Fred Meyer Organic Deals for the Week of Feb 18, 2012

Life around our house has been crazy lately, but I still want to share good prices that I find with you...on that note here are the Fred Meyer deals for the week:

Wild Alaska True Cod Fillets 3.99 per pound
Wild Alaska Whole Sockeye Salmon 4.99 per pound
Wild Northwest Cooked Shrimp Meat 3.99 per pound
Organic Hass Avocados 4 for $5
Organic Fuji, Gala or Braeburn Apples 1.28 per pound
Organic Broccoli or Cauliflower $1.88 per pound
Organic Grape Tomatoes 2 for $4
Organic Naturally Preferred Frozen Fruit $2.99 per package
Muir Glen Organic Pasta Sauce $2.99 each

Organic Food Deals for the Week of Feb 15, 2012

Safeway:

Organic Pink Lady or Braeburn Apples 99 cents per pound
Organic Navel Oranges $1.29 per pound
Organic Heirloom Tomatoes $3.99 per pound
Organic Red or Green Leaf Lettuce 1.69 each

Top Foods:

Wild Alaskan Cod Fillets $4.99 per pound

QFC:

Organic Navel Oranges 10 for $10
Wild Alaska Whole Sockeye Salmon $3.99 per pound
Food Should Taste Good Tortilla Chips 2 for $5
Organic Strawberries 16 ounces $3.99

Progress On Re Arranging the Living Space

The house had begun to feel stale. Like the decor was in need of a face lift. We don't have the extra money to go buy anything new, but I decided it could feel better than it did, by moving it around. Progress so far is a very tidy pantry, a reading nook for Olivia, seating that induces conversation with visitors, and a designated play area for miss Olive. Here are the photo updates...First project, take the two darling children and occupy them...

Tami...this play gym is a life saver for me with Henry, he LOVES it!

First the before pictures...let me know if you think it has improved some! 

Here are the after pictures. First is miss O's designated play area

 Here is miss O and mommy's reading area...

 The cozy, conversation inducing area...

 A place for everything...including boots for the backyard...

 Ah...much better. Not done yet. Still need to hang a few pictures and finish organizing but almost there! I hope to spend the rest of the day finishing. It is my valentines day gift to my husband who LOVES organization and clean homes.

Fred Meyer Organic Deals Week of Feb 12, 2012

Organic Minneola Tangelos 99 cents per pound
Organic Anjou Pears 99 cents per pound
1.5 lb Organic Fingerling Potatoes $2.50
Food Should Taste Good (GMO free) chips 2 for $5

Week of Feb 7, 2012 Organic Grocery Sales

Top Foods:

Organic Navel Oranges $1 per pound
Wild Planet Sardines 2/$5 dollars (great deal!)
Yami Organic Yogurt buy one get one free
Full Circle Organic Frozen Fruit 10 ounces $2.99 each


QFC:

Organic Fuji Apples 10 pounds for $10 dollars
Natures Path Organic Cereal 2 for $5
Tom's of Maine deodorant and toothpaste 40% off
Organic Hass Avocados 2 for $4


Safeway:
Wild Alaskan Salmon Fillets $8.99 per pound previously frozen
Organic Minneolas (oranges) 99 cents per pound
Organic Hass Avocados 2 for $3
Alexia Frozen Potatoes $2.49 for 24 ounces (with coupon)

Food's That Help You Sleep

Having a toddler that has yet to "sleep through the night" has often been a challenge, but I have begun to find it more so with tax season upon us and a more absent husband, who when he is home NEEDS his sleep. For the longest while I thought O's frequent awakenings at night were normal,then I gave birth to Henry, who from day one has slept all night long. This got me thinking and researching what O might be lacking that would help her sleep at night. My search led me to serotonin and melatonin production in toddlers and eventually to foods that increase that production. I have been keeping track in a little book of what I feed her and which nights she sleeps better (meaning she only wakes up once or twice as opposed to every hour after midnight). To my relief I have found that the melatonin and serotonin producing foods increase her sleep at night! Needless to say I have begun to incorporate as many of these foods into her diet as possible. I will share them with you here.

Tryptophan:

Let me start with the fact that tryptophan is an amino acid. This amino acid is used by the body to make serotonin, the precursor to melatonin, your sleep inducing hormone. Serotonin affects neurotransmitters by "slowing down nerve traffic", in other words calming down your brain. Tryptophan is found in milk, seafood, meats, peanuts and eggs. The key to consuming tryptophan is not to eat it alone. It must be consumed with carbohydrates to activate its calming effect. Eaten alone most proteins will actually wake up your brain (due to the amino acid tyrosine, which with no carbs on board will over rule the tryptophan). Dairy, which contains calcium, is the most effective sleep inducing food since calcium combined with tryptophan increases the production of melatonin in the brain. 

Vitamin B5:

This vitamin is required for the synthesis of the hormone melatonin. Deficiency of this vitamin is virtually unheard of but just for some good information it is found in high amounts in the following foods:

liver and kidney, yeast, egg yolk, broccoli, fish, shellfish, chicken, milk, yogurt, legumes, mushrooms, avocado, sweet potatoes, and unrefined whole grains.

Melatonin: 

A fact I found interesting is that melatonin is produced in the pineal gland AND in the gut. A child with a compromised gut or "leaky gut syndrome" may have issues producing melatonin and therefore may not sleep as well at night. Melatonin is found in the following foods:

 (my reference list has a website with herbs and seeds that contain large amounts of it also)

·        Almonds

·        Sunflower Seeds

·        Cherries

·        Oats

·        Rice

·        Tomato

·        Ginger

·        Banana

As we continue our journey towards O sleeping better at night I am sure I will have more to share! Thanks for listening.

References: 

http://www.askdrsears.com/topics/family-nutrition/foods-sleep/foods-help-you-sleep

http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/infocenter/vitamins/pa/

http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/melatonin-000315.htm

http://www.dietaryfiberfood.com/antioxidants/melatonin-natural-food-sources.php

http://home.bluemarble.net/~heartcom/tryptophantoserotonintomelatonin.html

http://www.anapsid.org/cnd/diffdx/leakygut1.html

A Few Fantastic Food Deals for This Week

Fred Meyers:

Wild Alaska Whole Sockeye or Troll Caught Silver Salmon $4.99 per pound

Wild Alaska True Cod Fillets $4.99 per pound

Top Foods:

Organic Yellow Onions for less than $1 per pound

Organic Potatoes on sale for a great price that I can't remember now and did not write down!

Organic Boxed Spinach for $2 per box