What Exactly Does Organic Mean?

By: Kerry McKenzie

or•gan•ic
ôrˈɡanik/  adjective; of, relating to, or derived from living matter. Now days, “organic” has many meanings, and it’s confusing. There’s "organic" clothing, "organic" dish soap and "organic" milk, eggs and other foods. The price tag is usually higher for “organic” than for items that don’t use “organic” on labels in the supermarket or other stores.

When you see “organic” on the label, it offers confidence that the item has fewer chemicals than the non-organic options. In many cases, it can be shown that organic products are less-processed, contain less synthetic ingredients, and are produced in ways that are more gentle to our environment. In other cases, the organic label offers assurance that the products are made only from living materials, not from chemicals.

What makes a product organic and what allows a product to be legally marketed as “organic” can vary, product to product, because the government and industry have policies with criteria that are specific to say, eggs, or milk, or spinach. Each one of those products has its own criteria. So, it can be confusing.

The bottom line is that when you see “organic”, you can be sure it doesn't contain ingredients created from petroleum or other non-living sources.

If the price seems too high consider this - the list below has the highest pesticide load so buy them organic or grow them organically yourself:

• Apples
• Strawberries
• Grapes
• Celery
• Peaches
• Spinach
• Sweet bell peppers
• Nectarines (imported)
• Cucumbers
• Cherry tomatoes
• Snap peas (imported)
• Potatoes

And buy these conventionally grown products, if you have to, as these have the lowest in pesticide contamination:

• Avocados
• Sweet corn
• Pineapples
• Cabbage
• Sweet peas (frozen)
• Onions
• Asparagus
• Mangoes
• Papayas
• Kiwi
• Eggplant
• Grapefruit
• Cantaloupe (domestic)
• Cauliflower
• Sweet potatoes

Pesticides and other chemicals are unhealthy all of the time, but especially during vulnerable times such as fetal development and childhood. It's always best to buy organic whenever possible to promote the health of our families as well as the health of our planet. Not everyone can afford organic produce so Choosy reminds us that when shopping in the supermarket,

“Fresh is best,

Frozen is okay/fine,

Canned and boxed,

Are last in line!”

We are all busy, but no matter what, let’s make time to carefully select and wash the produce we purchase for our family. And let’s create early conversations with our children about healthy and not so healthy foods. Challenge them with sorting activities like this one from Choosy. And remember: Be Choosy…Choose Well!

What organically grown produce/products do you purchase?  

About the Author: Kerry McKenzie, B.A., M.S., has been working in education for more than 13 years. She is a Certified Health Coach, a 500 level (E-RYT500) yoga teacher and specializes in early childhood motor development. She has a passion for working with expecting moms, babies, toddlers and preschool age children and their caregivers at Greenville Health Systems pediatric clinic, child care centers and in the community. Click here to learn more about Kerry.

Healthy Summer Snacks for Children Age 5 and Younger

By: Heather Dyson and guest Angela Kuhn

Summer is on the way and now is time to start thinking about healthy hydrating snacks for the kids. While many families spend much more time outside during this season, it is more difficult to stay hydrated in the heat.

Research shows that children are at a greater risk than adults for becoming dehydrated throughout the summer. They are more likely to forget about drinking fluids – especially when they're having fun playing outside. Infants can be provided with breast milk or baby formula to prevent dehydration. Children over 12 months of age should be offered water as their primary source of hydration. Sugary drinks such as juice can be presented in moderation (4 oz. or less per day) and that includes sports drinks too.

There are some hydrating healthy snack options that are great alternatives to sugary drinks which are perfect for the summer time. Give these a try:

Homemade Popsicles: Blend 2 cups of frozen berries, 1 banana, 1 cup of yogurt, ½ cup of juice, 1 tablespoon of pure maple syrup and divide equally into 8 freezer-pop molds. Freeze until firm (1-2 hours). If you don’t have freezer-pop molds, you can use small paper/plastic cups instead.

Make a Smoothie: Smoothies are a great healthy alternative to milkshakes or ice cream in the summer. They are an excellent way for kids to get lots of fruit and calcium into their diet while allowing them to stay hydrated. Blend up the ingredients below and garnish with a slice of pineapple or orange for fun! Don’t limit yourself to only these combination of ingredients. They can all be mix and matched to make the perfect personalized smoothie your child will love.

• Strawberry-Banana Protein Smoothie- 1 medium sized banana, 1 cup strawberries, ½ cup Greek yogurt, 1 tablespoon nut butter and 1 tablespoon of ground flaxseed (adds omega-3s in this fresh fruit smoothie recipe). Use 1 cup of ice cubes if you like a frosty smoothie or add water instead if you don’t want it so cold. 
• Berry-Orange Smoothie- 1 cup orange juice, 1 banana, 1 cup frozen berries, such as raspberries, blackberries, blueberries and/or strawberries, ½ cup low-fat silken tofu, or plain yogurt, 1-2 teaspoons Stevia.
• Very Green Smoothie- 3 peeled and quartered kiwis, 1 cup mango, half of an avocado, ½ cup milk, 1-2 tablespoons of maple syrup. 

Offer Fresh Fruit: Summertime means that there will be a plentiful availability of fresh fruits. These are just a couple common summer fruits and their benefits:

• Watermelon is packed with fiber, water, and other beneficial nutrients such as vitamin C. 
• Cherries are a refreshing treat that contain a good source of fiber, vitamin C, and the building blocks of muscle known as amino acids. 
• Grapes contain a high amount of vitamin C, fiber and phytonutrients which have health-promoting properties including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and liver-health-promoting activities. 

Fresh Fruit Kabobs: Try making a fresh fruit kabob by using sliced watermelon, grapes, cantaloupe, kiwi, strawberries, and bananas. Chop up any other fruits you can think of that are in season and let the kids customize their own kabob.

What other healthy summer snacks do your children and family love? Share them with me in the comments section!

About the Author: Heather Dyson is a Licensed and Registered Dietitian who currently focuses on counseling patients with a variety of health situations, and in ages ranging from infancy to elderly. Click here to learn more about Heather.

About the Author: Angie Kuhn is a Dietetic intern at WVU. She has attended Bastyr University, Kenmore, WA (B.S. Dietetics); and Leeds Metropolitan University, Leeds, England, UK (MSc Sport and Exercise Nutrition). Click here to learn more about Angie.

Summer Fun!

By: Molly Luke, Early Intervention Specialized Instruction Teacher, Montgomery County Intermediate Unit, Norristown, PA

I know teachers typically say that “summer is their favorite time of year”, but since I teach all year long- yes, this is still true! Summer is my favorite season to teach, because you can almost guarantee to get the kiddies outside moving and learning each and everyday…with sunblock and water of course! Below is a great infographic which includes ideas for summer fun that you as a teacher or parent could incorporate with your child during the season. 

Summer Fun

I hope these ideas start your motivation that summer is a GREAT time to keep your children actives. If you still need specific ideas, please feel free to “follow” me on Pinterest. I have folders labeled “Summer”, “Outside Play” and “Rainy Day Activities” that I’m sure could come in handy!

About the Author: Hello! I have been teaching for about 10 years now, ages Pre-K through 8th grade…needless to say, I am a life-long learner and always looking for new thing to challenge my body and brain to do in a classroom! Outside of the classroom, family comes first! My husband Dan, baby Marshall and basset hound Penelope enjoy my naturally caffeinated personality on a regular basis. The whole family enjoys traveling, and I personally have a goal of visiting all 7 continents! 2 more to go!