Non-toxic Living in a Toxic World

DIY Glass straw cup

nontoxicmama — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 16:41:55 +0000

This is a great tutorial for a plastic-free straw cup!

http://creativecarissa.blogspot.com/2011/04/reduce-reuse-recycle-diy-glass-straw.html

Safe Bath Toys: BPA, Phthalate, and PVC free

nontoxicmama — Sat, 26 Mar 2011 19:05:38 +0000

I will be editing this list over the next month or so to add to it but since it was requested, I wanted to get this post up. Feel free to ask about anything you have a question about and I will do my best to find the answer!

Boon, Inc:

Appliques
Bug Pod
Flo Faucet Cover
Frog Pod
Mini-Scrubbies
Scrubble
Splat
Squish Duck
Water Bugs
Slim Duck
Jane Duck
Bob Duck

International Play Things

Bathtime Shower
Tub Boats
Lil’ Squirts
Bath Paddlers
Bubble Frog
Bath Beakers
Super Sudser
Bath Mix N Match
Lobster Tub Caddy
Scoop N Strain Water Wand

PUJ Baby Bath

Rich Frog has a line of all natural rubber duckies made from natural latex.

Is it really healthy?

nontoxicmama — Sun, 20 Mar 2011 17:26:31 +0000

I was perusing the nutritional information for a local restaurant, to see what had dairy in it. I had chosen this restaurant because it was next to the kids haircut location that I take my son to, so it was convenient, and because a location that served soup and salads had to be healthier than a burger joint, right? RIGHT?

Apparently not by much.

Their Garden Vegetable soup has HFCS on the list twice. It is both in the hydrolyzed vegetable protein and as a stand alone ingredient. It also contains sugar. Why does a vegetable soup require both sugar and HFCS? I cringe when I imagine a diabetic going in and ordering what they believe to be a fairly safe dish and then WHAM sugar spike and they can’t figure out why.

The beef chili has partially hydrogenated soy and cottonseed oils and several preservatives.

The french onion soup has so many cringe-worthy items that I won’t even list them.

The Wisconsin Cheese soup has Red dye #3 and #40 nestled among many other nasty ingredients.

And the list just goes on. I went in, again, after seeing a commercial for a soup with organic rice and I read the ingredients and then turned around and walked out.

McDonald’s just went “healthy” and is offering oatmeal with the convenience of a drive-thru. You can see the ingredient list for yourself online at http://nutrition.mcdonalds.com/nutrition1/itemDetailInfo.do?itemID=1500. Why does their cream have 7 ingredients? Their “healthy” alternative has 10 fewer calories than the egg mcmuffin.

Giveaway! 100% Cotton Swim Cushions

nontoxicmama — Sat, 04 Dec 2010 17:36:29 +0000

This has to be the biggest discovery I have made all year!

The Original Baby Company has PVC-free swim cushions AND they are not made in China! This delightful item is made in Germany. These are not the traditional “swimmies” but they look fantastic!

100% Machine Washable Cotton (hang dry)
One Size Fits All (baby to adult)
MADE IN GERMANY (for over 50 years)
Optimal Position For Learning To Swim
Arms Free To Make Natural Swimming Movement
Developed By A Swim Instructor And Recommended By Swimming Schools
TUV Approved
Made Exclusively Of Material From Companies Possessing The Certificate “Oko-Tex Standard 100″
All Natural Fiber That Is Salt,Chlorinated And Thermal Water Resistant

See for yourself! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3cXu-KY517A

In order to enter just like their Facebook page, and comment here.

You can get extra entries by liking the Non-toxic Mama page, and another by sharing the giveaway post on the Non-toxic Mama Facebook page. You will need to post an extra comment for the extra entries.

I will be picking the winner on Thursday, December 9th @ Noon EST. There is more information on the cushions here.

WINNER UPDATE! Connie won! I used Random.org and it picked #6. I will post a screen shot if I can figure out how to make it small enough.

Update

nontoxicmama — Sun, 28 Nov 2010 05:34:14 +0000

I am still recuperating from my accident but I am happy to say that I have a very interesting product review and giveaway coming up soon!

I have been researching a couple of things for the boys recently and will be doing some writeups on the joys of trying to find organic bedding, mattresses, lunch boxes, cups, long johns and more.

I spent an hour and a half just tonight trying to decide on the best organic bedding for my toddler. Now that the temperature is shifting, I need to find him some blankets for him. IF I had $600 to drop on a blanket, then I wouldn’t be searching, but as it is, I am still looking.

Derailed…

nontoxicmama — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 03:34:12 +0000

I haven’t been able to update lately because I was involved in a pedestrian accident. I was the pedestrian.

I am getting some things together and will have some new posts up soon!

Recipe: No-dairy Banana Peanut Butter Milkshake

nontoxicmama — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 17:10:58 +0000

I have been craving everything dairy. So, after driving by Sonic the other day and dying a little inside knowing I couldn’t get a peanut butter and banana milkshake, I decided I had to do something about it! Granted, I haven’t had a milkshake in over a year before going dairy-free. It is the “you must have what you can’t” syndrome.

I just threw this in the blender with no measurements but it is fantastic! No more cravings and it is all organic!

Vanilla almond milk
1/2 banana
Some chocolate Rice Dream (I don’t like eating it by itself)
Oh!Alaska chocolate syrup (or use syrup you make yourself)
Scoop of peanut butter
Spoon of Coconut Cream from Tropical Traditions

The biggest issue with cutting something out of your diet is your mind. Knowing you can’t have it can make you want it more than you ever did. The key is to find a way around that and satisfy those cravings, if you can. There are many things you can make yourself that will be much healthier and even taste better than what you were craving.

New Plan

nontoxicmama — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 18:11:04 +0000

My original intention was to have just a straight information blog here, but I have decided to go a new direction. I am finding information that I want to share that is hard to put into words as just information and not more personal. There fore, this blog will be drifting into a new path and hopefully, will end up with many more posts.

Graco and fire retardants

nontoxicmama — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 17:36:13 +0000

I have been very happy with Graco in the last year. All you have to do is call their customer service number 800-345-4109 and they can and will tell you quickly if the item you are looking at is treated with fire retardants.

So far I have had their assurance that their strollers are not treated and that the swing I was looking at isn’t treated.

Their car seats are all treated because that is required by law.

It is very rare to find a company that has knowledgeable people that you can reach this easily. I have talked to representatives in companies that acted like they didn’t even know what fire retardants were.

Recipe: Coca-Cola Cake

nontoxicmama — Sun, 18 Apr 2010 17:48:58 +0000

Yes, I know there is little about this recipe that is healthy. Sometimes you just have to indulge and making it yourself is always the best route. I modified and combined a few recipes I found to get to this recipe. This is the closest to Cracker Barrel’s that I can get.

Cake

1/2 cup butter
1 cup Coca-Cola (I buy Mexican Coke to get it with sugar instead of HFCS)
1 ounce semisweet baking chocolate
3/4 cup mini marshmallows
2 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup cocoa powder
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups sugar
1/2 cup shortening
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 eggs
3/4 cup buttermilk

Frosting

1/2 cup butter
3 tablespoons cocoa
6 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 lb powdered sugar

In a saucepan, bring 1/2 cup butter, 1 cup Coke, and baking chocolate to a boil.
Remove from heat and stir in marshmallows until dissolved.
Set aside and allow to cool to room temperature.
In a bowl, combine flour, 3/4 cup cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
Beat together sugar, shortening, oil, and 2 teaspoons vanilla until fluffy.
Add eggs and buttermilk and beat until smooth.
Add 1/2 of the dry mixture into the wet mixture and beat until smooth, scraping the sides of the bowl often.
Add cooled Coke mixture and beat.
Add remaining dry mixture and beat 4 minutes. Batter will be thick.
Pour batter into a greased and floured 13×9 baking pan.
Bake on top rack of a 350 degree oven for 35-40 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
Frosting:.
In a saucepan, combine the butter, cocoa and milk. Heat until butter melts.
Beat in remaining ingredients.
Spread on hot cake.
Let it cool and then serve.