Baby food/Kids Recipe: Broccoli Soup

Posted on October 6, 2013 by Jaishri

brocolli adultHi Mommies, you can try this Broccoli soup for babies above 7 months. Its easy and my little one enjoyed it. Broccoli goes very well with milk but since milk it not advised to kids below 12 months, I have tweaked the recipe a bit. Also I have a version for kids and adults.

Broccoli has high Vitamin C content and fiber, it has anti-cancer properties and contains selenium.

Even though you puree broccoli in the recipe, the soup has an interesting texture which babies will love.
Do let me know if your baby likes it.

 

Recipe for Baby

Ingredients:

  • Broccoli- finely chopped half cup
  • Potato- half
  • Butter
  • Peppercorns – 2
  • Cheese (soft and easily digestible cheese, I use cheese slices)

Procedure

Cut potatoes into small pieces and cook in a separate pan. Now fry broccoli in a pan with a dash of butter for 2 minutes with 2 peppercorns. Now add broccoli into a blender without peppercorns. Continue reading →

(I do this for all my baby food, I add peppercorns and remove  it before pureeing).  To this add boiled potato pieces add some salt and water and blend.

Now pour the puree back in the pan, add a little grated cheese, I added few bits of cheese slice till it melts (I just introduced my baby to cheese) and feed the yummy yummy broccoli soup.

Recipe for Kids/Adults

  • Broccoli – chopped 1 cup
  • Onion – half
  • Garlic- 3-4 cloves
  • Milk/Cheese – half cup/grated cheese to taste
  • Butter
  • Peppercorns

Procedure

Slice onions and chop garlic. Take butter in a pan and add the onion and garlic to it, add peppercorns, when sauteed add broccoli and fry for a minute. Broccoli does not need too much cooking. Now puree the mixture with water.

In a pan add this puree, add milk or cheese (milk surely for weight watchers), salt and you’re done.

These are pure flavors for kids, for adults you can add Italian seasoning too.

Posted in Baby food, Recipes | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

10 Things Every Mom Should do for Herself

Posted on October 6, 2013 by Jaishri

Love yourself first and everything else falls into line. You really have to love yourself to get anything done in this world.
Lucille Ball
I know how hectic our lives have become. Here are some top things I think every mom should do to keep us sane:

Shopping Once a Month – “I do exist”. Even if your a stay at home mom make sure you buy yourself something either a bag, a shoe, a dress or something as simple as a small accessory.

Spa or Salon: Everyone like to look good right? so indulge at-least 2 times a month. Even if you dont have a lot of time get basic things done like shaping your eyebrows.

Skin and Hair care– With the stressful life of a mom skin and hair are the worst affected. Develop a night care routine, use a night cream or serum. If your above 25 use anti ageing creams and serums. Visit your dermatologist once in a while.

Sleep- This would top my list as its the most luxurious thing right now. But try to catch up with some sleep even during the day, for working moms if you have a sick room in office dont hesitate to have a short power nap after lunch. At-least 6 hours of sleep is a must.

Catch up with your friends– Catch up with your friends leaving your kid with your hubby or inlaws. Some girls time is definitely required. You can see Reks article here

Lone Time– You must have atleast 5 mins of lone time everyday to know where your heading, what you want to do. Meditate at a quite corner when everyone is asleep early morning or late night or simply walk alone.

Read – Buy yourself some nice books to read when your baby is sleeping or before you head to bed. Or you have the whole internet to your rescue, read something you like, share your feelings on mommyswall. Continue reading →

Cook or Bake: I know we moms always cook for our loved ones, but cook something you like once in a while and indulge. Im sure your kids will follow.

Wishlist: Make a list of what you want to do even if it cant be granted. It will make you happy.

Lose weight: Im not the one saying “slim is in”, but slim is healthy. So your first step towards good health is weightloss. You can hit the gym, dance, spin, aerobics, there is so much to do.

But all this totally depends on how much time you have. So we can atleast start right?? what do you do..

Do check out my article on Me time here

Please like us on Facebook for more updates.. Take care..

 

Posted in Mothercare, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Looking forward to a peaceful mommy’s day out ??

Posted on October 5, 2013 by reks

Image Source: Mommies and babies

 

Hey Jaish, this post is for you…..

– What worked the best for me was to meet up with other mommy friends and their kids after my son turned a year and half. This way my son would have other kids for company and we mothers would also catch up. Go to a place where there is space for the kids to run around. There are many cafes and lounge areas in Blore. You can also meet up at any of your homes that way there is no worry of safety and food. I find the entertainment zones too noisy to catch up with friends, so go there only if its play time for kids..no chat sessions possible.
Continue reading →

– Leaving your baby/kid at your parents/in laws is your safest bet. I did this for the first two years, after which I took him along to most places. I would plan any pleasure or serious work outings for the evening and try to get back after an early dinner as my son would never go to sleep without me. He loves his visits to his grandparents place because they keep him entertained in outdoor and indoor play or a short visit to the nearby temple( u know which one ;) )
The first few times may be difficult , but once they are used to the people and change in place it should get better.

– Most weekends are father and son bonding time at my place, so I plan my outings around this so that I am not really missed. But if I am away for more than 2-3 hours then there are repeated calls . Hubbies are the best baby sitters provided they have the patience for it.

– For those who have maids/nannies to assist, sometimes its just ok to leave your baby at home with them and step out to take a break. Try not to stay for long as your nanny may also get bored/tired with the baby and this may lead to her showing disinterest or getting fussy. Avoid this situation as far as possible.

– Its definitely not going to be a cake walk, there will be initial troubles which is why I always feel that following a routine always helps, so you can plan your short outings during your baby s naptime or playtime with other members of the extended family. It is always peaceful to plan outings around your baby schedule.

– After the weaning process, it was a daily practice for me to cook rice, dal and veggies for my son. Addition to it was based on the time at hand. So irrespective of us going out or not his meal was readily available.

I hope I was able to provide a few answers to your concerns. The rest you will figure out in course of time.

Posted in Baby food, Baby grooming, Childcare, Mothercare | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Mommies day out

Posted on October 5, 2013 by reks

Had a great day with college friends who are also mommies now. Endless laughing and chatting with the girls, great barbeque spread, window shopping, pleasant weather and hubby babysitting. Nothing can be better!! Simply chilled out…
A must for all mothers to getaway from the daily routine.

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Organic Jaggery Powder and Dal – 24 Mantra Organic

Posted on October 5, 2013 by Jaishri

Organic food

Hello Ladies, when you started solid food for your babies did you opt for organic food?

Im not too fussy about food and want my baby to be just like me. We live in India and the first thing we need to learn is adaptability. So I want my lil one to eventually adapt to the food and lifestyle here.

But since my lil one started food early (at 5 months I gave her dal pani), I wanted to try something organic. The store bought dals are highly polished with oils, so I was looking for unpolished dals and found them in the organic rack in the supermarket.

Now organic brands are very popular, but price-wise they are 2-3 times costlier. I have tried brands like Prorganic which is also good. So here is what they claim is organic

What is Organic

Organic is a way, a habit and a practice all rolled into one. It refers to a way of growing and processing food. It is also about the reliance on an ecological system that sustains itself on rich soil and proven traditional practices to grow crop and food that resists pests and diseases. Organic also means, the farmers dont use toxic, persistent pesticides, fertilizers which are known to contaminate soil, air, water and the food. In fact, organic farmers and farming involves practices of rotating crops, deploying beneficial insects, using locally honed methods, adding composted manure and plant wastes to the soil. Continue reading →

Organic farmers are environmentally friendly. They choose solutions to the pests and disease problems that affect their crops in a way that does not damage and destroy the planet. Their wisdom is proven so are their practices.

From their website:

http://www.24mantra.com/why-organic/what-is-organic/

My review on the Toor dal:

It looks  unpolished and every grain is of a different size. But taste wise its very good and my baby likes it. I will continue using this for sometime

Jaggery:

Jaggery in form of powder itself is a treat. I hate the solid lumps of jaggery that we get in the market. Even if your using the solid ones boil it with water and strain the water as it might contain mud.

This jaggery is clean and very easy to use, its not too sweet and has a light color. I would love to use it in my coffee and tea too. Ill try and let you know how it tastes. I try to skip sugar for my baby and use jaggery. It  has very high iron content in it.

Posted in Baby food | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Recipe for Kids and Moms – Energy/ Protein Bars

Posted on October 5, 2013 by Jaishri

bar1

Earlier I did a post on protein cereal powder for babies, so here is how we can modify the powder to make bars. These bars are high energy bars, great for tired kids, moms and weight watchers with a sweet tooth.

The cereal powder recipe can be found here.

Small change: You don’t have to remove the skin from the dry fruits as kids can easily digest the nuts. And you don’t have to sieve the powder.

Ingredients:

Protein/Cereal powder- 1 cup

Powdered Jaggery – half cup

Water half cup

Ghee – 2 tsp

Procedure:

Heat water and jaggery in a pan till you get one string consistency. Now add the powder and stir for a minute. Add one tsp ghee and turn off the flame. Continue reading →

Grease a plate with 1 tsp ghee and pour the mixture. Cut it into bars when hot and serve when it cools down. Just incase it does not turn hard you can make ladoos.

bar2

Its very health for new moms and growing kids, there is a lot of protein in it. Even weight-watchers can have it as I have not used sugar, its just jaggery.

 

Posted in Childcare, Recipes, Weight loss | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Weightloss for New Moms – The first step

Posted on October 4, 2013 by admin

weightloss

I was so much dyeing to do a post on weightloss, but then I thought ill wait since I have not reached my ideal weight yet. But later thought ill help some new moms or gain some knowledge from some while I’m at my weightloss journey. Do share your story.

I have never been a leany weany all my life, but never been fat or overweight too. Once I finished college and joined the IT industry I gained some weight with the cafeteria food and team lunches and outings. I have this bad habit of tasting everything in a buffet and so I landed up hogging a lot.

After marriage my husband being vegetarian, I could not cook non-veg at home, so I started gulping down a lot of cheese and paneer with him to satisfy my non vegetarian palette. But note the point he gained no weight. But after than with pregnancies and miscarriages I gained a lot of weight. I had to lose weight to have a baby at some point. Continue reading →

So I joined Golds gym and with the help of a personal trainer I lost weight and gained the right body. One thing I learnt that weight training is so important, just cardio is not at all enough to maintain your body shape. I used to be regular in the aerobics and spinning classes too. After that I had a difficult pregnancy and had to be on bed rest so I gained 17kgs in the process. Lost a little after delivery and gained some because of inadequate breastmilk. Now after 7 months I have got back to my pre-pregnancy weight, but my aim is to get back to my regular weight.

So Im going to give you guys the numbers only then. For now here are some dos and donts:

Do’s and donts

  • Drink plenty of water
  • Do not overeat, if you don’t have BM eat food that increases breastmilknot all food.
  • Do not do anything for the firt 3 months, no diet or no excersise.
  • Start with a walk for 20 mins and increase it gradually.
  • After your baby turns 5 months walk daily with your baby, carry your baby and walk.
  • Wear a stomach belt or ask someone to tie your stomach with a cloth (cotton saree), Im hoping to do a youtube video soon with the help of a midwife. Timeline is usually 3 weeks for normal and 6 weeks for c section. I did not have anyone to tie the cloth for me so I used the flamingo lumar sacro belt, I have done the review here.
  • Gradually increase the protein in your diet. The key to weightloss is more protein less carbs.
  • Ignore people who say “Oh you have gained weight”. Just tell yourself you will be fine.
  • Dont stick to one diet or one weight-loss technique, if it does not work for you move on.
  • Breastfeed,  this is the key to weightloss. Some people see results immediately, but most people lose weight after 6 months.
  • Don’t stress, though you have sleepless nights or tough times. Be positive , whats there in life without going through all this.
  • Do all your baby work by yourself.
  • You can start gym or swimming after consulting your gynac, but I have so much activity at home I really don’t need a gym now.

Do follow up, Ill be doing posts on the diets that I followed, what worked, what did not, my exercises with baby and lots more. Please click Like on our FB page for more updates..

Posted in Mothercare, Weight loss | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Post delivery diet with a punch – Karuvepillai podi/curry leaves/kari patha powder

Posted on October 4, 2013 by reks


Image source- curry leaf

Every new mom requires good care post delivery, which is our mothers take time off from their routines to help provide us with right diet and rest alongwith sharing their experiences on nurturing the newborn.
Continue reading →

My mom also took time off from her work to stay with me and help me get accustomed to the new changes that I was going through. I too had my ups and downs with frequent mood swings. The food made for me was also different based on all the Do s and Donts from elders. I made a fuss at times …
There was one special ‘podi’ that was made and sent by my aunt. I used to mix it with hot steamed rice and a little bit of oil. I instantly took a liking to it and had it everyday for lunch. The curry leaves in it made it aromatic and the pepper in it was just right . It was as good as having pepper rasam/soup. By the time my stock of this podi was over, I was back to normal and was having food like before. At that time I didnt pay much attention to the health benefits of having it . But as my baby grew older, I was always trying to dish out something healthy for him and then I thought of trying this podi with rice for him. He was going to turn ONE soon. This time I took the recipe from my aunt and tried making a small quantity to see if he liked it. I reduced the pepper in it and added a dash of ghee while serving. So yes !! he had it without any fuss. Once made and stored in an airtight jar in the fridge, it would last for a good two weeks, this came handy on the days I was busy and running out of time.

.When I asked why this was considered healthy, here is the answer I got: A new mom s body has undergone a lot of changes and need healing & strengthening.
-Curry leaves apart from being aromatic contains calcium, Phosphorous, Iron, Vit C. Aids in metabolim. Helps in indigestion, heartburn, morning sickness. – A pinch of Hing is used in daily cooking to avoid gas problems. – Black pepper is good in body warming, enabling better blood circulation during fatigue.

For my version of this Curry leaves powder you need:
Curry leaves: 2 cups ( washed and dried)
Urad dal: 3/4th cup
Hing powder
Salt
Red chillies: 2 ( depending on your spice level)
Black Pepper : 1-2 tsp (depending on your spice level)
Cumin seeds/Jeera: 1tsp
Tamarind- one small ball
Jaggery: 2 tsp grated
Method: Dry roast red chillies and keep aside. Then in the same pan put in the urad dal, pepper, jeera and roast. Keep the flame on low so that the dal doesnt turn black.
Add curry leaves and continue roasting for another minute , lastly add a dash of hing and turn the heat off. Allow it it cool.
Grind all the roasted ingredients with the tamarind, salt and jaggery.
Serve by mixing with hot steamed rice and gingely oil/ghee.

It is always best to follow our elders advise on a new mother s controlled diet because what the mother eats will obviously pass on to the baby till the time she is breastfeeding .
So pay heed to what you eat and stay healthy and happy!!

Posted in Baby food, Breastfeeding, Delivery, Home remedies, Mothercare | Tagged , , , , | 6 Comments

Product review- Gerber baby food

Posted on October 4, 2013 by reks

 

Gerber

My son s Annaprashan( first rice eating ceremony) was in Guruvayoor after completing his 5th month as per the Hindu calendar. This was done more as a ritual and we waited for him to complete 6 months to actually start weaning process.
Then he slowly got progressing with trying out all foods, keeping the breastfeeding continued.
I always looked forward to visiting the baby stores just to check out all the cute little toys, clothes and off course check out the latest collection of baby food and accessories.

The once I spotted the Nestle Gerber baby pureed food on the stands and remembered my cousins in the US bringing a whole crate of these mini bottles for their babies during their visits to India. I was tempted to buy a few for my 7month old baby. I went with a couple of different flavours , the most sought after is the applesauce.
My baby seemed to love it as he gobbled it all up. I bought a couple more to keep handy during our outings . I did taste it once and found the flavour mild. It is not very sweet. Whenever there was time ,I made a few fruit and veg purees in the similar texture and bottled them to carry along while stepping out. Continue reading →

The Gerber baby pureed food is a good weaning food option and for all those working mothers who dont have enough time at hand. It is also an ideal packed food option. Just put in a couple of your baby s favorite flavoured Gerber food bottles in your baby bag and step out without having to worry about their next meal.
Gerber baby food has a range of pureed foods, in great flavours and textures(from smooth to chunky) .

It claims to be low on preservatives, but we all know well that home made food is the best and all such options are to make life simple and easier for us. So no harm trying as long as it is occasionaly.
Price : INR 135 for 170g leak proof bottle

Posted in Baby food, Babycare | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

Welcome to the world of Tarot and Numbers!

Posted on October 3, 2013 by admin

tarot

Dreams do come true, here is some motivation for all of us moms. This is about a dear friend and also a co author of mommyswall. I would like to wish her all the best in her new venture.

Anjjali Agrawal, the highly knowledgeable and renowned professional Tarot card reader, part-time blogger on mommyswall, mentor, an adorable wife and a caring mother wishes to see people happy.
A Software Engineer by qualification and a trained Tarot card reader, Anjjali always had the passion to do something that would add joy & happiness to people’s lives. Her motto was simple and straightforward – “want to see people happy and prosperous.”

It is her experience in the field and dedication towards her desire that she is successfully transforming many lives. Anjjali’s hearty desire to bring happiness, love and hope to everyone has crafted her fate, as a successful Tarot card reader. Her advice to everyone – “Add life to days, not days to life!”

“A dream i saw…a dream which was not easily achievable…a dream which took attempts to come true…a dream which was worth struggle…a dream which raised eyebrows…a dream which made people question…but I knew this was a dream which needs to be fulfilled ….a dream which was worth putting efforts….a dream which is now a reality!!!
Don’t be discouraged if something is not in your favor today. Better opportunities are waiting ahead. you don’t have to sleep to see your dreamscome true…dreams are fulfilled by working hard, by staying awake and by believing in ourselves!!!”

Here’s The Story of Anjjali Agrawal

A optimistic person by nature, Anjjali believes that “if you have a will to do something there is a definitely a way for you…If you don’t see that way , build it yourself and god will accompany you.” Continue reading →

During her school days, she started reading numerous books on zodiac signs, they always fascinated her. During her college days she also started doing personality analysis for friends by their birth dates…however never did she realize what destiny was trying to convey her during those days.
She discovered Tarot when she meet her teacher during candle making workshops. Her teacher realized the potential in Anjjali, and with teacher’s guidance and her hard work she was able to develop her hidden gift. “It wasn’t all easy.” she said. As a self-confessed perfectionist, she wanted to know everything about the Tarot. To quench this thirst she began reading what different card means,Tarot spread and reading technique.
The turning point came when she finally surrendered and placed her trust on her hard work and intuition. As soon as she did that, everything just flowed.Her Tarot readings were more accurate and she felt more energized and in sync. Tarot became her creative outlet. Initially as a side-line hobby business, it connected her with her spiritual self .
The arrival of her son saw her committing more time and energy into Tarot. “More importantly having children changed my perspective of what’s important and where I really want to spend my time.” she said

Initially what she started only for family and friends, started expanding when they encouraged her to share her knowledge with outside world and thus from last three years she is practicing in Bangalore and Mumbai.
“I love the insight and clarity that Tarot brings to others, whether it’s by having your cards read, or sharing your gift by reading for other people.I’m here because Tarot has transformed my life in more ways than one.” she said.

“In my free time I love to spend time with my son and hubby who have always stood by me and provided me motivation and strength. I love cooking for them and friends. A part time blogger, I love teaching and thus my quest for learning never ends.” added Anjjali.
Along with Tarot and numerology reading, she also take Tarot classes, workshops , provides counseling and remedies for the problems
For Tarot and numero readings she can be contacted at 9353004693 or you can reach her at:
anjjalitarot@gmail.com

You can also visit her website: www.anjjalitarot.com

Posted in Mothercare | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Product Review – Philips Avent teats /nipples

Posted on October 3, 2013 by reks

Transition from breastfeeding to bottle feeding is quite a challenge as babies get used to the comfort of being held close and fed by the mother. The Avent brand bottles and teats/nipples are quite a popular name amongst most mothers . I was also recommended to try this and my son took to it quite easily.
Continue reading →

But he would accept the bottle from anyone else at home but me. If I would try to bottle feed him, he simply would move his head trying to breastfeed.
I had tried a few other teats , but they would wear out on frequent use and sterilising. I found Avent very good. The Avent silicone teats are of superior quality and is designed to increase the flexibility and stretch for a smooth and uninterrupted milk flow. Its built in valves prevents leaks and helps reduce colic.
It is developed and designed using advanced techniques, but all that we mothers need to know is that it is
EASY to use and clean,
SAFE and a
TRUSTed brand.

*It is suggested to use these teats with the Avent BPA free bottles
Price: 255INR for a pack of 2
Available in most baby stores and a few medical stores

Posted in Baby food, Babycare, Breastfeeding, Childcare | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Pigeon Weaning Bottle with Spoon Review

Posted on October 3, 2013 by Jaishri

pigeon bottle newpigeon 2

Nowadays Im using a lot of gifts that Maanvi got during her naming ceremony. One such gifts was this pigeon weaning bottle with spoon. My doctor had told me initially that breastfeeding babies should never be introduced to the feeding bottle. So I always tried to stay away from feeding bottles as much as possible.

I have introduced my lil one to fruit juice and soups. So I’m literally fed up of feeding her with a spoon. It’s a very tedious process. So I started using this weaning bottle. So here are some things that I Love about the bottle.

Pros:

– It is made of soft plastic so even cereals can be fed because you can squeeze the bottle.

-It comes with a cute brush to clean the passage to the spoon which I think is very important.

IMG_1640

-You can put back the spoon inside and close the bottle.

-Its travel friendly, the bottles with spoon that I used before did not have this provision.
Continue reading →

-It has all the markings on it with ml and oz.

-Easy to feed, the spoon is soft.

Cons:

-Once you move the liquid back some bit spills down or when the bottle is made to stand.

Price- Rs175

Rating: ****

Posted in Baby utensils | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment