Posts from — September 2009

Have you heard about the new eco-conscious documentary, My Toxic Baby? Directed by mom Min Sook Lee, it chronicles her journey to find safe, sane, and affordable ways to raise her child in a world full of chemicals and synthetic ingredients. Motivated by baby care products that she describes as a “mountain of stuff [that] seemed so completely unnecessary”, Lee sought to share her parenting journey with others in an attempt to let moms and dads know about the healthy, chemical-free alternatives that exist.

My Toxic Baby recently made it’s debut at the Toronto International Film Festival, though there’s no word about future premieres. However, you can learn more about the documentary—and even order a copy—at mytoxicbaby.com.

-Marygrace, KIWI Staffer

We’re not sure whether it’s the economy, a greater interest in eco-conscious living, or both, but the popularity of swapping has grown by leaps and bounds over the last few years. Exchanging clothes, books, toys, and other goods with friends, family, or other community members is a great way to save money and reduce consumption, but specialty swapping sites are where you’re likely to find the biggest selection. Some of our favorites:

• Bookmooch.com. If the library doesn’t have the book you or your kid is looking for, try this site, which allows users to browse through tons of books that other people want to get rid of. You can also use the site to clear off some space on your bookshelf, too, by listing titles your family wants to give away.
• Dignswap.com. This site bills itself as a clothes swap mecca for fashionistas–so there’s tons of clothes, shoes, and accessories for women. But there’s also plenty of kids clothes and accessories, too!
• Toystotrade.com. We’re thinking the name of this site might be a misnomer, because there’s more here than just toys. Toys to Trade also helps families share cribs, strollers, and even movies.
• Swapitgreen.com. Swap it Green is an online, point-based yard sale. Users earn points for offering up goods ranging from watches to CDs, and spend points to grab up items from other people.

Have a favorite swapping site? Share it with us in the comments!

-Marygrace, KIWI staffer

Here’s the latest and greatest of what’s going on in the mom blogosphere. Interested in having your blog featured? Let us know in the comments!

• Are you a city mom or a country mom? Being the latter, BusyMom discusses her fascination with life in New York and Chicago.
• We found out from Wisconsin Mommy that September 23rd was National Family Game Night. Perhaps a little late, but who says your family game night can’t be September 28th instead?
• Petite Planet recounts the childhood pleasure of hanging out under the kitchen table, and links to some cool photos, too!
• How to get your kid to like broccoli? The Mom Slant explains why she doesn’t buy branded character foods for her family.
• Mom-101 recalls her own ballet experience when taking her daughter to her first class.

-Marygrace, KIWI Staffer

Whether your family gets them at the U-pick orchard or local farmer’s market, I’m willing to bet you’ve got a whole lot of apples right now. What to do aside from sticking them in your kid’s lunchbox? How about…

• …Cooking applesauce? Cook sliced, cored (and peeled, if you’d like) apples in a sauce pot over medium heat until they begin to break down. Be sure to add some lemon juice to keep the apples from browning, and add any or all of the following for added flavor: Cinnamon, nutmeg, pure maple syrup, or other fall fruits like pears. Mash with a potato masher for chunky sauce, or smooth it out in a blender or food processor.
• …Making apple art? Slice apples in half, and have kids dip apples into non-toxic paint, sliced side down. Then, they can stamp the apple prints on paper for a fall-themed masterpiece.
• …Bobbing for apples? Swap an evening TV show for a night of old-fashioned family fun. Fill a large bucket, basin, or even your kitchen sink with water, then add a few whole apples. See who can be the first to grab an apple with their teeth!
• …Being a modern-day Johnny Appleseed? Okay, you’ll still have to eat the apples first, but be sure to save those seeds! Walk around and scatter the seeds while wearing a pot on your head (that’s what Johnny did!) or just plant some in your backyard. Maybe a tree will sprout, maybe it won’t—but your kids will have fun either way.

Any other fun ways your family likes to use apples? Let us know in the comments!

-Marygrace, KIWI Staffer

As part of our recognition of Organic Harvest Month, KIWI is celebrating pioneers of the organic movement by sharing their inspiring stories, plus their thoughts on healthy, sustainable food.

Annie’s Homegrown

In 1989, Annie Whithey, a mom of 2, set out to create a healthier version of mac and cheese, one that was free of artificial additives, preservatives, and colors. Along the way, she founded the company that bears her name—and does so much more than make dinner and snack time healthier.

From its early days making just mac and chees, Annie’s Homegrown has sought to be “a socially responsible business that gave back to the community and did things in an unconventional way—all-natural, and with a commitment to the environment,” says Annie’s CEO John Foraker, who works at the forefront, receiving product ideas and feedback from Annie at her Connecticut farmhouse. “Annie’s was built to be everything mainstream companies weren’t. Whatever Kraft would do, Annie’s would work to do the opposite.”

[Read more →]

Warm up with your family on a chilly morning while enjoying the best of the season’s produce with these festive fall breakfasts.

• Creamy pumpkin pie oats. Prepare plain oats however you normally do, then transfer to a blender or food processor. Add 1/2 cup canned pumpkin for each serving of oats, a few dashes of cinnamon, plus a pinch each of ginger and cloves—then whizz away (blending the oats makes the dish super creamy, sort of like a pudding!). Serve with chopped walnuts and a drizzle of maple syrup.
• Open-faced apple-almond butter sandwich. My favorite on-the-go breakfast. Toast two slices of your kid’s favorite bread (I love Ezekial sprouted grain bread, but anything except white, please!) Slather each piece of bread with almond butter, then top with crunchy apple slices and sprinkle with cinnamon.
• Kabocha squash pudding. Roast or steam slices of peeled kabocha or butternut squash (perhaps the night before to save time!). Transfer to a food processor, then blend, adding enough milk (dairy or non-dairy, both work) to make a smooth mixture. Add some ground ginger for warmth, then sweeten to taste with a little agave nectar or maple syrup.
• Pumpkin smoothie. In a blender, combine 1/4 cup canned pumpkin with 1/2 cup plain or vanilla yogurt, maple syrup to taste, plus a pinch each of cinnamon and nutmeg. Blend to combine and serve.
• Baked apples. These are best straight out of the oven, so save them for the weekend! Slice off the tops of 4 baking apples (like Granny Smith), then scoop out the centers. Stuff apples with a mixture of chopped walnuts or pecans, raisins, brown sugar, cinnamon, plus a tiny bit of butter and lemon zest for good measure, then bake at 400 degrees for about 30 minutes. To keep the fruit moist, you can baste them with a little bit of apple juice throughout the baking process.

-Marygrace, KIWI Staffer

Even with all the talk about organic gardens and farmers markets, we didn’t see this one coming! The White House will undergo a number of renovations to improve waste and energy efficiency in an effort to become LEED-certified. Think the building is way too old to be renovated? Not so, says Rick Fedrizzi, CEO and President of the U.S. Green Building Council, who says that “LEED certification of the White House is absolutely possible and viable.”

Upcoming changes to the building will include:

• Implementing computerized energy management systems
• Automatic light sensors that turn off when a room is empty
• Low flow water valves
• Paints and sealers with low or no VOCs
• Window films to lower UV rays and save energy

Read more at Sierra Club Green Home.

-Marygrace, KIWI Staffer

Here’s the latest and greatest of what’s going on in the mom blogosphere. Interested in having your blog featured? Let us know in the comments!

• Life transitions of all kinds can be tough for kids and grown-ups alike. The Tranquil Parent finds wisdom in the words of Winnie the Pooh author A.A. Milne.
• On our quest to always be a little greener, Pure Mothers asks: Can environmentalism go too far?
• Mama-Om documents her son’s experience with the giant octopus tree. Talk about kids exploring nature!
• Caught up in the Swine Flu scare? Mom Go Green shares tips to keep your kids safe.
• Via Green Me: Due to the recent BPA controversy, Patagonia has terminated their relationship with SIGG.

-Marygrace, KIWI Staffer

As part of our recognition of Organic Harvest Month, KIWI is celebrating pioneers of the organic movement by sharing their inspiring stories, plus their thoughts on healthy, sustainable food.

Eden Foods

In 1968, a group of friends decided they weren’t interested in the processed food products available in supermarkets—so they sought out healthier options on their own: That’s how Eden Foods was born. “We had learned a bit, and decided we didn’t want commercial food, which was full of toxins. We went about getting [healthy food] ourselves and sharing it with as many people as we could,” says Eden Foods CEO Michael Potter.

[Read more →]

Help your child stay in touch with people she doesn’t often get to see with Storybird, an online service that uses collaborative storytelling to connect kids and families. Designed for families with kids age 3-13, the website allows users to build the beginning of a story with a few sentences and images, then pass it on to someone else to add more. While it only takes two people to create a story at Storybird, groups of three, four, or more can also work together–opening up near endless possibilities for tales of all kind.

Storybird is free for anyone to use. While visitors are currently only able to share their stories online, the website plans to offer printing services (for a fee) in the future. Check it out at storybird.com.

-Marygrace, KIWI Staffer

Now that school has officially started and our minds are racing with fears of Swine Flu lingering all around, many questions arise. A big one that I often hear is, “What is the single most important thing I can do every day for my kids to protect them?”

It’s simple: Feed them healthy food every day. As a parent and physician, I can assure you that well-nourished children stay healthier–and when they do get sick, recover quicker. The body obtains it’s main source of naturally-occurring vitamins and minerals from fruits and vegetables. Further, these nutrients provide the building blocks for a healthy immune system and cellular integrity throughout the body.

With the importance of childhood nutrition in mind, here are some tips for packing a healthy school lunch or snack:

1. Pack a nutritious snack every day that has at least 2 grams of protein
2. Look for snack foods or bars that are less than 140 calories per serving
3. Always pack at least one fresh fruit or veggie in school lunches
4. For younger kids who may not eat a lot, pack a half a sandwich (but that’s full of good stuff in the middle!)
5. Avoid artificial sweeteners, flavorings, and colors
6. Stay away from high fructose corn sweeteners at all cost
7. Pack a reusable water bottle every day so your child stays hydrated
8. Pack a calcium-rich snack such as a cheese stick or yogurt if your child is not drinking milk with lunch

-Dr. Keri Marshall, MS, ND is a licensed Naturopathic Doctor who specializes in holistic pediatrics and women’s medicine

We’ve teamed up with our friends at Hain Celestial to bring an assortment of kid-friendly books to two lucky winners! Titles include:

• Is My Dog a Wolf?
• The Spa Princess Cookbook
• On a Road to Africa
• The Master Detective Handbook

To enter, click here. Hurry, contest ends October 31st!

Remember way back in March when Michelle Obama broke ground at the White House garden with a group of Washington D.C. fifth-graders? Now, the Obamas have taken another, even bigger step towards promoting local, sustainable food–this time, with an entire farmers market!

Fresh Farm Markets, a nonprofit group that operates several farm markets around the Washington and Maryland area, recently won approval to set up a market on Vermont Avenue near the White House. White House officials have not commented on the amount of their involvement in the project, however, the co-director of Fresh Farm Markets says that the Obamas “support the idea of farmers markets.”

The market kicks off this Thursday, with weekly runs on the same day until October 29th.

-Marygrace, KIWI Staffer

Our friends at Barefoot Books are running a fun kitchen competition (for kids and grown-ups!) that we wanted to share with you. To celebrate the launch of their healthy cooking deck Kids’ Kitchen: 40 Fun and Healthy Recipes to Make and Share, Barefoot asks you to enter a picture or short video of how you share healthy living with your kids and you will be entered to win a $500 Whole Foods gift card or other great Barefoot Books prizes!

Visit Barefoot Books to find out more information about how to enter. This contest ends October 15th!

Here’s the latest and greatest of what’s going on in the mom blogosphere. Interested in having your blog featured? Let us know in the comments!

• Are peaches still available at your local farmer’s market? If so, try canning some of them for the winter with this tutorial from Naturally Knocked Up.
• The Tranquil Parent encourages moms and dads to check your child’s car seat to make sure it’s properly installed.
• Next time you have an opportunity to take a relaxing bath, try Frugal Granola’s recipe for Mama’s Passion Bath Salt.
• Make and Takes says you can  preserve family memories by  encouraging your kids to journal.
• Slowly but surely, cities are providing curbside composting. Learn about it at Green Mama’s Pad.

-Marygrace, KIWI Staffer

If you’re in the Philadelphia area this weekend, check out GreenFest Philly! The theme of this family-friendly event is all things sustainable food, so whether you’re interested in vegetarian meals, local produce, or grass-fed beef, there’s sure to be something for everyone. Some of the things we’re most looking forward to?

• Dorene’s Herbal Walk. Families can learn about local plants growing all around them–some even in the sidewalk cracks!
• Nutritional evaluations. Bring a list of everything you’ve eaten in the past 3-7 days, and see if your meals are up to snuff!
• Cider press. Billed specifically as a kid’s activity, The Philadelphia Orchard Project will giving hands-on demonstrations on how to press apple cider!

GreenFest Philly will be held at 2nd and South Streets this Sunday from 11am-6pm. For more, check out greenfestphilly.org. Hope to see you there!

-Marygrace, KIWI Staffer

Last month, we discussed the importance of water conservation, plus a way for families to determine if they might be using too much water. If you took the water footprint test and found your result to be less than desirable, don’t worry! The online magazine, GOOD, has created a handy chart that shows there are plenty of tiny changes you can make that have the potential to add up to big water savings, resulting in a greener planet and a lower water bill. Some of our favorites?

• You’ll save up to 16 gallons of water by using a dishwasher instead of hand-washing dishes. (You’ll also save some time cleaning up after a meal, and save your hands from feeling too dry!)
• You’ll save about 33 gallons of water by nixing soda for…a glass of water! (You’ll also create less trash, save money on grocery bills, and save on the headache from dealing with kids on a sugar rush!)
• You’ll save about 600 gallons of water by serving salad for dinner instead of hamburgers. (You’ll also save money on grocery bills and get your family to eat a ton of vitamins and nutrients!)

How does your family save water? Let us know in the comments!

-Marygrace, KIWI Staffer

Whether your kid will need to restock his school supplies this year or is just looking for some planet-friendly gift ideas for his holiday wish list, he’s bound to find a slew of cool notebooks, pencils, art supplies, and non-toxic toys at Stubby Pencil Studio. We’ve teamed up with this eco-conscious online store to offer one lucky reader a $100 shopping spree–but the giveaway only lasts until October 30th! Check out kiwimagonline.com/contests to enter today.

Here’s the latest and greatest of what’s going on in the mom blogosphere. Interested in having your blog featured? Let us know in the comments!

• Trying to cut back on grocery bills? See how Melanie of My Little Patch of Sunshine does it.
• Crunchy Domestic Goddess is encouraging families to reduce their impacts on the planet with the Ditch the Disposables Challenge 2009.
• Apple season is upon us, and GreenStyleMom takes her kids to pick their own. Fun!
• Tree Hugging Family knows greening your trash bags isn’t the most exciting thing–but it’s still important.
• Ever thought about how the color pink affects gender cues? PhD in Parenting makes some interesting points.

-Marygrace, KIWI Staffer

As part of our recognition of Organic Harvest Month, KIWI is celebrating pioneers of the organic movement by sharing their inspiring stories, plus their thoughts on healthy, sustainable food.

Seeds of Change

If you’ve ever bitten into a perfectly ripe, heirloom tomato that was so delicious you wondered who to thank for it, here’s your answer: Seeds of Change. Since its inception in 1989, the company has been driven by a singular mission: To promote biodiversity and sustainable, organic agriculture.

[Read more →]

In the NYC area? Head over to the Brooklyn Children’s Museum tomorrow from 11:30am-1:30pm for a Prechoolers’ Fall Fun Party. Kids 5 and under can celebrate the start of preschool with music, snacks, giveaways, art projects, storytelling, and more. Entrance to the party is free with museum admission ($7.50 per person) and older siblings are welcome, too! Think of it as your kid’s first Live It Up Day. Learn more at brooklynkids.org.

-Marygrace, KIWI Staffer

Celebrating Labor Day weekend with a family cookout or barbecue? Get one last taste of summer with these recipes, which use the best of the season’s fruits and vegetables.

• Thai shrimp lettuce wraps
• Quinoa chopped salad
• Grilled fish sandwiches
• Kiwi and summer fruit kebabs
• Lemon blueberry sorbet

-Marygrace, KIWI Staffer

SIGG reusable water bottles are safer than plastic ones because they don’t contain BPA-or so most eco-conscious consumers thought until the news broke last week stating otherwise. While in the past, SIGG has reported that its bottles present no detectable level of BPA, the company refused to answer whether or not bottle liners actually contain the toxin. So when the company recently announced that it’s new reusable bottles will be completely BPA-free, questions began to arise regarding the older bottles.

As it turns out, SIGG bottles manufactured before August 2008 contained a liner that housed trace amounts of BPA. In response to the controversy, SIGG CEO Steve Wasik explained that the company was being honest in its disclosure because the bottles didn’t actually leach the chemical. “I believe that the BPA conversation has changed dramatically in the last 12 months. Last year, the primary concern was that of BPA leaching from bottles. Since that time the dialogue has evolved such that now some people are concerned about the mere presence of BPA and some states are considering legislation,” he says.

SIGG is now offering its customers BPA-free replacement bottles, however, won’t be footing the bill for shipping costs. To learn more about the exchange, check out mysigg.com.

-Marygrace, KIWI Staffer

Throughout September, we’re showing our support for healthy, organic food. Here are 9 fun ways for you to join in!

1. Visit one of the many natural and organic food festivals and fairs that are occurring across the country this month.
2. Support the Organic Consumers Association by writing a letter to your local paper spreading the word about the importance of organic farming and organic foods.
3. Host a potluck dinner for your family and friends using seasonal, organic foods.
4. Take organics beyond the kitchen and seek out organic pet food, personal care products, clothing, and cleaning supplies.
5. Learn more about what goes into your food before it hits the table by reading books that discuss the importance of natural, organic foods. Try Michael Pollan’s In Defense of Food or, for kids, Ready, Set, Go Organic! by Kelley Ann Lovelace.
6. Each week, sample a different organic chocolate bar with your family. At the end of the month, decide which one you liked best!
7. Show support for the organic movement by volunteering or donating to a local organic gardening program.
8. Help kids have fun while they learn about the importance of organics with the “Help Us Grow the Organic Harvest” coloring book from the Organic Trade Association. Call the OTA at 413-774-7511 to place an order.
9. Let others know about Organic Harvest Month by bringing an organic treat to your workplace, place of worship, book club, or your child’s classroom. Take an organic fruit and cheese plate or homemade baked good made with organic ingredients.

For more about the importance of organics, plus recipes, shopping tips, and more, check out kiwimagonline.com/harvest.