Holy moly, did I ever eat a true 'avoid' dinner. What's worse, I ate twice as much as I needed! Shrimp scampi in garlic and butter, fried popcorn shrimp, and a little too much merlot! I chose quite the indulgence, but I kept the entire day's diet in the back of my mind. For example, breakfast was all beneficial foods, lunch and snack were either bene or neutral, and the salad at red lobster was a neutral. Today (Sunday), will again be full of bene's and neutrals - no avoids at all.

I have always liked shrimp. When I was pregant with my O, I CRAVED schrimp. It's a shame that it is an avoid for me. Yet, I laugh at myself. I will take a "shrimp" avoid anyday versus a "pepsi or coca cola." It's all relative.

Today, I had a distinct craving for red curry paste. I literally wanted to eat the stuff by the spoonful. Are these hot spices helping rid my body of toxins? Are my hormones fluctuating and does my curry craving have anything to do with my chosen dinner the night before? Who knows? I just love my bene's too!

Whenever someone takes the time to write to me, I feel quite honored. So, I always do my best to respond, even if my answers are short and sweet. Miss P, my recipes are in the archived blogs. Take a moment to search - most of my titles are pretty precise. Also - here's the secret to the bread recipes - I always use the manual which came with my bread machine (Toastmaster) and then I substitute ingredients accordingly. (If it says white flour and it is for an A, then I use Rye or spelt. If it's for all of us, celiac included, then I use white rice flour, brown rice flour, and triple the eggs.) I really am just using the bread machine's companies master base recipe.

Miss R, the answer to your question is so immense - I can't even begin to answer it accurately! But here's the bottom line - chronologically speaking, the O's came first (the hunters), then the A's (the farmers), then the other two blood types. Please check out one of Peter's books from the local library (eat for your blood type, live for your blood type or cook for your blood type.) And good luck!

Whew, I am a little bit tired today. If there are any other mothers with school age children out there, I am sure you can relate! In case anybody was curious or would like to share with me what works for them, please read on......

5:00 A.M. Drag my body out of bed. Drink lemon water. Throw on work out clothes and put my hair in a pony tail.

5:15 A.M. Pull out breakfast items. On an easy day, it's french toast (Ezekiel or Millet Bread) and on a difficult day it's homemade muffins. Blueberry, pumpkin, even zuchinni pecan. Sometimes I have leftover muffins, and on those days I grill beef patties for the O blood type.

5:30 Wake up the two year old (slowly) Together we wake up the six year old. Lots of hugging and smooching. Turn on the tv or the cassette player.

Make the six year old's lunch. It's either grilled moz cheese on Ezekiel bread or walnut butter and jelly on Ezekiel bread. Snacks include dried cranberries or dried pineapple rings. Juicy juice in his lunch box.

6:00 Continue with breakfast preparation. The two year old helps me in the kitchen. At this point, each day is a little different. Sometimes, I eat first. Sometimes, we all eat together. Whatever works.

Slowly, we make progress. Somebody gets dressed, brushes teeth, etc. There is time alloted for goofing off or talking. Tv is on in the parent's bedroom for those who are interested. Finally, Mom loads up the car with snacks (always) and ushers both children to the local grade school. AFter the six year old is dropped off at the school's door, the two year old and Mom are off to the YMCA.

8:15. Check the two year into day care. 30 minutes cardio (whatever I feel like - maybe it's just walking, maybe it's running, cycling, etc.) My purpose is to think and deflate. My mind dictates the cardio routine.

9:00 Stretch and lift weights. I work out my upper body Monday Wednesday Friday and legs Tuesday and Thursday. I also utilize the time to learn a new exercise as I am studying to become a certified personal trainer. I love the job description! Today's trainers are expected to be advocates of positive lifestyle change. While we aren't allowed to give nutritional advice, we are allowed to point clients toward 'published' material. Dr. D's books are always with me. And of course, there are so many "politically correct" areas I am allowed to discuss. Such as reading labels, understanding what is in your food, etc. etc.

10:30 - Time for one small errand with my child. It's more about fun than getting a lot done.

11:30 Eat lunch. It's hard to get enough veggies into our day, but I am always trying. Romaine lettuce with garlic dressing - leftover chicken pieces, fish or even a simple rice and black beans. Thank goodness he loves rice. I can throw anything into the rice (even sardines) and he will eat it!

12:00 Two year old down for a nap. Clean, and study some more (one hour). Housework. Blog a little.

2:30 Six year old is home. Snack (shelton's organic beef jerky is terrific!) Many times, my son will request what he wants and it is usually a treat. (Non compliant candy or just a drink to quench his thirst.) I know that he has had a solid meal so far, so I don't worry about it.

3:00 The six year old is required to perform 10 minutes of homework at his desk by himself. Then - he's given a break and gets to choose whatever he wants to do. (Usually, he's outside hunting for other six year olds.) Lots of physical exercise and fresh air. The two year old is woken up.

3:30 - Two days a week, I must leave to work. Sometimes the kids come, sometimes they get to stay home. If the kids come, then it's snacks in the car (homemade) and homework is continued at the YMCA day care. If I do not have to work, then we all hang out at home and continue the homework process.

A special note Sensory disorder kids need lots of physical movement to help their brain with writing and reading. Homework is regarded as 'fun' if I break up the time with physical activity. But if you have ever tried to keep a sensory kid in his room until the homework is completely finished, the room looks like something a tornado hit. Seriously, some kids just need lots of little start and stops, while other kids don't. I could write at this computer for hours. My husband cannot. I have to keep reminding myself that my son is NOT like me and never will be. He is brilliant in his own way.

5:00 - Start dinner (dishwasher, setting table, meal prep.) More homework for the six year old. The two year old is encouraged to play in the sink while I cook. Dinner is always two sets of protein (steak and fish, beans and chicken, etc. Sometimes Dad will cook the red meat (hooray!) I try to offer a veggie and a fruit as well as a grain of some kind.

6:30 - Sit for 10 minutes and digest dinner. Scrub the two year old (no kidding - rice is constantly everywhere!) Six year old is back at his homework desk. Teeth and pajamas - the two year old is put to bed.

7:30 The six year old is put to bed. Book reading or tv is allowed (no more than one hour of tv time during the school week. Teacher's orders!)

8:00 - I stop working. This is my "keep my sanity rule." I have three big personal priorities. Get enough sleep, eat good food and exercise. Yes, my house is dirtier than I would like it to be. Yes, my six year old needs a haircut. But life is supposed to be fun, folks. And everything will get done in due time. God Bless.

Sorry it has taken me awhile to get back to you! As always, thank you for sending me your thoughts.

First- I want to start with Miss L who had a question. While yogurt is ok for most A's (neutral, but ok), I have found that my little celiac cannot tolerate yogurt in any form. (Organic, non-organic, half a serving, whole serving, etc.) Some people just have individual variances, and trial and error is the only way to go. Good luck, I hope you can eat it!

Miss J and Miss K - thanks for your insight on learning disabilities. At the moment, I have officially asked the school to assess him, so now we play the waiting game. It takes 3 to 4 months where I live to complete all of the observations and tests. I will say, that I am surprised thus far as he has not been bringing homework home (last year he couldn't get anything done in school at all.) I look forward to my son's open house and I will be keenly observing the classroom settings. Is this teacher doing something differently than the last teacher did? Is the diet helping in a way that it didn't help last year? Who knows? But I look forward to hearing the school's observations.

Miss L (a different one)- thanks for your advice on homeopathy. There is a part of me that wants to spend hours on learning more - and another part of me that says "What are you nuts? Your plate is full, you have all that you can handle. Just be patient! " But you have reminded me of something. It's time to start asking other mothers what they have done -- before I drop our precious dollars at the health food store! Thanks again.

Mr D - I fear you are right. Yet, I was hoping that my grocery store just received a really good deal on the brand. Does anyone else know which brand of olive oil is truly cold pressed and the most economical all of the time? Is there a food co -op I should be looking into or can I order things directly?

I wish Trader Joe's was located here in Rockford!!! Happy Labor Day, everyone.

I pulled something at the gym this morning. Or, it's just lactic acid buildup and the soreness will go away soon. Either way - it's time to drink fluid until my eyeballs are swimming! I learned my lesson the hard way last week. Dehydration led to one massive headache. By the time the head starts to hurt, it's hours before I can get it back under control.

One to two full cups of water is recommended before you workout, 3 ounces during the work out, and another one full cup afterward. Urine should be a very pale yellow - almost clear. Or so I have read (Disclaimer there - Feel free to research things In humid conditions, double your water intake. I will not dance with the headache lady for that particular reason again.....

I was pleased with breakfast this morning. I made my six year old ground beef sausage flavored with onion powder, garlic powder, salt and freshly diced parsley! He also enjoyed my blueberry buckwheat muffins and told me that I should sell them )))) Tapioca flour has made my muffins the fluffiest and lightest they have ever been. It is now a staple within the kitchen. It has very little nutritional density, which is a shame, but the approval rating is well worth it. Peaches rounded out the meal.

The two year old was not as pleased. In fact, he barely touched anything (I had leftover Teff cereal mixed with brown sugar, toasted pecans and raisins.) I can't believe the difference between plain old nuts and freshly roasted nuts! Delicious! Hopefully, he will be hungry enough to eat the rice, brocolli and tuna dish I am going to make for supper. Hopefully.

The six year old was sent to school with dried mango slices, cinnamon raisin Ezekiel bread with walnut butter and grape jelly. He cried as I dropped him off and begged me to teach him at home. For as much as we butted heads this summer, I can't believe he prefers to stay home with me versus attending public school. I have personally met his teacher and I suspect she will force him to act more independently. I also suspect that my son may have a learning disability, and I have asked that the school test him. Not much will happen, as our school's funds are so tapped out that the resources are very, very thin. But I need to know if there is a medical reason for some of his challenging behavior. I need to know if he is just acting like a six year old or - if there really is an underlying and untreated variable which interferes with higher learning.

I already know that he is a highly anxious child whose fine motor skills are technically behind the line by just a smidgeon. I know that he shares certain characteristics with ADD kids, but not all of them. And I know one final thing-- for once, my husband and I are in complete agreement. Ritalin is not the answer. If his ADD test comes back as "highly probably" or positive, his diet will be seriously addressed by ALL family members - and not just me.

I recently ordered walnut butter from Futter's (futtersnutbutter.com). I mix it with plenty of jelly- because of course - he's used to the high sugar stuff. My sample came from Buffalo Grove, IL. I like it. Thanks for sending me a comment. Take care.