Balance is Best Nutrition

I cannot believe my beautiful little boy is almost 3 months old My last trimester was tough. Carpal Tunnel and De Quervain's hit me hard. My feet were so swollen, I only had 1 pair of shoes that fit. The heat in July made simply standing outside unbearable. That chapter blurs into the next, where I'm getting used to Mom-life, the hardest chapter so far. Your identity as you knew it has changed. Your waking and sleeping moments revolve around the needs of another. You wonder... how it's possible to be filled with so much love, exhaustion, fear and worry all at the same time. I'm still trying to find my balance. I know it will come. Just as all seasons change, so do the seasons of life. This season is about him and I will give him my everything. #balanceisbest #motherhood #newmom #holistichealing

First Wellness Market a success! Balance is Best has been quiet for a bit as I've been focusing on getting prepared to host my first market, with local vendors and workshops for the community of East Gwillimbury. The people I've met today have made all the hard work incredibly worthwhile! So many amazing vendors that brought their A game, and made my vision a reality Please check out @lovethyself.ca for info on upcoming events!

19 weeks along and the tummy itch is getting out of control! Stretch marks are something that many believe to be genetic.. if your mom didn't get any, that means you won't, right? Nope! What we DO know is that zinc deficiency causes skin to lose elasticity and flexibility, and makes you more prone to stretch marks. Make sure you're getting a daily dose of zinc in your diet! A handful of pumpkin seeds daily has been my go-to, but you will also find zinc in whole grains, r...ed meat, poultry, dairy and legumes. And while no one has the magic pill for avoiding stretch marks completely, moisturizing your dry, itchy, stretching tummy makes pregnancy wayy more comfortable! I've been using this amazing organic #sheabutter from @livenaturalnow to soothe my skin, and I'm loving it! It's quite thick in the jar, but warms up in your hands nicely and rubs on easily. I love it after a hot shower! If you've experienced the tummy itch and have a favourite product you've been using, share it in the comments below! #balanceisbest #moisturize #prenatalnutrition #VistaMagCanada #VistaAmbassador #livenaturalnow

Let's talk about TEA! One thing I've noticed since becoming pregnant is that Dr. Google is very confusing about if herbal teas are safe for pregnancy or not. I see time and time again to "avoid all herbal tea", while many herbs are considered safe in pregnancy OF COURSE in moderation! I've cut out the caffeine, so no coffee, black tea or green tea for me, and I NEED something warm in the morning. So what are good substitutes?... GINGER TEA ~ amazing for preventing and relieving nausea (esp during that first trimester) CHAMOMILE TEA ~ perfect for general relaxation, treating insomnia, as well as dreadful pregnancy gas. RED RASPBERRY LEAF TEA ~ mineral-rich and nutritive tonic for the uterus (great to strengthen and tone the uterus for labour), also astringent when experiencing diarrhea. *note that ALL herbal teas should be consumed in moderation, too much of ANY herb is not recommended in pregnancy.

Balance is Best is expecting! I unfortunately haven't been very active on social media as I've been navigating the first trimester, sneaking into bed before the sun's even set. Tell me you know what I'm talking about!? You will notice my feed taking a turn towards prenatal nutrition, sharing tips, info and delicious foods to nourish you and your growing little one. I welcome you all to follow my journey as I also discuss the highs and lows of pregnancy, keeping it very real... and not sugar coating ANYTHING! This is my first pregnancy, so expect a lot of candid discoveries and real talk, combined with sound knowledge from my studies as a nutritionist. I welcome all of you seasoned moms out there to share with me your own tips and tricks to a smooth, healthy pregnancy! Hope to connect and interact with many of you! #balanceisbest #prenatalnutrition #pregnancy #healthypregnancy #firsttrimester #secondtrimester #14weekspregnant

I know around the holidays when there's lots going on, I get anxious thinking about my extremely long to do list. This has been a favourite of mine for a few years now. Have you ever tried #NaturalCalm ? It's a delicious stevia-sweetened #magnesiumdrink that calms the nervous system and improves sleep. It can be mixed with hot water, creating a soothing evening drink before bed, or mixed with cold water, which I like to do during the summer months and tastes like raspberry... lemonade. If you're an anxious person like me, I recommend giving it a try and see how you feel. #balanceisbest #HealthyLiving #VistaMagInfluencer #VistaTeam