Photo: chrisroll | FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Here comes summer. For some families, that means a big upswing in the amount of time and energy kids spend running around — as it should be!

We’re giving away a sample pack that will help you keep up with your children’s increased nutritional needs, plus a little extra. Here’s what you can receive:

• USANIMALS (www.usana.com): Supplements just for children. Supports healthy immune function and helps create strong, healthy bones. Easy-to-eat chewables stamped with fun animal shapes.

• HINT Water (www.drinkhint.com): A fruit-infused all-natural essence water that contains no calories, sugar, artificial sweeteners or preservatives. Kids need to stay hydrated — but what if they’re not water-drinkers? Forget the unhealthy soft drinks and pick up a bottle of HINT instead. It’s not flavored water, it IS water.

• Smart for Life Cookies (www.smartforlife.com): Healthy ingredients, all-natural, preservative-free and made from 60 percent organic ingredients. Not only are they tasty, but they increase bone health and improve intestinal health.

• Medical ID Marketplace (www.hopepaige.com): What if your child has a food allergy or diabetes? How do you make sure your child is safe when they are on a field trip or on a play date? Medical ID Marketplace is one solution to that problem. Fashionable, trendy and cute medical ID bracelet that blend in with everyday pieces and only stands out to first responders in case of an emergency. These accessories come with a customized engraving (emergency contact info, health condition, etc.) so health officials will know how to react in a worst case scenario. Also with hundreds to choose from, there is an option that fits for every child’s colorful personality.

Want a gift pack filled with samples of the above? Like PureNaturalMom on Facebook, and post a comment below with your ideas for a kid’s perfect summer. We’ll pick a winner next week, and their Healthy Summer Pack will be on its way.

About Tracy Morris

I wear a lot of hats while spinning plates and true stories. In between taking care of myself and my family, I write about fertility and other health care topics. Most of my online time lately is spent at two very different places: FertilityTies.com and TrailerParkKarma.com. Perspective is everything -- my pre-teen reminds me daily.

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Photo: Carolina Türck, Flickr

When an expecting mother is preparing herself for delivery day, using a birthing plan can ease nerves about delivery and facilitate a better birthing experience for mom and baby.

A birth plan typically include details regarding the type of birth desired, pain management and what comfort items to remember. However, many birthing plan
templates do not include important information about birthing positions, umbilical cords or what mom should expect when she sees her baby for the first time.

Labor and birthing positions

Mothers who choose to give birth naturally and without an epidural usually find that frequently changing position during labor helps them to relax and control pain. Standing, walking and swaying can also speed up labor. There’s no perfect position for labor, but frequent changes of position during labor can help women relax and stay in control of the pain. { read more }

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Photo: Dan Mogford

Detox diets don’t have to be an unhealthy fad. By eliminating overly processed food and embracing organic produce and grains, you can rid your body of toxins while still giving yourself much-needed energy and clarity.

This quinoa and chicken bowl recipe can be a great foundational meal for your detox diet. Think of this recipe as a guided suggestion. You can easily substitute different grains, proteins, vegetables, or healthy fats. But remember, always eat enough calories during your detox diet, especially if you are a new mother. Severe restriction will only slow down your metabolism, and prevent you from feeling healthy. { read more }

About Monet Moutrie

Monet Moutrie is a writer and baker, who lives in Austin, Texas with her three cats and husband. Between government work, graduate school and her own blog, Anecdotes and Apple Cores, nothing sounds better to Monet than an evening of yoga, a cup of Earl Grey tea and a novel. Knock on her front door and you'll find her pulling out a loaf of bread from the oven while brainstorming ideas for her own work of fiction.

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Photo: Tracy Morris

Nobody wants to be in a fertility patient’s shoes. But talk to enough women and men who’ve been through it and you’ll hear plenty of stories that sound like they actually benefited from going through infertility to wherever they are today. Is it just a matter of selective hindsight? Making the best lemonade from what life throws your way? Evidence of the tremendous relief they feel from not being in their own past shoes? Are they just crazy? { read more }

About Tracy Morris

I wear a lot of hats while spinning plates and true stories. In between taking care of myself and my family, I write about fertility and other health care topics. Most of my online time lately is spent at two very different places: FertilityTies.com and TrailerParkKarma.com. Perspective is everything -- my pre-teen reminds me daily.

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Photo: Nina Matthews Photography

As summer approaches and we rid our houses of unnecessary clutter, we should also consider cleansing our bodies. With long and warm days ahead, we should gear up our bodies for afternoon bike rides and mornings at the beach. Detoxing is a great way to cleanse your body of toxins and rejuvenate your spirit. Although many detox diets focus on what you can’t eat, these guidelines encourage you to embrace all the life-giving food you can eat.

Fresh produce, organic grains, and raw nuts make for a healthy and happy body. A detox diet doesn’t have to be about restriction. This is especially important if you’re a new mom. Because even though you want the benefits of a detox cleanse, you still need energy to take care of you and your family. Follow these guidelines to ensure you give your body an extra step forward as summer begins. { read more }

About Monet Moutrie

Monet Moutrie is a writer and baker, who lives in Austin, Texas with her three cats and husband. Between government work, graduate school and her own blog, Anecdotes and Apple Cores, nothing sounds better to Monet than an evening of yoga, a cup of Earl Grey tea and a novel. Knock on her front door and you'll find her pulling out a loaf of bread from the oven while brainstorming ideas for her own work of fiction.

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Photo Credit: Sean Dreillinger

For many pregnant couples, a sterile hospital environment is the last place you want to experience the miracle of childbirth. Coupled with horror stories about nurses and doctors that push unwanted medical intervention, it is no surprise that more and more couples are choosing birth centers over traditional hospitals for childbirth.

Birth centers offer a comfortable, low-tech environment for childbirth that is much safer than home deliveries. You won’t have to worry about your labor being induced or a forced c-section, and you’ll receive encouragement to have a drug-free birth. But you will also feel comfortable knowing that these centers are equipped with oxygen, medication, and infant resuscitation equipment if they become medically necessary. Many women choose birthing centers because they allow a sense of control and involvement that traditional hospitals don’t offer. But before selecting a birth center, there are several questions you and your partner should consider. { read more }

About Monet Moutrie

Monet Moutrie is a writer and baker, who lives in Austin, Texas with her three cats and husband. Between government work, graduate school and her own blog, Anecdotes and Apple Cores, nothing sounds better to Monet than an evening of yoga, a cup of Earl Grey tea and a novel. Knock on her front door and you'll find her pulling out a loaf of bread from the oven while brainstorming ideas for her own work of fiction.

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Photo: Flickr, threelayercake

It all started so well: after months of solid breastfeeding, our now 14-month-old took to solid foods like a duck to water, easily and greedily downing anything she could get her tiny fists on. Beets, carrots, hummus, beans, even the dreaded brussel sprouts, nothing was safe when she was hungry. And then tragedy struck. We introduced her to fruit. After that, it was all downhill. Bananas replaced beets, and then blueberries replaced bananas, until the only foods our now-picky eater would eat were those you could smash and pour into a box with a straw.

Something had to be done. My wife and I searched and plotted until we eventually came up with a few healthy reliable stand-bys. Now, when our fussy eater turns downright obstinate at lunch time, we know we can always turn to one of the following healthy meals for our toddler. The following is just a sampling of what works for us; you’ll probably have to make a few changes for your own toddler’s taste, but this is a good place to start. Godspeed to you, and your fussy eater. { read more }

About Jeff Jacobson

Socrates understood himself to be the smartest man in Athens because he knew at least enough to know he knew nothing. That's me. I'm an inconsistently successful father, stepfather, husband, and writer. But at least I know it.

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Photo: jimcrotty.com, flickr

A recent video of Alicia Silverstone and her son, Bear Blu, has been causing a stir on the web. In the 40 second clip, Silverstone is seen feeding her son by directly transferring pre-chewed food from her mouth to her baby’s mouth, such as how birds feed their young. The video, which was posted on her blog The Kind Life last week, has spread like wild fire, becoming a catalyst for debates among moms and medical experts worldwide.

[Watch the video below] { read more }

About Martine De Luna

I'm a freelance writer, editor, blogger and former preschool teacher. Married with one kid, I'm a work-at-home mom, but most of all, a mom-in-the-works. I'm a work in progress, and I believe that living intentionally day by day will help me become the best mom for my child.

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Photo: Anecdotes and Apple Cores

Easter is just around the corner, and grocery store shelves are swelling with packages of candy and plastic eggs. As fun as it can be to hunt in the backyard for candy and treats, all that refined sugar and preservatives aren’t good for your little one or you (f you happen to be one of those parents that eats the leftover candy). Easter brunch with those heavy potato casseroles and sugary hams is also not the most nutritional-friendly Easter event either. But there are ways to make your Easter healthier and happier this year. This naturally sweetened carrot cake is a wonderful alternative to the traditional variety that is loaded with granulated sugars, oil, and cream cheese.

Replace the usual 1-2 cups of sugar with mashed bananas, and you and your kids won’t notice the absence of the granulated sweetener. The  natural sweetness of bananas paired with a dash of maple syrup will not only make your carrot cake healthier, but moister too.

{ read more }

About Monet Moutrie

Monet Moutrie is a writer and baker, who lives in Austin, Texas with her three cats and husband. Between government work, graduate school and her own blog, Anecdotes and Apple Cores, nothing sounds better to Monet than an evening of yoga, a cup of Earl Grey tea and a novel. Knock on her front door and you'll find her pulling out a loaf of bread from the oven while brainstorming ideas for her own work of fiction.

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Photo: cdn.womensuniteonline.com

Welcoming a new baby into your life is one of the biggest transitions you will ever go through. Babies can bring hope, joy and a sense of fulfillment into our lives. The first couple of weeks of parenthood can be bliss. But within the first month, the honeymoon hormones begin to wear off. You’ll want to be prepared so you can continue to enjoy your new life and new lifestyle as much as possible. How can you prepare yourself so that your sanity remains intact during some of the difficult weeks of sleep deprivation and loss of balance? Here are five tips to help you keep your sanity.

1. Get organized

Even if you’re not the organized type, you will benefit from a little bit of structure in your environment. Because diaper changes are such an integral opportunity for connection with your newborn, I’m all about the changing station. It needs to be convenient!  And, if your house is big, you may need more than one. Keep everything you need at an arm’s length: diapers, bags for dirty diapers, wipes, clothes, ointments, etc. Looking into your baby’s eyes and making lasting connection and bonds will be the most important thing happening on that changing table, so keep the practical concerns simple and easy. { read more }

About Lisa Gale

"She was an artist and her life was her canvas." (Kobi Yamada) When I grow up, I want to be her! For now, it's fun to pretend.

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