Nutrition and Health

Foodie Find: JJ Rabbit

This week we are so excited to be featuring amazing products perfect for a foodie baby. Today we’re highlighting a baby feeding essentials from JJ Rabbit!

JJ Rabbit is a design first, eco-conscious, children’s feeding brand. JJ Rabbit, the brainchild of two parents, knows how important meal times are in shaping your little one’s love for food, family time, and memories, so they strive to create fun and functional feeding items which bring joy to mealtime. Their design philosophy is modern, contemporary, and fun. First, the design must be safe and functional. Second, it must excite and inspire kids. Third, it should look great to parents too.

But, one of the reasons Gugu Guru loves JJ Rabbit is how eco-conscious the brand is! JJ Rabbit has developed a stronger eco-friendly bioplastic to ensure their products are both healthy for kids and happy for Mother Earth. JJ Rabbit products are free of all the bad stuff that is found in traditional plastics such as BpA, Phthalate, and PVC. Their bio-plastic products are made from a unique formulation which includes an organic additive called EcoPure. EcoPure causes the bio-plastic to biodegrade through a series of chemical and biological processes and therefore, it cuts down the increase in plastic pollution that threatens ecosystems and environmental safety worldwide. Not only are JJ Rabbit feeding items colorful, bold, and functional, but they’re saving Mother Earth, too!

One of our favorite products is the dryBib; this waterproof bib has two layers of organic cotton, and a catch pocket for all the extra food baby drops. Their Cuppies are so adorable and functional; at the bottom of each cup is a little penguin peeking out to say hello. If you’re looking for utensils for your little one, the ergoFork + Spoon are the perfect size and shape for little hands. The angled handle makes it easy for baby to hold, pick up and put down, and the curved tip makes self-feeding easy for baby to learn. siliMATs are perfect for home or on the go – protecting kiddos from germs, dirt, and cleaning chemicals on public surfaces! Made of soft, food-grade silicone, the anti-slip siliMAT can be a placemat or a plate. Reusable and easy to clean – simply wipe or throw in the dishwasher. Any parent of a toddler can tell you that toddlers LOVE dipping their food into dips! Luckily, JJ Rabbit has their dipPlate; make meal time more fun with these stackable animal plates. Keep foods, condiments, and anything else separated with divided sections. Keep your little ones happy with their animal friends.

You can follow JJ Rabbit on their website, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Foodie Find: Beaba Babycook

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This week we are so excited to be featuring amazing products perfect for a foodie baby. Today we’re highlighting a fantastic way to make your own baby food with the Beaba Babycook!

If you’re thinking about making homemade baby food, but feeling totally overwhelmed, don’t worry – Beaba Babycook is here to the rescue! The Beaba Babycook is a 4 in 1 baby food maker, which will not only make your life infinitely easier, but help you save money in the long run, as well. With its patented steam heating system, you can prepare fruits, vegetables, meat or fish from raw to any stage baby and toddler food in 15 minutes. It features a large 4.7 cup bowl with graduation markings for easy measuring and mixing, so you can invent delicious and nutritious purees for your little one.

Beaba knows what it is like to be a busy parent, and has designed the Babycook with that in mind; the Babycook features a unique one handed system, so mom or dad can hold baby and make their food at the same time! Plus, the Beaba Babycook is BPA, Lead and Phthalate free, making it perfectly safe for your little one. Refrigerate or freeze leftovers, then simply defrost and reheat right in Babycook. Steam cooking locks in vitamins and nutrients, a multi-purpose mixing blade provides just the right texture, the timer has an audible alert to tell you when meals are ready, and all of this with total one-handed operation. This appliance is loaded with features that make any parent a “pro” in baby food preparation.

Follow Beaba on their Website, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Foodie Find: Plum Organics

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This week we are so excited to be featuring amazing products perfect for a foodie baby. Today we’re highlighting an ideal first food (and beyond) for your little one with Plum Organics!

One of the most exciting parts of new parenthood is when baby tries solid food for the first time; however, there are always so many questions surrounding the moment, especially, what is baby going to try as their very first solid food?! Luckily, Plum Organics has one mission in mind: to help you feed your little one organic, delicious, and nutritious food from the very beginning and beyond. As Plum Organics says, “From pregnancy on through the first two years, food helps spark baby’s growth, eating preferences and overall development.” Which is why their philosophy is to use organic, non-GMO, whole and simple ingredients whenever possible.

If you’re looking for a foodie find for baby, Plum Organics is sure to have something to spark baby’s taste buds. For young babies, 4 months and up, Plum Organics offers their “Just Veggies” and “Just Fruits” line of food pouches. The Just Veggies line is a stage 1 baby food line of vegetable blends, perfect for introducing solids or first foods to your budding eater. Even more wonderful, some of the blends are accented with a hint of mild herb or spice to introduce flavor to help develop baby’s palate. The Just Fruits line is also a stage 1 baby food line of fruit blends that are perfect for introducing solids or first foods to your little one. Using only organic ingredients, the blends are in a convenient, resealable pouch that’s perfect for flexible portions.

We’re big fans of the Eat Your Colors line of pouches, whose aim is to help little ones fully experience food with all their senses. With mixes such as red – beet, apple & red bell pepper, orange – peach, pumpkin, carrot & cinnamon, yellow – mango, yellow zucchini, corn & turmeric, and white – apple, cauliflower & leek, you are sure to introduce your baby to a rainbow of wonderful colors and flavors. For babies 6 months and up, they offer the Grow Well line, which are stage 2 purees that harness the nutrition of real ingredients to help support baby. Each puree blend focuses on bolstering DHA levels, tummy, muscle, and bone. The Second Blends line for 6 months and up is a Stage 2 baby food line with blends of fruit and veggies that are perfect for exposing your little foodie to unique flavors and colors. Using only organic ingredients, the blends are in a convenient, resealable pouch that’s perfect for flexible portions. Plus, they sound…amazing! Who wouldn’t want to eat roasted pumpkin and coconut rice or lentils and roasted squash with apricot? Delicious!

For snack time and travel time, Plum Organics has their Super Puffs for baby. Super Puffs are a colorful line of bite-sized, nutritious puffed snacks, are made with whole grains and organic veggies and fruit. Packed with 14 essential vitamins and minerals, Super Puffs delight tiny taste buds with a rainbow of nutritional goodness. And, for a little teether (and a great on-the-go snack), check out Plum Organics’ Little Yums, a line of baby teething wafers made with whole grain buckwheat and real fruit & veggies, is the perfect first snack for little teethers. The wafer easily dissolves, encourages self-feeding for teething babies, and is made with unique fruit and vegetable combinations to delight tiny taste buds. With so many food options, your little one is sure to be exposed to amazing new flavors and tastes in their food pouches and snacks from Plum Organics.

You can find more about Plum Organics on their website, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Mom Sleep Essentials

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When you have a baby, it’s almost a guarantee that you’ll hear this sage advice from a friend or relative, “Sleep when the baby sleeps.” When your little one is snoozing, it can be so darn tempting to attend to some of the mundane tasks that are piling up like paying bills, laundry or – heck – even showering! Our advice? Sleep. It’s not just because you don’t want to be a disheveled zombie walking around the house, it’s because it’s critical to your wellness and postpartum recovery, as well as helping you to think clearly and generally function in life.

So instead of focusing on essentials for baby sleep today – because we’ve covered that topic a lot – we’re focusing on essentials for you, mama. And these aren’t your run of the mill products either…

RECLINER Sleepwear

Developed by a fashion industry executive who was frustrated by the lack of options in sleepwear, RECLINER is luxurious and stylish, yes, but we’re talking about it today as an essential because it’s truly functional and may even help you sleep better. Their featherweight Japanese satins are machine-washable; the bamboo jersey incredibly soft and comfortable. It’s also temperature-regulating so you can wear it year round. We also love that because bamboo is more absorbent than cotton, it helps prevent sweat from pooling on the skin. For those of us mamas who had crazy postpartum sweats, this is definitely a plus. Lastly, and possibly most importantly, you’re going to be lounging a lot those first few weeks so why not look cute while doing it?

The Queen Rose Pillow

This U-shaped total body pillow provides side sleepers with the ideal alignment of the spine reducing strain on the lower back, helping to alleviate back pain. The pillow’s unique filling provides comfort for side sleeping and retains fluffiness for better performance and longer use (and there is no chemical-y smell.) By the way, if you haven’t had your babe just yet, the Queen Rose is also ideal for pregnant women, in fact one Amazon reviewer says, “any husband whose wife is expecting should buy this now!”

Venta Kuube

The Venta Kuube is a powerful yet compact 2-in-1 humidifier and purifier. Incorporating a “Cold-Water Evaporation technology”, the Kuube operates with a whisper-quiet multi-speed motor to put the perfect amount of humidity into the air, never over-humidifying and never creating white dust or mold. Simultaneously, the Kuube removes airborne pollutants like odors, allergens, dust and dander from the air without the use of filters. The Kuube’s dual purpose coupled with its size make it perfect for small spaces and minimalist parents alike. Perfectly humidified and pure air means moisturized and rejuvenated skin, more restful sleep and increased concentration – three things that every new parent needs. Bonus: crafted air also helps with many of the breathing problems that cause snoring.

basq Lavender Calming Oil

Due to its pregnancy- and breastfeeding-safe formulations, basq has always been a favorite brand of the team at Gugu Guru. Monica, Gugu Guru’s founder, swears by the brand’s Lavender Calming Oil for the amazing benefits it provides in her personal care routine. Lavender, after all, is shown in sleep studies to help both infants and adults sleep longer and deeper. Plus the Lavender Calming Oil is also dual purpose for mama + baby; moms can use it on their skin as a relaxing essential oil, while also using it on their babies for infant massage. Basq’s Lavender Calming Oil is free of parabens and phthalates and clinically tested for ZERO skin allergens. Note: as a little extra refresher, Monica also likes to balance her skin and mind throughout the day with Naturopathica’s Lavender Honey Balancing Mist.

Dirty Lemon [sleep]

While we believe it’s important for new moms to get as much sleep as possible, we caution about getting too drowsy, especially if you’re nursing or co-sleeping with your baby. Therefore, we 100% recommend consulting your doctor about Dirty Lemon [sleep] (or really any thing you ingest) before you try this product. The [sleep] drink, best taken before bed time, supports a restful night’s sleep by way of its proprietary herb blend, along with Magnesium and rose water. Dirty Lemon’s [sleep] ingredients include filtered water, cold pressed lemon juice, pure rose water, lemon balm, passionflower, chamomile and magnesium glycerinate chelate. Again, check with your physician or Lactation Consultant but all of these ingredients seem fine for nursing (in fact, many experts recommend that nursing mamas take more magnesium) though, according to Kelly Mom, some research suggests that consuming heavy, heavy amounts of lemon balm could affect breastmilk supply – though this is not proven and this may be a plus if you currently experience over-supply.

QuickZip Sheets

If you’ve been following Gugu Guru for awhile, you may know that we are big fans of QuickZip crib sheets, but you may not know that we love this brand for us grown ups too. That’s right! We need easy changing bedding as well. As we mention above, new moms can sweat a lot, especially when nursing. And, if you’re breastfeeding, your boobs can leak on the sheets when you sleep. To top all of this off, sometimes babies have accidents when they’re in your bed – spit up, urine and the occasional diaper blow-out (hey – it happens!) So all of this means that you’re going to have to change your sheets a lot more often than usual and maybe even in the wee hours of the night. Make it easy on yourself and go with QuickZip sheets for your adult bed – you can just zip off the top layer without fuss or, more importantly if you’ve had a c-section, without pain. Plus they didn’t sacrifice quality with the functionality, the sheets are 400-thread-count luxurious sateen cotton – soft and smooth against your skin for a great night’s sleep.

Babywearing Workout Video

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Morgan Suarez is back this week with a special treat – a video outlining a 15 minute baby wearing workout! This routine can be done anywhere, all you need is a baby and a baby carrier. You can follow Morgan on her blog or Instagram.

Ah, the new year. A new beginning, a fresh start.

If you’re like me, working out more was on your list of resolution. And if you’re also like me, you’ve already been slackin’.

Sometimes it’s just not possible. Getting out of the house by yourself is no easy task. So, here’s a short 15 minute workout you can do at home while wearing your baby (or by yourself). This workout will you get you into tip-top shape in no time.

You can check out Morgan’s past babywearing workouts for Halloween, Thanksgiving and Holiday time!

Mompreneur Spotlight: Stephanie Greunke of Healthy Mama, Happy Baby

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It’s no secret that Gugu Guru is a big fan of the Whole30, so when we got the chance to interview the mama behind the Whole 30’s Healthy Mama, Happy Baby program, we were beyond excited! Stephanie Greunke is a registered dietitian with a master’s degree in nutrition who specializes in women’s health. She is a certified personal trainer and prenatal and postnatal corrective exercise specialist. Stephanie guides and supports women locally and globally through her web-based private practice, RockYourHormones.com. She also hosts a podcast called Real Food Mamas, which is available for free on iTunes and Stitcher. Together with Melissa Hartwig of the Whole30©, Stephanie created Healthy Mama, Happy Baby, a virtual pregnancy handbook consisting of a series of short videos with comprehensive information meant to guide women throughout their entire pregnancy. Read below to learn more about Stephanie Greunke.

GG: How and why did you start Rock Your Hormones, and how did the Happy Mama, Healthy Baby program come about?

SG: I originally started Rock Your Hormones to support women dealing with a wide variety of women’s health issues (such as PCOS, hypothalamic amenorrhea, endometriosis, and infertility). As I started helping women heal their bodies and resolve their hormonal complaints, they ended up getting pregnant! I then switched my focus to prenatal/postnatal health to continue to provide optimal care for the women in my practice. I love educating women on how to optimize their diet and lifestyle to support a healthy, enjoyable pregnancy and postpartum. I empower women with the information they need to make the best choices for themselves and their family when it comes to pregnancy, birth, and postpartum.

During my first pregnancy, I realized how much misinformation was out there when it came to pregnancy. I kept reading conflicting information and became frustrated that women were confused about what to believe and were scared about veering off from the conventional path, even if it didn’t feel right. Melissa Hartwig of the Whole30 had a very similar experience to mine and we decided together to create something different. We created a virtual pregnancy handbook that replaces the conflicting, fear-mongering information currently available to pregnant women with a common sense, open-minded, positive approach to pregnancy. We continue to update the program with the latest evidenced-based recommendations and support the women on a daily basis through our private Facebook community.

How do you balance work and family?

I do my best to keep them separate. When I’m with my kids, I’m WITH my kids. When I’m working, I’m working. I used to try and tackle a quick e-mail or two while my son was independently playing, but found that I would easily become frustrated if he needed my attention before I was done. I felt that wasn’t fair for either of us, so now my computer stays in the office and I set my phone on a table far enough away from our play area, so I’m not tempted to check social media during playtime.

I hired a nanny when my first son was about nine months to give me more time for work. It was important for me to spend the first six plus months with him, but as he approached his first birthday, I was ready to add more work hours to my day. Starting when he was a year and a half, I had him spend Monday – Friday morning with our nanny in order to give me time to work on my business. I picked him up from the nanny, feeling refreshed and productive, so I could spend the remaining day present with him.

I just had a second son in October, and lucked out with a great napper. Since I’m not ready for him to be with a nanny, I use his naptimes to work. I have to be extremely organized and focused because my work time is condensed. I pick no more than three tasks to accomplish each day, and say “no” to a lot of business opportunities. I give myself grace with my business knowing that this is a short season, and I will be able to put in more work hours once he’s a little older. As long as I’m doing a little bit every day to maintain my business, I’m happy. And if mama’s happy, everyone is happy.

What’s the best part about being a “Mompreneur” and running your own business?

I love having a flexible schedule. With young kids, they are bound to get sick (a lot). Even with all the nutrition/wellness tricks in the world, their immune systems are constantly being challenged and it’s a good thing for them to get sick every now and then. Being able to take a “day off” without having to check in with a boss and enjoying the extra snuggles makes being a mompreneur the best option for me right now.

In addition to being a mom, I’m a military wife. We move every couple of years, so having a virtual private practice and online program is such a blessing. I don’t have to worry about starting and quitting jobs every few years because everything is online.

Top 10 Tips for Running While Pregnant

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Editor’s Note: Last week we shared some great products for a Runner’s Registry, and today we’re joined by Tootsies‘ founder, Jackie Edwards, whom happens to be a 5-Time Olympian and a Certified Personal Trainer! She’s here to give her top tips for running while pregnant! Tootsies is a new line of fun and fashionable compression socks specifically branded for the modern mom-to-be who still wants to maintain her sense of style while alleviating the discomfort of swollen ankles, feet and legs. Reduce swelling. Look good. Feel great!

Running has long been known to be a great way to add cardio to your workout program for many reasons, including increasing endorphins in your brain, which ultimately puts you in a better mood overall. Running can also help to reduce anxiety and improve sleep while providing you with an awesome total body exercise. Gestational diabetes and hypertension have also been known to be reduced in women who exercise regularly.

The decision to run or not during pregnancy depends on many different factors and you should always consult with your doctor to get the best advice. No two pregnancies are the same and you can never be too precautious. If a woman has had no prior history of running or jogging before pregnancy, it is generally advisable not to begin a running regimen while pregnant. If you were an avid runner before getting pregnant, then it is likely that you will be perfectly fine to continue with your routine however, you should still listen to your doctor’s input on the duration and frequency of your runs. There are certain medical conditions such as preterm labor, preeclampsia, placenta previa or short cervix, where running should be completely avoided.

Here are our Top 10 Tips to help you successfully navigate your way through pregnant running:

Wear supportive running shoes that have high arches to ensure comfort and stability.
Wear a proper running bra without wires to help support tender breasts. Some women will also benefit from wearing a belly band to support a large baby bump.
Focus on really good running technique as opposed to increased pace and try to run on flat surfaces.
Tune into your vitals. Know the signs to stop exercising. Contact your doctor if you experience an abnormal shortness of breath, chest pain, painful uterine contractions, vaginal bleeding, dizziness, or feeling faint.
Be aware of your conditions. It is important to avoid running in the heat, especially in the first 12 weeks because overheating could potentially harm your baby.
Nourish your body properly. Blood sugar swings are common during pregnancy. Have a small snack/meal about an hour before you exercise and carry an easily digestible snack or have juice on hand while you exercise in case you begin to feel lightheaded or dizzy. Be sure to hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! Drink plenty of water before, during and after exercise.
Listen to your body. If you don’t do it already, pregnancy is a great time to start paying attention to the signs your body gives you. The signals your body puts out during pregnancy are clear and obvious. Heed them! If you’re feeling too tired to run one day, consider resting or walking instead. Trust your body and don’t overdo it.
Measure your mileage and don’t run yourself to exhaustion. Record the number of minutes you run. If you are able to engage in a conversation while running, that is typically a good indicator that you’re exercising at a safe level.
Pay attention to increased joint laxity. Be aware of increased joint range of movement caused by pregnancy hormones. This increased laxity is necessary because our pelvis must be flexible enough for a baby to pass through. However, an increase in flexibility can put you at risk for injury so be aware of this increased range of motion, don’t overstretch and protect your joints.
Last but not least – PUT YOUR TOOTSIES ON!!…You didn’t think we’d forget this one did you??……Always wear your Tootsies Maternity Compression Socks when you go out for a run, particularly in the third trimester when your ankles, legs and feet are more likely to be swollen, achy and tired. Compression socks help to reduce and prevent swelling and inflammation, reduce and prevent spider and varicose veins, improve blood circulation and reduce fatigue and soreness. Your Tootsies will be your best running accessory! #treatyourfeet #rockoursocks

Once you have safely delivered your bouncing bundle of joy, be very careful about your return to exercise after giving birth. The months following childbirth and delivery is a time for your body to rest and repair because your pelvic floor muscles and abdominals have been stretched and pushed to their maximum limits. During this time, it is important to retrain your breath, and rehabilitate and strengthen your core and pelvic floor before you return to running.

Most women who return to running and vigorous exercise too soon after giving birth won’t actually experience any issues. However, the number of surgeries for pelvic floor disorders is on the rise, so it’s better to err on the side of caution.

Good luck with your pregnancies and have fun running!!

Celebrate Feeding with the Earth’s Best Organic Formula! (+ giveaway!)

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As parents, we want the best for our babies; whether it’s where they sleep, what they wear, or what they eat – we strive to make sure that we are providing them with the right resources to keep them healthy and help them thrive.

We’re so excited to team up with the Earth’s Best Organic® brand to Celebrate Feeding! We understand how emotional, exciting, and sometimes confusing deciding how to feed your baby can be, especially for first time parents. While it’s generally known that “breast is best,” breastfeeding might not be an option, such as with adoption. Or, some moms need to supplement when they go back to work. For a host of reasons many moms turn to formula. Through celebrating feeding, we want to give formula-feeding moms the help they need cutting through the noise and learning about what best-in-class products are available to them.

We’re here to share some of our favorite feeding products, helpful tips for bottle feeding, travel tips, fun baby and mama feeding style, and more! Each day this week we will be sharing a new post to Celebrate Feeding; we will be providing resources, product recommendations, and many mama lifestyle hacks!

We are proud to join the Earth’s Best Organic® brand to celebrate feeding because for over 30 years Earth’s Best has been committed to providing better-for-baby products that are pure, safe and sustainable. As the creators of the first complete line of organic infant nutrition and care products, Earth’s Best Organic® infant formulas are produced with milk from cows that are humanely raised and not treated with antibiotics or growth hormones. Earth’s Best is also known for providing parents, no matter how they’re feeding their little one, with amazing resources and information. Their Infant Feeding Schedule provides a comprehensible chart for new parents on how much, and how often, a baby should eat, including resources for both breastfeeding and formula feeding. For parents who choose formula (or supplement with formula), their video on organic formula explains all of the wonderful benefits of choosing and organic formula. Confused on whether your baby needs milk, soy, or low lactose sensitive formulas? Earth’s Best provides resources for navigating the formulas and picking the right one for your baby.

There does not need to be a one-size-fits-all method to feeding your baby. Every baby is different, and even…every baby is different at every stage! Breastfeeding, known for its many healthful benefits, is a wonderfully natural way for your baby to get a boost of immunity from their first feeding onward. Ruth A. Lawrence, M.D., a professor of pediatrics and an OB-GYN states that “the incidences of pneumonia, colds and viruses are reduced among breastfed babies.” Breastmilk is known to be a cure-all for ear infections, pink-eye, and even helps prevent your baby from getting sick! Breastfeeding also has benefits for the mama, such as leading to a lower risk for ovarian and breast cancer, as well as type 2 diabetes.

Formula feeding, especially with an organic formula, also has some wonderful benefits for babies and moms. It’s much easier to document how much a baby formula a baby is drinking, and when mama gets tired of feeding, she can share the responsibility with others – it does take a village! Formula provides all of the vitamins and iron a baby needs in perfectly measured doses, so you never need to worry that they’re not getting the nutrition they need.

Whether you’re breastfeeding or formula feeding, both methods are nutritionally fulfilling for babies, and no matter how you feed your baby, as long as you’re cuddling their sweet little warm body next to yours, they will feel loved and safe.

We are excited for you to join us and Celebrate Feeding with the Earth’s Best Organic® brand this week!

Follow Earth’s Best on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest.

Enter below to win a three month’s supply of the Earth’s Best Organic Formula, a Comotomo Bottle Starter Pack, a BabyBjorn Bouncer, $125 to Finn + Emma and a Newlie Louise Bag!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Top photo by Molly Leon Studios

Third Photo by Amy Buelow Photography

Whole30 Tips and Tricks for Moms

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Gugu Guru’s editor in chief is a big fan of January Whole30’s to reset for the year; when she came across the Happy Family Organic Superfoods Cookbook for Baby and Toddler, and saw that some of the recipes were Whole30 compliant, she knew she wanted to share the book and some Whole30 tips with all of you! Read on for a description of the Whole30, as well as tips for completing a Whole30 with a baby and toddler in tow.

Doesn’t every January feel like a total mental reset? Along with organizing my bank statements and computer files, I also gravitate towards doing a Whole30 program. What is this Whole30 that seems to be popping up everywhere now? Essentially, the Whole30 is a total reset of your awareness of food; by eliminating sugar, grains, alcohol, legumes, and dairy, you can give your body a chance to reset the system and see how these foods affect you mentally and physically. Initially, I started eating paleo and doing Whole30s back before I had kids, as I found that sticking to a paleo diet helped cure my lifelong cystic acne! However, I’ve stuck with it because I’m a huge fan, and I love that I can involve my kids in eating healthy too.

When I received the Happy Family cookbook, I was in awe – it is gorgeous! My three year old even came and read it with me; the colors are bold and bright, and I love that the recipes are kid-friendly, but also super sophisticated. A bunch of their recipes are paleo, and even Whole30 compliant, but two of them stuck out to me as sounding amazing. The Coconut Milk Chicken with Broccoli and Snow Peas (just sub out the vegetable oil for coconut oil!) on page 70, introduces children to a new palette with mint and basil, as well as providing healthy fats and veggies. I couldn’t stop salivating over the recipe on page 77 for Orange-y Beef and Carrot Burgers (again, sub in another oil for the vegetable oil to make it Whole30 compliant). I love that these burgers have so many veggies and fruits high in vitamin C – perfect for a wintertime dinner! These meals, while created for children, would be wonderful for anyone, even at your most chic dinner party! Colorful, healthy, and completely full of flavor.

Doing a Whole30 with kids at home isn’t always easy; there’s lots of cooking and cleaning up, meal planning, and thinking about food. By resetting your system and not eating sugar, often times, you’ll find yourself sleeping better at night…that is, unless you’re a mother whose two kids wake up every hour (sleep, what was that again?) Luckily, you can still have your coffee in the morning; though dairy isn’t allowed on the Whole30, we have a wonderful solution: Nutpods! I have to say, when a friend told me about these genius little pods, it was a total life changer. Did you know a lot of coffee creamers have added ingredients which aren’t good for you? Nutpods are made from purified water, coconut cream, almonds, and natural flavors. They are totally Whole30 approved and delicious! They come in original, hazelnut, and french vanilla (I even cook with the original sometimes!). They surely perk up my coffee after a long night of not sleeping. It absolutely makes the Whole30 easier to have these on hand (we suggest adding them to your baby registry, as they’re great even when you’re not on the Whole30).

There are many amazing resources for staying strong during a Whole30 – especially for pregnant and breastfeeding moms! Healthy Mama happy baby is a Whole30 website dedicated to all of the women currently on the Whole30 whom are breastfeeding, pregnant or post-partum. Anyone else doing a Whole30 this month (or have you done one?) leave a comment and let us know!

All photos by Molly Leon Studios

Babywearing Exercises While Wrapping Holiday Gifts!

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Adorable mama Morgan Suarez is back for another fun babywearing workout post. Today’s workout? Babywearing exercises you can do while wrapping holiday gifts!

You can follow Morgan on her blog or Instagram.

PS. We’re sort of obsessed with Morgan’s yoga mat – you can find this ban.do mat here!

It’s no secret that women in general are born multitaskers. So when the holidays come rollin’ in, it’s time to break out those skills tenfold. Sometimes there’s just not enough time in the day for it all, so here are some simple workouts to do while babywearing and wrapping presents!

The Plié Squat:

Start with your legs apart, heels in and toes out, lower down into a squat with the knees tracking straight over the toes, and then lift. Do this 10 times.

Then, lower into your plie and lift and lower in tiny pulses 10 times.

Staying low in your plie, shift your weight to the right, bending the right knee and extended the left leg, then shift to the left. 10 times each side.

Parallel Squat:

Move your feet into parallel, and squat with knees going straight over your toes, then lift 10 times.

Staying low in your squat, alternate the feet, extending them forward and then placing back onto the floor. 10 each foot.

Then, with standing leg slightly bent, bend the working leg into a 90 degree angle and lift to the back, activating your glutes, then lower 10 times.

Then lift the leg up to its highest point and pulse it up and down 10 times.

Lunge:

With toes going straight forward and knees tracking straight over the toes, lower down into a lunge then lift 10 times.

Stay low in your lunge and pulse up and down 10 times. Repeat on the other leg.

Abs:

Stand on your knees with toes touching and knees a little wider than your hips. Keeping the back completely flat, as if in a plank position, recline back then lift 10 times.

Then, twist to the right as you recline, lift, twist to the left as you recline, and lift 10 times each side.

Sit down on the floor with your feet in butterfly position, you may place a pillow behind your lower back for extra support, lean back, and then lift 10 times.

Then, recline twisting to the right, lift in center, and recline twisting to the left 10 times each side.

And that’s it! If you’re feeling extra motivated, repeat the whole process with each gift and you just killed 3 birds with one stone. Baby is asleep. The gifts are wrapped. And you got a killer workout. Way to go, mama!

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