It’s that season again — cold & flu! We all know some germs need to be killed (Only some, you say? Find out why we shouldn’t kill all germs from Dr. Greene). Find out what products Pure Natural Diva uses in this informative video.

Did you ever taste a cookie you didn’t like?  Probably.

What about ice cream, do you enjoy EVERY flavor? Probably Not.

We all have our own unique tastes and preferences.  Many Australian children grow up loving Vegemite a dark viscous yeast spread that would make the average American child run screaming from the kitchen.  These same Aussie youngsters may find peanut butter peculiar.

It’s all a matter of what you grow up with, what you are accustomed, tastes, and preferences.

I’ve noticed  a tendency for people to dismiss a whole entire category of foods & products strictly because they have had a bad experience with one item in the category.

They will eat one Organic Cookie that isn’t to their taste and swear off ALL Organic Cookies.

They will try an Organic Moisturizer that causes a breakout and swear off all Organic Moisturizers.

My simplistic definition of Organic is something grown without the use of pesticides.

Don’t like a particular Organic Cookie?  It’s the recipe!  It has nothing to do with lack of pesticides on the oatmeal used in the recipe!

If a moisturizer makes you breakout – it likely wasn’t the right formulation for your skin and had nothing to do with the lack of pesticides used for one of the ingredients.

Once you’ve decided to make the transition to organic and natural products – expect it to take time to find the perfect formulation for your skin, the right recipe for your taste buds.  Don’t give up because you don’t connect on your first attempt.

Additionally – when you are trying something new take advantage of retailers with excellent return policies, such as Whole Foods and Trader Joes.  Keep the receipt and they are more than happy to take a return on a product that wasn’t right for you.  So you can try it and take it back if it doesn’t work out.

If you live in North America and have an infant, chances are you are using plastics. If you are using plastics there is good reason to be informed and careful in their use.

Whenever you can opt for stainless steel or glass alternatives.  That said, I use plastic and you likely will/do to.  Let’s be as informed as we can in their usage.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION WHEN USING PLASTICS

Never microwave any plastic. Never cover any food to be microwaved with plastic wrap. Avoid storing babies’ food in plastic. Wash plastics on the top shelf of your dishwasher or by hand. Avoid using old and scratched plastic bottles.

BOTTLE FEEDING

Choose Glass or Stainless Steel Baby Bottles – this is your best protection against future headlines!  My concern is that we’ll discover down the road that other petroleum made plastics also leach.
If you are choosing Plastic Baby Bottles, most manufacturers now make BPA-free baby plastic bottles, with all BPA headlines in the news.  If you are using plastic – double check to ensure bottles you use are BPA free.
Choose bottle nipples made from silicon. They are the most durable and inert options. Latex rubber nipples can cause allergic reactions and can contain impurities linked to cancer. The same goes for pacifiers. Throw away any nipple or pacifier that is discolored, thinning, tacky or ripped.
Liners:  Only use if you have a colicky baby and they’ve been advised by your doctor. The soft plastic liners may leach chemicals into formula, especially when heated. They are also a poor choice from an environmental perspective.

STORING BREASTMILK

Glass, that is the best choice for storing & freezing pumped milk – if you can come up with a system that work for you.
The sealable plastic nursing bags designed for storing breast milk are made of polyethylene. Studies published in Early Human Development and Nutrition Review showed no chemical leaching into the milk, but did indicate that milk stored in these bags may lose some nutrients because they cling to the plastic. This is what worked for our family.  I would freeze the milk flat on a box, once frozen stand it up and place at the back of the milk inventory.  Thawing was very quick in warm water.
Let me know if you come up with an efficient glass storage method, I’d love to share it with my readers!

FIRST FEEDING

When your infant starts on their first foods, instead of plastic dishes use glass custard cups. They are durable, can be microwaved, and some even have lids.  Chances are – at this stage – you’re the one doing the feeding.  Why risk exposure at this very early stage?
Before you know it your baby is going to start eating real food. Chances are you will be serving most of that food on plastic dishes. my children are  3 & 4  years old, so I know why! Plastic is less likely to break when it’s tossed to the floor.
Don’t store left over foods in the plastic dishes – store the leftovers in the custard cups we were just discussing – in my books.  Less time in the plastic = less time for chemical leaching.
Look for stainless steel or tempered glass bowls to use as  snack containers – they are your safest option.  We originally purchased plastic bowls for dry snacks and chopped fruit – my understanding is that leaching occurs most with heat and liquids, but if we could do it again, I’d choose a safer material.  BTW – plastic bowls break too!
If you are using plastic dishes – move your children to regular dishes at an earlier age.  My 2 year old son eats his dinner on the same plates as the rest of the family and at the dinner table drinks from a glass.  We’ve only lost one plate.
Duralex glasses are extremely durable; they are tempered making them stronger than regular glass.  Shopping for glasses look for Duralex if you want to keep them for a while!

POLYCARBONATE

Avoid polycarbonate for babies food and drinks.
Polycarbonate plastics, marked with a #7 code or PC; they are rigid, transparent and used for food storage containers and water bottles, among other things. Trace amounts of BPA can migrate from these containers, particularly if used for hot food or liquids.

IF IT MUST BE PLASTIC

Plastics with the recycling labels #1, #2 and #4 on the bottom are better choices because they do not contain BPA.

Soft or cloudy-colored plastic does not contain BPA.
FURTHER  READING: BPA’s & INFANTS

Check out these plastic alternatives available at amazon:
Thinkbaby Complete BPA Free Feeding Set

These look great for on the go lunches:
LunchBots Pico Stainless Steel Lunch Container

With plastics plastered all over the news I am working harder than ever to reduce plastic use in our home.

I thought I’d share some techniques that work for me in our home.

Use glass containers for food storage: My favorite way to store leftover foods in my fridge is the 6 Cup Rectangular Pyrex dishes with blue lids – we have 8-10 of these and I love this system.

• Leftovers always look good.
• They are the perfect size, not to big, not too small.
• They stack nicely – so things look organized.
• They are clear so you can see what is inside them and you are more likely to remember what you have and finish it off.
• They can go in the freezer, oven or microwave.
• They can go from fridge to table for service.

Additionally

We use a round pyrex 10 cup bowl (with lid) to keep readymade salad in our fridge. The salad stays fresh for much longer in this bowl. Prepare your salad – leaving out anything mushy (in our house that’s tomatoes). I’ll often chop a few days of extra salad fixin’s, throw them in the bowl. The next day or two, all I have to do is add more (organic) mixed greens – Salad is done.

I have a stack of 8-10 custard cups (a few with lids too). These are great for reheating small servings of food – they were perfect for warming baby food too.

Reduce plastics at your point of purchase:

When shopping, make glass packaging a criteria – you’ve been there. You’re at the store, you’ve studied the label. You are trying to figure out which product is the best choice – all things being equal – pick glass.

For example – not too long ago I was trying to decide between Ralph’s Brand and French’s Brand Worcestershire Sauce -the only 2 brands of Worcestershire I’ve found without HFCS (this is really my life). They still had a few unknown ingredients – but they seemed to be relatively equal. One in glass, one in plastic. I chose the French’s – it was in glass.

There are now many products that I routinely purchase in glass, Peanut Butter, Almond Butter, dressing, tomato sauce and such. Some things may be prohibitive to your budget (for most families I’m guessing Milk), but if you look you’ll find you have a choice more than you realize.

Re-Use the Glass:

I’m gearing up to start making my own beans (to avoid the can), so I’m saving all these glass jars and lids. Soon I will have enough to get cooking – in the meantime they fill in as food storage when I’m out of pyrex.

I keep the salad dressing bottles, they are good for storing homemade fruit or berry pancakes syrups & I have visions of making salad dressing… one day soon. Help me Martha!

There you have it. A few simple ways we are using less plastic in our home.

I’m not going to pasture a cow in our backyard, but have decided that I need to opt out of the mainstream meat production as much as I possibly can.

The first step in “buying our cow” is acquiring a deep freeze.  If you aren’t going to get your meat from the market, you’ll likely be buying it in larger quantities and that will require a freezer.

In an effort to ensure anyone could do this – I found our deep freeze on craigslist in the free section.  It took a few weeks of steady checking – but one day there it was – an upright, clean, free deep freeze.

I don’t think we’ll buy a whole cow, we don’t eat that much meat – a share will do us nicely.

So why am I doing this?

It’s my belief that the food system in our country is very broken and one of the areas that is of particular concern is the meat industry.  It’s no wonder so many people turn to being vegetarian. About 70% of ground beef in America contains a filler product that is washed with ammonia in order to kill e-coli – it’s time to for a change.

For me and my family that means eating less meat, higher quality meats and whenever possible – supporting local farmers and ranchers.

Recently, I had a great discussion with a farmer named Xenia, from Rainbow Ranch Farms in San Bernadino, CA.  She used to be a vegetarian – now she has a farm, and on her farm she has chickens, goats, cows, and 2 dogs.  She raises these animals in the manner that we imagine all the farm animals are raised.  Unfortunately meat we are getting from conventional grocers isn’t raised in this fashion.

Xenia can’t sell to any stores, she can’t sell to whole foods, and she can only sell to folks who are shared owners of her farm. The good news is anyone can become a shared owner of her farm or many of the other CSA farmers around the country!

More good news – there are farms that are licensed to sell without requiring a CSA share.  Farms like Lazy 69 Ranch in Central California.  They will ship anywhere, but see if you can’t find a great ranch like this one close to you.

Don’t think you have a small farm in your area – you’d be surprised.  Spend a few minutes with google or www.localharvest.org.

You can also find local farmers who sell meat and eggs through the Farmer’s Markets.

1. Before You Buy – Use What You Have.

Chances are you have a lot of stuff in your closets waiting to be used!  I’ve recently broken a habit of buying bulk.  One of my challenges has been to use what I have before moving on to greener and better options. Don’t we just get excited and want to go shopping!

Dig around. You’ll be surprised at what you have – using what you have is better than a green acquisition. In the PND pantry we still have 3 boxes of plastic Costco cutlery, 1200 paper napkins, ribbon, gift wrap, moisturizers, conditioners, sunscreens… you get the idea.  We’re working on it!

2. Take Care of The Things You Own!

Taking care of your “stuff” values the resources that went into making it!  You’ll keep them longer and reducing  impact by not having to replace it. Your home, cars, clothing, shoes, toys, etc… will all benefit from being well taken care of. And the environment will thank you, if it’s taken care of it’s less likely to be tossed when you are done with it.  It’s more likely that you’ll be able to pass it along to a new home when you’re done with it.

Teaching your children to care for their things will impart values that will last a lifetime.

3. Pick just one area of your life to green!

Wherever you are in your green journey… whether you are just beginning or an ecosavant, pick ONE new area to work on. Once mastered you can add another, another, another… you get the idea. Living a greener, healthier life is a journey that starts with one step.

4. Buy Organic

Start buying organic in a new area of your life.

You may have bought organic food, or this might be new for you.  You may buy organic dairy, but haven’t moved into the produce section yet.  Pick a new area to explore the benefits of organic.

If you’ve never bought organic cotton or denim, next time you’re shopping keep your eyes and mind open. Ask the stores you shop at.  Even if you make a conventional selection, asking the questions will help spread the word that customers care and want to see more options.  You may even find organic options in places you don’t expect.  This last holiday season I was able to buy organic cotton casual clothing for lil’ Diva at Walmart and Organic PJ’s for both the kids at Costco.

Keep your eyes peeled and ASK!

5. Buy Fair Trade

I buy fair trade chocolate. I figure chocolate is something I don’t NEED. It’s a luxury.  I figure, if it’s a luxury I can step up and make sure children aren’t picking the cocoa beans for my chocolate.  It’s been fun, I’ve been on the hunt for the perfect fair trade organic fix to my chocolate cravings.

It doesn’t have to be chocolate, you could pick coffee, clothing, bananas, again… sometimes starting in an area of your life that is already a splurge will make it a little easier to spend that little bit extra that fair trade calls for.

You’ll be surprised how it will inspire you!

6. Buy Quality

Can’t find what you are looking for organic or fair trade, buy good quality. It will last and when you’re done you’ll be able to pass it on.  As a country we have become accustomed to buying everything in quantity.  We can take a page out of the Europeans’ book, attempt to retrain our sense of value.  Buy fewer high quality items, moving away from our culture’s more, more, more frame of mind.  Look for items that are made in your country too, supporting your own economy.

5. When You’re Done with Something – Pass It On!

When you are done with something, find a new home for it! We had a rug that our dogs had scratched. I listed it on Craigslist with pictures of the damage, within 30 minutes I had 10 people that wanted it. When we we’re renovating I listed mirrors, sinks, hardware… whatever I thought someone else might find useful…. and they came. These items were destined for the landfill, but with not too much effort were taken away and used by others.

That said – this is one of my areas of weakness. I have a hard time saying goodbye to my stuff. I’m sure it comes from growing up really poor!

6. Reusable Water Bottles

If you don’t have a reusable water bottle and a way to filter your water.  Get one and start using it!

Get in the habit of taking your bottles and the children’s bottles ALL THE TIME.  In particular, parties, sporting events and school.  Eventually if host/ess’ start seeing guests arriving equipped with their own beverage containers they won’t feel the need to buy bottled water for their parties.  We put out iced tea, water with glasses.

7. Group you errands into similar geographic regions.

Saves trips, saves gas, saves time!  SCORE!

8. Detox Your Beauty!

When I first began the journey to detox my beauty routine, I started by using up what I had (still doing this of a few things!) and replacing them with safer options!  I encourage everyone to do this.  The next item you are running low on, replace it with something better.  Use PND to help find the replacement that is right for you.  Knowing what I know now, if I was pregnant, I wouldn’t use the “use it up” method.  I would make the switch immediately.

Do this for your children first if you have them!  Their developing systems are more vulnerable to the toxins in their environment.

9. Pay attention to Preservatives and Additives.

While you are shopping, get in the habit of reading labels!  If you can’t read the name of the ingredient, chances are you’d be better off with a different option.  You’ll be surprised – pick up pickle relish and 2 brands will contain HFCS, one will not… easy healthier switch.

10.  Use Less Canned Foods.

Chances are you’ve heard about BPA’s in the news, in particular concern over plastics and baby bottles.  But did you know how we ingest the most BPA’s – Canned Food.  Opt for glass packaging over canned to minimize your families exposure!

11. Green Your Parties!

Parties can be a huge source of waste.  We opt for convenience, buy a lot of pre packaged, convenient entertainment foods.  We serve foods on paper or plastic plates, drink from countless paper & plastic cups.  Start adding up the cost of all that convenience and not only are you throwing a lot of hard earned money in the landfill, but that plastic will live there forever.

One year we were getting ready for a super bowl party and did the math.  For the cost of buying paper goods, we were able to purchase inexpensive white plates, glasses and wine glasses from IKEA.  We use these for our parties – including the parties for the little ones.  It may take a little extra effort, but I never have to run out to the store for cups and plates last minute!  Next on the list is to get party flatware.

You can also find reasonably priced “catering” sets at Pottery Barn, Cost Plus, and Bed Bath & Beyond.

The pre-packaged food options.  Sometimes it’s easy to succumb to the ease of this ready to go food, but for so much less money you can buy really nice, high quality foods, fruits and vegetables.

You might even find with all the money you’re saving on prepared foods and paper goods that you can spend your savings on getting an extra set of hands to help you at the party!

If you can’t bear the thought of these suggestions buy eco friendly disposables.  You can find them at Smart & Final, Whole Foods and such.  You are looking for plastics that can be Compostable.  This typically means they will biodegrade in a few weeks.  Compostable plastics can be placed in our “green” garbage bins in Los Angeles.  With a little research you can find out if you can compost with your yard waste in your area (in the event you don’t have one in your yard)!

12. Clean Green

Start cleaning your home with green cleaners or make your own formulas using some of our easy recipes.  You’ll reduce the toxins you are breathing in your home after you’ve cleaned it.

I’ll never forget an Oprah “ah ha” moment for me… “CLEAN DOESN’T HAVE A SMELL“!

Extra Credit: Use less plastic!

Bring your own bags to the grocery store. Choose products with less plastic packaging. Choose items packaged in glass. Store your leftovers in glass.

You Can Do It!

I know, I know… I missed so many things… you can do those things too!

I hope these tips inspire you to find new things you can do to have a healthier, happier, greener life!