I'm sure you've had a pumpkin spice latte before if you love pumpkin, but I can promise you haven't had one like this! Rather than being full of sugar, this one is delicious, flavorful and actually has health benefits!! I promise you won't be disappointed.
Ingredients:
- 2 teaspoons of pumpkin puree
- 1 drop Cinnamon Bark essential oil
- 1 drop Ginger essential oil
- 1 drop Nutmeg essential oil
- 30 ml espresso or any strong coffee ( I use this one because caffeine and breastmilk don't exactly mix!)
- 250 ml milk of your choice (I use my awesome little milk maker and make coconut milk!)
Directions:
- Put the pumpkin purée in a large heatproof glass or mug.
- Stir in the essential oils and coffee until combined.
- Put the milk in a saucepan over a low heat until it’s steaming and frothy.
- Pour into the coffee mixture, and spoon over any froth.
- Stir to combine, and dust with cinnamon or pumpkin spice flavouring before serving.
Before we found out we were expecting, I knew there were certain products I didn't want to use because I had learned so much about them and what was in them. Being someone who has an autoimmune, it's so important to me to put good products in my body and I wanted the same for my baby!
I choose to use Young Living products for our family because I've done a lot research and I trust this company and what they create (I have even been to a few of their farms). Their products are free of fragrances and other harmful chemicals that can cause more irritation and issues with baby.
Here are a just a few products I don’t use and why!
✨Water Wipes
You’d think they'd just have water in them right, nope they have several ingredients including, FRAGRANCE! We avoid "fragrance" because it's how companies can put harmful ingredients in their product and not have to disclose what it actually is.
✨Desitin
This is definitely something we didn't know wasn't so hot to use when we were growing up, but in fact, it's not really the best at all! It has petrolatum (petroleum, which studies suggest that exposure to PAHs are associated with cancer), dimethicone (dries out skin and it's the main ingredient in the endocrine disruptor known as siloxane, a synthetic silicone-oxygen hybrid), and PEG-30 dipolyhydroxystearate (its starting materials are highly toxic to humans and are known to have carcinogenic properties). So no thanks.
✨Johnson and Johnson Baby Shampoo
The amount of things I could say about J&Js 'baby' products and just how toxic they are, without even going into the cancer lawsuits they have going for their baby powder, but I won't or we'd be here all day. Just know that it's full of harmful ingredients and we refuse to use all of the products created by them.
The #1 recommendation I can make is to just be mindful of what's in the products you use! The #1 thing I look at is the ingredients list and if I see the word fragrance, it’s a no.
When it comes to breastfeeding, it’s definitely helpful to be knowledgeable at what it encompasses. If you’re completely new to breastfeeding, no worries! That doesn’t mean you won’t have a successful breastfeeding journey; you and your baby will learn along the way.
If you had to guess the spot where breast milk comes out, you might guess that it’s right in the center of the nipple. In reality, milk comes from many openings in the nipple called milk duct orifices! Each nipple has about 15-20 different openings that letdown milk while baby is nursing.
When a baby is latched properly, their mouth is covering the whole areola so they're able to drink milk effectively and without too much of a mess. When you’re beginning to learn how to nurse, baby or whoever is nearby, might get sprayed! It happens! Your nipple isn't like a faucet on a sink, but rather a shower head!
It’s so important when you’re nursing that baby is latched properly around your nipple to maximize milk and avoid any messes! If you are experiencing pain or discomfort with breastfeeding, most times it is due to baby’s latch. Don’t forget though that you are likely going to experience some nipple discomfort at first; that’s normal. This is from the constant demand of feeding from your new baby. However, the pain shouldn’t be while baby is nursing. Lactation consultants can be a great resource to help with achieving a proper latch.
Breastfeeding is a beautiful experience between mom and baby! The more you know can surely help you along your breastfeeding journey, but remember that your body was made to do this. I know it can be overwhelming, but you’ve got this! As always, reach out to other breastfeeding moms for moral support; I’m always happy to chat!
I created a guide for Breastfeeding moms to support you along your journey to educate you and remove the overwhelm and the 2am google search! It's packed with recipes, resources and more to encourage you! Grab it here and start learning today!
There's something about pumpkin that just gives me all cozy and warm vibes and why I want to eat it as much as I can haha. While pumpkin pie is delicious, these bars are a perfect rendition to have a little treat! If pumpkin is your thing, you won't be disappointed.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup gluten free oats
- 1 1/2 cup of almond flour
- 1/4 tsp sea salt
- 2 tbsp + 1/4 cup coconut sugar
- 1 tbsp maple syrup
- 4-5 tbsp melted coconut oil
- 2 3/4 cups pumpkin puree
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 1/4 cup unsweetened plain almond milk
- 2 1/2 tbsp cornstarch
- 1/4 tsp sea salt
- 2 drops cinnamon bark vitality
- 1-2 drops ginger vitality
- 1 drop clove vitality
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line a 8x8 inch baking dish with parchment paper.
- Make crust by adding oats to a blender (or food processor) and blend/mix until you reach the consistency of oat flour. If using raw almonds, mix them with the oats at this time.
- Add almond flour, sea salt, coconut sugar, and mix once more. Then add maple syrup and melted coconut oil and mix/pulse to combine. Depending on device, you may need to use a spoon to scrape around the edges to ensure the crust is completely mixed. If it feels or appears too dry, add more coconut oil.
- Add crust to the parchment lined baking dish and shake to evenly disperse, then lay down parchment paper on top and use a flat-bottomed object (such as a liquid measuring cup or drinking glass) and pressing down to pack the crust into place, making an even firmly packed layer
- Bake for 20 minutes then set aside to cool.
- In the meantime, add all filling ingredients to the blender (or food processor) and blend until smooth, scraping down sides as needed. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed, adding more maple syrup or coconut sugar for sweetness, or pumpkin pie spice for flavor. I also added a pinch of ground cinnamon. Set aside.
- Once the crust is baked, pour the filling into the crust and tap on counter to remove air bubbles. Bake for 50 minutes - 1 hour. The filling will still be just a big jiggly, dark orange in color and have some cracks on the top, this is normal.
- Remove from oven and let it cool completely before loosely covering with plastic wrap or foil and transferring to the fridge to fully set for 4-6 hours, preferably overnight.
- Once cooled, gently lift bars out of dish and slice into 9 bars.
- Serve with coconut whipped cream and an additional sprinkle of cinnamon, nutmeg and/or pumpkin pie spice (optional). Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 3 days, though best when fresh.
Proper nutrition for every human is important, but especially for those with an autoimmune and definitely for breastfeeding mamas! When you are breastfeeding, your body is working overtime to nourish you AND your baby. That means it’s totally normal for you to be hungrier than normal!
Eating nutrient dense foods while breastfeeding helps maintain an adequate milk supply, provides essential nutrients for the baby's growth, and supports your overall well-being. When you're breastfeeding, there is an increased need for calories, so it's important to listen to your hunger cues and stay hydrated. I make sure to keep water close by at all times. This makes it easy to drink and keeping things easy is key as a busy mom! It’s also great to keep simple snacks and things around the house as well incase you find yourself under a nursing or sleeping baby and need food.
Having an autoimmune just adds another layer because we need to stay healthy to avoid any issues. Focusing on foods no matter what autoimmune you might have is hugely important as these nutrients help with energy and brain fog (to name a few things). Focus on eating what feels good to you and serves your body well; this is different for everyone!
There are some main nutrients that are important to focus on when it comes to food choices while breastfeeding: (spoiler these are similar to the important ones while pregnant and growing that baby too!)
- Omega-3s
- Iodine
- Choline
- Vitamin D
- BVitamins
If you’re struggling with ideas, here are a few to help; nuts and seeds, organ meats, eggs, beans, whole grains, avocados, berries, yogurt, leafy greens. Don’t forget though to focus on what fuels your body and doesn’t cause any flare ups! It’s so important to fuel your body with good foods and this is dependent upon each mama.
I created a guide for Breastfeeding moms to support you along your journey to educate you and remove the overwhelm and the 2am google search! It's packed with recipes, resources and more to encourage you! Grab it here and start learning today!
