After School Snack Rut

Guest written by our friend Clara Castro

There is nothing like starving children barreling into the house after a long day at school. It makes moms like me hop up and quickly start dishing out platters of healthy stuff before they get their hands on all the junk food. I try to meet them in the kitchen shooting down whining requests for fully processed snacks but sometimes, we are just bored with the same ole same ole. Fortunately this morning I was watching tvbydirect and one of my favorite food shows dished out some great tips for thinking out of the box for after school snacks. No more peanut butter and Jellies for a while for my kids. I’m having way to much fun making creatures out of sliced veggies and homemade hummus. Plus it’s just fun to have the kids look at me like I need to get a life but they are trying things they never would have otherwise. Thank you Food Network. I suppose the jokes on them because most of my ingredients are prepared ahead of time and it’s so easy to whip out and throw together.

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Eating With An Upset Stomach

Having an upset stomach is no picnic for anyone. Although eating may be one of the last things you want to do, it’s still important to fuel your body. So what should you eat with an upset tummy?

One of the best things to know when you have an upset stomach is what not to eat. It’s always best to avoid foods that are greasy or sweet. Also, keep in mind that dehydration is always a concern with flu-like upset stomachs involving vomiting or diarrhea. Staying hydrated is essential: Water, hot teas and sports drinks are always a good choice. If it’s difficult to drink liquids, popsicles are an excellent way to stay hydrated.

Teas are especially good, particularly fresh home-made herbal teas. Fennel and ginger are traditional stomach aids. Fennel is a natural remedy for gas and stomach cramps, and ginger is a natural aid for upset stomachs. Mint, cinnamon and thyme also make great teas because they help move wastes out of the system. Of course the warmth of tea is always a welcome and soothing aid to an upset stomach.

As for solid foods, clear soups like plain broths or chicken noodle soup are always a good choice. Not only are they gentle on the system, they’re comforting. Other bland foods like soup, oatmeal, bananas, rice and orange juice are all gentle on an upset stomach - you can feel confident creating a simple meal out of any of these.

No human body is alike, so what is a light and soothing meal for one may spell nausea for another. If your gut reaction – literally – is to stay clear of certain foods, avoid them by all means.

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The Buzz about Coffee Beans

Not only do I absolutely adore coffee in the morning, but I’ve come to believe it is a magic bullet. Yes, it can cause symptoms for some folk when it comes to digestion and/or high blood pressure, but other than that the new findings that coffee is very healthy for us overpowers the minimal side effects for the majority of people. Coffee is the perfect pick-me-up for all sorts of reasons!

The java bean has been found to improve circulation and reduce unsightly cellulite. It serves as a vaso-restrictor on blood vessels reducing varicose veins, plumps skin with a healthy glow, darkens skin as a natural skin tanner, revives and smoothes skin and the most significant finding is how coffee fights cancer.

Yes, it fights and destroys many forms of cancer including skin cancer. Caucasians in cooler, northern regions who use coffee have significantly lower occurrences of skin cancer in contrast to those who don’t drink coffee. Many women living in warmer climates world-wide have known a long time about the benefits of coffee upon the skin. Coffee is healthful as both a preventative and healing agent, both ingested orally and applied topically to the skin.

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Coffee Skin Cure Ideas

When it comes to skin care, coffee is a choice ingredient these days ever since it’s been established those little beans are good for us. You may have even seen beauty products on the store shelves containing java beans this past spring. You can blend together your own natural recipes straight from home and it is cost effective. Moreover, if it’s a self-tanning lotion you’re looking for you can even concoct your own lotion at home.

Other recipes you can make yourself with the bean are coffee grind scrubs, skin tints, coffee moisturizers and cellulite wraps. Coffee beans are very effective on cellulite treatment and ridding of varicose veins. Combine some coffee grinds with some egg white for skin exfoliation. Apply the scrub all over before applying your sunless tanner to the skin for a streak-less application and smooth skin.

Another application is to brew a pot of coffee and allow it cool before pouring the cooled coffee all over your skin for a darker skin tint - naturally. Leave it there for about one half-hour and then rinse.
Moreover, a recipe of brewed coffee beans mixed with olive oil (or oil of choice) along with coconut milk makes a natural yet effective oil-based suntan product. If you add more coconut milk than oil you’ll end up with a creamier based lotion rather than the tanning oil variation. I simply purchase a can of coconut milk at any grocery store. I find it gives you an overall darker tan, and also prepares and protects your skin from skin damage and possible skin cancers. This tanning product won’t guard you from the sun’s UV rays so applying an SPF base is recommended.

Now, for those seeking an effective cellulite treatment, especially in the spring season before summer, the java bean is a good friend. On average, a cellulite wrap offered at spas range from $70-$210. However, at home you can give yourself a series of treatments, which will work better on ridding the winter toxin buildup in the skin that so many women are prone to. These are the recipes I’m using:


Coffee Scrub

First, a simple recipe of coffee beans, brown sugar, olive oil, a few drops of almond oil and, if you like, a dash of chocolate into the blend makes a delicious and powerful scrub. Rub this all over in the shower and rinse off for smooth and revived skin, a cellulite treatment and exfoliation of the skin all wrapped into one scrub. Plus, you can rub this scrub in and leave it on for up to one hour for an alternative method of tinting the skin.

Coffee Wrap Treatment

If you’re needing that extra cellulite treatment which works deeper and more intensively into your toxin buildup than it is very simple and easy to use the coffee scrub already mentioned, but add a bit more oil to it and wrap yourself firmly in traditional cloth wraps (if you have found them in stores) while remaining in a warm location. It is also possible to warm blankets or towels and add drops of aroma therapy for a very aromatic and heating/thermal wrap experience.

The simple wrapping of saran wrap also proves effective for a thermal experience. Saran wrap likely is the most used home product for wraps. Similarly, wrap yourself in blankets or towels after you’ve applied the saran wrap in the targeted cellulite zones. Better yet, jump in your sauna or similar space if you’re lucky to be around those warm units while you’re wrapping. Do at least one to two wraps for light cellulite and up to a series of 6-8 wraps for problem cellulite areas. Reducing cellulite is not only a cosmetic concern, but a good health preventative in the detoxification process.

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