Come September both of my kids will be going to school and instead of struggling with the question of “What’s Next?” I’m trying not to fret and worry about what my life might look like without a child at my hip constantly. Instead, I’m focusing on sitting in that uncomfortable place, being open to what’s next and staying true to what I do know and want for my children and my family.
A couple of weeks ago I had a very strong feeling that I was supposed to send in an audition to Oprah’s new “OWN Network” where she and Mark Burnett are working together to cast a reality show to find the next talk show host (with one of the categories being Health and Well being). I didn’t feel like I was supposed to send in the audition tape so I would “win” but because I needed to go through the exercise of actually doing it. I took the plunge and asked my Naturopath if she’d let me interview her and she graciously accepted. (She isn’t in the interview much (we only had 3 minutes) but you can look forward to the full interview just as soon as we get it edited! ).
I’ve had an amazing response to the audition tape and it’s slowly becoming clear why I needed to do this. I’ll be sure to let you know as Life’s Plan unfolds itself….
This morning I was fortunate enough to be able to speak for another MOPS group on the topic of added sugars in our pre-packaged food items. I had so many questions afterward about chocolate milk and Ovaltine that I thought I’d talk about it here a bit.
Ovaltine
First of all, in answer to many of your questions, yes, I do recommend Ovaltine. Although it does contain some preservatives and food coloring/dye it is definitely a healthy alternative to pre-packaged chocolate milk, Nesquik, or Hershey’s type syrup. It does not contain any hydrogenated fats or high fructose corn syrup and it does offer some extra vitamins such as B6, B12, E and Zinc to name a few. One of the things I like most about it though is that I get to control the amount that I put into my child’s milk. If I add the suggested 4 Tbs to 8oz. of milk then it’s still a whopping 30 grams of sugar (12 of which are from the lactose in milk- but still sugar). However, if I only put 2 Tbs. in then I’ve just cut the amount of added sugars in half and my child and I are both happy! I like to be in control!
Cocoa Powder
Another choice, and the healthiest choice, is to simply use cocoa powder and the sweetener of your choice. This works best for hot chocolate because the cocoa powder doesn’t dissolve quite as easily in the cold milk. I like to add a little brown sugar or, if hot, honey. For those of you who like stevia, this can be used in place of the sugar/honey. Again, this is such a great choice because YOU get to control the amount of sugar. You also know that there are no dyes, preservatives or artificial flavors added.
Today I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to speak at my own MOPS group. It was the 3rd opportunity I had to share about added sugars in pre-packaged foods. I think some eyes were opened and the response was great!
It’s always risky to get up in front of a group of peers and talk about a topic that can have widely varying opinions. It was the first time I’ve ever had someone speak out in the middle of my talk and openly disagree with something that I’m trying to say. A bit disconcerting, but definitely an opportunity to learn. I hadn’t realized that I wasn’t getting my point across during that part of my talk (in fact, I had swerved from my notes) and now I know to be more careful!