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How to protect your teens from the mental health toll of social media
We take you on a guided meditation journey into a beautiful flower garden Cultivating Joy
26
There are healthier alternatives to the infamous, toxin-filled glucose tolerance test drink Sweet Solutions
30
Parental advice is abundant on the internet, but do we need to take all of it? Overwhelmed Online 34
We’re sharing the best tips for developing the skill of resiliency in children Resilient Kids 38
PVC (AKA the “posion plastic”) is found in many kids’ toys but you can easily avoid it Poison Plastic
44
Time spent outdoors can actually boost the quantity and quality of kids’ sleep Wild Rhythyms
50
Host this fun community event to score a new look without breaking the bank
54
Sunny
Publisher & Editor in Chief
Amity Hook-Sopko
Creative Team
Kaitlyn Kirby
Tamara Hackett
Cover Photography
Cameron Zegers
Contributors
Peggy O’Mara
Mellisa Dormoy
Linda McGurk
Katy Codekas
Katherine Martinko
Caitlin Ultimo
Nick Sopko
Andrew Sprung
Kelly Bartlett
Misty Bell Stiers
Media & Other Inquiries
The future of parking lots may all be up in the air— literally.
Side Up 58
The benefits of regenerative farming efforts will be felt for years to come
These delicious fall dinner recipes will be a home run in your house
media@greenchildmagazine. com
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Time to Reflect
LET’S CHAT
Send an email to editor@greenchild magazine.com
I’M SURE YOU’VE SEEN THE “Mother Nature is about to show us how beautiful it is to let things go” meme that makes the rounds this time of year. That (plus a much needed break from the heat) never fails to get me in the mindset for this season of reflection.
I’m so excited to share our new issue filled with topics to nurture the mind, body, and spirit of your family. One of my favorite highlights of this issue is our story on regenerative agriculture. It explores how this powerful approach to farming improves the quality of our food and plays a pivotal role in healing the planet.
Social media is ever present in the lives of our teens, and understanding its impact on their health is extreme ly important. Peggy O’Mara takes a deep look into the effects of social media on teens’ wellbeing and offers
insights on how to guide them toward healthier habits online.
We also tackle the presence of PVC (“the poison plastic”) in toys. You’ll learn what to look out for and how to find safer alternatives.
And as the days grow shorter, our feature on the benefits of spending time outdoors sheds light on how nature helps balance our circadian rhythms, promoting better sleep and overall health for the whole family.
We’re also sharing practical advice on raising emotionally resilient children in a world that often feels unpredictable.
One of our most beloved columns for the last 14 years is Mellisa Dormoy’s guided meditation scripts for kids. In this issue, you’ll find a new meditation that focuses on cultivating joy.
Fall also brings the fun of Halloween, and what better way to celebrate sustainably than by hosting a costume swap? It’s a festive way to keep the season green!
As always, we’re excited to share our favorite healthy, family-friendly recipes and introduce you to the best new green and healthy products.
Thank you for being part of our community. Here’s to embracing the season of change
Publisher & Editor in Chief Amity Hook-Sopko
THIS JUST IN
Babywearing Simplified
Introducing the latest addition to the Oscha family– the Bairn baby carrier is a new classic in the world of babywearing. Long known for their commitment to eco-friendly practices and beautiful, sustainably made products, Oscha’s Bairn is lightweight, versatile, and designed to grow with your baby, offering comfortable and hands-free support from newborn up to two years old.
Made with heirloom quality and stunningly beautiful fabrics, Oscha slings are not only the best on the market for mom and baby but are also ethically and sustainably made.
JUST MY SIZE
Integrated cinch allows the carrier to be adjusted to baby’s size.
SAFE AND SNUG
Dual adjustable buckles for easy tightening.
COZY UP
Cross straps in front carry for extra comfort.
ALL DAY WEAR
The apron style waist is comfortable for a wider range of people.
HIP FRIENDLY
Hip Healthy Approved by the International Hip Dysplasia Institute.
FORM FIT
Offers moldable, soft straps.
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Soothe and de-puff eyes with colorful, anti-aging eye gels made with natural marine collagen and hyaluronic acid. $22; amazon.com UNDER EYE OASIS
2
Recycled sherpa fleece is lightweight, yet still warm and cozy. Perfect transition jacket for fall! $39.99; jamiekay.com SO FLUFFY
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WE LOVE
These dehydrated bamboo coins magically expand into soft facial wipes with just a splash of water. $18; grove.co FRESH FACED
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Generously sized and curved to fit your shoulder, adorable organic cotton burp cloths offer exceptional coverage and comfort. $21.96; keababies.com CATCHY CURVE
5
Popsicle molds for infants! Freeze breast milk, formula, or a smoothie to make a nourishing, sensory snack for babies. $18.99; ezpzfun.com TINY POPS
6
TOUCH OF TALLOW
Sustainably sourced tallow helps with everything from dry fall skin and acne to scars and childhood scratches and bumps. Next restock on Sept. 28. $35; touchoftallow.com
Our top picks for your bookshelf this season— Everything from parenting teens to a classic whodunit.
BUTTERFLY GIRL
by Ashling Kwok and Arielle Li
A charming book for young children with practical steps to planting a real butterfly garden. Olivia moves from her home in the country, where her best friends are butterflies, to a new apartment in the city. Her new home feels lonely, and the city has no butterflies. In a need of friendship and nature, Olivia remembers the environment the butterflies loved at her old home and recreates it on her balcony. In a wave of inspiration, just when she is about to lose hope, she encourages her neighbors to plant flowers on their balconies, just in time to bring her new human and butterfly friends.
THE ANXIOUS GENERATION
by Jonathan Haidt
This book examines why adolescent mental health has plunged since the early 2010s, along with sharply rising rates of depression, anxiety, and self-harm. Haidt thoroughly investigates how teen mental illness hit many countries at the same time and links it with the decline of play-based childhoods. Parents learn how excessive screen time leads to sleep deprivation, loneliness, neurological issues. The book offers practical steps to combat these dangers and provides hope with a simple call to action for a more balanced childhood.
HELP ME HELP MY TEEN
by Maggie Dent
Known as Australia’s Queen of common sense parenting, Maggie Dent gives a fresh take on supporting teens handling this transformational age with independence, resilience, and strength. If you need guidance on connecting with your teen securely and lovingly while supporting them through to adulthood, this book is for you. Dent provides up-to-date research on how to approach sensitive topics that are difficult to talk about with your teens and how to help them with a variety of modern issues.
SOMETHING ABOUT THE SKY
by Rachel Carson and Nikki McClure
Groundbreaking environmental author Rachel Carson raised questions about humans’ impact on nature in her 1962 book Silent Spring. Imagine our delight to learn of a new children’s book based on one of her lost works - a thought-provoking, child-friendly piece about clouds. Something About the Sky is a must-have addition to the bookshelf of any blossoming environmentalist. It’s a mesmerizingly illustrated story about the patterns and paths clouds make through the sky. Kids learn clouds bring rain and snow, and how they swell the streams that flow to rivers and the sea in Mother Nature’s endless cycle.
THE NEW MENOPAUSE
by Mary Claire Haver
This book is an informative and empowering look at perimenopause, menopause, and the treatment of symptoms as a whole. With a focus on nutrition for regulation and a new outlook on hormone replacement therapy, Haver writes a compelling book about everything impacting this transition that all women go through. Ripping the band-aid off of the stigma and approaching women’s hormonal changes with science-backed information of how to find the right doctor, advocate for yourself, and understand what is happening. Learn all you need to know in how to treat and cope with hot flashes, muscle loss, osteoporosis, weight gain, mood swings, and more. This book will prepare you for all of the stages of menopause while teaching you to stay strong and resilient in body and mind as you age.
THE MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR AT STYLES
by Marci Kay Monson
Agatha Christie’s mysteries hold up timelessly, and this is an excellent introduction to her novels for kids. This book engages kids interactively with great illustrations and fun activities like finding clues, solving mazes, and pretending to be a judge. Read it together to boost your child’s problem-solving skills, reading ability, and even their eye-hand coordination! This entire book is written in rhymes, and there are tons of clues to figure out on each page by “reading between the lines.” Don’t miss the glossary at the end to help your child understand the context and French words!
ANNMARIE SKIN CARE
Imagine a skin care company that was founded to prove that ingredients straight from nature will deliver results… and work better than anything out there. This became Annmarie and Kevin Gianni’s purpose, after discovering in 2008 that the skin care industry is riddled with questionable practices and toxic ingredients.
In 2009, Annmarie and Kevin launched Annmarie Skin Care with a well-versed team that had years of experience uncovering the dubious practices in the industry, like chemical derivatives in socalled natural ingredients, and other shortcuts and oversights. These investigations have helped Annmarie Skin Care build a foundation in ethical sourcing, natural ingredients, and safe processing to ensure high-quality, alive products that deliver the results that customers can count on, without any of the toxic chemicals.
Annmarie Skin Care sources organic and wildcrafted ingredients that are pesticide-free and go through minimal processing. This has always been a top goal when developing formulas, whether for the beautifying herbs in their proprietary herb infusions or for the unique, nourishing oils and CO 2 extracts that are added to the products.
Today, Annmarie and Kevin bring their love for skin care full circle. They now reside on their very own farmlet, full of organic gardens planted to Grow. Gather. Give. You can catch the Giannis handgrowing food, plants and herbs that are shared with the local community, as well as make their debut into more recent Annmarie Skin Care products that embody a pure, seed-to-skin experience.
FEATURED: ANNMARIE GIANNI Annmarie Skin Care’s co-founder, harvesting homegrown herbs on her farmlet, Moss Creek Farm.
leaves skin looking firm and tightened with hyaluronic acid, life-everlasting flowers, and antioxidant-rich buddleja extract.
oils of buriti and sea buckthorn protect against environmental stressors. Leave lips luminous with a hint of chocolate from cocoa extract.
This Clean Beauty Offer Will Not Last—Get Yours Today for ONLY $19.99 with free shipping*
Complimentary gift with your purchase: a full-size Antioxidant Lip Balm!
• Boost your hydration for youthful and vibrant-looking skin.
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The trial sizes are definitely large enough for you to use and start seeing results. They’re also covered by a complete, 30-day money back guarantee.
If you’re not happy, we’re not happy and we’ll gladly refund your purchase.
TIS THE SEASON
Autumn Adventures: Fun-Filled Fall Activities for Kids
The first day of fall, or autumnal equinox, occurs Sunday, September 22nd this year. Celebrate with these seasonal activities.
We’re accustomed to more aggressively advertised, expensive fall and winter holidays. And yet, considered a bit more closely, the autumnal equinox proves rich with meaning.
In many geographic locations and historical periods, harvest celebrations have been observed right around the equinox. Fall festivals and personal observances of the equinox often involve these themes:
• balancing opposites, especially the scientific, aesthetic, and symbolic senses of light and darkness in balance
• food, plenty, and gratitude
• building and celebrating community through sharing food and labor
• preparing for winter practically, emotionally, and spiritually
BY MOLLY WESTERMAN
For some faiths, the solstices and equinoxes are important holidays. In these traditions, the autumnal equinox takes on several names, including Mabon, Harvest Home, and Alban Elfed.
Here are some favorite ways to celebrate the first day of fall. Most of these involve spending time outside in nature. Grab your weather-appropriate clothes and enjoy a crisp new season together!
Play the “How Tall is My Shadow?” Game
My favorite hands-on activity for understanding the seasons involves a yardstick and a whole year. Around noon on each equinox or solstice (or on the closest sunny day), measure from your child’s toe to their shadow’s top.
Have the child measure your shadow and record the numbers. After gathering data on all four
events, you can ask your child to guess which shadow was longest and compare your shadows’ changing heights.
Discuss the changing angles of the sun. Read up on our solar system and the Earth’s seasons, and experiment with a flashlight and a globe.
Read Fall Themed Books
These picture books are great family read-alouds for the autumnal equinox:
We Gather Together: Celebrating the Harvest Season (Wendy Pfeffer)
introduces the science, history, and cultural traditions surrounding the autumnal equinox. This book also includes projects and recipes to try at home.
It’s Fall! by Renee Kurilla offers gorgeous illustrations and highlights the season throughout Halloween and Thanksgiving.
Pat Zietlow Miller’s Sophie’s Squash and Dahlov Ipcar’s Hardscrabble Harvest playfully bring our attention to the bountiful fall harvest we get to enjoy.
The Little Yellow Leaf by Carin Berger is the charming story of one little leaf still holding on through
fall as winter approaches.
Grace Lin’s Thanking the Moon: Celebrating the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival, Deborah Heiligman’s Celebrate Thanksgiving, and many other excellent picture books explore different cultures’ autumn traditions.
Collect and Identify Autumn Leaves
Colorful leaves are an obvious and festive jumping-off point for fall activities if you have them this early in the season. Go on a walk, seeking out the most beautiful specimens in your area. Take a field guide with you and identify the
trees that made your favorite leaves.
Enjoy a Locally Sourced Meal
Prepare a feast of local foods together, focusing on the bounty of autumn. Visit a farm stand or your local farmers market. Host a potluck and celebrate the autumnal equinox with friends or neighbors. Toast the harvest, the farmers, and each other with delicious warm cider.
Look for Signs of Fall
Grab a notebook and walk around your neighborhood together. Just getting out to enjoy nature is one of the best ways to appreciate the autumnal equinox with kids. Use nature scavenger hunt ideas to find acorns, pinecones, leaves, and more.
How many signs of this new season can you find?
Looking Forward, Looking Back
This observance can take place with your family or alone. On paper, out loud, or simply in your thoughts, reflect on these questions or others that suit you better:
What are you thankful for, in this particular season of plenty?
What would you like to carry with you into the darkness of the coming season?
What are you happy to leave behind?
At this time of a shifting balance, what would you like to change?
A CLOSER LOOK
The Social Strain
Social media plays a major role in the mental health crisis among young people— Here’s how the experts suggest we protect our teens.
BY PEGGY O’MARA
In June, US Surgeon General, Vivek Murthy, MD, called on Congress to issue a warning label for social media, similar to warning labels on alcohol and tobacco. He also called on
Congress to quickly develop health and safety standards for technology platforms, including not collecting sensitive data from teens, and restricting features, like push notifications, autoplay, and
infinite scroll, which contribute to excessive use of social media.
Dr. Vivek says that social media is an important contributor to the mental health crisis among young people. According to a fact
sheet from the White House, the number of teens with depression more than doubled between 2011 and 2021. In 2021, 42% of high school students reported experiencing persistent feelings of sadness, including 57% of girls and 69% of LBTQ+ students, and nearly one in three high school girls reported having seriously considered suicide.
On average, teens spend 4.8 hours a day on social media. A 2019 study of 6,595 US teens found that those who spend more than three hours a day on social media may be at heightened risk for mental health problems, particularly for keeping their problems to themselves. In addition, 46% of teens say that social media makes them feel worse about their bodies.
PROTECTING YOUR TEENS
Here are some suggestions from Dr. Vivek and others:
For Parents
• Wait until middle school to allow children access to social media. The Wait Until 8th pledge suggests parents delay even longer, waiting to give children a smartphone until at least the end of 8th grade.
• Work together with other parents to establish shared rules.
• Work with teens to set a daily time limit for social media use.
• Create phone-free zones around bedtime, meals and social gatherings.
• Choose one day a month when no texting is allowed.
• Consider taking your own social media hiatus.
• Set a limit on the number of apps teens can use.
• Keep phones out of the bedroom. Charge them in the kitchen overnight.
• Consider a “dumb” phone without internet access.
• Watch the film, The Social Dilemma, with your children.
• Read the report from Common Sense Media, “Getting Help Online: How Young People Find, Evaluate, and Use Mental Health Apps, Online Therapy, and Behavioral Health Information.”
• Read the report from Yale School of Medicine, “How Social Media Affects Your Teen’s Mental Health: A Parent’s Guide.”
• Sign the petition from Parents Together calling on Congress to approve Dr. Vivek’s health warning on social media.
For Schools
• Teach children social media literacy.
• Ensure that classroom learning and social time are phonefree experiences.
For Teens
• Join the LOG OFF Movement, created in 2020 by then high school senior, Emma Lembke, in response to her personal struggle with social media and its negative impact on her mental health, and to the absence of youth voices in the dialogue surrounding social media advocacy. The LOG OFF movement’s “Guide to Improve Screen Time” takes an in depth look at some tools to help improve screen time and be more productive.
• Use resources from Wired Human, which aims to protect children from online harm and exploitation through digital leadership training programs, research, and elevating the voices of youth to advance digital responsibility.
This is sobering information for parents, and it may seem impossible to curb your teens social media use in the face of their addiction to it. However, by using these resources and joining together with other parents and the teachers at your teen’s school, you can find the confidence to do what needs to be done to protect your child. It’s up to you and you can make a difference.
GUIDED MEDITATION
Cultivating Joy
Guided meditation is one of the best ways to teach your child mindfulness from an early age. Try this one for an instant mood boost.
BY MELLISA DORMOY
Find a comfortable position and close your eyes. Take in a breath and fill up your tummy like a big balloon. Feel the air flowing into your nose, down your throat, and all the way down into your belly.
Now exhale gently and fully. Let’s do that a few times until we feel very peaceful and light. Then continue breathing normally as we continue our joyful adventure.
Imagine yourself in a beautiful place now... a colorful flower garden of joy with bright blooms of magnificent color. It is calm, bright, and so beautiful here. It makes you very happy to be here right now enjoying this special space.
The sun radiates down and warms your skin, and you hear tiny sparrows chirping as they flutter and play together in the branches of the trees. A cool breeze rustles the petals and leaves. You feel perfectly at ease here.
Breathe in deeply the various sweet smells coming from the many flowers of this garden. Each one has a different color and its own special scent.
Now direct your attention to the soft green carpet of grass under your feet. It feels thick and lush. It cradles your bare feet and feels so wonderful as you step gently around the garden or lie down anywhere you like.
You find there are so many things to be joyful about here. The simple parts of life often bring the most joy. Spend a little time and imagine the things that bring you joy. Maybe it’s baking with your grandma or a hug from a friend. Maybe it’s watching a cute puppy play or a baby chick slowly hatching from its egg. We can find joy everywhere we look.
You can cultivate this joy inside your own heart space by simply focusing on the little things in life that make you smile and feel good inside. Living life itself is a big reason to be joyful.
And even though everyone experiences challenges, we can move through the challenges knowing that we truly can be full of joy inside our own heart. You can radiate joy every day and affect others in a positive way by doing so.
Grow that joy just by focusing on it and finding reasons to be happy everywhere. The more joy we radiate out into the world from our hearts, the more joy comes back to us.
You matter and you’re important in this world. Always remember that. Always bring your inner joy with you wherever you go.
Take a deep breath and open your eyes when you’re ready. Keep that sparkling feeling of joy with you through the rest of your day.
PREGNANCY
Sweet Solutions
The infamous glucose tolerance test drink may have questionable ingredients, but there are safer, healthier alternatives.
Many pregnant women don’t know they have choices when it comes to the Glucose Challenge Test (GTC). While the FDA just banned brominated vegetable oil (BVO), it can still remain on the market until August 2025. Here’s what you need to know about the other questionable ingredients and some safer alternatives to the glucose drink during pregnancy.
Healthcare providers encourage pregnant women to test for Gestational Diabetes between weeks 24 and 28. This test screens women (specifically those with no history of diabetes) for high blood sugar levels during pregnancy.
Knowing your risk of gestational diabetes is important. And if you’re someone who is careful about ingredients and toxin exposure already, you understand the logic of avoiding harmful substances as you’re growing a new life.
The Conventional Oral Glucose Tolerance Test
An oral glucose test introduces glucose into the body which then is absorbed into the bloodstream. Cells
that have enough insulin or have proper insulin sensitivity will be able to usher glucose into blood cells, lowering blood sugar back down to a healthy range.
If glucose isn’t absorbed properly, blood sugar levels will rise beyond this range. Thus, the purpose of the glucose drink is to measure this to get an indication of how effectively glucose is being processed.
The Oral Glucose Challenge Test (OGCT) for gestational diabetes requires the mom-to-be to drink the glucose solution and wait for one hour. When the hour is up, the mother takes a blood test to measure blood sugar levels.
If the results show that glucose is pushing into an unhealthy range, a follow-up glucose tolerance test (the 3-hour test) will be scheduled. This test requires 8 hours of fasting, consuming only water. Blood samples are taken upon arrival to measure fasting blood sugar. The glucose drink is given again, and blood glucose levels are taken again after one hour, two hours, and three hours.
The results of this test will either lead to another round of testing four weeks later or a gestational diabetes diagnosis.
What’s in the Glucose Drink
The glucose drink that tests pregnant women for gestational diabetes is a highly concentrated beverage that consists mostly of sugar and water. Glucola, the drink most popular for glucose tolerance testing, contains 50, 75, or 100 grams of sugar. Here’s a look at some of the questionable ingredients. Water
Dextrose (D-glucose from corn)
Citric acid Natural flavoring
Food starch modified
Brominated Vegetable Oil (BVO)
Brominated vegetable oil (BVO) is another questionable ingredient in some flavors of Glucola and other glucose drinks. A July 2022 study by Food And Chemical Toxicology looked at the effects of brominated vegetable oil with rats and found a correlation between BVO and increased levels of inorganic and organic bromine in tissues.
BVO leaves residues that accumulate in body fat, the brain, the liver, and other organs. It was also linked to an increase in cell size and mass of the thyroid. That makes perfect sense as bromine competes with iodine which is essential to thyroid health.
On July 2, 2024 the FDA revoked their regulation allowing the use of brominated vegetable oil (BVO) in food. BVO had been on the the codified list of Generally Recognized As Safe or “GRAS” substances since 1970. It’s now being removed due to the results of studies conducted along with the NIH, The rule goes into effect on August 2, 2024. The compliance date allows 12 months after the effective date, to provide the opportunity for companies to reformulate, relabel, and deplete the inventory of BVO-containing products before the FDA begins enforcing the final rule. That means the glucose drink at your doctor’s office or clinic could still include BVO until August 2025.
Dextrose
The sugar used in Glucola is dextrose, a type of sugar derived from corn or wheat. Dextrose is what’s known as a “simple sugar” and it causes blood sugar levels to rise quickly.
Glycerol ester of wood rosin
Brominated vegetable or soybean oil (banned in Europe, Japan, and India and patented in the US as a flame retardant)
Food dye and coloring: Yellow #6
Sodium Hexametaphosphate
BHA
Sodium Benzoate
“If you choose not to expose your developing baby to [these chemicals], it’s wise to consider alternatives to the glucose drink during pregnancy.”
Sodium Benzoate
Sodium benzoate is a kind of salt made by combining benzoic acid and sodium hydroxide. It isn’t a naturally occurring chemical, but it has been deemed as GRAS (generally recognized as safe) for food use.
This preservative is found in a lot of foods. As common as it is, there’s cause for concern over studies that imply it could be linked to ADHD and other health conditions. There is also legitimate cause for concern when sodium benzoate is combined with ascorbic acid and makes benzene – a chemical linked to higher cancer risk. It’s speculated that heat and light could also cause sodium benzoate to convert into benzene. Benzene is one of the byproducts found in many of the recently recalled sunscreen products.
Sodium Hexametaphosphate
Sodium hexametaphosphate is used as an emulsifier and a texturizer in foods. Sodium hexametaphosphate is a member of the phosphate family, and phosphates are known to sequester calcium which can lead to calcium deposits in the kidneys.
It’s suspected that sodium hexametaphosphate may also convert into phosphoric acid which could cause excess acidity in the body.
Glucola Side Effects
Some of the side effects reported from Glucola include nausea, vomiting, bloating, and diarrhea, as well as headache, dizziness, and fatigue. The health risks of these ingredients are associated with regular and consistent exposure, so being exposed to
a single bottle, or even three, may not concern some mothers-to-be. But if you don’t typically put these chemicals in your body or choose not to expose your developing baby to them, it’s wise to consider alternatives to the glucose drink during pregnancy. That said, these ingredients are in soda and many processed foods. So, if you already eat processed foods, this may not be a concern for you. There’s also the matter of ingredients with potential unhealthy side effects being used in a drink for pregnant women in the first place.
Glucose Test Alternatives
These options are healthier for your body, less likely to cause side effects, and may be a little more gentle on your digestive system.
The Fresh Test
One product called The Fresh Test is a natural alternative to Glucola. It’s a powder that contains 50g of glucose and has only three ingredients; crystallized lemon, dextrose, and mint. It’s gluten-free, non-GMO, and organic. The dextrose is only made from either tapioca or corn. Fortunately, you can test for gestational diabetes without a glucose drink; natural or not. The whole premise of the test is to measure blood sugar an hour after consuming 50g of glucose. Natural alternatives to Glucola found online include orange juice, grape juice, or orange juice plus a banana.
Other science-backed alternatives to the glucose drink during pregnancy include:
Jelly Beans
Another study from 1999 looked at jelly beans as an alternative for glucose testing. One group of pregnant women were given jelly beans while the other group was given Glucola and blood glucose was measured. Then the participants did the test with the other glucose source.
“A study found that 10 strawberryflavored Twizzlers were equivalent to a 50g glucola drink.”
Finally, a 3-hour glucose test was performed on all participants. The study found that there weren’t any significant differences between blood serum levels one hour later. They did see, however, that jelly beans had fewer side effects and were preferred by 76% of participants. If you normally eat clean, make sure you opt for organic, non GMO jelly beans.
Twizzlers
There have been studies to explore the efficacy of glucose test alternatives. A study on non-pregnant women published in Diabetes Care found that 10 strawberry-flavored Twizzlers were equivalent to a 50g glucola drink for screening for diabetes. This was expanded on with another study actually done with pregnant women.
This study looked at glucose testing for pregnant women with twizzlers versus Glucola. The results found that Twizzlers actually provided more accurate test measurements than Glucola.
Twizzlers contain corn syrup and artificial flavors, so same as with jelly beans - look for organic licorice candy products instead.
The overload of online parenting advice can contribute to serious stress. Here’s what you can do to sift through and simplify.
BY CAITLIN ULTIMO
DIGITAL DILEMMA
From our first online parenting search, we’re thrust into a world of endless parental advice—most of it from social media. Before we know it, our feeds are filled with parenting hacks, product recommendations, and “expert” opinions on how to do everything from sleep training to feeding schedules.
It’s exhausting and often overwhelming. The constant stream of information makes you wonder: are we helping ourselves by seeking out this advice, or are we just adding to our stress? It’s no longer just about trusting our instincts—now we have to filter through an endless amount of opinions, expert or not, and try to figure out what’s best for our children.
The 2024 U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory on the Mental Health & Well-Being of Parents report states that “the rapid adoption and evolution of technology and social media have been difficult and stressful for parents to manage, including by posing new risks to children’s health and safety.”
Parental anxiety can manifest in many ways—worrying about your child’s health, milestones, school performance, or social life. It can also mean neglecting your own needs because you’re so focused on your child. Some parents may become overprotective or constantly search online for answers to parenting, health, or developmental questions.
A 2023 study by the American Psychological Association found that parents are more likely than other adults to feel misunderstood about their daily stress. They may self-isolate when anxious or stressed, often to hide their feelings from their child. Ironically, in striving to create the perfect childhood, some parents end up creating their own personal nightmare, a situation that’s tough to escape, especially when faced alone.
Seeking reviews and personal accounts from other parents can be a way to break out of isolation without needing to engage in personal contact.
But do we really need to crowdsource childrearing solutions the same way we do for restaurant recommendations? Does having more insights necessarily lead to better parenting?
Information and Advice Overload in Parenting
From baby fevers and eczema to growth charts, there’s advice out there for everything—a TikToking parent has answers. Targeted ads push products and solutions for needs you didn’t even know you had. Momfluencers and Dadfluencers who’ve “been there” promise to save you from the frustration and heartache they experienced. So, you stay, you scroll, and you search for more.
Findings from that same APA study show that on most days, parents reported feeling overwhelmed by stress, with 60% saying it made it hard to focus and 50% stating that it left them too paralyzed to act.
Reports from 2024 are no more encouraging. The Surgeon General has declared parental stress so debilitating that it’s now a public health issue. The foreword reads: “As technological and economic forces have reshaped the world at a dizzying pace, it has also become harder for parents to prepare children for a future that is difficult to understand or predict.” “One response to a world in which success and fulfillment feel increasingly out of reach has been an intensifying culture of comparison—often propagated by influencers and online trends—with unrealistic expectations around the milestones, parenting strategies, achievements, and status symbols that kids and parents must pursue. Chasing these unreasonable expectations has left many families feeling exhausted, burned out, and perpetually behind.”
When to Avoid Information
When I was pregnant, I had low progesterone. My digital search for information ended in a tearful meltdown and an incoherent voicemail to my OB. After that, I resolved
never to research health issues online again. Five years later, I’ve mostly kept that promise, though I made exceptions—Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease was one.
We’ve all experienced watching an expert warn about screen time’s effects on kids while our own child watches us on a screen. As parents, we often seek information in the name of “due diligence,” but sometimes just experiencing life and learning from our own child works best.
Perhaps our first instinct shouldn’t be to type symptoms into TikTok, Google, or YouTube. While a doctor is always a logical call, for less serious concerns, we might actually know best on our own.
Reduce Your Stress and Do What’s Best for the Kids
As a mom trying to balance it all, I don’t claim to have the answer. But maybe we can start by doing just enough. My daughter reminds me that, at the end of the day, my love and attention are all she really needs. There are other wants, of course, and I’m happy to fulfill them when I can, but not at the cost of my mental health.
The Surgeon General’s report states, “The work of raising a child is work, no less valuable than the work performed in a paid job and of extraordinary value when it comes to the impact on the future of society.”
Maybe it’s time we start sharing our experiences with friends in the real world.
Instead of relying solely on digital communities, we might need to lean on our local ones too. Acknowledging there’s a problem can be the first step toward finding a solution. Perhaps this mental health advisory is just that—a start.
Learning from Life’s Ups and Downs
The importance of raising a resilient child and how parents can help them develop such an essential skill.
BY KELLY BARTLETT
Being resilient means being able to handle things that don’t work out ideally. It leads to finding creative solutions to problems. A resilient child is better equipped to bounce back from emotional hurts and cope with failure.
In short, being resilient is about surviving and learning from life’s adversities.
How does this sense of recovery and emotional strength develop? And what can parents do to help kids learn to handle failure and futility?
Fortunately, childhood is filled with opportunities for children to develop resilience. Kids encounter challenges every day that bring up inevitable feelings of frustration, anger, sadness, or fear. Things such as:
• Not being able to have their own way all the time
• Losing at games or contests
• Failing
• Not being able to have mom or dad all to themselves
• Wanting to “send back” a sibling
• Being excluded (among peers or siblings)
• Not being able to control outcomes or another’s decisions or choices
In these situations, we are inclined to offer rationalization, justification, and protection from life’s futilities.
“What do you mean you don’t like your picture? It’s beautiful!”
“You’re really good at this game.
Let’s play again and maybe this time you’ll win!”
“Oh, you don’t want to play with those kids anyway if they’re not going to invite you.”
Our instinct is to protect our kids, but in our eagerness to do so, it’s also easy to overprotect. We tend to want to shield our kids from all of life’s difficulties. After all, we just want them to be happy.
The thing is, a little discontentment is the very thing
that’s needed when it comes to a child’s development of resilience. The more we try to protect children in difficult situations, the more we send the message we’re afraid they’re unable to handle them.
But they can.
And they will, if they’re given both opportunity and support. Here are four steps to help children develop resilience.
Allow Your Child to Get Frustrated
They must experience adversity, frustration, and mistakes such as those in the examples listed above. There is no way for children to learn how to recover from life’s challenges if they are never in unpleasant situations. So when it happens, resist the inclination to remove hardship and soothe away your child’s unhappy feelings.
Let the events unfold as they will, and allow your child to experience a difficult situation.
Encourage Your Child to Express Their Feelings
Whether they’re due to frustration, anger or sadness, tears are a healthy and necessary step to move towards resiliency. Tears are the manifestation of feelings and allow the brain to process the emotional component of a problem.
Once the emotions are expressed, children are then able to access the areas of the brain that process logic, reasoning, and self-control. These processes are necessary for recovery. They are able to develop a “workaround” and adapt to the futility of the situation.
Acknowledge and Validate Those Feelings
Provide a safe environment for kids to express their feelings by allowing tears, empathizing, and supporting them through their difficult emotions.
Come alongside children with a comforting hug or words of understand-
ing to let them know that their feelings are normal and they’re not going to be shushed, punished, or shamed for them. Let the emotions flow and know that they are helping your child’s brain discover its adaptive process.
Offer nervous system regulation techniques and kid-friendly somatic exercises to help work through uncomfortable situations and keep the energy moving so it doesn’t get stuck in the body.
Offer Encouragement
Help kids through their hardships with acknowledgement of their strengths and capabilities. To raise a resilient child, let him know you trust in his ability to survive. Help him find success after failure.
After the tears have subsided, encouraging words validate kids’ experiences and help them find their own way to move forward.
Empathy is the cornerstone of raising emotionally resilient children. When we acknowledge and validate a child’s feelings, it
helps them feel understood and supported.
Instead of dismissing their fears, actively listen and offer comfort. If your child is anxious about starting school, instead of saying, “There’s nothing to worry about,” try saying, “I understand that starting something new can feel scary. It’s okay to feel that way.”
Make sure they know they can come to you for guidance and support. But always look for situations to allow them to come up with their own solutions and cheer them on:
“I have faith that you’ll figure this out.”
“What are your ideas?”
“Is there a solution that will meet everyone’s needs?”
“Trust yourself; I do.”
As developmental psychologist Dr. Gordon Neufeld says, “We are changed by that which we cannot change.”
When we encounter futility, we adapt. This begins in childhood as kids are exposed to life’s frustrations and are given an environment in which they are free to make mistakes, express their feelings and learn.
Most of all, it is our connected, accepting relationship with our children that will help them grow strong.
Everyday Ways to Build Resilience
Here are a few other things you can do on a regular basis to create a safe, supportive environment and encourage a child’s development of resiliency:
SPEND one-on-one time each day (with a young child), or each week (with an older one). Allow the child to decide the activity, and to take the lead in the topics of conversation. This creates the connection you need for encouraging them to express their feelings.
SUBSTITUTE punishment with problem solving. The unpleasantness of a punishment may work in the short-term, but it is much more effective to teach kids how to own their mistakes and fix them.
INSTEAD of approaching misbehavior with the thought of, “What can I do to you so that you’ll learn a lesson?” approach it with the perspective of, “How can we solve this problem?” This teaches kids that mistakes are fixable and aren’t anything to be feared.
DON’T rescue them from their feelings, but acknowledge all feelings as real and acceptable. They more they are allowed to feel their feelings when they are young, the more capable they will be of understanding and managing them as they get older.
SWITCH from time-outs to time-ins. A time-out is sending a child away to an isolated area to deal with their feelings alone. A time-in, or positive time-out, is a connective moment spent with a child to help them calm down and learn how to regulate their emotions.
MODEL resilience. By modeling resilience in your own behavior, you can teach your child how to handle challenges effectively. When faced with a difficult situation, try to demonstrate positive coping strategies, such as staying calm, focusing on solutions, and maintaining a positive outlook.
Poison Plastic
The more we learn about certain chemicals in plastic, the more parents ask whether PVC (AKA “the poison plastic”) toys are safe.
BY KATHERINE MARTINKO
Their bright colors and interesting shapes and textures please children as much as their affordable prices and durability appeal to adults. The only problem is that many plastic
toys are made from materials that can be harmful to children. And knowing that really takes the fun out of them.
Polyvinyl chloride, also known as PVC, is a particularly troublesome material. It is just one of several types of plastics commonly used to make toys and child care items.
Others include polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP),
polyvinyl chloride (PVC), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and polyurethane (PU) foam. But PVC deserves special attention because of how widespread it is — the third-largest commodity plastic in the world — and what it contains. There is good reason why it has been nicknamed “the poison plastic,” according to Healthy Child Healthy World. In pure form, PVC is odorless, hard, and brittle and does not work very well when exposed to heat or light. It requires additives to improve its performance, which often
include phthalates, a category of chemicals that softens PVC and makes it more pliable.
The Dangers of Pthalates
Phthalates introduce a host of health concerns to anyone handling these toys or other items. They do not bind chemically to their plastic host, but rather float freely. This means they can be released through small cracks or breaks in a product — for example, when a child chews on a toy and scratches its surface. This allows the phthalate to evaporate or leach out, potentially entering the child’s body by way of their mouth.
Children are known to have higher exposure to phthalates than adults, and for their sensitive developing bodies, even low levels of exposure can be harmful. An assessment by the European Commission Scientific Committee on Health and Environmental Risks reported that “the average exposure of children [to DEHP and other phthalates] is known to be approximately twice that of adults.”
This is attributed to babies and toddlers having more hand-to-mouth contact and spending more time sitting on the floor. They may be exposed to vinyl flooring, PVC play mats, or in proximity to accumulated dust that has been contaminated with phthalates from other household sources.
Phthalates are not something any parent wants in their child’s body. These chemicals are known hormone disruptors, impeding natural reproductive development. Exposure has been associated with infertility, low sperm counts and quality, genital malformations, preterm births, birth defects, and a propensity to asthma, obesity, and even lower IQ. They are known to be toxic when they leach into the natural environmental, causing harm to amphibians and other aquatic species.
PVC Regulatory Efforts
Some regulatory efforts have been made to reduce children’s exposure to phthalates in PVC toys. In 2017, the United States’ Consumer Product Safety Commission issued a rule that banned the manufacture, import, or sale of children’s toys that contain more than 0.1% of certain phthalates, with some states like California and Washington creating even tighter rules.
The European Union has banned six phthalates in children’s toys, as has Canada, which restricted specific phthalates DEHP, DINP, DBP, BBP, DNOP, and DIDP in 2010.
Keep in mind, though, that these do not cover all phthalates that exist, and that these regulations do not apply to toys or PVC-made items that are not targeted at children, hence the Canadian government’s recommendation not to “let a child suck or chew on soft plastic products that aren’t intended for children.”
That is why consumers should still “be aware that some soft or flexible plastic products made with PVC may contain phthalates.”
While it is possible to find phthalate-free PVC toys, it is safest to avoid them altogether. According to Toxic-Free Future, all PVC toys and school supplies should be avoided not just for the possible presence of phthalates, but also because they “create toxic threats in manufacturing and disposal.”
Other PVC Problems
That leads to another important point, which is that PVC’s questionable reputation is not due to presence of phthalates alone, but also to its other
additives, manufacturing process, and disposal. Its main ingredient is vinyl chloride, a known carcinogen. It is among the most commonly released industrial chemicals, used almost exclusively in plastics production. Vinyl chloride has been shown by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to leach into groundwater around manufacturing facilities and degrade air quality for nearby residents.
Additional ingredients in PVC are stabilizers such as cadmium, lead, and organotin, as well as toxic flame retardants — also less-than-ideal toy ingredients. PVC is difficult to recycle, too.
PVC is notorious for off-gassing, giving off that plasticky smell that you might associate with a new car or inflatable water toys.
A 2017 German study found three toxic chemical compounds in PVC arm bands used to keep children afloat in a swimming pool. The researchers found that children can absorb these compounds simply by smelling the arm bands’ rubbery odor; and as instinct would suggest, “The more pungent the smell, the higher the risk.” But even once that smell wears off, any damage or normal wear-and-tear can cause PVC gases to continue releasing.
“PVC’s main ingredient is vinyl chloride, a known carcinogen.”
5 Ways to Avoid PVC
Now you know the answer to the question, “Are PVC toys safe?” is a resounding, “No.” Here’s how you can avoid them or limit your child’s exposure to PVC.
1. Don’t Buy PVC Toys or Items
Avoid PVC toys whenever possible. Check the triangular recycling symbol on the bottom. If there is a 3 in the middle, then you know it is made with PVC. If there is a V beneath the recycling number, that stands for vinyl and should also be avoided. Look for labels stating that a toy is PVCfree.
2. Read Labels Carefully
If you must buy a PVC toy for any reason, look for ones with labels that state they are free from phthalates, bisphenol A (BPA), and styrene. This may indicate a toy manufacturer that is taking greater efforts to use cleaner, safer materials. Look for bioplastics, which are starting to replace PVC in some applications; these can be more expensive, due to limited supply and more expensive raw materials, but the higher price is worth the health savings and peace of mind.
3. Save Plastic Toys for Older Kids
If your children have beloved toys made from PVC that they cannot bear to throw away, one option may be to remove them from infant or toddler rooms and save them for use by older children who are less inclined to put the toys in their mouths.
This may reduce the risk of chemical leaching and ingestion. Anything that could go in a child’s mouth should not be made from PVC, or, ideally, any type of plastic at all.
4. Buy Toys Made from Natural, Safer Materials
Seek out alternative materials, such as those made from wood, cloth, wool, metal, natural rubber, or paper. When buying soft dolls or other stuffed toys, ensure that the stuffing material is natural, too.
5. Speak Up and Ask Questions
When in doubt, contact toy manufacturers directly to ask what their products are made of. The more parents who reach out, the more inclined these companies will be to improve their production standards. Become an outspoken advocate for PVC-free toys and play spaces for kids. It is impossible to shop one’s way out of this situation and it is more useful to focus on shaping regulatory changes. Talk to your child’s daycare provider and school to encourage the adoption of a PVC-free policy. Ask for PVC-free toys, school supplies, and green flooring such as natural linoleum. Contact local government representatives to put the pressure on for tighter regulations.
Common Places for PVC
—Some foam play mats
—Plastic dolls
—Some stacking rings and cups
inflatable pool toys, beach balls, and floaties
—Bath toys like rubber ducks and waterproof books
—Action figures and Barbie dolls
—Teething rings
—Yoga balls
—Synthetic erasers
—Backpacks
—Lunch boxes
—Three-ring binders
—Pencil cases
—Modeling clays
—Aprons and smocks
—Cling film for window art projects
With busy schedules and increased screen time, kids are getting less quality sleep. The remedy? Daylight and time spent outdoors to reset the circadian rhythm and improve both the quality and quantity of sleep.
BY LINDA MCGURK
Wild Rhythms
Rhythms
There’s a great deal of information available on the physical and mental health benefits of spending time in nature. So it should be no surprise that the great outdoors can also improve sleep.
Without quality sleep, children’s health and development may suffer, increasing the risk of stress, depression, anxiety, impulsivity and aggressive behavior.
Sleep-deprived children often suffer from a Circadian Rhythm Disorder. And they are more likely to struggle with learning and cognitive functions, like decision making and conflict resolution.
Yet many children are missing out on quality sleep, and the skyrocketing use of melatonin at bedtime (one in five U.S. children regularly takes melatonin for sleep) suggests that they have trouble falling asleep in the first place.
While melatonin might provide a short-time fix, the risks of using this hormone supplement in children long-term are unknown and researchers caution against using it as a first-line treatment.
The good news is that you can still leverage the power of melatonin and other hormones naturally to improve your child’s sleep.
How Much Sleep Kids Need
mendations that can give you an idea of whether your child is getting all the sleep they need in a 24-hour period:
INFANTS
12–16 hours (including naps)
TODDLERS
11–14 hours (including naps)
PRESCHOOLERS
10–13 hours (including naps)
SCHOOL AGE
6–12 years: 9–12 hours
TEENS
8–10 hours
While all children are individuals with different needs, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issues general age group recom-
However, when the CDC surveyed parents across the U.S. on their children’s sleep habits, they found that, on average, over one in three children aged four months to 14 years falls
short of the recommendations. Boys and girls were equally short on sleep, but the prevalence of sleep deprivation varied significantly from state to state, ranging from one in four children in Minnesota to over half of the surveyed children in Mississippi. The CDC has also found that six in ten middle schoolers and seven in ten high schoolers are not getting enough sleep.
The Circadian Rhythm
The key to improving your child’s sleep schedule is to understand that humans, like most living beings, run on so called
circadian rhythms. These physiological changes operate on a 24-hour cycle and are controlled by the hypothalamus in the brain, which works as a master clock.
Circadian rhythms can affect body temperature, digestion and hormone levels, including melatonin, the hormone that regulates our natural sleepwake cycle. This biological cycle is individual and varies with age, which means that there is no one-bedtime-fitsall.
enough z’s is essential. And the most powerful tool at your disposal is daylight.
Natural daylight regulates the production and release of melatonin, helping your child align their circadian rhythm. This in turn helps them go to sleep earlier and sleep longer, as well as get higher-quality sleep.
“The key to improving your child’s sleep is to understand that humans run on circadian rhythms.”
Just like adults, some children are more prone to be alert in the morning whereas others thrive at night. Adolescents tend to fall into the latter group, since their bodies generally run on a later circadian rhythm than younger children and adults. In children with neurological differences such as ADHD and autism, the body sometimes produces less melatonin than normal, which can disrupt their circadian rhythm. This is important because proper sleep can improve brain performance in children with ADHD.
If you find that your child often resists going to bed or has problems settling and falling asleep, it may simply be because their bedtime is out of sync with their inner circadian rhythm. One study showed that toddlers who were put in bed before their natural rise in melatonin had begun took the longest to settle and go to sleep. To help improve your child’s sleep, you could either adjust their bedtime to when they are physiologically more ready for it, or you could try to reset your child’s circadian rhythm.
Resetting with Daylight
Aside from drowsiness, long-term disruptions to our circadian rhythms can lead to a host of health problems, so helping your child get
The bright, white light of the morning hours has the best effect when it comes to advancing bedtime, so try to get outside early if you can. Direct sun exposure isn’t necessary – you just need to get out the door. If you can and want to, try taking your child camping. Studies show that sleeping outside for just a couple of days can do magic in terms of resetting our circadian rhythm.
Artificial Light is the Enemy of Good Sleep
Just like daylight can promote wakefulness during the day and sleepiness at night, the artificial light that most children are exposed to today can have the opposite effect.
Normally, melatonin levels rise at night when there is less incoming light, making the child feel drowsy and tired, but with artificial light these natural responses are disrupted.
The blue light from electronic devices is especially potent when it comes to suppressing melatonin and confuse our circadian rhythms, so turning off phones, computers, TVs and tablets an hour or so ahead of bedtime is a good idea to avoid sleep disruptions. You can also try dimming the lights in the house to signal to your child’s brain that it is time to start winding down.
Outdoor Napping
If exposure to daylight can help your child sleep better at night, what could sleeping outside during the day possibly do for their circadian rhythm? More than you may think. While outdoor napping is still a rarity in the U.S., it is far more commonplace in the Nordic countries, where parents believe it makes their babies and toddlers more alert, improves their appetites and enhances the quality of their sleep.
Research on outdoor napping is scant, but a Finnish study did confirm that babies take longer and deeper daytime naps when they sleep outside. The benefits of letting your baby nap outdoors don’t end there.
Newborns don’t have an established circadian rhythm and often confuse their nights and days in the first 3-4 months of life. Outdoor napping is a surefire way to ensure that they receive the daylight exposure they need to develop and sustain a regular circadian rhythm.
tentedly note that, “they’re going to sleep well tonight.”
Physical activity in general and outdoor play in particular is linked to longer sleep duration and more efficient sleep, which is a way to describe how much of the time that a child spends in their bed they are actually asleep. When children play outdoors, their bodies release soothing endorphins that reduce stress and help them feel relaxed. Just like daylight, physical activity also increases the nighttime melatonin levels naturally.
Nourishing Sleep After Outdoor Play
There is a reason why parents watching their children wear themselves out on the monkey bars or race around on their bikes often con-
Rest assured that you don’t need to plan out a hardcore exercise program to get your child active outside – children’s activity level tends to be higher when they are allowed to engage in good old unstructured play.
Making the Connection
If your child is having trouble falling and staying asleep, or simply doesn’t get enough sleep, you may very well find that the answer to your woes is found in their circadian rhythm. By learning more about your child’s individual biological clock and realigning it through plenty of daylight exposure and physical activity, you set them up for healthy habits and more harmonious bedtimes. The best part? As long as you avoid excessive sun exposure, being outdoors has virtually no side effects!
COSTUME SWAP HALLOWEEN
A Halloween costume swap is a genius way to keep your Halloween affordable and green. You’re probably already doing a version of it by passing along outgrown costumes. Make it a small party or a larger community gathering if you have the time and energy to organize it. Whichever option you choose, here’s how to manage it.
SECURE A LOCATION
A local park makes the perfect outdoor location for kids. Your local library might have a meeting room if the weather is unpredictable. For a small gathering among people you know, you can always host in your home or backyard. A larger gathering will result in more costumes for participants to choose, so keep that in mind.
SPREAD THE WORD
For a small party, you can text, email, or evite your friends. For a larger gathering, make signs for community spaces or start a social media event and encourage people to share. Some of the swapping can happen via the group page for those who can’t attend in person or who are looking for a very specific item.
SET A DATE AND TIME
The last Saturday in September typically gives everyone enough time to work out their kids’ costume details before the big night arrives. It’s also a great time to start getting in the mood for Halloween.
Set the Rules
Make sure the rules are clear. Depending on the attendance and sizes, it’s possible not everyone will go home with their child’s ideal costume. Participants bring the costumes or dress-up items they’re willing to part with. If they bring one costume, they can leave with one costume. If they bring one wig, they can take one accessory, etc. The more you do it, the better you’ll get at creating clear rules.
COLLECT AND ORGANIZE
Most people will bring their own costume to the party and leave with another, while others are happy to donate without attending the event. Offer a drop-off location for these items, or have some friends help collect them. Be sure to spread the word that costumes are accepted without attending. You’ll end up with more options. And speaking of options, you don’t have to bring only store-bought costumes to the swap. If you got creative with DIY in the past, bring those pieces and accessories. Or share outgrown elements from your child’s dressup cache to share with other parents. An old dance recital tutu might be the piece another child needs for a fairy costume.
START A SOCIAL MEDIA GROUP
Swap Away
Make it a fun setting for kids, but don’t feel like you have to make it a Halloween party. The goal is to reduce waste— not create more. Borrow tables or clothing racks so participants can see the options. If there’s a way to safely hang a mirror, that can help kids get excited about their “new” costumes. Miranda Jones organizes her homeschool group’s costume swap every year and shares this advice: “We’ve got a naturally creative group of kids who rarely get their hearts set on being a single character. They’ll combine cowboy boots with an alien head or create a ninja-minion costume. It’s so fun to see what they come up with, and it usually means they don’t go home disappointed.”
If you get the vibe that no one has time to attend an in-person event in your area, turn your group into a marketplace-style costume swap. There’s no charge, and people can post costume photos along with sizing info, and other group members claim what they want. Allow participants to interact as they would in a swap or “buy nothing new” group.
ARE SOLAR PARKING LOTS THE FUTURE ?
Sunny Side Up
The shift toward renewable energy has gained momentum in recent years, with solar power leading the charge as one of the fastest-growing energy sources in the United States. One of the more recent innovations could combine clean energy generation with accommodation and protection for vehicles.
BY NICK SOPKO
THE RISE OF SOLAR POWER IN THE U.S.
With over 700,000 home solar systems installed in 2022, the US has been steadily increasing its transition to solar power. The following year saw an additional increase, contributing to a national solar capacity that can meet the energy needs of 25 million homes. Several benefits to help with the overall cost have also been implemented.
According to a report by Market Watch, homeowners who invest in solar panels can achieve a payback period of less than six years, especially in areas with high electricity tariffs. High-quality solar panels also offer a product warranty of 25-30 years, making them a viable option for long-term investment. These investment benefits coupled with the reduced carbon emissions help new customers afford the transition period.
However, one of the most important decisions when transitioning to solar energy is determining the best location for the photovoltaic (PV) array and inverter. While roof-mounted systems are the most popular choice, an alternative solution is gaining traction known as solar carports.
THE BENEFITS OF SOLAR PANEL PARKING LOTS
Solar panel parking lots, also known as solar carports, are canopies fitted with photovoltaic panels, installed over parking areas to provide shaded parking while generating electricity. They operate similarly to ground-mounted PV sys-
tems but use taller structures to accommodate vehicles. Rooftop installations tend to be constrained by the orientation and tilt of the existing roof, while solar carports can be designed to maximize sunlight exposure. This utilization also removes the need to place loads of solar panels on large spans of farmland or surrounding nature.
The growing interest in solar carports has led to large-scale projects such as the solar carport canopy at JFK International Airport in New York. According to an article by Electrek, this project is New York State’s largest onsite solar plus storage initiative, providing covered parking for 3,000 vehicles and generating enough electricity to power the AirTrain and surrounding low-income neighborhoods.
Once operational, the 12-megawatt (MW) solar canopy at JFK will reduce CO2 emissions by more than 6,000 tons annually, which is equal to the emissions from around 1,500 gas cars per year. The project will also include a 6-MW community solar generation facility and 7.5 MW of battery storage, which will help ensure a steady supply of energy during peak usage periods.
This project also demonstrates the potential of solar carports to provide economic opportunities and energy savings to disadvantaged communities. Kevin O’Toole, chairman of the Port Authority, described how the project aligns with the agency’s commitment to reaching net-zero emissions by 2050, making sustainability a priority of future infrastructure development.
THE CHALLENGES AND
COSTS
OF SOLAR CAR PORTS
One of the main drawbacks of the initiative is the cost. According to MarketWatch, solar carports are typically more expensive than traditional rooftop solar installations, with an average cost of $3.31 per watt compared to $2.81 per watt for rooftop systems. This 18% cost difference is due to the need for a dedicated structure to support the panels, thus adding to the overall installation expenses.
For example, a 6-kilowatt (kW) solar panel carport can cost around $19,860, compared to $16,860 for a similarly sized rooftop system. However, some states offer specific incentives for solar carports. New York’s NY-Sun Megawatt Block Program and Massachusetts’ SMART Program provide bonus incentives, which help lower the cost of the initial investment. This allows the solar carports to be implemented in a variety of settings, from shopping centers and office complexes to residential areas and schools.
Another challenge comes with the potential for solar carports to contribute to energy storage solutions. By pairing solar panels with battery storage
systems, excess energy generated during the day can be stored and used during peak demand periods. This could also be used for electric vehicles, allowing on-site recharging, reducing strain on the grid, and promoting clean energy for transportation.
The decision for cities to invest in a solar carport would need to be based on individual circumstances, including budget, available space, and energy needs. With the right incentives and design approach, solar carports can be one of the leading innovations in the transition to renewable energy by offering both environmental and economic benefits.
SOIL SAVVY
SAVVY
Regenerative agriculture isn’t exactly a new philosophy, but the natural farming method recently moved back into the spotlight and its many benefits (like restoring soil health) can be felt for generations.
BY KATY CODEKAS
Regenerative agriculture is a natural farming method that focuses on restoring soil health. Rich, replenished soil can improve food nutrition, support biodiversity, and ease the effects of climate change.
This isn’t exactly a new philosophy. Regenerative practices have been used for generations, long before factory farms and mono-crop systems came into style. With a sustainable approach, this type of land management was used by Indigenous Americans well before European settlers arrived.
“Nearly every other solution to the climate, water, biodiversity, and human health crises are just a way to go off the proverbial cliff slower,” explains Finian Makepeace, Co-Founder of Kiss the Ground and Producer of Kiss the Ground and Common Ground.
“Regenerative Agriculture, rebuilding our soils and recreating the functioning of our ecosystems and water cycles to their highest state, completely changes the options of our future. We can do it, we can regenerate the earth! And, it’s good for everyone as well as the economy.”
The Benefits
As Finian explains, the positive
impacts of soil regeneration can be felt world-wide as land managers large and small make holistic changes to their farming and gardening.
Improving soil health can increase food production as well as combat the effects of climate change since healthy soil stores more carbon dioxide. And food grown in depleted soil is not as vitamin and mineral-rich as food grown in healthy soil.
Some other benefits of leaning into this method are:
• Balanced ecosystems
• Enhanced biodiversity
• Improved farm productivity
• Reduced greenhouse gas emissions
• More nutritious foods
• Long-term land health
• Reduced need for chemical use
• Sustainable global food system
• Regional food and water security
• Increased resilience to fire, drought, and flooding
• Stability in supply chains
The Six Principles
Allow us to introduce the rulebook.
Context
Every farm is unique. Regenerating land depends on various factors like environment, crops, livestock, and resources. A holistic approach is essential.
Least Disturbance
Practices like no-till farming, reduced chemical use, and minimizing soil compaction help maintain soil health.
Living Roots
Keeping roots in the ground maximizes photosynthesis, feeding soil microbes and improving soil structure.
Armor the Soil
Protect the soil with cover crops, crop residue, mulch, or wood chips to prevent erosion and maintain a stable temperature.
Increase Biodiversity
A diverse mix of plants and animals enhances both aboveand below-ground ecosystems, making the land more resilient.
Animal Integration
Animals play a crucial role in nutrient cycling and regenerating landscapes.
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Key Practices for Soil Regeneration
These regenerative soil practices are intended to be as similar to nature as possible and are managed in a way that allows flexibility while considering the entire ecosystem. Regenerative agriculture is similar to permaculture (a way to grow food while working with nature instead of against it) but focuses specifically on soil health for farm production.
No Tillage
The practice of not tilling leaves the soil undisturbed, which prevents erosion and keeps the organic matter dispersed in the soil. This leaves the living roots intact in the soil with diverse crop rotations, making for nutrient rich soil.
Cover Crops
Planting cover crops like legumes and grasses that are intended to cover and return nutrients to the soil rather than for harvest helps prevent soil erosion, and increases soil fertility. They add organic matter back into the soil, and retain water making for a healthy ecosystem and nutrient dense soil. Using cover crops and crop rotation helps reduce weeds and the need for chemicals too!
Avoid Chemicals
Using herbicides and pesticides kills so many organisms that are needed for healthy and fertile soil. While it may kill pests and weeds, another problem is that some of them are proven to cause cancer in humans. Using companion planting and other natural methods to control pests allows a balanced ecosystem without the use of harmful chemicals. It also allows beneficial insects to thrive, while producing healthier food. Chemical-free farming is also a huge benefit to the environment!
Planned Grazing
Planned grazing is an important part of regenerative agriculture for farms with livestock. It essentially mimics natural livestock grazing patterns, improving grass and soil health. It makes livestock a work-
Try This at Home
Small scale ways to support the movement at home.
1. Plant diverse garden crops with a companion planting method, so no tilling is required.
2. Plant cover crops every other row, or one garden bed at a time to maximize living roots in your soil.
3. Create a pollinator garden to help beneficial insects thrive.
4. Compost to add to your soil health.
5. Feed your soil with compost tea.
6. Plant trees and shrubs to provide nesting space for birds.
7. Provide a water source for insects and birds, like a bee bath, bird bath, or pond. Dragonflies, birds, and fish will help reduce unwanted
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SAVE THESE FALL DINNER IDEAS!
Conscious Kitchen
These cozy fall recipes are the perfect complement to the crisp, cool air that’s on its way.
Butternut Squash Wheat Berry Risotto
RECIPE BY JOVIAL FOODS SERVES 4
Combined with roasted butternut squash, this risotto is irresistible right out of the pan. The final texture of the wheat berries has a satisfying crispness, and all of the classic comfort of warm, creamy risotto.
6 cups vegetable or chicken stock
1 cup wheat berries (try Jovial Einkorn Wheat Berries)
4 cups butternut squash (cubed) (600g peeled and cut)
2 tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 cup grated Parmigiano Reggiano
4 tablespoons butter, divided
10 fresh sage leaves
¼ cup pine nuts
Salt
PREHEAT an oven to 410° F. Dry toast the wheat berries in a pot on medium heat for a minute or until fragrant. Transfer to a bowl and cover with water and set aside to soak. Heat the broth in a pot and leave to maintain its temperature at a low heat on the stove.
CUT a small butternut squash into ½-inch cubes, coat with 2 tablespoons of olive oil and salt to taste. Place in the preheated oven on a tray lined with parchment paper for about 20-30 minutes, or until soft and slightly browned.
IN A BLENDER combine 1/3 of the cooked butternut squash and 1 cup of broth. Blend until smooth.
DRAIN the wheat berries and put them in a pot along with the blended mixture and another cup of broth. Turn the heat to medium and let simmer for about 35-40 minutes, adding broth whenever the liquid in the pot is almost absorbed.
WHILE the risotto cooks, in a small pot melt 3 tablespoons of butter. Once melted add the sage, pine nuts and a pinch of salt. Let cook on medium/low heat until the ingredients are toasted and fragrant and the butter has browned (making sure it does not burn).
ONCE the wheat berries are fully cooked and tender, turn off the heat and add in 1 tablespoon of butter and the grated Parmigiano cheese. Stir until fully incorporated.
SERVE warm and top each plate with some of the browned butter, sage, pine nuts, and leftover roasted butternut squash. Enjoy!
RECIPE BY MISTY BELL STIERS
Author of Light, Fire, and Abundance
SERVES 6
Cauliflower Poblano Enchiladas
FILLING
2 medium cauliflower heads
1 teaspoon cumin powder
1 teaspoon coriander powder
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1 teaspoon chipotle chili powder
1/2 teaspoon cayenne powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
3 tablespoons olive oil, or more if needed to cover cauliflower
1 1/2 cups shredded white cheddar cheese
1 shallot or 1/2 onion, finely diced
PREHEAT oven to 425°F.
REMOVE cauliflower stems and clean off all green leaves. Chop the cauliflower into small, bite-size pieces.
IN A SMALL BOWL, combine the cumin, coriander, paprika, chipotle chili powder, cayenne, salt, and pepper.
SPREAD the chopped cauliflower across a large baking sheet and drizzle with olive oil. Sprinkle the spice mix on top.
ROAST the cauliflower until tender to the touch and the edges start to get crispy, 25 to 30 minutes.
WHILE cauliflower is roasting, cook the poblano chili pepper for sauce until blackened and blistered. Remove pepper from heat and place it in a bowl with a towel covering it to allow it to continue to steam. Once cool, rub the blistered skin off the pepper and seed it.
WHEN the cauliflower has finished roasting, place it in a large bowl and add the white cheddar and diced shallot or onion. Stir well and set aside. Leave the oven on.
MELT butter, add shallot and stir for about 3 minutes, until the shallot begins to soften.
SAUCE
1 poblano chili pepper
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 shallot, finely diced
2 1/2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 1/4 cups chicken or vegetable broth or stock
1/2 cup sour cream1 teaspoon coriander powder
Salt and pepper to taste
FOR SERVING
6 medium tortillas (corn or flour)
Shredded cheddar cheese (optional)
Fresh cilantro
Chopped green onions
WHISK in the flour to make a roux.
REMOVE the sauce from the heat and add the finely chopped poblano, sour cream, coriander, salt, and pepper while continuing to whisk until smooth and combined.
LIGHTLY grease a baking dish and pour 1/3 cup of poblano sauce into the bottom of the pan.
WRAP 1/3 cup cauliflower filling into each tortilla and place each seam side down in the pan.Once all the enchiladas are filled and in the pan, pour the remaining sauce over them.
COVER with foil and bake for 20 minutes, then remove the foil and bake another 15 minutes, adding some cheddar to the top.
TOP with cilantro and green onions.
Making Dirt
BY ANDREW SPRUNG
We throw our veggie garbage in a magic transformation bin (that is, a giant, well-sealed box where so-called compost sits and cooks).
In go carrot and potato peel, onion skin and cold oatmeal, apple cores and melon rinds and other scraps of various kinds, mixed with dried up leaves and grass. All in one big tangled mass that sits for weeks and settles down, softens, crumbles, and turns brown. We dump it out and spread it round our little garden, row by row where it helps make new veggies grow. Nothing dies, but all things change: Compost, like life itself, is strange.