Women Deserve Better

Women Deserve Better: For us, that means better information, better support, and better choices. Life brings challenges. We bring empowerment, because we’ll never underestimate women.

Feeding Your Family

How to Make Your Own Baby Food

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Store-bought baby food can seem far too expensive. Luckily, you can easily make it yourself! This can save money by using food that you already have. It also lets you avoid added preservatives, sugar, and salt in your baby’s meals. And no, you don’t need a fancy baby food blender or a ton of free time. Here are some tips for making cheap, easy, and healthy baby meals: Keep … [Read more...] about How to Make Your Own Baby Food

Cheap, Healthy Sack Lunches

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One of the biggest challenges as a child grows can be what to bring for lunch at school. Your child wants something tasty, often expensive. On social media, you’ll see beautiful, vegetable-rich meals that probably took an hour to make. In reality, moms just want something healthy, cheap, and easy to make that their kid will actually eat. Here are some ideas to make sack lunches … [Read more...] about Cheap, Healthy Sack Lunches

DIY Soil Analysis

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Many beginner gardeners don’t think about their soil before they jump into gardening and start planting in their backyard. However, the quality of your soil will determine the success of your garden. Soil is what allows plants to absorb water and nutrients, so it is the foundation of your garden. Knowing a little about your soil can go a long way. 3 Main Soil Types + … [Read more...] about DIY Soil Analysis

Know Your Plant Hardiness Zone to Have a Successful Garden

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If you are interested in outdoor gardening, and if you do not have access to a greenhouse, you will need to know your plant hardiness zone to have a successful garden. Before you buy any plants or seeds, take a moment to research your plant hardiness zone, also referred to as a “growing zone,” or simply a “planting zone,” or “hardiness zone.” Especially if you are a … [Read more...] about Know Your Plant Hardiness Zone to Have a Successful Garden

How Can You Help with the Formula Shortage?

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Maybe you don’t have a baby anymore, but your heart is broken hearing about a formula shortage on the news. You may wonder how you can help make sure babies are fed. Here are a few ways you can help: Have you breastfed recently? If you are a formerly breastfeeding mom, you can start to pump again and donate your milk to milk banks. If it hasn’t been more than a year or so … [Read more...] about How Can You Help with the Formula Shortage?

What Do You Do When You Can’t Find Your Infant Formula?

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For a number of different reasons, sometimes it is difficult to find your child’s preferred formula. It can be stressful and heart-wrenching after getting used to one formula and having trouble finding it. Some kids are picky about their formula. Some kids because of various health issues can only have certain kinds of formula. There are things you can do to get your child … [Read more...] about What Do You Do When You Can’t Find Your Infant Formula?

Getting Started with a Hydroponic Garden System

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Concerned about expensive food costs? Or maybe you want to explore a new gardening option for your family to enjoy? If you’re new to indoor gardening, and you’d like a foolproof way to get started, I highly recommend investing in a hydroponic garden system, also known as a water garden. A hydroponic garden system is an indoor gardening machine which allows you to grow plants … [Read more...] about Getting Started with a Hydroponic Garden System

Intro to Aquaponics

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Looking for a way to save money by growing your own healthy food while entertaining your children at the same time? Aquaponics is a fun way to start your sustainable home gardening journey. What is aquaponics? Aquaponics combines aquatic animals (most commonly, fish) with farming. Take a regular aquarium, put a couple of plants on top, and voila! You are an aquaponic … [Read more...] about Intro to Aquaponics

Frugal Food Strategies

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Struggling families and savvy shoppers will appreciate these cost-effective strategies that also provide nutritious meals for families. By Elizabeth HardtThe author wishes to acknowledge the contributions of Cheryl Blake, Editor-in-Chief Serrin M. Foster, Colette Moran, and Molly Pannell. … [Read more...] about Frugal Food Strategies

Postpartum Options: Breastfeeding, Formula, and Weaning

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How and what you want to feed your baby is a personal decision. You, as a mother, deserve to know all the facts of the various options without feeling ashamed or guilty about your decision. Nutritional possibilities for your baby’s first few months include breastfeeding (temporarily or long term) and formula feeding.  Breastfeeding Breastfeeding is often considered … [Read more...] about Postpartum Options: Breastfeeding, Formula, and Weaning

The Do’s and Don’ts of Formula Feeding

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I had every intention of breastfeeding my first child, so I was completely unprepared when I realized I would have to formula feed. Whether you plan on formula feeding or suddenly find it necessary, here is a crash course in do’s and don’ts. Do: Stock up. Newborns can eat up to 32 ounces (131.2 grams) of formula a day. A standard container of formula contains 964 grams, … [Read more...] about The Do’s and Don’ts of Formula Feeding

When You Can’t Breastfeed

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Many moms cannot breastfeed for one reason or another. Perhaps they are on a medication that will make their breast milk toxic for the baby. Maybe the milk just doesn’t come in well or enough. Maybe their employer isn’t very breastfeeding friendly. Whatever the reason, it’s OK not to breastfeed. Formula has come a long way since its invention in 1865. It now very closely … [Read more...] about When You Can’t Breastfeed

Your Cheat Sheet to the Formula Aisle

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For any number reasons, many women choose to formula-feed their child. Women who formula-feed can be overwhelmed by the number of options out there. Sometimes, it’s like learning another language. Here is a cheat sheet to help you navigate the shelves of formula at your local market. Styles: Powder: When people think of formula, this is usually the kind that comes to … [Read more...] about Your Cheat Sheet to the Formula Aisle

How to Afford a Breast Pump

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As a new nursing mother, you may find yourself having to return to outside employment, continue in schooling, or in need of a breast pump for other reasons separating you from your new baby. Here are some options for you to look into: Through the Affordable Care Act (for as long as that remains in effect), breastfeeding mothers have the ability to order a new breast pump … [Read more...] about How to Afford a Breast Pump

5 Tips for Planning and Budgeting for Meals

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Nutrition is a hot topic that has everyone running to Pinterest and recipe books for cheap, easy, and kid-friendly recipes. Families with busy schedules often find themselves having to compromise healthy and inexpensive meals for a quick dinner so they have time to pick up a second shift at work or make those nightly basketball and soccer practices. While a quick stop at a fast … [Read more...] about 5 Tips for Planning and Budgeting for Meals

Should You Breastfeed?

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The decision of whether to breastfeed your child or to use formula is a very personal one. Before your child is born, you may have a plan to breastfeed or not. When your child is born, that plan may totally change—and that’s OK, too! Here are some things to think about as you decide what is best for you and your baby. Reasons to breastfeed: Breastfeeding is an inexpensive … [Read more...] about Should You Breastfeed?

When and How to Start Your Baby on Solid Foods

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Starting your baby on solid foods is an exciting time and an important step in his or her growth. Once your baby is 4 to 6 months old, it is usually time to start introducing solid foods into his or her diet. But all children are different and are ready for solid foods at different ages, so it is helpful to know what to look for when deciding if your baby is ready for solid … [Read more...] about When and How to Start Your Baby on Solid Foods

How to Apply and Qualify for School Meal Programs

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School meal programs provide low-income families with free or low-cost meals for children both throughout the school year and during the summer. The programs include breakfasts, lunches, snacks, and summer meals for children all over the United States. These programs allow parents the option to feed their children healthy, affordable meals, regardless of their socioeconomic … [Read more...] about How to Apply and Qualify for School Meal Programs

Breastfeeding 101

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Here are some of the basics when breastfeeding is just getting started, those things that almost all new mothers have questions about: How do I make enough milk? Milk production is not based on how much water you drink, how much protein you eat, whether or not you are pumping in addition to nursing (in normal situations), on what you eat or drink, or on whether you are … [Read more...] about Breastfeeding 101

6 Common Breastfeeding Questions Answered

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CAN I… Take medication while breastfeeding? During pregnancy, you may have been told to be wary of any medication use since it will go through to the baby. This is true, in most incidences. However, the breast actually filters more of the medications than the placenta does, allowing more medications to be used during breastfeeding. Have you been prescribed a medication or … [Read more...] about 6 Common Breastfeeding Questions Answered

Will Breastfeeding Hurt?

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OUCH!! We’ve all heard it… breastfeeding is painful, right? All those terrific friends, family, neighbors, and even total strangers who tell you they had pain or cracked or bleeding nipples for six days, six weeks, or six months. Yikes! What, exactly, is normal then? The research and extensive experience of mothers, lactation consultants, and health care professionals show … [Read more...] about Will Breastfeeding Hurt?

What Do I Need to Breastfeed?

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Baby carriers, baby slings, breast pumps, nipple shields, nursing bras, hands-free bras, nursing clothing, nursing covers, nipple creams and lotions… so much to think about and make decisions about! New mothers are not expected to be the experts on all of these various items that can come up in everyday conversations about parenting and breastfeeding, or that you see in all the … [Read more...] about What Do I Need to Breastfeed?