Results matching “healthy” from Jeanette Hada's Wellness and Happiness Blog
I've been thinking how incredibly different life has changed with the baby. I wouldn't have it any other way. It's almost frightening how much I love this tiny human. The funny thing is, before she was born, my dear friend told me that it's important to not neglect the husband when the baby arrived. It's been non-stop taking care of her that there really is no time to pay attention to Naoki or really myself these past several months. Taking a shower uninterrupted is a luxury and I'm thankful when papa is able to take Aislee for a walk while I handle a few household chores. He spends most of his free time caring for the house and garden. What's interesting and a little funny, is that after you have this cute little one with small everything and inquisitive expressions, anything that was remotely cute or appealing in your partner ceases to be...well, cute. Suddenly, the baby has taken control of all that is cute. Not even Lucky, our comedic bird, can compete.
Other observations of life with baby... Buying new clothes, shoes, makeup is no longer a necessity. It has been replaced by buying food, toys (for baby), and diapers. I wear mostly what's comfortable now. Her comfort and well-being is my top priority. So far, I've been blessed with clients who are baby-friendly. She comes with me everywhere -- even to tour properties.
I never thought becoming a mother would incur so many changes. The pressure cooker Naoki purchased is a lifesaver. It makes healthy baby food in minutes! I'll try chubbing Aislee up with avocados, sweet potatos, and bananas. She loves Japanese pumpkin, kabocha, which cooks beautifully in the pressure cooker. I add a little cinnamon sometimes. She seems to enjoy it.
Finding time to eat for myself has been difficult while juggling caring for the baby and working. Making sandwiches enables me to eat and have a free hand while eating. My current addiction is Trader Joe's Garlic Cheddar Sourdough toasted and smothered with avocado on one side and thinly sliced cucumbers and cream cheese. Sometimes I'll slather raspberry jam and a savory speadable cheese on the same bread which is super good as well.
Ok, time for us to move to the Sun Room to sleep. This is where we now have our bedroom. The Star Room is our library/office, the Moon Room is also an office (that's in serious need of cleaning). I work in the Fire Room most of the time and the Sky Room (aka the dining room is used for gatherings. We'll be hosting Aislee's first birthday in July and hope to see some of you here at our gingerbread house.
Here's her birth story...
Our baby girl, Aislee Reika Hada, was born unexpectedly this past Monday, July 21 at 8:35 a.m. She weighed 6 pounds 11 ounces and was 19 inches in length. (Estimated Due Date: 07/28)
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We had originally planned early on to have a home/waterbirth, but along the way Aislee's growth and amniotic fluid levels became a concern, so my midwife declined my request for a homebirth at 37 weeks due to possible risks. Scrambling to find an OB closer to home, I was referred to one that determined it was necessary to schedule an immediate inducement with a possibility of a cesarean. I consumed large amounts of water and supplements and went to a specialist for a second opinion the next day. They found the baby to be in perfect health at the appropriate size with plenty of fluid, which the inferior ultrasound equipment did not pick up at that OB's office. (Thank God for second opinions)
This past Friday after having issues over giving birth at a hospital, I requested my midwife to reconsider my birth plans. She replied on Sunday that she was leaning towards granting my request if I would make additional preparations for postpartum care. Later that evening after eating a bag of oatmeal cookies and a half loaf of lasagna, I went into labor...which I thought to be just a digestive problem from overindulgence. I called the midwife at 3 a.m. Her assistant arrived at 4 a.m. when active labor kicked in. The midwife came around 6 a.m. and Naoki finished filling the birthing tub at 7 a.m. (too late, I wasn't about to climb into a tub at that point - thankfully the task had kept him busy though). The baby was born on land naturally, not in water as planned, at 8:35 a.m. She's healthy, alert, and very feisty.
Pics can be seen at http://www.aislee.net
I had a colleague share this foodie tip with me recently and internally I scoffed at it. C'mon the combination sounded to bizarre to be good; however, curiosity got the best of me after my brother said he'd tried and liked this concoction. So, yesterday after a quick stop at Whole Foods to pick up super ripe organic strawberries (good enough to eat on their own) and tub of sour cream, I ripped open that bag of light brown sugar Naoki was waiting to use for one of his breads (that's his current obsession btw). Together those three simple ingredients were absolutely delish!! I had heard that it would have a cheesecake like flavor, which I am not a fan of, but was pleasantly surprised that it was even better!
If you have a chance to try this combo, I would highly recommend it (unless you're lactose intolerant, in which case contact me for the perfect enzyme supplements).
NUTRITION INFORMATION: Per strawberry: 29 calories; 1 g fat (0 g sat, 0 g mono); 2 mg cholesterol; 6 g carbohydrate; 1 g protein; 0 g fiber; 2 mg sodium; 43 mg potassium.
1/2 Carbohydrate Serving
1. An egg salad sandwich on croissant with a dill pickle spear and avocado on the side
2. Tofu from the San Jose Tofu factory (delicious recipes here - http://www.theppk.com/)
3. My mother's spinach, cheese, and mushroom quiche - hot from the oven
4. Apple crisp with a blueberry crumble topping - also hot from the oven, ala mode!
5. Fruit salad made of cantelope, honeydew, watermelon, berries, and red flame grapes
Afterwards, I would like to...
1. Finish my crochet project before summertime
2. Curl up with a good book and hot chocolate (stirred with a cinnamon stick)
3. Surf the 'net for gifts for my friend's son's 100 day ceremony/celebration
4. ...darn, I really want that fruit salad...
5. Pay my bills, organize my tax receipts, and prepare items for donating
I'm either...
1. Dealing with severe insomnia or slept too much today
2. Getting old or well...getting older
3. Pregnant having horrible food cravings and have messed up my sleep schedule or ?
4. Delirious from lack of sleep or spending too much mind numbing time at the computer
5. Finding an excuse to write something on my blog or killing time.
Wouldn't it be lovely to have a 24 hour delivery service that caters to people's late night cravings? They'd have access to books, movies (though we can practically find everything online these days), healthy midnight snacks or other food items, clothing/shoes/accessories (just in case), etc.
It would cost a low monthly fee to use different levels of the service...and well, I just wish I could order an egg salad sandwich right now.
I wish all of you a very healthy, happy, and prosperous 2008!
On New Year's Day we celebrated 2008 by visiting our good friend who has prepared the traditional Japanese New Years dishes for us for the past couple years. It was a little challenging as Naoki is vegetarian and I basically eat fish (ok, sometimes I'll have chicken, but it's rare these days).
She made my favorite dessert made from fresh Fuji apples and agar. It makes for a lovely, gelatin-free, refreshing jello. Everything was lovely and neatly sorted in a lacquered box. My favorite is the soup she makes flavored with kelp and filled with savory bits of dark leafy greens, daikon, and mochi (which she first toasted in the oven). The black beans that she prepared were soft and chewy in texture and slightly sweet. The chestnut/sweet potato was hearty and a beautiful golden color. Her anago rolled omelet was absolutely delicious and small rounds of seasoned taro were just a few of the items there. What a wonderful and special treat to experience every year! Pictures to follow at http://jeanette.hada.us
Ok, obviously I'm a little obsessed with food and would love to share a few of my favorite foodie sites. Some of these most people already know, but here they are just in case...
http://www.yelp.com
- This is an excellent site, where people can critique (rant or rave) about their experiences with different places they've visited.
http://www.opensourcefood.com
- By far my favorite recipe site with pictures that will have those late night hunger pangs kick in.
http://www.annamariavolpi.com/foodmovies.html
- Another food lovers list of food-related movies
Ever since returning from Japan a few weeks, I'd been craving the simmered pumpkin that Naoki's mother made many times while we were there. Luckily, I found that Nijiya, our local Japanese food market carries organic Kabocha! The first time I purchased one, I selected the smallest (in case I made any mistakes in cooking it).
> It was simple to cut, scoop out the seeds, and slice into 1 1/2 inch or so pieces.
> To finish, place pieces of the pumpkin into a large pot, fill one third of the way with filtered water, soy sauce, and mirin (Japanese cooking wine).
> Sugar is optional, but I usually leave it out, as this vegetable is sweet enough (to me).
> Heat on high until boiling, then reduce to a simmer until the pumpkin is easy to cut through.
> Add a small drizzle of olive oil towards the end (my mother-in-laws suggestion) and serve hot or cold.
* My dear friend, who has the most amazing cooking skills, recommends adding butter. I have to agree that I love that richness it adds, but can do with out the extra fat, salt and calories.
* This lovely little dish makes a welcome addition to a packed lunch. It is rich in beta carotene, with iron, vitamin C, potassium, and smaller traces of calcium, folic acid, and minute amounts of B vitamins. <= last part pinched from Wikipedia.com
We just arrived in Japan yesterday after a long journey by car, plane, speedboat, and minivan!
Our first place to visit was my in-laws in Mie. My lovely mother-in-law, Misako-san, prepared a wonderful assortment of dishes of different types of sashimi, homegrown edamame (soybeans), lots of fresh vine-ripened veggies from their garden, and mixed rice loaded with yummy bits of shitake mushroom, tofu, and other greens. In addition to their green tea, they also have a huge garden of tomatoes, cucumbers, shiso (a type of basil), grapes, and much more.
For breakfast this morning, we had grilled mochi (rice cakes) wrapped in seaweed, miso (w/tofu, seaweed, and more mushrooms), fishcake stuffed with cucumber, and more melon and white peaches...yum!
For the past few months there have been numerous (but not new) reports on the benefits of drinking tea, especially the green kind! Naoki's family has a beautiful green tea farm in Mie, Japan and they are ready to ship 2007 spring leaves. The cut off date to order will be this Thursday, May 10.
This green tea tastes different and has a sweeter and fresher flavor than what is available in most stores here. It can be cold brewed as well as served hot. Please allow boiled water to cool for a few minutes before adding the delicate tea leaves to prevent burning, which can alter the taste. Hadaseicha's tea is dark green in color, has a bold taste and was carefully harvested by Naoki's parents. Orders are available only once a year and large orders can be stored in the freezer to preserve freshness. My mother likes to order the teabags in bulk and repackage them to give as gifts to her health-conscious clients.
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Gerald Ellison, Ph.D., director of Psychoneuroimmunology Services at Cancer Treatment Centers of America in Tulsa, Oklahoma, is another proponent of friendship for managing stress. He observed,
"Friends keep us from becoming isolated and lonely; they offer encouragement and support; and they help keep our thinking in line with the real world... When we're missing friendship, we experience isolation and loneliness. These feelings are associated with illness, discomfort, and general ineffectiveness as a person... Having friends can also be especially helpful if you're already seriously ill... Friends--if supportive and encouraging--can increase our hope when dealing with illness and trauma. And increased hope is associated with higher levels of immune system functioning."
Summary:
Friendship is a sound prescription in times of stress, for both our emotional and physical health. Dr. Ellison's statement seems a fitting summary:
"Friends--if supportive and encouraging--can increase our hope when dealing with illness and trauma. And increased hope is associated with higher levels of immune system functioning."
I've watched "The Secret" DVD three times now (actually 2.5 times - the first time was on our Alaskan cruise in their theatre. I'd fallen asleep after staying up late one too many nights in a row.) Every time I've watched it, I've come away with something new. All of it good in my opinion.
This documentary-style movie stirred up a lot of buzz within our group of friends, colleagues and also online with many of the Yahoo Groups I'm a part of. If you haven't seen it yet, it's something I would highly recommend be watched to my family and friends.
If you live nearby me (in San Jose, California) and are interested in watching it, please let me know. You can also go online and view it yourself for $4.95 at http://www.theSecret.tv or purchase it via that site or at Amazon.
There are always treasures to be found at each of the local farmers markets in the Bay Area. Today was our first time exploring the one held in downtown Campbell. We decided last Sunday while at Santana Row's Farmers we'd follow one of the friends we made at the Twin Girls Organic Fruit Stand to his new location and purchase some of their fresh pressed, organic pomegranate juice. As usual, we arrived 30 minutes to closing. We found our friend, Isaias, and puchased a bag full of Fuyu persimmons, red/black pluots, two pomegranates (cracked, how Naoki likes them), and two bottles of the pom juice.
If you've ever tried and liked POM at your local grocers, you will LOVE Twin Girls freshly pressed pomegranate juice! The first sip will make you pucker, but after your initial taste it really becomes so deliciously sweet. It would make for a wonderful popscicle, drizzled atop vanilla ice cream or even a fruity vinegarette dressing. One thing to keep in mind though, it's best to drink it in a small glass. While it is preferable to drink after it's just been pressed, it does contain a high amount of sugar. There's also a potent amount of antioxidants, but a little does go a long way.
More on the health benefits of these jeweled fruit -
- High in potassium, vitamin C, folic acid, fiber and polyphenols
- lowers risk of heart disease by preventing the formation of plaque
- preserves nitric oxide, a chemical that regulates blood flow and maintains healthy blood vessel health
- combats free radicals that may cause stroke, hypertension and Alzheimer’s disease
- high levels of antioxidants may prevent premature aging
- polyphenols may slow or even prevent the development of cancer
Ok, I just wanted to share this before going to sleep. **Hussein Chalayan** I think I have a new favorite designer... Love them all, well maybe except the last "naked" piece. (Please note: There is partial/brief nudity in this videoclip - just a warning in case you're at work.)
Fresh and delicious, but not so pretty to look at, Artic White Nectarines were had at this past Sunday's farmers' market in Santana Row. We arrived for the last 30 minutes and most of the more asthetically pleasing fruit had been taken. Still those yummy, organic white nectarines from Kashiwase Farms hit the spot! They were sweet and still firm, although they were a little bruised. I've heard (and I don't know if it's true) that the ugliest fruit are often the tastiest. In this case, it was true. The two red pluots I purchased from them were also excellent and still lovely to see.
In my earlier posts, I showed a chart from EWG. When purchasing peaches and nectarines, going organic is best, as they absorb the most pesticides in conventional farming. These fall into the medium/moderate category on the the glycemic index. Consuming fresh fruit is often preferable over drinking fruit juice, which can raise blood sugar levels. Fiber from fruit can help time-release the sugars found in natural fresh fruit, making it easier for the body to digest and keep blood sugars at a healthy level.
It pains me to write about this subject, as I find it difficult to maintain composure as an adult when discussing the subject of ..well, flatulence. You know, passing the gas, tooting, cutting the cheese, etc. I could go on, but then the point of this blog entry would be lost.
Many of us have issues with digestion, either with acid reflux (heartburn), gas of some sort, constipation and/or diarrhea. Going from an unhealthy diet of junk/fast food to a super healthy eating plan can also cause an "uproar" in our system. What may be lacking are the necessary and beneficial enzymes need to properly breakdown our food, as well as a quality probiotic supplement to assist with the complete digestive process.
Well, I'm not sure if this could be counted as "healthy" eating, but if you wanted to indulge in something wickedly delicious, a custard/cream puff from Beard Papa might do. That is if you don't mind waiting for a few to 30 minutes in line.
This chain originated in Osaka, Japan and has several shops in various parts of Asia and is now scattered in
The quest for fixing those cottage cheese thighs, stomachs and arms just got a little easier. As one client stated, even with all the exercise and dieting we do, the curse of cellulite still clings to us after the weight has been dropped and the muscles are toned.
After spending an enlightening few hours at a local medical spa and seeing the results on my friend who volunteered to be the guinea pig, I was amazed! She had agreed to try one 30 minute treatment on her face and neck. The esthetician used a machine (will find out the name of it and post it here later), applied a gel pack to my friend's back, then proceeded to mix a blend of vitamins, minerals, amino acids and medications into a bowl that she transferred to an applicator which was connected to the same machine. She then adjusted the frequency of the machine to a level comfortable to her guinea pig (my friend) and used the device to massage the gel into the face and neck area.
After the treatment, the skin was visibly more taut and toned. Like exercise, a series of treatments followed by a few follow up treatments are recommended. If you research the term "mesotherapy" there a number of remarkable before and after pictures. The spa we visited did not use needles and incorporated a non-invasive procedure .
Going forward I will recommend my clients who are following the low-glycemic weightloss program to try mesotherapy to help see further improvements in skin tone and texture.
Here's the info on the medi-spa we visited -
About Beauty Medi-Skin Spa
2910 Stevens Creek Blvd, Ste. 205
San Jose, CA 95128
408.557.8188
Tell Emma, Jeanette sent you for a referral discount. (I don't receive any compensation other than the happiness of seeing people become happier with their bodies and health.)
