Category — Kids Nutrition

It’s not quite spring yet—as this morning’s unwelcome snowstorm makes abundantly clear—but I’m getting the cleaning, organizing, making-the-apartment-look-just-plain-better urge all the same. My favorite cleaning task (yep, favorite. I love cleaning, and yes, I’m aware that I was probably dropped on my head as a baby) has to be eliminating clutter, getting rid of old things I no longer need…until I think about the amount of  trash I’m producing, that is. Sure, clothes I haven’t squeezed into in five years can easily be taken to a thrift shop down the street, but what about the coffee maker in perfect condition (simply replaced by a coffee machine that grinds the beans itself—one that will, no doubt, someday be replaced by a newer model that serves me coffee in bed), or Sniffles’ box of Christmas cat toys she’d never even consider giving a second glance, let alone stooping to actually playing with anything intended for playing (hanging out in a cardboard storage box, on the other hand? Great fun!), or even the teetering stacks of glasses and mugs acquired over the years whose numbers only decrease when a errant elbow knocks one over or an over-stuffed cabinet spits one out? I can’t just throw them away. The waste! The guilt! So what then, is someone bitten by the organizing-bug to do?

Enter The Giving Effect, a website created to bring together people with stuff they don’t need—shoes, food, clothes, computers, cleaning supplies, books, and more—with thousands of non-profits struggling to get basic items to people in their communities. Here’s how to get in on the giving action:

1) Go to Thegivingeffect.com, and browse causes to find one you’d like to support, such as a local animal shelter or soup kitchen.

2) In the Donate form on the cause’s page, enter the following: The item(s) you’re donating, additional details, the condition of the items, and how you’d like to deliver them. If you’re not yet a member of the site, you can register at the same time.

3) Once the cause accepts the offer, you’ll be notified via email.

4) You’ll then be prompted to “finish” your donation. Communicate with the cause organizer through the site messaging system, or provide your personal email or cell for them to be in touch if any coordination is necessary to deliver the items.

4) Once the cause organizer confirms receipt of the item, a thank you note will be sent. Nonprofit organizations will also send a Gift-in-kind receipt for a tax deduction.

It’s that simple! Like the website’s motto: Donate your things. Change lives. Oh, and one helpful tip: Be sure to check your donation boxes for any potential escape artists.

–Amy, articles editor

Last night, I didn’t end up getting home until 9, and I did not feel like cooking dinner at all.  I was so exhausted and just wanted to heat something up quickly.  I searched through all my cabinets and couldn’t find anything that appealed to me.  But tucked away in the back of my cabinet, I found an Annie Chun’s Noodle Bowl.  I had never tried it before, but I figured I would give it a shot because I could not wait any longer to eat.  Only 2 minutes in the microwave and it was ready to go.

It smelled delicious, but I couldn’t imagine it would taste as good as it smelled, because it was just a prepackaged meal.  But, to my surprise, it was AMAZING.  It was SO fresh and tasted like it was just delivered from a chinese restaurant.  I couldn’t believe it!  I ate every last drop.

Annie Chun’s products are 100% natural and have no MSG or preservatives like most chinese food does.  They have such a wide variety of products and I can’t wait to try all of them!  You can view and purchase all of these varieties at www.anniechun.com.

-Shelby, KIWI staffer

I love all types of fruits and vegetables and try to eat as many as possible throughout the day. Though, when I was little, my mom basically had to force feed me fruits and veggies. She would try all different things to get me to eat them, but I still refused to eat them.

Now, parents can have a much easier time getting their kids to eat their fruits and veggies with Today I Ate A Rainbow! The Today I Ate A Rainbow chart keeps track of the produce that kids eat and lets children take responsibility for their food choices in a fun and interactive way. It helps kids learn to eat from the five main color groups of fruits and veggies every day. Today I Ate A Rainbow also just introduced a book that teaches children the importance of eating produce. I wish I had this when I was a kid!

You can learn more about all of Today I Ate A Rainbow’s amazing products at www.todayiatearainbow.com.

- Shelby, staff writer

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, and if you’re still scrambling for some last-minute, eco-friendly gift ideas, then look no further. Here are a few suggestions to not only show love for your loved one, but a little adoration for the environment, too.

1) Organic flowers – While a traditional bouquet may seem cliché, a bunch of organic flowers makes an eco-statement. Web sites like Organic Bouquet and California Organic Flowers have some beautiful organic arrangements which won’t break the bank ($30-$70; and One World Flowers offers a variety of Fair Trade Certified blooms with assortments ranging from $50-$200.

2) Fair Trade and organic chocolates – What’s Valentine’s Day without a box of sweets? Try Theo Chocolate, who boasts the only organic, fair trade bean-to-bar factory in the U.S. (one box for $26 to $40). Or, if your sweetie’s an animal lover, check out Rescue Chocolate, where all profits from their delectable dark treats go toward supporting a new animal rescue charity each month, such as United Animal Nations or In Defense of Animals ($5 to $12).

3) Fair Trade or recycled accessories – Green jewelry and accessories are becoming more and more popular, and sites like Etsy and Nimli make it easier than ever to find pieces made from recycled and/or organic materials. Sites like Taraluna offer an extensive selection of fair trade jewelry, handbags and beauty products from artisans all over the world.

4) Get creative – Make a donation to an eco-oriented non-profit organization on your Valentine’s behalf–The Conservation Fund and Global Green USA are two popular green charities–or plant a tree in their name. For $25, Trees Instead will plant a tree in your loved one’s name, and then send a Tree Certificate for you to give.

5) Candle-lit dinner for two (or three, or four…) – Nothing’s more romantic than a homemade dinner for two, but why not include the whole family? Have the kids help pick out the menu for the evening (maybe try for mostly red foods, or make your own heart-shaped crust for a homemade pizza) then head to the local market and buy for an all-organic dinner. While you’re at it, try some organic wine from Bonterra, a California vineyard whose selections usually run less than $20 a bottle – and some sparkling grape juice for the kids. Raumland’s organic white is a popular one and is available at K&L Wine Merchants for only $15 a bottle. Light some soy or beeswax candles (Green Leaf Candles offers a great selection ranging in price from about $10 – $30) or try making your own with these instructions from KIWI–and you’re set!

Dana, KIWI Intern

Does your child regularly buy lunch at school? If so, she may have an increased risk for gaining weight, according to new research from the University of Michigan. In a study of over 1,000 sixth graders in southeastern Michigan, kids who regularly ate cafeteria lunches were 29 percent more likely to be obese than kids who regularly brought lunch from home. The results are a little scary—but not necessarily surprising, considering that most school lunch programs offer fare that has too much fat and too many calories, and not enough fruits, vegetables, or whole grains.

Fortunately, not every school offers unhealthy fare. In fact, last spring I had the chance to speak with three chefs who’ve made big changes for some cafeteria menus—without sacrificing flavor. “When you change a school’s menu, the last thing you want to do is take out the stuff that tastes good,” says Tim Love, the owner and executive chef at Lonesome Dove Western Bistro in Fort Worth, Texas, and who revamped the menu at the nearby All Saints’ Episcopal School. Love, along with Chef Jenny Gensterblum of Claremont Preparatory School in New York City and Chef Adri Garcia of St. Patrick School in Miami Beach, Florida shared with us their favorite healthy (and delicious) recipes for you to recreate at home: Make the main recipe for dinner tonight, then see how to dress up the leftovers to pack in your child’s lunchbox for tomorrow.

What’s more, we know these three chefs aren’t the only ones whipping cafeteria menus into shape. The KIWI Crusaders awards are our annual search for the schools and school systems that have made a commitment to serving healthy foods—and each year, we’re flooded with applicants. If you know a school with a stellar food and nutrition program, enter it in the 2011 KIWI Crusaders awards for the school’s chance to win $2,500 towards further improving their cafeteria offerings, plus a feature in KIWI Magazine. Let’s work together to make school lunches a healthy option for kids all across the country!

-Marygrace, staff writer

Now, ordinarily, I’m not one to toot my own horn. Okay, that’s not true. But I try to keep it to a minimum—displays of vanity don’t exactly earn me extra catnip around here. I mean, it’s all about how you play the game. Sure, during the day when my mom’s at work, I spend hours gazing at my gorgeous reflection in the mirror…that is, when I’m not too busy lounging on the forbidden kitchen counters or helping myself to a few sips of water from a glass on the nightstand. But when mom’s home? It’s “Mirror, what mirror?” and “Only the floor for me!” and “Water only comes from my bowl, right?” Heh. Bottom line, you do what you have to do to keep the keeper of the kibble happy. Which is why I’ve been logging some extra mirror time lately working on my best angle—all to make mom proud (and more generous with the catnip), and even help some of my less fortunate brothers and sister. In other words, I’ll be entering the Humane Society’s Spay Day Pet Photo Contest, and I recommend you do the same.

The photo contest is part of Spay Day, an annual event of the Humane Society of the United States and Humane Society International to inspire people to save animals’ lives by spaying or neutering pets and feral cats. And while Spay Day officially takes place on the last Tuesday of February, events—like this photo contest—will be running all through the month.

Here’s what you need to do: Next time you’re online watching funny YouTube dog videos (seriously, how can there be any question over cats’ superiority?), go to photocontest.humanesociety.org to upload a digital photo and answer a few questions about yourself. You’ll be instantly entered in the Judged Category, where a panel of photographer judges will pick 36 winners. The prizes are awesome, including—get this—your very own photo shoot with a top U.S. pet photographer, and a shopping spree on Humane Domain, the Humane Society’s online retail store (there’s this self-cleaning litter box that I’ve just got to have).

And for anyone looking for more of a challenge, you can compete for votes from the public in the Fundraisers Category. Just choose your favorite charity, forward your photo page to your peeps, and then ask them to donate to vote for you. Every dollar donated in your name will help spay and neuter pets to control overpopulation—AND give you another vote. Sweet.

Worried about the application? Relax. Sure, typing without thumbs can be tricky, but it’s totally worth it: Just keep your eye on the catnip. And the mirror, too, of course.

–Sniffles, articles editor’s companion

I’m typically a big coffee drinker, but lately I’ve been drinking a lot of tea. I’ve been trying all different kinds; anything from green tea (my personal favorite) to peach flavored tea. I hadn’t been able to decide on one type of tea, that is, until I came across Eden Foods’ green tea. As soon as I tasted this, I could definitely tell the difference from the other teas I had been drinking. I liked it so much that I almost went through the whole box of tea bags in 2 days!

Eden makes such a wide variety of teas that I’m sure they have a tea for everyone! They even have a tea that is made from brown rice! And, better yet it’s all organic. After how much I enjoyed the green tea, I can’t wait to try all the other kinds. Not only does Eden make delicious tea, but they have many other great products. To purchase their teas and other products, just go to www.edenfoods.com .

-Shelby, KIWI Staffer

Stronghold Photography

Certainly, I’m not the only one with fond memories of listening to news radio on snowy mornings for school closures. Snow days were one of the great pleasures of my childhood, time spent alternating between outside play and indoor lazy day activities. Given that my mom was a school teacher, she too would have the day off so we could host friends, build snowmen, make cocoa, and, of course, play around in the kitchen.

As a parent, it was a sad day when I realized that here in Illinois we don’t get snow days. We’re a tough bunch here in the Midwest. No matter how deep the accumulation or how low the wind chill, school must go on. As a working parent, I know I should be grateful, but still . . .

So when a snowstorm is predicted over a weekend, I rush to the grocery store. Not to stock up on milk and salt to clear off our sidewalks, but instead to provision our kitchen for long involved recipes that we usually have no time to make. Homemade cheese, multi-step breads, and long cooked stews number among our inclement recipes. I look particularly for dishes that have steps for little hands to accomplish.

Nothing is more fun than making a batch of homemade pasta. With flour everywhere, in our hair, on the floor, all over our clothing, we mix the dough with our hands, roll, and cut. We like to turn our fresh pasta in lasagna, but it could just as well turn into ravioli, linguine, or pasta rolls. While we use an attachment to my Kitchen Aid mixer, pasta can also be rolled by pin and cut by hand. As a kid, my mom would roll and cut each pasta sheet by hand, allowing them to air dry from a string tied between cabinets above our sink.

Next time snow’s predicted for your area, pick up some farm fresh eggs and prepare yourself for a delicious mess in your kitchen.

Fresh Pasta

2 cups all-purpose flour

3 large egg yolks

3 tablespoons canola oil

1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

5-7 tablespoons cold water

1. Measure the flour onto a clean work surface and make a well in the center. Put the egg yolks, oil, salt and 5 tablespoons cold water into the well, mix with your fingers of one hand. With a dough scraper or a butter knife, mix the flour into the liquid being careful not to break through the walls of flour until the majority of the water has been absorbed.  Sprinkle the remaining water a little at a time while continuing to mix with the dough cutter.  If the dough is dry, add the additional water.

2. Knead until relatively smooth – the dough will still appear to be slightly dry. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for a half hour to allow the glutens in the dough to relax.

3. Divide the pasta dough in quarters and work with one piece at a time, keeping the remainder refrigerated. Flatten the dough with your heel and put through the largest setting of the pasta maker. Fold the dough in half and put it through pasta maker, folded side first, eight more times. Roll the dough through the pasta maker 4 more times, reducing the setting each time and ending on setting 4. Hang the pasta sheets while rolling the remaining quarters.  Cut the sheets into fettucine noodles.

4. Cook in salted boiling water for just a minute or so until el dente.

—Melissa Graham, KIWI guest blogger and founder of Purple Asparagus

Once in a while, something special happens at work. Sometimes, it’s in the form of a cupcake (man, do I love frosting), other times, it’s in the form of a really great essay submission. But this time, the something special was in the form of an 8-week old puppy named Katrina.

Last Wednesday, while most New Yorkers sought shelter from yet another snowstorm, little Katrina trotted into the offices of KIWI decked out in a peppy pink fleece jacket, ready to show off some impressive new puppy skills. She wasn’t just at the office to be ridiculously cute and thus make everyone’s day, Katrina was having her afternoon away from the NYC shelter where she lives with her littermates to help promote a new program from Petfinder.com called Train FurKeeps (the making everyone’s day with enthusiastic doggie kisses and adorable puppy clumsiness was an added bonus).

Train FurKeeps started with one disheartening reality: Approximately 84 percent of animal shelters see family pets relinquished because of issues that could have been resolved with the right training and resources. Even worse, these pets often have more difficulty finding forever homes because their behavioral problems were never addressed. That’s why Petfinder.com, the largest online, searchable database of adoptable pets, has partnered up with top certified pet dog trainer Andrea Arden to launch Train FurKeeps, a program designed to teach families easy training techniques and decrease the number of pets surrendered to shelters.

For anyone considering getting a new companion, or for those of us who already have pets who are training-challenged (Sniffles, stop scratching the couch!), Train FurKeeps has all the info you need to create a happy, respectful relationship with your pet. Find training videos, Q&As with top  trainers, and answers for every behavioral issue, from barking for attention to clawing up the furniture (Sniffles!). Here’s a sampling of the tips Train FurKeeps offers for dogs who run around the house, won’t sit still, and chew the furniture:

• Leash your dog—and not just outside: Trainers have a little trick called On Leash Supervision where you guide your dog through your home on a leash, only showing him areas that are safe.
• Tricks aren’t just for fun: use them to teach life skills and manners! When you play a training game, you’re also setting the foundation for a strong bond. For example, teach your dog to sit on cue by holding a tiny piece of food at his head and moving it slightly back towards his rear. This will cause him to sit. Say ‘yes’ and give a treat. Repeat a few times, and when you’re confident your hand movement will cause the sit, say ‘sit’ just before you move your hand.
• Invest in toys, toys, toys! Toys can be your best friends when training your pet, especially stuffable ones that let dogs ‘hunt’ for their food. You’ll be keeping him happily occupied doing something that’s not destructive, which means he’ll have less time and energy to indulge in inappropriate behaviors.

For more happy-pet, happy-owner tips, go to Petfinder.com/trainfurkeeps. Oh, and while you’re there, you just may find your new best friend patiently waiting for a home. Just like little Katrina.

–Amy, articles editor

Just last week, Dr. Regina Benjamin, the U.S. Surgeon General, issued a “Call to Action to Support Breastfeeding.” This is a follow-up to what previous Surgeon Generals have said: that breastfeeding is an important public health goal. The new report is about support, so that women won’t face barriers to breastfeeding.

Dr. Benjamin says in the report, “Each mother’s decision about how she feeds her baby is a personal one. Because of the ramifications of her decision on her baby’s health as well as her own, every mother in our nation deserves information, guidance, and support with this decision from her family and friends, the community where she lives, the health professionals on whom she relies, and her employer.”

The report covers a lot of ground, from supporting pumping at work to encouraging moms to ask for help if they need it. Dr. Benjamin wants to create a national campaign to promote breastfeeding, ensure that maternity care emphasizes breastfeeding, and fund support groups and nonprofits that reach all new moms, with an emphasis on communities of color, where breastfeeding rates are lower. She also says that there needs to be breastfeeding education for fathers and grandmothers.

I know this is an issue close to the hearts of many KIWI readers. What suggestions do you have for the Surgeon General’s Call to Action, to get people on board in supporting breastfeeding moms?

-Sarah, editorial director

I’m cheap and proud of it. One of my proudest cheap moments happened back in high school (which was more years ago than I care to admit). While classmates were forking over hundreds for prom dresses, I snagged one for $25, thank you very much—and I still have it, X number of years later. When I grocery shop, I don’t even consider full-price items (unless it’s frosting, and then all bets are off), and I’ve been known to squirrel home so much of a sale item that I resemble a satisfied-and-perhaps-a-bit-too-smug ant hauling home enough to feed a family of 10. For a year. So it’s no surprise that for frugal folks like myself, coupons are seriously exciting. Get ready to be excited…

If you’re a fan of deal-of-the-day sites such as Groupon and LivingSocial (and really, who isn’t?), you’re going to love GreenDeals.org, a new site with an environmentally friendly shopping focus. Green Deals is the baby of the nonprofit Green America and Q4 Marketing, created to provide people who care about bargains and the environment with daily deals from local and national online green companies. All participating companies meet Green America’s strict standards for social and environmental responsibility in their policies, practices, and products. Recent green deals from Green Deals have included organic chocolates, green cleaning supplies, eco-friendly water bottles, and gorgeous green handbags, just to name a few. The site also offers handy tips on everyday eco living, printable coupons, and other offers from their approved green businesses.

If you’re interested in receiving great green deal notifications delivered right to your inbox, just go to greendeals.org to enter your email address. When you find a deal you’ve just got to have, simply set up an account page (similar other types of e-commerce site), and not to worry—your info isn’t sold to anyone, meaning your inbox won’t suddenly become Grand Central Station.

Happy green bargain hunting!

–Amy, articles editor

New Year’s is in part about resolutions: wishes for the year to come. On everyone’s list is usually something about eating healthier, exercising more, and being less stressed. These are often cited as personal goals, but more importantly, they are core integrative principles that we can use to chart a course towards a healthier future for our children. In this month’s post, I wanted to profile three real-life examples of model programs that are helping families live healthier lives.

Eating Healthier

January is the perfect time to reconsider old habits. It is the rare family that doesn’t indulge throughout the December holidays, culminating in some sort of grand display of eating on that final weekend (or two, or three…) of the year. So we all promise to set a better example for our kids as the new year begins—but how? It’s not about the latest quick-fix fad diet, but more about sustainable nutritional plans that focus not simply on weight, but on health. A shining example is HealthBarn USA near my home and office in Northern New Jersey. Stacey Antine, founder and CEO, has developed the “ultimate farm-to-fork experience” for families interested in helping their children develop an interest in food—“real” food—and how it’s cultivated. Imagine your child growing brussels sprouts, picking them, and eating them right there in the field. Stacey is one of those rare, gifted educators who can motivate children (and their parents!) to change their ways.

Exercising More

Many children do get physical activity at younger ages, but unless they’re involved in organized, structured sports, by middle school, they spend more time in front of screens and less outdoors engaged in active play. One solution? The Tenafly Nature Center in New Jersey is one of a growing number of organizations committed to helping families rediscover the natural environments in their own backyards. Programs are geared towards different ages of children and most are fun for the whole family. If you’re interested in learning more about the flora and fauna in your neck of the woods, or even if you’re just looking for a quick hike, there are many options, all supported by national organizations like the National Environmental Education Foundation, which trains health care providers to work with families and with nature centers in their communities to promote fitness for children via their Children and Nature Initiative. To find out about programs in your area, go to neefusa.org.

Being Less Stressed

The less stress part is not simple. While we’re working on making the world less stressful, we all could use help coping with the stress in our lives. Children need to learn these skills early in life, and they are wonderful at using their imaginations to do so. I am a big believer in the concept of mindfulness. Simply defined, mindfulness is just paying attention to the moment you’re in. Noticing it, valuing it for what it is. Mindfulness should be part of parenting and educational initiatives everywhere. One of the most innately appealing paths to mindfulness for children in particular is the practice of yoga. It’s great to see more and more schools, including preschools, featuring yoga as a regular part of the curriculum. What better way to help kids cope with the stress of the increasingly tasking school experience? Karen, the holistic nurse and clinical coordinator of our Whole Child Center, works with families regularly to help them incorporate yoga into their weekly routines. She also volunteers for a fantastic organization, Kula for Karma, to bring yoga to “those who have been challenged by difficult circumstances,” including children with autism and cancer. Kula, which can be translated as “community,” is a concept of which we all can be more mindful as the New Year evolves.

–Dr. Lawrence Rosen, KIWI columnist

How far would you go for something you believe in? A few weeks ago I talked to Wholesome Sweeteners‘ CEO Nigel Willerton, because he was about to start running across Ethiopia (250 miles!) for things he believes in—fair trade and education. He started yesterday, which means he’s already run farther in the last two days than most of us will in months.

Run Across Ethiopia is this astoundingly grueling event: 10 runners are averaging 25 miles per day (that’s practically a marathon, every day for more than a week), all to support the people who live and work in the fair trade–growing regions of Ethiopia. Wholesome Sweeteners’s products are fair trade, and Nigel told me he wants to help make fair trade real, by connecting the concept (fair prices, labor conditions, better communities) with the families and people who benefit from it. On the Gound, the organization behind the event, works to go beyond paying workers a fair price for their crops: They aim to support the communities in other ways, by helping them access clean water, education, and health care.

So, Nigel and the other 9 insane-yet-inspiring runners are raising money to build schools. If you think that sounds like a great idea, here’s my idea for taking part: Run around the block, then come inside and make a donation to Run Across Ethiopia (you can also check out their Facebook page). And of course, look for the Fair Trade logo when you buy coffee, sugar, chocolate, and other products.

–Sarah, KIWI editorial director

There’s one thing most New Year’s resolutions tend to have in common: Delusion. A neighbor of mine decided that this is the year she’ll run a marathon. “I didn’t know you’re a runner,” I told her, impressed. “I’m not—never run more than a mile in my life,” she said. Huh. While I’m all for a good challenge, statistics show that making big, unrealistic goals usually results in big, realistic disappointments. (Case in point: The year I decided to give up sweets. Just ask my current daily cupcake habit how that one’s going.)

But another thing most resolutions have in common: Hope. Hope for change and a desire to make an improvement is something all frosting-lovers and marathon-hopefuls have in common. And the key to change? Small steps, something the makers of Marcal Small Steps products seem to get.

Though an online survey, the company found that 80 percent of Americans are planning to be greener in 2011. Excellent!…but now what? To help people get started, Marcal recently announced their Small Steps for Big Change contest to encourage people to care more for the environment by taking small steps that have a big impact on the planet. Now through February 25, 2011, people can nominate themselves or someone they know who is taking small steps for environmental change. Five winners will be announced in April in honor of Earth Month, receiving a total of $10,000 in donations to be made to their charities of choice!

“The Marcal Small Steps brand is based on the philosophy that small actions can make a big environmental impact. Even something as simple as purchasing household paper products from 100 percent recycled paper makes a difference,” said MJ Jolda, senior vice president of marketing at Marcal Small Steps. “This campaign is about honoring the everyday environmental heroes that normally fly under the radar, but are actually making a big impact in their communities and beyond.” 

Winners will be selected based on the creativity of their small steps, the impact of their actions, and their ability to inspire others to improve the environment. Here’s what they’ll get:

• Grand prize winner will select a charity to receive $5,000 in her name.
• First prize winner will select a charity to receive $2,500 in his name.
• Second prize winner will select a charity to receive $1,500 in her name.
• Third and fourth prize winners will each select a charity to receive $500 in their names.
• And each winner and the person who nominated them will receive Marcal Small Steps paper products.

To enter, go to marcalsmallsteps.com/heroes. Submit an essay (250 words or less) telling Marcal Small Steps how your nominee takes small steps for environmental change.

Small steps, huh? Okay, my New Year’s Resolution: Eat one less cupcake a week…Um, make that one less cupcake a month.

–Amy, articles editor

Do you hate watching your friends and family rip apart gifts that you spent so much time wrapping, and then immediately throw the paper in the trash?  Well, it definitely bothers me!  Not only is it frustrating, but it’s a bunch of unnecessary waste.  This holiday, you can reduce waste from wrapping paper and start a new family tradition by using ellaWrap.  ellaWrap makes it simple to be more eco-conscious during the holidays.  It’s reusable fabric gift wrap that can last for many holidays to come!  Just slip your gift into the bag and tie the ribbon.  It’s as simple as that, and there’s no need for paper or tape!  The wraps come in all different patterns and sizes, so you can find a perfect one for every member of the family.  Find more at ellawrap.com.

-Shelby, KIWI staffer

It’s not that I specifically seek out topics that lend themselves to gratuitous mentions of my cat Sniffles. That’s just an added perk. One that I really, really enjoy. And since I’m writing about a fantastic way to help shelter pets this holiday season, it would practically be criminal not to mention my fabulously-fickle, visually-impaired, closet-loving, amazing-soccer-playing, best-cat-in-the-world companion who came to me via a shelter in Washington, D.C. See? I had to mention her.

So as someone whose life was immeasurably enriched with the addition of a shelter pet (and I’m not talking about the incomprehensible amount of cat hair I find on a daily basis), I’m happy to tell you about Petfinder.com’s program, “Foster A Lonely Pet for the Holidays.”

Every year, thousands of adoptable pets are left to spend the holidays in shelters, without the warmth of a home, without the love of a family. But now more than 2,000 shelters and rescue groups are participating in “Foster A Lonely Pet for the Holidays,” a program that lets people bring home an adoptable cat or dog to spend the holidays with. You can find participating shelters and rescue groups near you by going to petfinder.com and entering your zip code. The site will connect you with friendly staff and volunteers who can answer questions about the fostering process and help you select a pet to match your family’s lifestyle.

The benefits of fostering go beyond just giving an adoptable pet a place to stay for the holiday season—though that is a pretty huge feel-good benefit—but it’s also a great way to determine if your family is ready to be permanent pet owners. If you’re lucky, you may just find the furry friend your family’s been missing.

If you can’t foster a pet for the holidays, there are a number of other ways to help lonely shelter animals through the Petfinder Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to finding a forever home for every pet. For more information, please go to petfinderfoundation.com.

–Amy, articles editor

When brushing my teeth in the morning or at night, I often think about how many germs are actually lingering on the bristles of my toothbrush.  Though, I could never think of a solution to this problem.  It’s not like I can use a brand new toothbrush every time I have to brush my teeth (that would just be crazy)!  But now, I’ve finally found the perfect product to eliminate the germs:  Violight. Violight’s Zapi Toothbrush Sanitizer uses UV light to eliminate over 99.9% of germs on toothbrushes in minutes!  And by visiting violight.com and entering code KIWI1210 at checkout, you can receive 15% off your entire purchase.

-Shelby, KIWI staffer

Her name was Yucky Bunny, and she was awesome. I don’t remember who gave her to me, only that I loved her as fiercely as any 3-year-old can. Yucky Bunny was a combination of a pink plaid blanket and a white stuffed rabbit, and I took her absolutely everywhere—she was fun, soothing, wise, and like I said, she was awesome. She also smelled. Hey, that’s what happens when you give a toddler such an awesome toy that she’ll feel compelled to take her everywhere to share her awesomeness with the world, and yes, occasionally drool on her. Not that I minded Yucky Bunny’s special fragrance—it became really helpful in warding off annoying siblings. I loved Yucky Bunny to pieces—literally. By the time I outgrew her (well before high school, thank you very much), Yucky Bunny consisted solely of a much-loved bunny ear.

The reason I’m talking about my beloved Yucky Bunny isn’t to feel ridiculous, ahem, but rather, to show that simply chattering about a toy earns $10 for Toys for Tots, courtesy of Citibank.

All you have to do is log onto Facebook, go to the Citibank page, and post a few words about your favorite toy. For every story posted—even one about Yucky Bunny—Citi will donate $10 to Toys for Tots, up to $100,000, through the holidays. In other words, you get to tell the world about your very own Yucky Bunny, while at the same time helping kids in need experience a little joy this holiday season—what’s not to like?

Oh, and while you’re sharing, tell us about your toy, too!

– Amy, KIWI Articles Editor

Need a special present for your little ones this holiday but don’t know exactly what to get them?  Look no further!  Shop now at Wild Dill and receive 20 percent off your entire purchase!  Wild Dill has over 60 brands of natural clothing, organic dolls, wooden toys, and organic bedding for kids. They carry only natural, organic and fair trade products that you and your kids can feel good about. Enter code KIWI10 when you checkout at wilddill.com.

-Shelby, KIWI staffer

Great news for school food: This week, Congress passed the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kid Act, updating cafeteria nutrition standards for the first time in 30 years. Expected to be signed into law by President Obama, the bill will offer more low-cost meals, improve nutrition standards of school meals, and make it harder to serve junk food in schools. And perhaps most exciting, it’ll support more organic and farm-to-school food.

The new act includes a $10 million Organic Pilot Program that seeks to help provide more organic food choices to schools. Competitive grants will be offered to schools—especially socially-disadvantaged ones—to help cafeterias boost organic offerings. Another $40 million will be dedicated towards a Farm-to-School program, which seeks to help the USDA increase the amount of foods from small- and medium-sized farms in school cafeterias.

-Marygrace, staff writer

Don’t miss your chance to enter the Big Bundle of Joy $10,000 Nursery Giveaway brought to you by Greenguard Environmental Institute. Infant safety is a top priority for Greenguard, which is why they’re offering one lucky winner a nursery filled with products bearing their safe certification seal of approval. With the help of a personal shopper, the winning family will have the opportunity to select $10,000 worth of healthy, green baby items from manufacturers including Anderson Hardwood Floors, Shaw Industries and Stanley Furniture (carrier of brands such as Naturepedic, Bona, Simmons Kids and more). Five second place winners will receive a Naturepedic crib mattress, 30 third place winners will receive a Greenguard-certified Bona Hardwood Floor Cleaning System. Enter today—contest ends January 31st!

-Brittany, KIWI staffer

There’s a great tip in our next issue of KIWI about getting through this holiday season with a little less frazzle and a little more calm: It can be as simple as having everyone pause for three deep breaths. If you’re feeling a little overwhelmed by Cyber Monday, go ahead, try it right now. It’s great for kids, too: Even little ones know how to take a deep breath, and it’s surprisingly grounding.

And when you’re ready for the next step, try a yoga move or two. These great resources are a great way to introduce yoga to kids. And hey, they’d both make great holiday gifts, so see? Double stress reducers!

Book: The ABCs of Yoga for Kids. A charming and useful A to Z (literally!) guide to yoga moves. Kids learn how to do dozens of moves based on objects and animals, from Airplane to Zero, with Cobra, Rocking Horse, and lots more in between.

DVD: Storyland Yoga. Real kids and a great yoga instructor teach little viewers a variety of poses through storytelling—and impart such joy in the process that you’ll be swept right along.

—Sarah, editorial director

Guest blogger Melissa Graham of Purple Asparagus shares the tradition her family started—somewhat inadvertently—after her son came home with a rather tall tale about their Thanksgiving dinner preparations:

Thor’s Turkey Recipe
“We get the turkey from whole foods. We all get it together. Stuff the turkey with French fries. We cook it in the oven at 100 degrees. We cook for an hour. Then we put mashed potatoes on the side before we serve it. We serve it on plates. We make it look like a turkey leg. It smells like a turkey. My grandma and grandpa, my mom and my dad and me eat it. We serve it with tater tots and mash potatoes. We will have the party at my house. I will have a Sherly temple for me and martinis for grandma and grandpa.”

So goes the little locavore’s story as told to a 5th grader and pasted onto a construction paper turkey’s fan. While we didn’t get to see the tail on the tale until the Friday before Thanksgiving, I had been given some advance warning about it when Thor began quizzing me on turkey prep.

“So we get our turkey from Whole Foods?”

“No Thor, we buy it directly from a local farmer.”

“We bake it at 100 . . . ”

“Well, not exactly.”

“for an hour?”

“Certainly, not at 100 degrees.”

[Cue frustration, curling brow] “But we’ll have tater tots, right?”

“Uh, no.” [Cue curled brow for me as I try to remember the last tater tot he ate with me].

[More frustration exhibited and a slightly mobile lower lip] “But, but, but, we do stuff it with french fries.”

Of course, the answer was no, but unlike the other questions, there was no logical reason why this one should be answered in the negative. And so we stuffed (or more accurately made stuffing) with French fries. And you know what? It was pretty good. Not as good as my usual corn bread-kielbasa recipe, which I’ll revive this year. Nevertheless, the story has inspired us to start a tradition. Each year, my son and I plan to brainstorm to create a truly innovative dish for our Thanksgiving table. We haven’t made a final selection yet, but I think that it may involve sweet potatoes and mint, which we recently learned is a surprisingly happy marriage.

Parents who cook with their children know that their little ones are more likely try food that they’ve had a hand in creating. Allowing kids to experiment takes this even further: It gives them a sense of ownership and pride and encourages them to become even more experimental in their eating as doing so provides fodder for their creations.

Our most successful collaborations created one of my favorite recipes: Carrot-Quinoa Cakes, a delicious vegetarian and gluten-free option, which is easy enough for everyday and yet equally elegant for a special occasion.

Carrot-Quinoa Cakes
6 servings

3 large carrots
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for sautéing
1/2 yellow onion, finely chopped onion
3/4 teaspoon cumin
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cup quinoa, cooked according to the package
3 tablespoons quinoa or all-purpose flour
1/2 cup Greek yogurt
1 tablespoon dill, chopped

Peel and slice the carrots approximately 1/2 inch thick. Cover with water in a small saucepan and bring the water to a boil. Add a pinch of salt and reduce to a simmer. Cook until tender approximately 20 minutes. Drain and then puree in a food processor or mash until smooth. Heat the olive oil in a sauté pan over medium high heat. Cook the onion until softened and lightly caramelized, approximately 6 minutes. Add the cumin and cook for another minute. Mix the carrot puree, quinoa, onions and flour in a medium bowl. Form into cakes 2-inches in diameter and sauté in olive oil until golden on each side. Mix together the yogurt and dill. Top each cake with a dollop of yogurt.

As the holidays are approaching, it’s time to start thinking about buying gifts for your family, friends, and co-workers.  I love buying gifts for others but I always have such a hard time figuring out what to get everyone (I’m sure many of you have this same problem!). This year, I want to try to do something different and not give everyone the same old gifts like I do every year. I thought about giving different types of gift sets, and as I was looking online I came across Boulder’s Best Organics.  Not only did the website have great gift sets, but everything in them was local, organic, and eco-friendly.  What could be better than that?!  They also offer a line of organic and eco-friendly products for kids, including Clementine Art all-natural and non-toxic crayons and Goddess Garden 80% Organic Sunscreen.  Now, you can get something for everyone on your list!

My favorite part about the website was that if you didn’t like any of the pre-made gift sets they had, then you could customize your own basket!  You can even add a personalized message inside each gift set. The gift sets feature leading organic brands of food, personal care items, and other products.  All of this comes inside a Boulder’s Best Organics keepsake gift box!  I cannot wait to start ordering these gift sets for all my friends and family because they have something for everyone.  Just visit bouldersbestorganics.com to start ordering your holiday gifts today!

Also be sure to also check out Boulder’s Best Organics on Facebook and join their fan page!

-Brittany, KIWI staffer

Can a vacation with the family be green and healthy—and still fun? Yes! Last week, I went on a (chilly) New England vacation, and did my best to make it a low-impact trip. Here are a few tips for families who want to do the same:

1. Find an eco-friendly hotel. Not always possible, of course, but we had the luxury of being hosted by the beautiful and eco-friendly Inn by the Sea in Cape Elizabeth, Maine, for two nights. No greenwashing here: After a big renovation a couple of years ago, the hotel is green from the inside out. There are plenty of green choices guests don’t necessarily see (vegetable heating oil, room keys made out of compostable material, low VOC paint), and others it’s really fun to learn about, like the Inn’s commitment to native plants and to being a Butterfly Sanctuary. In the summer, kids can take part in a Bug’s Life program, where they learn about butterflies, eco systems, and protecting the environment. And they do it while dressed like bugs. How fun is that? (By the way, the Inn is also super dog friendly: Penny, who you can see above wondering why we’re back inside when there’s a beach to run on, was treated like royalty.)

2. Eat local. Short of bringing along your CSA share, it can be hard to eat healthfully and low-impact on the road. Instead of stopping at a familiar chain restaurant, find out where the locals eat—chances are, it’s because the food is fresher. It’s easier than you think to get an inside scoop: My husband is the master of asking every shopkeeper, museum guard, and guy walking his dog where we should eat. We always end up somewhere interesting, and more often than not, the food is fresh and tasty.

3. Bring—or rent—a bike. Sightseeing and exercise all in one: You cover a lot more ground than walking. Find a bike for everyone in the family at a local bike shop—and don’t forget the helmets!

—Sarah, KIWI editorial director

I get a lot of emails, and I mean a lot. A lot as in I start to feel panicky that my email system has crashed when I don’t hear the ding! of a new message at least once a minute. Sure, it can be a little overwhelming, and yes, I do now fall asleep still hearing the ding! in my head, but if it weren’t for all the random emails I get, how else would I hear about all the awareness I need to be, well, aware of? And while many awareness months do serious work in raising awareness about serious things (National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, for one), there are some not-so-serious ones that are just plain funny. Case in point: Did you know that September 19^th is Talk Like a Pirate Day? Or that April 3^rd is National Tweed Day? About don’t forget about Eat a Red Apple Day on December 1^st (that’s a red apple—not a green one—mind you).

So when I heard ding! and got an email about National Dog Wash Day, I was rather skeptical. Why not combine it with Talk Like a Pirate Day, I thought. “Arrr! Here, matey, lets shiver-ye-timbers in the tub!” (Sorry, that’s terrible, I know. I couldn’t help myself). But then I opened the message and found that there’s a much more serious concept behind it than I’d thought, one worth paying attention to.

National Dog Wash: Wash Away Canine Cancer Month is an event held throughout November (it coincides with Canine Cancer Awareness Month) as a fundraiser for the National Canine Cancer Foundation (NCCF), a nonprofit dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health issue in dogs. And it is a major issue: One out of every three dogs is expected to get the disease, half of which will die.

But here’s how you can help: Just wash your dog.

For a minimum $5 donation, you’ll get a package containing two different doggie shampoos from John Paul Pet, a can of Halo Purely for Pets Spot’s Stew, 30 days of free pet health insurance through Trupanion, and a pink paw magnet from the NCCF. Plus, for every donation made, freekibble.com donates a meal to shelter dogs.

It’s really a win-win: Just by scrubbing your pooch, you’ll help fight canine cancer, help feed shelter dogs, and help your doggy go from soggy to squeaky clean. Plus, think of all the great wet-pet-pics you’ll get to take!

Go to nationaldogwash.com for more info, and get ready to say, “Rub-a-dub-dub, put my dog in the tub. Arrr!” (Terrible. Sorry again!)

–Amy, KIWI articles editor

Well, you’ve all already heard how fond I am of Marcal. Now, they’ve given me another great reason to love their brand– a photo contest! Marcal is ready to celebrate the fall season by offering you a chance to win a $100 Best Buy® Gift Card or Canon® EOS Rebel XS Digital SLR Camera. All you have to do is a capture a beautiful shot of the fall foilage (be sure to leave people out of the images), register and submit your photo to Marcal’s Facebook page. (Be sure to fan Marcal while you’re there!)  All qualified entries will be featured in a gallery online and the winners be chosen by a panel of judges. First Prize winner will receive the camera and five first prize winners will receive the $100 Best Buy® gift cards! Entries are due by November 9th so hurry! Public voting will take place from November 9-30 and the final winners will be announced December 15th. Good luck photographers!

-Brittany, KIWI staffer

Have you ever thought about incorporating baking soda into your everyday routine? I didn’t, until I attended an event at the Tribeca Day Spa, which featured Arm & Hammer Baking Soda. I knew baking soda was typically used for cooking and household purposes, but didn’t realize how versatile this simple (and affordable!) product could be. Here are a few ways to incorporate baking soda into your beauty and home cleaning routines.

Beauty
You can mix baking soda and water together to make a paste, which results in a great facial scrub and body exfoliator. Try it before your next at-home manicure and pedicure to leave hands and feet smooth and soft. Blend 2 tablespoons of Arm & Hammer Baking Soda in a basin of warm water. After soaking your feet, make a scrub using 3 parts baking soda and 1 part water. Follow the application with a moisturizer and a warm towel hand/foot wrap. Let sit for 5-10 minutes.

You can also sprinkle a quarter-sized amount of the powdery stuff in your shampoo to serve as a clarifier, which will remove excess residue and build-up that regular shampoos can’t always get rid of. Your hair will feel renewed and refreshed.

Cleaning
In addition to these great beauty treatments and tips, I learned how resourceful baking soda can be for everyday cleaning purposes—especially if you have young children. Instead of buying expensive products, you can use baking soda and water to clean and deodorize laundry, toys, and rooms where your child plays and eats. To clean out your baby bottles, soak them in water over night with a few tablespoons of baking soda. You can also use the same mixture to easily remove crayon marks on wall, wash your child’s crib, or clean her playpen.

-Amanda, KIWI Intern

Kohlrabi seems to be the poster child of unknown veggies. Whenever you read about joining a CSA, for instance, one of the touted benefits is that you’ll get to try new things you might overlook at the grocery store—like kohlrabi. And guess what? I joined a CSA this year, and last week, received my first bunch of kohlrabi. You know what else? I had no idea what to do with it.

Curious cook that I am, I did some research. Turns out, kohlrabi is type of cabbage, and is related to broccoli, kale, and Brussels sprouts—all veggies that I love (and that many kids despise, but more on that in a minute). Like it’s cousins, kohlrabi is packed with vitamins and minerals, in this case vitamin C, thiamin, folate, magnesium, vitamin B6, potassium, copper, and manganese.

It can be eaten raw or cooked, but I read that raw kohlrabi has a spice that’s similar to radishes. Since radishes are one of the few vegetables I can’t stand, I decided to go the cooked route, roasting peeled slices of kohlrabi in a 425-degree oven until tender (about 20-25 minutes). And I’m so glad I did, because it just might be my new favorite vegetable: It’s got a rich, slightly sweet flavor and gentle bite that’s somewhere in between a potato and cauliflower. The flavor’s a lot milder than things like cabbage, broccoli, or kale, making it super appealing to little eaters. Give it a try!

-Marygrace, staff writer

At the Natural Products Expo a week or so ago, a few other editors and I got a chance to sit down with keynote speaker Alicia Silverstone. You may know (and love) her book The Kind Diet, and I’m here to tell you that she’s one of the least pushy but most passionate advocates of a plant-based diet I’ve ever encountered. In honor of World Go Vegan Week, here are a few of the points she made—kindly, of course:

*Your body sends you messages all day long. Whether you’re hungry or full, and even what you need to eat. She feels like the processed food (and meat) that most Americans eat is blocking us from hearing what our bodies are saying. An interesting concept: Can you hear what your body is saying to you?

*Do your best. Alicia was asked about fake-meat products: If they’re processed and pretending to be meat, are they really such a good idea, if what you’re shooting for is a plant-based diet? Well, she said, if that’s what helps people take steps to move away from meat, then she thinks they’re great. Maybe they are best as transitional foods, not diet staples, but let’s be real: They’re yummy and easy. To her, they’re still a better choice, and I appreciate the respectful and encouraging way she approaches helping people make more conscious choices.

*Why not just try something different? If you or your kids have allergies, she says, why not give a dairy-free diet a chance for a week or two? She believes that dairy is linked to allergies, and her low-key pitch to just give it a shot is compelling. Cutting out dairy with your child is healthy, if you make sure he’s getting calcium and vitamin D from other sources.

In all, I left the little meeting with Alicia Silverstone feeling like she genuinely cares about other people—so much that she doesn’t want to be preachy or make people feel guilty about wherever they are on the road to getting healthy. That’s very KIWI!

-Sarah, KIWI editorial director

My friend passed away last Sunday, just a few weeks short of her 88^th birthday. As an editor, my job is bringing together concepts, tying in ideas, and connecting words to make cohesive, tidy summaries. And in the five days since Sunday, I’ve been trying to wrestle all the memories of my friend into a nice, organized synopsis, one that tells her story—with a beginning, middle, and, now, an end—and has structure, purpose, and a clear conclusion. But as a friend, I know that turning her life into a structured equation is not possible—she was too warm, too scattered, too wonderful to be shuffled into an easy category. So instead, all I can do is tell a story of my friend, not the story, but one of the many stories she left with me.

When I met Marie three years ago, I was dumbfounded by how little she had. 8 housecoats. 4 pairs of socks. 1 winter hat. 1 pair of gloves. 3 sweaters. 2 undershirts. 5 pairs of underwear. 1 pair of sneakers. 1 wallet with 1 ID, 1 Medicaid card, and 2 business cards. 1 mini pack of Oreos. 1 paper napkin with a Christmas tree on it. 1 photo of a former health aid’s dog. And some basic toiletries provided by the nursing home.

I couldn’t wrap my mind around the fact that eight decades of life could accumulate so little. It simply didn’t compute. So over the course the next three years, I filled her closet with dozens of floral-print housecoats (or “dresses,” as Marie called them), colorful socks, new sneakers, manicure sets and sparkly nail polishes, bright undershirts, stuffed animals with ribbons around their necks (Marie could tie a perfect bow), endless boxes and bags of candy, cookies, chips, marshmallows, lollipops (really, any treat she ever mentioned liking, and boy, were there many—Marie had a fierce sweet tooth)…stuff, lots and lots of stuff, as much stuff as I could stuff into her closet. I spent the span of our friendship working as a self-designated, singly-obsessed squirrel hoarding on her behalf.

Because after all, eight decades should amount to more than a handful or toiletries and old housecoats, right? But of course, Marie’s life was filled more fully than any closet could ever be; it just took me longer than most to figure that out.

Here’s the thing: Marie never complained about her life. Never complained about sharing a room with three other nursing home residents, with only thin curtains separating the beds; never complained about being in a wheelchair; never complained about not having any remaining family or friends; never complained about circumstances that would terrify most people, myself included. That’s not to say that Marie never complained about anything—she wasn’t a fan of the fresh vegetables the nursing home served (“I just like canned ones better,” she’d say) or her 6 am wakeup call (“Who in the world needs to get up that early?” she’d ask)—but it was never about the big stuff. When it came to the big stuff, she was content. Period. One evening, when I was about to leave her to go home, Marie said to me in whisper, “You know what? I’m happier here than I’ve ever been in my whole life.”

And she meant it. Marie had an ability I’ve only ever seen in clichéd Hollywood movies: An ability to enjoy the moment. Egg salad for lunch? “The best!” A soap opera on TV? “So interesting!” A trip downstairs to the vending machine for an ice cream? “An adventure!” She loved people, she loved food, she loved her home…she just loved.

The editor in me wants to tie this story up in a perfect bow. I’d like to be able to say that Marie gave me her gift of being satisfied with the little things. But this isn’t a Hollywood movie. What it is, though, is a lesson from my dear, dear friend that I will spend the rest of my life trying to grasp. I only wish I could still thank her for it.

-Amy, articles editor

Found: The perfect reason to swap your usual sandwich-side fruit with a bag of salty, crunchy chips. Natural chip brand, Food Should Taste Good, is doing good with their limited-edition Pink bags. For each one sold during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, five cents will go towards a participating charity, such as the Ellie Fund, the Massachusetts Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, and the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. The company is striving to earn $75,000.

Bearing the label “Food Should Taste Good…Breast Cancer Should Be Cured,” the Pink bags are available nationwide in multigrain, olive, and sweet potato (yum!) flavors. Find ‘em at Whole Foods, Safeway, Kroger, and Stop & Shop through the end of the month, then check FSTG’s Facebook page on November 1st to see if they met their fundraising goal.

-Marygrace, staff writer

Breakfast foods are good. So good, in fact, that it’s not unusual for me to eat a big bowl of porridge for lunch, or whip up a plate of whole wheat pancakes for dinner. But this morning I was in the mood for something different—something very un-breakfast-y that was still light enough to enjoy early in the day. This quick breakfast noodle soup hit the spot.

What I like best about this soup is it’s versatility: I used Japanese soba noodles (buckwheat noodles that are often blended with wheat) because they’re fast-cooking, but also have a hint of nutty sweetness that kind of reminded me of breakfast. You can substitute any thin, whole grain pasta you like (brown rice noodles are great, and cook in about three minutes), or even toss in some leftover cooked quinoa or brown rice. For the vegetables, I went with arame, an iron- and calcium-rich seaweed that’s available in dried form at most natural supermarkets (soaked in warm water, it takes all of five minutes to reconstitute). Any greens would work here, though—think torn spinach, chard, or even lettuce. And finally, protein: Cubed tofu seemed a natural fit here, but cooked chickpeas or edamame are equally easy (and delicious). If you’ve got a few more minutes, I bet a poached egg would be super tasty.

Poured in a mug, this soup is easy to slurp down while on the go. Since I had a bit more time this morning, I enjoyed it in a bowl, using chopsticks to eat the noodles, arame, and tofu, then drinking the rich, salty broth at the end. To make more servings, the recipe can easily be doubled.

Breakfast noodle soup
Prep + cook time: 12 minutes

2 cups vegetable stock or water (if using water, add 1 vegetable bouillon cube)
2 ounces buckwheat soba noodles
1/2 cup dried arame (or other seaweed)
4 ounces firm tofu, cubed
1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
2 teaspoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon yellow miso
Sesame seeds and chopped scallions, optional

1. Place the vegetable stock or water and dried arame in a small stock pot and bring to a boil. Add the soba noodles and cook according to package directions, about 5 minutes.
2. While the noodles cook, sesame oil, soy sauce, and miso in a serving bowl and mix to create a paste.
3. Pour the hot stock, noodles, and arame in the bowl over the sesame oil mixture. Add the cubed tofu and stir combine.
4. Garnish with sesame seeds and chopped scallions, if desired. Serve hot.

Serves 1
Calories 249, fat 10 g, protein 16 g, carbohydrates 38 g, dietary fiber 8 g

-Marygrace, staff writer

It’s been a while—but I’m back with a brand new list of our favorite posts from green-minded parent bloggers. Got a blog you’d like to share? Let us know in the comments!

• Cloth diapers are easy (well, to some!) at home—but what about when you’re out? Cloth Diaper Blog talks taking baby out on the town in reusables.
• When you’ve got a cute little puppy, accidents happen. Instead of cleaning up with harsh stain and odor removers, try Green and Clean Mom‘s natural solution.
• Still searching for the perfect DIY costume? Check out the cute, family-friendly ideas at Green Baby Guide.
• Go outside and play! Easier said than done, right? Green Stay at Home Mom has tips to get your little ones running around outdoors.
• Ever try dry shampoo to extend your ‘do one more day? The Green Phone Booth did, and here are the results.

-Marygrace, KIWI staff writer

While I like to think of my ability to simultaneously read-copy-and-make-astute-comments-and-answer-the-phone-and-send-clever-emails-and-listen-to-a-coworker’s-looong-commute-story as a clear sign of genius, I can admit that this may simply be a sign of having the attention span of a fruit fly. Regardless, this Einstein-esque insect loves a good quiz. I’m not talking about the ulcer-producing pop quizzes from college, or even the seriously un-fun Trivial Pursuit that inevitably results in someone (me) feeling a bit stupid, but rather, the random questions from random sources that mean I get to shake some tiny bit of knowledge loose from my thinker to benefit the greater good. Enter Freekibble.com and Freekibblekat.com.

Because apparently being a tween isn’t challenging enough, the then 11-year-old Mimi Ausland set out to feed shelter pets by creating two trivia game websites in 2008: Freekibble.com and Freekibblekat.com. Here’s how it works: Simply answer the daily trivia questions on each site, and 10 pieces of kibble will be donated to homeless dogs and cats. The best part? It doesn’t matter if you get the answers right or wrong—the kibble gets donated anyway (Not that I would need a safety net like that, of course). And it’s not just any kibble that our furry friends in need get to munch on. As of September 2010, Halo Purely for Pets, a maker of natural pet care products, became the official sponsor of Freekibble.com and Freekibblekat.com, meaning that when you answer the questions, you’re helping serve up chow that’s wholesome, natural, and nutritious to help keep Fido and Fluffy happier and healthier while they wait to find families of their own.

If you have a busy brain that might not always remember to visit the same websites everyday (or wear matching socks, but that’s another story), not to worry. Sign up to have the daily trivia questions delivered right to your inbox.

Here’s a preview of your daily Q&A.

From Freekibble.com:

Q. New research shows for the first time, that dogs catch contagious _____ triggered by watching a human do it.

a. Shivering

b. Yawning

c. Hiccups

d. Blinking

A. If you answered b, you’re correct! Just like when you watch someone yawn and suddenly look as though you’ve been up all night, your pooch can be triggered to open wide by seeing a fellow yawner, too. To make sure this answer’s correct, I tested the hiccup one on my parents’ pup, Emma. Nope, doesn’t work. What hiccupping in front of a small dog does do, however, is cause much excited barking, an impressively strong tackle from a 6-lb turnip, and an unfortunate amount of face licking.

From Freekibblekat.com:

Q. Which of the following is a good substitute for water for your cat?

a. Milk

b. Orange Juice

c. Green Tea

d. There is not a good substitute for water

A. As my own shelter cat, Sniffles, can attest, not only is there not a good substitute for water (d), but there’s nothing like sipping from a tall glass of water placed on the counter—not on the floor—by your exasperated human helpers.

To date, the websites’ daily visitors have helped Freekibble donate 3,846,737 nutritious meals to hungry pets in shelters, rescues, and food banks across the country. Go to freekibble.com and freekibblekat.com today to help. And to show off your fun facts knowledge database, of course.

–Amy, KIWI articles editor

There is nothing better than a warm, sweet treat on a fall day. With Halloween and Thanksgiving right around the corner, these vegan Pumpkin Spice Orange Banana Bars will be a sure crowd pleaser, and will put everyone in the holiday mood.

This recipe comes from Kathy Patalsky, founder of The Lunchbox Brunch, a line of books, apparel, and greeting cards that seek to inspire children to taste and experiment with different, healthier foods.  Check out her blog for other fun, fast, and delicious vegan meals and snacks.

The combination of spelt (a nutty-tasting, low-gluten flour that’s better tolerated by some with wheat sensitivies) and whole wheat flour gives these treats a healthy twist. Make them into bars or muffins.

Pumpkin Spice Orange Banana Bars
Prep time: 20 minutes
Cook time: 15-20 minutes

2 cups spelt flour
1 cup all-purpose flour
3 extra-ripe bananas, mashed
1/2 cup canned pumpkin
1 teaspoon cinnamon
Dash of cayenne
2 tablespoons baking powder
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 teaspoons orange zest
1 large orange, juiced (about 1/4 cup)
2 tablespoons canola oil
1/2 cup light coconut milk

1/3 cup pumpkin seeds
1 teaspoon salt (omit if using salted nuts/seeds)
1/3 cup agave nectar or maple syrup
1/2 cup crushed pecans or other nuts
1/4 cup dried cranberries (optional)
2 tablespoons crushed flax seeds

1. Preheat oven to 375º. Lay a sheet of parchment paper over an 8 x 14″ baking pan for bars, or line a muffin.
2. Add flour, dry spices, salt and baking powder to a large mixing bowl. Stir well.
3. Add in the coconut milk, oil, vanilla extract, bananas, pumpkin, orange juice and maple syrup. Stir well.
4. Add in pumpkin seeds, 1 teaspoon of orange zest, and pecans and dried cranberries, if using.
5. Pour batter into baking dish or muffin tin. For bars, use a spatula to smooth out the top of the batter.
6. Sprinkle pumpkin seeds, cinnamon, the other teaspoon of orange zest and an extra drizzle of agave nectar or maple syrup over the top.
7. Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until bars are lightly browned on the edges and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

* Letting the bread chill in the fridge is another option. Freeze to store for a few days.

Makes 12 bars of muffins

Per serving: Calories 291, protein 4 g, fat 10 g, carbohydrates 47 g, dietary fiber 6 g

-Amanda, Intern

Hooray! KIWI’s October/November issue hits newsstands today. Our adorably festive cover is probably enough to get you running out to pick up your copy—but just in case, here’s a sneak peek of what you’ll find inside:

• Happy Halloween! Throw a spooky fun party complete with earth-friendly crafts, homemade costumes, and tasty treats.
• Staying safe from toxins How to protect your family from lead, flame retardants, mercury, and more.
• Raising grateful kids What KIWI families across the country appreciate most—and how they give thanks.
• Healthy teeth, naturally Greener oral care for babies, toddlers, and beyond.
• Thanksgiving side dish makeover Simple swaps to make your trimmings yummy and good for you.

Like most kids, when I was little I went through a stage where I loved animals. It went from following our long-suffering family dog, Dusty, around like a stalker, to hanging pictures of bunny rabbits all over my room, to announcing in the 5^th grade—much to my mother’s dismay—that I would no longer be eating meat. Ever. But unlike most stages kids go through, this one stuck. What was initially a combination of having seen lobsters being cooked, reading Charlotte’s Web, and having a titanium-strength stubborn streak, evolved into a life-long refusal to eat the cute critters I love so dearly (though, honestly, my cat Sniffles can make me so crazy that I’m not above telling her that one more 2 a.m. stepping on my face incident, and she’s being served for dinner. Hey, no one’s perfect).

One thing I’ve always worked hard to avoid is being one of those vegetarians. You know, the ones who insist on having their veggie burgers cooked on separate grills at backyard BBQs, the ones who only need the slightest prompting—even if it’s imaginary—to launch into a 40-minute lecture on all the reasons people shouldn’t eat meat. This avoidance is partly due to a trait of fearing-any-and-all-conflict-and-thinking-that-everyone-must-get-along-at-all-times, and also an unwillingness to give the people who look for opportunities to rag on vegetarianism an opening—and trust me, I’ve heard it all over the years. But when an opportunity to talk about something I’m so passionate about does arise, I’m not above taking advantage. Case in point:

Today just happens to be the North American Vegetarian Society’s annual celebration of World Vegetarian Day, the kick-off of Vegetarian Awareness Month! People choose a vegetarian diet for a number of reasons—from Charlotte’s Web and stubbornness, to health benefits and a desire to help preserve the Earth—and the North American Vegetarian Society wants to help non-vegetarians find their own reason to give meatless eating a try.

And what’s a better incentive than cash?

Non-vegetarians who pledge to abstain from all meat, fish and fowl during Vegetarian Awareness Month (October) will be entered in a random drawing for cash prizes. One winner will be chosen in each of the following three categories: One day $250; One week $500; One month $1,000.

Go to worldvegetarianday.org to enter the “Give Vegetarianism a Try” contest. All you have to do is fill out a pledge card, send it in, and poof—you could win a thousand bucks. Oh, and you’d also happen to be helping:

·Reduce the risk of  heart disease, stroke and cancer, while cutting exposure to foodborne pathogens

·Provide a viable answer to feeding the world’s hungry through more efficient use of grains and other crops

·Save animals from suffering in factory-farm conditions and from the pain and terror of slaughter

·Conserve vital but limited freshwater, fertile topsoil and other precious resources

·Preserve irreplaceable ecosystems such as rainforests and other wildlife habitats

·Decrease greenhouse gases that are accelerating global warming

·Mitigate the ever-expanding environmental pollution of animal agriculture

Not that I’m lecturing, of course. I just like cute critters.

–Amy, KIWI articles editor

Does it seem like everybody’s talking about how to get kids to eat healthier? From Michelle Obama to the blogger down the block, there are a lot of people trying to make changes in home, schools, and beyond. Here are three initiatives I thought you KIWI readers would be particularly interested in:

KIWI Crusaders: Our own contest! If your child’s school is doing a great job promoting nutrition and making sure kids’ meals and snacks are healthy, it could win $2500. We love to celebrate what’s going right in schools, so tell us!

Annie’s Root 4 Kids: Annie’s is partnering with Farm to School to encourage parents and schools to get kids learning about and growing their own vegetables. Take the Root 4 Kids pledge and commit to completing at least one activity, such as learning about, eating, and planting new veggies, or working to get more fresh foods into schools. (Plus, for every 1,000 pledges Annie’s gets, they’ll contribute funds toward a garden or a Farm to School program in an underprivileged school.)

Hershey’s Moderation Nation: I know what you’re thinking: Hershey’s? And I thought that too. What’s the behemoth chocolate company doing telling us about healthy eating? Well, they have a message I agree with: Moderation. Life wouldn’t be the same without chocolate (and Hershey does own Dagoba, the organic chocolate company), and even better, there’s something FREE in for you in their new campaign: Schedule a dietitian visit through the site, and Hershey’s will reimburse you for it.

Happy, healthy eating!
—Sarah, KIWI editorial director

I love smoothies (super healthy + super convenient=win), but I gotta say, I’m pretty tired of the same old ingredient combos. Berries and yogurt, berries and milk, berries and banana—sure, they’re all good (and good for you), but if I see another berry smoothie recipe, well, I don’t know. I’m not going to make it, that’s for sure. Besides, berry season is over. And while you could certainly use frozen, there are plenty of other perfectly good ingredients that make for a mighty tasty blended beverage and are available fresh right now.

I’m talking about apples and kale. WAIT! Before you click away, trust me, this is good. This smoothie is plenty sweet, and the green leaves and apple peel make for such a pretty color. And since kale is literally one of the most nutritious foods you can eat (apples aren’t too bad, either!), you’ll actually feel the healthy life energy pulsing through your body after you drink this. Did I just say that? Oh yes, I did. Because it’s true!

To recap: Smoothies taste delicious, are good for you (especially this one), and are super easy to make. Start your blenders.

Green apple smoothie
1 Granny Smith apple, cored and chopped into 1-inch pieces
1/2 banana (frozen, if possible), chopped into 1-inch pieces
2-3 kale leaves, stems removed
2 tablespoons almond butter
1 cup unsweetened almond milk
1 teaspoon honey
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Serve immediately.

Makes 1 smoothie: Calories 400, protein 7 g, fat 22 g, carbohydrates 50 g, dietary fiber 8 g

-Marygrace, KIWI staff writer

The concept is simple: Kids should get outside and play. The execution, however, isn’t so easy. The combination of kids spending an average of 7.5 hours a day in front of the TV and computer, and the fact that almost 60 percent of all kids don’t have a playground within walking distance of their homes (that number rises to nearly 70 percent in low-income areas), adds up to some serious lack of outdoor playtime. Fortunately, there’s a group working to change that: KaBOOM! (That’s the name of the group—I wasn’t just channeling my inner comic book fan).

To help ensure that kids across the country get down to some serious playing—and that they have the play spaces to do so—the national nonprofit KaBOOM! has launched its second annual KaBOOM! Play Days sponsored by Mott’s. KaBOOM! Play Days encourage communities to come together for fun activities and to improve their local parks and playgrounds. Now through September 26^th, families can check out the Play Days website to find fun local events (there are over 1,500 Play Days registered nationwide). Just head to the website, enter your zip code and KaBoom!, you’ll find a participating playground nearby for you and the kids to enjoy some good old-fashioned play this weekend (and okay, yes, that last KaBoom! was totally me—POW!).

If you’re feeling more ambitious and want to host your own Play Day, you can find tools to help self-organize, recruit volunteers, invite other people, and receive event-planning help at Kaboom.org. Plus, once the events are over, Play Day communities with the best improvement projects will be eligible to win one of several grants worth up to $10,000 to help further improve their local park or playground.

Have fun playing this weekend!

-Amy, KIWI articles editor

When it comes to sports, it’s not all about winning, or even staying in shape. Regular participation in vigorous activity and team athletics helps kids feel happier, too, according to a new study from West Virginia University. Researchers evaluated questionnaires filled out by 245 7th and 8th graders, who were asked to assess their own physical health and activity levels, plus overall satisfaction with life. 12-14 year old boys who played team sports were five times more likely to report being happy, while girls who played team sports were thirty times more likely to report being happy. Girls who performed solo exercise reported feeling happier, too.

Sports participation may help kids feel more connected to their school, provide social support, and promote student and team mate bonding, researchers say. On the flip side, trying out for a school sports team can be tough—and not everyone makes the cut. (Perhaps a sense of feeling left out being one of the reasons why kids who aren’t on sports teams report feeling less satisfied?) If your child’s jump shot (or field goal, or corner kick) isn’t quite up to competitive snuff, there are other options: Encourage him to get involved with school or local intramurals, or even form pick-up games with some of his friends. And since any sort of exercise was associated with boosting girls’ satisfaction, non-team activities—like running, bicycling, or rock climbing—are good options, too.

-Marygrace, KIWI staff writer

I love finding family-run businesses whose primary focus is taking good care of their customers, like My Baby’s Green, LLC. The online clothing and toy store offers up organic, sustainable, high-quality items for little ones (without harming the planet!). For babies, there are carriers, crib sheets, adorable accent pillows, body suits, and more–all in a variety of cute patterns. For kids? My personal favorite is the organic “All you need is LOVE” t-shirt (and at $26, it’s a steal). Gearing up for Halloween with some spooktacular gear? Try the reusable Trick-or-Treat tote, complete with a pumpkin on the front and “Ghouls Wanna Have Fun” nail polish too. And don’t worry, moms, we didn’t forget about you! How about a bamboo utensil set or a reusable sandwich/snack bag?

I could keep gushing, but you should probably just check out My Baby’s Green for yourself. Best of all, they’re offering up a 25 percent discount (kids’ tees excluded) for KIWI readers when you enter KIWI25 at checkout.

-Brittany, KIWI staffer

Help your child grow, learn, and thrive in the classroom with KIWI College’s free webinar, Building a Bridge Between Home and School, tonight at 8 P.M. EST and Thursday at 2 P.M. EST.

Homework, the need to fit in, and the pressure to succeed can mean a rough start to the school year. What are the best ways to help your child feel secure and confident in the classroom–without getting over-involved? Learn how to help your child thrive in school with Lu Hanessian, a journalist, parent educator, and author of Let the Baby Drive. She’ll explain how to forge strong bonds with your child’s teacher, how to prevent homework conflicts, and the four common mistakes parents make with teachers during the first two months of school. She’ll also share her tips for easing your child’s school anxieties–and offer opportunities for you to ask your questions, too!

Spaces are limited, so register now!

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!

• Cute! Check out This Mama Makes Stuff‘s DIY Mini Snuglet–it’ll keep your child toasty when the nights get chilly.
• Has your child ever gotten in trouble for doing the right thing (or did you, when you were a kid?)? Eighty MPH Mama shares some of her funny stories.
• On the super busiest of nights, frozen pizza can be a godsend. But finding one that’s  delicious and good for you? Mom Most Traveled reviews her new favorite pie.
• Picking pumpkins, making leaf bouquets, watching football, and more: Secret Mom Thoughts posts her family’s fall fun checklist.
• Can’t travel the world? Bring the world to your family, says Sorta Crunchy.

-Marygrace, KIWI staff writer

Do you ever think about how many germs are swarming all over the shopping carts at your local grocery store?  Even though many supermarkets offer sanitizing wipes that can be used to clean off your cart, do they really make a difference?  These were the thoughts running through my mind while I walked the aisles of the local Whole Foods with my brother and two-year-old niece. Was I setting my niece up to catch some nasty virus or bacteria by letting sit in the front seat of the shopping cart?  So, as soon as I got home, I started doing some research. Lo and behold, I found the perfect natural solution: Clean Shopper.

The Clean Shopper, made by Babe Ease LLC, is a fabric shopping cart cover that prevents your baby or toddler from coming into contact with nasty germs or bacteria. Available in a variety of cute colors and patterns (made from nontoxic dyes), the Clean Shopper folds up for easy bag storage, and takes about 10 seconds to slip over a standard shopping cart.    The built-in safety strap keeps your little one secure, and the toy straps hold onto her favorite play gadgets (so they don’t fall on the floor and pick up more germs!). What’s better than that?

To get your Clean Shopper—and check out Babe Ease’s line of organic cotton baby items—visit cleanshopper.com.

-Shelby, KIWI intern

Mmm, raspberry cheesecake crackers

Guest blogger Kristen J. Gough is always up for trying new dishes—especially with her kids. You can read more about their adventures in food at MyKidsEatSquid.com.

I’ve discovered a little secret—the more inventive my afterschool snack, the more likely my three girls are to sit around with me and talk about their day (Shhh! They still think my only motivation is to find new ways to use bananas and chocolate). We’ve had our hits (banana hot dogs) and misses (carrot burritos), but most of the time, if my kids help me put something creative and tasty together, we end up chatting as we mix, talking between bites—it’s the perfect mommy-daughter-daughter-daughter time.

Here are a few of our recent hits:

Raspberry Cheesecake Crackers

Don’t worry, these just sound calorie-laden; they’re not. I take saltines and top them with a dollop of Neufchatel cheese spread, raspberry fruit spread, and then some dried fruit. Today it was mangos; tomorrow I’ll use pineapple.

Go-For-It Gorp

Trail mix heaven. Grab whatever you have tucked away in the back of your cabinet and let your kids make their own mixes. My kids always start with pretzels or honey nut O’s, then mix in dried fruit, like golden raisins and dates, nuts, and of course a few chips (dark chocolate is their fave).

Color Me Hungry

My middle child hates carrots—claim they give her headaches. But they’re such a convenient, dippable snack that I’ve been trying to help her overcome her carrot fears. Last week, we discovered yellow carrots from Cal-Organic farms. She’s been happily dipping them in ranch dressing every since. (Who knew a color could make such a difference! You can also find purple green beans, yellow tomatoes…)

Sundae Sandwich

Bananas (I told you I liked them!), nuts, chocolate sauce, peanut butter, maybe even some jelly—it’s a sandwich Elvis would have liked; your kids will like it too. I spread some peanut butter on whole grain bread, add thin-cut bananas, a drizzle of chocolate sauce, and depending on which of my daughters is requesting it, a little fruit spread. Warning: These sandwiches are FILLING (but easy to carry to soccer practice).

And when you’re not feeling creative—or you’re running from theatre practice to piano lessons and oh yeah, you need to grab groceries, I keep a few snacks in my purse. I’m a CLIF fanatic (plus they’re on sale at back-to-school time —I pack ZBars, which come in chocolate brownie, honey graham cracker, smores, or their twisted fruit ropes; I’m sure there are several flavors, but my kids always stick with mixed berry.

What about you? Do you have a favorite snack that you’ve made for your kids—or, even better, that they’ve created on their own? Hey, if they’re making cucumber-pretzel-banana-cheese sandwiches: As long as they’ll eat it, I’d say that’s a great snack!

I love whipping up vegan cakes, cookies, breads, and more: I know it’s lower-impact on the environment, (a little bit!) better for my health, and always delicious. But while reading a recent New York Times article, I was reminded that lots of people are intimidated—or just plain turned off—by baking sans dairy and eggs. Some folks think the recipes will require difficult or inconvenient substitutions, or that the final product’s taste or texture will be off. Though it’s certainly true that not all conventional sweets can easily be made vegan (hello, meringues!), there are plenty that can.

The next time you pull out the measuring cups and mixing bowls, keep the eggs and butter in the fridge—and try veganizing your recipe with these easy tips.

For the eggs

• Pureed fruit. 1/4 cup of unsweetened applesauce per egg is an all-purpose favorite, since it’s flavor is undetectable in most baked goods. The same amount of mashed banana works, too, but you might taste it in the final product (which, depending on what you’re making, could be a good thing!). If you’re baking something chocolate-y, try plum puree (yes, from a baby food jar!) to enhance the flavor. For each quarter-cup of pureed fruit, add 1/2 teaspoon of baking powder.
• Silken tofu. Like eggs, silken tofu lends binding protein to a batter or dough. It’s great because, alone, it has no taste (making it a good savory binder as well, like in homemade veggie burgers), but maybe less convenient since not everyone always has the stuff on hand. Use 1/4 cup of pureed silken tofu per egg.
• Flax eggs. When blended with water, ground flax seeds form a sort of sticky goo that’s similar to beaten eggs. Plus, flax adds an extra dose of nutty fiber and omega-3s. For each egg you want to replace, blend or vigorously whisk 1 tablespoon ground flaxseed with 2 tablespoons warm water.

For the butter

• Non-hydrogenated margarine. Not your grandma’s margarine (or “oleo”, as mine likes to call it), the new dairy-free, buttery spreads are an all-natural blend of trans-fat free vegetable oils. I’m a dedicated fan of Earth Balance buttery sticks, which are easier to measure than tub spreads. Use it measure-for-measure when substituting for butter.
• Canola oil. It’s got a neutral flavor that works well with anything. Since it has a different composition than butter, though (oil is pure fat, while butter has some water), you’ll want to compensate by decreasing the oil slightly. Recipes that call for 1/2 cup (1 stick) of butter can instead use 1/3 cup canola oil.
• Coconut butter or oil. The high saturated fat content of coconut butter yields baked goods with a rich texture similar to ones made with butter. A slight coconut-y flavor tends to come through, which depending on what you’re baking, may or may not work. Since coconut butter is actually a solidified oil, measure as you would a regular oil.

For the milk

• Soy, almond, or rice milk. All of these nondairy milks work equally well, so which one you use depends on your family’s preferences. Use measure-for-measure with cow’s milk.
• Soy, almond, or rice milk with vinegar. Add a teaspoon of vinegar for each cup of nondairy milk and let sit for 5 minutes to mimic buttermilk.
• Coconut milk. Cup for cup, the full-fat stuff does an excellent job of standing in for cream.

Marygrace, KIWI staff writer

Ulcers. Migraines. Panic attacks. Are today’s pressures slowly killing our children?

Tara Parker-Pope, in her New York Times “Well” column, recently profiled the phenomenon of “back-to-school” headaches.

“For kids around the country it’s back-to-school time. But for many of them, it’s also the return of headache season,” laments Parker-Pope.

While going back to school is nerve-racking for many kids (and their parents), it’s not the only time of year I hear complaints about headaches and stomachaches severe enough to cause families to bring their kids in to see me. Every day in my practice, I see at least one child suffering from physical symptoms of stress. Teens with chronic headaches, eight year-olds with recurrent abdominal pain, a three year-old with a bleeding ulcer. What’s going on?

Some have blamed our society’s new obsession with over-scheduling young ones. Judith Warner’s treatise on turbo-charged moms, “Perfect Madness,” takes parents to task for pushing their children too hard as a side-effect of martyred motherhood. School and travel sports teams have year-long seasons now, kids are booked several weeks ahead for play-dates, and kindergarteners have homework every night. While we work on addressing these societal ills – see my piece last month on the value of “free play” – we’ve got to find ways to help our kids build their virtual toolbox of mind-body skills to help them cope with life’s worries.

A few of my favorite mind-body relaxation therapies for kids? One of the most promising and appealing modalities is Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, developed by Jon Kabat-Zinn. Jon and his wife Myla have also published a wonderful book to teach parents how to work with their kids from this perspective: “Everyday Blessings: The Inner Work of Mindful Parenting.” Yoga, guided imagery, biofeedback, music therapy – these too have solid evidence supporting their use in the pediatric population to help children cope with stress. Another favorite resource is Dr. Amy Saltzman’s CD, “Still Quiet Place.” Amy does a wonderful job creating a variety of mind-body experiences for children and families, and the recording is a terrific tool to engage youngsters in the practice of mindfulness.

One of my favorite ways to bring the concept of mindfulness into my kids’ lives has been through reading stories. Since they were very young, my children have loved listening to stories we tell them about “the old days.” Though they’re getting older now, we still try and make time to read stories together before bed. There is magic in telling and listening to stories.

Hans Christian Andersen, the bard of Copenhagen, was immortalized as a master storyteller, played by Danny Kaye, in my wife’s favorite movie of all time. I’d like to think we’ve all been mesmerized from time to time by storytellers. Stories are a way many of us pass on tales of our past, our culture, and moral lessons to our children. Native American storytelling, an integral part of American history, teaches children about the ways we interact with nature and about the importance of ancient wisdom. There are modern-day storytellers as well. Jim Weiss is one – I heard him a few years ago at a children’s health fair; he had the kids in the palm of his hand after two minutes. I also had the privilege of meeting Vered Hankin at an integrative pediatrics conference. If you think there’s no one around today weaving tales “like they used to” – you’ve got to listen to Vered’s work. Her stories come alive – they’re almost 3D. The power to me is the hypnotizing transportation to other places. This is truly mind-body therapy. And it is a very useful tool to help young children (and us old kids too!) cope with stress.

And what better way to help our children learn about mindfulness than through stories? Not just via the act of storytelling and listening but through the telling of specific stories that weave in messages about mindfulness. Jon Muth’s “Zen Shorts“ is one of my all-time favorites. On the surface, the author introduces three contemporary Western children to a decidedly-Buddhist giant panda, Stillwater, but along the way, he gracefully weaves in three Zen philosophy tales. My personal favorite (though not my kids, of course!) is about letting go. Karl, the youngest child, goes to visit Stillwater, but he’s quite mad at his older brother, Michael. Karl spends the day being mad at Michael, as Stillwater tries to educate him about enjoying the moment and releasing his anger. The parable Stillwater shares with Karl to illustrate the point goes something like this:

Two monks are walking along a country path. They soon are met by a caravan, a group of attendants carrying their wealthy and not-so-kindly mistress and her possessions. They come to a muddy river, and cannot cross with both mistress and packages – they must put one down and cannot figure out how to do so. So the elder monk volunteers to carry the woman across the river, on his back, allowing the attendants to carry her things, and then all can go on their way. The woman does not thank him, and rudely pushes him aside to get back to her caravan. After traveling some way on their own, the younger monk turns to his master, and says, “I cannot believe that old woman! You kindly carried her across the muddy river, on your very own back, and not only did she not offer thanks, but she actually was quite rude to you!” The master calmly and quietly turned to his student, and offered this observation: “I put the women down some time ago. Why are you still carrying her?”

The story resonated with me as I read it, and both kids asked many questions about the literal events and about their meaning. We spoke about different religions – Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and Buddhism. They understood at a basic level the similarities and differences – though they interestingly both focused on the similarities. But it was the very nature of questioning that struck me as so apropos. I was reminded of a verse (15) from the Tao Te Ching:

Do you have the patience to wait

till your mud settles and the water is clear?

Can you remain unmoving

till the right action arises by itself?

This concept of mindfulness, of being in the present, is so important to both children and adults. I think children mainly do live in the moment. Both the past and future are strange concepts until they age a bit. Perhaps we should learn to keep more of this “now” with us as we age. It would serve us all well.

-KIWI columnist, Dr. Lawrence Rosen

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!

• Yum! The Improvised Life shares tips for whipping up easy tarts on the fly—perfect for those need-to-be-used-now peaches.
• Are you a conscious shopper (or do you want to be one?)? Take the Green Phone Booth‘s Conscious Shopper Challenge and join a swap network.
• Sometimes, more is less. Natural as Possible Mom agrees, which is why she’s giving a lot of her family’s stuff away to friends.
• Line-drying your laundry in the summer’s a no-brainer, but you can do it year-round, Crunchy Chicken says.
• Why on Earth are some people still using plastic water bottles? Green SAHM offers some theories on why some people don’t buy earth-friendly products.

-Marygrace, KIWI staff writer