21 days to a more natural home series….part 20…..tips

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all natural home seriesIn todays post I have some miscellaneous tips that you can do to make your home more natural.

  • Want to improve your air quality in the home?? Get an aloe plant.  This easy-to-grow, sun-loving succulent helps clear formaldehyde and benzene, which can be a byproduct of chemical-based cleaners, paints and more. Beyond its air-clearing abilities, the gel inside an aloe plant can help heal cuts and burns.  Great for those that are “non-green” thumb.
  • Take off your shoes at the door.  Shoes track into the home all sorts of toxins from the outside that could impact your indoor air quality.
  • Get an air purifier to help clean your air.  Do some research online to find a good quality one.
  • How about a natural approach and OPEN YOUR WINDOWS.  Nothing is better than good ol fresh air.
  • Make the switch to cast iron or anodized aluminum cookware when it’s time to replace your old pots and pans. Prioritize replacing the cookware used over high heat and pieces that are scratched. PFCs, are used in non-stick cookware. They may keep food  from sticking, but they stick around in the environment and the body for a long time.
  • Avoid  Bleached Products.  Some paper products are often bleached to make them whiter, choose toilet paper, tissue and office paper labeled “Processed Chlorine Free” (PCF). Look for unbleached coffee filters and organic, unbleached tampons as well.
  • Replace plastic water bottles with a refillable stainless steel version, or to replace plastic toy blocks with wooden ones, plastic teething chews with organic cotton, or plastic jars with glass.
  • To select the plastics that are best for your children and for the environment, get to know the easy-to-identify plastic recycling codes you’ll usually find on the underside of the bottle or packaging. Look for these numbers and symbols before you buy. The safer plastic choices are coded 1, 2, 4, and 5. Try to avoid 3, 6, and most plastics labeled with number 7.

 

10 Worst foods of summer….and what you can do to enjoy them!

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Summer is a wonderful time of being outside, playing with the children, going to the beach, and having picnics.  But it also brings out some of the worst foods to eat, yet they are so good. Here are 10 summer foods that are nutritionally not good for you and options to help them to be better for you.

  1. Macaroni and potato salad. Whats a picnic without potato salad??    The problem…..these salads are loaded with fattening mayonnaise.  Alternative:  Use nonfat plain yogurt with about 1/2 cup of mayonnaise.
  2. Ribs.   These can weigh in at 288 calories and are loaded with saturated fat, and that’s before you slather on barbecue sauce.  Alternative: You are better to add mustard, garlic, and chili powder. They’ll add delicious flavors without many calories.  Better yet:  stick with the lean meats like chicken
  3. Frozen treats–ice cream sandwiches, bomb pops, etc.  Yes my children love them too, but check out how much sugar is in each of those items along with the dyes and flavorings.  Alternative:  make your own Popsicles with yogurt, fruit, and  less raw sugar.
  4. Corn Dogs.  Any

    thing deep-fried is usually best to avoid like onion rings, french fries, etc, but this snack is in its own category, packing about 20 grams of fat and loads of sodium.  Alternative:

    Choose a hot dog under 150 calories and 14 grams of fat, and limit sodium to under 450 milligrams. And have it on a whole grain bun.

  5. Slushies.  These are basically just ice and sugary dyed syrup, and a 12 ounce serving can have more than 350 calories–that’s almost lunch.
  6. Potato chips.  There is about 10 grams of fat in one ounce and it is way too easy to devour a whole bag.  Alternative:  If you must have something salty make your own air popped popcorn or try baked snack crackers.
  7. Soda Pop.  Pop is full of sugar and has absolutely no nutritional value. Basically, you are consuming a large number of calories with no benefits. It doesn’t fill you up and you end up consuming more calories to feel full.  Alternative:  Water, try adding fresh lemon or fruit slices.  I like to add a peppermint herbal tea bag to my water glass and let it sit during the day, gives it a nice pep for my day.
  8. Pepperoni pizza.  We are big on the “hot and ready” pizza’s at Little Ceasers, this has changed my mind. One slice packs nearly 300 calories, and your munchkin may want seconds. There are also gobs of saturated fat and dehydration-promoting sodium, about 700 mg per piece. Kids need only 1,000 to 1,300 mg per day.  Alternative:  homemade on whole grain breads using hamburger and veggies to top it.
  9. Frozen coffee drinks.  Did I really say that?? I really do like Starbucks but lately I have been trying to watch my consumption.  I used to get Caramel frappuccino venti size at 510 calories yikes!  A simple switch to iced hazelnut macchiato with nonfat milk venti size was only 260 calories plus gives me more punch with the espresso shots.  Try using nonfat or 2 % milk and no whipped cream for lesser calories.
  10. Carnival foods.  Ditch the fried funnel cakes,foot long hot dogs, and giant sized pretzels.  Go for cotton candy and frozen chocolate bananas.

 

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