March For Babies NYC!



Today was the March of Dimes March For Babies in NYC.  I was honored to be there not only as the mom of a preemie, but as an Ambassador Mom for the March of Dimes.  When Brendan was in the NICU, Alex and I found so much support, information and comfort in the March of Dimes community. They are dedicated to helping moms worldwide have full-term pregnancies and research the problems that threaten the health of babies. It was a beautiful day for a walk to raise money for such a phenominal organization and to raise awareness about premature birth.

Here's my mom with Tennis great Venus Williams and New York Giants offensive lineman David Diehl. They were so nice!

We had the honor of going on stage to speak to the crowd before the walk began.

We talked about Brendan and how grateful we are that he has grown into a happy and healthy 3 year old after being 2 months premature and spending 6 weeks in the NICU.

 

Brendan wanted in on the action and grabbed the mic to say hi to everyone. He was so cute.

Here's Brendan giving Dora a high-five. 

I was so happy to have all 3 of my kids with me on such a special day.

Brendan checking out his all access credentials.

 

Here's my mom with the Lehman High School Cheerleaders. They were so sweet and really excited to meet her.

It was amazing to walk through Central Park.  Such a gorgeous day!

Our dear friend Chelsea, who is also Hayden's Godmother, joined us for the day to help out. We love her and were so happy to have her with us!

It was colder than we thought it would be. So happy to have packed extra jackets.

This little girl was so cute. She was a big fan of my mom's and was so sweet. She recently won the Miss New York Little Princess pagent and was very excited to be wearing her crown.

Here's my little princess!

Walking down Lexington Avenue in front of the beautiful Chrysler Building.

The March of Dimes organized to have cheerleading groups every couple of blocks. So sweet!

One of the security guards let Brendan play with his walkie-talkie. It made him feel very official.

Here we are crossing the finish line and into the Finish Line Festival!

Here's Alex at our tent talking to the crowd about Sage Spoonfuls!

This is Maria, she has been a big supporter of mine for over 10 years - since the Passions days. We finally had the opportunity to meet after all this time! I am so happy I got to meet her face to face!

After a full day in the sun and with so much activity, Hayden passed right out.

This was an amazing day and one we will never forget. A huge thank you to the March of Dimes for letting us be such a big part of this special day!

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Leek & Lima Whipped Potatoes, Stage 2 Meals

Lima beans often get a bad rap, but they are buttery tasting and delicious, especially when blended with silky Yukon Gold potatoes and delicate leeks.  Lima Beans are also nutritional powerhouses and are a great staple food to have in your family's diet.  They are packed with heart healthy nutrients, cholesterol lowering fiber, and cancer fighting antioxidants.  Lima Beans are also a good source of protein, making them a great food choice for vegetarians. 

This recipe is not just for babies, it also makes a healthy side dish for the rest of your family! 

This recipe is suitable for babies 7-9 months and up, toddlers, big kids and adults.  Always make sure the consistency of your baby's food is one he can handle.  Before combining foods, be sure your baby has tried each one individually first.

What you'll need:

1 large or 2 small/medium Yukon Gold potatoes - washed, peeled and chopped

1 large leek - remove and discard rough dark green top and root. Chop and wash thoroughly in a strainer to remove all dirt and sand.

1 cup of frozen lima beans - I like using organic frozen lima beans, because they take much less time to prepare than dry beans.

*Pour purified water into a pot until it is about 2 inches deep and bring to a boil over high heat.

*Put potatoes, leek and lima beans into a steamer basket and place into the pot.  Make sure the water does not touch the bottom of the steamer basket.  Cover with a tight fitting lid.

*Steam for about 12 minutes until the potatoes are cooked all the way through.

*Place potatoes, leek and lima beans into a food processor and blend until smooth.  Add a few tablespoons of the cooking water, breast milk or formula to achieve a creamier consistency if desired.  If you are preparing this dish for a baby over 12 months, you can thin the puree with whole milk as well.

*Serve or store. 

*Leek & Lima Whipped Potatoes will stay fresh in an airtight container for up to 3 days in the refrigerator and up to 3 months in the freezer.

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Fun Fact - Making Yummy Combinations!

One of the many benefits of making your own baby food are the endless flavor combinations. With store bought baby food, we are limited to what the manufacturer thinks are the most popular food combinations. Your baby's taste buds and palate are developing during his first year of life, it is important to introduce him to as many new tastes and textures as you can.

It is really easy to make yummy combinations.  There is no need for exact measurements or detailed recipes, simply combine equal portions of each puree and see what tastes good to you and what flavor combinations your baby likes.  For example, if you want to make an apple/pear combo, mix 2 ounces of apple puree with 2 ounces of pear puree.  It’s that easy.

 

You can prepare yummy combos in 2 different ways:

1)Prepare and store each puree individually and combine right before serving.  For example, make a batch of apple puree and store.  Make a batch of pear puree and store.  Before serving, scoop out equal portions of apple and pear from their jars and combine in a serving bowl.

or

2) Combine purees immediately after preparing and store together.  This way they are pre-mixed in the jar and ready to go.  For example, make a batch of apple puree and a batch of pear puree.  Combine the two purees in a bowl, place into Sage Spoonfuls jars and store.  You can even steam and puree the 2 fruits together, instead of cooking each individually first.     

Sage Spoonfuls offers hundreds of yummy combinations that are not only great for your baby’s first year, but are also delicious for older babies and toddlers.  All you have to do is adjust the portion size and texture.  

*Before combining foods, make sure your baby has tried each one individually first, to be sure there are no food allergies or intolerances.

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Happy Earth Day!

We all know homemade baby food is better for our babies, but did you know that it is also better for the environment?  Today is Earth Day and the perfect time to talk about how homemade baby food is better for the environment than store bought.  Homemade is the "green" choice without a doubt!

There are about 4 million babies born in the United States every year.  By the time each of those babies turns 1 they will have eaten roughly 600 jars or pouches of store bought baby food.  That equals approxiamtely 2 million tons of baby food packaging waste!  Unfortunately, only about 15% is recycled, leaving the rest to be incinerated or buried in a landfill.

With homemade baby food, you do not have the constant purchasing and discarding of baby food jars and pouches.  Therefore, you are not adding any baby food packaging waste into the environment.  Not to mention, it takes far less energy for us to make our baby food at home than it does a large factory.  Store bought baby food also has to be transported all over the country, adding to their carbon footprint.

If you're thinking about making your own baby food but haven't tried yet, what better day to start than Earth Day.

Resource

US Environmental Protection Agency - Municipal Solid Waste in the United States: 2005

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Foods To Avoid the First Year & Beyond

One of my main goals with Sage Spoonfuls is to share information, mom to mom.  I put together this easy to reference list of foods you should avoid giving your baby for the first year and beyond.

                              
No honey until 12 months
It can contain botulism spores that your baby’s immature immune system can’t fight off.

No cow’s milk until 12 months 
It contains casein which is a known allergen.  While you need to wait until 12 months to introduce cow's milk, you can introduce whole milk yogurt and hard cheeses at 7-9 months, because the culturing process breaks down the milk proteins making them easier to digest. 

No soy or vegan cheese until 12 months
Most brands contain casein.

No chocolate until 12 months 

Chocolate contains caffeine and is also an allergen.  Chocolate makes a great treat for your child’s first birthday!

No whole wheat until 12 months 

Gluten is an allergen.

Avoid citrus fruits until 12 months
Citrus fruits like oranges, grapefruit, lemon and lime are very acidic and can be a little rough on your baby's sensitive tummy and sore gums.

Avoid added sugar or salt until at least 12 months 

Let your baby enjoy the taste of food in its natural state.

No processed or fried food until at least 12 months
Whenever possible, avoid giving these kinds of food to your children altogether.  They are one of the primary causes of childhood obesity.

No Peanuts, Seeds or Tree Nuts (Walnuts, Pecans, etc) until given the okay from your child’s pediatrician
Currently, when to introduce these foods is being widely debated due to the steady increase of food allergies in children.  Please consult with your pediatrician before introducing.

Avoid making baby food with canned fruit or veggies
Use either fresh or frozen fruit and veggies for your homemade baby food.  Canned fruits and veggies are processed and lack the nutritional value, taste and texture of fresh or frozen.  Additionally, most cans contain BPA.

No artificial sweeteners

It is best to avoid giving these to your child (and yourself) as much as possible.  Artificial sweeteners are known carcinogens. Avoid drinking diet sodas and diet juices as much as possible.

No low-fat or fat free foods until at least 2

Your baby’s brain is growing and developing the first few years of life.  Fat is essential in brain and nervous system growth.

Avoid pesticides and buy organic produce as much as possible
Organic fruits and vegetables are grown without the use of harmful pesticides and fertilizers and are not genetically engineered or modified in any way.  Many chemical pesticides are known to contain carcinogens, suspected hormone disruptors and neurotoxins.  Scientists now believe that even small doses of these harmful pesticides can have lasting negative effects on your child’s health.  In 2005, the USDA Pesticide Data Program found 42 different pesticide residues on conventionally grown apple samples. These standard chemicals can be up to 10 times more toxic to children than to adults, because children ingest more toxins relative to body weight.  They also have vulnerable developing organ systems that are less able to detoxify these chemicals.  For a complete list of which foods are best to buy organic, visit The Environmental Working Group's website, www.ewg.org  

Avoid deli meats and hot dogs preserved with nitrates or nitrites
Nitrates and nitrites are often used to preserve cured meats and hot dogs.  Unfortunately, when cooked, these preservatives are known to be carcinogenic.  It is especially important for pregnant women and young children to avoid these preservatives.  Look for brands that do not use these preservatives in their deli meats and hot dogs.  I like Applegate Farms, www.applegatefarms.com    

Avoid giving your child juice until at least 12 months 

It is full of sugar and will fill her up with empty calories, not to mention that too much sugar is not good for her teeth.  When giving your child juice, dilute it with purified water 50/50.  Infused waters are a terrific juice alternative, they have no added sugar, but do have the extra flavor that babies and toddlers love.  To see my recipes for infused water, visit  http://sagemommies.blogspot.com/2012_01_01_archive.html   

No unpasteurized soft cheeses until 12-18 months 

They put your child (and pregnant women) at risk for listeria poisoning.  These cheeses include: Blue Cheese, Roquefort, Mexican cheeses, Camembert, Brie, Feta and Goat Cheese.

No raw sprouts for babies, young children or pregnant women 

They are often contaminated with Salmonella, E. Coli and Canavanine toxins.  

No fish containing high levels of mercury

Avoid giving your child and yourself (especially if you are pregnant) these fish altogether. Currently they include: Swordfish, Tuna (including canned tuna), King Mackerel, Marlin, and Bluefish, among others.  Mercury poisoning is very dangerous and can cause delayed development, heart damage, mental retardation and nerve disorders.  For the most up-to-date information on safe fish go to the Environmental Defense Funds site at www.edf.org/seafoodhealth  

No raw fish until at least 2 years

Raw fish is known to carry parasites.

No shellfish until at least 2 years

Shellfish are highly allergenic

Beware of choking hazards! Do not give these foods to your baby until about 18 months.
*Pieces of hot dog
*raisins
*grapes
*jelly beans
*nuts or seeds
*popcorn
*soft bread
*pretzels
*dried fruit
*hard raw fruits and veggies like apples and carrots

*If you have a family history of food allergies, be sure to consult with your child’s pediatrician before introducing any foods of concern.

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Yogurt with Fresh Beet Puree, Stage 3 Meals

I am a big fan of beets and a big fan of yogurt, so why not mix the 2 together?  Turns out it tastes absolutely delicious and makes a healthy lunch for a baby 10-12 months and up.  This meal is not only for babies though, try giving it to your toddler or big kid for lunch or as a healthy on-the-go snack.  Not only will they love the taste, but the color is so appealing they'll want to dive right in.

Beets have a surprisingly sweet flavor and mix really well with plain or vanilla yogurt.  Beets are full of disease-fighting antioxidants, folate, manganese, fiber and potassium.  They are also known to help promote healthy liver function.  Conventionally grown beets have higher nitrate levels, buy organic whenever possible.  You may notice a little red color in your baby’s diaper after eating beets, this is totally normal and nothing to worry about.  Look for beets that are firm, have a deep purple color and fresh greens.  Whole beets will stay fresh in your refrigerator for about 2 weeks.  Beets stain, take care when preparing and serving.

This recipe is suitable for babies 10-12 months and up, toddlers, big kids and adults.  Always make sure the consistency of your baby's food is one she can handle and before combining food make sure your baby has tried each one individually first.

What you'll need:
2 medium beets
2 cups of whole milk plain or vanilla yogurt (about 4 small containers)

*Cut off beet greens and discard.  Wash beets thoroughly under cold running water, peel and chop.

*Pour purified water into a pot until it is about 2 inches deep and bring to a boil over high heat.  Place beets in steamer basket and put into the pot.  Cover with a tight fitting lid and steam for 12-15 minutes until tender.

*Puree until smooth using an immersion blender or food processor. 

*Let cool, mix with the yogurt and serve or store.

*Beet puree mixed with yogurt can be stored in an air tight container for up to 3 days in the refrigerator or up to 3 months in the freezer.

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Plum Banana Chicken - Stage 2 Meals

Plum Banana Chicken is a very tasty meal for a baby 7-9 months and up.  It is also loaded with nutrients like protein, fiber, potassium, vitamin B6, manganese, vitamin C, niacin and selenium.  Plums are coming back in season now and mix wonderfully with the chicken and banana.  There are many varieties of plum, look for black plums as they are the sweetest.

Always make sure the consistency of your baby's food is one he can handle.  Before combining food, make sure your baby has tried each one individually first.  For 7-9 months, most babies will be ready for a mushy mash consistency.  This is a little thicker and lumpier than a smooth and creamy Stage 1 puree.  Just make sure the lumps are soft so they don't pose a choking hazard.

What you'll need:
1/2 lb of ground chicken - preferably organic and grass fed, if you can't find that just be sure the chicken is hormone, steroid and antibiotic free (it will say it on the front of the package)
2 large or 4 small plums - washed and chopped
1 banana - peeled and cut into pieces
1/2 cup of low sodium chicken broth

*Pour the chicken broth into a medium skillet and bring to a boil over high heat.

*Lower the heat to medium-high and add the chicken.  Cook for 3-5 minutes until chicken is cooked all the way through and no longer pink inside.  Use the end of a spatula to break up the chicken while it cooks so that the pieces stay nice and small.

*Place the cooked chicken into a food processor with the plum and banana.  Pulse until desired consistency is achieved.

*Plum Banana Chicken can be stored in an airtight container for up to 3 days in the refrigerator and up to 3 months in the freezer. + Add to my Recipe Box

First Meals - Banana

I'm a big believer in starting your baby on solids with a fresh whole food rather than a bland baby cereal.  Introducing your baby to solid food is not just about teaching her to swallow food from a spoon, it's also about getting her excited about mealtime.  The best way to accomplish that is by exposing her to as many yummy tastes, textures and aromas as possible.  Baby cereals on their own are fairly bland tasting and are certainly not as enticing as a fresh fruit or veggie puree.

                     

Banana puree is one of the best first foods for your baby.  It is full of nutrients, is easy to digest and is not allergenic.  Bananas are binding and can be helpful when your baby has diarrhea.  They are also a comfort food and can be soothing when your baby isn’t feeling well.  Look for bananas that have a nice yellow color and some brown speckles.  Under ripe or green bananas do not have the same flavor or creamy consistency as ripe bananas, allow them to ripen on your counter.  Ripe bananas will stay fresh at room temperature for 3-5 days.

                   

1 Large Banana = 4 oz puree

*Peel the banana, break it in half and place in a bowl.

*Mash with the back of a fork until smooth and serve.  Add breast milk or formula, if needed, to thin puree.  

*Banana puree can be stored in your Sage Spoonfuls jars for 1 day in the refrigerator and up to 3 months in the freezer.  Some discoloration during storage can be expected.

*No cook puree!

Banana puree tastes great at room temperature, warm or cool.  For a creamier consistency with added nutrition, mix puree with a little breast milk or formula and a baby cereal (rice or oatmeal) and serve warm.  For extra flavor, add a pinch of cinnamon.

Stored in Sage Spoonfuls jars, banana puree will stay fresh in your cooler with the frozen ice pack for up to 12 hours and out of the refrigerator or cooler for up to 2 hours.  Some discoloration is normal.  Banana puree can also be easily prepared while on-the-go: pack a whole banana, a spoon and an empty jar.  When it’s time to eat, mash the banana in the jar and serve. 

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Mango Pork Tenderloin, Family Favorites

Mango Pork Tenderloin is one of my family's favorite meals.  It is easy to prepare, tastes delicious and is full of wonderful nutrients like protein, iron, thiamin, selenium, vitamin K, folate and complex carbohydrates.  Asparagus are in season now and are particularly tasty.  The best part of this meal is that you can feed everyone in your family, baby included, while only having to cook once!

This recipe is suitable for babies 7-9 months and up, toddlers, big kids and adults.  Always make sure the consistency of your baby's food is one he can handle and before combining foods make sure he has tried each one individually first.

Serves 2 adults and 2 children:

1 cup of brown rice

2 tbsp, extra virgin olive oil

1-1.5 lb pork tenderloin with silver membrane trimmed off, seasoned with salt and pepper

1 mango, peeled and diced

2 tomatoes, peeled, de-seeded and diced

1 small jalapeno pepper, de-seeded and minced

3 tbsp fresh lime juice (1 lime)

¼ red onion, minced

1 tsp Kosher or coarse sea salt

1 bunch of fresh asparagus - washed with the rough ends trimmed off

*Preheat oven to 450 and line a baking sheet with unbleached parchment paper.

*Bring 2 cups of purified water or low sodium vegetable or chicken stock to a boil in a small saucepan over high heat.  Add the rice and let boil for 1 minute.  Reduce heat to low, cover and let simmer for about 20 minutes, until all of the liquid is absorbed. 

*While the rice is cooking, heat olive oil in a large skillet over high heat.  Add pork and cook 2-3 minutes on each side.  Transfer pork to the baking sheet and place into the oven, on the center rack, and roast for 10-12 minutes.  Remove from the oven, transfer the pork to a plate, and let sit for 10 minutes.

*While the pork is in the oven, pour purified water into a large pot until it is about 1 inch deep and bring to a boil over high heat.  Put the asparagus into a steamer basket and place into the pot. Cover with a tight fitting lid and steam for about 5 minutes.

*Combine a small portion of the mangoes and tomatoes in a bowl for the baby/toddler and set aside.

*Combine the remaining mangoes and tomatoes in a bowl with the jalapeno, red onion, lime juice and salt; mix well.

*Serve: For 7-12 months, place a little of the unseasoned mango and tomato, pork, asparagus and brown rice into a food processor and pulse until desired consistency is achieved. For a toddler, be sure the pork, mango and tomatoes are bite sized before serving. For an adult, slice the pork tenderloin into medallions, top with the mango salsa and serve alongside the rice and asparagus.

*Leftovers will stay fresh in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and in the freezer for up to 3 months.

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The Biggest Baby Shower Miami!

I absolutely love Big City Moms and all of their events.  Their Biggest Baby Shower events are particularly amazing.  They are not only wonderful for us as vendors, but the new and expectant parents have such an amazing time as well.  Not to mention the fact that the attendees practically need a crane to help them take home the incredible goodie bags and raffle prizes!

Last week was the Biggest Baby Shower Event in Miami and it was fabulous!!!

Waiting for our bags....and waiting...and waiting.

Here's Alex wondering why I'm photographing him in baggage claim.

The gorgeous view from our hotel room. Even though we were in Miami for work, it felt more like a mini vacation.

Setting up our booth for the event...

Almost done...

Looking good!

Our booth was packed the entire evening. I absolutely love talking to new and expectant parents about Sage Spoonfuls and just how easy homemade baby food can be!

Here I am talking about how Sage Spoonfuls offers both an immersion blender and a food processor. 

Doing a food demo and showing the moms that baby food storage is an easy 1 step process with Sage Spoonfuls!

I was thrilled to be on the expert panel of speakers for this event and am so excited to be speaking again at the Biggest Baby Shower in NYC in May!

Alex and I were so excited to see our dear childhood friend Caroline Murphy aka. Smarty Pants Mama!

Lots and lots of awesome Let's Get Started packages for the big raffle!

Me with the Big City Moms themselves, Risa and Leslie - love them!

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Antioxidants

It is widely believed that antioxidants play an important role in helping to ward off heart disease, cancer and numerous other diseases by protecting cells from damage caused by free radicals. I truly believe in the power of antioxidants and feed my family these foods as much as possible.

The antioxidant levels in whole foods are greater than the levels found in antioxidant supplements or vitamins.  According to the USDA, the top 20 antioxidant rich foods are:

1. Red Beans                                          
2. Wild Blueberries                                
3. Red Kidney Beans                             
4. Pinto Beans                                        
5. Farmed Blueberries                            
6. Cranberries                                         
7. Artichokes (cooked)                           
8. Blackberries                                        
9. Prunes                                                
10. Raspberries                                       
11. Strawberries
12. Red Delicious Apples
13. Granny Smith Apples
14. Pecans
15. Sweet Cherries
16. Black Plums
17. Russet Potato (cooked)
18. Black Beans
19. Plums
20. Gala Apples

Other foods that contain antioxidants are: pineapples, kiwi, bell peppers, spinach, beets, dried apricots, soybeans, barley, millet, oats, cinnamon, oregano, ginger and turmeric.

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Mango, Pear & Blueberry - Stage 2 Meals

Mango mixed with pear and blueberry is such a nice combo. It is not too sweet and is packed with nutrients. Mango is an excellent source of vitamin C and vitamin A. It is easy to digest and mixes well with lots of different foods.  Pears are a good source of vitamin C, vitamin K and potassium.  They are also a great source of fiber and can be helpful when your baby is constipated. Additionally, pear puree can be soothing to a baby suffering from acid reflux. Blueberries are an excellent source of manganese, vitamin C and vitamin K. Plus, they contain the highest levels of disease-fighting antioxidants of any other fruit or vegetable, and make a great staple in your baby's diet.

 
This recipe is suitable for babies 7-9 months and up.  It is also delicious when frozen into popsicles for toddlers and older children. Additionally, it can be mixed into plain or vanilla yogurt. Always make sure the consistency of your baby's food is one he can handle and before combining foods make sure he has tried each one individually first.

The best part of this recipe? It is a no-cook puree and can be prepared in seconds!

What you'll need:
1 mango - washed, peeled and chopped. It's impossible to remove the pit from the mango as it is woven into the fruit, so just cut the fruit away from the pit.
1 pear - washed, peeled, cored and chopped.  Buy organic pears whenever possible as conventional have some of the highest pesticide residues.  Bosc, Bartlett and Anjou pears are my favorites.
1 cup of blueberries - washed. Buy organic blueberries whenever possible as conventional have some of the highest pesticide residues. Don't worry about the blueberry skin, it is tender and edible.

*Place ingredients into a food processor and pulse until a mushy mash consistency is achieved.  Mushy mash is still smooth, but it is a little thicker and lumpier than a stage 1 puree.  Just make sure that any lumps are soft, so as not to pose a choking hazard.
*Serve or store.  This puree tastes great cool or at room temperature.  It will stay fresh in an airtight container for up to 3 days in the refrigerator or up to 3 months in the freezer.

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