• eating healthy
• simple meals
• variety
• quick meals
• accessible ingredients

I’m excited to share a cookbook with you that covers all those aspects! Even if you aren’t a “full-time vegetarian”, you  may be interested in eating this way now and then. This book can be great for everyone!

The Best 30-Minute Vegetarian Recipes

The Best 30-Minute Vegetarian Recipes contains varied and delicious recipes that can be prepared in 30 minutes or less! Author Marie-Claude Morin is a well-known redio personality, recipe developer, and bestselling cookbook author.

What’s In The Book?

The introduction provides tips for using the recipes, as well as a list of pantry essentials. The 150 recipes are divided into the following categories:

• Appetizers
• Soups
• Salads
• Main Dishes
• Sides
• Desserts

Tempt Your Palate

Among the recipes are classics as well as new and interesting combinations. Here are just a few of the recipes included:

• Bean Dip
• Feta Cheese Bites
• Wild Rice Salad
• Tabbouleh
• Grilled Vegetable Sandwich
• Spinach Quiche
• Pesto Pizza
• Vegetable Curry
• Mini Lasagnas
• Three-Bean Omelet
• Veggie Burger
• Ricotta Coconut Cake

My Thoughts

This is a great book to have for not only vegetarians but for those of us who like to have a meatless meal now and then. While it says 30-minute meals, the first time I made a meal it took  me longer than that. I should also point out that it usually takes me longer to make a new meal the first time. The second time I made the same meal it was much closer to 30 minutes, as long as you multi-tasked the steps appropriately. Here are a few other things I liked:

• Color Photos: There are several gorgeous color photos of some amazing recipes!
• Healthy: I was impressed by the author’s dedication to using real ingredients.
• Two units of measure: For each recipe, the measurements are in English units and metric.

Where to Buy

You can find The Best 30-Minute Vegetarian Recipes on Amazon.com. I’ve also added it to my Amazon.com store in the ‘Books for Parents’ category.

As a bonus, I can share with you a recipe from the book!

Spinach Ricotta Cannelloni

Don’t have much time? This recipe takes just a few steps.

Makes 8 small cannelloni

Preparation:

• Preheat broiler
• 8-inch (20 cm) square glass baking dish, greased

Ingredients:

• 4 spinach lasagna noodles (see Tip,below)

Filling:

• 1 tsp olive oil (5 mL)
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 clove garlic, chopped
• 3 cups fresh spinach, chopped (750 mL)
• 1/2 cup ricotta cheese (125 mL)

Béchamel:

• 2 tbsp butter (30 mL)
• 2 tbsp all-purpose flour (30 mL)
• 1 1/4 cups milk (300 mL)
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1 cup shredded Emmental cheese (250 mL)
• Paprika

Directions:

1. In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook lasagna noodles according to package directions until tender but firm. Drain and rinse under hot water. Drain well and cut crosswise in half.
2. Filling: In a skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Sauté garlic and onion for about 5 minutes or until softened. Stir in spinach until wilted. Remove from heat and stir in ricotta.
3. Spoon filling equally onto one end of each piece of lasagna, roll up and place in a baking dish, seam side down.
4. Béchamel: In a saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Sprinkle with flour and sauté for 30 seconds. Gradually whisk in milk and bring to a simmer,, whisking constantly. Simmer, stirring, for about 5 minutes or until thickened. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.
5. Pour béchamel evenly over cannelloni. Top with cheese and a little paprika. Broil about 5 minutes or until cheese is melted and browned.

Tip: The flat lasagna noodles without curly edges work best for this recipe.

Variation:

Spinach, Roasted Pepper, and Basil Cannelloni: Reduce the spinach to 2 cups (500 mL) and add 1 roasted red bell pepper, finely chopped, with the ricotta. Stir 1/4 cup (60 mL) finely chopped fresh basil into the béchamel with the salt and pepper.

MamaWendy’s Note:

In case you don’t know what Emmental cheese is (like I didn’t) it’s a type of Swiss cheese.

Excerpted from The Best 30-Minute Vegetarian Recipes by Marie-Claude Morin. Photographs copyright © 2009 Headlight, Text © 2011 Robert Rose Inc. www.robertrose.ca Reprinted with permission. All rights reserved.

[Disclosure: I received a review copy of this book from the publisher Robert Rose Inc. With that being said, the comments and opinions above are purely my own.]

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This unique cookbook features a kitchen item most of us have but few of us use regularly. What am I talking about? A food processor, of course!

650 Best Food Processor Recipes

650 Best Food Processor Recipes, written by George Geary and Judith Finlayson, shows us busy home cooks how a time-saving food processor can eliminate lengthy preparation times and also have great results. It features innovative recipes that have been created specifically for use with food processors.

The first section of the book includes comprehensive information on the food processor: from purchasing, safe usage and understanding parts, to a A to Z handy list of ingredients and how to effectively process each one.

The second section contains the recipes which are divided into the following categories:

• Appetizers
• Soups
• Poultry
• Meat
• Fish and seafood
• Meatless mains
• Sides and salads
• Sauces, dressings, condiments, rubs, and seasoned butters
• Sundries, yeast breads, quick breads, muffins, and scones
• Cookies, bars, squares, and brownies
• Desserts and dessert toppings

Many of the recipes have also been designed so that the bowl does not need to be cleaned along the way; another time-saver.

Recipes I Made

I have made several recipes from the book and they have all been easy and fabulous!

• I made a great appetizer in just 10 minutes (recipe below): Cucumbers with Feta and Dill
• I made a yummy side dish: Roasted Squash Purée
• I made a warming soup (recipe below): Hearty Cauliflower and Asparagus Soup

Cucumbers with Feta and Dill (makes 24 hors d’oeuvres, Vegetarian Friendly)

I made this for a get together and we all loved it! Not only was the taste amazing, but I made it all in less than 10 minutes!

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup crumbled feta (125 mL)
• 1/4 cup fresh dill fronds (60 mL)
• 2 tbsp Traditional Mayonnaise (page 437) or store-bought (see Tip, page 93) (30 mL)
• 1 clove garlic, coarsely chopped
• 1 to 2 cucumbers, peeled and halved lengthwise

Directions:

1. In mini work bowl, process feta, dill, mayonnaise, and garlic until smooth and blended, about 20 seconds, stopping and scraping down sides of the bowl as necessary.
2. Using a spoon, scrape out cucumber seeds and discard. Fill hollow with feta spread. Cut cucumbers horizontally into 1/2-inch (1 mL) slices and serve.

Tips:

• This quantity will fill 1 long English cucumber or 2 shorter field cucumbers. Use whatever looks freshest or suits your taste.
• A grapefruit spoon with a serrated edge is perfect for scraping out cucumber seeds.

We made this soup and loved it; it sure hits the spot on a chilly winter day.

Ingredients:

• 1 onion, quartered
• 2 tbsp butter or oil (30 mL)
• 6 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 cups cauliflower florets (625 mL)
• 2 tbsp dry white wine (30 mL)
• 1 large bunch asparagus  (about 1 lb/500 g), divided
• 3 cups chicken or vegetable broth, divided (750 mL)
• 2 tbsp all-purpose flour (30 mL)
• 1 tsp salt (5 mL)
• 1/2 tsp ground white pepper (2 mL)
• Pinch ground nutmeg
• 1/4 cup loosely packed fresh basil

Directions:

1. In work bowl fitted with slicing blade, slice onion.
2. In a large saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Add onion and garlic and cook, stirring, until onion is translucent, 5 to 7 minutes. Add cauliflower and wine. Cook for 2 minutes. Reduce heat to low and simmer while continuing with the recipe.
3. Replace slicing blade with metal blade. Add half of the asparagus and purée until smooth. If it seems a bit dry, add a few tablespoons (30 mL) of the broth through feed tube. Transfer to saucepan.
4. Trim 1/4 inch (0.5 cm) from the ends of remaining asparagus. Discard ends. Slice stems on a diagonal into 1/4- to 1/2-inch (0.5 to 1 cm) pieces. Add to saucepan.
5. Pour 2 cups (500 mL) of the broth into the pot and bring to a simmer. Meanwhile, pour 1/2 cup (125 mL) of the broth into a small bowl. Add flour, salt, white pepper, and nutmeg and whisk until smooth. Add to the saucepan and cook, stirring, until thickened, 3 to 5 minutes. Add remaining broth.
6. In same work bowl fitted with metal blade, add basil and pulse just until chopped slightly, about 5 times. Stir into soup.

Variation: For an all-green soup for St. Patrick’s Day substitute broccoli for the cauliflower.

Your guests will think you laced this soup with cream because of the rich flavor, but it all comes from the vegetables.

Tips: If the soup seems a little thick, add additional broth or wine. To store leftover soup, cool first to room temperature and place in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

For some reason I just get giddy when looking through this cookbook! My main thought as I keep coming back to look through the book is that there are so many recipes! It just seems that with 650 recipes, you will never run out! Here are a few things that stood out to me:

• Tips: There are handy tips for just about every recipe; tips ranged from item substitutions to preparation tips to serving ideas and many, many more! I learned so much just from reading the tips!
• Color Photos: There are several gorgeous color photos of some amazing recipes! That’s a great place to start when trying a new cookbook!
• Vegetarian/Vegan Friendly: I was so happy to see that the recipes were tagged with ‘Vegetarian Friendly’ or ‘Vegan Friendly’ if applicable. That really makes it easier for those of us who want to know about that. While there are several sections dedicated to recipes for meat, I think there are plenty of vegetarian recipes to please a vegetarian eater! There are 650 total recipes, it’s just amazing! My family eats about 75% vegetarian and I am completely happy with the options this cookbook provides. Remember, there is an entire section for “Meatless Mains” as well.
• Two units of measure: For each recipe, the measurements are in English units and metric.
• Healthy: I love that the recipes use REAL food ingredients!
• Appetizers, Soups, Sides: Maybe it’s because I am lacking ideas in these categories, but I am loving these sections!

Great Gift Idea

As you can tell, I really love this book and was thinking that it would make a great gift for many people or occasions:

• Holidays: This would make a great gift for the food lover on your list, or the new college graduate, or someone needing new ideas in the kitchen. There are enough recipes to keep a vegetarian happy, or at least someone who is interested in vegetarian eating.
• Wedding: Most couples register for a food processor on their gift registry. Wouldn’t it be a neat idea for a gift to buy a food processor and this cookbook? Or if their food processor is too expensive, perhaps just give them this book.
• Birthday: This would be a great gift for someone who is hard to buy for or who already has everything!

Where to Buy

You can find 650 Best Food Processor Recipes on Amazon.com. I’ve also added it to my Amazon.com store in the ‘Books for Parents’ category.

As a bonus, I can share with you this fabulous recipe for Apple Crisp with Crumb Topping! Doesn’t that look amazing?! Once you buy this book and try these recipes, let me know what you think!

Apple Crisp with Crumb Topping (Serves 12-16, Vegan Friendly)

When you have an abundance of apples and want a fast dessert, try this instead of pie.

Preparation:

• Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C)
• 13- by 9-inch (33 by 23 cm) glass baking dish, buttered

Topping:

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (375 mL)
• 1/2 cup lightly packed light brown sugar (125 mL)
• 2 tbsp granulated sugar (30 mL)
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon (2 mL)
• 1/4 tsp salt (1 mL)
• 1/2 cup cold unsalted butter, cut into small chunks, or vegan alternative (125 mL)

Filling:

• 1 cup granulated sugar (250 mL)
• 2 tbsp all-purpose flour (30 mL)
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon (5 mL)
• 1/2 tsp freshly grated nutmeg (2 mL)
• 1/4 tsp ground cloves (1 mL)
• 6 large baking apples, peeled and thinly sliced

Directions:

1. Topping: In a food processor fitted with metal blade, pulse flour, brown and granulated sugars, cinnamon and salt until combined, about 5 times. Remove lid and distribute butter evenly over top. Cover and pulse until mixture resembles coarse crumbs, about 20 times. Transfer to a bowl. Set aside.
2. Filling: In a large bowl, combine sugar, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves. Add apples and toss to evenly coat. Transfer to prepared baking dish. Crumble topping over apples. Bake in preheated oven until brown and bubbling, 35 to 40 minutes. Serve warm.

Variation:

You can add 1/4 cup (60 mL) nuts to the topping when processing flour mixture.

Tips:

• Make sure the butter is cold from the refrigerator or topping will not be crumbly.
• Use a food processor with a slicing blade to make quick work of slicing the apples. You don’t even need to clean the bowl after making the topping.

Book cover image, food images (except cucumbers), and recipes excerpted from 650 Best Food Processor Recipes by George Geary and Judith Finlayson. Copyright © 2010 Robert Rose Inc. www.robertrose.ca Reprinted with permission. All rights reserved. http://www.robertrose.ca/book/650-best-food-processor-recipes

[Disclosure: I received a review copy of this book from the publisher Robert Rose Inc. With that being said, the comments and opinions above are purely my own.]

Read all the posts in the Healthy Living series by clicking on the icon on the left.

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• Healthy Vegetarian Recipe: Quinoa Chowder with Spinach and Feta
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And now we are nearing the season of stuff. How many of you are gearing up for “Black Friday”, just waiting to go out and buy more stuff? Before you do, I’d like you to take a few minutes to think about all the stuff we have. And chances are, we ALL have too much stuff.

Do we ever stop and think about our stuff? Where does our stuff come from? What is the impact on the planet? Why do we keep buying more and more? Are we happier now that we have so much stuff? The answers may surprise you.

We have more stuff, but less time for the things that make us happy. ~Annie Leonard

Great Video: The Story of Stuff

Here is a great video about the Story of Stuff, by the same people that did The Story of Bottled Water I mentioned earlier this year. Hosted by Annie Leonard, the video is well done, very interesting, easy to follow, and highlights the BIG impact that stuff we buy has, not only on our planet but on our lives. Even though it’s about 20 minutes long, it’s WELL worth watching. If you can’t watch it now, come back and watch it as soon as you can.

(If you can see the video, click here.)

Another Great Video: The Story of Electronics

They just came out with another video called The Story of Electronics. This 7 minute video is equally interesting and really highlights the problems we may not even know or think about regarding electronics. It explains how electronics are created with ‘planned obsolescence’ (they are designed for the dump), how it started, and what we can do about it.

(If you can’t see the video, click here.)

Life With Less Stuff: Achieving the Work Life Balance

I hear all the time about ‘work life balance’. People want a better balance between working (which maybe they don’t love) and enjoying life (play). Now that you’ve watched the videos, do you see how buying less stuff fits in with achieving a better work life balance? If you had a smaller car, smaller house, less clothes, toys, and gadgets, you could work fewer hours (or work at a job you love that may not pay as much). And you could have more time for what makes you happy, whether that’s spending more time with your kids, parents, friends, working on a hobby, or traveling. Doesn’t life with less stuff sound better?

What Can We Do?

After watching the videos, you may be wondering what you can do. I’ve compiled a few quick thoughts below. If you have any more ideas, please leave a comment and share!

REDUCE

Buy less stuff! Before making a purchase, stop to think how long you might own that item. Is it really something you need? (Or just want?) Learn to RETHINK your purchases.

• Kids: Kids don’t need as much stuff as we may think. Think about how many toys or clothes they have and how much they really need. The holidays are coming up; this might be a good chance to practice buying less stuff. If you exchange gifts, consider giving them fewer items. Or instead of gifts, perhaps purchase a family membership for the zoo, children’s museum, or other family activity that you can all enjoy together, like going to a play or musical.

• Adults: We have too many clothes, shoes, gadgets, and toys also. Many people get new cars and gadgets quite often, well before the old ones have quit working. Do we really need 10 different purses? Or the latest phone as soon as it’s released? How about REDUCING the size of vehicle you drive or house you live in? The next time you want to buy something, RETHINK.

REUSE

Buying gently-used clothing and toys saves natural resources in creating the material, processing it, and transporting it. If you regularly use disposable items during your day, find a way to provide a reusable option instead.

• Kids: Many of my son’s toys and clothes were given as hand-me-downs, borrowed from friends, or purchased used (from a garage sale, Craigslist, eBay, or a resale store like Kid to Kid or Once Upon a Child). There are even many used sports equipment stores out there, like Play it Again Sports.

• Adults: There are many things that can be purchased used on Craigslist or eBay. Some resale clothing stores are Plato’s Closet, Clothes Mentor, and many others. Avoid disposable items as much as possible; invest in some cloth napkins to use again and again, reusable coffee cups, etc. Use the library, borrow books from friends, or visit used book stores (like Half Price Books) instead of always buying new.

When you are done with your gently-used clothing, donate it to a charity, give or loan to friends who can use it, sell at a garage sale, or sell to a resale or consignment store.

RECYCLE

While it may seem like the easiest step, many of us under-recycle and some people don’t recycle at all. Even if it is a bit more inconvenient for you, I encourage you to seek out your local resources for recycling and DO IT!

• Kids: Start early teaching kids the importance of recycling.

• Adults: Don’t forget to buy products made from recycled materials. Paper towels, toilet paper, printer paper are just a few of the many items made from recycled materials.

Benefits of Living With Less Stuff

In case you need more reasons to buy less stuff, here is a list of seven benefits of living with less stuff, as seen on Zen Family Habits. (My favorites from the list are less time cleaning and more open space.)

More information:

• The Story of Stuff: How Our Obsession with Stuff Is Trashing the Planet, Our Communities, and Our Health-and a Vision for Change by Annie Leonard
• Ecological Intelligence: How Knowing the Hidden Impacts of What We Buy Can Change Everything by Daniel Goleman

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Dr. Bronner’s castile soap is a combination of organic extra virgin coconut, olive, jojoba, and hemp oils, together with pure essential oils. From their website, here are a few more great things about their castile soaps:

• Completely Biodegradable and Vegetable-Based
• Made with Certified Fair Trade and Organic Oils
• Multi-Purpose: 18-in-1 Uses
• No Synthetic Foaming Agents, Thickeners, or Preservatives
• 100% Post-Consumer Recycled (PCR) Cylinder Bottles and Paper Labels

I use it for so many things around the house and I thought you might like to know of a few more uses.

1. Shampoo

In a recent article I told you how I use plain castile soap for shampoo. I have also come across some simple recipes for making shampoo using liquid castile soap.

Simple Shampoo Recipe

• 1/4 cup water
• 1/4 cup liquid castile soap
• 1/2 teaspoon sunflower or other light vegetable oil

Mix the ingredients, store in a bottle, and use as shampoo.

Check out NaturalNews.com for variations of this recipe for other hair types: dandruff and dry scalp, oily scalp, color treated hair, enhancing blond hair, and enhancing dark hair.

Don’t forget your pet; you can use castile soap as a natural pet shampoo!

2. Shaving Cream Lather

While you are in the shower, use some of that castile soap for a lather when you shave your legs. It will also work for men when shaving their faces.

3. Hand Soap

You may remember my article on the toxic ingredients in hand soap; here is a solution!

For a cheaper (and non-toxic) hand soap, fill a self-foaming soap dispenser 1/4 full with liquid castile soap, fill the rest of the bottle with water, and shake it up. This has worked so well for us for awhile now. I didn’t go out and buy a new soap dispenser; I actually just use an old bottle and keep refilling it with castile soap and water. (See the photo on the right.)

Dr. Bronner’s also makes castile bar soap.

4. Dish Washing Liquid

As I mentioned in my article on natural cleaning tips for the kitchen, liquid castile soap can be used for a liquid dish soap. Combine the following ingredients in the container of your choice (a recycled dish soap squeeze bottle is one idea):

• 2 cups of liquid castile soap
• 1/2 cup warm water
• few drops of essential oils for scent (optional, especially if using scented castile soap)

Shake well before using.

5. Laundry Soap

Many people want to use non-toxic laundry detergent for their baby’s clothes; in my articles on non-toxic laundry detergents and greening your clean you learned the importance using non-toxic laundry detergent for everyone. One of my readers shared these instructions for using Dr. Bronner soap to wash laundry. (Thank you Leslie!) The instructions are straight from Dr. Bronner customer service.

Castile Soap

• Normal top loading machine: Use 1/4-1/3 cup of soap per large load.
• HE machine: Use 1/8-1/6 cup of soap per large load.

Sal Suds

• Normal top loading machine: Use 2 T Sal Suds per large load.
• Front loading HE machine: Use 1 T Sal Suds per large load.

Remember, you can also add 1/2 cup (1/4 cup for HE) of baking soda for extra whitening, brightening, softening, and deodorizing.

Read all the posts in the Healthy Living series by clicking on the icon on the left.

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I am guessing that convenience comes in the form of fast food and the use of microwave ovens, which are present in 90% of American homes. But does anyone stop and consider the toll that ‘convenient food’ is taking on your health?

You may know that fast food is not the healthiest, but do you know about all the damage that can be caused by eating microwaved food? I have prepared a list of six reasons to stop using your microwave NOW. I know this message is going to be hard to hear for most of you, but please hear me out; it’s so important to your family’s health.

1. Microwaving Food Creates Carcinogenic Substances

Microwaving food alters chemical composition. These alterations in chemical composition can cause mutations into cancer-causing agents, especially with certain foods like meats.

The following is a summary of the Russian investigations that resulted in the banning of microwave ovens in 1976, published by the Atlantis Rising Educational Center in Portland, Oregon. (The ban was later lifted during Perestroika.)

Carcinogens were formed in virtually all foods tested. No test food was subjected to more microwaving than necessary to accomplish the purpose, i.e., cooking, thawing, or heating to insure sanitary ingestion.

• The microwaving of milk and grains converted some of the amino acids into carcinogenic substances.
• Microwaving prepared meats caused the formation of the cancer-causing agents d-Nitrosodienthanolamines.
• Thawing frozen fruits by microwave converted their glucoside and galactoside fractions into carcinogenic substances.
• Extremely short exposure of raw, cooked, or frozen vegetables converted their plant alkaloids into carcinogens.
• Carcinogenic free radicals were formed in microwaved plants—especially root vegetables.

2. Microwave Ovens Destroy Nutritional Value of Food

Heating food, in and of itself, can result in some nutrient loss. But microwaves heat food differently than a stove. The way it makes your food hot causes internal damage to delicate molecular structures of vitamins and phytonutrients (plant medicines). Minerals are largely unaffected, so you’ll still get the same magnesium, calcium, and zinc in microwaved foods as you would in non-microwaved foods. But the all-important B vitamins, anthocyanins, flavonoids, phenolic compounds, glucosinolates, and other nutritional elements are easily destroyed by microwave ovens.

• One study compared the nutrients in microwaved broccoli to those in steamed broccoli found that the microwaved broccoli lost up to 97 percent of its beneficial antioxidants. By comparison, steamed broccoli lost 11 percent or fewer of its antioxidants.

• In a Russian study, structural degradation leading to decreased food value was found to be 60 to 90 percent overall for all foods tested, with significant decreases in bioavailability of B complex vitamins, vitamins C and E, essential minerals, and lipotropics (substances that prevent abnormal accumulation of fat).

• We all know (hopefully) not to microwave breastmilk. That’s because it’s been found to destroy the essential disease-fighting agents in breast milk that offer protection for your baby, vitamin content becomes depleted by microwaving, and certain amino acids are converted into other substances that are biologically inactive. (Some altered amino acids are poisons to the nervous system and kidneys.)

3. Eating Microwaved Food Can Cause Changes in Blood Chemistry

Microwaving distorts and deforms the molecules of whatever you subject to it; in other words, it changes the chemical composition, and that can have terrible effects in our bodies. To illustrate how microwaving does indeed alter substances, back in 1991 an Oklahoma woman died after receiving a blood transfusion of microwaved blood. It didn’t just heat the blood, it changed it enough that it caused terrible harm.

Once you eat chemically altered/microwaved food, there are changes to the body as well. A Swiss study led by biologist and food scientist Dr. Hans Hertel identified the effects of microwaved food and found the blood of people who ate microwaved food showed the following changes:

• Increased cholesterol levels
• Decreased numbers of leukocytes (white blood cells), which can suggest poisoning
• Decreased numbers of red blood cells
• Production of radiolytic compounds
• Decreased hemoglobin levels, which could indicate anemia

4. Microwaving Food Causes Carcinogenic Toxins to Leach Into Food

Toxic chemicals such as polyethylene terpthalate (PET), benzene, toluene, and xylene have been found to leak from the packaging of common microwavable foods, including pizzas, chips, and popcorn.

Bisphenol A (BPA) is one of the worst contaminants. This estrogen-like compound is widely used in plastic products and has been linked to causing various types of cancer. When you cook with plastic in the microwave harmful BPAs may be leaching into your food, since they are more easily leached when heated. If you do continue to microwave your food, it is recommended that you heat your food in glass.

5. Microwaving Food Can Cause ‘Hot Spots’

Uneven heating can lead to ‘hot spots’ in food, which can be hot enough to cause burns or build up to a steam explosion. New moms have been cautioned not to heat a baby’s bottle in the microwave since babies have been burned by super-heated formula.

6. Microwaves Can Leak Radiation

The FDA, who has been regulating microwave ovens since 1971, reports that the very small amounts of radiation that leak through the viewing glass of a microwave oven are “insignificant” and “well below the level known to harm people.” Even though there are numerous standards, tests, and regulations that are supposed to ensure safety, a non-profit independent organization called Powerwatch says:

Even when the microwave oven is working correctly, the microwave levels within the kitchen are likely to be significantly higher than those from any nearby cellular phone base-stations. Remember also that microwaves will travel through walls if the microwave oven is against an inside wall.

When your tissues are directly exposed to microwaves, deformations occur and can cause “microwave sickness”. People who have been exposed to high levels of microwave radiation experience a variety of symptoms, including:

• Insomnia, night sweats, and various sleep disturbances
• Headaches and dizziness
• Swollen lymph nodes and a weakened immune system
• Impaired cognition
• Depression and irritability
• Nausea and appetite loss
• Vision and eye problems
• Frequent urination and extreme thirst

Solution

Yes, you really CAN survive without a microwave; we haven’t used one since 2003.

1. Plan ahead. Take your dinner out of the freezer that morning or the night before to avoid the mad rush to thaw something quickly.
2. Cook all meals on the stove top or in the oven.
3. Reheat leftovers on the stove top, in the oven, toaster oven, or convection oven.
4. When eating in restaurants, ask if the food is heated or reheated using a microwave.
5. Eat more organic raw foods. It really is the best way to improve our health.

And I will help you in this journey! You will want to follow me (on Facebook, Twitter, email, or RSS feed) because in the coming weeks and months, I will share many alternatives to those things you THINK you need a microwave for.

• I will show you how I make delicious popcorn without using a microwave.
• I will share some lunch ideas for home and work so you don’t have to rely on frozen microwavable meals.
• I will share simple, healthy snack ideas for kids so you don’t have to resort to microwavable junk snacks.

More Information

• The Body Electric: Electromagnetism and the Foundation of Life by Robert O. Becker, M.D.
• Microwaves and Microwave Ovens, by Lita Lee, Ph.D.
• Microwave ovens destroy nutritional value of food on NaturalNews.com
• Microwave Hazards on Mercola.com

Read all the posts in the Healthy Living series by clicking on the icon on the left.

(Microwave photo credit: Kriss Szkurlatowski)

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In fact, 90 percent of the money Americans spend on food goes toward processed foods because they are convenient and affordable, even though most Americans know that high-calorie junk foods lack in nutrition. But what is the real cost of this paradigm long-term? Americans spend less on food than many other developed nations but pay the price in fatigue, nutritional deficiencies, obesity, and other diseases.

If you are ready to take charge of your family’s health, one step you can take is to make more of your own meals with healthy, real, whole foods. Here are some tips to help you make time for healthy meals at home:

1. Make Healthy Food a Priority

No matter how busy you are, I’m guessing you still find time for some recreational activities for yourself. These activities may take the form of catching up on your favorite shows on DVR, surfing the internet, going to movies or watching them at home, shoe shopping, eating out, etc. In addition to these activities taking time they also cost money. Many people keep up with current trends in electronics, clothes, shoes, houses, toys, and gadgets, which also cost money.

If you are interested in the many benefits of eating healthy home-cooked meals, try spending some of this free time and extra money on healthy food. Make healthy food a priority in your life.

Here are a few things you can do instead of watching TV or while you are watching TV, especially if you have a TV in your kitchen:

• Plan your weekly menu.
• Prepare parts of a meal in advance.
• Prepare veggies in advance. (Wash the head of lettuce, peel and cut carrots, etc.)
• Make entire meals ahead of time and freeze.
• Get lunches ready the night before to help with crazy mornings. It’s better than eating out or school lunches.
• Search for new, quick, healthy recipes.

Consider cutting all TV out of your life (*gasp*) or at least limit TV to one or two shows. It really is a time hog. Take a look at how you spend the time in your days. Take a look at how you spend your money. What you spend time and money on is your priority. Isn’t it better to make healthy food a priority?

2. Plan Meals Ahead of Time

Menu planning is another essential aspect to ensuring home-cooked meals happen. I suggest planning meals for one week at a time and then shopping for those meals. Following this model saves you time because you only have to grocery shop once a week; no running to the store in the middle of the week to pick up this or that. And since you know exactly what you are having on any given night of the week, following this model saves you money from last-minute decisions to go out to eat.

I could probably write an entire article on menu planning tips alone (in fact, I think I will). Until then, here are a few key tips for meal planning:

• Plan ahead for all meals: Plan for breakfasts, lunches, snacks, and dinners. Keep in mind any special occasions such as picnics or get-togethers with friends, extra food you may be making (for treats at school or for a friend who had a baby), or days you won’t need a meal (when you want to eat out or go to someone’s house). Don’t forget beverages, too. It’s no fun to have to make a special trip for a bottle of wine when it could have been on your list in the first place.
• Organize your recipes: I like to keep our favorite recipes in a small recipe box. If I find one we love in a cook book, I will copy it to an index card and add it to the recipe box. The recipe box contains dividers for our meal types: vegetarian, main dishes, side dishes, desserts, etc. I also have a tab in the front for “this week’s meals”. That’s where I put the recipes once I’ve decided they are in this cycle.

3. Learn to Love Leftovers

In fact, plan your meals so they create leftovers. Leftovers=easy preparation the next day. If you don’t like leftovers, get over it! This is one of the easiest ways to save time in the kitchen, which in turn creates time for YOU. A lasagna or hot dish is usually three meals for our family. In that case, sometimes we will eat our meal the first night and then package the leftovers into two containers; one for the refrigerator for the following night and the other for the freezer for the future. Or we will just eat it for three nights in a row. Easy.

Oh, and we only reheat meals using pots and pans on the stove top or in the oven; we do not use a microwave at all (and neither should you, but that’s another article.)

4. Have Staple Meal Supplies on Hand

To avoid the common question that can appear at the end of the day, “What am I going to  make for supper?” it is a good idea to always have on hand a few staple supplies for some of your family’s favorite healthy (and quick) meals. If you plan your meals for the week (see number 2 above) you should rarely encounter this situation. But things happen and if you have a backup plan like this, so to speak, you can avoid ordering pizza (again) or going out to eat (again) and can feel good about saving money and eating healthy.

One of our staple meals is risotto with asparagus, so I always have those ingredients on hand. Spaghetti is another easy one.

5. Make it Simple

No, I do not mean resorting to boxed or microwavable meals; even though those may be quick, they are definitely not healthy. I am talking about other ways to keep your home cooked meals simple:

• There is no need to make seven-course meals every night. As long as the meal contains basic healthy components like vegetables and protein, you are good!
• Keeping the ingredient list simple. I usually cringe when I see really long ingredient lists for recipes. Those meals can be nice for occasional meals or for when you have more time. You can always adapt a recipe for the amount of time you have.

6. Change Your Attitude About Food

Instead of thinking of food as a chore and therefore wanting to spend the least amount of thought, energy, time, and love in preparing it, try thinking of food as fuel for living. That’s what it is, after all. Bodies want and need the best ingredients to fuel its many processes. Fast food, restaurant food, boxed food, packaged food, junk food, and snack food are not what your body wants and needs.

You wouldn’t put water into your car’s gas tank just because it’s a liquid, cheap, and can fill up the tank, would you?

• Think about the effects that advertising and the food industries have on how we think about food and how we eat. Faster, cheaper, and more is not always better.

• Start thinking about why you should eat: sustenance (instead of boredom, socializing, pleasure). Then think about what foods provide the best sustenance/fuel: real, whole foods. Then start making it yourself.

Approach meal preparation with a new attitude of love, nourishment, and health. This is one of the most important points to understand for healthy eating.

Related Articles:

• How to Cook Whole Food from Scratch – and Keep Your Day Job! on Mercola.com
• It’s Time for a New Relationship with Food on ZenHabits.net

Wendy – ParentingTips365.com

Read all the posts in the Healthy Living series by clicking on the icon on the left.

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Related Articles:

• Healthy Vegetarian Recipe: Quinoa Chowder with Spinach and Feta
• Simple Tips for Living a Healthy, Green, Eco-Friendly Life

Dangers of Chlorine

Chlorine is used as a disinfectant by the water treatment plants and it does not break down by the time it reaches our shower heads. The hot water coming from the shower opens your pores and your skin then functions like a sponge, soaking in all the water contaminants into your bloodstream. The hot water also creates steam which you inhale, bringing chlorine directly into your lungs. In a 10-minute shower, one will absorb and inhale more chlorine than by drinking eight glasses of the same water.

When chlorine enters the body as a result of breathing, swallowing, or skin contact, it reacts with water to produce acids. The acids are corrosive and damage cells in the body on contact.

Here is a short list of a few dangers of chlorinated water:

• Skin irritant (associated with rashes like eczema)
• Aggravates asthma
• Can destroy polyunsaturated fatty acids and vitamin E in the body
• Generate toxins capable of free radical damage (oxidation)
• Linked to a greater incidence of bladder, breast, and bowel cancer as well as malignant melanoma
• Linked to congenital cardiac anomalies
• Combines with organic matter (like skin particles, hair follicles, sweat, urine) to create trihalomethanes (THMs), which are carcinogens
• Long-term risks include excessive free radical formation, which accelerates aging, increases vulnerability to genetic mutation and cancer development, hinders cholesterol metabolism, and promotes hardening of arteries

How to Remove Chlorine From Shower Water

Several companies make inexpensive shower head filters that remove chlorine and other impurities. They are easy to install and maintain, requiring filter replacement every six months to a year depending on the model.

Here is some information on what to look for and where to purchase:

• KDF appears to be the gold standard with respect to shower heads.
• A couple brands to look into are Sprite and Aquasana.
• Filters range in price from $40-$80.
• Filter replacements from in price from $20-$45.

We have used the Sprite High Output (HO) filters ($40-50) for about three years now and have been very happy. We have one installed in our master bathroom shower and one installed in our toddler son’s bathroom. (We fill his bathtub with water from the filtered shower head, not the tub nozzle.) The Sprite HO filter is a single stage filtration system. We like that filter replacement only needs to be done once per year ($20-25).

The Aquasana filter unit is a two stage system (will remove more impurities) and will go for about $68. The shower head is a bit bulkier since it has two stages so it is worth making sure it doesn’t cause any issues with your shower setup. This filter is recommended to be replaced every 6 months ($42).

Easy and Inexpensive Choice for Health

We are bombarded with many toxins daily, many of which we have no control over. But chlorine is a toxin we can choose to reduce in our lives in a simple and inexpensive way. Your health is worth it; your children’s health is worth it. Install shower filters in your house and be proud of taking charge of your health in one more way.

To learn more, visit Renegade Water Secrets and listen to the information provided by the top five water experts in the world about the importance of clean water to your health.

Wendy – ParentingTips365.com

Read all the posts in the Healthy Living series by clicking on the icon on the left.

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I’ve been a fan of Kids Konserve waste-free products for awhile now. They have many products that are meant to be reused – no more waste! Here are just a few of their items:

• Lunch kit (recycled cotton sack, cloth napkin, stainless steel bottle, food kozy, and two stainless steel food containers)
• Insulated lunch sack
• Non-toxic ice pack
• Thermos
• Nesting stainless steel food containers
• Mini stainless steel food containers

Why I Love Kids Konserve

Their products aren’t just reusable, they are safe and non-toxic! Their complete line of reusable waste-free lunch packing products are made from the safest, non-leaching, non-toxic, BPA, PVC, phthalate, and lead-free materials.

I’ve used the stainless steel food containers for a long time for my son’s snacks. We buy items in bulk and then when we head out, I put a few things in the containers; no waste from individual snack packaging. I have name stickers for him and I label all his items. I have sent these with him to preschool with him and have never lost them.

Party Pak

Next up on my list to purchase is the Party Pak. This kit contains reusable plates, cups, forks, knives, and spoons. Party Paks come in two sizes (25 of each piece or 12 of each piece). What a great solution for all the waste from birthday parties, class parties, picnics, and school events!

15% Discount

Now that you have a feel for all the great products they offer, here is a little treat. Enter the coupon code earth15 to receive a 15% discount on your order. But hurry, this offer expires April 30, 2010. And let me know what you get!

School Fundraiser

Also, while you are browsing their site check out the great offer they have for school fundraisers. You can raise money for your school, reduce trash on your campus, and eat lunch in style. All at the same time! And 15% of each sale will be given back to the school.

And don’t forget to follow them on Facebook and Twitter! Follow me, too, if you aren’t already!

Wendy – ParentingTips365.com

Read all the posts in the Healthy Living series by clicking on the icon on the left.

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Learning eco-friendly, non-toxic ways to clean your bathroom is so important. Mainstream surface cleaners, scouring powders, and toilet cleaners come packed with an arsenal of toxic and corrosive chemicals that are dangerous to our health and to the environment.

Health Concerns

• Ingredients with high acute toxicity include chlorine bleach and ammonia, which produce fumes that are highly irritating to eyes, nose, throat and lungs, and should not be used by people with asthma or lung or heart problems. These two chemicals pose an added threat in that they can react with each other or other chemicals to form lung-damaging gases.
• Triclosan is a common ingredient used in antibacterial and antimicrobial cleaners and it contributes to the increasing problem of drug-resistant bacteria. Triclosan is similar to the pesticide Agent Orange and can cause infertility, birth defects, and damage to major body organs. Also, studies have shown that triclosan can combine with chlorine in our tap water to make chloroform gas. 
• Isopropanol, also known as rubbing alcohol, is a nervous system depressant.
• d-Limonene is a high-odor volatile organic compound that irritates skin and eyes.
• Pine oil is irritating to mucus membranes and harmful or even fatal when ingested.

Environmental Concerns

• Some chemical ingredients do not break down into harmless substances in the environment, and thus threaten water quality or fish and other wildlife.
• Many use chemicals that are petroleum-based, contributing to the depletion of this non-renewable resource and increasing our nation’s dependence on imported oil.
• The plastic bottles used to package cleaning products contribute to the mounds of solid waste that must be put in a landfill, incinerated, or, in not enough cases, recycled.

As I show you how to clean your bathroom with homemade, non-toxic ingredients, you will notice that we are using many of the same ingredients and solutions as we did for cleaning the kitchen; see how easy it can be to make your own cleaning solutions!

Disclaimer: These natural cleaning ideas and solutions are offered as a way to minimize the use of toxic substances in your home and reduce environmental harm. Results may vary and are not guaranteed. Always test in small, hidden areas before applying any cleaning solution. Always use caution and keep the products and homemade solutions well-labeled and out of the reach of children.

Bathroom Mold in Shower

Mold in bathroom tile grout is a common problem and can be a health concern. Here are several options for a natural mold remover:

• Mix one part hydrogen peroxide (3%) with two parts water in a spray bottle. Spray on areas with mold. Wait at least one hour before rinsing or using shower.
• Pour some white distilled vinegar straight into a spray bottle, spray on the moldy area, and let set without rinsing. The smell will dissipate in a few hours. Vinegar kills 82 percent of mold.
• Mix 2 cups water and 2 teaspoons tea tree oil. Combine in a spray bottle, shake to blend, and spray on problem areas. Do not rinse. The smell of tea tree oil is very strong, but it will dissipate in a few days. Recipe found here.
• A half a lemon dipped in Borax will also scour the mildew out of the cracks in your tub and tile.

Remember that vinegar can break down tile grout, so use sparingly. Also, use Borax with care around children and pets, as it can be toxic if swallowed.

Bathtub

For a natural soap scum remover, apply baking soda (it is non abrasive) and then sprinkle with water or vinegar. Scrub with a damp cloth or sponge; for tough-to-remove soap scum, use a bristle brush.

Drain

Chemical drain cleaners are one of the most toxic cleaning products. These caustic mixtures commonly contain lye, bleach, or sulfuric acid and can cause damage to skin, lungs, and eyes. Instead of messing with chemicals, all you need is baking soda and apple cider vinegar.

For a natural drain cleaner, pour 1/2 cup to 1 cup baking soda down the drain and then add apple cider vinegar. Let it bubble for 15 minutes and then rinse with hot water.

Sink

For a natural sink cleaner, simply scrub with baking soda and water.

Countertops

For a natural countertop cleaner, add water and vinegar to a spray bottle (in a 1:1 ratio) and spray. You could even add a few drops of liquid castile soap. However, do not use vinegar on marble, granite, or other stone countertops as it may etch the stone surface. Another option is to simply add some liquid castile soap to some water. Imagine that, soap and water!

Another option is to use an E-cloth. You only need to use water with this wonder cloth and it can clean many surfaces: stainless steel, tiles, chrome, glass, marble, or plastics. It can be washed and used over and over.

Glass and Windows

Commercial window cleaners contain many toxic ingredients such as ammonia and butyl cellosolve (a toxic ingredient that is not listed on the labels). Also, by buying commercial glass cleaners, you are going through many, many bottles, not to mention paying a high price for a product that is 95% water!

To clean mirrors, create your own natural glass cleaner with vinegar and water; it is much safer. Combine equal parts water and white vinegar in a spray bottle and shake well. Spray and wipe, using a micro fiber cloth. Do not use newspaper, which contains toxic dyes, or paper towels, which contribute to waste.

Toilet

Most toilet bowl cleaners are highly acidic and can irritate lungs and burn eyes. For a natural toilet cleaner, spray vinegar around the bowl, sprinkle with baking soda, and scrub it with a toilet brush. This solution will clean and deodorize.

Another option is to use Borax, a naturally occurring alkaline mineral that is a powerful disinfectant and deodorizer.  Toss 1/2 cup in your bowl, wait a half an hour, then scrub.

Wendy – ParentingTips365.com

Read all the posts in the Healthy Living series by clicking on the icon on the left.

©2012 Parenting Tips 365. All Rights Reserved. This feed is for personal, non-commercial use only. If you are not reading this material in your news aggregator, the site you are looking at is guilty of copyright infringement.

Related Articles:

• 5 More Uses for Castile Soap for Cheaper, Natural Cleaning
• How to Have an Eco-Friendly Laundry Room: Non-Toxic Detergents and Energy-Saving Tips
• Natural Cleaning Tips for Your Kitchen: Sharing Homemade, Inexpensive, Non-Toxic, and Eco-Friendly Recipes
• Green Your Clean: What You Need to Know for a Safer Home and Environment

Typical Toxic Laundry Detergent

Commercial laundry detergents contain many toxic chemicals that are washed down the drain and then wreak havoc on the ecosystems. These toxic chemicals also leave residues on your clothing that could be absorbed by your skin or breathed in. These toxins can build up in your system and cause unknown effects. These toxic ingredients include:

• Petroleum distillates (aka napthas): Linked to cancer
• Phenols: Can cause toxicity throughout the entire body
• Artificial fragrances: Linked to various toxic effects on fish and mammal, as well as allergies and skin and eye irritation in humans
• Phosphates: Stimulate the growth of certain marine plants when they’re released into the environment and contribute to unbalanced ecosystems
• Optical brighteners: Can be toxic to fish and can cause bacterial mutations and allergic reactions. (Makes laundered clothes appear whiter (although does not actually affect the cleanliness of the clothing.)

If you want more information, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has a website that lists the key characteristics of laundry detergent ingredients such as surfactants, bleaches, colorants, optical brighteners, and solvents and the areas of concern with each.

Non-Toxic and Eco-Friendly Laundry Detergent Options

For starters, look for laundry detergents that are frangrance-free or hypo-allergenic to avoid triggering allergic reactions. You also want to avoid those toxic ingredients listed above. If you are looking for a typical liquid- or powder-type detergent, you can check out these more natural brands:

• Biokleen
• Seventh Generation
• Sun & Earth
• Charlie’s Soap
• Earth Friendly Products
• Ecover
• Maggie’s Soap Nuts Laundry Liquid

Also Consider Soap Nuts

I wrote about our initial experience using soap nuts in December of 2008, and I am happy to say it’s still our laundry cleaner of choice!

Soap nuts grow on the Chinese Soapberry tree and have been used for thousands of years. When they fall from the tree the inner fruit is removed from the shell and the shell then dried in the sun, using no chemical processing. That outer shell contains saponins which act as water surfactants.

To use, simply put 2-3 soap nuts into a small cloth bag and toss in your wash. The nuts release their saponins which reduces the surface tension of the water and frees dirt, grime, and oils from clothing. When washed downstream the saponins remain harmless to the environment. There are no synthetic chemicals, no fragrance chemicals, no foaming agents or other toxins; just nut shells grown by nature.

I'm holding three soap nuts which, when put in the little cloth bag, will wash 2-3 loads of laundry (on warm setting) or 1 load (on hot)

I admit that soap nuts can seem a bit odd when first presented as a clothes-cleaning option, but after reading how non-toxic they are and seeing results, I feel this is the best option for non-toxic, eco-friendly clothes cleaning. Be prepared, there are no suds. Suds are actually not needed to clean clothes; commercial detergents add sudsing agents to give the impression of more cleaning power.

But have no fear, these nuts do work well; they even passed our “smell test”! If our stinky work-out clothes can become odor free, they are a keeper! There is no smell to the clothes – no stink and no perfume – that means they are clean!

bag of soap nuts, which came with the smaller bag to toss in the wash

And soap nuts are cost effective as well, at about 15 cents per load! We just finished that initial bag of soap nuts; it took us 15 months to go through it. We just purchased a new brand for us, Maggie’s Soap Nuts. And if using the actual nuts just doesn’t appeal to you, they make a liquid detergent, as well (Maggie’s Soap Nuts Laundry Liquid).

Because of their pure and simple nature, soap nuts would be a great option for anyone with sensitive skin, especially babies.

Natural Laundry Booster

Borax is a good natural laundry booster and cleaner (it can even remove mold) and is safe and non-toxic. Borax will make your laundry detergent work harder for you.

Baking soda can also be used as a laundry booster. By adding 1/2 cup of baking soda to each laundry load, detergents can work more effectively and reduce bacteria.

Use vinegar in the wash cycle to prevent fabrics from fading.

Natural Fabric Softener

Baking soda can be used as a natural fabric softener in your laundry. Adding 1/4 cup of baking soda to each rinse cycle acts as a balance to suspend detergent or mineral deposits that can make clothing feel stiff.

Vinegar can also be used as a fabric softener, and it’s great for reducing static cling. Just add a cup of white vinegar to the final rinse.

Non-Toxic Stain Removers

I use Earth Friendly Products Oxo-Brite to soak any clothes that have stains. After a good soaking (several hours+) I wash normally with other clothes. If you want more information, here is the spec sheet.

Biokleen makes several kinds of stain and odor eliminators that get good reviews.

Sun & Earth makes a stain remover pen for those needing something for “on the go”.

Also, you can pre-treat stains with a mixture of half water and half vinegar; it can do the trick with  many common stains on clothing. Keep a spray bottle of this solution in your laundry room and spray mixture on stains before washing.

Here is a recipe for a homemade stain remover:

• 2 parts hot water
• 1 part baking soda
• 1 part hydrogen peroxide

Spot treat stains and soak overnight. Mix only as much as you need for immediate use because it won’t store well over long periods of time.

Alternatives for Dryer Sheets

Never use dryer sheets, they are toxic and do not biodegrade in landfills. The fragrance in the dryer sheets rubs off onto clothes, and can be absorbed by your skin. An examination of the toxic chemicals used in artificial fragrance showed as many as twenty-three identifiable carcinogenic compounds.

For softer clothes, follow the recommendations above in the Fabric Softener section.

Another way to get around using dryer sheets is to stop using the dryer! Speaking of that…

Air-Dry Clothes to Save Money and Resources

One of the biggest environmental burdens in your laundry room is your clothes dryer. Clothes dryers emit carbon dioxide and waste electricity, not to mention create extra wear-and-tear on your clothing. Drying clothes on a clothesline can help reduce the burden caused by a clothes dryer. Sunlight is a natural disinfectant and it is also an excellent bleaching agent. There are many different types of outdoor clotheslines available, ranging in price from $10-$55.

If you do not have a yard for an outdoor clothesline, consider several options for drying clothes inside. My mom always used her outdoor clothesline in the summer and used several folding racks inside during the winter. I guess that habit followed as that’s the only way I dry clothes. (I only use our dryer to dry towels.)

There are many types of clotheslines and drying racks available, from the basic clothesline to ceiling-mounted indoor laundry racks. They exist in every shape, size, and type to match your needs.

• Here are some options for retractable indoor clothelines. They are priced starting about $8 and go up from there.
• Here are many options for drying racks. Ones similar to mine cost around $20.

Check out this picture of our drying racks in use:

Our two clothes racks holding one load of laundry

Wear Clothes More Than Once

Besides the rule to always wear clean underwear, most of us can wear garments more than once. The exception to that might be kids; my son’s clothes get dirty daily! The most effective way to save money, energy, and resources in your laundry room is to just do less of it. Wearing your clothes more than once before tossing them in the dirty pile is the first step.

Wendy – ParentingTips365.com

Read all the posts in the Healthy Living series by clicking on the icon on the left.

©2012 Parenting Tips 365. All Rights Reserved. This feed is for personal, non-commercial use only. If you are not reading this material in your news aggregator, the site you are looking at is guilty of copyright infringement.

Related Articles:

• Natural Ways to Clean Your Bathroom Using Simple Homemade Cleaning Solutions
• 5 More Uses for Castile Soap for Cheaper, Natural Cleaning
• Natural Cleaning Tips for Your Kitchen: Sharing Homemade, Inexpensive, Non-Toxic, and Eco-Friendly Recipes
• Green Your Clean: What You Need to Know for a Safer Home and Environment