By Cheryl Tallman and Joan Ahlers

When shopping for your family, you should consider that per pound of body weight, babies consume about 60 times more fruits and vegetables than adults. This fact combined with undeveloped digestive and immune systems, put young children at the greatest health risk for pesticide residues. To minimize the effects, you might consider buying organic for those foods that your children eat regularly.

Produce: Pesticides levels vary in produce. Here is a list of common fruits and veggies that are high in pesticide residues*. Because of the naturally high levels, you might consider buying organic for these foods:

Apples
Bell peppers
Celery
Cherries
Grapes (imported)
Nectarines
Peaches
Pears
Potatoes
Red Raspberries
Spinach
Strawberries

On the flip side, these fruits and veggies are commonly found to have the lowest levels of pesticide residues*

Asparagus
Avocados
Bananas
Broccoli
Cauliflower
Corn (sweet)
Kiwi
Mangos
Onions
Papayas
Pineapples
Peas (sweet)
*Source: The Environmental Workers Union

While the term “organic” may seem cut and dry there are several shady areas of which consumers should be aware. In 2000 the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) established guidelines to make it easier for consumers to understand organic products on the market. Are you one of those people still not sure exactly what the labels are telling you? Not to worry you are not alone!

aThere are five labels you may see on your supermarket shelf. They include 100% organic, Organic, Made with Organic Ingredients, Free-range/Cage-free, and Natural. Pretty self-explanatory right? Maybe not as much as you would think….

100% Organic
This label on produce means the fruit or vegetable was grown completely WITHOUT synthetic fertilizers or pesticides. Meat or dairy products wearing this label ensures that all the USDA stipulations concerning hormones, feed, and time spent outdoors were met.

Organic
This type of produce or meat doesn’t meet the standards of products labeled “100% Organic”, however the majority of its ingredients have been approved for organic use by a nationwide certification organization called the National Organics Standards Board

Made With Organic Ingredients
Foods with this label let consumers be assured that the item is made with no less than 70% organic ingredients and rules.

Free-range/Cage-free
This is a term that can be used for poultry but not for eggs and is very unclear on the rules of time spent outdoors as well as the quality of feed. Poultry can be considered at different levels of organic quality and still be in this category.

Natural
This label can only be used for meat and poultry and states it was raised and sold using no artificial coloring, chemical preservatives, or ingredients. There’s no certification process that meat or poultry producers must comply with in order to place the term on their labels.

As the organic market grows you will begin to see more products on your supermarket shelf. Many experts hope that with the increase in products that the UDSA will become stricter on their qualifications and clearer so that the consumer can easily understand what they are buying and consuming.

Organics are becoming more visible in local supermakets in produce, meat and dairy departments. Its not just fruits and vegetables anymore! It is the newest craze to hit america and many parts of the world, pushing many to think about what they are buying before they buy it. While others are ask, “What does organic mean?”

Organic food means different things depending on the product. Organic produce (fruits and vegetables) are grown without the use of conventional pesticides, artificial fertilizers or sewage sludge, and without ionizing radiation, bioengineering or food additives. The same concept as planting an apple tree in your backyard, and doing nothing but watering it and then picking the apple off and eating it. Organic fruits and vegetables also lack genetically modified organisms or altered DNA.

For meat, dairy, eggs and poultry it means animals reared without the routine use of antibiotics and without the use of growth hormones. Thes products have no additives to make them richer or fattier, they are naturally farmed and raised. Like organic produce, organic meat, dairy and poultry lack the genetically modified organisms that non-organic foods contains.

Fresh or Processed
Organic food can come both fresh and processed. with most fresh foods being seasonal and higher priced than non-organic foods. Often they are easier found at a farmer’s market or specialty grocery stores. Consumers worried about effects on their pocket book can price shop to find the best prices in their area. Fresh organic fruits and vegetables are likely much easier to find than fresh meat and dairy products.

Processed organic food is more commonly found at the neighborhood supermarket Processed organics often come from large conglomerates that produce food in larger quantities. Processed organic foods usually contain organic ingredients without artificial food additives, and are processed through fewer artificial methods.

When shopping for organic foods, keep in mind you will find most of it near the produce. Organic fruits and vegetables largely out number the meat and dairy organic choices in neighborhood grocery stores. Trouble identifying organics? Try the one under the higher price tag!

Baby Food
One popular organic item hitting the shelves is organic baby food. Baby food sections now include almost as many organic selections as non-organics. It is becomming more common for new parents to be concerned about added preservatives and artificial flavors when they start feeding baby. These concerned new moms and dads are choosing organic baby food for their little one. For more on organic baby food see our article by clicking here.

If you walk into any supermarket and take a wander up to the baby aisle then you will undoubtedly see a whole host of baby lotions and potions that all boast to be the softest and smoothest solutions to diaper rash and skin irritation. However, what the tubes and bottles do not say is that they can also be harmful to your baby’s skin as well. They are full of toxins and chemicals that may have a negative affect on their health and well-being. If you are becoming a parent for the first time shortly or have just had a child then you may be interested to know that you can make environmentally friendly baby lotion yourself!

Homemade green baby lotion is kind to the skin and cheap to make as well because it only requires a few household ingredients. It is free of toxins and chemicals as it is 100% completely natural and extremely kind to baby’s soft skin! There are several recipes floating around out there to choose from, but here are just two of the best and most effective ones to try.

1. The Honey Milk Baby Lotion – Now we all know that honey is good for the skin and can leave it smooth and soothe irritated areas, which is why it is perfect for a baby. For a lotion that you can refrigerate and use for up to a week, you will need ½ cup of honey and ½ cup of cream or milk (with the former being a better option). Poor the honey into the milk in a saucepan over a medium heat and stir until the two are completely blended. Allow the mixture to stand for five minutes before placing in a glass jar with a lid and refrigerating. When completely cool, it will be ready to use!
2. The Lavender Baby Lotion – Again, this one will soothe irritated skin, but it will also protect the skin against further wetness and hold moisture in the skin. Mix 225g of petroleum jelly with nine teaspoons of olive oil, thirty drops of lavender oil and the same amount of chamomile. You do not have to heat this at all, but simply mix it in a bowl. You may want to use a fork to mix because it does take some blending but always needs mixing by hand to ensure all ingredients are thoroughly blended. Again, refrigerate for a few hours and then use on your child. It will keep for up to two weeks so be sure to store it properly in the fridge.

Both of these homemade baby lotion recipes will help to keep diaper rash at bay and bring it under control. Both recipes are cheap convenient and extremely green so you have nothing to lose by trying them!

The first thing many individuals think of when they hear the word ecotourism is either the Kenyan safari or the spa-type vacation that is provided by a specific centre and filled with nature and environmentally friendly values. Regardless of which one of those images springs to your mind, it is unlikely that you picture yourself with your newborn baby or toddler. That is actually quite common because ecotourism is viewed as more of an adult vacation rather than a family friendly trip. Today, that does not have to be the case though.

Having a baby does not put an end to your ecotourism adventure! Some ecotourism holidays are now actively marketed as family or child friendly, and the ecotourist vacation can provide quite an experience for both parents and children. This is because everyone can learn something from the vacation, including the baby.

First and foremost, babies pick up on a change in mood far more quickly than adults do and, as such, he or she will recognize a relaxing environment. Ecotourism resorts are famed for their ability to set people at ease, to help them become one with nature and to relax them. This will pull the family together in one harmonious unit. As such, your baby will benefit from the tranquillity and will indeed be happier for the duration of the holiday. This makes it fun in itself, but there is more!

Various family friendly ecotourism destinations have a range of facilities for small children, all of which make it easier for you to include the children in fun activities and educate them at the same time. Local businesses and individuals benefit from the tourist trade so they are willing to give something back and can communicate with your child in a unique way. By the age of three, it is possible for your child to have a loose grasp on helping out in a wide variety of fun filled activities that involve interaction with the local environment and wildlife. This in itself marks the ecotourism vacation a unique and innovative experience.

Of course, the child friendly ecotourism vacation is not as intensive as an adults only one because children tire easily, but there are areas of the world that welcome children, including babies. Costa Rica is one example. Your baby or toddler can enjoy the colourful side of nature in the eight national parks. They can bird watch and look out for the colourful toucans or watch the monkeys playing in the rainforest. They will be delighted by the activity and learn things, even from an early age.

If you want to make your ecotourism vacation especially fun for your baby or small child then why not go to Lapland? A good number of the tours there are labelled as ecotourism and the children can meet huskies, reindeer and even Santa whilst learning to respect the environment. It is certainly something different yet extremely fun. And the beauty of it is you are giving back to the community as well as providing your family with a firm foundation for education!

We have all been there and done that when it comes to pets. At one stage or another of our lives we have all had a dog, cat, rabbit, guinea pig or some other creature to love and call our own. But then again, some of us have decided that the hassle is not worth it as well! The former usually overrides the latter so we stand by our pets and pass on our love of animals to our children. It is highly likely that you have never considered your pet as a tool to help you become more environmentally friendly!

That’s right – a household pet can help you to become more environmentally friendly. Many households do not think of a pet as an aid in the quest for a greener way of life, but they are. This applies to any pet, but there are some that are greener than others. The more environmentally animals are the rabbits and guinea pigs that generally tend to eat plant matter, but if you already have a dog or cat then you can tap into the benefits they can offer as well, some of which are:

• Use leftover food for their meals. For example, potato peel and vegetable leaves can be given to guinea pigs and rabbits to eat. Dogs will generally eat any leftovers, although some may not be beneficial to their health, pastry leftovers for example.
• Although you may recycle magazines and newspapers, it is not advisable to recycle shredded bills and so on with personal information on it. You could use that paper for bedding for rabbits, hamsters, guinea pigs and mice, and it also makes an environmentally friendly cat litter as well.
• You can make an excellent dog cushion out of old materials that you no longer use. Simply use an old quilt cover for the outer casing and fill it with towels, sheets and clothing that are not good enough to donate to charity or recycle.

Of course, there are many more things you can do via your pet to make your household more environmentally friendly, but your pet has a far more valuable function.

If you have young children then you can use the pet to educate them of the values of being environmentally friendly as well. Using your pet as an example will make the importance of looking out for the environment more potent. Children tend to think about things they can relate to and they very often cherish a pet more than everyone else in the house put together! As such, a pet can help you get the green balance just right!

If you have recently become a parent or are expecting a child in the very new future then it is likely that you have read articles and books about the importance of baby proofing your home. Babies and toddlers are incorrigible and will get into everything and anything that they should avoid. As such, it is important to make sure that the home environment is safe for them to move about it. You can never be too careful, regardless of how closely you watch over them. However, reconciling the baby proofing of your home with the environment can be extremely difficult as the two tend to conflict.

Baby proofing involves eliminating rough edges, removing hazards and sealing drawers and cupboards shut, amongst other things of course, but that has traditionally involved a lot of plastics and metals. Neither material is considered environmentally friendly. The following tips will help you to look out for your baby’s welfare and remain true to the environment!

• Sustainable wood is readily available from DIY stores so use it to make your own cupboard latches to prevent your child from getting into them. This is an easy task that would only take a few minutes to complete. The latches would be hard wearing and would not need replacing for the duration of your baby’s childhood.
• You can now purchase wooden baby gates to prevent your child from getting up and down the stairs. There are many that are made of sustainable wood and are acknowledged as environmentally friendly. They are also recyclable when they are no longer needed.
• Why not use old clothing and material that you already have at home to make cushions to protect against some of the sharp edges? For example, you can make cushions to protect your little one from the edges of chairs or use old materials as an effective doorjamb to help protect their little fingers!

As you can see, the tips above are creative and environmentally friendly at the same time. Your home remains cosy and green but also becomes safer for the new arrival. You might even save some money too.

Just remember, there is no need to compromise your baby’s safety while remaining environmentally friendly!

If you take an active interest in being green and the environment in general then you will probably want to maintain those values throughout all areas and elements of your life. However, if you are about to become a parent or have recently become one, then it is difficult to know where to start! Everything may seem overwhelming at first but as soon as you learn how to be an environmentally friendly parent, you will find it easy to get into a routine.

There is nothing much to environmentally friendly parenting and most of the things you can do to stay green are common sense more than anything. None of the below tips are elements of daily life that easily spring to mind when you have a thousand other things whirling around your head! But they will help to give you an idea of what is involved in environmentally friendly parenting and hopefully inspire you!

• You will not have to think about car-pooling until your child is of school age, but it is worth getting into the habit as soon as possible. Share a car when you have errands to run and your partner or spouse has to go to. You will save money and do your bit to help the environment! Car-pool whenever you can.
• Get into cooking! Using organic ingredients and cooking all of your meals from scratch will help to reduce the amount of rubbish that you are throwing away. Because there will be no convenience foods in your diet, there will be a reduced amount of packaging to throw away. This will also benefit your child, who will be eating good, wholesome foods!
• Unplug every item of electrical equipment when it is not in use. Not only will you be making your home more efficient in terms of the energy usage, but you are also baby-proofing your home by reducing the risk of electrocution that can result from little ones playing with cords.
• Recycle everything! This includes the usual bottles, jars and cans, but also items like baby clothing and toys. There are usually community associations that organise swaps and charitable events, or you could easily take old items to the local charity shops instead to help others as well as the environment.
• Practice green household chores. Instead of using a tumble dryer to dry baby clothes, use an outdoor washing line instead. Not only are you being more energy efficient but also you are improving the quality of your baby’s clothes. They will be softer to the touch and will last much longer.

So now you know some of the best environmentally friendly tactics for, you just have to get your thinking cap on and examine any other ways that you could change your lifestyle and home practices for the good of the environment and your family!

If you are looking to improve the environmental efficiency of your home then you should look to get the whole family involved. The best way to do that is to recycle. Many people look on recycling as a hassle that they haven’t got time for but it can be an extremely fun activity that everyone can take part in!

Recycling also has the added bonus of being able to save money, and this will be a key plus for those families that are expecting a new addition any time soon, or indeed have recently had a new baby.

As a result of both of the above factors, recycling is a fabulous idea that can really improve household efficiency both in terms of the environment and your finances. The ten ideas below will help you to get started and may even inspire you to come up with ideas of your own!

1. Use old clothing that cannot be donated to charity when you have a clean out. Towels can be cut into face cloths and shirts can be cut up into new dusters or cleaning cloths!
2. When you are eliminating things you no longer need, divide everything that you intend to throw away in to piles for recycling. Reuse anything you possibly can. You may be able to donate to charity or even sell your old items on eBay for a little extra cash. Any old bottles and tubes can be emptied and recycled.
3. Have a compost bin for any gardening waste or vegetables that are not eaten. You can give this back to the Earth by using it for fertilising the soil in your garden later.
4. Look to make toys out of old household items. Your children can get involved in this. For example, roll on deodorant bottles can be used for painting tools, old cardboard boxes can be transformed into a dolls house and so on!
5. Recycle old cans by finding an aluminium can depot that will pay for them. This will encourage your children to collect them because it is a little extra pocket money!
6. Use any prepaid envelopes that come through the post to send your own mail! You can cross the original address out or cover it with recycled paper and address it to where it needs to go!
7. Pass magazines on to friends or drop them off at your local community centre or medical practice so that they can be read again and again!
8. Reuse old pasta sauce jars, pickled onions or homemade jam. You can keep reusing them again and again, plus they will keep your homemade food fresh.
9. Baby food jars can be used for potting seedlings in the spring. You and your children can nurture them before planting them outside.
10. Soak old tumble dryer sheets in boiling water after use to get all of the remaining softener out of them and then reuse them as baby wipes with a little baby lotion.

All of the above tips may seem like common sense when you read them but there are plenty of creative ways that you can reuse household items to save you money and become more efficient.

When applying the principles of environmental responsibility to our diet, the first things we think of are often reducing meat consumption and going organic. An often underrated factor is considering where our foods are grown. Buying fruits and vegetables that are produced by farmers in your local area is a very important part of being green.

If you’re looking for freshness and great taste, of course you can’t beat the vegetables from local farms. But have you ever stopped to think about the gas used in shipping those veggies from Chili, Florida, or wherever? Or the gas that is being burned by loud, obnoxious, emissions-belching trains, and roaring dangerous tractor-trailer rigs on the highway?

Living green is about making a lot of little choices to eliminate our impact on our environment. If more and more people make those little responsible choices, maybe we can eliminate a truck on the highway, or even a lot of trucks on the highway. We can make an impact in the area of noise pollution as well as air pollution and depletion of natural resources by banding together. Buying local is a prime example.

Another thing about buying local produce is that you can get to know your local producers. Many of these agrarian folks are similarly interested in making the greener, simpler choices in life. Many of them raise their food organically. Often, they can become sources for responsibly raised meat and dairy products, or can advise you about where you can find these products.

These producers often are also a source for home baked wholegrain breads and goodies as they try to supplement their family income. The children often participate by selling cookies or produce from their own little gardens, thus learning valuable business and people skills.

Not all of green living is about chemicals and scientific statistics. When we get to know and support our local farmers, our world becomes friendlier and more charitable. Local farmers often have a strong sense of faith and family. When we buy from them, we are helping to support a way of life that is traditional and wholesome, a way of life that is quickly becoming extinct as our cities grow and our pace of life quickens.

When you think about it, there is much more to buying local produce than getting a great tasting tomato. Environmentalists have been saying for years, “Think globally, act locally.” Supporting your local producers, whether through an organized Farmers’ Market, or stopping by that house with the homemade sign proclaiming “Eggs – $1 a dozen,” you are making a statement that you are in favor of a gentler, greener world for all.