Eco-Friendly Easter!

Hard to believe this post was from 2 years ago! Brooke has her organic chocolate list for the Easter Bunny! We all know the true meaning of Easter. To make it fun for kids who are too young to grasp the meaning....Easter Egg Hunts are a fun way for them to celebrate. There are Eco-Friendly ways to do this with Bio-degradable eggs that you can fill with Organic or Fair Trade Chocolates and Dye-Free Candy. I found them at The Natural Candy Store.com. They also have them at Eco Eggs.

You can also fill your basket with Bio-degradable grass instead of the plastic grass. I found it on amazon. They also have it at Party City...who would have guessed?

If you are still wanting more treats...Try Indie Candie, Sweet Earth Chocolates, Lake Champlain Chocolates, or Green and Blacks.

Now my sweet tooth is calling and I'm waiting for my Easter treats to arrive!!! If you try to make at least one aspect of your Easter Holiday Eco-Friendly, it can make a big difference. Happy Easter!!

Arsenic in Rice! What is safe???

A few months ago there were a few articles about inorganic arsenic exposure in rice. The study was done on pregnant women. A few months later we come to find that it is also in Brown Rice Syrup which was found in an Organic Baby/Toddler Formula!!

If you are on a Gluten Free diet like we are....this is alarming due to the amount of rice products we have in our home. When the first article came out I cleared my cupboards of everything that had non-organic rice in it such as pancake mixes, pizza mixes, snack bars, cake mixes, rice milk, etc. Originally it sounded like if it was organic...it was OK, not the case. Now we are finding that since inorganic arsenic is occurring due to the way rice is grown, it is hard to avoid. Brown rice contains more than white!! Basmati and jasmine are safer options containing less arsenic. I also found an article stating that you can soak your rice before cooking to draw out the arsenic.

What is most surprising to me is that in 2009 there were articles circulating about the arsenic in rice milk and how toddlers should not be drinking it. Don't you think someone should have gotten a clue to immediately test products back then???!!?? It doesn't seem like any stores have pulled rice products from the shelves. Dr Oz stated that Brown Rice Syrup which may be in breakfast bars or other prepared foods is most worrisome due to the amount of rice required to make the syrup.

For now I am limiting rice intake to when we go out for Thai Food and that is usually Jasmine Rice. There have been no statements that I can find currently warning against not consuming other rice products like crackers, rice puffs, etc. The FDA is currently testing other rice products, but who knows how long it will take to get those results!! I have been on a mission for months to find replacements for rice crackers and pancake mixes, etc. After I read each box and label I did find options, but it was no easy For now I say better safe than sorry and limit your intake if you are pregnant or have a health issue, limit it for young children and maybe even think twice about using rice cereal as babies first food until the amount in the cereal is properly tested. There are currently NO US regulations on arsenic in rice products.

If you do consume rice products what you can do to release the heavy metal arsenic from your body is take a salt bath. Here are several articles stating its benefits. Brooke and I have been doing it weekly and see a difference...or maybe it is the limited rice consumption?

GREENGUARD CERTIFIED...if you have kids...know what this means

It is that time of year where we want to remain inside most of the time due to the cold, rain and snow. Did you know indoor air quality is probably a lot worse than outside? This is why it is so important to choose your indoor furnishings carefully. It is of utmost importance if you have children or are putting together a nursery. The GREENGUARD ENVIRONMENTAL INSTITUTE can help you choose the proper furnishings for your home or a remodeling project that have been certified for low chemical emissions. Their website is extremely helpful and full of information to help make your home healthier.

When you are putting together a nursery, you have to think about the items your baby will be coming in direct contact with on a daily basis. The crib mattress, changing pad, and sheets are going to be so close to the infants face that these items should be GREEN GUARD CERTIFIED. Anything less has been treated with flame retardants which can pose serious health threats. Find more tips on finding a healthy mattress from Healthy Child Healthy World.

I personally use a Naturepedic Bassinet Pad, Crib Mattress, and Changing Pad. They can be purchased from the advertisers link on my blog. They are worth the money!!! You can ask friends and family to buy them and eventually you could resell or donate them. For bedding, organic crib sheets are a must. Knowing that cotton is the most pesticide laden crop besides coffee...how can you not buy an organic sheet??? An organic crib sheet is so inexpensive and can be bought just about anywhere. Look at the options.

Don't forget to use GREEN GUARD CERTIFIED Paint, Flooring, and Furniture. It may seem overwhelming at first but you can choose items carefully knowing your child is protected. Indoor air quality which is a result of toxins given off from ordinary products are linked to asthma, allergies and some forms of cancer. To read more on this. Download the GREENGUARD NURSERY CHECKLIST for more tips or email me for a consultation in the NYC area.

Bamboo Booster seat for toddlers!

Wondering where to seat your toddler this holiday season? Too young for the kids table, but too old for the highchair. I found this great Bamboo Booster seat on Diapers.com which easily attaches to almost any chair. Brooke loves to sit in it and now she can eat with the grown-ups at any event. I love that it is made from sustainable bamboo instead of plastics!!! Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Green Your Halloween!!

Halloween is almost here and Brooke loves pumpkins!!! If you missed the National Costume Swap Day, you can plan to participate next year or ask friends if they have costumes to swap. This reduces the landfill waste. You can make your own costume or go to a local thrift store and throw something together. If you do succumb to the fancy costumes that I have seen the catalogs....at least let your child dress up in them throughout the year or be sure to swap it next year! Here are some other options, especially if you need face paint/makeup for your child. The chemicals in traditional Halloween makeup are not good for anyone, who wants a rash???

The candy, candy, candy!!! Since it is National Non-GMO month it would be a good time to find Non-GMO treats don't you think??? I have seen Organic Bunny Gummy Candy at Whole Foods along with Fair Trade Chocolates. I found this great website for organic candies, www.naturalcandystore.com. You can give out organic raisins, organic animal crackers or pretzels too. If you do opt for the sugary treats, be sure to offer the bite size candies so kids can't overindulge. You can't even pronounce the ingredients, so that should tell you something. I do have a hard time resisting chocolate but when I found out what is actually in these treats, I feel like I need a week of juicing detox. You can also give out trinkets instead of candy. Visit greenhalloween.org for more ideas. It is hard to completely GREEN your holidays without resistance from the kids, but a few small steps is a step in the right direction. Have a safe and Happy Halloween!

Green on the Scene: PVC Free Backpacks for Back to School!

Green on the Scene: PVC Free Backpacks for Back to School!: If you are still looking for the perfect non-toxic backpack to send with your child to school, there are great options at Hanna Anderson!
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PVC Free Backpacks for Back to School!

If you are still looking for the perfect non-toxic backpack to send with your child to school, there are great options at Hanna Anderson!
Read more on PVC dangers.

You can also find other Eco-friendly backpacks at The Ultimate Green Store.

Polyvinyl chloride.

More on PVC dangers.

Need any more convincing on why a PVC-free backpack is what your tot should be toting for BACK TO SCHOOL??
Here is the link to more PVC FREE SCHOOL SUPPLIES.