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Food Motherhood Uncategorized

Introducing Baby to Solids – Guidelines I Follow to Ensure Optimal Gut Health

Baked Goods Recipes Uncategorized

Eggless Butter Cake Recipe

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Brioche Bread French Toast

updated on August 2, 2020July 7, 2020Motherhood My Life

Arayana Shree’s One Month Ceremony

We originally planned on celebrating Shree’s 31st day at home. However my post-partum bleeding didn’t come to a stop by the 30th day so I …

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updated on January 17, 2021July 5, 2020Healthy Living Nutrition

Choosing the Right Veggie Burger this BBQ Season

With the recent trend to eat less meat you may be leaning towards swapping out your meat patties for veggie ones this barbeque season. However …

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updated on January 17, 2021July 3, 2020Homeschooling

Book REVIEW: Turtle Island

Today I’m sharing a book recommendation for those of you who messaged in regards to a good resource to teach yourselves/elementary to middle school aged …

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updated on August 2, 2020July 2, 2020Motherhood My Life

A Little Sister for Akshaya

Ever since Akshaya was born, I dreamt of her growing up with a little sister. My own little sister is 15 months younger and not …

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updated on August 2, 2020July 1, 2020Motherhood My Life

Celebrating Canada Day

My parents, like many Tamil immigrants, fled from the civil war in Sri-Lanka in hopes of rebuilding their lives in another country. Canada’s generosity allowed …

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updated on August 2, 2020June 30, 2020Homeschooling

Our Last Day of Homeschooling for the Year

We’ve successfully completed our first year of homeschooling and I couldn’t be happier with the whole experience. I honestly wish I had started sooner. Next …

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updated on August 2, 2020June 22, 2020Mom to Mom Motherhood

This is Post-Partum

Social media tends to glamorize the postpartum journey with picture-perfect moms and stylized photoshoots but in reality post-partum is far from glamorous. For most, it’s …

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updated on June 20, 2020June 20, 2020Mom to Mom Motherhood

The Importance of Support During the Fourth Trimester

My husband became a father for the first time a month after turning 26 years old. He did not know instinctively how to be a …

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updated on June 19, 2020June 19, 2020My Life

Arayana Shree – Birth Story

My pregnancy with Arayana was definitely a surprise. As much as I wanted four children, I was pretty content with the three that I had …

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updated on August 2, 2020June 16, 2020Homeschooling

7 Amazing Non-Fiction Books for Children

If you’re on the lookout for some amazing non-fiction picture books for your older children, I’ve got the perfect recommendations for you guys. My kids …

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About Me

Hello! I'm Geerthana Uthayakumar and I reside in Toronto, Canada with my family of six. I am a homeschooling mom to four fun loving and very energetic children who constantly keep me on my toes. My passion for cooking from scratch, wellness, and culture combined with my love for writing led to the start of Modern Day Brown Mom in 2015. Through my blog I share my parenting adventures, experiences as a young mother, recipes, tips for healthy eating and more. When I'm not looking after the household, experimenting in the kitchen, blogging or writing, I work on my passion project – Devi Wellness Company.

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Geerthana Uthayakumar
Yesterday evening I made Mattar Paneer for dinner. Yesterday evening I made Mattar Paneer for dinner. Today I tossed the leftover Matter Paneer with some chopped up roti sitting in the freezer and made delicious paneer kothu. I added beans, onion, green chilli, carrots, and green onions as well to round out the flavours and of course to add some veggies and colour. So happy with how it turned out! The recipe for Mattar Paneer can be found on my blog under South Asian Cuisine. . . . #kothuroti #pannerkothu #paneerrecipes #paneer #eeeeeats #foodstagram #foodie #instayum #instafood #feedfeed #culture #foodphotography #moderndaybrownm
Since you guys have been asking me whether I'm uph Since you guys have been asking me whether I'm upholding my resolution to make time to rest, I thought I'd give you an update. Taking time out to do something for myself is definitely a challenge. Between four kids, homeschooling, cooking, chores, and running a business there is always something that needs to be done and not enough time. I'm also not someone that can leave dishes in the sink in order to rest so you can imagine my dilemma. The first time I was able to paint at my own leisure because my husband had taken the week off and was able to keep the kids away from me. The week after he returned to work, I realized the only way I was going to get to sit down and paint was if I made painting part of our homeschooling art curriculum. Sometimes you got to get creative with what you've got and that's exactly what I did. I haven't painted since middleschool art class so there's lots I'd like to learn. For now we mostly paint the birds we see out on our nature walks and it's been working out wonderfully. The kids are really involved and I get to spend time doing something I love with the people I love the most. . . . #moderndaybrownmom #selfcare #mommyblogger #momblogger #motherhoodthroughinstagram #mothersofig
Before I launched my blog almost five years ago, I Before I launched my blog almost five years ago, I checked to make sure no one on the web had a similar blog name because originality has always been important to me. When I first started calling myself "Modern Day Brown Mom", people laughed at my choice of name. Five years later I've come across at least seven instablogs with "brownmom" in the handle. Yesterday I had the urge to want to rebrand the blog. Although I have a new name in mind, I first worked on editing the design of my website to reflect my growth. Speaking of growth, growing a blog is no easy feat unless you get super lucky from the get-go. I started a blog because I needed something to do after I was diagnosed with wrist drop which left my wrist in a metal brace for 6 months. When I joined Instagram in 2016, I didn't realize so many others would be interested in the content I shared. It definitely motivated me to continue writing long after my wrist healed but it was the sharing of authentic content that fueled my very slow but steady growth. I've never asked anyone to share my blog yet genuine shares have contributed to my growth as well. When you produce something that is original and of quality you will grow regardless of the many that will read your posts religiously but choose not to support you or the ones that will copy your content to the last detail. Since the new year began, I've had multiple requests per day from people I've never interacted with asking for a follow or asking me to share their blog or small business. Most of the time these people aren't even following me or engaging in my content but will claim to love my page. I would say most people, myself included, are willing to share content we love or resonate with, without being asking to. I would actually suggest not asking for followers, shares, or "collaborations" that don't mutually benefit. It doesn't leave the best impression on a creator or business owner who actually devotes their time to growing their account on their own. Even when your content is shared, there is only so much another individual can do for you. Ultimately it's your dedication and quality of content that will lead to growth.
Pongal day food, or any festival food for that mat Pongal day food, or any festival food for that matter, always tastes better the next day, am I right? LUNCH: Rice with parripu, squash curry, potato piratal, eggplant gravy, cashew nut curry, and beans poriyal served on a section of banana leaf alongside rasam and appalam. Pongal and thothol for dessert. The recipes for pongal, rasam, parripu, eggplant curry, and beans poriyal are on the blog. . . . #pongal #thaipongal #sweetpongal #pongal #thanksgiving #tamilcustoms #hinduculture #riceandcurry #vegetarianfeast #tamilculture #sweetrice #vaadai  #harvestfestival #eeeeeats #foodstagram #foodie #instayum #instafood #feedfeed #culture #foodphotography #moderndaybrownm
Today morning we celebrated Thai Pongal -  an anc Today morning we celebrated Thai Pongal -  an ancient Tamil festival which dates back to the Sangam period. Thai Pongal falls on the first day of the Tamil month of "Thai" and is often compared to Thanksgiving as we give thanks to the Sun for a bountiful harvest of crops. Although Pongal is celebrated by Tamils all over the world, it is usually a multi day celebration in the motherland where Thai Pongal is followed by Mattu Pongal. On Thai Pongal, a sweet rice dish called Pongal, made of rice, lentils, and jaggery, is prepared and offered to the Sun. Mattu Pongal is a day devoted to the cows that plough the fields so that crops can grow and to the cows that provide milk to nourish our young. The four day festival commemorates the passing of the winter solstice and the beginning of the harvest season. Since many of us celebrating don't actually grow our own crops anymore, I've taught my kids to also say thanks for the farmers that provide us with the food on our tables as it's their harvest that feeds us everyday. For that reason, if you haven't educated yourself about the ongoing farmers' protest in India, you probably should take the time to do so. The three farm bills recently passed in India threatens to leave farmers at the mercy of big corporations thus jeopardizing their livelihoods despite the fact that the majority of the population depends on agriculture either directly or indirectly. Notably, India produces nearly 70% of the world's spices and is the second largest producer of rice. The initial protest by the farmers union was met with water cannons, batons, and tear gas which has led to over 250 million people protesting alongside farmers. Despite being across the world, we all greatly benefit from the harvest of rice and spices and thus we all should be concerned about the exploitation of the people that feed us. As you celebrate Thai Pongal, please keep this in mind. Happy Thai Pongal to all those celebrating! . . #thaipongal #sweetpongal #pongal #thanksgiving #tamilcustoms #hinduculture #tamilculture #sweetrice #vaadai  #harvestfestival #eeeeeats #foodstagram #foodie #instayum #instafood #feedfeed #culture #foodphotography #moderndaybrownm
At 7 months old babygirl celebrated her first Chri At 7 months old babygirl celebrated her first Christmas and New Year, and soon she'll celebrate her first Thai Pongal. She is now sitting, eating, enjoying looking at books and says three words: Amma, Atta (Akka), and Anna, (mom, older sister, and older brother respectively). She can also sign "hungry." I'm working on teaching her "more" and "full" in an attempt to teach her self-regulation when it comes to meals. Her favourite place in the whole home is the bathroom. She absolutely loves washing her hands under running water. She smiles when she hears birds chirp on our nature walks and blinks her eyes ever so rapidly when she sees them fly by. She thinks her siblings are hilarious, laughs to the point of hicupping and smothers them with wet kisses constantly. She's now rolling around to get to things she wants and more recently started pushing off with her feet in attempts to crawl. Shree's definitely a busy baby and it brings us all so much joy to watch her learn as she grows. . . . #ArayanaShree #7monthsold #babymilestones #momblogger #motherhoodthroughinstagram #mommyblogger #southasianblogger #tamilblogger
People often get confused when I use the term baby People often get confused when I use the term baby-led weaning while posting pictures of puréed/slightly mashed foods. BLW simply means letting baby take the lead in terms of how much they decide to eat and how fast. Whether you choose purées or finger foods, you can successfully BLW if you so choose to. I chose to begin with purées because they are already broken down and thus easier for baby to transition to after a liquid diet of milk and also because it's easier on the digestive system. I also chose to traditional spoon-feed for the first couple weeks. Because purées cannot be picked up by fingers easily, I now use a pre-loaded spoon. I scoop and hand the spoon to Shree who puts it in her mouth for the most part. She is developmentally not ready to use a spoon on her own but she can definitely control how much she eats. I refrain from spoon-feeding her with the exception of catching food falling from her mouth because of my own OCD tendencies. Lately, as long as the purée is fairly thick, she's been eating without too much falling out of her mouth. To minimize food waste, I start with a tablespoon worth of food and add more if she seems interested in eating more. BLW is a great way to feed your infant, but it’s not the only way. If you prefer traditional spoon-feeding, go for it. If you prefer a combination of both, go for it. As long as you don't continue to feed when baby shows obvious signs of disinterest (turning head away, spitting food out, keeping mouth firming shut) it will not hinder baby's ability to learn their hunger cues. Whether you decide to BLW or tradition-feed, the main goal is to take it slow as to not rush the weaning process and overwhelm the digestive system by introducing too early or too much at once. Solid 1: Carrot mash with a pinch of organic ginger powder Solid 2: Barley porridge with a dab of ghee and Ceylon cinnamon NOTE: Barley, known for improving digestion and reducing imflammation in the body, is a versatile grain with an incredible nutrient profile. It is an excellent source of fibre, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Contains gluten. Questions? Ask me below. #moderndaybrownmom #momblogger #blw #blwideas
*NEW BLOG POST* When you're introducing solids to *NEW BLOG POST* When you're introducing solids to baby for the first time, I highly recommend starting with one single food at a time to ensure easy digestion and also to give baby's digestive system a chance to learn how to effectively digest that particular food. We are well past that stage so recently I've been combining simple flavours. Today 7.5 month old Shree has two solids. Solid 1: Zuchinni curry, (made with a splash of fresh coconut milk and turmeric and mashed with a fork) Solid 2: Oats cooked in water blended with a piece of Medjool date and powdered cardamom. I added a tiny dab of organic grass-fed butter on top. NOTE: Coconut milk should be used sparingly and occasionally and preferably during the first half of the day (in lunch rather than dinner). Dates are an excellent source of iron, calcium, magnesium, Vitamin A and fibre but also natural sugar so use sparingly if introducing. If doing BLW note that whole dates, due to stickiness, may be a choking hazard and if not pitted, they also contain a seed. As promised my new post "Introducing Babies to Solids - Guidelines I Follow to Ensure Optimal Gut Health" is up on my blog (link in profile and currently in stories). Even if you don't have a baby starting solids, this may be a beneficial read as it contains a lot of points that can be applied to older children as well as yourselves. After you read the post, please come back to this post so that we can get a conversation going. . . . #moderndaybrownmom #momblogger #foodblogger #introducingsolids #blw #blwideas
Over the past week many of you asked me to share S Over the past week many of you asked me to share Shree's journey into solid foods. I've been hesitant to share because I'm not really looking for a debate. Although the information I will share may differ from what doctors and nutritionists today may advise, I believe in the age old practices of our ancestors in regards to food. In the last few years I've extensively researched on gut health and the research seems to support that early introduction to food, improper food combining, and excessive eating and thus overwhelming the digestive system are to blame for many food intolerances, skin issues, autoimmune disorders, and essentially disease. A baby's digestive system is extremely sensitive due to its immaturity and thus it is important to offer the foods that are easy on the digestive system when introducing solids for the first time after a 6 month liquid diet of breastmilk/formula. I think for the most part we are aware that salt, added sugars, cow milk, and honey should be avoided in the diet of a baby under one. However we are often left to our own resources when it comes to all other foods. In my next post I hope to share some guidelines I follow to ensure easy digestion, optimal absorption of nutrients, and good overall long-term health. I highly encourage you to do your own research as well and trust your instincts when it comes to feeding your baby. Also it's worth mentioning that this will be a longer post that will be published on my blog since I won't be able to fit everything I want to share under a caption. Would you guys be interested? Pictured is Shree's solids for the day. Solid 1: Rice cooked until mushy with saffron, then topped with a couple drops of homemade ghee. Solid 2: Butternut squash mash with mint and cinnamon. . . . #moderndaybrownmom #introducingsolids #momblogger #foodblogger
Babygirl started solids around the 6 month mark an Babygirl started solids around the 6 month mark and since then I've introduced her to a few different spices. Spices not only add flavour and aroma to your baby's salt and added-sugar free diet but contain medicinal properties as well. When it comes to baby, just a pinch added here and there to a meal will go a long way. Shree has had meals prepared with mint, coriander, fennel, turmeric, saffron, and Ceylon cinnamon already. I plan on introducing cardamom and nutmeg in her diet before 9 months and cumin, garlic, onion, fenugreek seeds, mustard seeds, black pepper, and star anise, in very small amounts prior to 12 months. Mint is a herb that is great for aiding digestion by combating gas and bloating. It can be easy grown in your home and fresh mint can be introduced by grinding it and mixing into full fat yogurt or adding to roasted veggies. Coriander seeds also aid digestion, relieves gas, and help relieve fever. Powered coriander not only adds nice flavour but helps combat gas caused by certain veggies or lentils. Fennel, in addition to adding flavour, is known to treat gas and bloating. Added to lentils or gas causing vegetables is a great way to incorporate this spice into baby's diet. Turmeric is a mild spice that contains anti-inflammatory properties. It is also high in Vitamic C. It can be added to pretty much any savory dish. It's often added to root vegetables and lentil dishes. Saffron is a mild but aromatic spice that is high in vitamin C and anti-inflammatory properties. It lends a beautiful yellow colour to rice dishes and also helps increase immunity. Ceylon cinnamon is full of anti-inflammatory antioxidants. It is also known to aid digestion and strengthen immunity. A sprinkle of cinnamon can change the flavour profile of a dish such as oatmeal, applesauce, or mashed sweet potatoes, without much effort. NOTE: Always use finely powdered spices made fresh for baby. Choose Ceylon cinnamon over Cinnamon Cassia. Both types of cinnamon contain a compound known as coumarin, which is known to be harmful in large amounts. However ceylon cinnamon has significantly less of this compound. #moderndaybrownmom #blw #spices
When I first started my blog about five years ago, When I first started my blog about five years ago, one of the first Tamil recipes I shared was that of sweet jaggery pongal or sakkarai pongal. Since then this recipe has found it's way into many of your homes as you celebrate not only Thai Pongal but Tamil New Year, Saraswathi Pooja, and other auspicious festivals and occasions. If you've tried this recipe, do let me know. Also a reminder that Thai Pongal is exactly a week away! . . . #thaipongal #sweetpongal #pongal #thanksgiving #tamilcustoms #hinduculture #tamilculture #sweetrice #vaadai #harvestfestival #eeeeeats #foodstagram #foodie #instayum #instafood #feedfeed #culture #foodphotography #moderndaybrownmom #momlife #motherofthree #embracingculture #tamilblogger #southasianblogger #tamilblogger #mommyblogger
It's been a month since baby girl Shree started on It's been a month since baby girl Shree started on solid foods. In the span of a month she has tried pear, apple, banana, mango, raspberries, blueberries, prunes, carrots, zucchini, spinach, peas, sweet potato, butternut squash, avocado, banana, peanut butter, oatmeal with ground chia seeds, buckwheat cereal, venpongal, pomegranate, and a tiny crumb of French toast she took from her brother. Shree's tried a variety of things, mostly in purée form, but hasn't had time to learn to like much of what she's tried. She only truly enjoys avocado. Everything else has been either tolerable or intolerable. Although I know that babies/toddlers may require multiple exposures to a food before they actually learn to like that food, I was initially a bit worried that babygirl found mostly everything that was offered, quite repulsive as per her facial expressions. Currently Shree's eating a mixture of purées and chunky textured foods. She definitely prefers the chunky textures. She's great at picking up pieces of food, bringing a loaded silicone spoon to her mouth, and "chewing" food with her gums before swallowing. I'm definitely going to be offering more finger foods as soon as Shree seems more keen on eating. Recently I started adding flavour to her food such as cinnamon, grass-fed butter, ghee, and coriander powder and she's been loving it. As of now formula makes up the majority of Shree's diet and I don't over do solids as to not overwhelm her digestive system. I serve solids two, sometimes three times a day and make sure what I serve is balanced overall and nutrient dense. What you see pictured here is a day's worth of food. Solid 1: Oatmeal with cooked puréed blueberry, ground chia seeds, and peanut butter diluted in water (intro to nuts today). Solid 2: Avocado (which will be mashed slightly) Solid 3: Roasted sweet potato mash with homemade ghee and a sprinkle of ground Ceylon cinnamon. Bamboo Plate: Avanchy.com Have questions for me pertaining to introducing solids, BLW, or food prep? Ask me in the comments below. . . . #moderndaybrownmom #solids #blw #blwideas #momblogger #foodblogger #southasianblogger
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