Mommy Goes Green

My husband recently turned me on to greek yogurt – it has a creamy and thick consistency and I love it!  One of the best things about greek yogurt is that it is high in protein.  Typical yogurt has 2 – 6 grams of protein while greek yogurt has 14 - 24 grams per serving.

Greek yogurt is a little more expensive than traditional varieties so use a coupon to try it out!  When you look for a brand to try, look for one that doesn’t have added sugar ( the only sugar in the yogurt is the lactose naturally occurring in milk ) and the milk used is rBST free (hormone free).  There are also a lot of fat free versions that are made without aspartame – we typically steer clear of fat-free versions because they contain fake sugar, like aspartame, and I’m not convinced it’s good for our bodies (or even safe).  There are organic versions, as well.

Some brands to check out:

• Chobani Greek Yogurt coupon
• FAGE Greek Yogurt coupon
• Yoplait Greek Yogurt coupon (just came out, we haven’t tried it yet)
• Oikos Greek Yogurtby Stonyfield coupon  (blueberry is the best)
• Trader Joe’s Greek Yogurt ( we love the vanilla version )

If you’re a DIY kind of cook, you can even make your own greek yogurt!

Several months ago, I read about Eco Mist Solutions but it had not yet been released in to the U.S. for sale.  They have a line of home products, professional products, and industrial products that are non-toxic and eco-friendly.  What I particularly was interested in was their non-traditional cleaning products – those that typically don’t come in ‘non-toxic’ versions like patio furniture cleaner, deck wash, BBQ grill cleaner, and LCD cleaner. 

Fortunately, I was able to get a couple bottles to test out while I was waiting and I’m happy to say that I really like the two products I’ve used:

Eco Mist Solutions LCD Plasma Cleaner - we have both LCD and plasma screens in our house and this worked on all of them.  It doesn’t streak and is odorless – I prefer odorless cleaning products.  It’s made with sugarcane, coconut extract and non-chlorinated water so it’s non-toxic and safe.

Eco Mist Solutions Granite and Counter - this is one of my favorite cleaning products in the house.  We have black, speckled granite counter tops in our kitchen and they show EVERYTHING ( my advice: don’t get black granite counter tops ).  I use a general cleaner every day in the kitchen and it always shows streaking.  Every couple days, I get out this Granite Cleaner and wipe down all the counter tops and there are NO streaks – they come out nice and shiny.  It’s made with non-chlorinated water, corn, tree sap, coconut extract and sugarcane.  Like all Eco Mist Solutions products, it’s scent free and non-toxic.

NOTE: The U.S. distributor does not carry the Granite and Counter cleaner but suggests: “using the All Purpose Cleaner would be a great substitute for cleaning granite top surfaces because it’s a multi-purpose cleaner for all surfaces such as – kitchens, bathrooms, appliances, fixtures, walls, floors and more.  Please ensure that it is sprayed lightly and wiped off with a damp cloth.”

WHERE TO BUY: In Canada, you can pick up Eco Mist products at Home Depot.  In the U.S., DewItGreen is the distributor.

WIN IT!  DewItGreen is generously giving 3 readers any 3 Eco Mist Solutions cleaning products they choose!

You can enter to win in any of the following ways:

• Leave a comment telling us what Eco Mist Solutions products you want to try out!
• Follow us on twitter @mommygoesgreen.
• Retweet this contest.
• Blog about this giveaway and leave me the link.

Leave your comment by Sunday, March 21, 2010 at 11:59pm PST. Contest open to all U.S. residents, ages 18+. We will choose 3 winners, at random, and notify them by email. Privacy Policy.

 Joo Joo Baby- created on non-toxic EVA foam, this modern take on children’s decor features over 400 designs. They are removable so there is no damage on your walls and you can move them around the room as needed.  The personalized panels allow you to add an image or your child’s name.   They come in 2 sizes: 8.5 inches and 10.5 inches ranging from $18 – $22.50 apiece.  If you don’t have the time or creativity to put together your own design, you can pick from a collection of packages, all pre-selected to go together.

Mae Gallery – most wall decals are made from vinyl (the “poison plastic”) so I was excited to stumble upon these vinyl-free decals.  They are made of adhesive fabric and are completely removable and reusable (again, unlike most vinyl wall decals).   They are even washable – perfect for when your little ones decide to ‘enhance’ them with their favorite crayon! 

Children Inspire Design – I just can’t pick my favorite item, there are so many cute posters, wall cards and art.  I can see these numbered wall cards in French in my play room or this world map posterin my son’s room – all printed on 100% recycled cardstock. The prints and canvases are printed on 100% paper printed with soy ink.

Zoe B Organic – these great biodegradeable chalkboard stickersthat are made with a bioplymer derived from potato starch, a 100% bio-degradable plastic. You can compost them to return nutrients to the soil, or put them in the trash knowing that in about 6 months, 90% of the material will have biodegraded (unlike vinyl stickers). The inks and glue are also eco-friendly.

Olli and Lime – modern alphabet and number wall art looks great framed and comes in several different color palettes.  They are printed on 100% recycled paper.  They also have these in wall murals- large scale versions of the wall prints and tailored to fit your space.  I would love this in my play room!  They are made with Wallsmart paper, it’s washable and VINYL-FREE.

My daughter is a snacker – we always have to make sure to have them on hand, particularly on the go.  They are a great way to keep her energy up and an occasional great bribe.  Lately, I’ve seen snack-size organic snacks popping up at local coffee shops, like Starbucks, and packaged in multi-package containers at Costco.  While I traditionally like to buy in bulk and then pass them out in reusuable snack bags or containers, sometimes picking up snack-sized packs is what the situation calls for.

Here are several organic snacks my family has tried out and given the thumbs up:

Peeled Snacks- The snack bags are 110 – 150 calories per bag.  They have both an organic or 100% natural line – the organic line contains organic dried fruit ONLY – no added sugars, coloring or preservatives.  There are 5 organic flavors like Mango, Banana or Apricot. You can buy them online or in local Starbucks, Whole Foods or Nordstrom. One thing I don’t like about snack-sized packaging is that it typically cannot be recycled at the curb but Peeled Snacks will take all of their bags back for recycling – you just have to mail them back.

Funky Monkey Snacks - The snack bags have 1 serving of fruit and 50 calories or less per bag.  They contain organic dried fruit ONLY – no added sugars, coloring or preservatives.  I assume these are great because I never got to try them!  My husband and daughter ripped through several bags over a long road trip.   There are 7 flavors like Banana & Cinnamon or Pineapple & Lime Juice. You can buy them online at Amazon.com or in local Targets, Whole Foods or Kroger.

Annie’s Homegrown - Annie’s has a host of organic snacks including BunnyFruit snacks, CheddarBunnies, ClassicsCrackers, and SnackMix. Fruit snacks – the gummy kind – are my daughter’s favorite treat.  Most of them are made with high fructose corn syrup and a lot of other junk.  BunnyFruit still has syrups and sugars (organic cane sugar and organic tapioca syrup) but it also is made with real fruit juice and no artificial colors – so for an occasional fruit snack treat, it’s a better choice than conventional brands.  Organic CheddarBunnies are a great alternative to traditional “fishy crackers”, they are made with organic wheat flour and organic cheese – no sugar added.  Our Costco sells a pack of Annie’s snack-sized treats that is perfect for things like birthday party or classroom snacks.  You can also find them at Starbucks and at over 10,000 other stores.

Peter Rabbit Organics – A reader turned me on to these – thank you Sabrina!  They are fruit pouches made from 100% organic fruit ( no added sugar and preservatives) and use only certified organic suppliers, and local ones, when they can.  I love the pouches these are in, they are ’drinkable’ and would be great for older infants learning to eat solid foods and drinking from a straw.  My 3 year old sucked this down and told me it tasted like “fruity applesauce”.  They come in 3 flavors like Strawberry & Banana, Apple & Grape, and Mango & Banana & Orange.  I found them at Starbucks but they are also available online, at BuyBuy Baby and other retailers.

As part of the Cotton From Blue to Green program, Gap is giving you a 30% discount off any new denim purchase.  Starting TODAY, March 5 through March 15, when you take ANY piece of denim to a Gap, babyGap or GapKids store, you’ll receive the discount.  Old denim will be converted into insulation and then donated to communities in need.  Over the past 5 years of the program, enough insulation has been donated for over 540 homes.

I’ve been cleaning out my closet this week and this is the perfect opportunity to trade in some old jeans for a sorely needed new pair!

Children’s birthdays can get overwhelming with too many gifts – ECHOage is a great alternative to traditional gift giving. It’s is a charity-driven, online birthday party service where children learn the value of giving and receiving while celebrating.

Step #1. Choose an invitation, select a charity and invite your guests.  Charities include both U.S. and Canadian organizations such as Healthy Child, Healthy World, Autism Speaks, Reading Is Fundamental, WWF and Free the Children.

Step #2. Guests RSVP and contribute online and you get to watch the giving grow on your ECHOage Tracker.

Step #3. When your party is over, ECHOage will send half of the money collected to buy a dream gift for your child and the other half to the charity your child has chosen.

This is a great way for the birthday child to learn how to not only receive gifts but to give them, too.  It’s also the perfect opportunity to talk with your children about charity work and to let them choose which cause to donate their gift money to.

Stubby Pencil Studio is one of our favorite resources for unique, eco-friendly gifts for children.  It’s also a great place to pick up quality choices for your Easter baskets.  Here are a few fun finds:

Washable Markers – I know Kate, the owner of Stubby Pencil Studio, has searched high and low for eco-friendly markers.  So far, these are the best she’s found.  They are non-toxic, made in the USA, and manufactured with 25% recycled plastic.

Yummy Earth Organic Lollipops – we tried these out months ago and totally agree, they are YUMMY!

Sparkle Star Crayons – These multi-colored, star shaped crayons are made from 100% recycled crayons. 

Wooden Bead Necklace – I’m always leary of buying cheap jewelry for my daughter as it’s often found to be tainted with lead.  This wooden necklace relieves my fears as it’s painted with non-toxic nitro-cellulose paint tested and found to be safe for children and non-polluting in natural water sources.

Envirosax Animal Planet Bird – I love Envirosax and this bird bag for kids is adorable!  It would make a great reusable Easter basket.

Wooden Harmonica – every child loves playing the harmonica.  This wooden one is painted with non-toxic nitro-cellulose paint tested and found to be safe for children and non-polluting in natural water sources.

WIN IT!

1 lucky winner will get an Eco Easter Basket from Stubby Pencil Studio with over $60 worth of fun finds:

• Reusable rattan basket
• 6×9 Frogs Ecojot Sketchbook
• E-color-gy Washable markers
• Forest Choice Color Pencils
• 4 recycled cedar Pencils
• Soy Crayons
• Mary’s Softdough Rainbow Tub
• Yummy Earth Organic Lollipops
• Wooden Wind-up Bunny
• Wooden Dragonfly Spinner
• Pack of Color ‘n Kids Easter cards

You can enter to win in any of the following ways:

• Leave a comment telling us what your favorite Stubby Pencil Studio product is!
• Follow us on twitter @mommygoesgreen.
• Retweet this contest.
• Blog about this giveaway and leave me the link.

Leave your comment by Wednesday, March 17, 2010 at 11:59pm PST. Contest open to all U.S. and Canadian residents, ages 18+. We will choose 1 winner, at random, and notify them by email. Privacy Policy.

Occasionally, I have needed to supplement nursing with formula and have been researching organic options.  Surprisingly, there are several manufacturers of organic baby formula and it is not necessarily more expensive than conventional formula.

When picking out any formula – organic or conventional, here are some things to consider:

• can lining – some infant formula cans are known to be lined with metal that contains BPA 
• sweeteners – does it contain corn syrup or sugar?
• palm olein oil – studieshave shown infants absorb less fat and calcium from a formula containing palm olein oil
• hexane processed DHA/ARA – there is some concern that the processing of DHA/ARA may cause adverse reactions in infants – more details at The Smart Mama
• avoid liquid formula in metal cans – the cans are lined with an epoxy containing BPA and have tested to leach BPA

Nature’s One Baby’s Only Organic – In soy, dairy or lactose-free versions, Baby’s Only was the first organic formula on the market and is certified organic by OneCert.  It is labeled as a ‘toddler formula’ but that is because the company wants to encourage breastfeeding as it does meet the FDA nutrition requirements for infant formula. It does not contain DHA and ARA but does contain Alpha-Linolenic Acid (ALA) and Linoleic Acid (LA) which are two essential fatty acids used by the body to make DHA and ARA.  Baby’s Only does not contain any sweeteners, palm olein oil or hexane processed DHA.  The canisters and lids are uncoated so they are BPA free however the metal top contains an epoxy-based interior coating that may contain trace amounts of unreacted BPA.   $9.92 per 12.7 oz can.

Similac Organic - Similac Organic is USDA certified organic and contains both DHA and ARA.  It doescontain organic sugar and hexane processed DHA but is free of palm olein oil.  Similac has both the traditional can of formula and the SimplePac, a plastic tub made with polypropylene which is BPA Free (although SafeMamareports that Similac couldn’t confirm that ALL parts of the container are BPA free, the powdered formula itself tested BPA free).  $29.99 per 23.2 oz SimplePac or $24.99 per 25.7 oz can.

I’ve confirmed that the following 4 organic infant formulas are all manufactured by PBM products.  According to Joan, a nutritional support specialist with PBM, “Each one is made for a specific retailer and while they are nutrientionally comparable, there may be slight differences in there formulations.”  In a separate email, “bisphenol-A (BPA) is a known functional component in the manufacturing process of the current packaging used for PBM infant formula products.”  They added that they are currently researching alternative packaging.

Earth’s Best Organic - In soy or dairy, Earth’s Best is USDA certified organic and contains both DHA and ARA.  It does not contain any sweeteners but doescontain palm olein oil and hexane processed DHA/ARA. $27.79 per 25.7 oz can.

Parent’s Choice Organic -  Sold at Wal-Mart, Parent’s Choice is USDA certified organic and contains both DHA and ARA.  It does not contain any sweeteners but doescontain palm olein oil.

Vermont Organics – In dairy or soy, Vermont Organics is USDA certified organic and contains both DHA and ARA. $24.99 per 25.7 oz can.

Bright Beginnings Organic – Bright Beginnings Organic is USDA certified organic and contains both DHA and ARA.  It does not contain any sweeteners but doescontain palm olein oil and hexane processed DHA/ARA.    $24.99 per 25.7 oz can.

If you use formula several times a week or more regularly, it may be a good idea to buy formula in 6 or 12 packs.  All of these formulas come in bulk and most with some cost savings over purchasing individual cans. 

NOTE: All the formulas listed above meet the FDA Nutrition requirements for infant formula.

Read more…

I don’t like most sports drinks – they have tons of sugar and calories, and it seems counter intuitive to me to drink something like that after I just worked out.  I usually just drink water but coconut water seems be all the craze in celebrity and athlete circles so I picked up a bottle.   

Coconut water is low in calories (just 60 calories!), fat free, cholesterol free and doesn’t have added sugar.  The bottle of Zico that I drank has more potassium than a banana – 15x more than most sports drinks.  It wasn’t overly sweet, it was just a splash of coconut added to water and it was definitely refreshing. It’s a great post workout drink for re-hydration.

PACKAGING: Most of the coconut water brands I’ve seen come in tetra paks which are BPA free and 100% recyclable.

WHERE TO BUY: Online or your local natural foods stores like Whole Foods.

It’s not new news that the tin cans used for canned food is lined with a resin containing bisphenol-A (BPA).  The only new news is that every week there seems to be new research warning of BPA’s dangerous effects.  Unfortunately, avoiding canned food altogether is just not feasible for every family.  There are ways, however, to minimize your use of canned foods and the effect that BPA may have on you and your family. 

1.  Buy tomato based products in glass or TetraPaks.  Acidity causes BPA leaching and tomatoes have a lot of it.  You can get glass tomato paste and strained tomatoes from Bionaturae and crushed and diced tomatoes from San Marzano.  Trader Joe’s carries an Italian Tomato Starter Sauce in a TetraPak and Pomihas both chopped and strained tomatoes, along with a marinara sauce in TetraPaks. 

2. Buy Eden Foods canned goods.   According to their website, “All 33 Eden Organic Beans including Chili, Rice & Beans, Refried, and Flavored, are cooked in steel cans coated with a baked on oleoresinous c-enamel that does not contain the endocrine disrupter chemical, bisphenol-A (BPA). Oleoresin is a non-toxic mixture of an oil and a resin extracted from various plants, such as pine or balsam fir. These cans cost 14% more than the industry standard cans that do contain BPA. The Ball Corporation tells us that Eden is the only U.S. food maker to date to use these BPA free cans and we have been since April 1999.”   Buy online and get 15% off with the coupon code ‘OCA’. 

3. Buy dried goods and cook them. Searching through my pantry, I find that many of my canned food purchases are beans – kidney, white, garbanzo or black.  I can buy dried beans and cook them for my meals, it takes about an hour in a saucepan or just minutes with a pressure cooker. 

4. Grow or pick your own.  Spring is around the corner so start thinking about planting a fruit and/or veggie garden.  I promise it’s not a lot of work – start small with a few easy to grow veggies this summer and keep adding year after year.  It feels good to walk outside each day and pick the fruit of your labor (literally).  What you don’t eat can be canned (in glass) for the winter.  If you don’t want to grow your own, go to a farm and pick them.  Last summer, we picked over 30 pounds of blueberries that lasted all winter and enough strawberries to make freezer jam for a year. 

5. Buy soups and broths in TetraPaks.  You can find a great variety of soups and broths in TetraPaks from brands like Pacific Foods, Imagine Foods, and Trader Joe’s. 

6. Buy frozen.  Frozen may not be quite as good as fresh, but it’s a better choice than canned. Frozen, organic fruits and veggies are not that more expensive than conventional choices and they are much healthier and contain less pesticides. 

What other kinds of canned foods do you buy and can you find an alternative?