Alexa Torontow

Getting enough calories in, eating foods the temperature they are supposed to be served at, and drinking 2L of water/day as a parent should be a professional sport. And I would not get first place(work in progress over here!) Meal prep is a must and having nutrient dense snacks ready to go at all times is key! No bake granola bites from @shaunalin are one of my go-tos! Toasting the oats before was a game changer and made these the best energy bites I’ve ever had!... INGREDIENTS: 2 cups large flake rolled oats 14 cup ground flaxseeds 2 Tbsp hemp seeds 12 tsp sea salt 14 tsp cinnamon 1 cup any smooth nut or seed butter (I used sunflower seed butter) 13 cup honey 12 cup unsweetened coconut DIRECTIONS: 1. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. 2. Optional - Preheat oven to 350F. Toast oats for 10 minutes. Set aside until fully cooled.This step enhances the flavour of the oats but is completely optional. 3. In a large bowl, combine cooled oats, ground flaxseeds, hemp seeds, salt, cinnamon, nut or seed butter, honey, and shredded coconut. Combine until completely mixed in and sticky. 4. Using a tablespoon, scoop out oat mixture and roll it tightly into a bite-sized ball. Place on parchment paper. Repeat until oat mixture is used up. It should make 30 small bites. 5. Store in a large baggie in the fridge for up to a month, or the freezer for up to 3 months. #honestmotherhood #mealprep #energybites #glutenfreesnacks #dairyfree #vegansnacks #thefeedfeed #easyrecipes #mindfulmamas #rhn #nutritionist #foodismedicine #naturopathicmedicine #naturalnutrition #mealprepformoms #glutenfree #healthyrecipes #postpartumjourney #natmed #myccnm See more

My baby turned one this weekend!! Although the past year had its obvious challenges, the biggest silver lining is that Mitch and I both got to stay home with her and be there for all the little daily and weekly changes that happen in the first year. Her first gift of the day was eating one of her favourite foods (goat yogurt), with her hands on the ground. Better known as Mitch’s worst nightmare so I did it before he was back from the store #babyleadweaning #thisisone #motherhoodunplugged #foodintroduction #honestmotherhood #postpartumjourney #purejoy #babysfirstbirthday #babyfoodideas

Today was AMAZING. It is not easy finding solo time as a new parent, let alone making it happen on a mountain. But we did it! Mitch and I split the day in half, so we each got a half day on the hill while the other watched Rach. I forgot how fresh the air is up there #mountainmedicine Also Rach’s not-impressed-with-the-photo smirk

Gut Check 101. Optimising your little one’s digestive tract. Myself and two colleagues wrote an article that covers what’s normal, what’s not, what to do, and when to be concerned. Here are some key points: Functional constipation (meaning no underlying medical cause) in children is typically due to lack of vegetables/fibre, withholding behaviours, stress (yes, stress can affect anyone at any age and cause functional constipation). Loose stools can be due to fruit ju...ice (the sugar in juice draws fluid into the GI tract), diet (high consumption of simple sugars, sorbitol and potential food allergens), and stress. What can help: ~ Acupressure of Spleen 6 & Stomach 36 ~ Adequate fibre intake (great sources are vegetables, fruit, flax seeds, psyllium & unprocessed whole grains). For children’s 3-7 years, aim for 10 grams of fibre per day. Children 8 & up aim for 15 grams/day. ~ Adequate water intake ~ Keep meal times as relaxed as possible to optimize digestion (easier said than done. Trust me, my daughter is 1 I get it). ~ Probiotics ~ Castor oil massage You can download the PDF here: https://alexatorontow.com/ecoparent You can also use alexatorontow for 20% off your @ecoparent subscription See more

Head to KAREFULL.com to check out a fun Q&A I did with her! https://www.karefull.com/intervi/all-eyes-on-alexa-torontow

Everybody warned me, but I didn’t believe them until now. It really does go by so fast. I get why parents say it so often now. I didn’t believe it at first... because the first few months were long (so, so long). Hours felt like days. I never knew what day or time it was because it really didn’t matter. She slept on us exclusively for the first 4 months. Our necks were tight, our backs were sore and we had no semblance of a normal sleep schedule.... At 4 months she started sleeping through the night and taking naps in her crib. She never wanted to nap on us anymore (nobody warned me this happens!) - since she was getting busier and wanted to play. During her second nap today she wouldn’t settle, she’s teething and uncomfortable and needed some snuggles. I got her out of crib and she cuddled right up to me. I put the rainbow connection song on repeat, sat in the rocking chair and she was out instantly. I loved feeling her belly rise and fall against mine. And the warmth of her breath on my neck was the sweetest thing. I wasn’t prepared for how abruptly that would end 6 months ago and I won’t take a second of it for granted when she wants to cuddle again. I drank in every single moment for that 70 minutes she slept on me today. It’s been a tough week, and I needed that cuddle session too. Whether you’re a parent or not soak up all the moments you can, lean into the tough ones, savour the sweetness within the struggles. It really does all go by so fast. * photo was taken when rach was brand new/when our only activities were feeding and sleeping. See more

Supporting local businesses is more important than ever. I know how easy it is to click and buy on Amazon, but making the time and effort to seek out local shops makes a world of a difference in small business owners lives. Tell me you’re favourite Canadian shops! My 4 favourite Canadian companies I’ve discovered in 2020 are:... @madewithlocal - granola bar mix @sapadillasoap - nontoxic cleaners (they do free shipping for orders over $25!) @hiraya.ca plant pots and stands their newest female body plant vase is on the top of my wish list right now @pureandsimple - clean, simple + high quality skin products. (I switched over all my products when I was pregnant and I can’t say enough good things about all the lines they carry). @courtneyjadehealth of @wellbakedbox shared tons of local businesses in Guelph, Ontario a few posts back. (Also can’t wait for @wellbakedbox to make it to Toronto... because I don’t measure anything, ever and could use some help in the healthy dessert baking department) PS - the wagon is Canadian made from Millside! #supportlocal #madeincanada See more

Nutrition Support for Birth Control Side Effects Nutrition support for birth control side effects may not be something you've thought about. Birth control pills have been an empowering scientific milestone. They have given women more autonomy over their reproductive choices and offer an effective solution for some health issues. However, these innocuous-looking little pillswhile wonderfully convenient and an excellent temporary quick-fix for acne and painful or heavy ...periodscan have a few nasty side effects when taken over long periods of time. The good news is that you can do a number of things to support your body while taking oral contraceptives. Birth control pills impact our bodies in numerous ways. While there are well-known side-effectslike headache, nausea, and mood swingsfrom taking hormonal contraception, what is less discussed are the implications for our nutritional processes. * They decrease levels of key nutrients such as B12, folate, magnesium, and selenium. * They over-burden our detoxification pathways for excretion. * They compromise our gut integrity, causing issues with nutrient absorption. What you can do: - Take probiotics - Take a high quality/bioavailable multi-vitamin - Consume liver loving foods (beets, broccoli, brussel sprouts, etc) - Limit sugar and alcohol - Heal your gut with collagen and bone broth Find the full article on EcoParent.ca under Nutrition Support for Birth Control Side Effects. See more

I am so thrilled to officially be a contributor for my favourite magazine, @ecoparent It’s an honour to be featured alongside naturopathic doctors I admire such as @lsolomoniannd and @rachels_nd ... I co-authored a piece with @lsolomoniannd and @sydneyschofield on how to optimize your little one’s digestive tract in the winter 2020 issue! They share so many great evidence-based articles, tips on sustainable living, and how we can have a positive impact on our health and the environment with our daily choices. This months issue includes: ~ why milk may not be as wholesome as you thought ~ benefits of garlic ~ newborns + vitamin K ~ IBS and herbal medicine ~ how to optimize your little ones digestive tract ~ how our childhood affects the way we parent ~ recipes, holiday guides, food to support your mood and so much more! The kind folks at EcoParent are also offering 20% off a subscription with the code alexatorontow You can find a link to the EcoParent website in my bio! #gogreen #sustainableliving #ecoparent #zerowaste #ecoshop #ecoconcious #conciousconsumerism #supportgreen #shoplocal #sunstainableliving #ecofriendly #goorganic #naturopathicmedicine #holistichealth #momsto #momstoronto #workingmoms See more

I have so much I’ve wanted to say over these past 9 months about motherhood. But honestly, any downtime I have at the end of the day I just want rest, go for a walk outside, make a nourishing meal, and decompress. Being a new parent is the most demanding and challenging experience, yet I wouldn’t change a single thing about it. Going through the rollercoaster and anxiety of pregnancy and the intensity of postpartum I’ve never felt mentally stronger than I do right now. ... Eventually, I want to write about the experiences the immediate postpartum, the healing, physical changes, sleep deprivation, the stages and phases of breastfeeding, postpartum hair-loss, postpartum depression/anxiety, the fourth trimester, what we thought we needed vs what we actually did need. There. Is. So. Much. To. Talk. About. But right now I’m prioritizing rest. I’m prioritizing feeling and integrating and experiencing it all because it really does go by so fast. In the meantime if you’re a new parent, take it easy and be kind to yourself. If you know a new parent ask them very directly what kind of help they need right now. There’s an 100% chance every parent needs help whether it’s meals being made or dropped off at their doorstep, the house being cleaned, or someone to watch their baby for an hour so they can sleep, shower, or just take a hot minute to breathe deeply. It really does take a village! #breastfeedingjourney #postpartumjourney #9monthspostpartum #newmomlife #newmomproblems #motherhoodunplugged #momblogger #foodintroduction #newparentproblems #honestmotherhood #maternalmentalhealth #newbornlife #thefourthtrimester #mentalhealthmatters #naturopathicmedicine #holistichealth See more