Posts from — November 2009

I met a fantastic and totally down-to-earth trainer at a party recently–Charlotte Blake lives in Brooklyn and has a ton of mom clients. And she told me something fascinating: Crunches are not going to solve your post-baby belly problems. In fact, they’re going to make them worse!

This is really good news all around because:

1. You don’t have to do crunches anymore.

2. There IS another exercise that’ll work much better. Here’s a post-natal core exercise she recommends to heal a diastasis (what’s that? It’s a separation of the outermost abdominal muscles during pregnancy). 

Charlotte Blake

If you’re in Brooklyn, check out Charlotte’s classes–if not, her website still has lots of great ideas for moms who want to be healthy.

–Sarah, KIWI editorial director

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

• Giving back is one of the best things you can do during the holidays—and throughout the year. Natural as Possible Mom shares her family’s experience of paying it forward.
• Multi-Minding Mom has some great, green holiday shopping picks. (Want more gift ideas? Check out the KIWI 2009 Best Green Toys & Gifts Guide!)
• Kids say the darndest things! Check out some laugh-out-loud quotes from Jenny ‘N John.
• Non-Toxic Kids warns that even though phthalates and lead have been banned in toys, there’s still room for concern.
• If you’ve yet to settle on a holiday greeting card, consider this one from Cool Mom Picks.

-Marygrace, KIWI staff writer

The holidays mean shopping—lots of shopping. And while I’m quite excited to help stimulate our ailing economy, I hate what this festive season means for the environment. Since starting a part-time retail job last month, I’m noticing just how much unnecessary waste we generate as holiday shoppers. Every time I reach for another glossy paper bag, I feel a tinge of guilt and hope it will be used as someone’s temporary lunch box once or twice before being tossed.

So what can we do about all this excess baggage? After some creative contemplation, I came up with my plan—I’m making all of my friends (and myself) reusable shopping bags out of my old t-shirts. They’re quick and simple and kill about four birds with one stone: you can get rid of old t-shirts, teach your kids valuable lessons about recycling, give them as gifts, and use them in place of wrapping paper and gift bags. Talk about versatile!

So let’s get started. You’ll need a t-shirt, needle, thread, scissors, and fabric paints, if you’re feeling creative.

Step 1: Start by turning the shirt inside out and pinning the bottom by the hem. Then sew along the hem.
Step 2: Cut off the sleeves at the seam. Now your shirt is sleeveless and the armholes will act as the handles of your bag.
Step 3: Use a large bowl and trace a half-circle around the neck of the shirt. Cut this out to create the opening for your bag.
Step 4: Decorate!

And voila! You’ve got yourself a tote. Happy holiday shopping!

-Stephanie Eckelkamp, KIWI intern and human sewing machine

While thinking about the things I’m thankful for this year, I realized everything on the list could fall under the larger umbrella term of abundance. Whether it’s an appreciation for the fulfilling relationships I have with friends and family members, my fun (but still challenging!) job, or the fact that I was able to access and afford nearly all organic food for my Thanksgiving dinner, these feelings of gratitude are really all about recognizing how rich all areas of my life really are.

Whether it initially seems like it or not, we’ve all been bestowed with a bounty of gifts. This Thanksgiving, I encourage you and your family to consider all the ways abundance has touched your lives.

-Marygrace, KIWI staff writer

Happy Thanksgiving to all! Whether you are traveling afar or celebrating the holiday right at home, try making your T-Day a green one! My favorite eco-friendly tips:

• Purchase your turkey and veggies from a local farmer’s market.
• If traveling locally for dinner, consider carpooling or using public transportation.
• Avoid disposable plastic wrap or containers for your leftovers. Instead, try reusable!
• Opt for natural decorations like gourds, pumpkins, or cornstalks (that can later be eaten or composted) instead of artificial ones that’ll just get thrown out.
• For the aftermath, use non-toxic dish soap and kitchen cleaner.
• Choose organic or biodynamic wine and spirits.
• Recycle whenever possible.
• Air dry your servingware, dishes, and utensils.

-Brittany, KIWI marketing manager

If you thought the fight against global warming is grown-up stuff, think again. Last week, fifteen-year-old Alec Loorz brought his Declaration of Independence from Fossil Fuels to the Senate Committee on the Environment and Public Works in an effort to encourage the United States to reduce it’s dependency on petroleum. Perhaps even more impressive? The document was signed by 10,000 kids—and even further backed by 40,000 more online signatures!

In addition to his inspiring declaration, Loorz has launched Kids Vs. Global Warming, a website that seeks to educate youth about the issue of climate change and empower them to make a difference. Our favorite part of the site? A cool, iPod-inspired list of easy solutions that any kid can take on, like recycling a Sunday newspaper or refusing plastic bottles.

-Marygrace, KIWI staff writer

More good news on the keep-em-happy-without-feeling-guilty front: PBS, the icon of educational fun, is delving into the web in a much bigger way than ever. Fire up the internet!

PBS’ new online-only show, Fizzy’s Lunch Lab, is the most fun (and least irritatingly earnest) way for kids to learn about healthy eating I’ve seen. Animated Professor Fizzy, a scatterbrained kitchen scientist, squares off against his greasy nemesis, Fast Food Freddie, and shows kids what’s really in their food. He’s helped by Sully the Cell (a taxi driver through your anatomy) and amusing kitchen helpers—together, they make whole wheat pizza seem like a triumph, not a sacrifice.

Your kids can watch webisodes and other videos, play games, learn fun facts (a lemon has more sugar than a strawberry! Who knew?), and more. (Don’t miss the super-easy recipes!) This is definitely a site to bookmark. 

–Sarah, KIWI Editorial Director

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

• Our first featured dad blog! Why My Hair Don’t Grow No More‘s two-year-old plays a silly trick.
• Louloupink shares her ten favorite resources for nontoxic family living.
• Has your kid recently outgrown an old pair of shoes? BusyMom knows a great way to get rid of them.
• So much fun! Make and Takes transforms an ordinary plastic bowling set into a Thanksgiving turkey bowl.
• EnviroMom finds a new use for an old filing cabinet.

-Marygrace, KIWI staff writer

The words “wood” and “comfortable” don’t often go together—unless it’s in the form of bamboo fabric. Some of the softest, silkiest items in my wardrobe are made from bamboo, a wood known for its eco-friendliness.

Will anyone at your table be passing on the turkey this Thanksgiving? Save them from another rice-stuffed acorn squash (or worse–fake turkey!) with one of these vegetarian main dishes:

1. Mushroom strudel. Saute sliced mushrooms with plenty of olive oil, garlic, fresh thyme, and—if your guests do dairy—a splash of cream. Place the mixture running down the center of a large rectangle of phyllo dough, then fold dough over and crimp shut. Cut into slices and bake until dough is golden brown. Serve with a meat-free gravy.
2. Squash and mushroom lasagna. Just like regular lasagna, but replace layers of red sauce with sauteed winter squash and shiitake mushrooms. You can even make the dish vegan by making a tofu ricotta (whiz 2 lbs. firm tofu in your food processor with a few tablespoons olive oil, some salt, basil, oregano, and a generous squeeze of lemon juice).
3. Winter veggie potpie. Roast onions, carrots, squash, and potatoes until caramelized. Then, make an easy cream sauce with a few tablespoons each butter (or non-hydrogenated buttery spread) and flour, plus milk (or unsweetened soymilk). Combine the veggies and sauce in a baking dish, then top with rounds of puff pastry. Bake until pastry is golden.
4. Mushroom bourguignon. Just like the French classic, but made with earthy portobello mushrooms instead of meat (and vegetable stock rather than the traditional beef). The best recipe I’ve found is right here.
5. Kale, sweet potato, and chickpea gratin. Toss chopped kale, thinly sliced sweet potato rounds, and chickpeas in plenty of olive oil, seasoned breadcrumbs, minced garlic, and salt to taste. Bake in a foil-covered casserole dish until potatoes are tender, then top with Parmesan cheese (if desired) and bake uncovered until cheese is melted.

-Marygrace, KIWI staff writer

Thanksgiving is a time for family and friends to gather around a delicious stuffed turkey, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, and (for the grown-ups!) plenty of spirits. If you’re hosting the big meal this year, consider using eco-friendly glassware and serving utensils. Some of our picks:

• Bambeco’s Recycled Glass Carafe is a perfect vessel for your house wine.
• To pile all that yummy food onto their plates, set your guests’ places with ceramic dinnerware, also from Bambeco.
• Serving a salad? Present it in a Twisted Giraffe Serving Set by Planet One Gifts.
• When it comes time to clean up, try the Twist European Sponge Cloth—it’s biodegradable and safe for all types of cookware.

-Brittany, KIWI Marketing Manager

Despite the best efforts of many eco-conscious individuals, families, organizations, and businesses, a new report by the Global Carbon Project says global emissions have jumped 20% in the last decade. Yikes! According to the study, one of the biggest continued contributors to the increase of CO2 in our atmosphere is developing nations, whose emissions percentages rise each year. (That doesn’t say developed nations in North America and western Europe are blame-free, though—their already-high CO2 levels have simply remained stable rather than decline.)

If you’ve been working hard to do it’s part in the fight against global warming, the study’s findings might feel discouraging. After all, if your family’s lifestyle changes—like making sure to recycle everything, eating less meat, or keeping the thermostat cooler in the winter and warmer in the summer–don’t seem to be making a difference, why bother? In fact, because the only way progress has ever been achieved in society is through persistence.

Instead of declaring the war on climate change un-winnable, take the opportunity to serve as an example and keep doing what you’re doing (and maybe consider even doing a little more!). The eventual result? A healthier world for our children and grandchildren.

-Marygrace, KIWI staff writer

From November 18th-21st, more than 20,000 professional in the early childhood community will gather in Washington D.C. to attend the NAEYC Annual Conference & Expo—including KIWI! If you’ll be attending the event, keep an eye out and say hi!

To learn more, visit naeyc.org/conference.

-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!

• There’s a Healthy Child Healthy World virtual party happening at And That’s All I’ve Got to Say About That. Check it out!
• Natural as Possible Mom has two kids that sleep great—and she shares how yours can, too.
• Do you apologize to your kids? Parenting By Trial and Error does, and she explains why.
• Yum! ReadyMom’s Best Ever Banana Muffins look delicious.
• Want to get creative with this year’s holiday cards? Try Origami Mommy‘s easy tutorial for a pretty, flowery option.

-Marygrace, KIWI staff writer

Next time you need a wholesome way to distract your toddler for a few minutes, click here.

This adorable title from Barefoot Books has a catchy song to go with it, sung by the popular SteveSongs from PBS. And psst, it’s even educational—your kid will be counting pigs and cows with the farmer as he drives that tractor all around the farm. You may get the “drivin’ my tractor down a bumpy road” melody stuck in your head, but it’s so upbeat and sweet, you won’t even mind. And if you and your kid fall in love with this bouncy tune, you can buy the book and CD straight from Barefoot Books.

-Sarah, KIWI editorial director

In case you haven’t noticed, recycling is on the rise. In fact, the last twenty years have seen recycling programs spike in numbers from 1,000 to 10,000 in the United States alone! While we should pat ourselves on the backs for striving to keep more plastic, glass, paper, and aluminum out of landfills, we should also recognize that there’s more work to be done.

Enter America Recycles Day, an event seeking to spread awareness about why the eco-friendly practice is important—and how everyone can pitch in to do their part. Want to participate? Great! There’s plenty of ways to show your support, like attending a local America Recycles Day event, filling out a recycling pledge form, or simply letting others in your community know how they can recycle.

To learn more, check out americarecyclesday.org.

-Marygrace, KIWI staff writer

With a dedicated local and organic foods movement, ban on plastic bags, and mandatory recycling and composting program, San Francisco tops our list of sustainable spots in America. So it’s especially fitting that the city by the bay is hosting the upcoming Green Festival from November 13th-15th.

If you’re in the SF area this weekend, make it a point to stop check this important (and fun!) event. There’ll be tons of workshops, film screenings, vegetarian food tastings, kids’ activities, live music, and more—all dedicated to promoting a more earth-friendly lifestyle. What’s more, KIWI will be doling out plenty of free magazines plus Fruitabu and Nordic Naturals samples from booth 843, so come say hi!

For more information, check out greenfestivals.org/san-francisco.

-Marygrace, KIWI staffer

Planning on baking a pumpkin pie as part of your family’s Thanksgiving spread? You might want to think about skipping the canned puree in favor of homemade. A recent Consumer Reports test found measurable levels of BPA in various canned foods, including those labeled “organic” and “BPA-free”. Yikes! What’s more, making your own puree from a fresh pumpkin uses less resources (there’s no factory processing involved)—so it’s better for the environment and your budget. (It might also be better for your sanity, since there’ll be no fighting over the last can of pumpkin puree at the grocery store!)

How to make the fresh stuff? It’s easy!

1. Cut your pie pumpkin in half, placing face-down on an oiled baking sheet. Bake at 375 degrees for 40-45 minutes, or until a fork easily inserts into the pumpkin flesh.
2. Remove the pumpkin halves from the oven. When cool enough to handle, scoop out the stringy insides and seeds (but save the seeds for snacking!).
3. Scoop the pumpkin flesh into a large bowl—make sure to go all the way to the skin!
4. Transfer flesh to a blender or food processor, and puree until smooth. The puree will last in the fridge for 2-3 days, or in the freezer for months.

-Marygrace, KIWI staffer

Unless you or your kid are in danger of being stung by one, you probably don’t care about bees all that much—but you should. Why? Since 2006, farmers and scientists have noticed huge disappearances of honeybee colonies in North America, Europe, and even Taiwan. And since bees play such an important role in the ecosystem (in addition to producing honey, they’re also responsible for pollinating many of our crops), colony collapse disorder (CCD) is significant.

Fortunately, Haagen-Dazs is working to make a difference. In the last two years, the ice cream maker (who relies on honeybees for many of it’s all-natural ingredients), has donated more than $500,000 towards solving the problem of CCD. And this week, they want to give even more. For every tweet made before midnight tomorrow that includes #HelpHoneyBees, Haagen-Dazs will donate $1 to CCD research that’s being performed at the University of California at Davis (donations are capped at $1,000 per day). Want to help? Get tweeting!

-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!

• Crunchy Domestic Goddess grapples with BPA in canned goods, and says it might be time to cook her own beans.
• Any mom with more than one kid is knows all about sibling rivalry—but what about with twins? Here’s what The Bean Blog has to say.
• Wow! Waldorf Mama‘s photos capture the beauty of autumn.
• It’s the simple things that count: Muthering Heights finds joy in the everyday.
• Mom Goes Green says gather your bottles and cans! November 15th is America Recycles Day.

-Marygrace, KIWI staffer

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Recently, there’s been a lot of debate over whether or not the Smart Choices program–a labeling system that seeks to indicate to consumers that a food is healthful–is actually helpful for families looking to eat a more nutritious diet. With the Smart Choices label being slapped on sugary cereals like Froot Loops and Cocoa Puffs, many health officials saw Smart Choices as deliberately misleading, and as of last week, it was announced that the program would be phased out.

How to make seriously smart choices when it comes to feeding your family? Consider these three simple rules from The ABCs of Natural, which encourage consumers to avoid the following:

• Artificial flavor, color, or preservatives. A University of Southampton study linked consumption of artificial flavor and color to hyperactivity in children.
• Bromates. Chemical compounds used in flours as dough conditioners to achieve pleasing texture and appearance. Exposure in high amounts can be toxic to humans and animals.
• Corn syrup. High fructose corn syrup is used as a sweetener and in particular has been suspected as a cause of obesity. When manufactured by a chemical process this sweetener is not natural.

Want to learn more? Check out ahealthywayoflife.com, where you can download a copy of the book for free.

-Marygrace, KIWI staffer

We recently read that indoor air quality can be anywhere from 2 to 100 times worse than it’s outdoor counterpart. This puts kids—who because of cooler weather and shorter days are probably spending more time inside than they’d like—at increased risk for cold, flu, and indoor allergies. No fun! Here are our favorite ways for keeping the air in your house as fresh as possible during the winter:

1. Make friends with houseplants. They take in carbon dioxide and let out oxygen, and some varieties (like spider plants, English ivy, and bamboo palms) can even remove toxins from the air.
2. Keep it clean. Get rid of the dirt and dust particles that build up on the surfaces of, well, everything by vacuuming and cleaning on a regular basis.
3. Take off your shoes. If you don’t already have a designated area near the front door where your kids can put their shoes, make one. It will prevent dirt from being tracked in the house (and result in less time needed to clean).
4. Use an air purifier. They come in a range of prices, and are super effective at capturing icky particles. Try the Honeywell Pure HEPA Round Air Purifier, which manages to get the job done while being relatively inexpensive.
5. Groom your pets. Keep fur and dander at bay by brushing your dog or cat’s fur and bathing dogs frequently.

-Marygrace, KIWI staffer

One thing I love about November is the urge to cozy up. And while most people probably equate coziness with sitting by the fireplace while staying wrapped in a thick blanket, I’m here to tell you that you can feel cozy outside, too. All you need is the perfect scarf! Here are some we guarantee you and your family will never want to take off:

• Best Baby Organic’s Hat-Scarf ($24.50) is a two-for-one deal, since it doubles as a hat. What’s more, it’s made from 100% natural wool by Ecuadorian artisans.
• Your kid can show her love for planet-friendly fashion and stay warm at the same time with the Cagoule Fleece Heart Scarf ($12.99). It’s made from 85% post-consumer recycled soda bottles, and colored with lead-free dye!
• Moms and teen girls will love the Scarf of Many Sweaters by 1000 Markets ($50). It’s upcycled from—you guessed it—old sweaters, and is long enough for plenty of cozy wrapping.
• Keep the guys in your life cool (fashion-, not temp-wise!) and comfy in the Bamboo Rib Narrows Scarf by Isotoner ($30). Best of all? It’s made from 70% renewable materials.

Calling all 4th, 5th, and 6th graders! The Disney Planet Challenge is inviting classrooms and student environmental groups to learn more about science, conservation, and teamwork by creating an eco-conscious project portfolio. Register by December 18th at http://disney.go.com/PlanetChallenge, and submit your team’s portfolio by February 26th, 2010—then, the project will be evaluated according to it’s environmental relevance, community involvement, originality, and sustainability. Looking for some inspiration? The Disney Planet Challenge website features plenty of free eco-centric lesson plans and resources, plus examples of past portfolios.

-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!

• Pampers disposables give babies a better night’s sleep than cloth diapers? We’re not sure we believe it, and neither is The Cloth Diaper Blog.
• Green & Clean Mom has the tools to help your family get through cold and flu season—naturally.
• The Soft Landing Blog explains whether or not it’s safe to wash plastics in the dishwasher.
• Ever wonder what it’s like to homeschool? Renaissance Mama answers your questions.
• This Mama Makes Stuff gives us some crafty inspiration in the form of a homemade infant wrap dress.

-Marygrace, KIWI staffer