According to a study by the Environmental Working Group, children are exposed to an average of 61 different chemical ingredients every day, and 27 of these ingredients have not been found safe for children by the government or the cosmetic industry's expert safety panel. Gaps in health protections leave children exposed to potentially harmful ingredients when their developing tissues and organs are sensitive to chemical damage. Children's skin is 30% thinner than an adults', on average, and can absorb greater amounts of chemicals from the skin surface. They breathe in more air (and air contaminants) relative to their weight than adults, and the blood-brain barrier that helps block chemicals from penetrating brain tissue is not fully formed until a baby reaches 6 months of age.
Top Four Tips:
1.Use fewer products and use them less frequently.
2. Don’t trust the claims. Check ingredients.
3. Buy fragrance-free products.
4. Visit cosmeticsdatabase.com.
Check the Parent's Buying Guide released by EWG. It provides recommendations on choosing safer products for your children.
Breakfast is a very important meal time for the entire family. Sometimes we skip it, or eat junk food instead of enjoying a nutritious and yummy meal!
Eco.Logical.Mom and gDiapers are giving away a gDiapers Sweet Bundle, a $99 kit that includes everyday g's 6-pack of little gPants plus your choice of a case of gRefills or 2 packs of gCloth inserts.
This is a very cool kid-powered adventure vehicle. Made from eco-friendly sprigwood, a recycled bio-composite material, it comes with battery free lights and sound!
Have you heard about Açaí? It is a very rich fruit coming from Brazil, loaded with vitamins, iron and calcium. Açai can be found in specialty food stores in the US (check WholeFoods, in the frozen food section). It makes a very delicious meal, ideal for breakfast and mid-afternoon snacks.
Take a look at this adorable baby walker! When children push this toy, the 2 woodpeckers create a sound that stimulates them to walk and develop gross motor skill.
We found this cute set of wooden pans from Melissa & Doug! Nice Christmas gift for little girls, not to mention that they are non-toxic and pretty. The set includes a frying pan, a pot with a lid, a saucepan with a lid, a spoon, a slotted spatula and an oven mitt. Perfect for creative play!Our last Eco-Giveaway of 2009 celebrates our New Year's Resolution: Raising Kids with an Eco-friendly Attitude!
We think a good nutrition is very important for kids and adults. A well balanced diet is a much better option than taking daily supplements. We also know that having some fast food occasionally can be fun and easy on our busy lives. So, we figured that knowing some fast-food nutrition facts for some restaurants could help us make the best decisions.
Become Fan of Eco.Logical.Mom on Facebook by December 12, 2009 and be entered to win the Recycle Truck toy!
A superb Christmas gift, the Eco House is made from environmentally friendly rubber wood and non-toxic paints, dyes, lacquers and formaldehyde free glue. Even the package is made from at least 70% recycled paper.
It is getting colder and colder outside, and our appetite for carbs and hearty foods is overpowering! Making an effort to keep a healthy diet will definitely pay off after the holidays! Serves 4, designed to be made in a 12-inch skillet.
-4 chicken thighs, or breast (about 1 3/4 pounds).
-Coarse salt and freshly ground white pepper.
-2 tablespoons olive oil.
-1 large onion, chopped.
-3 tablespoons chopped garlic.
-1/2 pound shrimp.
-1/2 teaspoon saffron threads.
-1 1/2 cups long-grain rice (use whole rice for a richer nutritional value).
-1 bouillon cube (optional).
-1 ripe tomato, chopped.
-2 cups water.
-12 littleneck clams, scrubbed.
-4 (3-ounce) pieces black sea bass, about 1 inch thick, skin on*.
-1 pound mussels, scrubbed and debearded.
-1 cup frozen peas, rinsed under hot water to defrost.
-1/3 cup chopped fresh parsley.
*You could replace the sea bass with rouget, striped bass, dorade, or even sea scallops.
1. Season the chicken with salt and white pepper.
2. Heat a large (12-inch) skillet over medium-high heat. When the pan’s hot, add the oil and chicken. Brown the chicken well on both sides. Remove the chicken to a plate. If the chicken has released a lot of fat, spoon some out; you want about 3 tablespoons left in the pan.
3. Add the shrimp and sauté, stirring for about 4 minutes. Add the onion and sauté, stirring, until it becomes translucent, about 3 minutes. Add the garlic and saffron and sauté, stirring, for about 1 minute, until fragrant. Add the rice and stir. Crumble in the bouillon cube, if using, add the tomato, and pour in the water. Stir, return the chicken to the skillet, and bring to a simmer.
4. Bury the clams in the rice, hinge down. Reduce the heat to low, cover the pan, and cook for 10 minutes.
5. Meanwhile, season the fish with salt and pepper. Add the mussels to the pan, pushing them hinge down into the rice, then add the fish, skin side up. Cover the pan and cook for 10 minutes. Scatter the peas over the rice, cover again, and cook for 2 minutes. Turn off the heat and let the paella rest for 5 minutes.
6. Garnish with the parsley and serve right from the skillet.
VariationLeave all the fat in the skillet after you brown the chicken. Add the lobster pieces and sauté until the shells turn bright red. Set the lobster aside with the chicken and proceed with the recipe. Add the lobster to the rice along with the clams.
Recipe based on the book FISH WITHOUT A DOUBT: The Cook's Essential Companion by Rick Moonen and Roy Finamore. Text copyright (c) 2008 by Rick Moonen and Roy Finamore. Photographs copyright (c) 2008 by Ben Fink.
We think this is the most adorable way to teach money saving skills to the little ones. Froggy is made of cold cast resin, and empties via a twist-off plastic piece on the bottom. He is hand-painted, and makes a great gift for frog lovers!The toy
The Consumer Product Safety Commission has opened an investigation into the popular Zhu Zhu
There are loads of misleading (and very confusing) information about mercury levels in seafood. We never know which ones are safer to eat. Well, not anymore. The Environmental Defense Fund organization released this useful Pocket Seafood Selector, rating types of fishes good for consumption and the environment. Listed by Best, OK and Worst Choices, it also indicates great options rich in essential Omega-3 oils, and bad ones with high mercury levels. Click here to check it out!
We are exposed to several toxins on a daily basis, and sometimes are not aware of how easy it is to avoid them by recognizing the sources.
| Chemical | Health Effects* | Common Exposure Sources |
| Bisphenol A (BPA) | Birth defects; hormone disruptor | Polycarbonate plastic; canned foods and beverages |
| Lead | Toxic to brain and nervous system; decreased IQ; aggression and hyperactivity disorders | Lead based paint; household dust; outdoor soils; consumer products |
| Mercury | Toxic to brain and nervous system | Consumption of contaminated fish and shellfish |
| Perchlorate | Interferes with iodine uptake of thyroid gland, which regulates hormones necessary for proper development | Drinking water; consumption of irrigated crops; milk |
| Phthalates | Hormone disruptor; birth defects; reproductive disease; reduced sperm counts; heart disease; diabetes | Polyvinyl chloride plastic; household cleaners and other products with synthetic fragrance; cosmetics; food packaging |
| Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) | Interfere with brain development and may be linked to hyperactivity; toxic to reproductive system | Flame retardants used in electronics, polyurethane foam in upholstered furniture and mattresses, black out drapes and textiles that off-gas and can be found in household dust and food |
| Triclosan | Toxic to liver; disrupts thyroid hormone system (necessary for development); may cause cancer | Antibacterial agent used in liquid soap, beauty products and cleaning products |
We rated the Recycle Truck from Green Toys the coolest green truck, and it can be yours this Christmas!
These puppets are adorable, and absolutely safe for infants and toddlers. Made of organic and BPA free materials, they come in sets of 3. Kids can make a real puppet party!
Laboratory tests commissioned by the Environment Working Group found 9 of 10 randomly selected samples of cord blood tested positive for BPA, and as many as 232 chemicals in the 10 newborns. While the sample is too small to establish a trend, it shows that pregnant women should be concerned about exposure to BPA and other environmental pollutants that can disrupt the endocrine system.
Continuing with our "Food Intolerance versus Allergies" report by Leanne Cooper, from Organic Bubs, here is the final section, part III:While many children grow out of food allergies around the age of 3, if a reaction does occur, remove the food from your baby’s meals for a while. You may consider reintroducing the offending food (in very small amounts) at a later point, with special guidance where the reaction was severe.
If you suspect your child has a food allergy or intolerance, the least invasive methods are elimination diets, kinesiology or hair testing. Other methods include blood tests or skin scratching. Consult your preferred health practitioner.
Initially it can be overwhelming for parents to discover a child is intolerant or allergic to certain foods, but children are often quick to adjust.
Tips for introducing a new allergy-free diet:
Logon to www.foodallergy.org for more information and appropriate guidance.
Adverse Reactions:
Some physical signs & behaviors that may indicate an allergy or insensitivity to a particular food being ingested by your child are:
anaphylactic shock occurs, that the infant should be taken to the emergency department of the nearest hospital.
According to a recent analysis from the Consumer Report of fresh, whole broilers bought at stores nationwide, two-thirds harbored salmonella and/or campylobacter, the leading bacterial causes of foodborne disease. Foster Farms, Perdue, Tyson, 30 nonorganic store brands, nine organic store brands, and nine organic name brands have been analyzed. The findings are a bit alarming. Here is a summary:
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