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Chantal Urbina

  • [ Home ]
  • [ About Me ]
    • Meet Chantal
    • Contact
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    • By Name
    • Meals for Minis
  • [ World Wellness ]
  • [ Nutty Recommends ]
[ WELCOME ]. My name is Chantal . I am a retired Registered Massage Therapist and a current Stay at Home Mom looking after my first baby, Eliana. I am a Culinary Nutrition Expert who is passionate about making healthy and wholesome meals for the whole family. 

[ WELCOME ]. My name is Chantal .I am a retired Registered Massage Therapist and a current Stay at Home Mom looking after my first baby, Eliana. I am a Culinary Nutrition Expert who is passionate about making healthy and wholesome meals for the whole family. 

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Big things have been happening for me lately. I can’t tell you exactly where I’ll end up because I have no idea but I’ve changed more in the past 6 months than I have in my whole life. . I’m realizing why and how I’ve been treating myself. And I’m challenging anything that brings me down. It’s exhausting to be honest but it’s so powerful. I feel like I’m on the most clear path I’ve ever walked on. It’s far from crystal but it’s no longer foggy. . I have a habit of making myself feel small. Unintentionally. I’ve been doing it my whole life. Anything worth celebrating, wasn’t. I never let myself feel special or unique. There are things that I have or do want to do but there’s always a voice shutting me down. “That’s been done.” “Others already do it and they do it better.” These negative voices even speak in regards to this account. “There will always be others who are willing to share more. And show more”. . Why do we allow this? We succumb to mediocre lives because these voices in our heads tell us we aren’t good enough. Perhaps these voices stem from others in our lives and perhaps it’s all our own doing. Perhaps both. Either way, it doesn’t matter because it’s all bullshit. We know it is but we usually don’t have the audacity to shut it down. And I’m not sure where my fire came from but it’s here. Maybe my post-partum hormones are completely drunk or completely realigned. Maybe it comes with age and giving less fucks. Maybe it’s just goddamn time. It is goddamn time. For all of us. . I have no clue where I’m headed but I just know it’s somewhere really fucking awesome. I’d love for you to join me.
Today on @thebodybook, I’m diving into 10 things I learned in the year we left behind. It was a very transformative year for me. I legit feel as if I matured one thousand percent. Becoming a new mama for a second time just brought so much understanding to light. I am looking at life through a brand new lens. Check out the lessons life taught me by heading to the @thebodybook blog-link in their profile (post is under the FOCUS category). I’d also love to know what you are bringing forward into this new year.
MEAL PLANNING ||. A meal plan is the plan of action we come up with before we hit the supermarkets. The purpose is to have an organized menu plan that both saves us time and chaos in the kitchen. It also avoids wasting food and blowing up our grocery budgets. Some come up with a monthly menu, some a weekly menu and others play it day by day. It is important to note that meal planning and prepping will not look or work the same for everyone. What is effective for me may not be effective for you and your family. There is no benefit in comparing planning and prepping methods and/or styles. Find a system that works for you and stick with it. If you have been interested in meal planning but are not sure where to start, I have come up with some helpful tips to help steer you in the right direction. Check out my blog post for all the details-link in profile!
A couple of weeks ago I was hugging Eliana when she grabbed at the excess skin seeping out from under my bra in the back. “What’s that mama?” She asked as she grabbed hold of it like it was a sandwich. In my head I thought, “what’s what? My fat?” And I chuckled. But then I realized what an opportunity this was. . After a pause I finally answered “it’s my back.” And she immediately replied with “oh, back. Ok.” It seems like such a small question to dissect but in reality, it’s far from. Had I answered what I thought internally, it could very well have set her up for a lifetime of lies. Every roll she’d see from that point forward would be labelled as “fat.” On others and on herself. Rolls are everywhere and they are on big bodies, small bodies, kids bodies, and babies bodies. They are just a part of us. A back is a back. A stomach is a stomach. A body is a body. Sure, she could very well mature and end up labeling our differences anyway but I sure as shit don’t want to be the one who started it. . It seems dramatic, I know. But think of how we grew up. And think of why we automatically, without question jump to the thoughts we do. Thoughts like my internal response of “that’s my fat.” Every word counts. No, we are not going to be able to control every little thing that comes out of our mouths but we can try. And we need to. Because it matters. // Photo cred: @jamiemandap
Many of you followed Eliana’s journey through starting solids. You witnessed her eat everything under the sun (and while she danced). She used to eat any and all vegetables and was a machine. . I’m here to let you know this is no longer the case. But I’m also here to let you know that I’m so okay with it. I stopped stressing over it a long time ago. She will literally only eat a few select vegetables (sweet potato, spinach if it’s minced up really fine, edamame, green peas, and roasted seaweed). . I do my best to include veggies in her meals in a way that I know she will eat it (using soups as pasta sauces, including puréed vegetables in our oatmeal, smoothies, etc). I also still always offer a bit of everything. If we have a salad (always), she gets a piece of lettuce, a carrot, a tomato, and whatever else. I know that there’s a 99% chance she won’t eat it and will give it right back to me. But she knows what they are, what they are called, and that mama and papa eat them. This is important to me because maybe within the year, she’ll come around. Maybe it’ll take a few years. Maybe she’ll be 18. But she will always know what each damn vegetable is. Familiarity is half the battle (speaking from experience-I used to be the worst believe it or not). This is the difference I can make as a mother. Guidance, knowledge, and leading by example. The rest is up to her. I’ve done my part. I’m truly doing my best. It’s all we can do. Relax, breathe, and let it go. Parenting is hard enough isn’t it?
CARROT GINGER LENTIL MUFFINS ||. No, Lentil isn’t a typo here. I intentionally put red lentils into my muffins. It might’ve been a crazy idea but let me tell you, it wasn’t a bad one. These babies pack 7g of both fibre and protein in each muffin. Don’t let the name fool you, these deliver in taste and texture. It’s a new year, get ballsy and bake with lentils. Direct link for the recipe is in my profile.
I’m more confident now than I have ever been. This is a tad ironic since the appearance I was always chasing hasn’t been further to what it is now. The gray hairs, the pooch, the soft skin with little tone. It’s not the look I was initially aiming for but it’s everything I needed to fully embrace myself, to let go, and to finally learn to love and respect my body. . My post-partum body challenged my ways of thinking countless times on end. Irrational thoughts would creep in and I would immediately recognize the insanity but it didn’t stop them from creeping in. I feared the relationships in my life would change because my body had. I’m talking beyond my husband. My friends, my family. I was still me, a better version of myself actually but I still was haunted by what others thought. . Up until this past year, I wouldn’t even go grocery shopping without my comfort layer of foundation on my face. I have no idea how errands I didn’t run because I didn’t want to put makeup on. . Countless items of clothing went unworn or un-purchased to begin with. Things I loved but couldn’t wear “just yet.” . Why am I sharing this? Because these negative thoughts take over each and every one of us in some way or another. On a daily basis. And it’s unacceptable. This past year had me challenging each and everyone of these irrational thoughts, one by one. It wasn’t and still isn’t always easy, trust me. But I’m determined. My relationships will not be affected by fear of judgement. My face will not be slathered in cosmetics unless I want it to be. I’m going to wear what I want to, and now. There’s no waiting. There’s no point in time that we will ever reach where we will be “good enough.” Because we already are. Challenge the lies. Every single one. Every single day. And never stop.
PLANT BOOSTERS ||. When January hits, I see many taking on the goal to eat more plants, yay! As with any goal my personal approach and opinion is to take it day by day and create new habits in a way that comes easiest to us at first. . Today I’m sharing 5 ways we can easily boost our meals with plants. And no, it doesn’t involve cooking legumes from scratch. These ideas are effortless and help create a complete meal in no time. Check out my full blog post for the details, direct link in my profile. . In the meantime, let’s get to this amazing homemade hummus recipe, yeah? . SIMPLE HUMMUS: Ingredients: •1 garlic clove •14 oz can chickpeas, rinsed well •1/4 cup tahini •1/4 cup lemon juice •1 tsp. Cumin •1/2 tsp. Paprika •1/2 tsp. Sea salt •Pinch (or more) of cayenne pepper •Water (optional-to reach desired texture). . With the food processor running, drop the garlic clove in to mince. Add the remaining ingredients and blend until thoroughly combined. Slowly pour water in while running to help blend, if needed.
Today on my stories I chatted about baby purees, supplements, and shared a couple of recipes (that yes, I’ll add to my highlights soon). . This pure prune purée from @lovechildorganics is an excellent resource to have on hand when solids start. It’s a beautiful fruit to keep things regular and to naturally sweeten other purée combinations. . I gave Emilia a tad bit of this the other day and didn’t want to waste the whole pouch so I froze it into ice cube tray servings just as I do with my homemade purees. . The great thing about frozen purée servings is that they never have to go to waste. Even if your baby skips purees and goes straight to finger foods, these little servings can be useful into toddlerhood (and adulthood)! How? For example, I’ll definitely be adding some of these prune servings to my toddler’s oatmeal. I also made a beautiful butternut squash purée earlier this week and I will be using frozen servings of that as a pasta sauce for my toddler as well. Today I shared an Apple and Zucchini purée that I froze. Plop one of those little babies into a smoothie, or again, oatmeal. . It’s funny because a lot of people adore the baby led weaning method because it’s easy to feed the whole family in one shot. Agreed. But I think purees can easily boost the nutrient profile in family meals just as well, all in one shot. There a million ways to go about feeding our families. And there are a million ways to get creative with them. That’s why I love this stage. It forever challenges me to use every last drop, every last nutrient, every last bit of love I put into it.
My baby is eating solids, my toddler is going to the washroom in the toilet, and my closet is smaller than it’s EVER been. The changes are big but I’m flying high. I wanted to pop in and chat about closet issues when it comes to pregnancy and post-partum....because that shit makes everything more complicated. Here’s what I think through learning lessons the hard way. Don’t buy post-partum clothes during pregnancy. It’s a mystery what the pp body will look and feel like. Trust me. I donated a few items that I’ll never wear because I foolishly bought them during my pregnancy and just, no. . First time post-partum mamas, hold onto the most favourite items that may not fit right now. Some women lose weight, gain it, “bounce back” and bounce back and forth. Until you know where your body will fall, hang onto them. However, be warned that even if you “bounce back” you won’t feel like it for awhile. You’ll feel like a weak, hollow, empty nest (kind of because that’s what happened). Your posture, strength and overall comfort level *MAY shift in different clothing. We never can be sure what our bodies will do post-partum until we are done nursing. Some women lose or gain weight as they nurse and some lose or gain afterwards. Also remember that supportive bras can eventually be worn again someday...a good lift in the rack area really makes a difference in where some clothes fall. I am a second time post-partum mama so I know what’s up. I know my body has changed so much and that some things are permanent and others may not be. I made all my donation decisions today based on this reality. . Although our bodies change after childbirth and breastfeeding, all hope is not lost even if it feels like it. We must learn our bodies all over again. We must experiment with different fits and styles and find what compliments our bodies best. This takes time and patience, and practice. And once you find what works for you and your comfort level-own it. CONTINUED IN COMMENTS.
PURGE ||. I’m in full out purging mode. I thank my nesting phases during pregnancy because since then, I feel like I’ve become a pro. Over the past 2 weeks I have been tackling one area/issue a day. I’m not putting pressure on myself or giving myself a deadline because unfortunately the world doesn’t just freeze so I can complete this detailed task. . When I asked what content you wanted more of in the New Year, organization was one of them. My biggest tips are: Use lots of baskets/bins/containers. This keeps everything together easier and is much easier on the eyes rather than keeping everything in their original packaging (that always takes up space). The thrift stores and dollar stores are both wonderful for this. . If you haven’t used or worn something within the last 6 months and it has no sentimental value, bye. . The closet. If you have a huge pile sitting there labeled “but maybe it’ll fit again one day”.....think long and hard about how toxic that pile is. There will forever be this battle against ourselves, a voice telling us that we aren’t good enough. Instead, make room for today’s body. Love it and spoil it. I’ll touch on this more in my stories tomorrow as that’s when I’m cleaning out my closet. . And toys. Ah, the biggest problem. I personally try to keep it minimal and succeeded up until Christmas. I have just rearranged everything and made room for bigger toys and things with no containers and/or small pieces in one of my kitchen designated pantries. It’s all behind a closed door and it’s a dream. I also have no problem telling certain people (mostly my parents) that everything they buy that is ridiculously large (like a ball pit and a car racing tower taller then E) is staying at their place. I also divide up their toys between our home and the grandparents’ houses where we spend a lot of time at as well. What my toddler does have access to is organized in categorized bins where the whole family knows where what goes. If there is something that doesn’t easily fall into a category , it’s gone. Also, as soon as something breaks, it’s gone. . Anything else you want to know? What are your top tips? // Photo cred: @jamiemandap
2019. This is the year that I:. . Fiercely honor my worth. Replace my maybes with a simple yes or no. Gain back my physical strength. Flow in the direction of my passions even though the end goal is still unclear. . I learned an overwhelming amount this past year. About myself, about relationships, parenthood, and life in general. So many toxic ways of thinking & living have been laid to rest. And I’m so ready to evolve and grow more as an individual and as a whole with everyone around me. // Photo cred: @jamiemandap

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It's OK to not have a Plan
It's OK to not have a Plan
about 2 days ago

I am 33 years old and I still don’t know what I want to be when I grow up. And I am finally okay with it. It bothered me for years that I was living a life without “purpose” or so it seemed. It affected me so deeply because I grew up with your typical millennial mindset. I believed that happiness should always triumph a paycheck.

Nutty is Prego

October 30, 2015 in World Wellness, Baby Nutty, Pregnancy

I usually don’t go MIA for too long and in fact, this is my longest online hiatus to date but it’s all with good reason. I’m overjoyed to finally share that I’m going to be a mother and my husband, a father. There is a baby nutty brewing inside of me and he or she is expected to arrive in May 2016. Some of you may be surprised to hear that. In fact, when I told certain people I even got the question “but I thought you didn’t want kids?” This assumption is coming from a previous (and my most popular blog ever posted) called “To Conceive or not to Conceive?” In it, I expressed that my husband and I were undecided on the subject on procreating. We would go back and forth between the decision that we never took lightly. In the post I expressed the following statements:

“I don’t want to conceive a child out of pressure, uncertainty, or worst of all-fear.”

Unfortunately, I honestly believe people today are choosing to have kids for all the wrong reasons. We are terrified of losing the race against time, the possibility of infertility issues, the fear of leaving this world scared and alone. We feel inadequate next to our friends growing lively little families and we feel constant judgement and pressure from the world. Although I can understand those reasons, I never wanted any of them to be the rationale behind our conception.

“As we currently stand-our fate is in the hands of the baby gods. Hell, who knows, after all that rambling I could very well be pregnant right now. It either happens or it doesn’t. If I have children, I want it to be done lovingly, positively, and naturally. If that doesn’t happen then maybe it wasn’t meant to be.”

The future of our family was put in the hands of the baby gods over a year ago. Would I say we were “trying” for that past year? No. We simply left it up to fate. If it happened it happened and if it didn’t it didn’t. In that past year did I struggle with fertility issues? Were my hormones so unbalanced that it took a while to conceive? I don’t know. I do know that I was working with several holistic professionals to help balance my hormones (and not to conceive just for optimal health).  I worked with a homeopath, acupuncturist, and reflexologist. I also studied my diet and made suggestive changes. I focused on cleansing my liver and although I felt as if I was getting nowhere I still tried to remain patient with the journey. My painful periods never subsided and oftentimes it led me to believe I was making no progress at all. I’m left to wonder if this pregnancy a sign of progress or was it just an effortless result of a loving act on that perfect day at the perfect hour? I don’t know. We will never know. What I do know is that we were blessed with this little life thriving inside of me. This is the hand that the baby gods dealt us and we fully accept it with honour and pleasure.

MY FIRST TRIMESTER

 

Breast "tenderness"

I knew very early on that I was pregnant (at 3 weeks) and for one reason alone.  There was one particular “effect” (I refuse to use the word symptom as symptoms are accompanied with illness and creating a human is anything but) that could not be ignored. My breasts were throbbing. Let me tell you right now that breast “tenderness” is the most underrated thing I have ever heard. I felt as if each boob had its own pulse.

Fatigue

Fatigue was nothing new for me (thanks to my chronic hormonal imbalances) so my zombie like demeanour was not a red flag for me. It did hit me harder after about a month or so and I found all I wanted to do was watch Netflix and (actually) chill. I had no desire to food prep, meal prep, cook or bake. I never opened my laptop for anything besides watching TV curled up in a ball. No blogging happened, no recipe creating, and definitely no daydreaming about vegetables. How I made it to boot camp during this time is beyond me.

Nausea

Aside from killer boobs and fatigue I felt fine for those first 3 weeks. I did avid research on preventing morning sickness because as a registered massage therapist, I could not afford to be puking while practicing. I was feeling pretty good. I was feeling so good in fact that I was borderline cocky. Then hit week 6. Fuck. This is what people talk about. Luckily I never vomited, but no matter what I did there were 3 weeks of unsettling nausea. I was taking magnesium supplements to fight the discomfort. I wore Sea Bands bracelets when I wasn’t working. I added ginger to everything I ate and drank. I bought ginger chews and even bought saltines (I haven’t had those in years). My sickness was the worst overnight. I believe this is because I would go so long without eating. I discovered that if I did eat something small every few hours I would feel completely fine but anything longer-the placenta building station got all pissy with me. Therefore I would munch on a few crackers in my bed in the dark after a few of the zillion times I would get up to pee overnight. It helped.

Cravings/Eating Habits

This is where Nutty4Nutrition died. As soon as week 6 hit, baby Nutty murdered mama Nutty. I read that quality sources of protein helped play a huge role in battling the nausea but I unfortunately had no interest in protein. I added hemp hearts in everything I could because I was not feeling animal protein nor was I even fond of beans or legumes. All this baby wanted was fruit and carbs. This was a huge mind fuck for me. As much as I knew that this time was imperative to eat well I just couldn’t help eating the crap that I was craving. My mornings started off well with my loaded smoothies full of nutrients but from there it all went downhill. During my first trimester I ate unimaginable things that Nutty would never consume in copious amounts. Gluten galore, dairy delight, and I think I could have lived off of potatoes (but that’s nothing new). I bought things I haven’t had since I was a naïve teenager. The thought of vegetables made me gag and the only color I ingested was from fruits. I can feel your judgy eyes beaming at me through the screen. Listen, unless you have been here I’m just going to tell you right now that the first trimester is a wild ride and you have next to no control. I would read blogs of fitness queens and nutritionist divas sharing all the healthy foods they ate throughout their pregnancies. They emphasized the importance of eating right and expressed that our babies need us to lead the healthiest of lifestyles yet. At first heir words made me feel hella guilty but they eventually led me to irritation. Listen, obviously some people can do it. If you have been here and managed to maintain a clean diet, congratulations superwoman. Hang tight while I go grab you a cape to symbolize your immortal strength. ..Everybody is different and at the end of the day I was just happy I could eat because I have friends that couldn’t keep a goddamn thing down no matter how hard they tried.

Constipation

I do suffer with constipation but I knew I would. I knew that a lazy digestive system was a possible effect of baking a bun and I knew that it would affect me without a doubt. Nutty4Nutrition was created as a result of me trying to get a healthy handle on my digestion. Constipation was nothing new to me. Been there, done that. I was thankful for everything I have learned on my Nutty journey in regards to aiding digestion because at least I knew ways to support my gut throughout this slow moving slug of a time. My morning smoothies are packed with fibre (and irish moss) and all I drink all day long is good old water. I snack on dates and plums and other fruits high in fibre and still take my probiotics (and even digestive enzymes on occasion). My bathroom frequency is far from ideal but I do what I can.

Acne

Well, here’s another déjà vu. Hi cystic acne that I have missed so much-not. I swear I have this one honker that is still sitting on my face and it’s been there since the beginning (I’m currently writing this at 13 weeks). It is just a hard, stubborn lump of nothing and it doesn’t seem to be parting ways anytime soon. I also knew acne would affect me as well as I have also suffered with it in the past. To be honest, I thought it would bother me more than it does but I don’t care. It is what is and hormones run this show.

All in all

Aside from those major points, I also noticed a few random effects. My boobs and belly started to get itchy pretty early on forcing me to lotion every day to relieve discomfort. Speaking of my boobs, they are ginormous (so much so that they gave my pregnancy away a few times) and my nipples are already starting to resemble something horrific and mammoth-like. I definitely have prego brain. I forgot the pin to my visa a week ago and I still can’t remember even one digit for the life of me. I have a lot of important events coming up (weddings, showers, and bachelorettes) and I’m terrified that I will forget to show up to something in the midst of the chaos (I’m included in them all).

My friends warned me that pregnancy is not fun. They confided that it’s a period of time where you feel sick, bloated, fat, and uncomfortable. And as much as that may be true, I also feel awesome. Yes my boobs hurt but they are getting ready to feed my child. Yes I pee a gazillion times a day but it’s because my hCG levels are off the chain and my baby is growing. No, I’m not eating the cleanest diet but hey, I’m having fun. I missed perogies. Yes I’m constipated but my progesterone is naturally heightened (which is protocol) and this slows down digestion. Yes, I’m bloated but that is nothing new for me and it’s the first time where I’m supposed to be so hallelujah. I’m anticipating the arrival of my bump so intensely that I analyze my profile several times a day.  I have been blessed with the gift of growing a child. Unfortunately, not everybody is able to conceive and I vow to always keep that in mind throughout this journey. Instead of complaining about the process I’m going to enjoy it. I always knew I’d love being pregnant. I’m so excited to dress my bump, feel my body change, and embrace this new journey. It’s ironic because most ladies dread pregnancy and get anxious at the thought of labour. I’m totally game for all of that (I’ve got my doula lined up and all), it’s the aftermath-the arrival of our baby into this world that scares the shit out of me. That’s when I need to learn how to change a diaper, treat rashes, and decode moans, whines, and cries. It is when I need to master the rather misunderstood art of breastfeeding, multitasking, and patience. It’s when I, somebody who rarely brushes her hair, will be expected to care for and raise a decent human being. I have faith that we will be ok. Every parent gets by somehow and it’s by simply doing the very best they can. That’s our game plan anyway.

Ladies, what were your experiences with pregnancy? I'd love to hear it all-the good, the bad, and the ugly!

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