Artificial Sweeteners are Bad for Brain, Blood Sugar and Gut Bacteria

Artificial Sweeteners are Bad for Brain, Blood Sugar and Gut Bacteria

Artificial Sweeteners: Bad for Brain, Blood Sugar and Gut Bacteria

Artificial sweeteners will not prevent weight gain or diabetes. Actually, artificial sweeteners are bad for brain, blood sugar and gut bacteria.

Studies show the very negative effects these artificial sweeteners have not only on the brain, but also on the microbiome and glycemic control!

What are the Artificial Sweeteners?

The most commonly used artificial sweeteners are saccharin (Sweet and Low), sucralose (Splenda), and aspartame (Equal and Nutrasweet). They are recommended to people with prediabetes, diabetes, and obesity because they have no calories and we cannot digest them, yet they can taste up to twenty thousand times sweeter.

Artificial sweeteners are found in many common processed foods such as commercial yogurts, diet sodas and other commercial drinks, cereals, packaged foods and sugar-free desserts. They are medically recommended to people with type 2 diabetics, but new research shows that recommendation needs to be reevaluated.

We have known for years that these artificial sweeteners are carcinogenic, neurotoxic and cause many seemingly unrelated effects on people – especially children. In fact, saccharin was taken off the market for a while due to its cancer causing properties.

There has been a surge in obesity and metabolic syndrome in the American population. Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of signs in people (hyperglycemia/insulin resistance, obesity and dyslipidemia), who are at high risk of developing atherosclerotic CVD and type 2 diabetes.

In turn, the food industry has responded by providing new sweeteners to take the place of sugar, which creates so many health problems. While that would seem to be a good idea, these artificial sweeteners have a slew of problems of their own.

Artificial Sweeteners – Bad for the Brain

Aspartame is the chemical in Equal and Nutrasweet and we have known for years that it affects the brain. The controversy exists because it is a huge money maker for food manufacturers and FDA approved, in spite of the numerous studies that show adverse reactions to this chemical.

Aspartame is composed of phenylalanine (50%), aspartic acid (40%) and methanol (10%). Phenylalanine is involved in neurotransmitter regulation and aspartic acid is considered to be an excitatory neurotransmitter. Aspartic acid is also a precursor to glutamate, asparagines and glutamine. Methanol, is converted in the body to formate, which can be excreted or may produce formaldehyde (carcinogenic), diketopiperazine (carcinogenic) and a number of other highly toxic derivatives. Although it is only a small percentage of the product, methanol can be quite toxic for some people.

For instance, this study published in Biological Psychiatry was halted by the Institutional Review Board after only 13 people completed the study. They halted the study because of the severity of reactions within the group of patients with a history of depression. The researchers concluded that,

individuals with mood disorders are particularly sensitive to this artificial sweetener and its use in this population should be discouraged.

In this review study published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, researchers studied the effects of aspartame on the brain. They noted that neurological and behavioral disturbances such as, headaches, insomnia and seizures have been reported in previous studies. They recognized that these problems are due to changes in brain concentrations of neurotransmitters, such as, norepinephrine, epinephrine and dopamine.

The researchers also noted that,

excessive aspartame ingestion might be involved in the pathogenesis of certain mental disorders (DSM-IV-TR 2000) and also in compromised learning and emotional functioning.

In a more recent study published in Research in Nursing and Health, high aspartame ingestion was studied compared to a low aspartame diet. Healthy adults consuming a study-prepared high aspartame diet (25 mg/kg body weight/day) for 8 days and then a low aspartame diet (10 mg/kg body weight/day) for 8 days, with a 2-week washout between the diets. They were then evaluated for differences in cognition, depression, mood, and headache.

Participants on the high aspartame diet were found to have more irritable mood, exhibited more depression, and performed worse on spatial orientation tests. The researchers concluded,

Given that the higher intake level tested here was well below (my emphasis) the maximum acceptable daily intake level of 40-50 mg/kg body weight/day, careful consideration is warranted when consuming food products that may affect neurobehavioral health.

That said, there are many studies, like this one, that show the safety of ingesting aspartame, thus the controversy. Personally, I cannot go near aspartame as it gives me headaches. As a clinician, I have found quite a few patients that were relieved of headaches, depression and brain fog when they stopped using all aspartame products.

Sadly, with the low fat edicts from the government, many people have jumped to buy only low fat, low calorie processed food – much of which is flavored with aspartame.

Artificial Sweeteners – Bad for Blood Sugar

Researchers at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot, Israel, discovered that artificial sweeteners not only do not prevent diabetes but,

might actually be contributing to and possibly driving the epidemic that it aims to prevent (my emphasis).

To prove it, they did a series of experiments. In the first part, they added one of the top three artificial sweeteners, saccharin, sucralose or aspartame – to the drinking water of healthy young mice. They used the equivalent to the maximum daily dose as set by the FDA. They set up three groups: mice drinking artificial sweeteners, mice drinking glucose and mice drinking plain water.

After 11 weeks, the mice were given a glucose tolerance test and blood samples were taken. The researchers found that the group drinking the artificial sweeteners had blood glucose levels spiking higher than both control groups and that also took longer to drop back to normal. This shows glucose intolerance or dysglycemia or prediabetes – call it what you will.

Since we know that artificial sweeteners are not digested, they pass along to the colon where they encounter gut bacteria. The second part of the research was designed to study what happens to the microbiome when artificial sweeteners are ingested.

The researchers wiped out the gut bacteria of mice who had been given saccharin, by giving them antibiotics. This seemed to cure the glucose intolerance.

Artificial Sweeteners – Bad For Gut Bacteria

The researchers further investigated by transferring the gut bacteria of mice who had consumed saccharin into mice whose guts were bacteria-free – a fecal transplant.

The results?

The previously healthy mice became glucose intolerant. Blood sugar regulation is arguably the most important indicator of health.

The last part of the experiment studied a small group of humans who were given the highest allowed daily dose of saccharin. For a person weighing 150 pounds, this would be equivalent to three to four sachets of sweetener taken three times per day (yikes)!

They found 4 out of the 7 people to have changes in their gut bacteria and these changes were associated with decrease in their glucose tolerance. The subjects who had no change in their glucose tolerance also had no change in their gut bacteria.

Taking it a step further, the researchers transplanted stool from two of the subjects who had changes in their gut bacteria (humans) and two non-responders (humans) into sterile mice. Only the mice that received gut bacteria from subjects who had changes in their gut bacteria became glucose intolerant.

While this is a very small sample, in conjunction with the results from the mouse studies, it is clear that the artificial sweeteners are affecting glucose tolerance as well as gut bacteria in a very negative way. With all the research going on regarding the microbiome (including the effects of food additives on the microbiome), this is showing just how much our gut bacteria are involved in every metabolic process in our body.

Sure, more studies are needed, but there are already plenty that show a very detrimental effect by artificial sweeteners on health in general.

Have you had negative reactions to artificial sweeteners? Do you know anyone still using artificial sweeteners? Leave a comment and let me know! Please share this information with them!

Original article and pictures take realfoodforager.com site

Apple With Carrot And Raisins

Apple With Carrot And Raisins

Apple With Carrot And Raisins. A nutritious meal for babies 8 months and above.

A few months back I was reading about introducing more variety of food groups to my daughter’s diet. That time I came across “Raisins” as an add-on to any baby food.

So, in today’s shared recipe, I have added raisins to apple and carrots then have given a hint of nutmeg to it. Raisins, apples, and carrots are all high in nutritional value and can benefit your growing baby.

I started giving my little one raisins around 9 months. Raisins are considered to be one of the choking hazards, as babies are not able to chew in this tender age. So it is Extremely Important to give raisins in a form of puree Only.

Raisins are dried grapes. They can be a very nutritious addition to a baby’s diet. Raisins are high in potassium and iron. They are also rich in calcium and fiber.

Hence adding little raisins to your baby’s food relieve constipation. Other benefits include maintaining bone health, cancer prevention and helps in absorption of other proteins, vitamins, and minerals.

When buying raisins for baby food, it’s better to go for organic ones. Raisins are dried grapes, and imported grapes appear on the Environmental Working Group’s list of the ‘Dirty Dozen‘ – which contain the 12 foods found most frequently to contain pesticide residues.

Also, organically produced raisins do not contain sulfites which are used to maintain raisins color. These can sometimes cause allergic reactions.

So, with little caution Raisins can be a wonderful addition to your baby’s diet.

4 from 1 vote

• You can cook this recipe in a steamer basket too.
• It is important to make a puree of raisins and then serve it to a baby.
• Babies at this age cannot chew raisins and they can be a potential choking hazard.
• I haven't peeled the apple skin. You can peel it if you wish to.

Important Note:

Talk to your baby’s Pediatrician before starting any new food.

© EasyBabyMeals. All the content is copyright protected. Do not use without prior permission.

Original article and pictures take www.easybabymeals.com site

Apple Pie Popsicles

Apple Pie Popsicles

These gluten-free, vegan Apple Pie Popsicles are a healthy, kid-friendly way to celebrate apples and summer!

This post has affiliate links, FYI.

Apple season.

Apple season is one of my favorite seasons of the year. The weather is starting to cool off (what little bit it does down here in the south), and the leaves begin turning gorgeous colors. And of course, the apples…

While my family loves grabbing an apple and eating it raw, I still love to find other ways to use the delicious fruit. Of course gluten-free apple pie is a favorite, as well as apples in granola, cookies, and scones. And lately, these apple pie popsicles have been immensely enjoyed!

Kid-friendly treats.

Popsicles have always been a hit with my kids, and they love it when I come up with new flavors for them to try out. Honey peach, coconut and watermelon, strawberry coconut, and of course homemade fudgesicles are some of their favorites.

And I don’t mind whipping up a batch of popsicles for them to enjoy. Homemade popsicles are super easy to make and so much healthier than the store-bought varieties. No added artificial or processed sweeteners, flavors, preservatives, or food colorings in these homemade beauties!

And my 5 kiddos aren’t the only ones excited when I make a batch of popsicles. My husband absolutely LOVES them!

Apple pie popsicles.

These fun little popsicles are perfect for fall and apple season. They’re based off the Apple Pie Smoothie Bowl recipe I posted a few weeks back, which is also a favorite in my family. I don’t put any sweetener in these popsicles, because I think the apples and bananas are sweet enough, but you can feel free to add a little honey, or even maple syrup, if you want.

I also use milk kefir in these pops, as a way to give them a little probiotic boost. If you’re dairy-free, you can use water kefir or coconut milk instead. It will change the flavor, but they’ll still be delicious!

In the recipe card I’ve linked to some of the products from my affiliate partners that I like to use. Purchasing through these links won’t cost you anything extra. Thanks! ��

Apple Pie Popsicles

Free of grain, gluten, eggs, and sugar, with dairy-free option.

Ingredients

Instructions

Place all ingredients into a blender and puree.

Pour into popsicle molds (my kids like these ones) and freeze.

Makes about 8 popsicles.

Pin these Apple Pie Popsicles for later!

You might also enjoy these kid-friendly treats…

Homemade Grapefruit Gummies

Easy Nut Butter Fat Bombs

Original article and pictures take raiasrecipes.com site

Apple Nachos ~ Quick and Easy!

Apple Nachos ~ Quick and Easy!

There aren’t even words to describe this treat. But not to worry. I can always come up with plenty of words (just ask my family full of men). Let me see if I can come up with something…

Simple, fast, deliciously sweet, a little bit tart, sticky, drippy, caramely, chocolaty, the perfect fall treat. There.

If you’re questioning whether or not caramely is a word or not, I declare that it definitely is. The dictionary just doesn’t know it yet. Don’t trust everything you don’t read. (I don’t get paid to make sense.) I figure, if chocolaty is a word, caramely should be too. Also, I like to say words that get my point across whether they are real or not. So don’t get all grammary and English languagey on me. After all, you really want to know how to make these Apple Nachos.

How to Make Apple Nachos

1

Slice apples and lay them on a plate. If you like, you can sprinkle them with lemon juice to keep them from turning brown. Drizzle warm Homemade Caramel Sauce over the apple slices. Sprinkle mini chocolate chips over the warm caramel sauce. Serve immediately.

The result is a chocolaty, caramely plate of amazingness.

I think we can all agree that caramely should be a real adjective found in the dictionary, as should the word soccery. What? I used that word just yesterday to describe how our front closet almost made me pass out. I innocently opened the closet door to throw in a pair of shoes and was met with a blast of stink that is typical in our home during soccer season. Sweaty shin guards and wet soccer cleats, along with all the other gear – ah, the lovely scent of autumn. I threw in the shoes and quickly slammed the door closed proclaiming, “Whoa-oh, gag me. It smells completely soccery in there.” Why take time to say real words in full sentences like, “The inside of this closet appears to be thick with the aroma of unpleasant apparel associated with this particular sport season in which we are all participating.”

No. It just smells soccery. It’s as simple as that. When basketball season comes, the closet will become basketbally. That’s just the truth of it.

I’m suddenly very aware that this is a terrible thing to talk about when writing a food post. I apologize. Sometimes, I get a little too real lifey when I write, forgetting that good food and sweaty footware should never be discussed in the same conversation. How terribly nonproper-ish of me.

I now take your attention back to the wonderful Apple Nachos idea, whose caramely goodness brought us all here to this unlikely point of conversation. Make these Apple Nachos. They’ll make us all use the word caramely so much that the dictionary will have no choice but to include it.

You heard it here first.

Original article and pictures take heavenlyhomemakers.com site

Apple Monsters – A Nut-Free, Healthy Halloween Treat!

Apple Monsters – A Nut-Free, Healthy Halloween Treat!

~ Halloween treats can be healthy, too! These silly monster faces will be sure to make your kiddos giggle, and you’ll be thrilled with the nutritious snack they’re begging for during Halloween! Made with nut-free butter, these allergy-friendly Apple Monsters are perfect for class parties, too! ~

This Recipe Is: • Ready in 30 Minutes or Less • Vegetarian • Allergy-Friendly Nut-Free Options •

These silly, nut-free apple monsters will be sure to make your kiddos giggle ... you'll love how nutritious they are! Perfect for Halloween class parties!

These little monsters aren’t scary at all. Nope, nope, nope.

They’re pretty much anything except scary! These monsters are sweet, funny, silly, delicious …

Delicious?! Delicious monsters???

Oh yeah! Exceptionally yummy!

And ya wanna know what else? These Apple Monsters are also nut-free and allergy-friendly. And allergy-friendly = perfect for school parties!

It’s nearly Halloween, and all the little ghosties and goblins (or Darth Vaders and princesses!) will be prepping for the very first holiday party of the school year.

And you? Well, you’re probably helping out, because these elementary school years go by in the blink of an eye. Right? Those class parties are going to be ending by middle school, so there’s that leeeeettle pressure to sign up as a party parent while you still can.

We get it. Shelley and I are the.exact.same.way. We know how it goes.

There’s a finite number of opportunities to be that super-fun momma who has the coolest activities and most awesome crafts at the class party. But then there’s also that feeling that, with each passing year, you’ve gotta up your game!

So … you’ve no doubt been scouring Pinterest looking for spook-tacular fun! And also scary good snacks.

Of course you made our Apple Mummies and Frankenkiwis last year. Can you show up with the same thing this year? Hmmm … probably not. (However, if you didn’t make them last year – hop to it! Those little snacks are so cute! And tasty, too!)

You need new ideas. New fun. New awesome.

You see how quickly these adorable (but never frightening!) monsters come together! So easy to make, so fun to eat! Simply chop the apples, smooth on some creamy nut-free butter, add puffed rice “teeth” and a red grape “tongue” before making green grape “eyes” – fast and healthy!

Well, you’ve come to the right place! But since Halloween pretty much means a total chocolate binge and an overload of sugar, Shelley and I just had to share another healthier treat that’ll have the kiddos AND the teachers AND the other party mommies all cheering with excitement!

Everyone will be oooohhhing and aaaaaahhhhhing and asking where, oh where, do you find the time to come up with these ideas?!? (And thanking you for creating something totally adorable that was also the one bright spot of nutrition in the whole candy-filled day!)

Since you’re spending so much time online searching for Halloween games, crafts and treats, you’ve no doubt seen plenty of ideas for snacks, but so many of them are just more, more, more sugar … on top of all the candy and other sugary sweets that already seem to go hand-in-hand with Halloween. Even some of the treats that start with fruit … often just end with sugar (sugary marshmallows, frosting, cookie crumbs, sprinkles). Suddenly what should’ve been a healthy snack is … just not.

And so many of even the healthier snacks involve nuts and seeds that just aren’t allergy friendly for class parties or playgroups.

These silly, nut-free apple monsters will be sure to make your kiddos giggle ... you'll love how nutritious they are! Perfect for Halloween class parties!

We’ve recently talked here on THK about how the schools in our town are so cautious about peanuts and tree nuts. While we’re still allowed to send foods with nuts in during lunch, all classrooms and sports practices are 100% nut free. So a nut-free spread was in order, and I knew nuts and even sunflower seeds were out, too.

I let the produce at the grocery store inspire me, stocked up on loads of fresh ingredients, and went to work.

It didn’t take long to create an adorable little guy who met our standards of being easy (just a couple minutes to make!), healthy, nut-free, delicious and FUN!

These funny faces will be a delight at the party (or as a cute afternoon snack!) and you’ll just pat yourself on the back knowing you provided a nutritious treat to balance out alllllllll that candy!

These silly, nut-free apple monsters will be sure to make your kiddos giggle ... you'll love how nutritious they are! Perfect for Halloween class parties!

So go be that awesomesauce momma who has it all together! Snacks are taken care of! Now … what games can we play to the tune of “The Monster Mash”?!?

Want more really great inspiration for a healthier Halloween? You’ve gotta check out our Healthy Halloween board on Pinterest! Terrifyingly terrific!

Needing More Adorable Halloween Snack Ideas? Be sure to check out …

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Original article and pictures take twohealthykitchens.com site

Another Gap in Maternal Care

Another Gap in Maternal Care

There is 3-finger gap in maternal care, yet with all the awareness being raised about birth empowerment, this one is not being discussed much. Diastasis Recti is another form of pregnancy and birth-related trauma that is preventable and treatable without surgery, yet women are willingly and silently suffering with it because doctors are misdiagnosing it, fitness professionals are making it worse, surgeons are inserting meshes that do NOT work, and {some, not all} midwives are often accepting it or advising crunches, which is incorrect.

“Clinicians have long noted its presence, prenatally and postnatally, but the magnitude of the problem is currently unknown,” says THIS STUDY that showed postnatal women still suffering from wide diastasis gaps. Yet women are told that they are vain for worrying about the squishiness and poochiness of their bellies. Women are told to just accept their muddled middle as one more “battle scar.” We are also told that “leaking” is normal, too, yet diastasis and your pelvic floor are very much related. Here’s what one of my Fit2B Studio members recently said:

How about the fact that those of us who do require csections are then given no physical therapy afterwards. We’re given pain meds and told to carry on. Most serious surgerys have some form of recovery care. Merely making sure the incision spot is healing is not enough.” -Fit2B in New York, Lynn

You see, Diastasis is a health issue, not an issue of looks, even though healing it can flatten your belly. While we may not be able to do much about stretch marks, we can do something about our deflated cores. If you’ve had a surgical birth, then it becomes even more crucial for you to reconnect with your abdominals, because our abs do so much for our health:

• Hold our organs in the right spots, encouraging proper digestive flow.
• Support our spine, preventing lower back pain and protecting our spinal cord and nervous system.
• Minimize pressure to our pelvic floor, fighting stress incontinence by lifting the weight of our organs off our pelvic floor and bladder.
• Heal our body because the abs braid together in unique layers, twining together in a God-given corset that shapes and defines our whole being!

[kleo_h3] What Can You Do If You Think You Have Diastasis Recti? [/kleo_h3]

When a woman experiences c-section, lengthy pushing, or trauma to her core from accidents, abuse or inappropriate ab workouts like crunches and situps, the diastasis recti gap in her abdominal wall is often more severe. A wider gap means a longer recovery, but the method of healing is the same.

1. Check your abs for a diastasis by clicking HERE
2. Avoid postures, motions and workouts that place forceful pressure on the linea alba seam of the abdominal wall. Click HERE for a handout if you currrently suffer from diastasis and consider getting abdominal rehabilitation through The Tummy Team.
3. Engage in routines like those found on Fit2B Studio that promote strength of the deepest, biggest abdominal muscle: transverse abdominus, also known as transversalis. Click HERE to try a free SAFE workout!
4. Bind your belly immediately after birth and engage your transverse within 3 days after vaginal birth, 10 days after Caesarean.
5. Consider finding a local expert to help you “find” your core and help you heal faster! Check out my growing Diastasis Directory!

If you work in any vein of the health care field, I urge you to open your eyes to all of the protruding paunches: Women who still look pregnant YEARS after giving birth. Men who look pregnant. Children, too!

My nephew is adopted from Ethiopia, and he came to the states with Giardia that bloated his belly. He has as wide of a gap as I did after having two babies! But he is healing as his mama wraps his belly and goes over the exercises I showed him. Crunches and situps and planks are NOT the answer; Do your research and read all the hyperlinks I posted. And I dare you to join our Diastasis Awareness Movement by liking this Facebook page and posting this image on your blog, linking it back to the self-check video.

This button was provided by Giveawayoverload.blogspot.com

Also, message me at beth@fit2b.us if you have questions. I want every woman to know how to heal herself and her family!

Image source: Pixabay.com

Bethany Learn doing Reverse Warrior

About the Author: Bethany Learn lives with her family in the Pacific Northwest. She is the founder of Fit2B Studio {this site} an online workout video portal that streams family-friendly exercise routines right to your tv, laptop, pc, or smartphone. Bethany has a degree in Exercise and Sport Science and has taught group fitness for 16 years. She currently moonlights as The Tummy Team‘s fitness specialist, and her hobbies include dragonboating, reading, crocheting rugs out of t-shirt yarn, and editing for indie authors.

Original article and pictures take fit2b.us site

Animal Themed Recipes for Kids

Animal Themed Recipes for Kids

One of my favorite activities to do with the boys is to visit the Detroit Zoo. Our year-long membership comes in handy almost weekly, especially when the weather is nice! Now that Joey knows most animals noises it makes our trip the zoo even more exciting. Except when he runs around growling like a lion… that gets us plenty of looks and laughs from fellow zoo-goers.

Ze zoo crew!!! Note I usually get an upper and lower body workout when I travel anywhere with these two…

The Joey Point: His “move” when he sees an animal at the zoo!

There’s the point again!

You can imagine my excitement when my friends at Door to Door Organics reached out to me regarding their partnership with the Detroit Zoo. These two organizations came together to create animal themed recipes for a Rezoopie Cookbook. The cookbook is meant to inspire kids to help their parents in the kitchen while creating AND eating healthy foods—- the same fruit and vegetable foods their favorite animals eat!

Here’s a hard copy of the Rezoopie Cookbook— but you can also get each recipe online at Door to Door Organics!

I’m not the only one who got to test and try these animal themed recipes. Joey did too— as well as my Detroit-based blogger pals Kristy from Chocolate Slopes and Rachel from Rachel Cooks. Be sure to head to their blogs to check out which animal themed recipes they tested in their own kitchens! Here were the recipes I made with Joey and Anthony [well, Anthony just watched, but he was growling for a taste too]:

Porcupine Pickups Similar to my three-cheese quinoa bites, these pick-ups are super kid-friendly. I also enjoyed them dipped in a little BBQ sauce [thank you Joey for the tip].

Muffin tin recipes are SO kid-friendly!!

Now obviously Joey and Anthony are a little young to help me with mixing and chopping, but Joey loved trying all of these recipes [aka poking them] and watching Mom cook and talk about the foods! Kids are never too young to BE in the kitchen IMO.

Please disregard the TV remote in Joey’s hand…

Fruit Doves Grilled Rainbow Skewers Kids and kabobs. Seriously, there’s nothing they love more. You can certainly mix and match the fruit on the skewer [like I did] but you HAVE to try the banana yogurt dipping sauce. No substitution there— and Joey gobbled up all of the dipping sauce.

Zebrapple Kale and Sweet Potato Salad Joey immediately picked off the apples and sweet potatoes, and I was OK with getting to munch on the extra kale from his salad. What I love about this recipe is that it’s PACKED with nutrients and also serves as a main dish [I added grilled chicken] or side dish.

YUM!!! Kale salads = Mom’s favorite. Joey tried it… but he’d rather have had the fruit skewers… smart kid ��

Again, DTDO has a whole series of animal themed recipes in the Rezoopie Cookbook— not just the ones I shared here. These recipes have been created with kids in mind! What child wouldn’t want to eat like their favorite animal at the zoo? Be sure to head on over to DTDO website to get all of the Rezoopie recipes in the free, online cookbook. And if you are local to Detroit, you’ve GOT to visit the Detroit Zoo! Tell them Joey and Anthony sent you. And that Anthony is ready to eat zoo food too!

All smiles at the zoo… even if he doesn’t know a lion from a gorilla!

You might have guessed I’m a big fan of DTDO— I’m SO thrilled to offer a special discount for all of my readers. Simple use the code “MOMTOMOM” to save $10.00 off your first order on their website!

For more information, be sure to follow Door to Door Organics on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram!

Disclaimer: I am proud to partner with the Door to Door Organics to share my experience using their online grocery services. Because of these great partnerships I am able to share delicious and nutritious family-friendly recipes. As always all opinion and ideas are 100% my own.

Original article and pictures take i2.wp.com site

An Update on our School Year (Our Schedule, Curriculum, Homeschool, Public School, College, oh my!)

An Update on our School Year (Our Schedule, Curriculum, Homeschool, Public School, College, oh my!)

Way back in August when I shared this very delicious Whole Wheat Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Muffin recipe, I mentioned a bit about our school year and our family Bible time. Several asked for more information, so here I am, a month and a half later, finally getting around to writing a few details about our schedule and curriculum.

The good news: So far, this year isn’t as difficult as the past three years have been. Thank you, God. Our high school aged sons had some tougher classes during those years that threatened to push both student and mother over the edge of sanity. Everything in comparison seems easier this year, even though it’s still hard work. So here we are, not losing our sanity. Mostly.

This year we have:

Asa ~ age 20, a college junior

Of course he’s not still homeschooling or even living at home, but I thought you might like an update on him anyway. :) Asa lives on the York College campus across town, so we still get to see him from time to time! He’s in the thick of his Business Communications degree plan, is known as “the video guy” on campus, and is well on his way to making a career of videography and photography. He’s paying his way through school with his camera, by studying hard so he can keep his academic scholarship (he has to maintain a 3.75 gpa or higher, phew!), plus he’s got a soccer and a choir scholarship. Somehow he keeps up with all of this, along with heavy involvement on campus, without ever sleeping. Also, he has an adorable girlfriend. Be still my heart.

Justus ~ age 17.5, a high school senior

He is all but finished with his high school graduation requirements, so he is focusing now on getting more college credits under his belt. (We heart dual credits!) He’s taking World Literature on the York College campus, and Intro To Business at the public high school for college credit.

Big News! Nebraska changed their requirements this year for homeschoolers. In order to participate in extracurricular activities at the public school, homeschoolers only have to take two classes (which is much more doable for our family compared to previous state requirements). So Justus and Elias are taking two classes each at our local high school so that they can play soccer with the team in the spring. So exciting!

Justus is taking piano and voice lessons each week, choir at the public school, and produces music on software at home each week too. Perhaps it goes without saying that he is planning to be a music major in college next year.

Elias ~ age 15.5, a high school sophomore

This kid is hitting his high school basics hard this semester so that he can begin dual credits next semester (or next year…we’re still working out some of the specifics). He’s taking Choir and Weight Lifting at the public high school for his two required classes which will make him eligible to play soccer with the team. We chose those because there’s no homework involved, seeing as his homeschool academic plate is very full this year (details below).

Elias takes voice lessons each week and has no idea what he wants to do as a career in the future. It will be fun to watch God reveal that to him in the coming years!

Malachi, age 12.5, a 7th grader

This guy is so full of ideas I can’t keep up. He’d rather ignore all school work and instead develop his ideas all day (mostly with LEGOs and YouTube, both of which he’d like to turn into businesses). Unfortunately, he has mean parents who still make him do his Pre-Algebra. So, he works hard to get his school work done by lunch, if possible, so that he can go with ALL THE IDEAS all afternoon.

He is on both a city team and a club team for soccer this fall and is busy writing two scripts for a church middle school event in the spring.

All three of our boys who still live at home will play for our homeschool basketball team this winter (Malachi’s first year!). They also all referee soccer for our city rec league, and some for club teams too, which has been great money for them through the years. They all work with Matt here and there doing various handy man or lawn care jobs, which is great for their work ethic, skills training, and savings accounts!

What does our school year schedule look like?

6:30ish I get up and have quiet time with God before the household gets up. The boys wake up to their alarm clocks so they can be ready and at the table at 8:00.

8:00 Our family enjoys breakfast and Bible time together (I explained more about our family Bible time here).

8:40 Justus and Elias leave for Choir at the public school. Elias has Weight Lifting right after that, so Justus hangs out in the library and does school work during that period.

Meanwhile, Malachi and I read World History together (Sonlight curriculum) at home. Then he heads to a computer to work on Pre-Algebra (Teaching Textbooks) in the hopes that he’ll be done with that computer before Elias gets home. I answer emails and do other small blogging jobs while staying nearby to answer any math questions Malachi has.

10:30 Justus and Elias get home from public school. Justus practices his piano, guitar, and does any college class homework that needs to be done.

Elias starts on Geometry (Teaching Textbooks), then moves on to English, Zoology, and Economics (all guided by Sonlight curriculum suggestions, but adapted by Matt and me to fit his needs/learning style/state requirements). He finishes his day with Spanish (DuoLingo) usually around 2:00. We’re trying to squeeze in some ACT practice right now as well.

Malachi does his English, Science, and Reading (all Sonlight curriculum), then moves on to Spanish (DuoLingo). If he’s diligent, he can be finished with his work by noon.

12:00 Justus heads out to his Intro to Business class at the public school.

1:00 Everyone (and by this, I mean everyone but Asa, of course) is home and we eat lunch together, if possible.

1:45 On Tuesday/Thursday, Justus heads to the York College campus for his World Lit class. Elias and Malachi finish any work they have left. This is the point I can usually get a little bit of uninterrupted blogging work done, maybe, sort of. (Not that it matters, but it is 3:47 right now and I have been interrupted no less than 13 times in the past 30 minutes. Working from home is so relaxing and productive.)

The rest of the day and evening involves soccer games, church activities, or ministry opportunities. Often we don’t eat dinner together until around 8:00 pm during the fall. However, our boys’ homeschool basketball season is about to begin, which will mean that they need to eat and leave by 6:30 on Tues/Thurs evenings.

Through each full day, God always provides for our spiritual, emotional, and physical needs. My dirty kitchen though? Well, I’ll get that clean after all the kids graduate.

Original article and pictures take heavenlyhomemakers.com site

An Open Letter from a Foster Adoptive Parent

An Open Letter from a Foster Adoptive Parent

Here is a heart-felt letter from a foster adoptive parent. May it encourage other adoptive or foster moms in their unique challenges as parents!

I received this heartfelt letter from an anonymous reader the other day, and I asked her if I could publish it to the site. I hope this letter is both encouraging and convicting–and will build empathy. These are words that must be shared.

Much love and grace,

~Erin

In case you ever wondered…

Precious life was added to my family this year but not one congratulations was issued. Instead of a baby shower and well wishers I was greeted with paperwork, prying questions, and weekly investigations. Even my own friends gave me blank stares and offered up what little wisdom they could-usually in the form of a horror story from a friend in my situation.

Although I’ve entered motherhood in every sense of the term, my children do not call me mom – I’ve not yet earned that title. That term is reserved for the woman who horribly abused them. It is I who pay for her sins on a daily basis in my effort to help heal their wounds – the wounds she inflicted. Still, they cry for her, it’s her they miss.

After a year of making more sacrifices than most mothers to care for my broken children, still they tell me their hearts are only half as full as they were before – with their father. Their father who spent his days so strung out on drugs and alcohol he didn’t know they were there. The same father who can’t even keep appointments to come visit them. All my effort and sacrifice cannot measure up to him in their minds. It is I who pays for his sins.

I pay for sins that are not mine in the face of society. My eldest, if I’d given birth to her would have made me a teenage mother. I bear that stigma everywhere with frowns and sideways glances. It is especially bad at church where I’m the youngest woman there with a child in elementary school. Most women my age are in the nursery commenting on how much their kids look like them or their spouse.

I’ve had to listen to my husband being called a saint for taking in all of my children… Yes, my children are older than my marriage. I’ve been asked how many have the same father, even been asked if I “have figured out what causes this yet.”

From my own family I’ve had my children referred to as “not really ours.” I’ve been asked repeatedly why my body is unable to produce a “real” child.

I’ve heard it suggested to me that my infertility is a sign that I’m not meant to be a mother. I’ve been criticized for my decision not to pursue expensive medical treatments, been cautioned that these children will make me miserable -that they will suck joy of parenting out of my life.

In case you ever wondered what it was like to follow Christ’s leading against the mainstream this is the picture I have for you. I am daily reminded of His ultimate sacrifice as I too learn to pay for the sins of others, sins I never committed. I learn to heal the damage done by those who are still loved more than me. I learn to fly in the face of society, and even my family, as I struggle under the weight of their judgments. In the end I know a joy far fuller than any parent ever has. The joy of knowing I am faithfully following the will of Him who created, and sustains me through impossibly deep waters. For me, the baby shower and congratulations will only happen on the other side of heaven but what joy it will be!

Your Sister in Christ,

– An Adoptive Parent

Images from pixabay.com

Original article and pictures take thehumbledhomemaker.com site