the BEST protein shake.

This is THUNDER. After doing TONS of research on protein and meal replacement shakes...this is the best one I have found. 

Thunder by ForeverGreen

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The following image is a picture of the old label, but the ingredients are the same. This shake tastes AMAZING and I mix it straight with water. It's also good with rice or almond milk, or with fruit as a smoothie! It contains 14.15 grams of protein, 4 carbs, and only 72 calories...as well as probiotics, vitamins, and digestive enzymes! Another plus about this shake is that it is completely ORGANIC. 

There is no artificial sweeteners that turn to formaldehyde in your body such as aspartame, sucralose, or acesulfame potassium, and it does not contain soy based protein or the emulisifier, soy lethicin. 

Because it only has 72 calories, it isn't quite as filling as some of the other shakes so sometimes I will use 1 1/2 scoops of powder. 

I decided to research protein shakes because if I was going to be healthy and pay for a meal replacement shake, I did not want it to include any unhealthy or toxic ingredients such as soy or artificial sweeteners. We sell this product at our vitamin shop at Seminole Medical Clinic, but it is also available online. The price is approximately $70 (includes 60 scoops/servings). 

For a information and a full list of ingredients click HERE.

Up to the Hype: Goat's Milk

When it was time to start Reid on another form of milk once I weaned him from breastfeeding, we chose goat's milk. I breastfed Reid for an entire year and he has never had a drop of formula. There were a few times, after he turned 6 months old, when I hadn't pumped enough or I wasn't home from work where he did have a few goat's milk bottles, but as far as milk and formula goes he had exclusively breast milk for one year and two weeks. Reid has always really liked goat's milk, but I have tried it myself and I don't think it's too tasty (warning: it smells awful), but that could be because I've always been used to cow's milk.

And you say... Why goat's milk?

Some of you may know that I'm a family nurse practitioner and the nurse practitioner that I work for is very knowledgeable about integrative and alternative healthcare (she's currently working on her doctorate and is doing a huge research project on Vitamin D- we check a ton of Vitamin D levels in my practice). We have a vitamin shop in our clinic and practice holistic, nutritional medicine integrated with conventional medicine. I'm just beginning my integrative/alternative journey and I have a LOT to learn (as I didn't learn much about any of this in school), but I can say that I'm fascinated by the differences that I see in people's health with nutritional change and supplements. Children with behavioral problems, irritability, and hyperactivity can make tremendous progress with nutritional intervention. This is the background I am coming from so back to the goat's milk question. My grandmother took my dad to a gastrointestinal specialist when he was a child (over 40 years ago) and he said to her, "Do you know what cow's milk is good for?" And she replied, "What?" and he said, "baby cows." Dairy products are some of the most allergenic "foods" and children can have reactions to cow's milk including skin rashes, respiratory allergies (sneezing, runny nose, watery eyes), abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea, reflux, fatigue, headaches, irritability (these are common symptoms of most food allergies). Now I know what you are thinking...millions of people drink cow's milk all the time. And yes, this is true. I'm not saying that cow's milk is terrible and that all people have reactions to it, but I chose goat's milk because it is more closely related to human's milk.

Facts about goat's milk:

-contains a little more fat than cow's milk (10 grams compared to 8 grams in whole cow's milk)

-does not contain agglutinin making it easier to digest

-contains more essential fatty acids

-forms a softer curd so more rapidly digested

-only trace amonts of alpha-S1, allergenic casein protein in cow's milk

-slightly lower levels of lactose (better for those who are lactose-intolerant)

-13% more calcium, 25% more vitamin B6, 47% more vitamin A, and three times more niacin

-more antioxidants, 27% more selenium

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Goat's milk has been used for years for children with digestive issues and sensitive stomachs, but it should not be used as a substitute for breastmilk or formula. Soy milks are not very nutritious and most soy now is genetically engineered. Rice milk is a great choice for adults, but does not contain the nutrients or fat that growing children need.

Important to know about goat's milk:

Goat's milk contains a lot LESS vitamin B12 and folic acid than does cow's milk so it must be supplemented with folic acid. Be sure is you're buying goat's milk that it is supplemented with these important nutrients, as most brands usually are. I read lots of articles and books by Dr. Sears, a well-known pediatrician that is really big on nutrition, and he recommends the brand Meyenberg. Meyenberg is natural and is free of bovine growth hormones. This is the brand that we use and is available at Wal-Mart. It comes in a purple carton and costs about $3.50 for a quart.

For more information see the following links:

Meyenberg

Dr. Sears: Goat's Milk

Information from http://askdrsears.com/html/3/t032400.asp

Up to the Hype: Snack Cup

Munchkin Snack Catcher Snack Cup

We LOVE the Munchkin snack cup! Reid has been using these since he was about 11 months old and now we don't leave home without one. I have one in my car, in the diaper bag, in my kitchen, and we usually end up leaving one everywhere we go. I really like all of the Munchkin products, especially the Mighty Grip Flip Straw sippy cup, and heir products are BPA free . This snack cup is very affordable, costing about $3.29 for a 2-pack, and comes in a few different color options. Most of the Munchkin feeding products come in clear, neon-type colors that are super cute! The easy grip handles, no-spill lid, and easy accessibility of the snacks make this the best snack cup in my opinion. Some other snack cups we have tried are much more difficut for the toddler to get the snacks out of the opening in the top, but Reid seems to have no trouble getting his snacks out of this cup. This snack cup is also great for the car because it's easy to hold on to and the snacks won't spill out all over your car!

Reid carries his Munchkin snack cup all over the place and I try to put healthy snacks in them, with a different type of snack in each one. Here are a few examples of the snacks I sometimes use: goldfish, organic Earth's Best cookies, organic cheese crackers, dried fruit, organic vegetable puffs, Gerber veggie dip puffs, Cheerios and raisins.

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Here are a few other Munchkin products I like:

-Mighty Grip 10 oz. flip straw sippy cup (one of the best sippy cups we've tried, better for
on-the-go)
-Mighty Grip 10 oz. straw sippy cup (better for at home)
-Fresh food feeding (good for about 7-9 months)
-Soft-tip Infant Spoons
-Stay-put Suction Bowels

To see more Munchkin products click HERE

Up to the Hype: Smart Water

ok so... I LOVE smartwater! And you say...so what's so cool about smartwater? Smartwater is a Glaceau product inspired by the hydrologic cycle - meaning precipitation, evaporation, and then vapor distilled. Two things make this product "up to the hype" for me... #1 - The Taste and #2 the electrolytes and nutrients. After Smartwater is distilled it is enhanced with a balance of calcium, magnesium, and potassium. Some people may disagree, but I think that all water tastes different and smartwater is by far the most pure and clean tasting water that I have ever drank. Another perk is the tall, slender bottle that it comes in which fits in all cup holders..unlike some other bottled waters. Some say that smartwater is like Gatorade, only without all the calories, sugar, and high fructose corn syrup. With smartwater you're getting more than just water...and in my opinion this is the best bottled water and definitely lives "up to the hype."

What's Hot: clean, fresh taste - electrolytes - slender bottle

What's Not: Nothing! well...maybe the price for some

Average Price: 20 oz. bottle - $1.29

Up to the Hype: Car Seat/Stroller System

Orbit Infant Travel System & Toddler Car SeatMy mom and dad surprised me with the Orbit Infant Travel System the day I brought Reid home from the hospital. I had never heard of the Orbit brand before but when I first saw it sitting in my living room it looked unlike any car seat and stroller I had ever seen. The Infant Travel System comes with the infant carseat, which fits babies up to 22 pounds, the stroller base, and the car seat base. We also got the infant bassinet and rocker. The reason this product lives "up to the hype" is because the car seat swivels 360 degrees! When you are putting the baby into the car you can swivel the car seat to face you, making it way easier to buckle in the infant. Also, the car seat fits easily onto the car seat base and stroller base by just squeezing up on both side handles then letting them go once the seat in on the base. The car seat also swivels on the stroller making it easy to turn in any direction (this is especially works great at dinner when pulling the stroller up to a table). Another bonus is that the bassinet also fits onto the stroller base allowing you to push the infant in the bassinet. I would push Reid all around the house in his bassinet and would push him into the bathroom while I was in the bath or shower. I love this system!!! We would place the bassinet on the rocker and put it by the couch, and a lot of nights Reid would sleep in the bassinet on the stroller and we would push it up by the bed. Also, this system is ideal for travel. When staying the night at my parents' house or at a hotel we would take the bassinet and stroller base (which by the way, is so easy to fold up) and that is what Reid would sleep in at night by the bed. The stroller has neat little cup holders, has great wheels and is super easy to push, and the handles easily slide up and down which enables the stroller to be the perfect height for you! Look! Nicole Richie even had the Orbit system for baby Harlow!

This is the Orbit toddler car seat made to use after the infant has outgrown the infant seat. This seat also fits on the same base and swivels as well. There is a catch to this one though...when facing backwards (recommendations are to keep the infant rear-facing until 1 year of age AND 20 pounds) the seat still uses the base, but when turning the seat to face forward the base is no longer used and braces must be attached to either side and the seat buckled in. This makes the seat a lot more of a hassle to remove to set on the stroller once the child is forward facing. Also, the child is heavier by now making it a little harder to lift the seat anyway. This is why Orbit makes a smaller, lightweight toddler stroller seat that attaches to the stroller seat once the child is forward facing in the toddler seat. However, this is an added expense.
I highly recommend the infant travel system and bassinet set, but when it comes to a toddler car seat, although this one is very good, I think others would work just as well along with a lightweight umbrella-type stroller (Maclaren?). Then you're not having to deal with either lifting a huge, heavy seat to put on the stroller or having to buy the extra toddler stroller seat.

This picture shows the toddler stroller seat (left) and the toddler car seat being lifted onto the stroller base (right)

What's Hot:

Infant Travel System2 super cute color options - Black/slate or Mocha/khaki

EPP foam-lined car seatexcellent safety features

swivel ability

easy base docking with SmartHub

bassinet component

ability to buy replacement parts and accessories easily

options for adding a color to the toddler stroller seat in sky, raspberry, or lime

What's Not:

keeping up with a toddler car seat, stroller base, and toddler stroller seat

the price (but infant system is well worth the price!)

Price:

Infant Travel System (includes car seat, car seat base, & stroller base) - $900

Bassinet (includes bassinet and rocker) - $280

Toddler car seat - $360

Toddler stroller seat - $220