From December 5th – 11th we are excited to donate 10% of our proceeds…our group donation will be matched so the money we raise will be doubled!!!!  As a gift to you we have a very special Holiday price for our Today I Ate A Rainbow kits…they are only $17!!!!!! 

Please head over to Suzanne’s blog MommyFootprint to read more about the campaign…you can also read the letter that a teacher wrote that inspired the Adopt-a-School program.

Between December 5-11th if you shop at any of these fabulous online stores –  to help schools, which means you are helping families and that’s something we can all get behind!  Feel good shopping with a small business that is giving back this holiday season!

Apricot Culotte:  an e-boutique specialized in previously loved baby clothes that we bring in from France. We also carry end of season brand new designer baby clothes including some very nice French organic brands.

Bamboobino: an adorable line of children’s clothes and accessories made from soft, eco-friendly bamboo.

Bumblebee Toys: offers a unique collection of natural toys, crafts and playthings to inspire the imagination and nourish the senses.

dandelion KIDS: modern kids shop that stocks hip baby clothes, stylish duds for boys and girls plus cool, unique gifts for the next baby shower or kids birthday party.

Fill Your Own: offers an array of carbon-neutral, non-toxic and reusable products ideal for both kids and adults.

Giving Gifts: carries gifts that give – fair trade, eco friendly and fun gifts for babies, kids, adults and pets.

Green Planet Parties: where it’s possible to shop for eco-friendly party supplies in one place! Supporting locally manufactured decorations & goodies!

Kippo Kids: proud to offer you a quality mix of products that include a good selection of eco-friendly, handmade, organic, and Made in Canada items.

Maxwell Designs: leading Canadian designer of beautiful purses, the best diaper bags in Canada, and many accessories.

My Little Green Shop: is a hip e-boutique that provides a wide range of safe, non-toxic products for babies, children and mamas. We are careful that the products we carry meet our standards of what’s safe and eco-friendly.

Onyx Containers: food storage containers that are of the highest quality, manufactured in responsible conditions and available at affordable prices.

Puddlegear: toddler and baby raingear- children can play outside feeling warm, unrestricted and dry in their PVC and Phthalate free rainwear – certified by oko – tex.

Today I Ate A Rainbow: we create tools that making healthy eating fun for kids!

Let’s spread some Magic this Holiday Season!!!!!
Kia

The Psychology of Stuff

Stuff. It consumes valuable space in our homes, messes with our credit ratings and clutters our thinking. The act of buying, storing and ultimately disposing of our possessions strains environmental resources on so many levels.

There are multiple TV shows dedicated to the ‘stuff’ we all find so important. There are those dedicated to the hunting for it, the removal of it, the storing and the selling of it. Even more alarming are the shows teaching us all how to acquire more cheap junk for even less.

Just because something is ‘cheap’ doesn’t make it a bargain. The mass production of cheap products puts huge strain on our planet – from the energy used in the production to the pollution in the shipping and transport all the way to the grand finale in a landfill. So, do we stop buying all together? No. But it is imperative to buy quality products with their end use in mind. Quality products may cost more initially, but they tend to break less and wear out gracefully so they can be passed on or reused when we’re finished with them. There is already more material goods than what we need on the planet right now – it just takes a little rearranging to realize it.

As a society there is so much value placed on things and the more things the better. So much so that we actually build massive storage facilities to hold all of our excess things that we apparently need but can’t fit into our lives.

Grant and I run a business where we see the effect of consumerism in people’s lives every single day. There are many different reasons why people call us but there is often embarrassment and shame and most want to explain why they have what they do. Sometimes the ‘junk’ is still in original packaging, price tags still attached. We are often called to clear out entire estates when a family member has passed away. Usually the family has taken a small box or two of sentimental items and then are completely overwhelmed with what to do with the rest. Sadly, our ‘collections’ live on even after we die and become either a burden to dispose of or a cause for feuds between those left behind.

I have my Dad to thank for my lack of attachment to material possessions and it’s all because of an off-hand remark he made while driving me to school when I was a teenager. I was undoubtedly scowling while complaining about the lack of coolness in our plain and practical used Honda Accord. He said, “I’ve never understood why there is so much importance put on the type of car you drive. It’s all just tin and we’re all going to the same place.” Those words stuck with me and wove themselves into who I am.

Grant’s Grandpa Bill was known to be one of the first recyclers – done long before it was cool to do so. The Belbins and Wearmouths have endless hilarious stories about his resourcefulness and ingenuity when it came to reusing materials. It’s no wonder Grant is the man he is today.

Four years ago I would have never guessed we’d be in this business although looking back now it’s impossible to not see it coming.

This challenge has put a fast-forward on plans we’ve had rattling around for awhile. We are now working with the School District and the Regional District to take elementary kids out to the landfill. This is not your everyday field trip to the zoo or the skating rink but we believe it is essential for children to see and really grasp the magnitude of waste we produce. We believe they need to grow up knowing their garbage doesn’t magically disappear from their curb. It ends up somewhere and it’s shocking.

We are thankful Drew’s teacher, Laura Harrison, responded so enthusiastically to our proposal that we have now expanded our focus to turn this into a district-wide program. Harrison’s class will be the first to go to the landfill at the conclusion of their “Needs vs. Wants” segment this winter.

Until then pop over to the fabulous Yummy Mummy Club to read Kelli Daisy’s blog post about our trip! Kelli is a fantastic writer how also happens to be hilarious!!!

http://yummymummyclub.ca/kelli_daisy_scene_and_heard

My full blog post will be up later today!!!

Happy Healthy Eating,
Kia

Now this is one party you don’t want to miss! Our friends over at Notes from the Cookie Jar are hosting a fantastic blog party…and twitter party…and YOU are invited!  Here are the details from her site:

Are you ready for back to school? Do you dream of days without the kids, or are you like me and it means the end of your vacation? Whatever September means for you, Notes From the Cookie Jar is holding an all out, get down, shake yer bootie event.

There’s nothing like a party for back to school, and so we’re going to break out the food, blow up some balloons, and have some FUN!

Here’s how it works:

Invite your friends! Family! Neighbors!
What’s a party without a TON of people? Everyone is invited!! Grab a button from my sidebar and display it on your sidebar to invite your readers. Don’t have a blog? Copy and paste the following directly into Twitter:

Win big @scatteredmom ‘s #lunchrevolution blog party Aug26-29! http://tinyurl.com/2aqnjy9

Rock out your own blog!

What’s a party without lots of conversation, sharing, and fun? Dress up your blog! Post pictures, video, let us know your best tips for packing lunches, your biggest mishaps, recipes, and more! Have loads of fun with this and be creative. Hold a giveaway or contest, even!

Don’t have a blog? You can post a video to You Tube, pictures to Flickr, etc.

Join us for a LIVE Twitter party August 27th!

I’m teaming up with Mrs. Q over at Fed Up With Lunch for a rockin’ LIVE Twitter Party at 8pm CST/ 9pm EST! There will be prizes, lots of lunch talk, and who know just WHO might show up?! You won’t want to miss this! We’ll be tweeting under the hashtags #schoollunch

Sign up for prizes!

Notes from the Cookie Jar has found some WAY cool sponsors who have very generously offered us some really amazing prizes. In order to win some, drop by my main party page and sign up on the Mr. Linky on Thursday August 26th. (but wait, there’s more so keep reading!)

Be sure to put in the link to your party post so people can find you. Don’t have a blog? Use the link to your Flickr picture, You Tube Video message, or Twitter stream so we can see your lunch tips/ideas/ stories!

Mingle!

After you are signed up, go check out all the other blogs on the Mr. Linky! As you go, make sure to note THREE of your very favorite posts/tips/links because in order to qualify for prizes, you will need to come back to the party post and tell me. (Note: only people who have signed up for Mr. Linky AND commented back qualify for prizes)

Come back to the main party page and leave me a comment saying what THREE posts/links/recipes/ etc were the most useful, funniest, thought provoking, along with a way for me to contact you (twitter handle or e-mail address), and you will be entered for some swanky prizes!

The Mr. Linky will go LIVE Thursday, August 26th and close midnight (PST) Sunday, August 29th. Check back here on Monday, August 30th to see who won!

I am currently working on the sponsor list right now and I can tell you, you REALLY don’t want to miss this party!

So grab a button and start inviting people! Let me know if you need a banner or larger button, I have those too!

A common term to describe the malabsorption of nutrients in the small intestine.

I love the digestive system. Really do. It works so hard for us by transforming the foods we eat into nutrients that fuel our bodies to function, hopefully optimally, every day. Every time I give a health talk, the digestive system is where I begin. If foods are not digesting well then how can one function well?

Here we go…a brief journey through the digestive system:

1. It all begins in the nose with the smell of foods. Delicious scents initiate an alert to the digestive system that food maybe on its way.  Once food enters the mouth, chewing creates saliva – the first step in the breakdown of food – and helps further break down food into smaller mushier pieces (bolus) to make for easier swallowing.  Chewing is important!
2. Saliva and chewing signals the stomach to release hydrochloric acid (HCL) and gastric juices.
3. Once the bolus arrives in the stomach, the gastric juices and HCL will break down food further. The HCL will help out the immune system by  killing any foreign bugs so they will not enter the body.
4. Next the bolus journeys into the  small intestine.  Here, with the help of the pancreatic enzymes, the bolus breaks down into nutrients.
5. The small intestinal walls have tiny holes in them that will allow for the absorption of the nutrients. However, stress, antibiotic use and poor eating habits can lead to these holes becoming larger thus allowing much bigger particles ( that were meant to be “pooped” out) to be absorbed into the bloodstream. This is referred to as leaky gut and may create numerous problems in the body.
6. The leftover bolus or waste that the body does not want will travel to the large intestine where excess water will be reabsorbed into the body, leaving a more solid waste that can be “pooped” out.
7. If leaky gut is occurring in one’s body, the body’s immune system will begin attacking these larger particles thinking it is harmful. This can be one reason for food allergies.

Here are some ways to help out your digestive system:

• Drink warm lemon water 15 minutes before each meal
• Eat a colorful plate
• Chew your foods thoroughly
• Enjoy your meal & take your time eating

If you have digestive problems:

• Do the above
• Commit to 1 week of daily castor oil packs
• Consider taking probiotics for 1 month
• Drink herbal teas; peppermint and chamomille

If you still are having problems, consult your doctor. There are many lab tests that can be done – celiac disease to food allergies.

Visit The Human Body Detectives!

I feel like a broken record, maybe even a persistent nagger, but hey, I really believe in this stuff! And I know Kia does as well.

Whole Colorful Food Rocks your Body!

I am not telling people to eat more produce (although that could be a good post! ), but I am suggesting, with very good reasoning, to purchase and hue your plate with colorful whole foods. Kia and I both see the benefits of eating colorful whole foods for everyone in the family and one of those benefits moms greatly – kids do not get sick as much and if they do they bounce back quickly!

Here is why:

Red:  Folate, lycopene, flavonoids…..ohh my!

Lycopene has been linked to fight cancer cells, folate to prevent birth defects, depression & irritability and certain types ( there are subgroups) of flavanoids ( or bioflavonoids) are known for their antioxidant activity ( defending us from those free radicals!).

Also, think red – heart because red foods may help fight heart disease.

Green: Lutein to the rescue!

Green foods are full of nutrients,  fiber and there are so many to choose from – avocados, spinach, broccoli, kale, kiwi – YUM!

Lutein is  an antioxidant, and found in high concentrations in the eye (& associated with the ability to see ). Bring on lutein rich foods to decrease your risk of blindness…which can occur in the aging process.

Yellow & Orange: Vitamin A or beta-carotene?

Yellow foods are packed with beta-carotene and the body does its magic by converting the beta-carotene into vitamin a.

The importance of vitamin a, besides seeing in the dark, is keeping the tissues of the respiratory, urinary and intestinal tracts healthy. By doing this, it makes it difficult for germs (HBD: Battle with the Bugs) to attach to the linings of these tracts. Therefore a great help for the immune system.

Purple & Blue: Blood vessels, memory and what?

Back to flavonoids, but this type of flavonoid found in the blue purple foods, helps to maintain strong healthy blood vessel walls. This means a decrease in heart disease!

Eating blueberries may also help with your memory, which, I am admitting, I could use some help with in my aging years! Lucky for me, this is my favorite fruit.

All in all, colorful foods are packed with all types on nutrients that do all sorts of things in the body to help us function optimally everyday. Next time you are at the market, think about filling your cart with some color ( easier if you stay in the periphery of the store), make that dinner plate like a rainbow and make up stories  about what certain foods do in the body. Kids love this! They will, I guarantee, think about these stories next time they are up to bat or running a race.