I know that a lot of people to really love to use the newest convience items out on the market. So I did a little research and there are lots of great ideas for cheaper and reusable alternatives. I'll start with one today and as I find more good ideas, I'll add to this list!
Here's some alternatives for dry mops (Swiffers):
*Cotton cloth diapers-they sell this in the baby section of most stores for a reasonable price. One person recommended putting them in a ziploc bag with a tiny bit of water and let them soak it up. They are just slightly moist and are supposedly a good fit for the swiffers if you already have one.
*Pantyhose wrapped around a broom is supposed also work well at picking up dust, etc. and you can wash and reuse those as well.
*Other not as friendly, but cheap, alternatives were: facial tissues with lotion and dryer sheets.
Sources: http://www.stretcher.com/
Friday, February 29, 2008
Convenience or the Environment?
I have to admit that I don't always think about the impact of the choices I make on the environment. But after having my son and seeing the amount of trash (think diapers) one little boy can create I am trying to be more conscientious about the environment.
I was listening to NPR (National Public Radio) this weekend and they were talking about carbon footprints. Wikipedia's definition of carbon footprints is a "measure of the impact human activities have on the environment in terms of the amount of green house gases produced, measured in units of carbon dioxide'. It is meant to be useful for individuals and organizations to conceptualize their personal (or organizational) impact in contributing to global warming." The example on NPR (I hope I have the details right) that the speaker had was flowers from Holland. They did a study on floral shops in Europe (I believe it was England) and then got flowers from both Holland and an African country. Although Holland was much closer and it would seem that there would be less of a carbon footprint, this was not the case. It turns out that because of the seasons most of Holland's flowers have to be grown in greenhouses and because of the cost of upkeep of those and other factors it's actually worse on the environment, even though the African flowers have to travel further.
It just made me think. I have slowly been switching Jacob over to cloth diapers and while I feel that there is less of a carbon footprint by doing this, I still have to remember that the cloth diapers must be manufactured, packaged, shipped, and will require the use of natural resources in order to keep them clean. But with the knowledge that cloth diapers can and will be used again for subsequent children, I still feel this is the right choice.
I just read recently that disposable diapers were never meant to end up in landfills with human waste in them. Our landfills were not designed to handle human waste-I think the original plan was that the dirty diapers would be emptied into the toilet, but obviously almost no one does. So, "3.5 million tons of diapers, or 18 to 23 billion, are sent to landfills each year" http://www.ewg.org/node/21581. Holy Cow!! And I am still learning more about the chemicals used to make disposables that are making the move to cloth diapers even more appealing.
So, when I started writing this post I was planning to give some ideas on altenatives to those convenience products that we all love to use. But somehow I got distracted, ah, the human mind :) So I'll be posting again shortly! Have a great Friday!
I was listening to NPR (National Public Radio) this weekend and they were talking about carbon footprints. Wikipedia's definition of carbon footprints is a "measure of the impact human activities have on the environment in terms of the amount of green house gases produced, measured in units of carbon dioxide'. It is meant to be useful for individuals and organizations to conceptualize their personal (or organizational) impact in contributing to global warming." The example on NPR (I hope I have the details right) that the speaker had was flowers from Holland. They did a study on floral shops in Europe (I believe it was England) and then got flowers from both Holland and an African country. Although Holland was much closer and it would seem that there would be less of a carbon footprint, this was not the case. It turns out that because of the seasons most of Holland's flowers have to be grown in greenhouses and because of the cost of upkeep of those and other factors it's actually worse on the environment, even though the African flowers have to travel further.
It just made me think. I have slowly been switching Jacob over to cloth diapers and while I feel that there is less of a carbon footprint by doing this, I still have to remember that the cloth diapers must be manufactured, packaged, shipped, and will require the use of natural resources in order to keep them clean. But with the knowledge that cloth diapers can and will be used again for subsequent children, I still feel this is the right choice.
I just read recently that disposable diapers were never meant to end up in landfills with human waste in them. Our landfills were not designed to handle human waste-I think the original plan was that the dirty diapers would be emptied into the toilet, but obviously almost no one does. So, "3.5 million tons of diapers, or 18 to 23 billion, are sent to landfills each year" http://www.ewg.org/node/21581. Holy Cow!! And I am still learning more about the chemicals used to make disposables that are making the move to cloth diapers even more appealing.
So, when I started writing this post I was planning to give some ideas on altenatives to those convenience products that we all love to use. But somehow I got distracted, ah, the human mind :) So I'll be posting again shortly! Have a great Friday!
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Oatmeal and My Favorite Granola Recipe
I have pretty much made the switch from boxed cereals to oatmeal for breakfast and I love it!! I use the quick oats on the mornings that I don't have much time and it only takes a couple of minutes to warm up (and the price is definately right!). Oatmeal is low in fat and a pretty good source of fiber, plus it's a good way to get a whole grain without always having wheat. But what to do if you really like those cereals and oatmeal is just to boring? Try some toppings!
Top 10 Healthy Oatmeal Toppings:
1. Raisins and brown sugar
2. Low-fat granola and skim milk
3. Raspberry nonfat yogurt and dried cranberries
4. Sliced strawberries and plain nonfat yogurt sprinkled with cinnamon
5. Canned crushed pineapple, sliced bananas, and chopped nuts
6. Strawberry nonfat yogurt and sliced kiwi
7. Sliced bananas and vanilla nonfat yogurt sprinkled with cinnamon
8. Chopped dates, raisins, and walnuts
9. Diced dried apricots and honey
10. Coarsely chopped canned peaches and ground ginger
Source: http://www.tasteforlife.com/content/default.asp?artid=627
And I mentioned Granola the other day as a nice snack and cereal choice. It's a little high in sugar and is does include oil, but I have been modifying the recipe and using less and less of those negative ingredients and still been really happy with the outcome. Here's the link: http://www.recipezaar.com/23108
Vanilla Scented Granola
Ingredients
Vegetable oil cooking spray
4 cups old fashioned oats
1 cup sliced almonds (I also use chopped pecans and walnuts as well-sometimes add extra)
1/2 cup golden brown sugar , packed (I used 1/4 cup and could probably do less)
1/4 teaspoon salt (I used 1/8 tsp salt)
1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon (I added a little extra)
1/3 cup vegetable oil (I use organic canola oil and I think I could get by with a little less than this)
1/4 cup honey
2 tablespoons sugar (used 1 rounded tablespoon instead)
4 teaspoons vanilla extract
(I also added 1/3 cup ground flaxseed in with the oatmeal)
Directions:
1. Position rack to middle of oven and preheat to 300*.
2. Lightly spray large baking sheet with nonstick spray.
3. Mix next 5 ingredients in large bowl.
4. Combine oil, honey and sugar in small saucepan; bring to simmer over medium heat.
5. Remove from heat; stir in vanilla.
6. Pour hot liquid over oat mixture; stir well.
7. Using hands, toss mixture until thoroughly mixed.
8. Spread granola on prepared baking sheet.
9. Bake until golden brown, stirring occasionaly, about 30 minutes (but check after 20).
10. Transfer sheet to rack; cool granola completely-(granola will crisp up as it cools).
11(Can be made two weeks ahead. Store in airtight container at room temperature.) Makes about 8 cups.
This last batch turned out great, but I think I can still cut the sugar, oil, and honey and add more nuts, flax, and oatmeal and have a delicious tasting granola! I'll let you know how the next batch goes...I hope you enjoy it!!
Top 10 Healthy Oatmeal Toppings:
1. Raisins and brown sugar
2. Low-fat granola and skim milk
3. Raspberry nonfat yogurt and dried cranberries
4. Sliced strawberries and plain nonfat yogurt sprinkled with cinnamon
5. Canned crushed pineapple, sliced bananas, and chopped nuts
6. Strawberry nonfat yogurt and sliced kiwi
7. Sliced bananas and vanilla nonfat yogurt sprinkled with cinnamon
8. Chopped dates, raisins, and walnuts
9. Diced dried apricots and honey
10. Coarsely chopped canned peaches and ground ginger
Source: http://www.tasteforlife.com/content/default.asp?artid=627
And I mentioned Granola the other day as a nice snack and cereal choice. It's a little high in sugar and is does include oil, but I have been modifying the recipe and using less and less of those negative ingredients and still been really happy with the outcome. Here's the link: http://www.recipezaar.com/23108
Vanilla Scented Granola
Ingredients
Vegetable oil cooking spray
4 cups old fashioned oats
1 cup sliced almonds (I also use chopped pecans and walnuts as well-sometimes add extra)
1/2 cup golden brown sugar , packed (I used 1/4 cup and could probably do less)
1/4 teaspoon salt (I used 1/8 tsp salt)
1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon (I added a little extra)
1/3 cup vegetable oil (I use organic canola oil and I think I could get by with a little less than this)
1/4 cup honey
2 tablespoons sugar (used 1 rounded tablespoon instead)
4 teaspoons vanilla extract
(I also added 1/3 cup ground flaxseed in with the oatmeal)
Directions:
1. Position rack to middle of oven and preheat to 300*.
2. Lightly spray large baking sheet with nonstick spray.
3. Mix next 5 ingredients in large bowl.
4. Combine oil, honey and sugar in small saucepan; bring to simmer over medium heat.
5. Remove from heat; stir in vanilla.
6. Pour hot liquid over oat mixture; stir well.
7. Using hands, toss mixture until thoroughly mixed.
8. Spread granola on prepared baking sheet.
9. Bake until golden brown, stirring occasionaly, about 30 minutes (but check after 20).
10. Transfer sheet to rack; cool granola completely-(granola will crisp up as it cools).
11(Can be made two weeks ahead. Store in airtight container at room temperature.) Makes about 8 cups.
This last batch turned out great, but I think I can still cut the sugar, oil, and honey and add more nuts, flax, and oatmeal and have a delicious tasting granola! I'll let you know how the next batch goes...I hope you enjoy it!!
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Stuff...
"The state of my house, is the state of my mind"...that's what I've been telling people for years now. And it's true, when my house is messy, my life seems to be a little out of control too! After my son was born, things really got crazy...papers piled up, things didn't have a home, and all that baby gear and toys began to take over. Personally, when my home is really messy I find it hard to concentrate and I feel somewhat defeated as I don't know where to even start...so I don't :)
My New Year's resolution, the first I've ever made I believe (and actually kept) was to get my house in order, regain control! I read "It's All Too Much" by Peter Walsh, a simple to read book that gives some great ideas on gaining "control" of the stuff in your life. He started his book with a little quiz on whether or not you keep too much stuff....and I thought, "hey, I'll do pretty good, I'm not so bad at that"...wrong...hmmm.
I tend to keep stuff for three main reasons:
1. Sentimental-they bring back memories.
2. They might be worth money-so it would be a waste to get rid of it.
3. I might need/want them someday.
Peter Walsh wrote that if things are too important to let go-if you truly value an item you need to show it honor and respect, otherwise it's really not that important to you. He also said we have to live in the present and make room for today, we can't keep stuff for somedays (plus it robs us of space and the things that are really important to us). Made sense to me :)
So, with the recommendations of Peter Walsh in mind, I started to purge. But being the natural thrifty mama that I am, I divided my stuff into categories...recycle, donate, sell (via garage sale or consignment), pass onto family/friends, and trash. And I went to work, one room to the next. And it felt good to let go of things, it really did!
*Papers-a big problem for me...but I decided that most of the info. was now available online so I didn't need it on my desk. My husband and I went thru all of our files and everything that wasn't current or important for taxes (keep back 7 years worth) we shredded or recycled.
*Books-I love to read and I love the feeling of having a big library in my house-you know some place for the kids to curl up and read someday. Well I decided to keep the most important books and let the library keep the rest of them for me! Plus using the library is a great way to save money anyway!
*Clothes-I've heard this before, but Walsh reminded me of the 80/20 rule-we wear 80% of our clothes 20% of the time...so true! I kept the clothes I wear the most, plus a few favorite outfits to show my kids someday and the rest we divided into sell, trash(we cut those up to use as cleaning rags), and donate. By the way, consignment is a great way to go for never worn or gently used items!! I've made enough money on selling my old/never worn clothes at consignment to buy new clothes each year (clothes are such a cheap thing, let em go!) And if you are keeping clothes around for when you'll fit into em "someday", just get rid of em, if you do get to the size you want you'll want to go shopping for some new ones anyway! Might as well make some money on em now!
I've still got some work to do on one closet and the garage, but what a difference! It felt so good to be able to find what I really wanted and needed. And as an added bonus, it became easier to clean each week when I didn't have all that stuff to move around or put away!
I think we live in a society deeply in love with our "stuff"....I really want to work this year on letting go of stuff and holding onto what I have right in front of me and what really matters: my hubby, son, family, and friends....now go start cleaning :)
My New Year's resolution, the first I've ever made I believe (and actually kept) was to get my house in order, regain control! I read "It's All Too Much" by Peter Walsh, a simple to read book that gives some great ideas on gaining "control" of the stuff in your life. He started his book with a little quiz on whether or not you keep too much stuff....and I thought, "hey, I'll do pretty good, I'm not so bad at that"...wrong...hmmm.
I tend to keep stuff for three main reasons:
1. Sentimental-they bring back memories.
2. They might be worth money-so it would be a waste to get rid of it.
3. I might need/want them someday.
Peter Walsh wrote that if things are too important to let go-if you truly value an item you need to show it honor and respect, otherwise it's really not that important to you. He also said we have to live in the present and make room for today, we can't keep stuff for somedays (plus it robs us of space and the things that are really important to us). Made sense to me :)
So, with the recommendations of Peter Walsh in mind, I started to purge. But being the natural thrifty mama that I am, I divided my stuff into categories...recycle, donate, sell (via garage sale or consignment), pass onto family/friends, and trash. And I went to work, one room to the next. And it felt good to let go of things, it really did!
*Papers-a big problem for me...but I decided that most of the info. was now available online so I didn't need it on my desk. My husband and I went thru all of our files and everything that wasn't current or important for taxes (keep back 7 years worth) we shredded or recycled.
*Books-I love to read and I love the feeling of having a big library in my house-you know some place for the kids to curl up and read someday. Well I decided to keep the most important books and let the library keep the rest of them for me! Plus using the library is a great way to save money anyway!
*Clothes-I've heard this before, but Walsh reminded me of the 80/20 rule-we wear 80% of our clothes 20% of the time...so true! I kept the clothes I wear the most, plus a few favorite outfits to show my kids someday and the rest we divided into sell, trash(we cut those up to use as cleaning rags), and donate. By the way, consignment is a great way to go for never worn or gently used items!! I've made enough money on selling my old/never worn clothes at consignment to buy new clothes each year (clothes are such a cheap thing, let em go!) And if you are keeping clothes around for when you'll fit into em "someday", just get rid of em, if you do get to the size you want you'll want to go shopping for some new ones anyway! Might as well make some money on em now!
I've still got some work to do on one closet and the garage, but what a difference! It felt so good to be able to find what I really wanted and needed. And as an added bonus, it became easier to clean each week when I didn't have all that stuff to move around or put away!
I think we live in a society deeply in love with our "stuff"....I really want to work this year on letting go of stuff and holding onto what I have right in front of me and what really matters: my hubby, son, family, and friends....now go start cleaning :)
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Mama News-2/21/08
I am always coming across little pieces of information that I want to remember or be able to refer back to but I can never seem to remember where I read them or what exactly they said, so I am going to start a little "Mama News" section.
1. Parents Magazine-March 2008 Edition
"Sweet Remedy-Honey may ease your child's nighttime cough better than over-the-counter cough medicine, according to a study in the Archives of Perdiatrics and Adolescent Medicine. One crucial caution: Never give honey to babies under 1, since it can cause potentially fatal botulism in infants." I always love finding natural remedies!!
"Q. Would you recommend buying all organic fruits and vegetables? A. It may be even more important to buy American-grown produce....Imported produce is the worst offender and the most dangerous; it can contain particularly toxic chemicals that we no longer allow in the country, like DDT...."
2. New Beginnings-January-February 2008-La Leche League Magazine
From article "Healthy Home-Baked Treats"-"In many recipes...I find I can often reduce the amount of sugar by up to half without noticeable effect." "In many muffin recipes, up to half the fat can be replaced by apple (sauce)...." "Oat flour and potato starch can be substituted for wheat flour (note that this only makes it wheat free, not gluten free)."
There is also a book review on "Natural Baby and Childcare" by Lauren Feder, MD-looks interesting and has a section on the concept of holistic health and natural remedies.
3. Baby Talk Magazine-March 2008
"Clear the Air-...A study by NASA...found that the houseplants listed below literally reduce air pollution. How? All plants recycle oxygen, but these particular varieties break down pollutants, too, removing from 10 to 90 percent of harmful formaldehyde, benzene, and trichloroethylene chemicals from the 100 square feet surrounding them in just 24 hours! This flora isn't baby-safe, though, so position these (and any other) plants well out of your little one's reach. Here are five good choices for better breathing in your house; for more easy ideas on improving your home's air quality, go to www.epa.gov/iaq/homes.
*bamboo plant (Chamaedorea seifritizii)
*chinese evergreen (Aglaonema modestum)
*english ivy (Hedera helix)
*gerbera daisy (Gerbera jamesonii)
*janet craig (Dracaena deremensis)"
1. Parents Magazine-March 2008 Edition
"Sweet Remedy-Honey may ease your child's nighttime cough better than over-the-counter cough medicine, according to a study in the Archives of Perdiatrics and Adolescent Medicine. One crucial caution: Never give honey to babies under 1, since it can cause potentially fatal botulism in infants." I always love finding natural remedies!!
"Q. Would you recommend buying all organic fruits and vegetables? A. It may be even more important to buy American-grown produce....Imported produce is the worst offender and the most dangerous; it can contain particularly toxic chemicals that we no longer allow in the country, like DDT...."
2. New Beginnings-January-February 2008-La Leche League Magazine
From article "Healthy Home-Baked Treats"-"In many recipes...I find I can often reduce the amount of sugar by up to half without noticeable effect." "In many muffin recipes, up to half the fat can be replaced by apple (sauce)...." "Oat flour and potato starch can be substituted for wheat flour (note that this only makes it wheat free, not gluten free)."
There is also a book review on "Natural Baby and Childcare" by Lauren Feder, MD-looks interesting and has a section on the concept of holistic health and natural remedies.
3. Baby Talk Magazine-March 2008
"Clear the Air-...A study by NASA...found that the houseplants listed below literally reduce air pollution. How? All plants recycle oxygen, but these particular varieties break down pollutants, too, removing from 10 to 90 percent of harmful formaldehyde, benzene, and trichloroethylene chemicals from the 100 square feet surrounding them in just 24 hours! This flora isn't baby-safe, though, so position these (and any other) plants well out of your little one's reach. Here are five good choices for better breathing in your house; for more easy ideas on improving your home's air quality, go to www.epa.gov/iaq/homes.
*bamboo plant (Chamaedorea seifritizii)
*chinese evergreen (Aglaonema modestum)
*english ivy (Hedera helix)
*gerbera daisy (Gerbera jamesonii)
*janet craig (Dracaena deremensis)"
Making Your Own: Some of My Favorites
After my hubby and I were married I remember cooking two meals over and over again: chicken and spaghetti....and I thought I was doing pretty darn good with that. The rest of the meals were probably boxed/premade or we'd go eat out. Recently my husband mentioned that I had "become" a really good cook. So of course I asked him, "wasn't I always?" To which he replied "no, your food was really bad when we first got married"....he was honest and I had to laugh and agree. My spaghetti usually stuck together and my chicken was usually so overdone on the outside it was like jerky :)
The great thing about being human is that we are all always capable of learning....we can all change, grow, and become better at that which we lack great skill. And so I practiced, I read books, and I tried and tried again. I made mistakes (which my husband was kind enough to still eat) and I made wonderful things (that he requests frequently now). It always amazes me to hear people say that they "can't" do something, like cook, I believe it's a skill we learn...like riding a bike or tying our shoes.
I love being able to have meals done quickly, especially on days when I don't have the time to be able to prepare something. Making meals ahead has become an enjoyable and valuable activity for me. I choose one day every week or two that my dh is available to watch my son and I do some prep work and cooking. My best advice for quick and healthy cooking is planning ahead. Here's what I recommend (much of the info. is from Dining on a Dime by Tawra Kellam and Jill Cooper):
1. To make things easier for the nights you want to prepare something quickly, items can be chopped and frozen in bags (I'm still debating the use of the little plastic bags as natural, but as far as space in a small freezer goes, they are great). Items that you can chop, freeze, and use in cooked dishes are: onions, green onions, green peppers, and herbs-I've chopped and frozen chives, parsley, dill, cilantro, and rosemary.
2. If you like to make items like muffins, pancakes, etc. but you tend to use the premade mixes, just make your own! They are much cheaper and you can avoid a lot of the negative ingredients. Just mix all the dry ingredients together and store (you can even mix the wet ingredients together and leave in the fridge overnight, so you can combine them easily in the morning).
3. Granola! I never realized until recently how amazingly easy this is to make! And I would sometimes pay $4 or more a box for this stuff! A huge container of oatmeal is very inexpensive and you can easily customize it to include your favorites! Check out http://www.recipezaar.com/ for recipe ideas (hint-try adding half the sugar it calls for or putting more honey in instead-it still turns out yummy!).
4. Pizza dough is super easy to make and delicious, plus you can customize your own pizza for a fraction on the price of delivery. My favorite quick recipe is http://www.recipezaar.com/13546 (Hint-make sure to check the temperature of your water so that it's not too hot or cold for the yeast to dissolve properly, it makes a difference in the rising of the crust.) I love to add cornmeal to the pan before I roll out the dough to give it a nice flavor on the bottom. I also mix pizza/italian seasonings into the crust as I am making it-gives a super great taste! (Hint-Pizza crust can be made ahead and frozen, then thawed or precooked-I like to use a pie pan because the crusts then fit easily in a gallon plastic bag-then you can either freeze them that way or put the toppings on, freeze for one hour on a pan and then packaged until ready to eat). I am hoping to find some new recipes that have alternatives to flour-such as gluten-free oat flour, etc. to avoid so much gluten and get more variety of whole grains.
5. Crock Pot-remember that thing in the back of your cupboard? You can put in veggies and meat in the morning and come home to a homecooked meal in the afternoon. No time in the morning? Try prepping the veggies and meat the night before.
6. Once a month cooking (OAMC) recipes-This is also a great way to look for recipes, especially casseroles, that can be made ahead and frozen. Check out http://www.recipezaar.com/recipes/oamc-freezer-make-ahead
Hope that these ideas and recipes help and I will add to the list as I come across good ideas! Happy Cooking :)
The great thing about being human is that we are all always capable of learning....we can all change, grow, and become better at that which we lack great skill. And so I practiced, I read books, and I tried and tried again. I made mistakes (which my husband was kind enough to still eat) and I made wonderful things (that he requests frequently now). It always amazes me to hear people say that they "can't" do something, like cook, I believe it's a skill we learn...like riding a bike or tying our shoes.
I love being able to have meals done quickly, especially on days when I don't have the time to be able to prepare something. Making meals ahead has become an enjoyable and valuable activity for me. I choose one day every week or two that my dh is available to watch my son and I do some prep work and cooking. My best advice for quick and healthy cooking is planning ahead. Here's what I recommend (much of the info. is from Dining on a Dime by Tawra Kellam and Jill Cooper):
1. To make things easier for the nights you want to prepare something quickly, items can be chopped and frozen in bags (I'm still debating the use of the little plastic bags as natural, but as far as space in a small freezer goes, they are great). Items that you can chop, freeze, and use in cooked dishes are: onions, green onions, green peppers, and herbs-I've chopped and frozen chives, parsley, dill, cilantro, and rosemary.
2. If you like to make items like muffins, pancakes, etc. but you tend to use the premade mixes, just make your own! They are much cheaper and you can avoid a lot of the negative ingredients. Just mix all the dry ingredients together and store (you can even mix the wet ingredients together and leave in the fridge overnight, so you can combine them easily in the morning).
3. Granola! I never realized until recently how amazingly easy this is to make! And I would sometimes pay $4 or more a box for this stuff! A huge container of oatmeal is very inexpensive and you can easily customize it to include your favorites! Check out http://www.recipezaar.com/ for recipe ideas (hint-try adding half the sugar it calls for or putting more honey in instead-it still turns out yummy!).
4. Pizza dough is super easy to make and delicious, plus you can customize your own pizza for a fraction on the price of delivery. My favorite quick recipe is http://www.recipezaar.com/13546 (Hint-make sure to check the temperature of your water so that it's not too hot or cold for the yeast to dissolve properly, it makes a difference in the rising of the crust.) I love to add cornmeal to the pan before I roll out the dough to give it a nice flavor on the bottom. I also mix pizza/italian seasonings into the crust as I am making it-gives a super great taste! (Hint-Pizza crust can be made ahead and frozen, then thawed or precooked-I like to use a pie pan because the crusts then fit easily in a gallon plastic bag-then you can either freeze them that way or put the toppings on, freeze for one hour on a pan and then packaged until ready to eat). I am hoping to find some new recipes that have alternatives to flour-such as gluten-free oat flour, etc. to avoid so much gluten and get more variety of whole grains.
5. Crock Pot-remember that thing in the back of your cupboard? You can put in veggies and meat in the morning and come home to a homecooked meal in the afternoon. No time in the morning? Try prepping the veggies and meat the night before.
6. Once a month cooking (OAMC) recipes-This is also a great way to look for recipes, especially casseroles, that can be made ahead and frozen. Check out http://www.recipezaar.com/recipes/oamc-freezer-make-ahead
Hope that these ideas and recipes help and I will add to the list as I come across good ideas! Happy Cooking :)
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Thinking Outside the Box...cont'd.
After I made my earlier post today I was talking with a friend of mine. I told her how I was finding so many articles about ways to live more natural and things to be wary of, etc. And I was starting to feel overwhelmed and somewhat defeated, but she reminded me, "You can drive yourself crazy trying to be a purist" :) And she's right, so I have decided that I'll start a little smaller with 3 goals to work on to change to a more natural life and here they are:
1. FOOD
2. BEAUTY PRODUCTS
3. STUFF
These are three important things that I feel will affect my life the most and that I want to focus on changing.
Food-Try and buy more natural and organic fruits, veggies, and meats especially.
Beauty Products-Try to find beauty products that are free from harmful chemicals or even to the point that they are food-safe (contain products that are actually regulated by the FDA) or to try and make my own whenever possible.
Stuff-To decide what is important in my life to keep and to sell or donate the rest. Then I want to change the kind of consumer I am and try and limit my buying to essentials...the more stuff I have in my house, the more potential for waste and chaos. Plus, the less I buy unnecessary items, the more room I have in my budget for natural foods and products.
1. FOOD
2. BEAUTY PRODUCTS
3. STUFF
These are three important things that I feel will affect my life the most and that I want to focus on changing.
Food-Try and buy more natural and organic fruits, veggies, and meats especially.
Beauty Products-Try to find beauty products that are free from harmful chemicals or even to the point that they are food-safe (contain products that are actually regulated by the FDA) or to try and make my own whenever possible.
Stuff-To decide what is important in my life to keep and to sell or donate the rest. Then I want to change the kind of consumer I am and try and limit my buying to essentials...the more stuff I have in my house, the more potential for waste and chaos. Plus, the less I buy unnecessary items, the more room I have in my budget for natural foods and products.
Monday, February 18, 2008
Thinking outside the box...
I grew up in a family that did usually cook homemade meals, but as I got older and started to make food on my own, I tended to opt for convenience food...they're convenient, right? But are alot of the foods really that convenient? Are they really worth the extra money and packaging? It wasn't until I started to read the labels on them that I truly decided "no"....It seems to me that a lot of convenience foods have tons of preservatives, hydrogenated oils, and other chemicals and fats that have no place in food.
The use of chemicals in the food we eat and the products we use, scares me....I honestly don't think our bodies were made for it...and in convience food societies it seems like disease and obesity have gotten out of control (what do we do to counter those problems? we take medicines that were made in chemical labs)....I am no expert by any means, but it just seems there are too many things going wrong to not question it!
As I started to write this post today I was planning to write about convenience foods and ways to make your own instead of buying them. And while I'll still probably pass that info. along, I have to admit I was distracted by this article...http://www.ewg.org/node/22655
Here's an excerpt:
"But Barry doesn't think about the food he consumes. He eats while he drives, while he works, while he talks on the phone, while he watches TV. He senses no connection between the food he puts in his body and the way he feels. Feeling tired, suffering from acid reflux and daily headaches, which he blames on his stressful job, Barry went for a checkup recently. The physical didn't go too well. The doctor told him his lifestyle puts him at risk for heart disease and type-2 diabetes. In other words, his diet is killing him. The doctor advised him to lay off the caffeine, soda pop, processed foods and red meat.
Barry listened politely and asked for medication to cure his ailments. The physician raised an eyebrow and wrote Barry three prescriptions as he warned him to take better care of himself. Since then Barry has ignored the advice. It's his life, his body, and he'll live anyway he darn well pleases. Barry is proud of his defiance. Nobody is going to tell him what to do."
I love to eat and this is a huge struggle for me to really eat right, there are way too many excuses that I come up with...but I am trying and we all have to start somewhere.
And then the author talks about convenience foods....
"It's convenient, to be sure. No slaving over a hot stove, no table to clear or dishes to wash, and fewer groceries to buy. But that perceived simplicity comes at a price. In our quest to make our lives easier, we have actually speeded up, becoming more harried. How many people can say that their lives are more content and fulfilled than their parents? We have fooled ourselves into believing that we are in charge of our lives, when in reality, we have simply opened up more time to work and less time to be with our families. Natural goodness and common sense have been sacrificed in the false name of convenience. Just two generations ago, nearly all meals were eaten together at home around the family table. The food was carefully prepared and leisurely conversation took place. Moments and ideas were shared. No more. These days, one meal a week with the whole family is a rarity -- and that's probably at a restaurant. As our pleasant childhood experiences of home-cooked meals are replaced with nutrient-poor fast food and snacks, our natural relationship with wholesome food is displaced by mass-produced substitutes."
I know what I need to do and I know I need to change my diet, but change is hard...and sometimes I just don't know where to start...and sometimes prepackaged food is just too tempting to pass up. But we are talking about our lives here...and change must happen. So although I'll be the first to admit it won't be easy, a change is a coming...I hope that you can come along with me for the journey and maybe we can both learn to think outside the box.
The use of chemicals in the food we eat and the products we use, scares me....I honestly don't think our bodies were made for it...and in convience food societies it seems like disease and obesity have gotten out of control (what do we do to counter those problems? we take medicines that were made in chemical labs)....I am no expert by any means, but it just seems there are too many things going wrong to not question it!
As I started to write this post today I was planning to write about convenience foods and ways to make your own instead of buying them. And while I'll still probably pass that info. along, I have to admit I was distracted by this article...http://www.ewg.org/node/22655
Here's an excerpt:
"But Barry doesn't think about the food he consumes. He eats while he drives, while he works, while he talks on the phone, while he watches TV. He senses no connection between the food he puts in his body and the way he feels. Feeling tired, suffering from acid reflux and daily headaches, which he blames on his stressful job, Barry went for a checkup recently. The physical didn't go too well. The doctor told him his lifestyle puts him at risk for heart disease and type-2 diabetes. In other words, his diet is killing him. The doctor advised him to lay off the caffeine, soda pop, processed foods and red meat.
Barry listened politely and asked for medication to cure his ailments. The physician raised an eyebrow and wrote Barry three prescriptions as he warned him to take better care of himself. Since then Barry has ignored the advice. It's his life, his body, and he'll live anyway he darn well pleases. Barry is proud of his defiance. Nobody is going to tell him what to do."
I love to eat and this is a huge struggle for me to really eat right, there are way too many excuses that I come up with...but I am trying and we all have to start somewhere.
And then the author talks about convenience foods....
"It's convenient, to be sure. No slaving over a hot stove, no table to clear or dishes to wash, and fewer groceries to buy. But that perceived simplicity comes at a price. In our quest to make our lives easier, we have actually speeded up, becoming more harried. How many people can say that their lives are more content and fulfilled than their parents? We have fooled ourselves into believing that we are in charge of our lives, when in reality, we have simply opened up more time to work and less time to be with our families. Natural goodness and common sense have been sacrificed in the false name of convenience. Just two generations ago, nearly all meals were eaten together at home around the family table. The food was carefully prepared and leisurely conversation took place. Moments and ideas were shared. No more. These days, one meal a week with the whole family is a rarity -- and that's probably at a restaurant. As our pleasant childhood experiences of home-cooked meals are replaced with nutrient-poor fast food and snacks, our natural relationship with wholesome food is displaced by mass-produced substitutes."
I know what I need to do and I know I need to change my diet, but change is hard...and sometimes I just don't know where to start...and sometimes prepackaged food is just too tempting to pass up. But we are talking about our lives here...and change must happen. So although I'll be the first to admit it won't be easy, a change is a coming...I hope that you can come along with me for the journey and maybe we can both learn to think outside the box.
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Keeping it clean...
I am very sensitive....always have been. I have a sensitive personality, stomach, skin, and I am sensitive to my environment. I never liked cleaning with traditional cleaners, they tended to give me a headache and I always sort of felt like I was breathing in something that I wasn't supposed to. So this year I finally decided to try out the good old natural cleaners that most of us probably already have in our house: baking soda and vinegar! (as with all products please test in a small area before using everywhere)
I've been using baking soda to clean the kitchen sink and the tub. Just sprinkle a little around and mix in some water and scrub clean (you might have to be careful on certain finishes, since baking soda is considered abrasive). I've been using white vinegar in a little spray bottle to also clean the kitchen sink, countertops, and the bathroom sink (once everything dries the vinegar smell goes away, but I've read that some people like to add a drop or two of essential oils).
Another new favorite is homemade furniture polish, which I personally think does a better job than any spray I've ever used. I tested this one out in very tiny areas until I was sure it was okay with all my wood furniture. You have to spread it around and rub it in a little more, but it gives a great shine and seems to remain dust-free for longer.
To make homemade furniture polish, add two parts lemon juice to one part olive oil (for example 2 tablespoon lemon juice to 1 tablespoon olive oil) and mix it up. You can put it in a spray bottle or I just used a baby food jar and shook it up and put some on a dust rag. You do have to refrigerate it and it probably won't last longer than a month, but it's so easy to make you can do it in small quantities.
So, go ahead, try out that baking soda and vinegar and go polish some furniture, you've probably already got the supplies in your closet, and you might by pleasantly surprised, just like me :)
I've been using baking soda to clean the kitchen sink and the tub. Just sprinkle a little around and mix in some water and scrub clean (you might have to be careful on certain finishes, since baking soda is considered abrasive). I've been using white vinegar in a little spray bottle to also clean the kitchen sink, countertops, and the bathroom sink (once everything dries the vinegar smell goes away, but I've read that some people like to add a drop or two of essential oils).
Another new favorite is homemade furniture polish, which I personally think does a better job than any spray I've ever used. I tested this one out in very tiny areas until I was sure it was okay with all my wood furniture. You have to spread it around and rub it in a little more, but it gives a great shine and seems to remain dust-free for longer.
To make homemade furniture polish, add two parts lemon juice to one part olive oil (for example 2 tablespoon lemon juice to 1 tablespoon olive oil) and mix it up. You can put it in a spray bottle or I just used a baby food jar and shook it up and put some on a dust rag. You do have to refrigerate it and it probably won't last longer than a month, but it's so easy to make you can do it in small quantities.
So, go ahead, try out that baking soda and vinegar and go polish some furniture, you've probably already got the supplies in your closet, and you might by pleasantly surprised, just like me :)
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Let the Sales Lead the Way...
In the past I had always decided what I wanted to eat or picked out a really neat recipe and then headed to the store to pickup all the ingredients. Not any more! After reading a variety of books on saving money, including Miserly Moms by Jonni McCoy, I've changed the order in which I do things.
I've found that the grocery stores in our area generally start their new sales on Wednesdays or Thursdays, so those are now my grocery shopping days. I check out the flyers first (not all of them offer many natural/organic foods in their flyer, but sometimes it's worth checking out) and plan where I am going to go. I go with a list of some of the basic necessities that we need and then let the sales dictate the rest. I pick the fruit and veggies that are in season and on sale and go through the store quickly checking for any other sales. Then, when I get home I decide our menu for the week. By simply changing the way I do things I've been able to save money off our bill each week and tried a lot of new great recipes along the way!
Now some people might say that they wouldn't know what to get if they didn't have a recipe to guide them. Go with what basic food you like and then head to the internet when you get home, there are some great recipe sites, my personal favorite is www.recipezaar.com You can search for recipes by food type, name, ingredients, etc. Then I personally like to sort them by "rating" and you get the top rated recipes and they are usually delicious!! This site also has a button that you can change servings and it will automatically change the measurements for you (great if you want to make extra to freeze or have leftovers for lunch). Another great feature is the substitution help...just click on any of the ingredients and it will tell you what you can substitute for it! Hope that helps :)
I've found that the grocery stores in our area generally start their new sales on Wednesdays or Thursdays, so those are now my grocery shopping days. I check out the flyers first (not all of them offer many natural/organic foods in their flyer, but sometimes it's worth checking out) and plan where I am going to go. I go with a list of some of the basic necessities that we need and then let the sales dictate the rest. I pick the fruit and veggies that are in season and on sale and go through the store quickly checking for any other sales. Then, when I get home I decide our menu for the week. By simply changing the way I do things I've been able to save money off our bill each week and tried a lot of new great recipes along the way!
Now some people might say that they wouldn't know what to get if they didn't have a recipe to guide them. Go with what basic food you like and then head to the internet when you get home, there are some great recipe sites, my personal favorite is www.recipezaar.com You can search for recipes by food type, name, ingredients, etc. Then I personally like to sort them by "rating" and you get the top rated recipes and they are usually delicious!! This site also has a button that you can change servings and it will automatically change the measurements for you (great if you want to make extra to freeze or have leftovers for lunch). Another great feature is the substitution help...just click on any of the ingredients and it will tell you what you can substitute for it! Hope that helps :)
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Know the prices...
One of the best pieces of information I found while reading books on saving money was to figure out what the prices are for items you buy. Alot of people have a general idea of what things cost, but when it comes right down to it, it's hard to remember week to week what exactly is a good deal.
I first read about keeping track of prices in The Tightwad Gazette, by Amy Dacyczyn. Her and her readers recommended keeping track of prices on items that you regularly purchase in a notebook. I can't tell you how much this has helped me. I'll go into a store, see something that looks like a good deal, but I'm not sure...so, I'll just check my handy dandy notebook and immediately I'll know if this is indeed a good purchase or I can find it cheaper at the regular grocery store. Doing this has helped me to cut my grocery bill a ton!
To start your own price book, find a notebook, planner, or whatever format works best for you and label each page alphabetically A-Z (make sure it's something small enough that you'll be able to take it along easily each time you shop). Then plan a special shopping trip where you can have a little more time to really check out the prices at the stores that you frequent.
Keep track of:
*The price
*The exact item
*The size (ounces, etc.)
*The location
*The date purchased (eventually you may see trends of when certain items go on sale)
Here's some examples:
Apples-
$1.19/lb Organic Golden Delicious-Sale Price-Grocery Store Name-2/13/08
$1.99/lb Organic Golden Delicious in Bags-Regular Price-Grocery Store Name-1/15/08
Soy Cheese-
$2.69-Veggie Shreds Bags-6 oz.-Regular Price-Grocery Store Name-1/27/08
$2.00-Veggie Shreds Bags-6 oz.-Sale Price-Different Grocery Store-2/10/08
By keeping track of each of the prices I know what the regular price is at the cheaper store, plus what's a good deal when there is a sale so I know to stock up. It's been extremely helpful to have everything written down and I highly recommend starting a price book for anyone who is trying to watch their budget!!
I first read about keeping track of prices in The Tightwad Gazette, by Amy Dacyczyn. Her and her readers recommended keeping track of prices on items that you regularly purchase in a notebook. I can't tell you how much this has helped me. I'll go into a store, see something that looks like a good deal, but I'm not sure...so, I'll just check my handy dandy notebook and immediately I'll know if this is indeed a good purchase or I can find it cheaper at the regular grocery store. Doing this has helped me to cut my grocery bill a ton!
To start your own price book, find a notebook, planner, or whatever format works best for you and label each page alphabetically A-Z (make sure it's something small enough that you'll be able to take it along easily each time you shop). Then plan a special shopping trip where you can have a little more time to really check out the prices at the stores that you frequent.
Keep track of:
*The price
*The exact item
*The size (ounces, etc.)
*The location
*The date purchased (eventually you may see trends of when certain items go on sale)
Here's some examples:
Apples-
$1.19/lb Organic Golden Delicious-Sale Price-Grocery Store Name-2/13/08
$1.99/lb Organic Golden Delicious in Bags-Regular Price-Grocery Store Name-1/15/08
Soy Cheese-
$2.69-Veggie Shreds Bags-6 oz.-Regular Price-Grocery Store Name-1/27/08
$2.00-Veggie Shreds Bags-6 oz.-Sale Price-Different Grocery Store-2/10/08
By keeping track of each of the prices I know what the regular price is at the cheaper store, plus what's a good deal when there is a sale so I know to stock up. It's been extremely helpful to have everything written down and I highly recommend starting a price book for anyone who is trying to watch their budget!!
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Natural on the outside...
I know a lot of people who try and eat a pretty healthy diet, but never think twice about what they put on their skin. Our skin absorbs what we put on it and the scary part is that cosmetics companies are not held to the same standards as food products, even though both end up in our bodies.
According to the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, "Neither cosmetic products nor cosmetic ingredients are reviewed or approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) before they are sold to the public. FDA cannot require companies to do safety testing of their cosmetic products before marketing". Actually only about 11% of products have ever been tested!! Unfortunately with the variety of personal care products that we put on our bodies we are exposed to large amounts of chemicals everyday.
Finding safe cosmetics has been a huge passion for me for many years now and I continue to try and learn more about this topic all the time. Here's a list of 12 Major Toxins to Avoid (from Toxin-Free Basics website):
1: Propylene, Ethlylene and Butylene Glycol
Found in Anti-freeze. Acts as a “surfactant” (wetting agent and solvent). Penetrates the skin and weakens protein and cellular structure. Strong enough to remove barnacles from boats, factory workers are required by the FDA to wear protective clothing when producing products containing these chemicals and are required to dispose of PG as toxic waste.
Found in: baby wipes, diaper creams, baby lotion, facial cleansing cloths, facial cleansers, body washes, shampoos, toothpastes, etc.
2: Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) and Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES)
Detergents pose serious health threats. Used in garage floor cleaners and engine degreasers and in 90% of all personal-care products that foam. Young eyes may not develop properly if exposed to SLS. SLS may damage the skin’s immune system.
Found in: baby body washes, baby shampoos, anti-bacterial hand washes, shaving cream, body lotions, shampoos, etc.
3: DEA (diethanolamine), MEA (monoethanolamine) & TEA (triethanolamine)
Hormone-disrupting chemicals that can form cancer-causing nitrates. Dr. Samuel Epstein (Professor of Environmental Health at the University of Illinois)
says that repeated applications of DEA-based detergents result in major increase in liver and kidney cancer. The FDA’s John Bailey says “the risk is significantly increased for children.”
Found in: body lotions, body washes, cleansers, shampoos, etc.
4: Polyethylene Glycol (PEG)
Carcinogenic petroleum ingredient that reduces the skin’s natural moisture. Increases the appearance of aging and leaves you vulnerable to bacteria.
Found in: baby wipes, diaper creams, baby lotions, cleansers, body washes, deodorants, etc.
5: Sodium Hydroxide
This is a poison (caustic lye) found in drain cleaners. The warning label on sodium hydroxide products reads “POISON, May be fatal or cause permanent damage if swallowed. May cause blindness. Avoid contact with skin, eyes, mouth and clothing.”
Found in: toothpastes, baby lotions, hand and body lotion, etc.
6: Triclosan:
Synthetic “antibacterial” with a chemical structure similar to Agent Orange! The EPA registers Triclosan as a pesticide, giving it high scores as a risk to human health and the environment. It is in a class of chemicals suspected of causing cancer in humans. Tufts University, School of Medicine says Triclosan can force the emergence of “super bugs” that it cannot kill.
Found in: anti-bacterial hand wash, antibacterial toys, etc.
7: DMDM and Urea (Imidazolidnyl)
Two of many preservatives that often release formaldehyde which cause joint pain, skin reactions, allergies, depression, headaches, chest pains, ear
infections, chronic fatigue, dizziness, and loss of sleep.
Found In: body lotions, body washes, anti-bacterial hand washes, cleansers, shampoos, etc.
8: Parabens
Studies show that parabens - alkyl hydroxy parabens - alpha hydroxy benzoate (methyl-, ethyl-, propyl- and butyl-parabens) are weakly estrogenic.
Found in: baby Wipes, baby body washes, anti-bacterial hand washes, facial wipes, body lotions, shampoos, etc.
9: Alcohol, Isoproplyl (SD-40)
Drying, irritating solvent that strips skin’s moisture and immune barrier, making you vulnerable to bacteria and viruses. Made from the same petroleum derivative used in shellac and antifreeze as well as personal care products. Promotes brown spots and premature aging.
Found in: lotions, creams, deodorants, etc.
10: Mineral Oil
Petroleum by-product that coats the skin similar to plastic wrap, clogging the pores. Interferes with skin’s ability to eliminate toxins, promoting acne and
other disorders. Slows down skin function and cell development, resulting in premature aging.
Found in: lotions, Creams, etc.
11: FD&C Color Pigments
Synthetic colors from coal tar that deposit toxins onto the skin, causing skin irritation. Absorption of certain colors can cause depletion of oxygen in the body and death.
Found in: shampoos, toothpastes, body washes, cleansers, baby products, wipes, hand washes, deodorants, lotions, creams, etc.
12: Fragrances
Can contain up to four thousand ingredients (including animal urine), many toxic or carcinogenic. Causes headaches, dizziness, allergic reactions, skin discoloration, violent coughing, vomiting, and skin irritation. Fragrances affect the nervous system, causing depression, hyperactivity, irritability, inability
to cope and other behavioral changes.
Found in: shampoos, toothpastes, body washes, cleansers, baby products, wipes, hand washes, deodorants, lotions, creams, etc. From: http://www.tfbasics.com/the_big_12.pdf
I write these things not to scare people, but to provide awareness. We, as consumers, need to know what we are putting into and on our bodies. If the FDA is not going to make sure the chemicals are kept out of the products, then it falls to us to choose products that are safe.
According to the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, "Neither cosmetic products nor cosmetic ingredients are reviewed or approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) before they are sold to the public. FDA cannot require companies to do safety testing of their cosmetic products before marketing". Actually only about 11% of products have ever been tested!! Unfortunately with the variety of personal care products that we put on our bodies we are exposed to large amounts of chemicals everyday.
Finding safe cosmetics has been a huge passion for me for many years now and I continue to try and learn more about this topic all the time. Here's a list of 12 Major Toxins to Avoid (from Toxin-Free Basics website):
1: Propylene, Ethlylene and Butylene Glycol
Found in Anti-freeze. Acts as a “surfactant” (wetting agent and solvent). Penetrates the skin and weakens protein and cellular structure. Strong enough to remove barnacles from boats, factory workers are required by the FDA to wear protective clothing when producing products containing these chemicals and are required to dispose of PG as toxic waste.
Found in: baby wipes, diaper creams, baby lotion, facial cleansing cloths, facial cleansers, body washes, shampoos, toothpastes, etc.
2: Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) and Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES)
Detergents pose serious health threats. Used in garage floor cleaners and engine degreasers and in 90% of all personal-care products that foam. Young eyes may not develop properly if exposed to SLS. SLS may damage the skin’s immune system.
Found in: baby body washes, baby shampoos, anti-bacterial hand washes, shaving cream, body lotions, shampoos, etc.
3: DEA (diethanolamine), MEA (monoethanolamine) & TEA (triethanolamine)
Hormone-disrupting chemicals that can form cancer-causing nitrates. Dr. Samuel Epstein (Professor of Environmental Health at the University of Illinois)
says that repeated applications of DEA-based detergents result in major increase in liver and kidney cancer. The FDA’s John Bailey says “the risk is significantly increased for children.”
Found in: body lotions, body washes, cleansers, shampoos, etc.
4: Polyethylene Glycol (PEG)
Carcinogenic petroleum ingredient that reduces the skin’s natural moisture. Increases the appearance of aging and leaves you vulnerable to bacteria.
Found in: baby wipes, diaper creams, baby lotions, cleansers, body washes, deodorants, etc.
5: Sodium Hydroxide
This is a poison (caustic lye) found in drain cleaners. The warning label on sodium hydroxide products reads “POISON, May be fatal or cause permanent damage if swallowed. May cause blindness. Avoid contact with skin, eyes, mouth and clothing.”
Found in: toothpastes, baby lotions, hand and body lotion, etc.
6: Triclosan:
Synthetic “antibacterial” with a chemical structure similar to Agent Orange! The EPA registers Triclosan as a pesticide, giving it high scores as a risk to human health and the environment. It is in a class of chemicals suspected of causing cancer in humans. Tufts University, School of Medicine says Triclosan can force the emergence of “super bugs” that it cannot kill.
Found in: anti-bacterial hand wash, antibacterial toys, etc.
7: DMDM and Urea (Imidazolidnyl)
Two of many preservatives that often release formaldehyde which cause joint pain, skin reactions, allergies, depression, headaches, chest pains, ear
infections, chronic fatigue, dizziness, and loss of sleep.
Found In: body lotions, body washes, anti-bacterial hand washes, cleansers, shampoos, etc.
8: Parabens
Studies show that parabens - alkyl hydroxy parabens - alpha hydroxy benzoate (methyl-, ethyl-, propyl- and butyl-parabens) are weakly estrogenic.
Found in: baby Wipes, baby body washes, anti-bacterial hand washes, facial wipes, body lotions, shampoos, etc.
9: Alcohol, Isoproplyl (SD-40)
Drying, irritating solvent that strips skin’s moisture and immune barrier, making you vulnerable to bacteria and viruses. Made from the same petroleum derivative used in shellac and antifreeze as well as personal care products. Promotes brown spots and premature aging.
Found in: lotions, creams, deodorants, etc.
10: Mineral Oil
Petroleum by-product that coats the skin similar to plastic wrap, clogging the pores. Interferes with skin’s ability to eliminate toxins, promoting acne and
other disorders. Slows down skin function and cell development, resulting in premature aging.
Found in: lotions, Creams, etc.
11: FD&C Color Pigments
Synthetic colors from coal tar that deposit toxins onto the skin, causing skin irritation. Absorption of certain colors can cause depletion of oxygen in the body and death.
Found in: shampoos, toothpastes, body washes, cleansers, baby products, wipes, hand washes, deodorants, lotions, creams, etc.
12: Fragrances
Can contain up to four thousand ingredients (including animal urine), many toxic or carcinogenic. Causes headaches, dizziness, allergic reactions, skin discoloration, violent coughing, vomiting, and skin irritation. Fragrances affect the nervous system, causing depression, hyperactivity, irritability, inability
to cope and other behavioral changes.
Found in: shampoos, toothpastes, body washes, cleansers, baby products, wipes, hand washes, deodorants, lotions, creams, etc. From: http://www.tfbasics.com/the_big_12.pdf
I write these things not to scare people, but to provide awareness. We, as consumers, need to know what we are putting into and on our bodies. If the FDA is not going to make sure the chemicals are kept out of the products, then it falls to us to choose products that are safe.
Monday, February 11, 2008
Looking Out For the Little Ones
I started this entry a few days ago and Deanna's comment prompted me to finish and get the info. out to everyone.
It is extremely important for me to use products on my son that I feel are safe. A report in the news last week of the use of phthalates in baby products just reaffirmed that we have to be careful what we put on our little ones. Basically it stated that what we put on our little ones ends up inside them and there our potentially negative long term effects. Here's the link for the report http://www.ewg.org/node/25964
For information on safe products for both children and adults go to http://www.safecosmetics.org/ or go straight to http://www.cosmeticdatabase.com/ to find out information on the personal care products you already use and to find safer alternatives.
I plan to post again soon with more information on this topic :)
It is extremely important for me to use products on my son that I feel are safe. A report in the news last week of the use of phthalates in baby products just reaffirmed that we have to be careful what we put on our little ones. Basically it stated that what we put on our little ones ends up inside them and there our potentially negative long term effects. Here's the link for the report http://www.ewg.org/node/25964
For information on safe products for both children and adults go to http://www.safecosmetics.org/ or go straight to http://www.cosmeticdatabase.com/ to find out information on the personal care products you already use and to find safer alternatives.
I plan to post again soon with more information on this topic :)
Where to Start With Natural and Organic Food
Before I get started with how to save money and live natural, I want to start with some info. about natural choices that are important to me. (And some of the things to avoid).
My mother has always told me to "do the best you can". So I uphold that same philosophy today when I try to give my family a healthy diet. I can't afford to buy everything organic, but I can do the best I can. Trying to give my family "whole foods" is something I am working on and I feel a good place to start is with fruits and veggies.
But which ones to choose? A ranking of fruits and vegetables was "developed by Environmental Working Group (EWG), based on the results of nearly 43,000 tests for pesticides on produce by the Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration between 2000 and 2004. EWG's computer analysis found that consumers could cut their pesticide exposure by almost 90 percent by avoiding the most contaminated fruits and vegetables and eating the least contaminated instead." (info. from http://www.ewg.org/)
The Dirty Dozen (the ones to always try and buy organic) are:
1. Apples
2. Cherries
3. Grapes, imported (Chili)
4. Nectarines
5. Peaches
6. Pears
7. Raspberries
8. Strawberries
9. Bell peppers
10. Celery
11. Potatoes
12. Spinach
For the full list of 43 fruits and veggies go to: http://www.foodnews.org/
So I am going to try and buy those fruits and vegetables organically or through farmer's markets and when I can't find them fresh I'll look for organic frozens or other tasty fruit that is in season. I am looking forward to spring and the return of those farmer's markets!!!
My mother has always told me to "do the best you can". So I uphold that same philosophy today when I try to give my family a healthy diet. I can't afford to buy everything organic, but I can do the best I can. Trying to give my family "whole foods" is something I am working on and I feel a good place to start is with fruits and veggies.
But which ones to choose? A ranking of fruits and vegetables was "developed by Environmental Working Group (EWG), based on the results of nearly 43,000 tests for pesticides on produce by the Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration between 2000 and 2004. EWG's computer analysis found that consumers could cut their pesticide exposure by almost 90 percent by avoiding the most contaminated fruits and vegetables and eating the least contaminated instead." (info. from http://www.ewg.org/)
The Dirty Dozen (the ones to always try and buy organic) are:
1. Apples
2. Cherries
3. Grapes, imported (Chili)
4. Nectarines
5. Peaches
6. Pears
7. Raspberries
8. Strawberries
9. Bell peppers
10. Celery
11. Potatoes
12. Spinach
For the full list of 43 fruits and veggies go to: http://www.foodnews.org/
So I am going to try and buy those fruits and vegetables organically or through farmer's markets and when I can't find them fresh I'll look for organic frozens or other tasty fruit that is in season. I am looking forward to spring and the return of those farmer's markets!!!
Thursday, February 7, 2008
The Beginning...
My journey to living a more natural life started when I met my dh. I had spent my entire 21 years, until that point, with stomach aches, tums, and a bottle of pepto. It took my husband 2 dates and one look in my fridge to diagnose me with lactose intolerance. A doctor recommended that I take two weeks off dairy and see what happened...I never went back.
It was hard to give up dairy, I thoroughly loved cheese, milk, pizza, cottage cheese....but I loved feeling good even more. So thus began my quest to live a dairy free life. My journey for dairy alternatives took me into a realm of natural foods that I had never even heard of. Tofu? Soymilk? Organics?? And the more I read about natural foods, the more I started to incorporate them into my life.
Last year I gave birth to my son and my natural living took on a whole new meaning. My dh and I had always planned on me staying home with our children, so we started living on a budget even before ds came along. But as a I went through the pregnancy, childbirth, and first year with my son I began to realize just how important a natural way of life was to me. The only problem with living natural, though, was the money. Natural and organic foods and products can be really expensive. So I started to research ways to save money and I came across some great resources. The problem was they were about saving money, but not necessarily eating organically, etc. Sure, getting a great deal on cereal or crackers is nice, but not if their filled with hydrogenated oils and high fructose corn syrup.
So I began to figure out ways to save money, but still live naturally and here I am.
It was hard to give up dairy, I thoroughly loved cheese, milk, pizza, cottage cheese....but I loved feeling good even more. So thus began my quest to live a dairy free life. My journey for dairy alternatives took me into a realm of natural foods that I had never even heard of. Tofu? Soymilk? Organics?? And the more I read about natural foods, the more I started to incorporate them into my life.
Last year I gave birth to my son and my natural living took on a whole new meaning. My dh and I had always planned on me staying home with our children, so we started living on a budget even before ds came along. But as a I went through the pregnancy, childbirth, and first year with my son I began to realize just how important a natural way of life was to me. The only problem with living natural, though, was the money. Natural and organic foods and products can be really expensive. So I started to research ways to save money and I came across some great resources. The problem was they were about saving money, but not necessarily eating organically, etc. Sure, getting a great deal on cereal or crackers is nice, but not if their filled with hydrogenated oils and high fructose corn syrup.
So I began to figure out ways to save money, but still live naturally and here I am.
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