You asked it! Part 3

Q: if you don't drink milk or dairy and no soy either.. what do you give your kids to drink after they are done breastfeeding when they recommend whole milk for brain development?

A: I nurse our babies until they are 18-20 months. They have all weaned themselves at that age. So by that age we are not replacing breast milk for another milk drink. One of the reasons whole milk is recommended for BRAIN development is because of the fat content. We do try to keep our children on a high{er} fat diet by feeding them plenty of high fat foods -- such as -- avocado, salmon, coconut milk & nuts {including peanut butter, almond milk, almond butter}.

What do our kids drink? WATER and a few times a week they drink orange juice with clarks minerals. As a special treat we sometimes buy bolthouse farms green goodness juice. But really, our kids primarily drink water, water, water!

Q: And, I don't drink soy milk either, and I have a reason, I'm curious if it's the same reason (it inhibits the body from absorbing minerals)

A: There are SO many reasons why we don't eat soy and yes that is one of them.
click here to read what I've said before about soy.
click here to read a great article on soy.

Q: What are your thoughts on drinking water (filtration, etc.)? What does your family drink/buy for water?

A: Drinking good water is ESSENTIAL. If you want to be healthy you NEED to drink good water. There is a lot of information out there about what is the best water... but it's all debatable... at a certain point. We try to avoid bottled water, for many reasons... environment, quality, toxic plastic, ect. BUT good 'ole city water is nothing to be excited about. AND you have to consider pure water for more than just drinking. We have a whole house carbon filtration system. It wasn't exactly cheap, but a worthy investment 8 years ago... and it's still going strong! Carbon cleans out your basic worries and such, but it doesn't clean out fluoride, pharmaceuticals and pathogens that attach themselves to the chlorine {that is killed by the carbon but leaves the pathogens}. So... we're ALMOST there, but not quite. Part of the reason we haven't purchased another water system specifically for our drinking water is for 2 reasons -- 1 cost and 2 we didn't know which one was best.

So here is where we are at... we believe Reverse Osmosis water is the best choice, but with a catch. RO basically removes EVERYTHING from the water, even the GOOD minerals that our bodies CRAVE. You can do one of two things... you could add minerals to your water in various forms. You can buy liquid minerals at your local health food store or you can buy our favorite, Clarks Minerals, that you can add to juice like I mentioned above. So basically you are getting really clean water with NO bad but you're losing some GOOD too. I know i've read some very helpful information on Dr. Mercola's site.

Q: also what supplements do you give your kids and in what form?

A: We give our kids the liquid clarks minerals mentioned above, and Mannatech mannabears and glycobears. Although because of cost we are currently NOT giving them those vitamins and upping their clarks because it's a bit more cost effective. When we are able I will FOR SURE buy more Mannatech vitamins for them. We also give them echinachia when needed and let them chew on fresh cone flowers throughout the summer/fall.

Q: I would be curious to know any books or resources you have used that have really shaped your views on healthy living. I am trying to go that way myself! Thanks!!

A: Talking and sharing with others about health is a GREAT resource. I talk with my husband, my friends, my family, my chiropractor, the dude at the health food store. Anyone, the MORE information you learn the better equipt you are to make confident healthy choices.

Aside from that, here are a few sites that I have learned a great deal from. I will say this again take what you can and keep learning, don't believe 100% of what you read, make your own educated decisions.

www.naturalnews.com

www.mercola.com

www.whfoods.org

Books that I read from again and again -- Foods that Harm, Foods that heal -- Food as medicine -- What would Jesus eat -- Infection Protection --

Q: I'm also wondering about eating a balanced diet. As silly as it sounds, I can't figure out how to make a meal plan with a balanced, healthy diet. I'm sure you have some wonderful ideas!

A: Healthy and balanced are very different. You can eat red pepper and hummus all day, everyday, and even though they are both healthy you will NOT be eating optimally.

Here is how we break it down --
1 -- VEGGIES
2 -- PROTEIN
3 -- FRUIT
4 -- GRAIN

That is our order of importance. Here is a sample breakfast, lunch, dinner & snacks with 1-2-3-4 priorities in mind.

BREAKFAST -- 2 egg, 1/2 yellow pepper, 1/2 Roma tomato, 1/3 c. shredded carrot, 1 green onion - either omelet style or scrambled. 1/2 grapefruit, 1/2 Ezekiel English muffin topped with almond or peanut butter and agave nectar.

SNACK -- almonds, cashews, dried cranberries, raisins, dried mango mix {and for fun we'll add chocolate chips too}

LUNCH -- Red pepper, cucumber, carrots, grape tomatoes with hummus. Smashed pinto beans and avocado with tortilla chips.

SNACK -- apples and peanut butter

DINNER -- beans and rice {in some form -- curried, chili, ect.} cauliflower, broccoli

DESSERT/SNACK -- strawberries with non dairy mango sorbet

Hope that helps!

Q: I would like to know why you cook with grape seed oil. Thanks.
Q: what cooking oils do you use, and why? i know you do not use vegetable oil...what about olive oil? how do you know which oil to substitute in a recipe that calls for one you don't use?

A: Anything we saute or cook above 200-250 degrees we use grapeseed or coconut oil. Why? Because these oils have a higher heat tolerance than olive oil. Olive oil starts to decompose around 200-250 degrees, breaking down in nutrients and releasing possibly harmful chemicals.
Here is a link that talks a little more about it -- http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=george&dbid=56

As for substituting -- I do it all the time and have yet to run into a problem.

Q: In the nicest possible way, without eating dairy how do you guys get enough calcium?

A: There is more calcium in a serving of broccoli than there is in a glass of milk. Any green leafy vegetable is full of calcium -- so eat lots of those and you'll do fine! {grin} We also have Standard
Process Calcium Lactate on hand and use it when we feel we need a little extra.

Q: What would be your top ten snacks for lunchboxes on a budget? I'm am always trying to cut out unhealthy food from my children's diet. Sometimes my mind goes blank and we need to get the creative flow happening.

A: Oh this is a fun question!
1 veggies and hummus
2 apples and peanut butter
3 dried fruit and nuts {raw, unsweetened, unsulfered -- from Trader Joes}
4 chips, avocado and salsa
5 frozen fruit, granola, coconut milk & agave nectar {although that sounds messy in a lunchbox!}
6 wasa crackers, cream cheese or soft goat cheese, topped with tom, onion, sprouts, cucumber, pepper -- whatever you'd like. We use shredded carrots sometimes too.
7 Ezekiel bread, nut butter, honey - agave nectar or fruit spread
8 can of garbanzo beans or black beans -- plain or add tomato, cucumber, avocado, onion cilantro, oil, balsamic vinegar. The boys have fun adding different thing.
9 pita bread, hummus sandwich -- add onion, sprouts, shredded carrots, tom, cucumber, ect...
10 hard boiled eggs or egg salad sandwich

Now I'm HUNGRY! What a great place to end.... Which one shall I have?!? {grin}

Fun Fun again huh! If I have passed your question already, don't worry, I'm working out of order. I was trying to group them together with similar questions. Lots more to come!