New Baby - Nursing and the MSPI Diet

I thought I would be an old pro when I started nursing my second child.  But new problems came up with him – namely, REFLUX!  We have been trying countless things to make him feel better while trying to solve the core issue.  In addition to two medicines, sitting upright after feedings and block nursing, I have been on the MSPI diet (milk-soy protein intolerance).

Friends had told me that being on this diet while nursing was so restrictive and so miserable, I was petrified.  I really lack discipline when it comes to dieting, especially while nursing!  But honestly, it has not been as bad as I expected.  It IS a bummer to have to plan every meal in advance, and I really miss buying baked goods to satisfy my cravings.  Between the resources online and what I was given by my pediatrician, I have survived – for almost a month.

Below you will find some helpful things to get you started, if you too decide to try the MSPI diet.

1. The greatest web site, started by a mom, that has some delicious recipes – even if you aren’t on the diet: www.mspimama.com
2. A wonderful mother created a cook book that lists some ingredients to avoid, some foods that you CAN eat and plenty of yummy recipes: www.mspiguide.com
3. A recipe of the food that is keeping me going: puppy chow!
4. The milk and soy ingredients to avoid if you are on the MSPI diet: see below
5. A list of processed foods u can eat: see below

PUPPY CHOW

1. Melt 1 cup MSPI safe chocolate chips (I like Guittard) in a large pot over low heat.  Mix until completely melted. 
2. Turn off heat and add ½ cup MSPI safe peanut butter (I like Jif Natural.)
3. Remove pan from heat and add 9 cups Rice Chex.  Mix until coated.
4. Add ¾ cup powdered sugar to two gallon Ziploc bags (3/4 cup in each bag.)
5. Split Chex mixture in each bag and shake well.
6. Store in airtight container.

MILK INGREDIENTS TO AVOID:

*artificial butter flavor
*butter, butter fat, buttermilk
*casein
*caseinates (ammonia caseinate, calcium caseinate, magnesium caseinate, potassium caseinate, sodium caseinate)
*cheese
*cottage cheese
*curds
*custard
*half and half
*hydrolysates (casein, milk protein, protein, whey, whey protein)
*lactalbumin, lactalbumin phosphate
*lactoglobulin
*lactose
*milk (derivative, protein, solids, malted, condensed, evaporated, dry, whole, low fat, non fat, skim)
*nougat
*pudding
*rennet casein
*sour cream, sour cream solids
*sour milk solids
*whey (delactosed, demineralized, protein concentrate)
*yogurt
*brown sugar flavoring
*caramel flavoring
*chocolate, milk chocolate (cocoa butter is ok)
*high protein flour
*margarine
*natural flavoring
*Simplesse A "D" on a product label next to a "K" or circled "U" may indicate the presence of milk protein

SOY INGREDIENTS TO AVOID:
Avoid foods that contain any of the following ingredients:
*miso
*shoyu sauce
*soy (flour, grits, nuts, milk, sprouts)
*soybean (granules, curd)
*soy protein (concentrate, isolate)
*soy sauce
*textured vegetable protein (TVP)
*tofu ingredients
*flavorings
*hydrolyzed plant protein
*hydrolyzed soy protein
*hydrolyzed vegetable protein
*natural flavoring
*vegetable broth
*vegetable gum
*vegetable starch

**Studies show that most soy allergic individuals may safely eat products containing soy lecithin and soybean oil

Grocery Store Items that are MSPI-safe (always check the ingredient list, in case anything changed!):

Breads:
Orowheat 100% whole wheat bread
Orowheat cracked wheat hamburger buns
Squirrely Sprouted Wheat Bread
Sara Lee 100% whole wheat bread
Mission whole-wheat tortillas
Old El Paso Taco Shells
Van's Organic Blueberry Waffles
Healthy Harvest pasta and most other pastas
MultiGrain Flatout Tortillas
Pitas
Rudi's Organic Bakers 7 Grain Bread
Most varieties of Orowheat and Sara Lee breads are safe
A lot of bread from the grocery store bakery is safe too

Crackers:
Honey Maid Graham Crackers
Triscuits
Wheat Thins
My Family Farm organic whole-wheat crackers
Pretzels


Cereals:
Barbara's Shredded Oats
Honey Nut Cheerios
Cheerios
Quaker's Oatmeal Breakfast Cookies
Wal-Mart's Great Value Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal
Wal-Mart's Great Value Nature's Grain Cereal
Life Cereal, Cinnamon
Life Cereal, Honey Graham
Life Cereal, Original
Wal-Mart's Great Value Raisin Bran
Cascadian Farms Organic Cinnamon Raisin Granola
Post Raisin Bran
Kix
Organic Wheatabix
Instant Quaker Oatmeal

Snacks/Sweets:
Regular Pringles
Lay’s Naturals tortilla or sea salted potato chips
Plain Sunchips (blue bag)
Barrel O Fun Tortilla chips (several kinds of Barrel of Fun chips are ok)
Two-Bite brownies by Homestyle
Wal-Mart's Great Value semi-sweet chocolate chips
Lindt dark chocolate bar
Baker's brand semi-sweet chocolate chunks
Duncan Hines white frosting and cake mix (several other varieties also ok)
Duncan Hines brownie mixes, several varieties
Great Value (Walmart brand) white cake mix and frosting
Pillsbury Funfetti frosting
Dad's cookies, several varieties
Oreos, original and Uh Oh Oreos
Various Nabisco 100 Calorie Packs
Rice dream ice cream (available at health food stores)
Purdy's dark chocolate
Boxed chocolates from Rose City (rosecitychocolates.com) choose vegan varieties
Twizzler's licorice
Newman's Own Organic Dark Chocolate
Wal-Mart's Great Value plain and barbecue chips
Health food stores carry several different brands of cake mixes that are milk and soy free. 

Meat/proteins:
Old El Paso Refried Beans
Wal-Mart's Great Value fat-free refried beans
Bush's Vegetarian Baked Beans
Any dry bean, prepared per package instructions
Nuts: almonds, cashews, walnuts, pistachios, peanuts, etc.
Eggs: fried, boiled, scrambled, etc.
Boar's head deli meats (all varieties but ham and turkey)
Mrs. Paul's fish filets and fish sticks
Tyson chicken nuggets
Applegate farms organic turkey dogs
Hummus
Quorn brand vegetarian sausages (also have a vegetarian chicken nugget and burger crumbles)
Citterio proscuitto ham
Applegate Farms ham
Applegate Farms turkey
Applegate Farms turkey bologna
Trader Joe's Southwest Style Turkey Burgers
Amy's Kitchen California Burgers (vegetarian)
Ian's allergen -free chicken and fish sticks
Oscar Mayer Oven Roasted Turkey
Oscar Mayer Honey Roasted Turkey
Oscar Mayer Smoked Sausage
Shake and Bake Original Chicken
-Any other fresh prepared meat that has no added flavorings 

Drinks:
Rice Dream Rice milk: plain, vanilla, or chocolate
Westsoy Rice milk: plain or vanilla
Almond breeze milk
Health food stores also carry oat milk, hazelnut milk, and mixed grain milk as well as other brands of rice milk
Orange juice with added calcium
Any other fruits juices
Soda pops 

Misc:
McCormick's Fajita Seasoning
Smart Balance Light spread
Fleishmann's Light (the one with the blue lid) sold at SunMart in Kearney
Avo Classic Guacamole
Alexia oven fries
Newman's Own Olive Oil and Vinegar Dressing
Wal-Mart's Great Value Thousand Island
Dorothy Lynch dressing
-Many brands of Italian, just check for cheese in it.
Chocolate Chip Teddy Grahams
Dried fruit
Fruit rollups
Amy's kitchen pizza roasted vegetable without cheese
Maggie's seasoning for flavoring stir-fries. (Like a soy sauce, but made with wheat rather than soy).
Mrs. Dash 10 min. marinade
Lowry’s Baja Chipotle marinade
KC Masterpiece barbecue sauce-several varieties are safe
Or homemade barbecue sauce: ketchup, rice vinegar, onion powder, and molasses
Ketchup
Salsa (most are ok)
Mayonnaise-most brands
Miracle Whip
Mustard

Good luck to you and let me know if you have any other suggestions!

Just for Fun - Preschooler Games without any "Stuff"

Before bed every night, my son wants to play on the bed.  We have a king sized bed, and he loves to get wild and crazy on it.  If he is playing with daddy, that works.  They rough house, create obstacle courses and even do running flips to try and touch the ceiling!  But if daddy is working late, then mommy sure doesn’t want to pillow fight.  So I am constantly trying to think up games to play that require no tools (ie, I can lounge on the bed and only use my voice, little energy required.)  I realized recently that I have quite a few.  You can also play these in the car, while waiting in line at the grocery store or when trying to calm down your wired preschooler before bed.

Anything Alphabet – The child starts with A and says “a is for apple.”  Then mom says “b is for baby.”  You can adapt this to Beach Alphabet, School Alphabet, Animal Alphabet, Name Alphabet, City Alphabet, Christmas Alphabet, Sports Alphabet and my son’s very favorite, which he came up with “Stinky Alphabet.”  If you want to make it more challenging, you can repeat every letter by playing the “I’m Going to the Store Game”.  Kid – “I’m going to the store and I am buying an apple.”  Mom – “ I’m going to the store and I’m buying an apple and a basketball.”  Kid – “I’m going to the store and I’m buying an apple, a basketball and a crayon.”

What age will your brother be? – My 5-year old has just become a big brother and he is very excited.  He is also really into people’s ages.  He recently introduced my dad to his babysitter and said “this is my grandpa, he’s 64.”  That is how this game started.  I said, when you are 10, how old will your baby brother be?  OR, when your brother is 8, how old will you be?  He got so into it, we started doing crazy ages like 64, 88 and 105.  And I taught him how to subtract on his fingers by five (their age difference.)

Rhyme Time – If mom says rat, kid says bat.  Or, if mom says log, kid can try and come up with as many rhyming words as possible – dog, fog, bog.  And then this game adapted further to “Silly Rhyme Time.”  This came from that Yanni song, you know the one… “Have you ever seen a cat, wearing a hat?”  OR “Have you ever seen a whale with a sock on his tail?”

Last Letter – Mom says elephant, then kid has to know what the last letter of that word is (T) and then say a word that STARTS with T.  To make this harder, do only animals, only kid’s names, places you have visited, etc. 

Check back, I will add more games as we invent them!

Just for Fun - Interview with Author Monica O'Brien

I recently came across this new author, Monica O'Brien.  She has just completed her first novel, Silver Smoke.  As some of you know, I am a avid reader and a lover of entertaining book series.  Check out the interview that I conducted with Monica below.  And at the bottom of this blog, you'll find a link to Monica's web site which tells you how to take part in a contest she is running, in celebration of her new novel.

What is your all-time favorite “classic” book?

I really love Emma by Jane Austen. I think I saw the movie first, with Gwyneth Paltrow, then read the book. It was my first Jane Austen book. I moved on to the other greats, like Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, and Persuasion.

How did you come up with your novel’s character’s names?

Well, I just thought about how celebrities always give their kids dumb names like Apple (I just referenced Gwyneth twice in this interview) and then copied that idea. Pilot's name just came to me out of thin air (no pun intended). Then came Breeze, which was later changed to Brie because Pilot and Breeze is just too comical. So then I decided that Brie is short for Gabriella and that her mother named her after one of the archangels, Gabrielle. And Rykken is a derived from the word reich, which is German for rich empire or kingdom.

Were you an avid reader or a creative writer (or both) as a kid?

I read 2 to 3 books a day when I was between 7 and 13 years old. I'm assuming I didn't have a ton of friends or a social life! I did write a couple stories but nothing of substance until I wrote this novel.

What is your favorite “beach read?”

I like the Sookie Stackhouse mysteries. I won't typically keep up with her series as the books come out, but when I'm on vacation in Mexico I'll bring two or three of her novels with me to read on the beach.

Who would play Brie in the movie adaptation of Silver Smoke?

Well, I have my eye on Vanessa Hudgens--but let me explain! Brie is one of those characters that just has a sparkle about her. She's popular and people look up to her and she doesn't know why, and she doesn't really care or notice because it's been like that her whole life. She hasn't done anything to earn that--she's not talented, and she's not particularly nice, and she's not always easy to like. I would equate her with the popular girl at school who isn't a bully, isn't outwardly mean but also isn't outwardly friendly, doesn't actually do anything of note, but manages to steal attention because there is just something about her, that X factor, that you can't stop watching. I can see Vanessa Hudgens playing that well, for whatever reason.

Regarding Brie, I should mention that I was not that person at all in high school! I knew a lot of girls like her though, and I found myself wanting to be accepted by those girls even though I couldn't come up with any logical reason I should be friends with them. They were the girls you hated mostly because you were jealous. Brie's fairly vacant and glassy-eyed at the beginning of the book, but eventually you see what really motivates her and she becomes more of a human being by the end.

What is the first step to getting a novel published?

Deciding whether you want to go the traditional route or do things on your own. There are advantages to both. I think a lot of people would say that the first step is to write the novel. You honestly can't get a sense of whether the novel will generate any interest until you write it. There are so many factors to consider.

What has been your favorite Halloween costume (as an adult and as a kid?)

I've always wanted to be Snow White, but for some reason I never did it! I guess my favorite costume is from when I was a kid. I had waited until the last minute to make something, so I found this huge box and wrapped it in birthday wrapping. I cut out two holes for my arms and went as a present. It was pretty tough to navigate in that thing.

 

To celebrate the release of a new novel to the Seven Halos series, Monica is doing a Kindle Fire giveaway for Silver Smoke, the first novel in the series! 

 

Check out the contest details here and enjoy this very informative web site.  http://howtobeanauthor.net/blog/contests/12-days-of-fire-contest/

Toddler Advice - A Fun Food Idea

I am constantly trying to come up with new snack ideas, new lunch ideas, new dinner ideas, ETC for my picky and very vocal son.

One of his favorite lunch side dishes is Ants on a Log.  I recently made Ants on a Log for a play date and my friend had never heard of this delicious snack!  And she certainly had not heard of my invention - Ants on a SNOW COVERED log!

Ants on a Log are celery sticks, with peanut butter and raisins on top.  And Ants on a Snow Covered Log are celery sticks with cream cheese and ants on top.  They are both a sure-fire way to get your kids to eat a vegetable.

Just for Fun - Rainy Day Activities Part IV

I am loving this time of year because the weather has been glorious.  And by glorious, I mean unseasonably warm!  My family and I have not had many 'rainy day activities' lately.  We have been at the botanical gardens, the apple orchard and the pumpkin patch.  

My son and I both obsess over Halloween (he chooses his costume 9-10  months before October).  So currently, we are in preparation for the big day.  Over the weekend, we went to the Halloween store (the one that just opens up for the month), decorated our house with all the spooky decor that I bought the day after Halloween LAST year AND we even made pumpkin bars. 

Whether it is raining where you are or not, this is an easy and delicious recipe.  I took it from my Parish's web site, so you know it is a classic.  It is listed amongst chicken salad and potato casserole recipes.  Comfort food!

PUMPKIN BARS

(11 x 15 pan)

Spray or grease a jelly roll pan.

In a large mixing bowl, stir together:

1-1/2 cups sugar

1 cup vegetable oil

4 eggs

Add and stir together:

1-1/2 cups flour

1 tsp soda

1 tsp baking powder

1-1/2 tsp cinnamon 

Add 1 (16 oz) can of pumpkin.  Stir until well combined.

Bake 25-30 minutes @ 350 degrees. Let cool.

Frosting:

Mix together 3 oz softened cream cheese and 3/4 cup butter.  

Add 1/2 tsp vanilla.    

Add 3 cups sifted powdered sugar.  

Mix with beaters until smooth.  

Spread on cooled bars.

Enjoy and happy fall!

Preschooler Advice - When You Need to Start Disciplining

I just received a need for help with a 3-year old boy.  My friend said that her son has always been very physical (likes to rough house, etc) and when frustrated or mad, tends to hit, flail or even bite.  She and her husband used to ignore the behavior and just redirect, but that has stopped working. 

I specifically remember when, around 3, my son started hitting me when he would get frustrated.  Kids at that age have such emotions, and are starting to process so much, but they don’t know how to express themselves yet.  And they certainly can’t reason through the problem. 

My first suggestion was that she should no longer ignore the behavior.  A 3-year old needs to learn that hitting is not OK, and therefore some mild, but firm discipline is in order.  And secondly, never retaliate.  Never spank, pat or even playfully hit back.  This just shows your child that his role model hits as a solution.  So you hit your kid, he hits his baby sister.  Or worse, a kid at school!

There are 2 phrases I learned from our wonderful preschool director. (They are cheesy and sooo not me, but they work!)

1. Find my eyes and

2. Use your words. 

Over time, these phrases will really help you nip any inappropriate behavior.  And will also help when teaching appropriate behavior and manners.

Let's say you tell your son to do something and instead he hits you.  You need a special (stern, calm and not loud) voice, and you need to make eye contact and so does he.  "MAX,” pause, pause, wait for him to look at you.  If he doesn't, say his name again.  Kids have a hard time hearing you/concentrating when they are doing something else, or caught up in aggression, so if you say their name and pause, often, they WILL look up.  That little pause can do wonders.  If he doesn't look up after a couple of tries, say, "Max, find my eyes please."  And don't say anything until he does.  Once he looks up, give him one command (“we do NOT HIT.”  OR “it’s time to come to the dinner table.”)

And now that my son is almost five, I use this phrase a lot because we are teaching him manners - when we recently ran into a family friend at Whole Foods and she was asking William questions and he started answering towards the bottom of the cart.  Or every morning when he is dropped off at school, I whisper in his ear, "remember, find Mrs. Smith's eyes and say good morning."

Anyway, once he has found your eyes, you continue in your stern voice "WE DO NOT HIT."  Now that might be enough, you decide.  Or maybe you say that hitting hurts people and he needs to please use his words instead.  If not, or if he throws a tantrum, I have found counting to be MAGIC.  In fact, there is a book called something like 1, 2, 3 Magic. 

You would say, in your stern, but not loud voice, "Max, you need to calm down, not hit, whatever, or I am going to count."  And then I repeat it "Max, if you don't stop hitting, I am going to count to 3."  (The first time I just say I am going to count, then the second time I say "to three."  Then, if he doesn't calm down, you say "Max, I am going to count to 3, if you don't stop hitting by the time I get to 3, you will have a timeout."  Or have to go to your room, etc.  And our MOST DRASTIC, is taking away books at bedtime. 

Then, you must immediately start counting.  Don't ever threaten to count, and then keep threatening it.  DO IT.  And I would say 95% of the time (still), my son stops what he is doing before I get to four (I count to four now since he is four.) 

Then, you thank him and redirect him.  "Thank you for not hitting, let's go color."  OR, “thank you for brushing your teeth, let’s go put our PJ’s on and pick out some books!”  And you'll have to do this a million times before it sinks in.

And if you DO get to 3, and you want to do a timeout, it has to always be in the same spot.  I would pull a chair over to a corner of the kitchen and tell him he has to sit there for 3 minutes, and then set the microwave timer.  The key is that there is no talking during timeout.  So if he tries to talk to you, ask if it’s over, etc. say "no talking during timeout" ONE time, and never say anything else to him.  If he gets up, you walk over, put him back, and then go back into the kitchen and continue to fake organize the pantry, or in other words, stay close to him so you know if he is doing the timeout, but look busy so he doesn't bother you.  Be a robot during timeout.

This all might sound crazy to you, or too stern, but trust me, NIP ALL THIS NOW.  Discipline gets sooo much harder as they start to reason, manipulate, play with other kids, etc.  Get rules in place so he knows you are the boss.  And just figure out what works for you.  If he doesn't care that you put him in a timeout, then take away books at bedtime.  All of this will be painful on both of you at first, but eventually, it works!  Just remember, you are doing your child a disservice by not giving him structure, routine and rules.  Mild discipline is a GOOD THING.

Just for Fun - Rainy Day Activities Part III

This project was something that my son actually did at preschool and then they sent the directions home in each child's backpack.  We tried it out recently and it was EASY as can be, quick from start to finish, and so much fun (for both of us!)

RAINBOW TOAST

What you'll need:

white bread
milk
4 juice cups
food coloring
a new paintbrush
toaster
butter

Directions:

Pour about 1/4 cup milk into each juice cup.
Add 5-10 drops of food coloring to each cup of milk and mix well (to make 4 very bright colors.)
Decorate white bread with rainbows, letters, polka dots, etc.
Lightly toast bread.
Butter Toast.
Eat your creation!

Mixing the milk (the 4th color we made was green.)

The final creation below (mom got into it too!)

Have fun and email me photos of YOUR Rainbow Toast!