5 Easy Ways to Reduce the Toxins in Your Home

I didn’t start out as a naturalist healthy eating tub cleaner making mom… It all started with a bottle of method bathroom cleaner… I bought a bottle of Lysol bathroom cleaner afterward and could barely breathe.  Then I got pregnant and like many new parents I wanted to create a safe environment for my little one, and then I saw Food, Inc.  That was it.  I haven’t removed all of the toxins in our house, but we are pretty damn close.  Here are the 5 easiest ways I’ve found to remove toxins from your home and your life.

1.)    Out - Teflon pots and pans : In – ceramic/ stainless steel

I know it costs a lot for a whole new set.  I have committed to buy 1 new pot/pan a month usually from Marshalls or TJMaxx on sale.  Keep your eyes open.

2.)    Out – plastic Tupperware : In – Glass/Metal containers

A glass tupperware set is a bit more expensive than the plastic but it is worth the peace of mind.  Metal storage sets are usually a bit cheaper but harder to find.

3.)    DIY – house cleaners, essentials to keep on hand - white vinegar, baking soda, natural dish soap
               Recipes: http://www.food.com/recipe/tub-and-shower-magic-434275
                                http://www.marthastewart.com/267380/clean-green-natural-cleaning-products
                                http://cleverlyinspired.blogspot.co.uk/2011/01/dirty-ovenso-sad.html

4.)    Swap out cosmetics – everyone uses the same products and buy in bulk – lotion, soap, deodorant, shampoo/conditioners.

5.)    Buy less processed food – don’t give up the stuff you love, usually it’s cheaper to make it yourself.  Don’t have the time? How about a freezer dinner swap with friends? Don’t forget about the crock pot.

http://greatist.com/health/healthy-crock-pot-recipes/

Busy as a Bee

Bzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. 

I was really productive while the girls were napping the other day.  I actually started cooking dinner at 2:30pm.  Chicken in the oven. Check.  Rice and water in the pot. Check.  Broccoli cut up and in the steamer ready to go. Check.  When the “real” time to cook dinner rolled around all I had to do was turn everything on - you have to watch the rice though, because it was soaking it doesn’t take nearly as long to cook - something that I can do while breastfeeding (ah, the art of multitasking).  I think I just found a new system.  I also managed to wash 3 loads of laundry, sweep upstairs and do the dishes.  This, of course, was only possible because BOTH girls took their nap at the same time.  

***edited to add***

The take away is this - You have to do things when you can, not always when you want to.

Fish Sticks and Chicken Nuggets

One cannot live on fish sticks and chicken nuggets alone… or can they?

A is currently putting this theory to test. When she just started eating food she ate everything I put in front of her, which was usually fruits and vegetables but now she has a true toddler diet. I feel bad because as a new mom I was guilty of judging moms of toddlers who only ate processed food. Now I am one of those moms. She prefers the salty breaded flavor of meat/fish over anything else. That’s not entirely true, if I offered cookies for dinner she eat that too.


Surprisingly this doesn’t keep me up at night, E does. I don’t have the energy to fight her right now. She doesn’t have any issues with her weight and is very healthy overall. This is simply a luxury of A’s toddler years and by the time she is in school (hopefully before then) she will eat what we eat for dinner.