As I was cleaning out my freezer the other day, I had to literally pry an ice cube tray off of one of the frozen “whatever they are called” (coils maybe?) This tray was filled with some sort of lumpy solid orange cubes that resembled squash. I know that sounds awful as my kid has not been a baby for quite some time now but the important thing is that I found them, remember?

There has to be a better way to store whatever fresh foods I plan on freezing for later use (As occasionally I do) I thought, so I searched for a better alternative than my old method.

Kid Co makes these fantastic Food Storage Trays, and you’ll find so many uses for them you’ll start collecting them.  What I love about them is they come with a pop-on lid to keep foods safe from freezer burn, and a writing surface so you can easily identify what you put in them. Naturally they are BPA/PHTHALATE Free Plastic so they are safe to freeze and reheat in. If you have a garden, this is a great time to start maybe cooking down some of those veggies you’ve labored over all summer and pop-them in the freezer.

These little cubes can be used later for soups or stews as well as homemade baby food.  I know someone who freezes pumpkin cubes and gives them to her dog every day to help prevent  “scooting” (I am not a vet, so consult your veterinarian before trying this at home.)

Pick up a Kid Co Baby Steps Electric Food Mill for quick and easy preparation.

I was never much of a cook.  Never gave much thought to my diet, of what I put in my body. (Potato Chips are goooood!)

This all changed as I got older and the birth of my son reinforced my belief that my habits had to change. I had a specific plan of what I would allow him to eat and not allow.  Of course like most good intentions, this sometimes falls by the wayside, particularly if we are running late or on our way to soccer practice. (Nobody’s perfect!)

For the most part though, I try to feed him healthy organic foods as much as possible. With school starting next week, I would like to introduce some new foods into his diet.  Although he is not a picky eater and is exposed to many different ethnic foods he, like most kids, gets bored with eating the same thing.

I decided to invest in a couple of new cookbooks, and this one looked good to me. The Family Organic Cookbook promises exciting recipes that will entice the whole family. What I like about this particular book is that it has a specific section on ideas for lunchboxes and snacks that are quick, easy and of course, healthy.

There are even recipes for making you own condiments such as ketchup (a staple in our house!) It would be fun for a younger child, not yet in school to help whip up a healthy after school snack for his sibling with Mom’s help.

Let’s face it, we all try to do our best for our children, but sometimes we need a little help and inspiration.  I hope this cookbook does both for you!

It’s not easy being “Green” Kermit The Frog once crooned. As I wrote in a recent Not Quite Crunchy Parent Post, I am always searching for new ways or products to help me in this endeavor.

Happily, I’ve solved my problem regarding using a “zillion” little lunch bags when packing my son’s lunch for school. My initial plan was to perhaps wrap his sandwich and fruit in some sort of cloth napkin from my mother’s extensive collection but I decided that was a little too girly, and quite possibly he would be the last one picked at recess.

I found these Wrap-N-Mat washable, reusable lunch “bags” and I plan on using these not only for my son, but for my own lunches as well. This reusable sandwich wrap comes complete with a Velcro closure to keep food secure and also doubles as a tiny placemat. Your kids can toss them right back in to their lunch boxes when they have finished eating and use them again for tomorrow’s lunch.

These cotton-poly wraps are easily washed with a little soap and water, and then air-dried. Important to note, you cannot heat these in the microwave so no grilled cheese in them, please.

This is an easy and fun way for your kids to be eco-friendly and who knows, maybe the first one picked for tag!

  Just this month I was looking through one of my favorite magazines, while waiting in the car for my son to finish camp.  I saw a bottle cover like the one I am about to share with you and I decided to search Pricegrabber to see if I could find it.

Of course, Pricegrabber offered a product that I think has a better design and at a better price.  I recently posted about the importance of not heating or cooling plastic due to the dangers of it. (Here’s to their Health) and this applies to baby bottles, as well.

While everyone knows nursing is best for your baby, it is not for everyone.  Even if you choose to breastfeed there could come a time when you have to give your baby a bottle, and choosing the right one can be confusing.   I recommend that you use glass, as heating and cooling in it is safer than plastic, and they clean and sterilize better.

EvenFlo Classis Cozy Glass Bottle With Sleeve is a three pack of clear glass bottles with colorful silicone sleeves to wear over them. The sleeves protect the glass from shattering if your baby accidentally (or not) throws it on the floor.  What a great idea! The raised finger holds make it easy for baby to grip on to it and it’s made of BPA free material. The sleeves are 100% recyclable, and come in six fashion colors.

These are the only bottles you’ll want to use.

High chairs are a necessary thing.  They rank as one of the top ten items in baby registries.Of course, you’ll need one at home ( StokkeTripp Trapp Chair) that’s well made and will last through more than one kid.  But having one to take on the go is something we don’t always think about. Not all restaurants cater to children so finding a seat for them can be a hassle, not to mention you’ll most likely wipe it down with a pound of baby wipes before placing your baby in it.

I know you have enough stuff to haul with you when leaving the house with a baby, but I see parents with these all the time (we eat out a lot) so they must be pretty darn handy.

The Chicco Hook On Portable Chair is one I like This bright happy chair hooks directly on to the table and relies on a safe three-point harness system to secure your child. Because it is made out of nylon, it’s easy to wipe down after meals or you can throw it in the machine. (Try that with a standard high chair) and folds down for easy transport.

Keep this neat little seat in the car when dropping your child off at the sitter’s or Grandmas (same thing!) Weight limit = 37 lbs.

I‘m  particular when it comes to buying a shower gift, or a gift for a new mom.  It must be practical, creative and something I would have liked to have had myself. (Cute never hurts, either!)

This time around, the present I purchased fulfilled only two of those requirements. Nonetheless, it was great because it was organic!

Natures Baby Disposable Bib Set will make life a new parent’s life little easier and a lot less messy.

As parents, we try to keep those new little outfits of theirs clean. (Squash and Sweet Potatoes never seem to come out in the wash for some reason.) How many of us have tucked a soiled bib into the pocket of a diaper bag and forgotten about it until weeks later?

This JUMBO set of 240 chlorine free bibs is hypoallergenic, eco-friendly and disposable. Keep some in the car, some in the house or even some at grandma’s house.  No more forgetting bibs or leaving them somewhere.

These are not as fancy as the cute little embroidered ones your mother-in-law gave you. Instead they are clean and white, (And white goes with everything, right?!) Most importantly, they are always on hand.  Isn’t that the point of a bib anyway?

You’ll buy so many you might run out of places to store them !

With summer almost upon us, I feel obliged to share some important information with you.

We are all aware of how good water is for us and how essential it is to keep hydrated during the warmer months.  But did you know that dashing into the convenience store to grab your child a bottled - water on their way to soccer practice because she left thers at home can be potentially dangerous?

The Precidio Pink Polka Dot Aluminum Water Bottle is BPA- free (So important because of the many toxic risks associated when heating or cooling plastic) and because it’s made of aluminum, it won’t change the taste of whatever you put in it.  Drinks stay cold for hours and the built in hang -tag allows you to easily attach it to their belt loop, sports bag or shorts.

These clever containers are available in a variety of different designs, including a cool geometric pattern that boys will like. This makes a thoughtful gift for a summer birthday or even  High School graduation.

Teaching our kids to take care of their health as well as the environment is a good thing and introducing products like reusable bottles is a great opportunity to do just that.   (They’re fun, too!)

One of the most important choices you’ll make as new mother is your choice of breast pump if you choose to nurse. In general, unless you have an excellent milk supply, which is rarer than you might imagine or the time and fortitude to nurse exclusively, you’re going to need a breast pump.

I was one of those women who said, “Hey people have been doing this for thousands of years, how hard can it be.” Unfortunately I was also one with a limited milk supply so it didn’t take me long to go scurrying for a breast pump.

It isn’t always necessary to run out and buy a breast pump right away, but it is worthwhile to do you research and decide which one will work best for you if it turns out you need it.

This Medela Pump-in-Style is one of the most popular breast pumps on the market. Though a little pricy, it is similar to hospital style pumps with adjustable speed and vacuum control and does one of the best jobs of mimicking baby’s speed and suction. It includes everything you need for pumping at home or on the go, including a shoulder bag, battery pack and lots of accessories.

It’s one of the most important pieces of equipment you need when you have a new baby. A good breast pump. Although it’s natural and has been done for thousands of years, often nursing your new born isn’t that easy and a good breast pump makes a difference if you struggle in the beginning. And many women do!

Though breast feeding has made a comeback in recent years, many women are initially committed and then after a struggle fall back to bottle feeding. It’s not because they didn’t try, it’s often because for many women, with no guidance and no encouragement, getting past the early struggles that may occur due to everything from a premature baby to carpal tunnel, bottle feeding just seems more appropriate.

It doesn’t have to be that way and absent a lactation nurse or other trained helper, having a good breast pump and the phone number to the local La Leche League can get a new mom through that critical two week period when baby and mom learn to work  as a team.

This compact double electric breast pump model is both small and powerful. It’s easy to use and comes with an AC and even a car adapter! That’s a big plus for moms on the go lacking nursing privacy…which is all too common these days.

With lots of cool features like the ability to control the rhythm and suction, this breast pump is one of the best on the market.

Eating out with a baby or toddler can be, uh interesting. Selecting a kid-friendly restaurant is followed by maneuvering to find a table in a secluded, but not hidden spot, requesting a high chair or booster and then determining what on the menu is appropriate for a child with often limited dentition.

Dining with a child with an, as of yet, immature immune system adds another layer of issues to consider when eating out. Happy to throw food on high chair, floor and other diners, most little ones are also happy to smash food into the table then scoop it up and swallow.

I’ve found the best way to keep food and germs separate when dining out is disposable placemats like these Baby Einstein Biodegradable Disposable Placemats. Compact enough to fit into diaper bag or purse, they features stick-on tabs to keep them in place on high chair or table and are a big enough to cover the entire, um “field of action”…which can be rather large with an exuberant little one.

And, since I strive valiantly to be as green as possible, though not always successfully, I was thrilled to see that these placemats are biodegradable. I can, with good conscious, toss the food splattered mat in the trash.