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@snackmasterflash-blog
As for me and my house... We will #LiveHealthy! #EatByExample and give your kids the gift of #HealthyHabits #MotherOfTwins #HealthyChildren #GreenSmoothies #AfterSchoolSnack #TeachTheBabies and #Love them with #GoodFood #snackmasterflash
Memoirs of a Snack Master...
Here’s a post that I’ve had on my heart for sometime now…
Many wonder how I blossomed into this snack pack toting chick with the kind of personality that could talk to just about anybody. Well tonight I’m paying homage to my mother. She has given me so much of her self through the years. One of which has been the security of knowing that I would be fed. Now that may not seem like a big deal to you as an adult but trust me, a child feels loved when they’re fed consistently and with thought by a parent/care giver.
But what’s funny about life is that I never thought of it like this until recently. I noticed that one of the ways I genuinely express love to my children is by feeding them! Lol! But not just feeding them like you feed a fish, but really anticipating their needs.
My mother was like that. Is… She anticipated my hunger everyday and as an adult now- a mother, wife, giver, good food advocate… I have this ability-desire even to love through food.
I love through a bowl of fresh cut up watermelon or a quick green smoothie. I have literally felt my heart skip a beat at the thought of going to the fresh fish market to get them a bit of Cod and fresh lemons to make for dinner.
Food, as human creatures know it is our source of physical strength. But what about the emotional side? What about changing a life… With a snack. Have I gone too far? Maybe… But maybe not.
When I was really young I used to go to this recreation center where everybody knew my mom. They had activities for all ages. One day my mom came up to the rec center to meet me and my sister and she of course had her Gantos blouse on with the shoulder pads of life, stone wash jeans, and brown Via Spiga pumps. Ohhhhh the 90’s!!! I’ll never forget you!!
Anyway she had her purse and her trusty mommy bag with something in it meant for consumption! Right in the middle of my like 80th ping pong game she came over to me with a bowl wrapped in aluminum foil and said, “Here’s something to eat Drea! Come on over here and take few spoon fulls!” I was hungry but for some reason I just wanted to keep playing. She left the bowl next to me and went to find my sister. About 30 minutes later, I noticed this little girl about 5 years old who had been sitting down next to the bowl. She kept looking at me then back at the bowl. I didn’t know her but she seemed like she wanted to play with me. I decided to stop the game of ping pong and asked her if she wanted to play.
It’s funny how memories of your child hood just pop back up into your mind. I can remember this day now like it was yesterday. Better.
She asked me my name and I said, “Andrea.” I asked hers and she said, “Cicely.” I said, “do you wanna play checkers?” She said, “No I’m hungry. Is that your mommy?”
She wanted my bowl of food. I opened it up and it was still warm. Rice and green peas. I asked her if she wanted it… She said…”yes please.”
There are some experiences that shape you. Even if you forget it happened at all, it changes you FOREVER.
Thank you Mommy.
#Latergram the contents of my #SnackBag today didn't stand a chance once we picked the girls up from school! This move here is all about #prevention! Get to hunger before your little ones turn into uncooperative wildebeests!! Hey it happens to the best of us! #FeedYourKids before the eat you!!! Everything was copacetic in my world while we ran a few errands! #MotherOfTwins with a #GoodAttitude!! I would say our first #WhatsInTheBagWednesday went pretty good. I'm still smiling;-) #TragedyAverted
#WhatsInYourBagWedneaday #SnackBag #SnackFlash and #TheSnackPackTwins want to know what #snacks did you take with you today?? Whether you're out in the #corporate world or holding it down at #home, we want to know??? Hash tag us! Thanks @misscatcoolkids!! #GreatMinds #HealthySnacks #MotherOfTwins on a mission!
For all my people out there who picked too many #apples on their recent #applepicking outing, try cutting them up into small pieces and throwing them into a batch of #morningmuffins! Make the itsy bitsy ones and throw em in your bag before you leave the house! They make great #snacks and if you have little ones they'll love em too! @ang79 @catpeoples Not to mention my preggers!!! Make your own muffins and put all the healthy stuff in there like #ChiaSeeds #FlaxSeedOil #Bananas & #Apples!!!! We make #healthybabies round these parts!!!! #EatUp!!!
For Charelle
I want to share with you all about a friend of mine. Her name is Charelle and before this summer we’d never met. The twins and I were at the laundromat one day with what felt like every piece of fabric that we’ve ever owned. I had set the girls up at a little table with a few books, water, a bowl of dates, rice cakes, and almond butter. Our make shift living room started to attract a bit more attention than I had planned but nevertheless we were there! Live in living color as I always say!
As the afternoon went on, my glorious (then) 2 year olds had found their way into just about every corner that they could find. And every single time they left my range of sight I would call them back to me and explain to them that they were good listeners and that its dangerous to not see Mommy. I repeated myself almost twenty times, easy! Buuuuuuuuuuuut they’re my children and my gifts and my responsibilty. Its my job and their fathers job to make sure that they always know what time it is!
Here’s where Charelle gets introduced to the story… I see this woman walk up to me and say excuse me, ” I just want to tell you that I like the way you talk to your children. I’ve never seen a young mother with so much patience.” She went on to comment on their pop-up buffet shop over in the corner and said, “And look at these snacks! You feed them such good food. It makes me so happy to see kids eat like that.”
I smiled and laughed. Relieved that she didn’t judge me at how much energy they had or how all over the place they were. A point of contact in a laundromat full of people and their dirty clothes! She spoke to me. Ahhhhhhhhhhh the relief!
She went off to her and came back with childrens books that she had in her car. She went on to talk about how important it was to feed children good food but also the importance of reading to them. She was so gentle and kind, yet her sadness grabbed me and I wanted to know why. I told her of my food journey and how my husband gave me the name Snack Master Flash. She just laughed and told me I reminded her of her mother! I laughed too.
In between the lines of food and parenting I asked her why was she limping. She told me that she had cancer in her leg but that it had all been removed…But shortly after there were tumors found in her chest and she was currently undergoing chemotherapy.
I said NO! No no no… Immediately I said you’re going to live a long strong life and have a story to tell thats going to change peoples lives. As strange as it was we just stood there and she said, “I agree with you” and we hugged. She asked me for more stories of my food journey and I told her that I had most of it written down right here on my blog.
As she read, JOY turned into STRENGTH. We talk and pray almost every day. She’s been drinking Alkaline water from our Kangen Machine, we share meals and snacks together, we drink Goldenseal tea together or she gives me herbs and vegetables from a garden nearby, and we laugh at my twins and how fiesty I can get with my husband. My friend Charelle is looking good, feeling great, and came to my house today with a smile bigger than I’ve ever seen.
Food was the topic. It always is…But somehow it always leads to something else.
Food was my door and she walked in. Grateful is what I am.
Now this is what I’m talking about!! This is the #Halloween bag the girls just came home with from school!! #HealthyHalloween #HealthySnacks #TrickOrHealthyTreat!
#FreshAndCo
Funny how my husband and I get to cross pollinate our passions! A couple of weeks ago Taharqa (a vocalist, guitarist, writer, and gorgeous father of twins) tells me about how he's going to be playing a few tunes for the opening of a new restaurant. He thought I should come with him and check the food out since the grand opening was for #FreshAndCo's 9th location! Now if you're unfamiliar with this resturant like I was, let me just give you a quick SMF review!
I walked in and passed a wheel barrel full of apples and spotted to my left a literal wall of different greens. It was like my own personal food spa/buffet where I could pick and choose from so many different types of healthy food. It wasn't like other fast food retaurants (and yes this was the equivalent to a fast food retaurant in terms of its pace and the feel of it) where there's a healthy option. Everything from the greens used for the salad to the meat used on the sandwiches (which they also served) to the soups were all good quality healthy options. This place was suitable for a strict vegan to a nine to fiver who wants to a variety of healthy options in one single store.
I was impressed with their knowlegabe servers, their connection to the community, and where they gathered their ingredients. One of their signs read, "Farm to Desk." How rare is that? I also loved that this is a centrally located food spot in Manhattan where you can get the kind of quality food that you would at a health food store.
This is a place where a banker, artist, construction worker, or parent with young children could walk into and get exactly what they wanted!
Something for everyone is what I thought!
I had the Tuscan Kale Pannini with one of their Fall Salads! Yummmmm! And after Taharqa finally put his guitar down, he enjoyed the Lobster Bisque soup with the Chicken Fresco Pannini! I was so SATISFIED and excited knowing that if I'm out and about in NYC, there's a place I can go and eat without compromising the way I eat at home!
New location is on 42nd and Madison! Go check it out and let me know what you think!!
~SMF
I'm in heaven! #FreshandCo
Right up my alley!! #HealthyFood and #GoodMusic #FreshAndCo
My Taharqa jammin out on streets of NYC for the opening of #Fresh&Co 42nd & Madison Come get a taste! @taharqamusic
A long time ago I learned that it was up to me to wake up my appetite in the morning. So many people have said to me, Andrea I don't eat breakfast! I'm just not hungry in the morning. Well here's the truth: Your body is like a toddler that constantly has to be told what direction to walk in and how to talk. Do when your body folds its arms up in the morning and screams, "NO!" Then you kindly say no sweetheart we are going to eat today starting with this here orange! Lol. After a glass of #CleanWater your brain will alert the rest of the crew that you're no longer in your sleep and restore mode. You're breaking your fast, hence BREAK-FAST;-) Don't forget who's in control today! #BabySteps #TrainYourBody #Breakfast #Oranges #LetsGetItStarted #SnackMasterFlash
Rise and shine... #reading #TheOrganicCooksBible #JeffCox #Organic #HealthyLiving #Food #Literacy Don't take my word for it good people. #GetInformed #BePrepared #TeachYourself #BabySteps Don't let anybody tell you, you're sick, unhealthy, or a lost cause. Lets take responsibility for ourselves starting with how we eat. Other things will follow... I realize you might think I have a predisposition to health, but the truth is my journey has been deep and wide. To be where I am today is a testament to me gaining #SelfControl. It's my way of encouraging myself to live a clean life and to be the best Andrea that I can be. We often live as fractions of ourselves settling for "ok" but really ok is just a survival word. I want to thrive and live happy and be genuine. I will always be in pursuit of my best... The best in myself and anyone around me. I read to be informed and to help myself #today. I read so I can answer questions when I'm asked by my grandmother or any woman/man/child who asks me. I read to share information with love and passion for the human body and spirit. My desire is that we all get to experience a full life. A healthy body frees you up to think clearly and grow properly-mentally, spiritually, emotionally, and physically. When life happens as it has been... It focuses me and reminds me of my responsibilities. I want to serve whoever is willing to be served with the Truth of Who I Am and the process that I go through everyday. The question in my head this morning was, "Andrea what are you being fed?" #GoodQuestion
I have to share!!! So the hubby and I went to a friends wedding in Antigua and met a handful of some of the most beautiful people we’ve ever met! From the moment I saw Elizabeth Hazlewood, I was convinced that she was a clothing designer or just flat out celebrity! Lol! I know she’d be so embarrassed to hear me say that but it’s true! The fashion on this woman was impeccable! Not to mention her sweetheart, who was himself just all together! Anywho there we were on this beautiful island and for at least an hour, all we could talk about was BROOKLYN!! Lol! Once we learned that Elizabeth along with sister Emily owned and operated Urban Vintage Boutique & Cafe, we were set on finding out everything we possibly could about this place!!! I mean the description alone had me ready to go there as soon as we got off the plane in NY! But it wasn’t until about a month or so later (on Fathers Day) that we were able to pay this place a visit. We pulled up right in front of the cafe, babies on board, trunk full of instruments, and a canvas bags full of the days needs. I could barely put the car in park before I saw these gorgeous faces exploding out the side door! I snapped a pic immediately of their sign and threw my arms around the crew! Once I walked in, I realized not only was this a place was more than a “CAFE!” The door way alone was the opening scene of at least 3 of my most recent fantasies! VINTAGE was all around me. The furniture, the counter tops, the windows, the glassware, EVERYTHING!
I came for the food, only to find myself in a little personal heaven of fashion!
It was Fathers Day too! Once Elizabeth and Emily smiled at us with their proud poppa not too far behind them, we felt at home.
Now that you’ve heard as much ranting and raving as you can stand let me tell you how good the food was!!!! Let me tell you! We ordered the Waffles topped with fresh fruit for the girls since they were pretty much ready to eat the gorgeous vintage couch we were sitting on! When it came out, my husband was like four bites in and looked at me and was like, “Baby seriously!! Like for real. We’re gonna have to order them another one!”
After the girls salvaged enough to coat their little stomachs, we commenced to ordering a curry chicken wrap and a turkey and Brie croissant sandwich. Inevitably, we ended up sharing them with each other because I couldn't stop eating the curry chicken wrap and Taharqa was looking at me for answers! And once he got a taste of the turkey and Brie he was convinced that we had found us a new “chill spot!” Here’s what I loved: All the meals were served with dark green salads. No fries seemed to be allowed… I for one was excited because that meant the option was greens. And I loved that because my girls were given a healthy choice. All of us were given the opportunity to feel like it was cool to munch on leaves!
I mean why not!?! The dinosaurs did it! Most of them anyway! And the team over at Urban Vintage, said this is Brooklyn! Land of the Free! Damn it we’re gonna be healthy and thats that!!
It’s the little things… And this place is full of them. You absolutely have to go check it out!! Try their Dirty Chai Tea which literally made my life happier! Or do your whole body a favor and enjoy their Mint and lime Tea before you head home. The experience is priceless. The ambiance of love and the passion for fashion and food made for the best Fathers Day yet!!
Thank you Urban Vintage for being You! See you real soon. Love, Snack Master Flash!
Before you judge me, HEAR ME OUT Y'ALL! I am soooooooo hungry! Today was the mother of all days and I was going going going WITH GIRLS might I add, until what was left of me was a scattered brain and and hungry body! Horrible combination! As soon as we got back in the car from running errands, the girls fell asleep before I could even turn the keys in the ignition. Now I'm hungry, driving, and responsible for these precious girls for at least another couple of hours before this night comes to an end. Being the believer that I am in eating clean, I bypassed all the fast food restaurants with extremely convenient drive-thru windows, passed "go", collected my $200 and went straight on home! This was a full on SNAGEDY (Snack-Tragedy)!!! It went from bad to worse! I got to the point where I didn't know if I was thirsty or hungry! But this is where the training kicked in. I knew I needed energy fast, but fast energy for my body could have me feeling like crap for the rest of the night so.... I pulled up to the house feeling like Private Ryan in that Tom Hanks movie and had my friend/nieghbor watch my sleeping beauties while I ran into my kitchen! I threw my emergencies yams in that pot so fast!!! Ohhhhhhh my lord! I then proceeded to guzzle a bunch of water, went back outside and waited about 15 mins or so. Once that yam was barely ready (LOL) I cooked up a couple of eggs (removed most of the yoke) and threw it on top of that yam like it belonged there! The fresh Parmesan that made its way on top was sheer foodie behavior, but I am normal again y'all! Somebody needs to join the chorus with me, because now I can think, walk, and talk again. I can finish raising my children. Thank you Yam! Thank you Egg! And most of all thank you Creator for the Planet Earth and all it's bounty!!! I'm enjoying what you made! Now that folks is what #snackmasterflash calls #FastFood! *Wipes off forehead and exits stage left. *Fade to black. *Epilogue begins.
The Human Experiment
Today as I cracked open my first bag of Chia Seeds and made smoothies for my 2 year old twins, myself, and my husband I realized that I had a great gift. As the blender mixed the bananas, blueberries, low fat yogurt, milled chia seeds, flax seeds, peanut butter, clean water, and ice, I thought wow that was easy. Easy to help my babies be healthy. Like really easy! I gave it to them in their nifty smoothie cups that my father brought them, and they drank it down in a flash! It was delicious and we were all licking our smoothie staches and looking for round two!! But how did we get here? How have I been able to get my little toddlers to eat beets, carrots, hummus, yams, spinach, kale, even chia seeds for crying out loud without tying them down and holding their mouths open? Why do my children love the taste of fish oils and beg for them everyday like pieces of chocolate? Why do they prefer water over any other liquid? As I thought about these questions that I've been asked by friends, family, and even myself, I realize that the answer is simple: A CHOICE. I have the power to choose what we eat and my choice is that we live strong full lives. Lives uninhibited by dis-ease in our bodies, low blood sugar levels, hyperactivity, poor focus, poor digestion, and ultimately unhappiness. That choice is one I made a long time ago YET I have to make it again and again every single day. I have to choose the best possible foods for myself and my family all the time. You've read about the choices I starting making for myself back in 2001, but I made a really small but strong choice for my girls in 2010 when they were born. I choose to breast feed until there wasn't a drop left in me. That was just the first part! The second part of that was my decision to take them from the breast to water. People that were in close quarters would always ask me do they drink juice? I would say, no I'm training them to want water. A revolutionary? Me?!? I didn't think so at the time but now that my girls are almost three and about to start Pre-K, and they're number one preference is WATER... I would probably say yes. Yes I am!
My choice had now turned into their choice. Now when we enjoy juice, it's a batch that I've made with our juicer. Exceptions are made but the training remains. Water. I decided that I would make these precious gifts of mine, apart of what I call, The Human Experiment.
What would happen if the only liquid I gave them besides breast milk was water, I asked myself? And the worst case scenario that I came up with was that they would pee a lot! Lol! But the best case scenario was that they would be hydrated and cavity free. I said to myself, I can live with that! They are in fact my children. My chance to change the world. My opportunity to be a witness of what's good in this life. So far this human experiment is going pretty good. I've tried it in myself, my husband, and my children. Friends and family close to me are joining in and having a good ole time honey! Lives are changing one baby step at a time.
How 'bout you join me and begin to train to be your best self? Use food as your practice like I have and see what happens. Take one small step. One small choice and watch it roll into one good decision after another. I've got another Human Experiment on the way, so keep watching as we choose Life and Freedom to be who were created to be.
Sincerely and Gratefully,
Snack Master Flash
Eat Good Food & Make Happy Babies
A friend of mine in the final stretches of her pregnancy came to my house with her big ole juicy belly and said, Drea I’m ready to breast feed! She was toting books about nursing and had questions that I was all too excited to answer! As she sat on my oversized recliner/rocking chair that was given to me to nurse my own babies 3 years ago, I could see her and this precious life as if he had been born already.
What I’ve never really shared with you before is that I am a strong believer in breast feeding! It was my sole desire once I found out I was pregnant. I wanted nothing more than to stay home with my babies and let them take from me what I felt rightfully belonged to them.
My husband and I, both performers had both gotten laid off from our day jobs when I was 6 months pregnant. But being my mothers child and a believer that I can have what I need; I simply told my husband that we needed a bigger place and that I wasn’t going to work again until further notice!!! Needless to say he loves me and thinks I’m amazing so he made it happen!! Lol! I’m serious. Hello?!? But let me tell you… I fell IN LOVE with my girls in a way I never ever expected. It’s something about saying yes to your baby that makes them trust you and thrive and get strong!! I held each of them close to me for what felt like every minute, to satisfy them and I’m proud to say I nursed them for 24 months…
In love had become an understatement and I was taken over by my commitment to them and their health dictated everything I put in my mouth! I was grateful for my eating transformation that had started in me in 2001. By 2010 my body was healthy and no longer addicted to sugar. I was able to carry twins full term who came out in 27 mins both almost 7lbs!!!
What had my love driven me to do? Eat as if I were training for the OLYMPICS. I read everything. I asked question after question. Stupid ones. Redundant ones until I felt confident. I got to the point where Eating had become my practice. Like Yoga for some, I took up eating as my discipline that I would practice on a daily basis. I let it speak to me and tell me about myself. There’s something about the way you eat that becomes a mirror. It reflects where you are and how you feel. It’s honest and raw because hunger is the one most consistently inevitable occurrences we have a humans. How I ate had become my practice.
Everyday when I was pregnant I took prenatal vitamins along with green smoothies, dark green vegetables, bananas, fish, lean protein, probiotics, clean water, calcium, magnesium, fish oils, whole grains (Nothing White), fresh squeezed juices, etc, etc…
Once those babies were ready to come on out, I ate every thing I could that I knew would help make good breast milk. I was on my Eat, Pray, Love tip and my life revolved around being a better human physically so that I could give them an optimal and rich food supply. As I started nursing, I became even more aware of my eating. I knew that if I could just give them apart myself that was designed specifically and only for them then I would have started them on a course of life long health. And not just health, but to show them how to make good decisions and not give up. I made enough milk to have fed a whole wing of babies.
That night at my house over snacks and books and questions. I told my friend this story and how she could eat that way too. I told her everything is about what you eat. Everything.
4am came months later and her baby boy had come to us. He was perfect, expectant and grateful… And so was she.
I arrived at the hospital with baked yams, carrots, hummus, bananas, graham crackers, peanut butter, fish oils, and clean water. My twins were strapped in their stroller and they were in awe of how small he was yet moving so quickly. She said, Drea when will my milk come in? I said eat. Eat good food and you’ll get good milk. Drink water and love him. It’ll come. Don’t worry just eat my love. I said, here take this graham cracker and organic peanut butter with fresh banana sandwich…
I stayed until she finished everything in my bag.
Cheers! (With two cups of water) To new beginnings!