Tuesday, May 29, 2012

No Cook Baby Foods - Avocado

Avocado is a great all-around food for your baby and child. It is a no-cook food, is incredibly versatile and packed with nutrients.  Avocado is perfect for everything from your baby's first meal to an easy finger food snack for older babies and toddlers.


Avocados are one of nature’s superfoods! They have nearly 3 times the amount of potassium as bananas and are high in the antioxidant lutein which helps promote healthy skin and eyes. Avocados are also a great source of mono-unsaturated fat, which helps develop the central nervous system and brain. Look for avocados with an even green color and that are slightly soft when squeezed. Avoid ones that are over ripe or are very soft. Let under ripe avocados ripen on your counter. Ripe avocados will stay fresh at room temperature for up to 3 days or up to 7 days when stored in the refrigerator. 

Avocado puree is suitable for babies 4-6 months and up.  Always make sure the consistency of your baby's food is one he can handle.

½  Medium Avocado = 2 oz puree                                                 

*Cut a ripe avocado in half lengthwise around the pit and twist to open.
*Prepare the half without the pit: scoop out the flesh with a spoon and place in a bowl.
*Puree until smooth using the back of a fork and serve.  Add breast milk or formula, if needed, to thin puree.
*Place the half with the pit in an airtight bag.  It will stay fresh in the refrigerator for 1 day, slight discoloration can be expected.  When you want to serve the second half, remove and discard the pit before preparing.


Avocado puree tastes great at room temperature, warm or cool.  It is best served shortly after preparing and is not suitable for on-the-go because it discolors and oxidizes shortly after preparation, which affects its taste.  However, whole avocados travel very well and are a no cook puree, it can be prepared once at your destination.  Bring along extra Sage Spoonfuls jars to serve in. 

Some yummy combinations to try with avocado from 4-6 months:
Avocado and Banana
Avocado and Butternut Squash                                   
Avocado and Pumpkin
Avocado and Sweet Potato

From 7-9 Months:
Avocado and Peach
Avocado and Black Beans

From 10-12 Months:
Avocado and Beet
Avocado, Chicken and Mango
Avocado, Tomato and Corn

*Before combining foods, make sure your baby has tried each one individually first.


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Sunday, May 27, 2012

Big City Moms Biggest Baby Shower!

 
The Big City Moms Biggest Baby Shower event in NYC on May 9th was absolutely amazing! We love Big City Moms and always have the best time at their events! 


The Sage Spoonfuls booth looked great!


We set up cafe style tables and chairs loaded with giveaways.


Here we are with the creator of the awesome Magnificent Baby and our good friend Jamie Grayson, The Baby Guy NYC.


Our booth was incredibly busy the entire night, I completely lost my voice by the end of the night! I love speaking to expectant moms and dads about the benefits of homemade baby food and how easy it is with Sage Spoonfuls.


Our booth was right next to Jessica Alba's The Honest Company. She is absolutely lovely and is as passionate about her company as I am about mine. I was able to take home a whole bunch of Honest produts and they are fabulous!


Here's Alex working our pop-up shop table. We sold out of almost everything! 


Here I am demonstrating how easy storing homemade baby food is with Sage Spoonfuls. We make it a 1 step process - so easy!


The incomperable artist, Sam Simon, designed the look of the entire event. He is a genius and does the most incredible custom artwork for nurseries, kids bedrooms and playrooms.  



My mom and I doing an interview with Peg, the editor-in-chief of Fit Pregnancy Magazine. She is incredible as is her entire team. We love Fit Pregnancy!



I love working events with Alex, I couldn't ask for a better business partner....or husband for that matter :)


My mom and I on the red carpet.


Here we are with Peg from Fit Pregnancy and the fabulous Big City Moms themselves Risa and Leslie!


Doing an interview for ABCNews.


With the wonderful Dr. Bob Sears.


Here I am with Jamie just before we went to speak on the "Meet the Experts" panel. He is amazing and knows everything there is to know about baby gear. I've learned so much from him!


Jamie wowing the crowd as always. 



Sage Spoonfuls is proud to be a major sponsor of Big City Moms alongside other incredible companies like Britax, Summer, Born Free and J&R Jr!

The Biggest Baby Shower NYC was an incredible event and we're already looking forward to the next one in NYC on October 30th! 



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Monday, May 21, 2012

Homemade Lifestyle Package Giveaway!

      
       Win a Sage Spoonfuls Homemade Lifestyle Package worth $180!


Our entire Sage Spoonfuls collection in one package - live a homemade lifestyle with ease! Sage Spoonfuls-Simple Recipes, Healthy Meals, Happy Babies gives you everything you need to know about starting your baby on solids, organics, food allergies and intolerances, nutrition, choking 911, foods to avoid, FAQ’s, plus hundreds of easy to prepare purees and recipes to fit every baby’s needs. There’s also a family favorites section with recipes your whole family, babies and toddlers included, can enjoy together. The immersion blender and food processor allow you to puree up to 2 weeks of baby food in just seconds and storing is an easy 1-step process with the Sage Spoonfuls Storage System. With the On-The-Go cooler and freezer pack, your baby can have fresh food wherever her day takes her! Our large insulated tote is perfect for long days at the beach or park and makes a fantastic diaper bag.   

Package includes:
- "Sage Spoonfuls-Simple Recipes, Healthy Meals, Happy Babies" by Liza Huber. Winner of the 2012 Mom's Best Literary Gold Award and an Independent Publisher's Award!
- The Sage Mommy Tote large, insulated tote makes a great diaper bag
- On-The-Go Cooler perfect for daycare, daytrips, school lunches, travel and trips to the park!
- Freezer Pack – keeps your homemade baby food fresh for up to 12 hours! Made in the USA!
- Pocket Guide – keep in your diaper bag for the quick reference of age-appropriate foods, foods to avoid, organics, infant CPR and more
- Immersion Blender and Food Processor – puree 2 week's worth of baby food in just seconds!
- 12 BPA-free 4 oz Storage Jars with 60 Labels – Prepare your homemade baby food in large batches to save you time and money. Made in the USA!
- 2 Stackable Storage Trays - Made in the USA!

All products are BPA free and made of non-toxic materials!
Sage Spoonfuls is a trusted partner of Healthy Child, Healthy World!
Winner of a 2012 Cribsie Award for Best New Arrival!
Winner of the Parent Tested Parent Approved Seal!

                                      





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Friday, May 18, 2012

National Networking Conference NYC!

Today was one of the most exciting and inspiring days in my professional life. I had the great pleasure and true honor to be invited as a featured speaker at the National Association of Professional Women's National Networking Conference in NYC.

The National Association of Professional Women (NAPW) is a network for professional women to interact, exchange ideas, educate, and empower. The NAPW provides their members with a wealth of resources, benefits, and services dedicated to enhancing their lives and promoting their businesses and careers. Their mission is to provide the most advanced forum for members to connect with like-minded professional women to foster professional and personal success.


Here I am with the founder of the NAPW, Matt Proman.


Waiting backstage with Randi Zuckerberg of Facebook and R to Z Studios and Christina Norman of The Huffington Post.


There was an incredible turnout - 1,200 women!


Our panel was about making a career change and how we made the decision to switch gears. I spoke about my time on Passions, my idea for Sage Spoonfuls and the decision to pursue it once Brendan was born so prematurly. 


Randi was talking about how she always wanted to be a professional opera singer growing up. In fact, her turning point came when she was auditioning for the music program at Harvard and didn't get in because she could not play the piano which was a requirment of the program. It was then she turned her focus to other things and of course ended up being a core part of Facebook. A good move indeed!  


Star Jones led the panel and was absolutely wonderful!


Christina Norman was also on the panel with us. She is an amazing woman. She is the former CEO of Oprah Winfrey's OWN Network and is now an editor of the Huffington Post. She had so much wonderful insight to lend.


Here I am with Sara Blakely, the owner and creator of Spanx. Sara is a true inspiration. She is the youngest female self-made billionaire! Her story of success is incredible. No one believed in her idea, in fact her patent attorney laughed at her and thought he was on candid camera when she told him her idea. Of course, she believed in herself and her idea...and is now laughing all the way to the bank. I don't know anyone who isn't a fan of Spanx - thank you Sara!


Sara was so nice and approachable, we were comparing which Spanx we were each wearing. After having had 3 kids in 4 years, I am rarely without a pair of Spanx nearby!


This was an amazing day and one I will not soon forget!


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Monday, May 14, 2012

Veggie Grilled Cheese and Grapes, An Easy Go-To Meal

It can be so hard to get a healthy, home cooked dinner on the table for the kids after a long day.  This Veggie Grilled Cheese and Grapes is a great go-to meal for those nights when you're exhausted with a million things to do.  It is not only delicous and healthy, but it can be prepared in literally 5 minutes!


This meal is suitable for toddlers, big kids and adults.  Just make sure the pieces are bite size when serving to a toddler.  Veggie Grilled Cheese and Grapes also makes a perfect lunch, especially on the weekend!


What you'll need:
4 pieces of whole wheat bread
1 large tomato - washed and sliced
2 cups of fresh baby spinach - washed
4 slices of munster, mild cheddar, swiss or mozzarella cheese
2 cups of grapes - washed and cut in half. Buy organic grapes whenever possible as conventionally grown have some of the highest levels of pesticide residue.
Serves 2-3 kids

*If you have a panini press, plug it in so it can warm up while you assemble the sandwiches.  To cook on the stovetop, spray a skillet with cooking spray (preferably an organic or all natural one) and heat over medium-high.
*Place one slice of cheese on each piece of bread and layer on the tomatoes and spinach. Close up the sandwich.
*Place the sandwiches on the panini press or on the skillet and cook for 2 minutes on each side until the cheese is melted and the spinach is wilted. If cooking on the stovetop, reduce the heat to medium so the sandwich doesn't burn.
*Cut in half and serve alongside with cut grapes.
* Enjoy!

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Sunday, May 13, 2012

A Wonderful Mother's Day!

I love Mother's Day, I always have. It's so wonderful to have a day dedicated to celebrating the women who are the most important to me; my mother, my grandmother, my Godmother and my closest mommy friends. Being a mother to 3 awesome kids myself makes this day all the more special. 

This was one of the best Mother's Days I've ever had.


These are the beautiful creations that awaited me when I woke up.


Every year we drive out East on Long Island and spend Mother's Day with my parents and my husband's parents. It's so nice for everyone to be together. The kids love getting to spend time with them.

Here's Hayden with my mom......


...and with Alex's mom.



My brother was also there. He has such a great bond with my kids and is a really good uncle to them. 


Brendan and Alex.


Here's Royce with my Dad, otherwise known as Papi. Royce likes nothing more than getting to drive the golf cart. We'll probably get kicked out of the club for letting him, but he did a good job and had a great time.


Here's Hayden with Uncle Andreas


It was such a gorgeous day, really felt like summer. I'm so happy Hayden kept her hat on. My little fair skinned girl.


The boys had so much fun just getting to run around with their friends. I'm so ready for summer. I love seeing how much fun the kids have together out here.


My sweet girl. I really can't believe she's 13 months already. Where does the time go?


Hayden and Dada.


It was such a warm day we decided to take the kids to the beach after lunch. They've been missing it so much since last summer.


I'm so excited for Hayden, this is going to be such a fun summer for her.  She was only 4-5 months old last summer.


My parents watched the kids having a blast at the beach. It makes me so happy to see them so in love with their grandchildren.



This was truly a wonderful day. Definitely going to count my blessings tonight.

I hope all of you had a fabulous and blessed Mother's Day.




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