Is Your Child's Sleep Affecting You?

Since my husband, Steve, and I are about to have a baby, I've been thinking and reading a lot about children's sleep. I know that I don't function well on limited sleep, so it's important to me that our baby has good sleep habits from an early age (both for their benefit and for mine).

When I am not getting enough sleep, I am irritable, I have difficulty being productive, I have more negative thoughts, I don't deal well with stress, I don't feel like exercising or cooking, and I crave unhealthy foods.

Does this ring true for you? How about for your child or children? When children don't get adequate sleep, they also get irritable and once overtired, they will likely have a difficult time falling asleep.

I truly believe that all children are different and you need to find the right approach for them, to help them sleep well during naps and at night.

Some of the sleep-related books I have found helpful and recommend:
Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child
Secrets of the Baby Whisperer
Good Night, Sleep Tight

Is Gelato better than Ice Cream?

A new gelato place opened in Chapel Hill and while I was talking to the owner, she educated me on the difference between gelato and ice cream. I've always wondered how they were different and which one is "healthier."

It turns out that gelato is traditionally made with milk, while ice cream is made with cream. Gelato is creamy because of the process that is used, not because of the fat. And, the flavor of gelato can be more intense because there is less fat content. Apparently the fat content in ice cream dulls the flavor a bit.

Not all gelato is this same. The store in Chapel Hill claimed that their strawberry gelato had about 130 calories per cup (while icre cream is about twice that). I was amazed! I did some investigating at the grocery store, however, and the gelato I found had the same fat and calories as ice cream. You'll have to be a food detective when comparing these two treats.

If you live in the area, I recommend checking out Sugarland on Franklin Street. My favorite flavors are mint and hazelnut :).

What's in season?

Now that the food sold in grocery stores is flown in from California, Chile, and other far away places, I find we're so removed from what's in season and being grown locally.

One way to get in touch with what's in season is to shop at your local famers' market.

I love shopping at my local farmers' market in Carrboro because the food is fresh and delicious. Plus, I have the added benefit of supporting local farmers and the environment. I encourage you to find a farmers' market in your area. You can find one by going to http://www.localharvest.org/

Here's what's currently being sold at the Carrboro Farmers' Market:

• Asparagus
• Green Onions
• Green Garlic
• Greenhouse Strawberries
• Broccoli
• Collards
• Turnips
• Beets
• Sweet Potatoes
• Chard
• Kale
• Spinach
• Lettuce
• Arugula
• Mustard Greens
• Carrots
• Red Kale
• Radishes

3-Week Makeover for Your Food & Health: A Simple & Gentle Cleansing Program (by Phone)

I am excited to announce a special program that will walk you step-by-step through a 3-week cleanse - that is sure to kickstart changes in your body. The program starts in 6 days. If you sign-up today, you will receive a bonus 30-minute private consultation with me during the program.

Please note, this cleanse program is NOT about juicing, fasting, or taking lots of supplements. That type of program has never appealed to me, and I've developed a program that is both effective and more gentle.

I am thrilled to be offering this program because I have seen how cleansing (the right way) can have a powerful impact on your body.

The benefits of cleansing include:

• Getting your metabolism functioning optimally
• Quickly shifting your eating habits to a healthier level
• Reducing inflammation and bloating
• Increasing energy
• Reducing cravings
• Reducing stress
• Clearing up skin, digestive issues, allergies and congestion

If you are looking to make some changes before summer, I encourage you to sign-up.

Remember, we start in 6 days!

Click here to learn all about it and reserve your spot.

Easy 10-Minute Roasted Asparagus

It is Spring and that means it’s asparagus season. I find it difficult to believe that until a few years ago, I thought I hated asparagus. Now, it’s one of my very favorite vegetables. These green spears are one of the very first crops of the year and they have a very short growing season.

When selecting asparagus, look for firm, thin stems with deep green or purplish closed tips. Use asparagus within a day or two after purchasing for best flavor. Store in the refrigerator with the ends wrapped in a damp paper towel, and be sure to place the asparagus in the back of the refrigerator away from any light, since folate (which asparagus is packed with) is destroyed by exposure to air, heat or light.


Easy 10-Minute Roasted Asparagus

Ingredients:

Bunch of asparagus

Olive Oil

Sea salt

Cooking Instructions:

1. Wash asparagus and break off the ends of the stalks.

2. Drizzle with olive oil and sea salt and spread on a cookie sheet.

3. Heat oven to broil and cook the asparagus under the broiler for 5 minutes. Turn the asparagus and cook for another 5 minutes.

3 Ways You Could Benefit from a Cleanse

1. Quickly kickstart healthy changes in your food.

Do you find it’s tough to stick to healthy eating habits all year long? You might find that you let some unhealthy practices creep into your life during holidays, when you are feeling stressed or overwhelmed, or when on vacation. Once these habits creep in, you may find it difficult to change them.

If you aren’t feeling great as a result of the way you’re eating, cleansing is a great way to quickly shift your habits and move to a healthier level with your eating. The right cleanse will give you a structured and gentle way to make changes that last, even after you’ve finished the cleanse.

2. Get your metabolism functioning optimally

It’s likely that, knowingly or unknowingly, some of the foods you consume are congesting or toxic to your body. The organs that monitor your metabolism can’t work optimally when they have to deal with processing these foods.

What happens in this situation? The liver and kidney’s detoxification systems get overloaded, the brain’s weight control systems are disrupted, insulin resistance is promoted, your circadian rhythms are altered, your stress response is activated, your thyroid may not function properly, you may have increased inflammation, or damage to your mitochondria (your body’s calorie- and fat-burning furnaces).

Cleansing gives your organs a rest and the ability to clear out toxins that might be preventing your body and metabolism from functioning optimally.

3. Learn how to reduce stress and feel rejuvinated

A big part of cleansing is about what you’re eating, but an effective cleanse also works on reducing your level of stress. Why do you care about reducing stress while cleansing?

From my perspective, there are 2 key reasons. First, when we are in a state of stress, our body produces a stress hormone called cortisol. This hormone promotes weight gain around the middle, increases blood sugar and blood pressure. Second, it is very difficult to make good choices about food when you are in a state of stress because you’re feeling overwhelmed and/or tired. In order for you to be successful implementing food changes during a cleanse, it’s important that you find ways to slow down and take extra good care of yourself.

An effective cleansing program will provide you with a variety of specific strategies you can implement to reduce stress and practice self-care. This will allow you thoroughly enjoy the cleanse and, you’ll walk away with techniques you can implement after the cleanse.

Want to learn more about cleansing? Register for my upcoming F*ree Workshop-by-Phone.