by Our Nourishing Partner, Nourishrds

“So be sure when you step, step with care and great tact. And remember that life’s A Great Balancing Act. And will you succeed? Yes! You will, indeed! (98 and ¾ percent guaranteed)”  ~ Dr. Seuss, Oh, The Places You’ll Go!

Not only can we learn so much from listening to the unbiased, unfiltered and innocent thoughts of children, we can also learn a lot from their storybooks.  Thank you, Dr. Seuss.

The Great Balancing Act is something that seems to get more difficult—rather than easier—as the years go on.  For the most part, children have it mastered.  They take time to sleep, eat, play, explore, learn, grow, laugh and cry.  As adults, we tend to lose that concept of balance.  We hardly even take the time to sit down and enjoy a well-balanced meal, let alone play.  Eating in your car doesn’t count. 
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by Our Nourishing Partner, Nourishrds

Pregnancy.  Probably the most magical time in your life.  Your body is housing and nurturing a little life—a boy or girl who will quickly grow to turn to you for praise and a smile, to run to you to wipe away their tears, and to write Mother’s Day cards in large, squiggly pink crayon letters.  But at the same time you’re celebrating the growing human being inside you, you may also be struggling with the extreme changes in your body and managing the day-to-day demands of life while feeling very tired.

The most important thing you can do during this time—take good care of yourself.  Put yourself first.  Or, if putting yourself first seems impossible, put your growing baby first.  A healthy Mom creates a healthy Baby, and a healthy Mom is someone who fuels her body with wholesome foods, gets the rest she needs and handles stress well.

Does this sound difficult?   It is tough.

We have a few ways to help you have a healthy pregnancy, to help give you the energy and stamina you will most certainly need when your baby arrives.  Plus, another recipe… 
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by Nourishrds, Our Nourishing Partners

The holiday season commences with an entire day dedicated to food. And there exists a tendency to want to wear comfy clothes, like pants with an elastic waistband to our big holiday meal.

A friend recently told us, “Thanksgiving is a dietitian’s worst nightmare,” referring to the sometimes (okay, often) over-indulgence that takes place.  And we all know that Thanksgiving is only the beginning. The candy canes and peppermint chocolate in the office, the shortbread cookies from your neighbors, the casseroles and pies at family gatherings, the festive cocktails you enjoy with friends. The list goes on. Food is everywhere.
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Parenting Press Tip–The more a child values his or her own body, the more care and concern he or she will take in sharing it.

“Each one of us has a mental and emotional ‘picture’ of our body, and we respect and enjoy our bodies to differing degrees,” says Janie Hart-Rossi, abuse-prevention counselor and author of Protect Your Child from Sexual Abuse: A Parent’s Guide. She goes on to point out that young children are generally more comfortable with their bodies than are most adults, not having yet fully absorbed ideas like “All girls should be thin” or “All boys should be strong.” Take advantage of this natural enjoyment small children have in their bodies and nurture it as they grow.
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