GFCF Recipe: Strawberry Banana Smoothie

2 Ripe Bananas

1 1/2 Cups Original Almond Milk

4 Frozen Strawberries

3/4 Cup Fresh Strawberries

Dash of Salt

1/2 teaspoon Green Super Food - Amazing Grass Chocolate Drink Powder

(IF not avoiding casein add 3 Tablespoons Vanilla Yogurt)

Put all ingrediants in a bender and mix until a nice consistency. Serve in a glass with straw. Yum-O!! This is an easy breakfast or snack that the kids will love.

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Wi Active Day Challenge: Day 4

It is Day 4 of my Wi Active Challenge...

Today was easier than Day 2 and thankfully not as much running as the first two days. However, the first two and a half minutes were brutal. When I stated to run the front of my legs hurt... muscles I didn't know I had. And if I did, I didn't know that they could hurt from exercising.

I am enjoying the structure of the devise and find the virtual coach to be actually helpful. Although I do roll my eyes from time to time at her. Thankfully she cannot see me or I'd be running more :)

Dare I say that I actually enjoyed the tennis drill and dance routine. More surprisingly I find the side lunges fun too. But, the best satisfaction is that I am taking my own health seriously; and that feels good.

I burned 100 calories in 21 minutes today... this whole calorie thing is giving me a new perspective about how many calories I consume... I am amazed how much work it takes to burn the calories equivalent to a serving of my favorite salad dressing...

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Alterna Mom's Wi-Active Challenge: The Why and Day 1-3

BECOME MORE PROACTIVE IN YOUR PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL, SPIRITUAL, AND FINANCIAL HEALTH AND THAT OF YOUR CHILDREN!

That is my Alterna-Mom motto! I have to humbly say that if Alterna-Mom's Blog is about promoting health and well-being on all levels of our existence, then she needs to heed her own advise.

I have insisted that my habitual tiredness and dark circles are from sleepless nights of worry about my children and obsessing over the details I orchestrate in my mind's eye on how to move forward on helping my daughter diagnosed with autism to become more functional, safe and communicative while advocating for her rights, needs and education. (Not to mention the advocacy I do for my other child as well... raising kids mindfully takes time, energy and planning.) However, I recently took my own blood sugar levels and the results scared me. I swayed between a consistent 123 and 236 during a week of testing.

My Mom was diagnosed with diabetes at about the same age I am now, 40. She controlled it with diet at first, then the pill and finally insulin shots. This past Spring the diabetes finally claimed her leg after an intense year of surgeries, heart attacks and gangrene. I knew at this precise moment in time that I needed to become more proactive in my own health, but somehow we use life as a convenient excuse to resume our old habits.

I have understood that I was already predisposed to diabetes not only via paternal and maternal history, but through evidence of gestational diabetes with both of my pregnancies. However, I believe that the power of our minds, meditation and prayer can trump genetics. Maybe I am not so lucky or maybe I have caught it early enough... fate is always yet to be determined.

I am not one to run to the doctor, yet I know that there is a time and place like I explained HERE. I also am keenly aware that intention alone cannot alter reality. We must be proactive and make healthy decisions especially if we are going to stay around to see our children grow and spoil our grandchildren. I have always insisted that we must take care of ourselves before we take care of our children and loved ones. In order to be more present for them we must tend to our needs.

Perhaps the culmination of the sugar levels, my mom's fate and my recent kidney stone episode has pushed me just enough to heed my own advise. So, I bought primarily fresh fruits and vegetables at my bi-weekly shopping trip Friday night, then came home and pulled out the Wi-Active.

I decided to take the 30 day challenge... easy enough right? Somehow committing to a challenge seemed easier than randomly using this devise. So, I set parameters including my weight... ouch!! I weigh what I weighed when I was 9 months pregnant with my oldest child. That alone should have prompted me to do this a long time ago.

HOLY MOLY.... Can running in place for 90 seconds really make me that out of breath... I can't help but wonder if that is still evidence of my smoking days. So, I use this as a teachable moment, "Girls, see what happens when you smoke?"

My eldest replies, "You don't smoke Mom!"

"Well, thanks to you (I quit with my first pregnancy) I don't, but I am certain that that is why I am so winded."

She says, "Really !?!?," I am not sure if her response is from the disbelief that her anti-smoking mother actually smoked once upon a time or if she is amazed at the honesty that I unconditionally offer them.

I have decided to document here my progress. Although this is a public venue, I think that it 1) will keep me honest and encourage me to continue through the first 30 days and 2) maybe it will motivate someone else to become more proactive in their health...

Day 1 It would have been easy to quit; it kicked my butt!! I was panting and resting in between sets. But my daughters were watching and encouraging me to finish... Did I ever tell you that my kids rock!?!

My muscles hurt... I wanted to sit down and throw in the towel... but I pushed through the whole workout. I have to admit, I was proud of myself... it would have been easier to listen to the million reasons why I shouldn't do this... How can I find the time? How can I find the energy? How much will it cost? Who will watch the kids? I need to save my energy for the kids. I need to get this done or that finished...

I burned 121 calories! That made me walk away from the donut later that day... all of that work equated to 1/3 of the donut!! Wow, that really put things into perspective.

Day 2 It was a more intense workout (and longer), but I was amazed at how much easier the track was in just 24 hours... really!! I still huffed and puffed, but I had better focus and was better able to push through the pain. That in and of itself amazed me.

I burned 151 calories yesterday... again, I was reminded of how much effort it takes to burn off those in between empty-caloried snacks.

It is Day 3 and I am grateful it is the day to rest... my legs were wobbly coming downstairs this morning. However, does a mother really have any days to rest? It is interesting on the Wi-Active it asks you to log your other activities with time and intensity. That includes playing with the kids, yard work, house work, walking etc. I presume I am not doing too bad already because I really do do a lot... maybe it is the cardio I am missing though.

There is no challenge today, so we have planned to start prepping the yard-sale stuff.... that is a work out! But I think later we will do some yoga - my muscles feel like they could use some good stretching.

I think this is good for me... on many levels. Plus, Emily has decided to partake in the challenge... so we are doing this together. Sahara was annoyed the first day... she thought we were going to play golf or fishing (her favorite Wi games), but yesterday she did a couple of the exercises with us... too cute... this may be a fun summer activity for the 3 of us.

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The Coffee Klatch presents Temple Grandin

The Coffee Klatch (TCK) is a real time twitter chat room founded and moderated by Moms of special needs children. TCK brings knowledge and empowerment into front rooms across the globe. I have found other mothers (and fathers) to be my best resource in advocacy, education and support; and TCK ranks up there with the best! Visit their web site for more information and transcripts from former shows.

Last night TCK had TEMPLE GRANDIN as their guest! I have posted some of my favorite tweet-quotes from the interview below. I do not intend to take away from the whole interview process nor do I mean to take anything out of context, but wanted to pull out some of the concepts that seemed to me to be important to emphasize. Please note, I still encourage you to view the Full Transcript from the Temple Grandin Show here.

My Favorite Temple Grandin tweet-quotes from TCK interview:

ABOUT SPECIAL DIETS

"yes it cleared up my yeast infections - I hav ecut huge amounts of suger out of my diet - with success and I talk about it in "the way"

"Im doing wheat free myself"

ABOUT INCLUSION IN SCHOOL

"You have to look at your particular situatin in your school - you might want to look at "unwritten rules of social relationships"

"there are some aspergers kids that get tortured in high school and may need to be taken out but - I am much more of an advocate for inclusion for elementary school kids - I want to emphasis that decision about this depend upon many unique variables with particular"

ABOUT MEDICATIONS

"the big mistake with antidepressants in the autism spectrum is too high a dose. some need only 1/4 to 1/2 the starter does - they are microresponders and you need to read the book very very carefully"

ABOUT SIBLINGS

"Find shared interests that they can enjoy together like painting pictures playing games sports any activity they both enjoy"

ABOUT DSM IV & DIAGNOSIS

"Aspergers according to dms IV is minor autism with no speech delay - it is not a seperate disorder - autism is a continuum to veryfrom mild and a little nerdy to no language and severe problems - Einstein in todays school system would prob be labeled autistic"

"According to DSM IV guidlines I would be HFA because I had speech delay"

ABOUT SPEECH DELAY

"I recommend that they read the book "How can I talk if my lips dont move. It is written by a person that is non verbal with autism - written Tito anybody working with non verbals should read that book"

ABOUT THE DIFFERENT WAYS WE LEARN

"You need to build on the childs area of strength."

"photo realistic visual thinkers like me are very good at art design drawing and graphics but I am really bad at algebra -some visual"

"the second type is the pattern thinker - or music and math mind - it is a more abstract form of visual thinking - these children may. thinkers can do geometry and trig"

"the third is the word mind - these children know huge amounts of verbal facts about their favorite subject "

ABOUT TEACHING

"Never taught in the abstract it has to be taught with specific examples"

"Mother told me to take my turn - turn taking was taught using board games -to understand the concept of turn taking I had to learn it"

"He took my interests and channeled them into motivating me to study - good teachers build on a child interests if a child likes trainsteach reading with trains math with trains - you want to use the motiviation of the fixation to motivate academics and career work"

ABOUT SOUND SENSITIVITY

"sometimes the sound sensitivity can be reduced if the child can get used to the sound on recording and the child can turn it up gradual"

"sound sensitivity - ear plug or head phones can be worn but - they must be off for half of the day to prevent the ears fromgetting more sensitive"

ABOUT TACTILE SENSITIVITY

"tactile - soft clothes that are well washed several times will be less scratchy"

ABOUT VISUAL SENSITIVITY

"two other things that help is using a laptop computer which does not flicker and try printing reading materials on pastel color papers"

"interventions- if visual some ppl find colored lenses are helpful - pale pink blue ligt brown and purple sunglasses"

ABOUT AUDITORY PROCESSING

"sensory probs are very variable - some have aud processing probs where difficulty hearing hard consentant sounds like D AND G"

ABOUT EARLY INTERVENTION

"keep the mind engaged"

"most imp is 20 or more hours a week of 1 to to teaching with an effective teacher. this is for very young children from 2 to 5 yrs old - not to stop at 5."

Full Transcript from the 3/28/10 Temple Grandin Show here.

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Stoned and Unemployed

My husband was downsized in October. If you haven't heard, the employment front is not a positive outlook these days. Since there are hundreds (literally) applying for the same job, the employers have raised the bar on expectations and credentials. Being able to cherry pick every candidate that is chosen to actually come in through the door for an interview has left many frustrated and dependent on unemployment benefits.

Families, like ours, are struggling across America. Since I currently stay home with the children and head my daughter's treatment for a diagnosis of autism, we have been left without insurance. When Cobra was offered to us it seemed unreasonable, yet alone unattainable when we were going to be surviving on unemployment. Frankly, we hadn't used medical services for ourselves in the past 15 years, so we were not concerned much. We would continue taking care of ourselves as we have and hold out until he found another J-O-B that would offer benefits.... but of course Murphy's Law must rear its ugly head in desperate times...

Eleven days ago I was walking through the house when I suddenly had a sharp pain in my back. I initially thought that it must be a tight muscle from laying on the couch for the past two days with a head-cold.... until I ended up rolling on the bed with pain as intense as back labor pains!! When the words, "Call an ambulance!" flew from my mouth the instant expression on my husband's face said it all. Certainly, if I was asking for medical intervention it must be serious... then I saw the wheels turn and he started to pace, "We have no insurance.... F@#K!!"

...Yes, hundreds of thousands invested into the health care system and we were left facing a crisis with nothing!

As soon as the paramedic saw me, he uttered the dreaded words, "Kidney stones." Being the overachiever that I am, my body tried to rid 3 stones at once with a 6 millimeter one heading the way causing a blockage in my ureter. The CAT scan uncovered that I had another 5 stones in the kidney ranging from 2-8 millimeters.

Two days later I was in surgery, but not after we had to fork up a $5oo deposit to secure our slot on the schedule, "This is the generous self-pay option we offer." Generous for who? Certainly the Hippocratic Oath did not mean much in the private sector. (Did you know that most medical schools do not even require this oath?) Not seeing any other option we paid the money to have the urologist put in a stent to push the stone back into the kidney and to open the kidney and bladder to allow the urine to flow without obstruction.

Several days later the Kidney Stone Center called to pre-register me for Ultrasonic Lithotripsy; the use of high frequency sound waves to pulverize the stones. Of course we had to tell them we didn't have insurance. The pause on the phone followed by the statement, "Oh, you're a self pay... you need to talk with Verina," created a cringe in me. Why was I so embarrassed??? It wasn't like we eagerly volunteered to have my husband downsized in the middle of a suppression nor did we sign up for me to stay home because of the elephant in America's front room called Autism.

The financial advisor reassured me we didn't need the whole $7170 up front.... but, that isn't what was bothering me. It was the thought of accuring another debt and feeling responsible for this financial burden my family was facing. I felt so incredibly guilty... didn't I take care of myself good enough? I had this incredible sense of blame about these darn stones in my kidney...

I still have 2 days to go until the lithotripsy and will have to keep the stent in for an undetermined amount of time to prevent obstruction. Honestly, the various medications that I have been on frighten me more than any of the procedures. Having had a clean system for 15 years, I am sure my body is freaking out about the differing chemicals surging through me. So, I guess I will be doing that liver and/or body cleanse I have been putting off sooner than later.

Of course, I have researched kidney stones, natural cures and the like. The obvious finding is that I should be drinking, yet, even more water than I do. Mineralized water should be drank moderately as it contains calcium. Cranberry juice is another fluid that will help clean out the kidneys.

Some of the recommendations are steps we have already taken to improve our health; reduce sugar, soda, caffeine, alcohol, and refined foods. It is also recommended that you avoid animal byproducts, dairy, cheese and oxalate containing foods (beets, spinach, nuts, black tea, chocolate, beans, and strawberries). Oxlalate foods will be hard for me to eliminate as I love all of the items on the list!

Alternative health options always improve the function of the body, which might be why my body decided to attempt to excrete these stones in the first place. Accupuncture, chiropractic, reflexology, massage, reiki and meditation are all modalities that have reported beneficial health benefits.

For now, I have reduced the meds down to the smallest amount I can tolerate and still have the pain manageable, the children are pretty calm considering they are completely out of their routine and my husband is still holding strong even though I am sure he is on the brink of exhaustion. However, I presume this, too, will pass (no pun intended).

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GFCF Sugar Cookies

MERRY CHRISTMAS!! Here is a Sugar Cookie Recipe that has had much trial and error in the test kitchen... This is so yummy that NO ONE will know they contain no wheat or dairy!! Enjoy!!

1 Cup Earth Balance Spread

1 1/2 Cup Sugar

2 Eggs

3 Cups Brown Rice Flour

2 teaspoons Xanthan Gum

1 teaspoon Baking Soda

2 teaspoons Baking Powder

3 Tablespoons Almond Milk - Original Flavor

Cream Earth Balance and sugar. Add eggs and whip on high. Mix dry ingredients in a separate bowl and whisk. Rotate adding the dry mix and almond milk until all is incorporated. Knead dough, then refrigerate for an hour in three balls. Dust work area with rice flour, roll out one ball 1/4 - 1/2 inch, cut and bake 12 minutes on 375 degrees. Repeat with remaining balls.

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Grocery Voyeur Discovers Nutritional Yeast

Are you a grocery voyeur? You know nonchalantly looking to see what treasures are on the conveyer belt ahead of you. Then you hear the chatter in your mind, “Where in carnation did she find that gluten free pizza kit?” Or “Man, I gotta try that chocolate torte someday.”

Truth be known… your higher brain kicked into motion the moment you stepped into the store and you followed the same path that you have followed each and every time you shop; never veering off the familiar path and perfectly avoiding other shopping carts on auto-pilot. (Just like when drove your car to the store that day… It’s okay, we all do it.)

Well, last week I decided to abort routine and mindfully go shopping; the kids were in school, husband at work, and I was off to expand my horizons. I won’t bore you with all of the labels I read (and let me tell you there was many!!) or all the answers to the questions I asked the annoyed employee who couldn’t get away from me soon enough.

But, let me share with you the find of the day... nutritional yeast! Yep, you heard correctly… nutritional yeast.

The gluten free tag hanging on the side of the bulk bin caught my eye and drew me in. I started reading the label and discovered not only is this food packed with, well, nutrition, but it claimed to be a great substitute for butter and cheese as well. I couldn’t resist… I scooped a cup of it from the bulk container and added it to my other treasures.

According to Wikipedia nutritional yeast is deactivated yeast similar to brewer’s yeast and is “produced by culturing the yeast with sugarcane and beet molasses”.

Nutritional Yeast has sodium, potassium, carbohydrates, dietary fiber, protein, calcium, iron, thiamin (B1), Riboflavin (B2), Niacin, vitamin B6, folic acid, vitamin B12, biotin, pantothenic acid, phosphorus, phosphorus, magnesium, zinc, selenium, copper, manganese, chromium, and molybdenum.

I have incorporated it as a condiment this week without resistance from the pickiest of picky eaters. I have found that sprinkling it on popcorn or hiding it food is an easy way to get some great nutrition into your little (and big) ones. Stay tuned for future recipes containing this fabulous find.

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