I am passionate about being Eco-Friendly in every sense of the word. I have always liked to read labels on foods since I was very young. Today I read labels on everything; in products I buy online, in my furniture, in materials I use or put on my body and the items that I purchase for my kids. I am not going to tell you that everything I purchase is Eco-Friendly because it is not. We live in a world where we can’t fully control that everything be natural and free of toxins. At least, I cannot. Everything today has labels so that we can see/read what we are consuming. So many products and items that we live with do have toxins and are not environmentally friendly.
As I say, you choose your toxins and you decide what you put in your body. Personally, I like to know what I am purchasing and I try my best to purchase products that are environmentally friendly in regards to products and foods for my home. To give you an example, a few years ago, my husband and I were buying a dining table set; it was gorgeous and very pricy. The saleswoman who helped us sold us on all the wonderful specs, she said it was made in the US, all original wood; it was custom, everything I wanted to hear. Although, it was expensive we decided to purchase it because it was so well made and we thought we were buying a quality piece. When the delivery came to my house, I was so excited; I worked from home that day so I could personally receive the delivery. To my surprise as the men were building the table, I see that what she sold me on was not true. It was not made in the US, it was made in China and it had that label we now see in so many things; “WARNING: This product contains chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm.” I was so disappointed I told the delivery crew to stop building it and take it back. Why would I pay thousands of dollars for something that is harmful to my family, we would eat there daily at least twice a day. This is not okay and it was not the first time I saw the warning label. Every time I go to HomeGoods/Marshalls, I look at furniture and items and sometimes see that same warning. So Moms and Dads, check your labels because at the end of the day, there is a reason the information is there.
Today, we live in an ever changing world, with so much technology and advancements in Science. We have a population that continues to grow and needs to be supported by its rapid growth with food, products and our everyday needs. Our agriculture and our need to advance it and reproduce it has also changed.
My focus and recommendation is to educate yourself, read your labels not just in foods but in everything you buy. I know today we are so used to having everything so fast, everything is instant gratification but take the time to educate yourself and read what you are putting in your home. Do not loose sight of your families Eco-System.
I let my kids enjoy the things they want to try and eat, they are kids but it is important to also share with them the importance of eating healthy and being a good citizen to our environment. Take the time to read labels with them and understand what you are putting in your body and home. Show them and tell them why you do not buy certain products they want. I know that many of us say the following because I have heard it so much and I have also said it myself. “I grew up eating this and that and I turned out fine.” Moms and Dads, please know this and do your own research, the fact is that our children are not growing up in the same environment you did X amount of years ago. Maybe it was better or worse but it was not the same. We grew up in a different time with different foods and products being produced.
I am not an expert in this subject matter but I am very passionate and interested in it because it involves our future and our Eco-System. I invite you learn more about what you are giving your children; we have the world in our hands. We as parents are also responsible for what they are putting in their body so read the labels.
I recommend that you learn more about GMOs in your foods. GMO is an abbreviation for Genetically Modified Organisms. GMO is an organism that has been altered through genetic engineering. You can research GMO’s online but what I would recommend is to buy NON-GMO foods. You will see the seal on many items today. What this means is that the food/item has not been genetically modified. I purchase NON-GMO products when I can. To learn more about NON-GMO Verified foods you can go to their website, I have listed it below. Also so that you know, USDA Organic Foods are already required to NOT be genetically modified, hence many times they do not have the NON-GMO seal, sometimes they do. I do not buy everything organic but I do prefer to have foods that are NON-GMO because I do not want to give my children foods that have been genetically modified.
To learn more, check out the below website and organization that focuses on the NON-GMO Verified Project.
Diana Duran
Social Moms and Dads
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