Cheeky Monkey Organic Peanut Snacks Review & Giveaway

Our family is very often on-the-go. As most fellow homeschoolers will agree - you often spend more time outside the home and words like car-schooling or world schooling apply much better! This of course brings on the challenge of feeding my kids nutritious and healthy foods and snacks no matter where we may be that day. Grab and go type options that are actually healthy are extremely scarce and my biggest pet peeve is the sheer amount of sugar even in organic kids snacks. So I was definitely excited to be introduced to Cheeky Monkey - a healthy, sugar free, organic kids snack.

We received a few bags of Cheeky Monkey to put to the test of two very hungry growing munchkins who scream "I'm hungry!" the moment they are done with their breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Honestly, I had no idea they would like these so much. At first Baby E, my older one, didn't take to the peanut snacks and gave them to her little brother Baby T, but surprise, moments later I saw her sneaking some from his bag. Then she asked for her own. Then I had to hide the stuff! After I tried it I had to hide it from myself frankly! It's a good thing they are full of protein and fill you up pretty quick, otherwise it would be very hard to stop. They are not salty, but with just a hint of sweetness - without any sugar, the organic peanut butter has that bit of sweet tastiness that's hard to explain. 

There is so much we like about Cheeky Monkey, I'm not even sure where to start! Most important to me I think is the three organic certifications that Cheeky Monkey has passed - COR (Canadian), USDA, and EU Certified Organic. Ultimately I think we all want to reduce our kids' exposure to pesticides, because no matter how hard we try they will be exposed here and there regardless. My job as a parent is to minimize that when and if I can, as much as I can afford to. 

Cheeky Monkey peanut snacks are also certified gluten-free. This means they are produced in a gluten free dedicated facility that is certified by the Gluten Free Certification Organization. While we do not have celiac disease, overall we feel better when we minimize our intake of gluten. For me the primary reason - gluten makes me foggy and zaps my energy. For my kids, an overload of gluten gives them bowel issues and irritability. Not a fan of them being moody! So I definitely appreciate the fact I have a gluten-free snack on hand.

Likewise, while we are not vegan by any means - I like the fact that Cheeky Monkey puffs are vegan and an entirely plant-based snack, yet very high in protein. They are also kosher certified by the Orthodox Union, if that's something that is important to your family. These were not a must for us personally, but a nice bonus on the list of positives. To top it all off, there are also no trans-fats, no sugar, dairy, or casein. Right now we do consume organic dairy, but there was a point in Baby E's life when dairy was actually life-threatening to her when as an infant she couldn't at all digest milk protein, not even when I would eat it and it showed up in breast milk. 

Before I agreed to review this, I wanted to make sure it would be something I would wholeheartedly let my kids eat without concerns and that it is also an environmentally sound and sustainably sourced product. While I would have preferred coconut oil, it was great to learn that the organic palm oil used to make the snacks is both Rainforest Alliance certified and certified by the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil. 

My kids are no longer babies, but this snack is actually safe and beneficial for babies. Not only does it quickly melt in the mouth so there is no choking hazard, a recent study also showed that 6 grams a week of peanut protein (about 1.5 ounces of Cheeky Monkey), can reduce the risk of developing peanut allergy. So it's perfect in small amounts even for infants starting solids! A great on-the-go addition to those healthy veggies you may start your infant on while continuing breastfeeding.

Last but not least, this snack was developed by group of people, including parents, that have a primary interest in health and wellness for their children and themselves. Much like me, but perhaps with way better skills at bringing such a great idea to life! 

One of my readers is going to get to try these yummy snacks for yourself, we hope your kids will love these as much as mine do! 

Giveaway is open to U.S. residents. Obviously, please do not enter if you have someone in your household with life-threatening peanut allergies. One winner per household, email address, or home address. If you have won this prize on another blog you are ineligible to win again.

Connect with Cheeky Monkey on Facebook and their website

Disclaimer: I participated in this event on behalf of Wendy's Bloggers for Cheeky Monkey. I received Cheeky Monkey products to facilitate my review.


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Nature's Path & Stonyfield: Superfood Breakfast

You already know I have a soft spot in my heart for organic yogurt from Stonyfield. So I'm sure it's no surprise it is a frequent breakfast of mine! I really love my mornings when the kids are still asleep (which is often till 9 am since we homeschool), I wake up with dawn, tip toe downstairs, and mix up some yummy granola with a cup of Stonyfield Oh My Yog or just a regular large French Vanilla. Then I cozy up in my home office to edit wedding or engagement photos before they wake up and we start our homeschooling lessons, trekking outdoors, or simply playing. I've been buying the Nature's Path Chia Plus Granola for years and am a big fan, but I was excited to also try the Pumpkin Flax Granola that we received in the mail. 

It's a perfect combination of flavors, not too sweet and definitely not "blah". With the addition of the Nature's Path Qi'a it further elevates a breakfast to be a super-breakfast. Qi'a is naturally gluten free and packed with plant based protein, fiber, and omega 3s. There is no added sugar or salt, and of course it is certified organic and non-GMO verified.

As an eco-conscious mom and blogger, one of the most important things to me is how the food we eat is grown and sourced. With Stonyfield and Nature's Path I can be confident I'm feeding my family GMO-free foods that are of the highest quality, short of growing and producing it myself - and what busy mom has time for that? 

Not only is this a simple breakfast to throw together, but you don't have to stop there, the yogurt, superfood cereal,  and the granola may all be used as ingredients in creating a unique breakfast of your own, a great part of a cookie recipe that you can dream up! Baby E and Baby T love helping me in the kitchen, so they'd be the first to make up a crazy recipe and put random ingredients in the cookies. It might seem random, but Nature's Path has the perfect ingredients for a healthy cookie. 

My kids love putting the granola in their yogurt. In fact it's extended not just to breakfast, but they'll have it for a snack, sometimes for lunch, and believe it or not, even dinner! Okay, so that only happened a couple of times, but who am I to say no to a healthy organic "dinner"? 

How would you use Nature's Path granola or Qi'a superfood breakfast cereal?

Disclosure: As a Stonyfield Blogger I was sent Nature's Path products along with Stonyfield coupons for this review. All opinions are my own and I only work with brands whose mission I wholeheartedly support and would recommend to my readers. 

15 Immune System Boosters and Illness Fighters for Kids

As a mom in the trenches of our first illness of this season, boosting my kids' immune system is really fresh in my head, we've just recuperated! From the past five years of experience, we have a pretty large arsenal of first aid and have more or less figured out what works best for different types of symptoms as well as what helps prevent an illness from materializing when first symptoms are present. 

I certainly do not know it all, but I prefer to keep our kids and ourselves off of drugs of any sort. Medical treatment only when absolutely necessary. These tried and true immune boosters have helped keep us out of the doctor's office many times (even though our doctor rocks) and are definitely less expensive than over-inflated medical bills! These remedies help with everything from regular sniffles to a full blown respiratory infection that's tougher to beat. 

I've noticed in friends, family, and acquaintances in real life and online - that regular medical treatment often results in lingering symptoms that do not go away for weeks or months, or worse - side effects that are worse than the illness itself. One thing I noticed is rather predictable with these natural remedies though, there are no side effects, we get over illnesses fairly quickly, and there are no lingering symptoms. 

Here are all of our little secrets to staying well or treating acute illness through the New England fall/winter/spring, in no particular order...

1. Breastfeeding | FREE

It's no secret that breastfeeding boosts a baby's immune system. I don't know how we would have survived illness with little ones if it wasn't for breastfeeding, my first until she turned 2 and my second is almost 3 and still nursing once or twice a day. All kinds of goodness here, breast milk full of probiotics, it is antiviral, and it is full of vitamins and minerals.

2. Sunshine/Vitamin D | FREE, $4 - $20

Getting vitamin D naturally from proper sun exposure is best of course, but not always possible when the kids are bundled even for the few minutes of sun they get in cold weather. If you get supplements, make sure it is in the form of vitamin D3, not synthetic D2. For younger ones, you'll do well with hiding some liquid D3 drops in their drink. This is just common sense because vitamin D deficiency has been directly linked to being susceptible to the flu (see here and here).  

3. Sleep | FREE
It's absolutely essential for the body to have adequate sleep to have a strong immune system, especially for children (see here). Overworked, tired little bodies are more susceptible to disease. It may be tempting in this modern age to schedule your children for every available activity, but consider that their health and rest are more important and should be guarded. This is just one of gazillion reasons we love homeschooling, our learning revolves around a healthy lifestyle and not an exhausting schedule. 

4. Probiotics | $15 - $50
Since our immune system cells are largely contained in the gut, probiotics are naturally a great way to boost immunity. Not to mention they address many unwanted symptoms such as IBS, recurrent yeast infections, bloating and other digestive issues. Probiotics may also help with absorption of vitamin D3, minerals, and other nutrients. Not all probiotics are created equal though! Most do not survive the acid in your stomach before they reach the intestines. Make sure yours is not just one most commonly marketed strain like acidophiclus. Some of the most effective strains are lactobacillus reuteri (as found in breast milk) and bacillus coagulans. 

5. Vitamin C | $1 - $20
I'm sure you already know Vitamin C is great to ward of colds and flu, but did you know that most vitamin C supplements on the market are derived from genetically modified organisms? It's usually made from GM corn. Your best bet is just buying some organic lemons and incorporating that into recipes (such as this yummy, healthy dessert) and smoothies. If you must supplement though, invest in a whole food, real vitamin C supplement such as this. 

6. Elderberry Syrup | $5 - $30
I have heard so many great things about elderberries from other moms that I had to finally try it. I am getting on the bandwagon, this stuff is amazing! I don't know what it does, but it works fast and is great for cough and anything that affects respiratory system. I bought this syrup but plan on making my own out of whole dried elderberries with this recipe, which will be cheaper for the amount it yields.

7. Wild Cherry Bark Syrup | $10 - $20
I love this locally made (to me) remedy from Vermont, this syrup does wonders for lingering, persistent, or "whooping" coughs, especially when kids have trouble sleeping. It was recommended by a naturopath and I'm so thankful to have it on hand for the winter season. 

8. Colloidal Silver | $10 - $50

Not really an "immune booster", but it stops anything viral in its tracks and works well to bring high fevers under control and kill the culprit. You have to be sure of correct dosage according to the label. The best thing is, it has no particular taste and can easily be mixed into some water or a green smoothie. Be sure to follow with probiotics as this is a natural antibiotic and can wreak havoc on digestion! Just be sure to buy the right kind, NOT ionic silver or protein suspended, you want real colloidal silver, we buy this one and it's amazing for infection of any kind (it's cheaper on Swanson). We've used it for viral infections and for tooth infection. Unlike antibiotics, it kills bacteria, viruses, and parasites without harming your cells and does not breed antibiotic resistance. 

9. Olive Leaf Extract | $10 - $15
Olive leaf extract is miraculous! Let's see: antibacterial, antiviral, anti-fungal - great for any internal infections. It did wonders for an aching tooth I once had. Antioxidant, lowers blood pressure, contains anti-cancer compounds apigenin and luteolin (remember, all of us have cancer cells). You have to use your head and figure out dosage for a child, it's definitely not something to be taken regularly.

10. Gaia Kids Wet and Dry Cough Syrups | $15 - $20
At the recommendation of our doctor we got these syrups for lingering cough last winter, both the dry cough and the wet cough. It's great for those night time coughing spells, one dose and baby is fast asleep! It really calms things down and gradually gets rid of cough for good. Not cheap, but in our humble opinion worth it for the relief we see in our kids. 

11. Cod Liver Oil | $8 - $40
This is a supplement that is great to take daily all through the year, cod liver oil has a ton of benefits and is great for overall health. During flu season we up the dosage and skip less often than summer. I notice a difference in my own health when I take it and when I don't. Not to mention it's great for skin, nails, teeth, and hair! 

12. Echinacea | $5 - $20

An alcohol-free liquid echinacea formula is a great immune system booster and is great to mix into the kids drinks. This is a great preventative measure to implement through the winter. I use liquid echinacea in smoothies for the whole family!

13. Smoothies | varies per serving
Of course what you put in a smoothie can also boost the immune system. Berries, spinach, lemon, apples, ginger, carrots, chia seeds, cucumber, and cinnamon are all great healthy ingredients. To make it yummier and more tolerable for the kids you can add a little banana or mango, raw milk would be great if you have any. 

14. Fruits and Veggies
Of course fruits and veggies in their raw or lightly steamed form are awesome! I stock up on broccoli as my kids surprisingly like it steamed. Carrots to munch on. Slightly sour green apple slices. Sauteed cabbage. Raw sweet peppers. Sauteed cauliflower. Green peas. Offer a variety of veggies throughout the day regularly and they will learn to like them. 

15. Humidifier | $25 - $150

There is no way around it, indoor air will become really dry in the winter with the heat or furnace on. This can really dry out nasal passages and prolong illnesses, not to mention it makes viruses more easily transmittable indoors. We run a humidifier every night in the winter and sometimes throughout the day when we are sick. This one has served us well for 6 years and I loved it, though it recently died (hoping I can fix it). Meanwhile I keep the air moist by hanging well towels to dry and boiling water on the stove top.

*  *  *

Whatever you do, keep in mind that it is a proven fact that sugar suppresses immunity and triggers inflammation. Being surrounded by it everywhere makes it really hard (ask me how I know), but try to focus on a real-food diet with plenty of organic veggies and whole fruit, legumes, as well as healthy fats, and organic or grass-fed meats. Also, it's great to have a non-toxic hand sanitizer with you at all times to use when you can't wash hands. If you're home, triclosan-free soap will do the trick!

Last but not least, in a crazed and "fast-lane" society, we really really need to guard our children and families from being over-scheduled. When stress hormones rise in children and adults, immune system response is lowered. Kids need lots of creative free play time and rest to thrive!

Disclaimer: This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Talk to your trusted healthcare provider about any questions you may have regarding your health. 


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My Babies Love the New Stonyfield Pouches! {Giveaway}

I participated in a Blogger Activation on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Stonyfield. I received coupons to facilitate my shopping trip and a promotional item to thank me for participating.

I was really excited to find out that Stonyfield launched YoBaby, YoToddler, and YoKids yogurt pouches! As you may recall, my kids live off of yogurt, especially in the summer. Stonyfield happens to be our go-to brand and you will often see some in our fridge. We recently made a trip to the store so we can use our coupons and specifically try out these new pouches so we can tell you everything we think about them. 

I love this new super-convenient way of nourishing my kids and giving them a treat that's actually healthy - we love these pouches for dessert! I love the grab-and-go convenience that now accompanies us on nearly every day trip, drive to the park, and picnic. I also love how this method of feeding them is actually clean enough for the car, so far we haven't had any 'squeeze accidents' in their car seats and I look forward to having these on hand for road trips. It is really important to me that these contain no high fructose corn syrup, GMOs, or artificial flavors - not just because I know those ingredients are not healthy, but because my kids have immediate reactions to such unwholesome additives. I know I can trust Stonyfield for many reasons, one of them being that Stonyfield employees proudly feed these great products to their own kids!

Oh wow, they look sad in these photos, don't let that deceive you! They were absolutely thrilled with these pouches and they were so concentrated on emptying them fast and ready to beg for another. I love how mess-free these are, in terms of convenience they are great. In terms of price point, I will still continue to buy the more budget friendly large tubs of Stonyfield yogurt for eating at home, and the pouches are nice to have on hand in the fridge for when we are on the go. Note: Hide the pouches behind other stuff in the fridge because the kids will beg for them when they see them upfront. Ask me how I know.

I have a preference for YoBaby and YoToddler products because I believe children (and adults!) need whole fat products for optimal development and brain function. Though I still would prefer Stonyfield YoKids low-fat yogurt over a non-organic whole fat product with weird ingredients. Of course the kids love all three options, although I think even they prefer the creamier, less watery consistency of YoBaby and YoToddler! Size wise, all of these are great for a snack, but they are not particularly filling, I find my preschooler needs two to fill her up - but of course it's perfect paired with another non-dairy snack, it doesn't have to be just yogurt. I wouldn't hesitate to pack it into our picnic bag of sandwiches for the kids to indulge in as a dessert after they burn off their energy! I also love that it is sold in many stores, so even if we are not in the vicinity of our home, I can count on finding some Stonyfield products in stores throughout the country. Find out on their website if they carry Stonyfield pouches near you!

Want to try these for yourself? Enter below and Stonyfield will send one winner 10 coupons for free pouches! 

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This post was created in partnership with Stonyfield. All opinions are my own. 

The Reality of Fancy Recipes

I subscribe to many food blogs that post yummy, amazing recipes several times a week. Sometimes I even bookmark (Pin) one. I think to myself "my kids would love this one, oh and this one, and this". With such an onslaught of perfect recipes it's easy to fall into the trap of feeling guilty because let's face it - when it comes to reality, you're not going to make a new recipe every day, or every week even. 

Hey, I have times where all month long I make nothing new and it's pure survival mode in the kitchen. You know those times when you just don't feel the inspiration to make something new? When you simply have no time to invest in trying a new recipe? When it's pasta and hot dogs, with side of ketchup for dinner. 

We are so spoiled. Food network. Gourmet restaurants. Organic this, organic that. Right now as you're reading this, there are children searching for food at the dump somewhere. That really puts it in perspective, doesn't it?

I have to remind my own kids of this, because sometimes I am the one spoiling them by making something they request to eat. Overall, I make and share easy recipes. I try to keep it basic. Even then, most of the recipes you'll see on that page I've made less than a handful of times because as a work-at-home mom I just don't have the time for many of them. Lazy chicken is a favorite - and not because I'm lazy, but because it's quick for when time is of the essence. I've stopped making homemade bread a while ago. We do still make birds-in-a-nest, fried plantains, and sprouted crust mushroom pizza. That's as special as it will get, usually once a week. The rest is just large batches of soup for lunch, chicken with alternating sides, and yes, even some things from the freezer aisle at Trader Joe's. But hey, at least the bulk of our diet is healthy stuff from scratch, even if it isn't fancy. Even if it's [gasp!] boring. 

I make cookies often, and secretly envy those that just buy them. I make pancakes from scratch because I can't justify buying a mix for some odd reason. But I make them when our breakfast routine of omelette, oatmeal, or bread/butter/cheese, just gets too repetitive. 

Yesterday I made cake on a whim. From scratch everything cake. For no reason, no occasion, other than having a pack of Stonyfield organic heavy whipping cream in my fridge that I wanted to use while it's still fresh. I made it just because I know how much my kids LOVE freshly whipped cream, and what better way to eat it than on cake. For the record, when there is a special occasion I make this cake without much desire, I almost force myself. I'm not good at it. Yesterday I did not want to make it, but I enjoyed seeing my children's faces light up as I made it and as they ate it. 

But that's so rare! Most days I just need to feed them without spending all day in the kitchen. Even when that's how I do it, I still feel like I'm in the kitchen too long making breakfast, lunch, and dinner. 

It's surreal right now how I took it for granted as a teenager. Knowing I can come into the kitchen and my mom always had something ready for us to eat. Wow, that was such a luxury. 

Now I'm providing that luxury to my children, my husband. I feel blessed to be the one providing it for them, but sometimes it just gets so repetitive. I need a reminder that it's just food and doesn't need to be fancy all the time. 

So, sorry food bloggers, but I just may unsubscribe from a few of your lists because the recipes you post are just too time consuming and make me feel unnecessarily guilty. Don't worry, I'll probably still find you on Pinterest if I need to when culinary inspiration strikes!

Do you ever feel stuck in a rut in the kitchen? Do you feel the pressure to make fancy recipes for your family?

Real Foods Kitchen Wish List

I have a small kitchen that's used and abused daily as nearly everything is made from scratch and we rarely go out to eat. While I make do with the tools I have, there are many that would make my time in the kitchen more efficient and would enable me to try a larger variety of recipes. Frankly, I don't want a big kitchen, but I wouldn't mind some magical place to store all the kitchen tools that aren't used daily! 

I admit I have quite a refined taste for luxurious kitchen gadgets. I spend at least three hours a day in the kitchen, usually more. While I could just as well cook with a minimal amount of tools or over a campfire, it's nice to have a few things to save time and add convenience. I've also found that sometimes the cheap versions of appliances can be just as good or better than the expensive ones. I have a vintage KitchenAid mixer that was a hand-me-down, and though it looks worn, it works wonderfully and I wouldn't consider replacing it with a brand new one. You could probably find one at a garage sale!   

High Powered Blender: Our cheap blender has been serving us for almost seven years since we got married, but one day when it decides to no longer work I know I'll need a replacement. I would love to be able to do more with a blender than just make smoothies. There are a few nice ones on the market, though they all aren't cheap, I like this one. 

Food Processor: I still can't decide whether I would want a high powered blender or a food processor, I think having both is overkill. My cheap blender is sort of okay with handling smoothies, so I really need the processor function more than a blender. Then I wouldn't have to borrow my mom's food processor to make some nutritious liver pate. If I was to get one I would go for something like this one, which is for 14 cups and great for making meals in large batches. 

Ice Cream Maker: It would be great to make our own ice cream because even organic store bought ice cream has unnecessary ingredients and way too much sugar for our taste. I could make ice cream a health food with some secret ingredients! I would be content with the simplicity and price of this one, but this one would really be a splurge and I love gelato! Crazy price though, can't really justify that. 

Cake Stand with Cover: I rarely make cakes, but when I do, I always wish I had a cake stand. I would pick this one, which looks beautiful - but would be scary to use around kids, that's a lot of glass! I'm not good with glass, ask my husband. I've broken my fair share of ceramic and glass in the past year.   

Stainless Steel Baking Pan: Since glass is bad for me for everyday use, I would love a baking pan like this one, it is gorgeous. I broke our large glass one just a couple of months ago. I would use it to make larger batches of meals so that there are either left overs or something to put in the freezer until later. 

Jerky Cannon: We go through a large amount of beef jerky each month and though I don't really have the time to, I would use this to make some myself from the grass fed beef we get from a local farmer. Until we get around to doing that, I am still buying this one, a great snack on-the-go or a midnight munch. 

Roomy Refrigerator: Okay, so I'm really dreaming and this isn't a need - this is a 'wish list' after all! But I'm starting to realize that for the growing appetites of our family I may soon no longer be able to do just one shopping trip every three weeks for efficiency because we simply will not fit all of it in the average-size fridge. If one would magically appear in our kitchen, I wouldn't mind this one. 

Tea Maker: We have no coffee maker as we don't even drink coffee. We have a simple electric tea kettle that has served us well, but if we really want to get serious about drinking tea the 'right way' and having water at the right temperature for different teas, we would love to splurge on this one. Yes, another item with a crazy price that is totally unneeded and a luxury for us. 

Le Creuset: Is any real foods kitchen complete without Le Creuset stoneware? I would love this set with lid so that I can stop using aluminum foil to cover casseroles. It's practical and beautiful, it would get a ton of use around here, especially for comfort foods through the New England winter. 

Toaster/Convection Oven: We have a cheap toaster oven, which I am amazed is still operable. We've had it since we got married almost seven years ago and let's just say it is no longer 'presentable', I can't wash off everything that's on it. It's used daily through the winter as we don't own a microwave, we use it to reheat leftovers. So needless to say, it is on its last lap and if we will need a new one I would love this one, or realistically, this one.

Just like with baby gear for raising baby, you don't need all these things to make great meals in the kitchen, but sometimes it's nice for the sake of saving time and convenience!

What's on your kitchen wish list? 

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11 Real Food Hot Weather Recipes for Summer

Chocolate Banana Ice Cream from The Nourishing Gourmet

It was 95 degrees in our area yesterday, which was the third day of minimalism cooking around here. Since we have no AC, I'm forced to get really creative with recipes that involve no heat source or ones that I can cook some ingredients for at night and make ahead for the next day. 

While I have a ton of personal favorites that I'll be sharing at Eco-Babyz throughout these couple of months, there are obviously so many wonderful ones that already exist in the blogosphere. I really wanted to share with you these eleven recipes from my favorite food bloggers that are perfect for hot weather! The last one is mine, but the rest are from some fabulous and talented bloggers that I subscribe to. 

Simple Chocolate Banana Ice Cream 

This really easy recipe from The Nourishing Gourmet can be made from 3 ingredients! I don't think you can find anything easier than that! Need to make this pronto, as soon as I freeze some bananas. 

Asian Color Burst Salad

Not your typical salad that is nourishing and great for hot weather over at Wellness Mama. You would need some meat made ahead or from left overs, other than that no need to turn the stove on.

No Bake Chocolate Cookies

Just because it's summer doesn't mean you need to abandon your cravings for baked chocolate cookies! This recipe from Deliciously Organic involves just a little heat to mix the ingredients together, but other than that you just chill them in the fridge, genius. It's also Paleo, gluten free, grain free, and dairy free!

Lemony Chicken Breast with Cucumber Feta Salad

Inspired Taste has a perfect combination for a summer dinner that can be made using a grill. Relatively quick, with some marinating done in advance for the chicken. Just thinking of the cucumber and feta together makes my mouth water! 

Chilled Cucumber Soup with Mint and Yogurt

This actually links to 3 chilled soup recipes at Simple Bites, but this cucumber one really appeals to me. It's refreshing in hot weather and would only take a few minutes to whip up in a blender.

Cilantro Lime Chicken Salad on Avocado

As you know, we love avocados and this is something I can definitely see us making on a hot, no-cooking day. This recipe from Food Renegade combines eight simple ingredients and there is really no need for directions, we love simple!

Slow Cooker Lemon Garlic Chicken

It is often overlooked that a slow cooker will not heat up a house as much and it's a great option for summer cooking. You can be out enjoying the weather at the park or beach, and come back to dinner ready. This recipe from The Kitchn is really simple and flavorful! 

Avocado Breakfast Pudding

More avocado love, this is another good one from The Kitchn and it's a perfect breakfast! Avocados are packed with nutrition and good fats, a balanced food not just for kids but for everyone. You can always substitute the milk for coconut or rice milk if you are dairy free. 

Coco-Walnut Creamy Snack Balls 

An easy dessert to make without any baking involved, but you will need a food processor. Butter Believer doesn't have a whole lot of recipes, but I love this blog for all the 'real food' articles and insight. 

No-Bake Grain-free Apricot Almond Bars

Great for a snack or dessert, this recipe from Health, Home, and Happiness requires no heat. It sounds absolutely delicious! You'll need a food processor... I'm not the only real-foodie who doesn't have one, am I? I have this one on my wish list. 

No-Bake Summer Mango Yogurt 'Pie'

Serve as breakfast or dessert, this Greek yogurt 'pie' is really easy to assemble and requires no baking! This is a recipe I've come up with as a contest entry. It's really simple, busy mom material, you just have to put it together and in fifteen to twenty minutes it's ready to dig into!

What's your favorite hot weather recipe? Please link to your blog or other bloggers you love!

Photo used with permission from The Nourishing Gourmet

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Nestle Thinks Water Is Not a Human Right

Gerber, Toll House, Nescafe, Stouffer's, Lean Cuisine, Juicy Juice, PowerBar, Poland Spring, Jenny Craig, DiGiorno. What do all those brands have in common? They are all owned by Nestle, one of the largest food giants in the world. 

I'm not even going to talk about the fact that most of their products contain toxic GMOs, if that wasn't bad enough. 

What's more disturbing is the mind set of the former Nestle CEO and current Chairman. Apparently he is convinced that water is not a human right and it should be privatized.

I'll let that sink in for a moment.

No living thing can survive without water. Your body composition is about 50 to 75 percent water. Who in their right mind would say "The one opinion which I think is extreme... is declaring water a public right. That means as a human being you should have a right to water. That's an extreme solution." Excuse me sir, if anything is extreme, it is your assumption that you should own all the water in the world.

I'll just let this video do the talking. My jaw dropped at how ridiculous the claims of this man are and how deceiving this video is. If you're pressed for time, you may start at the 2:00 mark to get right to the point.

So what would happen if water would be owned by huge corporations raking in the wealth? I think it's terrifying to even imagine. I do hope that for the average person, it's easy to see through the lies of such men. 

Nestle, of course, has been making headlines for decades with issues from child labor abuses (in the making of your much loved chocolate bars) and WHO code violations, to destroying sources of tourism and possible ties to murders of trade unionist in Columbia.

In 2001, Nestlé faced criticism for buying cocoa from the Ivory Coast and Ghana, which may have been produced using child slaves.[58] According to an investigative report by the BBC, hundreds of thousands of children in Mali, Burkina Faso and Togo were being purchased from their destitute parents and shipped to the Ivory Coast, to be sold as slaves to cocoa farms.

So next time you reach for the jar of Gerber baby food or a Kit Kat bar, think hard before supporting such human rights abuses (or GMOs). Your money is better off elsewhere, supporting small family-owned companies, local farmers, and maybe even seeds for growing your own. 

What do you think, is water a human right?

My Favorite Kitchen Essentials

In a 'real foods' kitchen where meals are made from scratch, there are many essential tools I use pretty much every day that make food prep faster, easier, and a lot more efficient. I sometimes take it for granted, but every time I visit someone and use their knives, can openers, or dish washing sponge - I realize what gems I've found to use in our kitchen! 

These items are either really good or simply amazing and I never regret having spent money on them. In my photo (top to bottom) you can see some of the items that are on the list, followed by other favorites not pictured.

1. Breville Ikon Stainless Electric Tea Kettle: We love drinking tea and actually haven't had a coffee maker in our house in over 5 years. We've had this one for over four years, best decision ever after burning one stove top tea kettle. I love that it doesn't have an exposed heating element for mineral deposits to get stuck on. With a flat, stainless interior base it is really easy to clean. At just under $80 I feel that the quality is there, it's lasted us a while and shows no signs of giving up. Breville also makes the much more expensive One-Touch Tea Maker that I think is awesome and our friends love, but it is over $240 [gasp!]. It heats to precise temperatures for different types of tea - for gourmet tea drinkers!
   
   
2. Flour Sack Towels: These cotton flour sack towels have so many uses around the home, but in the kitchen they are simply magical for straining and I've used them for my farmer's cheese recipe. They are also great for drying dishes, which I usually don't bother with unless I'm putting away the nice 'guest dishes' and don't want water spots on them. They aren't very cheap for under $15 for four towels, but reasonable. For some reason they remind me of my Culinary Arts class and France!
   
   
3. Goodbye Detergent Spaghetti Scrub: We don't use a dishwasher and I always thought there is no other way to wash dishes other than with a sponge or cloth. Then I got one of these spaghetti scrubs and I'm telling you, there is no going back! I never liked sponges to begin with. Even when wrung out and left to dry, they would get smelly fast -yuckiness. Not to mention we were spending too much money constantly replacing them. I've used one spaghetti scrub for a year before switching to a new one - and it still looked almost like new! It scrubs very gently, so it never scratched my non-stick ceramic and our dish-washing soap use went way down since it really only needs detergent for extra greasy pans and dishes.
   
   
   
   
   
4. IKEA Tea Infuser: We really enjoy loose leaf tea, but I don't enjoy brewing a whole tea pot just for the two of us. That's where these handy tea infusers come in. Just big enough to brew a cup of tea. It's just a perfect little gadget and has never failed, plus the price can't be beat at $1.99.
   
   
5. Kuhn Rikon Can Opener: I've discovered this dream can opener when I still lived with my parents, I think my mom bought it at Marshalls. When I got married and saw all the cheap, pseudo can openers that didn't work, I went on a quest to find one of these for our kitchen! I was excited when I finally found one - best can opener ever! It leaves smooth, child-safe edges on the can. That alone is priceless. Totally worth the $14.
   
   
6. Cutco Knives: These are an absolute must have in our kitchen. I've tried many knives. Expensive ones. Nothing compares to Cutco and nothing can compare to their lifetime guarantee and free sharpening for life. I know people who have been using them for 30, 40+ years and they still are good as new. You get what you pay for! It's just such a pleasure working with them, I realize that every time I use some other brand at someone else's house and I wonder how in the world anything can get done in a kitchen with dull knives.
   
   
7. Bamboo Cutting Boards: Plastic cutting boards harbor bacteria, bamboo and wood ones do not. I love my bamboo cutting board and use it every day. It's held up well to rigorous use. There are a ton available on the market, so I would just go by online user reviews of particular brands, some are better than others. I also love my bamboo utensils, use them every day as well - they are great for being non-scratchy to keep my pans like new.
   
   
8. Ceramic Diamond Non-stick Skillet: Literally used every day, I have peace of mind knowing there is no toxic, carcinogenic teflon in my non-stick pan. You really don't need a whole set, I find it sufficient to have one large one for everyday use and I also have the smaller non-toxic skillet for when I need two at the same time, which is rare.  
   
   
9. KitchenAid Stand Mixer: I was really fortunate to be donated a vintage KitchenAid stand mixer and although it doesn't look up to date for the 21st century, the performance is flawless. It saves me a lot of time when making cakes, cookies, dough - all the things I used to do by hand prior to 3 years ago.
   
   
10. Toaster Oven: Our toaster oven has seen better days, it still works but it's been through a lot! We are contemplating replacing it with a larger capacity one when/if it finally dies (probably this one). We don't have a microwave, so I use it to reheat leftovers and I often make quick dinners in it by throwing some chicken with spices inside and not having to think about when to turn it off as the timer does it for me. 

These are our essentials, things I use every day and it would be hard to do without. By no means do you need these to create meals from scratch, but it does make it easier. I will also be sharing with you my kitchen splurges and my wish list in the future! 

Now if only they made an affordable kitchen robot to make all the gourmet meals from scratch... For now we're sticking to me as the chef, it's hard to beat a meal made with love. 

What are your kitchen essentials?

Contains affiliate links to where we usually shop, your purchase supports Eco-Babyz at no extra cost to you. Thank you!

New EWG's 2013 Shopper's Guide to Pesticides

Buying organic produce or growing your own can significantly reduce the amount of pesticides your family is exposed to. It's so important, especially with the growing evidence that toxic pesticides cause cancer and many other diseases. 

I gasped today when I realized how much our grocery budget has grown with escalating food prices and our kids' growing appetites. With that in mind, we simply cannot afford to buy all of our fruits and vegetable organic - as much as we would love to. They even taste better in our experience! Even better, I would love to buy from a local farmer, but farmer's markets in our area are exorbitantly expensive - usually 2 to 3 times more than what you would pay at the grocery store. What's a family on a budget to do? Use the EWG Shopper's Guide to Pesticides of course! 

Their list has just been updated for 2013, with apples, celery, and surprisingly - cherry tomatoes in the top three for highest pesticide content! This is a really helpful list, knowing that a non-government, third party agency is willing to go to such lengths to help us make healthier choices for our families. 

I'm glad to see that some of our staples like avocados, mangoes, mushrooms, onions, and sweet potatoes - are on the 'Clean' list for least pesticide content. But my wallet will certainly feel it with buying organic apples, celery, cucumbers, potatoes, and cherry tomatoes. 

Please do note though that the sweet corn on the clean fifteen list is most often genetically modified! It's best to buy it organic because even though it may not have as much pesticide residue - pesticide are genetically engineered to be part of its DNA!

Here is a small preview of the full list at EWG! 

Click for full list

What do you do to stay within budget eating real, unprocessed foods? 

Do you use the EWG Shopper's Guide to Pesticides?

Best Oils for Tooth Re-mineralization {Cure Tooth Decay...}

I am not an expert on alternative treatments for tooth decay or remineralizing teeth. We are on a journey with our family and since January of 2013 we've been attempting to heal our daughter's tooth decay through a traditional foods diet. It's been four months and there has been a little progress, but we have a long way to go and it is really hard to stick to such a restrictive diet as outlined by Ramiel Nagel in Cure Tooth Decay. I know we are not alone on this journey, I've met so many other moms online that have also been struggling with the same issues with their kids! What is encouraging is that it does actually work, though not the same for everyone. 

When it comes to choosing an oil for overall health and tooth remineralization, we had to compromise a bit when it comes to quality and price. Though Green Pasture is considered to be the best, it's simply out of our price range. We took into account the WAPF (Weston A. Price Foundation) COL recommendations and decided on the Swanson Double Strength COL Capsules, it's not 'best' but still 'good'. Certainly better than nothing. 

Here are the products we've tried and our experience with them and a bonus $5 toward your purchase if you are interested in the CLO we currently use!

• Green Pasture Fermented Cod Liver Oil: Created through an old-world process of fermenting, this cod liver oil retains all original nutrients and it is considered the best for tooth remineralization. We received it for review last year and honestly we just cannot afford the more than $40 price tag for one bottle. Sometimes you can get a better deal on it at Amazon or other retailers.
  
  
• Swanson Double Strength Cod Liver Oil: This is our current cod liver oil of choice for the whole family. It's affordable and a good option if you're on a budget. At $14.49 for 500 capsules, it's a great deal, even considering the fact that you would be taking more than one a day. Use this link to get a $5 coupon when you sign up at Swanson! You'll love this site, we buy many items there in the health foods (like hard-to-find flours), homeopathics, organic skin care, and herbal remedies - to name a few.
  
  
• Everest Nutrition Krill Oil: We reviewed this super potent krill oil supplement recently and I really do like it. My daughter swallowed the capsules on one occasion, but then couldn't do it. So I didn't force her and take them myself until we run out. Although the nutritional content is superior I'm convinced, the price tag is also a little high. The best deal I've found was actually on Amazon, but 60 capsules for $25 is still too much for us.
  
  
• Childlife Cod Liver Oil: I had a dilemma, although I am still breastfeeding, I wanted my toddler to have some benefits of CLO directly. Of course I can't give him capsules that he would choke on. For now our compromise is the Childlife strawberry flavored CLO. He loves this stuff and asks for it! He gets half a teaspoon per day, more if there are sniffles or something bothering him. An 8 ounce bottle is $14.54 on Amazon, but shipping is extra. You can get the same bottle at Swanson (use my $5 coupon) for just $11.77 and shipping is free on orders over $50. It's pretty easy to stock up there at the $50 range (buckwheat, coconut flour, sorghum flour, gluten free goodies, shampoo, etc.)
  
  
• Kerrygold Grass Fed Irish Butter: Cod Liver Oil works best when taken in conjunction with vitamin K naturally found in high vitamin butter oil, grass fed cheeses, fat from grass-fed animals, and grass-fed butter (not the only sources). We regularly buy Kerrygold Butter because it is so readily available at our local grocery store and it is worth every penny! Once you taste this butter you would never go back to regular grain-fed cow butter! We usually give Baby E and T a spoonful of this good-for-you fat and we like to spread it on sprouted bread or our homemade sprouted flour crackers. Oh, and don't attempt buying it on Amazon, it's double the price and they charge $20 for shipping! Yeah, pretty obvious you shouldn't be buying perishables on Amazon. Most stores in our area carry it, even conventional ones. Another option is high vitamin butter oil, also available on Amazon, but it's cheaper for us to buy the butter. I do add organic ghee as well to my cooking for the nutritional boost, and it makes all the healthy recipes taste yummy. 

Well I'm glad to get that off my chest, since only about a dozen of you have been asking me about what we currently take for the Cure Tooth Decay diet. I hope this answers your question! 

What do you take for cod liver oil, if anything? Do you have any questions about these products?

Past Posts from This Series:

Meat from a Local Farmer and My Learning Curve in the Kitchen

On Sugar and Grain Addiction

Crumbling Baby Teeth

Contains affiliate links to where we usually shop, your purchase supports Eco-Babyz at no extra cost to you. Thank you!