Think there’s no reason to eat organic? Think it’s not worth the cost? That there’s no benefits? Think again. Eating fewer pesticides may result in a healthier baby.

Researchers at the Indiana University School of Medicine did a study this year that showed that children conceived during the spring and early summer have a higher risk for a wide range of birth defects, including Down syndrome, cleft palate, and spina bifida AND later on these children scored lower during math and language tests than children conceived at other times. While the reported increase in birth defects was modest it still coincided …read more

Kids love to cook and they love to get sticky. Well, some kids. My son Cedar loves being tidy and wails against messiness – but that’s bizarre and a much longer story for another time. That said, if you’ve got one of those kids who doesn’t mind sticky fun, try out this recipe for tasty homemade organic fruit snacks on a lazy, rainy, weekend.

WHY MAKE HOMEMADE FRUIT SNACKS:
For health: Almost all store bought fruit snacks come with gross additives like high fructose corn syrup, fake chemical colors, and other icky stuff your kids don’t need. Homemade organic fruit snacks …read more

The Pesticide Action Network of North America recently launched What’s On My Food, and the site has a specific goal in mind; to help you figure out what’s actually on or in your food. Bet you couldn’t guess from the name (ha). Really though, this is a useful site.

The site features facts about pesticides, such as how much is too much for a human body and the different ways we’re exposed. You can look up foods and drinks to see what sorts of pesticides are found in the item. For example, click on “Honey” and what comes up is a …read more

In a twist on the old school idol the The Organic Institute is looking for its first-ever consumer ambassador, the “organic idol” to serve as a spokesperson for all those who are passionate about organic agriculture and products.
How to be the next (well, first) Organic Idol:
Through May 31, visit the Organic Institute’s YouTube group and submit a 30-second video explaining “the moment you realized organic was worth it.” Heartfelt, creative and quirky videos are welcomed and encouraged. I’d get your kids involved if I were you – organic littles are cute!
Here are two examples; the first video I …read more

If you like to eat out but worry that it might lower your footprint, you have to take a look at a great eco-site, the Green Restaurant Association.

What’s the Green Restaurant Association (GRA) all about?
GRA is a national non-profit organization who provides “Services in research, consulting, education, marketing and community organizing.” Restaurants represent about 10% of the U.S. economy, and the GRA’s goal is to help make them as sustainable as possible.
The GRA serves both restaurants who’d like to become green or greener, and consumers looking for a green place to dine.
Services for consumers include…

You can search a list …read more

So I weighed in this morning at 7 pounds less than 5 weeks ago.
That 2 hours before bed seems to be the magic key to weight loss. Well, that’s a little simplistic, because I made all the other changes first over the last year-and-a-half. - drinking water, extreme amounts of exercise, whole grain bread and noodles, baked not fried, and adding breakfast and healthy snacks.
In Bob Greene’sThe Best Life Diet you can’t eat 2 hours before bed. It took me 16 months to lose about 20-25 pounds doing all the other stuff put together.  That’s what? 1.4 pounds a month?
But, in one month, actually …read more

Have you read YOU: The Owner’s Manual: An Insider’s Guide to the Body that Will Make You Healthier and Younger? Since reading it I’ve been reading the backs of labels.
I didn’t know it but High Fructose Corn Syrup is my favorite food on the planet. I’m actually unsure if it’s possible not to eat it. Maybe if you have access to a lot of health food stores in a big-city you might be able to do it, but I’m questioning whether in a meat-n-potatoes small town it’s even a viable and affordable option.
Some of the thing I previously believed were healthy …read more