The Green Parent

Summer is here and nature’s produce is at its finest.  What’s not to love about the succulent berries, sweet corn, and flavorful tomatoes of this season?  Whether you grow your own, or hit your local farmers market, why not try your hand at canning some some of that goodness so that you can enjoy it [...]

Sunbathing, swimming, barbequing and outdoor sports are all part of summertime fun. However, without the right precautions these leisure activities can be major hazards and lead to skin cancer, heat stroke, food poisoning, dehydration and drowning. ChicagoHealers.com Practitioner Sharon M. Weinstein, RN, MS, CRNI, FACW, FAAN provides prevention tips to the following summer health hazards: [...]

by Terra Wellington I changed my family’s habits to aid marine life.  You can too. On the eve of World Oceans Day, June 8, the devastating Gulf oil spill takes front stage on every news site, program, and Twitter page.  But, even in the midst of this tragedy, you can find a silver lining.  And [...]

Before I begin, let me just say that I in no way wish to condemn the excellent cafeteria staff at my daughter’s school.  Those woman (they are in fact all women) bust their buns every day to make two meals a day for hundreds of kids; put up with a constant din of adolescent noise, [...]

The fourth annual Sunscreen Guide by Environmental Working Group (EWG) gives low marks to the current crop of sunscreen products, with a few notable exceptions. EWG researchers recommend only 39, or 8 percent, of 500 beach and sport sunscreens on the market this season. The reason? A surge in exaggerated SPF claims (SPFs greater than [...]

Ms. Frizzle’s students are putting on a play about global warming, and they need some cold, hard facts. The Friz knows just where to find them! A hop on the Magic School Bus takes the kids on a whirlwind tour. From the Arctic to the equator, they see telltale signs of climate change. But to [...]

Dr. Margaret Lewin Chief Medical Director of Cinergy Health It is no secret that obesity and a lack of good nutrition plagues many Americans. With more than 66% of Americans obese and more than two-thirds of obese children destined to become obese adults – we must break the cycle, but where do we begin? Try [...]

If you’d like to celebrate Valentine’s Day in a way that’s less commercial, more environmentally responsible, and infinitely more meaningful, let these ideas inspire you. Make a fancy dinner at home. Spend some time in advance pouring over your favorite recipe books or searching recipe sites for elegant, lavish choices that you wouldn’t ordinarily splurge [...]

Super Bowl is just around the corner, and as excitement builds for the Saints to take on the Colts, many people find themselves focusing on the other most important part of the day: the food. For some, greasy comfort foods, great friends and the biggest sporting event of the year is what makes the day [...]

Q & A with Santiago Dunn, President of Ecoventura The Galapagos, known for its wealth of highly visible living creatures, is also one of the most fragile and endangered ecosystems in the world.  Following are questions many potential visitors ask before traveling to these islands. The answers are provided by a leader in creating sustainable [...]

When Christine Stewart was pregnant with her first child, she began to look at the products she was using on herself and in her home and the food she was eating. What an eye-opening experience to discover that just because something is sold in the store doesn’t mean that it is safe for use or [...]

Research indicates that physical activity and good nutrition are linked to better academic performance, in addition to better physical and mental health.  They can also help prevent and fight overweight and obesity, which currently affects one in three children in the U.S. Parents and caregivers can make simple changes that go a long way in [...]

The holiday gift-giving season is an appropriate time to involve children in charitable giving and teach them why the old adage, “It is better to give than to receive,” is true.  Here are five great ways for parents to lead by example and teach their children the true spirit of the holidays. 1. As a [...]

Materials 1 floral foam or green styrofoam cone (measuring 4-5 inches in diameter at the base and 12 inches high) NOTE: I know this isn’t very green, so please, please , please try to reuse an old piece of styrofoam or pick up a gently used piece at a thrift store) 1 box of toothpicks [...]

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