I’ve been working out for the past few months. My workout includes strength, cardio, functional and sometimes aerobics or bhangra workouts. It’s minimum 5 days a week workout schedule. With this intense without I need to keep my body composition up to mark. Hence the increase in protein intake. I’ve tried oats smoothies and protein bars. To be honest, not a fan of either. So recently I decided to add protein through chicken. A simple, quick, easy, healthy recipe to compensate my protein requirements.

All you need:
Boneless bite size chicken chunks
Curd
Salt and pepper
Garlic or garlic powder
Oregano

Lemon juice
Oil

Marination:
Mix 2 spoons of curd, garlic powder, salt and pepper in a bowl. Put the chunks in the batter and flip until nicely covered. Let it sit for 30-40 mins.

Cook:
Heat 1 spoon oil in a pan (I prefer less oil, you can adjust according to your cooking style). Put the chunks in the pan. Keep it covered. Flip when one side turns golden brown. Let it cook for a few minutes. Transfer to your plate and, add a dash of lemon juice and sprinkle oregano

See! Simple and yummy.

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Sooji pasta in (veggie) broccoli and Bell pepper sauce. A simple, healthy snack for toddlers.

Ingredients

-Semolina Penne Pasta 1 cup
-Broccoli and Bell pepper
-Garlic 2 cloves
-Milk 1 to 1.5 cups
-Atta 1 spoon
-Ghee or butter
-Salt and pepper

Boil pasta.
Chop Broccoli and Bell pepper.
Lightly saute Broccoli and Bell pepper.
Let it cool.
Put it in a blender and make a soft paste of it and keep it aside.

In a pan add some butter and lightly saute the chopped garlic.
Add wheat flour and roast until light golden.
Add salt and pepper to taste.
Add milk and stir continuously to avoid lumps. Add the veggie paste.
Add penne. Stir and let it sit for 30 seconds.
Add seasoning as per your liking.

You can substitute the veggies to your preference.
I alternate with mushrooms, zucchini, capsicum, etc. Usually with seasonal veggies.

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Do whatever you find therapeutic (if possible) – Go for a walk, Listen to music, Read,  Clean, Reorganize, Water the plants, Paint, Cook, Watch your favourite series or movie, Solve a puzzle, Play Sudoku

Oh, the tantrums might continue! Just the reason might change. There’s the Frightening Fours, Fearful Five, and what not! Once a parent, always a parent. You are in it for life! Enjoy this ride!

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I threw out Rey’s favorite fishes (bath toys) a while back. He loved those fishes. Even had names for all of them. Carried them around. They helped keep him entertained and distracted while I gave him head baths. They were his bath buddies. Hell, they were my best buddies during his bath times.

It made my job a lot easier, then why did I decide to throw them away?

Here’s why. One of his bath buddies, the Nemo fish ended up with a small slit in its body and gave me a peep on what was going on inside him. I cut open the poor fish (and later a couple of other toys) and what I saw was enough to not let the fish and his friends stay another second in my house.

The bath toy had a layer of mold and gung inside it.

I decided to slaughter the rest of his bath buddies too. And as suspected, all his bath toys had mold growing inside. There was not much to ponder upon and I threw them all out.

Here is the photo I took of one of the toys before getting rid of them. Not sharing all photos as they are all equally gross.

FACT: I regularly washed his bath toys every week and hung them out to dry in the sun.

If you notice closely, you will see that every toy has a small hole in it. This allows water to seep inside. When we wash the bath toys, it’s just the exterior that is getting cleaned.

The combination of water, humidity and overall contamination of germs (especially if you have a toilet in the same closed room) makes the toys a welcome breeding ground for bacteria and fungi, which form “slimy films” inside. If you squeeze a bath toy you’ll notice a stream of watery, black gunk coming out of the little hole at the bottom.

These toys, over a period of time, can harbor potentially dangerous bacteria that could make you and children ill. The plastic in the toys may also leak chemicals for bugs to feast on and the material that they are made of may also serve as nutrients for the bacteria to grow.

I researched on the internet and there are plenty of studies which talk about why these deceptively cute toys should not be a part of your child’s bath routine. A study which included a swab test revealed a shocking statistic, “A swab test shows the bath toys had a result of 6,000 and a public toilet had 600.”

So, no matter how cute these little ducklings and fish may appear, they could end up causing serious health issues to your little one. If your child plays with bath toys, I would urge you to check for yourself before you make a decision.

I checked and I don’t regret mine.

The post Bath Toys – the ugly insights appeared first on Raising Rehaan.

Being a part of the Blogchatter A to Z challenge has been an incredible experience. There are quite a few realizations and learnings I’ve had when I look back now.

• I didn’t want to participate – I had enough challenges as it is. With a toddler and no time for me, how could I commit to a post a day right?
  • Wrong. If you are also in a situation where you have little or no time for self, stop, reflect and step back. It’s rightly said: sometimes taking a step back helps you take two forward.
• I doubted myself – I knew I wanted to finish this challenge. But I am also a realist. And every single day that I lost to personal challenges, unable to write made me rethink and doubt myself.
  • Every time you doubt yourself, instead of asking yourself “What if I cant”, tell yourself “What If I can”. Along with the doubts came the perseverance to finish what I had started. 
• Real-Life challenges – First week into the challenge, my son came down with an ugly case of a stomach infection. All my time, energy and focus shifted to him. Exhausting days and sleepless nights. I lost those a week.
  • But I realized how powerful determination can be. If you really want to, you can.
• Support System – Thanks to the Blogchatter team who kept us motivated. My husband who took over the parenting duties the minute he returned from work, so I could write. My friends who kept pushing me gave constructive feedback and the community which showered so much love on my blog.

It was not just 30 days of the month. It was not just 26 letters. It was a journey of rediscovering myself and my belief in myself.

A to Z gave me a platform. A to Z gave me an excuse. A to Z gave me a reason. A to Z gave me the opportunity. To do something that I had been wanting to do for a very long time, to take up writing again, to start expressing my thoughts again, to rely on the power of words once again.

Thanks Blog Chatter.

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I set out on a challenge. A letter a day. And today, with just a few minutes to spare, I am about to reach the finish line.

To be honest, I wasn’t very keen on taking up this challenge. Already pressed for time, with a toddler to look after, forever exhausted, it seemed impossible to me. But as they say, there’s always someone watching over you. For me, it came in the form of my dear friend and confidante Tamanna. She encouraged me to join, pushed me to keep going and motivated me to finish the challenge. Thanks Tammy!

This month has been about rediscovering myself as a writer. I still have miles to go but at least I have started.

I remember April 1 and 2 and 3 and maybe more, when it took me two days just to write one blog. When staring at a blank screen was all I did. And thinking about these last few days when I have written on over ten topics. Some in less than an hour.

I remember feeling under-confident, doubting myself. What if I am not able to write anything? What if no one likes my work? What if I end up making mistakes, etc etc. All those worries are now miles away.

In the last four weeks, I have rediscovered my own grit and level of determination. Deep fire within me egged me on. There were days when I felt that I was wasting my time if I wasn’t writing. All my focus and thoughts were on this challenge which kept me away from harbouring negative thoughts or dwelling on meaningless worldly concerns.

The last few days – the determination of completing this challenge, of staying awake till 4 AM to write blogs and waking up at 7 AM to look after my toddler – have felt nothing less than an adventure-packed, fast-paced movie.

The excitement I felt last night when I realised I was just two blogs from successfully completing this challenge was akin to staying awake on the eve of the maiden international vacation. My mind simply refused to switch off and I kept thinking of what I wanted to write on next.

Thanks, Blog Chatter for giving me an opportunity to feel the zeal again.

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People judge more than they understand. People criticise more than they appreciate.

FACTS: I had a c-sec. I had to formula feed my baby the first day he arrived in the world because I had not started lactating. I want to get back on my feet. I want a career. I suffered from a bad case of PPD. I do not feed junk to my son. I do not let my son have sugary stuff. I am not depriving him by eliminating screen time. I prefer to give my son fruits over biscuits. I carry my son. I let him cry it out than giving in. I want my son to sleep in his own bed. I want my child to start playschool. I crave some me-time. 

Go ahead – judge me!

We all do. We may not accept or openly admit the fact, but we all have judged another mom at some time or the other and more often than not. I have too. Yes maybe judged you too. Would you like to know in what ways? Maybe not, because those are the same ways you have judged me too.

STOP and think. Think back to the when the mom you were so busy gossiping about could have instead used a friend because she was emotionally drained, or some help because she was bone-tired from chasing her toddler all day. But all she received was snickers and frowns.

We need to stop judging!

• Csec doesn’t make a woman any less of a mother.
• A mother would rather feed her child formula than let him starve.
• Motherhood does not mean you lose sight of who you are.
• Wanting to pursue your career does not mean you don’t love your child
• PPD is real. It paralyzes your senses
• How I feed my child should be my worry. I don’t expect you to take my approval on what you feed your child. Why would you think I would need yours?
• Wanting me-time does not mean I don’t care for my baby
• I am with him 24 hours, seven days a week. I know how to handle my child in public too.

What is funny is that we are quick to judge other mommies for the same situations we have been stuck in.

Remember mommies, the only person who knows your child best is you, that only you know how to raise your kid. Let’s stop mom-judging. Knowing that you are not alone is a big assurance to a mother’s spirit.

We need to STOP! There is no good or bad way of parenting, only mommies trying to give their best. And unless you are a perfect mother who has never faulted once in her journey, you have no right to judge another mommy.

Bottom line is, we are all doing our best. Just because I do it differently from you doesn’t mean I am doing it wrong.

We are all on this crazy roller-coaster together. Our aim is the same. Let’s do this together by supporting each other instead of pulling each other down. United we stand, divided we crawl.

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Make summers fun with drinks for kids to beat the heat and the sweltering, mercury-busting temperatures with home-made healthy drinks.

Sharing with you all my top 5 favorites, easy to make, loved by kids “drinks”:

**These drinks are recommended for toddlers and kids. Some fruits are a strict no=no for children under one. SO be sure to check with your pediatrician before trying.

1. Lemonade – Nothing beats the good old lemonade. It is called the official drink for summers for a reason. Not just refreshing but also nutritious. You can add a twist to it by adding different ingredients to it like:
   • Mint
   • Edible lavender
   • Orange
   • Ginger
2. Smoothies – Be it breakfast, snack or dessert, smoothies not only keep you hydrated but is also filling.
   • Banana Smoothie – Easiest and toddler approved. Add diced banana and milk (you can use soy milk too) to a blender. Blend until the ingredients are combined and smooth. And tada..! Its ready to be served. Depending on your child’s taste buds, you can add your choice of sprinkles. To make variations of this smoothie, simply replace the fruit with another.
   • Mango smoothie
   • Strawberry + raspberry Smoothie
   • Mixed Fruit Smoothie
3. Aam Panna – Kids love mango and what better way to enjoy summers than home made aam panna. This recipe requires raw mangoes, which need to be pressure cooked. Once done, let them cool, peel them well and remove the pulp. Mix pulp with a little sugar and salt. Ass a dash of little cumin seed powder and blend the mixture in a blender. Kids will love its tangy, sweet-salty taste. You can substitute honey instead of regular sugar to make it extra healthy.
4. Juices – I am not in favour of packaged drinks, no matter what the brands claim. And I do not trust the local vendors to use hygienic ways of serving the drink. I prefer extracting the juice at home with a manual juicer or a food processor. Our favourites are:
   • Watermelon juice – Best thirst quencher
   • Pomegranate juice – loaded with anti-oxidants
   • Orange juice – daily dose of Vitamin C!
5. Lassi – Rey is a curd lover! So i had been looking for a recipe that I could prepare for him. I came across this simple yet awesome recipe. https://gkfooddiary.com/plain-lassi-for-babies/All it takes is 5 minutes and best served fresh!
6. Coconut water / Nariyal Paani – Yes, I know I said 5, but I just couldn’t leave this one out! Nariyal paani or coconut water is low in calories, delicious to boot and perhaps the healthiest natural drink you can indulge in on a hot, scorching summer day. It is our go-to-drink when we are traveling within the city. Even better than bottled water. To read of the many benefits of this refreshing natural drink, click here 

Do you have any toddler-approved, favourite summer drinks?

The post Quench the thirst appeared first on Raising Rehaan.

I remember writing this letter to myself sometime last year. Motherhood is a 24/7, exhilarating yet exhausting job. Bottle and Breastfeedings, diaper change, laundry, cooking, organizing activities for the child, home schooling and later school homework. Sometime during this time, life passes you by. Mommyhood is a never-ending responsibility. One that consumes all your time and energy. While initially, the child is totally dependent on the mother and his only solace in this big bright world, being completely immersed in the role is inevitable.

When the celebration of the arrival of the new baby fades away, when the excitement of the latest addition becomes old news, when the responsibilities of motherhood take over, is when the tug of war starts. The war between a woman and a mother.

We look in the mirror yet we cant find ourselves.

WHY?

Often mothers lose themselves in the world of motherhood. Our priorities move from ourselves to the baby long after the baby turns into a toddler and then a young child. We immerse ourselves so deep into looking after and caring for the baby that we end up neglecting ourselves. We are often so busy taking care of everyone else that we neglect to take care of ourselves. And if we fail to take care of ourselves, how can we take care of our children?

Many mothers find themselves at this crossroad where they are torn between taking out time for self vs spending time with the baby. And if somehow they do manage to grab some time out for themselves, they are ridden by the guilt of having prioritized themselves over their children. They demonstrate to the kids that they are low on their own list of priorities.

Mommies! STOP! BREATHE! RELAX! It doesn’t have to be a tug of war! Small things make a huge difference.

• Hand over the baby for a few hours. Your baby is loved just the same by your husband and family as you.
• When they offer help, grab it!
• Stop multi-tasking as if your life depends on it.
• Learn to say no
• Do not judge yourself
• Go for a walk
• Exercise
• Meditate
• Go to a coffee shop – even if you are not a coffee drinker
• Go on a date night with hubby
• Meet friends
• Listen to music
• Go for a movie
• Read a book
• Sleep
• Take out time for that hobby you loved
• Go for a spa
• Oil your hair
• Remember who YOU are.

Remember you cannot pour from an empty vessel. Take care of yourself. Start giving yourself time. Spend time rediscovering the most important person in your life – YOU.

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