I hear the word "sore," I think of how my muscles ache after a long run, or how my toe feels when I stub it, or how my head feels when I bump it getting out of the car.

None of those is comparable to the feeling of having a tiny and adorable yet voracious little monster chew on your heretofore mostly-untouched nipple as if his life depends on it (because, in fact, it does). I told the nurses, "It hurts" and they said "It shouldn't hurt if he latches right." After a brief visit from a lactation consultant who assured me everything looked good, we were headed home. Where was the finish line now?

As I write this now, I'm looking over the New Mother's Nursing Journal that the hospital gave us and which we used for the first month of K's life to track feedings and wet/dirty diapers. Next to "Feeding Time" is a column for "Comments." Here is a sampling of what appears in that column in the first two weeks of my breastfeeding career:

This image and header by Susan Holstein Photography.

Hurts me!
Very difficult stop-start, painful
Stopped short due to nipple pain
Hellish feeding, so much pain
Bloody nipple :(
painful
super-hungry, painful! :(
OW
Ow again
Owwww....

.... and my personal favorite:

HOLY HELL

I told my husband that I would rather give birth ten more times than let our son near my nipple again (thankfully, I didn't follow through on that threat). I dreaded every feeding, and screamed and cried each time he latched. I remember being absolutely furious at the idea that this was supposed to be some kind of bonding experience for me and my baby, because I honestly felt like breastfeeding was inhibiting bonding. Worst of all, his weight gain was way behind where it should have been.

Craving some reassurance that this was just a phase that couldn't possibly last, I turned to my online mommy group for support. Upon hearing my woes, the more experienced mothers said: "Don't worry, the pain goes away after the first 4-6 weeks." I was horrified: I wasn't sure I was going to survive the next HOUR, so a month sounded like an eternity! The finish line seemed farther away than ever.

And then, when my little boy was only eight days old, this happened:

My memory of this period is so fuzzy (read: repressed) that I actually only remember one formula feeding, but the journal says he had several within a 24-hour period. With the benefit of hindsight and experience, I know now that I was on a slippery slope, seriously risking my supply and any continuance of our breastfeeding relationship. At the time, however, I only knew that I absolutely could not continue without sleep and a break for my poor nipples. I fed my sweet baby that first bottle of formula myself, crying the whole time, then handed him to my husband and went to bed. It could have been the end for us.

Fortunately, my very next entry in the book says "Back to the breast!" I wasn't dropping out of the race just yet. We visited a lactation consultant who noticed K's tongue tie and recommended we get it clipped immediately so that he could better transfer the milk (and it would be less painful for me). It took only a couple of days to get the appointment, but even that brief wait was agonizing.

After resolving the tongue tie, I was looking forward to the blissful and painless feedings that would surely begin.... and while it was a tiny bit more bearable, I still winced and yelped more often than not. My little boy was now two weeks old and still not back up to his birth weight. I knew that my supply was not our problem: our newborn was a heavy sleeper, whom we often had to wake to eat. I needed to get him on the breast more frequently, but I was terrified of the pain.

At the suggestion of a friend, I set up camp on the couch with a giant bag of trail mix and started watching through all of Doctor Who. I had decided to stop looking for the finish line, to stop looking beyond anything other than the current feeding. I told myself that my only job was to sit in one place and let my baby eat, with minimal flinching, if possible. And that's what I did, all week.

When K was three weeks old, my family came to visit. In a valiant attempt to do what normal people without newborns do, I accompanied them out to lunch and on the way, I stopped by the breastfeeding center to weigh my son. I remember unwrapping his skinny little limbs and removing his heavily wet diaper, praying he wouldn't pee on me. The numbers on the scale spun and settled: 6lbs 15oz. I had gotten my baby back to his birth weight.

It was a victory and a wonderful relief, but I decided then that it wasn't the finish line. "Heck, I might even go all the way to three months!" I thought. Recently, we passed nine months of exclusive breastfeeding. K has never had another drop of formula since that one day, his growth on-track and his health "perfect," according to his pediatrician. I don't know where the finish line is now - a year, two years? - but I no longer care. I'm too busy enjoying the journey.

A Little Situation

Before Bugs made me a mama, I would see newborns snuggled up with their mom or dad and I'd run up and politely ask to take a peek.  I'd get that "what a sweet baby!" giggle and I'd say something that I thought was appropriate-- something like, "oh my goodness! She (or he) is sooooo tiny!!"

I told you that to tell you this:  Before I began touring the country and performing with my husband, I worked for nearly 6 years at a children's gym.  So, when Bugs was born, I anxiously anticipated her 4 month mark so that I could begin taking her to classes there.  And it was fun!  She loved it and I loved it.  

Until we were getting our shoes on to leave.

It started with that comment that I once deemed totally appropriate and harmless.  The exchange went as follows:

Mom 1:  Oh, she is soooo tiny....how old is she?

Me: 4 months yesterday.

Mom 1: Oh...wow, my friends 1 month old is bigger than her.

Me: *blank stare of confusion*

Mom 2: How much did she weigh when she was born? Was she a preemie?

Me: She was only 5 days early.  She weighed 7 pounds, 2 oz.

Mom 2: Oh, so she was average sized then.

Me: Yeah, I guess....she's my first.

Mom 1 to Mom 2: She's definitely not on the charts.  

Mom 2: *shakes head*

Me: But...but....she's hitting all her milestones.

Mom 3: What does her pediatrician say? Is he worried?

Me: He hasn't said anything.  Her weight is lower than a lot of babies her age, but that can be normal in breastfed babies.  Sometimes they have slower weight gain, sometimes quicker.  I think every baby is different.  And I heard there is a chart for exclusively breastfed babies that's a bit different.

Mom 3: Oh, is she ONLY breastfed.???

Moms 1, 2, 3 (paraphrased): RICE CEREAL! FORMULA! METABOLISM ISSUES! SUPPLEMENT! SOLIDS! DIGESTION PROBLEMS! OATMEAL! BOTTLES! NOT ENOUGH MILK!!!!!

Say what?!?!  Yeah Bugs, my feelings exactly.

So, I packed up the Bug and headed home and directly to my computer where I proceeded to Google the bejeezus out of every growth chart,  every breast feeding website and Facebook page and every blog where a mother had a "tiny" baby. 

But, trust me when I tell you that if a baby is small, the mama knows this.  I knew it.  Bugs' pediatrician knew it.  It was never a cause for concern since she was healthy, hitting all her developmental milestones (sometimes earlier that average) and was an all around happy baby.  But, the onslaught of the Mommies 1, 2 & 3 made me doubt what I already knew to be true--she was getting everything she needed from "only" breastfeeding.

But I did learn an important lesson--much like dealing with pregnant women, the only truly appropriate thing to say is how wonderful they are!  Every pregnant woman needs to hear that they're beautiful and every new mom should get to hear how adorable her baby is and what a blessing she holds in her arms...no matter how light or heavy.

What is your favorite comment that you have received about your baby?

The Importance of Good Nutrition

We all know that breast milk is the best nourishment for babies (and don't forget toddlers!), but did you know not all breast milk is created equal? Everyone knows how important good nutrition is while pregnant, but what about while nursing? Eating right and putting the most nutritious things in your body will produce the best milk for your baby, full of all the antibodies and nutrients needed.

I follow a traditional style of eating, based on the teachings of Weston A Price. While I don't follow the recommendations to a tee, I do like to use it as a guideline for making sure I'm truly providing the best for my baby and myself. While WAPF recommends following every aspect of the protocol for pregnant and nursing mothers, I realize it isn't practical for everyone. Here are the WAPF recommendations, with notes on what I eat to make sure my nursling gets the best.

Cod Liver Oil to supply 20,000 IU vitamin A and 2000 IU vitamin D per day - I do take CLO, but please keep the warning at the bottom of this post in mind when supplementing with it. My favorite is from Green Pastures, which you can find here.

1 quart (or 32 ounces) whole milk daily, preferably raw and from pasture-fed cows (learn more about raw milk on our website, A Campaign for Real Milk, www.realmilk.com) - I'm lactose intolerant, but I'm able to drink raw milk and all raw milk products from our dairy herd association with no problems. I'm not always able to drink a quart a day, due to production from our cow share. In the spring and summer, we get at least 6 quarts each week so it isn't a problem. In the late fall and winter months, we only get 1 1/2 or 2 quarts a week, so I do the best I can.

4 tablespoons butter daily, preferably from pasture-fed cows - This is an easy one for me! I LOVE butter. Seriously, don't tell my husband about the affair we have going. We use Organic Valley's pasture butter. It is the most delicious flavor and is packed with good levels of vitamins, CLA, and balances omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. I put butter in and on everything I possibly can.

2 or more eggs daily, preferably from pastured chickens - This is another easy one for me. I loved eggs during my pregnancy. More than I ever have before. I'm fortunate to get wonderful eggs from happy, pastured hens that my parents lovingly raise. Eggs from the grocery store just don't have the proper nutrition that pastured eggs do, so it is important to try to find a good source for high quality eggs. When my parents are out of eggs (they only have 6 hens), we buy them from a local health food store that sources them from a local farmer.

Additional egg yolks daily, added to smoothies, salad dressings, scrambled eggs, etc. - This one is hit or miss, but I always try to add in the nutrition of extra eggs whenever possible.

3-4 ounces fresh liver, once or twice per week (If you have been told to avoid liver for fear of getting "too much Vitamin A," be sure to read Vitamin A Saga) - I finally found a good source for liver, but I still couldn't bring myself to do it. I'm hoping to cross this bridge soon because I know the health benefits are worth it. Hey, I consider it a crime if my chicken stock doesn't have feet floating in it now, so I'm sure I can figure out the liver situation ;)

Fresh seafood, 2-4 times per week, particularly wild salmon, shellfish and fish eggs - Living in the Midwest, I don't have great access to fresh seafood. I'm also still a bit concerned about contamination in seafood, but I do enjoy sustainably sourced seafood (say that five times fast!) when I can find it and when it fits in our budget.

Fresh beef or lamb daily, always consumed with the fat - We have great access to the most delicious, locally raised, heritage breed meats! Boy was I glad when I found Grass is Greener Farms. They raise heritage breed cows, pigs, turkeys, chickens, sheep, ducks, and lambs. The bacon and sausage have the most fabulous, buttery flavor, and they melt in your mouth. The chicken and beef are so tender and packed full of healthy nutrients. We eat meat almost every day and always source it from our local farmer. Meat from the grocery store can be loaded with hormones and antibiotics which you don't want to pass on to your baby.

Oily fish or lard daily, for vitamin D - I use lard or bacon grease to cook everything. When made from properly raised pigs that are able to root and roam freely, these fats are superior to anything you can buy at the store and provide good levels of Vitamin D. I cook everything from eggs to vegetables in lard or bacon grease. If you've never cooked eggs in bacon grease, you are missing out!

2 tablespoons coconut oil daily, used in cooking or smoothies, etc. - I really love finding new ways to get more coconut oil into myself and my family. This stuff is like gold! Lately, I've been enjoying homemade hot cocoa with some coconut oil melted in. I use my immersion blender to make it frothy and creamy. I also love it in fudge, coconut flour muffins, and even straight off the spoon. My favorite coconut oil is from Tropical Traditions and can be purchased here. I order this stuff by the gallon.

Lacto-fermented condiments and beverages - I just started making my own fermented veggies this year. It was a little confusing at first, but a friend helped me out and now I've got the hang of it. The benefits of lacto-fermentation include everything from helping make food more digestible to providing you with plenty of healthy and beneficial bacteria. It's also known to increase vitamin levels.

Bone broths used in soups, stews and sauces - I can't say enough good things about bone broth!  It's always a staple in my house, but especially around the time of year when germs are rampant and everyone is getting sick. It's so simple and cost effective to make your own bone broth, and you'll never get the same goodness from a can or carton of broth. I started using this recipe and have since adapted it by trying different things. I always add chicken feet to my stock to give it extra collagen and gelatin. Yum!

Soaked whole grains - Soaking grains is really important for proper digestion and maximum nutrition. Soaking grains prior to consuming them helps break down and pre-digest the grains, making it easier for your body to absorb the nutrients.

Fresh vegetables and fruits - I think this one is pretty obvious and needs no explanation!

Of course we all indulge and splurge sometimes (my sweet tooth can get quite convincing, sometimes) but eating healthy overall is best for you and baby. Many people follow the 80/20 rule, eating healthy 80% of the time and not worrying about the other 20%. Do you eat healthy while nursing? Do you try to stick to good habits most of the time?

Read more details on fats here.

This post contains an affiliate link. If you purchase coconut oil from Tropical Traditions using my link, I may get a gift certificate for referring you. Your price will remain the same and you will get the same great quality product that I use everyday.

Nursing Necklace Roundup

Last year at this time, I thought a lot about what my holiday would be like with an almost 10 month old baby.  To me, 10 months old seemed so far out.  I couldn't have even predicted how much different Christmas would be with an on the move baby.  Nor would I have realized the struggles involved in nursing a curious, distracted little one during the holidays.  I hear mothers say all the time that their nursling pulls off and squirms while nursing and they need to know how to fix it.  I have found a super simple solution...nursing necklaces.  You may not think that a necklace would interest your baby but really it can distract my little one from almost anything.  Here is my round up of my favorite breastfeeding accessories.

Teething Bling:

This was my very first nursing necklace that I got when Jad was 5 months old.  He was just starting to get really distracted and I needed something to tame him.  These are simple pendant necklaces that come in a wide variety of shapes, colors and sizes.  They are silicone and safe to chew on.  With the minimal design, they are easy to keep clean as well.  They are having a sale which takes their necklaces down as low as $9.99.

Alphabet Soup Busy Beads:

These were my first wooden beads I tried.  This is a nursing necklace that is made of different size wood beads and different textures to occupy the baby.  They go really well with most of my wardrobe and are virtually undetected as anything other than a normal accessory.  Alphabet Soup Busy Beads retail for $19.99.

Jelly Strands:

This is definitely my favorite silicone necklace.  Instead of just one pendant, this is a strand of silicone beads.  You can get them in all sorts of style and colors and they can be worn everyday.  I love to strap this one in my purse loop on my Boba and throw it back to occupy Jad while going about my day.

Boubeads:

This was my latest addition to my nursing necklace obsession.  Boubeads will actually custom make your beads.  This was my recent custom I had made for my birthday.

You give them colors and combinations and they create a super cute and fashionable option that is safe and super fun for baby.  Custom strands are about $43.00, ready to purchase run about $24.00. Jad gives them a thumbs up.

Follow My Jordanian Nugget's board Nursing Necklaces on Pinterest.

How to you keep your nursling on task?