5 Ways to Make a Big Earth Day Shift

The web is full of SIMPLE ideas that most of us are already doing (like recycling and using less gas).  In honor of Earth Day,  here is a list of 5 BIGGER things we can all do to make a significant difference. The following commitments are less talked about but extremely important and not that difficult to implement:

1) STOP USING FABRIC SOFTENER - I am once again breathing in my neighbor's noxious laundry fumes as a write this post. Commercial fabric softeners contain highly toxic chemicals that are linked to cancer and serious respitory illnesses. These chemicals include including Phthalates, Chloroform, Pentane, Linalool, Limonene, Benzyl Acetate and more. Stop poisoning your family and your neighbors. Ditch the Downey and toss a quarter cup of distilled white vinegar in your wash instead - works just as well and won't kill the air quality in your home.

2) INVEST IN A FRONT LOAD WASHING MACHINE - You will gasp when you see how little water it uses and how much money these things save you in both water AND electric bills.

3) BUY A STACK OF REUSABLE PRODUCE BAGS - Most of us remember to bring our reusable grocery bags to the market these days, but few of us blink when it comes to grabbing a plastic bag for produce. Well, start blinking and stop grabbing. Buy 4 to 12 cotton produce bags like those found here on Amazon.com and stop relying on plastic bags once and for all.

4) EAT LESS MEAT -  I personally (and anthropologically) believe humans are designed to be hunters and gatherers. Our teeth are meant to eat some meat - just not 3 times a day. Not even EVERY day. Commit to at least two meatless days per week and reduce your daily consumption to no more than one serving when per day when you do eat it. BONUS: Research says eating less meat will make you live longer too!
5) SUPPLY YOUR OWN TAKE-OUT CONTAINERS- Many of us bring our own mugs now when we get coffee to-go, but how many of us bring our own to-go containers to the salad bar or Chinese take out joint? Well - it's time to start. No one is going to say no to you when you show up with your own containers. After all, you're saving their company money.

Compostable Eco-Friendly Hollow Easter Eggs

Oh, the struggles of trying to create fun-yet-eco-friendly holidays for the family! Last year I blogged about the ONLY company who sells hollow wooden eggs - a great (but slightly pricey) lifetime solution for Easter egg hunts. This year I want to give a big shout out to a brand new, one-of-a-kind environmentally friendly Easter egg solution: the cool, colorful AND compostable Eco Eggs. What a great concept! Eco Eggs look just like the cute toxic plastic eggs we all loved as kids - but this hot new product is made from corn (not petroleum) and is 100% biodegradable. Unlike plastic eggs, which are virtually all made in China, Eco Eggs are made in the USA. They can be reused for years, are extra-large (will easily store small bags of candy or small toys), and relatively affordable. A case of  96 eggs (two 48-egg packages of 3" x 2.25" eggs) is only $30! (Shipping is a bit steep at - but still worth it for the quality of the product).

Eco Eggs just sent me a dozen to check out in person and I can tell you they are well made,  extremely hardy, and absolutely adoreable. A package of Eco Eggs will definitely outlast its plastic alternative.

Click here to visit EcoEggs.com and place your order TODAY if you want them in time for Easter!

Cambell's Commits to BPA-free Cans

Kudos to Cambell's for taking a huge step forward in preventing BPA contamination in canned foods! The company just announced it will be "phasing out" the BPA (bisphenol-a) liner in all its soup cans - even the tomato variety (a nearly impossibly feat, given the high acidity of tomatoes). A BPA liner has been used in canned goods for decades. It prevents leaching of the tin into the food itself. BPA, however,  has been linked frequently to cancer and behavior problems over the last several years and consumers are making a stink about it. The chemical is so prominent in our environment that it is actually found in breastmilk. Since people realized the connection between BPA and canned goods, many have decided to boycott brands that still use the substance - which is almost all of them (with the exception of certain more natural companies like Edens Organics, Native Forrest and supposedly Trader Joe's). I have personally called companies over the years to see if they would consider going BPA-free and was always told that the cost was too prohibitive. A big company like Cambell's will hopefully drive down the price of a healthier liner so that smaller companies can follow suit and all future canned goods will become BPA-free. One can only hope!

Click here to thank Cambell's for taking this big step and to ask them to disclose their phase-out plan in its entiretly.

Waste-Free Birthday Party Goody Bags

Waste-Free Goody Bag

Who doesn't love a good goody bag? We know kids do. They pretty much demand them upon leaving a birthday party these days. Parents hate them (at least I do) because of the excess candy, plastic toy fillers, and plastic or paper bag waste. Honestly, I would love to join the "Goody Bag Boycott" that is on the rise - parents who flat out refuse to provide their little guests with any trinkets whatsoever when they leave the party. This is how it SHOULD be; after all, we go to a birthday party to celebrate the birthday child, whose parents already shelled out a small bundle for food, cake and entertainment. However, I am just not there yet. My kids simply LOVE the idea of creating a take-away for their party guests and so I've decided to indulge them in this little childhood desire...but on my own healthy, planet-friendly terms.

This was our waste-free, plastic-free, eco-friendly Goody Bag solution for the last birthday:

* A  "design-your-own" unbleached, 100% cotton tote bag (bought in bulk from Joanne's Fabics)
* Handmade felt puppets (you can buy felt puppet kits - or make your own)
* A few small pieces of chocolate

I set up two craft tables: one with fabric markers for the kids to "design" their own bags and another with colorful felt puppet bodies and cut out felt eyes, ears, noses, hats, etc. so they could "design" their own puppets to take home. At the end of the party, the kids packed their puppets into their bags and the party girl dropped in a few pieces of yummy chocolate. The bags are big enough to be used as book bags, small totes or lunch bags - we use ours for lunch. They do great in the washing machine!

How to Make All-Natural, Soy-Free Balsamic Dressing

Homemade All-Natural Salad Dressing

I am on a huge kick to get soy out our family's diet - but it isn't easy. Soy is in almost everything: chips, crackers, cereal, bread, chocolate, energy bars, and more. Grab a bottle of salad dressing - even the all-natural varieties - from any store and chances are it contains soybean oil. My issue with soy -- unless it is in its whole form, like edamame -- is that it is heavily processed, almost always genetically modified, and that it contains endocrine-disrupting phytoestrogens, which have been linked to breast cancer and other estrogen-dependent cancers.

Oh a whim, I decided to make my own soy-free balsamic salad dressing and I was shocked at how easy, delicious and affordable this solution was. The kids love it because of the natural tangy sweetness. They key ingredients in a great balsamic dressing are the oil and the vinegar - and when you make it at home, those are the only two ingredients  you need!
I prefer the tangy 2:1 ratio below - but equal parts vinegar and oil are also great:

* Organic Balsamic Vinegar (two parts)
* Extra Virgin Olive Oil (one part)

TIP: Make small batches. If you store in the refrigerator, the oil will start to coagulate.