Rapid-Rise Gluten Free French Bread

Crusty on the outside and super soft on the inside, this Gluten Free bread is sure to please any pregnant mom's craving. And it's fast and easy - takes about an hour.

2 c white rice flour

1 c tapioca flour

3 t xantham gum

1 1/2 t salt

Squeeze of honey

1 1/2 c lukewarm water

2 T rapid-rise yeast

2 T butter, melted

3 egg whites, beaten slightly

1 t vinegar

In mixer, place flours through salt and blend on low.

Dissolve honey in water and add yeast, waiting until it foams a bit, then blend into dry ingredients.

Add butter, egg whites and vinegar into dry ingredients and beat on high for 3 minutes.

To form loaves, spoon dough onto greased and cornmeal-dusted cookie sheets in 2 long French-loaf shapes. Slash diagonally a few times.

Cover loaves and let rise in warm place until doubled, about 25 minutes.

Bake for 40 - 25 minutes at 400.

Cortade - For Your Full Moon Belly Thirst

During childbirth women are often encouraged to drink a sports drink of some kind to replenish their electrolytes that are lost. This loss happens not only because of sweating, but also diarrhea, dehydration and vomiting.

The most well-known electrolyte replacer is Gatorade, which contains chemicals and is high in sugar. If you're looking for something a little more natural there is Recharge. This is a more natural blend of juices and salt that still has high amounts of sugar.

If you're like a lot of pregnant women you are probably watching the amount of sugar you ingest and so I present to you Cortade (named after me). This is a great recipe you can make pre-labor to have ready when you need it. This is also a great drink if you're sick or it's super hot out.

Amounts aren't important, just add ingredients to taste. In a glass mason jar, combine the following:

Fresh squeezed organic lemon juice

Organic honey

Sea salt

Fresh Water

Stir it all up with a spoon and drink up. This will replenish your electrolyte balance and leave you feeling refreshed.

Enjoy

Banana Beauties - Healthy Cookie Recipe

I found this recipe online and can't seem to re-find it so I can acknowledge the creator. This is vegan, gluten-free, wheat-free and sugar-free. I named these cookies Banana Beauties and made some minor adjustments to the original recipe. They are absolutely lovely and fast to make.

3 ripe bananas

1 tsp of almond extract

1/4 cup or less of liquid coconut oil

2 cups rolled oats

2/3 cup almond meal

1/3 cup unsweet coconut flakes

1/2 tsp Cinnamon

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp baking powder

• Mash bananas and add almond extract and oil. Mix and set aside.
  
• Whisk oats through baking powder together. Add to liquid.
  
• Drop a tablespoon of dough onto greased cookie sheets and feel free to eat the yummy batter in the process.
  
• Bake 15 minutes at 350, until golden and delicious

Big Bird's Banana Bread

I subscribed to Sesame Street's magazine when I was 4 and fell in love with Big Bird's Banana Bread recipe. Mr. Hooper (remember Mr. Hooper??? Big Bird had trouble saying his name so he called him Mr. Looper) is the grownup in charge of turning on the oven and melting the butter (this was before microwaves).

This recipe was made for kid's who want to lick the bowl (no eggs) and can be made gluten-free with a basic GF flour mix.

Here is what you'll need:

3 peeled ripe bananas

3/4 cup honey

1/4 cup melted butter or vegan substitute such as Earth Balance

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour or GF flour

Mash nanners up

Add melted butter, baking soda, flour and honey

Stir everything and pour in oiled bread pan

Bake at 350 for 1 hour

Don't forget to ask a grown-up helper to take the bread out of the oven and share it with your neighbors.

Fat, Fiber and Protein - Essential to Starting Your Day

When breaking fast it's important that your breakfast contains fat (think coconut milk, seeds, avocado), fiber (veggies, fruit) and protein (tofu, beans, meat). This will ensure a solid foundation for your upcoming day and will give your body everything it needs to begin the digestion and metabolism process.

Check out this recipe below, which I call The Cuba Special, to begin your day. I suggest making enough for several mornings and cooking everything the night before to ensure a calm eating ritual. You can decide the appropriate amounts that fit your tastes because you just can't go wrong with this meal.

Ingredients

Black Beans

Rice

Yams

Coconut Milk

Cinnamon

Nutmeg

The night before

Cook black beans

Cook rice

Roast yams (chop and place in oven at 400 for 20 minutes, flip and cook another 20)

The morning of

Heat the beans, rice and yams together in a pot

Heat coconut milk separately

When warm, combine in bowl and add Cinnamon and Nutmeg

Mmmmmmmmmm - this is another breakfast that will last a long time. And it tastes SUPER.

Check out my other recipes throughout this blog........

Getting the Best Eats During Pregnancy - December Article

There are heaps of nutrition articles on the Internet that can make a mother-to-be feel overwhelmed. If you’ve read any three, you can already surmise that there’s no special nutrition formula for your diet.

Consider the following to be general guidelines on how to eat an appropriate diet while pregnant. You’ll also find easy recipes that follow standard pregnancy nutritional guidelines. For more specific information, always check with your Midwife or caregiver. She knows your situation best and can provide the most accurate information specific to your needs.

Eating healthy, whether vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, etc., is almost always possible as long as it is well-planned and approved by your Midwife or caregiver. Don’t stress about how or what you are eating on a daily basis, but instead look at your diet over the course of a week to ensure it is balanced.

Over a seven day period, ask yourself if you’ve eaten enough greens, protein, fiber, fat and vitamins to satisfy your nutritional needs. If it’s hard to keep track, consider using a food journal for a week. If you feel you’ve been lacking something, plan how you will make changes and start again the next day. Each day is a new time to begin feeding you and your baby the way that is best for both of you.

Whenever possible, buy organic. This will ensure you are getting the best produce, dairy products, meat and snacks you can without harvesting them from your backyard.

When selecting fish, always check with your Midwife or caregiver to ensure it is safe for you to eat fish, and then chose varieties that are fresh rather than farmed for optimal nutrition.

For meat, select hormone and antibiotic free and grass fed to ensure the best cut of meat for you and your baby. The less synthetic hormones and medicine you have moving through your system, the better off you are.

Below are some nutrients that are vital to you and your baby’s wellbeing during pregnancy, followed by fast and easy recipes.

Folic Acid

Folic acid is a B vitamin that helps prevent abnormalities of the brain, spinal cord and neural tube. Ingesting 1 milligram a day during pregnancy, either through foods or supplements is essential to your baby’s well-being.

Organic leafy green vegetables (think kale, mustard greens, chard), root vegetables, organic citrus fruits, organic beans and fortified organic orange juice are great natural sources. Nutritional Yeast is also a nice way to add B vitamins to your diet. Sprinkle on popcorn or on dishes where you would normally use cheese. 

Calcium

Calcium is another big one during your pregnant and breastfeeding months. Your skeletal, circulatory, muscular and nervous systems rely on calcium for day-to-day functioning. Add in a pregnancy and your body is thirsty for this nutrient. If you don’t provide enough calcium through the food you eat or your pre-natal supplement, then your body is going to take what it needs from your bones and teeth.

At least 1,000 milligrams per day is necessary, and more usually won’t hurt.

Again, organic leafy greens come into play here, as well as organic dairy and soy products, salmon (check with your Midwife) and yogurt.

Protein

The importance of protein cannot be stressed enough during pregnancy. Many Midwives and natural caregivers believe that protein can prevent serious pregnancy-related disorders. It is critical for your baby’s growth and your body’s ability to maintain a healthy environment.

At least 80 grams of protein per day is mandatory during pregnancy. Think 3 ounces of organic chicken breast (27g), 1 cup of organic cottage cheese (28g), 2 tablespoons of organic peanut butter (8g), 1 egg (6g).

All organic lean meat, poultry, fish and eggs are easy protein sources. For vegan and vegetarian diets look towards organic tofu, beans, TVP (textured vegetable protein) and nuts. 

Iron

Feeling tired? Your body requires iron to deliver oxygen to your body’s tissues. Your blood volume nearly doubles during pregnancy, which means you need around 30 milligrams of iron daily to ensure your tissues are able to receive enough oxygen.

Look to lean organic red meat, beans, spinach, dried fruit and nuts for your daily iron requirements.

Easy Recipes for Your Pleasure & Health

Roasted Root Veggies & Friends

This easy, veggie-friendly meal contains folic acid, fiber, vitamins and minerals aplenty plus it’s gluten-free and vegan, and makes a great cold snack, a nice side dish or even a main meal. Remember to purchase organic whenever possible.

Eggplant

Zucchini

Turnips

Beets

Carrots

Sweet Potatoes

Yams

Red or Yellow Pepper

Salt & Pepper

Olive or Coconut Oil

Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees

Wash and cube veggies

Spread in baking dish, coat with oil and season as desired

Bake for 45 minutes, turning every 20 minutes

Yummy Sautéed Greens

Rich in all the good stuff like calcium, magnesium, fiber and vitamins A, C, and E, this gluten-free, vegan dish is a great side dish for breakfast, lunch or dinner.

Handful (4-5 leaves per person) dark leafy greens (Chard, Kale, Mustard Greens, Bok Choy)

Apple Cider Vinegar

Slivered Almonds

Water

Salt 

Wash greens

Tear greens into bite-size pieces, composting the stems

Heat enough water to cover greens in wok

Add greens when water is lightly boiling

Stir and cook until tender (2-3 minutes)

Drain water

Add ACV as you would a dressing

Toss with almonds and enjoy

Midwife’s Breakfast

This protein packed breakfast will carry you through your morning. It contains protein, fiber, vitamins and minerals and can be made vegan. It’s also great with some sautéed greens sprinkled on top.

Steel-cut Irish Oats

Milk Product of Choice

Cheese 

Egg

Avocado

Almonds

Cook oatmeal per product directions – use milk product for extra protein

Add cheese over oatmeal in your bowl

Cover cheese with cooked egg, prepared to your liking

Garnish with half an avocado (and sautéed greens if desired)

Sprinkle with almonds

Beef/Bison or Tofu Stir Fry

This quick dinner that you can put together at the last minute is packed with lean protein. It can also be made vegetarian with the addition of tofu or tempeh. 

Organic Lean Steak

Snow Peas

Green Beans

Broccoli

Bok Choy

Olive Oil

Soy Sauce

Wash and cut veggies

Coat protein in a little olive oil

Heat wok

Stir-fry the protein

Add vegetables to the wok and stir-fry for 1-2 minutes

Combine vegetables with soy sauce

Return protein to wok, toss to combine

Feeling confident about your diet is about understanding, both academically and intuitively, what you and your baby needs to grow strong and healthy. Rather than micromanaging your diet at every meal, take a step back and evaluate your eating over a longer period. Add in your emotional state and energy level and make decisions from that place as to what you should be eating. And of course, your Midwife is a great resource.

A Midwife's Breakfast Updated

This one is called a Midwife's Special. Still the Irish oats, soy cheese and friend egg but the special is the sliced avocado placed on top of the egg.

Enjoy.

A Midwife's Breakfast

This is a Midwife's Breakfast. Slow-cooked Irish oats, fried egg on top and melted soy cheese in between.

Sure to sustain a midwife through the first hours of a birth.