Saving Green: Saving Energy and Money

Caring Causes: Investing in Women and Girls through Food and Agriculture

Women, particularly in developing countries, face numerous challenges, including sexual violence, limited access to health resources, barriers to education, and inadequate economic opportunities. Gender-based violence continues to threaten hundreds of millions of women in industrialized and developing countries alike - one in three women has been the victim of sexual abuse or violence at some point in her life. Furthermore, women’s economic opportunities are still more limited than those of men: the most recent United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDG) Gender Chart indicates that women are still more likely than men to work for themselves or their families. In March, U.N. Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food Olivier de Schutter released “Gender and the Right to Food,” a special report on the state of gender equity and food security. De Schutter’s report demanded that more work be done to eliminate discrimination against women at household and state levels alike. While the situation of women throughout the world is improving, there is still much progress to be made - progress that could finally help to achieve global food security.
“Overcoming hunger is a game changer for a girl living in a developing country. Fifty-three percent of children who drop out of primary school are female – mainly because they need to work to help feed their families. Girls who stay in school are empowered to make positive decisions that affect their entire lives, such as waiting to have children and acquiring the skills they need to support to them,” says Ellen Gustafson, co-founder of Food Tank.
Food Tank is sharing five recommendations of ways to invest in women and girls through food and agriculture:
Supporting girls’ access to education and success in school
The World Food Programme is currently collaborating with Groupon to provide school meals to girls in schools in 14 South Asian countries. Ensuring food security during the school day not only makes sure that girls are able to concentrate in class, but also takes pressure off of girls to work to be able to feed themselves and their families, instead of attending school.
Teaching women sustainable farming practices
Women Going Green, founded by Rose Karimi, is a five-year project in Kenya enabling women coffee farmers to adopt low-cost climate change adaptation strategies, such as using fruit trees to shade their coffee crops. These practices can help women not only feed their families, but also increase their incomes. Solar Electric Light Fund (SELF) is working to implement solar technology in developing countries to reduce poverty. A recent SELF initiative is the Solar Market Gardens project in the West African nation of Benin, which will enable groups of women farmers’ cooperatives to grow more crops through solar-powered drip irrigation.
Giving women control of their health choices
The Jane Goodall Institute is helping to address some of the most serious health issues that women in sub-Saharan Africa face, such as HIV/AIDS and mother and infant mortality. It provides essential health services and equipment, along with educational programs to better inform women and their families on family planning methods and HIV/AIDs prevention education.
Addressing violence against women
Using data from the World Health Organization (WHO), FAO’s report on “Rural Women and the Millennium Goals” showed that rural women - who make up the vast majority of women in agriculture - were more likely to suffer incidences of abuse. Líderes Campesinas, a coalition of women farmers in California, is working to improve the public support system for female agricultural workers who have been victims of sexual assault and/or domestic abuse.
Providing credit to women in agriculture
The One Acre Fund is an organization devoted to helping smallholder farmers become self-reliant by providing families with high-quality seeds, soil nutrients, advice, and financing. They place a special focus on helping women, such as Lorna from Kenya, a single mother who through the fund’s investments is now able to provide for her five children by growing maize. Additionally, Kuapa Kokoo, a cocoa farmers’ cooperative in Ghana, established a Gender Programme to give women access to credit without requirement of any collateral.
By directing research and funding where it’s most needed, more progress can be made toward achieving true equality for women in all aspects of their lives. 

About Food Tank: Food Tank: The Food Think Tank, founded by Danielle Nierenberg and Ellen Gustafson, is a think tank focused on feeding the world better. We research and highlight environmentally, socially, and economically sustainable ways of alleviating hunger, obesity and poverty and create networks of people, organizations, and content to push for food system change.

Buying Green: The Fiber of My Being

Disclosure: I received a complimentary product for my review. All opinions are my own.
Do you like to knit, crochet, or do other fiber arts? The Fiber of My Being is a great eco-friendly option for sourcing your yarns and fibers. The founder has a love for spinning fiber and rescuing animals, and discovered a way to put them together. She also puts use to recycled pulled silk in some of her products.
I love the idea of buying from her for several reasons. First, she's a mom-and-pop shop, and that's always important to support, in my opinion. Secondly, she's working for a humane cause - rescuing animals. Finally, she's got a very "green product" that makes use of natural and recycled elements. And if those weren't enough reasons, the yarn is great quality! The colors are beautiful, mine came exactly as pictured on the website, and the texture was very soft. It will make a lovely blanket (I think that's what we'll do with it). Plus, it came with a nice postcard with a photo of one of her fiber rescue animals, which was fun to use as a teaching tool for my daughter. Check out the Fiber of My Being store to see all the available products and colors - and she's willing to custom-dye as well.

Winning Green: Whole Foods and Earth Month

To celebrate Earth Month, Whole Foods Market is giving away two trips for two to the vibrant, tropical campus of EARTH University, a nonprofit university in Costa Rica that also grows bananas for our stores.

 

Through April 30, shoppers can visit wholefoodsmarket.com/triptoearth to enter for a chance to win an eight-day Costa Rican adventure through and around its lush rainforests and majestic Arenal volcano. Winners and their guests will also explore the university’s on-campus banana fields, meet students who are studying to become agricultural leaders and see, first-hand, how EARTH University bananas are making a real difference for students, growers and the environment.

 

Every time shoppers choose to buy EARTH University bananas at our stores, they’re helping to fund student scholarships and support research in organic and sustainable agriculture. EARTH bananas are also backed by Whole Foods Market’s Whole Trade program, which means that the product ensures fair prices to producers, better wages and working conditions for farm workers, environmentally-friendly growing practices, and a donation to the Whole Planet Foundation to fund poverty relief.

Fun Freetime: Let's Go Chipper

Earth Day is a world-wide support day for environmental protection. It began in 1969 when John McConnell, a peace activist, proposed a day to celebrate the environment and Earth's beauty. It's a great time to think about environmentally-friendly activities and ways to learn.
The Let's Go Chipper app is an all-inclusive, eco-educational series for children two to eight. eBooks, movies, coloring activities, and more playfully engage children while teaching about nature and the environment.Chipper prepares kids for camping, hiking, and outdoor fun just in time for summer. Visit Let's Go Chipper in iTunes to download the app or www.letsgochipper.com to learn more.

Green Activities: Taking a Trip to the Dump

Earth Day is the perfect time to teach our kids about living a responsible, eco-friendly life.  Want to make this year's Earth Day celebration memorable to your kids?  Plan a trip to your local dump or landfill.  Before you dismiss this as a crazy idea, think about it.  Do your kids know what really happens to trash after it goes in the bin, is taken to the curb and hauled away?

What better way to explain the impact of our actions than by showing the end result?  Most communities have some version of a landfill, and it often includes a homeowner area for recycling and disposal.  Once your kids see the mountain of trash that most landfills have, they'll have a strong mental image of why it's important to recycle and re-purpose whenever possible.

"Teachers use this technique every day - we demonstrate a concept using visual aids.  Parents do the same thing when teaching their children to walk and talk.  Children learn a great deal by watching and observing," said Claire Haas, Vice President of  Education, Kiddie Academy.

Claire offers the following tips for an educational trip to the dump:

1. Collect recyclables around your home before you take the trip.  Allow your children to place them in the proper containers at the recycling center. 

2.  Play a gross game of I-Spy.  Pick out and identify some of the items you see in the trash containers or in the garbage piles.  Talk about how they could have been recycled or re-used.

3.  Point out the trucks and other equipment used around the landfill.  Even the youngest kids will enjoy watching them.  Talk about the jobs done by the workers and the trucks.

4. Review how the items at the dump are sorted.  For examples, metals are usually kept in a special bin, as they are easily recycled.  What other items are separated?  Talk about why that may be.

5. Read books related to recycling before and after your trip.  A few to consider: Why Should I Recycle? by Jen Green and The Adventures of a Plastic Bottle by Alison Inches.

For more eco-friendly family tips and ideas, check out the Kiddie Academy Family Essentials blog at www.kafamilyessentials.com.

Eating Green: Tips for Earth Day

What you eat may be more important to the global climate than you think. Agriculture produces 30% of greenhouse gases and uses a tremendous amount of resources the way it currently is. But there are ways to improve the system, such as these tips from Food Tank.

Eat more colors - The colors of fruits and vegetables are signs of nutritional content.
Buy food with less packaging - Discarded packaging makes up around one-third of all waste in industrialized countries, with negative impacts on the climate, and air and water quality. Choosing foods with less packaging can also be better for our waistlines, since highly processed foods that are low in nutrients generally use more packaging than more healthful, less processed options.
Choose seasonal produce - Many farmers markets, including the New York City Greenmarkets, offer guides about which products are in season. Locally sourced, seasonal products can also be found at major grocery stores. Another way to get seasonal foods is to sign up for a weekly CSA.
Get in touch with agriculture - This time of year, many people are starting to plan vacations. A great way to skip the crowds, save money, and get both children and adults in touch with agriculture is to book a farm-stay through World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF).  
Get creative in the kitchen - Shopping at farmers markets, which often have a wide selection of less-ordinary produce such as celeriac, sunchokes, or kohlrabi, can prevent “food ruts” by helping consumers try new foods. When looking for inspiration, many popular recipe blogs, such as smitten kitchen, allow users to search by ingredient, as well as season. Publications such as Diet for a Small Planet and the Boston Globe’s new Sunday Supper and More e-cookbook series also offer tips on reusing leftovers to reduce food waste.
Invest in perennial crops - Perennial plants—plants that grow back every year—tend to hold water in soil more effectively than annuals and help prevent erosion. Their extensive roots also allow them to better access nutrients and water, reducing the need for artificial fertilizer.
Reclaim abandoned spaces - As populations continue to expand, especially in cities, reclaiming unused land and buildings for food production can help meet growing demand. One new model is The Plant, a former meatpacking plant in Chicago that has been converted into an indoor vertical farm. The Plant currently runs an aquaponics farm, growing plants without soil using waste from its man-made tilapia pools. It also offers shared kitchen space for small businesses, and other services.
Build local and global food communities - A great way to get involved in food and agriculture issues is with Slow Food International, an organization with more than 1,300 groups around the world called convivia. These groups support healthy, sustainable diets and traditional food cultures. In addition to local initiatives, Slow Food convivia also arrange regional and international events on important food and agriculture issues, such as Slow Food València’s recent conference on the influence of food in health and disease.
DIY - Turning old t-shirts into produce bags to save plastic, starting seeds in eggshells, which can then be crushed for transplanting into the soil, and DIY foods such as homemade oat or almond milk can all add a creative twist to healthy eating and sustainable agriculture. Plus, they are lots of fun for families.
Cook in batches and freeze for later - Planning meals in advance can help reduce stress around cooking. It also helps reduce food waste, which is a big problem in industrialized countries A great way to reduce waste and make planning easy is to cook large batches of a single meal, such as soups or curries, which can be frozen and reused on short notice later in the week. Preparing large amounts of food at once saves energy during cooking, while freezing helps prevent nutrient loss in fruits and vegetables. For those days when there is more time to cook, tools such as Love Food Hate Waste menu planner shopping list can help organize grocery trips.
Brighten your outlook - Warwick University Economics Professor Dr. Andrew Oswald presented his research on health and happiness, focusing on the link between happiness and consumption of fruits and vegetables. His team of researchers found that eating more fruits and vegetables directly improves a person’s mental wellbeing, separate from other variables such as income level and how much meat a person ate. This research is supported by a similar study from the Harvard School of Public Health, which found a link between patients’ blood-level of carotenoids, compounds commonly found in colorful fruits and vegetables, and their feelings of optimism.
Use crop rotation - Crop rotation is an important way to preserve soil nutrients, prevent erosion, and protect against crop diseases and pests.
Embrace conviviality around the table - Talking and laughing while sharing food is a uniquely human experience. Conviviality, joyful and friendly interaction, is found at markets and around the dinner table, and it supports healthy relationships and healthy bodies.

Food Tank: The Food Think Tank (www.FoodTank.org), founded by Danielle Nierenberg and Ellen Gustafson, is a think tank focused on feeding the world better. We research and highlight environmentally, socially, and economically sustainable ways of alleviating hunger, obesity and poverty and create networks of people, organizations, and content to push for food system change.

Make-it-Yourself: Fabric Refresher

If you like fabric refreshers but don't like the idea of all the chemicals, make your own. Add a couple teaspoons of which hazel, a teaspoon of cornstarch, and a few drops of lemon or lavender essential oil to a cup of water.

Giveaway: Conscious Box

I just found out about Conscious Box – a monthly subscription service that delivers the purest, most natural products on the planet, right to you doorstep! I'm currently able to host a giveaway for a 3-month Conscious Box subscription – a $59 value! Even if you don't win, you can get a 50% OFF discount for any Conscious Box subscription. Use code: LOVELIFE


To enter the giveaway, leave a comment on the main giveaway post with your favorite natural product. Then head to facebook.com/consciousbox and leave a comment referencing this giveaway.


Disclosure: I received complimentary products to facilitate this post. All opinions are my own.

Saving Green: Beyond Coastal Sun Care

Get 20% off all Beyond Coastal Sun Care products purchased on beyondcoastal.com! Simply use the discount code 2013MOMMY at checkout. You'll also get free shipping on all orders over $25. But hurry, this offer will expire on May 31, 2013.

World Wisdom: Easy Reduce/Reuse/Recycle Tips

Earth Day comes up in just a few weeks, so this month is a good time to think about some easy steps we can make for the planet. Here are some great tips from the folks over at Hint water.

Give Up Plastic and Paper Bags: Paper or plastic? Neither is a good option. Twelve million barrels of oil were used to make the 88.5 billion plastic bags used in the US last year, and about 14 million trees are cut down each year to produce paper bags. Purchase a few reusable shopping bags and keep them in your car for convenience on your next shopping trip.

 

Substitute Windex for Homemade Cleaners: Create a greener, cleaner home with all-natural, environmentally-friendly cleaners. Made from ingredients that can already be found in your pantry, homemade cleaners will save you money and lessen exposure to chemicals that are unhealthy for both you and the earth. Lemon is affective against most household germs while white vinegar cuts grease and removes odors and stains.

 

Drink More Water: Did you know that the earth is made up of 75% water and your body is made up of 70% water? This is no coincidence. Stay healthy this Earth Day with Mother Nature’s original refreshment. If its flavor you crave, opt for an all-natural essence water like hint. hint is the best alternative to water because it IS water – with zero calories, zero sugars, and no artificial flavors or preservatives.

 

Repurpose Something: Are you taking on a home renovation or sprucing up your living room while spring cleaning? Rather than knocking down another tree for a new coffee table, take that old one out of the trash and slap on a coat of paint and shiny hardware for that brand new look. A new handle goes a lot further than you would think!

 

Put a Stop to Excess Mail: Some of us spend hours ripping up our junk mail and throwing away unread magazines. Save some time and trees by opting-out for pre-screened credit card offers and cancel magazine and catalog subscriptions that you don’t read or that have digital editions.

Healthy Habits: World Health Day Tips

This year, World Health Day focuses on high blood pressure, one of the many chronic diseases that are increasingly common around the world. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that one third of adults worldwide have high blood pressure. In the United States, high blood pressure affects 31 percent of American adults, but it's even higher in African countries, where more than 40 percent of adults are affected, but where the money and infrastructure needed for treatment are most lacking.

While there are multiple causes of high blood pressure and other chronic diseases, poor diets are among the most significant. The world today is facing a food paradox. There are nearly one billion people hungry and one billion people overweight, and in many countries (such as the US) these problems now exist simultaneously. Although they may seem to be opposite problems, reports from groups such as the Barilla Center for Food & Nutrition (BFCN) have linked both hunger and obesity with diets lacking in nutrients.

In honor of World Health Day, Food Tank: The Food Think Tank is highlighting the importance of nutritious, environmentally sustainable food in combating hypertension, obesity, malnutrition, and other diseases.

Over the past fifty years, the modern agriculture system has had great success boosting crop yields around the world; however, The Organic Center, reports that the amount and variety of essential nutrients in many crops has declined. The result is that the same amount of sweet corn, potatoes, or bread now has far less zinc, calcium, and iron than it did fifty years ago. At the same time, global emphasis on calorie content has increased access to high calorie, processed foods around the world, even as access to nutrient rich fruits and vegetables has declined. For example, a new study from the Union of Concerned Scientists found that, as a result of the food industry’s demand for refined grains and sugars, only 2 percent of U.S. farmland is used to grow fruits and vegetables.

The following are Food Tank’s 9 Recommended Strategies for Creating Healthier Food and Agriculture Systems:

1. Eat more vegetables and fruits
Less than one in three Americans meets the minimum goal of eating two servings of fruit and three servings of vegetables each day, as recommended by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The USDA reports that failing to meet these guidelines increases the risk of heart attack, stroke, obesity, and some cancers. The Organic Center recommends choosing items that are high in nutrients but low in calories. Strawberries and romaine lettuce are two nutrient dense fruits and vegetables. Oranges, green bell peppers, and boiled cabbage and carrots are also great options.

2. Strengthen soil with intercropping, agroforestry, and cover crops
Many essential nutrients come from the soil, making soil health critical to producing nutritious food. Intercropping with legumes, including alfalfa or peas, helps return nitrogen to the soil and support healthy plant growth. Using cover crops, which can be ploughed into fields after harvest and return nutrients to the soil, is another strategy that helps increase the amount of nutrients in food. Planting trees on farms--or agroforestry--can also help keep nutrients and water in the soil. Ashoka research fellow Adam Tuller is helping farmers in Kenya plant fast-growing trees that regenerate soil and fertilize crops naturally, rather than requiring expensive fertilizer out of a bag.

3. Know your nutrients
Many don’t know that kale, sesame seeds, dried figs, salmon, and broccoli are excellent sources of calcium. Dark green, leafy vegetables are also rich in vitamin K, which is similar to vitamin D in the way it helps the human body make the most of the calcium in food. The Harvard School of Public Health website features a section called The Nutrition Source, which offers an easy to browse list of topics on specific nutrients in foods and the benefits of different products, such as coffee or fish oil.

4. Support family farmers
Small and medium scale family farm are more likely than big farms to produce nutrient rich crops, using practices that help keep nutrients in the soil. Family farmers also produce more more nutrient dense foods, including fruits and vegetables. The United Nations declared 2014 the International Year of the Family Farmer to honor and support these individuals. Buying food at farmers markets and joining a CSA can be good ways to support family farms and help build the local economy.

5. Choose whole grains
Whole grains are increasingly popular, but they still make up less than the recommended half of total grain use in the U.S. Whole grains are also valuable, low-cost sources of protein and fiber, and can  help reduce the risk of heart disease, cancer, type-2 diabetes, and other diseases. Unfortunately, buying real whole grains can be confusing. When shopping, look for 100 percent whole wheat.

6. Eat out less
The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) reports that some American restaurants serve portions up to eight times those recommended by the USDA and U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Not only does this encourage overeating, but restaurant and take-away food is generally less healthy than food prepared at home. Eating home cooked meals is an easy way to manage portion sizes and calories.

7. Buy and grow organic
The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine found that organic fruits and vegetables repeatedly had equal or greater nutrient content than the same conventional produce. The Environmental Working Group publishes an annual Shopper’s Guide assessing which fruits and vegetables have the most pesticides. In 2012, apples, celery, and sweet bell peppers were in the top three.

8. Choose grass-fed meat
Lean meat can contain many valuable nutrients that support a healthy diet. Grass-fed meat usually has less fat than conventional corn- and grain-fed meat products. The U.S. Mayo Clinic also reports that grass-fed meat has higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids, linoleic acid, and antioxidant vitamins, such as vitamin E. When choosing animal products, two of the best labels to look for are “organic” and “pasture-raised.”

9. Support indigenous, heritage, and heirloom
A study from the University of Texas, Austin found that the amount of nutrients in forty-three different food crops have significantly decreased since 1950. The researchers concluded that the most likely causes were changes in the plants themselves. Since 1950, agriculture has focused on crop yields, but as crops grow bigger and faster it is unrealistic to expect they will absorb and create nutrients at an equally faster rate. Heritage breeds of farm animals and heirloom plant varieties, which have not been bred for increased yields, have the potential to be much more nutritious. Many indigenous vegetables, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, are also highly nutritious and well suited to local growing conditions. The Christensen Fund, Slow Food International, and other organizations are working in biologically diverse regions around the world to reignite an interest in--and a taste for--indigenous vegetables.

There’s much that can be done to increase the nutritional quality of food, both at home and around the world. Food Tank will feature articles daily focused on the role of food and agriculture systems in improving global nutrition every day as a countdown to April 7th.

About Food Tank
Food Tank: The Food Think Tank, founded by Danielle Nierenberg and Ellen Gustafson, is a think tank focused on feeding the world better. We research and highlight environmentally, socially, and economically sustainable ways of alleviating hunger, obesity and poverty and create networks of people, organizations, and content to push for food system change.

Living Green: Stop Start and Continue for Earth Hour

Hannah Alper is just 10 years old, but this Canadian has made a name for herself with CallMeHannah.ca. She recently launched her STOP, START AND CONTINUE campaign for Earth Hour 2013, happening Saturday March 23th from 8:30pm-9:30pmET. 

Hannah said children and kids are passionate about supporting causes that promote help and change for the environment. “Earth Hour should be a time to connect with your family and friends to talk about and renew your commitment to the environment. This Pledge and certificate encourages individuals and families to consider what they can do - STOP, START and CONTINUE in the year ahead for the well-being of the environment. Earth Hour encourages all of us to unplug and shut off. I want people to really think about why they are shutting down for the hour and think about what they can do to help. We can all do something.”

Hannah hopes The Pledge will find a place in the home, office or classroom and will be proudly displayed to make families and kids feel good about what each of them are doing and to remind them of their commitment. A few of Hannah’s Ideas for The Pledge include:

Stop!

Littering

Using plastic water bottles

Leaving lights on when you leave the room

Using plastic bags

Throwing out what can be donated or reused (clothes, toys, books)

Start/Continue:

Unplug electronics when not using them

I will organize a cleanup in my neighbourhood

Get involved with local causes

Grow a garden and try to plant some of my vegetables

Turn off the water when I’m brushing my teeth

“When you power down for the hour, I want you to spend that time and think about what you can do, what you change - what you can stop, start and continue. Three things, that’s it. Those three things add up to a big difference,” says Hannah.

Hannah Alper started her blog www.CallMeHannah.ca after participating in a 3-hour Word Press workshop at The Digital Family Summit in Philadelphia in June 2012. After reaching 100,000 page views in less than 2 months, she was interviewed by Global TV, ZOOMER, The Marilyn Show, CBC’s George Stroumboulopoulos, and has been featured in a spotlight from Chickadee Magazine and named as a Champion of the Earth in Owl Magazine.

Caring Causes: Keep America Beautiful

Keep America Beautiful is the nation’s leading nonprofit that brings people together to build vibrant communities. For years, KAB has been engaging people around the country to take greater responsibility for improving their community’s environment. In 2013, they’re taking an even greater stand to generate a more positive impact on our environment. 

This year’s goals include:

•       Clean and restore public places for safer, cleaner communities

–      200,000 public acres and sites

–      100,000 miles of roads and highways

–      10,000 miles of rivers, lakes and shorelines

•       Place 5,000 recycling bins in public spaces to increase on-the-go recycling

•       Plant trees and gardens to enhance communities’ green infrastructure

–      Plant and/or sustain 150,000 trees

–      Plant and/or sustain 750 community edible gardens

–      Plant and/or sustain 3,000 gardens and green spaces

•       Construct and restore 5,000 playgrounds to encourage physical activity

•       Educate 250,000 children to become the next generation of environmental stewards

You can help. Through May, visit www.KABCleanup.org to find a Great American Cleanup event in your hometown and view the Social Hub to check out what’s happening with other volunteer events around the country. You could also be featured. Tag your Tweets, Instagram photos, and Foursquare check-ins with #KeepAmericaBeautiful or Like Keep America Beautiful and share your posts there. Follow @KABtweet for more information. 

World Wisdom: Coca-Cola/Pepsi and GMOs

A national coalition is targeting US soda giants Coca-Cola and Pepsi for another unhealthy practice: their use of genetically modified ingredients (GMOs) in their products.

GMO Inside, a campaign dedicated to advancing the right of consumers to know whether or not foods are genetically engineered, is calling on Coca-Cola and Pepsi to label their GMO ingredients or get GMOs completely out of their products. 

GMO Inside is also calling attention to the fact that Coca-Cola and Pepsi have spent more than $4.1 million to derail GMO labeling in the US. There are now more than 60 countries which require GMO labeling; however, the US is not one of them. Last fall, voters in California went to the polls to try to become the first state to allow for the statewide labeling of GMO ingredients. Despite growing consumer demand for labeling and popular public support for this proposition, Prop 37 was defeated, due to millions of dollars spent by major food and chemical companies. PepsiCo contributed $2,485,400 against Prop 37 and Coca-Cola spent $1,700,500.

High fructose corn syrup and sugar, the staple ingredients in any soda, are derived from two of the most extensively genetically engineered crops: corn and sugar beets. According to the Non-GMO Project, 95 percent of the sugar beet crop and more than 88 percent of the corn crop are now genetically modified in the US. Even diet options are not guaranteed to be non-GMO, as aspartame, the most common artificial sweetener, is made from a genetically modified bacteria.

“Over the past few years there has been an emphasis on healthier eating and cola sales are decreasing,” said Elizabeth O’Connell, Campaign Director for GMO Inside. “However, it’s extremely frustrating for consumers who think they are making healthier choices, like Tropicana or Simply, to learn that they are still consuming unhealthy ingredients like added sugar and high fructose corn syrup, and that these ingredients are likely to be genetically engineered.”

Beyond soda, these companies own a long list of juice brands often thought to be a better choice than soda. The Coca-Cola Company also owns Simply Orange, Vitamin Water, Powerade, Fruitopia, Minute Maid, Hi-C, Odwalla, and Zico. PepsiCo owns Tropicana, Lipton, Gatorade, and Naked Juice. Some of these soda alternatives contain high fructose corn syrup, artificial flavors, sugar, and aspartame – and are therefore likely to contain genetically engineered ingredients.

Additionally, Pepsi owns Frito-Lay, and a host of other food brands: Aunt Jemima, Life Cereal, Hostess, Tostitos, and many others. Some products from Frito-Lay even go so far to be labeled "natural" despite containing genetically modified corn and vegetable oils, including corn, soybean, and canola.

GMOs have never been proven safe for consumption, and a growing body of studies is raising concerns around the health effects of eating them. GMOs are also increasing the use of toxic herbicides and causing harm to farmers in the US and abroad. Adding to this injustice is the fact that both Coca-Cola and Pepsi offer non-GMO versions of their products in Europe, where the labeling of genetically modified ingredients is required. (See Coke’s UK product page). 

GMO Inside is urging consumers to take action against Coke and Pepsi online by signing this petition and leaving comments on their Facebook walls -- and at the grocery store by choosing drinks and snacks without GMOs. Consumers can find non-GMO alternatives by looking for the Non-GMO Verified Project label or choosing food with certified organic labels. 

To date, more than 15,000 consumers have taken action with GMO Inside against companies using GMOs including Monsanto, General Mills, Kellogg’s, Hershey, Mars, and others. In December 2012 the campaign and its 30,000 Facebook friends shut down the Cheerios Facebook page app with comments about GMOs.

Interested individuals can also sign Food Democracy Now’s petition to boycott Pepsi.

GMO Inside is a coalition of businesses, organizations, and individuals that support a healthy, GMO-free food system. The GMO Inside steering committee is made up of the following organizations and individuals and convened by Green America:

Food Democracy Now! is a grassroots community dedicated to building a sustainable food system that protects our natural environment, sustains farmers and nourishes families. Food Democracy Now! members know we can build a food system that gives our communities equal access to healthy food, and respects the dignity of the farmers who produce it. We believe in recreating regional food systems, supporting the growth of humane, natural and organic farms, and protecting the environment.

GMO Free USA works to harness education, advocacy, and bold action to foster consumer rejection of genetically modified organisms, until they are proven safe. They support the labeling of GMO foods with the ultimate goal of getting GMOs out of the food supply and environment. Their current campaign focuses on engaging Kellogg’s to get GMOs out of their entire product line.

Green America is the nation’s leading green economy organization. Founded in 1982, Green America (formerly Co-op America) provides the economic strategies, organizing power and practical tools for businesses, investors, and individuals to solve today’s social and environmental problems.  

Institute for Responsible Technology (IRT) is a world leader in educating policy makers and the public about the documented risks of GM foods and crops, as well as the problems associated with current research, regulation, corporate practices, and reporting. IRT’s founder, Jeffrey M. Smith, is an international bestselling author, filmmaker, and the leading spokesperson on the health dangers of GMOs. He documents how the world’s most powerful Ag biotech companies bluff and mislead critics, and put the health of society at risk.

Label GMOs advocates for transparency in the food supply and for clear and concise labeling of genetically modified organisms.  They are the California grassroots network that helped to lay the groundwork for Proposition 37.  Label GMOs continues to educate in California and provide support for other on the ground grassroots GMO labeling efforts throughout the US.

Nutiva® is dedicated to a healthy and sustainable world, demonstrating its mission to nourish people and planet by using delicious organic ingredients, enriching the soil, and donating 1 percent of sales to sustainable-agriculture groups. Founded in 1999, Nutiva is the world’s best-selling brand of nutritious organic hemp foods, extra-virgin coconut oil, and chia seeds. Fifteen thousand retailers in the United States, Canada, and the European Union offer Nutiva products, including Whole Foods, Sprouts, Vitamin Shoppe, GNC, Publix, Safeway, Loblaws, and Amazon.com. Nutiva is located in Richmond, California.

Vani Hari is a management consultant, food activist writer and a two time elected North Carolina delegate, endorsed by President Obama. Vani started foodbabe.com in April 2011 to spread information about what is really in the American food supply. She teaches people how to make the right purchasing decisions at the grocery store, how to live an organic lifestyle, and how to travel healthfully around the world.

Buying Green: Noodle & Boo and Kiss My Face

I recently had a chance to try out Noodle and Boo Bouncing Baby Bubbles and Kiss My Face Orange U Smart Detangler. I love the chance to try out products that work and are safe for my kids. 

Noodle and Boo products do not contain questionable ingredients such as parabens, phthalates, and dyes. Packaging is recyclable, and products are nontoxic, biodegradable, and use sustainable plant-based ingredients. They also refrain from all animal testing. They have a complete line of baby products, as well as products for moms and almost moms. The bubble bath lathered well, which is what my girls care about! Noodle and Boo products are available at Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue, Lord & Taylor, Neiman Marcus, Von Maur, and NoodleandBoo.com.

The part of bathtime that's hardest on my girls is combing their hair. Most of the time it's fine, but if there's a stubborn snarl (which happens a lot in winter with hats on and off heads), then it's a struggle. The detangler was amazing. I sprayed a little bit on a particularly bad rat's nest, and it combed out very easily. Kiss My Face products are natural and cruelty-free. They use plant-based ingredients and the highest post-consumer recyclable content possible. They can be purchased at kissmyface.com, co-ops and natural foods stores, Target, REI, and many other shops (use the online store locator to find one near you).

Disclosure: I received complimentary products to faciliate this review. All opinions are my own.

Buying Green: Lanolin for Breastfeeding

If you're nursing, especially at the beginning, you may have problems with dry, cracked, sore nipples. My first child didn't latch properly and nursed very frequently for only a few minutes at a time, which made my nipples very raw. Lanolin was a lifesaver. And it's safe for babies, too, so you don't have to wash your chest before nursing. Ameda ComfortLan (available at Babies R Us, Amazon, and on the Ameda website) is made without fragrance, preservatives, or additives. Simply apply a thin layer after nursing to help nourish and protect your skin.

Buying Green: Happy Family

Nine years ago, Shazi Visram heard a story from a friend: a new mom, torn between time, budget and wanting the best for her child, was having a hard time finding healthy food options. Shazi took her friend’s story and turned it into a plan-- in 2003 she founded HappyFamily, which is now the leading organic brand of baby and toddler meals in the U.S. and will soon be found on shelves at Target stores across the country.

 

Shazi has an inspiring story (in the early days of the company she was pregnant herself, and frequently found herself sleeping on a yoga mat on her office floor after long days!?!). Target’s behind the scenes magazine A Bullseye View has a great article about how HappyFamily was built, how they adapted to the needs of a growing market, and most importantly, the philosophy behind the brand.

Buying Green: Noodle & Boo

The Noodle & Boo All of My Heart French Milled Soap is heart shaped and made with mild cleansers and gentle moisturizers that ensure healthy skin.  The formula has a rich and creamy lather that gently cleans delicate skin, leaving it soft and supple. 

 

Noodle & Boo French Milled Soap  

• All natural formula made of 100% vegetable oil 
• Wholesome oatmeal, sweet almond oil, aloe and nutrient rich milk protein moisturize and soothe the skin 
• Does not contain dehydrating detergents or irritating surfactants
• Dermatologist and Pediatrician tested formula is mild enough for daily use and can be used on those with sensitive skin 
• Hypoallergenic and clinically tested for sensitive skin

 

The Noodle & Boo All of My Heart French Milled Soap is available for $15 at Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue , Lord & Taylor, Neiman Marcus, Von Maur, and NoodleandBoo.com.

Green Beauty: DIY Face Masks

Here are a couple recipes for some face masks to help your face.

For moisture, mix 1T honey, 1T powdered oatmeal (use a processor), and 2T yogurt.

For a deep clean, mix 3/4 c mashed strawberries, 3T yogurt, and 1T rice or nut flour.

Leave the mask on your face for 20 minutes, and then gently wash off.