It's snowing in Georgia! The rare sight of snow evokes a mix of excitement and terror since most Southerners aren't really prepared to handle the radical change in weather. If your family is like ours, we spend an hour getting bundled up to play outside for a few minutes. Then we come inside, because we're freezing! If you are getting cabin fever or are tired of picking up your toddler's trail of messes (junk is EVERYWHERE), keep reading for some GREAT activities that will keep your child happy and busy. The latest research emphasizes the importance of providing activities that allow your little one to engage in free, creative play with toys rather than merely being entertained by lights and gadgets. These activities leave plenty of room for creative license:

Bean scoop- This one is really complicated. Buy some dry beans from the store. Or better yet, use the dry beans in your pantry that you bought but never used again after your soaked beans still tasted crunchy. Dump said beans into a large box and provide varying scooping materials. All of my measuring cups and spoons have disappeared but my daughter is having a blast! Once you are finished, have your little one vacuum up the beans!
Water beads- These beads are a great tactile material and are novel enough to keep adults and kids entertained. *The beads expand significantly with water, so use a small amount at first and add more as needed. I have heard they can expand in your pipes, so be careful to dispose of in the trash.*
Sink or swim- Most toddlers love bath time, so bring some water fun into daytime play. Fill up one side of the kitchen sink and gather toys and objects that can be placed in the water. Discuss objects that sink or float if your child is at the predicting age. Make sure to provide cups or bottles to allow your child to scoop and dump the water.
Cooking with old jars- I like to keep my old herb and spice jars for my daughter to do her "cooking." She loves to smell the jars for a faint memory of thyme or basil. The thyme jar can become chicken, almond butter, or a smoothie on any given day.
Shopping in the pantry- My toddler loves to push her grocery cart around the house and is often raiding the pantry to "shop". Make sure to keep kid-friendly items like cans and cartons within reach and breakable items away from curious hands. Be prepared to find pumpkin and tomato cans stowed away in the far corners of your house. If you want to make things extra fun, have a cash register to check items out.

Have fun and stay warm!

Happy New Year! I hope 2016 is off to a great start for you.

I know many of you will be thinking of positive changes that you want to make this year, so I thought I would share a little about my health journey. I had some complications after my oldest daughter was born and felt fatigued, sore, and if I'm honest with you, grumpy, for her entire first year of life. I kept thinking that once I got more rest I would start feeling better. . . but that never happened. I read about the Autoimmune Protocol (AIP) and decided to give it a try last Christmas. It was hard doing such an intense food modification around the holidays, but I was desperate to feel more like myself, and eating stinky cod for breakfast seemed like the least of my worries. I followed AIP for 3 months and felt amazing by the end. I continue to feel healthy and energetic despite having interrupted sleep and two little ones to chase. I know a change in eating habits made a huge difference for me.

I've spoken to a few friends who are planning to start Whole30® soon to jump-start their health in 2016. AIP and Whole30 are very similar, although AIP has stricter guidelines as it is used to determine food sensitivities as well. If you are used to reaching for a bowl of cereal or piece of bread to finish off your meal, then you might find yourself perpetually hungry on Whole30. (Whole30 emphasizes non-processed foods and increased intake of meats and whole foods like fruits and vegetables.) I wanted to share some healthy ideas that help you stay full!

Sweet potatoes- Can't eat cereal for breakfast? Sweet potato hash. Can't eat a tortilla with your taco? Baked sweet potatoes. Can't eat rice with your meat? Diced sweet potatoes. You get the idea. These are a staple at our house!
Coconut milk- Dairy is off limits on Whole30, but coconut milk is a great substitute to add creaminess to recipes or to use in smoothies. Cartons of coconut milk typically contain additives, so I prefer canned.
Homemade bone broth- Store bought broth has a lot of water, but homemade bone broth is so healthy and incredibly filling!
Smoothies with collagen- Smoothies are a great way to increase your veggie intake and adding collagen protein is a fantastic way to fill up and improve your health. The collagen thickens your smoothie, so I add extra water to mine.
Almond butter- We are fans of almond butter around my house. It's a great substitute to Thai dishes that traditionally call for peanut butter or tastes great with sliced apples as a snack. Avoid brands that contain added sugar and look for blanched almonds- they taste the best!

Happy eating!

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