BPA Found in Cans Marked BPA-Free

by Janelle Sorensen

Just when you thought the BPA issue couldn't get any more confusing...Consumer Reports just published a study where they found BPA in food from nearly all cans tested - including those marked "BPA-Free."

According to the release:

"Consumer Reports' latest tests of canned foods, including soups, juice, tuna, and green beans, have found that almost all of the 19 name-brand foods we tested contain some BPA. The canned organic foods we tested did not always have lower BPA levels than nonorganic brands of similar foods analyzed. We even found the chemical in some products in cans that were labeled "BPA-free."

The debate revolves around just what is a safe level of the chemical to ingest and whether it should be in contact with food. Federal guidelines currently put the daily upper limit of safe exposure at 50 micrograms of BPA per kilogram of body weight. But that level is based on experiments done in the 1980s rather than hundreds of more recent animal and laboratory studies indicating serious health risks could result from much lower doses of BPA."

Consumer's Union, the non-profit organization behind the publication, immediately wrote the FDA and urged for tighter regulations. Not surprisingly, the American Chemistry Council (ACC), which represents BPA-makers, is highly critical of the report for being "inconsistent with findings of regulatory bodies all over the world."

Meg Kissinger of The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel summarizes the ACC statement:

"Eleven global regulatory bodies - including the European Food Safety Authority and Health Canada - have recently completed scientific evaluations and found BPA safe in food-contact products, including canned foods and beverages," said Steven Hentges, the group's chief lobbyist

He noted that a study funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and published last week in the journal Toxicological Sciences found that exposure to BPA - including very low doses - had no effects on a range of reproductive and behavioral activities measured."

Interestingly, critics of this new study say it was rejected by a more prestigious journal (Biology of Reproduction) and endocrinologists ravaged the manuscript. One of the authors of the original manuscript withdrew his name after seeing the reviews from the endocrinologists.

Perhaps the biggest flaw in the study? The strain of rat used was at least 2500 times less sensitive to estrogens than other animal models. No wonder it didn't respond to BPA.

Other BPA news:

• Jeremiah McNichols from Z Recommends recently published an exclusive report that provided extensive evidence that Gaiam water bottles previously marketed as "BPA-free" were likely to contain the endocrine-disrupting chemical bisphenol-A. Shortly afterwards, the company quietly added information to its retail website which admits to independent lab test results showing leaching levels at 23.8 parts per billion. These findings are more than ten times the detection limit SIGG said revealed no leaching from their own bottles and over 18 times more than the leaching levels found in independent testing of SIGG bottles shared with ZRecs by an anonymous source.


• Liz Szabo from USA Today writes: "The National Institutes of Health will devote $30 million to study the safety of bisphenol A, or BPA, an estrogen-like chemical used in many plastics, including sippy cups and the linings of metal cans. According to the NIEHS, animals studies link BPA with infertility, weight gain, behavioral changes, early onset puberty, prostate and breast cancer and diabetes. New research will focus on low-dose exposures to BPA and effects on behavior, obesity, diabetes, reproductive disorders, asthma, cardiovascular diseases and various cancers. Researchers will also see if the effects of BPA exposure can be passed from parents to their children."

Learn more about BPA and how to reduce your exposure.

Related Topics:

• Safer Food For A Healthier You
• Pots, Pans, and Plastics: A Shopper’s Guide to Food Safety

How to Make Safer, Healthier Meat Choices

Healthy Child Healthy World

specialkrb / CC BY-ND 2.0

Meat and poultry can be part of a healthy well-balanced diet. They are good sources of protein, iron, calcium, vitamin D and other nutrients, but these foods also can contain toxic pollutants at varying levels, including dioxins, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), flame retardants, and arsenic. If your diet is largely based on meats, it's time to learn to moderate. There is such thing as too much of a good thing!

Here are some facts about meat and poultry:

• Meat and dairy products contain animal fat and, therefore, can contain higher levels of certain toxic chemicals that accumulate in fat, like dioxins, brominated flame retardants and PCBs. Besides being "fat - friendly," these chemicals persist in the environment and in living tissues.


• Daily meat consumption could put you at increased risk for a variety of cancers, according to U.S. government health researchers. The more red meat and processed meat you eat, the greater your risk may be.


• According to the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy at least 70 percent of conventionally raised broiler chickens in the U.S. are fed arsenic. The most common additive is roxarsone, an "organic" form of arsenic, once thought medically benign. Once ingested by animals, however, roxarsone can degrade into cancer-causing inorganic forms of arsenic within the animal's digestive tract and in animal waste. Roxarsone is FDA-approved for growth promotion, feed efficiency and "improved pigmentation" of meat. Significantly, the 27 countries of the European Union have never approved this practice as safe.

You can reduce your family's exposure by making smarter choices:

1. 1. Select lean meat cuts and cut off visible fat before cooking. Use lower-fat cooking methods including broiling, grilling, roasting or pressure-cooking (cooking and preparation methods can reduce dioxin levels by up to half.)


2. Look for meats raised without synthetic hormones. The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits the use of hormones in the raising of hogs or poultry in the United States. Therefore, there's no need to shell out extra money for pork and poultry products that carry the "no hormones administered." However, the USDA does allow the use of a number of hormones on beef. Beef that is labeled as "no hormones administered" is considered to be free from any added hormones over the lifetime of the animal and therefore does imply that the manufacturer has gone beyond USDA regulations for conventional meat production. Use of the term "hormone free" is considered "unapprovable" by USDA on any meat products.


3. Buy organic. Try to buy certified organic pork, beef and poultry from animals raised without use of antibiotics, genetic engineering, irradiation, sewage sludge and artificial ingredients.


4. Look for grass-fed beef. Beef from grass-fed cattle is leaner, lower in fat and calories, while higher in vitamin E16 and antioxidants than beef from cattle raised on a corn diet. It is also lower in saturated fats and higher in omega-3 fats. One study showed eating grass-fed beef helped reduce "bad" cholesterol and increased "good" cholesterol. Cattle raised on pasture rather than on corn-based diets also may be less susceptible to contamination with E. coli and other disease-causing bacteria.


5. Eat less! The easiest and most affordable way to reduce your exposure to the contaminants that may be in meat and poultry is to eat less of it. Try making some of your meals meat-free and when you do eat meat, try smaller portions.

Learn more at Eat Healthy.

Related Topics:

• Video: The Greener Refrigerator

How to Eat Healthy When You're On the Go

by Christopher Gavigan

adjustafresh / CC BY-ND 2.0

How and what you feed your children is usually a top priority for parents, for some its a point of obsession. When at home, you are master of your domain. You can control what comes into the kitchen and what lands on your children's plates. But what happens when you're not at home - when you're traveling, fighting traffic, waiting at the airport, running late, stuck at the mall, etc, and your child is starving?

The fear of drive through and fast food restaurants has been drilled into most of us (and for those of you who aren't sufficiently disgusted, this slide show of the top American fast food sins will convert you). Just one meal can pack in an entire day's worth of sodium, calories and fat. While its well known that regular fast food consumption leads to weight gain, poor eating habits affect your entire system, zapping energy and strength levels, and straining brain function and emotional well being. Even more frequently overlooked is the effect of cumulative exposure to chemical additives used as flavor enhancers, dyes, and preservatives.

But sometimes there's no avoiding a meal out at a less than healthy establishment. So here are some tips and guidelines for smart ordering and healthy practices when eating outside of home.

1. Fast Food Does Not Mean Fried Food.
   In response to consumer demand, it's increasingly easier to find healthy, convenient alternatives to fried foods on fast food menus. Opt for anything that is grilled, steamed, or baked, or try an entrée-sized salad (see Tip 2). And keep your eye out for leaner cuts of meats like skinless chicken breasts, turkey burgers, and beef sirloin. Other healthier menu options are bean burritos, a slice of veggie pizza, a salad or fruit bowl, or a deli sandwich on whole wheat bread.


2. Avoid High-Fat Add-Ons.
   Request salad dressing, sauce, cheese, or toppings on the side so you can apply sparingly, instead of drenching your meal in empty calories and through the roof sodium levels.


3. Mind the Portions.
   Restaurant portions have been growing in size for years (from large to enormous): in the 1950s, the average size of a hamburger was 1.5 ounces, while today's burgers weigh in at around 8 ounces. Share entrees between your family or take the other half of it to go!


4. Drink Water.
   Soda, sweetened iced tea and lemonades, energy drinks and most juices are loaded with high fructose corn syrup and empty calories. Make H2O the beverage of choice for everyone, and skip the plastic bottles and Styrofoam cups by refilling your own container, like a stainless steel Klean Kanteen, with filtered water.


5. Avoid the "Cream", Opt for the "Color".
   Meal choices with the words Alfredo, a la crème, au gratin, or described as "creamy" will likely be smothered in a heavy, artificially enhanced sauce. On the other hand, foods that reflect the colors of the rainbow are usually a healthier choice. Many kids meals end up as a plate of "beige", all starch, breads, and sauces. Picking a colorful fruit or veggie salad will automatically up the nutritional content of your meal.


6. Make Substitutions.
   Don't be afraid to speak up about the ingredients or preparation of your food if it will make it healthier. Ask for meat to be grilled "light", with as little butter or oil as possible. Request salsa or mustard, instead of mayonnaise or sugar-filled ketchup for your sandwich. Ask for organic, non-fat milk for the kids. Request sour cream instead of butter for your baked potato. Ask to have a side salad or fruit instead of fries. The extent to which servers will go to make you happy might surprise you.


7. Find the Healthy Options!
   Use this fantastic tool from Eat Well to map out restaurants in your area that serve organic, local and healthy fare. With a little research and a GPS, you're instantly connected to restaurants that share your values.


8. As Always, Plan Ahead.
   Keep your purse, bag, and car ready for moments when hunger strikes and a healthy snack is in need. Dried fruits, granola, mixed nuts, apples, oranges, and cereals stay fresh and transport easily - especially with the array of cool, non-toxic containers available. We always store kid-friendly (and tasty) nutrition bars, like Clif Kid's Z Bar and Revolution Food's Grammy Sammys, which always come in handy!

Related Topics:

• Safer Food For A Healthier You

"Eat Healthy" Helps Parents Make Every Bite Fast, Frugal, Fun and Eco-Friendly

by Christopher Gavigan

Amazingly, my toddler, Luke, eats EVERYTHING you put in front of him (except avocados, sadly). I don't know how we lucked out with such an open-minded, open-mouthed child, but I have great empathy for the parents of finicky eaters. As if simply finding something healthy that children will eat wasn't hard enough, today we also have to worry about allergies, food recalls, chemical contaminants, packaging, and more. How did the simple act of eating become so difficult?



A lot of parents have told us they're concerned about these issues and want their family to eat healthier, but have a limited budget. And like all parents, they just don't have the time to seek out high quality information or research how to make better choices. With all this in mind, Healthy Child Healthy World started Eat Healthy, our new program that makes food fast, frugal, fun and eco-friendly! Need a recipe for a kid-friendly salad or want to make your own baby food? Looking for quick tips on safer, healthier foods for children? Concerned about chemicals in cans and plastic containers? Look to Eat Healthy for simple solutions to address our complex world of food.

With tips and ideas from experts like Myra Goodman, cookbook author and co-founder of Earthbound Farm (the world's largest grower of organic produce), and Raising Baby Green author Dr. Alan Greene, and recipes from celebrity moms such as Gwyneth Paltrow, Meryl Streep and the "Renegade Lunch Lady" chef Ann Cooper, Eat Healthy is a comprehensive, easy-to-read online recipe and healthy food guide. It's filled with easy, delicious (yet kid-friendly) recipes; essential reading and advice about today's most worrisome food issues; food and nutrition videos; and even downloadable pocket shopping guides like Healthy School Lunch and Healthy Formula & Food, so you can always keep the wisdom of Eat Healthy with you.

Other Eat Healthy resources include:

• Tips to take to the grocery store, including the most and least pesticide-laden fruits and vegetables and the best healthy, kid-approved snacks



• Eight simple steps for making healthier, greener food choices for your family's diet



• Quick and easy recipes for eating right on a budget



• A checklist of fish that is safe for children, teens and women of child-bearing age



• How to limit your child's intake of food additives

Eat Healthy is also an interactive space for parents and caregivers to share their recipes and tips, too. Your child's favorite snack could be the answer for another mom in search of fun, healthy mealtime ideas. Your low-cost, eco-friendly storage idea may be just the solution for the dad who just purged all his plastics.

Visit Eat Healthy today to explore the resources and recipes. And, get involved by attending one of the many exciting Eat Healthy events we're hosting. We've lined up some of your favorite experts on children's health and put together fantastic giveaways loaded with goodies from our trusted, non-toxic product partners. So mark your calendars today for these not-to-be missed events!

Join a Live "Eat Healthy" Web Chat on theMotherhood.
We'll have live text chats on theMotherhood:

• September 28th, 1:00 pm EST: "Raising Baby Green" with Dr. Alan Greene on children's nutrition


• October 7th, 1:00 pm EST: "Cooking Organic" with Myra Goodman, cookbook author and co-founder of Earthbound Farm, the world's largest grower of organic produce

Twitter the Night Away with Healthy Child.
Join our "Eat Healthy" Twitter Party, October 15th at 9 pm EST. Hosted by health and nutrition experts, we'll share a feast of information about healthy, eco-friendly eating and loads of fun prizes from Earthbound Farm, Klean Kanteen, thinkbaby, Clif Bar, Dr. Alan Greene, PlanetBox, Plum Organics and Healthy Child Healthy World. Follow the #EatHealthy hashtag to dish with your fellow parents on how to make healthy eating, fun, fast, affordable and eco-friendly.

Share Your Favorite Recipes for a Chance to Win!
Have a fun, healthy recipe for a snack or meal your kids can't get enough of? Looking for recipe ideas to share with your readers? Healthy Child Healthy World wants to know!

Send us your favorite recipe from your collection or post your top pick from our recipes for a chance to win an Eat Healthy gift bag - a reusable Whole Foods Market "I used to be a plastic bottle" recycled grocery tote loaded with goodies, including copies of The Earthbound Farm Organic Cookbook by Myra Goodman and Dr. Alan Greene's new book Feeding Baby Green, an 18 oz. Klean Kanteen, a stainless steel PlanetBox lunchbox, a thinkbaby Feeding Kit, nutrition bars for the whole family from Clif Bars, snacks from Plum Organics, a perfectly portable Healthy Child Healthy World paperback and a "Healthy School Lunch" Pocket Shopping Guide.

There are two ways to enter:

1. Submit your recipe to Eat Healthy.


2. Post your favorite Eat Healthy recipe on YOUR blog and email us at recipes@healthychild.org with the link.

On November 6th, one winner will be randomly selected to win the Eat Healthy gift bag.

Happy and Healthy Eating All!

Related Topics:

• Safer Food For A Healthier You

Better Ways to Box Up Take Out

by Christopher Gavigan

I don't know about your neighborhood, but I've yet to find an Indian restaurant that delivers my curry take-out in compostable or sustainable containers. Ditto practically every other dining establishment in the country. Tons of plastic, paper and the dreaded Styrofoam are the norm for packing to-go items, with disastrous implications for the planet. In addition to the eco-consequences, disposable plastics and Styrofoam leach chemicals into food, and much disposable fast food packaging often contains chemicals called PFCs (often labeled as Teflon or Scotchguard) to control stains and grease.

So for the moment at least, its up to the consumer to reduce the footprint and any health risks our take-out habits create. Here's a list of small ways to make your take-out easier on the planet.

No Bag, Thank You.
The growing trend (now an ingrained habit for many) of bringing reusable canvas or cloth bags to the super market applies to all situations where you're leaving with a plastic bag in hand. Keep an eco-friendly sac at work or in your car, and make sure the cashier or server knows that you brought your own alternative!

I'll Drink to That!
Many coffee shops and cafes will gladly use your brought-from-home mug for your hot beverage. You won't even catch an odd look from a Starbucks barista since your good deed is saving them a few pennies on packaging! For everyday java fixes, pick up the stylishly sustainable I Am Not A Paper Cup, a ceramic version of the take-out coffee cup, made for day to day use. Another simple way to cut back on waste is by keeping a compact, handmade Cup Kozy attached to your key chain or bag. By replacing the single-use cardboard sleeves on any size of coffee cups, you're keeping something small out of the trash - but small items definitely build up!

Bring (or try at least) Your Own Containers
Few establishments will allow customers to bring their own to-go containers because of state health codes. It is allowed at some locations though, especially at serve-yourself delis or salad bars, so pack your glass or bamboo containers and give it a try. Another workaround is to keep some aluminum foil handy. While not always the right solution (soup, for example, is a no go), 100% recyclable foil can make a perfect carrier for bagels, sandwiches, and small snacks. And it can be washed and reused over and over before being recycled. If there's no way to get around the plastic or Styrofoam, encourage them to place a liner of tin foil between your food and the container, which will prevent chemical leaching, even when heated.

Utilize Your Own Utensils
This is one area of the take-out world you can dominate! Sometimes your to-go meal comes with a set of plastic utensils, whether they're needed or not, and a mountain of paper napkins. Cut back on this major waste by bringing your own utensils and a cloth napkin from home, and store them at your desk at work or in your bag when you're on the go. If you're constantly on the move, pick up a bamboo travel set from To-Go Ware. Be sure the restaurant leaves the plastic behind, and not in your bag!

Fill Up the Kanteen
We've been singing the praises of Klean Kanteens for ages, but having your own beverage with you during the day means you're less likely to purchase one that comes in a plastic or foam cup. When heading out to lunch or grabbing a snack on the road, refill your empty canteen with juice, tea, or milk for the kids. Another helpful addition is packing a glass or stainless steel straw so you can sip away sans plastic.

Related Topics:

• Safer Food For A Healthier You
• Pots, Pans, and Plastics: A Shopper’s Guide to Food Safety

6 Steps to Reduce Exposure to Synthetic Hormones in Food

by Janelle Sorensen

Hormones are responsible for much more than just acne in teenagers and mood swings in pregnant women. They are the messengers for much of your body's functioning, including growth and development, immune response, regulation of metabolism, and reproduction among other things.

The body creates its own hormones to take care of these vital duties, but many synthetic chemicals also mimic hormones. Some are intentionally developed to do so, like birth control pills or recombinant bovine growth hormone (rBGH) and others accidentally disrupt hormones, like bisphenol-A and phthalates.

And, whether natural or synthetic, hormones are powerful. It only takes a miniscule amount to cause big changes. That's why understanding hormones is extremely important.

The Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (IATP) just released its latest "Smart Guide" covering the issue of hormones in the food system. And, there are a lot more than you were probably aware of. They include:

• hormone growth promoters given to food animals
• hormone-active pesticides sprayed on food crops
• hormone plastic additives in baby bottles, infant formula cans or other food packaging
• hormone disruptors that build up in the food chain (like brominated flame retardants)

Plenty of uncertainties still remain about the impacts associated with these substances, but preliminary studies paint a disturbing picture.

According to the Guide:

"[E]ver-strengthening science links exposure to many individual hormone disruptors-pesticides, Teflon chemicals, plasticizers and food contaminants with these common or rising chronic conditions, including:

• Breast and prostate cancer
• Thyroid disease
• Obesity and diabetes
• Endometriosis, uterine fibroids and infertility
• Immune-related disease, such as asthma or allergies

Increasingly, exposure in the womb to these same chemicals is implicated in serious problems found in newborns such as birth defects and low birth weight, as well as reduced odds of having a boy child.

A recent study links a mother's high beef consumption while pregnant (steroid growth promoter use is widespread in beef production) with lower sperm counts in her son."

While waiting for conclusive research, IATP advises consumers to take precautions and reduce exposure by following these steps:

1. Eat low-fat meats and dairy products.


2. Eat "certified" organic when possible.


3. Avoid pesticide hormones. Peel your fruits and vegetables, especially if they have been waxed, or wash them with a vegetable wash or diluted vinegar to remove surface pesticide residues.


4. Use hormone-free cans and bottles.


5. Demand that your elected officials support stronger efforts to keep synthetic hormones out of our food supply.


6. Read the "Smart Plastics Guide," the "Smart Guide on Sludge Use in Food Production," and IATP's other Smart Guides at healthobservatory.org.

Learn more about why these steps are important and exactly how to take them by reading the full Smart Guide to Hormones in the Food System.

Related Topics:

• Safer Food For A Healthier You
• Organic Foods Slideshow: To Buy or Not to Buy Organic
• Going Green: Eco-Friendly Tips & Advice
• Get great tips from the Parenting & Children's Health Newsletter

7 Frugal Food Tips for the Farmers Market

by Janelle Sorensen

Feeding a family can be an expensive endeavor - especially if you're trying to avoid things like pesticides, genetically modified ingredients, synthetic hormones, or any of the other questionable contaminants or practices related to modern industrial farming. Good, pure food isn't cheap. Or is it?

Photo: Tiffany Washko / CC BY 2.0

It can be if you know where to look for it. Your local farmers market can be a treasure trove of affordable, organic fare. Even if it's not certified organic, many of the farmers who sell food at the farmers market often have relatively small scale operations and are more likely to use environmentally beneficial practices including using less synthetic inputs like toxic pesticides and sewage sludge fertilizers. Often the foods are cheaper than the grocery store because by buying directly from a farmer, you are avoiding the extra costs that are involved in commercial food production (processing, inspection, packing, shipping, etc.).

Here are 7 tips to get the most bang for your buck at the farmers market:

1. Shop around. Find your nearest farmers market, other nearby markets, and even farm stands. (Visit Local Harvest to get started). You'll only know where the deals are if you comparison shop. Check out each location and each vendor.


2. Make friends. Talk to the farmers (often the same people that grow the food, sell the food). Ask questions about the farm, the food, their business. Small farmers are usually very passionate about their work and will talk your ear off if you get them started. Befriend farmers to build a lasting relationship - then reap the rewards of the secret deals only loyal customers receive. Go the extra mile by bringing your favorite farmer a loaf of zucchini bread you made from his produce. And, remember, flattery will get you everywhere. If their berries make you go bananas, tell them! Everyone loves a compliment.


3. Be flexible. Skip the shopping list and look for what's cheap. Often, odd specialty foods (like heirloom, ethnic or rare vegetables) are at cut-rate prices due to their less than significant popularity. If you're flexible, you can save money as well as expand your palate - perhaps finding new favorites you never knew existed. If you're unsure about what something might taste like or how to prepare it, just ask! Oftentimes a farmer will have cooking secrets to share or even printed recipes for you to take home.


4. Barter. Money isn't everything. After you've established a relationship with a farmer, offer your time in exchange for food. If you have a certain skill - like accounting, web design, mechanics, carpentry, etc - your time may be a valuable asset to a farmer. Likewise, you can offer to be an extra farm hand - weeding, cleaning barns, whatever the two of you find mutually beneficial.


5. Bulk up. At the farmers market most produce is available based on seasonality. That's not to say you can't find certain foods out of season, but just like at the grocery store - you're going to pay a premium. So, bulk up on foods when it's the natural harvest time and there's a healthy surplus (which drives prices down). You might be able to get it even cheaper by offering to buy cases or crates of food. Save your seasonal food by canning, drying, or freezing. Or, share the savings and split bulk purchases with friends or family.


6. Volunteer. Find out if there's a community organization that coordinates your market. If so, they almost certainly need volunteers. Becoming a volunteer will help you get to know the farmers better and likely earn you discounts and free products for your benevolent service.


7. Go late. If you want the best selection, go early. If you want the best bargains, go late. Vendors would rather sell off their stock than haul it back to the farm (especially if it's something with a short shelf life like lettuce or herbs). Haggle a bit to get the price down (but don't be annoying or make disrespectful offers). Again, try to build a real relationship and offer to buy up the days-end goods on a regular basis. Then you'll be saving money by buying in bulk with the added savings of getting the rock bottom price.

Related Topics:

• Organic Foods Slideshow: To Buy or Not to Buy Organic
• Safer Food For A Healthier You
• Going Green: Eco-Friendly Tips & Advice
• Get great tips from the Parenting & Children's Health Newsletter

Bulk Up and Save $500 a Year

by Janelle Sorensen

Buying food in bulk not only saves money, it's also healthier since these foods are typically whole foods (meaning they have not been processed). Buying in bulk also means less packaging, which means less pollution, which means a happier planet.

How to Do It
Take a tour of your local supermarket's bulk section and make a list of what they offer. Go home and hit the recipe books to find things your family would like to eat using these ingredients. Some will be items you already buy frequently like sugar and flour. Others may be new to your menu, like lentils or couscous. The key to saving money with bulk food, is buying what you'll eat.

When you get home, make sure you put your food in airtight containers or in the freezer and clearly label them with their name and the date of purchase.

Good for Your Pocketbook
Buying in bulk can save a family up to $500 per year. It should also mean you won't have to spend so much time in the supermarket. Less time in the supermarket can mean even more savings as most of us frequently indulge in spontaneous purchases. If you're not there, you won't succumb to these little purchases that can quickly add up. Finally, shopping strategically means visiting the store less or, driving less - saving gas and even more money.

Good for You
Heavily processed foods, like many of the packaged convenience foods you find in the center shelves of the grocery store, are stripped of much of their nutritional value and have a lot of synthetic additives and preservatives in them (not to mention all the extra sugars and salt). Buying whole foods and making meals from scratch is much healthier for you and your family. It may sound difficult at first, but you'll soon find that there are many easy recipes out there that are quick, delicious, and nutritious. Healthy Child's Eat Healthy program has a wide variety of family friendly recipes to try.

Good for the Planet
Buying in bulk uses less packaging (look out for warehouse store options that are simply cases of individually wrapped smaller servings). According to ShiftYourHabit.com, if everyone bought in bulk, we'd save enough packaging waste to eliminate 1.1 million fewer garbage trailer trips to the landfill per year.

Take it even further by using durable containers instead of the disposable bags at the store. Safer plastics for food storage include those numbered 2, 4, and 5. Glass or stainless steel are even better. If you must use plastic bags, try to reuse them several times and then return them to the store for recycling.

Extra oomph: Don't stop at food. Buy shampoo, soap, toilet paper and anything else available in bulk or large sizes.

Related Topics:

• Safer Food For A Healthier You
• Video: What's in Your Panrty?
• Going Green: Eco-Friendly Tips & Advice
• Get great tips from the Parenting & Children's Health Newsletter

8 Great Family-Friendly Foods that Help Fight Cancer

by Sheryl Crow

Being diagnosed with cancer was a life changing experience for me, as it is for anyone. One of the most significant shifts has been in the way I look at my body and what I put in it. When I was undergoing radiation, I began working with Nutritionist Rachel Bellar in order to eat foods that would help boost my immune system.

After working with her, I learned how to eat "defensively." I had never understood before how vital food was for protecting the body from sickness and disease. In fact, according to the National Cancer Institute, serious diseases that are linked to what we eat are the culprits in three out of four American deaths each year. And, recent research estimates that 35% of cancer deaths could be prevented through improved nutrition.

We truly are what we eat and what we put in our bodies matters to our long-term health. Rachel taught me this and I am so grateful to have worked with her. Her in-depth knowledge of how certain foods and spices are vital to promoting wellness throughout the body has become an integral part of my lifestyle after surviving cancer.

Even more importantly, having cancer made me re-think and re-define family - resulting in my greatest joy, my son Wyatt. As parents often joke, kids don't come with instruction manuals. Parenting is a constant challenge of self-education. One thing I do know, though, is that Wyatt is benefiting from what I learned from Rachel. And, I feel like I am giving my son one of the greatest gifts a mother can - the foundation for a lifetime of healthy eating habits.

Here are some of our favorite foods that pack enormous nutritional value (including anti-cancer benefits), and the ways we make them fun and tasty for both of us. Truly, toddler tested, mother approved.

1. Whole Grains

• What to look for: whole grain breads, pastas, brown rice, oatmeal, quinoa, etc.
• How to make it: quinoa crusted chicken fingers, whole grain pita personal pizza, steel cut oatmeal cookies, vegetable barley soup

2. Beans

• 

  Photo: pizzodisevo
  What to look for: garbanzo, navy bean, kidney beans, lentils, etc.
• How to make it: hummus (use whole grain pita or raw veggies for dipping), puree navy beans and add to mashed potatoes, black bean nachos

3. Berries

• What to look for: blueberries, strawberries, raspberries
• How to make it: whole grain berry muffins, yogurt berry parfait

4. Tomatoes

• 

  Photo: The Ewan
  What to look for: tomato sauce, tomato paste, tomato juice (cooking releases the cancer-fighting lycopene)
• How to make it: pasta and pizza sauce, creamy tomato soup

5. Cruciferous Vegetables

• What to look for: cabbage and members of its family including cauliflower, broccoli, and Brussels sprouts
• How to make it: steam it and serve warm or cold (in funny shapes for tentative toddlers), also good in stir fry, and soups

6. Dark Green Leafy Vegetables

• What to look for: spinach, romaine lettuce, swiss chard, kale, leaf lettuce
• How to make it: use to wrap favorite cheese or chicken, chiffonade and toss into pasta or pizza sauce, toss into green smoothies

7. Grapes and Grape Juice

• 

  Photo: artslyz
  What to look for: red or purple grapes (the dark colored skin is the main source of nutrition)
• How to make it: Enjoy as is, frozen grapes are a great summer treat (but can be a choking hazard for small children)

8. Walnuts

• What to look for: whole, natural walnuts without additives or preservatives
• How to make it: add walnuts and bananas to oatmeal, crush and toss into pastas and salads, mince and add to muffins and pancakes

However you decide to fix your food, eat a healthy, diverse diet. And remember, real foods, not supplements, are best for your body. The American Institute for Cancer Research recommends that at least 2/3 of your plate should be filled with vegetables, fruit, whole grains and beans. Start your children young and let them reap the rewards of healthy eating habits for a lifetime.

Related Topics:

• Nutrition to Help You Fight Cancer
• WebMD Video: Eating the Right Foods After Cancer
• Health eHome
• WebMD Cancer Message Boards
• Get the latest information from our Cancer newsletter

Healthy Spoonfuls: 3 Ways to Feed Your Baby the Best

by Christopher Gavigan

Photo: LilySusie

A baby's first bites of solid foods are thoroughly entertaining to watch. New flavors and textures provoke faces that are both adorable and incredibly funny. What's not so funny is that in some instances, there are invisible contaminants, fillers, and unhealthy ingredients hiding in those tiny spoonfuls of food. And if your baby is eating non-organic food, he's also eating pesticides, hormones, antibiotics, and synthetic preservatives and additives.

While traces of contaminants are tiny, they build up quickly in a child's diet as children eat more food pound for pound than adults. In fact, children one through five years of age eat three to four (or more) times as much food per pound of body weight as an average American adult. In addition, their developing bodies are more vulnerable and less able to detoxify.

Because there is a growing body of evidence showing these toxins can impair child health and development, common sense compels us to minimize exposure whenever possible. Especially during pregnancy and infancy when their bodies are most vulnerable, we need to take precautionary action - a "better safe than sorry" approach and choose an organic diet for our little ones. Not only does an organic diet reduce exposure to contaminants and synthetic additives, some studies also show that organic foods are healthier and have more antioxidants and added nutrition.

There are a variety of options and many opportunities to take toxins off the menu. Here are some easy ideas for feeding your baby an organic, safe and healthy diet:

1. Store bought. With the growing interest in organic foods, there is also an increase in availability of pre-made organic baby foods. Some are on the shelf right next to their conventional counterparts and other can be found in the refrigerated or frozen food sections. Look for names like Plum Organics, Happy Baby, Homemade Baby, Tasty Baby, or Sprout Baby Food.

2. Delivered. Referred to as "baby food catering", home delivery services are the pinnacle of convenience. Service providers include Bohemian Baby and Pomme Bebe.

3. Homemade. Not nearly as intimidating as it sounds, homemade baby food is the freshest and most inexpensive option (with the added benefit of having the least impact on the environment). My wife makes all of our son's food and has been super charged with how easy and enjoyable it's been. She uses fruits and veggies with a variety of colors and tastes then adds in probiotics and flax seed oil for additional nutritional benefit.

To make your own, pick one time a week to cook and puree selected foods and then freeze in an ice cube tray for handy serving sizes. WholesomeBabyFood.com offers age appropriate recipes, as well as tips for cooking and storing food. You can also get a handy, portable food grinder and freezer storage trays at Fresh Baby. Find local, organic food in your neighborhood using the Eat Well Guide, which lists not only grocery stores, but also co-ops, farmer's markets, and CSAs (where you buy a share of food from a local farm).

Photo: LilySusie

Organic on a Budget: For many parents, buying all organic all the time is a financial impossibility, so keep this in mind: certain foods have higher levels of chemical residues including meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy, as well as apples, bell peppers, celery, cherries, imported grapes, nectarines, peaches, pears, potatoes, red raspberries, spinach, and strawberries - so focus on getting the organic versions of these items. Some foods typically have very low levels of residues and are okay to purchase conventionally grown, including avocados, frozen sweet corn, pineapples, mangoes, frozen sweet peas, asparagus, kiwis, bananas, cabbage, broccoli, and eggplant.

You can also invest selectively. We have committed to trying to feed our son 100% organic for at least his first year (yes, I said "trying," no one's perfect). When they get older, choose the foods they eat the most of. If they eat a ton of apples, make sure you're buying them organic even if you can't buy everything organic. Overall, just do the best you can and concentrate on consistently providing a healthy, fresh, well-balanced diet for baby and family. Bon Appetit!

Sources:

• Consumer Reports. Better for Baby? Our analysis finds organic food is safer for children. January 2006.
• Landrigan, P. et al. Children's Health and the Environment: A New Agenda for Prevention Research. Environmental Health Perspectives. June 1998, 106, 3, 787-794.
• Virginia Worthington. Nutritional Quality of Organic Versus Conventional Fruits, Vegetables, and Grains. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. April 1, 2001, 7(2): 161-173.
• Lombardi-Boccia, G. et al. Nutrients and Antioxidant Molecules in Yellow Plums from Conventional and Organic Productions: A Comparative Study. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 2004, 52, 90-94.
• Asami, D. et al. Comparison of the Total Phenolic and Ascorbic Acid Content of Freeze-Dried and Air-Dried Marionberry, Strawberry, and Corn Grown Using Conventional, Organic, and Sustainable Agricultural Practices. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 2003, 51, 1237-1241.

Related Topics:

• Starter Guide to Baby Food and Nutrition
• Health eHome
• Going Green: Eco-Friendly Tips & Advice
• Get great tips from the Parenting & Children's Health Newsletter

Fishing for Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Our guest blogger is Tara DelloIacono Thies, RD, LUNA Nutrition Strategist at Clif Bar & Company.

Photo Credit: FrenchDuck

Mothers-to-be are in a quandary when trying to make safe and sustainable choices when eating fish. Fish is a fantastic source of omega-3 fatty acids, important to well-being and the developmental health of our babies. Yet, many fish are a source of mercury and other unfortunate contaminates. Fishing also takes a toll on the environment with fishing and farm methods that leave a fishy aftertaste in our mouths.

Complicated with contaminated and poor sourced fish choices many women are skipping out on fish all together. Our seafood deficient diets are leading to deficiencies in DHA, an important form of omega-3 fatty acids, which our bodies can not make and must be obtained through our food.

DHA is also important to your baby's developing brain and your psychiatric health. Research coming out of the most recent American Dietetic Association Annual Conference reported on studies that revealed a "no sea food diet" during pregnancy resulted in children with low verbal IQ, low social development, and poor peer interactions. Women who were DHA deficient were found to be more anxious and distressed.

Fish is one of the best sources of DHA. This leaves us with a complicated task of figuring which fish are good for our bodies and the planet. Thankfully someone has done the thinking for us and created a simple pocket tool that you can use while shopping to at the grocery store: the Seafood Watch Pocket Guide.

This is a great tool to guide you to the best choices for fish that are not contaminated and fished using sustainable methods. After referring to this guide you will see that there are a lot of good options, and you can even have some canned tuna often thought to be totally off limits.

How much omega-3 fatty acids do you need each day? The Dietary Recommended Intake for non-pregnant women is 1.1 grams per day, which can come from all three types of omega-3s' - EPA, ALA, & DHA. Pregnant and breast feeding women need an additional DHA boost of .2-.3 grams per day. You can meet your needs by eating about 6-12 ounces of fish per week.

Look for the three magic letters (DHA) on the front of the package too. Many foods such organic milk and organic yogurts are now fortifying with additional DHA omega-3 fatty acids.

In addition to all these great food sources there are some supplements both over the counter and prescription that you may want to consider:

Over the counter:

• Nordic Naturals
• Spectrum Fish Oil

Ask your doctor about:

• Natelle Plus
• Citranatal 90 DHA
• Duet DHA
• Prenate DHA

Fish is a great whole food source of DHA. I hope you can now head to the fish market more informed and also enjoy a tuna sandwich once again.

Related Topics:

• What to Know About Omega-3s and Fish
• Health eHome
• Going Green: Eco-Friendly Tips & Advice
• Get great tips from the Parenting & Children's Health newsletter

10 Easy Ways to Eat "Green" Earth Day and Everyday

How to Shop for the Earth, Cook for Your Health and Bring Pleasure Back to Your Kitchen!

by Healthy Child Healthy World

Everyone's heard the cliché "you are what you eat." And, it's true - your health is intimately connected to the foods and drinks you put in your mouth. But, have you ever stopped to consider what other impacts your food choices may have? Industrial farming practices can cause soil and water pollution. Over-packaged, single-size foods result in litter and plastic waste that will linger in landfills for hundreds of years. The average American meal travels 1,500 miles from farm to fork increasing air pollution and greenhouse gases. Human health is affected by what we eat, but planetary health is affected by how we eat.

Luckily, we don't have to sacrifice either health or the environment. And, you might even find that when you start considering both and making smarter choices, your foods are more flavorful and cooking is more enjoyable. But, let's not get ahead of ourselves. Start simple by trying the easy (and affordable) tips below.

Photo: Donika Sadiku

1. Eat a healthier snack like a USDA Certified organic apple. Organic certification guarantees that the product has been grown, handled and processed without synthetic pesticides, hormones, antibiotics, artificial ingredients, preservatives and without using genetic modification or irradiation. Organic certification also means the farmer is promoting biological diversity by rotating crops, conserving and renewing the soil, and protecting water sources.

Organic foods are the best investment you can make for your health, but they can cost quite a bit more. According to the Environmental Working Group, you can lower your pesticide exposure by 90 per cent simply by avoiding the most contaminated conventionally grown produce: peaches, apples, sweet bell peppers, celery, nectarines, strawberries, cherries, lettuce, imported grapes, carrots, and pears. If you're really craving one of these foods, opt for organic. Conventionally grown fruits and vegetables that have the lowest levels of pesticide residue include: onion, avocado, sweet corn, pineapple, mango, asparagus, sweet peas, kiwi, cabbage, eggplant, papaya, watermelon, broccoli, tomato, and sweet potato. You can download the EWG pocket guide that lists these and the dirty dozen from Foodnews.org.

Photo Credit: Keven Law

2. Ease up on animal fats. Meat and dairy products are major sources of saturated fat in the U.S. diet, and contribute to higher risk of heart disease, cancer and diabetes. Animal products can also contain hormones, antibiotics and organochlorine chemicals, such as dioxin, DDT and other pesticides, which concentrate in animal fat. Modern meat production also consumes water, energy and land. Animal waste produces air and water pollution. And red meat production creates about 3.5 times more greenhouse gases than that of grains.

When you do buy meat, poultry or dairy, look for low fat options (get the unsaturated fats your body needs from plant sources like walnuts, flax seeds, and avocados). You can also do a favor for your body and the planet by reducing how much meat you eat. Making even one vegetarian meal a week can make a big difference.

3. Ban the can. Canned foods and beverages are lined with a resin that contains bisphenol-A, a hormone-disrupting chemical that's building up in our environment and our bodies. Most manufacturers are beginning to explore safer alternatives, but in the meantime you should choose foods that are fresh, dried or frozen or packaged in glass jars or tetra packs.

4. Select safer seafood. Eating seafood is the primary way we are exposed to methylmercury, a potent neurotoxin. Fish can also be contaminated with PCBs, which the International Agency for Research on Cancer and the Environmental Protection Agency have declared a probable carcinogen. In addition, many commercial fishing practices damage the aquatic ecosystems or depleting fish stocks to dangerous levels. Worldwide about 90% of large predatory fish stocks are already gone. Use the Environmental Defense Fund's Safe Seafood Selector to find species that are lowest in chemical and heavy metal contamination and that are fished in ways that are not harmful to our oceans.

5. Bulk up. It's common knowledge that buying in bulk saves money, but it also reduces waste because there's so much less packaging. In addition, bulk foods are often less processed so you reduce your exposure to questionable food additives. Bulk cook staples like beans and other legumes and store them in your freezer in serving sizes that are appropriate for your family size.

6. Turn on your tap. Plastic bottled water is over-priced, over packaged, and not necessarily cleaner than tap. In fact, municipal tap water is more regulated than bottled water and some bottled water is just tap water with a clever name. It's a waste of your money that creates enormous amounts of waste. According to the Natural Resources Defense Council,

"In 2006, the equivalent of 2 billion half-liter bottles of water were shipped to U.S. ports, creating thousands of tons of global warming pollution and other air pollution. And while the bottles come from far away, most of them end up close to home - in a landfill. Most bottled water comes in recyclable PET plastic bottles, but only about 13 percent of the bottles we use get recycled. In 2005, 2 million tons of plastic water bottles ended up clogging landfills instead of getting recycled."

Make an investment in a water filter and reusable stainless steel water bottles. They quickly pay for themselves. While you're at it, skip the soda and other bottled drinks. Water's much better for you.

7. Purge plastic. Okay, it's almost impossible to eliminate plastic - and sometimes there's no better choice. Still, plastics are clogging our landfills, polluting our Oceans (check out the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, 100 million tons of debris that's essentially made a trash island in the ocean), and being petroleum-based products, they create a lot of pollution when they're manufactured. In regards to human health, studies are piling up showing how chemicals leach from many plastics and end up in our food and drinks. For your food, glass is the safest bet and extremely affordable. Most second-hand stores have loads of glassware and old spaghetti or canning jars are super for storing leftovers. If you do use plastic, opt for safer ones like those with the number 2, 4, or 5 in the chasing arrows symbol (usually found on the bottom). Never heat food in plastic as it increases chemical leaching.

8. Read a food label - for real. Ever stop to read the ingredients label on packaged, processed foods? It's usually a mouthful of words most of us have a hard time pronouncing, so what exactly are you eating? You can learn which food additives are safe and which are not by visiting The Center for Science in the Public Interest's food safety guide, but it's even easier to simply choose whole foods. Whole foods are not processed, so they have all their natural nutritional gifts - and less processing means less pollution. Look for foods made from whole grains (think whole wheat bread, oatmeal and brown rice) - and it should say "whole" on the label. Make more foods from scratch (it's easier than you think). You'll end up saving money, eating healthier and reducing all the waste created from packaging and processing foods.

Photo Credit: e.t

9. Look for local. The average mouthful of food travels 1,400 miles from the farm to our plates. Food from local farms is fresher and closer to ripeness, has used less energy for transport and is less likely to have been treated with post-harvest pesticides. Buying local products also supports regional farmers and preserves farmland. Ask for local produce, meat and dairy at your local market and see what they show you. Better yet, visit your local farmer's market. You'll be supporting your community, saving money, protecting the planet, and eating healthier. Visit EatWellGuide.org to discover your local food system.

10. Savor your flavors! When was the last time you really experienced your food? Really taken some time to appreciate what you're eating? From the crisp juiciness of a fresh apple to the creamy, cool sweetness of a spoonful of ice cream, are you really tasting what you put in your mouth or are you thoughtlessly inhaling? We've become so accustomed to fast food (whether at home or at the drive-thru), we've nearly lost the ability to appreciate our culinary bounty. When we eat without thinking, we're more apt to choose foods that are less healthy (for us and the Earth) and to overeat whatever we've slopped onto our plate (if it even made it on to a dish). Take a moment to savor the flavor, to think about where your food came from, and to feel a little gratitude.

Related Topics:

• Safer Food For a Healthier You
• Green Dieting with Gwyneth Paltrow
• Health eHome
• Going Green: Eco-Friendly Tips & Advice
• Get great tips from the Parenting & Children's Health newsletter