Toronto Teacher Mom: Organic

Barbara's Snackimals Cereals

Wednesday, May 20, 2015
18 Comments

NEW EnviroKidz Cereals from Nature's Path

Earth Month has nearly come to an end but in our home, the conversation regarding sustainability, habitat conservation and the environment continues year-round. Last year, our family learned about local city critters as part of an educational, hands-on series of workshops at Toronto Botanical Garden. We discovered that the falcon is the fastest animal on earth at the Great Birds of Prey workshop. We tasted different kinds of honey and watched worker bees and drones during The Buzz on Bees session. And we planted our own milkweed seeds and released a butterfly into the wild during the Monarchs on the Move workshop. While it isn't always feasible to provide these types of hands-on experiences to our children on a regular basis, we sometimes rely on documentaries on Netflix or take the kids to the theatre to see films such as Jane Goodall's Wild Chimpanzees, Disneynature's Chimpanzee or Flight of the Buttlerflies currently playing at the Ontario Science Centre. Of course, reading books from the library is also a great way to learn more about animals and nature.

Another way to instill the importance of wildlife conservation and environmental sustainability is involving our children in the decision-making process while grocery shopping. At age eight and five, both our daughter and our son have the capacity to understand that the ways in which we lead our lives can impact the world around us. More often than not, we encourage our children to enjoy local, seasonal foods and to opt for whole grain, organic and/or natural snacks and cereals. It has been several years, in fact, that our family has enjoyed a variety of snack bars and cereals made by one of our favourite brands - Nature's Path.

NEW EnviroKidz Cereals!

Recently, Nature’s Path EnviroKidz launched two new whole grain corn puff cereals: chocolate flavoured Choco Chimps Cereal and cinnamon flavoured Jungle Munch Cereal. We received a lovely gift basket to sample these new flavours and were delighted to learn that EnviroKidz Choco Chimps Cereal supports The Jane Goodall Institute and that their Jungle Munch Cereal supports Fauna & Flora International. The fact that they’re certified organic, non-GMO, gluten-free, whole grain, and made without toxic pesticides, artificial flavours and colours was nothing new to us. All these factors made it an easy purchase decision for us so many years ago. The kids already liked Gorilla Munch so I knew Choco Chimps would be a hit. Jungle Munch was their least favourite because they don't care much for cinnamon. They enjoyed it more when they mixed it with some of the plain corn puffs, though.

Monday, April 28, 2014
52 Comments

Going Green for Earth Month - Part 1

Earth Month

Friday, April 27, 2012
0 Comments

Win a Pair of Green Beaver Après-Ski Skin Products

Canadian

Wednesday, January 04, 2012
26 Comments

Back to School with EcoMom - Review and Giveaway

Back to School

Wednesday, August 18, 2010
52 Comments

underWAY Blog Tour with Giveaway

For Families

Monday, July 19, 2010
100 Comments

Organic Produce Delivered to Your Home

Healthy Eating

Sunday, July 18, 2010
6 Comments

Reunion Island Coffee Review

Canadian

Have you ever tried organic coffee? If you answered 'no,' then you should. I have tried a lot of different coffee in my time and, although I've only started drinking coffee regularly when I was at home on my first maternity leave, it has now become a part of my daily life. There are times when I go through a drive-thru for the sake of convenience. But I usually regret it. Why? I regret the stomach ache that usually follows. Sometimes it's worse than others. That's why I prefer to make my own organic coffee in the comfort of my own home by grinding beans to the desired coarseness and brewing a fresh pot using my French press, filling the air with the distinctive aromatic bouquet. At that moment, life is good.

Recently, I tested a brand of fair trade organic coffee that was new to me - Reunion Island Coffee. The company was founded back in 1996 and takes its name from the island rich with volcanic soil called La Réunion located in the middle of the Indian Ocean. This island was discovered over 500 years ago by the Portuguese and had proven to be an ideal location for cultivating coffee. Hence the company logo.

For centuries, the orchid has been a symbol of elegance and uncommon beauty. Driven by the thrill of discovery, adventurous explorers traveled the globe in search of new varieties. Today, we mirror this passion in our quest for coffees that are rare, exotic and distinctive—the hallmarks of Reunion Island Coffee.

For my olfactory and palatal pleasure, I was able to try a 12 oz bag of whole bean Ethiopia Oromia from among their wide selection of coffees. I usually prefer Colombian or Mexican coffees so this was a nice variety. It is graded USDA organic, certified by the OCIA and made in Canada. I found it to have a pleasant medium body and a unique spicy overtone. I am also happy to know that it supports Fair Trade and thereby contributes to sustainable development, organic farming and better trading conditions for producers and farmers in developing countries.

One thing I noticed was that the coffee beans were generally smaller than the ones I usually buy. I'm not sure if that makes a difference but I did find that I had to grind them for a bit longer to obtain a more consistent grind. I am very curious to try their other blends such as: Colombia Las Hermosas, Guatemala La Soledad and their French Roast. I probably won't be changing my brand of preference any time soon, but it is nice to see a Canadian company supporting Fair Trade organic coffee. And as a side note, Reunion Island Coffee has also recently converted to offering compostable paper cups to their wholesale clients. Just one example of all the great things they're doing as part of the specialty coffee industry.

I also wanted to share another piece of interesting information that I found on their website listed under the Coffee drop-down menu . It is stated that coffee is a "safe and natural beverage" that, as suggested by recent credible research, can help prevent diseases such as various forms of cancer, diabetes and Parkinson's disease. You can read more information on this and other current and relevant information on Coffeeandhealth.ca.

Have you had your cup o' java today?

Disclosure: I received a 12 oz bag of Reunion Island Coffee beans along with a thermos for the purpose of this review.

The thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own honest opinions and have not been influenced in any way.

Monday, July 12, 2010
2 Comments

EcoMom Organic Product Review and Giveaway

Baby Food

Saturday, May 22, 2010
61 Comments

Hall's Kitchen Soup Review

Food Review

If there's one thing I have learned since I married my husband, it would be how important it is to be weary of what I put in my mouth. I was never much of a vegetable lover and could hardly resist sweet foods (nor can I even till this day!) Yet, I started to appreciate reading ingredient labels on the products I bought and questioning the amount of sugars, salts and fats as well as the presence of preservatives and other artificial additives when I was in university and participated more in grocery shopping. It wasn't until I was in my early twenties that I enjoyed my first ever bowl of Caesar salad! It took a creamy, parmesany salad at Red Lobster to re-evaluate my distaste for anything green but I don't regret it. Now, I buy organic salads, my favourite leaf being spinach. Yes. I said spinach. Had you asked me to try spinach back in the day when Popeye was still on the air, I would have let out a hearty pirate laugh. Now, a simple spinach salad topped with a mixture of oil, balsamic vinegar, maple syrup and maybe some mustard, along with goat cheese and pepitas... it's just so mmm, mmm, good!

When I was pregnant with my first child, my husband encouraged me to try a vegan multi-vitamin. I never really knew the difference between vegan and vegetarian, but by looking at the ingredients and by smelling the array of vegetable aromas inside the bottle, I knew it was the healthiest option. I remember reading it was also more easily absorbed into the body. It makes sense, doesn't it? Give your body only what it needs. It doesn't need chemical derivatives of the real thing. It needs the real thing.

Now, let's get one thing clear here. I'm not a vegetarian by any means. But I can appreciate and actually admire those who are. There are so many health benefits that cannot be denied. And having kids makes it all that more important to promote a love of natural and whole foods. I try to ensure that my kids have fruit or vegetables at every meal but it isn't always possible.

Also, let me point out that I'm probably the worst possible cook with kids you'll ever find. That's why it's great to learn about new products that are healthy and easy to prepare, such as Hall's Kitchens soups. I was very fortunate to be able to sample two of their varieties and ever so thrilled to learn that all of their soups are vegan and free of gluten, dairy and yeast. And listen to this: Chef Catherine Hall makes every effort to seek out seasonal, locally-grown produce. You gotta love going local! She also understands that there are people like me who enjoy a little meat or fish in their diet. You can add rice noodles, shrimp or chicken to soups like Bangkok Curry Coconut & Lime or use it as a sauce for mussels.

I actually got to try the Bangkok Curry Coconut & Lime soup, and though I'm not a huge fan of curry, it made me feel good knowing the following:

Made with all natural, fresh ingredients
No additives or preservatives
GMO free and trans fat free
Made without gluten, yeast or dairy
Very high in vitamin A and vitamin K
Good source of vitamin E

It's a great soup for sneaking in foods that I would otherwise avoid, such as celery, leeks and bok choy. I put it to the test with my two sisters-in-law who are both vegetarian and they enjoyed this eclectic sample of Thai cuisine, noting the blend of spicy curry, sweet coconut and tart lime juice.

I also received a bottle of Tijuana Black Bean and Chipotle soup. I knew I was going to enjoy this one mainly because I love tomatoes, garlic, cumin and a touch of chipotle pepper. I'm not a huge fan of beans (suprise!) but I could easily devour a bowl of this soup. I didn't have to read all of these important points to know this soup was healthy for you.

Made with all natural, fresh ingredients
No additives or preservatives
GMO free and trans fat free
Made without gluten, yeast or dairy
Very high source of fibre
A good source of iron

Like it says on their website, this soup is like a meal in itself. While I warmed it up on the stove top, the wonderful aromas that filled the air were reminiscent of the authentic Mexican cuisine we enjoyed on our family vacation down south. Ah, the memories!

In addition to their line of soups, Hall's Kitchen also offers stews and delicious side dishes such as Scallop Potato and a Roast Vegetable Medley during fall and winter, or Fusili Pesto Salad and Sugar Snap Peas with Red Pepper & Cashews in the spring and summertime. I know their products are sold at The Big Carrot here in Toronto but if you'd like to find a store near you, just visit their website at www.hallskitchen.ca. Bon appétit!

* Disclaimer *

I was sent two bottles of soup for the purpose of this review. I was not compensated in any other way.
The thoughts and views expressed in this review are strictly my own honest opinions.

Friday, March 12, 2010
0 Comments

Green Beaver Jr. Product Review and Giveaway

Canadian

Last month, I posted a review on Green Beaver Company. Founded in 2002 by biochemist Karen Clark and husband Alain Ménard, microbiologist, the company currently distributes their products to hundreds of natural health stores all over Canada. The best thing about their products is that they are made with organic Canadian ingredients that are edible, vegan and gluten-free, or ecologically wild-crafted. They do not use artificial, synthetic, chemical or petrol-derived ingredients, nor do they test their products on animals.

You're probably wondering what types of personal care products Green Beaver carries. It would be easier to name what they don't carry. They seem to be inventing chemical-free and biodegradable formulas even as I'm typing. From EcoCert-certified organic foaming hand soap to their luscious lip shimmers, you name it, they got it. They have something for the whole family and have recently added Green Beaver Jr. for Kids.

And I, er... I mean... my kids had the wonderful pleasure of testing their first ever foaming hand soap, along with a foaming body wash and bubble bath. First off, let me say that the packaging is a real hit. The colours are fun and bright, and the bucktooth beaver on the label is cute, too. The bottles are even molded to give a better grip when using them in the bath or shower. As soon as the package arrived, my 4-year-old daughter couldn't wait to try out these products. Having her own personal and coordinated bath products instantly made her feel so proud and so grown-up ~~and her mother slightly jealous~~. It comes in a Boreal Berries scent which my kids love, especially my son who could devour a bowl of berries faster than you can say, "supercalifragilisticexpialidocious." If Mary Poppins were to rate Green Beaver Jr. products, she might say that they're (insert Julie Andrew accent here) practically perfect in every way. However, she'd probably challenge the makers to come up with a formula that changes scent with each pump. Heck, if they could make a bottle of cough syrup that changes in colour and in flavour back in the 60's, I'm sure they can figure something out in our current millennium.

In any case, Green Beaver Jr. has successfully made hand-washing and bathing that much more fun in our household and for that I'm grateful. I'm especially grateful that their products are biodegradable, vegan, and gluten-free, are made in Canada and that roughly 99% of the ingredients are of natural origin. It just makes me feel better should my kids decide to sample a drink of their bathwater while I'm not looking.

Keep reading for information on the giveaway.

Visit the Green Beaver Company website for a list of retailers across Canada as well as some online stores that carry their products. You can also purchase Green Beaver Jr. products on Well.ca which offers free shipping within Canada with no minimum order!