Enjoy the weekend. We’ll leave you with this uplifting reminder that obstacles can sometimes be opportunities! See you next week!
What We’re Loving for Breakfast – The Most Important Meal of the Day
Around The Motherhood, we all know how important it is to start your day right, but that can sometimes pose a challenge. Below are a few of our favorite breakfast recipes that aren’t just quick and easy, they’re also delicious!
Brittney’s Pick – Whipped Banana Oatmeal
We all know that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and with a little one on the way, I’ve been extra-conscious of getting a nutritious start each morning. Lately, my favorite way to do this is by making Whipped Banana Oatmeal. I love that it’s so quick, easy and healthy. Oats are a superfood, after all, and the milk, banana and chia seeds provide even more nutrition. The best part is that I can customize my bowl from day to day – one morning it’s mixed berries and slivered almonds and the next it’s a dollop of peanut butter and just a few dark chocolate chips – so it’s impossible to get tired of it!
Nicole’s Pick – Maple Braised Apples with Quinoa
I love quinoa because it is incredibly diverse – you can eat it hot or cold and with sweet or savory flavors. The options are endless with quinoa, and recently I have been enjoying experimenting with it! I usually only prepare it as a lunch or dinner option, but after I stumbled upon this recipe, I realized quinoa is even more diverse than I thought, as it makes for a healthy breakfast option as well! For this recipe, you can substitute any fruit for the apples. Try adding peaches or berries – or both! Yum!
Erin’s Pick – Overnight Oats with Fruit and Honey
Working East Coast hours from the West Coast, especially for someone who is decidedly not a morning person, can be a bit of a challenge when it comes to breakfast. The last thing I feel like doing when I wake up at 5:45 a.m. is cobbling together some sort of breakfast – even pouring a bowl of cereal can seem like a chore. This recipe is a wonderful solution. It’s quick and easy to whip up the night before, so all I have to do in the morning is take it out of the refrigerator, throw in a little fruit and honey, and get my day off to a healthy start.
Kayla’s Pick – Breakfast Quiche Muffins
I always find myself waking up with JUST enough time to get ready for work, which rarely leaves me enough time to make a healthy and delicious breakfast. With the help of the internet, I’ve found many options for make-ahead breakfasts, but these yummy muffins are, by far, my absolute favorite! Though the recipe calls for egg beaters, it’s just as easy to use regular eggs. Just beat them in a bowl with a whisk, add them to a muffin pan and top with your favorite omelette fillings. Sausage, veggies, bacon, ham…your call! I make these on the weekends and keep them in the fridge for a quick meal on the go.
Now that you’ve seen what we love to eat, what’s your favorite breakfast recipe? Share with us in the comments! We could always use some new ideas!
The Motherhood Effect: Cooper Munroe & Emily McKhann at TEDx
The Motherhood co-founders, Emily McKhann and Cooper Munroe, recently delivered a TEDx Talk at Seton Hill University, and it’s now available on YouTube!
In their talk, “The Motherhood Effect,” Emily and Cooper share compelling stories and professional insights on the power of mothers online and their impact on the social web as we know it today.
We’d love for you to watch their talk, share it with others and post your thoughts in the comments section!
United Nations Foundation Partners with Pharrell Williams for International Day of Happiness
Think for just a minute about what makes you happy. Nice weather, exercise, seeing friends, reading a favorite book? Maybe sharing your happiness by doing good for others gives you the most pleasure.
Today is the United Nations Foundation’s International Day of Happiness, and the UNF has partnered with Grammy-winning artist Pharrell Williams to benefit UN Humanitarian efforts worldwide. Williams’ hit song, “Happy,” is being used around the globe to chronicle what makes people happy in their communities, spotlight important issues and celebrate progress. Victims of the recent typhoon in the Philippines submitted this incredible video:
Inspired? So are we. You can do your part to help others find happiness today by clicking here and making a donation.
You can also support the effort online by tweeting with the #HappyDay hashtag and following @unfoundation to learn more about their critical efforts in building a better world. Here are a few tweets our team members at The Motherhood have shared:
The Motherhood is proud to have called the United Nations Foundation a client for the past several years, and to have worked with the organization on a number of important initiatives. We hope you will support this one.
Have a very happy Thursday!
Be My Neighbor Day Celebrates the Legacy of Fred Rogers
What does it mean to you to be a good neighbor? Lending a cup of sugar? Watering a family’s garden or picking up their newspapers when they’re away? Or maybe just a simple smile and “hello” shared across a backyard fence?
In honor of the late Fred Rogers’ birthday today, and to celebrate his deep and enduring impact on families everywhere, we’re talking all about what it means to be neighborly!
At The Motherhood, we believe that a kind gesture for a neighbor–whether it be a family living next door or one of our virtual blogger “neighbors” all the way across the country–can be a powerful thing. That’s why we are so honored to support The Fred Rogers Company for “Be My Neighbor Day,” an event that builds on the indomitable legacy of Fred Rogers, who for more than 40 years taught kindness, generosity and respect to thousands of children and families.
Be My Neighbor Day
United Way of Allegheny County, in partnership with The Fred Rogers Company and WQED, presents “Be My Neighbor Day.” This Saturday, March 22, 2014, four YMCA locations across the Pittsburgh area will host a variety of fun, free, family-friendly activities to give children the opportunity to practice being neighborly. Daniel Tiger of the PBS series Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood will make his first Pittsburgh appearance as part of the event.
Inspired by an episode of Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, “Be My Neighbor Day” encourages neighbors to come together to help one another. Families will learn about acts of kindness, work together on craft projects to benefit their local communities, participate in YMCA Healthy Kids activities, and have the opportunity to meet Daniel Tiger.
Additionally, in honor of Rogers’ favorite attire, families are encouraged to bring a new or gently worn sweater to the event. Sweater donations will be distributed to needy families throughout the Pittsburgh region.
Visit www.bemyneighborday.org for more information and to register at one of four locations: Baierl Family YMCA (Sewickley), Western Area YMCA (Coraopolis), Penn Hills YMCA, or Thelma Lovett YMCA (Centre Avenue). There is no cost to attend.
Our Favorite Neighborly Acts
Several members of The Motherhood team share their favorite neighborly gesture:
Brittney: I grew up on a quiet suburban street where every family knew each other very well, so neighborly acts were quite common! One of the most heart-warming gestures was when my next-door neighbors brought a home-cooked dinner to our house the day my parents moved me home from college. They knew we had just finished an eight-hour drive and would probably be exhausted. It was such a simple act, but one I’ve never forgotten.
Erin: When I was going out of town and expecting a package to be delivered in my absence, I asked my neighbors if they could take it inside so it wouldn’t sit in front of my door for days, exposed to the elements. They were happy to help, and I returned the favor not long afterward–I love how one neighborly act leads to another in return! In Pittsburgh, I sometimes took care of my neighbors’ dog when they left town, and they helped me organize a yard sale when we moved to Seattle.
Kayla: My favorite virtual neighborly act is when bloggers promote each other! When you take time to tell everyone about this amazing post you read by a fellow blogger, it warms my heart. I know it only takes a moment, but for that moment, the person you are showcasing feels loved!
Nicole: Growing up, my siblings and I always took turns shoveling snow or raking leaves for our elderly neighbor who wasn’t able to. If my neighbors’ empty trash cans fall over or start rolling away in the wind, I always pick them up and put them back on the sidewalk.
What is your favorite neighborly act?
Featured image courtesy of Flickr Creative Commons user Debbie R.
Udi’s Makes Going Gluten Free Easy – and Tasty!
I love bread. Italian bread, garlic bread, cinnamon raisin bread, banana bread, dinner rolls… and the list goes on!
So perhaps the biggest hurdle for me when converting to a gluten-free diet was getting over the fact that bread could not be a normal part of my everyday diet. I tried several gluten-free bread options found at the grocery store, only to be disappointed by the lack of flavor. Just when I was ready to give up eating bread altogether, a friend of mine who has celiac disease suggested I try Udi’s Gluten Free Bread.
Did you know that 72% of Udi’s customers will go to another grocery store if they can’t find Udi’s Gluten Free Bread on the shelves? I am now one of these people! The flavor and texture of Udi’s Gluten Free Bread stands out as the best I’ve found! It’s not a wonder to me that it’s the #1 gluten-free bread in America.
Anyone with food intolerances or allergies knows that left-out feeling of watching friends eat pizza, cake or other foods their body can’t handle. With Udi’s Gluten Free food, 87% of people said they felt “normal” again. I’m thankful for brands like Udi’s Gluten Free, that help turn your “can’ts” into “cans”!
Udi’s Gluten Free line doesn’t only have bread, but offers a broad list of products, with everything from bagels to pizza crust to chocolate chip cookies. I recently tried Udi’s Gluten Free Blueberry Muffins, which are AMAZING. Pop them in the microwave for 10 seconds and they are delicious way to start your morning (they also make a great afternoon snack!).
I’m thrilled that The Motherhood is working with Udi’s to learn the benefits of eating gluten free. Here are just some of the helpful things I learned during our recent Q&A with Denise Sirovatka, Vice President and General Manager of Udi’s Gluten Free:
What are the benefits of eating a gluten free diet?
Wheat in general is a natural inflammatory, so when you eat a ton of wheat, you may feel a little bit bloated. Any reduction in wheat will help alleviate those symptoms. We find that with a lot of people who are sticking with the brand or eating gluten free just because they feel better. But if you have celiac disease, your body doesn’t have the ability to process gluten and you can’t actually absorb the nutrients. So that actually has very long term effects! Udi’s is a real solution for those who have celiac disease or gluten intolerance.
Will the benefits be seen if a family eliminates gluten products one at a time or do you have to completely go off of gluten to see the results?
If you have celiac disease or gluten intolerance, then you absolutely have to go off of it all the way! That’s the only way your body is going to heal itself and stay healed. If you are choosing to eat gluten free for your own health reasons, then that is up to the individual. Some people choose to start by adopting “Gluten Free Friday.”
Do you have suggestions for trying to accommodate everyone in the family, when not everyone is gluten intolerant?
We see all the time that it is so much easier when the whole household goes on a gluten-free diet together, so everyone feels they are part of the group. What we try to do on our website is create recipes that nobody in the house would know are gluten free and recipes that the whole family can enjoy together. See Udi’s gluten free recipes here.
Are there foods that have hidden gluten in them?
Yes! In fact, 70% of processed foods in the grocery store contain gluten in some form. A couple of foods that many people don’t know about are soy sauce, ketchup and salad dressings. Always check the labels and make sure there are no wheat-based emulsifiers or starches.
We’d love to hear from you in the comments! Are you on a gluten free diet? What has helped you feel “normal” again?
An Udi’s Fan for Life,
