As a new mom life can be more than exciting, it can be overwhelming. Thoughts always rushing through our minds with every choice we make and wanting the absolute best for our children and their future.

When I first had my daughter I struggled with finding ways to be a green mom. Some choices were obvious to me such as breast feeding; some were more difficult for me to come to terms with in the beginning. I hate to admit that at first I used regular disposable diapers, not just for convenience, but rather fear of the unknown. The first idea that came to mind with using cloth diapers was a really scary vision of those old fashion towels that you had to wrap and pin. Boy was I glad to be proven wrong! The evolution of items for new moms has been taking off as better options are around every corner. I was amazed at what I found as I began to search. Add a comment

Sometimes it’s not always possible to buy organic fruit and vegetables.  The non-organic counterparts are covered in pesticides and herbicides.  Even though the residue from such chemicals is deemed “safe” for human consumption, we are not exactly sure what the compounded long term effects are.  Is that a chance you really want to take?

I would use this solution on even fruits you peel like oranges. The reasoning is that even though we using our hands or knife there it’s also a great way to prevent bacteria and viruses from spreading into your food. Remember that you don’t know who handled your food before you brought it home and where they hands were prior to that. Also, dependant on where the food was picked, the workers don’t always have sanitary bathroom conditions; hence they don’t have anywhere to wash their hands.  As disturbing as this is, it’s a harsh reality and all the more reason to properly wash/soak your produce before consumption, regardless of whether or not it’s going to be peeled.  By doing so you greatly reduce your risk of hepatitis A and salmonella poisoning.

The exception to this rule are mushrooms, as they have a tendency to retain water so you don’t want to soak them. You can use a veggie scrub brush and brush and rinse them quickly.

What you need:

1 tablespoon of lemon juice

1 cup of filtered water

¾ cup white vinegar

Pour mixed solution into a spray bottle, shake well before use.  Spray produce and gently scrub with vegetable scrub brush and let sit for a few minutes.  Fill clean sink with water submerge produce and rinse well.

Alternatively, if you have a lot of produce you can fill the kitchen sink with equal parts of vinegar and water  and a few tablespoons of lemon juice and let them sit for a few minutes no longer than 10, 5 would be ideal.  Gently scrub with a vegetable scrub brush and rinse well. Let your fruit and veggies dry in the dish rack.

Why this works:

The acetic acid in vinegar kills bacteria and helps to dissolve the wax and pesticide residues found on the skins of many fruits and vegetables.

Tips and Warnings:

1.       Don’t use an ingredient if you or someone you know who will be consuming the fruit or vegetable is allergic to any of the ingredients.

2.       Store your fruit and veggie wash out of the reach of children

3.       Always label the contents of your spray bottles.

4.       Always practice food preparation and kitchen handling safely.