APMJ: Attachment Parenting of Metro Jackson: August 2011

Monday, August 29, 2011

Upcoming Meeting

Join us

10 am, Thursday, September 1

at the Ridgeland Library

for

Baby Sign Language

Amanda Jones, a certified baby sign language instructor, will be leading the session!

As always our Attachment Parenting meetings are free to the public.

Sunday, August 28, 2011

Meeting Notes: Feeding With Love And Respect

Meeting Notes from August 18th

Feed with Love and Respect

Feed with Love and Respect is one of API’s 8 principles of parenting.

Thursday evening we got together and shared tips for feeding with love and respect. It was a very inspiring meeting, and I think everyone left hungry!

*If you are a member of our Facebook page check out our sidebar to find healthy recipes shared by other AP parents. Feel free to add one of your own!

Here are a few easy, healthy food ideas that were mentioned:

~Hard boiled eggs
~Edamame
~Green peas
~Frozen corn
~Mix Frozen berries and/or sliced frozen bananas with fresh kale or spinach in the food processor to create a quick & tasty treat.
~Beans seem to be one of the favorite finger foods for little ones. Roll the beans in brown rice cereal and they are easier to pick up for the young toddler.
~Green smoothies are a great way to add the vegetables into your family’s diet. You can make them by blending leafy greens into your regular smoothie.
~Add pureed greens to your pasta sauce (red or Alfredo) for green spaghetti
~Providing healthy dip options (such as hummus or a "raw food" dip) with vegetables to encourage a selective eater to try a new veggie
~Make extras and freeze them to save yourself some time later in the week

Helpful Hints for making your own baby food:

~ Using your fork to mash up soft well cooked vegetables
~ Beaba Babycook- steamer and food processor in one
~The Baby Bullet – small food processor/great for baby food (check out the baby bullet infomercial
online…I’m a sucker for a good infomercial gadget! I want one now)
~ Babies R us has a great selection of food containers you can use to store homemade frozen baby food
~ Dr. Sears also has some excellent tips on making baby food.
~We also discussed baby led solids.

Book Suggestions:

~Simply in Season authors Mary Beth Lind, Cathleen Hockman-Wert
~Ani's Raw Food Kitchen author Ani Phyo
~Ani's Raw Food Desserts author Ani Phyo
~Feeding the Whole Family- Recipes for Babies, Young Children, and their Parents by Cynthia Lair

More insight & great ideas

~Involve your toddler in the meal making process to get them excited about mealtime & boost their self
confidence as well. Learning Towers or similar products are great way for your child to safely interact with you in the kitchen.
~Allow grazing on healthy snacks throughout the day. A refrigerator snack bin is a great way to allow older children to make their own healthy snack choices.
~When you are sleep deprived it’s hard to remember the small things like brushing your teeth or
remembering to take time for yourself to eat. Setting an alarm on your phone might be a helpful way to
remember these things.
~Local farmer's produce markets makes shopping for healthy food more personal.

The super food Quinoa was mentioned to be a favorite go to food for vegetarians or just a yummy super
food to check out!
“Here in the U.S., quinoa has been discovered as a nutritious asset and enjoyed culinary popularity within
only the last few years. Here’s why…”
Eat one cup of quinoa (a single serving size), and you’ll consume:
~220 calories (70 percent carbs, 15 percent fat, 15 percent protein)
~40 grams of carbohydrates (13 percent daily value)
~8 grams of protein (16 percent of daily value)
~3.5 grams of fat (5 percent daily value with no saturated fat)
~A glycemic load (blood sugar spike) of only 18 out of 250
~5 grams of fiber (20 percent of daily value)
~20 percent of daily value of folate (various forms of Vitamin B)
~30 percent of magnesium daily value (beneficial for people with migraine headaches); 28 percent
daily value of phosphorous; iron (15 percent); copper (18 percent); and manganese (almost 60
percent)
“Quinoa is stocked with life-sustaining nutrients all across the board, including all eight essential amino
acids. There are other highly beneficial compounds, vitamins and minerals in this food that the Incas
reverently called "chisaya mama" (mother of all grains).
Vegetarians would do well to incorporate quinoa into their diet often. It’s difficult for vegetarians to get all
eight essential amino acids and an adequate source of protein from one food source. Usually, vegetarians
and vegans need to combine foods like beans and rice to acquire all the essential amino acids, the
building blocks of protein.” www.mnn.com (Mother Nature Network)

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Upcoming Meeting

Join us Thursday, August 18,
6 pm @ the MS Breastfeeding Clinic.

We'll be talking about Feeding With Love and Respect.

If you are able, please bring two recipes to share with the group,

(either 2 vegetarian or 1 vegetarian and 1 meat).

Thanks so much!

We look forward to seeing y'all there.

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Meeting Notes: Birth Preparation

Insights and topics discussed in our meeting on preparing for birth:

~Search out caregivers that you feel comfortable with and that have positive energy.

~Review your birth plan with your doctor or midwife early on during one of your visits so that they are familiar with your needs.

~If you are planning a hospital birth, find the Pro Natural Birth nurses at your hospital and make the request that they be your nurses.

~Doulas can have an incredible, positive impact on your birth experience and outcome whether you plan to birth at home or in a hospital.

~Wherever you birth. It’s a good idea to provide a basket of goodies cookies, chocolate, etc. as a gift for the doctor, nurses, doula, and/ or midwife.

~ It was mentioned that Baptist and St. Dominics allow you to get in the tub during the birthing process prior to your water breaking. (the tub being a regular size bathroom tub/not a birthing pool)

~ We discussed the documentary “The Business of Being Born”. It’s available to view on Netflix.

~ Free birth plans are available from www.earthmammaangelbaby.com

~ Suggested Reading List:

“Ina May's Guide to Childbirth” author Ina May Gaskin
“The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth” author Henci Goer
“Your Best Birth” author Ricki Lake and Abby Epstein

~Check out Amanda's latest blog post for a fun recap of our meeting!

Further helpful resources and articles: