Mindful Momma

Fast Food Family

We rarely eat fast food.  But on our recent trip we became a fast food family.  Taco Bell, McDonald's...you name it, we ate it.  Fortunately we ate well at our beach party, but on travel days all rules went out the window. 

To be honest, I wasn't that concerned about the health factor.  A fast food meal or two isn't going to put us into the heart attack zone.  It was the packaging waste that was hard to take.   For our family of 4, each meal left behind a big bag-o-garbage and I couldn't help but feel a bit guilty about it.  

As we munched our way through airports and car rides I came up with a few pointers on how to manage fast food waste...at least a bit:

• Hand-held foods like sandwiches or burritos are the most eco-friendly option because they are likely to come wrapped in paper and do not require utensils.

• Salads, soups and other meals require plastic utensils and usually come packaged in plastic clam-shell containers or styrofoam....so avoid them if possible. 

• Go vegetarian and skip the factory farm meat.

• For dessert, choose an ice cream cone over pre-packaged treats.

• Bring your own water bottle and skip the drinks in disposable cups.

• Pack cloth napkins or towels so you don't need paper napkins. 

• Consider carrying your own reusable utensils and drinking straws.

• Pick up fresh fruit, trail mix and other healthy snacks from home or a grocery store to help reduce the number of fast food stops you need to make.

{photo credit:  sputnik 57 via flickr}

Green & Healthy Camping

Just got back from camping at the beach on Assateague Island in Maryland and I can't tell you how nice a real bed and a warm shower felt after 5 days of sleeping on a perpetually sandy air mattress next to a wiggly 4 year old and showering in frigidly cold water!! 

While I was there, I got to thinking about a typical camping experience.  While camping may give you that great outdoorsy feeling and help you to appreciate the planet and all that...it is not always friendly to the earth.  Think of those gas-guzzling RV's you see at the Yogi Bear campgrounds.  Imagine the huge amount of bottles and cans that are often tossed in the garbage because there is no recycling onsite.  In order to appreciate the beauty of nature, we need to take care of it.  Some people just don't get it.  Fortunately, our group (of over 100 people!!) was quite eco-conscious.  Sure, we generated a lot of waste, but we had a whole team dedicated to waste disposal and recycling.  Our #1 goal was to leave no trace behind. 

Reusable bottles, plates and utensils were highly encouraged.  A hydration station with water, gatorade and iced tea was available to cut back the need for individually bottled drinks:

 

Everyone was given a souvenir reusable beverage cup to use for their hydration needs.  I used mine for cocktails during the daily happy hour:

   

There were plenty of recycling bins surrounding the dining tent:

 

Eating outdoors may be fun but camp food is not always healthy.  Canned beans and hot dogs anyone??   At this event, the food was a major highlight - I just wish I had more photos to show you.  There were amazing salads, plenty of fresh fruit, an Indian feast and some cheesecake thrown in for good measure. Yes, animals were sacrificed for our dining pleasure but there were vegetarian options at every meal.

Here's my husband whipping up batter in the hand-cranked blender for the fresh fruit crepes at breakfast!! (the blender was also used for fruit smoothies)

 

and whipping up some healthy veggies for dinner:

 

Lest you think all we did was eat and drink, here's some proof that we had plenty of time for fun in the sun!

 

Beach Bound

We're heading to the beach for a little break from reality.  Thought I'd leave you with links to some interesting blogs I have recently discovered:

The Creative Mama - a beautiful blog with an emphasis on photography and green & simple living.

Green by Design - smart green choices for homes, gardens and lifestyles

All & Sundry - the mother of "two little booger factories" writes about her crazy life with wit and style.

Matt Bites - one man's obsession with food, drink and everything in between.

Happy reading!

Is There a Better Baby Wipe?

Here's what I've been wondering lately - Is there such a thing as a truly eco-friendly baby wipe?  I wonder about a lot of things.  It's not that I'm bored or obsessed or anything.  I'm just curious. 

We're done with the baby stage at our house but we still keep a pack or two of flushable wipes around for those 'special' occasions and I have to admit that when our boys were babies there was always an ample supply of Huggies wipes on hand. Not exactly environmentally friendly.

So is there a better way to wipe those beautiful bottoms?  The answer is yes,there is a better baby wipe, but it's far from a perfect solution.  As far as I can tell, there is no such thing as a wipe made from recycled paper so I'm guessing that recycled is just not up for the job.  Instead, you get your pick of wipes made from polyester, polypropylene, virgin cotton, wood pulp or plant-based fibers. 

Many people are jumping on the renewable, plant-based bandwagon but there are some issues with the way this material biodegrades (not as quickly as you might think), the high quantity of methane it creates in the process and the amount of energy it takes to produce.  So pick your poison...I'm thinking plant-based wipes are probably better than wipes made from fossil fuel.

Check out these eco-friendly wannabe wipes options:

Seventh Generation- This very popular brand is whitened without chlorine and is unscented and alcohol-free. The website does not state what material the wipes are actually made of but I read on another blog that they are polyester based.  Feel free to correct me if you know otherwise. 

Elements Naturals- The wipes material comes from renewable, plant-based Ingeo fiber.  They are compostable in commercial facilities and are completely free of fragrances, chlorine and any chemicals.  I was sent a sample of these wipes and they certainly hold their own against Huggies.

Scott Naturals- Flushable wipes made from "100% post-consumer fibers derived from sustainable resources."  I'm guessing this is a plant-based product as well but the details are not kept quiet on the website. They are alcohol-free but they do contain fragrance.  I bought a pack and I can tell you that they do the job just fine but I don't care for the fragrance. The big problem with flushables is that even though they say they won't clog the septic system, that's not always the case. 

I know I should probably give up flushable wipes...and I totally forgot to add this to my list of eco-confessions the other day.  But for now, you'll have to pry them out of my cold, dead hands.

Quick & Easy Reuse Tip: Crayon Holders

We've been reorganizing the kids' rooms lately and I needed some dividers for crayons, markers and pencils for desk drawers.  I remembered that I had saved some plastic 'to-go' containers from a restaurant visit awhile back.  It did the trick!

  

Eco-Confessions!!

When I heard that the topic for the Green Mom's Carnival this month was Eco-Confessions I laughed out loud!  Sometimes I think that should be the name of my blog!  There are so many things that I think I should do or could be better at...it's not funny. 

But I have to remind myself that I'm really not an always kind of person.  In fact, the word never is not a part of my vocabulary.  I'm more of a middle-of-the-roader and I like it that way, thank you very much.  I'm mindful of my impact on the environment...but not obsessed about it.  I read a great article awhile back about people who are taking green to the extreme and driving their families nuts!!  I'm proud to say - that's not me!  

But in the spirit of 'fessing up', here are the eco-confessions that are top of mind today:

• driving instead of biking - to kids soccer games for instance, or the YMCA which is only a few blocks away

• plastic produce bags - at the grocery store (just can't seem to get in the habit of bringing mine very often)

• non-recycled paper products - if I run out of TP and I'm at Target, I pick up the virgin stuff instead of making a separate stop to get recycled.  (Target - why oh why don't you carry recycled?)

• long showers - but oh how I love me my showers! 

• food in plastic containers - try as I might to avoid them, plastic containers keep sneaking into my house 

• paper towels - yes I use them, but only for the messiest of messes

• disposable wipes - only in the bathroom.  I have two young boys so I hope you'll understand. :)

I try hard not to feel guilty about my eco-sins...but sometimes it's hard not to be when I read about the amazing efforts of people like Beth at Fake Plastic Fish who buys little to no plastic or Crunchy Chicken who has been known to water her plants with her own urine.  I regard them as eco-superheros - a great example to us all - but not your average green Jane.

What's your approach to green living?  Are you a green superstar?  Do you lament your eco-sins daily? Or are you a middle grounder like me? 

This is my entry for the Green Moms Carnival hosted this month by Jenn at The Green Parent.  Stop by her blog next week to read more eco-confessions!!

New Life for Old Jeans

Last night I dropped off some ripped up old jeans at Lands End Inlet and got 5 bucks per pair!!  Well OK, I didn't exactly get cash, but I did get two $5 vouchers for merchandise at the Lands End backrack...which I promptly spent on swimwear and a new backpack for my 4 year old!  It's not often that you get paid for clothes that would otherwise go into the garbage!!

What's the deal?  Lands End has partnered with Cotton Incorporated and the jeans are going to be made into cotton fiber insulation that will be used in new home construction for Habitat for Humanity and similar organizations!!  Double good!!

The only bummer is that this deal only goes until June 21st.  Let's hope that other companies jump on the jeans recycling bandwagon.  I like it.  A lot.

Mindful Momma Giveaway: Simply Neutral Cleaning Products

 

If you're in the market for eco-friendly cleaning products, there are plenty to choose from.  And a lot of them are very good.  But I was excited to discover this relatively new brand, based right here in the great state of Minnesota, called Simply Neutral.  What sets this company apart from the competition is that they sell a waterless (i.e. concentrated) version of their products in order to reduce shipping weight - and hence the related creation of carbon dioxide emissions.

I met the owner, Maggie at the Living Green Expo this past spring.  Turns out she's a former house cleaner who kept having bad reactions to the products she used to clean people's homes.  She searched high and low for something that kicked butt on household grime but didn't make her skin break out...and she finally decided to create her own line of cleaning products.

I bought a few products to try out and I have to say, I am a total convert!  The products not only work well but they smell fabulous too!  The citrus/tea tree scent is just the right blend of essential oils to leave your room smelling great without being overpowering.  And the stainless steel cleaner works wonders on my fridge!  You can buy a premixed version if you want, but I love the concept of the waterless version - you buy the spray bottle with just about an inch of cleaning concentrate in it - then you go home and fill it up with water.  When you use it up, pick up a bottle of concentrate that makes 6 refills.  Works for me!  

Wanna try it for yourself?  Leave a comment on this post and you might win a waterless Value Pack that includes an all-purpose cleaner, a no-VOC glass cleaner and a non-abrasive cleansing scrub.  The contest will run through Tuesday, June 23rd.  (one comment per person please and you must have a U.S. shipping address.) 

If you don't win but would still like to try these great products, they are offering a BOGO (that's buy one, get one free!) promotion:  When you buy one all-purpose cleaner, you will get a no-VOC glass cleaner or stainless steel cleaner free.  Indicate which free product you would like in the "special instructions" box during checkout.  This special deal runs through Tuesday, June 30th. 

And if you live in the Twin Cities area look for Simply Neutral at:  Twin Cities Green, Linden Hills Natural Home, Eastside Food Coop, Fresh and Natural in Shoreview and Plymouth, Natural Built Home and Sunny Day Earth Solutions. 

The winner of a Simply Neutral Value Pack is Renee who is about to move and wants to start fresh with eco-friendly cleaning products in her new house!  Congrats Renee!!

Organic Fabric Finds

If you have ever gone searching for cute, organic cotton fabrics in a place like Jo-Ann Fabrics, I am betting you've been disappointed.  Stripes and solids.  Boring, boring, boring.

You may have better luck at a local, independent fabric store although I have not found much at all here in the Twin Cities area.  I called SR Harris, a local fabric outlet and they said they will be getting in a big shipment of organic fabrics next week - but here's the odd thing - the guy I spoke with on the phone asked me "What's all the fuss about organic?"  I had to explain to him that organic farming methods are better for the earth.  He seemed nonplussed. 

Anyway...I was super excited to find this beautiful, hand-designed, organic cotton fabric from daisyjanie on Etsy.  If you've read this fabric designer's blog, you know her as Scoutie Girl - she's always scouting out the coolest handmade stuff.  I check in with her on a regular basis!

You can also find the beautiful organic fabric designs from HarmonyArt at the websites Near Sea Naturals and Organic Cotton Plus. 

 

And if you're looking to make home textiles, check out these to-die-for prints on upholstery-weight organic cotton canvas from Mod Green Pod.  Cuuuuute!!!

 

Oh, and the word is out that Betz White will be producing her own line of organic cotton prints.  I have no idea when they will be available but I check her blog regularly to keep in the loop!

Links to Make You Think....at the Grocery Store

Are your reusable shopping bags breeding bacteria?  According to a study sponsored by the Canadian Plastics Industry Association (hem, hem!!), they might be.  No reason for alarm but here's a safety tip - wash your bags in warm, soapy water every once in awhile and hang upside down to dry.

Why do you buy organic?  Because it is better for the planet or because it is better for you?  You can choose both of course, but if you are looking for some extra justification for spending more on produce, you'll be happy to read this article on the health benefits of organic.  New studies have been rolling in showing that organic produce contains significantly higher levels of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals and lower levels of harmful nitrates. 

The American Academy of Environmental Medicine (AAEM) is calling for a moratorium on genetically modified foods.  Given the results from multiple animal studies, the AAEM concludes "there is more than a casual association between GM foods and adverse health effects".  You may be chowing down on genetically modified foods without even realizing it.  The most common GM foods consumed are oils (corn, canola, soy and cottonseed) used in many processed foods including crackers, cookies, salad dressings and even infant formula.  Here's a link to more info about where GM ingredients may be hiding.