by Patti Teel

Food has a huge impact on a child’s well-being. It can energize, increase hyperactivity or induce fatigue. Just as a lack of sleep can jumble a child’s thinking or cause learning problems, so can an inadequate diet. Each child is a unique individual, and it’s unreasonable to think that “one size fits all” diet advice is realistic.

Children seem to be born not only with an emotional temperament but with a food temperament. For instance, my son has always had a particular suspicion and aversion to any food that is green; however, he doesn’t care much for sweets. In direct contrast, my youngest daughter has always loved vegetables and from the time she was a toddler, her favorite food was broccoli. Unfortunately, she also inherited my sweet tooth.

Diet is critical for children’s health and everything that we eat affects us. However, it affects each of us a little differently, depending on our individual makeup and metabolism. For instance, some children are highly sensitive to sugar and any form of sweets in their diet. For them, sugar consumption can aggravate many problems such as hyperactivity, anxiety, nervousness, irritability, and poor concentration—all of which can lead to sleep difficulties.

We all know that children are healthier and sleep better if they eat a healthy diet containing a variety of foods from all the food groups. Unfortunately, some children can be incredibly picky. I don’t think it’s a good idea to cater to a child’s every whim or to battle over food. Fill your house with healthy foods and snacks and don’t get in the habit of buying junk food. That way, when your children are hungry, they will have no choice but to eat healthy and nutritious foods.

In addition, children are much more likely to be interested in eating meals that they have helped plan and prepare. Buy a healthy children’s cookbook and have fun planning and preparing nutritious meals and snacks together.

Healthy Tips:

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.

While organic food gains popularity, so do organic wine, beer, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. Some manufacturers have gone organic in an effort to cut down on allergies. This process allows people, who have previously been unable to enjoy such spirits, new opportunities.

Wine
An organic vineyard is one where grapes are grown without chemical fertilizers, weed killers, insecticides, or other synthetic chemicals. These grapes then go through the same process as non-organic vineyards. Like organic foods, beverages also have guidelines. A label reading “organic” in wine country guarantees consumers the wine has met certain standards set by a government agency. Due to the added costs of registering organic wine, many organic wine makers will choose not to label their wine as organic, relying on their product and consumers to advertise this for them.

Beer and Other Spirits
Although not as popular or widely available, you can buy organic beer and other liquors from specialty stores and suppliers. The production process for organic liquor does not differ much from conventional production, but is based on the use of organic, raw materials. Organic beer is made from organically grown hops.

Popular in the UK
While growth and production of organic wine, beer and liquors is more popular in the UK than the States, they are growing in popularity stateside.

While organic food can be great for your health and skin, there are some disadvantages.

Cost
Regulations on organic farming and the fact that produce is usually grown in smaller quantities than non-organics, are two of the reasons for the elevated cost of organic produce. Regulations have not been set on organic food pricing and percentage increase differs between organic foods such as; fish, meat, dairy and produce. Individual producers of organic food are able to assign the prices of their product. Many families find this cost differential a deterrent to purchasing organics. As organic farming grows in popularity, it should allow for a rise in supply, and one would hope, decrease in cost for the average American consumer.

Environmental Safety
While producers of organic products state that their produce is more sustainable and environmentally sound, it is questioned among specialists and scientists alike. Factored in is also the argument that the shipping of products is not as efficient as quantities are smaller and shipped further than non-organic products which are grown locally. Some argue that pesticides are not area specific controlled, making it impossible for products to be grown completely pesticide free. While others strongly feel unsafe foods can not be sold, stating pesticides found in non-organic food are not harmful to consumers.

Just a Fad
Many believe that organic food has “sold out” becoming a marketing gimmick. Companies are marketing more organic products, changing ingredients and labels in an effort to jump on the “organic band wagon” so to speak, while benefitting from the higher prices. Many consumers believe that organics may not be all they are made out to be, that products will quietly disappear from shelves. Only to be forgotten, like many fads in the past.

Your skin is the largest and most visible organ you have and covers your entire body. Consumers are choosing to use different organic products in their home, to ensure better health for their loved ones like food, cloth , flushable diapers, and other household items. It only makes sense to treat the skin with the same care as they do their family. Unlike the unnatural products in regular skin care, organic skin care is created from herbs, fruits, and flower buds. They are then combined with natural oils and waters.

The last thing your skin needs is to be invaded by chemicals and harmful toxins that are so prevalent in standard non organic skin care products when your skin is already exposed to harmful chemicals all day long. Organic skin care provides a healthy alternative to today’s chemical filled products.

A woman, on average. is exposed to hundreds of chemicals a day, many of which are absorbed into the blood stream. The rise of allergies and eczema has been thought by some to be caused by these chemicals that increase on a daily basis.

There are a large number of websites that sell organic skin care products or list recipes for making your own organic skin care products in your home. There are also books you can buy on organic skin care like Natural Organic Hair and Skin Care: Including A to Z Guide to Natural and Synthetic Chemicals in Cosmetics, How to Make Your Own Organic Cosmetics: Face Masks, Hair Rinses & Body Lotions: Recipes for Natural Beauty and Pure Skin: Organic Beauty Basics.

How Your Diet Affects Your Skin
Fatty and greasy foods are known to wreck havoc on your skin. Abstaining from these types of foods as much as possible is beneficial in healthy skincare. Fruits and vegetables are great sources of vitamins and minerals responsible for maintaining skin integrity. Because lack of vitamin A in your system can cause dry and scaly skin, vitamins A and C are very important to your skin care. Watch the labels of the foods you eat because many contain unnatural chemicals that will affect your skin. In most cases companies are required by laws to list the ingredients on the packaging of their food before it can be sold, so learn about the chemicals in your food to eat responsibly.

The rise in popularity among organic foods raises the question for many; “What are the real benefits of organic food over non-organic food?” Organic foods benefit not only consumers, but also the environment and food producers.

Consumers
It is believed that most of the pesticides infants and young children come in contact with come from non-organic baby food,non-organic fruits and vegetables. These products are treated with pesticides, artificial preservatives and other additives. Studies show that simply by replacing your non-organic foods with organic you can decrease the risks of pesticide levels dramatically. There has been much controversy over the safety of pesticides, leading to many families choosing organic produce for their home.

Environmental
Organic foods are also beneficial for the environment. Organic produce is not treated with pesticides, reducing the chemical levels released into our environment. Some pesticides can be harmful to animals and humans in or around the area. Organic farms also sustain a more diverse ecosystem without chemicals that potentially may kill plants, insects and other animals. Organic farms also conserve more energy and produce less waste, as they do not dispose of packaging for additives.

Producers
The lack of pesticide use on organic farms has huge health benefits for workers. When used correctly, pesticides get into the air, and are then breathed by workers. Resulting in medical conditions including abdominal pain, dizziness and headaches. Some believe long term exposure to pesticides contribute to cancer in some patients.

While organic foods are still in their infanthood, all of the long and short term benefits are not known. One would be pressed to argue the obvious fact that lack of pesticides and artificial additives make organic foods a better choice for ones’ family. Many families opt for organic foods, despite the slightly higher costs, feeling it is safer and healthier for their children and loved ones.

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.

You may not think of it like this, but you’re feeding your baby something from the moment of conception. There are indications that those early months are some of the most critical when it comes to good nutrition with a minimum of toxins. To get the vitamins and minerals you need, you’ll want to eat a good selection of fresh vegetables and fruits. However, you sure don’t want to be filling your system, and your baby’s, with unwanted pesticide residues.

The effects of pesticides on the health of a young child are not fully known at this time, but the brain of the developing child is probably at risk. It certainly seems prudent to reduce the amount our children are exposed to. One way is by using organic fruits and veggies.

Organic produce is getting easier to find in regular supermarkets as the demand and production increases. Still, it’s often two or three times as expensive, and the choices are likely to be limited. One way to bring organic into the reach of your budget is to take up organic gardening. Even just a few cherry tomato plants can make a big difference in the overall amount of toxins you ingest.

It might be impossible to buy all organic fruits and vegetables. If you can’t, try to go organic for at least those fruits and veggies that tend to be loaded with pesticides. The top offenders among fruits are peaches, apples, strawberries, nectarines, cherries, pears, and imported grapes.

Among veggies, watch out for bell peppers, celery, spinach, lettuce, and potatoes. The twelve foods just mentioned are called by some the “Dirty Dozen.” Buying these foods as organics can eliminate the bulk of pesticides from your diet. The next most contaminated vegetables after the top dozen are carrots. Since we tend to use carrots frequently, you might want to opt for organic ones, especially if you use them in juicing.

Safest selections among non-organic produce include onions, frozen corn and peas, broccoli, cabbage, kiwis, bananas and pineapple. (Data was determined by the Environmental Working Group, a non-profit agency.)

What about washing produce to remove pesticides? Washing helps to remove substances like bacteria, but don’t trust washing and peeling to get rid of the pesticides. Studies have shown that the residues work their way into the very cells of the fruit or vegetable.

Don’t forget about your non-diet exposure to pesticides. Use simple natural insect repellents in your home. If you have a serious insect infestation, there are bait-type insecticides that are much safer to use than sprays that go everywhere. And just forget about those bombs. They leave residue on everything in your house