Category: food

Pass the Corn-Fork, Please

by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

Happy Earth Day, everyone!  Many of us do our best to live greener and wiser, especially for our children’s benefit.  Aside from the ever-so-important 3Rs–Reduce, Reuse and Recycle–there are a host of ways families can help Planet Earth.

Year round, I try to feature sustainable products that would complement our lives, but for Earth Day, I thought I’d showcase some innovative green and eco-friendly items that I’ve dogeared just for this week.

Dandelion In line with our family starting a new chapter in the suburbs, we’re implementing quite a few sustainable changes to our everyday way of life.  The kitchen and the way we eat has been an ongoing process, but specifically, I’m hoping to phase out plastics in the kitchen as much as possible.

The kid’s tableware and cups have taken over their own shelf.  I just noticed that more than half of the plates, cups, forks and spoons are plastic, which concerns me.  They’re likely full of pthalates and other elements that we just need to avoid all together.

 

When I was at Toy Fair, I fell in love with Dandeloin products, including their Natural Tableware Products.

 

These bright yellow forks, spoons and knives stand out among the crowd of plastic kiddie-sized cutlery.  Dandelion’s line of tableware are constructed of corn—as in, on- the-cob.

 

That’s right…corn.

I like corn as much as the next person, but I’m not a fan of all the food that’s being processed and engineered with corn.

Dandelion ReUsables tableware thrusts the use of corn into a new light.  According to the company, Reducing our dependency on both petroleum-based plastics and disposable ware in general, is an essential step toward a healthier future for our families and our environment.

Dandelion uses a unique corn (PLA) formula. Unlike conventional plastic, which is largely made from petroleum, our bioplastic is primarily made from corn! Polylactic acid (PLA) requires significantly less fossil resources, and generates far fewer green house gases than conventional plastic. And corn is a renewable and sustainable resource.

Dandelion ReUsables is sustainability at its best.  Before grabbing a package of those convenient plastic kiddie forks and spoons, consider all the resources it took to get them on the shelf.  Dandelion ReUsables is a fantastic alternative to the conventional options out there.  When we move, I hope to replenish our tableware supply and minimize the usage of plastic by going the corn route.

 

In addition to forks, knives and spoons, Dandelion also has bowls, plates and soon, sippy cups.  Dandelion ReUsables can be found online and I even saw a link to them at Kmart online.  They range in price, but it looks like they are in the $6-10 pricepoint.

Sesame Street Introduces New Gardening Line

by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

Last year, Michelle Obama visited Sesame Street to tout the importance of fresh fruits and vegetables.  Later in the year, the First Lady cultivated her own organic garden at the White House to further emphasize the value of healthy eating and gardening.

Since then, announcing her Let’s Move campaign, which focuses on combatting childhood obesity, Mrs. Obama has made it her mission to educate families and kids about making healthy choices, including cultivating your own seeds—figuratively and literally.

Mrs. Obama's Garden

So, when Sesame Street, together with Ferry Morse, introduced their new line of gardening products geared to kids, the marketplace area at the Annual Easter Egg Roll was an impeccably-timed venue to help even more kids learn about gardening first hand.  The kid and I had a fun time learning how to plant watermelon seeds, or um, excuse me—wataaaahmelons.

Jack learning how to plant seeds

The Muppets of Sesame Street can be seen on packets of watermelon, pepper, sunflower, pumpkin, garden beans and tomato seeds, for parents and children to plant together.  The new product line also features Sesame Street-themed gardening totes complete with an activity booklet, seeds, tools, labeling stakes and stickers, a mini garden kit and a mini greenhouse with recipe card.

 

Sesame Street’s new gardening line is a perfect way to encourage kids to be green while going green.  As part of Sesame Street’s My World is Green and Growing initiative designed to support children’s innate curiosity about nature, each product includes educational materials that teach children how fruits and vegetables begin with seeds and grow to become food for the table.  Additionally, it compliments Sesame Street’s ongoing Healthy Habits for Life initiative, helping children develop healthy lifestyles they can practice forever through fun and simple every day activities.  Materials include a booklet with activities for children, planting tips for parents and healthy recipes parents and children can make and enjoy together.  The following items are available now:

  • Seed Packets – $1.99
  • My First Mini Greenhouse – $4.99
  • My First Mini Garden – $5.99
  • My First Gardening Kit (tote) – $10.99

“Research shows that introducing young children to the natural world is the first step towards helping them develop a caring attitude towards the environment,” said Maura Regan, Sesame Workshop’s Senior Vice President and General Manager of Global Licensing states.

Be sure to head to Lowe’s to grab a few gardening items for the kids. I found them at the back of the store, close to the garden center.  Though I wasn’t too impressed with the plastic Sesame Street gardening tools (though, they’d be perfect for the littlest gardeners), the kits do look cool.  Even if you don’t pick up the tote or kits, the seed packets are reasonably priced at $1.99. We’ve got some peppers, sunflowers and green beans to plant!  Let’s hope they fare better than our watermelon seeds which didn’t make it back from DC in tact!

 

Skip Hop Debuts Central Park Outdoor Blanket + Cooler Bag

by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

Just in time for prime picnicking weather, Skip Hop, a brand associated with smart, modern and fun designs, has introduced the Central Park Outdoor Blanket + Cooler Bag.  With their new blanket + cooler bag, the NYC-based company covered their bases by meeting parents’ need for portability, functionality and style.

As city dwellers, I find that we’re outside eating all the time, whether it’s for Movie Under the Stars, family concert night in the park or for a regular picnic while we play at the playground. Schlepping a big blanket stuffed in a big bag, in addition to a bag of food or toys can get cumbersome, so I appreciate that this blanket + cooler bag can be carried as a messenger bag or a backpack.

Unfolded, it’s 5×5, but folded up as a bag, it’s 11.5in x 11.5in x 3in, which is compact.  It’s big enough for a small family to sit together, or even just mom or dad and a babe.  It’s seems like it’s easy to wipe clean, but in case there are minor spills, it can be thrown into the washing machine.  The cooler part, isn’t huge.  It looks like it can hold several smaller containers, sandwiches and a few drinks, but not much else.  Less is always more.

The Central Park Outdoor Blanket + Cooler Bag retails for about $45 and is available in the chocolate/uptown stripe or the black/wave dot.  The kid and I plan on spending as much time as possible outdoors this spring and summer, so this would be a perfect addition to our picnicking aresenal.

Skip Hop products can be found at retailers such as BRU, Buy Buy Baby, giggle, Whole Foods and more.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The ‘Boom Boom Room’ Makes its Way to NYC

by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

The Boom Boom Room, the luxe gifting suite for celebrity moms in Hollywood, made its way to NYC yesterday to showcase some of the most innovative baby and toddler gear.  The Baby Issue highlighted over 45 baby & toddler products for media, bloggers and celebrities to take it all in.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Baby Issue event was hosted by Jayneoni Moore, who made the lavish Baby & Toddler Boom Boom Room Gifting Suites the go-to spot for celebrity moms to check out the latest and greatest in gear.  I was excited to attend the Baby Issue Event to learn and network with some of the brands that I already feature on The Next Kid Thing.  There were several brands that I can’t wait to introduce to you as well. Here’s just a few of the brands that were at The Baby Issue Event Yesterday:

Stokke, Teutonia strollers, Umi Shoes, Shutterfly, Skip Hop, Fisher Price, Plum Organics, Scholastic, Mustela, Happy Heinys, Nourish,  nursing clothing line Larrivo, Organic Kidz, Loved Baby, Goodnight Light, Aprica, Origany,  Dapple, Organic Kidz, Mabel’s Labels, Zoli Baby

And in case you missed it, I posted a few more sneak peek pictures over on the NKT fanpage.

 

The Baby Issue event got me thinking, too… With all the events that I’ve been attending (which is good!), but have been falling WAY behind on updating posts (not so good), I almost overlooked The Next Kid Thing’s 1st birthday! Those that know me well, probably know that I’m not big on over the top parties for first birthdays, but I wanted to do something special to mark our big 1-year celebration next week.  I have a few things lined up and will make an announcement to share with you tomorrow!

First Lady Launches Let’s Move

by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

Yesterday, our First Lady, Michelle Obama, unveiled the nationwide campaign Let’s Move, which aims to tackle childhood obesity. This campaign is geared to engage every sector that impacts the health of our kids, giving schools, families and communities the tools to help everyone be more active, eat better and get healthy.

Mrs. Obama unofficially initiated this campaign when she broke ground on the White House organic Garden last year. In a NYT article, Mrs. Obama said, the main purpose of the garden will be to educate children about healthful, locally grown fruit and vegetables at a time when obesity and diabetes have become a national concern.

Soon after, Mrs. Obama appeared on an episode of Sesame Street touting the importance of fruits and vegetables, as well as healthy eating habits.

The Let’s Move Campaign will emphasize four major facets, all of which underline the changes needed to combat childhood obesity:

Helping Parents Make Healthy Family Choices

Serving Healthier Food in Schools

Accessing Healthy, Affordable Food

Increasing Physical Activity

Read More

Baby Bites: Plum Organics and YoBaby Tout New Offerings

by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

Organic baby food brand, Plum Organics, has announced its latest addition to its growing product line.  The company added the Just line, which includes six single-fruit purees of USDA organic baby food made with 100 percent fruits. (Hence, the just part)  The Just fruit options include apples, peaches, pears, bananas, pears and mangoes are exempt of any added sugar, juice, colors of artificial flavors.

The Just line joins Plum Organic’s Fruit and Veggie Blends and Mish Mash, which are also packaged in their portable pouch.  Plum Organics is available at Babies R Us/Toys R Us at $1.19 – $1.29 for a 3.17oz. single pouch and $7.19 – $7.29 for a single variety 6-count box.  Plum Organics will soon be available at Buy Buy Baby, HEB, Food Lion, and online at Target.com, Diapers.com, and Drugstore.com.

 

One of our family’s staples, Stonyfield Farms, announced that they’re heeding moms’ advice.  By popular request, Stonyfield Farms  has introduced YoBaby 3-in-1 Meals in 4-ounce multipacks.   The smaller servings, that are perfect for traveling and snacktime, come in pear & green bean, peach & squash, apple & sweet potato.

YoBaby Meals multipacks, priced around $2.99, can be found in natural food stores and select grocery stores.