Spring has sprung and that means for me that means eating lighter. Like so many people, you may be adjusting your diet to get "summer ready", but I know that looks different for everyone. I have been focusing on eating more fruits and veggies as well as increasing my water intake and workouts.

This week's recipe is one of my favorites and it's actually one my "go-to" recipes when I need something filling and healthy. I first found this recipe when I began training for my first 5k in 2014. As usual, it quick, easy to prepare and family-friendly. Apple stacks are fun to make and eat because of the endless topping possibilities. You can make a simple snack or turn your stacks into an elaborate treat!

Did you know?

• Apples are high in fiber. One average sized apple contains almost twice the amount of fiber as one serving of a fiber supplement.
• Apples are high in malic acid. Apple juice, apple flesh, and apple cider vinegar all have a high malic acid content. This beneficial compound is helpful in treating conditions such as fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, and gallstones.
• Apple consumption may reduce the risk of cancer. Apples contain pectin, quercetin, procyanidins, and Vitamin C, which are all beneficial in the prevention of disease and cancer when consumed regularly.
• Apples are 25% air. This is why apples float!

​It's World Doula Week and I am thrilled about all of the beautiful new things coming to the Triangle this year! I've been a part of the birth world for nearly a decade now and I have seen so much growth and expansion regarding resources and support for families. But what is coming has me so excited and the community will benefit greatly from these amazing additions!

​1. Give me some background information ­on yourself and your birth worker career. 
I first started assisting families in the hospital while being employed in 2011. I was primarily worked in Mother/Baby and Central Nursery but floated to Labor & Delivery, Pediatrics and the Women's Unit. Then in 2015 I started working with the local health department as a Breastfeeding Peer Counselor before becoming an IBCLC. I formally took my doula training in 2019 and started Birthing Boldly in 2020 and finished midwifery school in 2023. 

2. What made you decide to become a birth worker? Was there a defining moment when you knew? 
As crazy as it may sound, I have never imagined myself doing anything other than this. As a child I was always intrigued by birth, babies and women's health. I was definitely drawn to it and while all my cousins watched cartoons I was watching the Discovery Health Channel and TLC learning everything there was to know about pregnancy and labor. It just felt right and I'm glad I had supportive family to help nourish that gift. I would like to say I was well before my time because all the things I wanted or envision for my practice was unheard of then but is now mainstream. 

3. What were the best & hardest parts of starting your business, both personally and professionally? 
The best part is pouring into families and having your own business to facilitate the type of care families receive. 
The hardest is shifting your mindset from employee to business owner especially in the beginning. Also learning how to navigate being the owner but also providing the bulk of care, so you wear many different hats when first starting to establish your business. 

4. What did you learn about yourself an­d your support system during this process and how did you grow professionally? 
I'm a very vocal person so it shocked me to learn that I care so deeply for others that I will over extend myself just so I don't have to ask someone to do something. I think I was just on auto pilot and expected everyone to just know what I needed, which is impossible. Communication is key! Now I'm like I have this scheduled and I need X, Y and Z done and it makes things so easy.
Resilience, research and making connections has been my key to professional growth. I joke I'm a professional student but honestly I'm an avid learner and I think that has help mold me into the person I am today. And not being afraid to ask questions and be willing to pay for the answers. 

5. You recently became one of NCs newest midwives. Congratulations! Tell me about your journey to become a midwife. 
My journey was both beautiful and ugly, kind of like life, there will always be ups and downs at times. I saw something recently that made me stop in my tracks. It said. "when you are following your purpose in life that's when it seems like so much is falling apart". I can testify that rang true for me. The deeper I got into midwifery, I learned that it was more than my passion, it was my ministry and everything I've experienced in life has helped me with caring for my clients. 

6. How do you feel about the current state of the health care industry and birth? What impact do you hope to have on both? 
It is disheartening! The stories, the maternal infant mortality rates, the insurance coverage, all of it is horrible and families ultimately pay the cost and not get proper care. I hope to be apart of a positive change for families! Where they are safe to vocalize their needs and desires and be partners with me in the type of care they receive. I plan to help with legislation efforts for NC laws and insurance companies for fair compensation for midwives and lactation consultants. 

7. Where do you see yourself personally and professionally in 5 ­years? 
Personally, I see myself with a mini farm and homeschooling my younger babies. By then my oldest will be a young adult so that's a little hard to fathom right now, but I'm big on family so definitely carving time out for family time and vacations.
Professionally, a birth center or community wellness center encompassing care from puberty to menopause. 

8. What advice do you have for anyone looking to become a birth worker? 
Do it because you love it and you genuinely want to make a difference and help families. It all looks good on social media until you're sleep deprived and haven't seen your family for multiple days. Being a birth worker is rarely something you can just turn off because your always on call because someone needs you. So just be true to yourself and that in turn will allow you to be true to your clients. Lastly, be open to always learning and figuring out ways to better help the families you serve. 

9. Who in the birth community inspires you? 
Because when I chose this career at such a tender age and I never saw anyone doing what I wanted to do, there is no one in the birth community that inspires me. The person who inspired me is my grandmother, Christine Slade, who most called her "Mrs. Chris". She had 16 children, most born at home and raised all her kids, other people's kids and watch all the grands and great grands. She had a heart made with gold and was the first to pour into my gift and see something in me before anyone else. Sadly, she isn't here to see me now, but I have a feeling she knew this day would come. 

10. Other than graduating, tell me about your most recent "wi­n" or accomplishment. 
I'm really filled when families express their gratitude on how I cared for them and how that made them feel. That will always be a win for me because I get to see the difference that I'm making in people's lives. 

Brrrrrrrrrrrr!

Winter is fast approaching and this week I wanted to share a home remedy to keep you and your family healthy.

If you frequent the internets and don't live under a rock, chances are you've heard of fire cider. It is a homemade herbal tonic for immune support. The "fire" comes from the hot peppers that are infused in the tonic. They have been shown to increase circulation, boost metabolism and support the immune system. Obviously, you can add a little or as much spice as you would like to you recipe. Raw (unpasteurized) apple cider will be the base of the tonic. It aids in digestion, fights infection and clears sinuses, among other things. The other ingredients in the tonic are up to you! Whatever medicinal plants that you enjoy can be added for flavor and provide health benefits such as anti-inflammatory affects, antioxidants, antibacterial and healing properties. 

Not only is fire cider a natural remedy that can be made in minutes, you can use it to keep your immune system strong and also use it to rebuild it should you come down with something instead of your typical over-the-counter drugs. Bonus: it's not just limited to cold and flu season-it's beneficial all year round! This is just one way I stay healthy, especially when I am on call for a birth.


Basic Fire Cider Tonic Recipe:
Prep Time: 20 minutes
"Cook" Time: 4-6 weeks

Ingredients:

• ​Onion & Garlic
• Hot Peppers
• Ginger Root
• Horseradish
• Turmeric 
• Thyme or Rosemary
• Citrus (Oranges, Lemons & Grapefruit)
• Apple Cider Vinegar (The Mother)
• Honey

Instructions:
Clean and chop veggies as needed. Fill a clean jar with the prepared ingredients, aside from your sweetener and pour apple cider vinegar into the jar to fully submerge the ingredients. Seal the jar with plastic lid (metal will corrode) and let it sit at room temperature but away from the sun for anywhere from 4-6 weeks. During this time all of the ingredients will infuse into the apple cider vinegar along with all of their health benefits. After this time strain the vinegar through a fine mesh strainer into a large bowl. At this point, you can sweeten the fire cider to taste or leave it unsweetened. Transfer the final product to a glass bottle or jar for storage. Store fire cider in a cool dark place away from sunlight. Herbal vinegars like this should last for up to 1 year stored at room temperature.

​Notes:
Dosage: Take a shot of fire cider or 1-2 tablespoons daily for a potent punch of immune system support and increase that dosage to 3 times a day to use it as a natural remedy to help fight off common cold symptoms. As always remember to please use caution, do your own research, and consult your medical professional before treating yourself or others.
Alternative Ingredients: you may prefer maple syrup instead of honey; you can also add a variety of herbs such as sage, oregano lemon balm and lemon verbena. My next recipe will likely include cranberries, elderberries, pineapples and rosehips.

I highly recommend making your tonic at the end of the summer so you can have it on hand when the weather starts getting cooler. If you intend on drinking a little each day, have a big family or plan to cook with it, be sure to make your tonic periodically so you don't run out.

For Your Information
This recipe is:

• Family-friendly (1 year and older if using honey)
• Safe during pregnancy and postpartum
• If nursing, be cautious of the certain herbs and raw honey​. Consult your doctor.

It's Fall and that means warm, hearty, one-pot meals that are easy and flavorful. With Thanksgiving just a few days away, it's the perfect time to make soup so you can save your energy for cooking your Turkey Day meal. Today, I'm sharing one of my favorite soup recipes. Don't worry, I promise not to give you a bunch of filler before getting to the actual recipe.

My Sweet Potato Soup is a quick and simple recipe that only contains a few ingredients with the option to add more if you want more flavor and/or nutrients. My soup recipe is actually based off of a soup I had years ago when a new mom shared it with me. She made a batch one day for the family and invited me to have a bowl for lunch and I fell in love! Check out the recipe below and let me know if you try it or share your favorite soup recipe in the comments. I'm always up for trying new recipes!

Sweet Potato Soup
Prep Time: 1 hour 40 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes

Ingredients:
​4-6 sweet potatoes
1 can unsweetened coconut milk (or your milk of choice)
1/2 medium yellow onion
1 can of cannellini beans
3-4 cups of chicken stock or broth
Bacon (bits for garnish, 2-3 tbsp of grease for flavor)
Crushed red pepper flakes
Salt
Pepper
Turmeric
Cardamom
Onion Powder
Garlic Powder

Instructions:
Bake sweet potatoes for 45 minutes at 365 degrees. Wait for them to cool and then peel the skin. Cook bacon. Be sure to save some of the grease. Chop and sauté onions in some olive oil (or you can use some of the bacon grease). Combine sweet potatoes, onions, beans (drained) and milk in blender and blend until smooth and transfer to pot. You can also combine your ingredients in your soup pot and use an immersion blender. Use salt, pepper, turmeric, cardamom, crushed red pepper flakes, onion powder and garlic powder to season soup to your desired taste. Let soup simmer on low for 20-30 minutes. Serve with chopped bacon bits on top.

Notes:
Cooking sweet potatoes- if you prefer to roast your potatoes, cube them and put them on a sheet pan. Coat them with olive oil, salt and pepper. Cover the pan with foil and roast the potatoes for about 35 minutes or until soft.
Substitutions- vegetable stock/broth in place of chicken stock/broth; If you are using whole milk, you can also add sour cream, whipped cream cheese or heavy cream for a creamier consistency
Additional ingredients- roasted carrots for heartiness and nutrients; fresh garlic for more flavor (sauté with onions); garnish can also include croutons, your favorite herbs like thyme or parsley or crumbly cheese (feta or goat).

Enjoy!

For Your Information
This recipe is:

• Family-friendly
• Lactation-friendly

• Recommended for pregnancy and postpartum nutrition
• Recommended for cesarean & other post op healing