Wellness Mama®
Simple Answers for Healthier Families
These reviews are my honest opinion on popular books, products, shoes, and kitchen essentials for busy moms trying to keep their families healthy.
Life can be overwhelming, even when things are going well! It can also be challenging to find your calm when you’re dealing with some not-so-great things. This Prima review covers a few products that can help. I’m all about finding ways to naturally address the stressors that can happen in life—homeschooling, parenting, working from home, managing …
If you’re like me, nutrition has become a big part of your life. It literally changed my health! Becoming so passionate about something can easily make you think of doing more with your interest. Have you wondered about doing a nutrition program or getting nutrition education so that you can start a career in wellness? …
Go to any birthday party, school lunch, or neighborhood picnic and it’s obvious… With allergies to nuts, dairy, eggs, soy, gluten, and more, we have a food allergy epidemic going on. It’s affecting our kids on a large scale, and many parents are left wondering why… and what to do about it. This is why …
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 …
Over the years, we’ve used a lot of different blenders and I’ve written several blender reviews. Cooking from scratch three times a day for eight people gives me a LOT of time to test out blenders while making sauces, smoothies and more. My favorite blender has changed a few times over the years so I …
I’m super happy to finally get to share about an amazing new company that I’ve been using like crazy lately. In fact, I was so excited about this company that I said “heck yes!” when I was asked to be an advisor (and investor) with them so that I could help them choose products moms and families need …
I’m so excited to be able to share an amazing resource that I’ve had the advantage of knowing and using for several months. My doctor, Dr. Alan Christianson NMD, is releasing his book The Adrenal Reset Diet. I interviewed Dr. Christianson on my podcast and his interview was one of the most popular episodes! He is a …
I usually review books because I am constantly reading and love to share books with you that I enjoy. This week, I’m sharing something I also use constantly: my water bottle. I drink water, kombucha, and herbal teas almost every day. At home, I drink out of a quart size mason jar with a Cuppow lid, but …
If you’ve ever tried Weight Watchers or another structured weight loss plan and failed or relapsed, you need to read this book: The Cheat System Diet. I recently received an advance copy of The Cheat System Diet and I think it will be a valuable resource for a lot of people. Here’s why: What I …
I’ve gotten emails asking if I know of any pre-made food services (like the pre-made diet programs that you often see on TV) that are actually healthy and easy to order. Until recently, I didn’t know of any and I always suggested finding a local service or chef who could prepare foods in advance. A …
I recently received a review copy of “The Paleo Approach” by Sarah Ballantyne. Sarah runs the blog The Paleo Mom, where she chronicles her own health struggles, her research (as a PhD), and her protocols for reversing autoimmune disease. The Paleo Approach Her book came at a providential time, as I just found out I …
JJ Virgin recently released her first cookbook, “The Virgin Diet Cookbook.” She also wrote “The Virgin Diet” which was tremendously popular because she was able to help a lot of people lose weight and improve digestive issues by addressing food intolerances. Her new book, The Virgin Diet Cookbook, combines an overview (cliff notes version) of …
I get a lot of cookbooks in the mail…. this is great because I love books and I love cooking. I’ve reviewed several of my favorite cookbooks in the past, and a book that came in the mail recently, Nom Nom Paleo: Food for Humans, is on that list now. There are a couple things …
Recently, I received a review copy of “Your Personal Paleo Code: The 3-Step Plan to Lose Weight, Reverse Diabetes, and Stay Fit and Healthy For Life” by Chris Kresser. I’ve enjoyed Chris’ blog for a couple of years and I was excited to read his book. I was not surprised to find that Your Personal …
It is getting tougher to find good cookware options. It seems like many of the nonstick or easy clean options contain harmful chemicals or heavy metals, while the natural options lead to sticking and are hard to clean. Xtrema Ceramic Cookware Several years ago, I got some Xtrema cookware as a Christmas present. I’d been …
I taught myself to speed-read in middle school, and to this day, it is probably the most valuable skill I’ve ever learned. One of the really fun perks of blogging is that authors occasionally send books for review. This month, I’ve received several great paleo cookbooks (and several others I decided not to review), but the speed …
I must admit, one of my favorite things about being a blogger is that I get a chance to read and review some great books. I’ve got a stack of about ten that I’m finishing and will post on soon, and my most recent read, “Fermented” has been great! Fermented Written by Jill Ciciarelli, Fermented: …
At our house, we rarely eat grains (with the exception of rice on rare occasion) since we have one son still on GAPS and it is just easier to avoid grains (plus we feel better). Even though I have a lot of my own original recipes, it is always fun to find a cookbook that …
One of the most popular recipes I’ve created from scratch is my homemade Italian pasta sauce recipe. It took me a long time to get it right, as I married into an Italian family and my husband has pretty high standards when it comes to cuisine from “the boot.” Creating healthy, grain-free options of traditional Italian foods …
Bill and Hayley, authors of Gather and Make it Paleo, have come out with yet another great book in their new 30 Day Guide to Paleo Cooking. As someone working on a first book, I really have no idea how they manage to write and beautifully photograph these books so quickly, but they certainly haven’t …
I must admit, I was skeptical when I first heard about “Beyond Bacon.” Certainly, we have many favorite recipes that involve pork at our house, but an entire cookbook devoted to pork? Now that I’ve had the chance to read Beyond Bacon, I can absolutely see why a cookbook dedicated to only pork is such …
I’ve written before about how many of the plants we consider weeds are edible and beneficial, but a book I recently had a chance to review, Dandelion Hunter, takes it to a new level! Rebecca Lerner, who blogs at First Ways, has a funny yet edgy writing style that really draws you in to the …
I recently read the book The Paleo Coach: Expert Advice for Extraordinary Health, Sustainable Fat Loss and an Incredible Body by Jason Seib and would recommend it, especially to those searching for motivation in switching to a healthier lifestyle. Jason is a friend and business partner of Sarah Fragoso (who blogs at Everyday Paleo) as …
I recently read the book “Deep Nutrition: Why Your Genes Need Traditional Foods” and I found it to be a must-read health book that explains in a very detailed and easy-to-understand way how our diets affect us on a cellular level. Dr. Care Shanahan provides the best explanation I’ve found for how many modern foods are …
