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Bento Box for Kid's Lunch

I recently came across a forum on Mothering.com that discusses ideas for packing lunches for your child. There are some great ideas and I thought I’d share those as well as some of my own. I’ve written a previous post about the poor nutritional quality of most school cafeteria lunches, which makes me even more motivated to pack Britton’s lunch when the time comes. Even at her Montessori school, where you would think they understand the ties between diet an behavior, the school-provided lunches leave a lot to be desired. Monday is Chick-fil-A day, Wednesday is lunch from a local sub shop and Friday is pizza day, likely from Domino’s or Pizza Hut. There are so many possibilities for lunchboxes especially if you also use a Thermos! And creative presentation is key!! Bento boxes are a great way to assemble lunches in a way that makes them even more appetizing for children (see example above).

Healthy Snacks and Lunches for Kids:

• Peanut Butter/Almond Butter & Jelly on Whole Grain Bread
• Bagels and Cream Cheese
• Celery Spears/Cucumbers/Carrots and Dip of Choice
• Ants on a Log - celery sticks with cream cheese and raisins
• Freshly Cut Tomatoes
• Pretzels
• Hard Boiled Eggs
• Cheese (and crackers sometimes)
• Cottage Cheese and Peaches/Pears
• Granola
• Sunflower Seeds
• Chicken Caesar Salad (assemble yourself)
• All-natural Lunch Meat with Crackers and Cheese
• Hummus and Pita
• Spanakopita
• Vegetable/Fruit Kababs - spear fresh vegetables with tofu or fruit and cheese
• Anything in a Wrap
• Avocado and Mushroom Sandwich with Dijon mustard and Shredded Cheese
• Baked Potato with Broccoli and Cheese
• Bean and Cheese Burrito
• Annie’s Cheddar or Sour Cream crackers
• Sweet Potato Chips
• Yogurt
• Fruit
  • Grapes
  • Dried or Fresh Strawberries
  • Pineapple
  • Bananas
  • Pears
  • Peaches
  • Blueberries/Raspberries
  • Kiwi
  • Pomegranate (in the winter)
  • Cantaloupe
  • Watermelon
• Fruit/Veggie Breads or Muffins
• Frozen Pancakes or French Toast (put it in the lunchbox frozen, by lunch it’s thawed & ready-to-eat!)

Healthy Thermos Meals for Kids:

• Smoothies
• Rice Pilaf
• Beans and Rice
• Meat and Rice
• Couscous and Vegetables
• Pasta and Garlic and Oil
• Pesto Pasta
• Macaroni and Cheese (We love Annie’s!!)
• Any Soup - chicken, pea, vegetable
• Ham and Beans
• Assemble Yourself Tacos
• Veggie mix in the Thermos (favorite veggies like broccoli, corn, peppers, cauliflower, peas, beans, etc. mixed up, steamed and topped with a bit of cheese of choice)

This is just a start! There are so many great ideas out there if you look hard enough. Please share your own ideas for healthy kid lunches by leaving a comment.

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I’ve just hired a new pest control company that uses only “green” pest control products including botanicals to fend off insects. In fact the company I hired only uses these non-toxic pest control products as a result of recent legislation in my state that has required a reduction in pesticide use around schools and hospitals (hmmm I wonder why?…perhaps because these pesticides are not as benign as they would like us to believe!).

The Organic Report highlights the following on their website:

Pesticide exposure and Parkinson’s: Recent findings published in the BMC Neurology Journal found that of 600 people studied, those exposed to pesticides had a 1.6 times greater risk of developing Parkinson’s disease than those who were not. Those who made “heavy use” of pesticides, or who were exposed to them more than 200 days in the course of their lifetime, were found to have over twice the level of risk, suggesting that “there is very strong evidence” linking pesticide use and Parkinson’s disease, according to lead researcher Dana Hancock (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7318188.stm).

Pesticide exposure during pregnancy: A study published in the April 2008 issue of Environmental Health Perspectives found that the sons of women exposed at work to pesticides during pregnancy suffered impaired reproductive development. Specifically, the sons were found to have reduced penile length, testicular volume, and abnormal concentrations of various reproductive hormones. The study also found that female workers who were exposed to pesticides on the job were three times more likely to give birth to sons with cryptorchidism, a condition in which one or both testes are absent from the scrotum, than non-exposed female workers.

Children at risk in agricultural areas: According to findings published in the April 2008 issue of Environmental Health Perspectives, children living in regions of intense agricultural activity in the United States face a higher risk of many types of childhood cancer. The risk was found to be highest among children living in counties having 60 percent or more of their total acreage dedicated to farming. The study also revealed that the incidence of certain types of cancer varied by crop type, suggesting a link between cancer type and the use of crop-specific pesticides.

Beyond Pesticides, a website devoted to educating consumers on safer methods of controlling bugs and pests in and around the home, offers guides to the least toxic control methods, broken down by pest.

Additionally, we’ve stopped using lawn fertilizer and chemical herbicides and instead, we’re using green methods for lawn care in an effort to protect the health of our family and reduce toxic runoff that could potentially enter the local water supply. In fact, 80 cities in North America have already banned the use of lawn pesticides and for good reason! These chemical herbicides and fertilizers are linked to childhood cancers and can change aggression levels, learning abilities, hormone levels and immune function in rats and mice Instead we’re implementing environmentally friendly lawn care practices. A guide for environmentally friendly, non-toxic lawn care methods can be found at Healthy Child, Healthy World.

Some of the things we’re implementing are:

• Worms! - worms aerate, de-thatch and condition the soil, thereby encouraging healthy grass growth.
• Bat Box - bats are known mosquito predators and on bat can consume as many as 600 mosquitoes an hour!
• Battle Pest Control - I’ve used this several times and it really works, especially on ant piles!

What green methods have you found most effective for combating pests and maintaining your yard? Please share!

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Lawmakers have approved a bill that bans the use of toxins in children’s toys and products which will take effect in 6 months. Specific to phthalates, a toxin used to soften plastic, the removal of this chemical from children’s products is a big win for parents due to their potential harmful effect on the developing hormone system in young children, particularly boys. The European Union banned phthalates 9 years ago but it’s taken the US a bit longer due to resistance and opposition from the companies who provide these chemicals (1.4 billion dollars worth annually!) to the manufacturing industry, such as Exxon Mobil, who “spent a chunk of its $22 million lobbying budget in the past 18 months to try to prevent any ban”.

According to the Washington Post article that was released today:

The rare action by Congress reflects a growing body of scientific research showing that children ingest the toxins by acts as simple as chewing on a rubber duck. Used for decades in plastic production, the chemicals are now thought to act as hormones and cause reproductive problems, especially in boys.

It also signals an important crack in the chemical industry’s ability to fend off federal regulation and suggests that the landscape may be shifting to favor consumers. The movement to ban the toxins accelerated last year when California prohibited their use in children’s products.

Walmart and ToysRUs have already agreed to remove products containing lead, phthalates and other toxins as of January 2009. However buyer beware…the products will remain on the shelves through the 2008 holiday season.

Like this post? Read more about chemicals in children’s products by clicking through to the following related posts:

Ecology Center Toy Testing Report

How to Green Your Kids Toys

Precocious Puberty

Take Action Tuesday - Ban Phthalates

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A friend of mine is having difficulty conceiving her second child. She leads a healthy lifestyle, exercises daily and recently stopped working to reduce stress. She is currently taking Progesterone pills but I had told her that I would research some natural ways to boost her fertility. I’ve come across some very interesting information related to the potential causes of unexplained fertility and natural ways to overcome infertility. This information comes from many sources and as with any medical information, should be discussed with your physician.

The following is a list of natural remedies that are suggested to boost fertility:

Vitamin C & Antioxidants: Eat your fruits and vegetables, as antioxidants help to reduce stress on the reproductive system. In fact a recent study by Harvard researchers, as reported by WebMD, found that 79% of infertile couples had a low intake of fruits and vegetables.

Vitamin Supplements:

• “In a small study published in the Journal of Reproductive Medicine doctors found the nutrient formula in a supplement known as Fertility Blend increased conception rates. It’s key ingredients: folic acid, vitamins E, B-6, and B-12, iron, magnesium, zinc, the amino acid L-arginine, selenium, the herb chasteberry (also know known as vitex), and green tea.” - WebMD
• Magnesium, Zinc and Vitamin A are needed for egg production.
• Zinc is a vital mineral for enzyme systems that affect fertility. The growth and development of the embryo depends on zinc which can be deficient in many women due to stress, pollution and alcohol consumption. Many infertile couples tested show low zinc levels.

Avoid Sources of Synthetic Estrogen (Xenoestrogens): Limiting your exposure to Xenoestrogens, such as those found in birth control pills, non-organic produce and meat, mercury-polluted fish, pesticides, plastic containers and plastic wrap can help increase fertility.

Moderate Exercise: exercise keeps your body in good health and balances hormones, but too much exercise can lower progesterone levels and impair fertility.

Avoid Caffeine and Alcohol: both caffeine (as little as one cup of coffee per day) and alcohol can reduce fertility up to 50%

Reduce Stress & Get Adequate Sleep

Fertility Herbs: the following herbs can be used in a tea or tincture form to possibly boost fertility

• Red Clover Blossoms: This herb is said to be the most useful herb in aiding fertility, especially when combined with Raspberry Leaf.
• Chasteberry: Chasteberry should help fertility by balancing the sex hormones.
• Dong Quai: Dong Quai is a Chinese fertility herb, long-used to solve menstrual difficulties. It also helps to balance estrogen levels in the body and improve chances of egg implantation. It is suggested to use this herb during the days between ovulation and menstruation only.

WebMD has a pretty good, comprehensive article about wellness choices you can make to naturally increase your chances of conceiving. Keep in mind that outside of this article, most of the information on WebMd related to infertility involves more medically invasive treatments instead of natural remedies. It is my opinion that the root cause of unexplained fertility can be linked to an imbalance in your body which may be solved by proper nutrition, exercise and care of the psyche. If those areas are at optimal levels and there are still problems conceiving and maintaining a viable pregnancy, then it may be time to consider more aggressive measures.

I’d love to hear you share your own personal experiences related to fertility, suggested remedies for infertility and success stories!

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The Ecology Center just released their report on the toxicity of car interiors and common brand infant and child car seats.

“The Ecology Center is a membership-based, nonprofit environmental organization based in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Founded by community activists after the country’s first Earth Day in 1970, the Ecology Center is now a regional leader that works for a safe and healthy environment where people live, work, and play.”

Visit HealthyCar.org to see where your vehicle and car seat rank in terms of toxic chemicals. Some of the best and worst child car seat picks in terms of toxicity are as follows:

Car Seats of Least Concern

• • Sunshine Kids, Monterey Expandable Booster - Red
  • Maxi Cosi Rodi Bijan Booster
  • Sunshine Kids Radian 65 Convertible Car Seat - Champagne
  • Orbit Toddler Car Seat - Mocha
  • Graco Passage 540 Travel System Infant Seat- Mary Ann
  • Graco Snugride Infant Seat - Sterling

Car Seats of Most Concern

• • Graco TurboBooster SafeSeat (Step 3) - Athens
  • Graco TurboBooster - Emily
  • Britax Marathon Convertible Car Seat - Onyx
  • Britax Marathon Convertible Car Seat - Platinum
  • Peg Perego Primo Viaggio Infant Seat - Toffee
  • Combi Centre EX Infant Seat - Mango

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Right now, a bipartisan Congressional conference committee is deciding whether to include a ban on phthalates in toys in the Consumer Product Safety Commission Reform Act. Phthalates have been linked to birth defects, early puberty (a risk factor for breast cancer) and testicular cancer.

Please write to the four members of the committee who are currently undecided on the ban on phthalates in the CPSC Reform Act, and urge them to protect the health of America’s kids by voting yes on this amendment. The Breast Cancer Fund Website makes it easy to submit your request online.

You can also read more about Phthalates in Toys, by visiting these previous posts.

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I was recently contacted by a representative of TerraCycle regarding their unique approach of providing usable consumer products made from garbage. Eco-friendly? Absolutely! Affordable? Yes!! Do the products work? Hopefully.

I have been reading some great reviews about their worm poop plant food  (yes, I wrote “worm poop”!).  However, I have yet to use their products personally.  I am planning a trip to Home Depot to seek out their new line of eco-friendly, non-toxic household cleaners. I have long been a fan of Method cleaners, but am even more excited about Terracycle because they take their eco-friendly household cleaners, office and garden products a step further by re-using containers such as soda bottles to actually package their products without further processing. All they do is clean them and strip off the existing labels and apply their own, made entirely out of garbage!! The price is comparable to conventional, chemical products, but without the toxic byproducts. And even better, you can earn money for your child’s school by sending in bottles and wrappers for re-use. What a great lesson in recycling for your little one!! I’ll post a follow-up review, once I have a chance to try their products. Visit the TerraCycle website for more information.

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I’ve written about the benefits of Vitamin D in the past with regard to it’s correlation with a lower incidence of Diabetes. A new study out has reported that mom’s who have high Vitamin D levels during pregnancy through milk consumption or supplementation, have babies with stronger teeth and less decay and cavities. Vitamin D is produced by the body in response to sunlight but can also be taken in supplement form. Adequate levels of Vitamin D are necessary and also known to help prevent rickets or weak bone development. As these studies suggest, Vitamin D influences many areas of the body. Another reason to go outside and play! And, even though some experts think it’s irresponsible to expose children to sunlight without being lathered in sunblock, I don’t see anything wrong with letting children have some sun exposure during the milder times of day, before 10 am and after 4pm.  And with the recent press related to the questionable safety of many popular sunblock products, in some cases it may be wiser to avoid certain sunscreens.  What do you think? Is it safe to expose children to sunshine sans sunblock or better to supplement with Vitamin D or both?

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