Growing up, I always looked different than everyone else. I was the only redheaded, pale-skinned, freckled-faced kid in my class in elementary school. In high school, I think there were maybe 3 redheads in my graduating class. While I don’t remember ever wanting to dye my hair or change anything about my appearance, I do remember wishing that I could blend in a little bit more.
The summer before my twins started Junior Kindergarten, we decided to send them to a couple of week-long day camps to introduce them to the “full day” experience. Leading up to it, I hadn’t really thought about food and as the day approached, I realized that for the first time I needed to plan and pack enough food for a morning snack, lunch and an afternoon snack. It felt daunting, but I learned a lot over the season. So whether you’re packing lunches for the first time, or have been packing them for a while and are in a total rut for ideas, check out my tips below for camp lunch packing success!
May is Celiac Disease Awareness Month. Celiac Disease (CD) is an autoimmune disease which includes an allergy to gluten. If someone has CD, then it is essential they follow a strict gluten-free diet. Gluten is a form of protein found in wheat, barley, rye, triticale, and many other grains. It is also found in many condiments via addition of grains such as most soy sauces, BBQ sauces, and salad dressings. Even trace amounts of gluten can evoke a negative reaction. Individuals have usually had less than optimal vitamin and mineral absorption prior to diagnosis so it is always good to have a proper assessment done and determine if any supplements are advised to help with any deficiencies. In terms of food preparation, here are a few tips to keep your home Gluten Free if a family member is diagnosed with CD.
We are a cheesy family.
Like any other mother, I love my child more than anything else in this world. I would die for him. My heart aches sometimes when I look at him just because he is such an amazing kid. I never knew love like this existed until I had him.
When we first realized that my son needed to be on a dairy-free diet, my biggest fears were around adequate protein and calcium in his diet. I know from being a dietitian that specializes in family nutrition that many other parents have faced this same concern. In honour of Allergy Awareness Week, I wanted to share a few tips with you if you have a child who needs a casein-free or casein-and-egg-free diet on ways to ensure nutritional adequacy. At the end, I’ve also included an Oatmeal Banana Flax Muffin recipe that’s a great nutrition boost for any time of day!
Mother’s Day is advertised as a day of relaxing and pampering, but what if you get stuck with (um, I mean, “receive the honour of”) hosting the gathering to celebrate it? Naturally, you’ll want to make the experience extra nice for the assembled moms, which may include your mom, mother-in-law, grandma, sister or sister-in-law, among others.
Recently my dear friend Maggie passed away after succumbing to complications from a battle with cancer. When my husband and I decided to attend her celebration of life with our children, we got a few raised eyebrows because many believe this isn’t the place for kids. But I’m glad we brought them and here’s why.
I don’t know about you, but I didn’t go into pregnancy thinking that it would end up having a C-section. I knew it was a possibility, but most of us tend to think that things will happen just like they do in the movies, right? You know, our water will break, we’ll go into labour, we’ll push out a baby and we’ll look fantastic afterwards!