If you love reading academic research and the science behind what you eat, this is the section for you. Join us as we try to understand how our bodies, earth, and food work and the causes of disease.
I’ve been reading foodie blogs for close to seven years now. I’ve seen the medium change, grow, entertain certain fads, and inspire. These blogs have really helped me to analyze what our family eats and learn valuable skills, like making yogurt, making bread, using a whole chicken, and menu planning. I’ve also learned more about the […]
Nonstick Cookware Controversy: Our Family’s Journey to Natural Cookware Read More »
I didn’t even know what to look for when I first had kids. I remember religiously using only the “baby” lotion that we had gotten at our shower on my own hands when I had a newborn because I figured I would be touching his body and didn’t want to “contaminate” him with harmful chemicals
Your Waterproof Mattress Protector Might Have Problems Too Read More »
Your mission, if you choose to accept, is to get better, more healthful, more restorative sleep. I re-learned a hard lesson last week, and it was terribly, painfully ironic because I was writing about sleep. I have this great new schedule where I have more daytime work hours. My husband quit his job to work
If we can regrow/heal bone, why not teeth? When I posted this question on Facebook last week along with my story, the interaction and reactions were pretty intense, so I realized I need to blog about not only the aftermath of my little experiment, but my plan from the beginning. Note: Erm…I was wrong about
On day four of Gabe’s life, we found ourselves in the emergency room getting a quick blood test for bilirubin levels. The kid hadn’t had a bowel movement for 40 hours and was looking a little yellow, and since it was a weekend and labs were closed, the ER was our only option to make
Risks and Benefits of the Vitamin K Shot vs. Oral Dose for Newborns Read More »
Who doesn’t love the smell of a good stinky gym bag, or a dog kennel, or even your great aunt’s old couch from the ’70’s? While you may think it’s ridiculous that anyone would enjoy taking a whiff of these stinky smells, did you realize your home’s air could be just as bad for you?
Is Your Home’s Air Making You Sick? (All About Indoor Air Quality) Read More »
For better or for worse, I’ve always turned down the Vitamin D drops that docs say infants should take from birth to six months. I might be completely wrong and haven’t done research on it for quite a number of years – which is not a good practice, given how quickly things can change! – but
Are Babies and Toddlers Getting the Nutrients They Need? Read More »
You’re thinking you might benefit from “healing your gut” and you’re ready to cut grains and more out of your life. How long is this going to take? Is it a long weekend without toast in the morning, maybe a few weeks to really cleanse, a couple months, or are we looking at “bread behind
Part Two: How the Poop Do I Know When my Gut is Healed? (i.e., Bring on the Bread!) Read More »
Looking to buy well-sourced beef? Find out the difference between grass-fed and organic and what else you need to ask the farmer about! A couple of years ago I had a guest post on sourcing beef from field to table. Food research and thoughts are always changing, so I’m excited to welcome Caryl Elzinga of
Well-Sourced Beef: What You Need to Know {GUEST POST} Read More »
It is possible to treat eczema naturally! Let’s take a look at what eczema is, how it’s traditionally treated, and what we can do to soothe eczema symptoms without the prescription pad. Reviewed by Sheila Kilbane, MD. Nine-year-old boys are a little oblivious to life sometimes. They could probably have a frog stuck in their
Stop the Itch – Identify Triggers and Treat Eczema Naturally! Read More »
These whole grain pancakes are easy to make and gluten free! Simply prep the night before and wake up with the batter ready to make for a quick, delicious, gluten-free breakfast. Top your pancakes with butter and maple syrup or sorghum syrup. I’m kind of slow to try new things. Example: I refused to learn
Do you have a picky eater? Are meal times a battle? Before you get frustrated and assume your child is just strong-willed, take a closer look at what is really going on. Yes, some kids truly do like to feel in control and may assert this behavior at meal times. In that case it is
I don’t grill. I know you’re feeling really trusting of a grilling recipe from someone who doesn’t grill, but don’t worry – we grill plenty at the Kimball house. It’s just a great way to get some help with dinner as long as I remain completely ignorant about the mysterious workings of the grill. I
Meat Marinade with Dark Beer to Reduce Carcinogens from Grilling Read More »
Can gluten cause behavioral symptoms? Is there a link between food and autism? When my eleven year old son was diagnosed with High Functioning Autism last year, I had no idea how much the everyday details of our life would change. He had been struggling and exhibiting signs for years, so I wasn’t surprised by
When Michael Pollan, Dr. Oz and two real life formerly-fat women schooled me on the relationship between gut bacteria, antibiotics and weight gain all in the same week, I knew I had to dig deeper into the issue. The number of times I’ve heard the phrase “human microbiome” since then, particularly in relation to it
Most people would agree that the healthiest foods for kids are unprocessed, nutrient-dense, and – when possible – made at home. Your kids can cook healthy recipes too…really! But take a look at our current food supply. Pondering the number of foods, chemicals, products, and other environmental influences that are in our children’s world that
If you suffer from the morning rush syndrome Monday through Friday, I empathize with you. I’m not a natural morning person (see this week’s earlier post for more evidence than you need!) and some of my kids aren’t either, so the process of getting ready for school, eating breakfast and making sure lunches and snacks
Cheat Your Supplements: What Works, What Doesn’t Read More »
My dear friend says I’m the most sleep-deprived person she knows, and that it’s been that way every year since college. As one of the people who probably found me sleeping in the freshman study lounge, my nose on a tedious philosophy book, she would know. I realize she’s probably spot on when I start
Chemo = throwing up, right? Admit it, that’s what you think of when you imagine a chemotherapy patient: Someone who is super fatigued, no appetite, lying on the bathroom floor hugging the toilet, puking their guts out and then crawling to bed. Not my idea of fun. Here’s the good news: My dad’s oncologist said
Chemo with Hardly Any Side Effects? Mission: Possible Read More »
Part of me feels dumb and slightly insane for publicly admitting that I think a doctor is wrong, someone who trained for an entire decade, has experience in the field, and says he has patients’ best interests at heart, and that somehow I magically know more than him – me, a random parent with an
