I typically stay away from cow dairy, but let’s be honest – there are times in life that call for a creamy dip. This dip contains goat cheese, which unlike cow milk, is made from A2 casein. A2 casein has anti-inflammatory properties and even brain health benefits without the issues that cow’s milk creates (gut issues, allergies, eczema and acne, to name a few). My thirdborn can even eat goat cheese without a runny nose as a party favor, so we usually have it on hand in the Kerry casa.
I taught public school for 11 years, and every spring we received a special training in “active monitoring.” Nobody looks forward to active monitoring. It is the job teachers take on during the end of year state assessments. All certified teachers must stay on their feet during the majority of the test, walking up and down the aisles, making sure nobody is looking at another test, or marking in another section, or eating, or ANYTHING that would cause them to get marked up as a “state testing irregularity.” I dreaded these days every year, because I knew if I lost focus for one second, something could happen and I would get marked up and have my state teaching certificate questioned or revoked or torn up or SOMETHING horrible would happen.
Living with a mental illness requires active monitoring. Much like how I used to roam the aisles of my classroom, eyes alert for any misconduct or twitch of movement, I constantly roam my brain and my body for signs of disorder.
My kids love to eat bars, but like so many convenience foods in stores these days, even the “healthy” kind, there are ingredients I’d prefer not to have on the regular.
These nut bars, adapted from Kelly Brogan’s book “A Mind of Your Own,” are delicious and SUPER easy to make. The hardest part about making these bars was cleaning the food processor afterward.
Brussels Sprouts are some of my favorite things to eat because as a cruciferous vegetable, they aid in detoxification. They also contain a good dose of fiber, which is helpful in keeping blood sugar levels steady and keeping you feeling fuller longer. I recently learned they are one of the best sources of plant-based omega 3s, which means… improved brain health!
My husband and I make them two different ways, which are both delicious and filling.
I’m OBSESSED with my air fryer! This recipe was a hit with my kids.
Preheat air fryer to 390.
Mix 2 cups of carrots with 1 tablespoon avocado oil, 1 tablespoon honey and a dash of coconut aminos. Add a few shakes of salt and pepper, maybe some cayenne pepper for fun.
Air fry for 12 minutes. Open and shake the basket halfway through. If you’re feeling decadent, toss in grass-fed butter after. But they taste great as they are!
That’s it! Pure air fryer magic.
My goal with every meal is to sneak as many veggies into my kids’ food as possible. This taco bowl recipe is probably the most veggie-packed meal we make. And we make it alllll the time.
Start with grass fed ground beef. I used to hate ground beef until we switched to grass fed. It isn’t as heavy in my belly and it’s packed with omega 3s and B12 for brain health!
Dump it into a pan and start cooking on low to medium heat. Don’t overcook it! Midway through cooking, I add a shredded zucchini or two. Continue reading “Taco Bowls with Sneaky Veggies”
Last weekend I spent time with a group of girls who have known me longer than anyone else besides my own family. We talked for hours and hours, laughing and sharing stories, erasing years and distance. It was refreshing and healing.
The final morning I found our senior yearbook, from all the way back in 1999. Flipping through it, I noticed something. Page after page, a familiar face kept popping up at me. My own. Every activity, every party, every event. The more pictures I saw, the more I cringed. The inward narrative started.
“Ugh, why did you have to do so much?”
“Why were you always a camera hog?”
“You must have been so annoying!”
“Why are you always That Girl?”
Insecurities surfaced with the old narrative. Yes, it was clear that I lived with a deep need to find my worth in my activity and my achievements. We went to a small private school, so plenty of opportunities for over-involvement existed. Still, it hurt to watch it unfold in this book, as I know I STILL so often act out of a craving for approval and acceptance. Continue reading “I’m That Girl”
Diets. I hate the D word. They started in high school. I went on my first antidepressant my sophomore year and gained 30 pounds in under two years. It was devastating and embarrassing. I used food to cope with unhealthy emotions. Once I could drive, I hopped in my 1990 baby blue Chevy Caprice and hit up Sonic happy hour for cheddar peppers and slushes. I stocked up on sour watermelon candy at Target and late night Whataburger taquitos. I never felt full, but I loved the dopamine high the food would give me. I knew food had a pull on me I couldn’t escape.
So I tried South Beach, the Zone, and finally, Atkins. The latter helped me lose the “Zoloft weight” and gave me new confidence. But restriction made me bitter. I developed PTSD from salads. I made the act of eating a moral decision – there are good foods and bad foods. Fattening and non. Healthy or not. And I let the shame of indulgence give me value, just as I allowed my size or the number on the tag of my jeans give me value. Continue reading “Why Diets Never Worked For Me”
I strive to eat veggies at every meal, but typically, time works against me. I’m not great at meal prepping, though I should be. Dinners are always planned out ahead of time with the husband before he goes grocery shopping, but lunch as a work at home mom is tricky. “Mindful eating” is not my friend during lunchtime chaos. I usually do whatever I can to get the kids fed and the littlest down for a nap. By the time I get to eat, I want to shovel something crunchy and processed in my mouth and be done with it.
Enter the 7 Minute Supermom Saute. It’s fast, filled with superfoods, and helps me to perform as a supermom. Food is mood. I need my adrenals to be fully functioning throughout the afternoon.
For some reason, hummus was one of those things that always seemed waaaay more complicated to make than it actually is. So while I call this “hummus for dummies,” it’s really more like “hummus for lazies,” because if you can scroll Facebook or Instagram stories all day, you can find 5 minutes to put this together.
The reason I finally caved and started making my own has nothing to do with money, but everything to do with ingredients. Most store-bought hummus is made with soybean or canola oil, which are HORRIBLE for you. I wanted to be able to control the ingredients I put in so that I could offer it as a healthy snack option for my kids without worrying about my boys developing man boobs (it’s true).
All it takes is a food processor and a few ingredients. Continue reading “Hummus for Dummies”
