Whole Grain Momma

I know most of us probably do not want to think about where our food is coming from but now a days with all these food borne illnesses it's important to understand how your food is grown and where it comes from. Will this make a difference in the food choices you make? Who knows it might not make a difference at all but at least you will be a little more informed about the growing practices and the places your food is coming from. Sadly enough we have been brainwashed by society to buy cheap and in bulk with no regards to where the food is coming from and how it is produced.

So how can you make an informed decision before you head out to your nearest shop in bulk store and stock up on all that processed food and pesticide contaminated produce?? Here are a few suggestions!

1. Find out what is in season before you buy it. Make sure you buy produce that is in season otherwise you have to wonder where this is being shipped from and how it is being processed to maintain its freshness. Here's a link to find out what's in season: http://www.sustainabletable.org/shop/eatseasonal/.

2. Buy from your local farmers market when possible. Not only are you buying directly from the food source but you are also helping the local economy.

3. Go Organic! Organically grown food is grown without pesticides, chemical fertilizers, and fungicides which have been linked to cancer and many other diseases. (You can find out here ( http://www.foodnews.org/fulllist.php) which fruits and veggies have the highest levels of pesticides).

4. Grow your own. If you have the time and the space how about starting your own small garden? Start with something small and manageable. Do research on the types of things that grow well in your area. This is doable even if you live in a small apartment or don't have a backyard. Container gardening is a great option for these types of situations ( http://containergardeningtips.com/) as well as an aero garden.

If you want to learn more about where you food comes from you can check out the following links:

http://www.thefutureoffood.com/

There are so many ways you can clean around your home without having to use harsh chemicals or without having to spend money on organic cleaners. Look around your kitchen and I am sure you probably have the following items: White vinegar, baking soda, salt, and lemons. All of these things have multiple uses around the house.

White vinegar is great for killing bacteria, germs and mold. It can be used as a fabric softener when mixed with 1/2 cup of water as well. Want to get rid of rings in the toilet?? Guess what.. three cups of white vinegar poured in the toilet and three poured into the tank once a week will clean that up in no time!

What about Baking Soda? What can that be used for? Believe it or not the sodium bicarbonate can clear up clogged drains. I don't know about you but this is a biggie in our house due mostly to my hair washing! Just dump a cup of baking soda followed by a cup of white vinegar a few times down your drain to fix the problem. Need to clean your microwave? Boil 2 tablespoons of baking soda in a mug with water inside the microwave and then simply wipe the gunk off without having to do any scrubbing!

Have some lemons laying around? You can easily use them to scrub your dishes by cutting them in half and sprinkling some baking soda on them. Lemons can also be used as a natural furniture polish when combined with olive oil ( one cup of lemon juice for every 2 cups of olive oil).

Need to get rid of some of those salt bottles you've had for years hiding in the back of the pantry? Put them to good use! Sprinkle some salt in the laundry starch to keep the iron from sticking to your clothes. Rub it on cups and mugs to remove nasty coffee and tea stains.

These are just some of the ways you can move away from using toxic household cleaners while saving yourself a few bucks as well.

Have any other tips you want to share? Feel free to leave a comment and let us know!