Musing Mondays: Healthy Eating Link Love

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As I've been researching different recipes and diet aids to accommodate my daughter's new food sensitivities (AND to get ready for the Plan It, Don't Panic Challenge ), I've found some great sites, resources and recipes around the web!

Whether you or your family members have food sensitivities or just want to eat healthier, I hope you find these links as helpful as I have!

Healthy Eating on a Budget:

Frugal Food Allergies

Add caption LoraPalmer

Breakfast:

Egg/Dairy/GF breakfast bars

Baked, Soaked Oatmeal (use GF oats and flax meal instead of egg)

Are you Ready for Breakfast?

Benefits of a Protein-Rich Breakfast

Image by typofi

Lunch:

Apple Peanut Butter Sandwich

Packing a GF Lunch

Image by arinas74

Dinner:

Raw, vegan, GF taco salad

Cooking a whole chicken in the crockpot

Modern Alternative Mama's Against the Grain cookbook*

Image by diamondjoy

Dessert:

GF Cakes

Homemade Peanut Butter Cups (no refined sugar)

Kitchen Stewardship's Fudgey Bean Brownies (I used flax meal in place of egg)

Treat Yourself: Real Food Desserts

All Around Sites for Great Recipes:

Stacy Makes Cents (lots of crockpot recipes!)

Kitchen Stewardship

The Gluten Free Homemaker

Simply Sugar and Gluten Free

Do you have any favorite recipe sites to share? Are you participating in the Plan It, Don't Panic meal planning challenge?

Check back on Thursday for a review and GIVEAWAY for Modern Alternative Mama's grain-free cookbook--Against the Grain! 

Have you entered the Healthy Homemaking One Step at a Time Giveaway yet? It's an excellent book chock full of healthy living resources!

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I'm linking up with: Simply Sugar and Gluten Free, Traditional Tuesdays, 

 

Jumping on the Gluten Free Bandwagon

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Eggs and wheat...

The findings of the blood test were surprising, her doctor said. 

Yes, my daughter does have food sensitivities. 

Along with eggs and wheat (the two highest on the list), she is sensitive to: rye, barley, milk, peanuts, soy, strawberries, oranges and tomatoes. 

Yes--that whole list. "But don't worry about anything but eggs and gluten right now," the doctor said. "She can have everything else in moderation."


(Gluten is present in wheat, rye, barley and non-gluten-free oats.)


So....here we go. My baby is now egg and gluten free. We found out a week ago today. 


My emotions have run the gamut.

Relief: We know what it is.


Determination: We *can* do this. I will learn how to cook differently.


Sadness: She won't be able to eat Chick-fil-A nuggets (our one guilty fast food pleasure) or cake at birthday parties or goldfish crackers or even scrambled eggs. She loves ALL of those things. 


Frustration: You mean I can't just substitute rice flour for everything? I have to use some type of mix of flours--perhaps different for each recipe? And gluten-free foods can cost 5-6 times as much as regular food? And even if it's GF it might still have egg in it?


Overwhelmed: Where do we even start? What does she eat for breakfast? (So far it's been veggies and hummus and a little cheese!)


Could I just let her eat foods with gluten and eggs and pretend we don't know? Yes--but it will continue to wreak havoc on her health.


Now I know--and I can do something about it. 


I never wanted to jump on the gluten free bandwagon (and egg-free for good measure), but here we are.

In the midst of everything, the Lord keeps bringing this Scripture to mind: 


"Do not worry then, saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?'....for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things." -Matthew 6:31a & 32b

31 Days to Clean Update


Last week, I threw in the towel. Honestly, I was so overwhelmed with the food issues, that I just couldn't deal. I started back yesterday. Today I'm cleaning out my fridge--and I'm excited about it!

Image by doctor-a

Plan It--Don't Panic


And while we're talking about food, I'm getting ready to be a part of a new meal planning challenge starting Sept. 26 at Keeper of the Home! I'll be posting my meal plans every Monday during the challenge--and will highlight one recipe each week. (And, yes--there will inevitably be many GF/egg-free options!). 


Interested in joining the challenge? Check it out here. 

Oh--and I'm super excited to be a new contributing writer over at Keeper of the Home! If you haven't read Stephanie's blog, you are MISSING OUT!


Any advice for a mama who just found out her baby has some major food "sensitivities"? I'd appreciate any wisdom you have to offer!

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Musing Mondays: 31 Days to Clean, Take 2!

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If you've been reading The Humbled Homemaker very long, you know that I'm far, far, FAR from a perfect homemaker. 


If you've come looking for a homemaker who "has it all together," you've come to the wrong place.


I've been humbled--incredibly humbled.


And God is teaching me a lot during these humbling years.

Back in June, I took on my first 31 Days to Clean challenge.


I started out strong. After two weeks, I totally floundered. 3 months later?


You cannot really tell I ever did the 31 days. :(


I said all summer I wanted to try it again in the fall, so here goes. Some people started September 1, but I'm starting today.

If you haven't heard of the book, check out my review here. 


The premise is to take 31 days to learn how to keep a cleaner home (like Martha in the Bible) while growing a heart for hospitality (like Mary in the Bible).


It's never too late to join. Your 31 days can start anytime in the month.


Does anyone want to join me?


Get the book here!

And What About Food Allergies?


Thank you for your encouraging comments, e-mails and especially prayers regarding my daughter's possibility of food allergies. We have an appointment tomorrow afternoon to discuss the lab results with her doctor. I hope and pray we get some answers!

Have you entered the My Buttered Life e-book contest yet? Just leave me a comment on the post to be entered. This amazing book includes FIVE do-it-yourself skincare recipes! 

Do you enjoy reading The Humbled Homemaker?  Subscribe to receive posts:

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I'm linking up with: NOBH

Musing Mondays: Does my child have a food allergy?

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In a world where food allergies seem to be on the rise, no one wants to think it will ever be their kid.

Today I'm musing about food allergies...because we are seeking answers right now about our 3-year-old. Could she have food allergies, too?

The signs have been there for a while. And I feel bad--really bad--because I feel like we've ignored them. I am praying, praying, praying God leads us down the right path to figure out what is going on with her. 

And I'm trying not to worry. 

But I'm a worrier by nature. It's that sin that always gets me. I've often thought it's my "thorn in the flesh." Oh, how I need the Lord's help to live in peace and not worry!

The Lord is already opening up doors for us. We switched pediatricians a few months ago for a completely different reason. 

We didn't suspect food allergies, but our daughter's new doctor, who is an integrative physician trained in both Western and Eastern medicine, immediately picked up on some signs. 


We started milk elimination in July. It didn't help. We started a total dairy elimination a few weeks ago. Things still haven't changed. 


So, later today, we are going to an allergist, where she will get tested for 25 different allergens. I pray we get some answers. 

I thought it might be helpful to other moms (or future moms or grandmothers, etc.) to see a list of potential food allergy symptoms. My daughter's symptoms are in bold:

• chronic diarrhea
• under eye circles
• frequent nose bleeds
• food cravings (Her pediatrician said many people will crave what their body cannot handle. She gave the example of children with dairy allergies who guzzle milk like an alcoholic downs a six-pack of beer. My daughter craves crackers, pretzels, etc.--which may indicate a gluten allergy.)
• mood swings/irritability
• change in hair pigmentation
• ADHD
• ezcema
• "colicky" as a baby
• diaper rash
• slow weight gain

God also blessed me this week through several posts I found in the "blogosphere":

• Modern Alternative Mama wrote about identifying food allergies in a newborn.
• Brandy, of Living Water Health and Wellness, wrote a post at Kitchen Stewardship about her experience with diabetes. One of her readers, Melanie, wrote about her son's recent diagnosis of type 1 diabetes and food allergies. Her comment motivated me to question my daughter's doctor even more since we already have a strong family history of diabetes.
• One of my new favorite bloggers, Whole New Mom, devotes a lot of her blog to recipes that work with food allergy diets. 

Does anyone in your family have food allergies? How have you dealt with it?

Giveaways and Sales

 
Have you entered the My Buttered Life e-book contest yet? Just leave me a comment on the post to be entered. This amazing book includes FIVE do-it-yourself skincare recipes! 

Looking for recipes to make real food desserts (nothing processed)? Kate at Modern Alternative Mama just released Treat Yourself: Real Food Desserts!

Use code DESSERTLAUNCH35 for 35% off through Tuesday, 8/30. 

Use code DESSERTLAUNCH20 for 20% off through Friday night, 9/2.

Do you enjoy reading The Humbled Homemaker?  Subscribe to receive posts:

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Musing Mondays: Summer 2011

School starts back in our town this week, so I guess summer is officially over. 

My hubby is a high school teacher, and although he works summer school and some other odd jobs in the summer, the girls and I were happy to have him around a bit more. 

Today, I'm "musing" about summer 2011:

strawberry picking

 Little Girl turned 3 with a Princess Tea Party

 Baby Girl had tubes put in her ears.

 Little Girl had her tonsils out.

We watched our garden grow.

 Wild blackberry picking

 4th of July parade

Redheaded cousins reunite in Mississippi

Bike rides

 Blueberry picking (can you tell we like berries?!)

Swimming lessons

I officially started blogging (and fell in love with it).

How was YOUR summer? Has school started back where you live? Are you ready for fall or are you holding on to summer for as long as you can?

Musing Mondays: Swimming Lessons, Self-Realization & God's Sovereignty

My 3-year-old daughter just finished two weeks of swimming lessons.

I think I may have learned more than she did.

No, I didn’t get in the pool (although I wanted to), but the summer smells of chlorine mixed with sunscreen, the sounds of kids splashing water, the warmth of the sun and the sheer delight of watching my baby girl learn how to swim gave me excitement to return each day.

And I always knew as I watched the group of 20 3-to -5 year olds learn how to paddle their arms and kick their legs and blow bubbles in the water, I’d learn a little more about myself as a parent. 

On day one I realized: I’m a helicopter mom.

My daughter has been in several church nursery-like settings, but she hasn’t been to preschool. When it comes to pools, I found myself nervous about just waving goodbye and letting the teachers take over.

On day one, I stood right beside her on pool’s edge for the first few minutes. 

Oh, I had the excuse of taking lots of pictures and videos. And I was cheering her on.

Normally outgoing, she was extra clingy that day. She cried for me to take her out of the pool.

Then it suddenly hit me: I was the only parent cheering. In fact, I was the only parent standing—at least close enough to the pool that my feet even got a tad bit wet.

I slowly turned my head and noticed all the other parents sitting far back on the sidelines—on beach towels, in lounge chairs, on benches. Some were reading; some were texting on their phones; some were talking to each other.

What they weren’t doing was distracting their little ones from the teachers’ directions.

I put my head down slightly and made my way to the group of other parents.

And my little girl did MUCH better.

I still took pictures. I still videotaped, and I still silently cheered her on—but I did it from a distance.

I couldn’t believe how independent she became (and actually followed the teachers’ directions) once I left her alone.

It made me proud.

And I was filled with the nostalgia of watching my baby girl learn how to swim in the same pool I did.

You see, I never, ever thought I’d witness that—because I never, ever imagined that at age 30 I’d find myself living back in my hometown.

Oh, I spent my time away—10 years in fact. I thought I’d never return.

I didn’t want to. But God’s plans prevail.

His sovereignty always trumps my man-made aspirations.

I’ve been back two years now, and it’s afforded me the opportunity to watch my girls pick strawberries at a local farm, participate in the summer reading program at the library, play at some of the older town parks and take swimming lessons at the community pool—just like I did.

And I’m thankful. I can see God’s sovereignty in even the little things like swimming lessons…and the self-realization that comes when you become a mom. 

Where do you see God's sovereignty in your life--and in the life of your family? Has He surprised you with His plans?

CONGRATULATIONS to the winner of the Yummy Mummy Giveaway--Lexie M.! Stay tuned for another lactation cookie giveaway in a few weeks!

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*This post first appeared in the Mooresville Weekly.
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