Eco Child’s Play

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There are lots of articles these days on saving money on your grocery bill. If you’ve stretched to buy organic foods in the past, the surge in food prices may have put you at the tipping point where you consider cutting back on organic purchases.

Don’t despair. There are ways to cut back on the high price of organic too. I found a few good articles here and here detailing ways to save on organic food. To those I’ll add my own personal tricks for healthy eating on a budget.

1. Grow your own organic vegetables and fruits- focus those items most impacted by pesticides: Strawberries, spinach, celery and bell peppers are easy to grow. If have the time and space, plant potatoes or start your own orchard with: apples, cherries, grapes, nectarines, peaches, pears, and red raspberries.

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With summer in full gear displays of sunscreen appear in every drug, discount and grocery store and many other retail outlets as well. We grab handfuls, dig up bottles from last year and liberally apply it whenever we take a step out of doors. The ozone layer is thinning…didn’t you hear?

But what are we really putting on our skin? A recent study raises some concerns.

…. a new investigation of 952 name-brand sunscreens, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) found that 4 out of 5 sunscreen products offer inadequate protection from the sun, or contain ingredients with significant safety concerns. Leading brands were the worst offenders: None of market leader Coppertone’s 41 sunscreen products met EWG’s criteria for safety and effectiveness, and only 1 of 103 products from Banana Boat and Neutrogena, the second- and third-largest manufacturers, are recommended by EWG.

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It’s the middle of the day. The kids have been out since 10:00am and the sun is at its mid day zenith. Recent reports tell us Kids’ sun exposure may be key to deadly cancer so we’re heading inside for a few hours to avoid the scary 12:00-2:00 UV rays.

Oh wait, this just might not be practical! We’re at the pool/a picnic/ a park…there is no inside! What should we do?

This turns out to be an issue that comes up a lot in the summer. But as child who spent every summer from 9:30am to 6:00pm at the local swimming pool, I’m full of ideas for activities to bring along to the beach or pool and do in the shade.

So, in addition to your typical beach or pool supplies – sunscreen, snack, water, towels and changes of clothes, pack a few of these things as well.

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Comic Relief is a Natural Pain Killer

I don’t remember exactly what time my first son was born or how much he weighed. In fact, I didn’t even see his face till 12 hours later.

My pregnancy was pleasant for the duration. Besides a bit of morning sickness, everything was going fine and I wasn’t looking much different weight-wise, save for the belly. As 2 weeks past my due date approached, despite trying everything in the book, there wasn’t even the slightest hint of impending labor. I went into the hospital at 5 a.m. on a Monday morning, and began a Pitocin drip at 6. The contractions started around noon. I kept a zen-like focus on being kind to those around me, taking walks, and sitting on a yoga ball to bounce out the pain. My water broke early that evening. I played a lot of Mario Bros. on my Gameboy between moments of writhing in agony. My husband was sleeping on a cot at the foot of my bed with a pillow over his head. I have to admit, my shrieking chant of “ow.ow.ow.ow.ow!” was a tad annoying. Once in awhile, a doc would come in to check my progress. By sunrise I had achieved one whole centimeter! Read the rest of this entry »

Editor’s Note:  This VBAC birth story is from guest writer Heather Garvet. Heather blogs at A Mama’s Blog, where she has written other posts on C-sections, VBACs, breastfeeding, pregnancy, and birth issues, as well as her two boys.

I had a C-section with the birth of my first son, Ryan, in 2004, only because he was a breech baby, and refused to turn.  I wasn’t very informed on other alternatives for turning breech babies at the time, other than the external version, and accepted having a C-section was the only way to give birth to my baby.

I was thrilled of course, to have my new baby after the C-section.  The hospital was very baby friendly and I was “allowed” to nurse Ryan while I was in the recovery room.  As soon as I was out of recovery though, the problems started for me.  I had a bad reaction to the anesthesia, and stared vomiting.  That was the worse pain I have ever experienced.  The nurses were trying to get me out of bed to walk around, but I was too weak, vomiting, and almost fainted every time I sat up.  That evening, I started itching like crazy- another reaction to pain medication.  On top of that, the pain from the C-section was intense as well.

Without going into all the other details, my recovery from the C-section was very long.  After twelve weeks post-partum, I was still sore and having pain occasionally.  I had a sixteen week maternity leave, and it killed me that most of my leave was spent recovering from the C-section.

After having such a negative experience from the surgery, I decided with our next baby, I was going to have a vaginal birth, or VBAC for short.  I started researching everything I could about VBAC’s, and found out that in most cases, VBAC’s are very safe for the majority of women.  I was troubled to learn though, that the majority of hospitals and doctors don’t “allow” VBAC’s, because of the small chance of uterine rupture.

What never was said though, that just being pregnant again increases the chances for uterine rupture after a C-section, because of the baby growing and stretching the uterus.  However, the chances  for uterine rupture was 0.05% higher than having a repeat C-section.  I was still convinced I was going to have a VBAC. Read the rest of this entry »

Dr. Charles Gerba, a microbiologist and professor at the University of Arizona, joined forces with shoemaker Rockport to study what types of microorganisms are transported by footwear. Ten people were given a brand new pair of shoes to use for two weeks before having them tested for bacteria.

After two weeks, more than 420,000 units of bacteria were found on the outside of the test shoes. Of that bacteria, 27% were deadly E. Coli virus. Also detected was Klebsiella pneumonia, which can cause pneumonia and wound and bloodstream infections and Serratia ficaria, which can lead to infection of the respiratory tract.

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I live mini pumpernickel bread, but I have had a hard time finding it without preservatives. I have tried making it, but it never turns out the same. During a recent trip to San Francisco, I was excited to find natural pumpernickel cocktail loaves at Whole Foods, although they were not organic. I bought a couple of loaves, and we made vegan cucumber and pumpernickel hors d’oeuvres for my daughter’s last day of school celebration. This recipe is so easy that I am not even sure it qualifies as a recipe since there is no cooking involved. My daughter was able to help me make them, and they quickly disappeared at the school party.

Super Easy Vegan Cucumber and Pumpernickel Bread Hors d’Oeuvres

Ingredients:

• Cocktail pumpernickel bread

• Vegan light canola mayo

• Sliced organic cucumber (leave the skins on!)

• Fresh basil and/or dill (optional)

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After finding myself seeking out organic musical instruments for my child, I had one of those open-palm-to-the-forehead-moments and realized the old stand-by of spoons on pots, dry beans in Tupperware and whisks around a metal bowl were classics for a reason. Simple. Easy. And I don’t have to buy anything.

BUT, for the really adventurous out there - I did find this wonderfully endearing YouTube clip of a man (the language barrier won’t matter) delighting in showing the world how he fashions apples, carrots and even asparagus into musical instruments. It is music so good you can eat it! (Sorry … couldn’t resist).

It is a little weird - but what a fantastic way to take the fear out of vegetables. I don’t know that I can pull off this trick with my paring knife, but I might give it a try. If nothing else, this will provide at least 10 minutes worth of hysterical laughter from my son. 

Enjoy the clip after the jump. 

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This article posted on CNN absolutely infuriates me.

The story is a warning about a nipple cream, Mommy’s Bliss Nipple Cream (a “natural” cream that is lanolin free and made with shea butter and calendula), which is SUPPOSED to sooth cracked and sore nipples. Instead, it causes respiratory distress, vomiting and diarrhea in infants.

That’s bad enough - but this quote made me crazy.

“FDA is particularly concerned that nursing infants are being unwittingly exposed by their mothers to this product with dangerous side effects,” said Janet Woodcock, director of the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research.

I get the point - but as a mother, that reads like these nursing moms are strapping guns to their breasts.

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One of my closest friends (and fellow mom) is not exactly “green”. She tends to skew towards the tested and reliable brands and not towards the “fad” of baby organic products.

I recently persuaded her to try a few organic products and, low and behold, she has been very pleased with the results. So … here are a few tips to getting your parents, friends, mother-in-laws and other skeptics to slowly embrace healthy alternatives. Read the rest of this entry »