Wellness Mama®
Simple Answers for Healthier Families
It can be hard to stay healthy on vacation when you’re bombarded by restaurants, food stands, and ice cream windows. But in my opinion, staycations are the best of both worlds. Maybe I’m biased (because travel with six kids) but hear me out… You can have access to your real food kitchen while also being able to …
Oh summer… how I love thee. With an abundance of fresh veggies at the farmer’s market (not to mention fresh peaches for cobbler) and lots of fun activities to do as a family, summer is almost perfect… Except for the mosquitoes… or the occasional poison ivy… or an itchy peeling sunburn! Of course, homemade bug spray helps ward off most …
Lemonade is the classic drink for a hot summer day, but the usual recipes are super sweetened and involve a lot of sugar! I love the flavor and effervescence of other fermented drinks, so why not probiotic lemonade? I looked it up to find it was a thing and decided to give it a try. …
Finding low-clutter toys is a great way to reduce the overwhelming stuff in the house. But any parent will tell you… one thing that can get out of control quickly (but I can’t just toss out) is children’s art. It’s beautiful and important — but it’s everywhere! Art that’s not displayed isn’t being enjoyed, so …
I’ve been all about the barefoot shoes (or just being barefoot) for years. But there are some times and some places where barefoot shoes just won’t cut it. Thankfully, there are now many wonderful options for minimalist shoes that look like “regular shoes.” These shoes don’t offer quite as much foot freedom as true barefoot …
I’ve mentioned before how important gut health is for adults, kids, and babies. Much of our immune system resides in the gut, so making it as healthy as possible only makes sense. We try hard to optimize our guts by eating fermented foods, eliminating sugar, and taking a quality probiotic, but a baby’s sensitive gut …
Ahh, vacation. Just saying the word usually evokes visions of relaxing by the pool, drinks with tiny umbrellas, a plethora of succulent foods, building sandcastles, and a beach-ready body. (At least it did before kids!) While traveling somewhere new is (almost) always lots of fun, trying to eat healthy on vacation can be a challenge. Staying …
I love the smell of baking. Especially when it’s lemon blueberry muffins in the oven! They fill the whole house with the warm aroma of berries. In fact, another favorite treat in our house, this healthy berry cobbler, also combines berries and baking. Blueberries: A Nutrition Powerhouse (and Kid-Favorite Snack!) Blueberry season is one of my …
In modern times we have largely forgotten that cultures throughout the ages used bentonite clay and other healing clays for their nutrients and to help rid the body of toxins. If we take a cue from nature, many animals will instinctively turn to eating dirt and clay to help remove poisons from their systems or during …
Technology is an amazing invention (I use it every day to run this blog!). We have practically everything we could ever need to know, imagine, and become curious about at our fingertips. In fact, according to former Google CEO Eric Schmidt, we collectively create as much information in two days as has been created from …
Sugar may not be good for your insides, but a sugar scrub can be very good for your skin. Those expensive scrubs in department stores and spas… they cost pennies to make! Sugar scrubs are a simple beauty recipe with countless variations, and they can be incredibly moisturizing and exfoliating to the skin. I use …
Part of my mom’s family is originally from New Orleans and the times I’ve visited there, I’ve loved the flavors of Cajun seasoning and tried to recreate recipes that use it at home. For years, I bought pre-made Cajun seasoning, but realized it had MSG, anti-caking agents, and fillers in it (including gluten!). Since I …
Every year as warmer weather approaches, I make several homemade products for summer including my homemade sunscreen and these homemade bug spray recipes. I don’t use sunscreen often because it limits vitamin D production and I prefer to eat my sunscreen instead. This homemade insect repellent spray recipe, on the other hand, gets daily use where we live. (Unfortunately!) …
We can go through a lot of snacks at our house! Instead of opting for prepackaged (and not so healthy) versions, I try to provide healthy snacks for my family that are also tasty and kid-approved. This healthy homemade French onion dip is another one to add to the snack list. It’s great for kids and …
Finding the best deodorant for men that’s natural and actually works can be the pits! I’ve been making natural homemade deodorant for several years now and I love how easy and effective it is. This men’s deodorant recipe is just as good, but has a manly scent to it (along with a few other updates!). …
There’s a lot of confusion about safe, natural cookware, in part because it can be hard to tell the difference between a safe piece of cookware and a “green-washed” one. When I wanted to switch out my non-stick cookware for something better I delved into the research to find the best cookware options. Ceramic cookware …
Wait! Don’t mow your grass! Did you know that those dandelions growing all over your yard are actually an herb and you can eat them? They are great for health too! Making Peace With Dandelions Most people think of dandelion as a backyard weed. At our house, we don’t wage war on dandelions… we use …
It’s pretty clear that sugar isn’t healthy, especially in excess, but are artificial sweeteners the answer? Probably not. Though I do use some natural no-calorie sweeteners occasionally, I steer clear of artificial sweeteners all together. What Are Artificial Sweeteners? Artificial sweeteners are synthetic sweeteners that may be chemically derived but may also be derived from …
We are privileged to live in a time when crossing the world is as easy as hopping on an airplane! What isn’t as easy is figuring out how to stay healthy while flying. With the tight quarters and recycled air, odds are high… you’ll be taking home a souvenir you could have done without. One …
