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Archive for January, 2011

Wal-Mart Launches Healthy Food Initiative

Monday, January 31st, 2011

Wal-Mart, the nation’s largest grocery chain, recently announced it’s commitment to healthy food at affordable prices.

In a speech by Leslie Dock, Wal-Mart’s Executive Vice President for Corporate Affairs, credit is given to First Lady Michelle Obama, and her “Let’s Move!” campaign for being “the catalyst” of Wal-Mart’s initiative.

The First Lady later takes the stage, praising Wal-Mart’s move as “a great victory” for families. (According to a YouTube news report, this is the first time that Mrs. Obama has ever publicly endorsed a private retailer.)

According to Sustainable Life Media, the “nutrition charter” is rooted in five components* aimed at making it easier for moms to afford healthy foods for their families:

  1. Reformulating thousands of everyday packaged food items by 2015 by reducing sodium 25 percent and added sugars 10 percent, and by removing all remaining industrially produced trans- fats. The company will work with suppliers to improve the nutritional quality of national food brands and its Great Value private brand in key product categories to complete the reformulations;
  2. Making healthier choices more affordable, saving customers approximately $1 billion per year on fresh fruits and vegetables through a variety of sourcing, pricing, and transportation and logistics initiatives that will drive unnecessary costs out of the supply chain. Wal-Mart will also dramatically reduce or eliminate the price premium on key “better-for-you” items, such as reduced sodium, sugar or fat products;
  3. Developing strong criteria for a simple front-of-package seal that will help consumers instantly identify truly healthier food options such as whole grain cereal, whole wheat pasta or unsweetened canned fruit;
  4. Providing solutions to address food deserts by building stores in underserved communities that are in need of fresh and affordable groceries; and
  5. Increasing charitable support for nutrition programs that help educate consumers about healthier food solutions and choices.
*Elements listed are directly quoted from Sustainable Life Media

Andrea Thomas, Wal-Mart’s Senior VP of Sustainability (with Wal-Mart nutritionist Megan Diaz), sharing ideas for how to make healthy eating affordable.

What do YOU think of Wal-Mart’s move?

p.s. We love Rodale’s ideas for how to “Be your own Wal-Mart.”

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Green Halloween® is a nationwide non-profit initiative started by mother-daughter team Corey Colwell-Lipson and Lynn Colwell. In 2010, Green Halloween became a program of EcoMom® Alliance and has events in cities across the U.S.

We all Scream for Green Halloween (NYC)

Friday, January 28th, 2011

2010′s Green Halloween in NYC was a screamin’ success!

Screamin’ Green Halloween” was hosted by Brookfield Office Properties at the World Financial Center in the Big Apple.

Eek-o-fabulous fun was had by all (6,000 guests in just 4 hours!) with recycled art, a costume swap, poetry reading, marching band, healthy/green goodies and more.

Here are a few of the fab photos (by photographer Andrew Federman) for more, click here.

And check out this HUGE promotion banner hanging for all to see!

Date: Saturday, October 30, 2010

Time: 12 p.m.-4 p.m.

City & state: New York, NY

Event description: Green your Halloween at the World Financial Center! Join artist-educators for mask and costume making with funky recycled and repurposed materials, compete with other witches and warlocks in “Put a Spider in the Brew”, “Bowling for Ghosts” and a twist on the traditional “Bobbing for Apples,” and enjoy organic and fair-trade candy treats. Exchange last year’s costume for a new one at the Costume Swap, each gently used and ready-to-wear. Mini parades led by the Hungry March Band will take place on the Plaza at 1, 2 and 3pm, and the day ends with a Ghosts & Goblins Parade to Poets House for a reading of spooky poems and seasonal snacks. Ride your bike to the event! Free valet bicycle parking provided by Transportation Alternatives.

Presented by: Brookfield Office Properties

Event Production: Q+A Events and Production

Exact location: World Financial Center, 220 Vesey Street, New York, NY 10281

Cost (if any): FREE

Event URL: www.artsworldfinancialcenter.com

Annual event?: YES

Green Halloween® is a nationwide non-profit initiative started by mother-daughter team Corey Colwell-Lipson and Lynn Colwell. In 2010, Green Halloween became a program of EcoMom® Alliance and has events in cities across the U.S.

Simple Tortellini Soup

Tuesday, January 25th, 2011
Simple Tortellini

Soup that is healthy and simple

Soup is about comfort, warmth of soul, and the feeling of home.  And in the chill of winter, with Valentine’s Day just around the bend, soup can be about love:  love of friends and family and the care that you put into the meals that you create for them.  Let’s face it though, as busy moms, sometimes its about an easy dinner that fills the bellies fast and warms the heart!

Simple Tortellini Soup Recipe

Recipe submitted by Wenonah Michallet, mom of two from Tucson, AZ, whose recipes also appear in the book, Celebrate Green! Creating Eco-Savvy Holidays, Celebrations and Traditions for the Whole Family

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Blogger Laurali Star can be found on The Damsel in the Attic.

Green Halloween® is a nationwide non-profit initiative started by mother-daughter team Corey Colwell-Lipson and Lynn Colwell. In 2010, Green Halloween became a program of EcoMom® Alliance and has events in cities across the U.S.

A Little Bit Of Heart

Friday, January 21st, 2011

It’s hard to believe that January is almost over and Valentine’s day is just around the corner. Have you been keeping up with your New Year’s Resolutions?  Carry your resolutions through to February with these fun and simple ideas to having a little bit of heart for Valentine’s Day.

Recycled Materials

Use old recycled cards to make a special Valentine's Card

Resolution #1: Convert your love of volunteerism.  How to do this? By sending out handmade valentine’s to the cause of your choice.

For example, you could sit down with your children and send out handmade Valentine’s cards to soldiers to support our troops.

Craft: Handmade Valentine’s Cards

What You’ll Need: Red and pink construction paper, recycle old cards, crafting scissors, a glue stick, and any stickers, buttons, fabric or other recycled materials that you can find around your house.

What to do? Cut out red and pink hearts, some small and big.  Overlap your hearts with the glue stick.  Now for the fun part!  Take the cut outs from the images on the old recycled cards and glue into a design.  Now add sparkles, stickers, and anything else that strikes your fancy!  Then follow the troop link to send out your specially hand crafted, eco-friendly card.

Resolution #2: Heart your body.  How to do this? By spending time in nature while stealing a workout and your heart!

For example, hiking is one of the easiest ways to fall in love with fitness.

Work-Out: Easy, breezy walking while picking up the pace accelerates your heart rate while boosting feel good endorphins.  So easy that even the kiddies can do it!

What You’ll Need: A good pair of walking shoes and a hiking trail.  Check out your local parks or map out a hiking trail.

What to do: Lace up your sneakers and hop on the trail.  Being in the heart of nature gives you an appreciation for this planet.  It makes you feel connected.

"Hitting the Trails"

Laurali Star stops to enjoy the view

Resolution #3: You can still be sweet as candy without the sugar!  How to do this?  By choosing your Valentine’s Day sweets wisely for your family.

For example, substitute a regular cupcake recipe by replacing eggs and oil with applesauce to create a fluffy, light texture.

Valentine's Cupcakes

Healthy cupcakes with fruit snack toppings

Recipe: Healthy Choice Valentine’s Cupcakes

What You’ll Need: A box of gluten-free cake mix in the flavor that you like, applesauce, omega 3 enriched flax seeds, Greek yogurt mixed with organic honey for the frosting, and real fruit snacks for the topper.

What to do:  Follow the gluten free box recipe as usual except replace oil and eggs with applesauce and sprinkle flax seeds into the mix.  Pour into cupcake tins and bake.  After cooling, frost cupcakes with Greek yogurt and honey.  Then let the kids top with sugar free fruit snacks in heart shapes.

You can also follow us on twitter!

Blogger Laurali Star can be found on The Damsel in the Attic.

Green Halloween® is a nationwide non-profit initiative started by mother-daughter team Corey Colwell-Lipson and Lynn Colwell. In 2010, Green Halloween became a program of EcoMom® Alliance and has events in cities across the U.S.

Easy Valentine’s Crafts: Wool Felted Heart

Wednesday, January 19th, 2011

Corey Colwell Lipson of Green Halloween walks you through this heart-felt craft for Valentine’s Day!

Green Halloween® is a nationwide non-profit initiative started by mother-daughter team Corey Colwell-Lipson and Lynn Colwell. In 2010, Green Halloween became a program of EcoMom® Alliance and has events in cities across the U.S.