Hm, the title doesn’t exactly have the same catchiness, does it? I had full intentions of participating is WIAW today. However, that usually requires pictures of meals and I failed to capture more than breakfast…
Fried egg and avocado on a half a toasted onion roll with cheese and a clementine on the side.
and dinner…
A mini chicken salad (which I topped with buffalo sauce and clue cheese dressing) with a bowl of Emily’s White Bean and Kale Veggie Stew (which Hailey liked too!)
on camera. So I figured I make things a little more casual this Wednesday and share with you some of my favorite links I’ve run across lately…
Favorite Healthy Cooking Confession:
From-Scratch Cooking Confession: I Can’t Keep Up! by Real Mom Nutrition
I love this link because I can easily relate. Though I make a lot of our food from scratch, it’s certainly not everything all the time! I’d lose my mind.
Favorite Mom-Related Post:
Letter to Our First Born Before She Becomes a Big Sister from Windtraveler
Windtraveler is a blog I love because they are a young family that lives (lived) on a sailboat, something that piques mine and David’s interest. However, they are on land right now because they are expecting their twin girls to arrive in the next 24 hours!
Favorite Summer Thirst-Quencher Idea:
Coconut Water Ice Cubes from FitSugar
Yes! Love the idea of these, especially to throw in cranberry lime seltzer mocktails.
Favorite Head-Nodding Post:
You Are Not Diminished By Others’ Success from Fitness Perks
Just… yes! I’ve never understood why it is so hard for some people to be happy for others. I put my focus on building a life that I love and luckily that leads to very little leftover time for comparison or jealousy.
Favorite Food Swap List:
Healthy Food Replacements by 360 Your Life
I don’t always swap things out; sometimes I just want real sour cream, darn it! 😉 But it’s nice to check out substitutes for when I am up for playing in the kitchen. My favorite from this list is the whipped avocado in place of mayo. It makes me dream of some heavenly BLTs I could make in summer!
Two more health articles I think are worth a read…
Study finds link between BPA and prostate cancer –> BPA isn’t just a health buzzword; it can seriously harm our health.
Antibiotic misuse putting hospital patients at risk, CDC says –> Yikes. Antibiotics are one of my hot issues. I feel many doctors hand them out like candy. This can not only damage our immune systems and gut health, but also is also contributing to the rise of those super bugs that honestly terrify my inner germaphobe!
***Also, Munchkin Meals Link Up is tomorrow and I’d love for you to join in!***
What about you…
Do you have any great links to share?
Liz @ I Heart Vegetablesi says
Yumm I’m going to try those coconut water ice cubes! Those will be perfect in the summer 🙂
Erica says
Loved the coconut water ice cubes idea!
Laura @ Mommy Run Fast says
I definitely agree with you on the antibiotics. Great reads here! I missed Annette’s post- sounds fantastic. Off to check it out!
Tori L says
That letter to the daughter before she’s a big sister is precious. And I totally agree on not swaping out all foods 100% of the time…give me those French fries!
Becky@TheSavedRunner says
Thanks for sharing these articles! I look forward to checking them out!
Ali says
I totally agree with you about the antibiotic issue. It really does ruin our gut flora, which is 80% of our immunity and then causes the whole antibiotic resistance problem. I always try to do natural things first before taking them. Herbs and essential oils can work wonders!
Kelli H (Made in Sonoma) says
Totally agree with you on antibiotics. I get so sick of doctors constantly prescribing antibiotics for everything! Thanks for sharing these links.
Giselle@myhealthyhappyhome says
I always forget to freeze coconut water but that would be perfect in my smoothies! Thanks for sharing!
GiselleR says
These links are awesome! I love the cooking confession the most lol
Also, I’ve had BLTs with avocado and they are beyond amazing! 😀
Danica @ It's Progression says
I agree with you about antibiotics! And I was just reading an article today about BPA in cans – the article talked about what a terrible affect it can have on women’s hormones, which may even be leading to cancer. It’s real and scary stuff!
Marjorie says
Love the coconut water ice cubes idea! Genius!
bonnie says
I have to put my two cents in here about antibiotics……
First i am a registered nurse (worked in maternity, school & drs offices) and i totally agree with antibiotic abuse making superbugs & yes it does alter our GI tract but…….
Lets not put all the blame on pediatricians (or doctors in general)!
My 31 yr old daughter is a Board Certified Pediatrician who DOESNT believe in handing out antibiotics. Most of the things that kids are coming in for is caused by a virus (like the common cold). ANTIBIOTICS DO NOT WORK ON A VIRUS ONLY ON A BACTERIAL INFECTION! Im shouting because some patents dont understand this and come into pedi Drs office & DEMAND antibiotics…. {little justin has a bit of a sore throat & we are going away for the weekend, so can you give them to us “just in case”}
My daughter tells me this all the time!! It puts her in a bind…. do you explain to the parent that antibiotics arent going to solve their kids problem and risk the demanding and ill informed parent is going to be unhappy or complain about “that doctor who wouldnt give me antibiotics” or do you just appease these people and prescribe them anyway, knowing that they arent necessary & the possible risks…
Its a tough call !!! The pressure of health insurance to treat more & more patients in less & less time just compounds the problems…. My daughter frequently just doesnt have the time to argue with these “know it all knuckleheads”!!
I also personally believe that all the “germ killing” products with triclosan are contributing to all sorts of problems… (superbugs & immunity issues).
We dont need to sterilize every single thing that our children touch….
OK im sorry for ranting but this is a subject I feel very strongly about…
Im willing to bet that most of you reading this blog will agree with me….
so dont be the parent that demands antibiotics from their pediatrician because they “know” thats what they need….
on the other hand if your child really does need antibiotics, please make sure they finish the whole course of treatment even when they feel better !!… That also causes superbugs by killing off all the weak bacteria and the stronger ones will become resistant to that antibiotic, so finish that prescription!!
I will get off my soapbox & go eat something healthy, and probably sweet !!!
Brittany Dixon says
Hey Bonnie- Oh I hear your angst and realize it must be incredibly frustrating for your daughter! I did not mean to sound like I blame doctors solely- eeks- sorry! I know many people think they cure all and then, like you said, don’t even finish the course. However, I’ve also had to tell a few doctors before that I didn’t want antibiotics even after they tried to give them to me. To me it sounds like it wouldn’t hurt for everyone, both medical professionals and people being their own health advocates, to be more aware of the potential dangers on antibiotic overuse.
I’m also on the same boat as you on the sanitizers. I used them a bit more when H was a baby, but have learned to lay off. I still use them in really gross situations, but otherwise a good hand washing once we get home does the job just fine. Great reminder!
bonnie says
Brittany,
I love reading your blog !! You are about my daughters age, so I relate to your experiences.
I know that you were not placing all the blame on Drs.
I virtually never take antibiotics… but last year after seeing a very nice & seeming knowledgeable Nurse Practitioner for a cough (after a bad cold) that was lingering for few weeks. My hubby seemed to have the same thing (we like to share lol). We both saw the NP. She prescribed antibiotics for both of us. I consulted with my daughter (the Dr ), she said “mom you dont need them, & neither does Dad” so I didnt take them but hubby did. He doesnt always listen to reason !!) We both got better. I drank tea w honey etc and improved faster then him !!
Point is – Yes, you must be your own health advocate !! If I had gotten worse I might have used them… but clearly they were not necessary.