Have you tried them?

BTW, bamboo doesn’t require fertilizer, pesticides or chemicals to grow, it’s also one of the fastest growing plants on the planet. Bamboo consumes around 45% more carbon then other types of trees that use the same amount of space. These are some of the reasons bamboo is considered to be a “green” alternative!

Going green is often associated with the type of car we drive and our dedication to recycling. What is often overlooked when measuring a personal carbon footprint is the food we eat. In many ways, the environmental impact of our meals is as great as our mode of transportation. A diet consisting of mostly animal product negatively impacts our soil, atmosphere, water, and fossil-fuel use. Raising cattle uses more energy than growing plants.

On the other hand, eating green is good for you. Choosing a diet high in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, fish and lean meats positively impacts our waistline, our health, and our environment.

• Foods rich in calcium are an important part of a strong bones diet. Appropriate servings of milk and milk products, fortified soymilk and tofu, and calcium-fortified foods such as cereals and orange juice provide part of the recommended daily amount of 1000 mg of calcium (1200 mg daily if you are over 50).

• Mineral-rich veggies strengthen bones by providing calcium along with magnesium and potassium (bone density boosting minerals). Diets promoting plant-based prevention of osteoporosis include daily servings of Swiss chard, broccoli, collard greens, kale, and mustard and turnip greens.

• Vitamin K abundant green leafy vegetables in combination with vitamin D from vitamin D-fortified milk and cereals preserve bone density. Short periods of exposure on the face, hands and arms to early morning or late afternoon sunshine stimulate the activation of vitamin D under the skin.

• Weight bearing exercises such as walking, jogging, jumping rope, weight-lifting, hiking, stair-climbing, step aerobics, dancing, and racquet sports build denser, stronger bones.

Eating out in today’s world requires planning and the ability to choose carefully from the menu. A few tips help keep your caloric intake within a healthy range and improve the nutrition content of your meals:

• Keep your portions small: choose from the child’s menu; split the meal with your dining partner; ask for a take home container and put half the meal into the container before you start eating.
• Watch the freebies: ask the server not to bring fried tortilla chips, breads and butter, and oils for dipping.
• Avoid high calorie ingredients: request salad dressing on the side and dip the salad ingredients; skip the cheese, oils, creamy sauces, and fatty meats like pepperoni; watch for words like “fried” and “crispy.”
• Don’t drink your calories: free soda refills add hundreds of extra calories; coffee creamers and flavorings, smoothies, and sweetened teas are all calorie rich.
• Plan ahead: check out the menu on line and choose your meal before you leave home; eat at restaurants at which you know the menu and know you can order healthy food happily; stick to your choice when you order and congratulate yourself on your wise choice.

Bumkins has designed a new contour diaper to fit perfectly into their waterproof Bumkins cover. The new diaper is a contoured shape with an elasticized leg area. The leg gusset creates a protective barrier that provides superior fit and leakage protection. Two layers of 100% bamboo cotton knit or 100% cotton knit have a super-absorbent microfiber insert sewn between them to provide maximum absorbency while keeping the comfort of cotton against the baby’s skin. These contours have proven to be the favorite choice of moms for daytime, nap time, and night time. So easy to use, the contour fits perfectly in Bumkins diaper covers and most other major brands. Check it out on the Bumkins website for more information.