Nourishing Traditions for Babies and Children

Several years ago, I came across Sally Fallon's classic book, Nourishing Traditions:  The Cookbook That Challenges Politically Correct Nutrition and the Diet Dictocrats.  Since then, I have been forever grateful to have found that book.  I suppose I had believed what industrial food companies and some dietitians and doctors maintained:  Stay away from fat!  Avoid cholesterol!  Raw milk is dangerous! etc., etc.  Published in 1999, the book promotes healthful practices, such as eating fermented food, that have now thankfully become trendy.  Even though my family and I lean toward a lacto-ovo vegetarian diet, I continue to find Fallon's book indispensable.  

So, you can imagine my excitement when I saw that Fallon had teamed up with Dr. Thomas Cowan to write The Nourishing Traditions Book of Baby and Child Care.  I pre-ordered it, and it just arrived a few days ago.  Since then, I sneak any moment I can to read through a page or two at random.  

The book covers a lot of ground with topics such as pre-pregnancy nutrition, newborn interventions, vaccinations, nourishing the growing child, and coping with childhood illness.  Much of the book appears to be written with two influential thinkers in mind:  Rudolph Steiner and Weston A. Price.  And I am so happy to see a book on infant and child health talk about things like electromagnetic fields, organic bedding, and the importance of rhythm to the developing child.  While I encourage everyone to take a look at this great book, like any book on child care, you can disregard what doesn't work for you:  For example, I have found Sally Fallon's advice to feed baby a soft-boiled egg yolk extremely beneficial, but I don't think I'll have my baby try her "Brains for Baby" recipe anytime soon! 

At UrthChild, our Superfoods department has some Fallon-approved food, such as coconut butter, sprouted nut butters and sprouted nut snacks, organic probiotics, and more.  Enjoy!

home health kit, part 2

We recently returned from the most wonderful trip to Maine.  We spent the better part of a week visiting our friends (you can follow their adventures on the lovely Crafting Mama Librarian Blog), who graciously took us to The Common Ground Fair in Unity, Maine.  The Fair is sponsored by and a benefit for the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association, and is truly a fair like no other.  If you haven't been before, be sure to keep the Fair on your radar screen for the future.

One of the vendors at the Fair was a company called Avena Botanicals.  They are the first Demeter-certified biodynamic* farm in Maine, and offer a vast selection of hand-crafted herbal remedies.  The majority of the plants used in their remedies are grown on their beautiful 32-acre farm.  I purchased a few of their remedies to add to my home health kit, including the Be Well and Herbal Zinger herbal compounds to help with cold and flu season.   I also bought the Immune Soup for overall immune health and support; I am looking forward to brewing it up this weekend!

And finally, the favorite in our home (as voted by my five-year-old daughter), the Flower Fairy Cream.  Who could resist that?!  I am seriously thinking about asking Avena if I could bring some of their amazing remedies to UrthChild, but in the meantime, visit their online store.  And share with us the remedies you have in your home health kit and tips for staying healthy this fall and winter!

*  The principles of biodynamic agriculture were first outlined in a series of lectures by Rudolph Steiner, who also founded the Waldorf education system.  According to Avena Botanicals, while biodynamic farming adheres to the same practices as organic farming, a fundamental element of biodynamic agriculture is "to help heal the earth by using specially made preparations that are applied to the soil, leaves, and compost pile following the natural rhythms of the day, the seasons, and the moon and planets.  Steiner taught that the regular use of the biodynamic preparations would help garden soils be more open and receptive to receiving the spiritual impulses radiating from the cosmic forces. He also believed that the vitality of the food and herbs we ingest, revitalized by the use of the biodynamic preparations, would help humans be more fully conscious, more spiritually awake, more aware of the divine energy present in all of life."  (Source:  http://www.avenabotanicals.com/about-avena/biodynamics/)

the home health kit

Yesterday, I received an e-mail from my daughter's school with all the forms I need to submit, lists of gear she'll need to keep her warm during outdoor play, and a lovingly written reminder to keep sick children at home.  

That last part really got me...  

I'm just not ready for cold and flu season.  Not even close.  I want to hang on to this blissful summer (it's been a healthy one, for the most part, for my children).  But I will endeavor to be an adult about this.  

This blog post from Rachel at LuSa Organics, one of our manufacturers, reminded me to begin putting together a home health kit.  The post focuses on whooping cough remedies, but a lot of the remedies are good for overall immune support.

Oh dear, I really am going to miss her...

Aviva Jill Romm's book also has a great list of herbs and remedies to have on hand.  I love this book and have consulted it many times.  I mean, a bag of heated salt as a remedy for nausea?  I never would have guessed.

Stay healthy this winter!