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There are more and more sugar substitutes on the market and in our grocery stores than ever before, but are they safe for our us and our children? I know I am extra cautious giving this kind of stuff to my own kids because I just don’t want to give them anything that may hurt their development. How many other products were once touted as safe only to find experts backing away from that position a few decades later?

One of the most popular sugar substitute ingredients of late is Splenda™; an artificial sweetener that comes in many packaged items and drinks or you can add it to a drink in a powder form.  Splenda™ has been one of those sweeteners that promised no side effects only to have questionable side effects later.  Splenda™ is actually a synthetic compound called sucralose. And don’t be fooled by how that sounds just like sucrose or glucose…it was intentional…they gave a complex chlorinated artificial chemical a name that sounds like a naturally occurring sugar.  Sucralose was found by accident by a scientist who was looking for a new pesticide. Studies in rats that were given Splenda™ showed altered thymus glands and enlarged kidneys and livers.  It also has chlorine in it and is the first edible product to contain this ingredient….previously it was only found in pesticides like DDT, mustard gas, and various chemical solvents, all things that stay in the body tissues for long periods of time. All of these details lead me to believe that this is the last thing we would want to be giving our kids!

Equal™ and Sweet ‘n Low™, that contain aspartame and saccharine, respectively, have shown some side effects in rats, but it seems the studies seem to be halted when the results start getting unfavorable according to Dr. Mercola.  These sugars have been linked to adverse reactions, birth defects, brain cancer, diabetes, emotional disorders, and seizures. My best friend growing up had a wicked allergic reaction to anything that had aspartame in it and after seeing those episodes I started to think it wasn’t a wise thing to consume that stuff.

Sugar-free items that contain ingredients such as sorbitol, mannitol, xylitol and, eruthritol have been shown to cause rashes in some people.  These ingredients found in some sugar substitutes can also produce gas, so it’s best not to indulge in large quantities of sugar substitutes that have these ingredients in them to avoid intestinal problems.

In the end, natural sugar will not hurt your child, especially natural fruit and vegetable sugars, and substitute sugars are not REAL food. Substitute sugars are engineered and that fact alone should cause us to pause.  I know I just won’t take the chance with sugar substitutes. We have opted to use natural sweeteners such as dried fruit (dates, raisins, coconut), fresh fruit and juice, Stevia,  Sucanat, agave nectar, honey, Lucuma powder, maple syrup, etc. My Raw Kids Recipes book has many sweet treat recipes in it that only use natural, unprocessed sweeteners and my kids love them. They especially love the raw, naturally sweetened ice creams and sorbets I make.

Here is to your health!

With Christmas galloping at us like a stampeding herd of Mustangs, I was thinking about the kinds of gifts that I value the most. For me, books are a present that parents and children can enjoy together many times over, and they don’t carry with them extra packaging or break in a few weeks. Giving a gift of a book to a friend’s child, nieces or nephews, grandchildren or contributing to your own family bookcase is a great way to be generous during the holiday.

I was looking at our book collection and pulled out the stories that I think provide wonderful animal interpreters, gorgeous pictures and fabulous writing. These are the stories I never tire of reading to my kids; and they, not so surprisingly, like to hear them perennially. The following books feature wild animals and the environment, each highlighting our natural world and our relationship to it in some special way.

Some of these books have already been recognized for their achievements and some are not as well known, but maybe these suggestions will help with your holiday shopping this year. Most of these books are appropriate for ages 3 to 7. Or if you have younger children who will sit still long enough, they will like them too. I even think some older kids maybe up to 10 would enjoy reading them alone as well.

These are my favorites in no particular order.

Stranger in the Woods, by Sams II and Stoick, tells the tale of a mysterious snowman who appears in the forest. All the animals of the neighborhood come to visit the stranger who has special treats to eat. I like to make up voices for each of the animals, a deep voice for the stag deer, a high voice for the chickadee, and a unsure voice for the fawn. The children who maintain the snowman appear in the end revealing the answer to the mystery.

This book is also published in Canada which promotes the economy of North America.

Johny Appleseed, a poem by Lindbergh and illustrated by Jakobsen, is a version of John Chapman’s life told with rhyming verse and through unusually stylized drawings. When I read this story I play a game with my kids after reciting the stanza. I ask them to find something new on each page, kind of like Where’s Waldo. The exacting details in the drawings always gives us something new to do an “I spy” with. This story gives an American history lesson without being to overwhelming for youngsters.

Zella, Zack and Zodiac by renound author Bill Peet tells a “tail” of an odd partnership between bird and fowl with a great “kicker” in the end. I could not help the puns here. This is a beautiful example of pay it forward where kids can learn though the eyes of animals. The dialogue between the zebra and the baby ostrich is fabulous and told in Peet’s characteristic rhyming stanza’s. Since I have horses and admire birds, I can’t help but love this book!

This story is also printed in America, so buying it helps our country’s economy. In fact all of Peet’s books are manufactured in the USA!

Way out in the Desert, by Marsh and Ward, illustrated by Spengler, is a counting book featuring hidden numbers within spectacularly colored drawings of desert animals and their habitat. The verse is in rhyme and can be sung to “Over in the Meadow,” and the musical accompaniment is provided in the back of the story. I kind of chant this one to the kids and at the end of each page they look for the numbers hidden in the picture. Featuring plant and animal species which are native to the southwestern desert habitat, this book shows kids new animals they may not have seen before. 

And Egg is Quiet, written by Aston and illustrated by Long, provides textbook-like natural history information in a story format which kids can understand. With brilliant drawings that accurately depict wildlife, kids are pulled into the “data.” Dozens of eggs are drawn showing the multitude of colors, sizes and shapes that can occur in the avian, reptile, insect and even the shark world. How eggs camouflage, grow, and finally produce their surprise is shown though the delicate drawings and text. The front page displays eggs with the name of each species which laid it, while the back page shows all the adult forms corresponding with the eggs. I flip back and forth between these two pages so the kids can see before and after… Sometimes I think I like this book slightly more than my children.

Story Time for Little Porcupine written by Slate and illustrated by Rogers, is a collection of “Why” stories as told by Little Porcupine and Papa Porcupine. How the rays of the sun were made, how the sunset came to be, and why there are stars in the night sky are described though the dialog between father and son. The drawings are quaint and charming and the “Why” stories craftily conceived. This story is also one of my personal favorites because of its creativity and it’s encouragement to think outside the box.

Little Tom Turkey written by Bloxam and illustrated by Sollers, is another rhyming tale explaining the growth of a wild turkey from egg to maturity showing feeding, flying, escaping predators, wintering, and finally adulthood. The repeating attempt of little tom to strut is cute to observe. We have read this book about every other day for the past month since it was Thanksgiving. The illustrations in this story are stand outs since Solliers uses a combination of smooth art and detailed turkey drawings.

The Two Little Gardeners written by Brown and Hurd, illustrated by Elliot is a Special Mention book. While this book does not focus on animals in the wild it provides a beautiful step by step tour to growing garden vegetables. The words are simple but elegant in choice and I have read it so many times I know much of the verse by heart. The story describes the gardening activities of a boy and a girl as they transform a dirt plot into a vegetable heaven. The artwork is awesome and detailed. Each step of the gardening process is shown. We read this one a lot in the spring time before we plant our garden.

Since it is a classic Golden Book it is not so expensive, but the value in the story makes it a superior addition to a library and the version I have is printed in the USA.

I think these books give my kids appreciation for animals and nature. Maybe though learning to love these things the next generation of children will strive even harder to save them. Maybe you can give another kid a chance to love them at Christmas time too!!!

It’s not just about chickens, ground squirrels, nutty kids and meditating hippies at our house; we read a lot! Have you a favorite animal and environment story to share? Add your story in the comments and we can make this list a little longer. I am always looking for new books that I have not found yet. Thanks!!!

This is a cross post wrtitten by Julia over at Our Simple Life. Thanks Julia!!

My two boys love to take things apart and put them together. They love to create/invent new things too. Unfortunately most toys that allow for this type of thing are plastic…it is just easier to make interchangeable parts in plastic than in wood. Automoblox is a fairly new toy that I think gives us the best of both worlds. They have made a line of wooden automobiles that have plastic attachments. The bulk of the vehicle is wood that comes apart in sections and the plastic parts like the wheels, windows, and people are plastic and interchangeable so that with just a few cars or trucks you can create a ton of new customized vehicles. Wheels can be alternating colors and you can put a flat bed on a car, etc. The possibilities are endless.

Both of my boys like cars (big surprise) so I was eager to see if they liked Automoblox and they really did. Not long after my oldest son took the T9 truck for a test drive he was eager to get more so that he could start designing his own vehicles. The quality is tops too. These vehicles will stand up to rough play.

They get a thumbs from me for several reasons. They partially use sustainable materials when most counterparts use all plastic. They are quality toys that will last and they inspire creative play, design, and imagination. The interchangeable pieces help with problem solving too and kids enjoy playing with them. They have all the makings of a good toy.

At Amazon.com right now you can get a combo pack of Mini Automoblox vehicles…the C9 is Red, the T9 is Green, and the S9 is Blue.

I am VERY big on reading. In fact just last week I read 14 books. I was a pretty active kid but if I wasn’t out rollerblading, camping, swimming, or skiing as a tween and teen, I had my nose in a book. I married a non-reader though. Hubby reads maybe 1 or 2 books a year.

When I had kids I knew it was super important to get them excited about reading and luckily it has worked so far. My kids are crazy about books. We read to them a ton and I get just as excited about new kids books as they do. One place I go to see what books kids like is online. Because books can be expensive I like to do my homework and one site I like is called Read Kiddo Read. I learned about it from the moms at Mother Talk. It has lists of books by age group so that you can shop around for what other kids the same age as yours are reading and enjoying.

For my son for instance, I like the Real World Fiction section for kids ages 5-9. This gives me a list of great real world stories he can relate to and that will be fun for him. The descriptions are long and tell me exactly what the book is about and what lessons it teaches (if any) and I can determine if he will like it. Sometimes when you buy online the book descriptions are short and useless…but not these. Right off the bat I see one my son will like since he likes Junie B books… Junie B., First Grader: Cheater Pants. And then at the bottom of each book page it has a long list recommended books that are very similar. That is a nice feature.

If you are looking for kids book recommendations you may want to check out Read Kiddo Read.

Got a gamer in the house? I have a mini one. My 8 year got a DS this year and I was worried he might get obsessive about game playing but  I was happy to find he spends no more than a few hours a week playing with it. His favorite game right now is Madagascar: Escape to Africa. I thought it would an age appropriate, fun game and so far so good. In fact I like playing it to.

We are going to see the movie tonight so I will see then how it measures up to the game but I already know it has the same characters. My fave is Marty the Zebra and the penguins. All the characters and voices are recognizable so it is like getting a new adventure. Personally I thought the beginning levels were a bit hard to navigate but I haven’t played video games since the original Nintendo and Super Mario Brothers came out, LOL.

It has 12 levels in all and what I liked best was that it is educational as well…showing the players various parts of Africa and the animals that dwell there. And there are so many activities…soccer, swimming, diving, mud hole jumping, fishing, platforming, and exploration to name a few. It also has tournament capability so that you you can play against each other. We hope to get another DS soon just for that purpose.

If you are looking for video games this Xmas…Wii, Xbox, PS3, PC, or DS…you may want to check out Madagascar Escape to Africa. It is family friendly and totally appropriate for kids and of course I love the nature/animals theme.

I recently discovered a CUTE new toy for the holiday season…only this toy isn’t so much a gift but a fun new holiday tradition. It is the Christopher Pop-In-Kins doll and book. As we read in the adorable book that comes with this doll, Christopher is one of Santa’s little elves and even though he loves making toys for boys and girls he desperately wants to visit the children in their homes the way Santa does. So he has a talk with Santa and it is decided that Christopher can play a game with children during the Christmas holidays. He will pop into their homes and hide someplace up high where little fingers can’t grab him and take his magic away. Then every morning he will hide someplace new and delight as the children go searching for him.

It is an adorable book and game…kind of like a Christmas version of Where’s Waldo. The adorable red headed elf is eager and ready to “pop” in to your home every year. It could make for a very fun holiday tradition as parents hide Christopher and kids come looking. He is a plush doll with some plastic pieces but he since the idea is not to let kids touch him (cause then he just turns into a regular doll) he should last for years and years of fun and then perhaps become a part of your grandkids holiday fun.

My kids are having a great time “playing” with Christopher. The set comes in a nice box with the doll and book for the affordable price of $24.95. Make sure to check out this funny Flickr photostream of all the places people are hiding their Christoper Pop-In-Kins.

The holiday season is upon us and we’re already seeing all those holiday commercials.  Our televisions don’t advertise green-living toys and events for the holiday season.  Beyond natural wood toys, and other eco-friendly toys, people often forget about recycled toys and how green toys can benefit our children and their look on the world and planet they live on.  Actually, more and more holiday shopping websites and magazines are offering green toys more than ever.  All that is required is asking questions and doing a little research!

What are some green toys that Santa could pass around this Christmas season?  To begin with, why not buy some organic yarn and knit or crochet a new stocking for your child?  Organic yarn and weaving materials that aren’t treated with chemicals are popping up all over the place and are easy to find even at a large craft or sewing outlets.  If you’re not sure what qualifies as organic yarn or cloth, you can ask, but a good tip is that a good organic yarn will be either 100% organic wool or a combination of organic wool and cotton.

All sorts of stuffed animals are now being produced with 100% organic cotton.  Seek out ones that teach your children about animal extinction, such as a Panda, or Polar Bear and not only will they enjoy their new green eco-friendly toy, they’ll be learning about endangered species at the same time.  Eco friendly dolls can be found that are made from cloth or phthalate free vinyl and stuffed with organic cottons and wools.  Not only will your child enjoy these toys, they are safe from the inevitable sticking in the mouth that can occur with babies and toddlers.  Natural wooden toys such as trains, airplanes and, puzzles can be found at almost any craft fair.  Not only will you be buying an eco-friendly green toy, you’ll be helping the artist whose passion for creating green products is so important to them.

Recycled toys are overlooked because parents think they will be full of wear and tear.  Actually, when you buy toddler size toys, which every toddler usually has in abundance, they aren’t used all that much and most likely will look as good as new.  Check with your local thrift shop or eco-friends and ask them about beginning toy swaps in your area.  Make it a bi-annual or annual event and have contests on who can donate the most recycled toys and give out seeds and books on living green to the winners.

For your tweens or teens, eco-friendly book bags and backpacks are a good idea as well as organic lip-gloss, speakers for their CD players, solar iPod chargers, science kits and, telescopes.  Books about green living for teenagers and young adults are also a good idea for the green family.  For board games, Monopoly is also offering a totally green game and I have reviewed many other green board games. I love to gift games to family members because then we get time together as well. Haba has some adorable little games for only $6 that would be great stocking stuffers.

Finally, involve your children in the holiday cooking and talk about what you are eating and what are safe and healthy ways to grow veggies and fruits.  Let them know you can make eco-friendly cookies free of chemicals their bodies don’t need! Maybe you could make some raw holiday treats from the Raw Kids Recipes un-cookbook…like the raw eggnog and the Coconut Macaroon Cookies.

You can see there are many ideas for green toys for Christmas this year so start by making your child’s eco-friendly stocking and stuff it with interesting, educational, and earth-saving ideas!

Check out our green toys gift guide for more ideas.

Edited to remove the editorial portion since I was getting nasty comments. ;) As a disclaimer this is an after market product. I can only share what I thought of it. If you want car seat safety advice please visit someone more knowledgeable than I. Thank you!

I fully admit that when it comes to the latest/greatest/safest car seats, boosters, and all that jazz I am woefully out of the loop. It was nice to try out the Seat Snug these past couple weeks. It makes sure that the lap belt stays snug against the child so that they remain safe. I know all to well how kids loosen the belts for comfort and I got a nasty belt burn around my neck once when I got in an accident when I was 12. I also saw a program on TV about a child that decapitated by a lap belt when it went around their neck during a collision. This is the stuff that keeps us up at night no? Well, the Seat Snug keeps the belt secure so that kids cannot bounce around, rock, tip, slide, fall over, get ejected, or even going under the lap belt. It works with a booster seat or without. And I now feel more comfortable have this nifty item in the car with us. It is just clipped onto a vehicle’s existing factory installed seat belt. Once a child in a booster seat is buckled up, the lap belt may be lightly tightened around the child’s hips by pulling up on the shoulder strap to more safely secure the child, without affecting the normal operation of the shoulder strap. And it works well with booster seats that have backs…where the shoulder strap part is threaded to keep it across the chest and not across the neck…which is the kind of booster seat we have.

SeatSnug incorporates the unique race track proven, crash tested, and patented CG-Lock technology. The CG-Lock technology received The National Parenting Center’s Seal of Approval as a unique car safety device that stabilizes children in booster seats to increase child safety and comfort. Check out this video below to see more about the Seat Snug. They are $34.95 per unit.

Visit their web site for more info! Use the code MOMCENTRAL to get $5.00 off!