Wellness Mama®
Simple Answers for Healthier Families
I was grain-free for a long time (and generally still am) while healing my Hashimoto’s, but my husband is Italian so I had to find a way to still have pasta. This creamy homemade alfredo sauce recipe makes any type of pasta delicious, including zoodles (zucchini noodles). Even though alfredo sauce is typically thought of as unhealthy …
We can all do with an energy boost sometimes, but store-bought energy drinks are far from the best option. The side effects of popular energy drinks may surprise you. Below I’ll show you how I use natural energy boosters, the scary side effects in energy drinks, and why you won’t see me with one in …
I can get my kids to eat almost anything with ketchup or homemade ranch dressing on top… or if I season it with taco seasoning! In fact, I know many moms who keep taco seasoning packets on hand to use in the thousands of kid-friendly ways suggested by Pinterest. I lived in Texas for much of my …
I’ve posted before about why we don’t use scented candles and what we use instead. One of my favorite alternatives is to use an essential oil diffuser, and many people asked what type of diffuser I use and recommend. I’m not an herbalist or aromatherapy expert, but I have tried many types of diffusers and I wanted …
Making popsicles from scratch is always on our summer bucket list and now that the kids are older, one they handle on their own. These popsicles have it all over the ones at the store, with real-food ingredients like coconut water kefir, coconut milk, and diced mango. They’re a cool and creamy summertime treat that we …
I’ve been traveling to the beach with kids for about 12 years now, and have gone from stressed out mom of one, to a relatively stress-free mom of six on these beach vacations. Since there are so many health benefits of the beach it can be a great place to visit and relax, but as a …
Ever used ghee? It has the benefits of butter without the casein and proteins that some people react to in butter. so it’s basically the best of both worlds! What Is Ghee? In technical terms, ghee is a clarified, unsalted butter with the milk proteins removed. It has a high smoke point, making it perfect for cooking, …
A healthy diet is vital during pregnancy, but it’s just as important while nursing. The body uses up a lot of calories and nutrients to make that amazing liquid gold for baby. But sometimes moms don’t make enough breastmilk to meet their baby’s needs and may need a little help getting their supply up. Alternately, …
During the hot days of summer a cool, fresh salad hits the spot. It’s the perfect time for it too since the gardens and farmer’s markets are bursting with produce. We don’t do a lot of bread around here, so I wanted to recreate the classic BLT flavors in veggie-packed salad form. Salad greens topped with …
I’ve talked about the health benefits of medicinal mushrooms in the past and I must admit I’m becoming a pretty big fan. These superfoods are catching on the US (just check the shelf at any health food store). One of my favorites is chaga mushrooms, and despite the short name, the list of health benefits they contain goes on …
Sugar consumption is a huge health issue today. Even a little bit can have negative effects on the body. But quitting sugar can be tough (especially considering that it’s everywhere). That’s where a sugar detox comes in. The Harmful Effects of (Processed) Sugar I often hear the argument that sugar is fine in moderation and that …
I’ve often read the statistic that we spend 1/3 of our lives sleeping (or over 2,500 hours per year) but I have to laugh because those hours are obviously not during the time of life with new babies or potty-training toddlers. Of course, those statistics are meant to highlight the importance of sleep environment since such a …
Iced tea is the perfect drink to sip on during the hot summer months. This variation on peach iced tea is both good for you and refreshing. So let the kids loose in the backyard, make a pitcher of tea for yourself, and take a few minutes to relax on the patio! Lavender: A Lovely …
I’ve occasionally had a glass of warm lemon water in the morning for years, but usually just because it sounded good and I wanted something warm besides coffee or herbal tea. When I saw several pictures and posts floating around the Internet touting the benefits of drinking lemon water in the morning, I decided to …
I recently had the chance to tag along with Dry Farm Wines when they visited Europe and I got to see some of the amazing family-owned vineyards where their wines are grown. One of my goals when we left for Europe was to figure out some of the reasons that many European countries routinely rank …
Fruit-infused waters are a wonderful and refreshing drink option for summer when the sun is out, the kids are bored, and the bugs are biting. TV commercials will try to convince you that only soda and processed drinks are thirst-quenching enough for summer. Of course, you probably already know better, but sometimes it is nice …
Years ago, a reader from India told me about a natural way to whiten teeth and it is the only method I’ve used since that time. Her suggestion? Use charcoal to whiten teeth with! Whiten Teeth With Charcoal? I was very skeptical that charcoal could actually help whiten teeth. I already kept activated charcoal around the house …
There’s nothing like a rich and delicious dessert that you also know is good for you! Since avocado is filled with healthy fats, it’s the perfect sneaky substitute for butter in these fudgy brownies. If you are skeptical about making brownies with avocado, don’t be. I promise, you won’t even be able to tell it’s in there! …
I prefer to eat my sunscreen rather than slather it on my skin… I do occasionally use my homemade sunscreen if I’m going to be out in the sun for a long time without shade or layer, but in general, I prefer to get the free vitamin D from its original source via moderate sun exposure. When I’m …
