Watch & Discuss: King Corn

Growing up in the Midwest, I have very fond memories of corn.  Sweet corn was something I looked forward to every year in late summer.  I do still love corn even though nowadays, it seems that corn is getting a fairly bad rap. OPB will be airing King Corn on Tuesday, April 15 at 10 pm.  Here's the overview:

"Almost everything Americans eat contains corn - high-fructose corn  syrup, corn-fed meat and corn-based processed foods are staples of the fast-food nation. Record harvests of corn are supported by a government subsidy program that promotes production well beyond market demand.

Filmmakers Ian Cheney and Curt Ellis decided to grow an acre of corn in rural Iowa and then document its path from farm to consumption. In America's industrial kitchens, they confront the realities of corn's uses: sweetening the sodas of a diabetes-plagued neighborhood in Brooklyn, fattening cattle in Colorado, making fast food cheap and consumers unhealthy, and driving animals into confinement and farmers off the land. Check OPB Independent Lens for additional scheduling."

Have you seen it?  What do you think? Are you a compulsive label reader and generally steer clear of high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS)?

Laptop Lunchbox: Have You Tried It?

A while back, I happened upon the Laptop Lunch Box concept, and was so excited to find out that it's carried locally at Mirador.  However, as I spent 15 minutes agonizing over the cost, the tightwad in me won over and I decided not to throw down $30 for a lunch container when my cupboards were overflowing with plastic containers.  Still though, I find myself googling bento sites and ogling the flickr pool for laptop lunches for eye candy (sad, huh?). Have you tried the laptop lunch box?  Is it worth the cost? I do worry that the contents will shuffle in transit and end up a big mess by the time I get to the office.  Any ideas for easy inspirational lunches besides leftovers and sandwiches?

What's for Dinner? Seeking Inspiration

We've had many discussions on meal time, but Debra's looking for some inspiration (and we can definitely relate) for dinner.  We agree that something new, something quick, and somthing tasty for the little guys and gals would be nice.  She emails: 

This may seem like a funny question, but what are you serving for dinner? I am a mom of 2 boys 2 and 4, they aren't too picky, but I feel like I am out of ideas and bored to death with what I cook every night! We aren't vegetarian (but welcome non-meat suggestions) but are on a more limited budget. Are there any great family dinner ideas floating around? I do cook one family meal we all eat and we have some set ones the boys love taco night, some Italian night (usually chicken parm and pasta), soba noodles and veggies but I need some new ideas! Any help, recipes or thoughts are welcome and I imagine it goes without saying I need it to be easier than not cooking dinner w/a 2 yr old and 4 yr old boy while daddy is at work is a challenge in itself!

The best sliced bread

Sliced bread is a great thing.  Our household does toast for breakfast and sandwiches for lunch and munch on it on many points in between.  BUT, when it comes to picking good, wholesome, affordable breads, I'm curious how you choose?  At the store, a wall full of packaged bread is overwhelming. 

A friend once told me that the rules of 3s apply to bread: no more than 3 grams of fat, at least 3 grams of protein, and at least 3 grams of dietary fiber.  I would add that we shouldn't have to spend over $3 for a loaf of sliced bread. 

What's the difference?  What do you look for?  Doyou grab and go or do you compare ingredient lists?  Do you go local over all else?  Lower carb?  Lower cost?  Any go-to brands that you always pick up?

Liquor Before Beer, but What About Wine?

Since it's been an especially emotionally exhausting week for us.  Why? A casual visitor to the site may ask, and all you need to do is click over to the conversation happening on said post.  Anywho, at exactly 4:34 pm yesterday and 88 comments later, a few of us agreed we needed a much needed impromptu drink to lighten the mood.  The utterly trivial question was raised: "Liquor before beer.  But what if you're drinking wine and liquor?"  But I'm curious how others who do imbibe approach this dilemma?  Yes, very unimportant but I don't think my brain can handle much more than useless pieces of information.

Gelato Cups: Suffocation Danger?

We're certain that this is a common practice, the reuse of gelato cups for snacks.  This post isn't meant to cause undue alarm, but just wanted to share with you Amy's recent scary situation.  It's just a good reminder for all of us to be watchful of our little ones.  She writes: 

I'm not sure if any other mums out there have run into this scary situation, so I thought I'd try to spread the word.  You know those cute little thin plastic cups/dishes that gelato is served in at many local gelato shops... well, I've been reusing one for snacks at home.  The other day I heard a tiny squeaking sound coming from my son (who was luckily only a few feet away from me, completely in view).  He had finished his little crackers and then had put the small cup over his mouth and nose.  The cup had gotten suctioned to his face and he wasn't able to breathe.  Thankfully he was okay, but I cannot imagine what could've happened if I hadn't been right next to him.  Thanks for letting others know about this.

Any other tips on little hidden dangers lurking out there in commonplace objects?

Food Allergies in Kids: Meet Mama Robyn O'Brien

The New York Times likens her to Erin Brokavich (a compliment, indeed!) and the two know each other.  We've all heard about the rise in food allergies among kids in the U.S.  And by now we know the 'no nut' policy at just about every child care center and school.  So who's Robyn O'Brien and what's she doing, exactly, from her laptop in Colorado surrounded by four kids?  Find out  - and get inspired - over on Activistas.

Returning to Work: Babe Won't Bottle-feed

Megan is returning to work (anxiety enough), but on top of the normal stresses, her son has been having problems feeding off the bottle.  Can you offer any help?

I am hoping that you can help me by either gaining information from other moms about how to handle this issue OR at the very least some comfort that things will work out okay.  My 3 mo old son was taking a bottle w/out too much fuss up until about 2 weeks ago.  He has now decided he will have nothing to do with a bottle and I have to go back to work in 2 weeks...AHHH!!!  I am pumping breast milk and plan to continue to do this while I work, but he still will not take it from me, my husband or anyone else.  We have tried Advent and Gerber nipples so far.  I would love to hear from other working mamas about how they handled this situation.  My pediatrician has assured me that no infant has perished because their mother went back to work and that he will eventually take milk if he is hungry enough, but I am still so anxious about this!  Any helpful hints, success stories or reassurance would be very appreciated.

Lunch at Schools - is anyone there?

Now that we've tried to figure out what's for lunch again and again, what do we do when the kids don't actually eat it?  Heather emails:

I am wondering if anyone else has experienced this. My kids are first and third graders at a Beaverton elementary school. Every day I send them with homemade lunches, usually containing things they have picked out or made themselves, yet the lunches come back every afternoon half eaten, or sometimes barely touched at all. My third grader is a bit better about finishing, but my first grader does not even come close to finishing his lunch on a daily basis. I'm not sending a lot of food, either: half a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, a piece of fruit, maybe a small container of nuts, and a small drink. I used to send more, but I couldn't stand all the waste. The thing that gets me is that he tells me every day that he does not have enough time to eat it. Whether this is true or not, I don't know, but I have to think, aren't there teachers in the cafeteria to make sure the kids are eating? Does anyone at school care that my son is there for 7.5 hours and is only eating a couple of bites of sandwich and a snack in the classroom?

Top Ten: What Should You Buy Organic

The Environmental Working Group is a great urbanMama resource.  In their recent newsletter, they provide some great tips on packing healthy lunches.  Yes, this is a favorite conversation of ours.  But even better, is their produce list and scoring of fruits and vegetables that contain the most pesticide.  For those that use a combination approach of buying organic and conventional, this list is essential in determining which fruits and vegetables you may want to absolutely purchase organic.  The top ten worst?

• Peaches
• Apples
• Sweet Bell Peppers
• Celery
• Nectarines
• Strawberries
• Cherries
• Lettuce
• Grapes - Imported
• Pears

Visit the Environmental Working Group site to get the full list and wallet guide of 43 fruits and veggies! Do you have a strategy when it comes to buying organics?  Are you all or nothing?  Or does cost consciousness come into play?

Do you have breastmilk to spare?

A mother in our community is looking for help from other mothers who are breastfeeding. Janet's little son August was born 6 months ago with missing genetic material, has had several surgeries and faces a host of developmental challenges. Please read Janet's email below, and help if you can:

I have run out of my frozen supply of breast milk for little August.  still pumping, but not producing enough for his overnight continuous feed of milk through his G-tube.   I am able to get enough for his feedings during the day though.  Anyone have a freezer full of milk, or know anyone producing copious amounts that would be willing to send some our way?  Please pass on my contact info to them. Thanks a bunch, Janet Funk 503-234-2693

Picky Eater! Food Rut!

No, you don't say?!?  You've got a picky eater on your hands?  Well, I'm certain many of us can commiserate.  Peggy's looking for yummy meal ideas that might ignite the foodie in her 5 year old.  Any ideas?

We are in a total food rut. Our 5 year old would love to live on starches - potatoes, noodles, bread and crackers. It is nearly impossible to get him to try anything new. He had extensive food allergies (dairy, soy, wheat, corn, legumes, many fruits and greens, etc) and while he's outgrown most or all of them we really missed his window of learning to enjoy new foods. His 2 year old brother will, and does, eat EVERYTHING.

   

Regardless, we are in a complete rut when it comes to mealtime. If bean and rice burritos didn't exist we'd be up a creek! I swear they live on peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, mac and cheese, berries, smoothies, and yes, the occasional chicken nugget. Well, the two year old eats much better than this, but you get the idea.

   

Does anyone have yummy meal ideas? Hits that work for their kids? What do your kids love for snacks? What are their favorite foods? What is their favorite protein? I'm just drawing a blank these days.

What's for Lunch? The Sequel

Is it that time again?  Last year, there were tons of great suggestions for lunch box healthies, but we think it's time to renew the coffers of the lunch box treasures.  This year, we are packing one lunch each for our girls, a first-ever in this household.  Our littlest girl is excited to join the ranks of other older kids, and we have just let her pick out her new butterfly PVC-free lunch box.  What are you packing in the kids' lunchboxes this school year?  What are guaranteed hits or guaranteed bombs?  How about books?  Any books with recipes for lunch box success?

Finally: Water & Juice in a box

Thank you so much Leah for passing on this most excellent info!

"I have looked for 4 years for a juice box I can live with.  The average juice box for kids has as much sugar and as many calories as a soda.  I bought the smaller size which helped.  I bought the refillable tupperware containers that are shaped like juice boxes, but I still wished for the simple answer. And, today, I found it.   At Target.  Tthere is now "Motts for Tots"....it is juice plus purified water, which is what our pediatrician had always reccomended: cutting the juice in half with water.  Anyway, I bought 4 cases of it.  It's finally here.  Cheers!"

Nursing Working Mama’s Conundrum: Part II

Betsy's a working nursing mama, and her supply is dwindling.  Did you read that?  Her supply is dwindling! Ack. She writes:

Dear Mamas,

I need a friendly chorus. My nursling is 9 months old, and I'm working full time out of the house - I've been pumping as regularly as I can, but my supply is just dwindling and she's barely growing.  Here's what I'm doing, which covers just about every wives tale remedy I've ever heard:

• - daily oatmeal
• - fenugreek, 3 caps, 3x/day
• - nursing tea, 1x/day
• - pumping 3-4 times/day at work
• - drinking liquids like they're going out of style (only one caffeinated beverage per day)
• - eating like mad - this week, I started a dark beer per day.

My supply has dropped from 16 + ounces in an 8 hour period when I started, to far less than 12 now.

Meanwhile, the baby has gained only 4 ounces since her six month checkup, and my husband who is caring for her at home this summer (with our 3-year-old) reports herculean efforts to get her to eat. She is a social, alert, active baby who is meeting all her developmental milestones. She's just not growing much, and I want to fix that before three more months have gone by with such low weight gain; she's still on the growth charts, but just barely -and she was above the 50th percentile for size at birth. Gauging from what a let-down consists of throughout the day, and comparing that with what she *should* be eating (over 700 calories per day at 16 pounds) is rather alarming; I just don't think she's getting that much, but she doesn't seem to want more.

I want to nurse her as long as I can, but it is brutal to pump so much for so little return. Every session is an exercise in fighting off feeling like a failure (irrational, I know, but it's there). We've begun supplementing with formula, and I'm fine with that, but I don't want my husband to spend all his time trying to jam food into her gob (not that we can force her to eat, anyway).

Mostly I'm writing to whine, but if anyone can look at my tale and say "Aha - that happened to me, and I just did X and fixed it!" or "I understand. My body just quit making milk, too. It's hard."

Survey: What's in Baby's Bottle?

EWG, the Environmental Work Group, is a wonderful resource, a research and education nonprofit organization that focuses on issues about family and the environment.  From the website:

The mission of the Environmental Working Group (EWG) is to use the power of public information to protect public health and the environment. EWG is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, founded in 1993 by Ken Cook and Richard Wiles.

Anyway, one of the current projects EWG is undertaking is working to ensure that potentially harmful chemicals are kept out of the foods we eat.  The following information is direct from their website:

"Bisphenol A (BPA) is a hormone disruptor found plastic baby bottles and the lining of canned foods including liquid and powdered formulas in steel cans. While there has been a lot of attention to potential exposures from plastic bottles, our calculations suggest that BPA in formula could be a greater health risk.

EWG is preparing an independent analysis of infant exposures to BPA in formula to present to the National Institutes of Health. We need your help to gather food and weight information for real babies to understand the intensity of BPA exposure. Timing is critical! NIH is meeting in early August to make important decisions on BPA safety and use.

TAKE THE SURVEY."

If your baby was fed formula, please take a few minutes to complete the survey below by Tuesday, July 31, 2007.  Please find the survey here:  http://www.ewg.org/bpasurvey

Feeding a 6mo when he 'hates' solids

Oh, wise urbanMamas, can you share some of your experiences with introducing solids to your childrens' diets?  Vivian emails:

We're trying to transition into solid foods with my 6 mo son -- cereals, pureed fruits, etc. -- as it is definitely time and i notice that i sometimes have trouble keeping up with him in terms of supply and demand... one problem: he has decided that he categorically HATES all solid food.  This is not just 'eeewww, this is a weird texture' or something, he really flips, and this from one of the most mild-mannered little guys around.  It has gotten so that he clams up whenever he sees something approaching his mouth, even though we've tried to keep our attempts low-pressure and light-hearted. Normally, I'd be very into just letting him do it in his own time, but his doctor says he needs the extra iron, and I certainly need the help in feeding this little bottomless pit!  Has anyone encountered such things? do you recommend any really 'big winners' in the baby food department?  Or should I just work on really increasing my milk supply right now and waiting until he decides to make the step himself?  Thank you so much for any ideas at all!

Best Bottles for Breastfed Babies?

Have you mamas had great experiences with bottles for baby? Jenny is wondering:

I'm going back to work in August and am planning ahead for feeding my baby pumped breastmilk while I'm at work. He'll be 4 months old. I had to pump a lot for his first month in order to supplement the nursing, but we finger fed him instead of using a bottle. I'm nervous about introducing a bottle because of the potential of nipple confusion. I'd appreciate suggestions for specific bottles and nipples that imitate the nursing experience and work well. I've done a bit of research but the options are overwhelming and it's always helpful to see what has actually worked for mamas and their babies.

Seeking Babyfood Cookbooks, Recipes, Websites

More on  getting kids to eat fruits & veggies, especially in the earlier years, an urbanMama asks:

I am wondering if any mama's out there have come across any baby food cook books or websites that do a good job of combining veggies, proteins, good fats, whole grains, fiber, etc to maximize vitamins, fiber and all that.  I know its so important when starting solid foods to remember that they are not a replacement to breast milk but a supplement.  Pound for pound nothing can come close to the nutrition of breast milk of course.  I would love to find some ideas for creative recipes that help develop their little taste buds (combining nutritious with yummy to appeal to that sweet tooth most babies have, etc) and still have well rounded meals.

Are there any go-to favorites for kid-friendly cookbooks or websites, especially for early eaters?

About Poop

Aaah, our one of our favorite topics.  It's time to talk dirty again, and Melissa wants your feedback.  She writes:

My 9+ month old daughter just recently started solids and she is really chowing down! From the jar we offer Earth's Best Organics (from the "Firsts" line) pears, apples, carrots, and sweet potatoes. From the kitchen I mix whole milk yogurt (pediatrician's recommendation) with mashed banana, and avocado with breastmilk. She is still breast feeding but because I work full time she gets expressed milk in a bottle, about two during the day while I'm away.

As you know, this switch to solids has resulted in a change in the poop texture. It also seems like the little Bean is pooping all the time! Every time I turn around she's got "the face" and seems to be pushing really hard. Her poop has become extremely thick and sticky. The combination of pushing hard and having to wipe a LOT due to stickiness has caused the area where the poop comes out to be very red and sore. She has started to whimper or cry in anticipation when we head upstairs where the changing room is, even if she doesn't need to be changed! And she cries and twists and squirms when we do need to wipe that area.

We are using Bordeaux's Butt Paste after every diaper change, and I have Burts Bees diaper ointment as well, but the problem is not a diaper rash. So I am looking to other mamas out there for suggestions for two things:

1) a salve that will heal or cool my poor baby's inner lining (a temporary fix)

2) some suggestions on solving the problem - what will make her poop less? or change the texture of the poop? or make it easier to poop? Should I change her food type? Feed her less often? I would guess she eats about a jar a day in a couple of sittings (my husband is stay-at-home dad and feeds her when she seems hungry). Is there something natural I should/could add to her food to make it come out easier?

Thanks for any help or suggestion on this indelicate topic!

Freezable Dinners: It's All About Prep

In our inaugural DIY-reezable dinner session, we ended the night agreeing that we should do it again.  The primary lesson learned from our first experience was that the load on the organizer to select and quadruple the recipes was a heavy burden.  We made some tweaks and planned on a future date to get together.

Mother's Day eve, we gathered at Blair's house intending to make dinners for our five families.  On the menu was:

• Chicken Tinga;
• Caramelized onions, sauteed mushrooms, and bacon quiche;
• Korean spareribs;
• Meatloaf; and
• Cranberry walnut scones.

We emailed the recipes to the "organizer" who undertook the huge task of shopping for the ingredients.  Fortunately, Olivia came with the Chicken Tinga bagged for everyone which meant we could focus our efforts on creating and assembling the remaining meals.  The result was four yummy meals, and some terrific scones for breakfast or snacks.  With each experience, we walk away with more tips to make it easier on our busy schedules.  Some changes for our July gathering:

• Do as much prep work prior to gathering.  Caramelizing the onions and sauteeing the mushrooms proved time consuming.  The quiche also needed to bake prior to taking home which meant additional time.  Not that we minded each other's company, but streamlining the process makes gatherings more efficient and means more time for drinking wine after.
• Our best friend is the food processor.  I can't even count the number times we used the food processor for chopping veggies, shredding cheese, crumbing bread, etc.  The more the better and the next time we might even make sure to have more than one on hand.
• Print out recipe labels.  Good thing JJ had impeccable handwriting, but I'm certain that on the 10th bag of spareribs, she was ready to toss the trusty Sharpie aside.  Next time we will assign someone to print out recipe labels to facilitate this step.
• Recyclable containers.  Ziploc bags and disposable aluminum containers were used for all of our recipes.  Next time we might try to bring our own dishes and containers from home.

Do you have any great tips to share with others thinking about doing an assembly party?  As always, we are looking for additional recipes for future gatherings.

Baby Food Talk

Noelle's working on a story for The Oregonian and she needs your help.  She writes:

I'm a reporter for The Oregonian  and am working on a story about a couple of start-up companies by Portland moms who are making/selling their own lines of organic baby food. I'm interested in talking with some moms out there about their own experience with commercial baby food, in terms of selection, taste, quality, etc., and whether they like the idea of buying "homemade" organic baby food. Do a lot of moms prefer organic? Why? And maybe the most important question of all: What do babies think of the food their moms get at the store? You can contact Noelle at noellecrombie@news.oregonian.com or call 503-276-7184.

 

Sorting the Sweetness: Sugar, Stevia, or Splenda

When I first became pregnant with my first child, I decided to go out of my way to avoid Nutrasweet (Equal, Aspartame, etc).  I had stopped drinking diet drinks prior to becoming pregnant but occasionally ate a yogurt or other product that contained the artificial sweetener.  I noticed that each time I ingested the stuff, my head would "close" and I'd have a negative reaction.  I got a numb feeling in my head/ears and it would sound as if I was talking inside my head.  I didn't want anything that made my body react that way making it into my little one's system just as he was trying to form into a little guy.  Today, Splenda has been added to the mix.  Much like Nutrasweet, I have this gut feeling that it's been rushed to market too soon without the proper analysis of long term effects.  So my first instinct is to avoid it and also avoid letting my son consume it.

Why would this sweeteness thing be a difficult decision?  Well, to say the least, I have a horrible sweet tooth.  I LOVE candy, chocolate, sweets, and of course most of all, ice cream.  I thought at one point the artificial sweeteners would allow me the sweet flavor without all the calories.  Now, I know, that the answer is not in the sweetness but the choice of foods.  I prefer to snack now on sweet fruits and veggies (and occasionally some dark chocolate or a fluffy biscuit with honey on it).

Not surprisingly, the fruit did NOT fall far from the tree.  My little guy is almost 4 now, and pretty much hops out of bed asking for candy or chocolate.  We implemented a rule that he can't receive candy if he asks for it (just to try and cut down the requests).  It is up to mama and daddy's discretion when the sugar is to be doled out.  Especially challenging is trying to keep the soda drinks out of him (this is daddy's weakness, and when the stuff is around, it's just not fair to say that the kiddo can't have it 'because we said so').  So, when I saw this product on sale at Fred Meyer, I thought "wow, a sweet drink treat with no sugar in it!"  Because it was sweetened with Stevia, I assumed it was a safe alternative.  After all, stevia is just a plant extract, so it must be safe, right?  Right??

Well, my husband (the soda addict) raised a bit of a stink, saying who knows what stevia could do to our child.  Queue the mommy guilt.  Wow, did I just make a horrible choice here?  The FDA has at one point restricted it, later allowing it but not as an artificial sweetener.  Rather they term it as a "dietary supplement."  I know that our family is lucky in that we don't have any diabetes to battle, but in learning to make good food choices, do we draw the line at stevia, or do we allow it?  My instinct tells me it should be allowed, but I'm also trying to be sensitive to my husband's thoughts as well.  What about your family, do you just stick to the natural sources (honey, maple syrup, etc), or do you indulge in the sweet treats?  Does stevia meet your diet requirements or is it a no-no?

More on Quick Eats

Hope you enjoyed yesterday's FOODday feature on do-it-yourself freezable dinners (preferably with some friends over some wine). We've encountered a couple of other options to help you have a healthful dinner at the ready at all times:

Black Radish. Chef Heather is your personal chef who will handpick every menu from scratch - taking into consideration everything from the families likes & dislikes, to what type of diet they would like to be following, to whether or not they want all organic groceries! I have clients on a weekly rotation, bi-weekly rotation, monthly rotation or just the occasional service during busy times in their lives. Every meal package is custom-designed for each client around their specific dietary, palate, and lifestyle preferences. You can choose frozen or fresh meals so while some families prefer each meal fully cooked for quick reheating in the oven or microwave - like Lime Steak Fajitas w/Avocado Black Bean Salsa - once-a-month clients can pull a pan of handmade Black & White Enchiladas out of the freezer when they know they have a busy week ahead, and it eliminates the worry of "What's for Dinner"? Black Radish, a small one-woman business, has personal chef packages starting at $250. And, Chef Heather adds that Black Radish is offering a 15% discount on a 5X4 package for all urbanMamas who are new Black Radish clients.

Cooking Accomplished. Thank you, Leah, who shares her experiences with Cooking Accomplished: "I just returned from a trip to a meal assembly place; it was something that I had been interested in for a while - it sounded like a busy working mom's saving grace. I had seen ads for lots of places, but most get their meat and produce from Sysco or someplace equally uncharming. But I saw an article in the Oregonian's FOODday section and they talked about a boutique-style place called Cooking Accomplished. The article described it as the Whole Foods of meal assembly: organic veggies, wild salmon, premium meats, a fun menu, fresh herbs and the descriptors went on and on. I was sold. I went on their website and booked a session for today. Their prices were the same as the other chain places- which suprised me - and the whole experience was so different. First of all, the owner greeted me when I walked in. She and a partner got me set up. The place was lovely. There were fresh scones and a galette sliced for us to try. One woman was having wine. There was fresh coffee. The owner, Shelley, was friendly and helpful as i began to assemble my meals: empanadas, bocatini, wild salmon nicoise salad, turkey meatloaf, and several others. The owner is a chef and she opened about 9 months ago. She offers cooking classes as well and you could tell she loved her new gig. I chatted with the 4 other women who were also there assembling and it was just a nice experience. The food itself was really special: topshelf, so fresh, and I can't wait to eat it. Tonight we're having butternut squash and apple galette and carrot ginger soup. It is exactly what I was hoping to find, and it's independently owned to boot. It's right off of I-5 and making 6 lovely dinners plus stopping to have wine and snacks took me about 45 minutes."

Recall: Earth's Best Apple Breakfast

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning consumers not to use certain jars of Earth’s Best Organic 2 Apple Peach Barley Wholesome Breakfast baby food because of the risk of contamination with Clostridium botulinum, a bacterium which can cause botulism, a life-threatening illness or death. Consumers are warned not to use the product even if it does not look or smell spoiled. Details on the FDA Website here.

Spicing Things Up

LeaAnn wonders how you have dealt with introducing spice to your kid's diet.  She queries:

My husband and I are long-time lovers (times infinity) of hot, spicy foods; a lot of my home cooking runs in the Indian or Thai vein. I was fortunate enough to have avoided heartburn during my pregnancy, i.e., I continued to enjoy the spicy stuff during that time.  So my daughter got frequent doses of it in utero.  And once she was here, I was again fortunate: As a nurser, she's seemingly had no adverse reaction to what I've been "inputting," so I've never really had to alter my diet.   

I've gotten conflicting advice about when to introduce her directly to the spicy stuff.  All the books - yes, those darn books again - say bland is best for some time.  On the other hand, I have Thai relatives (by marriage) who, during their visit here last fall, when my daughter wasn't quite a year old, couldn't believe that I was dumbing the food down for her.  They were insistent that I let her eat my spicy portions, right now, because that's how their own families did it.  (I have to admit that when I've been to Thailand, pre-baby, I never paid any attention to what the little ones were eating, but I've no reason to disbelieve my relatives ) Anyway, for better or worse I pretty much chickened out & decided to keep on w/ the bland stuff.  Flash-forward:  Now my daughter is 14 months old and, quite appropriately, wants everything I'm eating, and (unlike previously) won't take "no" or a distraction for an answer.  I finally gave her some very mildly chile-flavored stuff the other night, w/ predictable results:  After a second or two, it burned her little tongue or her little throat, she became, er, fiercely dismayed (can't quite describe her reaction); I had the milk handy, which helped.  Next day, same food (leftovers), same demand, same capitulation, same reaction.

I was just wondering if at this point there is any way to gently ease her down the cayenne-lined path, or if I should just stop making spicy meals at home & hide the hot sauce, or what have you.  Wondering also how other heat lovers introduced their kids to spicy food.  And please don't call CPS on me for this!

Nice Cubes are In!

It was less than a year ago that we caught wind of Nice Cubes developing recipes and testing for its new organic frozen baby foods. Nice Cubes have been at markets now for a little while, and urbanMama Dianna wanted to share her praise of Nice Cubes:

Hi there! I am a local Mom who lives in the Pearl but wasn't sure where to send this. But, I have been using the organic Nice Cubes from Whole Foods (and I think now at New Season's, too) for my 8 month old, and they are just terrific! They are frozen organic baby food. They come in non-plastic microwaveable portions, and my boy much prefers them to the organic jar food that we were using before. I just wanted to pass on the word!!

Has your toddler tried Nice Cubes? What's his or her verdict?

Sharing some meat

I've heard about families sharing before, and I've wondered how this works?  Does anyone have experience or recommendations for the question Sharon sent?

My family and I are wanting to order a half or a quarter of a cow and lamb this year.  I have heard that one must order now to reserve the meat.  Does anyone else do this?  Where do you buy from? Do you order this early?  I  could use a little help with this...

Piggy Platter - The Solution?

As soon as my second son was old enough to sit in a booster at the dinner table, I was more than happy to pass on his high chair to my sister. Frankly, I’ve never been a fan of high chairs. It always seemed I spent more time cleaning the crumbs from the crevices than feeding my kids. In 0.25 seconds, the cheerios and crackers would end up pulverized to mere crumbs, of course congregating under the pad of the high chair. What I thought was being eaten up by my little goblin, always seemed to magically end up under his seat. The worst culprits mashed bananas, rice and couscous.  A friend mentioned that she even found herself using a toothpick to clean out the crevices.  Hearing that, I knew I made a good decision to do away with what some would find essential baby gear.

While switching to a booster solved some problems, it didn’t really address the problem of the mess. It seems though a local Portland mama came up with an ingenious solution – the Piggy Platter.  Lindy came up with the idea over a bowl of deliciously sticky oatmeal that her two-year-old son was spreading into every nook and cranny of their wood dining room table. How cool is that?  It’s also good to know that 10% of all profits are donated to Feed the Children.

I’m curious, how you combat the messiness of mealtimes? Do you take proactive steps to avoid foods that create the most mess?

From Formula to Food

Ahh... the introduction of solid food to a baby's diet. Another chapter in one's life begins! Meliah is seeking your insight:

Aurelia (my five month old daughter) and I are nearing the time for transitioning to formula and foods. I have a few specific questions involving the process. I am considering using organic formula but am wondering if formula is one of the foods that there is a marked difference in the organic and non-organic versions. Does anyone have any knowledge, information or experience to share about this? Also, what is the difference, if there is one, between single grain rice cereal and whole grain rice cereal? Any feedback would be much appreciated!

Portland Area Community Supported Agriculture

This post orginally appeared on 01.31.2005.

Some mamas I know have already partaken in Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) but I have not tried it yet. My primary excuse is that I'm the only one in the family that eats vegetables... and seeing as how I probably could not consume that many fresh veggies in that amount of time, it would end up being a waste of good veggies! In case you have not heard of CSAs, they are basically providers of local, fresh, organic produce on a regular basis typically between the months of June and October or November. Perhaps when my family is a little "older" and better at eating their veggies, we'll take part. In the meantime, I'll leave with you a link to the Portland Area CSA Coalition website. There you'll find links to local CSAs and some more information about what working with CSAs can involve. It's an opportunity for your family to learn about farming and where their food comes from, and it also inspires the consumption of healthier, fresher foods. Win-Win, I'd say. Anyone else have good or bad experiences to share with CSAs?

Our recent inquiry came from Jillian:

Anyone belong to a fabulous CSA? I always swore I'd join one when I had a child, and now my first baby's on the way! I don't need immediate membership, but definitely want my child to be raised knowing what a farm is and where their food comes from. If there's one you recommend I'd love to hear about it!

If I knew you were coming, I'd have bought a cake

Here's a fun question for all of you urbanMamas.  "The Boss" is hoping to find the perfect cake for her daughter.  Does the following stir up any recommendations?

We were up in Seattle recently to attend the 1st birthday party of the daughter of a dear friend.  The cake was one of those wonderful old-fashioned sheet cakes that I remember from my own childhood; it came courtesy of this old-school bakery there, Remo I think was the name.

My own bambina is turning 1 this week and I'd like to have some friends over - and would love to land a similar kind of sheet cake.  But I don't wanna do Fred Meyer; would rather throw my money at a mom-n-pop-type bakery, something neighborhoody, if possible.

Anyone have any ideas where to satisfy my nostalgia for a simple sheet cake for the bambina's bday? 

Vegetarian Meals Ready To Go

Lisa recently emailed us a question regarding vegetarian-friendly meals ready to go.  If it doesn't exist, seems like a great mama-praneur opportunity?!?

Does anyone know of an all vegetarian or very vegetarian friendly meal prep business in Portland? The ones I have come across (Dream Dinners and Dinner Voila) are meat oriented and, while some say you can substitute and make entrees vegetarian, I am looking for something more intentionally for vegetarians (preferably with organize, local produce, etc...). If you're not familiar with the concept, though I'm sure you are, someone else plans the entrees, buys the food and preps it, and you get all the glory of putting it together in a group kitchen that someone else cleans - all for a price, of course. Thought urbanMamas would be a good forum to ask this question.

Help! Milk Production Advice Needed

One of our dear readers is seeking your suggestions on increasing her milk supply.  Any chance a mama's been in her situation?

My son turned five months this week and at the very same time, with no other big changes I can think of, my breast milk production has gone off a cliff! When I'm with him, I have to feed him way more often to keep him satisfied. When I'm at work, I'm getting half what I used to when I pump -- and not near enough to keep up with what he needs at daycare. He used to sleep through the night and now he's waking up two or three times. My breasts constantly feel empty. I called the lactation consultant and she suggested taking more herbs (I've been taking a lactation support blend I found at New Seasons for two months), so I doubled that. But at this point, I'm going to deplete my freezer stash of breast milk tomorrow and I'm faced with having to supplement with formula. Now, I realize that formula isn't poison, but I was really hoping to make it to at least six months on breast milk alone. It's such an emotional issue, and the LC didn't have any advice for me on supplementing. Have any other Mamas out there found themselves in this position? Any advice on starting with some formula? Anything I'm not thinking of that could be to blame for this sudden drop in breast milk production?

What's for lunch?

Even though we've only been back to school for just about a month, I feel like I'm already tapped out for lunch box ideas. I was surprised when Philly told me one of her classmates brought Skittles in his lunch and another friend brought Doritos. Ack! (I was also surprised when she was given Sunbursts after her first music class last Saturday. I politely asked the music instructor to please not offer our little sweetheart any candy treats, no matter how wonderful she was! Her daddy and I are considering bringing our own incentives for her - maybe a sticker or bouncy ball?)

Back to the lunch situation... Now we're heading into cold and flu seasons, and I really, really, really want Philly to eat more diversified foods and get more essential vitamins and minerals from her diet. I really, really, really want Philly to eat fewer processed (or just minimally-processed) foods. My old standbys include: (lightly salted, unsweetened, creamy) Trader Joe's peanut butter on wheat bread, some scrambled eggs on rice in the thermos, leftovers from dinner (maybe ravioli, tortellini, chicken with rice and peas), carrot sticks with peanut butter for dipping, granola.

What are some easy but nutritious lunch box ideas? Especially for the picky eaters? Any really compelling books that get not-so-little ones (she's SIX!) to try new things? If you're packing lunches for your kids, what's in 'em?!?

Crock it up

Year after year, when this delicious autumn season comes around, I think to myself, "I should get a crock pot."  For years, I have been completely freaked about the notion of keeping an appliance on ALL DAY at home, while we're all out.  What if we start a grease fire?  And the house burns down?  This is a strange problem I have been dealing with for years, despite the many friends who have told me time and time again that they loved loved LOVED their slow cookers, how easy and versatile it was.  Still, I resisted, and just resorted to making my pot roasts and other slow-cooking goodies on Sundays when we were home all day (like today).

Anyway, I finally gave in.  Well, mentally, I did.  With the sale last week at Freddy's on a great crock pot, they were all sold-out.  It was very sad.  I am still prepared.  I have: 5 lbs of potatoes (some red, some sweet, some creamy teeny ones), stalks upon stalks of celery, lots of fat vidalia onions, maybe 7 lbs or so of carrots.  I have my rain check, so I'll have to go out of my way yet again to claim my prized crock pot.

So, what are all those easy recipes for my new appliance?  Is it as wonderful as you all tell me it will be?  Should I be drooling now?  Will my fall-time dinners be N times more scrumptious and N times more easy?

Coffee Shops: Nursing Friendly?

Here's an interesting spin on a much-loved topic, coffee shops.  Joanna wants to know about your favorite nursing-friendly java joint:

I'd love to know (and forgive me if this has already been posted--I did a search and couldn't find anything) about coffee shops that are good for nursing my baby--my criteria being really comfy chairs, good coffee, and a cozy atmosphere.  I'd love to know about any and all coffee shops in both portland and the surrounding areas. I like exploring, taking long walks in different portland neighborhoods and going to parks and there has been many times since my two month old son was born that I've just gone home to nurse when I would have preferred a closer place to hang out and feed my son.  In my neck of the woods, the Willamette Coffee Shop in West Linn is great, as is the Borders at Bridgeport Village.

Dream Dinners: Worth Every Bite?

In the early days, we had several discussions regarding freezable dinners and faking the home-cooked meal.  Chrissy, due to have her baby on September 11, needs your advice:

"...My husband and I have no family in the area. Our families are coming to visit about three weeks after the arrival of the baby. After taking some classes though the hospital, I am now thinking I should cook and freeze a bunch of meals for the meantime. Has anyone ever used the Dream Dinner service? There are several location around Portland. Also I am open to recipes that freeze well, can be made in the crocketpot or are quick and easy..."

Eating well: a vegan-mindful toddler?

Nurturing our offspring with healthful food choices is an increasingly difficult task. The market presents us with so many options, it can be overwhelming. In an effort to learn more and gain some guidance, Sara asks:

Does anyone have a vegan-mindful nutritionist that they really like and trust? My husband and I are vegan, with a 14 m.o., and have been breaking the vegan code because ensuring excellent nurtition just seems so daunting. Someone in SE Portland, even? Thanks!

16-month old not eating?

Every urbanMama has had a bout with the fussy eater.  Our little ones went through stages and phases, ebbs and flows, preferences and such.  What do you suggest for LA Momma?

Hi, I'm hoping to get some help from the urbanmamas on this one. My baby is 16 months and still nursing, in the night and a few times in the day, whenever he wants to. I'm thinking about weaning because he hardly eats anything at all. He's on the short side (but my husband and I are short too) and he ranks so poorly on the weight charts for a baby his age, but I don't care because he does look healthy. What to do about this lack of eating? Should I keep nursing because he seems to still need it for emotional security. Or do I stop nursing and hope he eats more?

Will Whiskey Do the Trick?

Sarah is seeking some comfort for her teething babe.  I personally like frozen blueberries - small enough to not be a choking hazard for an older infant, and full of anti-oxidants.  We still have a stash from our blueberry picking days last summer:

My 4 month old just started doing the teething thing and I’m wondering: what’s a mama to do if she would rather her baby didn’t spend the day with plastic in his mouth? Is there such a thing as an organic teething ring? Any old tricks out there besides the whiskey on the gums thing? I am also in search of a mama group and playgroup, are there any mama’s out there with similar age babies in NE?

Picky Eater

When Rebecca wrote in about her recent experience with her little girl's change in appetite, I could only wish I was in her shoes if picky meant eating grits and mac and cheese!  But not to downplay her dilemna and stress, anyone with thoughts to share with her?

I recently returned from a trip to the grandparents/great-grandparents with my 10 month old little girl. It was across a couple of time zones and my little one was pretty congested. And although not her first visit there, the prior one was when she was quite little a t 4 months old. So, new times, new faces, new places and a little under the weather. In any case, she was not a very good eater.

She is normally eating most table veggies, such as peas, beans, corn and spinach and fruits like apple and banana and melon, little bits of chicken, fish and beef and stuff like pasta, rice, yogurt and grits (yes, my trip was to the good ole south). I am still breastfeeding at least 6 times per day also. Well, while there, my child would only eat grits in the am and mac and cheese for the other meals. She would eat crackers for snacks. Of course, this was just "fabulous" for my mother and grandmother to see, as they were completely convinced that my daughter is not getting all the nutrients she needs. They were very reluctant to believe me that i cant feed her babyfood (she likes to self feed) or force her to eat other stuff. But i must admit i was a bit stressed that she did this. I just keep telling myself that she need "comfort food" as she was in a stressfully new situation with a cold.

One Dish Dinner - Family Nachos

This week the whole family is recovering from a nasty bug that had all of our tummies in knots.  I seem to constantly struggle to figure out what to cook for dinner and 90% of the time I feel like I cook the wrong thing, either because the family won't eat much, or eat any at all for that matter (isn't that what all nearly 3-year olds do?  Please, tell me it is!).  At first, I had planned to make Martha's Thai Chicken Soup for dinner last night... but I was way short on ingredients (anyone know where to get Kaffir lime leaves around here?  Thailand was the last place I got mine!).  Instead, I soldiered on home and decided to defer to the pantry.  I turned on the oven to 350°F and gathered a few ingredients:

Chips: Trader Joe's White Corn
Cheese:  Two types, Tillamook Extra Sharp Cheddar and Tillamook Pepper Jack (shredded)
Enchilada sauce:  Mild
Refried Beans:  Canned, fat free (no lard, thanks)
Sour Cream
Salsa (medium heat, for the adult half of the dish)

I warmed the beans in the microwave so they were "workable" and then started stacking.  In an oven safe dish: chips first, sprinkle with cheese, dribble some enchilada sauce, and dot with beans.  I did this 3 times and it was nice and mountain-like (don't stack too high -- avalanches are bad in the  oven!)  Bake until the cheese is nice and melty but not long enough for the chips to get too toasty.

While it's cooling, dot the top with some sour cream and add salsa to the "spicy side"... and serve it up!  The whole family ate like a pack of hungry wolves... and the dirty dishes were kept to a minimum!  Andrew especially took to the sour cream and the refried beans... tasty tasty.  I think he enjoyed not having to manipulate his utensils but using his fingers instead.

You can definitely color this dish up, use black beans instead of refried, add  cilantro/tomatoes/onions/pico de gallo or even some yummy guacamole if you have it handy.   Tonight, though, I'm making that yummy Thai Chicken Soup... with noodles!  Comfort food at its best...

Nice Cubes - An Alternative to Jarred Baby Food

Do you have a baby 7 to 12 months old still eating pureed food?  Are you looking to be part of an exciting and fabulous test group for organic, frozen, baby food?  Well, then help this local mama out.  Here's Katie McNamara's story:

I am developing a new organic frozen baby food called Nice Cubes, that will be available at New Seasons Market this summer. I am working on recipe development and need babies to taste test my product. I am working with professionals at the Food Innovation Center, a program through Oregon State University, committed to helping food entrepreneurs get their product to the market. The food is made for babies 7 months and older, is made with organic and sustainable ingredients, and has been cooked in a licensed commercial kitchen. I will send participants home with various samples and questionnaires to be filled out about the baby's dining experience. Come be a part in the development of the freshest baby food on the market in the Northwest!

Sound interesting?  Then email Katie at katielynnemac@hotmail.com.  Participants parents have the chance to win $40-$160 in gift certificates to New Seasons Market. 

NOTE:  I'm participating in this test group, and how is it going?  Cole seems to prefer and enjoy Nice Cubes over the jarred variety.  It has more texture which is much more to his liking.  I'm also finding that I'm finishing off any remnants.  I admit I don't like to waste food, but I also have to admit that it's fairly tasty.