Microwave Safety

Recently, there has been lots of news on microwaves. Everything from do microwave covers leach BPA to should we even be using microwaves. I know microwaves are a staple in most homes and so we'll start small and work up.

1.) If you're going to heat food in a microwave, glass or ceramic are preferred heating containers. However, just be sure the glaze on your heating container does not contain lead. I have switched my plastic containers over to Pyrex for the most part. The lids are BPA free and containers are made from glass. While the lids are BPA free, you may be better off using a cermaic plate or using a non-dyed, non-bleached paper product as a cover. On the crunchy front, I know we're all moving away from using paper prouducts when possible, so that may pose another problem. The only alternative that comes to mind if you are using a microwave is to use no cover and to clean the appliance after every use.

2.) Avoid using plastic wrap when heating your food in the microwave because it is still a questionable practice . The statement on GLAD's website is as follows: "The concern over heating plastics and migration stems from the use of chemical additives (known as plasticizers) in plastics made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC). GLAD does not use any PVC plastics in its products." And the seal it forms on your containers? "According to the FDA, small amounts of such ingredients in food do not pose any health risk." My concern is if people plastic wrap all their food every week, at what point is the amount of "such ingredients" a health risk?

3.) Many white paper towels are fabricated with plastics, and are not microwave safe. Do a quick search before buying.

4.) Plain paper plates are safe in the microwave, but plastic coated paper plates are generally not microwave-safe.

5.) Ever see products touted as "microwave safe" on it? It means nothing. These aren't regulated terms, no testing is required to throw that onto a package. So it could mean it doesn't leach BPA into your food or it could simply mean it won't melt in the microwave. Don't go by packaging - do your research.

The safety of the microwave has been called into question. This happened in the past and several testing agencies said there was no detectable harm in using the microwave. The agencies tested the effects of the rays emitted from the microwave on humans, but did not test the effect the rays have on food. I haven't found reliable answers or studies on this topic, though it is a concern of mine. If any of my readers have more information on this topic, I'd love to hear it!

Hoped that helped to make your life a little more BPA-free!

Toys, not toxins

Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Broke Tuesday? Not this year.

I was particularly excited about the Black Friday sales this year because it would be my son's first Christmas. I wanted to get him all the classic toys from my childhood but also a few new learning toys. Bright and early on Saturday morning (I don't actually do the crazy crowds on Black Friday), I went to my local Target to rummage through the shelves.

I was greatly disappointed.

Aisle after aisle, toy after toy, everything was "Made in China". I don't have any problems with the Chinese but after recent manufacturing practices have come to light, I avoid buying goods made there. I especially avoid buying products that will go in my son's mouth and at this age, that includes his toys.

After doing some research online, the only 100% green and clean toy manufacturer I can find is Green Toys.

Here are the positives about their company:

      1.)   All their toys are made in the United States.

     2.)   They offer a lot of the classic toys I wanted to get AI:

 

      3.)   Their toys are green:

Green Toys Inc. makes an awesome line of classic children’s toys constructed from recycled plastic and other environmentally friendly materials. This helps reduce fossil fuel use and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improving the overall health and happiness of the planet.

      4.)   Finally, to placate my difficult-to-please mommy heart, they are safe! Oh, hallelujah, some toy maker out there cares about the same things I do!

Green Toys products are tested by nationally recognized, independent, third-party labs (located, yes, in the USA.) They contain no traceable amounts of Phthalates or BPA. They are also designed without any external coatings, eliminating the fear of lead paint.

On a tangent, I just wanted to venture into explaining BPA and phthalates for folks unfamiliar with those terms. BPA is worrisome because there are prostate and mammary cancer risks associated with it as well as accelerated puberty. Phthalates are equally scary in that they feminize males by suppressing male hormones while mimicking female hormones and also have been shown to accelerate puberty in females. In other words, they are endocrine disruptors.

I hope this has shed some light into what is often dismissed as overparenting. There are serious risks involved with turning a blind eye to the chemicals used to make your child's toy. I'm proud of the efforts that Green Toys is putting into their products and I'm looking forward to supporting their business. I hope that you do too.

So this Christmas, give your kids toys, not toxins!

Mama A

Disclaimers

I woke up this morning wanting to add in some disclaimers to this blog:

1.) While I believe starting solids at six months is important to avoid texture rejection later in life, it is true that before age 1, solids are just for fun. Nutritionally, breast milk or formula should make up the majority of their diet.

2.) While making your own baby food is best, in today's busy world, that's not always an option.

What I generally do is to cook in bulk on the weekends and then freeze in BPA free ice cube trays. This is a good way to measure how much food your baby is eating because each cube is exactly one ounce and if you're running late, your little one doesn't have to wait long for a meal.

If you don't get the time to cook on a rare week, I would strongly urge you to only buy organic jarred or organic, BPA free pouches of food. What seems minimal to us in terms of pesticides or BPA is exponentially worse for babies. Some brands I have had luck with in a crunch are Ella's Kitchen, Plum Organics and Sprout, in order of my little guy's preference.

3.) As I stated in a prior post, breast milk is the best form of nutrition for babies. With that said, not all moms can breastfeed or pump for their child. Formula does suffice in the case of illnesses that can pass through breast milk. It's the difference between eating homemade squash and Ella's Kitchen squash. Your child is still fed, but if you have the option for the former, do it as long as you can. In a separate post, I'll showcase the differences.

I know there are battles brewing between moms on so many topics and I want this blog to be as non-controversial as possible. All moms are supermoms. We all want the best for our children - this is just my journey with my little guy showcased. I hope it can help some folks out there but I truly hope it doesn't hurt anyone.

Rainbows and unicorns to all!