Prunes are dried plums and are packed with health benefits. Prunes have a high content of beta carotene and potassium – just a 1/4 cup of prunes contains a massive 316.6 mg of potassium! Did you know?… that when prunes are in the large intestine they provide ‘food’ for the friendly bacteria. When the prunes are fermented by this friendly bacteria they produce a short chain fatty acid called butyric acid which helps keep your colon healthy. Another reason I like to use prunes is they can be used as a natural sweetener because they are very sweet in taste and are a great alternative to sugar. I found that this was a sure way of  keeping little ones regular and happy throughout the busy holiday season and beyond.

Fiber Madness

Ingredients
1 cup of dried plums or prunes
2 pears peeled and cut into large slices
1/2 cup of cooked Quinoa
1/2 cup of cooked Barley
1/2 cup of cooked Oats

Directions

* In a small saucepan bring to a boil 1/2 cup of water then add the prunes or plums and lower heat to med/low. Let cook until prunes become soft and look plumb.

* In another saucepan heat 1/3 cup of water then add the pears and steam for 5 minutes. After cooking grains as directed you can add all the ingredients together and blend until you reach the desired smoothness and thickness. If you are making this for a younger baby then you may need to add some water.

* Once mixture is made, place in ice cube trays and place in the freezer for up to 24 hours. When frozen place cubes in a labeled freezer bag and then take out as many cubes as needed when feeding your baby.

* For older children try mixing Fiber Madness with yogurt, or in your pancake mix for more nutritional value.

Not only are you not burning your hand on a hot paper cup but you are saving some trees in the process….remember every little bit counts!

So the next time you run out for a cup of Joe or are meeting your gal pals for a chat at your local coffee shop think about this. Starbucks customers brought in their own mugs more than seventeen million times, keeping 674,000 pounds of paper from going into the landfill.

Americans love their coffee. By some estimates, Americans drink more than 100 billion cups of coffee every year. Of these, a staggering 14.4 billion are bought in disposable paper cups. Placed end-to-end, these cups would wrap around Earth 55 times and weigh around 900 million pounds.

Paper and cardboard make up over 40% of the solid waste buried in North American landfills. Of that 40%, a disproportionate amount is attributable to disposable coffee cups. Unlike newspaper and cardboard boxes, disposable paper cups are not recyclable. The thin lining that makes a paper cup waterproof also keeps it from being recycled. All of those cups end up in our nation’s landfills.

The manufacture of the coated paper stock used in making coffee cups requires energy. It also takes energy to manufacture cups from the paper stock. And then it takes more energy to transport the completed coffee cups from the factory to the coffee shops. All of that energy most likely comes from the burning of fossil fuels, which releases carbon dioxide into Earth’s atmosphere.

Ways you too can make a difference;

* Many coffee shops and large chains offer a small discount on your cup of coffee if you bring your own reusable mug. The discount can vary from store to store, but we’ve seen discounts of anywhere from 5 to 30%. That works out to a savings of a dime to fifty cents on a $1.50 cup of coffee.

* For some people, the hardest part about using reusable coffee mugs or tumblers is making sure to have them with you when you want to buy a cup of coffee. Routine is your friend. Always rinse out your travel mug at lunchtime, then you put it with your lunch bag to take home. If you stop and buy coffee while driving to work, make sure your travel mug gets back to the car at the end of each work day. That way it will be there then next morning when you need it again.

* There’s also a carbon impact to washing your reusable coffee mug. Heating water requires energy and that energy probably started somewhere with someone burning fossil fuels. We’re not saying that you shouldn’t wash your reusable mug! But maybe your daily routine could be to give your mug a quick rinse with cold water when you’re done with your coffee. Then give your mug a more thorough wash with warm water and soap every couple of weeks.

There is a wide variety of reusable – eco friendly cups and mugs that you can purchase online at sustainablog.org or I’ve even seen great inexpensive cups and mugs at Target too.

*** Some of this information was taken from Carbonrally, check out their site for more useful information on ways you can make a difference too.

What are the benefits of homemade organic baby foods?

Nutrition – Fresh is best, as it involves less processing, preserves nutrients, and you can choose organic, local, in season foods.

Taste – Part of feeding your infant is getting him accustomed to the social aspect of eating, the experience of eating. Homemade foods taste more like “real” food.  This makes the transition to table foods easier because your baby is used to tasting true foods.  Did you know that food preferences are formed very early in life – before age 2 is a critical time? When you introduce flavorful fresh and healthy foods at a young age, it helps your child develop a taste for it and hopefully a preference for those foods over their childhood.   Best of all, organic fruits and vegetables really do taste better. Try doing a taste test with organic verses conventional fruits and vegetables and see what you think…you will be amazed!

Less waste – It sometimes takes a baby trying a new food up to 10 times before developing a taste for it. So when you open a jar of baby food – 4 or 8 oz. It doesn’t give you the opportunity to try again without purchasing another jar. If you use the ice cube tray method, you have 1 oz serving sizes so you can defrost what you need.
What is organic?

“Organic” means that the food has been grown in safe and healthy soil using natural fertilizers free of synthetic pesticides or additives or hormones, in the case of meats & dairy products.

The organic farmer believes, and rightly so, that if you avoid treating the soil with chemicals, the food it produces will be better for humans and the environment will benefit as well. The organic farmer begins by rotating the crops, a fine farming principle that was even advised in biblical days. Crop rotation keeps the soil from becoming depleted of nutrients. One type of plant will return nutrients to the soil that is needed by another crop. When the soil is richer, the underground creepy-crawlies thrive, and earthworms and soil-dwelling bacteria feast on the rich soil. In return for a nutritious place to live, they deposit their own nutrients.

Organic farmers use only natural fertilizers, such as manure and compost, and also use natural methods to control insects. This means that organically-grown foods do not contain pesticide residues and other chemicals that may be harmful to human health.
So what are the benefits?  What does the research tell us?

By choosing organic you avoid toxins, pesticides and hormones. And this is so important when it comes to our babies and children. Pound for pound an infant and children consume more pesticide due to body size.  Young children are more vulnerable to developmental damage from pesticide residues on foods.  They are more vulnerable because of their fast growth and speedy metabolism, and smaller size which mean they eat more fruits and vegetables in relation to their body weight due than adults. A child’s developing immune, central-nervous and hormonal systems are vulnerable to damage from toxic chemicals.

Some of the pesticides directly affect the growth of a child’s head and brain, which can put a child at risk for intelligence and behavioral disturbances. And, “children may be at risk of higher exposure to the toxins found in non-organic food because baby food is often made up of condensed fruits or vegetables, potentially concentrating pesticide residues.”

Organic foods are more nutritious.

Although in the past this was generally debated and there was no evidence that organic foods were more nutritious.  There have been more research studies conducted.  Recent studies have found that organic foods are more nutritious which relates back to the method of growing fruits and vegetables.

It’s a fact . . . according to a recent report from the Organic Center called “Still No Free Lunch: Nutrient Levels in US food supply eroded by pursuit of high yields.” Evidently, US Department of Agriculture reports show that compared with 50 years ago, we now have more abundant grains, fruit and vegetable crops, but lower levels of vitamins and minerals in these foods. Studies have found 10–25% lower levels of iron, zinc, protein, calcium, vitamin C. And experts suggest the same is likely true for levels of other photochemical.

Why? Modern conventional farming relies on heavy use of fertilizers, close plant spacing, and high use of pesticides. These chemicals and farming methods make the plants grow faster but as a result, the plants don’t develop deep roots or develop their own defenses to fight off harsh conditions on their own. The result is lower nutrient concentrations.

How to find more nutritious produce? Eat organic. According to the report, organic farming produces lower yields but organic crops have higher levels of vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals—up to 20% more minerals, and up to 30% more antioxidants.  Organic foods give you more nutritional bang for your buck—another reason to choose organic foods for yourself and your family.

Can I afford organic foods?

Yes, organic foods are more expensive; however, the cost of these foods has actually gone down over the last couple of years as the demand for these products has grown. Organic farming methods cost more, however over the long term they are actually more cost effective.

As far as fruits and vegetables – the Environmental Working Group – a non-profit organization – has put together a list of the top 12 most contaminated fruits and vegetables – often referred to as the dirty dozen.

* Peaches
* Apples
* Sweet Bell Peppers
* Celery

* Nectarines
* Strawberries
* Cherries
* Lettuce

* Grapes (imported)
* Pears
* Spinach
* Potatoes

Here are some other suggestions to make your life easier, and save money too!

* Supermarket comparison shop.
* Hit the Farmer’s markets
* Join a community-supported organic farm.
* Plant your own organic garden
* Check out your local Whole Foods Market monthly flyer for coupons and deals

They have created this structure in order to give us the ability to serve communities and work on campaigns to improve the food system while at the same time creating a vibrant, profitable social venture that expands the sustainable goods market. Parent Earth believes that all children have a right to healthy, safe, and affordable food, and that enjoying fresh food is one of the great pleasures of life. They are motivated by the idea that to truly take care of our children we must also take care of the world and vice-versa. Us parents are a powerful force for change. Together, we can create a sustainable food system, a system that connects us to the environment and climate, to human rights and healthcare.

When I read the question…“What legacy are we leaving our children?” I know that I want to leave this earth knowing that I gave my children the best tools available to them for all facets of life.  Making healthy food options and taking care of the environment are at the top of my list. When you are aware of what you are putting in your bodies it makes you more aware of  the effect you are having on the environment as well.

There are many ways we can empower ourselves and our children to make better decisions when it comes to things we put in our body and how we live our lives in this world. One of the things I noticed that would be easy to do and also a way we as a family can do something together is Meatless Mondays.

Meatless Monday is a non-profit initiative of The Monday Campaigns, in association with the Johns Hopkins’ Bloomberg  School of Public Health. They provide the information and recipes you need to start each week with healthy, environmentally friendly meat-free alternatives. Their goal is to help you reduce your meat consumption by 15% in order to improve your personal health and the health of the planet.

Presidents Wilson, Truman and Roosevelt galvanized the nation with voluntary meatless days during both world wars. Their intention is to revitalize this American tradition. Meatless Monday and their supporters spearheading a broad-based, grassroots movement that spans all borders and demographic groups. By cutting out meat once a week, we can improve our health, reduce our carbon footprint and lead the world in the race to reduce climate change.

Did you know that if Americans cut meat out of their diets 1 day a week we would have a carbon savings would be the same as taking 19.2 million cars off U.S. roads for a year. We would also save 99.6 megatons of greenhouse gas emissions, the same as 46 million round trip flights from New York to Los Angeles! That is pretty impressive don’t you think…so it’s not all about eating healthy about how we can make a difference in the world. We only have one planet earth so we need to start taking care of her.

So at O’Boy! Organic we are starting Meatless Mondays. Each Monday I will post a new “Meatless” recipe that we will have that evening as our dinner. It will be family friendly, healthy, made with whole foods that you will feel good about putting it into your body. I also invite you to post your favorite Meatless recipes so you too can inspire others to make healthier choices for their bodies and the planet.

So remember when you go meatless on Monday, you are not just eating healthier but saving a piece of the planet one meal at a time.

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Reasons why I LOVE Halloween: My boys think of some amazing costume ideas, last year they were Pollen Jocks from The Bee Movie. I love making their costumes and getting their input with the details, then they use them (until they fall apart) as dress up costumes when playing.  It’s amazing to see them use their imaginations and express themselves without hesitation.

Reasons why I HATE Halloween: in one word C-A-N-D-Y!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I spend all year trying to feed my boys healthy foods and then all we see from September on is Halloween candy in our faces. I miss those days of everyone making their own costumes, friends throwing parties, bobbing for apples, crafts and just enjoying the holiday season and being a little more eco-friendly in the process.

General ideas for having a Green Halloween

It’s really not about the candy. Kids have fun when their parents get involved and have fun themselves. Part of being green is focusing on people instead of things, so try to reduce the amount of ‘things’ you incorporate into your Halloween by increasing the focus on fun. Here are some ideas for making your Green Halloween fun for your kids and for you:

• Make a big deal of your child’s costume – getting dressed, taking pictures, etc.
• Have a charity-themed party. Instead of giving out prizes for games, allow children to pick from a list of charities and make a donation in their name.
• Show your Green by displaying your own Green Halloween sign and ask your Green Halloween neighbors to do the same. Turn looking for the signs into a hunt for treasures. The Green Halloween sign on your own door will announce to trick-or-treaters that they’re in for a great surprise!
• Give kids a full, healthy meal before they go out trick-or-treating so they are not hungry.
• Talk to your kids about what is in candy and why it is not healthy. Ask them to come up with creative, kid and Earth-friendly alternatives that your own family can hand out and feel good about.

If your child does collect candy:

• Invite the Halloween Fairy to come to your home. Tell you child a story,  about how the Halloween fairy turns candy into magic fairy dust and so needs as much candy as she can get her hands on. Explain that if a child leaves his bag of candy outside on the porch, the fairy will gladly come to take the candy, and because she will be so grateful for the help with her fairy-dust-making, she’ll leave in the candy’s place a very special gift. Some parents make the exchange while their child is brushing their teeth, others wait until their child is asleep. Either way, make a big deal of it! Act surprised! You may also want to consider letting your child keep a small amount of candy and leaving the rest out for the fairy. Please don’t donate your leftover sweets to charity, though. Other people’s kids don’t need the candy either.
• Have a candy trade: let your kids trade their candy towards other little gifts or give them a “pumpkin point” for each piece of candy they collect. Use pumpkin points to “buy” a toy or do a special activity with your child.
• Let them choose a limited amount of candy to eat (for example, one piece for each year your child is old). In many cities, the leftover candy can be recycled and turned into compost! Just be sure to remove candy from its wrapper first.

Have you thought about throwing a Halloween Party?

Green Halloween food can be fun to prepare as well as to eat. When purchasing food for your Halloween party, look for foods that are organic, whole and, if possible, local. Going meatless also reduces environmental impact on the planet. Be sure to compost or recycle or compost scraps, including your leftover pumpkins (which can be cooked and eaten if they are not left out on your porch for too long). When deciding on your menu, think seasonal and color! Finding foods that are in season and that naturally come in shades of black, orange and green is a fun activity that kids will enjoy.

Black: olives, black beans, poppy seeds, raisins/currants
Orange: bell peppers, oranges, carrots, squash, sweet potato/yams, tomato
Green: green apples, herbs, bell peppers, leafy greens, broccoli, kiwi, celery, avocado, peas/beans
Seasonal: pumpkins, acorn squash, butternut squash, sweet potato, cabbage, apples, pears

Looking to Recycle old costumes and reuse old ones instead of buying new?

Try hosting a Costume Swap, did you know that National Costume Swap Day is on October 9th. All throughout the country people are hosting these parties in their communities. It’s a great way to educate your community on recycling and reusing old goods, making holidays a little more eco-friendly for their children and their whole family. To view these parties please go to Green Halloween.

If you live in the Philadelphia area O’Boy! Organic will be hosting (along with Philly Burbs Mom, Parentise and Delaware County Moms) a Costume Swap on October 2, 2010. We are making this great event just for moms, with local vendors with great mom friendly products, raffle prizes, amazing appetizers and it’s a BYOB event so bring a bottle of wine to share with your gal pals. We will also have an jeweler there taking all unwanted gold and giving you cash instead…great way to save money for all those holiday gifts!

All we ask from the attendees is that you bring at least one costume to swap out, so check out our invite and RSVP or check out our flyer with details of the vendors with websites.

For more ideas on how to celebrate green this holiday season go to www.celebrategreen.com.

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