Smooth Sweet Potato Puree
Makes about 1 cup
Sweet potatoes are paced with healthy carbohydrates, as well as vitamins A, B6, and C. Their naturally sweet flavor and creamy texture make them an appealing early choice for baby. Once baby gets used to the flavor of sweet potatoes on their own, mix sweet potato puree with a little apple or pear puree.
- 8-12 ounce sweet potato
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Scrub the sweet potato well with a vegetable brush under running water. Prick in several places with a sharp knife, then place on a baking sheet or pan. Bake until very soft when you pierce it with a knife, 45-60 minutes. Let cool to room temperature. Slice the sweet potato in half lengthwise, scoop the cooked potato from the skin, and place in the bowl of a food processor. Process until smooth; add a little water as necessary to get a smooth consistency. Discard the skin. When baby is ready to handle a little more texture, you can mash the sweet potato coarsely with a fork, and eventually graduate to offering them small soft pieces to feed themselves.
Pregnancy Depression
It is normal for every expectant mom to have her difficulties. If your lows are consistent and frequent, you may be among the 10-15 percent of women who battle mild to moderate depression during pregnancy.Both emotional & physical depression shows up in a variety of symptoms, that go well beyond standard moms-to-be moodiness. They can include feeling sad, empty, hopeless, and emotionally lethargic, having sleep disturbances (you don't feel like eating at all, or you're eating all the time), feeling fatigued and lacking energy (above what's normal in pregnancy) and/or feeling agitated or restless, losing interest in work, friends, family, and activities you usually enjoy, losing concentration and focus, having exaggerated mood swings (more dramatic than what's normal in pregnancy), and even having self-destructive thoughts. There may also be unexplained aches and pains.
Nutrition while Breastfeeding
Your nutrition during breastfeeding isn’t affected by your diet unless you’re eating habits are inadequate. You do need to be sure to take in enough calories and water for your body to produce adequate milk. Your baby may react a different way to certain foods, but if you pay attention to how your baby responds, you can figure out what foods to avoid.
Exercising Tips for Pregnant Women
Before starting any type of fitness program, please consult your physician. Let him or her know what type of exercises you plan on doing, and whether they are safe for you.
Teaching Kids to Eat Healthy
If you were to offer your child a candy bar or an apple, which would they choose? What if instead, you offer them the choice between crackers and cheese or an apple? Teaching kids to eat well can be real tricky. You don't want to turn every meal into a lecture, but if you wait too long, they could pickup unhealthy habits in the meantime.