lunchbox lessons

I packed my son’s lunch every day last year for his preschool.  It wasn’t until the end of the year at the parent/teacher meeting that his teachers told me, “You know that Ike can’t open any of the lids to the containers you send in?  Right?  We have to open them.  And next year the elementary school lunch teachers won’t have the time or availability to open them for him.”  Well, ‘No’, ‘I didn’t know that!’.  It turns out that all of my fancy stainless steel containers were kid-UNfriendly!  Yikes.  A whole year of Ike not being able to open any of his containers and he never told me!  Now that I realize a lot of these stainless steel containers have tight-fitting lids (too tight for a 5-year-old), what is a green mom to do?  Test the goods before purchasing!  Let your kids maneuver the products and see if they can easily open and close them.  It’s sometimes hard to test the containers because a lot of the greener ones are not available at a store near you and have to be purchased online.

Stainless steel water bottles and reusable sandwich bags are an easy and safe bet no matter where you buy them.  For containers that hold fruit or other wet ingredients (or easily smushed foods), I am on the lookout for an easy-to-open lid.  Typically, I try to avoid plastics at all costs, but if it seems to be the easiest to open, I may be going with going with a BPA & PVC-free plastic container.  I’ll keep you posted! 

Share with us your best lunch-packing tips!   
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switch to soy candles

This holiday season light soy candles for a greener home!

You’ve made a delicious dinner; set a gorgeous table that includes a candlelit glow and, cough, cough… you don’t realize that you are inhaling the equivalent of secondhand smoke with your petroleum-based candles.  Keep your family safe & still enjoy candles by switching to soy.

Soy is a healthy alternative to petroleum-based candles.  Petroleum-based paraffin candles contain possible carcinogens or toxic chemicals like benzene, toluene, ethyl ketone, naphthalene and possibly lead in the wick.  Soy is easier to clean up and burns cleaner.  It is usually more expensive but burns a lot longer (sometimes twice as long as paraffin candles, which offset the higher cost)! 

Image courtesy of Coco & Bubbles

Shop here for their soy candles!

sneaky & deceptive cooking

Our four year old (and first born) is a wonderful eater!  He will eat any thing, any time and at any place.  I always knew that we were lucky but I didn’t truly realize how fortunate we were until our second one came along and pretty much only wants to eat anything that is flour-based (pasta, crackers, pretzels, oh, and an occasional banana when he’s feeling like it).  As a foodie mom that wants her kids to eat nutritionally sound meals, it can be a tug-of-war (it’s an internal conversation with me saying, “make him eat fruits and vegetables”/ he won’t eat, let him be excused from the table).  I’ve always known about the popular cookbooks, the Sneaky Chef and Deceptively Delicious (and Double Delicious!) but never had to look into them… until now!

Times like this call for devious measures on mom’s part and I need to be getting fruits, vegetables and healthy foods into my little graham cracker (also known as my youngest).  I pulled out a copy of Deceptively Delicious and got cooking!  I made the "Chicken Nuggets (with Broccoli or Spinach or Sweet Potato & Beet)", "Macaroni & Cheese 1" and "Chocolate Chip Cookies" (recipes below).  My husband and oldest son happily gobbled up all three dishes.  My youngest loved the cookies, but as usual, dismissed his dinner.  I think I am going to have to add a lot of patience to my sneaky & deceptive cooking! 

Chicken Nuggets (with Broccoli or Spinach or Sweet Potato or Beet)

1 cup whole-wheat, white or panko breadcrumbs

1/2 cup flax seed meal

1 Tablespoon grated Parmesan

1/2 teaspoon paprika

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1/2 teaspoon onion powder

1 cup broccoli or spinach or sweet potato or beet puree (I used 2 jars of spinach baby food)

1 large egg, lightly beaten

1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breast or chicken tenders, rinsed, dried & cut into small chunks

1/2 teaspoon salt

Nonstick cooking spray

1 Tablespoon olive oil (I used a lot more than this)

(1.)  In a bowl, combine the breadcrumbs, flaxseed meal, Parmesan, paprika, garlic, and onion powder on paper or foil and mix well with your fingers.

(2.)  In a shallow bowl, mix the vegetable puree and egg with a fork and set the bowl next to the breadcrumb mixture.

(3.)  Sprinkle the chicken chunks with the salt.  Dip the chunks into the egg mixture and then toss them in the breadcrumbs until completely coated.

(4.)  Coat a large nonstick skillet with cooking spray and set over medium-high heat.  When the skillet is hot, add the oil.  Place the chicken nuggets in the skillet in a single layer, being careful not to crowd the pan, and cook until crisp and golden on one side, 3-4 minutes.  Then turn and cook until the chicken is cooked through, golden brown and crisp all over, 4-5 minutes longer.  (Cut into a piece to check that it is cooked through).  Serve warm. 

Macaroni & Cheese 1 (with Butternut Squash or Cauliflower)

1 1/2 cups elbow macaroni

Nonstick cooking spray

1 Tablespoon olive oil

1 Tablespoon all-purpose flour

1/2 cup nonfat (skim) milk (I used whole milk)

1/2 cup butternut squash or cauliflower puree (I used a jar of sweet potato baby food)

1 1/2 cups shredded reduced-fat Cheddar cheese (I used regular, full fat cheddar cheese)

4 ounces (almost 1/4 cup) reduced fat or nonfat cream cheese (I used full fat cream cheese)

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon paprika

1/8 teaspoon pepper

(1.)  Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, add the macaroni, and cook according to package directions until al dente.  Drain in a colander.
(2.)  While the macaroni is cooking, coat a large saucepan with cooking spray and heat over medium heat.  Add the oil, then the flour, and cook, stirring constantly, until the mixture resembles a thick paste but has not browned, 1-2 minutes.
(3.)  Add the milk and cook, stirring every now and then, until the mixture begins to thicken, 3-4 minutes.  Add the vegetable puree, Cheddar cheese, cream cheese, and seasonings, and stir until the cheese is melted and the sauce is smooth.  Stir in the macaroni and serve warm.

Chocolate Chip Cookies

I had to try these!  Seriously… chocolate chip cookies made with garbanzo beans!?!  Definitely make them!  They were really delicious and definitely worth baking.

Nonstick cooking spray

1 cup firmly packed light or dark brown sugar

3/4 cup trans-fat-free soft tub margarine spread (I used butter)

2 large egg whites (I used whole eggs)

2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

1 15-ounce can chickpeas, drained & rinsed

2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

3/4 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

3/4 cup raisins (optional)

2 cups all-purpose flour (I used whole wheat flour)

1/2 cup old-fashioned oats

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt (I omitted b/c I used salted butter)

(1.)  Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Coat a baking sheet with cooking spray.

(2.)  In a large mixing bowl or the bowl of an electric mixer, beat the sugar and margarine with a wooden spoon or on medium speed until smooth.  Beat in the egg whites and vanilla, then the chickpeas and chocolate chips.  Add the flour, oats, baking soda, and salt, and mix on low speed until a thick dough forms.

(3.)  Drop the dough by the tablespoonful onto the baking sheet, spacing the cookies about 2 inches apart.  Press gently with a fork to flatten.  Bake until the cookies are brown and just set, 11-13 minutes; do not overbake.   Transfer to a rack to cool.

(4.)  Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

What tricks do you use to get healthy foods in your child(ren)?

Check out our e-cookbook, Cooking FUNdamentals: yummy, healthy and quick recipes for kids & grown-ups!

happy thanksgiving!

We are so thankful for our dear readers!  We thank you for following, supporting and sharing eco ike!  We hope you have a very happy, healthy and delicious Thanksgiving!!!

image 1, image 2, image 3, image 4

leftover love

Leftovers are one of my many favorite things about Thanksgiving, but not everyone feels the same way.  If your family likes a different meal every night, you can re-use your Thanksgiving fixings and create a delicious, easy and new dinner!  That is definitely something to be grateful about.

Leftover potatoes (russet or sweet) can become Potato pancakes

2 cups mashed potatoes

1 egg, beaten

1/3 cup flour

Salt and pepper

In a bowl, thoroughly combine the potatoes, eggs and flour.  Season with salt and pepper.  In a large heavy skillet, heat olive oil over moderately high heat, until it is hot but not smoking.  Drop Tablespoons of the potato mixture, being sure to flatten them with a fork.  Cook for approximately 1-2 minutes on each side, or until they are golden brown.  Transfer the pancakes as they are cooked to paper towels to drain and if desired keep them warm on a rack set on a baking sheet in a preheated 250 degree oven.

Leftover turkey can become Barbecued Turkey Sandwiches

Combine and heat 3 cups shredded turkey with ¾ cup prepared barbecue sauce.  Serve on a brioche or onion roll.

Leftover cranberries can become Apple Cranberry Crisp

Leftover cranberries (up to 1 ½ cups)

6 cups peeled apples, thinly sliced

¾ cup brown sugar

2 teaspoons cinnamon

½ cup flour

2/3 cup oats

½ cup butter, room temperature

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Combine cranberries & apples and place in a buttered 8x8 pan.  In a medium bowl, combine brown sugar, cinnamon, flour, oats and butter together; blend with fingers until crumbly.  Evenly top apple/cranberries with oat mixture.  Bake for 35 minutes.

mashed potato pancake recipe adapted from epicurious
apple cranberry crisp recipe adapted from Cooking FUNdamentals
photo courtesy of Pottery Barn Kids

E is for Environment

Looking to encourage a little more green in your offspring?  Check out the lovable book, E is for Environment!  Brother and sister, Elliot & Lucy are featured in 26 engaging stories filled with ways to make a positive difference for the environment.  The stories are cute and charming while teaching kids fun lessons and examples of how to be eco-friendly! 

Each story has an adorable illustration (we wish there were more of the sweet pictures!) and features questions at the end of each story (for the record, my son wasn’t into the questions, but he loved each of the stories).

Written by Ian James Corlett and Ilustrated by R.A. Holt, this book would be a perfect holiday gift or addition to a child’s library! 

Check out E is for Environment on Amazon!

iPhone apps for kids

I am guilty of letting my kids use my iPhone or iPad to keep them busy.  I have mixed feelings about it… we pretty much know that exposure to cell phones carry some potential hazards (and that’s especially true for children!).  But our kids are growing up in a technological world.  They are constantly adapting, growing and learning along side technology, and they love and understand the tools that they have available to them.

But, truth be told, I don’t give them the devices to help with their computer know-how.  I do it so I can make a 5-minute phone call in peace.  Or start dinner without the kids hanging on me (or asking for food even though they just ate 2.5 minutes ago).  So if I am going to cave in, I should at least make their experience educational on some level… right?

Thankfully for me, Babble.com provided a Top 50 iPhone Apps for Kids (they also have the Top 25 Android Apps for kids).  They ranked their Top 10 Favorites for: Education, Stories & songs, Art & hidden pictures, Fun & games, Familiar friends & classic games.  My sons and I played around with their list and instantly found some new favorites (it’s hard to believe how quickly kids can maneuver and get acclimated to these apps).

Here are our new favorite apps thanks to Babble’s list:

123 Color - Talking coloring book

Fish School - Letters, numbers, colors, shapes & matching

Letter Writer Oceans - Teaches preschoolers to write their letters

Preschool Connect the Dots



Tell us what app(s) your kids love?

2 for tuesday

421,000 units of bacteria (including E. coli!) can be found on the soles of shoes.  Another great reason to leave the shoes at the door.

98 percent of non-organic apples have pesticide residue on them, which is why they top the Environmental Working Group's "Dirty Dozen" list of the 12 most pesticide-laden fruits and vegetables.

We've written about the importance of taking shoes off in the home and the dirty dozen list.  Read all about it!  



1 source, photo.  2 source & photo.

cinnamon apple crisp

Chocolate trumps every dessert in our household.  So I know that this apple crisp recipe is a winner because every time that I make it (which is pretty frequently because it’s super easy & delicious!), I hear “ooh”, “awe” and “awesome”!  

Granny smith apples get topped with a brown sugar crumb topping… it’s scrumptious and extra tasty served warm with vanilla ice cream.

6 cups peeled apples, thinly sliced*
3/4 cup brown sugar
2/3 cup oats
1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup butter, room temperature
1 Tablespoon cinnamon

1.) Preheat oven to 350°.
2.) Place apples in a lightly buttered 8x8 glass baking dish.
3.) Combine brown sugar, oats, flour, butter and cinnamon; blend together with fingers until crumbly. Evenly top apples with oat mixture.
4.) Bake for 35 minutes.

* we use granny smith apples, but any apple will do :) 

This recipe is from our e-cookbook, Cooking FUNdamentals: yummy, healthy and quick recipes for kids & grown-ups!  {$3.95}

Another yummy & fun recipe to make is our apple chips!  click here for the recipe!

displaying children’s art work

images found here, here, here, here & here

I have to admit that I recycle 99% of the artwork that my children bring home!  Fortunately for them, they get to paint, color and do a lot of cute projects all year long, so the amount of pieces that they bring home every day adds up quickly.  My kids (like all kids) love showing me what they made.  In an effort to encourage their love for art and show them how treasured their work is, I keep and highlight the special pieces.

We are in the process of creating a play room, so I have been curious about the best way to integrate the artwork into the playroom.  Here are some fun and innovative ways to display your budding artists work! 

oh brother-



for all of the kids dressing up as superheros! 

regardless of what costume gets worn tonight- have a fun, safe & happy halloween!

image and print from couture prints

apple chips

Feel like trying a fun, easy and yummy new snack?  These apple chips are the perfect thing!  My four year old can’t get enough of them!  Every time that we run out (which seems like every other day) he wants to make more.  They are so healthy and simple to make that it’s no problem… the hardest part is finding a three hour chunk of time for them to bake. 

This is a great recipe to make with your kids!  I do the mandoline cutting and I always let my son arrange the apples on the tray (and then I correctly arrange them afterwards :)    I let him help sprinkle the cinnamon sugar on top and the chips taste just as good where he doused the cinnamon sugar as well as the ones that he completely missed.  This recipe is uncomplicated and hands-on.  It is great to make with children of all ages.

One thing to note, when slicing into the middle portion of the apple, I try to get the seeds out with a knife, but leave everything else in tact… I like the natural star shape in the center of the apple.

2-3 granny smith apples

2 teaspoons sugar

½ teaspoon cinnamon

1. Preheat oven to 200°.
2. Line two baking sheet pans with parchment paper.
3. With a mandoline (or very sharp knife and great cutting skills), thinly slice apples. 
4. Arrange slices in a single layer on the baking sheet pan.  Be sure not to overlap. 
5. Combine sugar and cinnamon.  Put in a fine sieve and sprinkle evenly over apples.
6. Bake in the top and bottom third of the oven for 1.5 hours.  Pull apples out and turn them upside down and rotate baking pans positions when putting back in the oven.
7. Bake for another hour and a half (if your apple slices were a little bit thicker, it may take them a teeny bit longer to crisp up.  After 3 hours, if you have a combination of completely crisp and some that are a little chewy/crisp, take the crisp ones off of the baking sheet and put the rest back in the middle of the oven for another 20+ minutes).
8. Remove from oven and cool chips before transferring to a sealed container.

want to get your kids in the kitchen? our e-cookbook has 56 yummy, healthy & quick recipes for kids & grown-ups! Shop Amazon

Recipe adapted & photo courtesy of Ontario Apples

roasted pumpkin seed recipe

What vegetable is high in Vitamin A, potassium, beta carotene and fiber?  The great pumpkin, of course!  Pumpkins are so much fun to pick and carve… and they have the added bonus of delicious seeds!  Roasted pumpkin seeds are tasty, but they are also loaded with nutritional value.  Pumpkin seeds are a rich source of minerals (particularly magnesium, potassium and phosphorus) and are loaded with iron, zinc, fiber & protein.

Below is a simple roasted pumpkin seed recipe, but trying adding chili powder, garlic powder, cumin, or your favorite spice.  For a sweet change, toss the seeds in the melted butter, a teaspoon of honey and cinnamon.

2 cups pumpkin seeds

2 Tablespoons olive oil (or melted butter)

salt

1.)  Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

2.)  Toss seeds with oil & salt and evenly spread on a baking sheet.

3.)  Bake for 20-30 minutes; stirring every 10 minutes, until golden and crisp

Look out for an apple chip recipe next week!

photo courtesy of marthastewart.com

trick or treat

Decorate oranges to look like little jack o lanterns! some kids may think it's a trick, but it's a healthy & fun treat for the lunch box or fruit bowl!

Use a fine point Sharpie to decorate (when you eat the fruit, just cut off the marker area with a knife).

It's frightfully fun!



image from pinterest

music to our ears

Has your child been asking to play the guitar or drums?  Good news for those budding little musicians!  Kids who played musical instruments achieved higher results on both intelligence and memory tests.

Childhood music lessons have long term effects on the brain.  “Musical activity throughout life may serve as a challenging cognitive exercise, making your brain fitter and more capable of accommodating the challenges of aging,” says the lead researcher, Brenda Hanna-Pladdy, PhD of the American Psychological Association.  In another study by Northwestern University in Illinois, music lessons were credited for boosting language & speech skills, memory & attention spans, and the ability to pick up a new language.

Playing music helps to keep the mind healthy!  Starting childhood music lessons is a great way to connect a child with instruments & music.  When starting lessons for your child, consider the following:

·         Is he/she old enough?

·         Showing avid interest & enthusiasm in an instrument?

·         Can they sit still and pay attention?

·         Does the instructor get along well with your child and work well with that age group?

If lessons are not an option, try exposing your children to different genres of music, music programs and concerts to gain the positive effects of music.

What instrument does your child play or want to play?  We have been fielding a lot of requests for a guitar from our 4-year-old!

packing lunch… the green way!

It is estimated that each American child produces 67 pounds of lunch packaging waste each school year! That’s a big ‘F’ in our report card! This year when school starts, make sure that your kids are lunch box smart!

There is no longer a need for plastic sandwich bags, paper bags and juice boxes.  There are tons of green lunchbox options out there and a lot of them are super cute too!  Here’s our eco lunchbox lowdown:


 1. Forgo the brown paper bag and invest in a durable lunch box or bento-style lunch container.

2. Go reuseable! Reusable sandwich bags and containers are super sturdy and easy to use, clean & store. If you have to pack a plastic bag, try to reuse it or recycle it!

3. Store beverages in stainless steel water bottles! Have your kids sip out of a reusable bottle rather than a juice box or plastic water bottle.

4. If your child needs cutlery or a napkin, pack the real thing. Encourage your child to bring home all leftovers to prevent accidentally disposing of the napkin and utensils (they may even be able to compost any leftovers).

5. If possible, steer clear of purchasing prepackaged foods for your child’s lunch. They are typically wrapped in excessive packaging and are more expensive than buying in bulk.

We’ve got an entire selection of GREEN LUNCHBOXES & accessories on our eco ike eco boutique!  Check out our entire selection here!

go fly a kite

One of summer’s simplest pleasures and activities is flying kites! A good breeze and an open area is all you need. Kids get to enjoy the outdoors, run, play and figure out how to maneuver the kite & work with wind while parents get to spend fun quality family time their little ones. Grab a homemade or simple kite and up, up and away for some flying fun!


Some fun kite facts:


• Kites originated in China over 3,000 years ago


• Kite flying is a sport in Afghanistan


• More adults in the world fly kites than children


• Benjamin Franklin used a kite to prove that lightening was electricity


• Kites can be used to teach math concepts like ratios, angles & symmetry

be green on vacation!

It’s that time of year to pack up the crew, have fun with the family and make some memories. It’s easy to be eco-friendly on your next escape. Here are six tips for making your next vacation a green one:

1.) When leaving your hotel room, turn off all lights & unplug electrical devices.

2.) Turn off air conditioning when leaving or adjust the thermostat.

3.) Take a walk, ride a bike or use public transportation when you get to your destination (it's a great way to see your vacation spot).

4.) Recycle! seek out an area that recycles your paper & plastic. If your hotel does not have recycling bins, speak to a manager and suggest that they start offering that must-have service for their guests.

5.) Use your towels & sheets for a couple of days. Hotels are now making it easy to cut down on water waste by encouraging guests to reuse.

6.) Search out & support a green hotel or green lodging.

sun = fun! safe sunscreen!

Sun = fun. But too much of a good thing can be dangerous {especially with little, delicate skin}. Before heading out this summer, consider how to keep your kids skin safe and protected without harsh or damaging chemicals.

The Environmental Working Group has come up with extensive information to help guide parents:

Check out their review of the best and safest sunscreens on the market!

Surprising facts about sunscreen!

Sun safety tips!


We sell safe sunscreens {in the Green Outdoor Play section}!  Check out our eco ike boutitque!  SHOP HERE

composting with kids!

Help your kids develop their green thumb by teaching them to compost.  Composting is a fun family project that's easy to do and great for the environment. Teach your tykes how simple it is to recycle waste and turn it into nutritious soil for your yard or plants. The micro-organisms that make the compost, need an even mixture of “greens” and “browns”. They also need water and air for a perfect compost formula. Here’s the compost recipe:

One part “brown” (dead dried plants – they provide the carbon): dried leaves, pine needles, straw, hay, wood shavings or chips.

One part “green” (fresh living plants – they provide the nitrogen): grass clippings, vegetable and fruit leftovers, plants, coffee grounds.

Place layers of brown, green, brown, green, brown into the composting bin, being sure to add water after every layer – make sure that the compost is always moist so the microorganisms can do their job. Stir every 3-4 weeks and voila… nutritious, rich soil!

A couple of composting no-no’s: NO meats, dairy, oil, fats, diseased plants or pet droppings!

A great book to read is, “Compost Stew” written by Mary McKenna Siddals and illustrated by Ashley Wolff  "Apple cores, bananas bruised, coffee grounds with filters used.  Just add to the pot, and let it all rot into compost stew!"


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