Healthy Mum, Happy Baby

When I recently discovered MealBaby and wrote about it for the first edition of yoyobelly I was thrilled. Food really is one of the best things you can give a new mum. To whit, two friends recently had babies, Nher third, H her second.

For N we used MailBaby. The meal registry really did make things easier. The registrants got an email asking them to sign up for a day and choose a meal. We could see what others were bringing – it really did up the competitive factor – plus it meant N didn’t get four spaghetti dinners. Her address, contact info and likes and dislikes were all laid out. N got an email each day saying who was bringing what, and we got reminder emails that we’d promised a meal too. It meant P, who arranged it all, just spent about 20 minutes organizing the info and hey presto, it was done.

For H her friend C arranged everything. Because I recently had to go without my computer for a few weeks while it was in the shop some of the emails went AWOL. I had to ask her twice to send their likes and dislikes, plus I didn’t have their address or phone # and the dates were all up in the air. I’m guessing organizing it has taken C a lot more time and backing and forthing with people.

The thing is, when you already have kids, it’s actually quite hard to make a meal for another family in the sense of finding time to make it, to take it by etc.  So anything that makes that easier has got to be good.

MealBaby probably had added appeal to me because I suggest a “food shower” in Healthy Mum, Happy Baby, so I’m already on that train anyhow. Plus I’m all for anything that saves time.

Now if they could just combine MealBaby’s registry with SpringPad’s organizational and menu tools that would be something special!

If you’re going to the YWCA Inner Circle Event at YWCA Citygate Child Care on Tuesday the 19th I’ll be there, along with (get this!) the Minister of Children and Family Development. Not only will I be talking about the book, but also about our child care struggles, and there’ll be some other very interesting sounding women talking about their childcare issues too.

 

Very early in the morning (well, Vancouver time) I’ll be on CH Morning with Bob Cowan and Annette Ham for an interview and demonstrating a breakfast recipe. Tune in if you live in the neighborhood, at least I think I want you to tune in. . .

May 7th – just got word this spot may be cancelled – if only they knew how much energy I’d put into a “tv outfit” they’d never have cancelled on me

As per Barbara-Jo herself: On Wednesday, May 16th at 6:30 pm local author Annemarie Tempelman-Kluit will host a class focusing on the nutritional needs of busy new mums and their babies (nearly mums are also welcome to attend, of course). Her book Healthy Mum, Healthy Baby is full of deliciously creative ideas for make-ahead meals, pantry suppers, and healthy snacks. Good cooking doesn’t need to make your life any more stressful, as Annemarie’s menu for the evening will demonstrate. The cost of this event is $70.00.

Breastfeeding & Nutrition, South Community Health Mum’s Group

Healthy Mum, Happy Baby will be hitting bookstores near you today!