Teresa Purzner

I’m the Co-Founder of Cerebelly, an MD neurosurgeon with a PhD in developmental neurobiology but first, a mother of three.

While doing my research at Stanford I had my own babies and realized there was a huge gap in the market when it came to providing specific nutrients during key windows of brain development. Not only did the foods on the healthiest grocery store shelves miss out on these nutrients, they were missing out on the basic nutrients a developing brain and body needs. So, I decided to set out and change that with Cerebelly in 2019. I knew if I didn’t do that, there was a high likelihood of no one else doing it.

But how do we ensure our little ones are getting the right nutrients? Well, I think a lot of parents take great pleasure and pride in making their kids food and there’s so much value in doing that which extends well beyond the nutritional profile of the food you create. I created Cerebelly to give parents one less thing to worry about and really felt (and still do!) that with our products, we help alleviate the guilt around eating and set our kids off on the right path for long-term vegetable eating. No matter how you look at it, Cerebelly has 8x the nutrition to support healthy brain development, among the 7-top selling baby food pouches on the market.

I’ve found shopping to be quite overwhelming -– even on the healthiest grocery store shelves – and encourage all parents to ‘Flip Your Food’ and see how our nutrition stacks up for smarter snacking. There may be all the right ingredients pictured on the front – but what is the first ingredient on the ingredient list? Often it will be apple, banana or pear. Many packages tout spinach and dark leafy greens on the front, only to discover on the back that there is a few percent of the daily requirement of iron on the nutritional panel – the equivalent of ONE calorie of spinach in the actual product. Each pouch has a nutritional panel – cut through the confusion by just looking at it.

Some tips for parents to look for:
Explore Different Veggies and Fruits: There are many essential nutrients that support healthy brain development and they aren’t all in your basic, everyday fruits and veggies. To make sure your little one is getting the nutrients they need, look to a wide variety of vegetables and fruits like kelp, maitake mushrooms, squash seeds, algal oil and sunflower seeds that have high nutritional density including DHA, Iron, Zinc and Vitamin E.
Don’t be Fooled by Baby Food Packaging!: Flip your food, as it’s the nutrition inside that counts. A box, jar or pouch may tout Spinach on the front of the package, but if it only has 2% of a child’s daily value of Iron, you are probably getting the equivalent of 1 calorie of spinach.
Veggies Over Fruit: Look for vegetable-first baby foods, rather than fruit-first foods (which can be jam packed with sugars). Veggies are where so many good nutrients are!

At Cerebelly we’re really conscientious about things like heavy metals and contaminants (hence the Clean Label Award!!) and ensure that our products combine up-to-date early childhood nutrition with developmental neuroscience to provide nutritious, but also delicious, organic, non-GMO, 100% plant-derived, vegetable- first, dairy-free, and gluten-free, with no added sugar products – giving our little ones the best possible start in life with the age-optimized pouches and most recently our smart bars, to grow with.


1

Sweet Potato Mango

Ripe, tart mango and buttery sweet potato pack a bright punch

$2.89

Our purees contain 8x the nutrients of a conventional pouch. They are designed to support the developing brain of children between the ages of 4 - 24 months old, but they make an amazing snack for toddlers, too!

BUY NOW

2

Blueberry Banana Sweet Potato Smart Bars (5-pack)

The smartest of snack bars, this tasty combo supports brain growth in regions like the parietal lobe

$4.99

Our Smart Bars contain 10 brain-supporting nutrients, 0g of added sugar and 3g of protein. Whether it's for your toddler who's ready to start chewing their food, or your older kiddos who need a healthy snack, our bars are the perfect go-to. We like to call it smart snacking.

BUY NOW

3

Cerebelly X Peppa Pig Smart Bars

We’ve partnered up with Peppa Pig and created fun new packaging for her favorite Smart Bars! Who knew eating healthy could be so fun?

$4.99 for a 5-pack

Ancient grains, crunchy carrots and sun-kissed raisins combine in this smart snack bar delivering brain-supporting nutrients including Zinc, Iron and Vitamin C.

BUY NOW

4

The Bright Start Bundle

Set your little one up for success by providing for them the nutrients their developing brain needs, when they need it. The 28 selected items make the job easy for you!

$81.04 + 15% off

The Bright Start pack ensures you are getting the most critical nutrients, like Choline, Selenium and Zinc, during these most critical windows of brain development.

BUY NOW

5

Pea Spinach Pear

These four nutrients are known to support the growth of the cerebellum, which coordinates your little one’s posture, balance, coordination, and speech, as well as their cingulum, which helps regulate things like attention, visual and spatial skills, and memory

$2.17 each BUY NOW

Garden-fresh peas and leafy spinach get a sweet boost from orchard pears, while quinoa adds texture and a hearty helping of Protein, rounding out this puree also high in DHA, Folate, and Selenium

Not that you needed another reason to stay safe and cozy at home, but Walmart just announced a new program that lets you return unwanted items from the comfort of your house. Yup, that’s right! Even better, you can arrange for a pick up right from your smart device or computer. Curious about the fine print? From how long this program will last to what happens if you don’t have a printer, we’ve got all the details you need to know. Keep reading to find out more. 

How It Works

Walmart

The new service is called Carrier Pickup by FedEx, and it allows you to set up a return via the Walmart app or on Walmart.com. Simply pick the item you want to send back, choose the return pickup location and preferred date, then pack it up, slap on the label, and drop it on your front porch. The best part? This new service is totally free and won't be ending anytime soon.

What if I don’t have a printer?
There’s an option for folks that don’t have a way to print out a label. Simply choose “Drop off at FedEx” as the return option, get a return/QR code and take the package to a FedEx location, where the code will be scanned and the label printed. 

What if I bought something in the store? 
No worries. You can set up a return of any item bought at Walmart, whether it was in-store, via the app or online.

Can I read the fine print?
Get more details about this new return program and Walmart's updated return policies by clicking here.

—Gabby Cullen

Featured image: iStock 

RELATED STORIES: 

10 of Our Favorite Products at Walmart for Baby Safety Month

Walmart Introduces New Membership Program

Walmart Is First Retailer to Install Mamava Lactation Suites

3 Reasons We Love Amazon Kids+

Sponsored advertising content

Amazon Kids+ is an all-in-one subscription that gives kids access to thousands of kid-friendly books, movies, TV shows, educational apps, Audible books and games. This game-changing subscription works on a bunch of different compatible devices: Amazon Fire tablets, Android, iOS, Fire TV, Kindle and Echo devices. Keep reading to see why we love this smart subscription service.

1. Tons of Content You’ll Both Love

Your little ones will love that they get to explore all on their own, while you’ll love knowing their adventures entail only age-appropriate content. And when we say "explore", we mean it—Amazon Kids+ over 20,000 pieces of content to play, listen, read and watch.

Hilarious videos: Check. Challenging games: Check. Fun digital learning: Check! An Amazon Kids+ subscription is quantity meets quality, with kid-loved content like videos from Blippi, games from Toca Boca and engaging at-home learning with HOMER. Plus, the fun doesn't stop with their tablet. Your family can also access content on Fire TV, or discover new premium kid’s skills on your Echo devices.

2. Smart Parental Controls

With an Amazon Kids+ subscription, you’ll get access to easy-to-use parental controls that let you choose a balance between education and entertainment. In the app, you can personalize screen time limits, set educational goals, filter age-appropriate content and even manage web browsing to create a safe digital space for your kids!

3. A Seriously Incredible Price

If we had to pick a favorite perk of Amazon Kids+, it'd be the budget-friendly price. The all-in-one subscription service starts as low as $2.99 a month for Prime members, or you can get a 1-year family plan membership for up for four kids for just $69 ($99 for non-Prime)! Content from trusted brands like Nickelodeon, Disney and PBS for just a few dollars a month? Count us in. Plus, for a limited time take advantage of a kid-tastic Holiday offer and save 70% on a 1-year family plan membership (usually $69.99)! Terms apply.

Learn more about Amazon Kids+ here!

While there is an official Something Nice Day, we think the idea of spreading kindness and compliments should happen every day of the year. Show your kids that a few kind words go a long way. Scroll down for a few compliments you can pay to the people in your life.

photo: Bessi via pixabay

Compliments for Kids


Experts agree that specific praise (What a nice job you did writing your name) boost self-esteem more than general compliments (You are so smart!). Here’s a few examples:
You did a great job putting your shoes on.

I like your singing voice. Please sing me another song.

Very nice writing skills.

Good job making your bed.

You are so good at making me laugh.

You have a beautiful smile. It makes me so happy to see it.

When you do a good job, it makes me feel proud.

I love your choice of colors.

Compliments at a Restaurant/Service


These compliments are pretty universal. Try one at the local coffee shop or even the person who put you on hold at the cable company (patience is a virtue!):

You did a great job listening to us. Thank you.

I appreciate how calm you are amidst chaos.

You were our favorite part of lunch.

Thank you for being so prompt!

You really are poised no matter how busy it gets. It’s impressive.

You made us feel welcome and that made my day.

Compliments to the chef!

Compliments for Teachers & Caregivers

Although they dole out the praise to your little ones, it’s not often enough we give it back to them.

I am always moved by how patient and kind you are.

I wanted you to know how much my kids admire you.

I love how attentive you are to every child here. It’s amazing.

You have really made a difference in my child’s life.

You are a source of inspiration for my kid.

What’s the best compliment you’ve received? Share it with us in the comments. 

—Amber Guetebier

We’re interviewing Power Parents who in our opinion, are killing it. From the board room to the changing room, these moms are filling us in on everyday life of how they juggle it all.

Today we’re interviewing Lindsey Broad – actress, funny woman, and now boy mom to two adorable towheaded boys. You might recognize her as the most hated women on The Office as Cathy Simms or the cute bartender in In The Dark. When she’s not on your TV she plays the leading role of mom to her two boys.

We all know you from your roll on The Office as Cathy Simms but scrolling your IG today it looks like you’re in full-on mom mode. 

What is life like for you these days?
Life is intense, to say the least. After months of being quarantined in a New York City apartment with a highly active baby and lonely toddler (no extended family with large country homes over here), we impulse-purchased a house outside of the city. The house needs a lot of work and moving with kids is INTENSE. I’m hoping to be unpacked by the time my youngest is in kindergarten. Not to mention, production is starting again (phew!), which means that I both have to travel/quarantine for work and tape auditions in my basement at midnight.

What was it like being on The Office?
Wild! Amazing! Intimidating! I was a huge fan of the show and it was very very surreal to be on that set. Everyone was very kind and smart and funny and I am very happy to have been a small part of something so iconic. Also, I was the newest person, which meant I was the first person in the makeup trailer every morning, and my “desk” was in the background of the “talking heads,” which meant I had to stay while they taped those at the end of the day. So, long days! Glad I did it before I had little ones.

You played Pam’s replacement on maternity leave that Pam swore was the ‘Apple of Jim’s eye’ what was the role like?
In retrospect, she was what we now call “basic.”

Are you still the most hated person on TV?
No, because thankfully Donald Trump gets a lot of airtime.

How has being a mom changed your career?

In a ton of ways. I had a hard time balancing after my eldest was born because I felt such an identity shift and it took a little time to recalibrate. It makes it much more of a job: I shot a show in Canada the last couple of years, and I was always prioritizing getting in and out as quickly as possible. It often meant little sleep and maybe a little less focus.

We saw you took your youngest son Harry onset of “In The Dark” when he was super young. What was that like?
BONKERS. He was 4 weeks old when I started and film hours are insane – constantly changing call times and LONG days. He wouldn’t sleep at all in the hotel (he was sleeping in a Snoo at home), so I would just basically stay up all night, nursing constantly, trying my best not to pass out with him in the cushy hotel bed, and then roll into work with a baby-sitter who would meet me at my hotel in the wee hours of the morning. Thank heavens for concealer! It turned out my milk had excess lipase, so everything I pumped in the first month was trash and I just had the sitter bring him to me to nurse between takes. It was wild, to say the least. Full adrenaline mode.

You’ve been in Gossip Girl, 21 Jump Street – Which character did you identify with the most?

I played Karen on an IFC/Netflix series called Benders and she was a super smart and cool mom and it was a really weird and specific show that I thought nicely captured marriage. Chelsea on In the Dark was written for me, and I think she sounds a lot like me and I really identify with her vulnerability.

You are two super cute boys. What’s your favorite thing about being a mom?

I love sharing the things I enjoy with my kids. I’m super hands-on and basically love every single aspect of it, aside from feeding my picky 3.5 year old!

 

 


What’s the one parenting product you couldn’t survive without?

I want to preface this by saying that these are both bougie luxury items, but the cost-per-use made them so totally worth it.

1

Doona Car Seat & Stroller

Allows you to move from car seat to stroller in seconds.

$499.99 BUY NOW

For my eldest, it was the Doona carseat/stroller. I used it everywhere: planes, cabs, restaurants, the subway. It’s tiny and fits great at a restaurant table, it was so easy at the airport, and I never got stuck in an Uber without a carseat.

 

2

Artipoppe Zeitgeist Baby Carrier

The chicest baby carrier on the street.

379.00 BUY NOW

For my second, it was the Artipoppe carrier. So nice and soft and comfortable! I used it from the day I brought Harry home from the hospital and nursed in it all day long for months - just stuck my boob in his mouth and went about my day. Plus, it made me feel cute!

 

The Verizon GizmoWatch just got an update and it’s perfect for kiddos. Starting Nov. 12, you can preorder the GizmoWatchTM Disney Edition that features your fave characters including Elsa, Minnie Mouse, Buzz Lightyear and The Child.

The parent-approved watch helps the family stay connected and the newest version comes with a front-facing camera so kids can send video and picture messages to up to 10 trusted contacts. It also comes with easy-to-use parental controls, reminders, the ability to provide emergency information and a built-in GPS locator.

photo: Verizon

The GizmoWatch Disney Edition provides an interactive experience for children, where characters come alive as they carry out actions like checking the weather and announcing notifications. Verizon will be adding more characters in the near future.

Like most smart watches, the GizmoWatch tracks movement and includes interactive play mode where kids can choose characters who will play sounds.

The GizmoWatch Disney Edition can be ordered at verizon.com or via the My Verizon app for $199.99, plus a $10 monthly fee, starting Nov. 12. You can get $50 off with the purchase of a smartphone when you preorder.

––Karly Wood

 

RELATED STORIES

Here’s the Easiest Way to Get Your Kids to Wear a Mask

mifold Just Launched a New Travel Booster & It’s Way Comfy

6 Ways Your Little Elf Can Talk to Santa for Free This Christmas

Every parent wants to keep their little one snuggled close after they’ve just entered the world, and wearing your baby is a great way to give both you and baby comfort at such a critical stage. But not all baby carriers offer safety and smart design. That’s why Nuna offers CUDL™ 4-in-1, an easy carrier that keeps your wee one close and secure, all while keeping your hands free.

Nuna has been creating smart, helpful and bold baby gear since 2007. Nuna designs its baby products around your life, which means this carrier is easy, flexible, safe and practical. Plus, the clean lines in the design of their products are often used to incorporate practical storage solutions, like a pocket to easily access your smartphone—win!

The new CUDL™ 4-in-1 has a handful of perks that make baby wearing a snap for new parents. One of our favorite features: it’s designed so you can put it on and adjust it by yourself, as opposed to relying on helpers to get your little one securely intact and get moving.

We love that the pack has four carry positions: newborn mode with integrated infant booster, facing in, facing out or back carry. All four of the positions allow your kiddo the ergonomic positioning to keep spine and hip development healthy. The carry options let you keep carrying your little one from infant to more than nine months, so when your kiddo wants to marvel at their outside world, you can have them face out. Or, switch to back carry mode for growing toddlers.

Here are some of the awesome features of the CUDL™ 4-in-1 carrier:

  • Four ergonomic magnetic buckles that make securing on the go quick and simple
  • Breathable mesh fabric and padded shoulder and waist straps
  • Set of two GOTS™ certified organic cotton bibs included
  • Zip open storage pocket on waistband that holds a smartphone the size of iPhone 8 and above
  • Innovative leg opening button adjustment for smaller babies
  • Removable and washable infant head support
  • Locking zippers are covered to add security and ensure no contact with baby’s skin
  • All-over comfort from even distribution of baby’s weight thanks to padded shoulder straps and a wide secure waist belt

It’s not just us that are fans—the CUDL™ 4-in-1 carrier has been recognized worldwide as an amazing baby carrier and was the Red Dot Product Design Winner of 2020. Parenting is tough enough, but you can make it just a little easier with the right gear. Shop Now for the CUDL by Nuna.

—Leah R. Singer

Sometimes it can be hard to find healthy food options for picky kids. Cerebelly is the first science-backed, brain-focused children’s food brand created by a mom of three and practicing neurosurgeon to deliver age-optimized nutrients for early brain development. Now they are collaborating with Peppa Pig for the launch of Smart Bars. 

Cerebelly x Peppa Pig Smart Bars

The Cerebelly x Peppa Pig Smart Bars are perfect for children 1 and older. They are portable and accessible for more refined palates and further Cerebelly’s mission of making the highest quality, science-backed food accessible for all children and families. 

“We initially launched Cerebelly with a focus on pouches so we could confidently cover the critical window of brain development that happens in the first three years of life. While we’re always innovating our pouches, I realized that as kids grow up, they will need a new format to continue benefiting from Cerebelly –something portable and accessible to their more refined palates. These Smart Bars were the perfect next step,” said Dr. Teresa Purzner, Co-Founder and Chief Science Officer of Cerebelly. “Kids are used to eating bars, but ones that are low sugar, vegetable heavy and packed with hard-to-get brain-supporting nutrients are hard to come by. Ours are allergen free, school safe and so tasty for even the pickiest eaters.”

Cerebelly x Peppa Pig Smart Bars

The Smart Bars are available in two delicious flavors that kids will love, Blueberry Banana Sweet Potato and Carrot Raisin. Each contains zero grams of added sugar, 3g of protein and 10-12 brain-supporting nutrients, compared to leading competitors on the market which offer only 0-3 nutrients. The special edition bars will debut in all Whole Foods markets nationwide, priced at $4.99 for a variety box of five, as well as on Cerebelly.com to coincide with the brand’s site relaunch. 

“Supporting our Peppa Pig fans growing up as they embark on everyday new adventures, helping to create everlasting childhood memories is at our core,” said Jamie Epstein, eOne Director of Marketing – North America, Family Brands. “We’re thrilled to join Cerebelly on their newest journey teaching nutrition through education for preschoolers and their parents with the launch of Cerebelly x Peppa Pig Smart Bars. We can’t think of a better partner, whose mission aligns with ours of giving children the best possible start in life.”

The special edition Peppa Pig Smart Bars will launch alongside two additional smart bar flavors, Strawberry Beet and Green Apple. All smart bar varieties contain organic whole grain oats, organic nutrient blends derived from spinach, broccoli, squash seed, cranberry, maitake mushroom, chlorella, sunflower seed and more, along with natural flavors, kale, organic beets, lemon juice and sea salt.

The Cerebelly x Peppa Pig Smart Bars will be priced at $4.99 for a variety box of five at Whole Foods. Additional smart bar flavors and subscriptions will be available on Cerebelly.com, ranging from $3.74 to $4.99 depending on quantities purchased.

—Jennifer Swartvagher

Featured photo: Cerebelly

RELATED STORIES

Healthy, Smashable 1st Birthday Cakes 

Mom-Approved Meal Time Products & Gear

Drool-Worthy Baby Bibs & Cover-Ups 

 

Amazon Prime Day has come and gone and this year, the two day event was the biggest ever for small and medium businesses who sell through Amazon with over $3.5 billion in sales. So what did people buy on Amazon Prime Day this year?

Prime Members saved more than $1.4 million and earned tens of millions of credits through promotions while shopping this year. Here are the top sellers.

Echo Dot

The Amazon Echo Dot was the number one purchased product globally this year. All in all, customers millions of Alexa-enabled devices, and more Fire TVs than last year's Prime Day.

Fire TV Stick 4K

Prime Members love streaming and the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K with remote control was one of the top sellers globally this year. The $50 purchase also comes with a remote. 

iRobot Roomba Vacuum

iRobot Roomba Vacuums were one of millions of smart home devices purchased on Prime Day. Not only did this little sucker take home the prize for top seller in the U.S., but globally, too.

MyQ Smart Garage Door Opener

Prime members proved they want their deliveries safe and sound in the garage, and that's why the MyQ Smart Garage Door Opener was a best seller again this year. Link to your key app and control where, when and who opens your garage door––no matter your location.

LifeStraw Personal Water Filter

LifeStraw is a personal water filtration system that is ideal for hiking, camping, backpacking or doing anything where freshwater isn't always available. Shoppers stocked up on this environment-friendly gadget that also gives the gift of clean water for a year for a child in need for every purchase.

LEGO Star Wars Stormtrooper Helmet

The force is not strong with this one! The LEGO Star Wars Storm Trooper Helmet building kit was a super popular buy this year, coming in as a top seller globally.

—Karly Wood

Featured Photo: Bruce Mars via Pexels

RELATED STORIES:

21 of the Best Gifts for Families This Holiday Season

This New RBG Book Will Inspire a New Generation of Readers

Deal Alert: Whole Foods Market Is Having a Huge Beauty Sale