Jill Amery, Author at Urban Mommies

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Jill Amery

Jill Amery is a mom of 2 small boys and the Publisher of UrbanMommies, a stylish digital lifestyle magazine filled with fitness, style, health, recipes and savvy mom advice to help you through pregnancy, birth, and raising your kids.

Your Thyroid Could Be Making You Tired

Uncategorized By Jill Amery September 1, 2007 Tags: balance, fatigue, naturopathic medicine, thyroid No Comments

Fatigue is a common complaint in a physician’s office. Many people are feeling run down and tired. They don’t wake up rested and have a lack of energy in completing daily tasks of life. Naturopathic medicine aims to find the cause of fatigue. Although there are many reasons for fatigue ranging from insomnia to vitamin and mineral deficiencies, under active thyroid function – or hypothyroidism – is often a part of the problem. Your thyroid could be making you tired.

How do I Prevent Gestational Diabetes in Pregnancy?

FAM, pregnancy By Jill Amery September 1, 2007 Tags: blood glucose leves, gestational diabetes, Naturopath, snacks, trimesters No Comments

Q. How do I prevent gestational diabetes in pregnancy?

Breast vs. Bottle

baby, FAM By Jill Amery August 20, 2007 Tags: Breast vs. Bottle, Breastfeeding, breastfeeding in public, breasts after breastfeeding 1 Comment

The decision on whether to breast or bottle feed your new baby is one of the many choices you will face as a new parent. Remember that there is no right or wrong side, only what feels right for you and your baby. The consensus amongst the medical community is that a new born baby should be breast fed exclusively for the first six months and this should continue until 12 months or further if both the baby and mother are able. Here are some points you should consider as you decide if breast or bottle is best for your baby.

Top Ten Parenting Tips

FAM, kids By Jill Amery August 20, 2007 Tags: Deveopment, Education, parenting guidelines, quotes on parenting, Top Ten Parenting Tips No Comments

Raising children can be the most rewarding experience on earth. However, at times, it may also seem like the most frustrating. There are no secrets to being a good parent but these ten tips should get you on the right path.

Set ground rules

No matter what age your child is you must first establish what is and isn’t acceptable. Once they have a framework of behavior they know when they have crossed the line and the consequences of their action.

Be a strong role model

Don’t let your kids catch you behaving in a way they have been scolded for previously. Remember your children look up to you for guidance. If they see you get frustrated or angry they will copy this behavior in the future.

Make the punishment fit the crime

If your child misbehaves by not putting their toys away when asked on the first occasion it does not mean they should sent to bed without dinner. Again consistency is important. Decide what the appropriate level of punishment for the behavior is, and stick to it.

Be consistent

Which behavior is worse: A tantrum in a grocery store with strangers watching or the same tantrum in the privacy of your own home? Just because there are other people watching does not mean the level of behavior is worse. Nor does it imply that the punishment should be more severe. Ensure that you are consistent when using punishment to discipline your child.

Praise your children for good behavior

Instead of only focusing on what they do wrong, remember to praise them when they are being well behaved. This reinforces their behavior that led to the praise and makes it more likely to continue on the future.

Conflict

There will be times when your child just plain refuses to do what they are told. They are old enough to realize they can say NO. This is a sign that your child is becoming more independent but they do not fully understand the situation. Explain to your child the reason why they must do as they are told. Discuss the situation with them and in a manner that you would like to be spoken too.

Advantages of Breastfeeding

baby, EAT By Jill Amery August 20, 2007 Tags: Advantages of Breastfeeding, antibiotics breastfeeding, Breastfeeding, breastfeeding period No Comments

You have probably read a lot about breastfeeding and know that breast milk is the best source of nutrition for your new baby, but did you know that the advantages extend beyond nutrition? Your breast milk provides a combination of vitamins & minerals but it is also loaded with disease fighting substances that help protect your baby from illness.

Ear Infections in Children

FAM, health By Jill Amery August 1, 2007 Tags: baby ear infections, ear aches, kid, treating ear infections No Comments

Each year many young children are diagnosed with middle ear infections – or otitis media. Typical symptoms that occur with otits media include fever, ear ache and irritability. Many times these infections become recurrent and parents are forced to make several trips to the child’s physician to get treatment. Parents often want to decrease their child’s suffering and may be quick to administer antibiotics to do so. Although the use of antibiotics is warranted in some situations, they often do not address the root cause of the problem. The use of antibiotics can leave the child more susceptible to other types of infections as bacteria become resistant to drugs. Side effects of antibiotics can include digestive upset leading to diarrhea, gas and tummy ache. In many instances, the ear infection is not due to bacteria, but due to a virus, which antibiotics will not be useful in eliminating.

BC Grilled Peaches

EAT, family meals By Jill Amery August 1, 2007 Tags: Grilled peaches, peaches, snacks No Comments

This is a perfect light dessert for a hot summer day or night! Grilled peaches are filled with nutrition and flavour, and go very well with vanilla ice cream or homemade granola.

Serves 2 people

You need:
2 whole peaches
8 tbsp balsamic vinegar
4 tbsp brown sugar
2 tbsp lemon juice
1 pinch of pepper

If you have a grill

Clean your peaches. Cut them in half, around the pit and twist so that it becomes two halves. Now remove the pit (If you are having difficulty removing the pit, try twisting in with your fingers or using a spoon to pry it out).
Rub a little lemon juice over the peach halves so that they don’t dry out or brown.
Preheat your grill to medium heat.
While grill is heating up, put balsamic vinegar, brown sugar, the rest of your lemon juice and pepper into a small pot. Bring to a boil and stir until the brown sugar has dissolved.
Take your peaches and your balsamic glaze out to the grill.
Place peaches on grill, the cut half facing down for about 2 minutes, just to mark them.
Now turn the peaches over, pour glaze over them and into the “pit hole” and grill for 5-6 more minutes, until mostly soft. Serve!

PS. This recipe is great with frozen yogurt or a nice vanilla ice cream!

If you don’t have a grill:

Preheat oven to 400.
Clean your peaches. Cut them in half, around the pit and twist so that it becomes two halves. Now remove the pit (If you are having difficulty removing the pit, try twisting in with your fingers or using a spoon to pry it out).
Take a small frying pan and preheat to medium. Place the peaches, cut side down on the pan (no oil necessary) and let them sizzle there for about 2 minutes, so that the bottom browns just a little. Now put the peaches on a tray lined with foil with the cut side up.
Put balsamic vinegar, brown sugar, lemon juice and pepper into the same pan. Bring to a boil and stir until the brown sugar has dissolved.
Pour the balsamic glaze over the peaches and into the “pit hole” and put in oven for 7-8 minutes, until they are somewhat soft. (Your glaze may burn a little, in the pan, but it should not burn on the peaches).
Take the peaches out and serve for a lovely dessert.