Juicing - Healthy and Fun with Kids

We bought our family a Jack Lalanne juicer and it has been a huge hit! I am always looking for new ways to introduce fruit and veggies into our diet and the juicer does that in a fun way for the kids. My son, who has traditionally been the pickiest eater of my kids, was the biggest fan initially but now it is a daily request by all the kids. They love it and I know they are getting extra fruits and veggies in a fun way. I even sneak in veggies in sweeter fruits and they don't suspect a thing. Here are some of our favorite recipe's, please share yours...

handful strawberries
1 apple
1 small carrot

handful strawberries
handful raspberries
pineapple

carrot
fresh ginger
apple

carrot
cucumber
fresh ginger
apple

Organic Chemical Free Gardening

I think one of the hardest places to eliminate chemicals for a busy mom is in the flower bed! I stopped using chemical weed prevention on my flower garden a couple years ago and I admit it has made my hobby a little harder to keep in line. Last year my husband teased me that I had a weed garden instead of a flower garden... the ratio of weeds to flowers was taking over. However, eleminating chemicals in our gardens and on our lawns is a growing concern among green moms. Healthy Child Healthy World is one of the leading advocates for organic chemical free gardening and shares that some of these chemicals have been linked to childhood illnesses including cancer. I admit it is difficult not to give in to using chemicals, especially when removing weeds manually can be so time consuming. However, I am excited to say there may be a safer solution that will not only save me time but save my back as well. Call your local garden center and ask for organic corn meal, a safe alternative to traditional chemical fertilizers. The Rocket Weeder I purchased last year and a good layer of mulch will also help me stay on my path of organic chemical free gardening... safer for my family and the planet. I'm looking forward to a relatively maintenance and weed free season without the traditional chemicals of the past.

Indy Baby and Toddler Expo

If you are looking for something to do this weekend... stop by the Indy Baby and Toddler Expo on Saturday, April 25 and Sunday April 26th at the Indiana State Fairgrounds. I will be there helping other moms and dads learn about some of the common chemicals found in our homes. If you attend, please be sure to stop by and say hello (booth 204 by the Daddy area). http://www.indybabyexpo.com

Earth Day in Indy With Kids

Tomorrow is Earth Day and has been a focus for our family all month. We have been checking out books at the library and planning Earth Day meetings/activities for Boy Scouts and my son's preschool. It is a great month to take advantage of the many opportunities to share Earth Day in Indy with kids. Your local library is a great resource to find books and movies on recycling, water pollution, organic farming and local food and much more. Here are some books we checked out: 50 simple things kids can do to recycle by Earth Works Group; Water Pollution by Rhonda Lucas Donald; Do you know where your food comes from? by Neil Morris; Endangered Planet by David Burnie and for your preschooler, 10 things I can do to help my world: fun and easy by Melanie Walsh.

If you are looking for some local activities for Earth Day in Indy, here are a few to check out...

Celebrate Trees! Arbor Day Friday, April 24th at the Indiana State Museum. Learn what trees do for us and what we can do for them. Live demo's with Tim Womick of Tree Family, Johnny Appleseed and special guest Rupert Boneham of Survivor. www.indianamuseum.org

Free Indianapolis Earth Day Festival – Saturday, April 25th from 11 am – 4 pm. Learn more at: http://www.earthdayindiana.org

Earth Movie – coming out Earth Day April 22, 2009. Check local listings (may be select theatres only) http://disney.go.com/disneynature/earth

IMAX Under the Sea 3D – showing for a limited time. http://www.imax.com/indy/films/underthesea3d.htm

Indiana State Museum – Footprints Exhibit. http://www.indianamuseum.org/footprints

Earth Hour - Vote Earth With Family Fun

Tomorrow night people around the world will "vote earth" by participating in Earth Hour 2009. Many cities have pledged to turn out the lights but just as important, is the number of families that participate with their children. What are you doing for Earth Hour? I think the event is a great way to have some family fun and teach our children the importance of making good choices for the planet. Here are a couple family fun ideas to do in the dark for Earth Hour...

*flashlight tag
*hide and seek
*a family walk
*watch a movie in the dark
*eat a late dinner by candle light
*play a board game or cards by candle light
*invite family & friends over for a "Earth Hour" party

What ever you decide to do tomorrow night... I hope you will turn off the lights between 8:30 and 9:30 pm. Also, encourage your children to visit Earth Hour Kids, a special website just for kids. Then, make a plan to "vote earth" every day.

Sugar Detox

On my recent vacation I took along several books and although I didn't get as much reading time in as I anticipated... I did make it through a couple books. Unlike many of the beach bound, I was not reading a novel. Instead, I took the opportunity to catch up on several new releases on health and self improvement.

One I highly recommend is The Sugar Fix by Richard Johnson. On the flight to the Dominican, I was reading the March issue of Natural Health Magazine and was surprised to find an article on "Sugar Detox" including information from Richard Johnson's The Sugar Fix. An interesting coincidence since I had packed both publications in my carry on for the flight. The overall message is that we are taking in too much sugar.... mostly in the forms of table sugar and high fructose corn syrup. I have already adopted many of the recommendations like reducing sugary drinks like soda pop and juice, eliminating white flour and opting for whole grains and choosing no sugar added whenever possible. However, I was surprised to find that on closer examination of items in my pantry and refrigerator, I found high fructose corn syrup in things I wouldn't have suspected... pickles, ketchup, barbecue sauce, etc. According to The Sugar Fix, some experts believe the increase of sugar in our diets may be contributing to more than excess weight by increasing our risks for heart disease, type 2 diabetes and more. So, I will be taking a closer look at all my food labels from now on and searching out more natural, whole food ingredients.

Certified Scuba Diver

My husband and I escaped the cold of the Midwest last week with friends to enjoy sun and beaches. The weather was beautiful and although it was hard to be cut off from from home... it also brought us closer to more simple pleasures. While my husband was excited about scuba diving (his new passion which it appears has surpassed his love of golf), I on the other hand was looking forward to relaxing by the beach and reading. However, things turned out differently... After completing a 2 day scuba diving class, I got certified (my open water dives were in the ocean!) and then we went diving the next 2 days with a group and the Dive Master at our resort. I got in 8 dives total... not bad since I was adamant going into the trip that I would just be happy on top of the water snorkeling. However, I have to say the view below is just amazing! I think it makes us think about the awe of nature and how we are all connected by our actions. The beauty of the ocean is breath taking but some warn that we may be risking that beauty through the choices we make not only in the ocean, but at home. Many are taking responsibility to protect coral reefs. We can learn more from NOAA's Coral Reef Conservation Program: Things You Can Do. I hope by making smart choices at home and supporting conservation groups working on our behalf, I will be able to enjoy my new hobby under the water for many years.