A few days ago while in Whole Foods I finally remembered to check out the freezer section where the pound cake and whipped topping would be in a typical store…there it was!  An orange pound cake and Tru Whip topping.  Now, the real test…how does it taste.

The pound cake was DELICIOUS!  Amy’s Organics strikes again with a YUMMY treat!

Now for the real challenge: Tru Whip www.truwhip.com

At first taste it definitely was not Cool Whip, but wait a minute…as the taste settles, it’s even better!  AWESOME!  Julianne and Johanna (my daughter’s ages 6 & 7 for new readers) loved their new dessert flavors and can’t wait until our next long trek to Whole Foods to buy some more.

Good things CAN come in all-natural/organic packages

February was a little bit different though.  Kevin (my husband) had me bring him to the ER twice for chest pains!  A bit scary at any age, but he is only 29!

Result: After first visit he walked out with a prescription for potassium (huh? You can get quality potassium without a prescription!)  After second visit they did a few tests and determined it’s probably more a digestive issue than a chest pain issue and gave him a prescription for an antacid (huh?)

Geez, I forgot how annoying it is to ask for medical help and simply get a cover up solution rather than discover the underlying problem.

What did we do?  After ruling out heart attack/stroke type issues, he went to the chiropractor and began a medium intensity exercise routine (winter made our family a little more like couch potatoes).  We also thought about his eating habits and he chose to avoid spicy foods overall and add in a great protein based breakfast for a good start to the day.

UPDATE: Here we are two weeks later with no pains, more stamina, healthier eating habits and NO prescriptions.

Our family recognizes there are times for the ER, Dr.’s and ruling out big problems. We also realize that nobody has all the right answers and we have to make our own choices.  As parents, we feel its our job to lead by example in our home and try everything possible to avoid quick fixes through prescriptions and work hard as a family to find the root of an issue.

Have you ever been given unnecessary prescriptions for yourself or your children?

Welcome to Mission: Clean Kids

We look forward to helping you make everyday choices healthier for your family.

Daily Mission: Raising healthy children is an everyday choice.  Do we choose to read the labels? Do we choose to say NO to many mainstream products.  Do we choose to say yes to immune building nutrition. Do we choose to say YES to our children growing strong and powerful by minimizing harmful exposures and hurtful foods? Sign up to receive email or RSS updates from the Mission: Clean Kids.  Don’t forget to leave comments on posts – It’s all about the conversation of finding what’s right for our children!

Changing brands can change your life!

Safe, Green, Smart, Powerful Product Recommendations: Our Mission: Clean Kids founder, Catherine Whitcher, M.Ed, has two daughters.  Both were perfectly healthy when the youngest suffered an almost fatal seizure linked to elevated levels of lead and mercury in her body.  Our product recommendations meet the standards of “we give it to our own kids”!

Research & purity testing is available on all of our product recommendations!

Want to talk to us? (815) 302-1273 or catherine@missioncleankids.com

Want to work at home with our Mission: Clean Kids team?  Just ask us for more info!

Remember: Raising a healthy, toxin free family is an everyday choice.

Watch out for flying cookie dough!

Yep, I told everyone we were making Valentine’s day cookies.

Did you know that one notch the wrong way on a mixer can cause a disaster?

My kids went running out of the kitchen as cookie dough went flying everywhere.  Good thing I’m a Mom who can laugh at herself!

A bag of store bought cookies could never bring this many smiles or memories!

Of course I’ll be using Shaklee to clean it all up in a snap!

Hundreds of carcinogenic chemicals have been identified and, unfortunately, they’re quite common in our air, water, food, and everyday products. Here are some easy ways you can reduce your exposure to them.

1. Purge Plastics. Reduce exposure to carcinogens in plastics used for storing and serving food. Avoid microwaving food in plastic or putting plastics in the dishwasher, because heat may cause chemicals to leach out. And opt for safer plastics – those marked (usually at the bottom of a container) 1, 2, 4 or 5. The plastics to avoid are those numbered 3, 6 and 7 (unless they are also marked ‘BPA-free’).”

2. Eat Healthy. Opt for more organic, whole foods. Ease up on animal fats. And, start reading labels. You are what you eat!

3. Manage Pests Safely. Instead of using toxic pesticides, prevent pests by keeping a clean home. Prevent weeds by using mulch and maintaining a healthy lawn. If you do have a problem, opt for non-toxic methods before reaching for chemicals.

4. Detoxify Your Beauty Routine. Personal care products contain a laundry list of suspect chemicals. Reduce how much you use and to use Skin Deep to find the safest products. You can also print the Healthy Child Pocket Guide to help you on the go.

5. Clean Without Toxic Chemicals. Use gentle castile soap and water – these have been shown to keep surfaces as free of bacteria as antibacterial soaps do. In fact, antibacterial soaps and disposable wipes have not proven any more effective than regular soap in preventing infections among average consumers, but raise significant concerns about developing resistant bacteria. Opt for simple kitchen ingredients for basic cleaning, like vinegar, lemon juice, and baking soda – or use natural, non-toxic cleaners instead.

Learn more about the wide variety of carcinogenic chemicals and how you can reduce your exposure:

US National Institutes of Health’s 11th Report on Carcinogens

Breast Cancer Fund’s Prevention Starts Here Chemical Fact Sheets
Information Provided By: www.healthychild.org

According to the Green Guide, the average adult uses at least 9 skincare products a day (think: soap, lotion, sunscreen, fragrance, deodorant, etc) with over 120 chemicals between them, many of which have some degree of toxicity.

It absorbs into your bloodstream!

To help when you’re in the store trying to pick out what will not disrupt your hormones, here is a printable, wallet-sized green guide.

The guide is based on the “dirty dozen” of harmful and very common chemicals. It’s worth the scavenge to find products free of these, but your body will thank you.

And for those wishing to read more in-depth, follow this link or read the information from the Green Guide below:

Ingredients to Avoid

1. Antibacterials
Overuse of antibacterials can prevent them from effectively fighting disease-causing germs like E. coli and Salmonella enterica. Triclosan, widely used in soaps, toothpastes and deodorants, has been detected in breast milk, and one recent study found that it interferes with testosterone activity in cells. Numerous studies have found that washing with regular soap and warm water is just as effective at killing germs.

2. Coal Tar
Coal tar is a known human carcinogen used as an active ingredient in dandruff shampoos and anti-itch creams.

3. Diethanolamine (DEA)
DEA is a possible hormone disruptor, has shown limited evidence of carcinogenicity and depletes the body of choline needed for fetal brain development.

4. 1,4-Dioxane
1,4-Dioxane is a known animal carcinogen and a possible human carcinogen that can appear as a contaminant in products containing sodium laureth sulfate and ingredients that include the terms “PEG,” “-xynol,” “ceteareth,” “oleth” and most other ethoxylated “eth” ingredients. The FDA monitors products for the contaminant but has not yet recommended an exposure limit.

5. Formaldehyde
Formaldehyde… still turns up in baby bath soap, nail polish, eyelash adhesive and hair dyes as a contaminant or break-down product of diazolidinyl urea, imidazolidinyl urea and quaternium compounds.

6. Fragrance
The catchall term “fragrance” may mask phthalates, which act as endocrine disruptors and may cause obesity and reproductive and developmental harm. Avoid phthalates by selecting essential-oil fragrances instead.

7. Lead and Mercury
Neurotoxic lead may appear in products as a naturally occurring contaminant of hydrated silica, one of the ingredients in toothpaste, and lead acetate is found in some brands of men’s hair dye. Brain-damaging mercury, found in the preservative thimerosol, is used in some mascaras.

8. Nanoparticles
Tiny nanoparticles, which may penetrate the skin and damage brain cells, are appearing in an increasing number of cosmetics and sunscreens. Most problematic are zinc oxide and titanium dioxide nanoparticles, used in sunscreens to make them transparent. When possible, look for sunscreens containing particles of these ingredients larger than 100 nanometers. You’ll most likely need to call companies to confirm sizes, but a few manufacturers have started advertising their lack of nanoparticle-sized ingredients on labels.

9. Parabens
(methyl-, ethyl-, propyl-, butyl-, isobutyl-) Parabens, which have weak estrogenic effects, are common preservatives that appear in a wide array of toiletries.

10. Petroleum Distillates
Possible human carcinogens, petroleum distillates are prohibited or restricted for use in cosmetics in the E.U. but are found in several U.S. brands of mascara, foot-odor powder and other products. Look out for the terms “petroleum” or “liquid paraffin.”

11. P-Phenylenediamine
Commonly found in hair dyes, this chemical can damage the nervous system, cause lung irritation and cause severe allergic reactions. It’s also listed as 1,4-Benzenediamine; p-Phenyldiamine and 4-Phenylenediamine.

12. Hydroquinone
Found in skin lighteners and facial moisturizers, hydroquinone is neurotoxic and allergenic, and there’s limited evidence that it may cause cancer in lab animals.

Provided by www.greenpress.com

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Our choice in our home is Minerelles and Enfuselle by Shaklee. My little girls will be learning from day one about chemicals in make-up and I’m going to start them out with the best!  Best part of Minerelles & Enfuselle? All the compliments I’m getting about how great I look!  I may be a green Mom, but I still love looking great!

I made phone calls and found a wonderful doctor who was an expert in the field of chemical exposure. I took my three old in for testing; they did saliva, hair and blood tests. Within a couple of weeks we had the results and yes ….my three year old son had a diagnosis of Chemical injury from exposure to toxins. We then tested my other two children, my husband and myself…..we all had the same exact diagnosis. We lived in a beautiful beach town that was just paradise on earth, I thought. The doctor asked if there was any smoke stacks or industry near my home. I didn’t know of any and I set out looking. I soon found out that there was a gas processing plant from the offshore rigs about a 1/2 mile or so from my house. Our exposure was to heavy metals and solvents which matched up to the metals of the oil and gas processing facility.

From that point on my life went spinning out of control. I immediately moved my family to another home, leaving my husband behind to run our small business which provided income for our family. Not long after my family’s diagnosis the gas processing plant went public that they had underground storage tanks leaking and needed to do remediation. But of course their chemicals did not get to my property, nor did any of their emissions! In fact, they had neglected to follow the proper notifying procedure for anybody, not even the houses right next to the plant because magically, nothing ever left their plant!

In the years that followed I fought the oil companies. No attorney wanted to take the case because the oil and gas companies fight for years, and appeal decisions, and it could cost a fortune to pursue. Also causation at summary judgment had made it basically impossible for anybody to succeed. So I took them on In Pro Per. I had the help of many wonderful people like Mr. Benard Endres, a unbelievable expert in oil and gas mitigation. Dr. Gunnar Heuser also helped me with declarations of support etc. Mr. Winston Street who was the first person to successfully win a NORM case against an oil and gas company who had become an expert in his field. I had a wonderful friend who had worked for the Response Team for the Chemically Injured who stood by my side and helped me with gathering data etc. I was so blessed by the wonderful people who came forward, stood by me and helped.

At my second summary judgment hearing,the oil companies pulled an old judge (Judge Dodds) out of retirement, and I lost.  In the end I went to the appellate level and still could not over turn the summary judgment. However, the governmental entities (deputy health officer, Air Pollution and Control District, Water Company) all did declarations on behalf of the oil companies. I spent two weeks going through documents at the oil companies office and numerous people came forward with information to help prove my case, but in the end I lost the appeal. However, I did continue gathering information and soon caught the oil company in their lies by proving they had lied about the stack heights to change the Facility Emission Data, and later they had to admit that this facility does pose a significant risk from benzene to the surrounding community (after the appeal of course).  They also went on to find the property was much more contaminated than they originally admitted.

I now have enough information to prove “fraud” and one day perhaps I will go forward if I can find an attorney willing to take them on. My children still suffer, they can hardly go to school because of sickness and infections. Their immune systems are still not operating like they should and they are chemically sensitive. We have learned to live a scent free lifestyle and avoid chemicals and toxins as best we can. We continually try to help others understand the real dangers of not knowing their environment. I learned a great deal about chemicals, gas processing plants, the law, and the good will of others. I worked for years and feel I did have an impact. Thank you, Linda Alkasem”

Provided by www.healthychild.org

Speaking of living a scent free life: We choose Shaklee frangrance free home care to meet all our laundry, house cleaning, dish washing needs in our home.  We don’t sacrifice quality for safety!  Learn more how to save and receive a powerful clean.

Then I realize the screaming is happening while my 6 year old is trying to wash red off her hands and it’s NOT coming off.  She is screaming becasue it won’t come off and because she thinks I’m going to be terribly upset.  Yep, it was the good lipstick from Shaklee.

What did I learn (besides to put my lipstick away)? 

1. Shaklee lipstick really is mostly waterproof.  It took lots of scrubbing and using their degreaser.

2. It’s important to keep your products toxin-free because you never know who might get into them.

Don’t we always put our kids first?  If we had to choose between safe products for them and safe products for us, what do we choose?  Them, of course!  However, there comes a time when you realize, taking care of yourself really is taking care of your kids.  Avoid the lead filled, toxin filled grease in most lipsticks.  Find a clean, green substitute in a flavor and feel you love!

FYI: I wasn’t too made about the lipstick being ruined.  Every girl likes the excuse to buy a new shade

Before the game: organic italian chicken, alfredo noodes & a chocolate whip cream pie (natural pudding pie I made myself).

During the game: They stole a few crackers & cheese & one mini-cupcake.  They both drank a bottle of water too.  They are old enough (6 & 7) that people are starting to offer them kool-aid or pop…they always so no to both and ask for water…so proud of them!

We’ll be keeping this routine of eating before we go to parties.  Hey, as adults aren’t we always told the same thing as a weightloss strategy? Start them now with good eating habits at home, not relying on others to provide their nutrition & hopefully they will have strong, lean bodies with the know when to say yes/no.

BTW: We lost all our Superbowl bets…hope you were luckier than us!

Remember I said we’re battling a bug?  We choose Shaklee Defend and Resist when we feel that first tickle and have great results.  Approved for kids ages 2-Adult.  Tablets that can be swallowed whole, chewed, crushed and melted into tea or anyway your kiddo will take this immune builder to fight the bugs!