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.

(the Emerald City of Seattle, not the Emerald City of Oz)

A HUGE thank you to all those who visited us at the First Annual Seattle Green Festival! It was a great weekend, and now that I’ve finally adjusted back to east coast time, I thought I’d share the experience with you.

If you have never been to a Green Festival, you must get to one! They are fantastic! I was a little unsure of what I had gotten myself into by volunteering to work this event, but once the show began, I loved every second of it! It was great to meet so many loyal Kiwi readers and chat about upcoming projects and to introduce our magazine and our philosophy to those who were unfamiliar with us. When I got a chance to escape from my booth for a few minutes, I was in awe as I walked down aisle after aisle of fascinating “green” and “eco” stuff. The food samples were tasty and the people were friendly and eager to answer any questions I had about their products and company. There were so many great companies there, but a few stuck out in my mind as my favorites.

My absolute favorite was Mr. ElliePooh. If you haven’t guessed from its name, this company makes stuff out of elephant poo! My first thought was “ew, gross,” but when I learned more about the company, I loved the idea (and bought lots of paper and notebooks to prove it)!

You can read Mr. ElliePooh’s entire story on their website, but basically, by making various paper products from elephant poo, this company is allowing people and elephants to live in harmony in Sri Lanka. Cool, huh? I’m all for saving elephants, especially if it’s as easy as buying some really nifty paper!

Kathy’s Climate Kits also stood out in my mind as being really different. Recipients of the Climate Kit are provided with helpful tips and tools to lessen their impact on the climate and environment. What a great way to introduce your friends and family to the eco-friendly lifestyle!

Also worth noting is the group Women’s Voices for the Earth, which was promoting its new campaign, the Green Cleaning Party. When you order a Green Cleaning Party Kit from the group’s website, you’ll receive everything you need to host a get-together where you and your guests can concoct your own safe and effective cleaning supplies from ingredients you already have in your home. I’m thinking this is probably more fun than the typical handbag or candle demonstration, because you actually get to dirty your hands and make stuff!

There were many more exciting happenings at the Green Festival, but I don’t want to give away any surprises! Check out the upcoming Green Festival in Chicago in May, and then in November in San Francisco and Washington, D.C.

See you next year, Seattle!

-Jena Parise, Marketing Coordinator for KIWI Magazine

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

Did you know?

• Omega-3 fats taken during pregnancy and breastfeeding can reduce a mother’s risk for postpartum depression

• Omega-3 fats support the healthy development of the fetal brain, eyes, nervous system, and immune system

• Omega-3 fats significantly reduce the risk of allergies in infants

• Omega-3 fats improve attention and focus in infants and young children

One thing we know for certain is that being pregnant does not automatically mean that you will become depressed after the birth of your child. However, if you do not nourish your body properly during pregnancy and breastfeeding you are at risk. DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) is an Omega-3 essential fatty acid that makes up approximately 20% of the human brain and nervous system. DHA is considered essential because the body cannot produce this type of fat and it is essential that it is obtained from the diet.During the last trimester of pregnancy, the developing fetus’ nervous system undergoes a tremendous growth spurt. In order for the developing nervous system to grow properly, it requires healthy fat in the form of DHA from the mother. Maternal stores of DHA are preferentially shuttled to the fetus at this time, leaving a smaller supply for mom. I’m sure most moms will agree; we always give our children the best of what we have!Unfortunately, unless a mother is eating a lot of fish, or supplementing with a high quality fish oil product, the new mom can be left depleted of DHA, and therefore at risk of developing postpartum depression. Following childbirth, a newborn’s nervous system continues to grow rapidly, and similar to pregnancy, DHA is preferentially shuttled through breast milk to the new baby. Again, leaving mom with depleted stores of healthy, essential fat, furthering her risk factors for depression and baby blues.The bottom line is that pre and postnatal supplementation with essential fatty acids is as essential as a prenatal vitamin! International organizations recommend a minimum of 300mg daily of DHA, however I suggest 450mg of DHA. Try Nordic Naturals Prenatal DHA, which will give you this amount in just 2 capsules.–Dr. Keri Marshall MS, ND is a licensed Naturopathic Doctor who specializes in holistic pediatrics and women’s medicine.

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

The state of women’s emotional health during and following pregnancy has become a hot topic on Capitol Hill. During the spring of 2008, Congress will be addressing provisions for “The Mother’s Act”, Senate Bill 1375, which provides federal funding for the development of new treatments for anxiety, depression, and unpleasant mood changes that can occur with motherhood. The “baby blues” of motherhood are characterized by mood swings, feelings of being overwhelmed, tearfulness, irritability, mood changes and a sense of vulnerability, all of which any new mother can attest to!

While the excitement around the passing of this bill is high, it can’t be overlooked that much of the funding for this bill is coming from the pharmaceutical industry. Let me assure you, pregnant women do not have an anti-depressant deficiency. Nutritional treatments for improving emotional health during and following pregnancy have been scientifically proven and need to be considered as well.

It is well established that appropriate nutrition greatly improves pregnancy outcomes for both mom and baby. During pregnancy, a women’s physiology changes dramatically to meet the needs of the growing baby. Nutritional demands, in the form of fat, protein and calories, must be increased to ensure that these physiologic changes are met.

Be sure to write your Senators and let them know that you support this bill, especially if it is inclusive of non-pharmaceutical means as well, including, but not limited to nutritional intervention. Let your voice be heard!!

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

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

Are you still hanging on to those old sneakers from 1985? Sure, they’ve probably taken you to great places, but come on, you know you’ll never wear them again. Why not give them a new life?

Donate your old sneaks to Nike’s Reuse-A-Shoe Program. Your old sneakers will be ground up into a rubbery material and used for playgrounds and sporting surfaces. Cool, huh?

All brands of sneakers are accepted, but cleats, shoes containing metal, and wet or damp shoes are definite no-no’s.

Just drop off old sneaks at one of dozens of drop-off locations around the country or send them directly to the processing facility.

And who knows, maybe your old kicks might make their way to a playground near you!

-Jena Parise, Marketing Coordinator for KIWI Magazine

Feeling left out of all the high-definition TV hoopla? I have great news: Prices continue to fall dramatically for all types of televisions!

When shopping for a new set the first thing to remember is that the TV needs to suit your room. All buyers should be looking at the top resolution, called 1080p, so that the set does not become obsolete anytime soon. With 1080p, most people will be happy with a screen size that is 1/3rd to 2/3rds of the viewing distance, eyeball to screen. Those who are more critical, or who plan to view still pictures, as I described in my last article, should stay to the smaller end of that range. Everyone else: go as big as your budget and room allow. Thus, for a 10 foot viewing distance (120 inches), you should look at screen sizes of 40 to 80 inches diagonally. Here are the common display technologies and the sizes widely available:

• LCD : 20 - 60 inches
• Plasma: 40 - 65 inches
• Digital Rear Projection: 50 - 75 inches
• Front Projectors & Screens: 60+ inches

Flat panel TVs, both LCD and plasma, are a lot brighter than the other two types. This makes them the best choice for bright rooms and daylight viewing, such as in the family room. Rear projection sets essentially mount a front projector in a big box with a screen on one side and an internal mirror or two. Both projection types have a fixed amount of brightness. The effective brightness is simply a result of how large a screen that light power is spread across. Big screen = low brightness.

When the choice is between plasma and LCD flat panels, the latter has most of the advantages. LCDs consume less energy, are less prone to annoying reflections in a bright room, weigh less (especially important if you want to mount it to an articulating arm), run cooler and are more reliable and less fragile on average. Plasma screens are better when watched from way off to the side and have superior contrast in dark rooms. Plasmas can be vulnerable to image burn-in, where a static image is actually burnt into the screen, permanently. If you plan to connect a computer or game box to a plasma TV, be careful, or just buy an LCD.

Rear and front projection units can be based on LCD, DLP or LCOS (same as Sony SXRD), the details of which are unimportant because they all can throw a great picture. Bulbs do burn-out on these, but most people get at least 2,000 hours out of them, so it’s not a huge concern. These are not as bright as flat panels, but are larger for a given budget. They suit basement rec-rooms and dedicated home theaters where big is mandatory and daylight is less prominent. Rear projection sets just plug in, while front projectors with matching screens (just like in a commercial theater!) require more skill & time to mount and set up. Only a few years ago, front projection systems in the home were for Hollywood moguls and other well-heeled consumers only. Today you can have a 120” commercial-quality image starting at around $3,000, screen included.

As far as which set to buy, don’t worry about all those tech specifications, especially contrast ratio. Manufacturers play marketing games with those. 1080p native resolution is the only critical one. Brands? Sharp and Samsung are leaders in LCD technology, while Panasonic and Pioneer make superior plasma displays. For rear projection, Samsung, Sony, JVC and Mitsubishi are strong. There are lots of good options with front projectors: JVC, Mitsubishi, Sanyo, Sony, Epson, BenQ and Panasonic. If you need any custom work done (run wires in walls, mount TV to wall, set-up projector, etc.) I strongly suggest you use a professional “custom integrator”. The good ones don’t work for the big-box store geek teams because their experience and knowledge justify their $75+ an hour typical rate. Most are also authorized resellers and since they keep no inventory, they will more often get you the best product for your needs, rather than the one in stock. You might pay a little more and wait a little longer, but the value is likely superior. The Custom Electronic Design & Installation Association (CEDIA) and The Imagine Science Foundation are two organizations that train and certify such installers.

Happy TV hunting!

–“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.

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.

I know that when I first began to migrate from film to digital pictures, I was really excited about easier organization and viewing of my prized family photos. So long to hundreds of prints stuffed into old shoe boxes and “I’ll get those into albums soon- I will!” After all, seeing and sharing is the goal, not just taking. Sadly, as with many technologies, the reality has fallen short of the promise, and we now have thousands of digital files lost in the abyss of our computer’s hard drive and “I’ll get those organized and printed soon- I will!”

I’d like to tell you about the perfect, integrated solutions to help you organize, tune-up, print, and back-up your digital pictures with the greatest of ease- but I can’t, since they don’t exist. However, there is, at least, a very good option- Apple iPhoto. Intuitive organization- check. Means to easily create slide shows or photo albums to be printed- check. Editing tools- good enough. Automatic back-up- not so much.

Apple was able to make the iPod and iPhone revolutionary products because they designed the whole digital chain. With cameras, a typical chain would be a Nikon camera, a Dell PC, Adobe software and an HP printer. There are so many hand-offs in this relay that the baton is often fumbled. But iPhoto is pretty darn good at smoothing some of those transitions. The closest equivalent for PC is Picasa, available via (FREE!) download from Google. Picasa is only for organization, but it is very intuitive. Add Adobe Photoshop Elements ($85) for editing and you’ve got a solid set-up for removing red-eye, making a photo collage, etc.

Now that we’ve got those pictures looking great on the computer, we need to get them into prints and slideshows and on a big screen for family viewing. iPhoto makes slideshows, prints and bound albums all pretty painless. It’s all quite doable on the PC too. Costco has a great online print service- top quality 4×6s are 17 cents each, pick-up or mailed to you or others. Kodak’s online service is also excellent. Factoring in the shorter lifespan of home prints, there is little reason to struggle with ink cartridges at home any longer.

LCD picture frames are literally mini TVs and a fantastic way to show off your shots. Forget about networking or service subscriptions offered with these. If you give an LCD frame to Aunt May just drop an inexpensive memory card with fresh shots in the mail to her every few weeks. Apple TV takes pictures from the computer to the TV seamlessly, but it’s pricey and picture quality is only OK. Instead, the Oppo 980H, in addition to being a world class DVD player (tough to tell it’s not high-def), also has the combination of a USB 2.0 port and HD-JPEG capability. Translation: Drop your pictures onto one of those inexpensive “thumb drives”, plug it into the Oppo and hit the couch for high-definition (HD) widescreen slide shows. All that for $169.

And remember, still pictures clearly show the advantages of the top HDTV formats. That’s right- I just gave you the excuse you needed to buy a new high-def TV! You’re welcome.

–“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

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.

My family recently went on vacation, and as usual, we packed a ton of nut-free snacks, brought several Epi-Pens and multiple doses of Benadryl and took several other steps to ensure that our flight would be as safe as possible for our son. As we checked in at the Southwest Airlines desk, the woman behind the counter overheard him asking if a certain type of candy had nuts in it. She asked me if he was allergic to peanuts and, after I told her about his peanut and tree nut allergies, she leapt into action.

She notified the flight crew that there would be a child on board with life-threatening nut allergies (at which point they made arrangements to serve crackers instead of peanuts). As we boarded the plane, we were offered cleaning spray and paper towels to clean off the arm rests and snack tray of the seats in our row. Once on the plane, the flight crew announced that one of the passengers on board had a severe nut allergy and requested that the other passengers refrain from opening any bags of nuts, trail mix, or other nut-containing food items, as this could seriously endanger the passenger.

Needless to say, we are now loyal Southwest fans. It is recommended that you let them know of any allergies at the time you make your reservation or within 2 hours of your scheduled flight. While there may be other airlines that make accommodations for their allergic passengers, I have not experienced such an effort by an airline to ensure the safety of my child. So, if any of you are planning a trip with your allergic child, this might be something to keep in mind as you make your flight arrangements. This was certainly a great start to our vacation!

For more information on Southwest Airline’s peanut allergy policy, visit http://www.southwest.com/travel_center/disability.html#peanut.

–Robin Davison, MPH, JD, Founder of STAT kids, LLC (www.statkids.com)

As my children sat in the back of my car telling jokes with racial overtones, I longed for Sasha’s four-year-old stand-up act. Her repertoire consisted of two jokes, one about a cat and one about a hamburger. She always ended with the hamburger joke because it was sure to get a laugh. “What did the hot dog say to the hamburger?” she would ask. “Nice buns!” Her sweet face would light up at the punch line as she braced herself for the laugh.

I recall a baffling attempt at discussing diversity around the same time as Sasha was telling her hamburger joke. One day at the playground, she was staring at a child of a different race and she asked me, “Why does he look different?” I was about to jump start the diversity discussion when she added, “He wears funny mittens.” It wasn’t race she saw—it was his funny mittens. As the adult, I saw race and not the mittens.

I forged ahead anyway. “People come in all different colors, shapes, and sizes, and they wear different things, too,” I said. Sasha recently confided that at the time, she thought I meant something very different. For a long time she scoured the playground in hopes of finding a kid with a small blue triangle head, a big red rectangle head, or even a medium yellow square head. In preschool they take their colors, shapes and sizes quite literally.

Now firmly into elementary school, Sasha needed my message to be clear. In the car, I reminded myself that at heart, my children are amazing, sensitive and loving towards others of all cultures and races. They just needed a refresher course. I pulled the car over and calmly turned to Sasha and Eli to discuss the following points concerning jokes.

• It is never ok to make fun of other people.

• Treat others the way you want to be treated. Ask yourself, “How would that make me feel if someone said that about me?”

• Just because others make fun of people does not make it right. Stand up for what you believe.

• Just because others laugh doesn’t mean it’s funny. Ask them what they think is funny about the joke.

• Reject jokes that stereotype people. They perpetuate misunderstanding and hatred.

As children grow and hopefully have exposure to diversity, they need refreshers every once in a while to remind them of how to be accepting and understanding. People do come in all different shapes, sizes and colors, and the world is much richer because of it. Yes, laughter feels good, but jokes at the expense of others do not. Appropriate jokes that don’t degrade others can bring joy to the person delivering it and to their audiences. And there are plenty of good jokes far beyond the caliber of the hamburger one-liner. We can teach the importance of embracing ethnic diversity to our children as they grow up. Remember, it is a life-long process when striving for empathy, respect and tolerance. Now buckle up for the ride and don’t be afraid to pull over, refresh, and ask for directions when needed!

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

I had put it off long enough, I had to go food shopping last night. It was Friday, the store was empty and it was a perfect night for a working mom to shop.

I’ve been following the Eco Chic Parents blog where Tara, inspired by KIWI’s “A Healthy Budget” in the June 2007 issue, has gone almost all “organic”. I was in turn, inspired by her to sort out my own shopping strategy.

I separated my purchases into three categories

1. Absolutely must be organic
2. Absolutely must be natural
3. Ok, I-can-compromise (or I-have-no-other-choice)

The first “absolutely must be organic” for me is dairy products. Milk, butter, cheese, yogurt have to be dairy and I will pay any price to avoid antibiotics and growth hormones in my family’s food (Horizon DHA Milk is a must for Maylee). Eggs are included in this too (Organic Valley eggs when I can find them). Also, I search for antibiotic, hormone-free meat/poultry (e.g. ShopRite’s Reddington Farms and Wegmans’ Food You Feel Good About organic poultry).

If it can’t be organic, it has to be natural. Absolutely no artificial colors, flavors or artificial sweeteners in my pantry. There are too many great alternatives to juices (Apple & Eve), fruit snacks (FruitaBü), cookies (Mi-Del, Back to Nature, Newman’s), salty snacks (Food Should Taste Good, Snyder’s of Hanover, Hain, Back to Nature, Annie’s Bunnies) and so on, that don’t have those nasty ingredients. And, there is no need to consume artificial sweeteners for any of us. (I do not believe that anyone has ever lost weight on artificial sweeteners.) I’d rather see my child have sugar in moderation than consume these products that have been linked to autoimmune diseases and other health risks.

The third category for me is a tough one, but when I have to compromise, I look at the products that are whole grain such as cereals and pasta brands. Again, not the ideal “organic” but better than the alternative with a whole grain benefit. Also, unfortunately, it’s not always easy to find eco-paper alternatives in many supermarkets (although plentiful in Whole Foods), so that’s a compromise area.

Thankfully, supermarkets have great store brands now. Whole Foods Market, ShopRite, Safeway (O Organics) and Wegmans have fabulous organic product lines. And, the prices are typically more reasonable than branded items.

This trip’s purchases were about 75% organic and natural, and totaled $358. For three people, I hope (!!) this lasts two weeks. Tara from Eco Chic Parent spent $229.40 for two adults and a baby. She raised a good point in her blog “I do believe that when looking at ones budget it is important to take into consideration medical bills. Healthier people are know for fewer illnesses: including colds”. I agree with Tara; the extra money we spend on organic and natural will surely come out of our medical expenses.

I’ll keep you posted as I strive to lower my “organic” shopping bills. Look for KIWI’s “2008 Shopping Organic On A Budget” feature in our August 2008 issue.

–Maxine Wolf, mom to Maylee, CEO & Publisher of KIWI Magazine

Complimentary Articles:

•  Healthy eating and Menu Planning - and more budget shopping ideas

As a parent, you know that one of the greatest tools we have to cherish all of life’s sweet memories is the camera. Digital cameras are even better. They’re a great way to preserve those moments we never want to forget, and they’re eco-friendly, too —no paper goes to waste because you only print out the photos you want.

If you’ve thought about buying digital, but were just not quite sure what to look for, don’t worry! We’ve boiled it all down for you, and soon, you’ll be on your way to capturing all of your family’s special moments.

The first rule in camera buying is to throw out all the rules–about megapixels, screen size, battery life, etc. Instead, first decide how big of a camera you are willing to carry. If your fine camera is sitting at home in its lovely shoulder bag when Janie takes her first steps at the park, all those megapixels won’t count for much! Go to a camera store and try putting various models into your current means of carrying: purse, laptop bag or jacket pocket. Now that you know what your size limit is, let’s turn the camera-buying world on its head by explaining why fewer pixels are better.

Early digital cameras had very low resolution, so the prints were not nearly as crisp as film prints. As technology advanced and pixel count increased, digital prints got sharper. Unfortunately, we now have too much of a good thing. Tiny camera sensors can’t gather much light, just as small eye pupils can’t. Take that sensor and divide it up into 12 million dots and the results are grain and digital noise at dusk or indoor settings. Built-in flashes can help, but only with subjects that are close, and even then the light they put out is unnatural and harsh. The good news is that ultra-high resolution is completely unnecessary. For prints up to 8×10, you’ll never see anything above 7 megapixels. For most users, 7 to 10 megapixels is just right.

How Many Megapixels Do you Really Need?

4×6 print = 2 megapixels

5×7 print= 4 megapixels

8×10 print= 7 megapixels

H