By Wendy

“Ice cream is happiness condensed.”  - Jessi Lane Adams

In 1984, President Ronald Reagan designated July as National Ice Cream Month.  This gives us more reason, as Americans, to indulge in that creamy frozen dessert that can be enjoyed anytime throughout the year. But what’s the difference between the regular supermarket ice cream you see in the freezer aisle and organic ice cream next to it? It’s the tons of additives and preservatives they add to give ice cream its sweet flavors and increase its shelf life!

Instead, try these organic ice cream options that are most likely in your supermarkets freezer. Not only are they USDA Organic, which means that more than 95% of your ingredients are organic ingredients and less than 5% are approved per the “National List” approved by the USDA, they’re better for your entire family.

Julie’s Organic Ice Cream- a small family owned business, Julie’s Organic not only do they offer organic ice cream, but also organic frozen yogurts, organic sorbets, organic ice cream sandwiches, organic ice cream bars, and organic non-dairy options.

Alden’s Ice Cream- Inspired by his mother, maker of Julie’s Organic Ice Cream, and her passion to make the best purest ice cream for her family as well as being better for the environment, Alden’s offers many light and delicious flavors of organic ice cream, like Blackberry, Mint Chip, and Butter Brittle.

Stonyfield Ice Cream- Stonyfield began as a farming school teaching sustainable agricultural and environment protection practices and sold yogurt to fund their school.  Now it has expanded to include not only their yogurt, but also organic smoothies, organic soy yogurts, and organic ice creams. They also continue to support hundreds of family farms and keep tons of agricultural acres free of chemicals and pesticides.

So as this month comes to an end, help protect the environment and support sustainable agriculture with the entire family. Pick up a box of organic ice cream, getting your favorite spoon, and eat up! It’ll definitely be the sweetest way to protect the planet this month!

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Wendy Yu is a digital marketing professional living in New York City. When she’s not using the power of social media to share ideas on how to be more environmentally friendly, she is exploring the city, trying local foods, and learning more about how she can reduce her carbon footprint.

The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of Green Halloween® or our partners.

By Wendy

Hotdogs with a little ketchup and mustard remind me of all that is great about summer. But with so many different hotdogs out there, how do you choose something that is delicious and also healthy? Reading the nutrition label is very important. Look for hotdogs that have less than 5 grams of fat and less than 600 mg of sodium. Another thing to check for is nitrates or sodium nitrates, a preservative that has been linked to cancer.

So if you’re planning firing up the grill this week for the 4^th of July, try ones of these hot dogs that are lower in fat, lower in sodium, and nitrate free. Choose from an assortment of healthy veggie hot dogs, chicken hot dogs, and even beef hot dogs:

Lightlife Tofu Pups- Vegetarian hot dogs made with tofu- only 60 calories, 3 grams of fat, 8 grams of protein, and no cholesterol.

Lightlife Smart Dogs- Delicious vegetarian hot dogs without the meat- only 45 calories, 0 grams of fat, 8 grams of protein, and no cholesterol.

Field Roast Frankfurters- veggie hot dogs made with fresh garlic, onions, and spices. Great on the grill, sautéed in a pan, steamed, or microwaved.

Rocky Dogs Chicken Hot Dogs- naturally cured chicken hot dogs without any added preservatives, nitrates, or MSG. These chicken hot dogs are also gluten free, soy free, and dairy free.

Rocky Mountain Organic Beef Hotdogs- made from 100% organic grass fed beef hot dogs- no added nitrites, no MSG, and gluten free.

Applegate’s Great Organic Beef Hot Dog- 100% organic grass fed beef hot dogs that are juicy, flavorful, and yummy for the tummy. And these beef hot dogs are only 8 grams of fat, 110 calories, and 7 grams of protein.

What’s your favorite way to enjoy hot dogs in the summertime?

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Wendy Yu is a digital marketing professional living in New York City. When she’s not using the power of social media to share ideas on how to be more environmentally friendly, she is exploring the city, trying local foods, and learning more about how she can reduce her carbon footprint.

The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of Green Halloween® or our partners.

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.

Why should Christmas have the all fun?

Build a (yummy) family tradition your kids will scream for (in a good way, of course). It’s an activity, decor and dessert – all rolled into one!

Just use a traditional gingerbread recipe (swapping conventional ingredients for local and/or organic, when possible) OR organic graham crackers as the “house.” Decorate with edibles and organic/all natural confections that conjure the Halloween spirit.

Colors to consider: orange, black, purple and of course, GREEN! For a list of Halloween foods colored naturally by Mother Earth, visit out food page. (Who says you can’t use kale grass?)

Don’t have time to cook, but want to create the tradition? Buy the kit (photo above) online from Magic Cabin.