Summer 2018
A health & family focused digital publication & community
Conscious Kitchen
Delicious Summer Recipes Air travel with
ESSENTIAL OILS AND HERBS
How to create a
WILDLIFE GARDEN MINDFUL DISCIPLINE How it can transform your family
Our 8th Annual
Eco Baby Gear Guide
annmariegianni.com If you’ve been looking for a natural skin care line made with organic, chemical-free ingredients that you can trust—and that actually works—you’ve found it.
G E T YO U R S A M P LE K I T N OW >
Publisher & Editor Amity Hook-Sopko Creative Director Amanda Hearn Issue Designer Kaitlyn Kirby Copy Editor Megan McCoy Dellecese Media and Other Inquiries media@greenchildmagazine.com Cover Photography Young Love Media www.younglovemedia.com Contributors David Mizejewski Lesa Overhoff Mabintu Mustapha Mellisa Dormoy Samantha Gutmanis Sandi Schwartz Susie Lyons Green Child is owned and published electronically by Fresh Green Media, LLC. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or distributed without written permission of the publisher.
6
ECO FAB
for summer
8
LOOK LISTEN READ
ing and download list
Our favorite sustainable picks
Add these to your summer read
10 GUIDED RELAXATION Read this script just before bed 14 HOW MINDFUL DISCIPLINE CAN TRANSFORM YOUR FAMILY 18 8TH ANNUAL ECO BABY GEAR GUIDE 30 BIG BOLD DREAMS Carolina King shares her ap
proach to natural parenting
34 AIR TRAVEL WITH HERBS AND ESSENTIAL OILS 36 HOW TO CREATE A WILDLIFE GARDEN National Wildlife Federation resi
dent naturalist David Mizejewski shares kid-friendly gardening tips
40 EMF SAFETY How to protect your family from
electromagnetic radiation
47 CONSCIOUS KITCHEN You’ll want to bookmark these
summer perfect recipes
PROBIOTIC SERUM WITH TREMELLA Most of us aren’t exposed to enough of the good bacteria found in nature— especially in dirt. Annmarie Skin Care is wildcrafted and all natural, and their new serum is formulated with a probiotic ferment intended to revive your skin’s biome after a lifetime of smog and sun exposure.
Eco Fab
Try out this selection of sustainable products we’re loving this season!
HATCH MAMA BELLY OIL Made from all natural plant extracts, Hatch Mama Belly Oil is rooted in a powerful blend of nutrient rich botanical oils that support skin as it expands. You can count on Hatch Mama Belly Oil for itch-relief and a reduction in the appearance of stretch marks.
HAND IN HAND CORAL SOAP Don’t judge us because we bought a 4-pack just to keep the Coral soap in its adorable package! These amazing-smelling soaps give back in meaningful ways by providing clean water and soap to children in need around the world. Now the Hand in Hand line includes more body products and gift sets.
JOOVV RED LIGHT THERAPY Everyone from professional athletes to arthritis sufferers to those chasing the fountain of youth are swearing by red light therapy. Red light wavelengths affect bodily cells on a biochemical level by increasing mitochondrial function – the ability to produce cellular energy. The more cellular energy production, the better the body functions as a whole. And we are totally on board with more energy and reduced stretch marks.
GALAXY JASPER CRYSTAL To say we’re obsessed might be understating our fascination with this stone. This mini galaxy is a wondrous reminder of how minor our problems are compared to the immense tapestry of space.
BRIGHT ENDEAVORS SOY CANDLE When you buy a beautiful, soy wax candle from Bright Endeavors, 100% of the proceeds support a Chicago mom in need who helped create the candles. The heavenly Water Lily candle is scented with bright, floral lotus topnotes layered on a springy, freshwater base.
Look Listen Read GREEN ENOUGH
by Leah Segedie Equal parts super informative, pull-no-punches green guide for anyone who’s felt the overwhelming need to be perfectly green. Leah keeps it real (and scientifically fact-based) about the truth behind the safest food, lifestyle, and home cleaning choices with a heaping helpful of f-bombs. It’s like your no-holds-barred BFF wrote a green living book— one that everyone loves.
100 DAYS OF REAL FOOD: FAST & FABULOUS: THE EASY AND DELICIOUS WAY TO CUT OUT PROCESSED FOOD
by Lisa Leake From the mastermind behind the hit blog (also the name of her first book), 100 Days of Real Food, Lisa is back with even more delicious, realistic, family-friendly recipes to help your family enjoy eating less processed foods without skipping straight to non-stop kale (not that we’re against that). For families looking for quick meals, desserts, and snacks that kids will WANT to eat without a trip through the drive-thru, look no further. And, honestly, aren’t we all looking for that?
TOUCH THE EARTH
by Julian Lennon with Bart Davis, Illustrated by Smiljana Coh This is the first in a trilogy designed to allow children an interactive adventure and the empowerment to feel like they can truly be the change in the world. By taking kids on a trip on the White Feather Flier, they will take clean water to the thirsty, pick up ocean pollution, and gain a broader world perspective. Empathy and scientific understanding all in one, with the poetic heart that only Julian Lennon could provide. SOME BUGS
by Angela DiTerlizzi and Brendan Wenzel Informative, descriptive, and exciting, this book provides both a great informational text about all sorts of bugs but also encouragement to get outside and explore the bug world firsthand. The bright pictures are whimsical and colorful, and the words are rhythmic and downright fun. Who knew a book about bugs could be so cool? MINIMALIST MOMS PODCAST
Real moms discussing real topics and issues that anyone with a family trying minimalism can relate to. Diane and Megan’s tagline is “for moms who want to be more minimal and more mindful, but don’t want to get rid of all their stuff.” If you’re hoping to find balance, look no further. OROECO APP
If you’d like an interactive way to follow your eco footprint (and even engage with other users on a similar quest), try this app. Track your lifestyle choices (like what you eat, how you live, and how you travel) and see how much climate impact you have. Then compete with others to lessen that impact (and even earn badges) to add an element of fun - not that we need another reason to strive for a greener life.
Guided Relaxation Script Thankful Heart on the Lazy River BY MELLISA DORMOY
This issue’s guided relaxation script focuses on simply being grateful for our daily lives. Read the relaxation in a calm, soothing voice right before bed. After the relaxation, talk to your child and ask how the relaxation felt and which aspects she enjoyed most. Allow this special time with your child to strengthen the bond you share and assure a relaxing bedtime.
and allow all your muscles to become very relaxed. Feel the tension melting away. It’s the end of the day and time for one last ride down the lazy river before you leave.
Lay your head down and close your eyes. Breathe in deeply and exhale slowly.
You dip a toe into the river and step down into it, feeling the cool water touch your warm skin. The sunshine makes you feel so good inside. You jump up on your water tube and begin your lovely, calming last ride of the day.
Exhale out any stress, tension or tightness you feel anywhere in your body. Focus your attention on your head, face, and neck and
As the tube takes you lazily down the river you decide to put your fingers into the water. You allow them to glide back and forth in the
the water to make circles and swirls around your fingers as you continue floating down this cool, calm river. You smile to yourself because you feel so good and so grateful for this wonderful day. You realize how fun and exciting life is. You are thankful for all the wonderful things you have and do. You might find yourself especially thankful for this day knowing that there will never be another day exactly like today. Each day is different and you feel happy inside because you know that life is an adventure. Sometimes we are busy and sometimes things go slowly, but you remind yourself that you are thankful for it all. You realize how unique and amazing life is. You know that each day is special and different and by being thankful and grateful for each day, life just keeps getting better and better. Gratitude is when our hearts feel thankful for experiences because we know that experiences help us grow. Gratitude fills up our hearts with happiness. You now notice that you’re coming to the end of the lazy river. You’ve been enjoying the ride so much it passed more quickly than you could ever imagine. Now it’s time to gather your thoughts and keep all your gratitude in your heart as you find yourself back in your room once again. Open your eyes when you’re ready and and give you wonderful body a big wonderful stretch!
HOW MINDFUL DISCIPLINE CAN TRANSFORM YOUR FAMILY It’s inevitable that there will be times when our children make us want to blow a fuse— maybe you are in the store and they are throwing a tantrum about a toy they must have or they are screaming in the backseat while you are trying to concentrate on traffic. As difficult as it may be, it is so important that we think seriously about how we handle our children’s behavior because our reaction can ultimately influence how they learn to regulate their own emotions and behavior throughout their lives. But figuring out the most effective way to discipline our children can be quite a challenge. If you are too loose and try to be their best
by Sandi Schwartz
friend, they will walk all over you. But if you are too hard on your kids, it can backfire and impact their education and future success. A 2017 study published in Child Development showed how overly aggressive harsh parenting like yelling, hitting, and threatening kids can make them more susceptible to peer pressure, and ultimately more likely to drop out of school. Another study published recently in Developmental Psychology found that when we discipline mindfully using more supportive behaviors, both parents and children end up being much happier. Supportive behaviors include distracting children, validating their
feelings, or providing reasons why they should or should not act in a certain way. Non-supportive behaviors include ignoring children, physically moving them, taking something away from them, or interrupting them instead of listening to them. When we ignore our children’s behavior, threaten or punish them, or tell them that they are overreacting, we may prevent them from being able to effectively manage their own emotions. Clearly, we need to avoid verbal and physical aggression towards our children since this type of parenting will only impede their success and happiness. It can be tricky to stay calm and choose more effective disciplinary approaches, but by taking a step back and being more mindful in our approach, we can hopefully have a more peaceful home and better relationships with our children.
HOW TO STAY MINDFUL WHILE DISCIPLINING YOUR KIDS We can try to be more mindful about our reactions and stress level when our children misbehave. Try some of these strategies to manage your own emotions in these moments to ensure that your children will develop strong emotional intelligence in the long run. Make being calm your priority. Tell yourself that no matter what happens today, you will remain calm and collected. Do whatever you need to do to stay in this serene place—say a mantra, listen to music, think about a lovely vacation.
Bring Learning Home
Thinking of making a change? Oak Meadow offers flexible, creative homeschooling curriculum for K-12, or enrollment in our fully accredited distance learning school. • K-4 is child-centered, experiential, playful, nature-based. • 5-8 encourages increased student independence, intellectual engagement. • High School offers challenging academic, college-prep courses. • Start anytime during the year!
Join us for
Virtual Open House Register on our website
Make being calm your priority. Tell yourself that no matter what happens today, you will remain calm and collected. Do whatever you need to do to stay in this serene place—say a mantra, listen to music, think about a lovely vacation. Focus on your own behavior. We will never be satisfied if we try to change other people’s behavior, including our own flesh and blood’s. This has to be about you changing how you react to your children. When you focus on your life and goals, you will have more connection and influence over your child. Try not to take it personally. You will never be able to relax if you make every misstep your children take all about you. Your children’s behavior is their choice, and how you react is your choice. Think before you react. Make decisions from your head instead of from your emotions to avoid getting too angry and frustrated with your kids. Take a pause during the craziness. As soon as you feel your blood pressure rising, take a five-breath-pause. Try this little trick—look down at your hand and take a slow, deep breath for each of your five fingers. This pause will help you to focus and regroup. Talk it out with your kids. Once the meltdown has passed, have a conversation with your child about how they were feeling and why they were acting that way. By calmly discussing the situation that occurred, you can help your child handle
their emotions better next time. Take time for yourself. All parents need a break at some point. Make sure to schedule in some ‘me time’ like a mani/ pedi, yoga class, or lunch with friends so you can get a break from mommy time stress.
MORE EFFECTIVE DISCIPLINE STRATEGIES If you are frustrated with your kids not listening to you, try some innovative disciplinary approaches like positive reinforcement, taking away privileges, and encouraging them to express their emotions through creativity like writing and art. Interestingly enough, besides being more mindful in our reactions, we can also tap into mindfulness as a discipline tool. Imagine this…instead of sending your children to their room kicking and screaming, taking away their iPad for a week, or giving them a time out in the corner, you ask them to spend a few minutes alone to meditate and work through the anger, frustration, stress, or other emotions causing them to act out. This new form of discipline, involving all types of meditation like breathing exercises and yoga, is now a huge success at several schools, and they are seeing some major changes in their student body. According to a recent article in Forbes, traditional punishment in schools, like detention and suspension, are ineffective ways to address bad behavior. This ap-
proach only creates resentment and damages the relationship between the student and teacher. We can take these lessons learned from schools and add them to our parenting toolbox to keep things under control at home as well. So, why is mindfulness so effective? As we practice mindfulness, we begin to understand our bodies and minds better and to not be so reactive to thoughts, emotions, and physical sensations. With mindfulness, we develop a quality of attention that can be present no matter what is happening around us. This helps us have more peace, ease, and balance in our lives and we develop more empathy, compassion, and love. In fact, scientists have witnessed individual’s brains thicken in areas in charge of decision making, emotional flexibility, and empathy during meditative practices.
Have fun together creating a calm corner in your home to send your children to when they are upset or not listening to you. It is certainly worth a try to start with a mindful moment to help your children cool down and get a hold of their emotions before we react by yelling and screaming at them and threatening to take away everything they love. And why they’re having a mindful moment, maybe we can do the same. Sandi Schwartz is a freelance writer/blogger and mother of two. She has written extensively about parenting, wellness, and environmental issues. You can find her at happysciencemom. com and sandischwartz.com.
Eighth Annual
Eco Baby Gear Guide
ECO PLAYTIME
FROM THE EDITOR After eight years you might have guessed, our babies aren’t so small anymore. So, this year we’re delighted to team up with these brilliant experts who are immersed in all things baby! Not only are they familiar with what makes baby products safe, useful, eco-friendly, and timesaving, they are 100% worthy of your trust. That’s why we’re so thrilled to share their picks in our guide with you.
“Not just super cute and soft, but ecofriendly too! This playmat is made of recycled water bottles— each one holds and saves 75 bottles!” Nook Lilypad Playmat, $120
MINIWARE
“I love these adorable suctionbottom baby plates and bowls, plus they’re made from 100% natural materials!” Bonnsu Miniware Set, $65
NATURAL PACI
“These all-natural rubber pacifiers are safest for baby and packaged in boxes made from recycled paper.” Natursutten Pacifier, $11.99
GLASS BOTTLES
“We’ve made a serious effort to ditch all of the plastic baby gear, including bottles! These baby bottles are made from both glass and all natural rubber, free of harmful chemicals!” Natursutten Glass Baby Bottles, $30
KAITLYN KIRBY Founder and Editor in Chief of Mini Magazine, a digital publication for the modern parent, and mom to 15-month-old Penelope.
Layette ECO FLEECE WOODEN TEETHER
“I’m hesitant to fill my house up with plastic toys, so these wooden teethers have been a must-have!”
“For mamas— I lived in this sweatshirt when I was pregnant. The fleece is made from recycled PET bottles.” Boob Design B.Warmer Sweatshirt, $89
Bannor Toys Hedgehog Teether, $14.99
SLEEPERS
“These organic cotton sleepers are just about all my little one wears. The fabric is SO SOFT!” Burts Bees Baby Footed Sleeper, $12.95
SOFT SWADDLES
“You can never have too many swaddles for baby and these are the softest, organic muslin.” Organic Muslin Swaddle Set, $44
BABY SPORK
“This organically grown bamboo spork will simplify meal times and provide your baby with one less projectile to hurl across the room.” Organic Bamboo Spork, $4.99
ON THE GO
“Clever, versatile, and highly practical, these leak-proof round containers are perfect for transporting otherwise messy or wet snacks. Toss them into your tote without the fear of leakage.” LunchBots Rounds Stainless Steel Food Container, $10.99
NEVE SPICER Founder and co-pilot (with husband Keane) of parenting blog WeTheParents, and mom to Dara and Leila.
BABY BOTTLE GREEN PLATE
“Made from high-grade silicone, these fun baby plates are toxinfree and easy to clean. Dishwasher, microwave, and freezer safe... heck, even oven safe!” Oogaa Green Divided Plate, $12
“Klean Kanteen’s stainless steel baby bottle is safe, toxin-free, and carefully crafted for tiny hands. It’s wide mouth makes it easy to clean and fill, and it’s soft, silicon nipple provides a natural paced flow.” Klean Kanteen Baby Bottle, $18.95
FOOD WRAP
“Do away with single-use, disposable plastic cling wrap. These natural food wraps are made from hemp, organic cotton, beeswax, tree resin, and jojoba oil. Practical and functional, they protect food from air and moisture while letting it breath naturally. Washable and should last up to a year.”
Feeding
Reusable Hemp and Beeswax Food Wrap, $17.83
BURP CLOTH
“A simple and practical burp cloth made from absorbent and fluffy organic towelling. Generously covers shoulders, chest, and back.” Organic Cotton Burp Cloth, $14.95
REUSABLE POUCHES
“These toxin-free reusable pouches are undeniably convenient for parents and popular with kids. Round edges prevent mold growth and the large zipper opening makes for easy cleaning. Dishwasher and freezer safe. Guaranteed for one year.” WeeSprout Double Zipper Reusable Food Pouch, $16.99
BUBBLE BATH
Care AFTER SUN BALM
“It’s hard to find a safe bubble bath, but this clean formula does the trick. Made with lavender and clary sage essential oils, certified organic aloe and calendula extract, it’s free of SLS, sulfates, parabens, synthetic fragrances and dyes.”
“Certified organic, non-GMO ingredients including essential oils, cocoa and shea butters to soothe, and relieve that dry, tight skin after too much pool time or sun exposure.” Badger After Sun Balm, $7.99
California Baby Bubble Bath and Body Wash, $17.49
LAURA SAVILLE Mom and one of four women (including her own mother and sisters) behind natural living website, The Soft Landing. BABY SAFE
“Made with only non-nano zinc, organic aloe and safe, plant-based ingredients, this sunscreen effectively protects our littles’ delicate skin in the sun. It’s also reef-safe and biodegradable.” Goddess Garden Baby Natural Suncreen, $12.99 GREEN SCREEN
“The organic herbal alternative to petroleum jelly made with certified organic calendula coconut balm treats baby’s drooly chin, chapped cheeks and sore nose. We love Earth Mama Organics Baby Face because it really works and has no petroleum, parabens, artificial fragrance or preservatives.” Earth Mama Baby Face Organic Nose & Cheek Balm, $9.99
ORGANIC WIPES
LAUNDRY POWDER
“Only five ingredients including sodium carbonate sourced from the Green River Basin in Wyoming, unrefined sea salt and organic peppermint oil make up Molly’s Suds Laundry Powder. No harsh chemicals, toxins, fillers, carcinogens, preservatives or GMO ingredients, and it actually works.” Molly’s Suds Laundry Powder, $13.99
INSECT REPELLENT
“Certified organic blend of natural botanical oils effectively repels insects, especially mosquitoes. Lafe’s Organic Baby Insect Repellent is DEET-free, certified estrogenic activity-free, and made without petroleum, phthalates or harmful chemicals.” Lafe’s Organic Baby Insect
“Made of rayon-free, organic and sustainable bamboo fabric infused with non-synthetic vitamin E, rosemary oil extract and aloe. Doctor Butler’s wipes are sturdy and have no petrochemicals, chlorine, alcohol, phthalates, parabens, SLS or lanolin.” Doctor Butler’s Bamboo Wipes, $8
BABY OIL
“With natural vitamin E and certified organic rosemary extract, almond and jojoba carrier oils, this sulfate and paraben-free baby oil is the ideal emollient moisturizer for baby’s delicate and sensitive skin. Perfect for a chubby baby massage.” Erbaviva Organic Baby Oil, $18
Repellant, $6
HEALING BALM NOSEFRIDA
“This simple and effective nasal aspirator can be thoroughly cleaned and reused. Made of safe plastic, the NoseFrida comes with replaceable filters, and is our go-to hygienic, medicine-free way to relieve snotty, stuffy baby noses.” NoseFrida, $15.99
“This certified organic skin treatment works for cradle cap, rashes, baby eczema and acne by soothing itchy, inflamed and irritated skin without harsh chemicals or medications. We also use it for bug bites and minor ouchies.” Era Organics Healing Balm, $19.87
CAR SEAT
“The Dutch baby gear brand NUNA is known for their commitment to safety and high-quality gear. Their NUNA Pipa is one of our favorite infant car seats! It’s easy to install, and it looks great. Plus all the fabrics are organic cotton and GOTS™ certified.” Nuna Pipa, $299.95 SOLLY BABY WRAP
“These infant wraps are so soft and snuggly. Ideal for the first six months when baby loves to be held close, they are also made in the USA from fabric from sustainable beechwood trees.” Solly Baby Wrap, $65
BABYLIST Babylist makes the journey to parenthood easier with helpful content, a curated store, and universal baby registry.
GREENTOM STROLLER
CLOTH DIAPER KIT
“Considering cloth diapers? This newborn kit will help parents from the earliest days learn the ropes and adapt to cloth diapering.” Econobum Newborn Kit, $49.99
“This new stroller is made from 99.5 percent recycled materials (everything except the ball bearings in the wheels). It’s also super customizable. You can get the basic model with a regular seat, upgrade for a reversible seat or add a bassinet. Win-win for the planet and your family.” Greentom Classic Stroller, $299
CHANGING PAD
“This four-sided changing pad has raised sides and a buckle to keep baby safely in place. Plus, it’s made with organic cotton and a food-grade waterproof coasting. Naturepedic is based in Ohio and also makes great organic mattresses for your crib.” Naturepedic Organic
Gear
Changing Table Pad, $99
ECO DIAPERS
RECYCLED DIAPER BAG
“You’d never know this chic diaper bag is made from recycled bottles. It includes stroller hooks for easy portability, and has all the diaper bag essentials like a changing mat and tons of pockets.” Lassig Neckline Diaper Bag, $169.95
“If cloth diapering is too expensive or time-consuming, consider Bambo Nature. These diapers are compostable, so you can rest assured that they aren’t hanging out in landfills for thousands of years. Plus they are super soft on baby’s bottom and certified by the Forest Stewardship Council for responsible use of paper.” Eco-friendly Diapers, $12
Play
ROLLING SORTER
“Wonderworld makes all of their toys from renewable rubber-wood and run a permanent tree-planting replacement project. Their rolling sorter is one of our favorites. It teaches coordination and matching, and it works as a good old-fashioned rattle, too. Because of the fun sorting blocks, this is recommended for tots over 18 months.”
NATURAL RATTLE
PLAY GYM
“Made in the USA, these rattles are made with organic wood, paint and finish, so you can trust that your baby is only putting the safest toys in their mouth. (Parents also love their state rattles, too).”
“This playmat brightens up any space. It includes an activity book with suggestions for different ages, and it’s even machine washable! The whole thing converts to a tent, so you can use it for longer than six months, like most play gyms.” Lovevery
Bannor Toys Classic Rattle, $13.99
Play Gym, $140
PLAY MAT
“This playmat has a non-toxic PETE air-spacer cushion topped with a 100-percent organic Pebble cover for a comfortable, healthy place for your little one to hang out. Plus, you can throw the whole thing in the wash.” Nook Lilypad Playmat, $120
WOOD BLOCKS
“These nostaligic blocks are a great addition to any nursery. They are made from untreated wood with inks that don’t contain any heavy metals. Keep in mind: these aren’t teething toys since water and untreated wood don’t mix, so they are great for babies who aren’t gumming everything in sight.” Uncle Goose Classic ABC Blocks, $32.95
STARTER TOYS
DRESS UP DOLL
“The Waldorf-inspired Sasha Doll is hand stuffed with organic Egyptian cotton. She comes with an extra change of clothes in her bag and teaches coordination skills through tying, changing and snapping. We Under the Nile has lots of other cute organic toys (they are fair trade to boot!). In addition to the Sasha Dress Up Doll, we love their Sleeping Lovey Doll and Scrappy Animal Collections.” Sasha Dress Up Doll, $59
“The perfect gift for baby! This set includes the Green Toys First Keys, Stacking Cups and Elephant-on-Wheels. The supersafe First Keys feature four colorful, uniquely shaped keys and charms. They are lightweight and easy for little hands to grasp. The Stacking Cups include six graduated, numbered cups for playtime or bathtime. They can be stacked in a tower or nested for easy storage. The Elephanton-Wheels is a perfect first push toy with an easy-to-grasp handle.” Baby Toy Starter Set, $29.99
BIG BOLD DREAMS Costa Rican-born mom of two and founder of Mama Instincts, Carolina King, shares her approach to natural parenting and her big, bold dreams. What inspired your path to healthier or more natural living? I was raised by parents that taught us the importance of eating healthy and doing exercise so I’ve always been inclined to living a healthy lifestyle. However, when I had my first child a whole world opened up for me and I learned about organic and toxic chemicals in everyday products. I wanted the best for my daughter, which prompted me to obsessively research everything we did and bought for her. I’m not going to lie, it was scary at first and I felt
overwhelmed because I realized I could not protect my daughter from all the dangers out there. I finally came to terms that I can control the environment in our home but not the environment outside our home. So we strive to leave a clean life, with as little chemicals as possible. We focus on minimizing exposure and making smart choices, but we also understand that we can’t live in a bubble and our kids will be exposed to foods and chemicals we don’t want them to. I also believe there is a fine line between teaching your kids what’s best and depriving them from experiences, so when we’re out, they’re allowed to explore and try different things. For example, we don’t forbid foods at birthday parties but we only keep organic chocolates at home.
My kids are still my inspiration for living a more natural life and I think they will always be. Growing up in Costa Rica, you were surrounded by gorgeous natural resources. Is that what inspired your love for nature? Yes, nature is just part of life in Costa Rica, in a different way than it is here in the US. We don’t have seasons in Costa Rica, just a rainy season and a dry season. I am from the capital, San Jose, where the temperatures stay around the same range, between 70’s-80’s. This means my childhood was spent outdoors most of my life. I honestly have very few memories playing indoors, everything we did was outside - in our yard, in a friend’s yard, a trip to the mountain, a trip to the beach, etc. I remember being a kid and grabbing a mango, or a guava, or a banana from our yard and just eating it. I also grew up buying fruits, vegetables, eggs and meat at the Farmer’s Market. I loved talked to the farmers and having so much variety. It is one of the things I miss the most now that I live in the US. In Costa Rica, nature is part of your everyday life and also where you go to decompress so growing up there definitively played a huge role in who I am and my love for being outdoors. You share a balance of sustainable and real world living on Mama Instincts. Are you where you’d like to be? Or does trying to be greener/healthier stress you out sometimes?
I am a perfectionist who is always thirsty for knowledge, so I will never be exactly where I want to be because I’m constantly learning new things and tweaking our life and habits around what I discover. That being said, I feel I’m a pretty good place where I have the right balance in my life. The way we live is that we try and keep our home as chemical free as possible and buy only organic foods but we don’t stress about it when we’re out. There was a time I stressed out about everything - I even carried homemade hand soap for my kids! I’ve also learned to let go of some things. For example, my kids as babies only had non-toxic toys that were NOT made out of plastic. However, now that they are older we do have plastic toys because we also encourage them to explore with things that catch their attention. I still get stressed out when I discover that products I like are not as safe as they claim to be. I also worry about endocrine disruptors, but I keep reminding myself that stressing is not helpful and that our bodies are smart. If we can minimize exposure, our kids will have a better start in life. I have also learned not to give myself a hard time for not being able to buy everything organic. We use conventional clothes in our home and while I do make sure we buy from brands that don’t use lots of chemicals, we simply cannot afford to switch our entire wardrobe to organic. So we focus on what we can do and hope that little by little companies will start switching to safer products.
Believing that you are worth it and can live the life of your dreams is the most important step anyone can take towards achieving their dreams. Once you believe, you just have to keep reminding yourself of it and follow the signs the universe sends you. I started my blog because my husband insisted I should share all my research with other moms. I never thought I would get many views nor that I could make money from it. It was born out of love and out of passion and that is still what fuels my blog. I feel I’m not where I want to be with my blog as I’d love to reach even more moms and empower them in their journey, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to give up.
We know you’re a passionate person. What advice do you have for someone looking to live her dream? This is a great question and part of me wants to say just live your dream but I am a mom now, bills have to get paid and if things are not okay financially my kids suffer. So while I still believe you should be living your passion, it doesn’t mean you have to be living your passion right now. You can start little by little living the life you want because little changes add up and eventually you’ll be exactly where you want to be if you’re working towards that goal. I believe in the law of attraction so I visualize daily what I want in my life and I also thank the universe for all the wonderful experiences and things we have in our lives.
Once I read the only difference between a loser and the winner is that the winner tried one more time. You will never know when your big break is going to come, so just keep on dreaming and stay open to different opportunities but also don’t obsess so much over it that you forget to enjoy your life. If you find that you are not living the life you want to live, that you are not living your passion, but you don’t know where to begin, then start just by being grateful with what you have. It will change your mood and your view of life and it will make it so much easier to figure out what’s the next step. And never forget that only you know what’s best for you so only take advice from those that have what you already want in life. What’s the biggest life lesson you’ve learned? The biggest lesson I have learned is to trust my instincts, which is probably
why my blog is called Mama Instincts. that doesn’t always align with mainstream When I had my baby and I realized I was thinking. We strive for healthier choices parenting so differently from everyone and to be more present in our kids lives. else around me, we breastfed on demand, Living this way comes with its challenges co-slept, we didn’t let our baby cry, we and sometimes we don’t have support only fed her organic, she had non-toxic from those around us. I want to build a toys and the list goes on and on…there community that will provide this support. were times when I felt The blog is a big part of it and cornered, not underI’ve also created a Facebook stood and judged. For a A B O U T M E group called “Natural Mamas while, I even kept a lot Community.” This group is my FAVORITE FOOD of these things to myself third baby because this is where Mexican and Greek because I didn’t want to I can talk to other moms in this be questioned but then I journey and provide them supVACATION SPOT realized I am this child’s port when I can. What I love Spain and Costa Rica mom for a reason and about building a community is SELF CARE PRACTICE it’s okay to be different. that I don’t have to have all the Sitting in my living I learned to stand up for answers. There will always be at room after everymy child, even though I someone that can give a helpone has gone to bed. don’t like confrontation. ing hand. I hope to make this WORDS TO LIVE BY I learned to stay true to community even bigger. Maybe Follow your mama inmyself and most imporone day we can even have our stincts, no one knows tantly, I learned to beown app to chat about experiwhat is best for your child lieve in myself. Research ences and support each other except you. Trust yourself and don’t be afraid to do is one of my best friends, privately. I also have a crazy things in a different way. and whenever doubts dream of having my own TV creeps up on me I will show for natural moms, where research the topic until I we can talk to moms, interview feel confident about my decision or until experts in green living, positive parentmy mind is changed. Parenting is about ing and other topics that interest moms. being open to who your child is and what I would love for natural parenting to your child needs and learning how to become the norm and for moms not to listen to what that inner voice says. ever feel lonely in their journey, like I did at the beginning of mine, so I’m doing all Do you have a crazy big dream you’d I can to make this a reality and provide like to share? We all have crazy big stuff support. I have no idea how things will we dream about. For me, it’s always been evolve but if I can help just one mom, that to create a strong and supportive comis all that matters. That one mom will help munity of natural moms. What makes a someone else, and so on. If we all focus mom a natural mom varies a lot but in on helping one person, this world would essence, we’re parenting in a different way be a better place for us and our children.
AIR TRAVEL WITH HERBS AND ESSENTIAL OILS
by Susie Lyons
There’s no need to leave your herbs or essential oils at home just because you’re traveling by airplane. Here are some tips for making sure your natural wellness routine stays in tact while traveling.
Measure Ahead Since they’re liquids, essential oils are subject to the Transportation Safety Administration regulations for liquids. They have to be placed in a 1 quart Ziploc plastic bag and they must be carried outside your carry-on luggage. You’re only allowed 3.4 ounces of liquid in your carry-on luggage. That’s about 100 ml. Most essential oils come in 5 or 15 ml bottles so take a look at the bottles of oils,
herbal preparations (if they’re liquids like tinctures or flower essences), and other liquids you want to take with you, and figure out how much of your oils and herbs you can take in your carry-on. You might need to pour some of your essential oils or herbal preparations into the smaller glass bottles (the 5/8 dram size) to take with you and leave the original container at home. Whatever you do, don’t think you can slip your oils or tinctures through in your purse or carry-on. It will show up on the x-ray and you’ll be subjected to search and there’s a chance they will be confiscated. If you are taking oils or herbal preparations with you, make sure they are clearly labeled.
Dont worry X-ray will lower the frequency of some oils but the frequency will return over time.
Seal Wisely If you pack your essential oils or herbal preparations in your checked luggage instead of your carry-on luggage, put the bottles in a securely closed plastic bag. The bottles can sometimes leak and, while your essential oils smell wonderful individually, you don’t want your clothes to smell like a concoction of all your oils and tinctures mixed together for the duration of your trip!
Feet First If you are going to use your essential oils before your flight, put them on your feet rather than over your heart, on your neck or your wrists. Your fellow passengers will be less likely to smell them and you won’t trigger any allergies in those around you.
Travel Musts Some of the best essential oils and herbal tinctures for travel are: - Rescue Remedy - PanAway blend to ease minor aches and pains
- Lemon oil to kill germs and make local water taste better - Purification blend as insect repellent and to clean the air in your hotel room and get rid of any musty smells - Peppermint for headaches or stomach upset - Lavender because it can be used for just about anything and it’s so soothing! - Echinacea tincture to give your immune system a boost if you start to feel a bug coming on Take these essential oils and herbal preparations or any others you use every day with you on your travels and you won’t disrupt your usual routine. Happy (and healthy) travels!
How to
Create a Wildlife Garden
National Wildlife Federation resident naturalist, David Mizejewski, and his pal, Ranger Rick raccoon, believe that one of the best things a parent can cultivate this summer is a new wildlife gardener. Today, they’re sharing their top kid-friendly tips for making your own wildlife garden. Research shows one of the most direct routes to caring for the environment as an adult is participating in wild nature activities before the age of 11. With spring right around the corner, toddlers through teens can help create a wildlife garden for birds and butterflies in their own backyard that not only helps backyard wildlife but offers hours of entertainment and activity for the entire family.
Plan Your Garden
Hold a kid-friendly planning session with your child to discuss what sort of wildlife they want to invite to their garden. Use visuals from websites such as Pinterest, magazines, NWF’s online Activity Finder and books for inspiration. Making a list will help them identify what plants to include and whether to locate the garden in sun or shade. Once your wildlife wish list is determined, spend some time with him or her researching the choices and what their garden will need to grow and thrive! From monarch butterflies, ladybugs and dragonflies to colorful birds, frogs and salamanders, you and your budding garden designer can create a space that welcomes an exciting group of amazing and beneficial wildlife.
Designate a Spot
Determine the best spot for your garden based on your selections and designate a small area to start planting. Make sure the space allows your children to dig, plant and explore. Include a little seat for observing wildlife (hint: tree stumps make a great seat). If space is an issue, think small! Container gardens are great for attracting butterflies, hummingbirds and other important pollinators. Have fun selecting pots or containers that fit and complement your space. Research native species of plants like milkweed, cone flower, and bee balm that can help attract monarch butterflies, humming birds and more to your window sill, balcony or terrace.
Customize It
Encourage kids to put their personal touch on their wildlife habitat garden with hand decorated bird houses, stepping stones or other critter-friendly artwork for the garden. Simple DIY projects like toad houses and bird feeders are great for encouraging creativity and learning about the needs of different backyard wildlife. Some kids even decorate their gardens for different holidays.
Birthday Garden
Help your little gardener plan a birthday garden and planting party for someone special. Plan ahead to select appropriate plants for the space; mix native plants with kid-friendly varieties like marigolds or zinnias for full sun, or impatiens for partial shade. Set up table with garden tools and materials to make signs and colorful plant markers. Plan different activities so some guests can dig, while others plant or decorate.
Jumpstart Your Garden Help your child pick a few budding or blooming native plants that already contain nectar to quickly attract butterflies, hummingbirds, and other pollinators. This can jump start the garden before seed plantings begin to sprout.
Engage the Senses Plant fragrant, colorful, textured native plants along with herbs. Add grasses for movement and a water feature for light and sound. Kids will love it and wildlife will too, as these elements provide animals with food, cover, and water. Examples include eye-catching sunflowers, fragrant herbs and textured grasses.
Observe, Reflect, Learn Provide your child with a magnifying glass and help them draft notes in journals, draw pictures, or take photos in the garden to reinforce what they have learned and enjoyed. Add more wildlife lures such as nest boxes, birdbaths, feeders or brush piles to complement the food and cover that plants provide.
Get Certified When your garden is ready, it is eligible to certify as a National Wildlife Federation Certified Wildlife HabitatŽ. When you’re officially certified, share it on social media with the hashtag #gardenforwildlife. For more information on this, visit NWF’s Garden For Wildlife page.
SUBSCRIBE FOR FREE
EMF Safety PROTECTING YOUR FAMILY FROM ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
by Lesa Overhoff
Electromagnetic Frequency (EMF) Radiation is a real, everyday problem caused by familiar devices we all use every day. Cell phones are a primary source of illness from EMFs. Unfortunately, we don’t hear much about the dangers of EMF (aka Radiofrequency Radiation, Microwaves, Electromagnetic Pollution, etc.) radiation except for the occasional skeptical snickers about people running around in tinfoil hats, fighting off a danger they can neither see, hear, nor touch. I recently spoke with Dr. Libby Darnell, Functional Medicine Practitioner, Doctor of Chiropractic, and founder of Revived Living, who told me about the many sources of EMF radiation and the dangers of electromagnetic radiation exposure we all face every day.
that I told my husband, “If I start hearing voices, I won’t be surprised.” My whole personality changed. I couldn’t even articulate. It was so bizarre. If I hadn’t worked in the health field, who knows… I probably would have been medicated and placed in outpatient therapy.
How did you get into this area of healtcare? I lost my own health, and it took me a while to figure out that my illness was from electromagnetic pollution. In my office I had begun using a biomeridian device, which is a non-invasive way of using acupressure points to test for chemical and food sensitivities. I was testing patients for 12 hours a day when I started having adverse effects. I became completely fatigued like I’d never experienced before. I’m a morning person, but I’d go home at night, fall into bed, and sleep as long as I could, and I’d barely be able to pull myself out of bed.
Fast forward a couple of years when my niece, who was seven at the time, was diagnosed with a glioblastoma, which for her was an inoperable, terminal brain tumor near the brain stem. We took her to Spain for live blood cell analysis. In a healthy blood sample, thick membranes surround disk-shaped cells that flow independently of one another. In an unhealthy person, these cells will be clumped up, like they are coagulated inside the body. Both of us had these clumps in our blood; the doctor said we were both extremely sensitive to EMF, but my niece’s levels were so much higher than mine. She passed two months later.
Next I started developing headaches on the left side of my head. Now I call my left temple my EMF detector because I can walk into an area of exposure, and it goes off. My symptoms escalated to the point
Once I figured out that I had EMF exposure both at home and at the office, I immediately eliminated all the exposure. That’s what actually got me interested in talking about EMFs and helping others who are going through the same things. I’m sure that people have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, and other forms of overall body pain that I believe are due to electromagnetic radiation pollution.
Through her journey, we tested our environments to see how high these exposures were. Healthy levels should be less than 2,000 units. In her bedroom the ex-
posure was 42,000 units— the only room in the home to measure this way. Her classroom measured 60,000 units. This child was exposed to levels off the charts, all day every day. Her father tests homes for a living now because he doesn’t want anyone else to go through this. And I talk to as many people as I can to help spread the word. How prevalent do you think EMF exposure/illness is? I It’s becoming so much worse because there are so many common sources: dirty electricity is in our environment due to our grid system and our faulty wiring here in the United States. It’s constant and it’s everywhere. You can remediate it with filters, which I recommend, but it’s one form of exposure that’s not going to change. Now we have cell phones with 5G technology, and the exposure associated with 5G is going to be so frequent and it’s going to be everywhere. I believe we’re in this social experiment with zero safety studies to support what we’re doing. Our technology is growing faster than our safety studies can prove whether or not it’s safe for humans. The World Health Organization considers cell phone radiation as a Class 2B carcinogen, meaning it may cause cancer, but they’re not 100% certain. Now 5G towers are going up all over the place, and I think the ramifications are going to be devastating. It’s a lot like our food supply system. Our food became so toxic and so bad. People finally started waking up as we learned more about the harmful in-
gredients being put in food. We became aware and started making healthier food choices. I hope and pray that when people see that they’re getting sick and having massive symptoms, they’ll start connecting the dots, and we’ll have the awakening we need to reduce these exposures. That’s my hope because at this point, we don’t know what the introduction of 5G exposure will do. We know that 5G radiation can affect you at a cellular level; it can affect every individual cell in your body. We know radiation penetrates your brain when you use your phone, which is why it’s important to use the speaker option and keep the phone away from your head to reduce your exposure. We know EMF radiation penetrates about 2″ into the adult brain, but it penetrates into about 80% of a child’s brain. That’s why I’m so concerned about our kids having cell phones at young ages. They use them all day or carry them in their pockets. It’s a constant source of exposure. Of course there are other variables that can affect the rate of exposure, including the quality of food we eat and the amount of medication we take. We’re seeing more ADHD, learning disabilities, anxiety, childhood obesity; so many complications are on the rise. My 2-year-old does not touch my phone, and I keep it on airplane mode as much as I possibly can. When he does get tablet time, I make sure my iPad is on airplane mode, and I’ve already downloaded games, so there’s no exposure.
We talk about kids playing on phones, but they’re also using tablets or computers or TVs all the time; these are some of the many sources of exposure. At the end of the day, parents have to be advocates for their children because doctors aren’t talking about or checking for EMFs. It’s not their fault; they aren’t trained to look for it. Why do you think people are so unaware of the problems regarding EMF radiation? Many people are skeptical about the reported problems with electromagnetic radiation, but there are lots of studies that support the dangers of EMFs. Unfortunately, the two biggest corporations in our country are the energy companies and the pharmaceutical companies, and they both have so much money backing them that it’s easy for them to keep
this kind of information under wraps. A lot of money is being spent to make sure that our message does not get out. Even though we have meters that can read the levels of electromagnetic frequency in our homes, schools, and businesses, our news outlets are not motivated to report that. If they did, they may lose corporate sponsors and advertisers. There are additional reasons we’re uninformed. Look at France, for example; they have eliminated wifi in schools and public places. Russia is leading the world in research. Many other parts of the world are ahead of the U.S. too. They’re actually using different grid systems. Americans aren’t aware of the dangers because our country is so far behind in technology, and I believe
it’s because there’s so much money to be made with everything just as it is. It’s so sad, but unfortunately that’s the society we live in. That’s why it’s so important for us to keep being our own advocates. Are the EMF shields effective in protecting us from electromagnetic radiation? There are so many shielding materials available, but I won’t back any of them until I’ve seen test results that prove they work or until I test them myself. I currently have posted on my website a new shielding material that’s meant for smart meters. I do stand behind this particular shield because I’ve tested it myself. Smart meters give a wireless signal transmission, with some of them sending a signal every 30 seconds, and that’s way too often. This shield will actually block the EMF radiation from coming into your home. I recently opted out of having smart meters installed at my home and my office, but my electric company came and installed one at my home even though I had signs posted denying the meters. My mom happened to be there that day, and she actually chased the installer off my lawn. An installer did put one in at my work, but I didn’t know because I had opted out, so why would I be concerned? I wasn’t expecting it. After it was installed I came into work, and I immediately developed that left temple headache. I called to ask if they had installed a smart meter, and the woman on the phone was so apologetic for the mistake, but it took a month before they came to remove it. In the meantime I had to find a shield for it. When I found the right shield, I was
back to myself within an hour! So yes, there are smart meter shields out there that are really good. I truly recommend the shields, especially if the smart meter is installed anywhere near a bedroom; that’s the last place you’d want a smart meter installed. At the end of the day, opting out is still your best option, if you are able to do so. As far as cell phones go, there is something called a high frequency analyzing meter, and there has been some research on these, but I have not found a cell phone shield I can justify using. I have worked with an electrical engineer on this topic; he’s a member of IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers), and he’s highly qualified. People send him items all the time, asking for his endorsement, so he has a box filled with all these cell phone shields. Every single one maxed out the cell phone meter! For that reason I don’t endorse the use of cell phone shields. I’m concerned that parents will put shields on their phones and then allow their children to play with the phone, assuming they have solved the problem. At the end of the day, if the phone is working and transmitting a signal, it’s producing EMFs. The only effective shielding I’ve ever found was when I wrapped my phone in a few layers of tin foil, and then it wouldn’t work at all… a totally safe phone! So I don’t want people wasting their money on something that gives them false hope and a false sense of security. What if we can’t leave our phones off or on airplane mode when we’re not actively
using them? Just keep the phone as far away from you as possible, as often as possible; a good distance is eight feet or more. This is especially important at night. I don’t want people sleeping while their cell phones are charging next to their heads. So many people do that, but it’s really the worst case scenario. If you need your cell phone on all the time, if you don’t have a landline, just make sure you keep a safe distance between yourself and the phone. Put it on a windowsill where it doesn’t have to search hard to find a cell tower and stay away from it until you need it. What about wireless headsets/bluetooth? Those are terrible! Bluetooth in general is bad. A bluetooth has a radiation force of a few feet, so what you’re doing when you’re
wearing the headset is bombarding your brain with the signal. I cringe every time I see someone using a bluetooth, and I know we’re going to see an increase in brain cancer, especially from the iPhone that only has the bluetooth earbud, so anyone who has that iPhone, get the adapter so you can use a regular headset. You have talked about using Epsom salt baths to discharge energy from your system. What other natural treatments could help with discharging EMFs? There are several treatments you can use. My favorite treatment–what I used when I had that recent exposure from the accidental smart meter installation at my office was to take an Epsom salt and baking soda bath, which I did right away. I also use Tapping or Emo-
tional Freedom Techniques. Essentially you are realigning the energy fields in your body. You can also find lots of instructions on YouTube. It’s a very helpful technique. Grounding is another treatment you can use. I go outside and get my bare feet in touch with the earth. When I was very sick, it was the dead of winter in Chicago, and I went outside and laid in the snow…that’s how badly I wanted to get better. Getting your body connected with soil is very important. And last but not least, and it might sound bizarre, but standing on tinfoil will “discharge” the excess energy that our bodies absorb. For example, say you’re sitting in an office under CFL light bulbs. I could actually measure the voltage running through your body from being exposed to those light bulbs. So, a great way to discharge is to stand barefoot on tinfoil for a minute or so; the tinfoil gives the energy a place to go. Most people are skeptical when I say this because it sounds crazy. But they tell me they can feel a sense of relaxation coming over them when they stand on the foil. I recommend that people use this technique when they’re brushing their teeth so that it becomes part of their routine.
To Do List READ THIS
Dr. Libby Darnell’s Top 10 EMF Action Tips (free guide) INSTALL THIS
Programmable outlet timer for turning your wireless router off at night REPLACE THIS
Replace fluorescent / CFL bulbs with incandescent or halogen light bulbs BUY THIS
Stetzerizer meter to measure the level of harmful electromagnetic energy present and Stetzerizer filter to reduce dirty electricity in your home DO THIS
Take Epsom salt baths regularly to detox your body
Conscious Kitchen JUST AHEAD— OUR FAVORITE RECIPES FOR SUMMER
Recipe by Mabintu Mustapha Recipes from a Pantry
Veggie Egg Cups INGREDIENTS 100 ml (0.4 cups) milk 6 large eggs 1 red bell pepper deseeded and chopped 90 g (1.5 cups) spinach sliced 75 g (2.7 oz) brie cheese chopped (or goat cheese) Salt to taste
INSTRUCTIONS Preheat oven to fan assisted 160C / 180C / 350F /gas 4. And oil a 12-hole muffin tray. Beat together the milk and eggs. Then mix in the rest of the ingredients. Divide the egg mix equally in the muffin cups and bake for 18-20 mins or until set. Let egg cups cool for 5 mins then remove from tray and eat warm or allow to cool completely and eat cold.
Recipe by Samantha Dawn Gutmanis My Kitchen Love
Summer Tomato Pasta INGREDIENTS 454 gr. / 1 lbs / 16 oz dried spaghetti 2 tbsp olive oil 454 gr. / approx. 3 cups small sweet tomatoes, such as cherry 2 garlic cloves, minced 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice Salt and pepper
Whipped Ricotta: 250 gr. / 1 cup ricotta 3 tbsp / 45 ml milk 1/2 garlic clove, minced Garnish: 1/4 cup sliced fresh basil leaves
INSTRUCTIONS Cook spaghetti as per package instructions, saving 1/2 cup of pasta water before draining. Meanwhile, whisk together ricotta, milk and garlic until smooth (easiest method for this is to mix in a blender). Set aside. In a large skillet heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add garlic and cook, stirring until fragrant and starting to soften, about 1-2 minutes. Add tomatoes and allow to cook for 4-5 minutes until starting to burst. Add lemon juice and allow to reduce for a minute or two. Add pasta water to tomatoes and cook until liquid has reduced by more than half. Toss pasta with tomatoes. Top pasta with whipped ricotta and sliced basil leaves.
Recipe by Jovial Foods
Whole Grain Einkorn Focaccia INGREDIENTS Dough: ¼ cup plus 2 tablespoons (90 g) refreshed Einkorn Sourdough Starter or 1½ teaspoons active dry yeast 1¾ cups (413 g) warm water at 100°F 3 tablespoons (38 g) jovial Reserve Blend Extra Virgin Olive Oil, plus more for greasing the baking sheet 6½ cups (624 g) jovial Whole Grain Einkorn Flour or 7½ cups (630 g) jo-
vial Sprouted Einkorn Flour or 3¼ cups (624 g) jovial Einkorn Wheat berries, ground to flour 2 teaspoons fine sea salt Toppings: 3 tablespoons (38 g) Extra Virgin Olive Oil ¾ pound fresh cherry tomatoes, halved 18 thin slices of dry Italian salami
Toppings, cont’d: 4 ounces fontina cheese, shredded 4 ounces fresh mozzarella, sliced Fresh arugula
INSTRUCTIONS In a large bowl, dissolve the starter or yeast in the water. Whisk in the oil and then add the flour and sprinkle the salt on top. Mix the dough with a stiff spatula or an Einkorn Kneading Tool until all the flour is absorbed. Cover the bowl with a plate and let rest for 15 minutes. Dust a work surface with flour and transfer the dough to it. Knead the dough for 1 minute until it becomes smooth. Return the dough to the bowl and cover tightly with plastic wrap. Let rise for 1 hour if you are using yeast, 4 to 6 hours if you are using sourdough. In a medium skillet, sauté 1 tablespoon of oil and the tomatoes until they begin to soften. Set aside to cool. In a small bowl, mix together 2 tablespoons of oil and 1 tablespoon of water. Grease a 13 x 18-inch rimmed baking pan. Lift the dough from the bowl and place in the center of the prepared pan. Dip your hands into the oil and water mixture and stretch and press the dough into an 11 x 16-inch rectangle. Line up your hands next to each other and use your fingers to make even rows of deep indentations (but not holes) in the dough. Pour the remaining oil and water mixture evenly over the focaccia, tilting the pan to fill most of the indentations. Evenly spoon the sautéed tomatoes over the surface of the dough and top with the salami. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise for 40 minutes if using yeast, 70 minutes if using sourdough. Preheat the oven to 400°F. Bake the focaccia for 20 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven and add the fontina and mozzarella cheese. Return the pan to the oven and bake an additional 10 minutes until the cheese is melted and edges of the focaccia are lightly browned. Let cool in the pan for 20 minutes before slicing. Top with fresh arugula and serve.
Strawberry Shortcakes with Einkorn Flour
Recipe by Jovial Foods
INGREDIENTS Strawberries: 6 cups (2 pounds) fresh strawberries, cut into ¼-inch slices ¼ cup (50 g) granulated sugar 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice Shortcakes: 3 cups (360 g) jovial All-Purpose Einkorn Flour or 3¾ cups (360 g) jovial Whole Grain Einkorn Flour or 4¼ cups (357 g) jovial Sprouted Einkorn Flour ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar, plus 1 tablespoon for dusting
1 tablespoon baking powder ¾ teaspoon fine sea salt 8 tablespoons (113 g) unsalted butter, cold and cut into ¼ -inch cubes 1 large egg 1 cup (240 g) whole milk, kefir, or buttermilk 1½ cups fresh whipped cream, for topping
INSTRUCTIONS In a large bowl, mix together the strawberries, sugar, and lemon juice. Place in the refrigerator and let the strawberries macerate for 30 to 45 minutes. Preheat the oven to 425°F. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper Place the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt into the bowl of a food processor and pulse to combine. Drop in the butter and pulse for 30 seconds to a sandy consistency. In a medium bowl, mix the egg and milk together with a fork. Turn the food processor on and pour in the milk mixture, letting it blend for 30 seconds, stopping to scrape the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula, as needed, until all the flour is incorporated. Remove the blade and scrape the dough from the blade back into the bowl. Drop twelve ¼-cup mounds of batter onto the parchment lined cookie sheet, spacing them 2 inches apart. Dust the tops with the remaining tablespoon of sugar. Bake the shortcakes for 20 minutes until golden brown. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool. Slice the shortcake in half horizontally with a serrated knife and layer with a ½ cup of strawberries and 2 tablespoons of fresh whipped cream.
2