We made it through another week (insert cheers emoji here)! Time for another round of Q&A so get in your comfies, grab a glass and join us for happy hour.
Alix-If you could give somebody one piece of nutrition advice to change their eating habits, what would it be?
Gosh, it is hard to pick one thing to focus on but I would say make sure you’re getting enough fiber. This will ensure you’re feeling full and satisfied. This tip will help you focus on real food and reading labels on packaged foods. Women should aim for ~25 grams of fiber a day and men ~38 grams a day, so think of filling up on whole grains, beans, fruits, and ALL the veggies! Drink lots of water too to keep things regular 😉
What are your favorite rain boots for Seattle’s rainy winter?
Heather: Alix and I both just got these Jeffrey Campbell rain boots and they are so flattering and feminine but still very practical for the rain. Only half sizes – size up! They are pretty narrow. There’s a Sam Edelman pair here that are identical, not as narrow and a few friends have them and find them extremely comfortable. I also have these Sperry’s and I reach for them when the rain is REALLY coming down. Lastly, can’t go wrong with a pair of Hunter’s. I have them in matte black, red and forest green. I have my eye on these navy ones next. Addiction, much?
Alix: Yep, what Heather said 🙂 I wanted to add a little pop of color with my Hunter boots, so I got the cranberry. I wear a lot of black, so these are fun and great for rainy walks with the dog or park dates. I also have these Sperry’s in all black…I feel like they really wide and run big, so sadly do not fit me that great.
Where do you shop for home decor?
Heather: My house is a combination of high and low end pieces – much like my wardrobe. Larger pieces in my house have come from Pottery Barn, PB Kids, Restoration Hardware (look for their outlet locations – SO GOOD!) and Macy’s. But as far as decorative pieces go, I am a Home Goods girl all. day. long. I rarely buy pillows or accent pieces from anywhere but Home Goods – I mean, when you go once a week, you’re bound to find some treasures (insert my husband’s eye roll).
Alix: We basically started all over with furniture when we moved to Seattle a little over a year ago. I would say 75% of our house is West Elm and our round dining room table is Crate and Barrel. We found great bar stools and rugs online off Overstock and Wayfair. For throws, pillows, guest bedding, towels, picture frames, etc. always Target and Home Goods!
How often do you cook dinner versus eating out?
Alix: In an ideal world we are eating home cooked meals 6-7 days a week. It is typically healthier and cheaper to eat at home, but sometimes take out (Hello Postmates!) or getting pre-made food at Met Market or Whole Foods is just going to have to do! On Sunday morning I like to meal plan dinner ideas for the week and grocery shop. My goal is to have home cooked meals Sunday-Wednesday, Thursdays usually end up out because I’m just done and ready for the weekend by then! Friday is always take out or restaurant and sometimes we like to stay in open a bottle of wine and cook together on Saturday nights.
Heather: I’m really trying to get better about meal planning on Sunday night so my family eats healthy and at home 5-6 days a week. We usually go out or do takeout on Friday or Sunday only. Trying to get away from the Postmating and Uber-eating because we spend a lot of money on some pretty unhealthy food. But that hangover pizza on Sunday is SO GOOD, dang it!
I have a really picky eater – how do you get your kids to eat fruits, veggies and protein?
Heather: I am the worst person to ask for advice on this but I just pre-ordered this book and I hope it gives me some ideas on how to get my oldest to eat a well-balanced diet. But in the meantime, I limit snacks throughout the day and offer him everything I am eating (which he typically turns down). I also try and avoid giving him endless options or asking him what he wants for dinner because his answer will always be, “applesauce, yogurt and cheese.” Eye roll. There’s nothing wrong with these except that it’s obviously not dinner. So, instead I’ll give him 2 options and he has to pick what he’s going to eat. I am really trying to get away from making my kids separate meals from me and my husband but it’s definitely a challenge. However, as they get older, it’s important for me to have home cooked meals as a family and sitting down together after work/school. So making one meal for everyone is ideal. If he doesn’t eat his dinner, his only option before bed is a banana or an avocado. I know this is a hot topic and people are always trying to ensure their kids have a well-balanced diet so we can definitely do a longer post on this as we gain experience and hopefully some headway with our little ones! And sorry that was a long way of basically saying I don’t know what the hell I’m doing. Does anyone?
Alix: This is SO hard and frustrating! Quinn is a super picky eater too, but is getting better as she gets a little older. I’ve read you have to sometimes offer the same food up to 15-20 times before a child might accept a new food. This, for a parent, can be exhausting. I think it is important to be eating similar meals with your child so they see you eating the same foods. Always offer 1-2 foods you know they like then keep trying to incorporate the other foods and don’t give up if they reject it several times. Lastly, I’ve found that Quinn will drink smoothies so I will make her a super hearty smoothie for breakfast to get in some veggies and protein.
What’s your favorite breakfast smoothie recipe? What are some good boosters to add?
Alix: See this post for smoothie booster ideas. This smoothie recipe looks bomb, I like this one just add some protein, and this one is super yummy!
What were the top three products you couldn’t live without during the newborn stage?
Heather: I plan to do a more in depth post on my must-have registry items but my top three products and honestly so worth the price would be the 4Moms Mamaroo (or any swing/rocker for that matter), Ollie Swaddle, or just a swaddle with snaps will do like these and sold at Target here, and the Dockatot.
Alix: My top 3 would be the Rock and Play (then we transitioned to a swing when she started to need faster movement), Baby Bjorn Bouncer and velcro swaddles like this one! This boppy pillow was also a great option for her to chill/sleep on in the early newborn days. God I wish I knew about the Dockatot!!
I love vanilla lattes but know they have a ton of added sugar. What are some healthier alternatives to order at Starbucks but don’t compromise taste?
Heather: I usually consult my RD girls with this type of stuff but I used to be a vanilla latte drinkin kinda girl, too. I slowly started phasing it out by getting less pumps of vanilla and eventually, my body stopped craving that much sugar. I’ll let Alix dive into the research and logistics on that one. But now I typically order a regular latte with almond/coconut milk with a dash of cinnamon on top for flavor and my sugar fix. If my body is craving more fat and I’m running on empty, I’ll get a whole milk latte and add a sugar in the raw. However, I was just introduced to the Starbucks Misto and I prefer the coffee/milk ratio more than the latte, it’s stronger, healthier and cheaper. Game changer. Little victory!
Alix: Such a good question! Sometimes I’m just in shock with the drink orders I overhear at Starbucks…no food shame I’d just rather get my sugar fix from a real dessert! That sugar bomb first thing in the morning is going to set you up for a hormone and energy rollercoaster the rest of the day. I usually get an americano with a little half & half, or an almond milk flat white if I’m feeling fancy (and feel like spending $6!) I will sometimes get one pump of either regular or sugar-free flavoring if I’m needing something fun, but try to stick to coffee/espresso and a little almond milk, whole milk, or half & half. I tell clients who are hooked on the sugar bomb lattes or mochas to start by getting 1-2 pumps less syrup…you will soon find one pump of flavoring is plenty and might even be able to fully transition off it and get by with some cinnamon 🙂 Also if you have been watching our Instagram stories I’ve been talking about how many cafes are now using a “barista blend” for their milk alternatives. This means it has a lot of extra sugar added to it. My husband gets so annoyed with me, but I’m the girl that asks if the almond milk is unsweetened and sometimes even ask to see the milk carton they are using…so embarrassing I know!
Let us know what you want to hear more about – nutrition, fitness, fashion, kids? Comment below. We’re still finding our groove and gauging our audience as we (slowly) grow so in the meantime, we’ll continue to write about a range of topics. Now go enjoy a bevy or two.. it’s a three day weekend BOOM!
