The post Whipped Naked Magnesium Butter appeared first on Day2Day Joys.
]]>Written by Kari @ Living Strong Wellness, Contributing Writer
It seems these days that good, restful sleep is hard to come by. Not only with adults, but children as well. As this is not an exciting fact, it is a reality and I believe we have a wonderful variety of natural options to help us.
For instance, there are herbal teas, essential oils, supplements and something I want to share with you today – magnesium butter.
Ahhh, this stuff is amazing. Why do I love it so much? Because it provides our body something that is lacking so severely in today’s generation – magnesium.
The list goes on and on, but those five points alone should get people’s attention when it comes to supplementing with safe sources of magnesium. Data from 2012 stated that 48% of the American population, 79% over the age of 55, were deficient in magnesium. This isn’t good, especially when it is such a vital mineral and nutrient for our bodies.
Along with taking a liquid mineral supplement, we use magnesium butter every evening before we go to bed. We just spread a thin layer either behind our knees or on our inner arm (where the skin in thin) and that’s it! I have made this for several family members and friends and they all love it and can tell a huge difference in their quality of sleep (especially the adults…go figure)!
The recipe is simple and last a long time on the shelf! We always use it, so we go through a 4 ounce container in about 3-4 months (three of us use it). Since the recipe doesn’t contain water, it would probably last a good 6-8 months if kept clean (wash hands before using the butter) and can always be extended to 12-18 months or longer if refrigerated!
You can make this recipe ‘naked’, meaning adding no essential oils, or you can add your favorite calming and sleep inducing oils such as lavender, cedarwood, vetiver, ylang ylang or sandalwood! If you are using therapeutic grade essential oils, only use a total of 40 drops of oils combined for this amount, which is one cup.
The end result with the color will vary depending on the type of shea butter you use. We use a raw shea butter that has a deep, deep yellow tone and rich scent and amazing benefits that trump refined and bleached shea butters.
I hope you enjoy the wonderful benefits of this magnesium butter that is safe for you and your entire family!
The post Whipped Naked Magnesium Butter appeared first on Day2Day Joys.
]]>The post Tropical Delight Smoothie appeared first on Day2Day Joys.
]]>1 banana, sliced (either fresh or frozen)
1/2 cup pineapple, fresh or frozen
1/2 cup ice (this is optional and typically used when the fruit you are using isn’t frozen, if you are using frozen fruit, it usually is plenty cold and you won’t need the ice)
The post Tropical Delight Smoothie appeared first on Day2Day Joys.
]]>The post Chicken Tortilla Soup With A Kick appeared first on Day2Day Joys.
]]>
Written by Kari @ Living Strong, Health & Wellness, Contributing Writer
It is October and it’s officially cooling down enough to try this great recipe, which is perfect for any chilly weather you might experience over these next few months!
This belly warming soup is simple, quick and so delicious! All you need is a blender and a stock pot (or slow-cooker) and you’re set to make the most amazing tortilla soup you have ever had! You can keep this a mild meal or add some extra peppers to give it that kick that keeps you coming back for more!
This is not only a favorite in our house, but in houses all over these wonderful states! I’ve shared this recipe over the years and then it was included in my cookbook – and it gets rave reviews every time! I have never found a restaurant that has a soup that compares to this! You definitely need to try it! I’ve taken the text from the cookbook to include allergen-free information as well as more tips to make it even healthier!
Yield: Approximately 14 cups
I’m special because (if using “optional” ingredients, the allergy-free info below may change):
dairy-free, egg-free, gluten-free, grain-free, soy-free
Substitutions:
*Full-fat yogurt: full-fat sour cream
Health Made Easy:
if you’re short on time, you can purchase your broth, but make sure it’s organic and low-sodium | homemade broth will supply your body with so many nutrients that you’ll never get out of store bought brands, so choose homemade if possible | don’t have time to cook a whole fryer, purchase chicken thighs, bake and shred | use fire-roasted tomatoes or seasoned diced tomatoes | you don’t need to put all the optional extras in the bowl first, but boy does it sure taste good that way | store leftovers in glass mason jars in the fridge | if you use the chipotle peppers the soup will get spicier over a couple days | choose non-gmo tortilla chips
Enjoy! Enjoy! Enjoy!
The post Chicken Tortilla Soup With A Kick appeared first on Day2Day Joys.
]]>The post Immune Strengthening Herbal Tea Blend appeared first on Day2Day Joys.
]]>Written by Contributing Writer, Kari @ Living Strong Wellness
Now that summer break is winding down and kids are heading back to school – we need to start becoming more proactive with our children’s health.
Don’t get me wrong, we should be proactive year round, but during the summer we’re outside more getting fresh air, we’re getting loaded with Vitamin D, getting more sleep and getting more exercise. With school back in session, our children are sitting in air conditioned schools, windows closed, anti-bacterial soap flowing down the halls, little outside time, little exercise and lots of germs.
That one word freaks a lot of people out. This is why anti-bacterial soap is a multi-million dollar business. Think about it, though…if it really worked, why are schools filled with scores of sick kids and teachers all the time? I’m not an advocate of this ‘miracle’ germ cure. Not only does it kill bad bacteria – but it kills good bacteria as well, making you and your children more susceptible to germs, viruses and infections.
I’m also not a fan of the toxic ingredient, Triclosan, in the majority of these anti-bacterial soaps. Good ole hand soap and water works just fine. In fact, my son and daughter opt out of using anti-bacterial soap at school. They have been informed the past 4 years that they are to only use soap and water. They literally stand at the door as kids come in from recess and squirt that dangerous and hormone disrupting junk on the students hands. Not good.
It’s not bad hygiene that’s an issue (although it may contribute to some children’s constant sickness). It’s the internal health of the person. This is what will determine if sickness occurs or not.
We will all be surrounded by more germs, viruses and infections and our bodies will need the extra boost to keep the immune system strong and ready to fight any foreign invaders that enter the body!
There are many ways we can aid our immune system in remaining strong throughout the year, especially the school year and winter season. I don’t know about you, but I would much rather be proactive, daily taking care of my body and my child’s body to keep sickness from taking root, than having to do all I can to bring health back where sickness came in and took over.
This recipe is easy, quick and yields approximately 12 full strength servings (adults) and 24 half strength/diluted servings (children). I am fortunate to be able to purchase all these herbs in bulk at our local Vitamin Cottage/Natural Grocers. If you are not able to purchase these locally, you can purchase them online at places such as Bulk Herb Store and Mountain Rose Herbs! If you aren’t into making teas yourself and don’t want to order bulk herbs – you can also order the herbal tea blend from my Etsy shop – Glowing Mama. Each bag contains 12 adult servings or 24 youth servings. Each serving is 1 tablespoon of the herbal tea blend to 8 ounces of water.
It’s a great addition to your daily routine to help keep the immune system strong and functioning at optimum levels! This blend can be served hot or iced. It is always best to get organically grown herbs when buying in bulk, but if it’s not possible, get what is available to you. When ordering from Mountain Rose Herbs, you will be getting high quality, organic dried herbs that you can use safely and without worry of toxins. The other option is to grow what you can as well! That’s always an added plus and you know exactly how it is grown from seed to completion.
*** Adults can drink this directly after steeping. If making for children 12 and under, fill cup half way with tea/infusion, then add RAW honey, then add water to fill the rest of the cup.
The post Immune Strengthening Herbal Tea Blend appeared first on Day2Day Joys.
]]>The post Reinventing the Cold Lunch appeared first on Day2Day Joys.
]]>Written by Kari, Contributing Writer
With school starting soon and routines getting back in order, if your child attends school, packing a lunch is a part of that routine. I’m not sure about where you live, but the choices for ‘hot lunch’ are not acceptable at my daughter’s school, so everyday is a ‘cold lunch’ day. I understand the convenience of your child eating hot lunch at school, but the overall consequences are nothing short of disastrous.
And no, I’m not exaggerating.
Understanding where food comes from, how it’s made and what ingredients or chemicals are in the food, it’s not too hard of a decision to make your child’s lunch if you are proactive in your child’s health.
A year or so ago they even made a decision to make school food “healthier” by getting rid of all milk choices over skim and 1% milk. How is this healthier? I like to inform other parents, who are health conscious like me, that having your kids drinking this low-fat and fat-free milk does nothing but deprive them of necessary fats and spikes their insulin levels every time they drink it. Not a habit you want your body doing constantly.
And now that they are wanting to add aspartame to the flavored milk – that makes it even worse. I won’t even go into the fact that the milk comes from conventional cows that have been pumped full of antibiotics and hormones. But serving our kids this kind of milk isn’t helping the obesity issue nor the type 2 diabetes epidemic among our kids.
So…how as parents do we keep our children well-fed during school? How can we make it simple, yet not boring? How can our kids enjoy eating cold lunch while most kids around them are eating hot lunch?
Well, I’m in my 5th year of making my children lunches for school and I have a pretty good handle on what works for my kids on a day to day basis. Not all of my suggestions may work for you, your schedule or your child’s tastes, but it’s a good starting point and can spark ideas in you that you can successfully implement in your house to make sure your kids have a healthy lunch box too!
- thermoses for hot meals
- various size Pyrex bowls with lids that little hands can take off easily, but are strong enough to not cause leaking
- reusable snack bags (I have cloth/canvas ones, but sometimes I still use regular old Ziploc bags)
- insulated lunch bag
- ice packs (I always stick these inside Ziploc bags in case they break or leak – and this has happened several times)
- reusable utensils and stainless steel water bottles
*If you don’t want to send your kids to school with glass (some ages this may not be realistic), then find plastic containers that are BPA-free.
1. Always have protein in the lunch.
This is good for stabilizing blood sugar levels and helps keep tummies feeling full longer. Good choices are cultured milk (like Kefir or Amasai), fish, beef, chicken, turkey, bison, raw cheese, eggs, raw leafy greens, beans, legumes.
2. Include healthy fats everyday.
Those healthy fats are so important for our kids. They assist with cell repair, hormone function, brain health and more. They will also keep your kids feeling full longer. Examples of healthy full-fat foods: avocados, full-fat plain yogurt, whole milk cottage cheese, whole milk, cheese, nuts, grass-fed butter, eggs, coconut oil, etc.
3. Good, energy giving carbs!
Those kids need energy so they aren’t falling asleep during their long days. Good carbs are fruits, beans, legumes, whole-grain grains (sprouted or soaked are best), blueberries, raspberries, chia seeds, flaxseed, almonds, honey, quinoa, etc.
4. Clean water.
Make sure they have good, clean water to drink while they’re at school. Most schools allow your child to have a water bottle at their desk – or at least access to their water bottles while they are in class. Having water as the beverage option is perfect in lunches, especially since lunch is either before or after recess – they’ll need to stay hydrated.
Leftovers.
This is always the easiest and most convenient. I cook healthy dinners, so they gets healthy lunches.
Soups.
During the colder months, the crockpot is my friend. Sending warming and beneficial soups (like chicken noodle or vegetable soup) is a fun change for kids.
PBBH.
For those days when my kids just want a sandwich, they get a homemade spread of peanut butter, butter and raw honey on real sourdough bread, with some Enjoy Life! mini chocolate chips sprinkled on top. They love it!
Healthy ‘sides’.
Think summer sun pickles, slices of raw cheese, chips and homemade salsa, homemade banana bread, roasted chickpeas, etc.
Probiotics.
My children get full-fat yogurt at least 3 times a week in their lunch. I add some raw honey, a tad bit of grade B maple syrup and chia seeds. Not only is this filling, but gives their immune system a good boost and will give them satiety and lasting energy.
Outside the box.
Have you tried cheese quesadillas? These take about 5 minutes to make in a skillet with tortillas, cheese and coconut oil. Fold in half, slice and put in a thermos so they stay warm. Pasta with meat sauce is always a winner. Noodles and butter with parmesan cheese. Sliced hard boiled eggs, raw cheese and crispy sourdough bites. Burritos and enchiladas are quick and easy and filling! We also do French toast, pancakes and waffles quite often. If we make any on the weekend, we make a bunch extra and freeze them, pop them in the oven while the kids are getting ready, prepare with grass-fed butter, grade B maple syrup, cut up in pieces and put into a thermos. It’s always a hit. You can also try homemade crispy chicken nuggets (grain-free, dairy-free, egg-free is an option) with a side of ranch dip made with yogurt and seasoning.
The possibilities are endless, especially if you do leftovers a lot. Just make sure you have some extra when you prepare meals and you’ll have a variety of lunch options for your child. Figure out what your child will and will not eat. How much time do they have for lunch?
If you put too much food in, it will most likely all come back home. If you find certain items they just won’t touch – exchange it for something else. I realized over four years that school lunches are a battle I choose not to fight. I can concentrate on certain items at home for breakfast and dinner or snacks rather than fighting everyday when they’re not getting consumed at lunchtime.
Try to stay away from controversial foods. By this I mean if your child drinks Kombucha – have them drink it at home instead of at lunch. Yes it’s healthy. No it’s not harmful. But we shouldn’t be those parents trying to ‘make a statement’ with items that may be controversial in the sight of the school leaders. Kombucha does contain small traces of alcohol – so leave it at home and pack water, milk (or dairy alternative) or spa water for a flavored water alternative. My daughter thoroughly enjoys her Black Cherry Chia Raw Kombucha – but she never takes it to school. Most of those above lunch ideas can be found in my cookbook, Real Food. Real Kitchen. So Good!
If you find your child feels left out when her classmates are eating pizza and cheeseburgers – then maybe you can plan a couple meals during the month where the leftovers she takes will be what her classmates will have for hot lunch, like pizza, just healthier versions. I’ve done this for my daughter and she was really appreciative that I did that for her.
Packing your child’s lunch doesn’t have to be a burden for you, nor does eating it have to be boring for them! My daughter gets more comments on her lunches and all the kids wish their mommy and daddy would make their lunch like hers! That’s a sign that kids are open for something new and creative when it comes time for lunch at school.
The post Reinventing the Cold Lunch appeared first on Day2Day Joys.
]]>The post 5 Tips For Blood Sugar Balance appeared first on Day2Day Joys.
]]>I have been doing a lot of research on blood sugar issues lately. I have never been tested, but I am pretty sure I am borderline hypoglycemic. My husband always says I treat eating like it’s my full time job because I am always trying to plan ahead and not go too long without eating or I become what we call around here…HANGRY! Hungry, angry, yup, you get the picture. It’s not a pretty sight.
I always have to pack snacks when we go places so the “hangry mama” doesn’t show up.
Hypoglycemia is basically a fancy word for low blood sugar. If I don’t eat the right foods every few hours, I feel foggy, shaky and CRABBY! If I eat junk food or a lot of carbs I am a complete mess! Anyone else have these problems?
Low blood sugar and high blood sugar lead to a lack of energy, memory loss, shaking or dizziness and mood swings. Our brain actually uses about 25% of our bodies blood sugar, so low blood sugar affects us mentally, very quickly. In the long run blood sugar issues can lead to damaged organs and blood vessels, high blood pressure, heart disease, heart attack, stroke and the list goes on.
It’s long list of issues I would like to avoid! Prevention is always key! A little research and planning can go a long way in preventing so many health issues.
NOT fiber from packaged/processed foods promising to fulfill all of your fiber dreams. Instead, choose fiber from beans, peas and lentils. High fiber foods break down more slowly and help to steady your blood sugar.
Our bodies need these essential fatty acids for numerous health benefits, including heart health. But they also help maintain a healthy blood sugar/glucose levels as foods break down in the body. I use ground flaxseed as it is super versatile. You can add it to recipes, sprinkle on cereal/oatmeal or use as an egg substitute. It doesn’t have a strong flavor so it’s easy to sneak into your menu! PLUS, it is a good source of fiber…double bonus!
It is too easy to get stuck in a rut eating the same foods everyday. It seems easy, but then becomes boring and we are tempted to go for less that ideal foods. I know I am guilty of this! Try a new recipe, cook a favorite food differently, spice things up a bit! Eating the same foods day after day doesn’t create the balanced diet our bodies need.
Or if a high glycemic food is on the menu, pair it with a low glycemic food to create balance. Low glycemic foods are those that break down more slowly so blood sugar levels are not raised too quickly.
Again, this is not an easy one, as the average grocery store has boxes and boxes of prepackaged foods promising “Whole Grain.” Well, it seems to me that a whole grain should be just that…whole. Meaning not broken down, separated, processed, bleached and so on… Look for grains in their true form, no additives. Such as quinoa, oats, barley, buckwheat and rye.
Think twice before you eat. A little preparation and thought can go a long way in preventing serious blood sugar and other health issues.
The post 5 Tips For Blood Sugar Balance appeared first on Day2Day Joys.
]]>The post Create Your Own Health Arsenal: Build A Strong Immune System & Treat Symptoms Naturally appeared first on Day2Day Joys.
]]>Written by Kari, Contributing Writer
This is a transitional time of year for almost everybody out there. School has started up again, summer is almost over and the cooler months are on the way. All of this means that we are going to have to pay more attention to keeping our immune systems strong so those ever present germs and bugs don’t have a chance to wreak havoc inside our bodies!
Even healthy families and houses can experience the sniffles, coughing and that ‘yucky’ feeling, but do we have to resort to the Cold/Flu aisle at the local grocery store to get us through these times?
I can’t tell you the last time I bought OTC medication for my family when those runny noses, sore throats and coughing made an appearance. I made a decision eight years ago, after my daughter was born, to take care of these issues in a better and more safe way. First and foremost my husband and I pray over our children and ourselves and speak healing scriptures over us. That is always our main defense – then we attack the natural symptoms in the body so we don’t have to just ‘wait it out’. We usually get things nipped in the bud quickly and these symptoms never go longer than a day or two.
Often times adults and children alike have weakened immune systems due to a myriad of reasons, including antibiotic use, poor nutrition, lack of activity and exercise and stress – just to name a few. Along with addressing these issues, there are several things that are in my go-to ‘health arsenal’ that are natural and safe and I feel comfortable in giving my family knowing they are beneficial to our bodies and not harmful or toxic.
This is extremely important. If your body isn’t getting nutritious food that support the functioning of the body, your natural immune defenses will be down and this makes it so much easier for germs, viruses and bacteria to enter in and take root. So, eliminating or decreasing processed foods, eating fresh and living foods, drinking plenty of water and eating a good variety of macronutrients (healthy carbs, healthy fats and protein) is a sure way to keep the immune system strong. We also like to make our own ‘Spa Water’ around here that livens things up a bit while adding some healthy goodness to our water intake.
When sunshine decreases in your area and you’re not spending as much time under those beautiful rays – then supplementing with Vitamin D3 is a must. Now, D3 is a fat soluble vitamin and is better assimilated by the body when taken with a fat. This is why it’s best to take Vitamin D3 with Cod Liver Oil (which contains concentrated vitamin D, vitamin A and is the #1 source of EPA and DHA). As an added note – we also lay off the sunscreen for the most part. Unless we’ll be outside in 100 degree weather for hours on end – we don’t use sunscreen. We welcome the healthy sun to do it’s job and give us natural Vitamin D! Instead we just use coconut oil or a special oil blend I make specifically for time in the sun.
The health of your gut can determine your overall health. It’s important to keep our gut populated with good bacteria and eating probiotic-rich foods is the best option. Full-fat yogurt, dairy kefir, coconut kefir, amasai, summer sun pickles, water kefir, kombucha, kimichi and beet kvass are good examples of cultured food alive with good bacteria. If needed, supplementing with a high quality probiotic is the next best option.
Used since the beginning of time, herbs are amazing and there are so many things you can make with them that strengthen your immune system or attack the bad invaders if they’ve already settled in. A few of my favorite recipes that we use all the time are Elderberry Syrup, Safe Cough Syrup, Natural Remedy for Sore Throats and Immune Strengthening Herbal Tea Blend. I also like to incorporate essential oils for even better results. Even simply combining eucalyptus, rosemary and lavender essential oils with some almond oil makes a good rub when you have congestion and a stuffy nose.
I am a huge advocate of juicing and for many reasons. I have experienced nothing but positive results with my family ever since we began juicing 5 years ago. Regular juicing removes toxins, cleanses on a cellular level and gives your digestive system a break! If you need to treat symptoms you see coming on – add ginger, garlic, beets, parsley or wheatgrass! Here are some of my day to day recipes we like in our house.
Choosing to make our own products has not only saved us a lot of money, but I also believe it has saved our bodies from untold amounts of damage. I have always valued the remedies of years gone by that were used by old-time grandmothers from the farm, civilizations that only had the substance of the earth to rely on and just good old common sense!
There’s no reason to fall prey to these transitional symptoms that try to show up this time of year. Start with a solid foundation of a good diet and include the other beneficial goodies as a way to keep your immune system strong and to treat symptoms naturally!
Take charge with your family’s health and make a quality decision to only take care of them using safe and natural methods! Doing this is a long term investment that pays off with long and healthy lives!
Make yours a LIFE WORTH LIVING and be confident in the fact that it is possible when you realize the reality of HEALTH MADE EASY!
*this post is linked to: Encourage One Another, Titus 2sdays, and WFMW*
The post Create Your Own Health Arsenal: Build A Strong Immune System & Treat Symptoms Naturally appeared first on Day2Day Joys.
]]>