Primal family - Page 9

[PennyP]

Originally Posted by sosurreal09 

I am having serious trouble kicking coffee! I can't use heavy cream b/c of DD's allergy and since I use coconut creamer (and think it tastes kinda gross in my coffee) I get mocha iced coffee. (which I know is horrible for me!) I feel like a total addict! It's basically that or nothing for coffee but for some reason I feel like I can't *just* drink water all day....

Any tips for me?

If you want some sweetener free drinks that aren't water- (I'm not paleo/primal, so I don't know if all these stuff are legal)

Water with lemon juice

Water with mint and lemon juice

Cucumber water, or lemon cucumber water (http://www.food.com/recipe/refreshing-lemon-cucumber-water-110671 )

Beet kvass (perhaps with a dash of homemade hot sauce) ( http://www.pennilessparenting.com/2011/03/beet-kvass-recipe.html )

Unsweetened tea, choose a less bitter variety, like fennel tea, mint tea, nettle tea, chamomile tea

Homemade coconut milk (to keep costs down- just pour boiling water over unsweetened shredded coconut, let it sit for 20 minutes, blend it in a blender, then strain it through a cheesecloth, keeping the pulp to dehydrate and make coconut flour), perhaps with some cardamum or ginger or other chai style spices added

And don't laugh at me, I just made a batch of lacto-fermented dill pickles, and I just drank about 4 glasses of the pickle juice cold. It was yummy!

Hope these ideas help, and they're not too expensive either.

Edited by PennyP - 8/15/11 at 4:12am

[sosurreal09]

Gee thanks! Very informative!

NAK
 

Originally Posted by PennyP 

If you want some sweetener free drinks that aren't water- (I'm not paleo/primal, so I don't know if all these stuff are legal)

Water with lemon juice

Water with mint and lemon juice

Cucumber water, or lemon cucumber water (http://www.food.com/recipe/refreshing-lemon-cucumber-water-110671 )

Beet kvass (perhaps with a dash of homemade hot sauce) ( http://www.pennilessparenting.com/2011/03/beet-kvass-recipe.html )

Unsweetened tea, choose a less bitter variety, like fennel tea, mint tea, nettle tea, chamomile tea

Homemade coconut milk (to keep costs down- just pour boiling water over unsweetened shredded coconut, let it sit for 20 minutes, blend it in a blender, then strain it through a cheesecloth, keeping the pulp to dehydrate and make coconut flour), perhaps with some cardamum or ginger or other chai style spices added

And don't laugh at me, I just made a batch of lacto-fermented dill pickles, and I just drank about 4 glasses of the pickle juice cold. It was yummy!

Hope these ideas help, and they're not too expensive either.

[PennyP]

So glad you liked the ideas!

We have way too much sugar in this house, and I'm trying to look for sugar free or sugar minimal drinks, so these are some that I came up with for myself.

[Primal Parent]

It's hard to say what parenting might have been like. I think we can look towards traditional cultures around the world, though, for a clue. Mothers carry their babies out of necessity. They couldn't get anything done otherwise (I wrote an article about this http://theprimalparent.com/2011/05/09/how-baby-slings-shaped-humanity/). We breast feed because we can and because babies are not capable of eating anything else. We co-sleep because where else are babies going to sleep - in their own huts where tigers might get them? All of these revival parenting techniques are just life for traditional cultures. Taking care of your baby is not about love (there is love and there is also care). It's about survival and making things as easy as possible. This aspect of parenting is just as important for us as it was for them because of evolution. We evolved to need it so now, need or or not, we still have to do it.

Parenting isn't really an emotional thing for me. I don't do all these things because I love my daughter, but because it is the only thing that makes sense. Of course I do love her and I do loving things for her because she's my friend. The things I do for love are play childish games when I'd rather be reading, or take her to the park even when I'm feeling too tired. But breastfeeding, cooking, co-sleeping, and all kids of nurturing are both necessity and instinctual. 

Originally Posted by sosurreal09 

I have a question for you actually I was reading your blog and you said that parenting i not really emotional and that you wanted to share how people parented in primal times (paraphrasing here) so I am wondering how exactly you think parenting was back then?

I was sort of under the impression that a lot of AP (maybe not GD, but I've got no clue) was primal/instinctual. BFing, co sleeping, carrying the baby all the time, etc. Now I'm thinking it was mostly due to dangers and what not, you wouldn't leave a baby in the cave while you go picking berries for instance. The natural age of weaning is between 2-6 y/o so "extended" BFing would totally be the norm. That type of thing.

I don't really see how there aren't a lot of feeling about parenting and things like that....
 

[organicviolin]

thanks so much Primal Parent!  I'm proud of us too!!! tee hee. 

totally want to try making the coconut water etc and flour....both of those things can be expensive!

Also, where do you find recipes for primal muffins, pancakes etc???

[sosurreal09]

OK here it goes...

I thought I was doing really well but then I started tracking on fitday.com and realize I am eating too many carbs! Of course the stanking coffee is about half of them...

Also I think I have been a bit too carnivorous lately. I haven't been eating fruits hardly ever but I was skimping on the veggies too and only really eating meat and some nuts on occasion.

So my plan is to up the veggies and pretty much keep the meat the same and down the coffee.

Now I have a frugality question. Homemade jerky VS Store bought?

IDK which is cheaper, and since you don't use the fat of the meat at all IDK if store bought would be so bad. I can't *imagine* taking my good grass-fed beef and turning it into jerky. I feel like that would be a pretty penny, that well we just don't have.

So my options are to buy conventional turkey or beef and make it homemade or buy an "all natural" store bought jerky for about $6...It did not look like much for $6 but if I buy say 3 good sized turkey breasts it'd cost $6+ and IDK just how much it shrinks down to YK?

What do you think the better value is?

[Lazurii]

Originally Posted by sosurreal09 

 IDK just how much it shrinks down to YK?

What do you think the better value is?

When I was living at home we raised steers for meat.  Our family loved beef jerky, so we would order that 25 lbs of meat be turned into jerky.  It ended up being about 5 lbs of jerky.

On the other hand I just found this super cool recipe for liver-and-beef jerky that I want to try.  It would be a good way to sneak liver.  I also want to try jerking some beef heart since I love the stuff and it's pretty cheap.  I can get grass-fed heart for $3/lb, but sometimes I go conventional and that's $1.58/lb.

[sosurreal09]

Wow that's a LOT of shrinking!

Though you guys might like this link http://www.marksdailyapple.com/low-carb-substitute/ It's primal "comfort food"

[Primal Parent]

Homemade jerky is cheaper for sure! Here's my recipe http://theprimalparent.com/2011/03/28/how-to-make-beef-jerky/
 

Originally Posted by sosurreal09 

OK here it goes...

I thought I was doing really well but then I started tracking on fitday.com and realize I am eating too many carbs! Of course the stanking coffee is about half of them...

Also I think I have been a bit too carnivorous lately. I haven't been eating fruits hardly ever but I was skimping on the veggies too and only really eating meat and some nuts on occasion.

So my plan is to up the veggies and pretty much keep the meat the same and down the coffee.

Now I have a frugality question. Homemade jerky VS Store bought?

IDK which is cheaper, and since you don't use the fat of the meat at all IDK if store bought would be so bad. I can't *imagine* taking my good grass-fed beef and turning it into jerky. I feel like that would be a pretty penny, that well we just don't have.

So my options are to buy conventional turkey or beef and make it homemade or buy an "all natural" store bought jerky for about $6...It did not look like much for $6 but if I buy say 3 good sized turkey breasts it'd cost $6+ and IDK just how much it shrinks down to YK?

What do you think the better value is?

[remijo]

Hey! I LOVE this thread!

I just gone done reading Robb Wolf and doing extensive internet research and am going paleo for sure (starting immediately as a matter of fact). I have severe Hashimoto's thyroid disease and Celiac as well and I know I have inflammation problems because my joints hurt when I eat carbs. I also notice my workouts suck. I am 31 and still breastfeeding my 19 month old. We will be dairy free because I have issues with it along with the celiac's.

My challenges include severe budget limitations and carb addiction (which I hope will resolve itself as I get further along). My 19 month old has severe eczema that keeps her awake at night itching and scratching. She also has sleep problems (obviously), a constant runny nose and I am really hoping taking her paleo will help immensely. Daycare is a stumbling block but I am waiting to review a dairy free/wheat free menu plan that is being devised by the dietician at her school. Even though she might get oats and rice once in a while at school, I think that will be a huge improvement than the typical USDA mandated program they have her on now.  She loves fruit but has some texture issues - she's really picky about vegetables (loves cucumbers but hates broccoli and spinach).  But she does drink green smoothies so I am not worried she isn't getting her greens. She likes meat too as long as it is kind of soft (she only has about six teeth - late teether). 

Then I have an 8 year old as well - he helped me clean out my cupboards this morning - :). He will be going paleo at home as well but might eat school lunches for a month until I can figure out what to pack  and how to work the budget. My biggest issue is breakfast - I have PT every morning at 6am and need something my son can just grab and go with but not sure I can afford almond meal for muffins and stuff like that.  I think this will help his energy levels, crabbiness, etc. Also his school is nut free so that makes packing lunches a little more difficult.

(To the person that healed her thyroid - so sorry I can't remember the name offhand - do you limit all goitergens? (cruciferous veggies, almonds, sea veggies?) I really want to shrink my goiter before I go off for my physical examination (in training to be an army officer) The goiter could ruin my military career if I can't heal it. Also would love to get off my high dose of synthetic hormone. Thanks!!)

Thanks for all the info here, its great! 

[remijo]

By the way, here's my menu plan if anyone is interested. If you want recipes, just ask and I'll try to oblige!

Friday
Bf - egg/spinach "frittata" and sausage
Lunch - out with mom - Chipotle - meat,vegs, guac
dinner - Chicken soup (crockpot)
snack - raw vegs / apple

Saturday
Bf - eggs and sausage
lunch - leftover soup
dinner - leftover soup
snack - sardines, raw vegs

Sunday
bf - eggs and sausage
lunch - mackeral and vegs / salad greens
dinner - hamburger and vegs
snack - 2 oz nuts

Monday
Bf - Egg Fritatta (crustless, dairyless quiche with lots of veggies - grab and go morning)
lunch - zucchini pasta with lots of meat sauce
dinner - collard wrapped tilapia with vegs
snack - homemade jerky, raw vegs with spinach/avocado dip

Tuesday
Bf - sausage sauteed with spinach and sprinkled with walnuts
lunch - leftovers
dinner - curry veggies with salmon
snack - jerky, raw vegs, orange

Wed
bf - egg frittatta (grab and go day)
lunch - leftovers
dinner - sausage and cabbage
snack - same as other days

Thurs
bf - egg frittata (grab and go day)
lunch - leftovers
dinner - chicken legs, roasted root vegetables
snack - same

Friday
bf - chicken apple hash
lunch - leftovers
dinner - beef and acorn squash stew, vegs
snack - same

 

[sosurreal09]

WOW you are a planner huh? LOL Welcome!

I would definitely cut out dairy for the eczema!

[lovestolearn]

Remijo~

Have you had your Vitamin D level checked?  It's really essential to keep inflammation down in the body and my eczema completely disappeared when I finally got sufficient.  So many moms I work with are deficient.

Here's a link: http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/about-vitamin-d/vitamin-d-deficiency/

[remijo]

sosurreal - LOL - yeah I have to plan or I just end up reaching for the nearest candybar.

Lovestolearn - I am D deficient. My last test was 29 - I am on 3-4000 IU daily. The doc told me to only take 2000 but after reading the website you linked to, I upped it. In fact I should probably be taking more especially since I am still breastfeeding. My LO won't take the vitamin drops, I guess they taste nasty. So I have been trying to give her more fish like salmon and mackeral to help with D. Any other suggestions for her? She does get sun but not as much as she used to before starting daycare.

[lovestolearn]

Originally Posted by remijo 

Lovestolearn - I am D deficient. My last test was 29 - I am on 3-4000 IU daily. The doc told me to only take 2000 but after reading the website you linked to, I upped it. In fact I should probably be taking more especially since I am still breastfeeding. My LO won't take the vitamin drops, I guess they taste nasty. So I have been trying to give her more fish like salmon and mackeral to help with D. Any other suggestions for her? She does get sun but not as much as she used to before starting daycare.

I definitely suggest more for you!  The recommended maintenance dose by the Vitamin D Council is 1,000 IUs per 25 lbs of body weight.  I recommend 5,000- 6,000 IUs of oil-based D3 to all my pregnant clients while they are waiting to get tested. 

Studies show that until you get up to at least 40 ng/ml, that D3 doesn't even show up in breastmilk.  Recommended levels are 55-65 ng/ml.  Personally, I like mine to be around 80 (for now) because of all the inflammation my body has had to heal from.

You could put the drops for your LO in a smoothie once a week, making sure you dose correctly for her size.  Since D is fat-soluble, she doesn't need to take it daily.  There are some available that aren't as smelly, depending on the oil used.

The fish is great for Omega 3, but not so much for D3.   You need to make sure these are mercury-free sources!

A 3.5-ounce fillet of cooked salmon contains only 360 (IUs) of vitamin D

The same amount of mackerel has 345 IUs; and 1.75 ounces of sardines contain 250 IUs.

Edited by lovestolearn - 8/20/11 at 7:54am

[moss]

hi all, i'm joining this thread. i'm eating a really clean unprocessed primal/ lowcarb / grainfree/ dairy free diet. Just found out that i'm pregnant and plan to continue eating like this because i feel so great and dont want to end up with gestational diabetes/hypertension etc. And i have no morning sickness!

My husband and son mostly eat like i do (especially if i'm the one cooking!) but they do have some rice, rice cakes, rice pasta, starchy fruits and veg's as well.

Lovestolearn~i found your blogpost about primal pregnancy last night when i was researching ketosis in pregnancy. Thankyou!

[sosurreal09]

Welcome moss!

[sosurreal09]

Originally Posted by Primal Parent 

It's hard to say what parenting might have been like. I think we can look towards traditional cultures around the world, though, for a clue. Mothers carry their babies out of necessity. They couldn't get anything done otherwise (I wrote an article about this http://theprimalparent.com/2011/05/09/how-baby-slings-shaped-humanity/). We breast feed because we can and because babies are not capable of eating anything else. We co-sleep because where else are babies going to sleep - in their own huts where tigers might get them? All of these revival parenting techniques are just life for traditional cultures. Taking care of your baby is not about love (there is love and there is also care). It's about survival and making things as easy as possible. This aspect of parenting is just as important for us as it was for them because of evolution. We evolved to need it so now, need or or not, we still have to do it.

Parenting isn't really an emotional thing for me. I don't do all these things because I love my daughter, but because it is the only thing that makes sense. Of course I do love her and I do loving things for her because she's my friend. The things I do for love are play childish games when I'd rather be reading, or take her to the park even when I'm feeling too tired. But breastfeeding, cooking, co-sleeping, and all kids of nurturing are both necessity and instinctual. 

Somehow I totally missed this! TY for the response!

So your basically saying "AP" type of parenting is just instinctual and necessary (not emotionally derived)?
 

[lovestolearn]

Originally Posted by moss 

hi all, i'm joining this thread. i'm eating a really clean unprocessed primal/ lowcarb / grainfree/ dairy free diet. Just found out that i'm pregnant and plan to continue eating like this because i feel so great and dont want to end up with gestational diabetes/hypertension etc. And i have no morning sickness!

My husband and son mostly eat like i do (especially if i'm the one cooking!) but they do have some rice, rice cakes, rice pasta, starchy fruits and veg's as well.

Lovestolearn~i found your blogpost about primal pregnancy last night when i was researching ketosis in pregnancy. Thankyou!

Welcome!  It's great to see all the new mamas going Primal/Paleo.  So glad my article was helpful!

[mandomom]

I'm just getting started with this "primal" thing, and still learning about all it entails.  I am 30 weeks pregnant, so I don't want to loose weight, but I do want to avoid extra weight in the last trimester, while getting plenty of nutrients and calories.  So basically I'm trying to cut out all grains (still occasionally have corn tortillas, popcorn, or oats).  I've been gluten free for 7 or 8 months, and had been dairy free as well for about 3 months.  I started eating cheese again, but seem to have a very addictive reaction to it, so deciding to cut it out again.  (and milk definitely does not agree with me.)  I have about a cup of coffee every day with almond milk. I'm a sucker for dark chocolate, and usually have a spoonful of honey in my tea when it is in the house.  DH is coming around to the idea of a low carb diet (he is half Italian and grew up on massive plates of pasta, but also sees the damage it does). I'd like to wean DD (3yrs) off mac and cheese and PBJ sandwiches. We don't want her to have to deal with the weight issues that DH and I both have had.  I also don't want to become diabetic like my father, or be on tons of pills when I get older.