LilSugar

Babysugar Diaries: Caffeine Is My Drug of Choice

babysugar — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 08:00:18 -0700

Every day around 2 p.m., I feel a desperate need to drink a Coca–Cola. I don't crave the taste as much as I desire the boost in energy it will provide. Even 20 months after giving birth to my first child, my body does not jump out of bed at 6 a.m. ready to take on the day. When reading a book to her before nap time, I often find that I am the one nodding off. This is not uncommon for moms.

The National Sleep Foundation found that more moms are caffeinating themselves to make it through the day. Energy drinks, sodas and coffee are all part of a busy mama's day as she carpools, cooks, cleans and takes care of other duties.

To see what the National Sleep Foundation discovered, read more.

The NSF study found:

More than 65 percent of moms drink caffeinated beverages to get through their day.

Fast food stores like McDonald's are taking advantage of the caffeine hungry audience. The golden arches beat analysts' estimates by increasing latest quarterly profits, which are partially attributed to the rise in coffee sales. Looks like mommies may be loading up on their lattes when ordering a happy meal for junior. When baby number two joins my family, I have a feeling I'll be upping my caffeine intake, too!

Baby Wellness: No Soda

LilSugar — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 16:00:41 -0800

GiggleSugar tipped me off to this old ad which is frightening for so many reasons. Britney Spears aside, does anyone actually serve their baby soda? According to a study done by the University of Michigan, lil ones should not drink soda or sweetened beverages. It said:

"Soda pop fills you up with either empty calories or artificial sweeteners, and often contains caffeine. Ask any dentist: it's terrible for your teeth to have acidic, sugary liquid pass over them as you drink. Drinking lots of soda pop has been linked to increased risk of bone loss."

The study offers water as a thirst quenching alternative. As well as milk and 100-percent fruit juice.

Source

Bedrest Bash: Soda Bar

LilSugar — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 07:00:43 -0700

Break out the bubbly! But since it's a baby shower and the mama-to-be probably isn't indulging in alcohol, opt for Italian sodas and some old fashioned floats!

All you need is some soda water, flavored Torani syrup, ice cream, root beer and twisty straws if you dare.

The blast back from the past beverages will remind you of childhood and provide the perfect refresher to go with the take-out you are eating bedside. To learn how to make an Italian soda, read more.

Pack tall glasses with ice and fill with seltzer water, then add flavored syrup to taste (usually 2 ounces). If you want to make a creamosa, blend in a bit of half and half or milk.

Cheers!

Source

Lil Tip: Baking Soda Gets the Stinky Smells Out

LilSugar — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 04:00:14 -0700

Diaper pails aren't the only baby item that tend to stink over time. Diaper bags and hampers also absorb musty smells that grow stronger as lil ones add more items to them. Though a good scrub down or a round in the washer may rid the smells temporarily, an old-fashioned, household item will extinguish the stench.

The same inexpensive baking soda that helps keep your refrigerator and freezer odor free can also do the job in tight quarters. Simply fill a small cotton sack with the powder and a few drops of lavender oil and drop it in. If you are nervous of spills, Munchkin's Fresh Totes ($5 for two) add a decorative touch.

Lil Tip: Baking Soda in Place of Toothpaste

LilSugar — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 03:00:00 -0800

My daughter hates the taste of most toothpaste. She says even the mild, children's versions are "too spicy." In an effort to appease her and get her pearly whites clean, I turned the task into a lil science experiment and added a bit of baking soda to a splash of water and had her mix the slightly salty paste. Then, she dipped her toothbrush in it and went to work before spitting it down the sink. The results were clean teeth, a happy preschooler and an easy transition to a more natural brand of toothpaste.

Eat Your Greens: Zucchini Boats Set Lil Taste Buds to Sea

LilSugar — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 13:00:53 -0700

Happy St. Patrick's Day! The Irish holiday may conjure up memories of soda bread and corned beef, but hold the Guinness because we're using the green theme to get our wee lads and lasses to gobble up their veggies.

Set your child's taste buds out to the Celtic Sea with an easy vegetable recipe that only requires two ingredients! The steps are so simple a tot can put their chef's hat on and get cooking with minimal assistance from mama. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees, then slice a zucchini down the center and place it in a glass baking dish. Sprinkle the top with your child's favorite shredded, crumbled, or sliced cheese (in the festive spirit we used a shredded Irish cheddar). Pop the veggies in the oven and bake until the cheese is melted and golden. Let your kiddo entertain himself by fashioning a sail out of a toothpick and a piece of trimmed construction paper which he can design. Once the zucchini has been taken out of the oven and cooled for a couple of minutes, attach the sail and plate.

View 5 Photos ›

Eat Your Greens: Get Some Muscles From Brussels Sprouts

babysugar — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 07:00:22 -0800

St. Patrick's Day may conjure up memories of Irish soda bread, corned beef, and pints of Guinness, but we're approaching the holiday from a different direction this year – an opportunity to get our kids to eat more green. We're taking five green vegetables and trying out different methods to get our tots to gobble them up.

Brussels sprouts get a bad rap because they are often overcooked, which makes them sulfurous and hard to stomach. Children can also be intimidated by their cabbage like appearance. The round lil goodies are packed full of vitamins A and C, as well as folic acid and fiber, making them great for the digestive system. To get my tot to give them a chance, I deconstructed the bulbous greens by shredding them prior to placing them in the roasting pan. The result: a side dish that even a picky eater is willing to try!

View 5 Photos ›

Check out the recipe, and step-by-step instructions, when you read more.

Shredded Brussels Sprouts with Shallots
Original recipe

Ingredients

1 pound Brussels sprouts, peeled and washed
4-6 shallots, peeled and washed
2 TBS olive oil
salt and pepper to taste

Directions

Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
Shred Brussels sprouts and shallots either by hand or with a food processor.
Mix shredded Brussels sprouts and shallots with olive oil, salt and pepper to taste.
Spread mixture evenly on baking sheet. Bake for 10-12 minutes.

Print recipe with images | without images

Eat Your Greens: Spinach Pesto Grows Lil Muscles

babysugar — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 06:00:42 -0800

First up, spinach! Popeye's favorite vegetable isn't always tops on lil ones' list of favorite foods. The leafy vegetable may be known for supplying vast amounts of iron, calcium, and rich antioxidants, but its overall texture can scare away the kids. By transforming it into a sauce to accompany a favorite pasta dish, the vegetable's nutritional value remains intact, and wee ones will be begging for more. We added some fresh lemon (both juice and peel) to some baby spinach, pine nuts, and Parmesan cheese to create a pesto that my son helped blend to perfection.

View 5 Photos ›

Check out the recipe, and step-by-step instructions, when you read more.

Spinach Pesto
Adapted from Giada De Laurentiis' Grilled Chicken with Spinach and Pine Nut Pesto

Ingredients

2 cups lightly packed baby spinach leaves (about 2 ounces)
1/4 cup pine nuts, toasted
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 to 2 teaspoons grated lemon peel
1/3 cup plus 2 teaspoons olive oil
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan

Directions

Combine the spinach, pine nuts, lemon juice, and lemon peel in a processor. Lightly pulse. With the machine running, gradually add 1/3 cup of the oil, blending until the mixture is creamy. Add salt and pulse. Put half of the pesto into ice cube trays and store in the freezer for future use.
Transfer the rest of the spinach mixture to a medium bowl. Stir in the Parmesan. Season the pesto with salt and pepper, to taste.
Spread the pesto over your favorite pasta and serve.

Print recipe with images | without images

View 5 Photos ›

You Know You're a Mother When: Milk Rules

babysugar — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:30:13 -0800

Along with the birthday cake and balloons, there's another reason mommies are jubilant on a child's first birthday - milk! When babes reach their 1-year mark, it most often means they can start chugging cow's milk instead of formula or in addition to breast milk. In most instances, it means mum can start stocking up on gallons of milk (about $8/week) rather than relying solely on the breast or expensive formula ($29/can). Instead of tossing on a nursing shawl or packing powder and bottles of water for a lunch date, mommy can relax and order a small glass of milk along with her soda. Moms who supplement with formula will be thrilled to cut that expense from their shopping list, leaving more room in the budget for wine and cheese!

Currently on the top shelf of my fridge? Skim for dad, 1 percent for me, 2 percent for my 3-year-old, and whole for the 1-year old. Yeah, we got milk . . . lots of it.

US Children Lacking Vitamin D in Their Diets

LilSugar — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 10:00:15 -0700

Get your children out in the sun, it's the doctor's order. Following last year's report recommending an increase in children's daily dosage of vitamin D, a new study shows that about nine percent of US children exhibit vitamin D levels so low, they can be considered deficient. Another 61 percent still show levels low enough to concern doctors. A lack of vitamin D - which can be obtained from direct sunlight, fortified milk, fatty fish, or fish liver oils - increases the risk of rickets, bone problems, heart disease, cholesterol issues, and diabetes. Among the groups with the lowest levels of vitamin D are girls, adolescents, and people with darker skin. According to the reports:

The researchers and others blamed the low levels on a combination of factors, including children spending more time watching television and playing video games instead of going outside, covering up and using sunscreen when they do go outdoors, and drinking more soda and other beverages instead of consuming milk and other foods fortified with Vitamin D.

To increase vitamin D levels, experts recommend 15 minutes of direct sunlight (unfiltered by sunscreen) three times a week, eating more fortified foods like bread, milk, and cereal, and ensuring that multivitamins contain vitamin D.