Green Child Magazine Fall 2012

Fresh Ideas for an

Eco-Friendly Halloween The No Judgment

Parenting Zone

Routines

Fall Fashions

Foods & Fun! Fall 2012

Celebrating

International Babywearing Week 1

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Features Raising a World Changer

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Green Child Talks to Liza Huber

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No Judgment Parenting

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Eek-O-Friendly Halloween

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One School’s Lunch Revolution

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Edible Neighborhoods

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Finding the Right Baby Carrier

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Organizing Your Child’s Closet

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The Benefits of Human Milk

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In Every Issue EcoFab Look, Listen, Read The More You Know Eco Anni’s Kitchen Fashion Ask Green Grandma What’s in Season Nutritional Nuggets Eco Craft Your Green Child

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greenchildmagazine.com3

Amity Hook-Sopko

Design

Amanda Hearn

Food Editor

Nicki Bradley

Columnists

Anni Daulter Louise Goldberg, RD, CSP, LD, CNSC Hana Haatainen Caye

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Contributors

Alia Einstein-Diez Amy Spangler Anni Daulter Becky Striepe Christy Little Jones, M.S. Corey Colwell-Lipson Elena Casanova Kia Robertson Lori Alper Lynn Colwell Nancy Massotto Paige Plihal Rae Russell Sandy Kreps Tiffany Casanova

Image by Michaela Kobyakov

Publisher & Editor

from our publisher & editor “Even after all this time, the sun never says to the earth ‘you owe me.’

Look what happens with a love like that.

It lights the whole sky.”

These words by the Persian poet, Hafiz, resonated with me the first time I read them, but hearing them again recently, I realized how beautifully they describe parenting.

A friend confided in me that while her 1-year old is the greatest blessing in her life, she sometimes resents the round-the-clock attention her baby still needs. She thought she’d be sleeping through the night by now. She’s tired of carrying “the kitchen sink” everywhere they go. “Basically,” she said, “I’m one diaper blowout in church away from a nervous breakdown.”

I remember those days. Even though you know how lucky you are to have a healthy child, some days you can’t help feeling that motherhood tops the list of thankless jobs.

So I remind my friend that parenting is a “reap what you sow” process. And that the way she goes about meeting her daughter’s needs now sets her up for a lifetime of trust, confidence, and self-reliance. I told her what helped me the most was to… surround yourself with support and keep your sense of humor within reach at all times.

And that just like any job… you can be bitter about it, or you can do it with love.

Look what a love like that can do. It lights up a child’s whole world.

Amity ON THE COVER: Andrea Gallagher Photography

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EcoFab Zen Society Replenishing Macadamia Body Oil $22

Red Charlotte Baby Carrier Sucking Pads $25

Dhana Kids Organic Tee $20 Integrity Botanicals Weleda Pomegranate Creamy Body Wash $12

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Zoe Organics 100% Organic Extreme Cream $32

Essential Eating Certified Organic Sprouted Pretzel Puffs $5

Babo Botanicals Oatmilk Calendula Newborn Gift Set $45

Maxwell Designs Diaper Wallet $26

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Kinsley is an “Earthdestroyer Watcher� whose job it is to make sure that people do not destroy her habitat!

Submitted by Amanda Seals 8

World Changer raising a

RAISING A WORLD CHANGER IS NO EASY TASK

As you guide your child with strong, healthy values, keep in mind that being an intentional parent produces a great outcome.

Have you heard of the principle of planting and harvesting? Seeds in a garden will only grow into a plentiful harvest if you water, care for and protect them.

The same principles apply to raising kids.

What you put into raising, imparting and guiding your child in the present, will harvest a strong, forward-thinking world changer later.

Apply these five keys to your child’s world… and watch her grow.

1. STUDY YOUR CHILD

As the parent of a world-changer child, you must start with a vision. What are your child’s natural gifts? What are their interests?

by Christy Little Jones, M.S.

Sit down with each child in your household and ask them what they believe their gifts are.

Find out how they want to use them to bring change into the world?

2. HAVE A STRATEGIC PLAN

Now that you have identified a few of your child’s gifts, talents and interests, put those gifts into practice. Set goals and a purpose with a desired outcome to keep the family on track.

If your son loves animals, think of ways this passion can make a difference. Depending on the age of your child, volunteer at an animal shelter or dog-sit for a friend.

If reading is your child’s interest, bring her to read to seniors at a retirement community.

It’s a great way to serve happiness and impact someone’s life for the better.

3. BE CONSISTENT

Consistency requires commitment and discipline. Consistency is the glue that holds your child’s strategic plan together.

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World Changer raising a

If you are wishy-washy or don’t follow through, they’ll follow suit. Be intentional and have integrity with what you set out to do, so that you can be sure to keep your commitment.

5. BE YOUR CHILD’S CHEERLEADER

4. ALLOW ROOM FOR EXPLORING

Be careful with your words; choose them wisely. Be a parent she can trust with her innermost secrets and fears. If your child trusts you, you’ll gain access to walking with them along their journey to changing the world!

Experience is the best teacher! When we create the space for our child/ren to explore, learning and development takes place at any age. A child who explores her ideas, thoughts and beliefs through action gains the freedom to engage with others on a deeper level.

Exploring helps us to discover who we are, what we like and what we don’t. Can you imagine creating an environment for your children where “failure” is embraced? What a wonderful gift to give your child.

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Your words hold power and your position has long-lasting influence. Make the decision to support and encourage your child throughout the trials and tribulations of parenthood.

Christy Little Jones (christylittlejones.com) is a national speaker who encourages and equips women to be authentic, discover their identity, embrace their power and influence and develop the integrity to live what they believe.

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MP3 “7 Simple Solutions to Fight the Common Cold and Flu with Nature’s Medicine” A 15 ml. bottle of Peppermint Essential Oil

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Look Listen Read Consciously Parenting: What It Really Takes to Raise Emotionally Healthy Families

by Rebecca Thompson, M.S.

As parents, we not only want to raise healthy, responsible, happy children, we’re also privileged with the experience parenting gives us to grow in our own lives. Mother of two, Rebecca Thompson goes beyond the question of, “Is my child well-behaved?” and focuses on building connected, trusting family relationships and bonds that can weather any situation. ($14.95 at Amazon)

Gentle Goodnight

by Lyssa Armenta

You’ve decided you don’t want to let your baby cry it out, but you’d like to explore options other than nursing her to sleep… or driving around the block 20 times. Lyssa Armenta tried everything until she discovered gently dancing her baby to sleep worked wonders. Now as a mother of three, she’s written a book detailing how to match music and movement to your baby’s energy level and helping her clam herself with close physical contact. ($9 at Gentle Goodnight) 12

Real Moms Love to Eat

by Beth Aldrich

With its emphasis on pleasure principle from start to finish, the title of this book could have been “Real Moms Love to Eat Real Foods.” Beth Aldrich comes across like your best friend... your food-expert best friend, gabbing with you across the kitchen table about nutrition, pleasure, and moderation.

While most of the “real mom” books and blogs focus on mainstream issues, Aldrich dives deep into topics that green moms care about -- whole foods, avoiding plastic in the kitchen, ethical eating, farmer’s market foods, and avoiding GMO’s.

That being said, our favorite line in the book is, “Nobody said you can’t ever order another pizza!” ($10 at Amazon)

Sage Spoonfuls: Simple Recipes, Healthy Meals, Happy Babies

By Liza Huber

The Sage Spoonfuls cookbook is an all-inclusive resource to starting your baby on solids, the benefits of organics, food allergies and intolerances, nutrition.

Liza’s recipes are heralded for their details, including nutritional content, food yields (e.g. 1 large butternut squash = 25 ounces of puree), how to prepare & serve, shelf life, and pairings. ($24.95 at Sage Spoonfuls) 13

e n Zo

t ting n e n gm Pare

d ic t s i l u o J eH t a o g i N av N ow to

H

The journey to motherhood begins with a thousand choices. Once you become a

parent, it seems that every topic - from what to eat to how to discipline your little one – is open season. And, if you decide to venture down a less traditional, holistic path and seek out natural, integrative therapies or healthy lifestyle options, the challenge, and the unwelcome advice, increases exponentially.

Whether you are opting for a natural childbirth, choosing homeopathic remedies for your kids, or seeking out organic produce at a local farmer’s market, you will suddenly discover that “non-mainstream” choices can cast you as a rebel in the parenting world. Even family members and friends may question and criticize your choices, making the motherhood journey all the more challenging.

Founder & Executive Director of the Holistic Moms Network

2. Educate (without being a naysayer yourself). Resist the temptation to simply roll your eyes when you are reproached by your well-meaning mother-in-law who loves the mantra, “Well, we all turned out fine.” Take the opportunity to explain why you have made a natural choice for your family. Try something like, “We painted the baby’s room with low-VOC paints because we are concerned about the chemicals in other brands.” Introducing your knowledge may provide an opportunity to raise awareness, even if your mother-in-law isn’t about to run out to the local green design store.

Try these six simple steps to navigating your holistic parenting journey in the face of naysayers.

3. Give hands-on experiences. Invite friends or family members over for a healthy meal made from the fresh produce that you picked up at the farmer’s market. Invite people into your organic garden or give eco-conscious gifts for special occasions.

Being able to touch, taste, or feel something “alternative” and realize that it is not as strange as expected can really impact someone’s perspective.

1. Be informed. Living consciously is a journey. Our high-tech world gives us easy access to a wide range of information on natural and holistic choices, as well as the impact of our decisions. Be educated about your choices and their impact. Knowing all of your options is the key to successful parenting.

4. Walk the talk. Your most powerful impact is living by example. People will come to you to find out why you have so much energy, how your children always seem to avoid the latest bug going around school, or why your cooking tastes so great. Use these opportunities to explain your choices and to be a real life example.

What to do?

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By Nancy Massotto

“If you hold him all the time, you’ll spoil him.”

“What - is he going to be the only kid in school who can’t play video games?”

Image by Taylor Schlades

“Boys don’t play with dolls.”

“I let my kids have soda, and they turned out fine.”

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No-Judgment Zone 5. Make peace with knowing that some people will never change. No matter how passionate you are about living a healthy lifestyle, some friends and family members are happy to continue their own journey.

Respect that everyone has to choose their own path and delight in the diversity of their experiences. Showing tolerance will also be mirrored back to you.

6. Find your tribe. No matter how hard you try, there are times you may be frustrated or feel alone because of the healthy options that you have chosen for your family. Seek out the friendship of other health- or ecoconscious parents who understand your lifestyle and who can commiserate with you. Surrounding yourself with like-minded parents will be empowering and freeing!

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During October, we celebrate Holistic Living Month and I hope you’ll take the opportunity to connect with us – whether you can make it to our 9th Annual Natural Living Conference in Chicago, connect with a local chapter, or join us online for one of our many events scheduled throughout the month – we’d love to meet you!

Nancy Massotto is the Founder and Executive Director of the Holistic Moms Network and mother to two boys. Before becoming a mom, she completed three graduate degrees, including a Ph.D. in political science, specializing in gender studies and feminist theory and spent several years working for non-profit research institutes, including the Women’s Research and Education Institute (WREI) and the International Center for Research on Women (ICRW).

“We live in a world in which we need to share responsibility. It’s easy to say “It’s not my child, not my community, not my world, not my problem.”

Then there are those who see the need and respond.

I consider those people my heroes.” ― Fred Rogers 17

Images by Baillie Bootsman

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One School’s

L unch Revolution

by Kia Robertson

In the Back to School issue, you read about starting a school lunch revolution. This time, I'm excited to share with you how one school has taken that concept and turned it into reality!

A local private elementary school contacted me to see if I could help them shift to a healthier lunch program. In this area, schools have a "Hot Lunch" option provided to students once a week.

Usually they offer things like hot dogs, pizza, and other fast food. Not exactly healthy foods… but to be fair most schools here don't have full size kitchens.

The students of First Lutheran Christian School just happen to have everything needed to start their Healthy Hot Lunch Revolution: • a commercial size kitchen • a local caterer, Sharon Bootsman, who has a passion for fresh food • a determined admissions advisor and lunch coordinator, Heather Sandager, who had a vision and a community of interested parents • oh and me, the Rainbow lady

Step one was to figure out a game plan.

What would be on the menu?

How could we tie in eating a rainbow?

What would we do to get the kids excited & on board?

Well I'm happy to say it's all planned out.

Here’s a glimpse of the menu (with a cost that is very close to what parents pay for the fast food hot lunches): Week 1 - Wraps with a choice of Tuna, Chicken, Ham or Vegetarian; Rainbow Veggie Tray; Fruit Parfait with Yogurt Week 2 - Homemade Taco Soup with Mexican Salad and Organic Chips; Veggie Sticks and Dip; Blue Fruit Banana Boat Week 3 - Grilled Cheese with your choice of Ham and Swiss, Turkey and Provolone, or Traditional Cheddar Cheese; Red Colour Fruits and Veggies of the day 19

We’ve also incorporated a group rainbow chart to encourage the students to eat their rainbows.

Lunch Coordinator, Heather Sandager says "My hope for this new, healthy hot lunch program is that it captures the essence of our school. We are not a school who “just gets the students through” their elementary years and sends them on their way. And we will not be just filling children’s bellies and sending them off to the playground.”

“We strive to cultivate excellence and distinction in each child, in every program and opportunity that we have here at FLCS. It is our hope that this program helps children learn life skills, gain an appreciation for healthy

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foods, grow and nurture relationships with their peers, school parents and Ms. Bootsman, and cultivates the courage to try something new…even if it is just a carrot" At the school's Open House there was a lot of excitement around eating a rainbow because Ms. Bootsman had prepared trays of colorful fruits and veggies so the students were getting a chance to see what the new Hot Lunch program will be like. They got to fill out their Real Food Rainbow Passport every time they tried something from one of the colorful trays!

Some little ones were trying things for the first time. Others who tend to shy away from fruits and veggies were willing to give it a try,

One School’s

L unch Revolution

since all the other students were doing so.

And that is part of the beauty of kids eating together.

With effort, energy, enthusiasm and education, this school is making a shift to a healthy lunch program that nourishes their students and sends them the message that their health is important! I will be blogging updates as the school year continues at Today I Ate A Rainbow (www.todayiatearainbow.com). I hope you'll follow along!

If you would like to start making changes at your child's school there are some great resources available to help you such as Jamie Oliver's 30 Ideas for starting a Food Revolution in your School as well as Chef Ann Cooper's The LunchBox which is full of tools and tips for bringing healthy foods to your school.

Change happens when knowledge and action join forces... YOU can be

the catalyst for the positive changes you want to see in the world!

Kia Robertson is a mom, author and the creator of the Today I Ate A Rainbow kit; a tool that helps parents establish healthy eating habits by setting the goal of eating a rainbow of fruits and vegetables every day. Connect with her on Facebook and Twitter @eatingarainbow for more ideas on how to get your kids eating a rainbow.

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the

More you Know

eco: Ian Somerhalder Foundation

World Animal Day is October 4th, and we’re honoring it by supporting the Ian Somerhalder Foundation’s Animal Sanctuary in Louisiana.

His bad boy alter ego, Damon Salvatore, may have spent the last century breaking hearts and compelling minds on the hit show, “The Vampire Diaries,” but in real life, actor Ian Somerhalder takes a more conscientious approach to changing minds and actions.

While some celebrities are vacationing at the hot spot of the moment, when Somerhalder isn’t filming, you’ll find him…

• Volunteering at St. Tammany Humane Society in his hometown • Testifying before Congress on behalf of species conservation • Working with portable energy company, Go Green Mobile Power, to supply Hollywood sets with alternative energy mobile generators • Starting a Change.org petition to fight animal cruelty • Finding homes for stray kittens on set, and more 22

When the Gulf oil spill devastated his home state of Louisiana, Somerhalder did more than just tweet about the crisis. He visited in person to help with cleanup efforts.

“I grew up in that bayou, in those marshes.

Having fished all the coastline in Louisiana and Mississippi, I know how delicate that ecosystem is. The thought of that oil sinking into the root systems of those plants, killing the oysters, crabs and shrimp, sends chills down your spine. I had to be there now.”

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the

More Ian Somerhalder Foundation you Know

eco

It’s no wonder he needed an organization to help follow through on all his environmental efforts. In 2010, the Ian Somerhalder Foundation was created, with the mission to “empower, educate, and collaborate with people and projects that positively impact the planet and its creatures.”

THE ISF

ANIMAL SANCTUARY PROJECT Now, the IS Foundation plans to open an Animal Sanctuary where abandoned and mistreated animals have the opportunity to be sheltered and healed. The key component to the healing process? Involving children with behavioral issues, specifically bullying, as active participants.

The Animal Sanctuary will present an opportunity for these children to learn leadership and nurturing skills by taking care of abused and neglected animals.

In Ian’s words,

“I’m so tired of the lack of compassion in our world and watching kids grow up in it. If we can give animals a home, we can also take kids who have behavioral issues… bullying other kids, and bring them together to learn compassion from one another. If you have compassion for an animal, then you’ll ultimately have compassion for another human being.”

If you’d like to help make the Animal Sanctuary a reality, visit ISFoundation online at isfoundation.com to find out how you can volunteer, donate, and get involved.

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Why it Matters to Your Family

by Suzanne Bertani

Parents are talking about GMOs & Proposition 37. Here’s a quick way to learn what these terms mean: GM (genetically modified) food is grown from seeds whose DNA was modified so the pesticide Roundup could be used to grow crops. The majority of products we consume contain popular GMO crops: soy, corn, or canola.

GMOs account for over 80% of the food found in grocery stores. How can you avoid genetically modified food?

This November 2012, Californian voters will decide if GMO foods should be labeled in California. Proposition 37 requires companies to add wording to their labels if their food had been genetically modified. This is a huge step in the fight against GMOs.

• Avoid packaged, convenience foods and buy produce that is grown locally, in season.

• Shop for foods labeled organic - they cannot contain GMOs. • Get to know your local farmer and ask questions.

• If you eat beef, choose grass-fed meat.

• Grow your own food.

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Babywearing: finding the one for you*

By Paige Plihal

Babywearing is a modern word for a very ancient practice, but just because people around the world have been carrying their babies for thousands of years doesn’t mean that it will be instinctual and easy from the beginning!

It takes time, practice, and troubleshooting to get babies of all ages into a carrier that is comfortable and safe for both the caregiver and the baby. Once the connection is made, and with continued practice, babywearing can become a skill as second nature as tying your shoes.

There are many different types of carriers available, and each can shine in varying situations and developmental stages. Mei tais, ring slings, wraps (both woven and stretchy) and soft-structured carriers are all traditionally designed to carry baby safely and ergonomically. Finding the sweet spot, and the right carrier for you may take some trial and error, but the pay-off is so worth it! Imagine navigating a hiking trail, exploring a decommissioned Soviet nuclear submarine, or grocery shopping in the middle of naptime with a

stroller! I suppose it could be done, but babywearing makes these and so many other moments possible for parents and caregivers everywhere.

Whether you are looking for a new carrier or trying to make the one you own work better for you, make sure that whatever you are using will allow you to carry baby SAFELY. Safe babywearing ensures that baby is visible, close enough to kiss, and upright so that their chin is off their chest (except when actively nursing, if necessary) and there is no chance of airway constriction or obstruction. Close enough to kiss means that baby’s head should be level with the caregiver’s sternum, so that they would need to do little more than lower their lips to give a little nuzzle or kiss. It is best to consider a carrier that will allow the baby’s weight to rest on their bum, and covers them knee to knee in a spread-squat position. By choosing a carrier that pushes knees higher than their bum, you will be promoting healthy hip development and a natural, comfortable position for baby. *who says you have to stop at one!

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When troubleshooting a carrier or trying a new position, a few tips and some preparation can help to make the experience enjoyable for both caregiver and baby. First, check out the manufacturer’s instructions, and any videos they may have available. Study, and practice in front of a mirror with a doll or stuffed animal. Once you are ready to try with baby, wait until they are content. Not too hungry, not too sleepy, clean diaper on… basically "Just right," as Goldilocks would say!

Ask a partner or friend to spot you, and if that isn’t possible try kneeling or leaning over a bed or other soft surface. Take some deep breaths and go for it! Baby will take their cues from you so try to stay calm and focus on getting them in safely and comfortably. After you are finished, get moving! Baby may need some motion or white noise to help them settle into their new ride. Vacuuming, washing dishes while swaying or simply going for a walk are all excellent ways to acclimate baby and get more comfortable yourself.

If you need a little more help, or don’t feel like you have the right carrier for you, look for local babywearing educators or a babywearing group to get some hands-on help and time with something you may not have tried yet.

Most importantly - keep trying. Before you know it, you’ll be grocery shopping, nursing your baby and keeping your toddler out of the Christmas cookie display without batting an eye!

Paige Plihal has been raising crunchy kiddos with her Sailor husband for over four years in San Diego, California. She began teaching babywearing within a local volunteer group three years ago and now offers private, in-home consultations and small group classes in Southern California. Paige is also part of the duo behind Red Charlotte designer baby carrier accessories.

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Pumpkin Spice Pancakes

with Fresh Homemade Cinnamon Whipped Cream

By Nicki Bradley

Ingredients • 3 cups unbrominated flour • 6 tbsp. of brown sugar • 2 tbsp. of cinnamon • 1 tbsp. of baking powder • 1 tbsp. of nutmeg • 2 cups of organic milk • 3 eggs - medium brown • 1 cup organic Greek yogurt • 1 cup pumpkin puree • 6 tbsp. of organic grapeseed oil • 3 tbsp. organic honey • 1 tbsp. of vanilla Directions 1. Mix dry ingredients, and mix wet ingredients. Then combine in mixing bowl until blended.

2. Heat iron skillet. Add 2 tbsp. of grapeseed oil in hot pan. Drop 1/2 cup of batter into pan and flip when ready.

3. Serve with organic butter and top with fresh pumpkin whipped cream.

Cinnamon Whipped Cream • 8 oz. carton of organic heavy cream • 1 tsp. of cinnamon and a dash of nutmeg • 2 tsp. of powdered sugar 1. Pour the heavy cream into mixing bowl, whip on high until fluffy.

2. Add the cinnamon, dash of nutmeg and powdered sugar.

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Human Milk:

What Every Baby’s Body Needs

By Amy Spangler

Human milk has everything a baby’s body needs—a perfect blend of

calories, nutrients, and antibodies. Parents looking to protect their child from asthma are urged to breastfeed. Parents hoping to keep their preemie from developing necrotizing enterocolitis (a life-threatening gastrointestinal infection) are encouraged to breastfeed.

And while there’s no guarantee that your breastfed child will be disease free, research shows that the odds are in her favor. In addition to protecting your child against common illnesses (such as ear infections or diarrhea), breastfeeding can also reduce her risk of obesity, cancer, diabetes, pneumonia, hypertension, urinary tract infections, sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), and a myriad of other acute and chronic diseases.

Although many of the ingredients in breast milk are yet to be determined, scientists are getting closer to understanding how human milk protects. Researchers at Duke University Medical Center recently discovered that breast milk supports the growth of bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract that aid in the absorption of nutrients and boost immune system development.

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One drop of human milk contains more than one million white blood cells—germ eaters called macrophages. Human milk gets its immune boosting properties from antibodies— special proteins that coat the lining of the intestinal tract and keep germs from getting through. The presence of antibodies explains why human milk is referred to as a baby’s first immunization. After all, antibodies are made to order. When babies are exposed to germs in the environment, moms produce antibodies specific to those germs. These protective antibodies are passed from a mother to her baby via mom’s milk. Usually when a mother gets sick, her baby has already been exposed to the germs that cause the infection. In addition to white blood cells and antibodies, human milk contains over 100 oligosaccharides—non-digestible sugars that attach to germs in the baby’s intestinal tract and keep them from causing infection. So truly the best protection a mother can give her baby is to continue breastfeeding for as long as possible.

Breastfeeding versus breast-milk feeding Even though mothers who breastfeed are healthier (breastfeeding protects against breast, ovarian, and uterine cancer, as well as bone fractures), it’s their babies who benefit

Image Murch ImagebybyBeatrice Clare Griffiths

large photo

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Breastfeeding Benefits Families • Breastfeeding is convenient—no mixing, measuring, or clean up.

• Breasts and babies are portable, making travel simple. With a bit of practice, mothers can breastfeed any time, any place.

• Breast milk is the ultimate fast food—always available and at just the right temperature.

• Breastfeeding also saves money—an average of $1,500 the first year in infant formula costs alone.

• Breastfeeding is eco-friendly; breasts are designed to handle any serving size, so there is no need for glass or plastic containers.

• Breastfeeding is fuel-efficient; the only energy needed for milk production is the small number of calories a mom eats each day.

Breastfeeding Benefits Moms • Breastfeeding reduces the risk for excessive bleeding (hemorrhage) after birth, and helps the uterus return to its normal size.

• The calories used each day for milk production make losing weight easier. Mothers who breastfeed have more fat loss one month after birth compared to mothers who formula-feed, and tend to lose weight gained during pregnancy sooner.

• Mothers who breastfeed exclusively for the first six months are less likely to get pregnant, which makes child spacing easier.

• Mothers who breastfeed have less risk for uterine, breast, and ovarian cancer.

• Breastfeeding reduces the risk for heart disease and other serious health conditions such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and stroke.

• Women who breastfeed have less risk for osteoporosis (loss of bone density) and hip fractures in later years.

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Breastfeeding Benefits Babies • Human milk changes to meet the needs of a growing baby, something infant formula can’t do. The composition of human milk not only changes from woman to woman, it also changes in mothers over the course of hours, days, weeks, and months.

• Breastfeeding protects babies from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), the leading cause of death in infants 1 month to 1 year of age.

• Breastfed babies have less risk for upper respiratory infections, including ear infections.

• Breastfed babies have less risk for gastrointestinal infections, such as diarrhea.

• Breastfed babies are at lesser risk for chronic bowel diseases, such as necrotizing enterocolitis, Crohn’s disease, and celiac disease.

• Breastfeeding reduces the risk for allergic diseases (such as asthma and eczema) in babies with a family history of allergic disease.

• Breastfed babies have fewer urinary tract infections.

• Breastfed children consistently perform better on IQ and motor tests.

• Breastfeeding reduces the risk for childhood obesity and type 2 diabetes.

• Breastfeeding reduces the risk for childhood cancers, such as leukemia.

• Breastfeeding reduces the risk for high blood pressure.

most. The benefits for babies are so extensive that the American Academy of Pediatrics and the World Health Organization recommend that babies be breastfed exclusively for six months and that breastfeeding continue for at least 1–2 years. Plus, the benefits of breastfeeding, for both mother and baby, aren’t limited to optimal growth and disease protection. There are emotional benefits too.

While human milk offers advantages over infant formula, something happens when a mother cradles her baby in her arms and puts her child to her breast. That ‘something’ may be difficult to measure, but it resonates from a mother’s caress, the soothing sound of her voice, her baby’s rhythmic suckling, and the feeling of calmness that surrounds both mother and child. The closeness that breastfeeding requires makes it easier for breastfeeding mothers to develop a strong emotional bond with their babies. Add in the release of oxytocin while breastfeeding (the hormone linked to maternal behavior), and it’s easy to see why breastfeeding is touted for its emotional benefits as well as its health benefits.

Human milk and breastfeeding—often imitated but never duplicated.

Amy Spangler, MN, RN, IBCLC, is a worldrenowned breastfeeding and child nutrition expert. She earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing from The Ohio State University and a master’s degree in maternal and infant health from the University of Florida. Spangler has served as the Chair of the United States Breastfeeding Committee and President of the International Lactation Consultant Association. Spangler currently serves as President of baby gooroo. an online resource where parents and health professionals can access timely information affecting the health of babies and young children.

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Green Child Magazine

Talks to Sage Spoonfuls Creator

Liza Huber

By Amity Hook-Sopko

In a world where health often takes a back seat to convenience, it’s reassuring to see moms in the spotlight making homemade meals a priority. Actress and mother of three (with one on the way), Liza Huber has even designed a business around helping other parents make their own baby food: Sage Spoonfuls.

The daughter of a trained chef and EmmyAward winning actress Susan Lucci, Liza grew up recognizing the importance of a healthy, home-cooked meal and family bonding time at the dinner table.

Sage Spoonfuls is Liza’s tool for creating these traditions early on – starting with baby’s first foods. We were delighted to talk to her about the benefits of making your own baby food.

And how fun is it to picture “Erica Kane” back in the day, pureeing vegetables and spoon-feeding babies?

GCM: At what point did you realize you wanted to make your baby's food?

Liza: My mom made all of our baby food

when we were little, and I always knew it was something I wanted to do for my children.

After my first child was born, I just couldn’t find products on the market that made it easy for parents. I had to completely improvise and just piece a system together.

I remember labeling food with masking tape and sharpie pens. I knew there had to be a better way. Providing your baby with homemade baby food is such a basic necessity that I wanted to find a way to make it an easy task.

That was when the light bulb went off in my head and the idea for Sage Spoonfuls was born!

GCM: Aside from being wasteful, why is pre-packaged baby food not as healthy as homemade?

Liza: Store bought baby food, including the

organic brands, has a shelf life of about 2 years. In order to achieve this shelf life, the food needs to be sterilized, or heated it to very high temperatures to ensure food safety.

The process kills vitamins, nutrients, taste, color and aroma in the process.

35

homemade baby food. The first is that many parents feel they need to know how to cook in order to prepare their baby's food.

In reality, you don't need to be a cook at all. If you can mash a banana, you can make baby food. It's about preparing single whole foods and mixing them together with other single whole foods. Baby food should not be fancy.

Homemade baby food is higher in nutrients, tastes much better than store bought and has the enticing aroma to get your baby excited about eating. It can retain most of its nutritional value, taste, color, texture and aroma because it is only lightly steamed or roasted… not overcooked. In fact, once your baby is 7 months old, most ripe fruit can be pureed without cooking, leaving all of the precious nutrients intact.

In addition to being more nutritious than store bought, homemade baby food also greatly reduces the chance that your baby will grow into a picky eater as a toddler!

GCM: Sage Spoonfuls really fo-

cuses on making the process convenient. How do you do it?

Liza: There are two common

misconceptions out there about 36

The second misconception is that people feel they don't have time to make their own baby food. We all lead very busy and hectic lives these days. No one has the time to cook on demand, so that’s why I developed Sage Spoonfuls, so parents would have an easy, time-saving system where they would only need to spend 1 hour a month preparing food for their baby. When stored in an airtight container, like our Sage Spoonfuls jars, homemade baby food will stay fresh for up to 3 months in the freezer. Instead of going to the store to buy baby food you can just "go shopping" in your freezer!

GCM: Are parents ever surprised by what foods their baby likes?

Liza: I’ve heard many parents say they’re

surprised at how delicious the unexpected

combinations are, like Black Beans mixed with Banana; Chickpea or Beet puree mixed with vanilla yogurt; and Cauliflower mixed with Apricot.

A baby's taste buds are developing the first 12-18 months of life so the more tastes, textures and delicious aromas we can expose them to the better. This is one of the beautiful things about homemade baby food - the yummy food combinations are almost endless!

GCM: Obviously, your children started

out with pure diets. Now that your boys are a bit older, how do you handle the type of snacks you might find at social settings?

Liza: As far as snacks in social settings goes,

unless it's something I really don't want them to have, like soda, some nuclear colored chip full of fake powdered cheese or an extra sugary candy full of artificial ingredients‌ I have an "everything in moderation" attitude.

The boys are actually okay with it too, which makes saying "no", when I need to, a little easier.

GCM: Was food an important part of your family growing up?

Liza: Yes, definitely. My father is a trained

chef and we grew up on home cooked meals.

We always ate dinner together as a family and I think that is such an important part of raising happy children. Even though the kids are little, we make sure to turn off the TV and sit down as a family at dinnertime.

GCM: Having such a vested interest in the business, it must be extremely rewarding to hear success stories from families. Can you

share an inspiring story about the difference Sage Spoonfuls is making?

Liza: It really is such an incredibly reward-

ing experience to have parents get excited about cooking for their kids. The most inspiring for me is when a mom or dad tells me they had no intention of making their own baby food whatsoever until they came across Sage Spoonfuls.

I can't tell you the amount of people who email us saying they fell in love with how easy Sage Spoonfuls is and how they could actually prepare a month's worth of food in about an hour. To know that this is inspiring parents who wouldn't have otherwise made their own baby food fills me with tremendous joy.

Awards & Recognition

2012 Cribsie for Best New Arrival in Mealtime 2012 Mom’s Best Literary Gold Award 2012 Parent Tested Parent Approved Seal 2012 Silver Medal Independent Publisher Award in Parenting Trusted partner of Healthy Child, Healthy World 37

In Anni’s Conscious Kitchen with Conscious Family Living Lifestyle Expert, Anni Daulter

Anni is a C onscious Fam ily Living lifestyle expert, professional c ook, advocate of sustainable li ving and auth or of 6 books an d the new on line community, S acred Pregnan cy.

The air is crisp, and the harvest of the season brings us foods that are meant to boost our immunity. Fall squashes, pumpkins, pomegranates, crisp apples, and tart cranberries all play a special role in feeding our bodies what they need during this bountiful season.

If you have a baby lucky enough to start eating her first foods during the fall, 38

then she will be blessed with fall flavors that are not only easily digestible, but naturally sweet and delicious. What I love about this season is the spirit of harvesting what we have grown both in our lives and in the ground and bringing our loved ones together in the spirit of community and gratitude.

These recipes are great because they do double duty for busy parents‌Feed you baby and use the left over puree for some tasty dishes for the rest of the family!

Keep it fresh + seasonal and enjoy these amazing fall inspired 2-in-1 recipes!

Photography by Elena Rego

Welcome to fall, when the leaves turn gold, red, and orange, the winds get brisk, and you need to start bundling up. Babies just learning to walk stumble through big leafy piles, and kids are getting their last tree swinging days in.

Apple, Squash, and Raisin Purée for Baby 7+ months

Both apples and butternut squash are wonderful first foods for baby. They both are easily digestible, high in vitamins A and C, and offer a sweet flavor combination that babies love. Adding the raisins gives this recipe a special touch and an extra boost of fiber.

2-in-1 Option: Spiced Mini Muffins for baby Ingredients: • 3 Fuji apples • 1/2 butternut squash • 1/4 (35 g) cup raisins Do it!

1. Peel, core, and cut the apples into 1-inch (2.5 cm) pieces.

2. Peel and cube the butternut squash into 1-inch (2.5 cm) pieces.

3. Steam the apples and butternut squash together for 10 to 12 minutes, or until soft.

Add the raisins and steam for 2 additional minutes. Reserve the liquid from the steamer.

4. Purée the apple, butternut squash, and raisins in a food processor with 1⁄2 cup (120 ml) of the reserved liquid. Add more liquid as needed to obtain the desired consistency.

Yield: 3 cups (735 g), or 10 servings

In Anni’s Conscious Kitchen 39

Spiced Mini Muffins for the family These muffins are perfect for toddlers’ little hands and are packed with the same goodness they got when they were babies. These are also a great cupcake alternative for a one-year-old’s birthday party or as a mid-day snack.

• • • • • • • • • • • •

2 cups (250 g) whole wheat pastry flour 1 teaspoon (4.6 g) baking soda 2 teaspoons (4.6 g) cinnamon 1 teaspoon (2.2 g) fresh nutmeg 1/4 teaspoon (0.5 g) ground cloves 1/4 teaspoon (0.47 g) allspice 1/2 teaspoon (3 g) sea salt 1 cup (340 g) raw agave nectar 1/2 cup (112 g) unsalted butter, softened 3 eggs 1 1/2 cups Apple, Squash, and Raisin Purée Fresh fruit and raisins, for serving

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C).

2. Combine all dry ingredients.

3. In a separate bowl, using either a handheld or stand mixer on medium speed, beat butter with the agave nectar.

4. Beat in the eggs, one at a time.

5. Add in the purée.

6. On low speed, add the flour mixture a little bit at a time until you have added it all and you have a cake-like batter.

7. Line a mini muffin pan with cupcake liners and distribute batter equally, filling each about three-quarters full.

8. Cook for 18 to 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

9. Cool and serve warm with fresh fruit and raisins, if desired.

Yield: 20 to 25 mini muffins, or servings 40

In Anni’s Conscious Kitchen

Corn, Potato, and Carrot Purée for Baby 6+ months

This is a simple flavored purée that is great for a new baby just trying out flavors because it’s mild and sweet. If you make this dish when your corn is super fresh, then you grab that natural sweetness that mother-nature provides.

2-in-1 option: Sweet Corn Tamales Ingredients: • 4 yellow fin potatoes, peeled and cubed • 4 ears of fresh corn, shucked and kernels taken off the cob • 2 carrots, peeled and chopped Do it!

1. Place potatoes and corn in a large pot of water and bring to a boil.

2. Let the potatoes and corn boil until soft, about 12 minutes.

3. While the corn and potatoes are boiling, steam the carrots for about 10 minutes, until soft.

4. Transfer the carrots and potato-corn mixture to a blender with a little reserved water from steaming the carrots. Blend to desired consistency.

Sweet Corn Tamales for Family 16+ months Tamales are a traditional Mexican dish that really celebrates the culture. The sweet corn version is fun to make and presents another great opportunity to include your kids in the process. You will need cornhusks, masa (Spanish dough found at a Mexican food store), and a little bit more time than usual for this recipe. This is a good recipe to make on the weekend when you may have a little more cooking time to spare.

Ingredients: • 3 cups (735 g) Corn, Potato, & Carrot Purée • 1/2 (170 g) cup honey • 2 lb (907 g) prepared masa • 20 dried corn husks, soaked in warm water until pliable (about 20 minutes) • 1/2 cup (8 g) fresh chopped cilantro, • 1 cup (230 g) sour cream, to garnish Do it!

1. Mix the Corn, Potato, & Carrot Purée with the honey.

2. Mix the masa by hand with purée mixture.

3. Scoop 3 to 4 tablespoons of masa and purée mixture onto the center of the smooth side of each cornhusk. Fold sides and bottom in and either tie off or leave folded.

4. Cook tamales in your steamer by lining the basket with extra cornhusks and stacking them on top of each other. Make sure that your tamales do not touch the water.

5. Steam for 45 to 65 minutes, until the masa no longer sticks to the cornhusk.

Yield: 15 to 20 tamales, or servings

41 Photography by Elena Rego

www.EcocentricMom.com

42

‘Like’ Us!

Advertorial

Remember that drawer filled with lipsticks that weren’t quite your color? You know, the one with the lotions and potions… and that bottle of liquid eyeliner you never mastered the skill of applying?

If you’re like many new moms, that drawer is now replaced by an even bigger stash of baby products.

Shampoos that never cured cradle cap, diaper cream that made baby’s rash worse, and of course, big bottles of conventional baby lotions from well-meaning relatives who came to your baby shower.

What can you do with half-used or unused products? You don’t want to waste them. But you don’t want someone else’s baby being a test subject either.

The trial and error process can be frustrating, wasteful, and most of all – expensive.

Rebecca Attanasio has been there. As a green mom wanting the best for her family, Rebecca shares, “I’ve spent thousands of dollars and countless hours over the years searching for the best healthy brands for my family.”

up in our bodies over the years, wreaking havoc on our immune systems and contributing to lifethreatening illness.”

Ecocentric Mom subscribers choose one of three monthly delivery options: The Mom Discovery Box For any stage of motherhood, this box introduces women to skin care, makeup, organic foods, and more.

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“What we put on our skin and our children’s skin is just as important as what we eat. No matter how chemicals enter our bloodstream, they build

“If anyone can make a difference, moms can,” Rebecca says. “We have buying power and rolemodel power alike.”

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Favorite

Fall Fashions

44

freckletree Image by Julie A. Martin

BoskĂŠ Kids Image by Kia Porter Photography

45

Curious Georgia

46 Image

by Deanna Gallardo Photography

Favorite

Fall Fashions

Grass & Clovers 47 Image by Edward Chan Photography

FALLING FOR

Grass & Clovers Styling by Elena Casanova Photography by Tiffany Casanova 48

Sara Sandler-Greisberg created this lifestyle brand using new, vintage and recycled fabrics. All the appliquÊs are hand sewn and individually constructed so your little one’s tee is made just for them. Grass and Clover tees are perfect for this Fall, whether wearing them as a layering piece, or all by itself as a Fall statement! www.grassandclovers.com

Check out these Fall fashion tees from

Grass & Clovers 49

Ask Hana Haatainen Caye

Jennifer asks: I’ve heard that fabric softener sheets shouldn’t be used in the same dryer as my son’s cloth diapers, but I’m not sure why.

What is the problem with fabric softener?

GG: That question packs a powerful punch, Jennifer! Not only should you avoid drying your diapers with fabric softener (of any kind), you should avoid using it altogether.

Traditional fabric softener is toxic! And I, for one, stay away from the so-called ‘natural’ ones as well. Here is a list of chemicals found in fabric softener that you want to avoid: • • • • • • • • •

Alpha-Terpineol Benzyl Acetate Benzyl Alcohol Camphor Chloroform Ethyl Acetate Limonene Linalool Pentane

Some of the above ingredients include warnings, such as, “Danger – Harmful if inhaled… Avoid breathing vapors.” If you’ve ever passed a dryer vent when fabric softener was being used, you know how difficult it can be to avoid breathing the vapors!

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Other warnings are to avoid contact with skin. Excuse me? How can that be avoided if we are washing/drying our clothing with fabric softeners that include these toxic chemicals?

But back to your original question. Dryer sheets coat the inside of the dryer and then transfer to your diapers, even if you don’t dry the diapers with dryer sheets. Once coated, the diapers lose their absorbency because the fabric softener leaves a moisture-repelling residue behind. The result? Leaks. Lots of them.

Does that mean you have to put up with stiff diapers? Not at all. By adding ½ cup of distilled white vinegar to the rinse cycle, you can soften your diapers and give them an extra dose of disinfecting at the same time!

Line-dry them or throw them in the dryer with some wool dryer balls.

If your dryer is already coated with fabric softener, wipe down the inside with a towel doused in vinegar and then run the towel through a drying cycle. That should eliminate any leftover residue.

Hana Haatainen Caye is a wife, mother and grandmother who shares her passion for common sense greener and healthier living. Based on the most popular feature of her blog, Hana’s first book, Vinegar Fridays, is now available. Have a question for Green Grandma? Ask here!

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Photography by Holli Dunn

52

For an EEK-O-Friendly Halloween…

Do This, Not That

by Lynn Colwell & Corey Colwell-Lipson

Halloween is heavy on sugar, not to mention waste. But it doesn’t have to be. Try these great tips for a healthy and eco-friendly Halloween that is even more fun!

Instead of buying a new costume...

• Participate in a local costume swap.

• Make one out of what you already own.

• Check out Goodwill, garage sales or consignment stores.

Instead of purchasing new Halloween themed party items, why not…

Instead of buying a new trick-or-treat bucket or bag, how about using a…

• Shopping bag • Backpack • Basket • Scarf folded into a bag • Pillowcase

• Decorate with items from nature (including fall foods like apples and squashes).

• Make placemats by painting mat sized cardboard black or orange.

• Cut napkins from black/orange fabric to use over and over.

• Decorate glasses or cups with Halloween theme cutouts.

• Trade Halloween décor with friends and neighbors.

• Make a Halloween garland from toilet paper tubes.

Instead of using chemical-based face paints, color safer by…

• Making your own with items you have on hand.

• Purchase safer face paints from Terrafirma 53

Instead of turning a Halloween party into a junk-fest, why not…

• Looking for clever, not candy-laden recipes like this vegetable skeleton.

• Focus on fun, not food, with lots of games everyone will enjoy.

• Stage a Halloween parade or play in your neighborhood.

• Conduct a moveable feast with different courses of a meal at different homes.

Instead of giving away only candy, consider giving treasures…

• Fun erasers • Friendship bracelets • Joke cards • Marbles • Pennies • Beanbags • Mini cookie cutters • Homemade “play dough”

Choose to reuse!

A second-hand costume is just as

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cute!

Instead of giving out handfuls of sweets…

• Offer little spooksters a big bowl filled with healthier and Earth-friendly goodies and let each child choose a favorite.

Instead of giving away conventional candy, keep an eye out for goodies that are...

• Organic • Fair Trade • Free of synthetic preservatives, dyes, and other ingredients Non-GMO. Lynn Colwell and Corey Colwell-Lipson are mother and daughter and authors of Celebrate Green! Creating Eco-Savvy Holidays, Celebrations and Traditions for the Whole Family, and founders of Green Halloween®.

Treasures make great treats!

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EEK-O-Friendly Finds Finds for Perfect Parties & Trick-or-Treating

Safe for painted walls, reusable and removable wall decals are made of eco-friendly, biodegradable fabric adhesive in the USA. Images & prices vary at weedecor This bag has a reason to smile. With every purchase, UNICEF funds food to a child in the developing world. $18 at feedprojects.com

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No smelly plastic to breathe here! Comfortable and reusable eco-friendly felt masks. $15 at Green Planet Parties

Fruit and vegetable based face paints. $30 at WeeCanToo

For homemade Halloween treats, food coloring made from organic plants, fruits, and vegetables brings natural fun to any party. $10 each at Maggie’s Naturals

Organic ingredients from small family farms and organic coops make your pre-made treats more sweet than scary. 100% recyclable gift packaging. $25 at beautifulsweets.com 57

Homemade

Halloween though the eyes of Green Child Magazine readers!

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Carboard boxes & tubes get this tow truck going!

We think he’s a Super Fly Guy too!

Little builders!

What a ‘hoot’!

Mommy whipped up this adorable gold fish with a warm hoodie, tulle & cupcake liners!

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EdiEdible ble NeiNeigg

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Image by Zsuzsanna Kilian

growing an

ghborhood ghborhood Even in places like New England, where the temperatures plummet in fall and the ground remains frozen all winter, growing year round IS possible. But most of us need a little extra help and encouragement to stay in the garden when summer is over.

by Rae Russell Eat Your Yard

Why not look to your neighbors for assistance and take this opportunity to think outside the fence?

and get your children involved? A community effort provides the support you need.

• More Opportunities and Micro climates: Maybe you don’t get much sun, but your neighbor might. Together you can harness the different resources that each person has.

• More Flowering Plants: With the entire neighborhood growing there will be more pollinators to help plants thrive and reproduce.

Cooperative Growing

How to Get Started

Fall is the perfect time to look beyond your own garden and consider your neighborhood as a whole. With a little planning, you can combine your efforts with others, share those limited fall and winter resources, and extend your family’s growing area beyond your own lot (and beyond summer). There are many benefits to cooperative growing: • More Space/Scalability: Imagine being able to grow food throughout your neighborhood instead of just in your own small plot.

Only one neighbor really needs Kiwi vines for example, and some sites are better suited for specific plants/plant communities.

• Cooperative Buying: Get discounts on gardening supplies by buying in bulk and sharing costs of materials, hauling, and labor.

• Built in Support Network: Going on vacation and need someone to look after your plants? Like to socialize while gardening

• Arrange a time to meet with your family and neighbors, and discuss ways that you can share food and work/investment.

• Create an assets inventory and document who can provide tools, space, seeds, etc.

• Talk about who will provide labor in terms of planting, garden care, and harvesting.

Be sure to get your teens and children involved!

• Consider filling out and signing an Edible Neighborhood Agreement Form.

Other Resources

What if you live in an apartment or condo and love to garden but don’t have any space to share?

Many city dwellers are faced with this dilemma and often have containers or public gardens (which usually have long wait-lists) as their only prospects. For these folks, the internet is a

61

growing an

Edible Neighborhood

great resource for connecting with other likeminded gardeners.

Urban Garden Share (urbangardenshare.org) is a database that matches gardeners with experience to homeowners with space, and there are many other forums on the web that can help facilitate bringing a neighborhood together. Try posting on Craigslist or start your own garden sharing group on meetup.com.

For those of you who don’t have the time, space, or inclination to start your own crops from seed; you or your garden-sharing group can subscribe to a “plant start CSA”. CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture, or a program where people become members of a farm and receive a box of produce each week.

A plant start CSA delivers baby plants on a seasonal basis for planting in your garden.

This takes a lot of the guess work out of when to plant which crops. Cascadian Edible Landscapes (based in Seattle) runs the only plant start CSA in Seattle. You can find more information and sign up at www.eatyouryard.com

Reaping the Benefits

Cooperative growing allows you to extend your garden beyond your own yard, which means a larger harvest, greater access to gardening resources, and a more closely knit community.

Partnering with your neighbors will also give you the support you need to grow year round.

So imagine your neighborhood as an edible neighborhood and get started making connections today!

Rae Russell (eatyouryard.com) works for Cascadian Edible Landscapes, a landscaping service in Seattle Washington that assists city dwellers of all income levels in growing their own food. Cascadian Edible Landscapes also provides education for gardeners seeking to create edible neighborhoods.

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10 2. Install water-saving shower heads.

Regular shower head uses 2 to 10 gallons per minute and water-saver shower heads use 2 to 5 gallons per minute.

3. Take shorter showers. One way to cut down on water use is to turn off the shower after soaping up, then turn it back on to rinse. A fourminute shower uses approximately 20 to 40 gallons of water.

4. Turn off the water when you’re brushing your teeth and shaving.

This could save up to 300 gallons of water per month.

5. Don’t flush your toilet after every use (I know, counter intuitive). If it’s yellow let it mellow, if it’s brown flush it down.

at Home

by Lori Alper

6. Fill your washing machine and dishwasher before running. Try to squeeze in that last dish or fit that pair of pants into the washing machine.

7. Use mulch in your yard around trees and plants. Mulch holds the moisture in and plants will require less frequent watering.

8. Wash fruits and vegetables in a pan of water of clean water instead of running water from the tap.

9. Collect and save the water used for rinsing fruits and vegetables and reuse it to water houseplants.

Check your water meter for water 10. leaks. Read the house water meter before and after a two-hour period when no water is being used. If the meter does not read exactly the same, there’s a leak.

Image by Angel Norris

1. Don’t rinse the dishes before loading them into the dishwasher. This could save up to 10 gallons of water per load.

Tips to Save Water

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Nutrition Advice You Can Trust A Registered Dietitian with over a decade of experience working with children and families to find realistic solutions for their nutrition concerns. All from the comfort of your home with one-on-one consultations online or by phone.

Perfect for working parents and convenient during naptimes!

Specializing in: •Pediatrics

•Maternal Health •Food Aversions (“Picky eater” or sensory issues) •Weight Concerns •Food Allergies or Intolerances •Failure to Thrive, Poor growth and weight gain •Reflux An Apple A Day Nutrition Consulting Louise Goldberg RD, CSP, LD, CNSC Online: www.AnAppleADayNutrition.com Email: Louise@AnAppleADayNutrition.com Phone: 713.478.3823 64

•Celiac Disease •GI motility issues •Crohn’s Disease or Ulcerative Colitis •and more…

What’s In Season |by Louise Goldberg RD CSP LD CNSC

Fennel and Onions

Apples

Fennel’s unique licorice flavor adds a boost to savory dishes. As it roasts or sautés the natural sugars caramelize making it sweeter and more subtle. It pairs beautifully with onions, which are also in season. Both veggies are high in vitamin C, fiber and antioxidants but low in calories so you can feel less guilty when stuffing them into a pie crust!

There are many varieties and uses of apples. Each medium size apple provides 10% of your daily value for fiber and helps fill you up. Stop by the roadside stand or farmers market to pick up a bunch for snacks, salads, savory dishes or dessert. Johnathan, Jonagold, Honeycrisp, Braeburn, Gala, Cortland and Golden Delicious varieties hold up well to high temperatures. Nothing makes the announcement that autumn has arrived than the smell of apples and cinnamon baking in your oven.

Apple image by Diego Medrano

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What’s In Season

Savory Fennel, Onion and Feta Croustade

Ingredients: Crust: • 1 cup Flour • 4 Tbsp Organic Butter

• 1 tsp Salt • 3-4 Tbsp ice water

Place first 3 ingredients in a food processor and blend together.

Gradually add water and mix until dough looks crumbly but holds together when squeezed. Knead dough and then divide in half.

Place each ball between 2 sheets of wax paper. Ask the kids to help you roll it out thin, then refrigerate while you prep the filling.

Filling: • 1 Fennel bulb, thinly sliced • 2 Yellow Onions, thinly sliced • 4 tsp. Balsamic Vinegar • 2 tsp. Honey or Maple Syrup

• 1 Tbsp fresh Sage, chopped • ½ tsp Salt • Olive Oil • 2 Tbsp Feta Cheese • 1 Egg + 1 Tbsp Water, beaten

Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease baking sheet. Drizzle olive oil on bottom of hot pan. Add fennel, onions and salt and sauté until tender, approximately 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent burning. Add vinegar, honey and sage.

Place rolled out dough onto the baking sheet. Place 1/2 the fennel and onion filling in center of the dough and spread out in a 4-5 inch circle. Fold over the extra dough 1 inch towards the center, moving around the circle. Brush egg and water mixture around the crust. Bake for 30 minutes, then remove and sprinkle croustade top with Feta cheese. Return to the oven and bake an additional 20-25 minutes until crust is golden brown. Repeat steps with remaining dough for second croustade.

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Baked Apples

Ingredients: • 4 Organic Apples • 2 Tbsp Butter, softened • 5 Tbsp Rolled Oats, raw • 1 tsp Pumpkin Pie Spice • 2 Tbsp Brown Sugar • 2 Tbsp Almonds, chopped Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Hollow out apple, removing the core but leaving bottom intact (don’t go all the way through). In small bowl, combine remaining ingredients. Place apples in baking dish and pack with filling. Bake in oven for 50 minutes to 1 hour. Serve warm with whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

If you want to shave off some calories, keep it simple by using just a sprinkle of brown sugar and spice.

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by Alia Einstein-Diez Along with the beautiful colors and the satisfying sound of crunching leaves under our feet, Autumn often brings the start of cold & flu season. Luckily, there’s a home remedy that can help your family prevent or lesson the effects of what goes around in the fall.

Elderberry has been found effective against a wide range of influenza viruses including human, swine and avian strains. For centuries, people have made the cold remedy using just elderberries, water and honey. This recipe is a slight variation on the ancient elderberry theme to give it more flavor and immunological punch.

Elderberry Syrup Recipe • • • • • • • •

1 cup dried blue elderberries (be sure to use blue, not red) 1/2 cup rosehips 5 sticks cinnamon pinch of cloves a few pinches grated ginger root 5 sticks astragalus root 4 cups water 1-2 cups honey

1. Bring 4 cups of water to a boil and add the herbs above.

2. Cover the pot and reduce heat to a simmer.

3. Simmer for at least half an hour, strain out the herbs and pour the liquid back into the pot.

4. Continue to simmer with the lid off until it is reduced to 2 cups.

5. Add 1-2 cups of honey and warm until it is well integrated.

6. Bottle, refrigerate and use within a couple of months.

Adults take 2-4 tablespoons daily. Children take 2 teaspoons daily. *Honey is only for children 1 yr. and up.

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Closet

Organization for kids!

by Sandy Kreps Kids' closets are definitely one area where clutter free can equal hassle free. Different organizational methods work

for different families, so here are some of my best tips for

organizing kids' closets. Get your kids involved in organizing their own closets, since they'll be the ones ultimately in charge of keeping them clean.

• Start by taking everything out of the closet, and purging anything that no longer fits or is stained, torn or otherwise damaged. Sort the keepers by type (pants, shirts, dresses, shoes, toys, accessories, etc.) Once you know what you have, then you can plan how to store it all.

• Some kids do well with their clothes folded on shelves and in drawers, while others prefer their clothes hung. Organize the clothes according to how your child prefers them. My son likes to flip through his shirts to choose what he wants to wear, so hanging his clothes is simpler and minimizes the messiness of pawing through folded items in search of that one favorite shirt.

• Add a lower hanging rod in the closet so children can reach their own hang-up clothes. Divide hanging clothes by type, 70

with short-sleeve shirts together, longsleeve shirts together and so on. Put out of season hang-ups in the back of the closet, with current season clothes hanging front and center.

• Hang clothes on matching hangers facing the same direction so children can find what they need easily.

• Consider using rod dividers to notate types of clothing, season or size.

• For school-age children, separating school clothes from play clothes can simplify mornings. My son knows he can wear anything in his closet to school, but shirts and sports shorts folded in his dresser are for after-school only.

• Small drawers, baskets and bins are particularly good for storing underwear, socks, hats, girls’ accessories and even pajamas.

Place big bold labels, with pictures for

nonreaders, on each bin so kids can find what they need. Choose containers without lids to make them easy to use.

• Keep clothing in short stacks in drawers or bins so kids don’t have to paw through large piles to find what they want.

• A hanging closet organizer with seven shelves can be used to store a complete outfit for each day of the week. Include undergarments and accessories too.

• If you use wire shelving, consider placing heavy shelf liner on the shelves so small objects don’t fall through.

• Add a row of hooks on the wall for hanging bags and hats, or use a hook on the inside of the closet door for hanging the next day’s outfit to simplify the morning routine.

• Keep shoes organized and off the floor.

Older kids might like hanging shoes organizers, while younger kids might fare better with stackable baskets that can hold several pairs.

• Store off-season clothing, as well as hand-me-downs from older siblings, in labeled containers on the highest shelf in the closet. Containers can be labeled by season, by size or both. I usually label mine with both, such as 4T fall/winter. If you have both boys and girls, make sure to include the gender on the label.

• Keep a box or bag in the closet for outgrown clothes and periodically empty out the box by donating unneeded clothes or storing them for a younger sibling.

• Keep a hamper or laundry bin on the floor of the closet and encourage your child to put his dirty clothes in the hamper daily.

• If you keep toys in the closet, have a designated bin, basket or shelf for the toys so they’re not thrown on the floor randomly.

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Nutritional Nuggets |by Louise Goldberg

What are ‘sprouted grains’?

Grains start out as seeds, which we grind up to make flours, cereals and other products. When the seeds are allowed to sprout before we grind into flours, they are converted from starch form into a plant form (think grass seed vs. grass).

This process allows the body to more easily access the nutrients within the grain.

There are only a few companies that produce sprouted grains at this time. Visit the Whole Grains Council for a list of these companies and more information about their health benefits.

My daughter is not a picky eater.

She loves food, which has been wonderful in the past, but now she is gaining weight too rapidly. What can I do?

Discuss the importance of eating the right types of food to fuel her body and the right amounts that will give her the energy to play with her friends but not slow her down.

Include her in activities that provide her 72

with an opportunity to learn about portion sizes and the components of a healthy meal; for example, ask her to help you pack her school lunch or plan dinner using the My Plate visual as a guide. If you don’t have this discussion with her, it may be difficult for her to self-moderate when she is older and making decisions on her own.

What foods should I feed my baby right before bedtime to help him sleep through the night?

Unfortunately, there is no magic food that will guarantee a full night’s sleep. If your baby has already started solids, offer foods that are high in tryptophan, like poultry, fish, beans, and soybeans, which may help by stimulating production of the sleep hormones melatonin and serotonin.

A rumbling tummy can also keep little ones awake. If your baby eats dinner several hours before bed, consider offering a small evening snack before she goes down.

There are many other reasons why a baby might have difficulty falling asleep though so it’s important to always discuss with your pediatrician or naturopath if your concerns continue.

Image by Ayse Kongur

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DIY Tutorial

Upcycled Tin Lanterns

for Halloween!

By Becky Striepe

You could buy plastic Halloween decorations to use once, but with a little crafty know-how and reclaimed tin cans, you can whip up your own light up decorations that are less wasteful and have a whole lot of heart.

This set of upcycled lanterns spells out “BOO” for Halloween, but you can really do any design you like. Have fun with it! Kids will dig this project, too. How cool would it be to hammer their spooky Halloween art onto a set of lanterns?

Materials: • • • • •

3 Cleaned Tin Cans (Labels Removed) Water Scrap Paper 6 Rubber Bands 3 Tea Lights

Instructions:

Tools:

• Hammer & Nail • Freezer

1. Fill cans with water, and place in the freezer. The ice inside will keep your cans from denting while you’re hammering them. They may need to freeze overnight, depending on the size of your cans, so plan ahead!

2. Meanwhile, sort out your artwork. Cut your paper to size, so the art will fit on your cans, then draw the design you want onto your scrap paper.

3. When your cans are completely frozen, pull out the first one, and use the rubber bands to attach the art to the cans.

4. Hammer away! It takes 3-5 whacks with the hammer to make each hole, so be patient as you work your way around. The idea here is to “trace” your design with somewhat equally-spaced holes. If things are a bit uneven, don’t sweat it!

5. Repeat with the other two cans.

6. Place the hammered cans into a bowl or bucket, so that you can collect the water when the ice melts. You can use it to water some plants, instead of letting it go to waste.

7. Place one tea light into each luminary, turn off the lights, and bask in the glow of your crafty creations!

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Hey Parents and Teachers!

Want a free way to help the environ ment, while earning money for charity and teaching your kids about recycling?

TerraCycle is looking for schools, individuals and community groups across the United States to help us collect drink pouches, cookie wrappers and other non-recyclabl e packaging and products!

We'll award two points to the school, community group, or non-profit of your choice for every piece of packaging you collect.

s

l oo

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pr

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community groups

For every piece of packaging you colle ct. We make affordable, eco-friendly products from your waste!

Sign up today, visit: www.terracycle.co m Participating Products:

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Capri Sun and the Capri Sun pouch are a trademark of the Deutsche Si-Si-Werke GmbH & Co. Betriebs KG Trademarks of Frito-Lay North America, Inc used under license. (c) 2011.

TerraCycle速, the TerraCycle Logo速 and Brigade速 are all property of TerraCycle, Inc. used under license. 息2011. www.terracycle.com

the more you know Personal and baby care industry leader Johnson & Johnson has announced plans to eliminate some of the most toxic chemicals from its beauty and baby products lines by 2015.

Healthy Child Healthy World says Johnson & Johnson plans to phase out preservatives like quanternium-15, which releases formaldehyde, a known carcinogen, and triclosan, an antibacterial that may harm the human immune system. Another chemical that Johnson & Johnson pledged to eliminate is 1,4 dioxane, which has been linked to increased risk of breast cancer.

Johnson & Johnson contends the chemicals are safe and meet all government standards. However, as Susan Nettesheim, Vice President, Product Stewardship and Toxicology wrote, “… what matters most isn’t what we think, it’s what the people who use our products think.”

For years, the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics had been pressuring the company to make the switch. The Campaign’s report finding cancer-causing formaldehyde in the iconic Johnson & Johnson Baby Shampoo raised a ruckus among parents who don’t want to wash their children’s heads with a notorious cancer-causing chemical.

As a result, Johnson & Johnson announced last year that it would remove formaldehyde from its baby products The latest news takes them a step closer to purging their product lines of dangerous chemicals. Kudos to Johnson & Johnson for their decision to make products safe.

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Make Produce ‘Fit’

for Your Family

Nobody ever said raising children was easy.. at least not if they had children of their own.

It’s a never ending set of obstacles to overcome and decisions to make, all aimed at the goal of raising healthy, happy children.

Fortunately over the past couple of decades a great deal of research has been done to make some of this a little bit easier. Over the years, we continue to evolve in the way we raise our children. Research has provided us with the right information to make more informed decisions, all in the name of a greater level of safety for us and our children.

We all grew up eating conventional produce and just rinsing it off with water, if we even took the time to do that. But over the years, we’ve learned more about what’s going onto our produce, and about the potential risks. We can make more informed decisions, and find the products to help us.

Like organic produce. It’s so much more readily available today, but it can also be quite expensive, and unfortunately it just doesn’t always fit into the budget. That’s why there’s Fit Fruit & Vegetable Wash.

Fit can help you remove unwanted pesticide residues, waxes, and other contaminants from your produce. In fact, it removes 98% more than just 78

washing with water alone, so you can feel good about the produce you and your family are eating, even if you can’t always buy organic. It’s important to remember that organic produce is still grown with fertilizers and chemicals, so even if you are buying organic it’s still a good idea to wash it well with Fit. When you think about it, it’s really no different than with anything else we wash. Do we wash our hands with just water? What about our clothes? Why not? Because we know that water, by itself, just can’t clean well enough.

So the next time you are planning on enjoying some fresh fruits and vegetables, use the 100% natural produce wash that rinses away entirely, leaving them cleaner than nature intended - and a Fit for your family!

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