Homemade Yogurt – Easy as can be! July 14, 2011

A friend of mine shared this link for making homemade yogurt in a slow cooker. It couldn’t be easier and the yogurt is fantastic! Just keep in mind that the yogurt you’ll get from it won’t be like the store bought kind. It’ll actually be like a yogurt drink – just add your own fruit, a little honey, and you’re all set! I’ve just made my second batch. The first was with 2% milk and the second was with fat free. Both had the same consistency.

If you have a slow cooker, I urge you to give it a try!

Good question about BPA in glass baby food jars… September 12, 2010

Safe Alternatives for Baby and Child has just posted a question from a reader asking if BPA in jarred baby food leaches into the food. Click on over for the detailed answer from them.

Photo from Flickr by jencu

Thanksgiving Dinner November 15, 2009

Stop over at Eco Women where I recently wrote posts on having a vegetarian Thanksgiving (or hosting a vegetarian for the holiday) and Baby’s First Thanksgiving.

Photo from Flickr by Paige Gabert

Kinderville’s bowls, cups, and storage jars – I think I’m in love… August 12, 2009

About a month ago, I had had enough of worrying if my 20 month old was going to drop another breakable saucer from her highchair during feeding time. I don’t think she does it on purpose – it’s just her way of saying, “I’m done”, and I haven’t raced over to her chair fast enough to take it from her extended hand.

I started looking into plastic, BPA-free options but was then offered the opportunity to try out Kinderville’s high-grade silicone bowls, cups, and storage jars. The timing couldn’t have been better.

5 1/2 inches wide by 1 1/2 inches tall

3 1/8 inches wide by 2 3/4 inches tall

3 1/2 inches wide by 2 1/4 inches tall

What I love the most about all three products is how they’re so stable on a table. The silicone makes them almost seem like they “hug” the surface they’re sitting on. The bowls are versatile enough to be used as a small plate or shallow bowl and the cups are a perfect size that molds well in small hands. The storage jars have a great seal and I’ve found them to be really handy for both dry and wet snacks. The four basic colors have also helped with a routine, meal-time favorite of “which color would you like?”

All three of Kinderville’s products are:

• BPA-free, Phthalate-free, Lead-free, and bacteria resistant
• Microwaveable, dishwasher safe, and can be used in the freezer

What I also really love about these products is that they’re used throughout the day, everyday, and they’re worthy enough to be passed along to someone else who will appreciate them when I no longer need them.

I am not an employee of Kinderville. The products mentioned in today’s post were given to me by Kinderville to try out and review.

Copyright © 2008. Trying To Be Greener. All rights reserved.

You’re kidding, Coca-Cola, right?! June 12, 2009

Go on over to Eco Women today where I’ve written about how Coca-Cola, Campbell’s, Del Monte, and other manufacturers of canned foods and drinks, met to come up with a public relations and lobbying strategy to stop the government from banning the use of Bisphenol-A, or BPA, from being used in the linings of metal lids and cans.

You really need to see what they came up with and what you can do about it.

Copyright © 2008. Trying To Be Greener. All rights reserved.

Food just seems tastier when you make a mess. March 13, 2009

As of a few months ago, my husband and I started taking Eco Girl out to dinner occasionally. But believe me, it’s still a stressful situation of trying to keep her happy with food in front of her and hoping she lasts long enough in the high chair for me to at least get some of my food down before she wants to get up.

I’ve tried putting food on a napkin in front of her – of course that doesn’t last long. Off it goes onto the floor. But then a friend told me about these plastic sheets you can tape down to the table that act like a placemat that won’t move. The idea of it is great but I just don’t like using one more “disposable”. I tried to come up with a reusable option myself but then learned that The Soft Landing, one of my favorite sites for safer feeding choices, carries just what I’m looking for!

BPA and PVC Free Kiddopotamus Tiny Dinner Placemat

The BPA and PVC Free Kiddopotamus Tiny Dinner Placemat:

• is made of durable material.
• is eco-friendly and reusable.
• stays in place with seven strong suction cups.
• contains the mess with rimmed edges.
• scoop catches spills before they land on your child’s lap.

When it’s not in use, it rolls up into itself and fits perfectly in a diaper bag so it’s always available when you need it. Not only is it great for restaurants but it’s also really helpful when you’re visiting places where there is no highchair and your child is sitting on your lap and eating at a table.

Problem solved. Now there’s just the whole “table manners” to tackle!

Copyright © 2008. Trying To Be Greener. All rights reserved.

The new “Dirty Dozen” March 11, 2009

The Environmental Working Group has just updated their Dirty Dozen list. This list shows you which produce to buy organic, and which conventionally-grown fruits and vegetables are okay if organic isn’t available. Go on over, download it, and keep it handy in your wallet for when you’re out food shopping.

Environmental Working Group's Dirty Dozen

Copyright © 2008. Trying To Be Greener. All rights reserved.

Just add salt, pepper, and a little BPA February 20, 2009

I posted a while ago about how I made my daughter’s baby food and how easy it actually is to do so. I mostly used a “food wand” blender to puree her food, but I’ve also used a food processor as well. If you’re someone who has a food processor or blender in your kitchen, you really need to check out Z Recommends post from a week ago. They’ve listed many food processors and blenders and have listed if they contain BPA, PVC, and/or phthalates. Be sure to check out an update they did yesterday on the Hamilton Beach products they listed. Do yourself a favor and head on over.

Photo from Flickr by Jodiepedia

Copyright © 2008. Trying To Be Greener. All rights reserved.

Great information from The Soft Landing and Mama Bite February 4, 2009

The Soft Landing has a post up from this past Monday with a comprehensive list of BPA-free prepared baby food containers, from frozen food to jarred. Take a look – it’s really helpful.

Also, Mama Bite listed three great eco-friendly, PVC-free toy boxes:

• Viva Terra Round Flip Flop Bins
• Jax Toy Cubes
• Viva Toy Boxes

Viva Toy Boxes

Copyright © 2008. Trying To Be Greener. All rights reserved.

Maddy’s Organic Meals – Just like homemade January 30, 2009

I’ve written before about how I’ve been making Eco Girl’s food since she started solids to reduce the amount jars you typically go through and to avoid the BPA in the lids of jarred food.  It’s not as hard as many think but I will admit that sometimes it’s nice to have a “little help” when I want to give her something different than the usual.

Last week, we (yes we – how else could I give it a true review?) tried Maddy’s Organic Meals and they were delicious! Each meal is:

• certified organic.
• made from ingredients from the Midwest’s best farms that practice sustainable farming methods.
• professionally prepared and flash frozen.
• free of preservatives, fillers or additives.

Maddy’s Organic Meals come in 12 varieties from single purees, chunkier blends and gourmet meals. Eco Girl and I tried Just Peachy, which tasted like an amazing summer peach, Garden Veggie Delight, which was delicious with our own quinoa mixed in, and Sweet Fall Lentils, just perfect on its own.

Maddy’s Organic Meals can be purchased online or at a select grocery stores.

Copyright © 2008. Trying To Be Greener. All rights reserved.