February 2017 – Page 3 – Curtis Strite

Moms everywhere talk about the benefits of breast milk but, at first glance, it looks identical to formula. Is there really that much of a difference? One mom decided she wanted to take a much closer look.

When it comes to parenthood, everyone seems to think their way is best but, in reality, different ways work for different people. The never-ending debate about whether baby formula is just as good as breastmilk is one that mothers tend to have pretty strong opinions on, and it’s easy to see why. Although natural, breastfeeding isn’t always as easy as it seems, and many mothers often feel like they’re made out to be inadequate if they’re unable to do it.

The mothers who can breastfeed without much hassle endlessly—and rightfully so—tout its many benefits, like increased immune support, decreased risk of allergies, and less baby blowouts. That’s not even taking into consideration that it’s also completely free!
However, as many benefits as breast milk seems to have, have you ever wondered what the big difference is when it comes to formula? Is it actually that much better for your baby?
One mother, Jansen Howard, recently decided to find out for herself what the real difference between the two actually is.
Her father is a blood microscopist and, because her mother has cancer, he often uses his tools to take a closer look at her white blood cell count. Howard once read that breast milk can change to give babies what they need at the time, so she was interested to see what hers looked like at a time when one of her babies was sick.

When Howard’s father placed a drop of her breast milk on a slide and viewed it under the microscope, the entire family was amazed with what they saw—the liquid almost looked like it was alive. She later placed the video online for others to see, and it’s been viewed more than one million times already.

“You guys… this is SO COOL!!!!!!!!,” she said. “This is the living liquid gold we call breast milk in motion!!!!” The bubble-like shapes in her video are molecules of water and fat, along with white blood cells.
The video becomes even cooler when you consider all of the things present in breast milk that we can’t see in this sample, including: Carbohydrates, Proteins, Vitamins and minerals, Amino acids, Antibodies, and Enzymes.
Howard decided to investigate a little further, mixing up a small amount of formula so she could see what it looked like under the microscope, as well. The difference was definitely noticeable, as the formula sample looked with more dull with none of the large fat molecules and white blood cells that the breast milk sample had.

Look closely and you can see that the formula sample does contain some much smaller bubbles, but they aren’t all as uniform as they seem to be in breast milk. Amy Oyler of The Scientific Mom also did her own comparison between the two, and noted that the formula sample she examined also contained small globs of undissolved formula that were present in each sample she made, whether they were shaken, stirred, or swirled around.

So, does this mean that breast milk and formula contain vastly different things just because they look so different next to each other? We obviously wouldn’t expect baby formula to contain white blood cells that miraculously appear when our babies are sick, but is it pretty much the same in most other aspects?
In some ways, the answer is “yes.” Formula does contain the essentials like fats and carbohydrates but they’re often far from natural—carbohydrates in formula might include corn maltodextrin, while fats might include palm or soybeans oils.
For most parents, these types of ingredients are far from ideal, but the trade-off comes in the form of convenience. Ultimately, baby formula is designed to give your kids everything they need, and they can get it from anyone at any time.

Though there are benefits to formula feeding, the benefits of breastfeeding are clear and more numerous. Yes, formula is designed to mimic breast milk and it contains most of the same things, but the difference is that breast milk often contains way more.
For example, you might find two different types of amino acids in formula, whereas breast milk might contain 20 different amino acids. Breast milk is also much easier babies to digest, and doesn’t leave babies as gassy or constipated as formula can.

The benefits of breastfeeding can even extend beyond a baby’s nutritional needs. Studies have shown that babies who are breastfed often have higher brain function, and it can even lower their risk of death from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) within their first year of life.

Breastfeeding can also pay off later on in life, as it can reduce a child’s risk of being overweight, and developing a number of common conditions such as: Type 1 and Type, 2 diabetes Asthma, High cholesterol, Leukemia, Lymphoma, and Hodgkin’s disease.
As if that wasn’t good enough, breastfeeding is also extremely beneficial for mothers, as well. Not only is it one of the best ways to bond with your new baby, but it can also help mothers shed weight postpartum, in addition to lowering a woman’s risk of breast cancer, heart disease, diabetes, ovarian cancer, and osteoporosis.

With all of the benefits associated with breastfeeding, many moms couldn’t fathom feeding their children in any other way. In fact, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that mothers breastfeed their babies exclusively during the first six months of their lives, and then continue breastfeeding for at least another six months.

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It’s not always as easy as it sounds, though.
Many mothers have trouble producing an adequate milk supply due to no fault of their own and, even when they do, it can be a struggle for the baby to latch on properly, or even for mothers to pump their milk on their own. The struggles can definitely outweigh the benefits for some, and they’re forced to switch to formula to make sure their baby gets everything it needs.

Though the saying “breast is best” might definitely still be true, many mothers are choosing to adhere to the saying “fed is best.”
Whether you’re a new mother who wants to breastfeed or you’re someone who’s suddenly experiencing trouble when breastfeeding, there are a few things you can try to either help your baby out or increase your own supply.
Ask For Help When you’re still in the hospital after giving birth, don’t hesitate to ask for help with breastfeeding. There are plenty of people there who are there to help you make breastfeeding work for you and your baby.

Diet Matters Believe it or not, what you eat can affect your milk supply as well as its quality. Breastfeeding mothers should drink plenty of water, avoid caffeine, get plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, and avoid breastfeeding for two hours after consuming alcohol.
Take Your Time Many mothers don’t expect breastfeeding to be as hard as it can be, and it can be incredibly discouraging. Not only that, but it can also be exhausting, as newborns typically like to eat every few hours. It’s important to remember that women usually produce more milk the more they breastfeed, and the more they breastfeed the easier it tends to become. If it’s not easy at first, keep trying and there’s a good chance it’ll all start to work out eventually.

Unfortunately, breastfeeding doesn’t always work for everyone, no matter how many different tips and tricks they try. For these moms, formula is really the only other option available, and it can be hard to pick one that’s both affordable and high-quality. Here are some tips for finding something that’ll work for you and your baby.
Go For Cow’s Milk Soy milk is everywhere and, while many adults choose to drink soy milk regularly, it shouldn’t be the first choice for your baby. Try to start off with a formula made with cow’s milk, as they’re usually affordable and don’t tend to cause digestive problems for babies.

Try Soy Next Of course, not all babies will respond well to cow’s milk formula, so you can give soy formulas a try if the cow’s milk variety gives them a rash, diarrhea, or any other negative side effects. However, be sure to discuss the change with your baby’s pediatrician first before you jump in and make any drastic changes.
Use Brand Names Your baby’s formula really isn’t the best area to try searching for a bargain, as tempting as it may be to buy a knockoff brand. Bigger companies can afford to put more research into their formulas and ingredients, and it can be difficult to know if an off-brand formula is good quality.

Age Does Matter Just like breast milk can change based on a baby’s needs, formulas are also created to give babies what they need at a particular age. If you give a toddler formula that’s meant for a newborn, they’re definitely going to miss out on key nutrients.

Do you remember the first time you went grocery shopping on your own? For college students or other newly minted adults, choosing your own food and deciding what to cook for the week probably seemed exciting. Unfortunately, if you’re like most people, the novelty quickly wore off.

Enter Trader Joe’s. The 50-year-old self-proclaimed “neighborhood” grocery store has grown into a national chain known for its quirky culture and delicious food. Take, for example, the chain’s famous Cookie Butter, which is basically spreadable cookies. What more could you want for your breakfast toast?
The best part of Trader Joe’s, however, is that the more you learn about the chain, the more there is to love. This video gives some of the highlights.

When you walk in the store for the first time you might think that you’ve just found a cute supermarket, but from inside jokes to special bell codes to great employee benefits, there’s a whole host of secrets hidden behind those doors.
Here are the most crazy cool secrets you might not have known about Trader Joe’s.

1. There was an original Trader Joe.

Let’s start with the basics: Where did that name come from? The chain was founded by Joe Coulombe, who opened the first store in Pasadena, California, in 1967. (You can still shop at the original location today).
Company lore has it that Coulombe, who graduated from Stanford Business School, came up with the idea for a unique market while he was traveling in the Caribbean. He thought that better-educated Americans were becoming interested in foods from other cultures, according to an interview with the Los Angeles Times.

Those foods were hard to find in your average supermarket back in the 1960s, so Coulombe became a trader, bringing hard-to-find foods to his customers at great value.
Like any good trader, Coulombe knew when to sell. German entrepreneur Theo Albrecht bought the chain in 1979, but Coulombe remained on board as the company’s chief executive until he retired in 1989.

2. The theme goes way beyond the Hawaiian shirts.

Remember how the original Trader Joe came up with the idea when he was in the Caribbean? That might help explain the tiki theme found at all Trader Joe’s locations, even in the dead of winter. The staff wear Hawaiian shirts, and you may even get a floral lei just for doing your grocery shopping.

But the theme goes beyond just what meets the eye: It also factors into employee titles. All employees are crew members, and supervisors are known as mates. As for the store manager? You guessed it: They’re the captain.

3. They sell big-name brands under their own label.

Trader Joe’s is well known for having great food sold under the store brand. You might wonder what the secret is, and the truth is that it’s all in the packaging. The company works with major brands to sell their product under the store’s label.

While that’s great for customers, sometimes it can lead to real confusion for staff.
“I remember a whole batch of yogurt coming in once in Trader Joe’s cups with Stonyfield lids,” a former employee from Massachusetts recalls. “That was crazy because we couldn’t stock the yogurt until we got new lids. Those agreements with name brands are very closely guarded.”

4. There are some exceptions to the “try anything” rule.

Trader Joe’s famously allows customers to try anything in the store, unless the product is something that has to be cooked. You would think most people would understand that, but customers still try to request free bites of everything from chicken soup to bison burgers, says Tom Wallace, who worked at a Trader Joe’s in Massachusetts for five years.
“I have certainly had customers ask if they could sample these items and had to politely explain why we couldn’t,” he says. “Although, it should have been obvious.”
However, the chain does its best to let customers try food that must be cooked by setting up tasting stations. Sometimes that’s to get people to try something new, but sometimes it’s to correct an ordering error, says Amanda Pouncy, who worked at a Trader Joe’s in Texas for two years.

“Sometimes we make a mistake on ordering and end up with a ton of an item that normally would sell one or two units a month, and we have to improvise,” she explains. Those items end up in the tasting booth.
Pouncy admitted that sometimes employees took advantage of the “taste anything” policy.
“Don’t tell my captain,” she jokes, “but we definitely used to pick out our favorite ice cream sandwiches and open them, then pretend that a customer asked for a sample, just so we could have a nice treat in the summer. Texas gets hot and sometimes when you’re pulling carts from the middle of a parking lot with no shade, all you want is a sublime ice cream sandwich.”
But it isn’t a food-eating free-for-all. Wallace once saw a customer reprimanded for getting too greedy.
“She would bring candy to the demo area and ask for a sample and then grab a handful,” he said. “Good try. She was eventually told by the store manager that she was taking advantage of the policy.”

5. But that other famous rule has no exceptions.

In addition to letting customers try nearly anything, Trader Joe’s advertises their no-questions-asked return policy. That one is 100 percent true.

A post shared by Trader Joe’s (@traderjoes) on May 3, 2017 at 9:07am PDT

“I’ve had people return dead plants before, and we did give them their money back, but we definitely talked about them in our closing circle later on in the evening,” Pouncy said.
That’s right, Trader Joe’s employees all take part in a closing circle at the end of the shift. How cute is that?
“The closing circle is when the crew gets together for a little chat about the plans for the evening after customers have left the store,” Pouncy explains. “We might try some new food, drink some coffee, and then jump head first into stocking the store for the following day of business.”

6. They operate a secret code.

If you’ve ever been in a Trader Joe’s, chances are you’ve heard the bells at the register and wondered what that’s all about.
“TJ’s does not use a PA system in the store unless it is an urgent matter,” Wallace explains. Instead, they turn to the bells.

A post shared by Trader Joe’s (@traderjoes) on Jul 4, 2017 at 9:07am PDT

One ring of the bell signals that more cashiers are needed up front. Ringing two bells indicates that a customer at the register needs assistance that the cashier cannot provide, and the sound of three bells signals that a supervisor’s assistance is needed for the transaction.
Wallace notes that you may not hear one bell too often, since Trader Joe’s prides itself on customer service in the extreme.
“If any crew member saw a customer waiting in line and there was an open register you were expected to check that customer out no matter what you were doing,” he says.

7. They seriously support local artists.

If you’ve ever taken the time to notice the signs in a Trader Joe’s, you’ve already seen that they are each unique. That’s because the chain has a dedication to supporting artists, who produce everything from murals in the store to the price tags on the shelves. This is about a lot more than just making a charming environment, according to one artist who has worked at Trader Joe’s for 10 years.
“I think it’s important in this day and age to connect with people face-to-face and by putting actual pen to paper or marker to board,” she says. “It reminds us how things used to be before we had so much screen time.”
Artists work on signs, murals, and the Fearless Flyer magazine that is available at stores. The artist we spoke to emphasized that this isn’t just corporate branding, but genuine appreciation for artistic connection.

We’ve been Fearlessly Flying for 50 years—and we couldn’t have stayed airborne all this time without our Customers… That’s why we’re inviting YOU to visit your neighborhood Trader Joe’s this weekend (8/19, 8/20) to help us celebrate our big 5-0 with the same great values on products, plus fun & games for all. See you there! #stillanadventureafter50years

A post shared by Trader Joe’s (@traderjoes) on Aug 19, 2017 at 9:06am PDT

“They’ve supported me by giving me lots of freedom to create signs, murals, and decorations for the store,” she says. “You get an opportunity to engage with the customers by what you say on the sign.”
Former TJ’s employee Pouncy added that the artists who work with Trader Joe’s have an almost mythical reputation.
“There are a few talented people in every store who practice lettering in tiny offices that no customer ever sees or knows exist, and they make amazing decorations that hardly ever get the attention they deserve,” she says. “The character that these tiny art exhibits, displays, and murals give TJ’s is unlike any store, and it’s what makes TJ’s all its own.”

8. They treat the rest of their employees well too.

Working at a grocery store may not be the most glamorous job, but Trader Joe’s employees insist that it’s a great one. Not only does the store foster teamwork by having all employees do all jobs, but it also puts its money where its mouth is.
“The pay is well above any hourly rate you would receive at a traditional supermarket,” former employee Wallace says.
Both he and Pouncy say that they received reviews every six months, which generally came with a pay increase.

“I received about four raises while I was working there, and that’s more than any job I’ve had since,” Pouncy explains.
Plus, there is always opportunity for advancement.
“Also anyone who worked hard and expressed an interest in growth could easily move into a more involved role,” Wallace says.

9. They’re a little nuts about customer service.

Trader Joe’s employees are trained from their first day on the job to put customer service first. Wallace says that he first thought the store’s protocol was a little over the top, but he soon realized that it’s how all stores should operate.
“We’ve all had the experience of wandering around a store looking for an employee to assist you and getting more and more irritated the longer it takes,” he says. “I can guarantee that this will rarely, if ever, happen at TJ’s.”

Crew members aren’t just trained to answer customers’ questions but to actively engage with customers. The dedication shows. One frequent shopper says that a Trader Joe’s employee noticed her haircut before her husband did.
Pouncy says that, in return, customers are equally enthusiastic about their favorite products at Trader Joe’s.
“When I was managing the deli section I got harassed for a good year because of an item that was out of stock and completely out of my control,” she said. “I know the soy chorizo is good but I can’t control that!”
The next time you visit a Trader Joe’s, be sure to pause to appreciate this wild and wacky culture!