• Last updated 1/18/13 by Cynthia Mosher

On Sat, May 7th, Mothering Publisher and Editor Peggy O’Mara will be a guest on An Organic Conversation, a radio show airing online and on Green 960am Progressive Talk Radio. The topic is Baby Food: Making Every Bite Count. Listen at 10am PT. About Melanie Mayo-Laakso is the Content Manager for Mothering.com. Mothering is the birthplace of natural family living and attachment parenting. We celebrate the experience of parenthood as worthy of one's best efforts and are at once fierce advocates for children and gentle supporters of... read more

• Last updated 1/16/13 by Cynthia Mosher

From “EWG’S 2011 Shopper’s Guide Helps Cut Consumer Pesticide Exposure,” released June 13, 2011. Environmental Working Group has released the seventh edition of its Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce with updated information on 53 fruits and vegetables and their total pesticide loads. EWG highlights the worst offenders with its “Dirty Dozen” list and the cleanest conventional produce with its “Clean 15” list. Analysts at EWG synthesized data collected from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration from 2000 to 2009.... read more

• Last updated 1/15/13 by Cynthia Mosher

Thank you to James Kim from Food on the Table for this guest post. Eating local aids the environment by preserving farmland and minimizing air pollution while also providing you with more nutritious and fresher eats. So how can you go local in your meal planning? Here are some ways to get started. Farmers’ Markets Plain and simple: shop at a farmers’ market. Here, you can ask the person who has nurtured, grown, and harvested your food anything you want to know. You can ask about fertilizers, pesticides (if any), and farming techniques (do they... read more

• Last updated 1/15/13 by Cynthia Mosher

Thank you to The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine and Lisa Barthuly for this guest post. What preschooler doesn’t love to get “hands-on”? Enjoy these fun and frugal recipes together for some old-fashioned learning! Homemade Play Doh 1/2 cup flour 1/4 cup salt 1/2 cup water 1/2 tablespoon oil 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar A few drops of food coloring to get the colors/shades you want Mix all but the last ingredient in a small saucepan. Cook over very low heat until it turns into a dough (it’ll take just a few minutes).... read more

• Last updated 1/15/13 by Cynthia Mosher

Thank you to Be Food Smart for sharing this fun chart with us. [Source: Be Food Smart] About Melanie Mayo-Laakso is the Content Manager for Mothering.com. Mothering is the birthplace of natural family living and attachment parenting. We celebrate the experience of parenthood as worthy of one's best efforts and are at once fierce advocates for children and gentle supporters of parents.   Posted by: Melanie Mayo-Laakso read more

• Last updated 1/7/13 by Cynthia Mosher

Thank you to Gina Norman from the Kaia Yoga Complete Wellness Centers for this guest post. “Mommy I love you” are definitely words that will tug at any mom’s heart, but, every time my 3 and 1/2 year-old daughter Kaia utters, “Mom, can I have a green juice?” I am the proudest mom around. Our bodies are made from the foods we eat. So, the food we eat has an effect on the body, the body affects the mind, and the mind in turn influences the body. As moms, we definitely notice how high-fructose sugar affects your children’s mind and body, revving up their... read more

• Last updated 1/7/13 by Melanie Mayo

I wrote recently about my seasonally-inspired need to reflect upon, and normalize, some new rules in our family. With school well underway, our schedules have become less forgiving and the calendar is suddenly full of visits, classes, birthday parties and dentist appointments. Spontaneity feels like a fading summer memory. I’m not grieving though, because I’ve had an epiphany: limits are good. Structure is great! I’ve noticed how the adults and children in our family can relax into routines in a way that we simply can’t when the day is completely up for grabs. By... read more

• Last updated 12/21/12 by Cynthia Lair

By Cynthia Lair   Perfect party appetizers.  We show both a vegetarian (rice, spice and lentils) and a non-veg (beef, quinoa and currants) filling.  Pack 'em in a lunch, bring 'em to a party, serve these beauties with a bowl of hot soup.  All good. (Print the recipe?  Click here)       About Cynthia Lair   Currently I am an assistant professor for Bastyr University's School of Nutrition and Exercise Science (faculty member since 1994) and the Culinary Curriculum Director for their new Culinary Arts degree program. My cookbook, Feeding the... read more

• Last updated 12/18/12 by JenniO11

With food prices going up, finding frugal dishes that fill your family is more important than ever.   We recently asked members of the Mothering community to share their best meal ideas that could be cooked for less than $5 and feed a family of four or more.   Of course, prices are different everywhere so these meals may cost more or less depending on where you are and what kinds of ingredients you prefer.   Enjoy!         Curried Coconut Chickpea Stew shared by avismama24   Ingredients 1 can chick peas 2 medium sweet potatoes 1 cup... read more

• Last updated 12/14/12 by JenniO11

  These delicious, whole grain sugar cookies come from the Bob's Red Mill Baking Book and are perfect for making into holiday shapes.   Recipe: 2 cups Whole Wheat Flour 2 tsp Baking Powder 1/2 tsp Salt 1 cup Sugar 1/4 pound Unsalted Butter, softened (1 stick) 1 large Egg 1 tsp Vanilla Extract 2 Tbsp Milk (cow, soy, rice) 1 Sugar for sprinkling Directions Preheat the oven to 375°F. Lightly oil 2 baking sheets or line them with parchment paper.  In a medium bowl, sift or whisk... read more