How to keep your house clean and green

Posted on August 10, 2010 by viviankirkfield

You are probably going through your child’s clothes right now, weeding out the items that have been outgrown. Perhaps we can apply that same concept to our cleaning supply shelf. Haven’t we outgrown the toxic-to-our-children-and-the planet, chemical-laden glass cleaners, bathroom scrubs and dusting sprays. I looked in my cleaning supply cabinet the other day and I was horrified to find cans and bottles of cleaning supplies that I don’t use anymore (having gone “cleaning green” a while back), but had not gotten around to trashing. And throwing this stuff out is a whole other issue…you can’t (or shouldn’t) just dump these items in the garbage. Many communities have drop off locations or special dates where residents can bring these toxic supplies for safe removal – I wonder if there is any safe way to dispose of some of this stuff.

Cleaning green is not difficult – and in addition to being so much better for your family’s health and the planet’s survival, it is also CHEAPER! White vinegar, baking soda and lemon juice…the triumverate of being green and clean!

Here are a few simple “recipes” for some basic cleaning solutions:

GLASS/HARD SURFACE CLEANER: Combine 1/2 cup white vinegar with a gallon of water. Soak your cloth, ring it out and wipe surfaces. Dry with a clean cloth.
FABRIC SOFTENER: Add 1/4 cup white vinegar to final rinse cycle of your washing machine.
DUSTING MAGIC: Mix 1/2 cup vinegar and 1 tsp olive oil in a clean glass jar or spray bottle. Apply a little to your dusting cloth and wipe down your wooden furniture.
ALL-PURPOSE CLEANSER: Mix 1/2 cup pure soap (such as Castile), 1/4 cup lemon juice and 1 gallon hot water for dishes, countertops, floors and walls.
BATHROOM TUB AND TILE CLEANER: Combine 1 part water and 3 parts baking soda for an awesome grout and soap scum cleaner.

Now, I’m not saying you should leave these cleaning supplies around for your preschooler to play with. However, unless your child drinks the bucket of all-purpose cleanser or sprays the dusting magic solution in his eyes, you will be able to rest a lot easier as your house shines and you, your family and the planet take a breath of less polluted air. One person can make a difference. Why not get started?

Please post comments with your own green cleaning solutions.

Great tips for healthy summer eating

Posted on August 5, 2010 by viviankirkfield

We’re in the dog days of August and the temperatures are soaring in many parts of the country. Here in Colorado, we’ve actually had days and days of RAIN and HUMIDITY, two things we almost never get! But, before you think I’m complaining, I know we need the moisture – gardens are bursting with ripe fruits and vegetables, lawns look beautifully green without using sprinklers, and the reservoirs are being replenished. In every situation, there is positive side, although sometimes you really have to search for it.

Check out the following great tips for healthy summer eating:

Drink, drink, drink! It’s more important than ever to stay hydrated – drink plenty of water – and remember to encourage young children to drink. Health experts say we are already dehydrated if we are feeling thirsty.
Eat 6 small meals instead of 3 big ones. Studies have shown that eating smaller meals more often is better for us in many ways – keeping blood sugar levels more balanced throughout the day. Also, we are less likely to overeat because we are not starving when we sit down.
Make sure snacks are nutritious ones. Nut butters on whole wheat crackers, celery sticks or apple slices always hit the spot in our home – this type of snack is brimming with protein, vitamins, minerals and fiber.
Prepare more vegetarian main dishes and fruit desserts. The harvest season is upon us in Colorado, with fresh sweet corn, firm zucchini, plump tomatoes, ripe peaches. Using locally grown, in-season produce is not only healthy for you, it is also eco-friendly, with a less negative impact on the environment.
Check out your local farmer’s markets. Many cities have at least one. Here in Colorado Springs, there are quite a few. Check them out at http://bit.ly/bApQyb.

Here’s a recipe from my new book, SHOW ME HOW! BUILD YOUR CHILD’S SELF-ESTEEM THROUGH READING, CRAFTING AND COOKING that uses some of those summer fruits to make a wonderfully cooling homemade fruity raisin sorbet – the best of desserts – bursting with flavor and nutritious as well!

You will need: 2 cups chopped fruit (strawberries, blueberries, peaches – use your imagination), 2 cups sliced bananas, 1 cup orange or pineapple juice, 1/2 cup raisins, blender, and a large bowl.

Freeze the fruits and bananas until solid.
Put the frozen fruits in the blender with the juice and blend until stiff.
Scoop out of blender and stir in raisins.
Serve immediately or store in the freezer in a covered container.
Makes about 2 cups (6-8 servings). Best eaten within a few days.

Tips to keep your child healthy when school starts

Posted on August 3, 2010 by viviankirkfield

The start of school usually brings hurried shopping trips to purchase needed school supplies and new outfits. It also has generated lots of blogs and columns with advice about school anxieties. But another big issue that arrives with the start of school is the increase of colds, sore throats, pink eye and other infectious diseases that sometimes run rampant through classrooms.

How can we help keep our children as healthy as possible? Here are several simple tips:

Provide your child with healthful balanced meals and snacks.
Encourage your child to wash his hands frequently (or wash them for him if he is too young).
Make sure your child gets a good night’s sleep – older children with cell phones, TV’s and computers in their own rooms can often stay up half the night while their parents think they are sleeping.
If your child does get sick, please keep her home, even though this may be inconvenient (if you work) or she begs to go because she will “miss” something. You will be doing your child no favors if you send her when she is ill, and the teacher and the other children will not be exposed to whatever she has – also, if she is sick, her resisitance will be lowered and she might catch something even worse from another child.

It is definitely difficult to keep preschoolers doing quiet activities indoors when they are sick, especially when they start to feel a little better. We always had a special box which contained small toys and games, stickers, small boxes of crayons, small pads of paper – all brightly wrapped and beribboned. When all else failed, out came the box and the sick child was able to choose something from the box. The eager anticipation while unwrapping the package was beautifully distracting – make sure there is lots of wrapping and ribbon on each. We also had a special, ornate spoon which was the medicine dispensing spoon.

Need some quiet activities to help pass the time? My new book contains several picture story suggestions, with related craft and cooking projects, that focus on sick children. Here is one of them.

For a story to help your young child feel he is not the only one who doesn’t like being sick – read JOHNNY LION’S BAD DAY by Edith Hurd.

Then make paper plate lions: You will need: 1 paper plate, 1 piece of brown or yellow construction paper, markers or crayons, paste and scissors.

Cut the paper into one-inch wide strips and roll each strip around a marker or crayon to create the curl.
Paste one end of one strip to the edge of the plate. Continue with the rest of the strips all around the edge of the plate to form the lion’s mane.
Using markers or crayons, draw the lion’s features.

For a yummy, healthful, child-friendly alphabet chicken soup (studies have shown it really DOES help make you feel better): You will need: 1 quart chicken broth, 2 Tb diced onion, 1/4 cup alphabet noodles, 1 cup diced cooked chicken, 1/2 cup sliced carrots, 1/2 cup cut green beans, 1/4 cup corn kernels, fresh parsley (optional), and a large pot with a cover.

In a large pot, mix broth, onion and noodles and bring to a boil.
Lower the heat to simmer and add the chicken, carrots, beans and corn. Simmer with the cover on for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Garnish each serving with parsley, if you like.
Makes about 4 to 5 cups of soup – refrigerate or freeze what you don’t use.
You can substitute other vegetables if you like – peas, lima beans, zucchini – use your imagination!