These past few months, all the energy I had was being used up and stretched thin. It was a lot of energetic weight to carry which meant more time at home and being gentle with myself. Because I took the time to prioritize my healing, I’ve been able to tell that my body is ready to get back into my rhythm. To help support my journey in getting back on my fitness routine I’m using supplements and my go-to energy restoration tricks! 

Read More....

When it comes to living a more resilient life from the inside out, rituals are a MUST for living a healthier life. One small ritual every day – like making a superfood smoothie, journaling, or taking vitamins – can make a WORLD of a difference. While I feel like there aren't a lot of vitamins or supplements that I can get behind, I've been a big fan of Ritual Vitamins for a really long time. Read my latest Heart of the Week to learn why! 

Read More....

Any time I can get an extra boost from a wonderful new supplement I jump on it. I love how they can go hand in hand for a perfect addition with the rest of my holistic lifestyle. I am pretty picky about the quality of Vitamins and was thrilled when I saw Care/of.

Care/of is a new brand that offers personalized vitamin packs. They make their own line of vitamins, loaded with minerals, probiotics and specialty supplements coming from the best ingredients. I am always slammed being a working mama, and I loved how I was able to do their quick quiz to find EXACTLY what I needed, instead of spending tons of time and money on supplements that aren't really necessary.

The convenience factor of having all of my daily supplements in one pack to be able to grab and go- is a lifesaver for me. My schedule changes so rapidly that I am always running from one thing to the next, and I love being able to toss these in my purse, my routine may sometimes shift but at least i have all the vitamins I need to keep me humming! ! If I get run down, then my work, let alone my family, can tend to start to fall apart, so it’s important I stay on top of my wellness game, and these packs help me do just that.

Two standouts for me are the Fish Oil sourced from Wild Alaska Salmon, and the Calcium, sourced from Icelandic Algae. I also love that I added reishi mushroom into my pack, just in case I don't have time to get Cacao magic powder into my routine that day. Reishi is incredible for immunity and longevity. In my experience, some vitamins can totally wreck havoc on my stomach, and thrilled that Care/of is super gentle. There's even added probiotics which help with sensitive tummies. 

If you have seen my stories on Instagram, it’s no secret that we hope to have a baby girl Jaffe in the future! Their new prenatals are the best out there, with Folic Acid, super important for babes development! Popping those daily in preparation! ;) Through their partnership with GOOD+ Foundation, every purchase you make at Care/of helps put prenatals in the hands of a mother in need. We wanted to treat all of the babes in the Philosophie Tribe to a special discount on your customized pack! Use the code PHILOSOPHIE50 to get 50% off of your first order!

Read More....

Now that I'm a mommy and wifey, I don't just have to think of my own nutrition and health. I have to consider my children and husbands well-being as well. 

My son, Kai, is a little over 2 years old. His first solid food was butternut squash pureed, followed by a puree of green vegetables. He didn't have any sugar until a few months ago when he went to a birthday party, and to be honest, he didn't even care for it much. I was terrified once he had the processed kind of sugar he'd never want to go back to his clean ways of eating. Au Contraire.

His palate is so sophisticated now. He can eat anything no matter where we go. He loves spicy foods- he's happy and at home in any Indian restaurant and equally safe at sushi or any other ethnic cuisine. We've traveled to Paris, Costa Rica, Tel Aviv & South America and he's happy no matter where we go and what we feed him. This takes a little more effort on my part, to pave the way to healthy foods being part of his normal routine.

Phases and Bumps along the way

Sometimes he's not in the mood for a certain type of food. He'll push things he's loved for months away or throw it on the floor for our dog to eat. My trick is to lay out ONLY fruits and vegetables to start with-- a huge variety-- some cooked, some raw. Some warm, some cold. All different colors and flavors to entice his little appetite. He LOVES organic frozen veggies, which makes it super easy for me. He especially likes peas & lima beans, eating them one by one. I don't usually add any butter or salt to the veggies because he eats them without. So what's the point? He takes "butter" (Smart Balance) on his gluten-free waffles in the morning as a treat and loves it, but doesn't expect it yet. He's never touched syrup and there's really no reason to introduce it.

The best time to give him the foods he's not in the mood for is when he's super hungry after playing outside. Sometimes I just need to give him a "gateway" food to get him started. When he was super little just a few little Organic Puffs would do the trick. Now I'll give him half a piece of an organic cookie or the green flavored Pirate's Booty (our version of junk food) and after a few of these snack items he moves right into veggie land. Works pretty much every time.

Other days he just doesn't feel like sitting in his high chair and eating. On those days I let him run around and snack as he pleases. He'll graze on the veggies and fruit I put on a plate on the coffee table and run around and grab what he wants when he chooses to.  Many parents are really militant about kids sitting in their chairs and eating, and I understand their feelings. I get that sentiment, that it's more "proper" to eat meals sitting in their high chair. With my lifestyle (always on the go) and my manner (I'm not a very "proper" person myself) I allow him to guide the way, as the most important thing to me is Kai getting the nutrients he needs to GROW "properly", while being a formal "correct" child falls a bit lower on the priority list. Every child is different. Some kids really need that type of structure to stay well behaved. Kai is (luckily) really flexible and adaptable with my crazy on the go lifestyle.

Green Dream and Philosophie superfood blends save the day

When all else fails, I can make a Green Dream smoothie and at least feel good about Kai getting all the nutrients and greens he needs for the day. In one smoothie I can be sure he's getting good fats, vegan sources of protein, no weird fillers and nothing processed. This makes things a lot easier and makes me feel secure in what he eats for the rest of the day. Lately one of the only ways I can consistently get green veggies into his body is through smoothies. And that's fine with me! Sometimes in the morning I'll add Cacao Magic powder to his oatmeal or even a dash of Green Dream. Other times I'll sneak it into an "ice cream" where I blend frozen bananas, spinach and green dream or cacao blend. These tricks ensure the love of my life is getting everything he needs nutritionally. Not to mention the hubby benefits from these tricks as well! If you're interested in buying Green Dream, Cacao Magic or Berry Bliss blends, email me: sophie@thephilosophie.com and mention this post for a mommy discount!

I'm not sure where the "green" phobia in kids begin, but I can't help but think it's from parents trying to drive the foods down their kids throats. Kai loves Green foods and actually gravitates towards these foods vs running away from them. I think this practice starts early, but that you can retrain your kids brains by sneaking greens into a smoothie or into an ice cream... so they don't feel they are missing anything. I mean let's revisit Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Suess! In the end, he lovessss the Green Eggs... it just took TRYING them!

In Gratitude and Elmo obsessions,

Sophie

PS. SPEAKING of Green Eggs... an easy way to make your own Green Eggs is to blend the eggs and fresh spinach in the blender until smooth. Then cook as you normally would! Kai loves them, your kids will too!

Now that I'm a mommy and wifey, I don't just have to think of my own nutrition and health. I have to consider my children and husbands well-being as well.

My son, Kai, is a little over 2 years old. His first solid food was butternut squash pureed, followed by a puree of green vegetables. He didn't have any sugar until a few months ago when he went to a birthday party, and to be honest, he didn't even care for it much. I was terrified once he had the processed kind of sugar he'd never want to go back to his clean ways of eating. Au Contraire.

His palate is so sophisticated now. He can eat anything no matter where we go. He loves spicy foods- he's happy and at home in any Indian restaurant and equally safe at sushi or any other ethnic cuisine. We've traveled to Paris, Costa Rica, Tel Aviv & South America and he's happy no matter where we go and what we feed him. This takes a little more effort on my part, to pave the way to healthy foods being part of his normal routine.

Phases and Bumps along the way

Sometimes he's not in the mood for a certain type of food. He'll push things he's loved for months away or throw it on the floor for our dog to eat. My trick is to lay out ONLY fruits and vegetables to start with-- a huge variety-- some cooked, some raw. Some warm, some cold. All different colors and flavors to entice his little appetite. He LOVES organic frozen veggies, which makes it super easy for me. He especially likes peas & lima beans, eating them one by one. I don't usually add any butter or salt to the veggies because he eats them without. So what's the point? He takes "butter" (Smart Balance) on his gluten-free waffles in the morning as a treat and loves it, but doesn't expect it yet. He's never touched syrup and there's really no reason to introduce it.

The best time to give him the foods he's not in the mood for is when he's super hungry after playing outside. Sometimes I just need to give him a "gateway" food to get him started. When he was super little just a few little Organic Puffs would do the trick. Now I'll give him half a piece of an organic cookie or the green flavored Pirate's Booty (our version of junk food) and after a few of these snack items he moves right into veggie land. Works pretty much every time.

Other days he just doesn't feel like sitting in his high chair and eating. On those days I let him run around and snack as he pleases. He'll graze on the veggies and fruit I put on a plate on the coffee table and run around and grab what he wants when he chooses to.  Many parents are really militant about kids sitting in their chairs and eating, and I understand their feelings. I get that sentiment, that it's more "proper" to eat meals sitting in their high chair. With my lifestyle (always on the go) and my manner (I'm not a very "proper" person myself) I allow him to guide the way, as the most important thing to me is Kai getting the nutrients he needs to GROW "properly", while being a formal "correct" child falls a bit lower on the priority list. Every child is different. Some kids really need that type of structure to stay well behaved. Kai is (luckily) really flexible and adaptable with my crazy on the go lifestyle.

Green Dream and Philosophie superfood blends save the day

When all else fails, I can make a Green Dream smoothie and at least feel good about Kai getting all the nutrients and greens he needs for the day. In one smoothie I can be sure he's getting good fats, vegan sources of protein, no weird fillers and nothing processed. This makes things a lot easier and makes me feel secure in what he eats for the rest of the day. Lately one of the only ways I can consistently get green veggies into his body is through smoothies. And that's fine with me! Sometimes in the morning I'll add Cacao Magic powder to his oatmeal or even a dash of Green Dream. Other times I'll sneak it into an "ice cream" where I blend frozen bananas, spinach and green dream or cacao blend. These tricks ensure the love of my life is getting everything he needs nutritionally. Not to mention the hubby benefits from these tricks as well! If you're interested in buying Green Dream, Cacao Magic or Berry Bliss blends, email me: sophie@thephilosophie.com and mention this post for a mommy discount!

I'm not sure where the "green" phobia in kids begin, but I can't help but think it's from parents trying to drive the foods down their kids throats. Kai loves Green foods and actually gravitates towards these foods vs running away from them. I think this practice starts early, but that you can retrain your kids brains by sneaking greens into a smoothie or into an ice cream... so they don't feel they are missing anything. I mean let's revisit Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Suess! In the end, he lovessss the Green Eggs... it just took TRYING them!

In Gratitude and Elmo obsessions,

Sophie

PS. SPEAKING of Green Eggs... an easy way to make your own Green Eggs is to blend the eggs and fresh spinach in the blender until smooth. Then cook as you normally would! Kai loves them, your kids will too!

[caption id="attachment_1380" align="alignleft" width="225" caption="Stomach"][/caption]

Our bodies host plenty of guests in the form of beneficial, healthy bacteria that live inside our digestive track and stomach. At one time or another, most people have used antibiotics, reinforcements that Western doctors prescribe to help us fight off harmful infections. Unfortunately, these drugs also wipe out the helpful organisms that play an important role in our digestive process. When this happens, you want to replenish the intestinal flora with probiotics. There are several types and fortunately you can obtain most through natural foods!

What are probiotics??

According to the World Health Organization, probiotics are live micro-organisms which when administered in adequate amounts confer a health benefit on the host1 (2001 WHO/ FAO Report).

Probiotics help intestinal bacteria perform their tasks more efficiently. They take over when your intestinal bacteria have too much work or are weakened or even destroyed by antibiotics, stress, poor nutrition or any other factors.

Where can I get Probiotics from?

For a rich, readily available source of lactobacillus, eat yogurt, preferably goat yogurt, which is easier to digest than the kind made from cow's milk. Additional sources include sauerkraut, miso, tempeh, and organic soybeans. Immediately after a course of antibiotics, you may wish to recharge your sytem with probiotics, which are found with refrigerated items in health food stores. Be sure they contain bifidobacteria, enterococci, and saccharomycese as well as lactobacillus. And always take them on an empty stomach!

Anytime my clients or friends have an upset stomach or just finish a round of antibiotics, I highly suggest Bio-K, which is available at Whole Foods and most health food stores. It's an incredible probiotic resource, with over 50 million healthy bacteria contained in one small container! Gluten-free, free of pesticides and hormones. Click on this link to order straight from their website.

Now that I've "come out" to the world about being pregnant it's time to share all the knowledge I've been acquiring throughout the past 2 1/2 months!  (Facebook & technology has changed the world in so many ways!! so easy, with just a click, my world knew!)

In my opinion, Iron is absolutely the MOST important supplement/nutrient to get into your body when you're pregnant.

This metal carries oxygen from the lungs to every cell in the body. Its other big role is to make blood. Blood volume increases by 50% during pregnancy. Blood feeds the placenta and uterine lining. Without large members of oxygen-rich red blood cells, your baby won't grow.

For a straight hit of iron, eating red meat or liver is a sure bet. Clams, chicken liver, duck and oysters are excellent sources. (if you're vegan or vegetarian, look below for an awesome option) Fish, poultry, spinach, dried apricots and unsulphered or black-strap molasses are decent sources. Grains and dairy foods are not.

It's also wise to eat iron-friendly foods, including fresh produce for folate and vitamin C, banans for B5 and any meat, milk or eggs for B12.

I highly recommended Floradix, a liquid supplement with organic iron in an absorbable form (ferrous gluconate) instead of inorganic iron, which can cause constipation. I take this almost every day. I love the way it tastes and I instantly have more energy after consuming it. I don't eat red meat and haven't for almost 10 years, so it's vital to get it from a supplement source. I've taken it for years, (I'm slightly anemic) usually every day when I'm on my period and here and there when I'm not.

Another option is taking ground liver capsules. If you're not anemic, don't take iron. The body doesn't excrete iron easily, and too much can be toxic.

Bee Pollen is granulated pollen gathered by the bees and is one of nature's most complete, nutritious foods. About 40 percent protein, half of which is free amino acids, bee pollen supplies humans with almost every essential element we need to survive.

I was once told that we could survive only off bee pollen and water because of it's abundance in nutrients.

It is also incredibly high in folic acid, B vitamins, and nucleic acids, and is thought to help cure chronic digestive and autoimmune diseases. And women, listen up: not only has bee pollen been tapped to stimulate the production of eggs from ovaries, it also plays a role in preventing and treating such cancers as breast and uterine. In this case, a spoonful of bee pollen just might save your life.

"Bee pollen is often referred to as nature's most complete food. Human consumption of bee pollen is praised in the Bible, other religious books, and ancient Chinese and Egyptian texts. It has long been prescribed by traditional health practitioners-including the fathers of Western medicine Hippocrates, Pliny the Elder, and Pythagoras-for its healing properties. Bee pollen rejuvenates your body, stimulates organs and glands, enhances vitality, and brings about a longer life span. Bee pollen's ability to consistently and noticeably increase energy levels makes it a favorite substance among many world class athletes and those interested in sustaining and enhancing quality performance." Steve Schecter N.D

Most of the time I blend a tablespoon of bee pollen into my fruit based smoothies. It creates a funny pasty taste that you may not like, so test it with different flavors. Sometime I'll sprinkle it on top of a shake or salad instead of blending it, but lately I've been craving the pure taste and taking it by the spoonful!

Only Bee Pollen has the following:

* All 22 elements of the human system.

*All essential amino acids and is a complete protein.

* Vitamins A, B Complex series C, D, E, K and Rutin.

* 28 Minerals, Trace Mineral needed for good health.

* Enzymes and Co-Enzymes necessary for good digestion.

* No cholesterol.

Bee pollen is also fine to use while on a cleanse, used in a juice or as a supplement.