Spending time outside in nature, camping, picnicking, fishing, and getting plenty of vitamin D are synonymous with summertime around here. Like many active families, we do our best to protect ourselves from harmful sun damage and bug bites while we're out enjoying nature. Did you know that rates of tick-borne diseases such as Lyme Disease are on the rise, along with West Nile Virus and other diseases carried and spread by our six-legged neighbors? Thank goodness for bug spray... right? Well, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but the main active ingredient in most bug sprays, DEET, is known to cause adverse effects such as neurological deficits, seizures, skin rashes, and cardiovascular events. Just like the toxins found in your sunscreens, this stuff is almost as detrimental to your...
Nothing ruins a backyard barbecue faster than unwanted guests of the six-legged variety. Mosquitoes, flies, beetles and other pesky party-crashers can be more than just annoying- their bites can carry diseases like West Nile Virus or Lyme Disease. Before spraying your party down with toxic chemical insect repellents, try adding some of these helpful plants to your garden. These plants are lovely additions to any garden, and many of them add flavor to barbecue recipes as well! 1. Petunias In addition to brightening your yard with colorful flowers, these flowers are often planted near produce to repel squash bugs, beetles and aphids. 2. Basil Basil contains an essential oil that kills mosquito eggs. Plant basil in pots near gathering areas to ward off flies and mosquitoes, and...
Have you walked down the sunscreen aisle at your local store lately? SO. MANY. CHOICES.And I'm sorry to tell you, but most of these products contain toxic chemicals that may not be any better for your skin health than the UV rays they're protecting you from. Recent studies show that the chemicals found in sunscreen don't just sit on top of the skin, they absorb into the bloodstream in alarmingly high amounts, and stay in your bloodstream for up to a week after use. These chemicals were found in the bloodstream of study participants for up to a week after use, and are known carcinogens and hormone disruptors! In fact, sunscreens containing certain ingredients are actually BANNED in coastal states, because...
Have you ever made an impulse purchase at the farmer's market, and then didn't quite know what to do with your newly acquired produce? I was browsing at my local farmer's market last week and came across a booth selling bags of fresh greens. A cheerful young woman smiled at me from across the table and announced "one bag for five dollars, or five bags for twenty!". I walked away with five bags of greens, thinking about how happy my family would be with fresh spinach, sorrel, beet greens, and rainbow chard in their dinner salads that week. Four days later, even though we had eaten plenty of salads that week, my bags of greens were still quite full, and I realized that even...
An easy and fun treat to make with your kids, these healthy rainbow popsicles are packed with nutrients and antioxidants, plus they're so fun to make and easily customizable! So roll up everyone's sleeves (or not) and whip up a batch of these tasty treats!
You will need:
One popsicle mold
Bananas
Assorted fruits and veggies, depending on the colors you want
Mix-ins if desired (Yogurt, honey, chia seeds, protein powder, etc)
Mix together 1/2 banana with fruit, desired mix-ins, and just enough water to blend. Get creative! I used the following ingredients: RED: Banana, beets, frozen mixed red berriesPURPLE: Banana, frozen blueberriesORANGE: Banana, frozen mango, frozen peachesGREEN: Banana, pineapple, spinachFreeze until solid, and enjoy!
