My inspiration for this challenge came from my mother-in-law, Renee, who has supplied me with a lot of the knowledge I've aquired about raw foods and the recipes to get me started :).
My goal is to complete 30 days of eating between 50%-75% raw. The term "raw defines any food that is in it's original state of exsistance. Foods that have not been heated to a certain temperature so as to kill alot of the good qualities of the food (baked, boiled, fried, etc) and have all of their living qualities still intact are considered "raw".
Fact: Eating "raw" is NOT cheap!
Fact: It's proven that eating foods that are in their "raw" state increases your quality of life, reduces your risk of sickness and disease and (if pregnant or nursing) delivers all the necessary vitamins and minerals to your body and your baby's body to prepare for a healthy baby and safe delivery.
Fact: Experimenting with "raw" foods can be....trial and error.
I realized early this morning that today was probably not the best day to begin this kind of endeavor, but as they always say "there's no time like the present."
I have decided to keep a diary of what I eat throughout the day, the ingredients that make these meals "raw" and the meals that I also eat that are not considered raw and why.
I started out day one with a bowl of *Ga's Granola* cereal and diced bananas in raw cow's milk.
Cow's milk that is found in the grocery stores is both homogenized and pasteurized.
*Homogenization is the process of combining the milk and the cream together sto that it is no longer separated as it is found in it's natural state.
*Pasteurization is the process of heating the milk to such a high temperature that it kills certain bacteria in the milk.
*Ultra pasteurization heats the milk to even higher temperatures so as to kill all bacteria.
There are both pro’s and con’s to both of these processes. With homogenized and pasteurized milk there is less fat content and less risk of getting any kind of bacteria through the milk. This is usually only harmful for children, but rarely affects adults. However, with completely natural milk you have all the benefits of the good bacteria that’s found naturally in the milk, and you can be confident that the milk you’re drinking is free of any unwanted hormones or antibiotics.
Yesterday evening I made a grocery store run to buy ingredients to prepare some of my food for the next day. And then I remembered that I had planned to visit a friend and prepare lunch for us. Well….not everyone enjoys eating "raw" and certainly doesn’t want to be the guinea pig for first time taste tests. So I agreed that lunch would be my “off” meal for the day. However, not completely raw, still healthy and yummy :).
For lunch I prepared *Pomegranate Walnut Chicken Salad* on croissants, a spinach leaf salad with *Pomegranate Vinaigrette* dressing, ***Berry Medley Sorbet***, and ***Key Lime Kream Kookies***.
Fact: I have an awesome friend who was willing to try my “raw” goodies and liked them (or at least pretended to like them :)
Tonight was leftover night so we ate up what was left of the chicken salad and the hubby was brave enough to try one of my ***Key Lime Kream Kookies***….lets just say he’s not as enthusiastic about eating raw as I am :)
I would love any feedback that any of you readers might have about raw food and raw food benefits that you yourself have experienced. Also if you have some yummy recipes that you would like to share I will be sure to add them tothe recipe section :).
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Saturday, March 13, 2010
*Baby Smiles*
Seeing your baby's smile is incredible. Seeing them smile at you is priceless!
Hearing your baby laugh is amazing. Hearing them laugh at you is hilarious!
Krislyn's first "laugh out loud" experience happened this past weekend while playing with her 3 year old cousin, Timmy. She couldn't take her eyes off of him, and he couldn't stay away from her. Timmy has always been a little over-active, and I was kind of afraid that Krislyn might freak out with his hyperactivity. Actually it was the opposite. She loved it! He had her laughing about everything he did.
A few nights later, Mommy and Krislyn were playing "peek-a-boo" and tickling and I got her to laugh. It was the neatest thing. It was one of the most special moments I've ever experienced. To see her little eyes light up and hear her little giggle was so adorable! I could feel my own eyes welling up with tears of joy just at how amazing God allows little things like a laugh to be to us.
Proverbs 17:22
Laughter does the heart good like medicine.
Friday, March 12, 2010
*Nursing Nuisance*
I personally have decided to breastfeed. I knew that's what I wanted to do long ago for all the children God decided to give to me.
Breastfeeding has probably been one of my biggest challenges with mommy-hood thus far. Krislyn has developed an intolerance for any moderate amount of dairy, and we've had a pretty rough time trying to filter it out of my diet. Ever since I was little I have loved ice cream, milk, and butter. I have learned that there are many other kinds of "dairy" products other than the typical cheese, milk, and cream. Such things as lactose and casein are secretly hidden inside almost everything we eat. For information on what casein is visit the link below:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casein
Any time I unknowingly ingest any of these products, a few hours later Krislyn will let me know. She starts to get a little fussy followed by a sense of restlessness and then lastly an off-and-on hour long episode of crying and screaming and lots of pitiful tears. It kills me whenever this happens because there's not a whole lot you can do to help. She won't want to eat so not even nursing for comfort makes her feel better.
I have acquired a few tips that have seemed to ease the discomfort a little bit. This always usually happens at night once Krislyn has taken in (via my milk) everything I've eaten over the last 12 hours making it very hard for her to get comfortable enough to go to sleep and sleep well. One thing that I've found to help calm her stomach enough to be ready for sleep is a nice warm bath right before her last feeding. This allows her stomach to settle enough for one last good full meal, which helps her to sleep more peacefully and for a longer period of time.
We have tried the mylecon gas drops and that has seemed to help momentarily, but I find that when I do watch my diet as close as possible (there are so many things that are not in labels) things are so much better. It's definitely worth it to forfeit the ice cream and have a happy, smiling baby instead.
Encouragement: If you are having problems with extended periods of crying episodes the best thing you can do is to hang in there. If you find yourself getting upset or irritated, it's best if you can find a fresh face to pass the baby off to; even for a moment. Go take a quick shower, walk outside for a minute or two, or drink a tall glass of water. Take a second to relax, breathe, and refocus before going back to the battle ground. Chances are the change of faces will calm your baby down as well. For a short time at least. * Also try and eliminate problem foods. Dairy is typically the first thing to go. Next, try to find foods that cause you to have an upset tummy. Spicy foods, broccoli, and wheat seem to cause babies problems also.
Breastfeeding has probably been one of my biggest challenges with mommy-hood thus far. Krislyn has developed an intolerance for any moderate amount of dairy, and we've had a pretty rough time trying to filter it out of my diet. Ever since I was little I have loved ice cream, milk, and butter. I have learned that there are many other kinds of "dairy" products other than the typical cheese, milk, and cream. Such things as lactose and casein are secretly hidden inside almost everything we eat. For information on what casein is visit the link below:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casein
Any time I unknowingly ingest any of these products, a few hours later Krislyn will let me know. She starts to get a little fussy followed by a sense of restlessness and then lastly an off-and-on hour long episode of crying and screaming and lots of pitiful tears. It kills me whenever this happens because there's not a whole lot you can do to help. She won't want to eat so not even nursing for comfort makes her feel better.
I have acquired a few tips that have seemed to ease the discomfort a little bit. This always usually happens at night once Krislyn has taken in (via my milk) everything I've eaten over the last 12 hours making it very hard for her to get comfortable enough to go to sleep and sleep well. One thing that I've found to help calm her stomach enough to be ready for sleep is a nice warm bath right before her last feeding. This allows her stomach to settle enough for one last good full meal, which helps her to sleep more peacefully and for a longer period of time.
We have tried the mylecon gas drops and that has seemed to help momentarily, but I find that when I do watch my diet as close as possible (there are so many things that are not in labels) things are so much better. It's definitely worth it to forfeit the ice cream and have a happy, smiling baby instead.
Encouragement: If you are having problems with extended periods of crying episodes the best thing you can do is to hang in there. If you find yourself getting upset or irritated, it's best if you can find a fresh face to pass the baby off to; even for a moment. Go take a quick shower, walk outside for a minute or two, or drink a tall glass of water. Take a second to relax, breathe, and refocus before going back to the battle ground. Chances are the change of faces will calm your baby down as well. For a short time at least. * Also try and eliminate problem foods. Dairy is typically the first thing to go. Next, try to find foods that cause you to have an upset tummy. Spicy foods, broccoli, and wheat seem to cause babies problems also.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
*Love Letters*
Long before I became pregnant, or was even married, I had heard about expectant mothers writing letters to their unborn children while in the womb. I knew then that this was something I looked forward to doing.
When Krislyn's little body was beginning to form inside my tummy I began thinking of this project and remembered the scripture from Jeremiah 1:5:
"Before I formed you in the womb I new you. Before you were born I set you apart..."
How inspiring it would be for my daughter to know, years later, exactly what I was feeling and thinking towards her before she was even born.
I began to fill pages and pages, pouring out my love and excitement of her arrival in each letter. I wrote about everything from my experiences with pregnancy to my anticipation to see who she looked like more, me or Daddy. I would write to her about my desire for her to come to know the Lord at a young age, and how I prayed for her health and safety every day. I would write to her about how much her Daddy and I love her, and how all of her family was excited to meet her . Everything I wrote to her was a constant reminder of how much a blessing children are.
Psalm 127:3 ~ "Children are a heritage from the Lord. They are a reward from Him."
Sometime in the fifth month of my pregnancy we found out that Krislyn was having an irregular heartbeat. The echocardiogram showed signs of a rare deffect that would without a doubt require surgery within the first six months of her life. I wrote to Krislyn about this and I told her that I had faith that everything would be okay and that the Lord had a special plan for her life; no matter what the outcome may be. I wrote to her that I believe the Lord heals miraculously; even when the doctor says it's impossible.
The Lord did heal her. The doctor's main concern was that during labor the contractions would be too much for her heart to handle. We believe that the Lord supernaturally held her heart in His hands the whole 42 hours we were in labor, and when she was born, her heart rate was completely normal. One week after Krislyn's birth we had another echocardiogram done. The results of that scan were that there was absolutely nothing abnormal about her heart whatsoever.
My last letter to Krislyn was one of overwhelming joy and praise to the Father for her healing. One day I will show her all of the these letters of love; letters of hope; letters of faith, so that she may know what a treasure she is to me, and how much we loved her even before she was born.
Our Encouragement to You:
If you are expecting, think to yourself about things you would like your child to know later in life. Journal your thoughts and feelings down as you go through pregnancy; wisdom you aquire or experiences you have. You will be happy and inspired as you read through what you wrote years later. And so will your children.
When Krislyn's little body was beginning to form inside my tummy I began thinking of this project and remembered the scripture from Jeremiah 1:5:
"Before I formed you in the womb I new you. Before you were born I set you apart..."
How inspiring it would be for my daughter to know, years later, exactly what I was feeling and thinking towards her before she was even born.
I began to fill pages and pages, pouring out my love and excitement of her arrival in each letter. I wrote about everything from my experiences with pregnancy to my anticipation to see who she looked like more, me or Daddy. I would write to her about my desire for her to come to know the Lord at a young age, and how I prayed for her health and safety every day. I would write to her about how much her Daddy and I love her, and how all of her family was excited to meet her . Everything I wrote to her was a constant reminder of how much a blessing children are.
Psalm 127:3 ~ "Children are a heritage from the Lord. They are a reward from Him."
Sometime in the fifth month of my pregnancy we found out that Krislyn was having an irregular heartbeat. The echocardiogram showed signs of a rare deffect that would without a doubt require surgery within the first six months of her life. I wrote to Krislyn about this and I told her that I had faith that everything would be okay and that the Lord had a special plan for her life; no matter what the outcome may be. I wrote to her that I believe the Lord heals miraculously; even when the doctor says it's impossible.
The Lord did heal her. The doctor's main concern was that during labor the contractions would be too much for her heart to handle. We believe that the Lord supernaturally held her heart in His hands the whole 42 hours we were in labor, and when she was born, her heart rate was completely normal. One week after Krislyn's birth we had another echocardiogram done. The results of that scan were that there was absolutely nothing abnormal about her heart whatsoever.
My last letter to Krislyn was one of overwhelming joy and praise to the Father for her healing. One day I will show her all of the these letters of love; letters of hope; letters of faith, so that she may know what a treasure she is to me, and how much we loved her even before she was born.
Our Encouragement to You:
If you are expecting, think to yourself about things you would like your child to know later in life. Journal your thoughts and feelings down as you go through pregnancy; wisdom you aquire or experiences you have. You will be happy and inspired as you read through what you wrote years later. And so will your children.
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