I have been telling more people about my vegan venture. Some people think it’s cool and trendy. Others think I have lost my mind. I have given up coffee, too, and my sister thinks that alone qualifies me for a 5150 in California.

The coffee part isn’t going very well at all. I think about coffee a lot and sneak it. Always decaf. I switched to soy and stevia. But, it’s still coffee, no matter how you grind the bean.

I was in the Peace Corps in the former Soviet Union from 1998 to 2000. I joined when I was 32. Talk about raising eyebrows!

Going vegan is nothing compared to telling friends and family I was ditching it all, getting rid of most of my stuff and moving to a country no one has ever heard of. Slovakia is the former half of Czechoslovakia and is bordered by Poland, Austria, Ukraine, Czech Republic and Hungary. Speaking of Hungary, I’m starving.

I’m almost three weeks into this vegan thing. I don’t look different. I don’t feel different. I try to run 3 miles every day and I’ve been struggling more than usual.

Temptations are getting harder. I’m knocking on mozzarella’s door. I want a quickie with quiche. I can’t fight this feeling anymore (sorry – a new theme song from REO Speedwagon is trying to invade the Supreme’s space and I am blocking it with all of my vegemight).

I am going to renew my commitment to being a vegan. I want to make vegan friends. No more secret meatings. No more raving cravings. I am renewing my efforts. Starting tomorrow.

I have a soy dream.

Parenting kids reminds me of preparing a deliciously satisfying but complicated dish! It is often daunting to search for the right healthy recipe with natural ingredients to make the dish wholesome with just the right amount of kick. What a relief when guests rave about the dish… even better when the dish creatively stands alone. What pride you feel at getting the recipe right.

True, the stakes are much higher when trying to get the recipe right when the dish we are tending is a child. As parents we search to find the ingredients to provide the right foundation for our children’s healthy development and growth. In my practice, and as a mom, I have researched many resources looking for helpful evidenced-based parenting information. I enjoy knowing that the “recipe” has been through a test kitchen before experimenting on our own kiddies. One such resource I often recommend is Search Institute.

Search Institute researched 40 developmental assets for helping children grow up “healthy, caring and responsible” including empowering children, setting boundaries and the importance of instilling values. In the mix of raising yummy kids there needs to be a fair amount of improvisation and cooking without a recipe. However, having a staple of ingredients such as, things you can do to help your child succeed (assets), may be worth stocking up on. But, who knew there were 40 of them! (For a complete list visit Search-Institute.org)

Lastly, combine cups filled with fun, love, patience, understanding and a dash of “thyme” for seasoning and you are bound to have a great dish of a kid!

-June Grushka-Rosen M.Ed. is a Life Coach, Educator, Psychotherapist and mommy of two. To contact – June@URextraordinary.com

I’m back on the vagon.

Even without a vegantini, I am struggling more than I did in the beginning. I plan to stick with this for 3 months and give it a fair shot.

I would love to say that I will adopt veganism for life, but I think it’s inevitable that a choice will come down to having a cup of yogurt (not vegan) or a faux chicken nugget. Perhaps I’m wrong, but I think the healthier choice for me is yogurt.

It’s hard to change my perceptions; I embraced dairy for 42 years. Perhaps it’s habit more than desire, but I still associate dairy and eggs as healthy choices. I think lean organic chicken and grilled salmon are also good for me.

I don’t think fake breaded chicken nuggets (or anything with the word nugget in its name) are good for me. I have a severe case of cognitive dissonance. Yes, I realize that example took the best from one lot and the worst from the other, but you see my point.

I’ve worked hard to eat a healthy diet and avoid all things breaded and fried. I have avoided hot dogs, hamburgers, bacon and doughnuts. But, there are vegan versions of all of these things and I think it might not be a good idea to eat them even if they don’t contain animal products. Of course, this may not be about me. What?

I found a vegan website that actually has vegan versions of s’mores, Twinkies and cinnamon buns. Although I would love to try them out of sheer curiosity, I might like them and somehow give the green light to food that I have avoided for decades.

I guess the best way to continue is to always be prepared, find fun vegan food choices and do my best until my blog is bought by Omaha Steaks or Wendy’s.

I cheated. Now I am a cheatin’ vegan. I am a fair-weather vegan.

In my defense, I have been dedicated and fearless in the face of pudding, ranch dressing and Brie. It was a big date with my husband who has been traveling a lot lately. We rarely get a night out alone. I had a vegantini (no animals were harmed, but I think I was) and my inhibitions were down.

I wanted it. I had to have it. I couldn’t keep my hands off of it.

No, I’m not going to get spicy here. I wanted meat. Specifically pot stickers and a sashimi tuna martini. And they tasted amazing. Sure, I felt a little guilty but it was with my husband and it didn’t mean anything. It was just physical. It won’t happen again, I swear. I’ll go to counseling. I’ll do anything for another chance.

For most people, after a long winter, the budding of trees and spring flowers can be a greatly anticipated time of year. However, for allergy sufferers, it can be an unwelcome time as sneezing, runny nose and itchy eyes prevail. Being proactive with your health during allergy season can vastly prevent most symptoms and make springtime a time to be outdoors.

Histamine is a neurotransmitter that is released from mast cells when the body is exhibiting an allergic reaction or immune response. Histamine dilates blood vessels and increases blood vessel permeability. This leads to visual signs in the body such as localized swelling, warmth, and redness. Histamine also irritates nerve endings that can lead to itching and pain. The bump and redness immediately following a mosquito bite is a good example of this reaction, which occurs seconds after challenge of the mast cell by an allergen. If you are a person whose body “over-reacts” to bug bites, then your body likely has a tendency towards inflammation and allergy.

Try taking a daily dose of Vitamin C. Research shows that 1-gram a day can help to reduce overall histamine levels in the body. Foods that tend to increase histamine levels in the body are strawberries, tomato, chocolate, wine, bananas and shellfish. These foods should be limited or avoided all together during allergy season. In general, dairy foods such as cheese, milk and yogurt should be avoided as well, as they have a tendency to cause generalized inflammation and can create more mucous if it already exists.

Berries such as blueberries, cherries, and raspberries as well as mango contain a good amount of bioflavonoids. These phytochemicals stabilize mast cells in the body and decrease overall histamine response, thus reducing inflammation.

Lastly, try using a HEPA air filter. It can reduce dust in the bedrooms and main living areas as well as eliminate circulating pollen that enters through open windows. Be sure to keep windowsills wiped down in the bedroom and sweep under the bed. Keep in mind; the bedroom should be the most dust-free room in the house as this is where you will have the most concentrated period of breathing throughout the day!

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

Say you want to try vegan food and don’t want to have to cook different meals for your family. In the early stages, it’s daunting and time-consuming to figure out how to maintain nutritional balance and not fall back into old patterns. Prepare to be amazed. Two words: Hungry Vegan. Meet Amy Townsend. (Amy, Future Vegan. Future Vegan, Amy.) Now kiss and hug her. Amy started the Hungry Vegan (www.hungry-vegan.com) which is a company that ships prepared organic vegan meals nationwide. I don’t live in Manhattan and even getting the pizza guy to find my house is a struggle, but somehow Amy managed to send a cooler of vegan food to my doorstep. It’s some of the best food I have ever tasted. The mushroom bisque with thyme was delicious and cleared my sinuses. For around $85 per week (delivery charges vary based on location), I have been eating delicious, nutritious food which requires minimal prep time. Amy has about 50 clients per week who order her prepared meals and most of them are women (she also mentioned that most of their names start with the letter J. I would have thought V). Her next step is to launch a second vegan menu geared toward reversing diabetes and heart disease. It will be a no oil/no salt added/low glycemic diet that follows the guidelines of the Physicians’ Committee for Responsible Medicine. As the Vegan Mary, I hereby declare Amy to be Vegemighty.

 I am re-running this post to get your Friday creative juices flowing.  It’s a comment contest!!  I am going to choose, at random, one person to receive a Wrap-n-mat reusable sandwich wrap for the best new moniker for vegans (nothing snarky, please).  I know, I know – Edamommy already suggested such good ones.  But try your best.  The Vegan Mary is already taken.  I’ll announce the winner in one week and send you your Wrap-n-mat. Ready – set- comment!  I see these comment contests work, so stop back often for more prizes.

One edamommy attempts to cut meat out of her life.

Now that I am an experienced vegan of two weeks, I feel I need to lobby to change the moniker. Vegan doesn’t sound welcoming or happy. I came up with a few which I will try out on the public: Edamommy - nurturing, warm and happy, but gender-specific Vega – the brightest star in the constellation Lyra (I think it should rhyme with Degas) Vegas – already taken but very interesting how one small letter change makes a huge difference. Fun, festive and a little naughty Vegemighty – sounds like a new superhero – if you eat xx amount of vegan food, you could earn a superhero cape!Veggin – friendlier and hip – Just veggin’Weeeegan! - way more funThe Vegan Mary - I guess that would only apply to me and other Marys-”Edamommy” Mary Talalay is a writer for KIWI Magazine

Hybrid and alternative fuel vehicles are a great example of rapidly evolving technology that will improve our lives. The question is, does it pay to be an early adopter? Environmental concern and cost savings are typical purchase motivations. Hybrids can also provide a means of publicly projecting that environmental commitment. Flex fuel vehicles (many larger domestic vehicles that can run on 85% ethanol, or vegetable based alcohol) and diesel vehicles (all of which can burn biodiesel, or refined vegetable oil) are also increasingly common.For hybrids, every analysis has come to the same conclusion: they don’t pay for themselves. That $3-$5,000 premium will never come back in fuel savings. Flex fuel vehicles may not cost a dime more than standard (many people don’t realize they drive one), and the fuel costs the same as gas, but ethanol provides less energy per gallon. Thus, flex fuel vehicles actually get lower fuel mileage. Biodiesel, even with a $1 per gallon Federal subsidy, is still more expensive than petroleum diesel. Still, with no cost savings to be had, isn’t there yet a large environmental benefit?With both flex fuel and biodiesel, farm subsidies artificially lower the cost of crop-based fuels and disguise their environmental impacts. Farming consumes LOTS of petroleum, for everything from operating equipment to transporting crops to making the fertilizers and pesticides that are applied. Much of that fertilizer and pesticide ends up in rivers and lakes, too. The tailpipe emissions from flex fuel and biodiesel are better than their petroleum equivalents, but overall it’s unclear that there is currently any net environmental advantage with eitherHybrids are expensive not so much because of the additional design work and electronics, but because of the increased material content of the vehicle, the electric motor/generator and the battery array. The batteries in particular are typically heavy and made of expensive and toxic materials that are processed in phases around the globe. The hybrid premium goes primarily for dirty industrial manufacturing and transportation, rather than clean design engineering in an office. Plus, if you really compare apples to apples, hybrids only get about 20% better mileage overall.What is a budget-minded and/or environmentally conscious driver to do? Until progress is made on the real promise of alternative fuels, such as growing oil-rich algae in sewer water, we need to remember the basics: keep your tires properly inflated, drive slower, carpool, take public transit, buy the wagon rather than the SUV, etc. Later this year Volkswagen will introduce the cleanest running car on the planet, a turbo diesel Jetta that will get 40/50 miles to the gallon, or 30% better than its gasoline equivalent. Superior mileage, cleaner emissions and apparently more powerful than a hybrid: Wow! But will it draw the proper approving glances in the Whole Foods parking lot? We shall see…–“Tech Dad” John Svoboda is a consumer electronics enthusiast, manager and business owner since the time of the 8-track, and holds a Master of Science degree in Telecommunications

I belong to a moms’ group and one of the members is an amazing artist (www.happytomatokids.com). She is also a meat maven, pork princess, lamb lover, veal vixen, hamburger helper and a chicken champ. She stalks follows famous chefs and all of their culinary creations. We are the Laverne and Shirley, the Odd Couple, the Charlotte and Samantha, or the Homer and Ned Flanders of the great meat debate. We discovered our dueling blogs (hers is www.happyhoarfrost.com) through a mutual friend. Turns out, my meat-loving friend just ate her with f-f-f-fava beans. You’ll have to look up the term hoarfrost on your own. I can assure you it only sounds naughty.

One edamommy attempts to cut meat out of her life.

I have to say, the ramp-up time is more significant than I ever imagined. Do you realize how many products contain some form of animal in them? And honey?Some very strict vegans won’t consume certain sugar products or wines because of the way they’re filtered.I have to just look the other way when it comes to the wine. You can only ask for so much.I keep saying (joking) that I am going to write a book (I actually am writing a book about being 32, single and joining the Peace Corps, but that’s another entry for another day) called Chicken Soup for the Vegan Soul.Surprisingly, people are taking me seriously. Either my bagel disequilibrium has really thrown me off course, or I am just not funny. I am going to write to the Chicken Soup publisher and see if they bite on the idea. I guess maybe I am turning into one of those people that says “It’s not the heat, it’s the humidity.”

One edamommy attempts to cut meat out of her life.

I know I am not a full-fledged vegan. I’m still not sure joining TV (Team Vegan) is my ultimate destiny.But, on a non-vegan front, I believe I may have reformed the Reform Judaic Seder at my daughter’s preschool with a decidedly non-vegan move. I was asked to bring hard-boiled eggs to the Seder celebration yesterday and I posed what I thought was a typical question: peeled or unpeeled? Then, I happened to mention to the preschool director that I buy eggs already hardboiled and peeled.Complete silence.“You do what?”Feeling sheepish at my flagrant lack of knowledge of Seder customs, I responded “I buy them already cooked and peeled.”“You can buy them cooked and peeled???” They responded in unison in complete disbelief. “Where, oh where, can we buy these eggs?”

Apparently, making the hardboiled eggs is a major thorn in the side of Seder prep, at least for these two women. Ironically, we attended the children’s Seder and the meal that followed; someone had made their own eggs and they were not cooked all of the way through (Salmonella Seder?). Sometimes it pays to cheat.I have to tackle one other awkward non-vegan/Seder subject. I have to admit something, in addition to the embarrassing habit of choosing theme songs for events in my life (see Day 1).I fall down miserably when it comes to bagel equilibrium. Bagel equilibrium is achieved when you have enough bagels and their accoutrements including cream cheese (I eat with peanut butter now) and broccoli sprouts (more on sprouts later – I married into the broccoli sprout empire so there might be some shameless promotion for www.brassica.com).I always am short of one ingredient—tubs of cream cheese, no bagels, no sprouts; dozen bagels, no cream cheese, 3 boxes of sprouts. You get the picture.So, I finally, finally reached bagel equilibrium and now it’s Passover. No bagels, just matzah for a week.Happy Passover. I hope you achieve unleavened equilibrium.

One edamommy attempts to cut meat out of her life.

The most challenging part of this transition is not at all what I expected. I don’t miss meat (yet). I am ok with soy yogurt, although I wouldn’t want to be stranded on a desert island with it yet. The most difficult part is the time it takes to read through every ingredient and really try to determine if the product could be vegan. I love when the product actually says it’s vegan right on the label because it cuts my shopping time significantly. I just want to thank Amy’s Kitchen for a) labeling their products vegan (or not) and eliminating my neophyte guesswork AND b) making really delicious vegan food. Why, they even have vegan pizza! I am trying to eat tons of fresh fruit and veggies, but there are just some evenings where I am making dinner for my beloved meat eaters (or they want to eatpizza) and I can not be tempted because I have a few prepared foods on hand. It’s not an every day occurrence but it is very helpful as an option.

Amy’s Kitchens also has an awesome section on their website about using their food to diet. I think it’s pure genius. I have a family member who goes on one of those commercial diet plans every year for about 6 months and it costs a lot of money (she told me $100 or more per week in food when you include fees and delivery). My theory is to buy healthy frozen food from Amy’s, buy lots of fresh, organic fruits and vegetables and buy a great pair of walking shoes with the money you save on fees. Amy’s gives you free downloadable diet and other tools. I have a trip planned this week so I am going to give it a whirl when I return. Let me know if you’ve tried it. I need to lose this baby weight before my baby is driving. I am also trying to keep everything organic as much as possible. You can certainly eat a lot of junk or less healthy food as a vegan, so keeping it fresh and organic is important to me. One of my dearest friends (Hi Jessica!) warned me that, when she went vegetarian 12 years ago (she’s mostly vegan from what she described), she managed to find every junk food product possible. Jessica and I have a major sugar addiction which we are trying to tame (any ideas out there?) I switched to stevia and blue agave (and just raw sugar), but I am talking sweets like chocolate and baked goods. Every time I write my blog, I get hungry. -”Edamommy” Mary Talalay is a writer for KIWI Magazine

Although I did not set out with a strategy to veganize, it is evolving slowly. I am trying many of the convenience foods out of sheer curiosity. I have to think it’s easier now than ever to be a vegan because all of our vegancestors (I just made that word up) experimented with egg, cheese, milk and meat substitutes and figured out a way to make most of it taste good and be better for you. The vegan cheese I tried goes in the same category as carob; it looked like cheese, smelled like cheese and tasted like toe jam or a refrigerator science experiment. Should cheese be spongy? In my experience, the only edible cheese that is spongy is cheesecake. I just had a Homer Simpson moment. Mmmmmmm. Cheesecake. Although I want to reduce my family’s meat consumption, it does concern me that there are so many ingredients in packaged meat-replacement products. As this vegan-venture continues, I still want to try prepared foods periodically, but plan on finding great cookbooks so I cook fresh ingredients and healthier dishes.

My very picky daughter loves Morningstar Farms chicken nuggets which I mistakenly assumed were vegan. But, she eats chicken or turkey most days so I am happy to find what I think may be a healthier option. Happily, she eats fruit and vegetables with gusto. I don’t give her very much packaged food but I do keep some on hand for emergencies or general lack of preparation on my part (you know – it’s 5:45 and you have no idea what dinner will be). Through our highly scientific testing (I eat one, my daughter eats one, the dogs each get one), not all “cheatin’ chicken” nuggets are created equal. I found some (brand shall remain nameless) which are vegan and no one could eat them. They had a grey, spongy (do you notice a theme about eating spongy food?) interior and there were not enough condiments in my house, even the hot buffalo wing sauce I put on everything, to cover up those bad actors. The dogs seemed to enjoy them, but they often eat inappropriate things. Including my daughter’s Easter basket (just the basket, not the contents.)-”Edamommy” Mary Talalay is a writer for KIWI Magazine

One edamommy attempts to cut meat out of her life.

I read an article in the New York Times about vegansexuals. That’s a new one. So, pity the poor singletons today who not only have to worry about finding true love, but now they have to make sure they are culinary-compatible. I met my husband when I was 37 and he was 49 and I am soooooo happy that I never had to worry about smelling like meat or worrying that my yogurt addiction was detrimental to my relationship. The article was alarming. Does your date eat some meat, no meat, no eggs, some dairy? Holy cow! Time to get a dog. They don’t care. They lick you when you come home all sweaty from the gym, think the mailman looks scrumptious and think you are agorgeous, intelligent, witty genius.

One quick Google and I see there are many lifestyle-based internet dating sites; I’m talking food orientation. The home page of one of the sites has a couple kissing next to a buffet of vegetable crudités (uh-oh – I spy ranch dressing:. “You’re not a vegan! You lied to me! You probably eat hot wings in your closet. You, you cheatin’ vegan!”)Well, I am shouting it from the mountaintops: I am a vegan (sort of) and I am in love with a bone-afied meat-eater! There. I said it. -“Edamommy” Mary Talalay is a writer for KIWI Magazine

One edamommy attempts to cut meat out of her life.

I have a question.

There’s Tofurky, soy hot dogs, fakin bacon and soy sausage. In theory, you can use soy to make any kind of meat, right?

So, I think we should get really creative. If it’s just soy and not real critter, then why not:

Tofeasal – weasel

Tomingo – flamingo

Tofunky – monkey

Tofoceros – rhinoceros

Tofuffalo – buffalo

Tolar Bear

“Honey, your toshrew is getting cold!” “I’m not sure what goes best with tofaardvark. White or red?” “Mmmm. I’ll have the steamed tofedgehog.”I just don’t see why not. If it’s not meat anyway, let’s get exotic! It will probably all taste like chicken, only gamier.

-”Edamommy” Mary Talalay is a writer for KIWI Magazine

One edamommy attempts to cut meat out of her life.

I haven’t mentioned how I am going to approach the non-food side of veganism. I do own leather shoes and handbags. I am sure some of my cosmetics have lanolin and honey. When I was a Pre-V (pre-vegan), I bought mostly organic food and more natural cosmetics and products. Although I won’t be removing all non-vegan items from my home, I won’t be buying any more items which contain animal products for myself, and I’ll try to find non-animal substitutes for my family.

Here’s a loophole which I plan to exploit shamelessly. I am a big fan of consignment and thrift shops, so I feel less guilty about giving clothes a second life even if they contain wool or leather.

I went to my local Goodwill today and I spent $9 on clothing. Here’s what I got in the kids department: Three Laura Ashley summer dresses, two flannel-lined jeans, two Gymboree capris, one very sparkly dance leotard, one Hanna Andersson spring dress, a light spring jacket, a VHS tape (the Wiggles with Bindi the Jungle Girl) and an Elmo book that talks. Nothing I bought had any animals in it, but the VHS tape had animals on it (that’s ok).

Hope I am still in good standing with all of the vegans I haven’t met. Not sure how I will know if I am not. I wonder if a little “V” will appear on my forehead, like Harry Potter’s lightening bolt.

-”Edamommy” Mary Talalay is a writer for KIWI Magazine

One edamommy attempts to cut meat out of her life.

Ok, I know it’s early in the ve-game, but this experience has really made me think about people with food allergies, or worse, parents with allergic kids. I read all the labels, try to make sure there are no animal ingredients and away I go. If I make a mistake, the worse that can happen is that I figure it out later and avoid that product, lie to my readers and doom myself to eternal fire.

In other words, there is absolutely no risk. But any such ingredient can prompt an array of reactions in those with food allergies, from an itchy nose to anaphylactic shock.

Nutritional labels are nearly impossible to read with the tiny type and chemical speak. I took my 3-year-old daughter grocery shopping and it was impossible to read every label while simultaneously preventing an avalanche in the produce aisle in Whole Foods. (By the way, that’s a whole separate blog—those stacks of fruits and vegetables are rigged. One wrong orange or apple choice and thewhole thing comes tumbling down.) I didn’t feel the least bit confident that I had purchased only foods without animal products in any form.

When I got home, I had to go on several websites to make sure I had purchased a genuine vegan item. In some cases, I hadn’t. All told, I feel pretty lucky that we don’t have food allergies in my family and that this is a risk-free learning adventure. Except for the eternal fire part.

-”Edamommy” Mary Talalay is a writer for KIWI Magazine

One edamommy attempts to cut meat out of her life.

My limited exposure to vegans included a co-worker who used to special order vegan jelly beans (without animal gelatin). He also patiently explained the notion of Tofurky to me (tofu-turkey). He was skinny and pale and, let’s just be honest here, no poster child to join Team Vegan.

But, I have been noticing more and more vegan cookbooks, diet books and even articles in the mainstream media about vegans. MLB pitcher Roger Clemens was asked by Congress in February 2008 during the steroid hearings if he was a vegan since he was receiving B12 injections (prompting a well known pro-vegan organization to send him an animal-free snack pack). NFL tight end Tony Gonzalez was featured in a January 2008 article about going on the vegan wagon (vagon). And, the lovely Natalie Portman has teamed up with té casan for an animal-free shoe line (these will be Edamommy – free since the prices are in the hundreds, unfortunately).

I think the increasing interest and action to be embrace the environment has made veganism very vogue. There are lists of celebrities on the internet who claim to be vegan (and I am sure the paparazzi are trying their best to catch them with a burger or milkshake).

Holy Buf-faux-lo Wings! I think there is a paparazzo rifling through my recycling right now to see if my yogurt containers are soy or not.

False alarm. Just a raccoon.

-”Edamommy” Mary Talalay is a writer for KIWI Magazine

One edamommy attempts to cut meat out of her life.

My family is not joining me on my adventure, although I will make vegan recipes for all of our meals and add in extras. At first I contemplated being a covert vegan, but I thought it would be too hard to keep this on the down low without making my family suspicious. Veganism is a sea change from my normal routine.

My husband’s exact words: “If you get nutty on this, you’re stopping.” (I am secretly glad he said “get nutty,” as opposed to “get nuttier”). I intend to get nutty, silly! It’s all about nuts, beans, legumes, vegetables and fruit! Ship a’soy!

And, let me just say, there are not enough emoticons on the Internet to express my excitement over finding The Joy of Vegan Baking by Colleen Patrick-Goudreau. The author’s book and website, www.compassionatecooks.com, not only have recipes for chocolate chip cookies and other treats, but every vegan resource you can imagine. I had no idea that you could still pig out and be vegan.

Not skinny-model pig out, but suburban mom-with-ice-cream- tub-calling-my-name, toddler-dodging-bedtime, dog-rolled-in-something, husband-away-on-business pig out. Really, how hard can this be if you can eat mousse?

I only have Colleen to thank (or blame) for the fact that I found vegan chocolate chips that are made from real chocolate. Not carob. Never carob. Carob hasn’t changed since I tasted it in the ’70s. There is nothing right about carob. Notice the second syllable is rob? That’s no mistake. It looks like chocolate, smells like chocolate and tastes like dirt. I hope the carob council doesn’t come after me like the beef producers went after Oprah.

-”Edamommy” Mary Talalay is a writer for KIWI Magazine

With all the ways to spend your time, watching TV seems like a lesser choice compared to playing with the kids, balancing the checkbook, or reading a good novel. Some of the data about American TV habits is frightening:

• Average minutes per week that parents spend in meaningful conversation with their children: 39
• Minutes per week the average child spends watching TV commercials: 192
• Hours per year the average American youth spends in school: 900
• Hours per year the average child watches television: 1,500

• Percentage of Americans that regularly watch television while eating dinner: 66

Unsurprisingly, some families have gone so far as to ban TV entirely in order to rid themselves of the habit. The reality is that the television is a communications tool that can be used with either great of awful effect. To make it beneficial, as opposed to merely a time suck, it must be actively managed.

First, televisions simply do not belong in bedrooms. There is no way to effectively monitor what and how much your child is watching with a set in the bedroom.

Second, the best option is to manage your television with a digital video recorder, or DVR. A DVR is essentially a dedicated computer that records video intelligently. Tivo is the best known name, but cable and satellite companies have their own versions. They all do the same things, but on the ease-of-use scale, Tivo is a 10, Dish Network is an 8, DirecTV is a 7, and most of the others are a 5 or lower.

DVRs can pause live TV and provide instant replay, but the big added value is automated recording. The key when setting up your DVR is to enter all the shows you want your family to watch, up-front. For example, you can set your box to record all new episodes of Nova. The DVR then automatically identifies all the Nova episodes to record, regardless of time or day, and skips duplicates. After you’ve had your DVR running for a week or so, it will be chock-full of the programs you actually want. Thus, when you sit down to watch, the question is no longer “What’s on?,” but “What do you want to watch?” because they are all on!

This is no subtle change. Watching live network TV essentially empowers some media executive to decide what you and your kids should see. Much of the best and most informative programming can be on at odd times and obscure channels. You just need an effective means to sort out the gems among all the junk. Wired Science is starting, but Jane hasn’t finished her homework yet. No problem–it’s being recorded. In fact, after a few months with a DVR, my family largely forgot what days and times our favorite shows are even on!

And then, of course, you can zap those commercials! DVRs allow you to fast-forward or jump (in 30-second increments) through commercials. Most children are happy to watch commercials, but when they are wrapped up in a show, it soon becomes second nature to skip ahead to continue the show ASAP. Once the DVR is fully stocked, the battles over which shows the kids get to watch slow to a trickle. If it’s in the DVR, it’s free game, otherwise it’s only with permission.

Many parents resist the idea of a DVR: “Oh, we watch too much TV already; the last thing we need is more ways to watch”– an understandable, but misguided reaction. My family watches both better and less television with a DVR than without. While that might seem counter-intuitive, I believe there is an appropriate food analogy: consume good quality, eating is more satisfying and you crave less.

Give a DVR a try. It’s the best way to dump television dieting and adopt healthy, long-term consumption habits.

–“Tech Dad” John Svoboda is a consumer electronics enthusiast, manager and business owner since the time of the 8-track, and holds a Master of Science degree in Telecommunications

One edamommy attempts to cut meat out of her life.

My husband describes me as Farfromvegan (his take on Volkswagen’s Fahrvergnügen advertising campaign), but my true identity lies in being a mom and writer. I live in suburban Baltimore and my craziest adventure of late was a week of Zen skiing. I put baby birds in boxes, call the state police if I see goslings trying to cross the highway, and have adopted two dogs from the SPCA.

But I eat meat. If stranded on a desert island, I would want to bring cases of yogurt. Brie is me. Hail Caesar salad. I’m a grilly girl.

For me, this vegan experience is a journalistic experiment as well as a way to shrink my personal carbon footprint. But now my carbon footprint won’t be made by leather shoes.

Just how challenging is it to become a vegan? I’ll find out soon.

-“Edamommy” Mary Talalay is a writer for KIWI Magazine

One edamommy attempts to cut meat out of her life.

Set meat free, why don’t cha babe

Get out my life, why don’t cha babe

‘Cause you don’t really love meat

You just keep meat hangin’ on

-Adapted from “You Keep Me Hangin’ On” by The Supremes

I have to admit something. For every new challenge or adventure, I pick a theme song. There were some unfortunate choices in the ’80s when I tried out for high school cheerleading (“Eye of the Tiger”); became an aerobics instructor (“Kung Fu Fighting”); and got my first real job (“2 Legit 2 Quit”).

When I decided to go whole-hog vegan, the song that immediately came to mind was “You Keep Me Hangin’ On.” Substitute meat for me in each line and you have a new vegan anthem. Presto!

Going vegan isn’t a delayed New Year’s resolution (although I have several of those). I was not inspired by some bug-eating reality show. I don’t intend to be a top model, idol, big loser, survivor, bachelorette, geek-loving beauty or a home-improvement show host. Just a vegan for as long as I can be-gan.

-”Edamommy” Mary Talalay is a writer for KIWI Magazine

Just like the body needs essential amino acids for normal functions, it also requires another essential nutrient that is often overlooked. Essential fatty acids (EFAs) are considered essential fats because they are required for health, but cannot be produced by the body. These fats, known as omega-3 and omega-6, are commonly called the “good fats.”

Hands down, children are deficient in the beneficial omega-3 fats (as are most Americans) and not the omega-6 fats. Kids consume excessive pro-inflammatory omega-6 fats from corn, soy, safflower and sunflower oils. An imbalance in the omega-6 to omega-3 ratio has been unequivocally proven to burden the body with excess inflammation. In kids, this has been linked to conditions such as eczema, asthma, allergies, and attention and behavioral problems.

Simply put, omega-3 fats are brain food. The brain is made up of 60 percent fat, half of which is the essential fatty acid DHA. Therefore, the type of fat consumed by children⎯especially during the developmental years⎯is of paramount importance. A child’s nervous system begins to form in the last trimester of pregnancy and continues to develop at a rapid rate until the age of seven. The essential omega-3 fats, primarily DHA, are required for adequate nervous system development. Research has shown DHA is especially important for brain and eye development. Getting enough EPA and DHA in the diet, particularly in children, is difficult because many children eat minimal fish and so many fatty fish are laden with mercury, PCBs and dioxin.

I have found that purified fish oil supplementation is the safest way to obtain the omega-3 fats EPA and DHA, without the environmental toxins. Fish oil has been shown to improve many conditions that affect children, including attention, learning, behavior and eye health.

Taste is the key to compliance for adults and children alike. If a kid likes the taste of a product, he will remind the parents to give it to him everyday. In my practice, I use Nordic Naturals Children’s DHA and Omega-3-6-9 Junior supplements. You can call Nordic Naturals and ask them to send you sample packets so that your kids can taste the product before you bring it home. There is nothing worse that spending $20-30, only to find out your child won’t take a product. Compliance will always be higher if it tastes good and a child has decided that he will take the product regularly.

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

The old cliché, “Breakfast is the most important meal of the day,” is not far from the truth. In a 2000-calorie a day diet, which is required to maintain weight for the average woman, almost a third of the calories should be eaten during the first hour or two upon waking. Estimated calories needed for children range from 900 a day for a 1-year-old to 1,800 for a 14–18-year-old girl and 2,200 for a 14–18-year-old boy.

The body needs to consume these calories early in the day so that they can be readily converted to energy sources that will provide mental clarity, focus, physical energy, and to prevent overall fatigue. The most common cause of inattention at work and school that I see clinically, is consuming a low protein, high carbohydrate breakfast, or skipping breakfast altogether!

The body has twenty essential and non-essential amino acids that are required to maintain normal bodily functions such as making skin, hair, muscle, blood vessels, immune cells, digestive enzymes and neurotransmitters for brain function. In most animal protein food sources, all 20 amino acids are readily available–this is called a complete protein. There are no plant proteins that are complete proteins unless they are fortified with manufactured vitamins, minerals and amino acids.

Egg protein is the most nutritious readily-available, complete protein and is considered to be the perfect protein food. It provides the standard of comparison for all other proteins. All of the essential amino acids are present in such generous quantities that egg protein is often used to fortify other foods. However, people tend to be scared of eggs for a number of reasons.

MYTH: Egg yolks are high in fat and contribute little else to the diet.

FACT: Egg yolks contain 45% of the egg’s protein, numerous minerals, and the majority of the egg’s vitamins.

The average person needs to consume a minimum of 0.8 grams of protein per kg of body weight, per day. This is equivalent to a 130 lb. woman eating 47g and a 40 lb. child consuming 15g of protein per day. Every meal, in addition to including either a fruit or vegetable, needs to include a source of protein:

• 1 egg = 7g protein, 70 calories
• Fish, poultry, beef 1 oz = 7g protein, calories vary per type
• 8 oz. milk (2%) = 7g protein, 130 calories, (300mg calcium)
• 1 oz. cheese (1 cheese stick) = 8g protein, 60 calories, (200mg calcium)
• Stonyfield 6 oz, yogurt smoothie = 6g protein, 140 calories, (250mg calcium)
• 21 almonds = 7g protein, 180 calories, (60mg calcium)
• 2 Tbsp. peanut butter (natural, with no sweeteners) = 9g protein, 140 calories

In general, we need to consume a variety of fruits and vegetables daily, while limiting juice intake altogether. Each meal should contain at least 1 fruit or vegetable. Children’s recommended fruit intake should range from 1 cup/day (in divided portions), between ages 1 and 3, to 2 cups for a 14–18-year-old boy. Recommended vegetable intake ranges from ¾ cup a day at age 1, to 3 cups for a 14–18-year-old boy.

Recommended grain intake ranges from 2 oz./day for a 1-year-old to 7 oz/day for a 14–18-year-old boy. This is an area that we tend to overdo by offering so many carbohydrate laden children’s foods such as goldfish crackers, cereal, pancakes, bagels, pasta, and sandwiches.

So what is the perfect breakfast? One egg on whole grain bread and a piece of fruit.

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

KIWI presents: A new blog series on “Positive Parenting” from June Grushka-Rosen.

Many believe that children and their innate ability to use their imagination go hand in hand. Unfortunately, more and more, a child’s gift to create imaginary places, invisible friends and to dream about the future is not always second nature. This can be compounded by parents who feel uncomfortable when children explore outside the boundaries of what they see as reality. However, the necessity to help prompt a child to grow his/her imagination is increasingly important, due to rising negative stimuli including the over-indulged child, as in the child that has everything done for them and is given to in excess with no boundaries or expectations from their parents. As well as the disadvantaged child, a child that has been deprived of basic needs that may include environmental factors that lead to a lack of nurturing needed to stimulate creative thinking

Imagination is essential as a foundation for problem solving. I have found that while working with preschoolers in an affluent community, in addition to gang affiliated teenagers from the inner-city, that a key component to a child or teen’s ability to thrive and move towards success, is their capacity to rely on their imagination to problem solve. It can be simply having tots who are needed to quietly move from one location to another imagine that they are a magnificent colorful butterfly with arms as wings, silently soaring magically from one place to the next. What a fun contribution to teach a child that is working on curbing their impulse to talk when it may not be appropriate.

It is also my experience that role playing with groups of teens has proven to stimulate their knack to use their imagination by “thinking out side the box” and enhancing their capability to problem solve. If a teen is given the opportunity to “play the part” of the parent or teacher or voice of authority, they often feel empowered by the chance to be heard. Creating an environment to help a teen use their creativity to solve problems and set their own limitations can be a powerful tool to impart upon them.

Nurturing these skills in children gives them perspective and resources to find hope when others my only see hopelessness. The gift of encouraging imaginative-play fosters one’s depth to look at life’s challenges expansively. Growing a child’s imagination can lead to raising a unique problem solver, bring a sparkle to routine activities and encourage children to see a world filled with endless possibilities!

Written by: June Grushka-Rosen, MEd., is a Life Coach, Educator and Psychotherapist
To contact – LifeCoachingYou@Verizon.net

Every Christmas Eve, my mom gives my sisters and I pajamas. When we were little, Santa Claus would stop by and drop off our pajamas himself! Today’s gift is something that will make all moms and dads (and me!) remember their first pair of holiday pajamas.

These timeless pajamas are a throwback to the days of wanting a Red Ryder BB gun! Available for ages 3 to 9, at Nubius Organics, these Under the Nile long johns make a perfect holiday present. And for only $29.00, they are practically a steal. Even better? Under the Nile apparel is made from 100% organic Egyptain cotton and produced under fair trade conditions.

This pajamas are so cute. I know I would have loved getting them from Santa Claus on Christmas Eve!

I would like to send a huge congratulations to our own Dr. Greene who made it into the New York Times! (Fancy, huh?)

First reported in KIWI Magazine as his column in our March/April issue, Dr. Greene’s “My Organic Prescription” can be found on KIWI’s website right here. In the article, Dr. Greene gives his top ten foods to eat organically. Click here to read NY Times “Five Easy Ways to Go Organic” featuring the one and only Dr. Greene! For more information on Dr. Greene and his new book Raising Baby Green (a must read for parents- old and new!), click on over to his website.

The Great Pumpkin always picks the most sincere pumpkin patch to rise out of. He’s just gotta pick this pumpkin patch. He’s just gotta! Look around. You can see that there’ not a sign of hypocrisy anywhere. Nothing but sincerity reaching out as far as the eye can see. – Linus from It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown!

GOOD GRIEF! It’s that time of year again. Time for pumpkin flavored everything– from pies to ice cream to cheesecake to, well shampoo! Everyone loves pumpkin around Halloween and Thanksgiving, whether it’s for carving or eating. It’s the perfect fall symbol. Just seeing a pumpkin makes you feel the autumn chill and reach for your favorite scarf.

Pumpkin picking is a fun fall activity, as well. What we don’t want is the pesticides sprayed on those fields to be on our children’s hands or in our pies (I know I don’t!). Do you want to know where the organic pumpkins are in your area? (I know I do!)

A very handy website is localharvest.org. All you have to do is plug in what you want (like organic pumpkins) and your zip code and it shows you all the places to get them in your area. You can search farmer’s markets, family farms and even restaurants.

And I’m pretty sure the Great Pumpkin would pick an organic pumpkin patch .

While we here at KIWI prefer canvas bags (like the EcoBags one feature to the right), sometimes you cannot avoid the dreaded plastic bag. What do with them all? They seem to multiple like rabbits!

Thanks to realsimple.com, we now have 10 inventive ways to resuse and not get the plastic bag blues! You can use plastic bags in the following manners:

1. As knee pads.
2. As hand protectors (for those dirty dog deeds!).
3. As paint preservers
4. As makeshift rain hats
5. For easy kitchen clean-ups
6. As wrapping paper
7. As wet umbrella holders
8. As shoe protectors
9. As cookbook protectors
10. As plant fillers

For the more in depth instructions on ways to reuse your plastic bags, visit here.

Who doesn’t love a good movie night? The whole family sits in front of the TV, curled up on the couch, eagerly awaiting the cinematic adventure that will surely follow. And what movie night would be complete without a bowl of delicious popcorn?

But, apparently, repeated exposure to the chemical in microwave popcorn can result in a lung disease known as bronchiolitis obliterans or “popcorn lungs.” What are we home movie watchers to do? I thought popcorn was a good snack!

Don’t worry. There is a simple, inexpensive way to make your own microwave popcorn! From the site Instructables.

1. You buy a pack of brown lunch bags. (Recycled, of course.)
2. You buy a scoop of loose kernels from the bulk section.
3. Take a paper bag, open the bag, and pour in your serving of loose kernels.
4. *If you want your kernels flavored, smeer butter on the inside of one of the flaps and put this side up when you microwave. Or wait till later to add flavor.
5. Fluff out the bag and fold over the flaps like the standard brown bag lunch at least three times, small folds are better.
6. Place the bag in the microwave and nuke for about 4 minutes. Stop the microwave if you don’t hear more than a pop a second.

Do you have any fun, creative and homemade snacks you like to make instead of buying? Let me know!

We here at KIWI love Healthy Child, Healthy World. That is why we were extra happy when we learned about their partnership with Seventh Generation and babystyle to create Wee Generation.

Wee Generation believes “Raising a healthy baby is simply a matter of knowing where potential hazards might be hiding in your home and learning how to replace them with non-toxic alternatives that keep everyone safe and happy.” And we couldn’t agree more! They even have 5 Easy Steps that everyone should take to protect their children. The steps are the following:

1. Manage pest safely
2. Buy non-toxic products
3. Clean up indoor air
4. Eat healthy, shop organically
5. Be smart about plastics.

Seems simple enough! Click on the link above to read the steps in full detail. (Also click here to read KIWI’s tips on choosing a safe water bottle.)

We also love the face that Wee Generation is developing the diaper bag to end all diaper bags. They are asking moms and dads to share their stories about diaper bag disasters and triumphs. They are going to take all the ideas, stories and suggestions and make the first “Cradle to Cradle Certified eco-baby bag.” Log onto Wee Generation’s site to get the full details, share your story and help design the best bag for you and your children.

And last, but certainly not least you can enter to win a consultation with a green-home decorator and funds towards a green nursery! Where do we sign up? Just click on over to Wee Generation homepage and enter the sweepstakes at the top of the page. We’ll keep our fingers crossed for you!

For kids with food allergies — and their parents — the back-to-school anxiety is palpable. How can we alert others to our children’s specific food allergies? What can we do to prevent an emergency situation? And, if there is an emergency, how can we ensure that those caring for our children will know what to do?

Food allergies affect teachers, coaches, babysitters and anyone else who cares for allergic kids. They have told me that they worry, too. Their heads are filled with questions. How they I remember each child’s specific allergies? How will I know if a child is having an allergic reaction? Will I be able to respond appropriately?

For the millions of children with food allergies and those around them, this time of year is particularly stressful. With new teachers, new classmates and new schools, the risk of exposure is high. Here are some tips for a safer school year:

1. Before the first day of school, meet with your child’s teacher, school nurse and principal to discuss your child’s food allergies and how the day-to-day school environment will be managed.
2. Create an emergency action plan that clearly explains the required response to an allergic reaction. Review it with your child’s teachers, the school nurse, gym teacher, specialists and anyone else who will be spending time with your child.
3. Clearly identify your child by his/her specific food allergies to keep others aware.
4. Clearly label his belongings—lunch bag, backpack—with allergy alerts to prevent exposure.
5. Keep emergency medication available and accessible at all times.
6. Make sure that whomever is with your child is prepared to manage a life-threatening emergency.

COMMUNICATON IS KEY—before you leave your child with a teacher or coach, friend or babysitter, or even a grandparent, it is crucial to have a discussion about your child’s food allergies. And don’t forget to be detailed. The information that we as parents have internalized and which now seems intuitive may not be as obvious to others.

So get back to the basics. Talk about your child’s food allergies and what foods are off limits. Explain anaphylaxis, a serious allergic reaction that is rapid in onset and can cause death (definition from the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network). Make sure to fully explain the symptoms of anaphylaxis, which can begin with a tingling oral sensation and progress to other symptoms, including swelling of the lips, tongue, mouth and throat, wheezing, coughing, vomiting, difficulty breathing, drop in blood pressure and loss of consciousness. These symptoms can start from within minutes of the first contact up to 2 hours, which is why constant vigilance, not just in the lunch room, is so important.

Provide details about foods that are unsafe and those which might contain hidden ingredients. Discuss cross contamination and the importance of hand washing at the beginning of each day, after snack and lunch time. And make sure that whomever will be spending time with your child knows how to use the Epi-Pen. His life could depend on it.

-Robin Davison, MPH, JD
Founder of STAT KIDS (www.statkids.com)

During one of our many outings for the KIWI Karavan, one of our team members came across this non-profit organization- The Cancer Project.

Here at our lovely magazine, we promote healthy eating and living. KIWI thinks we all should do our best to eat right. Eating right gives us a balance unlike any other healthy practice. The Cancer Project champions the same idea. They believe that through a healthy plant-based diet, one can help prevent and survive cancer.

On their site, this wonderful organization says, “The Cancer Project has two main goals: First, we aim to make cancer prevention a top priority. Just as important, we want to improve survival after cancer has been diagnosed by providing comprehensive information about the role of dietary factors in keeping people healthy.”

The Cancer Project offers everything to help people eat healthier in order to keep cancer away. They offer free nutrition and cooking classes, as well as The Survivor’s Handbook which details how to eat right to survive.

To learn more about The Cancer Project, visit their website.

With a new baby or toddler in the family, most parents babyproof the home, putting locks on the cabinets and bumpers on the tables. But what about the dangers we can’t see—the environmental toxins that can affect our children’s health, growth and development? To help guard against these dangers, there’s Healthy Child Healthy World, the nation’s leading non-profit organization dedicated to protecting children’s environmental health.

Founded by Jim and Nancy Chuda in 1992 after their daughter Colette died from a rare form of non-hereditary brain cancer that has been linked to pesticides, Healthy Child Healthy World has since become a resource for millions of parents and caregivers worldwide. Check out their HealtheHouse, an interactive virtual house helps make it easy for you to identify environmental health hazards in the home.