Formula Warning

 Back in August, I had to start giving A formula to get him enough to eat due to a dwindling supply. I discussed my search for an organic formula here. I decided to go with Baby's Only organic dairy formula by Nature's One. You may have noticed Nature's One made the news recently, and not in a good way. The first ingredient, brown rice syrup, has been found to have dangerously high levels of arsenic. Nature's One is responding that they use reputable third party distributors and will test all their products for high levels of arsenic. Thankfully, A has moved on to whole milk. We had 2 cans of formula we were going to finish up, but I guess we won't. The news seems inconclusive right now, but until you know for sure, I would avoid products with brown rice syrup, especially if it's one of the first ingredients. My second go-to formula during the time A was using formula was Earth's Best Organic Formula. This would be my suggestion, as A took it well and didn't have any problems transitioning between the two. 

A Calls it Quits

Picture Source: almightydad.com

Four weeks ago yesterday, A quit nursing cold turkey. I thought maybe I wouldn't blog about this because this really isn't applicable for most of my readers, but for the few for whom this is relevant, I wanted  to share my experience in the hopes that it is helpful for you.

Since I started enjoying nursing (it took about 3 weeks) I had planned to nurse until A was 12 months old, the AAP recommendation.

A nursed as usual when we woke up on November 12 (his 9 month birthday), and then refused to nurse for his second morning feeding. I didn't think anything of it and gave him some bananas and cereal. Then at lunch, he refused again. At that point, I had to give him a bottle because he needed the nutrients. When he refused again that afternoon, I started looking online. I'll tell you right now, in the 4 weeks I've been trying to figure this out, I haven't found anything helpful, and this blog won't offer you any new insights either. Everything I read said "a majority of infants don't quit nursing on their own until around 18 months of age." This, of course, makes me feel like a failure. My research told me this was most likely a nursing strike, perhaps due to teething or just a growing independence. I was under the impression it might last 2-7 days.

When 7 days came and went (at this point we had stocked up on formula to supplement the bottles of frozen breast milk), I researched the longest nursing strike: 18 days. So I figured I'd give it 18 days and then figure out what I'd do. I pumped and got enough milk to give him a bottle of breast milk a day. The rest of the day he'd get formula.

I called the Health Partners Lactation consultants and got no help from the nurse with whom I spoke. She told me that when her little one went on a nursing strike, she simply told him "this is where your milk comes from. You get it here, or not at all." Um, not going to work for me. My son goes to day care, so he already knows that's not true. She told me to not offer him an alternative, but I'm not going to refuse to give my son nutrients to teach him where milk should come from. And she told me the reason most babies quit nursing this young is not their choice, but because the mother gives up. Thanks for making me feel like crap, and not helping me find a real solution to the problem.

If you experience the same situation, do not feel bad. You can grieve the change in your relationship with your child, but then move on. Trust that you've done all you can and trust that you will make the best choices for yourself and for your child.

When the 18 days passed, I decided I'd pump enough milk to have a bottle a day for him until he's 12 months old. Ufda, that is 100 times harder than nursing exclusively. I'm not going to make it. And quite frankly, my supply won't either.

I woke up this morning with A, and I just didn't have it in me to pump. So I guess without really making a decision, I've made the choice to call it quits.

It took me 4 weeks to come to terms with this, but as Nate reminded me a few weeks ago, if I continue to set my heart on fulfilling all my plans, I will continue to be disappointed. I don't get to make such detailed plans as a parent. I'm okay with my decision. A had 9 months of breastfeeding and then made his own decision to exert his independence. His favorite way to take a bottle is standing up, holding on to the table. Not really an option with a breast. I hope it's a sign of good parenting to recognize what he needs and allow him to fulfill those needs in a healthy way.

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Formula

A returned to day care last week, which brings a whole host of new parenting dilemmas and choices to make. A has been enjoying his morning cereal mixed with breast milk this summer, but day care staff aren't allowed to transfer breast milk due to health and sanitation concerns. So here I am, researching formulas to mix with the cereal. Just like cloth diapers, I keep wading into more and more options with long lists of pros and cons.

If you want to go eco-friendly and uber healthy for your baby, here's what I found:

• Check the ingredient list. Make sure it is made with milk lactose or brown rice syrup. Avoid cane sugar, corn sugar, and sucrose. Babies don't need super sweet formula. 
• Decide if you want it made with DHA/ARA or not. Manmade DHA is a fairly new idea and not much is known about it's effects on infants. 
• Look for the USDA Organic label
• Go with powdered formula instead of premade formula. Powdered formula requires less packaging, and premade formula has been found to contain high levels of BPA. 
• Mix it with regular tap water or filtered water, not bottled water. Bottled water creates unnecessary waste and might leach BPA into the milk. If you are still nervous about your water, boil and cool it for use. 

Four formulas continue to come up in my research as the best options. In order (based on my opinions of what I think is best for A):

1. Baby's Only Organic Formula
2. Earth's Best Organic Infant Formula
3. Similac Organic Formula (contains sucrose)

My Organic Boy

I have been so proud that A has only eaten organic foods since he started solids. As we add more and more variety to his menu, I can't find organic produce at Cub where I normally shop, so I've made a few trips to the Mississippi Market in St. Paul for my organic goodies.

I love the food co-op. I don't have to spend nearly as much time weighing my options and searching odd corners of the store to find eco-friendly items. I like the mission of food co-ops, which focuses on sustainability and consumer control. I read once in Animal, Vegetable, Mineral by Barbara Kingsolver, "Eaters must understand, how we eat determines how the world is used." By shopping at the co-op, I feel like I'm helping to make my statement about how I want to use the world. 

I know A will have to eat non-organic someday, and probably someday soon, but I will hold out as long as possible and give his little body a chance to avoid extra chemicals. 

Birchwood Cafe

I have been meaning to try the Birchwood Cafe in Minneapolis for a very long time. The opportunity finally presented itself this week. We had weddings for some friends during the last two weekends, and friends were in town from all over the country (and world) for the week. When some of my favorite girls wanted to meet for dinner, I suggested this little gem.

I ordered the Turkey Club, and oh my goodness, it was the best sandwich I've ever had! We stayed long enough for dessert and enjoyed the carrot cake, 2 chocolate chip cookies, and a fruit cobbler as well.

The front door proudly states: We love local farms, and the food reflects this. In addition, the cafe composts everything it can.

Visit the website for more information, and visit the Birchwood Cafe for delicious food you can be proud to eat!

Baby Food!

A has begun his adventures in eating. I have no doubt that he'll develop a sweet tooth like his mom, and a snacking habit like his dad, but while I still have full control over what he eats, I'll try and prevent that from happening.

We started with Gerber's organic brown rice cereal. This was after much internal debate on my part. I wanted to excite his taste palate early and often, but the doctor thought I was a little crazy. After discovering that rice cereal can be whole grain, I allowed myself to feel okay starting with this simple food.

The next food introduced is where things got interesting. I decided to puree my own organic sweet potatoes. (1 potato made 18 servings at a cost of about $.07 a serving, compared to my jar of Earth's Best organic which cost .$.15 a serving). Nate insisted I need to account for my time as well-this first foray into purees took me 2 hours :o. I blame the blender though-it's a piece of junk. So I indulged in a $35 food processor. Hopefully this (and experience) will speed my process up. And after tasting both varieties myself, I have to insist that my fresh puree is much better than the jarred stuff.

Regardless, A is loving his solids. He says "mmm" after every new food. It's been very exciting for both of us!

The New Dirty Dozen list is out

If you want to limit your pesticide intake but don't want to go organic on everything (and until prices get reduced, who can afford that?) go organic on the following (in order from most pesticides to least):

The Environmental Working Group has come out with it's new "Dirty Dozen" and "Clean 15" lists. These lists name the top 12 most pesticide-ridden produce and the top 15 cleanest fruits and vegetables.

1. Apples
2. Celery
3. Strawberries
4. Peaches
5. Spinach
6. Imported Nectarines
7. Imported Grapes
8. Sweet Bell Peppers
9. Potatoes
10. Domestic Blueberries
11. Lettuce
12. Kale/Collard Greens
13. Cilantro

And feel free to indulge on non-organic items off the following list (in order starting with the cleanest):

1. 
2. Onions
3. Sweet Corn
4. Pineapple
5. Avocado
6. Asparagus
7. Frozen Sweet Peas
8. Mangoes
9. Eggplant
10. Domestic Canteloupe
11. Kiwi
12. Cabbage
13. Watermelon
14. Sweet Potatoes
15. Grapefruit
16. Mushrooms

*Thank you to E-The Environmental Magazine for bringing the updated list to my attention. 

Chicken

Nate and I eat a lot of chicken. After several years of eating free range chicken, I have found the most delicious chicken I've ever tasted. Bar 5 Meat and Poultry has a free range chicken breast that has been out of this world no matter how I prepare it. They are at the St. Paul Farmers' Market every Saturday.

One of the daughters on this family owned farm replied to my question about whether the chicken were free range, "They're so free range I have to check my shoes for chicken poop before I get on the school bus."

I enjoy eating happy chickens. 

Why I Breastfeed

I've been putting off this topic because it seems highly personal, but I think it's time to share the benefits I've found in breastfeeding.

First, the most obvious reason is that it is the best food for my baby. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends breastfeeding for at least the first year. Breast milk offers more nutrients and antibodies than can be found in formula, and is uniquely adjusted to the needs of your baby in every moment; your body responds to baby's needs every time he eats.

Second, we save money. Formula is expensive! Breastfeeding just requires me to eat a few extra calories, which I'll happily do. In spite of my extra caloric intake, it also helps me to lose my baby weight. Gotta love that.

And then there are the environmental reasons. Formula comes in packaging, which must be thrown away, which means more junk in landfills. In addition, the packaging and formula require energy to be created. Using formula requires bottles, nipples, liners, etc. that must be produced, washed, and eventually thrown away. (To be fair, as a breastfeeding and pumping mom, I use bottles as well, but some women have lifestyles that allow them to exclusively breastfeed.) Finally, using formula requires fuel; a vehicle must get it to the store, and then you have to take your vehicle to go get it.

Breastfeeding is not without its difficulties. In my first weeks home with my newborn, a friend said to me "I don't know why you wouldn't breastfeed." I thought to myself, "I do." The first three weeks were incredibly difficult. My little (big) guy wanted to eat every 1-2 hours; my entire world had shifted to feeding the hungry boy. It was exhausting. But I also recall a very distinct moment when he was three weeks old and had finally started falling into a routine. He had just woken up and started eating, and I felt a sudden pleasure and bond in breastfeeding him. From there on, it has been an enjoyable experience. Even after an incredibly painful clogged duct at about 3 months, I'm happily breastfeeding.

I have all intentions of discontinuing breastfeeding at a year. Perhaps something will convince me to switch to formula before then. (Let's be honest; my baby doesn't have teeth yet, and I bet that's a whole new set of challenges.) But for now, I'm happy and proud to be breastfeeding. I know he's getting the best, and so is the planet.

 

Fat Tire Beer

I'm not a beer drinker, but Nate is. We were very excited to discover that his new beer of choice is also an incredibly socially responsible company. New Belgium Brewing makes Fat Tire Amber Ale. While Nate loves the flavor, we also both love what the company stands for. The "Company Core Values" include:

• Kindling social, environmental and cultural change as a business role model.
• Environmental stewardship: Honoring nature at every turn of the business
• Balancing the myriad needs of the company, our coworkers and their families.
• Having Fun.

What fantastic values. They demonstrate these values in a number of ways, including: 

• Wind powered
• Employee owned company
• Use of natural lighting
• Promotion of bike commuting
• Low-water landscaping
• Use of reclaimed materials
• Porous sidewalks

Nate can feel good about a beer that tastes good and that matches our socially responsible values. A great discovery just in time for the summer cabin season! 

Great Veggie Recipe!

After a brief hiatus from our weekly vegetarian dinners, we recommitted with this tasty dish: Baja Black Bean Cakes with Spicy Sweet Potato Sauce. Thanks to Simply Organic for directing me to The Vegan Chef for this recipe. We are loving our adventures in vegetarian eating (although Nate hates the excessive dirty dishes I create when I dive in to new cooking territory--I cook and Nate does dishes, thus inhibiting my ability to limit my dish use.)  

We've gone vegetarian...

...twice a week. There's no way Nate and I could commit to a full vegetarian lifestyle. In my family alone I was raised on a wide range of wild game, and I think my family might disown me if I gave up meat.

However, we made the commitment last week to eat a vegetarian meal once a week, on top of our weekly meal of fish. Why would we ever want to do such a thing?

Well, for one thing, it's healthier. In addition, Nate is not quite the hunter my dad is (no offense Nate) so our rotation of meet tends to be limited to beef, pork, and lots of chicken, which gets quite boring after 3 years.

Of course, there are also environmental benefits. Animal waste is a major contributor to polluted rivers and streams. In addition, the grains made to feed animals are coated in pollutants, which makes its way into our waters and plants as well.

It's also a way to avoid ingesting toxic chemicals. "The EPA estimates that nearly 95 percent of the pesticide residue in the typical American diet comes from meat, fish, and dairy products (Vegetarian Times)."

Most of the grain farmed in the US is given to animals. If we could instead use that grain to feed people around the world, perhaps we could reduce famine. In addition, cattle are not even designed to consume grains; they are meant to eat grasses. The changes made to cattle in order to feed them grains (which is cheaper) have a large impact on the planet and on us as consumers of beef. (More details in a future  post).

Finally, animals we eat today are rarely treated humanely. People fall all over a continuum on this issue, but my personal opinion is that animals do have a right to humane living while they are alive. I won't apologize for eating meat, but I think while the animal is living they deserve a natural, healthy environment (which also makes them healthier food for us).

By cutting out one meal of meat a week, we decrease the global impact of meat eating. Everything about the production of meat--loss of cropland due to grazing, the inefficient process of feeding vast quantities of water and grain to cattle, factory farm pollution--is a major environmental issue with far reaching consequences (E Magazine).

Last week was our first vegetarian meal, and it was one of the best meals we've had lately! We didn't miss the meat at all.

Eating Organic

Ideally, all the food we buy and all the food available would be organic, but this is not the case, and it's an expensive choice to make! Fortunately, not all organic foods are created equal. The following is a list of foods that give you the most bang for your buck when buying organic. These items retain the most pesticides when non-organic, so these are a great place to start buying organic.

• apples
• bell peppers
• blueberries
• carrots
• celery
• cherries
• coffee
• imported grapes
• kale
• leafy greens
• meat
• milk
• nectarines
• peaches
• pears
• potatoes
• red raspberries
• spinach
• strawberries

The following foods don't contain as mainly pesticides when they reach our table, so if you're on a budget, save your money by going non-organic with these:

• asparagus
• avocados
• bananas
• broccoli
• cabbage
• cauliflower
• corn
• eggplant
• kiwis
• mangoes
• onions
• papaya
• peas
• pineapples
• sweet potatoes
• watermelon

How about Genetically Modified Foods?

As I look at our meat and produce consumption, I've begun to wonder about genetically modified foods (GMOs-Genetically Modified Organisms). We have committed to pesticide-free, organic options, but I needed to do more research before making my decision about what to do with the genetic debate.

GMOs are foods that have been modified at a molecular level to contain desired traits (World Health Organization) . The traits are not necessarily selected for their flavor or nutrition, but for the ability to grow food quick, big, and cheap. For example, much of today's corn has been modified in a laboratory to include a gene extracted from a bacterium that is lethal to insect larvae. This saves a step in production and makes farming cheaper.

Certainly, there are economic and social advantages to GMOs. Food can be produced at a greater rate which means we can feed more people cheaper. And more food can survive pests, drought, herbicides, and extreme temperatures. Because of these advantages, farmers can't really afford not to use GMOs-most can't compete without them. In addition, GMOs can be used as medicine, to increase nutritional value, and to clean contaminated soil (Genetically Modified Foods: Harmful or Helpful?)

But I worry about how this scientific modification might impact the natural order. Some of the insect resistant plants can blow pollen onto other plants and inadvertently kill insects-which of course has it's own impact on an interlinked ecosystem. In addition, like some insects have developed resistance to pesticides, they can also become resistant to the genetic modifications. And when it comes to human health, not enough research has been done to demonstrate what the impact to humans might be. Allergies could potentially be exacerbated depending on which genes are used where (like peanut allergies). Some animal studies show possible harm,  but ultimately results are still inconclusive (ActionBioScience).

Finally, there's also the debate over ownership of the GMOs. Because they are engineered in a lab by a company, some companies have copyrighted their modifications, and it is illegal to use them without proper rights and purchasing. In fact, one farmer was sued by such a company for seeds that were growing on his property that he purports he didn't even plant; the seeds had blown off a passing truck. The Canadian Supreme Court ultimately ruled in favor of the company (Judgments of the Supreme Court of Canada). The social and economic implications of cases like this will continue to be debated as we continue to grow and develop food.

I try to stick to my priorities when making decisions about what to consume: environment, health, and human rights. According the the World Health Organization, all GMOs on the market today are safe for human consumption. However, just because it's available for consumption doesn't mean it's the gold standard in socially responsible products. So what's my decision about GMOs coming into our house? The jury's still out, and waiting for more research (ActionBioScience). I guess you'll just have to keep following the blog to find out.

Have an opinion about GMOs? Post a comment!

Indoor Greenhouse

I'm a little worried this "social responsibility" blog will turn into "Jodi's Joys of Gardening" if I'm not careful, but I'm so excited for my first real vegetable garden, I just can't help it!

Last week I started broccoli indoors. Within 2 days, seeds had sprouted! Every day I come home from work and they have grown so much. I don't think my husband shares my excitement; when they started growing like weeds I went on and on about the miracle of life, and he just nodded and said, "That's cool." I can only imagine how good food I've grown from seed will taste (I really hope all this work lives up to my fervent expectations).

Today I've started bell peppers, and I'm eagerly anticipating planting tomatoes in a few weeks. As my mom has said, My grandparents would be so proud!

The Joys of Composting

Unfortunately, some green goals can become misadventures. After 4 months of worry-free frozen compost, I opened up our bin today to the most horrible smell possible. A year's worth of our food and yard scraps rotting in too much moisture is not the way to start a new spring.

Luckily, all the answers I need are at my fingertips. I googled "my compost stinks" and learned our compost was too wet (I could've guessed that when I looked at last Halloween's pumpkin leaking unknown juices into the bin). I added shredded paper we didn't need from our taxes and left the lid off for a bit. Within an hour, our compost returned to the appropriate earthy smell that will enrich our garden over the summer.

Volunteering

Had a great day! I volunteered with Feed My Starving Children today. I helped package 684 meals in under 2 hours. That's over 1 year, 9 months worth of food for a child! Each box we filled was made up of nutrient-packed single servings that would guarantee the kids being served a fulfilling meal a day for at least a year. It doesn't sound like much, but these same kids would otherwise just hope to have a meal every 3 days. I will definitely be volunteering with Feed My Starving Children again. I'm so excited to add one more element of social responsibility to my life.

Getting ready for the garden

I got so excited to see seeds at the store this weekend. My big plan this summer is to start a garden. In Minnesota, this means starting the planting season indoors. Since I just planted my first flower garden last spring and have no idea if it will even survive the winter, I guess I'm being a bit presumptuous to assume I should start a vegetable garden before the snow melts.

Despite the possibility that my gardening skills may cause more harm then good, I eagerly walked into Bachman's to buy all things necessary for indoor gardening. I boldly chose a variety of heirloom* and organic seeds without help from staff. As I checked out, I casually asked, "so when should I start these seeds?"

Turns out, I really am overzealous. Of the seeds I selected, only the tomatoes, broccoli, and bell peppers need to be started indoors. And, they don't need to start until at least the end of March. Like I so often did in high school, I guess I started my countdown to summer too early. But in order to hold on to my sunshine bright glimmer of hope, I bought the seeds anyway. Now my indoor garden sits in its packaging in a window, waiting for my gardening countdown to reach 0.


*Heirloom seeds are seeds that have been handed down from generations passed. Often, people save their heirloom seeds from year to year and may hand them down over generations. Over time, many of these cultivars have died out, much like an extinct species. By planting heirloom seeds, gardens are given greater variety and flavor. In addition, genetic diversity (which I view as life-enriching) is protected. And overall, I like the connection to a deep sense of history I get by planting such old varieties of food.

Fresh Bread!

I'm proud to say I've successfully baked 2 loaves of tasty, fresh, homemade bread. Here we come, preservative free wheat goodness!

My first loaf of white bread tasted wonderfully similar to my grandma's bread. It was amazing toasted with butter and jam. However, Nate and I are wheat bread eaters, so I ventured nervously into the world of wheat bread. It  turned out better than the white!

I tweaked a recipe from The Simple Dollar by using Hodgson Mill Stone Ground Wheat in place of half the flour and honey replaced of sugar.

We finished off the day with a delicious dinner from Angelina's Kitchen in Woodbury. The owner and chef makes homemade, fresh, healthy, and delicious meals that you take and cook at home. Great for the days when you just don't want to cook.