Bread

Bread found in stores today is stuffed full of harmful ingredients and preservatives. Many of these ingredients have even been linked to an increased immune response and ADHD. Now, we don't normally eat a lot of bread in my house anyways, but sandwiches are always an easy go to for school lunches, so I needed to find a solution. 

I started out by trying to make my own homemade wheat bread. It was fairly easy to make with my bread maker, and I felt like it tasted pretty close to the store bought brands. The only problem was that it did not look like the store bought brands, and for kids, how a food looks is everything. My 7 year old even resorted to dumping his sandwich out at school to avoid having to eat the bread.

Next, I tried making tortillas because my son loves wraps. Again, I thought they turned out pretty good, but they were a real pain to make. I had to fry each tortilla which took me about an hour to make 1 batch. I do not have time for all of that.

Finally, I decided to do some research to see what would be the healthiest store bought bread option for my family. Most sites recommended Ezekiel 4:9 Sprouted Grain Bread, and sure enough my grocery store carried it in the organic freezer section. Success!

The bread was around $6.00 which was pretty close in price to the Pepperidge Farm bread we used to buy. It contains a lot of wholesome ingredients like wheat, barley, millet, spelt and even lentils. Because the bread does not contain preservatives though, it should be kept frozen. Every couple of days I pull out a couple pieces and place them in a ziplock bag in the fridge to defrost.

The taste was comparable to most whole grain breads, but the best thing of all is my son will eat it. I feel much better about feeding this bread to my family.

Additional Resources:

Healthiest Bread Taste Test

http://blog.foodnetwork.com/healthyeats/2009/07/16/taste-test-5-whole-grain-breads/

Healthiest Bread on the Market

http://foodbabe.com/2014/02/24/healthiest-bread-on-the-market/

Wood Polish

Coconut oil is an essential in my house. I use it in most of my cooking and baking, and for a lot of my personal care items. I also use coconut oil to polish and protect my wood furniture.

All you need to do is take a paper towel or a rag, and rub the coconut oil into the wood. Whipe off and polish with a clean rag, and you're done!

Indoor Plant Mold Remover

2 c. Water

2 Tbsp. Hydrogen Peroxide

Combine water and hydrogen peroxide, and pour over any soil areas containing mold. Allow soil to dry before watering plant again, and repeat of necessary.

Walls

It's amazing how something as simple as cleaning the walls can make the whole house feel spotless. I do this often, and my husband thinks I must have labored cleaning all day long.

Now, there is a lot of debate on whether or not Mr. Clean Magic Erasers are toxic. From what I could tell, as of right now, they do not appear to pose any health risks. That being sad, I still don't like them.

I made the switch when I thought they were toxic, and I think what I use now actually works better. It cleans the whole wall really well, and I don't have a pile of sponge shavings on my floor when I am done.

All you need is 1 part vinegar and 1 part warm water in a bowl, and a tan colored sponge. Dip the sponge in the solution and squeeze out the excess. Scrub any areas that are smudged or dirty, and that is it!

Sustainable Future

Just watched Cowspiracy recently, and my husband and I were shocked with what we saw. Animal agriculture is destroying our ozone, oceans and rainforests. People have been kept in the dark as to what's really going on in the world, because once again big bully corporate America would rather see people and our planet die, than to give up their fancy lifestyle.

The only problem with the documentary is it offers an absolute solution. They say the only way to fix the problem is to basically kill off all of the livestock (the same as them killing off all of the elephants), and for everyone to accept a vegan diet. This is not a realistic goal.

People would be more willing to cut back their consumption of meat and dairy products than to cut them out completely. I know they said Meatless Mondays would not make a difference, but maybe cutting out meat and dairy during the week would be better. Or even cutting back the portion size everyday. I can feed my family of 4 off of 1 chicken breast for a meal.

Meat and dairy should be treated as seasonings, and not the main course. I have talked before about Joel Furhman and the Nutritarian Diet or the Eat to Live Diet. Not only is eating meat and dairy bad for our environment, but it is bad for us as well. I love this food pyramid below. I think it is spot on the way we should be eating as a planet. Give it a try!

I understand changing lifelong culture and habits can be hard. These things take time. Try cutting back slowly until you are use to the diet, and you will see how much better you will feel.

If you do decide to go full vegan, though, I would highly recommend getting Nutritional Yeast. When you stop eating meat you are missing out on essential B-vitamins. You will develop extreme brain fog without them. Nutritional yeast helps to replace these vitamins. It has a cheese flavor and goes great on everything. My favorite is popcorn!

Please share this with your friends and family, so we can all start making a difference.

Available on Netflix

http://www.cowspiracy.com/

Lawn Care

****Update****

Due to impending rain and Amazon being sold out we did not try the Espoma Organic Fertilizer this fall. We used Lesco again this year, because we were able to quickly purchase it at Home Depot. I researched every ingredient it, and could not find anything of major concern.

With better planning, we might still try the Espoma fertilizer in the Spring, or I might decide to get thrifty, and try making my own fertilizer.

Lesco MSDS

http://www.revelationslawncare.com/fertilization.cfm

********

It's that time of year again to get those lawns prepped for next year, and keeping them chemical free is just as important. My kids play in the grass everyday. They roll, they scavenge and they play every kind of sport imaginable in the grass. The grass touches their skin, the toys they pick up and the shoes they track inside. Unless you keep your family locked up inside; exposure is unavoidable.

Now, if your lawn is currently dominated by weeds I do not have a solution for you. I wish I had a chemical free solution to get rid of weeds that I had tested myself, but it wasn't until last year that we started keeping the chemicals off of our lawn, and at that point we had already corrected all of our weed problems. 

When we first moved into our home our yard soon became infested with weeds. We had to spray all kinds of toxic chemicals on it to get rid of them, and decided to just keep the kids off of the lawn for a couple weeks. This is the only weed treatment option I can offer you, but once your lawn is weed free I can show you how to maintain it without any chemicals. There are chemical free treatment options out there, though, so if anyone has had success with one please share.

This is our actual lawn, and for how much it is punished by the sun during the summer, I think it has done pretty well for being chemical free for over a year now.

 

Fall

Once temperatures start to hold below 80F it is time to prep your lawn for next year. You don't want to lay any fertilizers on it too early, as the hot temperatures might burn up your grass.

Seeding and Fertilizing

Around the end of September I would start by seeding and fertilizing your lawn. To get the lawn ready for application, I would start by digging up any large patches of weeds you were not able to remove during the summer. You want to make sure you pull the whole root out, because this is what contains the seeds.

Now you are ready to seed and fertilize. This year we are going to try Espoma Organic Fall Fertilizer; apply as directed. You can purchase this on Amazon with free shipping.

When purchasing a grass seed for your lawn you need to decide what type of grass is best for your climate zone and sun exposure. 

When picking out a brand of grass seed you need to find which one has the least amount of weeds. They all contain some weeds. We normally use Scott's tall fescue from either Lowe's or Home Depot. 

Don't worry about getting a seed with extra moisture lock coatings. I have not been able to notice a difference.

Pay attention to the expiration dates, and purchase the freshest bag. This will give you the best seed.

Once you have laid the seed and fertilizer, I would take some top soil and dust it over any bare patches of grass. This will help the seed from washing away.

Continue to water the lawn at least 3 times a week. I would recommend watering in the morning before the sun comes up. When you water at night you run the risk of developing mold, and if you water after the sun has come up the soil doesn't have time to absorb all of the water before it evaporates.

Mowing

You can slowly start to cut back your grass height at this point. I would cut it back an inch at a time. The lowest I would cut before the winter is 2-2.5". You don't want to cut too much off at a time because this can traumatize the grass.

Lyme

Finally, sometime in November, I would lay down some pelletized Lyme. You don't want to lay Lyme anytime close to fertilizing because they will mix, causing a caustic chemical reaction, and it will burn up your lawn.

Spring

Once you see the first blooms of spring it is time to lay down more seed and fertilizer. You want to get the lawn growing thick and lush before any weeds have a chance to grow. Wherever light gets through weeds will grow.


Seeding and Fertilizing
Follow all of the same steps for seeding and fertilizing as you did in the fall. This time it is important that you get a slow releasing fertilizer though. This will keep your lawn growing strong for longer, so that weeds do not have a chance to take over.

Last year we used Lesco Starter Fertilizer from Home Depot, and we were happy with the results. It was the only slow releasing formula we could buy locally that didn't have warning labels on it. Next Spring, though, I think we will try Espoma Organic Spring Fertilizer found on Amazon just to spice it up a bit.

Start to water at least twice a week at this point. You want to keep your lawn growing thick for when it starts to warm up, so that weeds won't push their way in.



Summer

Once Summer starts, start watering your lawn at least 3 times a week.

You don't want to lay anything else on your lawn once temperatures start to get above 80F. During the Summer you just want to maintain the lawn you have.

Mowing
Mow your lawn at the highest height possible. This will keep the roots shaded, and prevent weeds from growing. Wherever light gets through, weeds have the chance to grow.

Don't edge your lawn. My HOA will probably hate me for saying this, but I think they would rather my lawn be weed free, than for it to be well groomed.  When you edge around your lawn you are not only traumatizing the grass, but allowing for light to get through and for weeds to form. Blow or sweep out any grass clippings from around the edges of your lawn, and trim any grass with the weed wacker to the same height as the rest of your lawn.


Weed Control
To keep the weeds under control you want to start to pick them out by the root as soon as you start to see them grow.  If you let them grow for too long the roots will be too deep to easily pull. To do this I carry a plastic bag on my mower, and pick any weeds while I mow. Taking a couple extra minutes to mow the lawn, saves me a lot of extra work later on. Leave any deep rooted clumps of weeds to dig out in the fall; they won. If you dig them out now you will just leave a bare patch for more weeds to fill in, and so on, and so on.

Yes, that is an electric mower you see. Now, I know my neighbors think I am crazy, and If you already have a perfectly good lawn mower I wouldn't suggest scrapping it, but if you are in the market I would highly recommend an electric mower. We bought it because we were tired of dealing with gas and oil, and we were surprised at how well it cuts. The chord takes some getting used to, but it has lasted us almost 4 years now, is maintenance free, and you don't have toxic fumes off-gassing in your garage.

-Clover 

Patches of clover can be tricky to pull because they are so fragile and weaved into with the grass. To get rid of clover follow this simple recipe:

1 cup boiling water
3 Tbsp. Borax
Spray Bottle

Dissolve Borax in boiling water. Let cool. Pour into spray bottle. Dampen clover leaves with spray. The instructions I used told me to spray the clover until the leaves were dripping, but this slightly burned the grass, so I think that is too much. I would just come back and spray some more in a couple days for any clover left over.


-Nutsedge

Nutsedge is a fast growing bright green looking grass. Don't be fooled, though, this is not grass; pick it. Nutsedge will grow faster than the rest of your lawn, and in two days time, will leave your lawn looking unkept. It is very easy to pick, so just get rid of it.

-15 Common Lawn and Garden Weeds

http://theselfsufficientliving.com/15-common-lawn-garden-weeds-identification/

Additional Resources:

5 Reasons Not to Use Weed and Feed

http://www.beyondpesticides.org/pesticidefreelawns/resources/weed%20and%20feed%20factsheet.pdf

Toxic Lawns

http://www.safelawns.org/blog/2011/06/sustainable-living-toxic-lawns/

Investigating Brown Spots

http://www.todayshomeowner.com/how-to-identify-the-cause-of-brown-spots-in-your-lawn/

Dangerous Lawn Chemicals

http://www.planetnatural.com/lawn-chemicals/

Laundry

Most people wouldn't think twice about what chemicals they use on their laundry. I mean, it's not like you are putting the actual detergents on your skin, right? Really, though, you are still absorbing and inhaling these dangerous chemicals all day long.

From the clothes you and your family wear, to the towels you dry off on, these chemicals are tainting your laundry. And for my blanket-pacifying daughter, this is particularly dangerous. Below is a couple ways I keep these toxins out of our laundry.

Laundry Detergent

3 cups boiling water

1/2 cup Borax

1/2 cup Arm and Hammer Super Washing Soda

1/2 cup Baking Soda

2 Tbsp. Seventh Generation Dish Liquid

1 gallon jug (reused vinegar jug)

Water

Mix all of the ingredients in the boiling water until dissolved.

Let cool, and then pour into jug. Fill the rest of the jug with water, and your detergent is ready!

Fill high efficiency slot in the washer, or just add about 1/2 cup to the wash, and wash clothes on normal settings.

I normally wash on Eco warm unless the clothes are heavily soiled.

Stain Remover

Baking Soda

Hydrogen Peroxide

Seventh Generation Dish Liquid

Mix 1 part dish liquid with 2 parts hydrogen peroxide.

Mix in 1-2 Tbsp. of baking soda until it forms a liquid paste.

Using a toothbrush, rub paste into stain on both sides of garment.

Let sit for 1 hour, and then wash in warm water.

Mixture does not hold its effectiveness for long, so I normally just mix up a batch before I start to do laundry. 

I normally start by throwing the clothes in the wash looking for any soiled items. While the first load is washing, I treat the soiled items, and then set them to the side to soak. I then wash all of the soiled items and the rest of my laundry in the second load on warm. 

Wool Dyer Balls

Fabric softeners and dryer sheets are full of toxic chemicals. These dryer balls are my favorite!! They are easy to make, decrease drying time, soften clothes, and, after the initial cost of yarn, are free for life!! 

These instructions call for you to use panty hose, and tie floss between each ball. I just threw all of the balls into a tube sock, knotted the end, and threw them in the wash.  They have lasted me 2 years now.  And if you enjoy adding scent to your laundry, you can add a couple drops of your favorite essential oil to the balls.

Wool Dryer Balls Instructions

http://www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com/2014/04/how-to-make-your-own-energy-saving-wool-dryer-balls.html?utm_source=getresponse&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=onegoodthing&utm_content=%5B%5Brssitem_title%5D%5D&crlt.pid=camp.x8LxsT0qN4ki

Additional Resources:

Effect of Toxic Laundry Detergents

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/12/21/are-you-slowly-killing-your-family-with-hidden-dioxane-in-your-laundry-detergent.aspx

10 Hazardous Household Chemicals

http://www.globalhealingcenter.com/health-hazards-to-know-about/top-10-hazardous-household-chemicals

Kitchen

Now that you are eating better, it's time to make sure you don't contaminate all of your hard work.  There are surfaces all over your kitchen that come into contact with you and your food. Below are some of my suggestions for keeping your kitchen chemical free.

 

Plastics
On the bottom of most plastic containers is the recycling number for that plastic.  These numbers can tell you if the plastic is known to contain toxic chemicals or not.  Numbers 2, 4 and 5 are safe choices; 1 and 7 you should limit or use caution; and 3 and 6 you should avoid.

Safe Plastic Numbers Guide
http://www.babygreenthumb.com/122-safe-plastic-numbers-guide.aspx

 

Recently, I have been concerned about my family's use of plastics. Though they are BPA free, each plastic has a proprietary formula, and it is unknown what other harmful chemicals could be seeping out onto your food.  For this reason, I try to limit our use of plastic containers.

Avoiding plastics can be easier said than done though. Especially when you have an 18 month old who thinks her plate is a frisbee.  So, for everything I can't avoid being plastic, I avoid washing it in the dishwasher.

The plastic may say it is dishwasher or microwave safe, but that only means it will not warp under extreme temperatures. It does not mean toxic chemicals will not still leach out onto your food. Here is my dishwashing process to avoid this problem:

Dishwashing

To start, I wash all of my dishes with Seventh Generation Free and Clear dish liquid. I like how well it cuts through the food, and I often use it as an ingredient in a lot of my cleaning products. I buy mine from Target for $5.99 for a 50fl oz. bottle.

Now, before I started using natural dishwashing detergents I always had to pre-wash all of my dishes. I don't know if I am just unlucky, or doing something wrong, but I have never been able to just throw my dirty dishes in the dishwasher, and have them come out sparkling clean. That being said, I make my own dishwasher detergent that, for pre-washing my dishes, leaves my dishes spotless. A lot of natural and homemade detergents will leave your dishes with a nasty haze. Which, for my OCD self, I can't stand. Here is my recipe for my homemade dishwasher detergent:

Dishwasher Detergent

-Water
-2 Tbsp. Borax
-2 Tbsp. Arm and Hammer Super Washing Soda
-1 Tbsp. Lemon Shine
-1 Tbsp. Dish Liquid (Seventh Generation)
-1 gallon jug (I reused an old vinegar jug, to remove the label soak the jug in warm water and a couple glugs of vinegar)

Start by boiling about 2 cups of water on the stove.

Remove from heat and add the borax, washing soda, lemon shine and dish liquid (I like to dissolve the ingredients in hot water, because the borax doesn't dissolve well in cold water).

Let the solution cool, and then pour into gallon jug. Fill up the rest of the jug with cold water, and you are all set.


Dish Washing Steps

To start, I have my soapy warm water in the sink.

In a basin I got from the Dollar Tree, I have cold water and what I would guess is about 2 Tbsp of vinegar (I just do 1 glug). This is my rinse bucket.

I start by washing my plastics, dip them in the rinse bucket, and then set them in the dishwasher while I continue to wash the rest.

Then, I wash the knives, dip them in the rinse bucket, and place them in the dishwasher.

Next, I wash the pots and pans (not many pots and pans are dishwasher safe) dip them in the rinse bucket, and set them in the dishwasher.

At this point then, I dry all of the dishes, and put them away. Now, again, I don't know if I am just unlucky, but I have always had to dry my dishes by hand anyway.

All I have left now is my glassware, silverware and plates. I save these for last, because my water is all dirty at this point, and, happily, the dishwasher will fix all of that nastiness. 

*You should always microwave your sponge for about 1 minute at least once a week; if not  every time before you wash the dishes. Also, use a clean tea towel to dry the dishes.

All together I was very surprised how easy it was to not dishwash my plastics.  It was nice to have it all done, and to not have to wait for the dishwasher to run.  Though, I am still on the fence, I might try in the future to cut out the dishwasher completely.

12 Things You Should Not Dishwash
http://spoonuniversity.com/learn/12-things-you-should-never-put-in-the-dishwasher/

Pots and Pans
The majority of non-stick cookware today contains toxic chemicals that leach out onto your food.  Now, cast iron or stainless steel pots are generally chemical free, but I am not a good enough cook to not solder my eggs to the pot for eternity.

The other option I have found is ceramic cookware.  I have been using ceramic cookware for a while now, and I love them. Ceramic pots are PFOA and PTFE free, but still provide a non-stick surface.  The only thing you need to watch out for when purchasing them is if they are induction top safe (if you have a glass stove top) or if they are dishwasher safe (if you would still like to dishwash them).

There are a lot of pricey options out there for ceramic cookware, but I don't see them lasting any longer than the cheaper pots. Personally, I like to buy the cheaper ones, and when they are worn I don't feel bad to buy shiny new ones. My newest pots came from Bed Bath and Beyond. They are the Denmark 10 piece ceramic nonstick aluminum cookware set in the copper finish for $99.99 (plus 20% off coupon!!!).  They are induction top safe, but not recommended for dishwasher.  Love them!

Ceramic Pans
http://wellnessmama.com/13203/glazed-ceramic-pans-safe/

Cleaning Products
There are surfaces all over your kitchen that you and your family touch. You don't want these to be contaminated with chemicals. There are several green products you can choose from out there, but I find these products leave a residue. Most of my cleaning products I make on my own.


All Purpose Cleaner

-2 cups Water
-1/2 cup Isopropyl Alcohol
-8 drops Dish Liquid (Seventh Generation)
-Spray bottle
-(Optional) Grapefruit Essential Oil

Start by pouring the water into the spray bottle. Mark the water level line on the spray bottle, and label it 'water'.

Then, pour the alcohol into the spray bottle. Mark the level line again on the spray bottle, and label this line 'alcohol'. This way, when it comes time to refill your cleaner, you won't have to measure out your liquids again.

Last, add about 8 drops of dish soap (mine doesn't drip out, so just a squirt will do).  If you would like to have a fruity smell, and add some antibacterial properties you can add a couple drops of Grapefruit Essential Oil to the solution.  I normally just use my without, though.


Glass Stove Top Cleaner

-Baking Soda
-Salt
-Small Container
-Scouring Pad

Mix equal parts baking soda and salt in small container.

Spread a little bit all over dirty stove top.

Scrub with damp scouring pad until clean. For extra dirty stove top, pour some vinegar on scouring pad before scrubbing.

Wipe off residue with paper towel, and clean with All Purpose Cleaner.

Cabinet Cleaner

-water

-vinegar

-sponge (I use Scotch Brite Greener Clean non-scratch sponges)

Mix equal parts vinegar and warm water.

Whipe down cabinets with sponge.

Floor Cleaner

-water

-Murphy's Oil Soap or vinegar

-2 buckets

-mop with 2 changeable heads

Pour some Murphy's Oil soap (instructions say 1/2 cup per gallon of water; I just eyeball this though) or vinegar (again, it's just a couple of glugs) in 1 bucket. 

Fill with warm water.

Fill other bucket with plain warm water. This is your rinse bucket.

Mop floor; rinsing mop off in rinse bucket before placing back in soapy water.

Change mop head to dry head, and dry floor once done mopping.

 

Food

If you are just starting to go chemical free, I believe just changing the food you eat is a good place to start. I will keep this short and sweet though. There is a lot of bad stuff in the food we eat today!

Don't go all crazy now, and isolate yourself from the rest of the world.  Please keep in mind that this is a lifetime goal to reduce the amount of chemicals you consume.  It is not rational to think you can avoid them completely. Reducing the amount of exposure in your own home will help to make up the difference for the rest of the exposure when you are not at home. 

Most of this stuff is probably redundant for a lot of you, but it has to be covered at some point, so here are a couple ideas to try that are budget friendly.  Feel free to take and leave what you like from this list.  You should be the one to decide what is best for your family.

Buy Organic

Organic foods obtain their label by following strict guidelines. These foods are free from pesticides, fertilizers, genetic modification, ionizing radiation, antibiotics and hormones.

Now, there was a time when I thought if I washed and cooked regular food really well it didn't matter if I bought organic or not. Well, I was wrong.  I had finally realized this when I tried to regrow romaine lettuce from their stumps (I would not recommend this because the outside started to rot and attract fruit flies). When I started this, though, I had some regular romaine stumps that I set in water to see if it worked. Then there was a sale on organic romaine, so I started growing the leftover stumps of the organic romaine I had bought. I changed the water in the bowls every couple of days, and the water in the organic romaine bowl was always clear, but in the regular romaine bowl the water was bright yellow for several weeks. Yuck!

Now, I am no expert or have any idea what actually caused the water to turn bright yellow, but my assumption was there were pesticides leaching out of the lettuce. I decided then that harmful chemicals are not only on the outside of food, where they could be washed away, but they were absorbed on the inside as well.  Not something I want my family to eat.

The Environmental Working Group has a list of the 12 foods you should buy organic. I am a black and white person though, and unless they are clean then they are dirty. The EWG has also made a list of 15 foods you don't have to worry about buying organic. I normally stick to this list.

EWG's Dirty Dozen

http://www.ewg.org/foodnews/dirty_dozen_list.php
EWG's Clean Fifteen

http://www.ewg.org/foodnews/clean_fifteen_list.php

 

 

Debatable, But Currently I Would Not Worry About These Either

- Baby carrots are washed and cleaned (yes they are washed in a chlorine solution, but it is reported to be less chlorine than what you have coming out of your tap), so I wouldn't worry about buying these organic.

http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/2014/01/07/truth-behind-baby-carrots/

- Frozen vegetables are washed and cleaned as well, so I wouldn't worry about buying these organic. I would still avoid frozen blueberries and strawberries though, because they have been found to contain a higher level of pesticides.

http://www.doctoroz.com/article/produce-and-pesticides-what-you-need-know

Buy on Sale
Buying organic can be expensive, so try to buy things when they are on sale.

Buy at Farmer's Markets

Produce at farmer's markets has been shown to have reduced amounts of pesticides. You can always ask them too what they use on their produce.

Avoid Canned Foods

Canned foods still contain BPA. Try making your own beans or can them yourself.  Also, try making your own creamed soups.

Canning Beans

http://amatterofpreparedness.blogspot.com/2010/02/i-dont-have-time.html?m=1

Cream of Anything Soup Mix

http://1orangegiraffe.blogspot.com/2011/07/anything-you-wanna-call-it-casserole.html?showComment=1310864846151&m=1

 

 

Meat and Dairy
Buy meat and dairy products that are antibiotic and hormone free.


Read the Labels
Buy foods with the simplest list of ingredients.  There are a lot of food products that are just as good even though they do not have the organic label on them. If you are in doubt about an ingredient just look it up. Sometimes they will list some crazy names for natural ingredients.


Start Your Own Garden

Grow your own fruits and vegetables.  I have not had a chance to try this completely yet. I am slowly working on my green thumb. Hopefully by next year I will have something growing.  I would not recommend growing from scraps, though, unless you would like to have your kitchen infested with flies.

 

Clean Your Food Thoroughly

I take all of my produce when I get home, and let it soak for about 10 minutes in a bucket of vinegar and water (not sure on exact measurements, but a couple glugs to a huge bucket of water will do). I soak my strawberries and blueberries in a separate bowl. After 10 minutes I set the berries on a towel to dry completely before I place them in the fridge uncovered. I scrub and dry the rest of my produce, even the produce I am going to remove the skin from (the skin could cause contamination during cutting). Leafy greens I wash under running water (they will wilt easier if left in water), shake off as much of the water as I can, chop, and then place in a partially covered bowl. Then I am all set for the week!

Cleaning Produce

http://www.familyfreshmeals.com/2013/06/how-to-clean-fruits-and-vegetables.html

Eat Healthy

If you are interested in a great, healthy diet I am a big fan of Joel Fuhrman, and his Eat to Live or Nutritarian diet. It basically involves high fruit and vegetables, low oil, low salt, low sugar, low processed foods, low meat and low starchy vegetables.  Pretty much low anything that makes food taste good.  This is a life-long diet though, so one cheat a week is a great way to keep you on track.  Plus, once you see how eating all of that bad stuff really makes you feel, you won't have the desire to eat that way anymore. The detox is the hardest part, but after 2 weeks you feel amazing, no longer crave food, and really just eat like you were intended to; to nourish your body.

http://www.drfuhrman.com/

 

Recipes

I haaate cooking, so you really don't want to take any recipes from me.  When I need a recipe, though, I find looking up vegan versions gives me the healthiest options, and you can always just add meat to it.

~I hope some of these tips have been helpful for you.  I would be happy to help if you have any questions or need any guidance.  Please feel free to share your own insight as well!~

Other Resources:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/31/AR2010053101914.html

http://m.huffpost.com/ca/entry/3101043

http://www.panna.org/issues/food-agriculture/pesticides-on-food

http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/521932

About Me

I will start by giving a little background about myself.  I am currently working part time as a radiologic technologist.  The rest of my time is spent taking care of my two amazing kids and my wonderful husband.

Now, my husband and I are definitely the products of our parents.  A true Meet the Fockers situation.  On my side of the family, both parents have worked in healthcare all of their lives, and both of my sisters have ended up working in healthcare as well.  I have trusted in the system all of my life, and I often have trouble believing that our government would knowingly allow manufacturers to poison us.

On my husband's side of the family, his father is a financial advisor and his mother is a holistic teacher.  Things normally start out for us with watching a documentary on Netflix (never good).  At the end of the show we normally sit there with our jaws dropped, and my husband's holistic side normally kicks in.  We vow to make a change in our lives.  

The next chance we get we go to the store ready to buy our healthy new future.  We pass by our old toxic filled products, and come to our new, clean and green, twice as expensive products (womp, womp).  This is the point when my husband's financial side normally kicks in.  We decide, "Egh, that old product can't be that bad for us.  We just won't use it as often", and walk out of the store empty handed.

At this point my medical side of the family kicks in, and I scour the internet just to see how toxic this product really is.  "There is no way people are really exposing us to those chemicals" is what I normally say.  The majority of the time, though, all of the information points to bad, and I then end up searching for cheaper, healthier solutions.

My husband and I definitely compliment each other well.  We rationally decide what is the safest, most reasonable options for our family.  I believe our solutions are not only healthier for us, but actually save us money.  You can't beat that!

 

 

Disclaimer:

I do not consider myself to be an expert in this field.  These are my own personal decisions.  Please research every choice you make, and decide if it is best for your family.  I hope this helps to point you into the right direction. 

If you are just now deciding to make the change to chemical free, I would recommend taking it one step at a time.  You don't want to go through product withdrawal, and end up giving up before you even get started.  You have been using most of these toxic products for all of your life.  A couple more months will not make a difference.  Just deciding to make the transition is the biggest and best step you could take.