A healthy Easter basket for kids

March 8, 2018 · 1 Comment

A healthy Easter basket for kids

Easter is here yet again and I thought I would share with you some healthy, ethical and natural ideas for the kids’ Easter baskets.

I know Easter can be one of those occasions that can easily become excessive and overly commercialised. Dealing with family members and outside influences that don’t support your healthy choices can be very stressful. Check out my hints on how to navigate this with humour and grace.

What family traditions do you have for Easter? What are you putting into baskets? Let us know in the comments.

♥ The Basket

Finding a gorgeous basket you can re-use year after year is a great eco-friendly option. You can also have a hunt around the house for some boxes, bags, tins or baskets you could upcyle, decorate and use!

♥ Ethical Woven Seagrass

I love this biodegradable, hand-made, woven seagrass basket for a simple reusable option. You can embellish with ribbons or wind some pom poms around the top to get a different look every year. You can also reuse it for storage around the home and pop it in the compost when it’s getting ratty.

Get it here.

♥ Handmade, personalised baskets

Head over to Etsy to see a huge range of handmade Easter baskets. Many can be personalised making them a gorgeous gift. Check it out here.

♥ Chocolate

I am a huge advocate for fair-trade and ethical chocolate. If you are not buying something you know is fair-trade, then chances are child slavery is involved in the cacao production. You can get a good range and always be assured that the chocolate is fair-trade and ethical here.

♥ Boobook Chocolate Eggs

These Boobook eggs are caramel filled and chocolate coated. Organic, gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan, they are new to Loving Earth. A whopping half of the profits will go to The Great Forest National Park campaign. Get them here on sale!

♥ Moo-Free Rosie Rabbit

Rosie is a vegan, organic, dairy free, gluten free, soy free choccy rabbit. Moo Free also do larger chocolate Easter Eggs as well. Find them here.

♥ Gingerbread Rabbits

I am a long time lover of these gingerbreads. Hand-made in the Blue Mountains, Karen and Dom lovingly create great quality food in compostable packing. These bunnies are gluten-free, nut-free, egg-free, palm-oil free, vegan and contain no artificial weird stuff. They also come in chocolate.

Find them here.

♥ Oscar the Orangutan

These cute little Oscar bars are organic, gluten free, dairy free, palm oil free, refined sugar free, vegan and ethically made. Five cents from every bar goes to The Orangutan Project, to help conserve orangutans and their habitat. They also come in white chocolate flavour. Find them here.

♥ Easter toys and gifts

♥ Easter Bilby Book

Any excuse for a new book is a good idea in my book! This Easter Bilby book from Aussies Nette Hilton and Bruce Whatley. is so charming and will make a lovely family tradition. Get it here in hard back or soft cover.♥ Jack ‘n Jill Bunny Toothbrush

Look I am just being practical here! 😀 Good teeth brushing is important after the Easter chocolates, so make it fun with this cute bunny tooth brush from Jack ‘n Jill. It’s also completely bio-degradable and toxin-free. Find it here.

♥ Peter Rabbit money box

We have some of these gorgeous Wedgwood Peter Rabbit pieces. They make a lovely heirloom gift and they also come in bowls and cups too. Check them out here.

You could also add some small things to the Easter baskets like crayons, colouring books, crystals and small wooden toys.

Want some more Easter ideas?

Healthy homemade Easter eggs

Healthy Hot Cross Buns

Healthy Easter ideas

Cool ideas for Easter that aren’t chocolate

Your complete guide to a healthy Easter

Introducing EveryMite – an allergy friendly super spread!

August 24, 2017 · 5 Comments

Introducing EveryMite – an allergy friendly super spread!

You have to love a bit of serendipity.

I only moved back to Brisbane 18 months ago and I haven’t really met a lot of new people yet. When your kids are in high school you tend to lose that connection with other mums a bit and it becomes harder to make friends.

But… I came across a mum (who happens to live right near me) in a local Facebook group and she was talking about a healthy, allergy friendly spread she was making. I instantly thought – hello, here is a kindred spirit, I need to find out more.

I ordered some EveryMite for myself to test it out and then I had to get in touch and tell her how awesome it was! Cinnamon came over for a cuppa last week and we had such a good chat about all things natural and healthy. Kindred spirits indeed.

Of course, then I had to tell all of you about her as well, because I think you are also going to love her story!

About Cinnamon…

Cinnamon and her husband were already the parents of two older boys, when along came William four years ago who was born with Down Syndrome. They had a lot of issues with his health including multiple food intolerances and digestive issues. After going down the mainstream medicine route and treating symptoms, they were not seeing any results.

They decided to embark on the GAPS diet and a natural way of living and saw immediate improvements. Further on down the track when William went to child care, GAPS became difficult to maintain and William became more independent and wanted to eat the same as the other kids.

Having had the two boys go through the school system and knowing how tough that being ‘different’ can be, Cinnamon wanted to do what she could to help William assimilate and engage with his world. Her idea was to make William foods that looked like mainstream products but were in fact healthier versions.

This is where EveryMite was born!

About EveryMite…..

Cinnamon wanted to create a spread for William to replace Vegemite that was black in colour, salty and that had ingredients that he could eat. Three years of trialing, testing and refining the recipe finally led to EveryMite.

It’s a unique product in that it is suitable for just about everyone and every diet including paleo, vegan and GAPS! For those with the MTHFR gene it does not contain folic acid either. Made with just four ingredients, it is organic, raw, nutrient dense and allergy friendly.

EveryMite doesn’t have any dairy, soy, nuts, gluten, eggs, grains, toxic oils, preservatives, folic acid, thickeners and weird stuff.

EveryMite does have naturally occurring vitamins, minerals, amino acids, protein, fibre, enzymes and acetic acid. The ingredients are simply organic black sesame seeds, organic coconut amino sauce, organic himalayan rock salt and organic apple cider vinegar.

Cinnamon and her family still hand-make every batch in a commercial kitchen in Brisbane and there is a lot of love added to every jar!

What’s it taste like?

Because it doesn’t contain yeast, it doesn’t taste like Vegemite and it’s not supposed to. It’s a savoury breakfast spread that can be used instead of Vegemite for those who want something healthier. It’s a healthy Vegemite alternative.

Did you know that Vegemite is loaded with additives? It’s always been marketed as a health product and a great way to get vitamin B in particular. Sue Dengate at Fed Up says that “yeast extracts contain free glutamates that are essentially the same as MSG”. Vegemite also contains folic acid (manufacturers Bega confirm the folate is folic acid), gluten and natural colour (150d) which contains preservative 220. Remember I have talked about 220 before?

We gave up on it quite a few years ago and my hubby in particular really misses it. So he is pretty happy that I found EveryMite.

We love the taste. It’s slightly sweet, savoury and tangy all at once. It’s delicious on celery, crackers, rice cakes and toast. It also has a long shelf life which other Vegemite alternatives on the market struggled with.

Want to try it?

You can get it at health food stores (ask your local to stock it!!) or online here.

So often we see mums paving the way with new products, innovations and ideas after seeking solutions for their own families.

Mums really are changing the world!

What’s so bad about 2 minute noodles and what to eat instead

August 25, 2015 · 42 Comments

What’s so bad about 2 minute noodles and what to eat instead

This article was prompted because my son was introduced to those 2 minute noodle bowls (in styrofoam) at a school camp a few months ago. He came home and bought one from the corner shop as a quick snack. He knows they are not that great (without me having to tell him), but convenience and taste were winning out. On this occasion I did stop him from pouring boiling water into the styrofoam, I made him put it into a bowl!

It’s a whole other article about my teenagers and how their independence has influenced their eating habits so I will tell you about that another time!! Once I started really looking at what was in these noodles though, I was shocked. I knew they were bad but this was particular food was something I really didn’t want to compromise on. We found some alternatives they were happy with and that I would provide with my money, not theirs and now everyone is happy!

So today, I thought I would share with you what I discovered about those 2 minute noodles and let you know about some better alternatives.

Okay so what is wrong with 2 minute noodles?

Well, here is an ingredient list for just one type of these noodles, Maggi 2 minute noodles as sold in Australia (you can find all the products and ingredients on their website).

Noodle Cake: Wheat flour, vegetable oil (antioxidant 319), salt, mineral salts (508, 451, 501, 500), vegetable gum (412).

Flavour Mix Sachet: Iodised Salt, Maltodextrin (Contains Sulphites), Flavour Enhancers (621, 635), Flavours (contains Wheat, Soy, Celery, and Sulphites), Mineral Salt (508), Onion Powder (contains Sulphites), Vegetable Fat (antioxidant (320)), Colours (Tumeric, Caramel III) (Contains Sulphites), Parsley Flakes, Spices.

What I am not loving:

♦ Vegetable oil – this could be anything from GMO canola to unsustainable palm oil and the noodle cake is deep fried in it, so it’s been heated to a toxic level.

♦ Antioxidant 319 – also known as butylhydroquinone. The Chemical Maze by Bill Statham (seriously, everyone needs this book) gives this a sad face. It’s recommended to be avoided because: carcinogenic in high doses, may be associated with birth defects, acute neuro-toxic effects in animals, prohibited in food for infants.

♦ Salt (this isn’t going to be a healthy salt, but a heavily processed white salt)

♦ The mineral salts and vegetable gum are not too bad, but they can cause abdominal cramps, vomiting and diarrhea if consumed in large amounts.

♦ Iodised salt is a refined salt with added iodine (probably synthetic)

♦ Maltodextrin may be GMO and contains sulphites. Sue Dengate, author of Fed Up says “Sulphites have been associated with the full range of food intolerance symptoms including headaches, irritable bowel symptoms, behaviour disturbance and skin rashes but are best known for their effects on asthmatics.”

♦ Flavour Enhancers. The number 621 is MSG. This gets a sad face from The Chemical Maze. The range of problems is extensive! Heart palpitations, pins and needles in the upper limbs, bronchospasm in asthmatics, restlessness, irritability, dizziness, migraine, depression, nausea, tingling and numbness. Prohibited in food for infants. Number 635 is also a sad face and should be avoided by people with asthma. Other problems include unbearably itchy rash, swelling of the lips and tongue, headache, allergic reactions, behavioural problems, heart palpitations, sleep disturbance. Prohibited in food for infants.

♦ Antioxidant 320 is also known as butylated hydroxyanisole – it is banned in some countries and is petroleum derived. The Chemical Maze has two sad faces on this one. It’s problems include suspected respiratory, endocrine, skin, liver, immuno and neuro-toxicity, headache, DNA damage, recognized carcinogen, wheezing, asthma, insomnia, fatigue, depression, chronic urticaria, wild life and enviro toxicity. Prohibited in foods for infants.

♦ Caramel 111 (or 150c) is also given a sad face by The Chemical Maze. It is also referred to as ‘ammonia caramel’ and may affect the liver, may cause gastrointestinal problems and is prohibited in food for infants.

Wow, are you shocked? That’s a chemical cocktail right there in a noodle packet!

The other issues to consider are the interactions of consuming all these toxins together and also the cumulative effect in the body. The Maggi brand is also owned by Nestle, a company I try to avoid supporting due to their unethical practices. A few months ago, Maggi noodles in India were also found to have excess quantities of lead and msg.

Okay, so what are the alternatives?

I know that 2 minute noodles are a quick and easy option, very cheap and kids generally love them. However, in light of the above information and depending on how often your family eat 2 minute noodles, you may want to start swapping over to something better.

Look out for plain rice noodles, brown rice noodles or soba noodles. Learn to read ingredient labels and look for ones with minimal ingredients and no additives. Try the Spiral Organic brand – these are usually great quality.

Flavourings:

Okay, so the flavouring sachet is arguably the biggest problem in terms of additives, so what can you use instead? My kids usually just use a knob of butter and a sprinkle of Herbamare (sea salt with veggies and herbs) or sometimes just fresh parmesan cheese.

You might want to provide a few options and see which ones the kids like best. Add in some cooked veges, meat or egg to make your noodles a complete meal!

You can also use:

♥ Dehydrated Bone Broth powder(yummo)

♥ Miso paste

♥ Nutritional yeast flakes

Do your kids like 2 minute noodles? Do you have alternatives to share with us?

Stocking Stuffers and Secret Santas under $15

November 27, 2014 · 5 Comments

Stocking Stuffers and Secret Santas under $15

I have so many awesome ideas here for you for Stocking Stuffers and Secret Santas!

They are all healthy, natural, fair trade, organic or eco-friendly and the best bit? All under $15 and most under $10.

What do you put in stockings? Share your ideas with us.

Wooden Pig Baby Toy

Vanilla Lip Balm

Click Critterz

Bamboo Refillable Pen

Heirloom Seeds

Bamboo Hair Brush

Miniature Christmas Gingerbreads

I Can Save the Earth book

Sanctum Body Essentials Kit

Set of Reusable Fruit and Vegetable Bags

How to Go Supermarket Free

March 26, 2014 · 22 Comments

So, I made the pledge to go Supermarket Free next month.

I talked about it last week on the blog and some of you decided to take the pledge and join me. Take a read to find out why, how and when.

The question that arose was….. where do I get my stuff from ?

Good question! I have had a bit of a hunt around and found some awesome alternatives to the big two and come up with…… ta da…. How To Go Supermarket Free!

10 places you get can get your stuff from that doesn’t involve the supermarket.

1. Grow your own. Okay, maybe we have left it a little late to start the orchard and vege garden and getting the chook pen sorted, but maybe your neighbour or friend has a garden you could purchase from or barter with? The website directory, Ripe Near Me, helps you connect with people in your local area who have homegrown food to sell. Also check out My Home Harvest, who provide information and inspiration to get growing in your own backyard.

2. Community Gardens. Join a community garden in your area. The Australian Community Garden Network has a directory of community gardens across Australia. The idea is that you contribute some man hours and you get rewarded with produce!

3. Farmers Markets. The Australian Farmers’ Markets Association has a directory of farmers markets around Australia, making it easy to find the nearest to you. You can also check out Markets Central.

4. Direct from the farmer. Check what is around in your area. Sometimes producers give you the option of buying directly from them. They may have a delivery service or a farm gate.

5. Local shops. Before supermarkets came about, people would go to the butcher, the bakery, the florist, the health food store, the fish monger and the fruit and vege shop. Meet your local shop owner and check out their wares. You might be surprised.

6. Food box schemes. A food box scheme involves a supplier delivering a box of local, seasonal produce either to your door or a central drop off point. Find out more at The Australian Organic Food Directory. We are lucky enough to have a local organic supplier who delivers fresh produce, dairy and meat and some non-perishables too.

7. Shop online. This is a great way to shop if you are time-poor. I order every couple of months from some of my favourite online stores that are Aussie owned, small businesses. I love getting my groceries delivered to the door. Check out Organics on a Budget, The Raw Food Store and Shop Naturally.

8. Co-ops. As we like to eat organic, joining a local co-op has saved me a fortune! A group of us decided to start one up ourselves. It’s not really that hard and it’s fun to meet up every few weeks for the divvy up. Some of the benefits are getting it delivered straight to your door, the ability to buy in bulk and access reduced prices and the eco-friendliness of reduced packaging. Check out Quirky Cooking for information about how to start up a co-op or find an existing co-op near you.

9. Freeganism and Foraging. Okay so dumpster diving and finding wild weeds and mushrooms may be a little alternate, but they are still options! Just be careful to make sure you are staying within the law and sourcing safe food to eat. Find out more here.

10. Share a cow. It’s illegal to buy unpasteurized milk. The only legal way that you can consume real milk is to drink milk from your own cow. Find out if you can buy shares in a cow in your local area. Find more information about herd-sharing.

Shop for Specifics.

The common questions asked seem to be where do I get my toilet paper, cleaning supplies and dog food from? Okay, well let’s check it out.

1.Toilet Paper.

Buying toilet paper on subscription with free shipping? Recycled toilet paper that supports charities? Genius.

Let me introduce you to Who Gives A Crap.

Simon, Jehan and Danny launched Who Gives a Crap with a crowd funding campaign in July 2012. After learning that 2.5 billion people across the world don’t have access to a toilet, these guys wanted to do something about it.

They donate a huge 50% of their profits to WaterAid to build toilets and improve access to sanitation in the developing world. Every roll sold provides someone in need with access to a toilet for one week. Their toilet paper is also 100% recycled and free from inks, scents and dyes so it’s as good for your bum as it is for the world!

I was talking to the guys this week and they have kindly offered all of you a discount on their toilet paper!! Use the code: NNAM. You will get 15% off your first subscription so that you’ll never run out of toilet paper again! Expires April 30th – only valid on subscriptions (not one-off orders). I made my first order today and I cannot wait to get my toilet paper delivered!! (is that weird?)

Keep up to date with them on Facebook or Twitter as well.

2. Nappies and Baby Care

You can try online stores like Organics on a Budget or Hello Charlie which also sell some eco-friendly options. Your local chemist may also have some good prices.

3. Cosmetics and Personal Care

Online stores like Beautiful Because and Organics on a Budget all have reasonably priced natural products. Getting everything from one store cuts down on your postage and if you buy enough, most will have a free shipping offer. Your local health food store may also have a good range to choose from.

I found some eco-friendly tissues (sorry I just can’t do hankies!) and I always shop in bulk for organic tampons at TOM Organic.

4. Pet Food.

This is one thing we are going to have to start sourcing elsewhere. As well as making your own, you can check out what your local butcher has on offer, also look at pet shops and farm supply stores. Online you can look at Barf Australia or Melrose products.

5. Cleaning Products.

Well, you could make your own! Aside from that, you can source two of my favourite natural cleaning products, the Abode range and the Kin Kin range online.

6. Bottled Water.

A few people asked me about bottled water. Ideally the most eco-friendly option is to use a water filter. Apart from that, you can get water delivered to your door from places like Never Fail which also eliminates a lot of the packaging.

7. Superfreegan Discounts. When you join the pledge at Supermarket Free month, you get access to some discount codes from businesses around Australia, so make sure you take advantage! I know I will be!

Some more reading:

Natural New Age Mums Chat About… Supermarket Free Month

Down to Earth Mother: Why I Broke up with The Supermarket and How to Break up with the Supermarket

Energetic Mama: Are you a locavore?

Frugavore by Arabella Forge is a book that provides a hands-on, practical guide to a new way of living – grow your own, buy local and waste nothing all while eating well.

Support your Local Farmer Organization.

I hope this list of resources helps makes the challenge of Supermarket Free Month a little easier for you! I would love you to add your ideas as well, so please leave a comment. I will be using the hashtag #supermarketfree on social media throughout April, so join in with us and we can all check out what everyone else is up to.

I will leave you with some wise words from my friend, Alexx Stuart……..

“we can shape the world with our shopping baskets”

{parts of this post are sponsored}

Happy Skincare Review and Giveaway

March 21, 2014 · 99 Comments

Happy Skincare Review and Giveaway

You know I get a bit (very) excited when I find an Aussie, family owned business making awesome natural products without all the nasty toxins!

Well a random Google search last month led me to Happy Skincare and I did get excited! I couldn’t wait to join up with them as an affiliate and help them start spreading the word about their luxurious, affordable products that actually work. So on the blog today, I am going to tell you all about Happy Skincare and what I thought of it and giving some away so you guys can road test it too.

So, who are Happy Skincare?

Aaron and Phoebe are the ‘Happy’ husband and wife team from Newcastle, New South Wales. Aaron is an ex-naval officer, and Phoebe is an ex-software engineer. They left their careers to start their own small business, creating their own natural and organic skincare. Happy Skincare all came from a husband’s desire to do something to help his wife during pregnancy.

Unlike all the other organic and natural brands who have the story of ‘I couldn’t find anything natural that worked’, Aaron just had an audacious idea that he could do it better than the others. It also allowed him feel like he was helping Phoebe while she was preoccupied growing a baby. The belly balm idea morphed into their original product, the Anti-Ageing and Repair Cream.

What is Happy Skincare all about?

Aaron and Phoebe pride themselves on being Aussie owned and made. Their skincare range is made from the highest quality certified organic and 100% natural ingredients. The products are great for a wide range of skin conditions including acne, dry skin, ageing and problem skin.

“One of the ideas that Happy Skincare has been built on is that “skincare doesn’t have to be complicated to make a big difference to your skin.” Nature has done so much of the hard work for us, and with some care and cleverness we have been able to create a whole range of clean, simple and 100% natural skincare products that are gaining a bit of a cult following.”

The Happy skincare range is not tested on animals, most products are vegan and its palm oil use is from a sustainable source. Aaron and Phoebe are also philanthropists and donate 10% of profits to an orphanage in Mexico!

They offer free shipping on all orders over $100 and a 30 day money back guarantee.

What did I think?

I road-tested these four products over two weeks.

Cloud 9 Deep Cleansing Balm: This is a thick, rich, lightly scented cleanser. I found it to be really lovely and left my skin very soft but still feeling clean. You need a cloth or sponge to wash it off, but I think that bit of extra effort is worth it, particularly if you have dry skin. You can also leave it on for a bit and it will work like a nourishing mask.

Tickled Pink Perfecting Tonic: I used this as a spritz before moisturizing. It really refreshes and helps lock in all that goodness.

Perfectly Happy Anti-Ageing Cream: I really loved this moisturizer. Beautifully scented and very light but nourished my skin beautifully. It does feel feather light!

Good Vibes Omega Facial Oil: This has five different omega oils and is a light non greasy oil. I have been using it at night under the moisturizer. It really softens the skin.

Pig In Mud Mineral Mask: Mix some water in with this mask and apply to your face for a really deep clean. Whoops I left it on way longer than recommended and it made my skin a bit tight. Remember to follow the directions next time!

So, after using the Happy Skincare for two weeks, I could notice a real difference in my skin. It had been getting a coarse feel and was a bit dried out and getting a few blemishes Now, it’s softer, fresher and the blemishes have gone away. I feel like it’s looking a lot better too. I would definitely get these products again and I am looking forward to trying out some of the other products in the range. Very impressed.

I am not the only one who thinks Happy Skincare is awesome – there are pages of testimonials on the website of ‘happy’ customers!

What I really like is that the products are affordable. There is nothing over $40 and that is pretty darn good for mostly organic skincare! They also bundle up the products into packs and throw in free stuff to give you a good deal.

I am really struggling to find something I don’t like about Happy! Actually, it would probably only be the packaging – I would like to see recycled packaging be something that they adopt in the future.

Where do you get it from?

Originally Aaron and Phoebe had grand plans of seeing Happy Skincare products in retail stores nationwide but they have shifted focus a bit because selling through retail stores means they totally lose touch with their customers.

By being available mostly online, they can cut out the middle man, keep costs down and have that one on one interaction with their customers.

Why ‘Happy” ?

I had to ask Aaron and Phoebe why they are decided to call themselves “happy” and the reason behind all the fun names for their products – something that initially drew me to them. It makes me smile! 🙂

“We picked Happy because we wanted a positive name and to bring a bit of fun back. It felt like the skincare world had got too serious with a case of white lab coat-it is, with its marketing messages all focused on the latest cutting edge synthetic ingredients and completely forgetting about the plentiful offerings nature has already given us.

We do our best to keep having fun but we have grown into something a little more. Similar to the slow food movement our products have become products that encourage slow beauty. Our products are a perfect way to take care of yourself with a little alone time.

The Cloud 9 Cleansing Balm isn’t a quick squirt, rub your face and rinse. To get the full experience you need to slow it down, give yourself a little face massage and enjoy the uplifting citrus aromas.

‘Pig in Mud’ was the first fun name we come up with because using our mask was like being as happy as a pig in mud. So we thought ‘why not’ stick with fun names? There are already plenty of made-up marketing names like Regenerist, Revitalift or Youth Code.

We do get a bit of resistance to our names, with some thinking that they’re too silly for them, and that they need something more serious. But we just roll with the punches! Cloud 9, Tickled Pink, Raindrops on Roses and Good Vibes all follow that same fun/happiness philosophy. The only problem is that we are running out of ideas for new products.”

Exclusive Discount Code:

Get an exclusive 10% off Happy Skincare with the code: NNAM here.

Giveaway:

(this giveaway has closed, thanks for entering!)

Aaron and Phoebe are kindly giving away 5 of their sample packs to 5 of you to try out for yourselves!! All you have to do is:

♥ Be a blog subscriber (add your email to the box on the right)

♥ Head over to the Happy Skincare website for a look around

♥ Leave me a comment on this blog post telling me which one of the Happy Skincare products you would like to try the most

Terms and conditions: This giveaway will close at midnite (AEST) on Monday the 31st of March. Winners will be chosen using random.org from those fulfilling the entry requirements correctly. Winners will be emailed and announced on this blog post. Sorry, Australian residents only. Good luck!

How to Clean Pesticides off Fruit & Vegies

March 12, 2014 · 76 Comments

How to Clean Pesticides off Fruit & Vegies

There is strong evidence that pesticides are linked to chronic diseases such as different types of cancers, diabetes, neurodegenerative disorders like Parkinson, Alzheimer, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), birth defects, and reproductive disorders.

It’s not always possible to buy organic. Sometimes it’s just too expensive for our budget or it’s just not available. Even organic produce can contain pesticides.

You can cut the peel off fruit and vegies to reduce the pesticides, but then you lose valuable nutrients (and really, are we going to peel every grape we eat!!)

It is however, possible to clean your fruit and vegies to get some of the toxins off. Of course you won’t be able to reduce the toxins that have absorbed into the produce as it is growing. But, something is better than nothing!

Washing with just water isn’t really the most effective solution as a lot of produce is coated with wax which seals in the pesticides. Some people recommend dishwashing detergent, but I don’t recommend it because of the chemicals in the detergent (and ewwwww… soapy fruit!)

Here are two ways you can clean your fruit and veg and get some of those pesticides off.

1. Homemade Wash

Fill up your clean sink or a large bowl with room temperature filtered water.

Add in organic apple cider vinegar (one part to two parts water), bicarbonate of soda (one to one hundred) or salt (one to ten).

Add your fruit and veggies, agitate and soak for around 15 minutes if you can. Rinse, dry and store as normal.

You will be amazed at the scuzzy stuff left behind!

You can do the wash as soon as you get the fruit and vegies home (recommended if you have kids that like to tuck in) or wait and just do it before you prepare something.

2. Buy a Commercial Wash

There are several fruit and vegetable washes on the market that will help you remove dirt, oils, waxes mould spores and some pesticides from your produce.

Add a few squirts to a sink or bowl of water, agitate, rinse and dry.

Try Koala Eco Natural Fruit and Veggie Wash or Abode Fruit and Vegetable Wash.

So there are some ways you can clean pesticides off fruit and vegies!

Have you got something to add? What do you use?

Sources:

Science Direct

Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry

Is your pillow harming your health?

February 21, 2014 · 22 Comments

Is your pillow harming your health?

If you are getting your eight hours of sleep a night, then you spend about one third of your life sleeping.

Snuggled up on our pillows, dreaming…… breathing………….. in….. what?

Have you ever really thought about what you are inhaling, night after night?

What about fungi or mould, dust mites, flame retardants, formaldehyde, polyester, acetate and antimicrobial compounds such as Microbian or Allerban? Of course there is also sweat, drool and skin flakes to consider too!

“From memory loss to headaches, depressions to itchy eyes, an array of health problems can arise from exposure to seemingly innocent bedroom objects. Most mattresses and pillows, for example, are filled with chemical-drenched synthetic fibers such as polyurethane foam that release chemicals into the air for years; these airborne toxins can cause headaches and nausea, and even lead to multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS), a condition that stems from exposure to toxic chemicals and results in a myriad of crippling symptoms. Microscopic dust mites (and their allergenic fecal matter) frequently infest mattresses, pillows, and carpeting, leading to respiratory problems including coughing and sinus congestion.” Tina Spangler, Natural Health Magazine.

Now, of course I take everything I read on the internet with a grain of salt, but these testimonials really gave me food for thought! My daughter was sleeping on an ‘egg crate’ foam mattress topper and a memory foam pillow. Her health improved when we got rid of the mattress topper and got her onto a new pillow! I couldn’t believe it took me so long to work out.

We swapped our pillows over to biodynamic wool pillows, dust mite protectors and organic cotton pillowcases. I sourced ours from Blessed Earth, here in Queensland. It wasn’t cheap, but I literally sleep better at night! Not only because of the better sleep quality, but just knowing that I am not breathing in nasty chemicals. I also like Blessed Earth because they are fair-trade, local and truly organic.

Wool is naturally mould, mildew, dust mite and fire-resistant. “Wool can absorb bodily moisture up to 30% of it’s own weight and dissipate it naturally into the atmosphere.” Blessed Earth. It also is biodegradable and can go on the compost!

Nicole Bjisma, author of Healthy Home, Healthy Family, says natural latex pillows are also a healthy alternative option. Natural latex has antimicrobial properties that resist dust mites and other allergens as well as being mold and mildew resistant.

Organic cotton pillows are another great option you can get here. They are Australian made, chemical free, with totally organic filling and perfect for allergy sufferers and chemically sensitive people.

Bamboo, down, kapok and buckwheat or millet hulls are other natural alternatives for pillows, but you need to investigate to make sure they are processed without chemicals.

You should also air your pillow regularly out in the sunshine and replace it every few years.

It is really worth checking out what is available and considering the effect that your pillow might be having on your health.

How does your pillow shape up?

The ONE thing I think EVERYONE should be eating.

February 12, 2014 · 56 Comments

The one thing I think everyone should be eating.

Paleo, vegetarian, high fat, low carb, raw, juicing, gluten free, dairy free, FODMAP, GAPS, SCD, failsafe, low GI, vegan, blood type.

What the heck are we supposed to eat these days? Does anybody know?

Is anyone else’s head spinning? The nutrition advice seems to change as often as I change my underpants. Well, okay, maybe not that often.

I grew up avoiding fat like it was going to kill me, now everyone is telling me to tuck into butter, cream and bacon.

Every style of eating can make great points as to why we should eat their way. There is research, there are studies, there is living proof. How can everyone be right?

How can the vegans and the paleos both be right?

I have been thinking about this a lot lately.

I do subscribe to the theory of bio-individual nutrition. That basically means we are all different and there is no ‘one size fits all’ approach to eating. You are a unique individual and depending on the circumstances and point in time, certain foods may be great for you and certain foods may be bad for you. This became very apparent to us as a family when we discovered that one of us who could not tolerate gluten in the past, can now tolerate gluten. The difference? Some kinesiology work. Did the stress or emotional blockage make it hard for the body to digest gluten at that time? I don’t know exactly, but it sure seems that way to me.

Okay, so that is great. Eat what makes you feel good. Easy! But the process of working out what makes you feel good can take some time, some committed food diarizing and maybe some outside help from professionals. I do think it is a good way to go and something I am following through with all of us as a family.

In the mean time, I was thinking about what to eat. Should we be dropping dairy? Eating more raw foods? Again, head spin time.

Then it occurred to me…… you know what I want us to keep focusing on eating? What I think everyone should be eating? What is best for everyone’s health?

Quality food.

Simple as that.

I don’t think anyone’s health can ever benefit from eating poor quality food.

What we try to eat:

♥ organic

♥ free range

♥ grass-fed and finished

♥ fresh

♥ seasonal

♥ local

♥ whole and unprocessed

♥ GMO free

♥ ethical food grown with love

What we try not to eat:

♥ factory farmed meat

♥ caged eggs

♥ artificial additives – colours, flavours, preservatives, fillers

♥ unsustainable foods

♥ artificial sweeteners

♥ GMOs

♥ chemicals

♥ nutritionally devoid foods

♥ processed foods

♥ added hormones and antibiotics

Think of a ham and salad sandwich.

Poor quality sandwich: Bleached GMO wheat, preservatives, canola oil, synthetic vitamin laden bread, chemical-filled and hydrogenated fats margarine, nitrate-filled factory farmed processed ham, pesticide riddled tomato and lettuce.

Good quality sandwich: Organic stoneground sourdough bread, organic pasture fed butter, organic, free range happy pig ham, fresh local organic tomatoes and lettuce.

So if you feel like eating a ham and salad sandwich, have one, but make it a superior quality one.

You get my drift?

I think if you are eating good quality food, you can’t go far wrong. Start with that, first and foremost, and then investigate your bio-individual nutrition. So, organic fetta makes you feel sick? Then you might need to avoid dairy.

But just make sure it isn’t crappy, poor quality, heavily processed, nutrient stripped food that is making you sick in the first place.

Anyway, what do you think? Do you agree or disagree? Got anything to add?

Kid’s Christmas Gift Guide

November 13, 2013 · 170 Comments

Kid’s Christmas Gift Guide

It’s nearly Christmas and I have once again rounded up some fabulous natural, eco-friendly, ethical (and a little bit educational) gifts for kids.

♥ Twigz Wheelbarrow

This super cute wheelbarrow will be heaps of fun for the kids in the garden or sandpit. It’s ergonomically designed specifically for children, so they are super sturdy and virtually impossible to tip over. Designed in Australia, the tray and legs are made of powder coated steel, the subframe is made of timber and the wheels are made of solid hard plastic.

You can get them online at Gardening 4 Kids.

♥ Finska Game

Finska is a super fun and addictive backyard tossing game for all ages based on the ancient log throwing games from Finland. Players use cunning, strategy and skill to navigate clever twists and be the first to score 50 points. So it’s also a little bit educational. But ssshhh! they will never know!

Finska is the brainchild of two Sydney dads who love the outdoors and playing games and think their game is “a fabulous antidote to the antisocial electronic gizmos that keep kids indoors and it wasn’t something for just kids as well.” This will be fabulous fun for some outdoor time after Christmas dinner!

Get the Finksa Game online here.

♥ Green Toys Sand Play Set

You know I love anything recycled and eco-friendly and I am so excited about this company. Green Toys makes a line of classic children’s toys constructed from 100% recycled plastic! Their toys meet US and international toy safety standards, and contain no BPA, PVC or phthalates.

Take this sand play set to the beach or use it in the sandpit – you get the bucket, sand mould, rake and shovel. A brilliant gift for eco-kids!

Get Green Toys Sand Play Set here.

♥ Magnetic Build a Pic Carry Case

I love that this is a portable toy – how handy for the car or waiting for appointments! The case is a hinged wooden box with magnetic interior and rope handle. It comes with over 50 magnetic pieces and 8 picture guides to get you started. Kids can either use the picture guides to create the designs, or make up their own. There are so many educational aspects to this activity!

Get it online from Freestyle Kids.

♥ Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker

For the mini-chefs in the family! My kids love making their own ice cream, sorbet and frozen yoghurt in our Cuisinart. It’s really easy to do. Just whizz up your ingredients and pour them in and 20 minutes later, you have a frozen treat. It’s so cheap to make gourmet ice cream and better still, you can make it suitable for your dietary requirements. There are no nasty fillers or msg in homemade ice cream!

Get Cuisinart Ice Cream Makers here.

♥ iBark bamboo phone case

For the older kids (actually I wouldn’t mind one too) – a funky and eco-friendly phone case! The art works are from Australian artists and the case is engraved in Byron Bay NSW. The case is crafted from 5 layers and 78 individual pieces of bamboo. It’s light weight and lined internally with felt to ensure no scratching and a secure friction fit.

Get it online from iBark.

Stocking Stuffers:

With a bit of hunting around, I was able to find a lot of cute little gifts that won’t break the bank but will still be fun and useful. Our kids also like a few sweet treats in their stockings at Christmas time, because it does qualify as a special occasion! Check out these ideas.

♥ Gingerbread Family

A no-nasties treat for the kids. Gingerbread Folk products are made with the finest pure ingredients and decorated with a unique egg-free icing. The packaging is eco-friendly and these all natural cookies contain no artificial colours, flavours or preservatives.

The box contains a ginger mum, dad, two kids, pet dog & cat. Gingerbread Folk also make gluten-free products too. They are really delicious! Get them online at the website.

♥Banjo the Carob Bear

A great treat for kids with special dietary needs. It’s gluten-free, caffeine-free, theobromine-free and contains no added sugar. Carob Kitchen produce ethical products and contain no palm kernel oils.

Get it online from Organics on a Budget.

So, there you have it, that is my round-up of kid’s christmas gifts for this year!!

I hope you find something that will make your shopping that little bit easier.

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