Clean Clever Mama

In my intro post I mentioned my husband Frank’s sky high cholesterol as one motivator for even cleaner living. Well it’s about 3 months later and he had his bloodwork rechecked. We both expected minimal change and maybe hoped at best for a slight improvement since we were trying to do it without prescription statins and were told by his doctor when it’s that high and it’s “genetic” that it rarely moves much without medicine.   When the nurse called saying the results showed “excellent improvement” and that the doctor said to “keep taking Crestor” my husband had to correct her and clarify that he never got the prescription filled and he’s only been adjusting diet, exercise, and lifestyle.  Despite his doctor’s doubts we opted to give natural ways of treatment a try for a few months and also added Nature’s Made plant based statin that was recommended in a healthy minded group I’m in (pic below.)     Well....I am literately blown away that in just 3 months he could...

I love to share about things I find and love - especially within the community of healthy minded moms.  So with great fanfare, I want to share a bit about what I think is my absolute favorite purchase of the last year.... my Peloton bike.  The Peloton name has been in the headlines a lot lately - from the marketing scandal to the volumes of people flocking to their bikes and treadmills with gyms out of commission.  Well I’m here to give you my take on the Peloton experience and if it's all it’s cracked up to be. I’m only six-ish months in as a bike owner but O.M.G. I’m going to pause... and say it again... OMG. I love my bike. I’ve never been shy to shell out some bucks for workouts or anything fitness-y but even I balked at spending $2500 ish on a bike, not to mention the $40 ish/month subscription to get all the classes and features.  We actually took the plunge just before COVID broke (and luckily escaped the month long waitlists now for people ordering!)  Fi...

Short cut meals are essential for me today -- even more so healthy ones! I'm going to keep a running list here of some of our go to's.... Sauteed spinach and pasta is a super fast and very healthy easy meal!  To make it — take half a packet of spinach (I buy pre-washed Organic Girl) and saute it in olive oil and some garlic for 4-5 minutes until just wilted.  Meanwhile cook any healthy pasta of choice.  Once the spinach is cooked, pour in one jar of sauce and add the drained cooked pasta to the pan.  Stir up until warm and voila.... top with a little shaved parmesan.  If I have fresh basil I like to top pastas with some of that roughly chopped too... Enjoy!  Pics of each step below to show JUST how easy this is... my favorite sauce is Rao’s but this is another I grabbed on sale that’s also all real ingredients and no added sugar (the tomato sauce trap!) 

Yoga pants are basically my middle name so when a friend shared about these leggings I had to check them out... well LET ME TELL YOU... I'm a fan.  They are amazingly high waisted which anyone who's had a baby knows is a big win plus super buttery soft and fairly light weight.  PLUS.. they have a side pocket to easily tote your phone around too.  At $22 or $29 a pair (I'm still not super clear on the difference) they are also a total steal.  I ordered them in black and then quickly added the patterned camouflage ones.  Once fall rolls around I have a feeling I'll be stockpiling them in other colors too.  They are perfect for playing with the kids or running around the house without forgetting where you left your phone (which ALWAYS happens to me!)  Not to mention they are of course great workout pants too.  No I don't make any money if you buy them but I did want to share this fabulous moms-on-the-go also seeking comfort find!   Here's t...

Where to begin when we embark on cleaner living!?!?  Here are some great places to start:      Foods  – This was where I first began healthier swaps as we shifted to more organic and better sourced foods.  I think of it this way with respect to what we put IN and ON our body:  We have to consider where it’s been… what it’s eaten, how it’s been grown, produced, etc.  Organic foods and high quality meats are more expensive but once you do your homework you can find better ways to save here too.  I’m always impressed by the array of organic options Wal-Mart and Target now offer and buying meat in bulk can cut costs from delivery services or farms.  With things like bananas, lemons and avocados I don’t worry about buying organic.  I also think about EWG’s “Dirty Dozen” and “Clean 15 lists” which can be a good starting place (although I don’t remotely know this list by heart!)     The EWG “Dirty Do...

I can’t think about the idea of “healthy mom-ing” without the role that exercise plays in it.  Not only is about feeling good about myself but it’s just as much about my emotional health.  I t’s not as easy as it once was and it has required a LOT of flexibility and accepting “something is better than nothing” but I have to prioritize exercise.  Period.      For most of my adult life, I’ve been a regular exerciser.  From step aerobics and body sculpt back in the day to discovering indoor spin in my early twenties (umm still obsessed!) my favorite workouts have evolved over time.  Yoga has been a staple since college but in the last few years Pilates moves have become appealing and really helped support changes to my body that have come during and after pregnancy.  Fortunately I was able to work out while pregnant with both the boys, and I desperately needed Pilates and yoga to offset the lower back pain and tighter hips of pregnancy.  Pe...