Wellness Mama®
Simple Answers for Healthier Families
I’ve always been a huge advocate of getting my kids to play, especially outside during the summer. I feel like they are more well behaved, more tired at the end of the day, and overall happier when they get in lots of playing. But playtime has many other benefits too, and they’re backed by science! …
It’s well known that bee products like honey, royal jelly, and bee propolis have many health benefits. These honeybee products have a permanent spot in my kitchen as well as my home remedy cabinet. So, it’s not surprising that bee pollen is also an amazing health food and supplement. Bee Pollen: The Surprising Superfood Bee …
As far as healthy dessert recipes go, this is an overall winner! I make these glazed donut holes are made with healthy ingredients, but the taste is very similar to old fashioned donut holes. They are a fun choice when you want something decadent and want it to be nutritious too. They’re perfect for a special birthday …
While grains are a controversial food in modern society, their use in skin care is pretty much universally accepted. In fact, grains have been used for ages to get radiant, glowing skin. Combine it with a little water, and you’ve got yourself a gentle and natural exfoliating scrub that will leave your skin shining. And …
Entree salads are one of my favorite things to serve for dinner. I can usually serve all the components of the meal in one dish with only a small amount of cooking. (The leftovers are fantastic for lunch the next day… always a bonus!) A classic French Nicoise salad has a lot of elements that require …
We all know that being outside is important for optimal health. Between the fresh air, exercise, vitamin D, and other benefits of the outdoors, just being outside as much as possible can have a positive impact on our health. So it’s not surprising that forest bathing would have similar effects. But this outdoor activity goes …
Gelato is one food I would probably eat even if there wasn’t a way to make it healthy. When my husband and I first started dating, we traveled to Europe with some friends and he introduced me to gelato. It was love at first spoonful and I’m pretty sure that is about all I ate …
If you breastfeed, you probably know that a blocked or clogged milk duct is a painful and frustrating challenge that many nursing mothers encounter. Clogged milk ducts seem to come out of nowhere and can present a real challenge! In order to prevent the clogged duct from turning into mastitis or another infection, it’s important …
Basil has taken over my garden so I am in the process of preserving and storing it now. Fortunately, it can be used for so much more than just cooking! There are a few types of basil. The most popular are sweet basil, lemon basil, holy basil, and Thai basil. Though there are some differences, these …
One of the things on my summer bucket list each year is to grill outside. It’s fun, delicious, and gives me a break from the hot kitchen! This grilled citrus chicken recipe is a great addition to the grilling repertoire. It’s easy to make and packed with flavor that the whole family loves. Why Sweet and Savory? …
As we age, we can look back on how we’ve navigated love, career, and family and feel pretty accomplished… as we should! Yet as we get into our fifth decade (or sometimes earlier), another challenge awaits. Menopause. And all that comes with it! I’m always looking for ways to prepare for that stage of life when …
I really like to make my own condiments and spices whenever possible, so when I wanted to try chipotle mayo in my fish tacos, making my own was a no-brainer! Homemade Chipotle Mayo I’ve been making my own mayonnaise for years now. I like being able to use healthy oils such as coconut or olive oil and I …
I write a lot about the benefits of the sun and how it is important for vitamin D production, hormone balance, getting enough blue light and many other functions in the body. That doesn’t mean I take sun damage, sunburn, or skin cancer lightly. Far from it! Sunburn can be very harmful and should absolutely …
I love my herb and spice cabinet because it allows me to whip up a tasty meal any time. I buy some of the herbs, especially if they are dried and I need them in bulk, but we all know fresh herbs cost a pretty penny at the store! Good news: it’s incredibly easy to start …
Who doesn’t love a glass of sangria in the summertime?! Fruity, colorful, and with a touch of sweetness (if you use this recipe anyway), it’s the perfect summer drink. The classic version calls for sugar and is on the sweeter side, so I wanted to find a way to make my own that was only …
Years ago, I shared my homemade sunscreen recipe and explained why I avoid most conventional sunscreens. Recently, reports from the Environmental Working Group (EWG) and Consumer Reports have warned consumers against using many types of conventional sunscreens, especially on children. Some places have even gone as far as banning chemicals in certain formulations. Why We …
Ah, summer. Sunny days, grilling out, and fireflies at dusk. Longer days and summer vacations also mean more downtime, play time, and hopefully more family time! A while back we started the tradition of creating an annual summer bucket list. Even if we don’t do them all (the list is getting long), this summertime family tradition is a …
One simple change in the kitchen can make a big difference in reducing waste and saving money: switching to entirely to cloth instead of paper. This is one easy change that I resisted for a long time but wish I had made the switch much earlier. I think the idea of removing paper products in …
In the book Zero to One, Peter Thiel asks readers to consider what views/truths they believe that very few people agree with them on. For me, one such personal belief is that most sunscreen is not helpful in avoiding skin cancer and may actually increase the chances of it! This is one of the reasons …
On vacation one year, we ate at a great seafood restaurant that had fish tacos on the menu. At that point I’d never had fish tacos and they sounded intriguing! At the time I was grain-free for my thyroid condition (and still do very limited grains), so I asked if they could convert it into a …
