Accidentally Green

Making Healthy Decisions That Honor God and Happen to Help the Environment

Revisiting 11 Vaccine Resources

Recently, my family visited our new pediatrician for the first time. Due to our move this year, we needed to find a new doctor – and our children didn’t have any major health issues since their well visits last year. After asking plenty of moms within an hour’s radius, one physician’s name kept being recommended. When Little Sister had a nasty cough that wouldn’t go away earlier this fall, I made an appointment and drove forty-five minutes to our new pediatrician. The office staff thought ... Read more

Barbecue Pulled Chicken on a Budget

An easy way to save on money is stick with proteins like chicken and beef. This Barbecue Pulled Chicken recipe costs less than $3 per serving.

This week’s guest post about slow-cooked barbecue pulled chicken is written by Kelsey Clark. Kelsey is the editor-in-chief of www.findananny.net.    The idea behind a Crock-Pot is to drop in a protein and let it cook and marinate. You can add anything you want, like veggies, grains, sauces, spices and more veggies. The added bonus is that dinner will be done when you get home. Crock-Pot meals are low cost. An easy way to save on money is stick with proteins like chicken and ... Read more

My Sippy Cup Confession

Do you know why I’m always trying to encourage you that making small, healthy steps really will make a difference? Part of the reason is because this is completely true. And another reason is that I need my own encouragement and reassurance. One healthy and green area I’ve struggled with over the past four year is the humble sippy cup. Goodness. I never thought something so simple could be so perplexing. When Big Brother was old enough to start using sippy cups, I bought whatever was ... Read more

How NOT To Be Green: Hurt Yourself, Your family, and the Environment with Liquid Infant Formulas

If you’ve read my eBook First Bites, you’ve learned a lot about formula feeding. While breastfeeding is always recommended, it’s advised to use powdered formula if you absolutely need to use formula. The alternatives, concentrated liquid formula that needs mixed with water and ready-to-use liquid formula, aren’t green – and their packaging adds unwanted chemicals to your child's sole source of food. For one, plastic containers leach contaminants into liquid formula – that’s just what ... Read more

Introducing the “Right” Infant Cereal

Rice cereal. Traditionally it’s the first baby food have eaten for decades. But just because it’s traditional, is it the best? Here’s some good news for parents: there isn’t a single best first food. Rice cereal is a traditional recommendation because most babies typically tolerate it pretty well. And because rice cereal is bland, it’s an easy food to start with. Let’s face it: the flavor and texture transition from breast milk (or formula) to solids is pretty huge for your little ... Read more

First Bites Is Here!

“This is the day that the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it!” – Psalm 118:24 After much anticipation, my first eBook, First Bites, is released! It went on sale beginning at midnight this morning. (Is it technically morning? Because I stayed up for the magical moment last night.) And for this very first day, PDFs of First Bites are on sale for half price – only $4.99. When the clock strikes midnight tonight, they will return to the normal price of $9.99. What’s First ... Read more

Common Choke Hazards for Infants

The recipes I’ve posted each Friday have come to an end. I’ve shared thirty-nine simple, from-scratch recipes this year, and quite frankly … I can’t think of many more. At least for now. So Foodie Friday will morph into a food-centric blog post each week. This change is exciting for me, especially since my first eBook, First Bites, is coming out NEXT THURSDAY. (Oh yes! The eBooks go on sale at midnight on Oct. 11! Can you tell I’m a little excited?) Some of my mommy friends have read a ... Read more

How NOT To Be Green: Hurt Yourself, Your Family, and the Environment by Choosing Non-Organic Food

Last month, Stanford University scientists announced that organic fruits and vegetables are no more nutritious than non-organic fruits and vegetables. Both organic and non-organic produce include the same nutrients. That’s great news for everyone trying to NOT be green. After all, the study proves that ALL fresh produce is healthy. And, a huge bonus is that non-organic produce is a lot cheaper. Non-organic food also is a fantastic way to expose yourself – and your family – to two harmful ... Read more

Child-Friendly Restaurant Choices

Because my eBook First Bites will be released in ten days(!!), Accidentally Green’s October posts will focus on healthy eating. A few moms have already gotten a sneak peek at First Bites, and one – Stacie of Tennessee – asked some great questions after reading it: “How do you eat healthy when you’re traveling or have no choice but to eat out? Are there some food items at certain restaurants you would recommend? That’s where I get stumped and wondered but have just learned via trial and ... Read more

Cranberry Sauce

I started making this homemade cranberry sauce the year I was pregnant with my daughter. It is so simple and so delicious – plus it goes perfectly with pumpkin pancakes.    This is easy enough to make with children; little ones like when the cranberries start to pop.   Cranberry Sauce Ingredients 3 oranges 1 package of fresh cranberries ½ cup real maple syrup* ½ cup unrefined brown sugar (demerara is my preference)   *If you don’t have real maple ... Read more

How NOT To Be Green: Hurt Yourself, Your Family, and the Environment with Microwave Popcorn

When I was single, one highlight of each week was sitting down for Thursday night TV (Remember “Friends” and “ER”??) with an icy cold can of Coca-Cola and a bag of freshly popped microwave popcorn. Oh, how my life has changed. I’ve cut out soda pop – except on rare occasions – and now I pop my popcorn on the stovetop. (Actually, Prince Charming does it for me, because he’s the Best Popcorn Popper in our home.) I made the switch from microwave bags to plain old popcorn when I was pregnant, ... Read more

Safe Cookware Options

Yesterday I shared the dangers associated with nonstick cookware. But if you don’t use nonstick products, what can you use? Fortunately, there are several options that are safer than nonstick: Cast iron While it’s heavy and needs maintained, cast iron cookware can benefit your health. Every time you cook with it, small traces of iron seep into your food – and iron is a nutrient everyone needs. Other benefits include durability, heat retention, even heat distribution, and ... Read more

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