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Lessons from The Lorax: 5 Ways Your Family Can Go Green Today

March 7, 2012 0

I have always loved children’s books – I was collecting them well before Eben was born. In fact, when the mister and I started dating, one of the first gifts he ever gave me was a subscription to the Dr. Seuss Book Club. I would receive a set of Dr. Seuss books every month in the mail – I knew he was a keeper! Our large collection of Dr. Seuss books is at the top of the most beloved books in our home. They are worn and show the signs of being read over and over again, they are loved.

Today, Eben’s class is taking a field trip as part of their science program – they are going to see The Lorax movie. On the way to school this morning, Eben read The Lorax to me – what a great way to reinforce the many ways that our everyday actions can have a huge positive or negative impact on the environment. Eben and I discussed the ways that we thought Hollywood would put it’s own spin on one of our favorite books. And whether the true spirit of the story would be upheld.

Last night, the mister and I spent a lot of time discussing the ways that Dr. Seuss inspired others and what a wonderful visionary he was. We also wondered what Dr. Seuss’s thoughts would be if he knew his beloved Lorax has been peddling everything from SUV’s to pancakes in the media?

Hearing Eben read the following sentences made me tear up again this morning:

| “UNLESS someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.” |


These two sentences are so true, so to the point. There are many things that we can do everyday that will make a difference, here are five simple ways you and your child can get started on your own green journey today:

1. Make It a Zero Waste Lunch: 
The amount of trash from children’s school lunches equals billions of pounds of garbage each year. We try to pack Eben’s lunch as waste-free as possible. He has two reusable bento-style lunch boxes (so one is always clean) and we always use reusable napkins, snack containers and water bottles. You can see our favorite lunchbox here and our favorite snack containers here. (the all stainless steel ones)

2. Refuse, Reuse, Reduce and Recycle:
We try to follow the 4 R’s everyday and in this order: we REFUSE anything that we don’t need, REUSE anything that we can find a second life for, REDUCE our overall consumption whenever possible and at the very least RECYCLE. We like to keep our life as simple as possible  – the 4 R’s help us keep this idea in perspective.

3. Green Clean It:
If you aren’t already using green cleaners in your home, now is the time to start. Not only are green cleaners good for the environment, they are good for the health of your family. I think all grocery stores now carry some type of green cleaners, however making your own is simple, affordable and they clean well too!

4. Go Meatless:
Going meatless is not only good for the environment, it is great for the health of your family and the size of your pocketbook. It takes a lot more resources to “grow” beef than it does veggies – plus growing and eating your own veggies is a lot of fun!

5: Get Personal:
What you put on your body is just as important as what you put into your body. Now is a great time to remove any personal care products that contain ingredients that are harmful to your body and the environment.

What simple ways does your family go green everyday?
Has your family seen The Lorax? What are your thoughts?

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48 Hours to Tell Congress to Label GMOs

March 6, 2012 0

Hello, Friends!

I just called my Senators and Representative to tell them to support labeling of genetically engineered foods! We need to make as many calls as possible in the next 48 hours!

Today, an estimated 75 to 80% of processed food in the U.S. contains GMOs (genetically modified organisms). For the past 15 years, Americans have been denied the basic right to know what’s in our food, despite the fact that more than 50 countries around the world already require labeling of genetically engineered food.

Even communist Russia and China label GMOs, allowing their citizens the fundamental right to know what they’re eating!

Why not the U.S.? Because giant biotech and seed companies like Monsanto have written the rules for our governmental regulatory agencies and paid billions in lobbying, public relations and campaign donations over the past two decades.

Right now members of Congress are writing a letter to tell the FDA that it’s time to label genetically engineered foods. In the next 48 hours your Senators and Congressperson needs to hear from you immediately so you can have the Right to Know what you’re eating. Click here to find the number to your local representatives.

Every voice counts!

source
photo via Timothy Valentine

Food Favorite: Pomi Tomatoes are BPA-Free

March 6, 2012 0

Since we are on the subject of BPA-free packaging for our foods, I started to think of my favorite foods packaged in BPA-free packaging. The first item that popped into my head is one that we use a lot of in our home, Pomi Tomatoes. While we try to use fresh organic tomatoes in all of our recipes, there are times that we need a good tomato sauce or source of chopped or strained tomatoes that we are unable to find locally.

We found Pomi Tomatoes and have been very pleased with both the quality of their natural tomatoes as well as their BPA-free, sustainably made recyclable packaging. Not to mention, their tomatoes are free from preservatives, artificial colors and don’t have added water. We choose Pomi Tomatoes over other tomatoes packaged in glass, since some of those jars had BPA lined lids. And since many cans have high-levels of BPA – we avoid those too.

PS: We have started to use Pomi Tomato Sauce on our family pizza nights – it is fantastic! 

Do you have a favorite food that you know if packaged BPA free? I would love to hear your suggestions. 

Announcement: Campbell’s Soup Pledges to Go BPA-Free

March 6, 2012 0

Late last year, Campbell’s Soup found themselves under attack due to reports of higher than normal levels of bisphenol A (BPA) in their soup can linings. As you already know, Campbell’s Soup heavily markets their soups to children using fun shapes and familiar cartoon characters on their labeling. With the backing of the Breast Cancer Fund which launched it’s Cans not Cancer campaign, Campbell’s Soup has announced that it will no longer use BPA in it’s soup can linings. In the last several months, over 70,000 letters were sent by supporters, including over 20,000 from Healthy Child, Healthy World – I sent a letter, did you?

Studies have shown exposure to BPA has been linked in lab studies to breast cancer, early puberty in girls, obesity, prostate cancer and more. I am not a fan of plastics in general, however plastics containing BPA are even more frightening to me. As I have stated before, as a family we try to avoid purchasing food products that are packed in plastic or cans with linings. Remember, you vote with your dollar – if you stop purchasing these items, it will have an impact! Mr. Sweet Greens makes most of our soups from scratch and stores them in glass containers – this is one way that we can ensure that the food that we eat isn’t tainted with BPA.

What steps does your family take to remove BPA and other plastics from your foods?

via Forbes
Image via Loop_Oh

Have a Lovely Green Weekend + A Few Green Things

March 3, 2012 0

Hello, Friends! Are you ready for the weekend? I definitely am. Today, Mr. Sweet Greens and Eben will be spending the day sailing with Eben’s classmates. Mr. Sweet Greens is good friends with Eben’s classmates’ father – they both love to sail – what a wonderful way to spend the day, on the water with good friends! I couldn’t go – I had some work that I needed to finish up before the weekend and my new eco-friendly sofa sectional is being delivered today. I am so excited! Yay, for eco-friendly furniture!

Tomorrow, we have been invited to a pool party! What could be more fun than friends, food and the pool? And since it is starting to get super-warm here – it sounds like a great way to cool off! Is it starting to warm up where you live?

While I gather up our swimsuits and flip flops here are a few green things I thought you might enjoy:

– Bloggers are the new recipe box? Of course we are!
– Let’s make our own sandwich bread this weekend – ours will be whole wheat and organic!
– A new species of spiny scaled sea snake has been discovered. 
– If sloths make Kristen Bell cry from their cuteness – this will make her loose it!
– Have you seen either of these Non GMO labels yet?
– On Sunday, I want to spend the day surfing. Fact.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend full of sunshine. I’ll see you back here on Monday!

xo,
Sweet Greens

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