Kids with ALL more often had elevated levels of common household pesticides then the mama-child pairs without ALL. Obviously the research can’t prove that pesticides cause the cancer, but the findings are evident that we should take a careful look at what we’re exposing our kids to both in food products and household items like cleaners.

Almost worse was that during the course of the study pesticides were found in the urine of more than half of the study’s participants BUT the levels were simply higher in kids with cancer. Along with the clinical tests, surveys were taken and 33% parents of kids with cancer noted that they used pesticides at home, while just 14% of mamas whose children were healthy used pesticides in the home.

This study is not the first of its kind. Past studies, have also found links between a link pesticides and cancer in children. This study though is the first to study typical household pesticides and cancer. Hopefully this research will pave the way for further research and maybe one day a ban on all these toxic products companies sell to families. Until then you can keep pesticides and toxins out of your home by…

• Cleaning green.
• Choosing organic foods.
• Picking body care products that don’t pollute.
• Keeping your indoor air quality clean.

[image via stock.xchng]

Post from: Tree Hugging Family

Over the years organic versus conventional rules have changed over and over. Hence the new list. However, over the years some foods have come up time and time again in studies that note these foods are better in organic form than conventional form – i.e. more pesticides and other toxins have been found in these items than in other items.

When your money allows it, here are the best foods to spend your organic dollars on.

Veggies & Fruits — in any form (canned, jarred, fresh, frozen, dehydrated, etc.)

• First of all the big baddies – the newest dirty dozen which are the produce products with the largest concentrated amounts of pesticides, and consists of…

1. Peaches (worst)
2. Apples
3. Sweet Bell Peppers
4. Celery
5. Nectarines
6. Strawberries
7. Cherries
8. Kale
9. Lettuce
10. Imported Grapes
11. Carrots
12. Pears

Other items in this category to consider buying organic at all times include…

• Edamame (soy beans) + soy milk + soy formula + tofu
• Potatoes — all colors and varieties (including frozen like tator tots).
• Spinach
• Lemons, oranges, and limes or other citrus when used for zest

Dairy products + eggs:

Dairy products and eggs time and time again have been shown to contain large amounts of growth hormones and organic versions have been proven to be far more beneficial to your health. Butter, milk, cheese, ice cream, and other dairy products plus eggs should be top organic priorities on your shopping list.

Meat and poultry:

Meat, pork, and poultry advice has stayed pretty much the same for the last few years. There are pesticides found in meats and poultry but most studies agree that the big dangers in meats are hormones, antibiotics and additives. Organic meat is worth the cost to avoid these drugs and additives in your body but organic meat is also one of the more costly organics – a good choice is to eat less meat overall and buy organic when you do.

Any and all baby food: Learn why babies and young children should eat mostly organic foods.

Grains: Grains don’t often make the list when it comes to best foods to purchase organic. Fewer pesticides are found in grain items than other foods. Buy when and if you can afford it because health is not the only reason to support organic farming but it’s more important to buy other food items first.

My take – I always buy dairy, eggs, and most produce in organic form. I buy any other foods in organic after this. The perfect goal would be to buy all organic, but second best is to purchase the worst conventional offenders first (as shown above).

Which foods do you always buy organic?

[image via stock.xchng]

Post from: Tree Hugging Family

The piece point out that relaxation of the federal organic food standards, and an explosion of consumer demand for organics, have helped push the organics market into a $23 billion-a-year business. That makes the organic market the fastest growing segment of the food industry.

However, according to the post a USDA program manager was lobbied by the formula makers after they’d been banned from carrying the federal organic label and she decided to overrule her staff. The Post states, “That decision and others by a handful of USDA employees, along with an advisory board’s approval of a growing list of non-organic ingredients, have helped numerous companies win a coveted green-and-white “USDA Organic” seal on an array of products… and thus consumers are not always getting what they expect: foods without pesticides and other chemicals, produced in a way that is gentle to the environment.”

Additional current problems with the labeling program (among others) include:

• From the start the organic labeling rules stated that 5 percent of a USDA-certified organic product can consist of non-organic substances, but the substances must be approved by the National Organic Standards Board. The list of non-organic substances has grown from 77 to a whopping 245 substances since it was created in 2002. The list of non-organics in organics is not only growing, but no shrinking either. As list substances are approved it makes it less valuable for companies to take the time to find an organic alternative.
• The original labeling law makers wanted to see a annual pesticide testing implemented but as of yet, none has been.
• The National Organic Program has repeatedly opted not to issue standards regarding how organic food must be grown, treated or produced, which is of course an issue that many consumers and organic advocates feel should be addressed.

Hopefully reports like this will encourage government and individuals to stand up for better organic labeling laws, but until then the best thing you can do is research a company before you buy their products. Get to know the basics of organic labeling laws, buy the least processed organics you can (hint, see if you know all the ingredients on the label) and see these handy tips for buying organics.

[image via stock.xchng]

Post from: Tree Hugging Family

There are plenty of good reasons to go organic for the planet; fewer pesticides used to grow food means less gunk in our air, soil, and water, organic food can help to promote a greener overall lifestyle and value system, and many organic meats require far less non-renewable resources than mass-factory raised animals.

BUT – is organic food actually a healthier choice for you and your family, or is organic food only beneficial to the planet’s well being? Actually, many organic foods ARE better for your health than their conventional counterparts. Why…

• The fresher the food the better it usually is nutrient-wise. Organics are often sold in-season and locally which means you get fresher food.
• Workers on conventional farms are exposed to plenty of the chemicals and pesticides used to grow conventional crops. People working on these farms can get very sick and even die from exposure, so organics are absolutely healthier in the case of the folks growing the crops.
• According to Sustainable Table research notes that; “Grass-fed beef has two to six times more omega-3’s than factory farmed, grain-fed meat.” (Omega-3 is a healthy fat that your body needs).
• See more health benefits of organics.

Keep in mind…

Not all organic foods pack the same punch. Just being organic does not ALWAYS make a food healthier. Learn which organic foods are the smartest to purchase.

Learn more:

11 Ways to Save Money on Organic Food

Go organic without losing your mind

Do you think organic food is better for you, or do you buy it for the earth? OR maybe you don’t buy organic at all – let me know in the comments.

Post from: Tree Hugging Family

These snacks have many advantages over boxed fruit snacks.

Healthier – while this is more a fun food, than a “meal” food, they still have less sugar than store bought fruit snacks and have no weird chemicals, colors, or preservatives.

Less packaging – the fruit snacks in stores come in little bags that come in little boxes. It’s a ton of packaging.

Better taste – hands down, these treats are more flavorful than store bought.

You need to gather:

• Dried fruit. Assorted. I get mine from the local co-op. Try to find unsweetened, organic, bulk dried fruit. We’ve used pineapple, cherries, papaya, apricots and more. We don’t use crunchy dried, like bananas though. I’m not sure that would work. Grab a pound or so. If you have a dryer, you can use that to make your own dried fruit instead.

• Organic orange juice. You can use real fresh squeezed which offers great flavor, and you only need a little, so it’s not too much trouble. Kids like to squeeze oranges anyway. Cedar, my son, is allergic to oranges but can have mandarin oranges and lemons so we make ours with those instead of orange juice. It works fine. It’s a tad more tart.

• Orange rind (or lemon, mandarin, etc.). You need a good amount – maybe all of the rind from a medium sized fruit.

• Nuts – optional. If you use them you can use any kind, they just need to be finely chopped or ground up.

To make fruit snacks:

1. Grind up all the fruit – we use a blender on chop, then grind. A food processor might work better if you have one. I just don’t want an extra appliance around.
2. Add the orange rind – grind more.
3. Add enough juice to form a sticky mass – one that’s held together. Don’t add too much or it will be too watery a consistency.
4. Everyone grab a mound of sticky mass and roll some little balls out. Alternatively, we’ve rolled ours out with a slightly juiced rolling pin, then cut into squares. Make them about bite sized.
5. If you’re using nuts, roll the balls/squares in the nuts.
6. Eat!

It’s sticky cooking – but still a good time.

Post from: Tree Hugging Family

• The most sustainable restaurant in America. And it’s family friendly LEED certified and pizza.

• Type 2 Diabetes May Be Linked to Pesticide Exposure – I wouldn’t get too jumpy though, it’s a new study.

• Ha. Too funny -13 ways to spot an eco-poser.

• The dangerous side of eco-lighting.  Very interesting video.

• Groovy solutions for urban commuters

• The Forest Service is kicking off a national “Get Outdoors” campaign. This campaign is meant, “To encourage children and their parents to take advantage of recreational opportunities on national forests to develop a healthier lifestyle and learn about conserving natural resources.”

• Lawmakers to consider proposals to reduce home heating costs. It’s about time – green incentives too.

• Organic Diets Significantly Lower Children’s Dietary Exposure to Organophosphorus Pesticides

Post from: Tree Hugging Family

Organic Guide was originally a print publication. Back in 1987 it was a simple newsletter with information about organic gardening. By 2005, the original publication had long since ceased and a team of individuals decided to bring the information online. However, they don’t just cover gardening anymore.

What you’ll find at Organic Guide:

• Articles
• A blog
• Label sections – this part is really cool. They cover the basics organic labeling, markets, and organic links for Canada, the U.S., Australia, the UK and Ireland, and New Zealand. Just click on the tabs at the top of the homepage. It’s really the nicest line up of organic sources I’ve seen.
• Community, Lifestyle, Family, Gardening, Food & Drink, and Health & Beauty are the topics their website covers – and always with an organic slant.

I’d pay them a visit if I were you. Lots of neat organic news you can use.

Post from: Tree Hugging Family

Now about organic foods. My basic take on food in general is that if it spent too much time in a laboratory it probably does not belong on your plate. If you can limit the mass produced foods you eat and stick to things that actually grow naturally your health will fare much better.

But no family is perfect (well, maybe some but I know mine isn’t). However we do try very hard to stick to eating items that haven’t been messed with too much.

Pesticides on food not only pollutes your family’s bodies but also pollutes the air, water, and land. There are far too many issues related to pesticides and toxins to discuss in one post so today a nice simple list…

The absolute best thing would be to buy everything organic but because organic food can be expensive you might have to pick and choose which foods you buy organic and which you buy conventional.

Over the years I’ve read and researched organic versus conventional and the story often changes. However, there are some food items that research continually reports is better to buy organic than conventional because more pesticides and other toxins have been found in these items than in other items.

If you want to go organic than here are some items you should consider before others.

Dry Goods:

• Cereal
• Granola
• Dried apricots
• Raisins
• Rice (all varieties)
• Crackers
• Taco shells & taco chips (corn chips)
• Soy flour
• Oats

Bottled & Canned Items:

• Ketchup
• Applesauce
• Mixed fruit
• Jams and jelly
• Peanut butter
• Chicken broth

Cold & Frozen Food Items:

• Cheese
• Milk (including soy)
• Butter
• Yogurt
• Eggs
• Tofu

Veggies & Fruits — in any form (canned, jarred, fresh, frozen)

If you only buy two produce items organic go with potatoes and apples. Both are big bads when it comes to pesticides.

• Edamame (soy beans)
• Raspberries
• Strawberries
• Potatoes — all colors and varieties (including frozen like tator tots).
• All types of apples
• Celery
• Grapes (imported)
• Pears
• Peaches
• Nectarines
• Green beans
• Any color bell peppers
• Spinach
• Lemons and lime when used for zest
• Tangerines

Beverages:

• Soda
• Yogurt smoothies
• Apple juice
• Grape juice

Meat, seafood, and other protein (meat-like) items:

Meats are touchy because honestly most meats have an excess of not ok pesticides, toxins, and other icky chemicals in them still buying organic can cut down on the bad and increase the good for meat eaters. Here are some biggies:

• Pork — if you buy one food organic buy this one. Ham, bacon, and other pig products come up time and time again as some of the most toxic food items around. Spending all your organic money on this would be smart.
• Chicken
• Turkey
• TVP (Texturized Vegetable Protein)

Notice beef and seafoods don’t make the list — while both are better natural and organic they don’t come up as often on the big bad lists.

This is a good general list to get you started with organic eating. Keep in mind that everyone’s idea of what’s bad and what’s less healthy is different. The items above are the ones I see over and over listed as “better in organic version.” However, these are not the only things I buy organic and I know some people who buy conventional versions of the items above and organic in others so it helps to do your own research.

To learn more about organic foods take a look at The Organic Consumers Association and here’s a great article with 17 ways to eat organic for cheap (or at least for less).

For the littles:

Kids can find organic games, coloring pages, learn all kinds of cool nature facts, print stickers, and more at the EnviroKidz website.

They also make good organic cereal. It’s not bulk so there’s packaging to contend with but it’s much better than conventional.

Post from: Tree Hugging Family

If you’re going to start doing a green audit of your living space it’s a good idea to grab a notebook and jot ideas and issues down as you go. The kitchen food pantry, or your food cupboards are small areas (unless you’ve got one of those cool walk-ins) but the amount of problems a pantry can have are fairly substantial.

Here we’ll only focus on food. You may keep paper goods and cleaning supplies in your pantry but for now focus on food items.

Things to consider:

Packaging overload: Take a look at what sort of items you buy. Is it over packaged. Here’s an example. One box of cereal can have the outer box, inner bag, a toy surprise packaged in another bag with paper instructions, and sometimes there are coupons that are also packaged in plastic. Or what about items like those taco making kits (packaging galore).

Many food boxes are made with recycled material but not all. Check the box which should indicate if recycled materials were used. You can recycle some packaging but something else to consider is the energy used to produce the packaging in the first place.

What you can do:

• Buy in bulk. If bulk buying makes you squeamish stay tuned for an upcoming post on that issue. You can buy tons of items in bulk and re-use the same bags or containers over and over.
• Buy the largest size of product you can. This tactic and bulk buying will not only save your family money but reduce the overall amount of packaging you purchase.
• Really look at the items you buy; is it necessary to have a food item in a plastic tray that has a plastic cover and box? Make a list of each item in your pantry that could have less packaging. Check off the items that would be just as great with less packaging and the next time you go the the grocery store find that item with less packaging.
• Buy fewer individually wrapped items. Fruit snacks, granola bars, seasoning packets, and so much more are huge package hogs.
• Don’t forget the drinks in your pantry. Big jugs of juice are better than juice boxes or small bottles. Look for bottles with safety caps that pop rather than shrink wrapped caps.
• When buying condiments buy in glass whenever possible. Squeezable bottles are not as easy to recycle because of how the plastic is layered. Also buy the biggest bottle possible.
• Often (not always) organic foods are processed less than conventional so it can help with energy conservation to buy organic.
• Buy local. Besides fruits and veggies you can get items like organic honey, wine, and baked goods from farmer’s markets and most co-ops also have a local section. Buying local seriously improves your chances of using less packaging and less energy.
• Another option for buying local is to choose small hometown grocery shops over biggie markets.
• It goes without saying that overall buy only items that come in recyclable containers.
• One good general rule is that the more simple the food item the less packaging it’s bound to have. Brown rice or plain noodles versus Pop Tarts or Noodle Roni for instance. Part of using less packaging is taking the time to plan meals that can be created using items with less packaging.
• Don’t go food shopping hungry — this tip is often used in conjunction with saving money but it also allows you to be clear headed and think green.

The first few trips to the grocery store after a pantry audit can be tough but once you start thinking about the impact of packaging you’ll do it automatically.

What are some problem areas of the pantry above? What are some of the good choices?

Although it’s a big huge step; greening your pantry is a great way to walk towards a healthier family and planet both on a food and energy level.

Tell me about your food pantry green audit and the changes you’re making.

Post from: Tree Hugging Family