Strollerderby : organic

Hannah Montana's Gone Fruity

JeanneSager — Sun, 03 May 2009 16:16:00 GMT

I'm all for a brand using its sway with kids for good, but do we really need Hannah Montana bananas?

What about Mickey Mouse apples? High School Musical avocados?

Disney has gotten healthy to face the childhood obesity crisis head on, cutting ties with McDonald's (you'll notice there are no Disneyfied happy meals on your summer road trip this year) and slapping giant mouse ears on good, wholesome fare.

So, is it working? According to a look by the Washington Post, yes. When supermarket chain Winn-Dixie linked its bagged apples to High School Musical, sales spiked by forty-seven percent. The Disney Garden line is now appearing in eighteen of the top twenty mass and grocery retailers in the states, and sales grew seventy percent from 2007 to 2008.

I can admit I've fallen victim. My daughter needed a grab and go snack, and she saw Mickey apple slices on the shelves. She asked because they were Mickey. I bought because they were apples. With the same characters in a different aisle on sugar-packed "fruit" snacks, the real thing worked for me. We've also been known to pick up Princess soup because she begged for princesses, and my first introduction to Hannah Montana came in the supermarket when my daughter started shrieking about the pop star on her yogurt. Again, yogurt, much better than potato chips! Trust me - their branding is working on my impressionable three-year-old.

But I'm not sure how I feel about Disney selling health food to my kid. Is it better than peddling the junk? Sure. But does it have to be either or? I shy away from Sesame Street's organic pasta and breastfast offerings too, because as much as we all love Cookie Monster, he's not making me feel better about a processed box of waffles. And I'm not ready for the forecasted Mickey whole wheat chicken nuggets to replace the homemade version I make and freeze in my own kitchen.

Frankly, I'd prefer my kid make her food choices based on things like "amount of whole grains included" or "no trans-fats." I'd like to think she'd pick up an apple because we live in New York and have raised her on some of the nation's best apples, not because there's a cartoon character stamped on the flesh. Ditto avocados. They're fantastically flavorful and you can't have guacamole (yum) withouth them - so do we really need Zac Efron's mug to get them in my cart and on her plate?

Disney is such a powerful brand, I'm happy to see it inching back from the heart attack on a plate foodstuffs its traditionally backed. For parents who have had to measure just buying a requested item over the tantrum in the middle of the supermarket, it's definitely good news. Trust me, been there, heard the screeching. But I can't help wishing food would just go back to being food, no Hannah Montana, no Elmo, no Mickey. It's why I've fought the organic branding too.

Because in fifteen years, she won't be picking food because it has her favorite superhero printed on the front of the bag. She'll just have to go with her gut, and I'd like to think it's one filled with healthy choices.

Image: Washington Post

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Cooking with Tamra Davis: Apple Cake

editors — Fri, 01 May 2009 18:00:00 GMT

Tamra Davis, film and TV director, music-video maker, mother of two, Huffington Post blogger, and wife of the Beastie Boys’ Mike D. (their boys wander in and out of the kitchen during filming), has given Babble permission to post some recipes from her online cooking show. Today: Apple Cake!

Now go buy her book, Make Me Something Good to Eat, available on her TamraDavisCookingShow.com!

Cooking with Tamra Davis: Grilled Fish Sandwich

editors — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 18:00:00 GMT

Now go buy her book, Make Me Something Good to Eat, available on her TamraDavisCookingShow.com!

Cooking with Tamra Davis: Red Velvet Cupcakes

editors — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 18:00:00 GMT

Now go buy her book, Make Me Something Good to Eat, available on her TamraDavisCookingShow.com!

Cooking with Tamra Davis: Shrek Pesto

editors — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 18:00:00 GMT

Now go buy her book, Make Me Something Good to Eat, available on her TamraDavisCookingShow.com!

Cooking with Tamra Davis: Granola

editors — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 18:00:00 GMT

Tamra Davis, film and TV director, music-video maker, mother of two, Huffington post blogger, and wife of the Beastie Boys’ Mike D. (their boys wander in and out of the kitchen during filming), has given Babble permission to post some recipes from her online cooking show. Every day this week, we’ll publish her tips for making a healthy, kid-friendly dish. Today: Granola!

Now go buy her book, Make Me Something Good To Eat, available on her TamraDavisCookingShow.com!

Liveblogging Toy Fair, Part 10: The 3 Best Eco-Friendly Toys of 2009

editors — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 17:51:00 GMT

1. Sprig Toys: Sprig Hollow

This year, Sprig is expanding its line of non-toxic and sustainable toys (they don't even use paint, instead making all the colorful parts of their toys from plastic biocomposites) AND lowering its prices. They're also unveiling a bunch of new toys, including our favorite: Spring Hollow, an outdoor playset that will actually survive if you leave it out in the elements for an entire summer.

All the play pieces and vehicles double as sand/dirt/water toys, all are sturdy as a rock, and they even have a sensitive side -- the bugs' "faces" change expression when you flip their wings.

2. Xeko Pals : "Hairy" the Hairy-Eared Dwarf Lemur

We'd like to imagine there's an alternate universe where every kid has one of these endangered creatures instead of a teddy bear. "Hairy," a cuddly little plush beanbag toy, is made of soy, and a portion of the proceeds from his sales go to Conservation International. Purchasing Hairy also unlocks an online game (of course)...

3. HaPe Eco-Friendly Bamboo House

This modern-looking dollhouse is made of sustainable materials, has electric features powered by a rooftop solar panel, and is full of the kind of furniture that people go to Ikea to drool over. An optional greenhouse is a mini-terrarium that actually grows plants, and the add-on veranda contains a garden of felt-and-wood “bamboo” that sways in the breeze.

Bonus: the living room has a plastic sleeve on the wall into which you can insert an iPod, making it a "flatscreen TV" for your dolls. Genius!

More of our favorite things from Toy Fair, comingright up on Strollerderby! -- Gwynne Watkins

See all of Babble's Toy Fair 2009 Coverage.

All photos and video copyright Lauren De Luca and Babble.com. Please contact laurend@babble.com for permissions.

Organic Dreams or Toxic Nightmares? You Pick

JeanneSager — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 17:00:00 GMT

I wasn't sure if I should feel like a bad parent or a bit of a grinch when I read this New York Times piece on the plight of parents trying to green every bit of their baby's world.

Keeping this mom up at night wasn't SIDS or milk production. She wants to known what's lurking inside her son's "organic" mattress.

Breaking down the confusing world of just what qualifies as a "safe" mattress, the article explains the root of parents' fears: fire retardants used to protect families from fires in bed have been found to show up in breastmilk, and some (discontinued) foams lead to nervous and reproductive systems in animals in 2004 study. Today, the materials used to make mattresses are largely proprietary, and the term "organic" can refer simply to the use of some organic cotton in the batting. What's more, the memory foam that's purported to give you a great night's sleep is a petroleum product.

Scary stuff. Definitely enough to make you question your parenting prowess if the main criteria used for picking your kid's mattress was "will a diaper blow-out be easy to clean at 2 a.m.?" Because that, next to cost, topped my list when it came to picking my daughter's crib mattress.

To be fair, "phthalate" wasn't a buzzword in early 2005 when I registered for my baby shower. But even since it has been bandied about, I haven't rushed to her room to chuck her mattress and pile the bed with organic cotton blankets. And, frankly, after reading this, I'm no more inclined to do so.

The Times piece - like so much of what is coming out these days about toxins - makes for worthy, interesting (and in-depth) reading. But it provides no real answers. It doesn't say mattresses are good, but there's little to point to anything wrong with it either. So I'll focus my fears where I know they're founded for now - and when it comes time to buy a "big girl" mattress, I'll read up once again to see if newer news can shed light on my questions.

Image: New York Times

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How Much Would You Pay for an Organic Thanksgiving?

Hannah Tennant-Moore — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 22:30:00 GMT

Nothing puts the price differential between organic and non-organic eating into perspective like a Thanksgiving Day meal. Paying $2 more for organic blueberries or $1 more for organic milk may seem like an easy decision, but what about spending almost $80 more for one meal's worth of Turkey?

As the New York Times reports, smartmoney.com has done some investigative reporting on the real costs of an organic Thanksgiving Day meal. Shopping organic as thriftily as possible at Whole Foods, Associated Supermarket, and the Food Emporium, the financial advice Web site found that an organic traditional Thanksgiving Day meal cost $126.35 more than a non-organic meal. According to Smartmoney, this constitutes a rip-off.

126 bucks is certainly a prohibitively hefty price tag for many families, but let's keep in mind that there are thriftier ways to buy organic than shopping at Whole Foods in Manhattan. For instance, I shop at a co-op and I would bet that buying an organic meal there might even be cheaper than a non-organic one bought in traditional supermarkets. And if you can afford to pay a little more for farming methods that are easier on the environment, by all means do. Isn't that what Thanksgiving is all about?

Photo: New York Times

Making Green by Being Green

Amy Kuras — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 19:03:00 GMT

One of the obstacles I have encountered to raising my kids fully green is that it’s hard to find the stuff you need. The big baby chains do carry BPA-free bottles, but the closest one is a good 20-minute drive away. Cloth diapers? Forget it – I got the ones I have been using from someone selling them on Craigslist. Otherwise, my option would have been to order a few hundred dollars’ worth of stuff online and hope it works out.

My current brilliant business idea is to start a “green living” store that sells everything you need – Earth-friendly cleaning, garden, and personal care products as well as supplies for making your own, a good selection of cloth diapers so you can see and practice with what you’re buying, humanely raised meats, and inexpensive, US-made organic and recycled-fiber clothes for the whole family (a girl can dream, right?).

According to this article from the Calgary Herald, eco-minded moms and dads there already have many such options, everything from organic baby food lines to consultants who will offer up a tailored plan for greening up your home.

I love this idea. I know there are no shortage of green products out there, but for someone like me who needs to touch and fiddle with something before I buy it, buying online isn’t an option and neither is wasting time and gas driving all over looking for someplace that carries the items I want. Anybody out there in the Rust Belt want to start such a business? I’ll let you have my idea for a lifetime discount….

Is Soy Milk or Cow’s Milk More Eco-Conscious?

Hannah Tennant-Moore — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 00:24:00 GMT

Knowing that soybeans are genetically modified and often have to travel vast distances before ending up in milk cartons in my supermarket, I sometimes wonder whether it would be better for the environment to buy local organic cow’s milk.

It’s always a relief when an environmental question such as this has a definite answer. And in this case, Slate’s Green Lantern clearly comes down on the side of soy milk over cow’s milk as the more eco-friendly option.

The Lantern points out the it takes 14 calories of fossil-fuel energy to produce one calorie of milk protein on a conventional farm, with that ratio being about 10 to 1 on an organic farm. One calorie of soybeans, on the other hand, only requires .26 calories of fossil fuels, and their production emits significantly less greenhouse gasses than producing cow’s milk.

Since I find cow's milk mildly nauseating, as far as I'm concerned this is one convenient truth.

Photo: Food Blogga

Return of the son of stuff YUPPIE parents like

Brett Singer — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 15:00:00 GMT

Because too much is never enough. And besides, didn't you want to see this photo at least one more time?

1. Organic everything: from a commenter. I've succumbed to some of this, partly because, living in Manhattan, the cost difference isn't as great as it used to be, and sometimes the quality is better. I also admit that I feel less guilt giving my kids "organic" pre-packaged crap than I do giving them "chemical-laden" pre-packaged crap. It's still crap, but it's ORGANIC crap.

2. Classes and activities: yes, from the same commenter. She said, "mommy and me classes" but in my experience it's much more than that. Around here, it seems like everyone has their kids doing something all flippin' day. A parent once told me that she didn't understand why Kindergarten went until 3pm; she wished it ended at noon so her kid could take advantage of everything Manhattan had to offer. I replied that I thought Kindergarten should go until 8pm. We don't talk much anymore.

3. Kids' music that parents can enjoy: All parents have benefited from the boom in kiddie rock. While I am of course very glad that children's music has evolved beyond Raffi (who really isn't that bad) and Kidz Bop (which is), sometimes this preciousness can go a little too far. Sure, anything by Dan Zanes or The Dirty Sock Funtime Band is better than Barney's Greatest Hits, but a little James Taylor, Peter Paul and Mary, The Beatles – lots of great "adult" music out there that kids might like.

4. Taking their children to live rock 'n' roll shows: "Alternadad" Neal Pollack brought his little one to see The Hives, a rather loud quasi-punk act. I spotted two sets of parents who had dragged their children to see Yaz at the Beacon theater (I myself was dragged by my wife, but that's another story). When commenters on Gawker are giving good parenting advice ("Neil [sic], seriously--ear plugs"), you know something is out of whack in the universe.

5. Anything that isn't made of granite. At least after we found out about the radiation.

For more, click here.

image: nostalgiacentral.com

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Locally Grown Ain’t All That

Hannah Tennant-Moore — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 15:45:00 GMT

Anyone with a shred of concern for the environment knows that locally grown produce is preferable to supermarket produce, right? Wrong—that is, according to Salon writer Roberta Kwok, who's done some serious squash-related research.

The common sense argument for buying local is that transporting food long distances between the producers and the distributors uses up unnecessary fuel. But this argument fails to take into account the fact that conventional distributors drive to supermarkets in big trucks packed with produce, while farmers markets are stocked by Fords and Chevys carrying only, say, 100 pieces of fruit. Which method has the lighter carbon footprint?

Kwok busted out her calculator at a San Francisco farmers market, and found that, out of five food categories—apples, oranges, lettuce, squash, and greens—wholesalers beat out local growers in everything except squash. Score one for the Man.

But, Kwok acknowledges, precise calculations are tricky: do more customers bike to the farmers market than to the supermarket? Do more people buy organic at farmers markets than from wholesalers? And what about the wholesome, touchy-feely goodness of walking around a farmers market with your burlap sack of veggies on your shoulder, smiling at your neighbors and tossing a coin to the local organ grinder? Where does that fleeting sense of communal well-being rank on the carbon scale?

In other words, we could all drive ourselves crazy every time we buy an apple—because unless you grow your own food, you’re doing something wrong.

This is getting depressing. I’m off to Stop and Shop to buy a ready-made apple pie.

Image: Salon.com

Greenhouse: Tuning Out "Green Noise"

Amy Kuras — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 15:02:00 GMT

You've probably experienced at least one of these things:

1) You use plastic cups at a picnic (your friend brought them) and bring them home, fully intending to wash them out and recycle them. But you're tired, it's been a long day, and the idea of washing one more damn dish makes you want to lay your head on the counter and weep. So, screw it, you think, as you toss them in the trash.

2) You spend precious minutes at the grocery store or farmer's market agonizing over which produce is better: locally grown but on an industrial farm, or organically grown but trucked from God knows where. Again, the "screw it" reaction kicks in, and/or the weeping.

3) You are trying to: decide whether to dump the Nalgene, buy a new car, use the dishwasher, or just surf the damn internet, and all the conflicting information out there makes you want to crawl under your bed. And weep. Or say "Screw it."

"Green noise" is the name for this phenomenon, which happens when there's so much information, much of it conflicting and all of it intense, out there. The New York Times delved into the idea, and discovered that possibly at fault are activist groups who are constantly shouting messages of doom into people's ears, as well as companies trying to greenwash themselves.

My idea? Do what works for your budget, life and green sensibilities. We can't do everything, nor should we – government and corporations play a role here too. Everything with a green upside also has a downside, and learning to sift through the crap to find what matters to you is a good skill to have, green or no.

Some 'Natural' Soaps Contain Cancer-Causing Ingredient

Madeline Holler — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 17:31:00 GMT

Better check the labels of your body and dishsoaps, especially the ones you bought specifically because they were labeled "natural" or "organic." A group that represents consumers and manufacturers of natural and organic products conducted an independent lab test of more than 100 such items from natural-food stores (including Whole Foods). They found trace amounts of 1,4-dioxane in 46 diffrent products.

Here's what they found (from washingtonpost.com):

Products that the OCA said had 1,4-dioxane include Jason Fragrance Free Satin Soap, Citrus Magic 100 Percent Natural Dish Liquid, Alba Botanical Passion Fruit Body Wash and Whole Foods Market 365 Everyday Value Shower Gel. Products that tested negative included Burt's Bees Body Wash, Dr. Bronner's and Sundog's Magic Orange Lavender Organic Lotion, Clorox Green Works Natural All-Purpose Cleaner, and Dr. Hauschka Body Wash Fresh.

1,4-dioxane is a petroleum-based solvent, which has been found to cause cancer in animals. It's not an ingredient of these products, rather a byproduct of manufacturing, according to the story.

Companies who make these products have taken the report seriously and say they are looking into their manufacturing process to see how this potentially dangerous compound is getting into their soaps and cleaners.

Mamas, Don't Let Your Boobies Grow Up With Natural Enhancers

Jessica Ashley (Sassafrass) — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 14:01:00 GMT

Adding to the head-shaking update that breastfeeding apparently does not cause boob saggage, is the nearly-as-devastating news (I said nearly) that supplements aren't going to boost your boobs either. A breast health specialist at Mayo Clinic says that, although some herbs like fenugreek and fennel increase milk production and black cohosh and red clover help treat breast disorders, supplements that use these alone or in combination with other herbs will not make the ladies larger.

Manufacturers may want you to believe that because these herbs are phytoestrogens and can mimick the effect of estrogen on the body, the supplements have not been shown in studies to actually increase the size of the breasts. Truly alarming, according to this breast specialist, is that breast enhancers served up capsule-style could put women at risk for certain cancers and could cause serious drug interaction issues.

As far as I am concerned, this bad news is really just good news. As a woman who wished for some post-breastfeeding shrinkage and instead runneth over the next cup size up, I see it as one more opportunity to ignore the complaints of women whose boobs got smaller (and probably, perkier....grrr) after nursing. I say: Stop your wingeing, ladies! Enjoy your adorable non-industrial cute little bras that are far cheaper and scads more alluring than the double-alphabet versions and stop spending a fortune on false organic hope.

Biodegradable Toys Made From WHAT? Shut Your Cornhole!

Alisyn — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 19:31:00 GMT

Green Toys Brand Toys is revolutionizing the toy market with corn-based bioplastic, and lookin' cute while they do it!

Each and every product, down to the very last teaspoon, is made by processing “biotic” (organic) materials - those found in nature (in traditional plastic products, the main raw ingredient is petroleum.) The bioplastic used to make Green Toys is made from renewable, sustainable resources derived from plant materials such as corn and other starches. The toys are sturdy, but ultimately biodegradable, which is great in the long run, and manufacturing bioplastic resin to make Green Toys requires less heat and uses less petroleum, and produces less carbon dioxide, which is great in the short run... and the long run.

The toys are really cute, too. The indoor gardening - bright, cheery, fabulous for gifting - includes everything from soil, to seeds, to pots and tools. The 27-piece dining and cookware set includes a dutch oven that looks nicer than the one I have, a bright orange skillet, and enough plates and cutlery for a dinner party for 10. These are toys you can buy, and feel good about buying. Take that, China!

Best Summer Snack Evahhhh

Jessica Ashley (Sassafrass) — Sat, 28 Jul 2007 14:02:00 GMT

I wish I could be happy sticking to the snack standards of fishy crackers, cheese and crackers and the occasional banana or apple, all easily thrown in the cart at Costco and later, thrown in the mouth of the small child. But alas, I keep reminding myself it is healthy and a good challenge for my picky-eater boy to add new things into the snack rotation once in a while.

This is what led me to Whole Foods on a mission to spice up our morning and after-nap noshing. And this is what led me to stocking up on tubes of yogurt (we chose Horizon Organic, not to be confused with the kind all jacked up with high fructose corn syrup). When the temps started rising, this is what then led me to stash a bunch of tubes in the freezer and to peddle them to my son and his buddies as "yummy yogurt popsicles" that were immediately devoured by hot and hungry kids.

Since I am doing my damnedest to have a sugar-free summer (this earns me gold stars in my heavenly crown, right?), these snacks have quickly become my favorite summer indulgence as well. So, mama's happy, the child's happy, everyone's feeling healthy and adventurous, and the only evidence of it all are a few sticky chins. (Now if I can only score a pallet-load for free...)

Save the Earth One Eco-Friendly Toy at a Time

Jessica Ashley (Sassafrass) — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 20:04:00 GMT

In celebration of Earth Day and the (sigh) Vanity Fair Green Issue, let's go shopping for some globally-correct kid's stuff, shall we? First stop, ModernTots, where the lines are clean, the colors are bright and happy, and the wares are eco-friendly.

For those of us who have to budget in filling up the gas tank these days, you can talk rainforest with the kids while playing the adorable Pandobo game, strategically piling bamboo on a rounded back bear (also preparing them quite well for Jenga drinking games at the frat house in future years...handy!). The stunning Colora really is made up of bamboo magnetic "color pillows" that will introduce hues and patterns to the young ones (and would make a perfect conference call distraction for mommy). I'm loving the organic onesie and the bamboo dominos as nice little green twists on classic kid stuff.

For those of you who are really, truly, completely committed to the world, ModernTot offers the wannabe-celeb level of eco-love complete with a fifty dollar hooded baby towel (and wash cloth), hundred dollar step-stool, thousand dollar crib, and a trundle bed ringing in at (gulp) $1350. Not only will you big purchasers be putting your plastic where your politics are, think of all the baby polar bears you'll be saving.

'Green' Parenting Goes Mainstream

Alisyn — Tue, 17 Apr 2007 17:01:00 GMT

From cloth diapers to preservative free toys to organic cotton onesies to natural soaps, modern mamas are flexing their purchasing power more than ever, and 56% of us are doing our best to go green (or at least, greener). According to a poll taken by BabyCenter, women are living more eco-friendly lives to protect their children's health, and our planet, for the next generation.

So, how are we doing that? Little by little: we're buying more non-toxic cleaning products, recycling, eating organic food, using energy efficient appliances, and educating ourselves about the hazards of chemicals in our daily lives. Perhaps most importantly, though, we're teaching our kids to be smart about what they put on and in their bodies, and the importance of green living.

In recent years green living has become less of an urban/hippie trend, and more the societal norm, with the demand for eco-friendly products growing all the time. They used to be specialty products in specialty stores, but now eco-friendly products can be found in most mainstream superstores across the country.

Linda Murray, Editor-in-Chief of BabyCenter has a theory about how this shift came about: "Today's moms know small steps can add up and they want to do their part. It's a natural extension of the protective mothering instinct that kicks in the minute a woman learns she's pregnant. She becomes keenly aware of whether her food, activities, products, and environment are safe."

That pretty much sums up why I started eating organic, as well as buying chemical-free and non-toxic products whenever I can. Having kids is a pretty powerful catalyst for change - and having a strong collective voice is to speak out about the need for cleaner living for those kids is powerful as well.

Moms rule.

"Organicize Me": Michael Stusser Goes Organic For One Month

JasonAvant — Wed, 28 Feb 2007 16:15:00 GMT

Some of you may know Michael Stusser from his work over at ParentMap; he authored "The Accidental Parent", a column detailing his experience marrying the love of his life - who,as it turned out, had twin 10-year-old girls. His Sebastian Junger-esque courage firmly established, Stusser recently took up a challenge that many of us would shirk from. He spent the month of January eating and drinking only certified organic foods and beverages. Hilarity ensues, along with a thoughtful assessment of the benefits and challenges of eating au natural.

For those new to the world of organic foods, Stusser provides a primer on what makes a product "organic". He then points out that the definition is a bit nebulous - there's a big difference between "organic" and "natural", and to meet USDA standards, 95% of the ingredients need to be organic (the other 5% can, for instance, be De-Con RoachProof). Of course, there's a political aspect to organics, but Stusser points out that organic farms are not the Trotskyist Paradise that one might think - and, indeed, organic food may be a bit bourgeois, as Stusser sees a 58% increase in the cost of his family's monthly groceries.

Along with the serious stuff, Stusser points out the lighter side of his conversion ("Luckily, I discovered an organic vodka called Square One"). And even if you decide that those Jeno's Pizza Rolls are too goddamn tasty to give up, Stusser thinks that one can actually eat in a healthier and more environmentally responsible way. Now, speaking of organic vodka...

Earth's Best Organic Baby Food Recalled

Karen Murphy — Sun, 18 Feb 2007 13:28:00 GMT

And you thought it was safe because it says "organic" on the label. Well, I did anyway. I am totally a sucker for marketing ploys like that. Give me "natural" or "organic" and that means "better", right?

It turns out even "organic" can also mean "botulism". Hain Celestial Group, Inc. has recalled its "Organic 2 Apple Peach Barley Wholesome Breakfast" in 4.5-ounce jars and 12-packs expiring Sept. 14, 2008, and variety packs of "Earth's Best Organic 2 Wholesome Breakfast" expiring Sept. 13, 2008. The recall extends to about 100,000 individual jars and some 30,000 variety packs because of concerns they may be contaminated with the bacteria that cause botulism. If you have any of this baby food in your house, the FDA advises that you don't use it and that you destroy it immediately. Hain Celestial's website advises consumers who have purchased the recalled product and have questions to call 1-800-442-4221.

Because You Want To: Cool Stuff for Valentine's Day

Karen Murphy — Wed, 31 Jan 2007 12:51:00 GMT

Before you know it, the most pressure-filled of all holidays will be upon you (thank you, Hallmark). Will you be ready?

Sending flowers again this year? (yawn. Or as I like to say: it's a start.) At least make them organically-grown, like these from Organic Bouquet.

Feel compelled to send a card? Support social justice with these uber-cool hemp cards from the Organic Consumer's Association.

What about the kids? The Groovy Mind has this set of Five Finger Puppets made from wool spun on bicycle wheels! How can you not buy this, when you can give a toy and inspire guilt at the same time? My kids are each getting a weird-what-is-it rechargeable Candeloo light from Progressive Kid, combining form and function with whimsy. Can't find the perfect gift? Have a look at the large Valentine's collection from Magic Cabin, with vintage Valentines, magic fairy hearts, and bubble wands.

They say the way to a lover's heart is through the stomach, and few things say romance better than food. If you're into cooking, why not try this Vegetarian Valentine's Menu For Two from Wild Oats?

Had enough hearts? I couldn't resist this simple, recycled glass heart from Greenfeet.com

The second-to-last item of the night must involve chocolate. I think it's actually a law. While I look that up, have a look at these organic chocolate truffles from Sweet Earth Chocolates, or perhaps a selection from the Sweetheart Assortment from Lake Champlain Chocolates.

Strollerderby : organic

Hannah Montana's Gone Fruity

Will Kids Lose Their Crocs?

Hooray for Book Banners - No Really

Kids Put Pregnant Women's Food Cravings to Shame

Cooking with Tamra Davis: Apple Cake

Cooking with Tamra Davis: Grilled Fish Sandwich

Cooking with Tamra Davis: Red Velvet Cupcakes

Cooking with Tamra Davis: Shrek Pesto

Cooking with Tamra Davis: Granola

Liveblogging Toy Fair, Part 10: The 3 Best Eco-Friendly Toys of 2009

Organic Dreams or Toxic Nightmares? You Pick

Think Your Kids Are Driving You Crazy? Caffeine Tied to Hallucinations

They Say: One in Two Hundred Kids are Vegetarian

UPDATE: Thrift Shops Won't be Affected Under New Phthalate, Lead Ban

Recall after Five People Die; Tainted Peanut Butter Blamed

Stuff Yuppie Parents Like: Overpriced Strollers

How Much Would You Pay for an Organic Thanksgiving?

Making Green by Being Green

Is Soy Milk or Cow’s Milk More Eco-Conscious?

Return of the son of stuff YUPPIE parents like

Baby Penis Album only five bucks

Stuff White Parents Like

When playgrounds attack, the sequel

The Dark Knight -- parents strongly cautioned (to go see it)

Here's to the laddies who lunch

Kid Food Is Mostly Crap, and It's a Little Shocking

Locally Grown Ain’t All That

Greenhouse: Tuning Out "Green Noise"

Some 'Natural' Soaps Contain Cancer-Causing Ingredient

Mamas, Don't Let Your Boobies Grow Up With Natural Enhancers

Biodegradable Toys Made From WHAT? Shut Your Cornhole!

Best Summer Snack Evahhhh

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