Raising A Green Family

With the impending birth of our baby my husband and I have been looking at ways to live greener and make sure the addition of a new little one isn't accompanied by an enormous carbon foot print.  Here are some quick and easy tips to raise a green baby and care for the planet too! 

CHOOSE ECO DIAPERS & WIPES:
Did you know that 80% of parents choose disposable diapers for their little ones?  This amounts to 18 million diapers or 82,000 tons of plastic and 1.3 million tons of wood pulp (250,000 trees) per year in land fills.  It's estimated that a disposable diaper takes anywhere from 250-500 year to biodegrade.  Don't even get me started on the toxic chemicals contained in commercial disposable diapers.  We chose to go with G Diapers for our little one.  G Diapers are certified 100% biodegradable and compostable within 45 days.  They're also free from toxins and chlorine bleach so your little one will have a fighting chance against diaper rash.  You purchase the re-usable and washable diapers and then fill them with the biodegradable refills.  When changing diapers you simply remove the refill, flush it, compost it or toss it and place a new one in the diaper. 

Learn more at the G Diaper website: 
http://www.gdiapers.com/ppc/biodegradable-diapers?gclid=CM_Anozs5qMCFQs_bAod-nz_3g

Did you know that most wipes contain parabens, chlorine and synthetic fragrances?  I don't want any of these chemicals touching my baby's delicate skin so I began my quest for the best eco wipes.  Earth's Best Baby Wipes are Chlorine-free, Alcohol and Paraben Free and contain skin softening Aloe Vera and Vitamin E.

You can purchase both G Diapers and Earth's Best Wipes through Amazon by the case and if you sign up for their auto shipping option they'll deliver them right to your door with free shipping and a deep discount.
http://www.amazon.com/Earths-Best-TenderCare-Chlorine-80-Count/dp/B001TUZI2A/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&s=grocery&qid=1283367718&sr=8-9

REDUCE, REUSE AND RECYCLE BABY ITEMS:
With the addition of a baby comes a whole lot of gear, toys and clothes.  The green movement motto "Reduce, Reuse and Recycle" is perfect for this situation.   We have been fortunate to receive many items from friends and family that have been gently used and are in near mint condition.  Whenever we can eliminate purchasing new items for the baby we feel good in knowing that we're not adding more plastic packaging to the landfills.  Plus accepting friends and families generous donations saves a lot of green too!  Check out Freecycle, a great site dedicated to reducing waste by helping people recycle goods. 
http://www.freecycle.org/

MAKE YOUR OWN BABY FOOD:
My husband and I planted our first organic garden in the spring.  We plan on growing our own organic food and making our own baby food.  Baby food is expensive especially if you're buying organic.  We figured we'd cut out the middle man and grow our own food.  It's been great fun watching our garden grow and harvesting the fruits and veggies.  All you need to make your own baby food is this handy little machine and some organic fruits and veggies.  It feels good knowing exactly where your food is coming from and that your not contributing to pollution by consuming pesticide laden foods.  You can freeze the baby food in small portions and use it as needed so none goes to waste.
http://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/beaba-babycook-baby-food-maker/?pkey=x|4|1||4|baby||0&cm_src=SCH 

GET COMPOSTING:
Our latest venture to live greener has been the addition of our composter.  Composting really makes you aware of how much food you're wasting.  After a great deal of research my husband settled on a composter from Home Depot, it's even made from recycled materials!  Our compost will turn into rich fertilizer for our garden within 2-3 weeks, no more trips to Lowe's to stock up on bags of pricey organic fertilizer.
http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1vZ1xhc/R-202018156/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053

GREEN YOUR BABY'S BATH TIME: 
Given that I run a green business dedicated to healthy bath, body and cosmetics this one was a no brainer.  Many parents don't know that the bottle of baby shampoo you're so fond of is loaded with toxic chemicals.  We recently attended our hospital sponsored baby care class and the woman leading the lecture emphasized repeatedly the importance of keeping chemicals away from newborns.  She even suggested that for the first two weeks new parents should only use damp paper towels rather than wipes on their newborn.  When I asked her what products the hospital used to bathe the babies she showed me a bottle of the dreaded Johnson and Johnson and said they only used it becuase they get it for free.  Luckily she said that we could provide the hospital with our own products to bathe our baby.  We're going with my line of baby care products by Noli n Nali.  These products are great for baby since they're free from all of the chemicals in maninstream baby products and that makes them better for the planet too!  No harsh chemicals washing down the drain and polluting our waterways!
http://www.green4yoursoul.com/products/noli-n-nali-chamomile-willow-baby-shampoo.html

There are many more ways you can raise a green baby.  For additional tips check out Deidre Imus's book "Growing up Green".  Even if you only make a few small changes you will make a huge impact and set a great example for your child.
http://www.amazon.com/Growing-Up-Green-Child-Bestselling/dp/1416541241/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1283367293&sr=8-3

HOW GREEN IS YOUR SUNSCREEN?

There's been a great deal of press lately regarding the toxic chemicals found in commercial sunscreens; but did you know that your sunscreen could also be harmful to sea life?  A recent study published by the journal Environmental Health Perspectives found that the same synthetic preservatives and UV Blockers that are harmful to your health are also responsible for the destruction of coral reefs.  These chemicals trigger viral infections in coral reefs causing them to bleach out and die in as little as 4 days after exposure.  Up to 10 percent of coral reefs worldwide are threatened by sunscreen induced bleaching.  The study found that even low levels of the sunscreen chemicals could trigger bleaching in coral reef populations.  Researchers estimated that 4,000 to 6,000 metric tons of sunscreen wash off of swimmers annually in oceans worldwide.

Little changes can make a big impact.  By choosing an eco friendly sunscreen you're not only protecting your health but also the health and welfare of the ocean and its' aquatic life.  Soleo Organics All Natural Sunscreen is a fabulous alternative to commercial chemically laden sunscreens.  Soleo Organics All Natural Sunscreen is formulated using only organic and naturally sourced ingredients, according to Naturopathic principles. Soleo's biodegradable formula helps keep our waterways clean because it's free from harmful chemicals found in mainstream sunscreens and those linked to the destruction of coral reefs.  Soleo Products NEVER contain Chemical UV-Absorbers, Synthetic Preservatives, Benzoates, Petrochemicals, Artificial Fragrances, Nano Particles, Parabens or Diazolidinyl Urea.  Your purchase of Soleo Sunscreen also helps preserve our oceans, lakes, reservoirs, streams and mountains through the Soleo Sanctuary Foundation. 

Get Your Green Thumb On!

It's becoming increasingly difficult to determine the quality and freshness of the food we're eating.  Don't take my word for it, check out documentaries like Food Inc and see how deceptive the food industry can be.  Produce is often shipped from other countries making it less than fresh by the time it arrives on our dinner tables.  It's also common for growers to genetically modify fruits and veggies, spray them with dyes and pesticides and coat them with waxes to improve their appearance.  Why not grow your own food?  You'll know where your food is coming from,  you can enjoy it at the peak of freshness and you can save money on your groceries too.

MY ORGANIC GARDEN:  
My husband and I are always looking for ways to live greener.  Our goal this year was to plant an organic garden and I'm happy to report that it's thriving.  My husband read a fabulous book called "Square Foot Gardening" that guided us through creating our organic garden.  The author also has a wonderful website filled with resources to help you in your journey as an organic gardener.  We purchased all of the supplies recommended in the book to build our above ground garden boxes from our local hardware store.  We filled the boxes with the special soil blend recommended in the book and selected our favorite fruits, veggies and herbs to plant.  Here are some pics of our garden:

WHAT DO I DO WITH ALL OF THE PRODUCE?:
Once your garden starts thriving you might have more produce than you can eat.  Consider making your own jams, spaghetti sauces and canning fruits and veggies to enjoy off season.  You can freeze many of these items and enjoy them later.  You can also give away fresh produce to friends, family and neighbors.  You can also enjoy juicing fresh fruits and veggies.

If you have a baby you can purchase a baby food maker from Williams Sonoma and make your own organic baby food.  That way you can ensure that your little one is getting the highest quality food without the added sugar or preservatives.  Best of all the machine cooks and purees the veggies for you and the food can be frozen in trays to use later.  If your children are older get them involved in gardening.  Let them help select the produce to plant, help you care for and harvest the garden and cook delicious recipes fresh from your garden with them.

GARDENING IS GOOD FOR THE BODY & SOUL:
Studies have shown that gardening provides great stress relief.  We all lead busy lives and sometimes it's a great idea to pause and enjoy the simple things in life.  My husband and I love watching the birds and lizards visit our garden to help us naturally control the insects.  We also enjoy the excitement of watching our produce grow and the thrill of enjoying it fresh from our own backyard.  We all know we need to live healthier lifestyles and anyone will tell you that involves eating more fruits and vegetables.  So here's to a healthier you this year, go ahead get your green thumb on, what are you waiting for? 

Let the Vegan Adventure Begin

I had an "Aha" moment while watching Alicia Silverstone last week on Oprah.  Alicia explained that she had suffered for years with constipation, bloating, allergies, skin issues and all around discomfort.  When she transitioned to a Vegan diet all of these symptoms disappeared.  I could certainly relate to her story since I battle many of those symptoms on a daily basis.  I've been exceedingly frustrated that I've never been able to find relief from these symptoms and had resigned myself to the fact that I was probably going to suffer for the rest of my life.  The thing is I've only really tried taking herbal supplements, eating Ginger and increasing my probiotics, I never thought that dairy could be to blame.  These quick fixes would work for a while and then I'd go right back to square one with the chronic bloating and upset stomachs after nearly every meal.  Alicia's story made me think, "What if what I'm eating is making me sick?"  My husband has been trying to convince me to go Vegan for a couple of years now but I love cheese so much I didn't think there was any way I could ever commit to Veganism.  We eat a very healthy meat free diet and I never thought there was a problem with dairy.  We decided to pick up Alicia's book and give it a try since eliminating dairy was one avenue I hadn't explored yet.  We spent this last weekend buying Vegan cookbooks and testing out recipes.  We also visited a Vegan Cafe.  We're both the dive right in type so we've been approaching this head on with full force and commitment.  We had a great time cooking together in the kitchen, shopping, and trying out new foods.  We both thought this was an exciting adventure we'd undertaken.

It's only been a couple of days since I've eliminated dairy from my diet and I can already see and feel a huge difference in my body.  I have so much energy, I've been sleeping better and I'm not bloated all the time.  The health benefits of this new lifestyle are keeping me motivated.  If you're interested in living and eating healthier I definitely recommend picking up a copy of Alicia's book The Kind Diet  .  Her book will teach you about the health benefits of going Vegan and educate you on the nasty foods to avoid.  It will also describe how your body has trouble digesting meat and dairy and the symptoms this causes in your body.  It's filled with great recipes too.   We've already made one amazing meal from it and we plan on making one of her yummy Vegan desserts for Valentines Day.  The book is designed for everyone, whether you want to flirt with Veganism or go full force and become a Vegan Superhero.  Check out her online community to learn personal stories of how The Kind Life has changed peoples lives and eliminated serious health issues.  www.thekindlife.com

And now to the most exciting experience of the weekend, Native Foods!  My husband and I decided to see if there were any local Vegan restaurants and we found a local Vegan Cafe called Native Foods.  Turns out they have several locations in Southern California and they even offer cooking classes.  I can't say enough good things about Native Foods.  The food was incredibly amazing!  We had a hard time deciding what we wanted to order since everything on the menu was making our mouths water.  The food was so satisfying and delicious.  I had the Scorpion Burger and my husband had the Tijuana Tacos, we also had a side of Sweet Potato Fries.  If you're lucky enough to live close to a Native Foods location I highly recommend you check it out.  After our meal we purchased the Native Foods Cookbook and several menus to plan what we were going to eat on our next trip.  We plan on visiting again this weekend to try out another dish. 

At this point in time we're so new to this that we don't know if it will be a permanent thing or if we're just going to incorporate more Vegan meals into our diet.  We have decided to give it a try for at least a month and see what happens.  I encourage everyone to make a step towards a healthier diet whether it's simply bypassing the fast food restaurant, eating more fruits and veggies, giving up soda or eating less meat.  Knowledge is power and when you learn how powerful eating the right food can be for your overall health and well being you'll be motivated to make a step in a healthier direction.

Green Your Toothpaste

Did you know that most so called green toothpastes still contain Sodium Lauryl Sulfate?  If you're searching for a green alternative to chemically laden toothpastes you definitely want to avoid SLS (Sodium Lauryl Sulfate).  SLS has been shown to cause Canker Sores.  If you suffer from canker sores you’ll fight an uphill battle trying to heal them while your daily tooth brushing routine is aggravating them.  In addition to it's ability to cause Canker Sores SLS is also a suspected carcinogen.  Children often swallow toothpaste when brushing their teeth so it's vital that they aren't ingesting cancer causing chemicals in their toothpaste.

When searching for a green toothpaste look out for Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Artifical Colors and Sweeteners as well as Flouride.  All of these chemicals are hazardous to your health and are also completely unnecessary.  If a toothpaste contains these ingredients it should be avoided at all costs.  I challenge you to read the label next time you reach for a toothpaste at the grocery store.  I am willing to bet that you won't be able to recognize or pronounce the names of the chemicals contained in it.  What we put on our bodies is just as important as what we put in them.  In order to live your healthiest life you need to be conscious of the choices you make and how they affect your health.  I know this can seem overwhelming, it seems like every day we're bombarded with a new chemical to avoid.  The key is to become educated.  Once you know what to look out for you will be able to make healthier choices.  The good news is that there are some fabulous companies out there making great green toothpastes that are free from all of the hazardous chemicals without sacrificing performance. 

Check out my recommendations for adults and kids and switch to a green toothpaste today!

http://www.green4yoursoul.com/products/kiss-my-face-organic-whitening-aloe-vera-toothpaste.html

 http://www.green4yoursoul.com/products/kiss-my-face-berry-smart-toothpaste.html