I’ve always had a major love for cereal, and can remember how all the boxes were lined up on top of my refrigerator. I would “eenie meenie minee moe” my way through the boxes, but never seemed to finish them.

These days, I limit the amount of cereal we have in our pantry at one time (usually two or three - two “healthy” cereals and one “fun” one). This saves money by not allowing the cereal to go stale, cutting down on food and packaging waste. It also allows my kids to rotate what they eat, so they can try new cereals and enjoy them for a couple of weeks.

When I found Three Sisters Cereal at Whole Foods (where is available exclusively), I judged it right then and there strictly on the packaging. There, among the shelves of boxes, were not-too-big (12.5 ounces), see through bags of naturally sweetened, whole grain cereal. No box! For the same amount of food, the price was less than most cereals, and no need to recycle a box, Three Sisters also explains that their cereals are produced using sustainable energy. Three Sisters purchases wind-generated electricity credits from Windsource, a Colorado renewable energy program. They estimate on the bag that if even half of the cereal boxes used were simply bags, it would save “90,000 tons of paperboard…the energy saved could power 11,000 homes for a year.” All because of a cereal box!

I bought the Cinnamon Sweets flavor, which was definitely sweet without being overpowering. My older daughter loved it, and I have to say I had a few bowls myself. That being said, it’s not the most nutritious line of cereals, which puts it in my “fun cereal” rotation. I was also disappointed to find that Three Sisters’ Sweet Wheat and Marshmallow Oaties are made with an animal-derived gelatin, making the cereal not suitable for vegetarians, vegans, or people who are kosher or Halal (the other flavors are certified Kosher). Hopefully, this can change in the near future - and maybe cereal companies will catch on about Three Sisters’ innovative, waste-saving packaging.

Hello, all! It’s been almost a month since I’ve posted, but it’s great to see people are visiting teensygreen and gaining insight into living more simple, greener lives. I have a lot planned to write about this summer, and I thought I’d start off with a great giveaway!

I am not one to shy away from soda, but I have been trying to cut down/cut it out completely this year. One alternative I love is carbonated water, or club soda or seltzer, or “bubbly water” as my kids put it. I feel like I’m getting that carbonated soda-y feeling without the caffeine, sugar, or sodium. What I don’t like is buying bottles and bottles of seltzer and, even though I recycled the bottles, just felt like there could be an alternative to all the liters of water.

Sodastream is doing just that - liberating people from plastic bottles and soda cans by allowing people to make their own sodas and carbonated water at home. If the average American consumes almost 600 cans or bottles of soda every year, more than bottled water - doesn’t it make sense to stop the cycle and make your own, avoiding the waste? Here are the amazing environmental benefits of a soda maker -

• No batteries or electricity
• Reduces energy used to manufacture bottles and cans
• Reduces gas and pollution from shipping packaged beverages
• Eliminates pollution from batteries

I have the Pure home soda system, and I LOVE it. It doesn’t use electricity or batteries to work - just the power of carbon dioxide injected into their special water container. It’s very easy to use - install the carbon dioxide canister, fill the bottle with cold water, attach it to the system, and inject the CO2. You can leave the carbonated water as is, or add Sodastream’s large variety of soda-flavored syrups or natural essence water enhancers to give it great flavor.

I’m going to mention this about the SodaMix flavors. They do have less sugar than regular soda, but they are make with a Splenda-sugar mix, which is an often controversial alternative sweetner. I’ve tried a few of the flavors - ginger ale, root beer, orange - but am looking into alternatives to these syrups. My friend Tara Burner (follow on Twitter @taraburner) let me know about natural fruit syrups at Whole Foods, or simply adding fruit juice to the  water for a natural spritzer. It’s up to you if you want to use the syrups, and I have to admit, they’re good. I’m not comfortable endorsing a Splenda-flavored product, but it’s worth getting a Sodastream and using it as you’d like. I’m drinking more water now, and am happy to not have to add more waste, even to the recycling bin!

So, now to the fun part! I’m giving away one Pure Sodastream at-home soda making kit, which comes with a carbon dioxide canister, water bottles, and sample soda/water flavors. It’s a $150 value, and worth every penny! To enter, please leave a comment here with an answer to this question - What will you make with your Sodastream? Use these recipes as a handy guide, or make up your own flavor! I’m all about the Shirley Temple this weekend - ginger ale, grenadine, and cherries. And my husband think egg creams and black and white sodas are in order. Who’s with me?

The contest will be open now until next Thursday, June 11th at midnight, PST. Open to residents of the continental US only. The winner will be chosen at random. No PO boxes, please! Good luck!

The First Family announced they will begin planting an organic vegetable garden as early as this week! Foodies, eco-families, slow food supporters and healthy eating experts are cheering. Sustainablog has a wonderful article detailing how this garden came to pass. We can’t wait to see how it grows!

If you’re wondering where the White House garden will be planted, as well as the most important factor - what foods will be grown? - Crunchy Domestic Goddess has all the details. Fifty-five varieties of seeds AND two beehives for honey? State dinners will never taste the same…I also just received a picture of the layout of the garden! I wonder if it will be included in White House tours?

The Environmental Working Group has updated their “Dirty Dozen” - the list of the fruits and vegetables contaminated the most by pesticides, and are recommended to be bought in organic form. I wrote about the list for my Filter For Good article this week.

If the Obamas have inspired you to start a family garden, or your children are old enough to want to help out, head over to this gardening post at NatureMoms! Tiffany has compiled a comprehensive guide to gardening tool sets and gear just for kids, as well as strategies to keep children involved and excited to help grow their own food!

Did you know that the ZRecs folks also have a gardening blog? It’s called Gardenaut, and I was just informed they’re going to start posting more frequently now that Spring has sprung. Definitely worth an addition to your RSS feed, even if you don’t have a family garden! Don’t forget to watch the hilarious videos of the Vegetable Orchestra!

Welcome to the next installment of Mommy Go Green Blog Tours! Since I’m always packing lunches and lugging around snacks, I was more than excited to try out these awesome stainless steel containers from LunchBots! LunchBots are made entirely out of the highest quality 18/8 stainless steel. Studies have shown that stainless steel is safer to use for storing food than plastic. Stainless steel doesn’t leach harmful chemicals, is washable and resuable. This means less plastic baggies in the trash and no worries about what else your kids might be consuming with their food!

LunchBots comes in two variations. The LunchBots Uno is large enough for a sandwich, pasta or any main dish. The LunchBots Duo has a divider in the middle, for snacks or picky kids who like to have a variety of foods in their lunch. I use at least one of the LunchBots every day. My younger daughter isn’t much of a sandwich eater, so I often pack grapes or sliced fruit in the Uno for my older daughter’s school snack. We’ve also brought LunchBots to soccer, playdates or just for a car trip. One of my favorite parts is the tight-fitting lid, which has never opened or caused spills for any of us.

LunchBots have been independently tested at a lab in California to certify that they are made from the highest quality stainless steel and are completely lead-free. Of course, my kindergartner thinks they look cool, so it gets bonus points with her!

Use the code FREESHIP09 for free shipping (US only, please)! These are a great addition to your traveling kitchen, and I would highly recommend LunchBots for families with kids of any age, or even adults who love to bring food hiking, the beach or the car!

If you’re reading this and you’re a parent, chances are you’re no stranger to food allergies in kids. They may not be your own kids, but I think parents these days have to be super-sensitive to all children with food allergies. We start out every new playdate with the usual questions - Where should we play? Is your child afraid of dogs or cats? Are they allergic to anything? I’ve seen EpiPen demonstrations, received numerous lists of what foods are included in tree nut allergies, and have lobbied for peanut-free schools. This startling report from the CDC that 1 in 26 kids have a food allergy (up from 1 in 29 kids in 1997) confirms what we’ve been seeing - that food allergies are on the rise, and there’s not much we can do about it - except by protecting our kids now by giving them healthy and safe food choices.

This Thanksgiving (and all year, of course) there are plenty of choices for preparing an allergen-free, often completely organic meal. It’s amazing what can be found in supermarkets! This year, be thankful for healthy families, and these wonderful companies who help keep Thanksgiving enjoyable for everyone -

If you’re not used to dealing with food allergies in kids, it can be tough to completely understand how to go about creating a safe yet enjoyable menu. If you’re cooking for kids with allergies, it’s worth checking out informational websites to make sure you’re covered. Eating With Food Allergies breaks down the “Top 8″ food allergens (dairy, eggs, wheat, soy, peanuts, treenuts, fish and shellfish), where they may be hiding and how to avoid them. Their comprehensive Thanksgiving section features a ton of recipes for a complete allergen-free Thanksgiving meal! The site Kids With Food Allergies is a nationwide non-profit organization that also offers support and many recipes as well. Aside from many articles about food and food allergies, their Buyer’s Guide can help you identify products offering safety for kids (and peace of mind for parents!)

I wrote about Local Harvest last year, and thankfully they’re still around to provide all the information you need to find local, organic products for the holidays and beyond.

In the “I can’t decide what kind of pie the guests may like, so I’ll buy them all” department, Wholly Wholesome Baked Goods contain nothing artificial, irradiated, bleached or synthetic in any of their pies, cakes, cookies or pie crusts. While many of their products contain wheat and/or soy, most are eggless. They also have a dairy-free pumpkin pie as well as spelt and whole wheat pie crusts.

Browsing the on-line store of the Gluten-Free Creations Bakery is less dangerous than if you actually order. Their Holidays and Special Occasions page is a Thanksgiving dream, from the homemade pecan pie at your Thanksgiving table to the gingerbread donuts with your coffee the next morning. Each product is wheat and gluten-free (they are a GFCO certified bakery), and there are a few that are dairy-free as well. Double check by clicking on each product for a list of ingredients.

Finally, for something completely different, Apartment Therapy the kitchn went on a brief “anti-pie” dessert campaign. While I think kids won’t like most of the recipes, I may have to try this Spiced Apple Cider Sorbet (without the alcohol, duh). Don’t forget to browse the site though - they just had the “Best Pie Bake-Off” contest!

The holiday of Rosh Hashana, or the Jewish New Year, is rapidly approaching. My girls are already learning about the traditions of this joyous time of year. And, of course, they’re learning all about the food. That’s right, it’s almost time to really EAT!

Rosh Hashana, like every holiday, has food-based traditions, including dipping apples in honey (to signify a sweet New Year) and round challahs instead of braided challahs (round challah signifies the cycle of the year). The most fun aspect of Rosh Hashana for kids is the “new fruit” rule, or the tradition of tasting new fruits for a new year. My three year old told me that this week, her class has already taste-tested and recorded no less than five new fruits in class. Here’s a list of what her preschool class has been sampling:

Apples - Ok, these are not new to most kids, but it never hurts to remind people about this wonderful fruit. Colorful, crunchy and with endless cooking possibilities, apples are many kids (and adults!) favorite food. Apples also represent Fall, and since moving to a warm climate, I miss this season most of all. Cooking and being around apples reminds me of the wonderful weather “up North,” and I’ve been able to pass stories to my girls about being a kid myself! Any apple cake recipe will be a big hit for Rosh Hashanah!

Pomegranate - We typically eat pomegranate seeds on the second night of the holiday, which is technically the first day of the new year. The seeds represent the first “new fruit” of the year. If you’ve been following food trends, pomegranate juice is high in antioxidants and is great for heart health. Check out many recipes for pomegranates and have fun with them! Since you can actually eat the seeds, it’s better to give pomegranate to older children who can chew them well.

Starfruit - Kids love this fruit because of the shape after you slice it. Rich in Vitamin C and antioxidents, starfruit is a little tough to eat raw, but it’s sweetness makes up for it. You can juice and cook starfruit, but we think they’re great for making pretty salads.

Mango - We eat a lot of mango, but since we’ve been in a smoothie phase these days, I’ve been buying them frozen so they blend well. My husband can eat multiple mangoes in one sitting, and I love watching the girls get mango-messy in summertime, right before they wash it all off in the pool or ocean. Mangoes are sweet, colorful, and full of vitamins. The site the kitchn has amazing mango recipes to try with your kids, including this mango salsa that takes more like dessert!

Passionfruit - Out of all the fruits my daughter tried, passionfruit was her least favorite (and I have to admit, it’s not one of my favs either). Usually juiced, passionfruit pulp is kind of tough to get to, and it has many unedible seeds to contend with. Passionfruit is full of fiber and is worth trying out in smoothies or mixed juices. If you’re feeling really adventurous, try this amazing looking passionfruit cheesecake recipe!

What new foods will you or your family be trying this year?

Is it almost September already? As we’ve been rushing around to start school, I couldn’t believe it when someone reminded me that Labor Day weekend is coming up. If you’re lucky enough to live in the Bay area, you’ve hopefully already made your plans to hit up Slow Food Nation, an unprecendented “slow food” event this weekend, from August 29th through September 1st.

What is slow food, anyway? It’s exactly what you think. The opposite of everything you know about fast food, the slow food movement pushes for local, fair trade, sustainable, healthy, GOOD food. The organization Slow Food USA aims to not only treat food well, but makes sure farmers receive funding, education, and support from communities. Famed cooks and food writers such as Alice Waters (of the restaurant Chez Panisse), and authors Michael Pollan (The Omnivore’s Dilemma) and Eric Schlosser (Fast Food Nation) will be speaking to motivate everyone to support this truly grassroots effort to keep food pure and simple.

Slow Food Nation is jam-packed with events, including the largest farmer’s market ever assembled, an impressive concert line-up, hiking and food tours of San Francisco, cooking and tasting workshops, and much more. It’s been called “The Lollapalooza of Food,” and I’m sure anyone who goes will have all their senses just bombarded with amazing sights, smells and tastes. Most events at Slow Food Nation are free, but some are ticketed, so please check out the schedule before you go! And if you do make it, please share how wonderful it is!

Tropical Storm Fay is here, school is closed, and what better way to celebrate being stuck indoors than a great, tried and true recipe. This may be more fitting in wintertime, but with the air running and rain outside, it almost feels like it. This is Florida’s take on the snowstorm, after all! Pair the soup with your favorite grilled cheese, macaroni and cheese, or top with cheese for total yummy-ness.

Organic Creamy Tomato Soup (recipe from Whole Foods Cookbook):

24 ounces tomato puree

2 cups organic chicken or vegetable stock

2/3 cup organic half-and-half or milk

sea salt, to taste

ground pepper, to taste

Heat tomato puree with stock, and simmer. Remove and whisk in half-and-half. Season and top with your favorite garnish!

Hope everyone has a safe day!

I knew there was something I left out for my Fourth of July posts - snacks! Of course, you all served fruit and veggies and healthy things to everyone at your picnics and beach outings, right? If you’re in the market for organic snacks that are not scary to give to your kids on a regular basis, here are two finds that have made permanent space in our pantry!

Snikiddy Snacks are organic, free of hydrogenated oils and high-fructose corn syrup, are low in sugar, kosher, and pesticide-free. We tried the Mac n’ Cheese Puffs and the Chocolate Chipper cookies. Let me just say, they didn’t last very long. The cheese puffs are gluten free (in all flavors), so they’re safe for celiac kids, and the cookies are the only commercially available cookies made without refined sugar. But really, they’re just so yummy, and super kid-friendly! Snikiddy can be found at Whole Foods and now at SuperTarget, so they’re surely easy to find. If you can make it home without devouring them, let me know your secret!

If you’re looking for juice alternatives, Honest Kids (from the makers of Honest Tea) have awesome flavors like Goodness Grapeness, Berry Berry Good Lemonade, and my daughter’s favorite, Tropical Tango Punch. Honest Kids have at least half of the sugar of regular juice boxes (and actually have LESS sugar than the Mott’s for Tots my girls also drink). They do contain organic cane sugar, while the Mott’s for Tots is unsweetened, but all other ingredients are all natural and USDA organic. Honest Kids packs also come in recyclable boxes, instead of plastic wrap. And check out their events blog for pictures of Honest Tea with all their fans!

We all need help to be smart about food. Whether you have kids with allergies, diabetes, obesity, or just need to brush up on the latest food trends, if you’re reading this blog you are part of a community of parents who care about raising kids healthy and happy with food. This is why I love the website Smart Foods Healthy Kids. Started by Kelly Corbet (she calls herself the CEO/Chief of Belief), a environmental policy Harvard-educated mom of two (one with food allergies), the SFHK team is a group of passionate, health-minded people with the littlest eaters in mind.

SFHK covers all aspects of nutrition for kids. For kids with allergies and intolerances, check out their resource page, run by Robin O’Brien of Allergy Kids. There are great video and audio classes with recipes and information about nutrition and food trends. I’ve been using their recipe bank at least once a week, and my girls love the simple recipes that they can even help me prepare. What I really look forward to is their free weekly enewsletter, highlighting a healthy tidbit for you and your kids. Information such as the organic “dirty dozen” and “cleanest 12″ foods to help save your wallet at the organic market - and help you build a healthier kitchen.