folic-acid Archives

When you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, you have to watch what you put down the hatch. Good news: A slew of beverages made specifically for new and expecting moms makes it easy to for you to form a healthy drinking habit. And they also happen to be delicious. Here are four choices for the next time you thirst for something different.

For Cool Refreshment: Hey Mama! Tea
A hot summer’s day is no time to be sitting around parched. This tall, cool one has your back. Formulated for moms-in-waiting, it’s a caffeine-free herbal tea that’s bottled in small batches. Choose from three new flavors. Lemon Glow is a bright, citrus-y mix containing red raspberry leaves (said to nurture the uterus), nettle leaves and antioxidant-rich red rooibos tea. Minty Morning is peppermint flavored with a hint of spice and has ginger root powder (which may help digestion), peppermint leaves and rooibos tea. Pom Berry Baby has fennel and fenugreek seed that supposedly aid in breast milk production. Refrigerate, pop ’em open and you’re good to go. $11.97/3-pack. Available online at teasformomstobe.com.

For Hydration: Bump Water
Chug, chug, chug. Drinking lots of water is essential for any healthy diet — especially if you’re expecting. The new Bump Water is a folic acid- and vitamin-enhanced drink for women. Along with being packed with goodies like Vitamin A, D, B6, and B12, Niacin, Biotin, Zinc and Magnesium, it’s low on calories; full-calorie versions (weighing in at 100 calories) are sweetened lightly with organic cane sugar, and there are 10-calorie options thanks to stevia. Bump Water has launched with two flavors: cranberry-ginger and lemonade. Soon, pomegranate mixed berry and strawberry lemonade will be up for smooth, refreshing grabs. $28.99/12-pack. Available online at bumpwater.com.

For a Toast: 9Months Sparkling Beverage
Just because you’re off the sauce doesn’t mean you can’t raise a glass with the rest of the party. This new drink, which is bottled just like champers, is a non-alcoholic sparkling beverage marketed to expectant mothers. Both the sparkling red and white varieties have that effervescence we all love, and a bright, crisp taste. There are no artificial flavors or colors, and no added sugar. Its origins are also notable; the drink comes from a vineyard in southern Australia. Plus, a portion of sales goes to March of Dimes. Cheers to that. $19.50 per bottle. Available online at 9monthslove.com.

For Relaxing: Mama Tea
This British import will have you glowing, relaxing and staying cool in no time. Herbal tea sachets are sold in themed packs, and each has a different end goal. Morning Mama is a ginger and lemon blend that could ease your sore tummy. Glowing Mama contains elderflower and rooibos, said to flush out toxins and make you look brighter. Cool Mama packs spearmint for a brisk pick-me-up. Ready Mama is a palatable mix of raspberry leaves and rose petal that are fragrant and full-bodied (and taste great iced!). And New Mama has fennel and hibiscus for overall balance. They’re all caffeine free and well worth trying. Around $6/pack, plus shipping cost from overseas. Available online at mamatea.com.

What is your favorite pregnancy or new-mom drink? Let us know in the Comments!

— Kelly Aiglon

This simple and delicious crock pot chili is cooked nice and slow with a lil’ bit of southern flair. It’s perfect for those Sundays when you will be in and out of the house as the recipe calls for a little preparation now and a little preparation hours later. It’s also good for moms and dads working from home with a bit of extra time on their hands in between tasks.

Insider know how:

Black-eyed peas are enormously nutritious, chock full of fiber, folic acid, and iron.
You can add two cups of chopped collard greens to the pot at the same time you add the corn to turn up the nutrients (and southern charm) even further.
The recipe calls for chipotle chiles en adobo, which are sold in cans in the Mexican food section of most supermarkets. You can adjust the amount of chipotle you use depending on your family’s enthusiasm for spice.

Ingredients:

1 pound dried black-eyed peas
1 large yellow onion, chopped
One 26-ounce box chopped tomatoes or one 28-ounce can
2 to 3 chipotle chiles en adobo, finely chopped
1 tablespoon ground chili powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
2 1/2 cups water
One small pork tenderloin (about 2/3 pound), cut in half crosswise
2 cups raw corn kernels (about 3 ears of corn)
1 1/2 teaspoons salt

Garnish: Light sour cream, sliced green onions

Method:

Rinse the black-eyed peas and look then over, removing any tiny stones. Put into the slow cooker and fill with water to cover by several inches. Do not turn on the slow cooker. Leave overnight to soak.

Drain the peas, rinse, and put them back into the slow cooker. Add the onion, tomatoes, chipotle chiles, chili powder, cumin, and water. Stir well. Nestle the 2 pork tenderloin chunks into the peas.

Turn the slow cooker to high and cook until the peas are just tender, about 3 hours and 20 minutes. Add the corn and continue to cook until the corn is tender and the beans are soft but not mushy, another 25 minutes. Add the salt, stir well, and turn off the heat.

Pull the pork tenderloin out of the slow cooker and let it rest on the counter until cool enough to handle. Use your fingers to shred the pork into bite-size pieces. Add back into the slow cooker and stir.

Serve in bowls with a generous dollop of light sour cream and a shower of thinly sliced green onions.

Katie Sullivan Morford is a mom, food writer and registered dietitian. You can find her family-friendly recipes and kitchen wisdom at Mom’s Kitchen Handbook

For more great crock pot recipes click HERE

ML Interest Tag: folic-acid

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