Autumn Charcuterie Board
Who doesn’t love a good charcuterie board?
Presentation is what creates a great charcuterie board. On this board we chose a fall theme. We looked for shapes, colors and fall flavors such as maple shaped cookies, cranberry, and cinnamon. It was important to us that both sweet and savory flavors were available.
Our cheeses were:
Cinnamon Cranberry Goat Cheese
Mild cheddar cubes
Sharp white cheddar slices
Mozzarella balls
Meats chosen:
Prosciutto
Salami
Pepperoni
Fruits:
Raspberry preserves
Pomegranate
Apple slices
Dried Dates
Nuts:
Praline Pecans
Additions were pumpkin seeds, grape tomatoes, a variety of crackers and a bit of basil for a great burst of color and flavor.
There are no hard rules for charcuterie presentation. Make it with your own taste in mind, change it up, think outside the box!
A few fall suggestions you may want to include on your next Fall charcuterie board: apple butter, pumpkin hummus, figs, or pears. The options are endless.
Share with us your favorite charcuterie board foods in the comments, we’d love to try them!
Written by Nicole Valenzuela
Babies and Breast Milk – 6 Incredible Facts New Parents Should Know
Photo: Dave Clubb/Unsplash
Ever wondered why prenatal classes have a breastfeeding segment to them? It’s because breast milk is literally liquid gold for babies. As a new parent, it’s important to understand its significance in your child’s life and development.
Considering the essential nature of breast milk for babies, it’s a good idea for parents to learn as much about it as they can. That’s why we’ve compiled some of the most fascinating facts about breast milk for new parents to enjoy. Keep reading to learn more.
- Breast Milk Contains a Medley of Important Hormones
Have you ever wondered why a hurt baby immediately settles when you feed them breast milk? It’s because breast milk passes endorphins to your baby that keep them feeling content while easing any pain.
Along with those feel-good endorphins, the hormone melatonin is also passed to your baby. This is this hormone that controls our sleep-wake routines, and this is what makes breast milk more suitable for children than even the best formula for newborns.
Of course, where breastfeeding isn’t possible, formula is a perfectly good substitute that offers all the nutrition a baby needs.
Mothers Are Capable of Producing the Best Food for Your Baby
The fact that your body can produce all the nourishment your baby needs is one of the most profound miracles of life. Breast milk contains every one of the essential nutrients that your baby needs to grow and develop.
What’s more, the act of breastfeeding helps to strengthen the relationship between mother and child. Not only are you a source of nourishment for your baby, but you’re actively forming an unbreakable bond with them.
Breast Milk Protects Your Baby From Illnesses
Towards the end of a pregnancy, the body produces colostrum, which contains up to five million white blood cells. White blood cells provide protection against illnesses, so you can imagine how much protection you are offering your little bundle of joy just by breastfeeding them.
Feed Colostrum First, Then Mature Milk
Most people don’t know this, but a mother’s body produces milk in a manner that adapts to the baby’s changing needs. The first milk your body produces during the last trimester is called colostrum, and as mentioned in the last point, this is a big part of helping your baby’s immune system.
About two weeks after giving birth, your mature milk will be produced, and it contains an amalgamation of fats, vitamins, and zinc. These are all vital ingredients that your growing baby needs. The fat content contained in your breast milk will continue to change to meet your growing baby’s needs.
Bacteria Transfer Is Important
The thought of transferring bacteria to your baby may make you shudder, but when bacteria from your breast milk passes to your baby, it actually helps with the little one’s immune system development.
- Milk Has a Distinct but Ever-Changing Flavor
Mothers who suffer from swollen breast glands might notice that their babies seem reluctant to drink. That’s because breast milk can get sour and babies can actually smell the change.
The mature milk produced tastes slightly vanilla in flavor, and your baby is bound to enjoy the taste. To make sure that your breast milk continues to taste great, stay clear of spicy food and extreme flavors. Remember, everything you eat can be tasted by your baby in the form of your breast milk!
Breast milk has the ability to tell a story, passing an intricate narrative from you down to your baby. Make the most of this special time, and appreciate your ability to nourish your child in this way.
Top 8 tips for caring for elderly relatives
Looking after elderly relatives is tough. You have to help them navigate life as their physical and mental capacities decline. To make it easier on you, here are 8 tips for caring for elderly relatives.
Keep care at home if possible
If your relative can still walk, clean themselves, and feed themselves – then they are probably best off staying at home with you instead of going to a care home. It’s not cheap but it might be better for them in the long run if they stay healthy enough to enjoy life without too many restrictions. You’ll have to make sure that their financial situation is sorted out before the end of their lives though.
Coordinate your care
Make sure that you’re not both doing all of the cooking, cleaning, and shopping. Draw up a rota and make sure that everyone is pitching in equally. It’s also a good idea to bring your kids into this. If they are going to take on some of the care responsibilities while you’re busy, then they should get used to it as soon as possible. This way it’s more likely that they’ll continue to take good care of your aging parents.
Make care regimens person-centered
If your parents want to do something, make sure that you help them as much as possible. If they don’t, respect their wishes and find out what works best for them. Allowing them to make their own decisions helps them retain a sense of independence and autonomy. That’s better for everyone.
Enable social inclusion
This means involving your parents in social get-togethers, inviting them to family events, and keeping up regular contact with their friends. This way there’s less chance of them becoming isolated or depressed, which is associated with dementia.
Let them know about alternative medicines
Elderly folk sometimes shy away from alternative medicines like acupuncture because they don’t understand them or are worried that they won’t work. It’s best to just be open about it and let them go at their own pace. Show them websites like Vapecbdworld.com, where they can access CBD products.
Stay up to date on the latest technology
Having the latest gadgets in the house makes life easier for everyone. Get them to show you how to use things like computers, tablets, and smartphones so that they can stay relevant while staying at home with you.
Investigate your insurance options
There are a lot of great insurance packages out there that can help see your parents through their last few years. Make sure you have the appropriate insurance for your situation and if it becomes an issue, talk to people who have been in similar situations as you. They’ll know what is best for them and enable you to make the right decision.
Take care of the caregivers
When you look after aging parents full-time, it can be difficult to take care of yourself as well. Make sure that you talk things through with your partner and decide on your boundaries early on. If you keep everything open and honest then family life will run a lot more smoothly for everyone involved.
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Little Tricks to Help the Working Mom
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