UNLESS............

A few weeks ago we decided to take both kids to see the Lorax, scared for what we were in for.  The girls actually did great - it's really tough for Chandler to sit through an entire movie, but we were able to make it with only getting up a few times.

As soon as I saw they were making Dr. Seuss' Lorax into a movie, I knew we had to go.  It's one of our favorites, and I always enjoy reading it to the kids as well as my students during our ecology unit.  The movie wasd fabulous - it  closely follows the book but adds some humor elements and a cute story.  The girls loved it as well!  We've also used it as a teaching point, making sure the kids understand the importance of taking care of Mother Earth.  The girls have enjoyed helping us start the garden, recycling, and making sure to pick up their trash as well as others'.

Go see it!

When I heard the book club choice for the month was "Omnivore's Dilemma" by Michael Pollan I was pretty excited.  I've been wanting to read the book for a long time, but I think I was afraid what I'd read.  Would I be able to eat meat or any food for that matter after reading it?  Fortunately, after reading the book, I'm still an omnivore and can go grocery shopping without driving myself crazy, but it has drastically changed the way I look at food and hopefully will change our family's eating habits.



I have always thought of myself as a "healthy eater", but what is truly healthy? Is the low-fat salad dressing with 40 different chemicals in it really healthy for our bodies? And what about the effect on the environment these high-corn processed foods have? I know there's no way (especially with 3 kids on one income) that we'll be able to eat exactly how we should and would like to, but we've made a list (so I make sure to stick to it), of what we'll be doing to help:

1.  Buy local produce - This can be tough in Colorado, but our plan is to go to the farmers' markets in the summer and make sure to buy produce only from North America during the winter.  No more Chile avocados!

2.  Buy meat from local rancher - We'll buy only grass-fed beef, cage-free eggs, and other humanely treated meat

3.  Limit high fructose corn syrup (HCFS) - We'll try to stay away from those processed foods!

4.  Buy more organic produce and dairy - I was sick of our tomatoes tasting like pesticides anyway....yuck!  We're also going back to buying organic dairy for the kids.  A milking cow being fed all those hormones just can't be good!

5.  No more chicken nuggets (especially from McDonald's!)  This was a rare occasion, but we've already warned the girls about this one.  They actually put a poison on them to preserve them!

6.  Continue to garden - We've expanded our variety this year and will work on creating meals around our garden.  Can't wait for those cherry tomatoes, zucchini, and green beans!

Along with these we've been working on having the girls eat healthier.  We've been blessed with really good eaters, who generally will eat healthy, but of course, will choose crackers over raw veggies anyday.  We've tried to empower them (especially Brooklynn) about making good healthy choices.  She's really interested and will always ask about the nutrition of everything she eats.  They've been rocking it - snacking on celery, red peppers, apples, and grapes (and giving up those crackers).  I don't think it's ever too early to teach them how to eat healthy and be responsible for our environment.

As the Lorax says, "UNLESS someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better.  It's not."