by Jenn Cohen

1. Baby Food 101: Making your own baby food is easy! It does require a bit of pre-planning, but the true reward is knowing exactly what is in your baby’s food. When we eat raw and as close to the earth as possible, we cut dangerous preservatives from our diet and eliminate all the jars, containers and boxes that become waste. All you need to start making your own baby food is a steamer, blender or food-processor, ice-cube tray and reusable storage. (Visit my blog for more details and recipes.)

1. Think Local, Be Local: Supporting locally-owned businesses helps build our local economy. Buying locally grown foods is healthier and environmentally-friendly. Walking and bicycling to your local stores is a great chance for exercise, fun family time and reduces pollution. Visit your local farmers market to stock up on fresh fruits and veggies or check out your community vendor fair next time you need a gift. A recent study shows that shifting just 1% of consumer expenditures to direct purchasing of local food products would increase farmers’ income by 5%.

1. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: Before you buy, think about if you really need it. Can you swap baby/maternity clothes and products with a friend? Can you reuse items from baby #1? Or maybe pick up gently used items on consignment? Remember, every time something is produced, packaged and shipped there are harsh effects on the environment. Continuous factory pollution and overflowing land fills are a priority concern. You can even donate or consign your used clothes, accessories and furniture to make a little extra money. Reusable shopping bags, reusable coffee/water bottles and cloth baby diapers saves money and our environment!

1. Cleanliness Is Next To Godliness: Next time you are about to clean your house, do your laundry or give your baby a bath, look at the back of the bottle. Do you really know what is in it? Do you really want those unknown chemicals on your floor, your clothes, dishes AND your baby? Those chemicals also wash down the drain, right into our water system and destroy our environment. Much research shows that exposure to these toxic chemicals can lead to neurological disorders, respiratory problems, cancer and more. Homemade cleaners are easy, effective, non-toxic and inexpensive, utilizing items you probably have in your house already (vinegar, baking soda, castile soap, lemon juice and essential oils). Glycerin or Shea is a gentle soap for everyone in the family. If you do use store-bought cleaning products and detergents, please make sure they are phosphate-free. Below is a homemade household cleaner that can be used everyday on everything!

1. Breastfeeding Leaves No Carbon Footprint: So, breastfeed your baby as long as your can! Not only does breastfeeding save you money on bottles and formula, but the amazing immunological benefits of Mother’s Milk protect your child against illnesses no matter how old they are. This can save on numerous doctor visits, medications and missed days of school and work.

Green Smoothie Recipe (for everyone in the family)

In a blender combine almond milk/coconut milk, a huge handful of fresh raw spinach, a banana, an apple, a little flax seed, a little shredded coconut, a tablespoon of spiralina and ice. Blend until smooth and ENJOY!

Everyday Household Natural Disinfectant

Combine equal parts water and vinegar in a spray bottle. Add in 5 drops of Tea Tree Essential Oil and 3 drops of Thyme Essential Oil per cup of water/vinegar solution. This can be used on any surface to clean and disinfect. Great for cleaning kids toys!

Jenn Cohen is a Certified Personal Trainer, Yoga & Pilates Instructor and Holistic Lifestyle Coach. You can visit her blog at www.the-natural-mama.blogspot.com. You can also contact her at (561) 309-4543 or at jenncohen79@yahoo.com.

 This article was published courtesy of Treasure Coast Parenting magazine www.tcparenting.com.