Kozy Shack SmartGels:  These tasty gelatin snacks are free from high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) and food colorings!  I’ve been searching for a long time for something like this and finally happened upon them at Wal-mart on Hwy. 20 in Madison,AL.  I had previously seen something similar at another specialty store, but they were outrageously expensive.  These are actually cheaper than the jello brands.  While these aren’t the most eco-friendly since they are individually packaged, sometimes it’s nice to have a jello or pudding cup!  It reminds me of being a kid!  They also have pudding cups, CowRageous Pudding as they call it!

Edy’s Strawberry Fruit  Bars:  These have real strawberries in them, not the artificial flavors!  As a preggo lady, they are a great alternative to a strawberry daiquiri (okay, sort of!).  But really, they are quite yummy with no red food coloring!  These are easy to find at various grocery stores in the Huntsville and Madison areas.

Good Sport Natural Sports Drink:  I’m days away from having our second child and my OB is allowing me to have sips of gatorade and/or juice while I’m in labor.  Of course I don’t really want the standard Gatorade with food colorings and HFCS since it’s not something I typically consume.  In my search to find a more natural alternative, I found Good Sport at Kroger on Hughes Rd. in Madison, AL.  It’s made by company called OWater and is free from artificial flavors, preservatives and colors.  Score!  The orange flavor is my favorite right now!

I am a bit confused since the OWater website does not list Good Sport as a product.  I kinda think that Good Sport has changed names into Sport OWater and maybe Kroger hasn’t gotten the new product in yet.  That’s just my guess anyway.

While these aren’t foods we eat all the time at our house, it’s nice to have some special treats in the summer!  Do you have any natural products you’ve found that are better than the artificial popular items?  We’d love to hear from you in the comments section!

An upcoming grocery store in Austin, TX plans to promote precycling by having consumers bring their own packaging to the store!  How does it work?  Check out the diagram below and click here to watch the video.  Sounds very innovative to me; too bad we don’t live closer!

We’ve all heard the recommendations for being active:  30 minutes on most days of the week!  However, over half of adult Americans aren’t reaching this goal.  In my work as a health educator, I run into lots of people that think if they can’t reach the recommendations, they might as well not try…WRONG!  Every little bit adds up to increase your health benefits.  It’s like putting coins in your piggy bank; it might not seem like much, but over time it adds up!  The other great thing is you can break your physical activity into 10 minute bouts:  10 minute walk before breakfast, 10 minutes at lunch and another 10 minutes in the evening.

Also, new research is not only based on your exercise and physical activity times, but rather your amount of sedentary time!  So, the more you are sedentary (think facebook, TV, desk job, etc.) the more it affects your disease risk.  Even if you aren’t meant to be a gym rat, there are several ways in incorporate physical activity into your day:  go dancing, walk in your neighborhood, join a sports team, try a fitness video game, play chase with your kids, push-mow your yard, the list goes on!  The main thing is to find something you enjoy and just move it!

Since becoming a Mom, I have struggled with the guilt of wanting time to exercise and focus on myself.  What I’ve learned is, I’m a much better Mom, Wife and friend when I get to exercise.  Even if it’s just a quick walk or jog around the neighborhood.  It’s like a magic pill to help me stay strong, happy, healthy and ready to tackle life’s demands!  And my daughter is seeing me as a healthy role-model, which is important to me.

As for me, I love group fitness classes, exercising outdoors and training with friends!  Also, it always seems easier if I’ve got someone counting on me to be there.  And it makes the hard days bearable when you can chat with a girlfriend or two.  On days when my exercise routine gets put on the back-burner, I try to incorporate calisthenics at home such as:  squats, lunges, push ups and crunches.

Do you have a favorite way to increase your exercise and physical activity?  We’d love to hear how our busy Moms make time to just move it!

Operation Green Team Presents Play Days at Hays!  “Play Days at Hays” will be held in June and July each Tuesday and Thursday from 9 to 11 a.m. at the new Terrame Natural Playground at Hays Nature Preserve.

Sessions are FREE and promise to be fun and educational as children, with an adult, explore and learn about the great outdoors.

Space is limited; call 256-532-5326 to reserve your spot and to get more information.

NOTE:  For all these events, children should wear old comfortable shoes and play clothes that can get a bit dirty. Don’t forget a bottle of water.  Parents please apply your preferred insect repellant on you and your child especially on the lower legs to fend off unwanted insect bites.

Children must be accompanied by an adult during the sessions.

June Schedule of events after the jump.

Tuesday June 7^th:  Orienteering and Forest Safety (3^rd – 6^th) Learn the critters and plants in the forest that could harm you. Explorers will also learn how to find their way with a map and compass. 

Thursday June 9^th: What is Your Name? (K-6^th) Students will make tree cookie nametags and play an engaging game of “Animal on My Back” with your fellow explorers. A forest exploration will wrap up the morning fun.  

Tuesday June 14^th:  Wonderful Wacky World of Bugs (K-6^th) Be a bug detective and find insects in the forest.  Learn the difference between spiders and insects.  Observe the aquatic insects in a wetland. Parents and students should bring a clear plastic container with a lid with holes punched in it — no glass please.

Thursday June 16^th:  Using Your Senses (3^rd–6^th) Explorers will challenge their senses of touch and smell to identify different features of nature.  The morning’s activities will include a scavenger hunt for things found in the forest.

Tuesday June 21:  Using Your Head (3^rd-6^th) Sharpen your skills of recognizing different critters using their skulls and fur.  Explorers will also challenge their abilities by observing what is going on around them during a “Sit Spot” exercise.  

Thursday June 23:  Noah’s Ark (K-3^rd) This session will bring the call of the wild to life as children learn and then vocalize animal calls. A fun game of finding your matching animal while blindfolded by making your animal’s call should prove to be great fun! A scavenger hunt will follow. 

Tuesday June 28:   Fossil Hunt (K-3^rd) Young explorers will be busy during this session as they hunt for fossils at the limestone outcrop, then play “Bats and Gnats”—a food chain game and wrap-up the busy morning with another predator and prey game. 

Thursday June 30:  Camouflage Game (3^rd-6^th) Explorers will hunt in the forest for man-made items hidden and then make a bull roarer.

The World Health Organization recently classified radiofrequency electromagnetic fields as possibly carcinogenic to humans.  While it doesn’t say “absolutely” carcinogenic, the group of 31 scientists believe there is enough of a risk that further research is needed!  The possible risks associated with cell phone usage:  “brain cancer…developmental problems in kids, ringing in the ears, bone loss, concentration problems, and unsightly rashes.”

As an expectant Mom, this worries me since I am carrying an unborn child!  And, I will think more about letting my child play with my phone.  Not realistic to ditch your celly for good?  There are several ways to reduce your exposure, according to Rodale News:

1.) Text instead of talking (not while driving though!)

2.) Use speaker-phone

3.) Tap call-forwarding

For more information about this recent announcement, check out these articles at WebMD and Rodale News.  As always, we’d love to hear your thoughts!

I tried two recipes. The corn meal version is MUCH better than the Panko crumb take.

I remember before I ever actually had children that mine were going to eat all their vegetables without prodding or bribing.  I thought all you parents that complained about your children not eating their greens must be total pushovers.  My children would eat their veggies because I said so and because I wouldn’t give them anything else to eat.  Remember the joke about the dog that ate turnips?  And then the guy’s friend said my dog won’t eat turnips, and the guy replies, neither would mine for the first 6 weeks.  Ha!  But seriously this is kinda of how I figured it should be with kids.  (Granted probably not the healthiest or most nurturing outlook.)
 
Turns out these little munchkins can wait you out a lot longer than you can wait them out.  I never figured myself for one of those parents begging a child to eat.  I was too cool, too laid back.  You’re not hungry?  Fine with me.  But it’s so not fine with me.  My desire for him to eat and grow is much stronger than my desire to be cool and laid back.  Meanwhile my son could probably go all day playing with just a juice box and a bag of pirate booty.  How is that possible?  I fear his bones will turn into cheese dust. 
 
That’s why I was thrilled, THRILLED, when we were out to eat and he started eating fried okra off my husband’s plate.  Beneath all that deep-fried, breaded unhealthiness was the tiniest smidgen of green earth goodness.  And I was glad. 
 
Back home I tracked down a few oven-fried okra recipes and gave them a whirl.  Here’s the results of my efforts and yes they are actually pretty good.  My two and half year old is the proof.  Don’t bother with the Panko recipes, not the same.  Stick with the corn meal.  I tried both and it wasn’t even close.  And I don’t want to hear guff from any of southern food fanatics, I don’t care if you think deep fried is better.  I am not filling a pan with liquid fat and cooking my family’s food in it.  Traditional Southern food is one of the reasons the Southern states are consistently ranked the unhealthiest in the nation.  Get with the program and look for healthier versions of your favorite recipe.  Cooking Light Magazine is a great place to start.  Happy eating!  

Recipe after the jump.
 
This is the recipe I used.  But I cut the buttermilk because we didn’t have any.  Click here to go to the My Recipes Page.

• YIELD: 8 servings (serving size: about 1/2 cup)
• COURSE: Side Dishes/Vegetables

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups yellow cornmeal
• 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt, divided
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• Dash of ground red pepper
• 1/2 cup fat-free buttermilk
• 1 large egg, lightly beaten
• 1 pound fresh okra pods, trimmed and cut into 3/4-inch slices (about 3 cups)
• Cooking spray

Preparation

• Preheat oven to 450º.
• Combine cornmeal, 1/2 teaspoon salt, black pepper, and red pepper in a shallow dish; set aside.
• Combine buttermilk and egg in a large bowl, stirring with a whisk. Add okra; toss to coat. Let stand 3 minutes.
• Dredge okra in cornmeal mixture. Place okra on a jelly-roll pan coated with cooking spray. Lightly coat okra with cooking spray. Bake at 450º for 40 minutes, stirring once. Sprinkle with remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt.

I just bought the cutest gladiator-type sandal to go with a new dress for the summer.  Sometimes it’s so fun to be a girl!  But, my toes have been covered up all winter, ugh.  Read on to find out about some safer, more eco-friendly options when doing your at-home pedi!

Tree Hut Body Scrub: I absolutely love this stuff and it’s made with organic shea butter!  I have previously tried the coconut lime flavor and found it very enjoyable.  I have awful feet, so this scrub was great at helping slough off all the grossies.  I will definitely get it again!  Cost: Approx. $7.  Store: Ulta Bridge Street and Kroger on University.

Baking Soda Scrub: Last week I ran out of my above favorite and decided to save some cash.  So I opted for a homemade scrub- baking soda!  I mixed equal parts baking soda and water to make a paste and then scrubbed away at my feet.  While it doesn’t have the nice moisturizing shea butter, it was really a great scrub.  Cost: Pennies!  Store: Any grocery store.  Also, see my previous post about baking soda as a facial scrub (link here).

Ulta Nail Polish:  Most all of Ulta’s polishes are Formaldehyde, Toulene and DBP free, so this makes me feel better about using them- less of the toxic stuff.  Lots of great colors to choose from too!  Cost: Approx. $5  Store: Ulta Bridge Street or online.

Piggy Paint: I have not tried this yet, but whenever my daughter starts asking for her toes painted, I plan to try Piggy Paint.  It’s a non-toxic, water-based formula and comes in cute colors like Dandelion Dance and Ice Cream Dream.  Also, by popular demand they’ve started an adult line as well.  Cost: Approx. $8 per bottle.  Store: Online or locally at Spoiled Rockin’ Kidz Salon.

Check out these links for more info:

Chemicals in Nail Polish
Six Makeup Chemicals to Avoid

Saturday, April 16, 2011

10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Big Spring Memorial Park (Duck Pond in Athens)

Rain Location:  Athens State University Gymnasium

Free Admission, Hot Dogs, Pepsi, and Treats!

Live Entertainment

Just Down the Road

Southern Splendor

Alex Lane

Birds of Prey & Reptile Presentations

Raptor Trek:  Birds of Prey Experience (includes a Bald Eagle)

Herp Journey:  Native Reptiles and Amphibians

Free Games, Crafts, and Activities for the Kids

Create and decorate a birdfeeder or aquarium from recycled materials,

decorate a flower pot and let the Beautification Board teach you to plant a flower,

try your hand on a Navaho Loom, face painting, and MORE!

Bake Sale

Ask A Master Gardener

Displays, Demonstrations, Mini-Seminars

How To demonstrations throughout the day.  Displays and information by Limestone County Beekeepers,

Master Gardeners, Recycling Center, Stone Oaks Alpaca Farm, Wheeler Wildlife, Chair Caning,

Homemade Soaps, Historical Society, Humble Hearts Farm Goat Cheese,

Spinning and Needlecrafts, Alabama Department of Environmental Management, Historical Society,

and MORE!

EARTH DAY CELEBRATION TO BE HELD IN ATHENS

All Earth dwellers are invited to Join Keep Athens-Limestone Beautiful at Big Spring Memorial Park in Athens on Saturday, April 16th for a day of family fun.   Admission is FREE.

Earth Day was established in 1970 as a day to inspire awareness and appreciation for the Earth’s natural environment.  The organizers of the celebration in Athens intend for everyone to leave the park with new knowledge of how and why we must be good stewards of this great planet that sustains us.

It is also the intent of Keep Athens-Limestone Beautiful that everyone have a great time while acquiring this new knowledge!

That fun will include recycled crafts, storytelling, puppets, environmental bingo, and face painting for the kids.  Live entertainment will be provided by Alex Lane, Just Down the Road, and the Southern Splendor Chorus.   Displays and presentations by the Limestone County Beekeepers, Athens-Limestone Beautification Board, Master Gardeners, Wheeler Wildlife, Alabama Veterans Museum, the Historical Society, the Athens-Limestone Recycling Center, and more will be ongoing throughout the event.

Visitors will have the opportunity to try their hand at using a Navajo Loom, watch crafters as they cane, weave, and spin, purchase local honey, trees,  and handmade soaps, or attend special presentations on how to build a rain barrel, designing a potted planter, or how to participate in the 10-minute Celebrate Urban Birds Watch sponsored by the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology.

The highlight of the celebration will be two presentations by Becky Collier, environmental education coordinator from the Alabama 4-H Center at Auburn University.  Becky will present Raptor Trek:  Birds of Prey Experience and Herp Journey:  Native Reptiles and Amphibians.  The audience will witness the beauty of these amazing birds of prey and learn much about how human actions can endanger them.  There is much to learn about our native reptiles and amphibians and what we can do to preserve their habitats.  Some lucky spectators will have the opportunity to handle some of these critters (no bird handling will be permitted).

“Kids” of all ages will enjoy visiting with the baby goats from Humble Hearts Farms, having a photo taken with a little white lamb, or being kissed by an alpaca!