Cancer, Autism, Chemicals, Oh my!

This is now posted on McDonalds items in California. Sick! My thoughts on this....

It is our job, as caregivers, to make choices for our children that they can't make for themselves. Food is a big part of this. Now, we do have toddlers, and they have a say (a strong say at times) on their preferences.... and we can choose our battles. My goal as a mommy and caregiver is to protect the kids from all harmful things.... but let's be honest they are EVERYWHERE! Chemicals are in our food, in our plastics, in our plants and grass, in our medicines, our drinks, our water, our air! I can't protect from everything, but I sure can try! Disclaimer here....We DO eat McDonalds.... it is a parent choice I choose on nights of convenience. It is not often, but it is there, and I don't feel any more guilty than letting them play in the grass or breathe the air. Here is a list of my contributions, mild, but every effort counts! :)

1. I NEVER microwave in plastics. ALWAYS glass. Stupid BPA.

2. I cook home cooked meals as often as I can.

3. I battle my husband (the man who wants the BEST grass on the block) about TrueGreen where my children play. We can have the best FRONT yard, yes? :)

4. I do major research on any insecticides or bug spraying we do.

5. I clean with vinegar. My thumb-sucking baby's hands CRAWL on these floors, I don't want chemicals on them! AND I clean when the babies are sleeping. I do clean bathrooms and kitchens with stronger chemicals like bleach, and I don't want it airborne while they are walking around breathing!

6. I actually wash fruit with soap. It takes a little longer, and, truth be told, I don't know if there is soap residue that is bad to eat....but the word pesticide freaks me out!

7. If anything says "whole grain", "natural", "organic", or other word that makes me feel like I might better understand the ingredients in it, I prefer it to the alternative. Sometimes it can be more money, but at times, this is okay with me.

8. I buy our milk from Sams. Sam's milk is hormone free.... without the added costs of the organic milks. Other milks say, "no significant difference has been shown in milk from cows treated with artificial growth hormone rBST and non rBST treated cows." As someone who has to constantly watch what she puts in her body due to breastfeeding, I can't imagine what the cows put in their bodies aren't significant!

9. NO diet items for my babes. Nothing with "light" or "diet" in the title for them. What is aspartame anyways? Can't be good.

10. While I'm pregnant, I don't pump gas. I clean with gloves on. I touch all meats and dirt with gloves on. Things can be absorbed through the skin and I have NO idea what is causing the rise in autism.... but any teacher would do what she can to prevent this!!

11. I alter my kids immunization schedule slightly. The immunizations are a standard dose. I don't want to give my 7 lb infant a dose intended for an infant up to 12 lbs! I wait until they are the appropriate weight and then give it. Not all immunizations are "merisol" or "metal" free.... this is concerning to me. I still think they trump actually getting the preventable disease, but something I want to be educated on.

You may think I'm crazier now.... but a crazy lady who cares about kids and what they are exposed to! OR you may think my efforts are minor or silly. Perhaps, but it's more about me and my peace of mind and this does it for me! :)