Tag Archives: organic

Incorporating Organic Foods Into Your Grocery Budget

Everyone knows that good nutrition is important during pregnancy, for both the expectant mother and her growing baby. Good nutrition can mean many different things, though, depending upon who you talk to. One component of eating for good health is reducing the amount of toxic substances (like pesticides) that you ingest along with your food. Eating organic foods is one way to help keep toxins out of your body, and it is a good health habit to continue with after your baby is born. Unfortunately, organic foods are expensive. The amount of difference between the price of an organic food … Continue reading →

Gardening: Baby-Friendly Pest Control

Summertime is here, and with it comes gardening season. If you’re like me, you love the idea of eating organic without having to pay the hefty grocery bill. Planting a garden allows you to do just that. Eating healthy is important for people of all ages, but it is especially important for babies. What could be better than feeding your baby steamed green beans, broccoli, or carrots straight from the garden? When you plant your own food, you control exactly what goes into growing it: the soil, the fertilizer, and the pest control. I’m able to plant a garden for … Continue reading →

Does “Fresh” Really Make a Difference?

Do you know where your food is coming from? Are you concerned? How far are you willing to go to get “fresh” food? These are some questions that my family and I are trying to answer. When I was a child, I remember my father telling me a story about a cow that he became “friends” with on their Indiana farm. He called his “pet” cow, Moses. One evening at dinner when my father was about 6 years old, he asked where Moses was, and my grandpa told him, “you’re looking at him.” Needless to say, things have changed quite … Continue reading →

Food Introductions

My son has recently started eating food. Well, This isn’t exactly true. For some reason this Dad kind of thought that one day they just started putting cereal into their mouths through some sort of magical “growing up” process that occurred on one specific day. One day my son is just nursing; the next day he is eating steaks. I’m joking (a little) but I really thought my son would be eating all sorts of baby foods and other items one we put the first taste of avocado into his mouth. I was quite wrong. The introduction of solid foods … Continue reading →

10 Tips for a Green Thanksgiving

Halloween’s over, Thanksgiving is upon us, and Christmas is just a step away! It is busy time for everyone, but you can still stay green. Here are a few tips to green up your Thanksgiving: 10. Stay Home Yes, I know the holidays are usually about travel to be with family, but consider staying home. You can help reduce emissions and stress by not taking a trip this year. 9. Travel Smart Okay, I realize many will ignore #10, so if you do have to travel, travel smart. Make sure the car is working properly before leaving, check your tire … Continue reading →

The Slow Food Movement

Mary Ann and I have talked about organic foods, composting, and other green food ideas, but I don’t think we’ve talked about the Slow Food Movement. The philosophy of Slow Food Movement is simple – good, clean, and fair food. Food that tastes good, is processed in a clean way, and doesn’t harm the environment, animals, or us. And fair food isn’t about corn dogs and cotton candy – it is about the people bringing your food to you being fairly compensated for their work. The mission of the Slow Food Movement is simple to – to save traditional grains, … Continue reading →

Does Buying Organic Make You a Better Parent?

If you watched Monday’s episode of “Jon & Kate Plus 8,” then you’d think the answer was: “Absolutely!” Take that Jon. Monday’s show featured Kate taking her kids to an organic produce farm run by an Amish family. Cameras captured Kate and her eight kids picking up fresh watermelon, cantaloupe, peppers, corn and other veggies at “Henry’s,” then taking their goods home to make a “meal from scratch.” “It is pure joy when I can go to a produce stand and buy produce that has been picked that morning and it will land on my table that evening for dinner,” … Continue reading →

Organic Flowers for Fall

When we think of organic, it is usually related to food or maybe even in home goods. We like to buy organic produce, organic chicken and even organic sheets and clothing. But one area that we tend to forget about when it comes to organic is flowers. Fall is a wonderful time of year to decorate your home and outdoor living space with flowers. There is an almost endless bounty and variety of flowers for Autumn. Why not take advantage of what nature has to offer, but do so responsibly? Organic flowers are both harder and easier to find than … Continue reading →

Having Fun at a Farmer’s Market

Now that the weather is warming up, farmers markets are springing up around the country. In warmer climates these massive markets are open year round, but here in the chilly Upper Midwest, outdoor farmers markets are seasonal (and the indoor ones are only held bi-weekly). Their fleeting appearance from May until October is one of the reasons they are so popular in my neck of the woods. Another reason produce-loving residents flock to farmers markets here is that they are just plain fun. When was the last time you took your children to a farmers market? My preschooler loves visiting … Continue reading →

Going Green on Halloween

Did you know that you can go green for Halloween? No, I’m not talking about dressing your kids up as compost, but by making more environmentally conscious decision around your home and for your family this Halloween. Did you know that Americans are likely to spend more than 5 million dollars this year on Halloween stuff, from decorations to costumes to candy? This is according to the National Retail Federation. Many of those purchases will later go on to find their way into the landfill. Some of the biggest offenders are plastic decorations and costumes, and all of that packaging … Continue reading →