Stacy Wagner is helping to spread the word about holistic parenting through leadership in the Lancaster chapter of Holistic Moms Network. Its mission is to “generate national awareness, education and support for holistic parenting and green living.”That means taking a natural approach to rearing children, and sharing information on everything from breastfeeding to nontoxic cleaning recipes to home remedies to midwifery to holistic medicine.When grocery shopping, for example, Wagner looks for organic, low-sugar and unprocessed foods. She wants them to be free of dye and artificial sweeteners. “As far as food preparation,” she said, “I normally make everything fresh and buy locally from farmers.”She said eating out can be challenging but, “I ask a lot of questions and normally change what’s on the menu and ask for substitutions or … for the food to be prepared a certain way.”Wagner, of Manheim Township, said she believes that anyone can lead a holistic lifestyle — “it’s a matter of education.”She sees the local Holistic Moms chapter (holisticmoms.org) as a way “to give back to the community and educate other moms and offer another resource to turn to.”The group meets at 6:30 p.m. the second Wednesday of each month at A Therapeutic Effect, 313-D Primrose Lane, Mountville. the next meeting is Wednesday, Sept. 14.Age: 37.Hometown: Walnutport.Job/title: ProLink Card Services, account manager.Family: three children, 6-year-old daughter, Madison, and almost 4-year-old twins, Mackenzie and Luke.Education: Moravian College, B.S. biology, secondary teaching certification.Growing up, I wanted to be: A professional dancer competing in world competitions with different styles of dance.Last book I read: “How to Win Friends and Influence People.”A good book on holistic living/parenting: “The Unhealthy Truth: how Our Food is Making us Sick and What we can Do About It” by Robyn O’Brien.Favorite summer vacation spot: the beach. normally the one we visit is Avalon, N.J.For relaxation, I: Do yoga, meditation.My parents always told me: if you think you can’t, you can’t, and if you think you can, you can.For exercise, I: Love to work out at Universal Athletic Club, do fitness group classes and strength training. Bikram Yoga also fits into my exercise schedule.My favorite local restaurant: Lombardo’s.A website I frequent: Holisticmoms.org.Three words that describe me: Creative, energetic and passionateHow did you get into the holistic lifestyle? While in college I studied biology and started to take an interest in medicinal properties of plants and alternative medicine.Favorite thing about being a mother: Every day my children make me laugh and I get to see the world through their eyes.
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