Pick a Parenting Style

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Here are a couple of parenting books I greatly enjoyed:

Battle Hymn of The Tiger Mother by Amy Chua

Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother by Amy Chua (disponible en francais: L’hymne de la bataille de la mère Tigre par Amy Chua)

China is on the rise! Not only economically but culturally. We are moving into a world where Western parents are enrolling their kids in mandarin classes at the age of 2, schools in New York are offering frequent cultural immersion trips to China and Western moms also want to know how Chinese moms raise their kids!

Here is a great book by a Chinese, westernized (2nd generation in America) mom caught between two cultures as she tries to raise her two daughters on rigid Chinese principles in America. It is inspiring at times, shocking at times and “lol” funny at others!

To associate with the story it’s ideal to read this book when your kids are at school age.

Funny quote from the book:

“Stop it Mommy. Just stop it.” [Lulu / the daughter]

“Lulu, I didn’t say anything,” I [the mom] replied. “I didn’t say one word.”

“Your brain is annoying me,” Lulu said. “I know what you’re thinking.” [Lulu]

bringing up bebe

Bringing Up Bébé: One American Mother Discovers the Wisdom of French Parenting by Pamela Druckerman (disponible en francais: Bébé made in France. Quels sont les secrets de notre éducation)

This book is another insightful mommy memoir. The story is set in Paris where an American journalist becomes a mom and discovers that French parenting is as great as French Couture and French Cheese! It’s very witty and awakening!

To associate with the story or take advantage of the advice given, it’s ideal to read this book if you’re expecting a baby or you’re a new mom.

Passages from the book:

“These books can be useful to people who lack confidence, but I don’t think you can raise a child while reading a book. You have to go with your feeling,” one Parisian mother said.

“Having a baby who sleeps through the night early on seems to be the norm in France. Just as stories of terrible sleepers are easy to find among the Americans, stories of spectacular sleepers are easy to find among the French.”

Bringing Veggies Back!

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Edamame

Whether at your doctor, the dietician clinic, in health awareness ads, books and magazines or through Michelle Obama’s inspiring anti-obesity campaign, you’ve probably been lectured one way or another about the importance of “getting your kids to eat their veggies!” Still, many kids have little or no interest in eating vegetables and therefore lack essential nutrients in their diet. Here are my TOP 5 TIPS on making sure you get your child on the right veggie-track:

  1. Start early because your kid’s food preferences are like pottery and become harder to change as they solidify with time.
  2. Be consistent and proactive in making sure that you offer your kid healthy choices and avoiding that your precious little one develops a picky-eater habit.
  3. Make this a family project by setting a good example and making sure that any brothers and/or sisters are setting a good example as well. Kids love emulating their parents and siblings.
  4. Make food time fun by letting your kid count his peas, learn how to say the color of a carrot, the texture of a spongy eggplant (yes a raw eggplant!) and laugh at the bizarre new taste of a lemon!
  5. Give your kid some autonomy with the veggies! Kids love to discover things on their own and can develop an aversion to things when they are forced upon them. So as the choking hazard dissipates, let your kid enjoy some healthy veggie food finger choices: Fava beans, chickpeas, celery, cucumber and red pepper sticks, cherry tomatoes and steamed Brussels sprouts (cut in halves), steamed broccoli, cauliflower and asparagus…

You’ll be surprised how moldable kids are at an early age! In no time, they’ll be looking for the spinach in their plate and snacking on celery!

My 2-year-old daughter loves the sweet-ish nutty taste and tender texture of edamame. Many think of edamame simply as a bean appetizer at their favorite Japanese restaurant but their benefits far surpass this occasional treat. Edamame soy beans are usually sold in frozen packages in most grocery stores and make a great addition to one’s diet either as a snack, an ingredient in stir-fried or sautéed dishes or in a soup. They have the veggie baggage (rich in fiber, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants) boosted with rich protein content making them a meat substitute and also contain a small amount of unsaturated fat (the good type of fat). My daughter usually enjoys them as a snack but when there is no cooked meal in sight, I throw a bunch of steamed edemame in a plate, coupled with some cubes of cheddar cheese and some cherry tomatoes and Voilà! Lunch is ready!

Keep an eye out for allergies as you are introducing new food to your child’s diet. In effect a small percentage of children are allergic to soy. 

Lemon and Salt Craving

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lemon

The vendor down the street must think I opened a lemonade business or I’m doing some crazy daily lemonade detox! I usually love sour food such as citrus fruits, pickles, sour vinegars and molasses and sour candies, but I never thought I could peel and eat 2 to 3 fresh whole lemons all at once without a single grimace (I’m sure you’re frowning just at reading this) daily! A week ago, I started this lemon snack crave. So randomly throughout the day I bite and munch into pieces of lemon generously sprinkled with salt and I strangely enjoy the experience! It’s an elixir to my “morning” sickness that strangely never occurs in the morning by the way! Instead, it only kicks off towards the end of the day.

If you’re pregnant and you’re having a lemon & salt craving, here are some facts.

Pros:

  • Lemon smell helps ease pregnancy nausea.
  • The juice of a lemon alleviates dry mouth and helps prevent dehydration when water is harder to gulp.
  • This snack is zero in fat and very low glycemic while providing many important nutrients. Lemon is an excellent source of vitamin C, is rich in fiber and a good source of other vitamins and minerals like B-complex vitamins and Calcium.
  • I’m usually an anti-salt foodie and campaigner because sodium can rise blood pressure and lead to serious heart diseases. However,  in general during the early months of pregnancy, the circulatory system expands rapidly so blood pressure is likely to drop. So adding a little salt from time to time might not be too bad.

Cons:

  • During pregnancy, many women suffer from heartburn and digestive problems. The excessive acidity in lemons may trigger or exacerbate these symptoms.
  • Help!! Teeth sensitivity!! Also citric acid may damage the enamel of your teeth.

Bottom line, you should always listen to your body and follow its signals. Cravings are sometimes signals of your body’s needs!