A Doctor And A Nurse Healthy Healthy Living Healthy Nutritioun Healthy Recipes Healthy Lifestyles

Seafood: Garlic Lime Prawns Recipe

Posted on May 16, 2012 by Jana Hartley, RN • 1 Comment

Nothing screams SPRING! like fresh seafood being displayed in plenty on the market shelves. I love seafood and am always looking for new ways to prepare the various types. Sometimes, though, the old tried and true recipes are worth keeping and serving year after year. This seafood recipe is definitely a keeper. I love this recipe that I originally found in our local newspaper over 25 years ago. Yes, I have been making it that long and still love this tasty seafood recipe after all these years.

Seafood Recipe: Garlic Lime Prawns Recipe

Serve it over Couscous or with a salad and toasted whole grain bread.

Garlic Lime Prawns are full of flavor, have a hint of heat but still fresh and light. I love it with a green salad that is filled with spring herbs. Spread a little olive oil on a piece of whole grain bread and toast it under the broiler for a few minutes until lightly toasted around the edges. Devine!

Ingredient

1 1/2 pounds medium sized prawns
3 tablespoons olive oil
3 medium cloves garlic, peeled and finely chopped
1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
4 Tablespoons lime juice
1/4 teaspoon salt
Freshly ground black pepper to taste
2 tablespoons finely chopped parsley

Directions

Peel the prawns and de-vein
In a large skillet heat the olive oil over medium low heat. Add garlic and crushed red pepper flakes; sauté for 5 minutes
Add the prawns and sauté until pink and just cooked through.
Remove the prawns from the pan with a slotted spoon. Add the lime juice, salt and several grindings black pepper.
Boil until the juices have thickened.
When the juices have thickened add the prawns and parsley. Stir to coat and serve with whole grain bread to sop up the juices.
Serves 6

I hope you enjoy this easy and delightful seafood recipe as much as we have in our family. This fantastic recipe is at the top of our seafood recipe file. Enjoy!

Filed Under: DINNER, GLUTEN FREE, HEALTHY RECIPES, MAIN COURSE, SEAFOOD

Mothers Day Poem : A Perfect Day

Posted on May 15, 2012 by Jana Hartley, RN • 1 Comment

Mothers Day has come and gone but I am still reveling in that perfect day.

The yard was made festive with colorful spring pennant banners!

Our daughters prepared a special Mothers Day Celebration table.

I recently was given a journal that my grandmother kept many years ago. It is filled with poems, clippings and little funnies that tickled her fancy. Though I am a little late (my hard drive crashed!), I would still like to share one of the little poems she cherished in honor of Mothers day.

It reminds me very much of her and the life she led, without which I would not be here today. I hope you enjoy her ode to Mothers with a Mothers Day Poem called A Perfect Day

A Perfect Day, A Mothers Day Poem

Mother, on a winter’s day

Milked the cows and fed them hay

Slopped the hogs, saddled the mule

And got the children off to school;

Did the washing, mopped the floors,

Washed the windows and did some chores;

Our daughters are Kindred Spirits who know how to throw a party!

Cooked a dish of home-dried fruit,

Pressed her husband’s Sunday suit,

Swept the parlor and made the beds,

Baked a dozen loaves of bread;

Split some firewood and lugged it in

Enough to fill the kitchen bin;

Cleaned the lamps and put in oil

Stewed some apples she thought might spoil,

Cooked a supper that was delicious

The girls prepared a beautiful, and robust, Strawberry Shortcake. Yum!

And afterwards washed all the dishes,

Fed the cat and sprinkled clothes

Mended a basket of hose

Then opened the organ and began to play

When you get to the end of a perfect day.

Families celebrated together, with great love.

This year we celebrated Mothers Day with our good friends, our children and our mothers. It was simply a perfect day! Though my grandmother isn’t here with us, her presence certainly was. Our table was adorned with her favorite Lilacs and her heirloom peonies are growing, once again, in my yard. She is never far from my thoughts but today, on Mothers Day she is quite near. The sun was shining and the flowers in bloom, and the company was wonderful. It was, truly a perfect day.

Filed Under: CONFESSIONS, FAMILY

Mothers Day : Mothers Are Special No Matter Who They Are

Posted on May 9, 2012 by Jana Hartley, RN • 4 Comments

Mothers Day is special day. It is a day to celebrate. No matter who your mother is, she is special to you. Maybe you don’t even know your mother, still she is special to you. Possibly you have a volatile relationship with your mom, still she is a special person. There is just something very special about mothers. Motherhood is reason to celebrate. No matter who your mother is, how wonderful or how difficult, this weekend has a day to celebrate. It is Mothers Day.

As I was buying Easter basket fillings for my children this year I met a cashier. She said to me ” this is all so wonderful, your children are so fortunate, what a wonderful Easter they will have”. Then she became teary eyed and said “I lost my mother, too young, too young.” She could not go on as she was so choked up. As the moment passed she shared with me that her mom died at the age of 52. This woman I was speaking to was easily late 50′s herself. So many years had passed since her mother’s death but still she grieved as if it were yesterday. I know that on this Mothers Day that woman will celebrate and honor her mom, expressing the love she still carries in her heart. Love that is at the very surface but runs to the depths of her heart.

Again, I met a flower shop owner not too long ago. I was in a conversation with her and have no idea how it came up. But she told me that her mom had died at the age of 30. She said, “I never got to go shopping with her, she wasn’t at my wedding and she did not get to meet my children.” She also became teary and choked the words “I feel cheated“. She pined for her mothers love and missed her deeply with each milestone in her life. A mother’s presence in your life is so very important.

I know a little girl whose mother is, truly, not a very good mom. This mother has a drug and alcohol problem, has left her children compromised multiple times. She has left her 7,6, and 4-year-old alone at night by themselves. She abused her children. Of course, she lost her kids. Her oldest daughter grieved the loss of her mother from the very depths of her soul. She cried wracking sobs as if her mother had died. That repeated itself every times she saw her mother for visitation and then was once again taken away from her. When I validated this little 7-year-old girl I said to her “I know, honey, mothers are such special people”. She immediately put her little index finger right up to my nose and adamantly said “Yes, mothers are special, no matter who they are”.

She is right.

These stories are just examples of the depth our love for our mothers. There is a connection there that can never be severed. My own mom continues to remember and honor my grandmother with a tearful moment and statements like “your grandmother would just love that!” On Sunday, and everyday, I know my mother will celebrate Mothers Day by honoring my grandmother’s memory. This weekend I will be thinking of these wonderful people who honor and love their lost mothers.

I love my mom so deeply, am so grateful for her influence on me and my siblings, and feel so fortunate to have spent my life with her in it. I can’t wait to celebrate her this Mothers Day.

Happy Mothers Day Mom

This Sunday is Mothers Day. It is an opportunity to joyfully honor those who gave birth to us, raised us, touched us in some special way. I hope you will join me in telling your mom, in your own way, no matter where she is or who she is to have a…

…Happy Mothers Day

and

I Love You.

Filed Under: CONFESSIONS, FAMILY

Craving Self Control

Posted on May 8, 2012 by Jana Hartley, RN • 3 Comments

I am craving self control over my cravings. Know what I mean?? There is a constant fight going on in my head. You might know the one. The little evil devil on one shoulder saying “you know you want, take it, it won’t hurt you, you deserve it” and the angel on the other shoulder saying “you don’t really want that, it is not good for you, it is not as good as it looks and you will regret it later”. That little angel is always right but so often I side with that dirty rotten little devil. So much for self control over my cravings.

Listen to your angel!

There are hundreds, if not thousands, of reasons why we can not maintain self control . Why, despite our strongest effort, we still eat half the chocolate cake I may never truly understand. However, I don’t really care about why I am weak and pathetic (it is just a bodily function, by the way.) I just want to know what I can do to strengthen my resolve and gain the self control I need to squash my cravings. Fortunately, scientists have studied self control for years and have all kinds of tips and tricks to help me/us out. See our 5 tips squash your cravings for good.

5 Tips to Squash your Cravings For Good

Keep your eye on the goal: Maybe your goal is to eat healthier, lose weight, or maybe to spend less and save more. Whatever your goal is, keep it at the fore-front of your mind . Never lose sight of your goal. It is much easier to resist if you can remember how important success is to you. Keep your eye on the goal, never let it out of sight. You will fit into those summer clothes before you know it!
Identify triggers: Keep a food journal. It will help you identify those things that trigger stress eating or times of day when you crave certain items. It will also help you chronicle when you have the most hunger and when your craving are the strongest. When you know these things it makes it easier to fight back against them.
Banish hunger: don’t skip meals. In fact, make sure you eat 4-6 small meals a day. Then, make sure you eat foods that keep your blood sugar steady. A fluctuating blood sugar makes your craving more intense. Planning a diet that is rich in fiber, complex carbs, protein and small amounts of healthy fats will do the trick. For example, your diet could include whole grains, fruits, vegetables, salmon, and chicken cooked in canola or olive oils. These types of foods have staying power, keep your blood sugars steady and decrease your cravings.
Give yourself 20 minutes: When you feel the need to eat foods ( or spend money or whatever your poison it), stop for a moment. Take 20 minutes, relax, tell a joke, engage in another activity. Usually hat feeling of needing what you don’t need will pass if you give it a minute. Stopping also helps you make a better choice.
Drink lots of water: Filling up on healthy fluids such as water or green tea triggers the hypothalamus in your brain (the area of the brain that is the control center for mood and food signals) to receive signals that you are satisfied. Be sure that your fluids are decaf. Caffeine triggers the release of stress chemicals which trigger those unwanted cravings.

With the above 5 tips to squash your cravings for good you can achieve self control.. Knowing yourself and your triggers are important in making that first step towards success. Choosing the right foods to eat is helpful in prevention. Learning how to manage stress and anxiety will help regulate your cravings even further. Keep your eye on the goal and you can accomplish self control over your cravings. You can do it!

What is it that you are craving today? What tips work for you in accomplishing self control over your cravings?

Filed Under: HEALTH AND WELLNESS, MIND AND MOOD, NUTRITION, WEIGHTLOSS

Eyes and Vision Health Guide

Posted on May 5, 2012 by Jana Hartley, RN • 0 Comments

Our eyes and vision are under strain every single day. We often take our eye sight for granted, until one day we lose it. Computers, Kindle’s, iPads, and smart phones as well as the sun impact the health of our eyes. Today we live in a world where our eyes and vision are under attack every day. Caring for our eyes is more important now than ever before.

Fortunately, there are preventative steps that you can take to protect your eyes and preserve the quality of your vision.

Eye and Vision Health Guide

See your eye doctor regularly to get a thorough eye exam. Routine doctors assessments can spot a problem before you can. Your doctor will also have some helpful eyes and vision protection tips that are specific to your needs. See your doctor!
Ensure you are getting enough of the right vitamins. Vitamin A, C and E are important vitamins to protect your eye sight. A study in 2010 concluded that vitamins A, C, E and zinc may work to prevent macular degeneration. Other research shows a deficiency in vitamin C and E in people with glaucoma.
Omega-3 fatty acids are a super food. Yes, the help maintain your eye sight as well as a multitude of other health conditions. Research shows that the omega-3 fatty acids found in fish and flax may lower the risk of cataracts and prevent macular degeneration from progressing.
Love your antioxidants. Beta Carotene, Lutein and Zeaxanthin are antioxidants that are found in our foods. These antioxidants are converted into vitamin A in our bodies. There are lots of food sources for these powerful antioxidants that protect our eye sight. Beta Carotene supports eyes and vision health and prevents cancer. Lutein is an antioxidant that protects against eye disease, especially macular degeneration. Lutein is found in egg yolks, green fruits and veggies (especially leafy green vegetables). Zeaxanthin is an antioxidant necessary for eye health and is most effective with lutein.

Food Sources for Eyes and Vision Health

Beta Carotene: Beta Carotene supports eyes and vision health and prevents cancer. Find Beta Carotene in green, yellow and orange fruits and vegetables
Lutein: Lutein is an antioxidant that protects against eye disease, especially macular degeneration. Lutein is found in egg yolks, green fruits and veggies (especially leafy green vegetables)
Zeaxanthin: Zeaxanthin is an antioxidant necessary for eye health and is most effective with lutein. You can get your Zeaxanthin from corn, mangoes, oranges and egg yolks.
Vitamin A: carrots, red peppers, sweet potatoes, liver, dark green leafy vegetables, lettuce, apricots cantalope.
Vitamin C: hot chili peppers, guava, citrus fruits, broccoli, kiwi, papayas, strawberries.
Vitamin E: almond, sunflower seeds, pine nuts, peanuts, dried apricots, cooked spinach.

Wear your shades every day. Too much sun can cause:

cataracts.
pterygium, which is an overgrowth on the eye that can interfere with your vision and doesn’t look very nice either.
skin Cancer around the eyes.
macular degeneration.

Doc wears his shades everyday, rain or shine!

Decrease your chances of getting these debilitating eye diseases by wearing sunglasses everyday, even on cloudy days. Make sure your glasses offer 99-100% ultraviolet eyes and vision protection against the sun.

Make and appointment to have your eyes checked by an eye doctor. Buy some nuts and veggies. Don your cool shades. Nutrition and eye protection are two of the most important factors in protecting your eyes and vision.

Filed Under: HEALTH AND WELLNESS, PREVENTATIVE MEDICINE

Defeat Memory Loss Power Up Brain Function

Posted on May 3, 2012 by Jana Hartley, RN • 3 Comments

Doc and I are warriors in the fight to defeat memory loss and to power up brain function. Doc lost his mother last year to Alzheimers. When you watch someone you love wither away from a vibrant beautiful person to skeletal remains, it is horrifying. The vision of that person and their terrible experience takes a place in your heart forevermore.

When new and hopeful studies emerge on the topic of memory loss, dementia, or Alzheimers we at A Doctor And A Nurse listen very carefully.

We have found many recent studies that are very exciting. Many studies are showing promising new treatments for people suffering from cognitive loss. These treatments give me great hope for the future of dementia and Alzheimers patients. However, here at A Doctor and a Nurse we are all about prevention. That is why we are super excited about several new studies that show lifestyle and nutrition changes may just defeat memory loss forever and power up your brain function for a life time. Today we want to share some of these results with you.

Power Up Your Brain Function

Omega 3′s: A new study just published this past week confirms that Omega-3s’ have a positive effect on the prevention of memory loss, specifically Alzheimers disease. The Columbia University Medical Center study found that people who had a diet rich in Omega 3 nutrients had less Beta-amyloid proteins in their blood than those who did not eat Omega-3 foods routinely. Beta-amyloid protein is found in high levels in people with Alzheimer’s disease. The plaques that are found in the brain of an Alzheimers sufferer is actually made up of Beta-amyloid proteins. This study coincides closely with a 2010 study that showed people who added Omega-3s to their diet had a 40% less chance of Alzheimers. The study just couldn’t show why. Now, it seems we know why. Adding Omega-3 to your diet has a lot of other health benefits at well. Find out more about Omega-3s HERE. Good sources of omega-3s are salmon and flax. If you choose to take your Omega-3s in supplement form, be sure to see your doctor first as it fish oil supplements can interact with other medications.

Blueberries and Strawberries: Last month a Harvard study revealed that DAILY intake of 1/4 cup of blueberries or strawberries results delayed memory decline in women over the age of 70 by 2.5 years. Blueberries and strawberries area high in flavonoids which are compounds found in plants that have powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. I am so glad I have both strawberries and blueberries in my garden. I will have to freeze some so that I can have a few each day!

Folate: Folate is also known as vitamin B9 It has been known for several years that Alzheimers patients have low levels of folate. It is true that many studies indicate that adding folate to your diet can decrease your risk of alzheimers. However, researchers have been unable to prove that folate is the cause of alzheimers or that taking it reduces a person’s chances of getting it. Further studies are being conducted. For now, a little folate in your diet certainly won’t harm your brain function and may actually improve it. Good sources of folate include asparagus and spinach and soy beans.

Exercise and computer use: A study by the Mayo Clinic was just published yesterday. This study cites both exercise and computer use as brain function boosters. The combination of moderate exercise such as brisk walking and brain stimulating activities such as using the computer or reading a book decreased the control groups risk of memory loss almost in half. Another recent study showed a connection between strength training and decreased memory loss in seniors.

The news that some memory loss can be prevented and brain function can be maintained is exciting to us. Prevention and awareness are your first steps in the fight to defeat memory loss and power up brain function. Now that you know what to do, get on it! Add routine omega-3, berries, folate and exercise to your diet and routine. A bit of blog hopping isn’t a bad idea either. Now, write these tidbits down so you won’t forget!

Filed Under: HEALTH AND WELLNESS, MIND AND MOOD

Hors d’oeuvres You Can Munch…uh, I Mean Lunch On

Posted on May 2, 2012 by Jana Hartley, RN • 2 Comments

Hors d’oeuvres are a perfect choice to munch or lunch on. Ordering appetizers as my main course at a restaurant is not an unusual event for either Doc or I. We like to snack! Appetizers and hors d’oeuvres speak to us in a special way. When we find an appetizer that is healthy, filling and particularly delicious we are over the moon. Today we would like to share with you some of our favorite hors d’ oeuvres you can munch or lunch on. Enjoy!

Pickled Asparagus Wraps

Easy, delicious and low-calorie; Pickled Asparagus Wraps take center stage on our plate regularly.

Ingredients

1 slice of thinly sliced black forest ham
1 teaspoon light cream cheese
1 pickled asparagus spear

Directions

Spread cream cheese on ham and place asparagus spear on one end. Roll spear up in ham/cream cheese and slice into 1-1/4 inch pieces. Delicious!

Baked Basil Tomatoes

Mediterranean flavors are just a part of my soul. I spent 4 months in Greece when I was in college and learned to love the flavorful cuisine. Fortunately a lot of their dishes are full of great nutrition as well. This super easy appetizer is wonderful served along-side a salad but can also stand alone.

Ingredients
6 Roma tomatoes
2 tablespoons olive oil
sea salt
salt and pepper
3 garlic cloves, chopped finely
balsamic vinegar
fresh basil leaves
Parmesan cheese

Directions

Cut each tomato in half. Sprinkle each half with sea salt and freshly ground pepper.

Drizzle Olive Oil and balsamic vinegar over each tomato half, then sprinkle chopped garlic on top.

Bake at 450 degrees for 20-25 minutes.

Sprinkle with 1 tablespoon of freshly grated Parmesan cheese and 1 chopped fresh basil leaf for each tomato half. Serve and enjoy!

Gorgonzola Pear Flat Bread

This is the most fantastic hors d’oeuvre you may ever taste. The flavors compliment each other perfectly. You will find these to be very satisfying and scrumptious. Doc and I make these along with a flavorful salad for a perfect light meal.

Ingredients

flat bread, water crackers or a whole grain cracker of choice.
crumbled Gorgonzola
1 soft pear of your choice.
arugula
brown sugar
balsamic vinegar

Directions

Per hors d’oeuvre:

Place 2 teaspoons of crumbled Gorgonzola on your cracker or bread. Add a slice of pear. Microwave for 15-20 seconds until the Gorgonzola melts. Top with an arugula leaf.
Mix one heaping tablespoon of brown sugar with 1/4 cup of balsamic vinegar and stir well.
Drizzle balsamic vinegar mixture over each appetizer with a spoon. Heavenly.

The next time you are in the mood for something healthy and delicious but don’t want a huge meal, pull out a few appetizer recipes. Of course, they are wonderful to present at a party for people who you want to give something special to. However, you will find appetizers and hors d’oeuvres satisfy your desire to snack and gives you a nutritious alternative to a heavy meal. Munch on….I mean, Lunch on!

Filed Under: Appetizers, DINNER, HEALTHY RECIPES, LUNCH, MAIN COURSE, VEGETARIAN

Foodie Pen Pals : Food In A Box That Comes In The Mail

Posted on April 30, 2012 by Jana Hartley, RN • 2 Comments

Last month, for the first time, I participated in a fun blog party called Foodie Pen Pals. This amazingly fun event is hosted by Lindsay at the Lean Green Bean. She manages over 600 entrants every month, hooking them up for a super fun foodie experience. Can you imagine???

This month I had the pleasure of meeting two foodie pen pals. One person sent me an incredible package (I can’t wait to tell you about it) One person I had the pleasure of shopping for and sending a package to them. It was so much fun.

So about mid-month I received this GORGEOUS and FUN package from Veronica at Foodie By Night.

Veronica is from Boston and her package was filled with items from her neck of the woods. Since I am from Seattle, this was really fun for me. Let me share with you the goodies that she sent.

Let me start with my favorite: Lemon Polenta Cookies. I have never had lemon polenta cookies before but I almost dropped dead with delight after I tried them. They were light, lemony and polenta-y. So delicious. She bought them at a local Boston Bakery which I wish I could go to. So I looked them up on-line and called them to see if they would ship these cookies to me. Sadly, they would not. Veronica sent me some granola from that same bakery and it was as wonderful. The bakery is simply called FLOUR and they have three locations in Boston. It is worth the trip! (Apparently their Quiche is out of this world too.)

Anybody have a recipe for these?

But that is not all! My box was FILLED with delightful foodie treats. She sent Old Bay Seafood spice mix to sprinkle on my fish and favorite sweet potato fries. One special treat was a small chocolate mousse mouse. I had to totally duke it out with my daughter for that little mouse. I didn’t even share. It was wonderful.

Then, she sent a local Boston magazine. I don’t know how she knew that my favorite down time activity is to sit on the couch with a cup of green tea and read magazines. Veronica is amazing, and so is her site, you simply must visit. Her blog is aptly called Foodie By Night.

Having a Foodie Pen Pal was a complete blast and I can’t wait to participate again next month. The great thing about this social event is that you don’t have to have a blog to take part. ANYONE can be a Foodie Pen Pal. So hop on over the The Lean Green Bean and sign up for May. You will be so glad you became a Foodie Pen Pal!

Filed Under: CONFESSIONS, Product Review

Asparagus Recipe with Dijon Garlic Cream Sauce

Posted on April 24, 2012 by Jana Hartley, RN • 11 Comments

I was dumbfounded the other day when my patient asked me “…exactly what is asparagus”. Asparagus is one of my favorite greens and I was surprised that everyone doesn’t have this lovely vegetable on their table regularly. There are literally thousands of asparagus recipes available to spruce up your asparagus but I often like it straight out of the streamer without an asparagus recipe.

What is Asparagus?

When you see asparagus on your grocers shelf you know spring has sprung. But that is only one reason to love this tasty green. Asparagus is a stalk vegetable that grows straight out of the ground. It is a nutritional powerhouse packed full of nutrients, antioxidants and fiber. It’s a great source of folate which is necessary for cell growth. This makes it a perfect addition to a pregnant woman’s diet. Furthermore, it has been found that people who die from Alzheimer’s disease have low folate levels in their body. It is though that folate supports cognitive function. Since a mere 6 spears contain half of the adult folate needs per day it make sense to add this tasty veg to your diet regularly. It is also a great source of vitamin C so is good for the skin and supports connective tissue as well. But that is not all! Asparagus has many other health benefits:

Asparagus

is a natural diuretic. Eat it when your feeling a little bloated to lighten up on water weight.
neutralizes ammonia that makes us feel fatigued. Need a lift? Add some asparagus to your diet for some needed energy.
protects our small blood vessels from rupturing.
is high in fiber so protects our colon, reducing cancer risk.
lowers cholesterol and blood pressure making it a heart healthy choice.
helps to dissolve uric acid in our bodies thereby preventing gout.

Best Asparagus Beauty Tip Of The Day

Use the water that you cook your asparagus in to wash your face morning and night. It will help clean and heal the blemishes on your face.

Asparagus Recipe with Dijon Garlic Cream Sauce

1/4 cup Greek Yogurt (2% or Non-Fat)
1-2 garlic cloves, pressed
1/4 teaspoon finely chopped tarragon
1/4 teaspoon finely chopped parsley
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 teaspoon sea-salt
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard (coarsely ground mustard is good too)
1 pound fresh Asparagus
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Directions

Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees
In a small blow add Greek yogurt, tarragon, parsley, garlic, pepper, sea-salt, and mustards. Stir well and refrigerate until asparagus is done.
Wash and Dry the spears and trim tough ends. If using asparagus with thick stalks, peel the lower half. Place asparagus on a baking sheet, drizzle with olive oil and toss to completely coat. Spread a single layer and sprinkle with a little salt.
Roasting time will vary depending on the thickness of the stalks. For very thin spears (my favorite) , begin checking after 8 minutes. You may roast for as long as 20 minutes for thicker stalks. Roast until tender but still crisp.
Serve on a platter, spoon sauce over the middle of the spears for a beautiful presentation.

Now you know the answer tot the question….What is Asparagus? And you know the health benefits of this delicious veggie. You have learned a great beauty tip today. Last, but not least you have a new asparagus recipe with Dijon Garlic Cream Sauce. What are you waiting for, add it to your grocery cart!

Filed Under: CONFESSIONS, DINNER, HEALTH AND WELLNESS, HEALTHY RECIPES, HEART HEALTH, LUNCH, NUTRITION, VEGETARIAN

Au Pair A Childcare Daycare Alternative – Part 6

Posted on April 23, 2012 by Jana Hartley, RN • 0 Comments

How to make it work “better”…..

Au Pair – noun a person, usually a young foreign visitor, employed to take care of children, do housework, etc., in exchange for room and board, entering the country on an education visa:

It was our plan all along to bring this young woman into our home and into our family. She gave us an excuse to tour our area and see the sights like we never typically did. Our family outings were so fun and we got to know her very well.

Monthly Au Pair meetings are required attendance and they gave her the opportunity to meet people her own age to enjoy her free time with. We also welcomed her friends into our home and that required new rules (no boys in her bedroom, hats off in the house (one boy said, “really?” and I said “YES”). They were all very nice young adults and showed respect to us. We even took a few of her girlfriends on weekend trips and family vacations. Our Au Pair was “working” for us but she was really like a teenage daughter with “no attitude” when we asked her for help.

However, we found that some families treated their Au Pair like “hired help” and made zero attempt to get to know the girls. Keep in mind, these are young adults that may be leaving their homes, families and friends for the first time and there will be homesickness about a month in from when they arrive. By the way, treating an Au Pair like “hired help” made for a tumultuous relationship for both the Au Pair and their host families; not a good combination. That was another reason we were glad to welcome other Au Pairs into our home. We did, however, require our Au Pair to fulfill her responsibilities with our kids and our home. We had a few minor issues when we had to parent our Au Pair when she slacked off of her responsibilities in our home. But they were minor. And, it did give us a little insight to having a young adult in advance of our children becoming them.

During our year she had two visitors from Germany, her boyfriend and her Mom. Having a young man in our home was interesting to say the least but he was very respectful of our rules and values once we let him know what our rules were and where he would be sleeping. And, her Mom was delightful; she couldn’t speak much English but we were able to converse quite well and she was thankful we were taking such great care of her daughter.

Did we learn her language – no. She was here to learn English. Aside from a few words “Wassermelone” Watermelon and “Guten Morgen” Good Morning….we didn’t learn a lick of German.

We quickly became her USA family and we absolutely love her to this day. It has been one of the best decisions we have ever made. Was it difficult sometimes? Absolutely! But, we wouldn’t trade that experience for anything. Our Au Pair and boyfriend visited us two years after she returned to Germany and two years later we attended their wedding and they recently visited us and shared the wonderful news that they are beginning a family of their own. We are excited to send our kids over to visit them during the summer without us in a couple of years. And, we fully anticipate our Au Pair and her family will be in our lives forever.

AUTHOR BIO: Au Pair ~ A Childcare Daycare Alternative Series is authored by working mom, Jeanne Petershagen. In this six part series, Jeanne shares her incredible experience with her AuPair and the life long impact her choice has made upon her family.

Filed Under: CONFESSIONS, FAMILY