Green & Healthy Roundup

Welcome to the weekend friends! What kind of green & healthy plans do you have?

I have to get up early tomorrow morning (on a Saturday!) to be on the Fresh & Local radio show at 8:00am. The Director of Nutrition at the Minneapolis Public Schools will be there talking about new school lunch initiatives and I'll chime in about green & healthy packed lunch ideas. Listen in if you can or stream it later - they post the broadcasts.

Here's a little roundup of green & healthy news and info that passed by my desk this week, for your weekend reading pleasure:

Improving School Lunch

Speaking of school lunch, have you heard about the new lunch laws? Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and First Lady Michelle Obama just announced a new plan for healthier school lunches, including less sodium and more fruits, veggies and whole grains. Yes, pizza will still be considered a vegetable, but this seems to be a step in the right direction. What do you think?

Chemicals in the News

Here's one more reason to chuck out your non-stick pans. A new study shows that perfluorinated compounds (PFCs),found in non-stick cookware, fast-food packaging and stain-resistant items, are linked to reduced effectiveness of childhood vaccines. Are chemicals in everyday products a concern for you and your family?

Green Moms Fight Climate Change

Amazing things happen when moms get together for a cause. This month the moms from the Green Moms Carnival joined forces to share ideas, thoughts and actions about fighting the very real, very distressing issue of climate change. Please have a look - I bet you'll come away with some climate change resolutions for yourself.

Pin of the Week

I've been having so much fun on Pinterest! Just as I feared, it is terribly addicting but I've found some great ideas out there! My favorite pin this week is a health remedy to treat colds that came from a blog called Health, Home & Happiness. It's a simple mixture of honey and cinnamon and it looks more like dessert than a health remedy. I'll be trying this with my kiddos next time I see a cold coming on!

Healthy Home Cooked Meals

This month on the Clear Conscience blog over at J.R. Watkins, I shared my favorite cookbooks and websites for healthy dinner inspiration. What are your go-to resources for healthy recipes?

See you next week!

 

 (image credits: bookgrl via flickr and Health, Home & Happiness) 

Comments

[Good Girl Gone Green]

Have a great week-end and good luck for your radio show!!! :)

[Lori Popkewitz Alper]

Hope the radio show goes well Micaela! Sounds like an interesting topic. I'm sure you have some good suggestions for replacing that lovely lunch above!

[Micaela]

Thanks Stephanie - hope you gave a green & healthy weekend too!

[Micaela]

Yeah - isn't that lunch a doozy? I'd freak if I saw that at my kids school! Have a great, green weekend Lori!

[Yosefa @nonrecipe]

I use a small nonstick pan just for frying eggs. I never heat it above medium. I think most of the danger comes from higher heat or once the pan is scratched. I read that giving Tylenol after a vaccine has also been shown to reduce its effectiveness. I still don't understand why Pizza can count as a veggie, not that kids would necessarily eat their veggies if they were served next to the pizza.

[Micaela]

Hi Yosefa - I've heard the same thing about non-stick pans although it's frustrating not having solid research on the issue that looks at how pans are used, conditions of pans etc....
That news about Tylenol and vaccines is worrisome as so many parents use Tylenol for their kids. I'll let you know if I hear anything more about it.