This is one of my favorite summer salads. Quinoa is a complex grain which is incredibly high in complete protein and a good source of iron. In the summer I use fresh grapes instead of dried cranberries and fresh chopped lemon verbena from the garden. I make this for all my nursing friends with new babies since it tastes fresh and keeps well for days - the perfect midnight snack!

Bring 8 quarts of salted water to a boil and add 2 cups quinoa rinsed very well (otherwise it will taste bitter)
Cook for 10 minutes then drain in a fine mesh strainer
Before it cools completely pour it in a bowl and add 1 - 1 1/2 cup of dried cranberries depending on your taste. This allows the cranberries to fluff up a bit.

In a small bowl mix together
1/4 cup mirin (rice wine)
1/4 cup lemon
2 - 3 T honey depending on how sour your lemon is
1 - 2 T extra virgin olive oil or macadamia nut oil
Sea salt and pepper according to taste

You will have too much sauce so use as much as you need to get the texture you like. Pour the sauce over the quinoa and mix it well.

Once the quinoa has cooled add:
1/2 chopped small bunch of cilantro
1 small handful finely chopped mint
2 stalks celery chopped fine

Mix well and enjoy.

I wish, I wish, I wish that little indulgences like coffee had no health impacts on any of us but sadly they do. It’s so cruel that your morning cup of coffee could indeed be making your baby’s reflux worse because that same cursed reflux probably kept you up all of the nights since your new little baby was born.

I remember being so tired about 2 months after Chicken Little was born that I lost my balance one day while cooking dinner. Immediately I thought it had been an earthquake. Then I realized that I had fallen asleep while standing up.

Infant acid reflux can indeed be caused or aggravated by a number of triggers in your diet, although the biggest offenders are dairy, wheat and soy. I have a thorough list of dietary triggers here: improving your breastmilk to reduce infant reflux, including ways to pinpoint which items are the cause so you can continue with other triggers that don’t bother your baby.

Please don’t quit breastfeeding because your baby is reacting to something in your diet! To read more about how breastmilk is more beneficial than formula read feeding an infant with reflux breastmilk versus formula.

Breastfeeding a baby with reflux is a fabulous forum full of mothers who have been there at least once and many of them have done it many times. They are wonderfully supportive, sweet and encouraging. Please consider joining the forum if only just to lurk before switching to formula. Your baby will thank you for it later on with better health, higher IQ and lower footprint on the planet.

Wishing you hugs,

I remember being told not to play with my food and dang if it didn’t inspire me! Here are some ideas that encourage food play and along with that get kids to actually enjoy eating healthy foods they otherwise might not try.

Make fun shapes out of food and be sure to have them washed and pre-cut so they are ready to be eaten. If they are just as easy to grab as a box of crackers you are more likely to serve them to your child. Many of these ideas also become arts and crafts activities for your child that help develop his imagination and love of food. You’ll see what I mean when you read through them.

To make carrot or zucchini matchsticks peel and slice vertically through at 1/4″ intervals. Stack the “planks” and slice again thinly to form matchsticks. Trim them to be about 3″ long. If you place the carrot strips in ice water they will form half circles.

Make two dimensional food shapes from which you can create many items, like sailboats, trains or cars. Slice peeled carrots, radishes or cucumbers into thin rounds to make circles. Slice peeled carrots thinly to make “planks”. From the planks you can cut triangles, squares or rectangles. Use sliced cheese and cookie cutters to make a variety of other shapes. Arrange the shapes on a plate or clean plastic placemat to create edible pictures.

Make a car out of food. Use cucumber or peeled carrot rounds for wheels. Attach two cucumber wheels using a carrot matchstick as an axle. Cut a thin carrot plank to lie across the top as a chassis. Use the cheese blocks to build a car. Make a radish mouse to drive it by using three cleaned radishes, one small, medium and large. Leave the “tail” on the large one. Insert a toothpick into the end of the large radish opposite the tail. Leave part of the toothpick sticking out. Attach the small radish to the end of the toothpick. That will become the head. Cut two rounds from the medium radish. Make two small slits in the “head” and insert the rounds as ears. Make two round shaved areas for the eyes so that the white inside shows through. Poke several small holes into which you will insert chives or very small carrots strips for whiskers. Only give an item containing a toothpick to a child mature enough to not eat it.

Carrot or cucumber rounds with the centers cut out make fun looking glasses.

Make a celery man by cutting a cleaned stalk of celery into 3″ strips. While holding one end, make as many close, straight cuts as possible lengthwise through 1/3 of the other end. Now turn the celery stalk and make one vertical cut up the center lengthwise through 1/3 of the end you were first holding. Place the celery in ice water until the cut pieces curl. Dry it off and fill the center with peanut butter, cottage cheese or quark mixed with ranch dressing mix. The curly end becomes the hair and the other end becomes the legs. Use raisins, small carrot or apple pieces to decorate the face or add buttons down the body.

Make a cucumber chain by scoring the outside of a clean cucumber and then slicing it into rounds. Use a small round cookie cutter to remove the center of the round. Cut a thin slit through one side of the round. Link the slices together to form a chain.

Allow your child to spread his own peanut or other nut butter on crackers, celery or apple slices. Quark mixed with ranch or green goddess dressing or quark mixed with a splash of worscestershire and grated cheddar also make nice spreads.

Use a piece of elastic thread (available at fabric and craft stores) and let your older child make a necklace or bracelet using healthy o’s cereal. Tie the ends together in a square knot to fasten. Be sure the necklace or bracelet is large enough to easily slip over the head and hand. Let them nibble at will. For a smaller child let them string o’s onto a clean pipe cleaner. Mini marshmallows at either end keep them from slipping off. This is also a great dexterity activity.

Food play can be part of a healthy diet - use it to your advantage!

It’s difficult to change your eating habits, even when you want to. Even as a stay-at-home mom with the luxury of time to plan for meals, shop and prepare them I find it difficult! There are, however, some very easy things you can do to increase your daily consumption of high fiber foods, fruits and raw vegetables. Here are some easy options:

Remember that even tiny changes you make in your diet can begin a positive trend in your lifestyle. You’ll be amazed at how much better you’ll feel!

Lunchtime blues? Roll over PB&J!

Instead of a boring old sandwich try wraps and roll-ups. Whole grain tortillas can be filled with just about anything. They come in many colors today if you buy the vegetable varieties like tomato and spinach. Don’t tell your kids they are vegetables, just call them “red” or “green”. You can also try using sushi wrappers or lefse.

Bulgur, Cooked quinoa, and brown rice all make great complex carbohydrate fillers to which you can add hummus, peanut sauce or teriyaki sauce, dijon mustard/honey/yogurt sauce, mild salsa, grated cheese, julienne sliced veggies or finely chopped vegetables, ground turkey or shredded chicken breast, poached white fish or canned tuna. Spread a thin layer of grain over the whole tortilla or sushi wrapper, leaving an inch around the border.

On top of this spread whatever fillings and sauces you desire. Roll up your creation tightly, fastening with toothpicks or those little plastic swords or umbrellas if your kids are old enough. Slice them and serve on their side so the “swirl” pattern can be appreciated.

Make sandwiches from whole grain bread. Slice them into fun shapes using cookie cutters or cut them into small “petite four” sizes. Put a plastic sword or toothpick through each one with a small garnish on top like a cucumber wheel, olive, grape or slice of cheese in a fun shape.

Layer foods - make stacks of natural lunch meats, cheeses, spinach leaves, tomatoes, cucumbers using tortillas as the floor and roof. Cut them into squares or circles using a round biscuit cutter.

Make egg, tuna or chicken salad with plain yogurt instead of mayonnaise. Add colorful and crunchy diced veggies like cucumber, tomato, red pepper, celery, and grapes or mango to the chicken. Serve them in endive, tomato, cucumber or celery “boats”.

Make deviled eggs using plain yogurt instead of mayonnaise. Sprinkle with sea salt or paprika.

Serve baked potato boats - prebaked and partially hollowed out. Set up a “bar” of fixings for your kids to choose from - chili, cottage cheese or quark, chopped green onion, chives or parsley, grated cheese, chopped green pepper, steamed and chopped broccoli, toasted wheat germ, light sour cream or plain yogurt, a sprinkle of paprika.

Set up a salad taco, or tostada bar for your kids. Provide whole grain soft tortillas or natural corn tortillas, taco or tostada shells, cooked ground turkey or soy flavored with chili powder and cumin, refried or black beans grated cheese and carrot, julienne zucchini, finely chopped kale, spinach, and red cabbage, chopped tomatoes and green onions, corn, chopped avocado, mild salsa, cottage cheese, quark or plain yogurt. Often times kids become so interest in designing by color that they forget they are decorating with vegetables and end up eating them.

Whole grain hamburger bun “bowls” can be fun receptacles for soup and chili. Simply slice off the top, carve out the inside and fill. Be sure to save the top to serve with the “lid” on.

Cut sliced cheese into fun shapes using cookie cutters, or cube them into squares. Serve several colors together like cheddar and mozzarella.

Try fruit or vegetable skewers. Purchase bamboo skewers and alternate a variety of chopped up fruits. Serve them with yogurt dipping sauce. Or alternate a variety of chopped vegetables and serve with a miso, sesame oil, or teriyaki dipping sauce, a honey and mustard mixture, peanut sauce, hummus, ranch or green goddess made from plain yogurt or cottage cheese.

To make your own peanut or soy nut butter sauce mix 1/2 cup nut butter, 1 T brown sugar, 1/4 cup rice vinegar, 1/4 cup water, 1-2 cloves finely minced garlic, 1-2 T of soy sauce over medium low heat until warm. Adjust the consistency by adding more or less water.

To make your own miso sauce mix together 1 cup of low sodium or light soy sauce, 2/3 cup of miso paste, 1/4 cup brown sugar, 2 T sesame oil, 1 clove finely minced garlic.

Any child would be delighted to find most of these (sneakily healthy) items in a lunchbag or at your table.

It is one thing to be sure you are eating enough fiber, fruits & veggies each day but how do you get children, and especially toddlers to do it? It IS possible to make things fun enough that your kids will eat them. Remember, it’s ok to play with your food now that you’re in charge of the kitchen.

Your child needs good nutrition to fuel his growing body and developing mind but there is a limited number of calories your child will consume in one day. Make the calories he consumes count! Remember, you are giving your child the gift of health and a functional, attentive brain to absorb the world around him.

Here are some easy ways to develop healthy eating habits in young children:

Involve your kids in the planning process. If they are old enough, hand them a cookbook and let them pick a recipe from a certain section of it, such as chicken entrees. By getting them emotionally invested in the meal they are much more likely to eat it.

Involve them in any appropriate food preparation tasks. Even toddlers can help wash vegetables or cut soft foods with a plastic butter knife. Even if you chop the bulk of what you need as long as you end up using some of their handiwork they will feel a sense of pride and accomplishment. Older kids can measure ingredients or pour pre-measured ingredients into a mixing bowl, stir, turn on the oven or help you watch the clock. That involvement will make them much more likely to eat the finished meal.

Create a special area of the refrigerator that your child can see and access with your help. Have healthy snacks already prepared so that he can see them and easily decide for himself what he wants to snack on.

Set up garnishments for the meal: sauces, chopped parsley, lemon slices, pine nuts, paprika. Any chance your child has to “personalize” his plate increases your odds he’ll eat what’s on it.

Stop buying overly processed foods, sweets, and products containing artificial flavors, colors, preservatives, additives, hydrogenated oils and high fructose corn syrup - if it’s not in the house they can’t eat it. Snacks like these lead to crankiness, hyperactivity, shorter attention spans and developmental problems. They’ll get plenty of that kind of food at school, parties and friend’s houses. By removing these types of foods from your children’s daily diet they are more likely to have room left for more nutritious foods. In addition, if they don’t develop a daily taste for sweet and salty foods they will be more likely to develop a taste for healthy foods. Do be careful not to become a food nazi, however, or they will rebel and gobble up all the junk food they can when they are not under your watch.

Instead of fruit juices try making smoothies. It’s very easy to use water, rice, soy or cow’s milk, add some yogurt or kefir (probiotics) and fresh fruit of your choice. By using bananas you will not need to use sweetened yogurt or add any sweetener. Strawberries, raspberries, peaches, mango, pineapple, and kiwi all taste great and puree very easily. By using the whole fruit in your smoothie rather than drinking fruit juice you retain the fiber which will help regulate your child’s glycemic index.

Some other smoothies to try:
orange juice/banana/milk for a 50/50 bar flavor,
1/2 carrot juice, 1/2 milk with banana and a pinch of cinnamon - try this before you knock it, it’s really good!
pumpkin puree with pie spices
cocoa powder with banana and a pinch of cinnamon or nutmeg
cocoa powder with banana and peanut butter or almond butter
peanut butter & jelly in a smoothie (light on the jelly)
cocoa powder with marshmallow fluff and bananas (light on the fluff)

Instead of ice cream or popsicles try freezing fruit smoothies in popsicle forms or make frozen fruit cups by cutting up fresh fruit and stirring in yogurt, then freezing in single serve containers. You can also freeze bananas for a creamy healthy frozen easy snack.

Cut up banana sections and roll them in wheat germ, coconut and chopped nuts. Have your child add raisin eyes to complete a porcupine. Mix some cocoa powder with the wheat germ to make a hedgehog.

Serve yogurt fruit and granola parfaits for dessert instead of cake and candy.

Small pumpkins or apples can be hollowed out and filled with a mixture of chopped apple, raisins, dried apricots, walnuts, a small amount of cinnamon, brown sugar, honey or molasses and apple cider then baked until done. This same filling can be cooked in a pan on the stovetop and then served in baked sweet potato “boats” as well.

Teach your child to drink water rather than soda, juice, or “fruit beverages”.

With a little creativity you can instill good eating habits and a love of cooking in your children while having a great time together.

Chicken Little got a great Valentine’s Day surprise - his grandmother mailed both he and his brother cards with Starbuck’$$ gift cards inside. Of course we had to put his card in the Spider Man wallet which he wanted to carry but then decided that it should go in the diaper bag until we got there so he didn’t lose it.

The whole way there he talked about exactly what he was going to order. “And mom,” he kept telling me, “I’m going to order all by myself without any help from you.”

When we got there Toddler and I hung back while he grabbed his vanilla milk and looked at the window case. It was lunchtime so he knew he had to get real food, not just a cupcake. He ordered a bacon egg and cheese biscuit. Apparently the pressure was so great he forgot to get his treat. Here he is paying (which the lady had to prompt him to do he was so nervous about the ordering process.)

“Nuts” I heard him mutter, “I forgot to get my treat. That’s allright, I can do it later.” Giggle from the cashier behind hand. She looked at me and asked if I wanted anything. “Oh I’m not with him” I said winking.

“Mom, this is so cool!” he said. “I can go to Starbucks anytime I want and get as many treats as I want!”

“How are you going to get there?” I asked. “I’ll take your car when you’re asleep.” So now I need to remember to hide the keys at bedtime.

Here he is just outside the door carrying his self-purchased booty:

“I sure love Grandma” he said later. “Do you think we could go to her house later today? It’s ok if she’s not home, we’ll just pick up the toys before we leave.”

We miss you Grandma!

If you found this blog from my reflux site, www.PollywogBaby.com, then YOU are the reason.

YOU are the reason that I spend the hours I do maintaining the site.

In the hopes that YOU would find it when you needed help the most.

In the hopes that YOU would find something in the information I’ve researched, and tested, and shared.

In the hopes that one (or hopefully more) pieces of information would be so useful that it will help you out in some small or large way and help you see light at the end of the tunnel.

In the hopes that if you are at the end of your rope you will notice the contact information and realize that I really do mean I want YOU to call me so you have someone to talk to you who understands what you are going through.

Because I want you to know that YOU will make it through this experience and that your baby will outgrow reflux and be the wonderful child you hoped for back when all this began.

Wishing you hugs,

The first three months with Chicken Little were the hardest of my life. I was completely unprepared for a fussy baby with infant acid reflux. He cried more than I did and my husband was working long hours so I went at least 10-12 hour stretches without a break. He constantly spit up on me and refused to be put down even long enough for me to use the restroom. Medications the doctor prescribed had little to no effect on his acid reflux and it took quite awhile before I had the energy to begin researching things that might help him. Once I did, things improved dramatically for us.

Here is what helped:

Positioning for infant acid reflux

Be sure your baby is always upright with a straight spine and no pressure on the tummy. Carriers, slings and bouncy seats that allow him to slump will put pressure on his tummy. To keep from going insane check into a nice adjustable baby carrier that keeps him close to you so you can actually use your hands. I recommend the moby wrap and the baby cuddler. For sleeping invest in a good sleeping wedge like the Tucker Sling or the AR Pillow. When feeding always be sure your baby’s spine is straight and he is as elevated as possible. It is virtually impossible to do this without using something like a Pollywog baby feeding pillow. I sell these items in my store because I have virtually tried them all and these are the ones that work for babies with infant acid reflux.

Dietary changes to cure infant acid reflux

If you are breastfeeding try eliminating triggers from your diet. Dairy, soy, and wheat are very common ones. It may take several weeks for these foods to clear your system so you really need to continue the trial that long. Pay close attention to your baby’s diapers and spit ups when you do add things back. It can take 12 hours or more for a food you consume to hit your baby’s system, although you may notice changes immediately depending on the level of his intolerance. Read more about making breastmilk easier to digest.

Breastmilk imbalance can trigger infant acid reflux

Be sure your baby is getting the adequate amount of hind milk. Only switch breasts once a side is empty! Too much foremilk can cause gas or reflux. See Empty the first breast for more information on how to tell if it’s time to switch or not.

The right baby bottles can improve infant acid reflux

If you are bottle feeding try Dr. Brown’s Bottles. They are uniquely designed with an internal straw that eliminates air bubbles and vacuum buildup. They really are the best bottles for baby spit up and gas.

Medication for infant acid reflux - a last resort

Talk to your doctor about medicating your baby only once you have tried these other natural remedies for infant reflux. Medications are not tested for infant use, nor have there been any follow-up studies done.

Dealing with infant acid reflux

Get as much help for yourself as possible. It’s so easy to slip into depression when you are dealing with a refluxer. Be sure to leave the house. Getting outside will change things dramatically for both of you! Visit friends, go for walks, but above all take care of yourself. See reflux and colic sanity tips for more ideas on how to preserve your sanity when dealing with a refluxer.

Wishing you hugs,

On the car ride home from preschool I asked Chicken Little what he did today. This is what he said.

“We were playing Scooby Doo. Joseph was the bad guy and Brigette was Scooby Doo and I was Fred.”

“Really” I said. “What bad guy was Joseph?”

“He was Crazy Poop Man.” He said.

Knowing that my son was the ringleader I can’t help but wonder what his teachers must think of me.

Sometimes I just need to tell myself that. Especially when my husband is out of town.

Sunday’s child I would never eat:

However, Wednesday’s child is on the menu:

And he’s never even heard of Billy Idol.

Apple, peanut butter & marshmellows - how can you go wrong? I’m not sure what was more fun - making this with my 4 year old or watching him try to fit it in his mouth as if they were his own lips & teeth. I would have a picture of that but I was too busy peeing my pants laughing.

Chicken Little suffered his first real loss today. The pair of underwear that he loved the most has finally bitten the dust.

Dash underwear were what finally convinced him that he needed to potty train. He really believed that if he had them on he could run faster. They were always the ones he would grab first.

If he was running he would occasionally stop, regardless of place or company, and drop his drawers to check which underwear he had on. If they were his Dash underwear he would shout “Good!” and get a sudden burst of speed. If not, he would mutter “Nuts, forget it.” and stop running.

We started out with two pairs and one of them I secretly retired long ago. The last pair I decided to retire tonight. You can see why. I gave Max the news with the seriousness and sensitivity the situation required. He bawled openly for at least ten minutes.

I considered briefly if a good mother would have given Dash some sort of ceremony. Would that help him move on? I played taps on the kazoo and that seemed to cheer him up. Hopefully he’ll be feeling better tomorrow.

I had totally forgotten that feeling of panic until I helped take care of my neighbor’s 3 month old baby today. It wasn’t that she was fussy at all. It was my two kids. Chicken Little is extremely jealous anytime I give attention to Toddler, although he is making huge strides now that Toddler is able to play with him. Toddler, however, has never had to share me in that way before. He whined and cried incessantly.

Clearly she didn’t want to be in her carseat the whole time so when she began fussing I picked her up. I smiled at her and she looked at me with huge eyes. After an uncertain minute she smiled back. Then I smiled larger and she smiled back again. I smiled even larger, playfully throwing my head back. Apparently the sight of my open mouth and all my teeth was too much and she began wailing inconsolably.

I walked her around the house, let her look out the window and finally went down the hall to rock her. Nothing helped. Then when I came back into the living room she fixated on the sight of a large purple dinosaur singing and dancing on my television screen. She calmed right down.

The whole episode reminded me of the panic I felt with both of my kids. Chicken Little cried inconsolably for months. In the beginning I felt constant panic and frantically tried every position, every song and shush I knew, every movement I could think of. After awhile you begin to realize it’s not you and you’ve tried just about everything you can try but at first it eats you up. A smart person should be able to think their way out of colic, right?

With Lander the feeling of panic was because I had so much surgery after he was born that I wasn’t supposed to carry him for months. What if I was alone with him and he started crying? I wouldn’t be able to dip into the bag of tricks that I had developed with Chicken Little because they all involved standing up and moving around, obviously carrying the baby.

It’s amazing how overwhelming panic can be - difficulty breathing, fuzzy vision or loss of color, such extreme blood pressure surges that your ears buzz.

Panic is one of those amazing animalistic sensations that you just cannot control. Just like having an infant with reflux or colic. If you feel panic trying to soothe your little one read infant reflux and colic comfort ideas. You may find something in there that helps eliminate that feeling of panic.