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Healthy Living, Less Judgment

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  • Home
  • Book
  • Categories
    • Healthy Living
    • Mommy Greenest Approved
    • Eco Beauty & Fashion
    • Natural Parenting
    • Latest Buzz
    • Green News & Events
  • Mommy Greenest Guides
    • Guide to Going Green
    • Guide to Eco-Friendly Fashion
    • Guide to Healthy Eating
    • Guide to Natural Parenting & Pregnancy
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    • Guide to Healthy Cleaning
  • About
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  • little brunette girl in pink outfit and purple cap and gloves holding marigold and purple spade
    Healthy Living

    How to Garden Without Pesticides

    March 7, 2014 /

    Where do kids in your neighborhood like to play? If they’re anything like mine, it’s probably on grass. But yards and gardens can be tainted by pesticides that are dangerous to children’s health—not to mention, pets! There are about 30 different pesticides commonly used in the United States; of these 19 are considered carcinogenic, 13 have been linked to birth defects, 21 are associated with reproductive problems, 15 with neurotoxicity and 11 are hormone disruptors—and that’s just a partial list. Pesticides are linked to a host of childhood illnesses—including cancer. In 1987, the National Cancer Institute found that the risk of childhood leukemia increased more than six times when garden…

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    Rachel Sarnoff 2 Comments

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    Cheap Organic Food Delivered. Yes, Really.

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    How To Break Packaged Snacks Addiction

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  • african american family enjoying salad and other healthy meal items
    Natural Parenting

    5 Rules to a Healthy Eating Habit

    May 7, 2013 /

    My kids are sick of healthy eating. They don’t want organic soybean butter and Farmer’s Market fig jam sandwiches, they want Lunchables: crackers, processed cheese, salty disks that pass for lunch meat and a whole lot of chemicals wrapped up in a plastic box. My younger daughter confessed she dumps the organic carrot sticks the trash (and I thought the ranch dip was decadent). My oldest has been trading her edamame for candy. Forget the veggie chips I carefully stowed in wax paper bags—heaven for these children would be to open up their lunch boxes and spy a bright-orange bag of Flamin’ Hot Cheetos.

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    Rachel Sarnoff 11 Comments

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    5 Tips to Fight Air Pollution—And Asthma

    April 13, 2013
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    3 Steps to Avoid Flame Retardants

    May 1, 2013
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    3 Questions to Ask if You’re Pregnant

    April 4, 2014
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    Healthy Living

    Body by Vegan

    April 16, 2013 /

    A few years ago, a friend forwarded me a picture of Alicia Silverstone. The subject line was simple: body by vegan. It got my attention. Because even though I try to exercise two or three times a week, there remains that stubborn five pounds of fat that took hold right below my belly button while I was pregnant and never came off. Now I know that I’m active and healthy, and I knock wood daily for that. But there is a vain teenager inside of every woman. And on the day that my friend sent me Alicia Silverstone’s picture, that teen spoke up. I wanted to have a body by…

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    Rachel Sarnoff 10 Comments

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    Must-Know Guide to Carbon Offsets & Global Warming

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    Healthy Living

    Great Garlic Made Easy

    April 14, 2013 /

    Everything is better with garlic—even your health. Studies prove the herb can reduce high blood pressure and fight off infections; some even show evidence that fresh garlic can kill antibiotic-resistant staph, E. coli and salmonella bacteria. Who knew? The best way to get garlic into your diet is to keep it pre-prepared so that you don’t have to stink up your hands each time you want to cook with it.

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    Natural Parenting

    2 Tricks to Ditch Dangerous Pesticides

    April 14, 2013 /

    Think “dirty dozen” and you might see a grainy picture of a gun-toting Charles Bronson in your head. Now flash-forward 40 years and update Chuck’s picture as surrounded by a cornucopia of pesticide laden fruits and vegetables. This is today’s “dirty dozen,” the 12 fruits and vegetables that contain the highest concentrations of pesticides, as identified by the Environmental Working Group. Why should you care? Because pesticides have been linked to cancer, among other things. Because, pound for pound, your kids absorb way more of them than you do.

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    Rachel Sarnoff 29 Comments

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    Jenny McCarthy’s opinion about parenting inevitably circles back to one idea: vaccinations cause autism. But the facts prove she's wrong—and dangerous.

    Jenny McCarthy is Viewless on Vaccinations

    July 19, 2013
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    5 Rules to a Healthy Eating Habit

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    Head Lice Repelling Secrets, Revealed

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    3 Facts to Face About GMO Foods

    April 14, 2013 /

    People often ask me, “What is GMO” and “What’s so bad about GMO foods?” I’m not an expert by any means, but here’s my answer: Genetically engineered foods—also known as genetically modified organisms or GMO foods (it’s basically two ways of saying the same thing)—begin as plants that have had their DNA changed in a laboratory. That would be fine—I’m no science-phobe—except for the fact that most of these changes involve pesticides, herbicides and insecticides.

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    Rachel Sarnoff 18 Comments

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    Healthy Living

    Healthy Children, Less Judgement

    April 13, 2013 /

    How do you raise a healthy child? Once upon a time I stumbled upon this author who was looking for eco experts to comment for a book she’s writing about parenting healthy children. And here’s what she wanted to know: How does one plant a garden for a new eater—like squash, potatoes, etc.—so that the little budding veggies would come up at the same time as the child’s little budding incisors? And I thought: What the f*&k? Has this woman even had a child?

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Welcome! I created this blog in 2008 as a resource for healthier living with less judgment. I'm a mother of three, former journalist, and co-founder of the (shuttered, sniff) sustainable beauty and fashion site EcoStiletto. I was Executive Director of the nonprofits The 5 Gyres Institute and Healthy Child Healthy World and appeared as a sustainable lifestyle expert on "The "TODAY Show" and "CNN Headline News," among others. Oh, and have you checked out my TEDx talks: Trash is Ruining Recycling and Can One Straw Change The World? Today, you can find me here. Let's keep in touch! xoRachel

https://youtu.be/sOol1MIgois

rachellincolnsarnoff

This week, I received a beautiful card from a frie This week, I received a beautiful card from a friend whom I’ve only known through a zoom screen. Her words of encouragement could not have been better timed, as I’m wrestling a massive, sticky octopus of a new plot and had been wondering if I should just let it swim back into its inky, anonymous cloud. Getting this card was the push I needed to hold on. So today, I’m sending words of encouragement to another writer whom I know primarily through screens, and hoping she’ll pass it on, too. There’s something about the surprise of a message facilitated by ink and paper and a stamp that resonates more strongly than an email. Do you agree? #AmWriting #Writing #WritingCommunity #PacificMFA
What if you could wash your hair just once a month What if you could wash your hair just once a month? New MG story up — link in bio! #hair #hairstyle #ecohair #ecostyle
This has always been a challenging day for me, as This has always been a challenging day for me, as it is for so many of us who grew up without or have challenging relationships with their mothers. From kindergarten on, the week before was filled with questions and activities designed to honor a person who was not present in my life, and that reminder was a special kind of pain, like a shard of glass in your sole that shifts every so often into something sharp. The feeling softened as I became a mother, and is changing again as my children leave the nest — today, it’s just my youngest and me. But there is also sweetness in annually honoring all the amazing and generous women and men who have mothered me and taught me how to mother — some are mothers, and some love with a mother’s heart. I believe that we choose our own families — sometimes they’re connected by blood, but not always. If this day is difficult, please remember to honor and nurture yourself through it. For me, this means writing about these feelings, until I’ve worked out the glass and it can no longer make me bleed. #amwriting #writer #writersofinstagram
Happy trails to you… #lakearrowhead #arrowhead # Happy trails to you… #lakearrowhead #arrowhead #mountains #mountainlife #treehugger
Honored and inspired by last night’s conversatio Honored and inspired by last night’s conversation with Shannon Perry about her incredible vision and execution on @cityofsantamonica #sustainability and Daniel Thurmond about the amazing work of the student-led Team Marine @vikingssamohi! What’s the best way to ensure progress on #environmental goals? Take daily action and #VOTE! This fall, legislators could pass the #BreakFreeFromPlastic Act, and in my home state of California, voters will decide the #PlasticPollution Reduction and #Recycling Act. Let’s do this!
When is someone too old to wear band shirts? Askin When is someone too old to wear band shirts? Asking for a friend. #music #livemusic #bands #bandaid #wetleg #whatareyoudoingsittingdown
Flashback to last month, when my essay was feature Flashback to last month, when my essay was featured on the front page of the #WashingtonPost. Did I get trolled? Yes, until my editor shut off comments. Am I more thoughtful about consumption? Hell, yes. Link in bio. Would love your thoughts. xo
#AmWriting #Fiction #WomensFiction #WritersOfInstagram #Writer #Writing #WritingCommunity
Isn’t she magnificent? Please don’t kill #shar Isn’t she magnificent? Please don’t kill #sharks for #beauty! New MG post explains how to stop — link in bio. #naturalbeauty #naturalbeautyproducts #cleanbeauty #cleanbeautyrevolution #cleanbeautyproducts
Lula has new skills. #dog #dogsofinstagram #dogsdo Lula has new skills. #dog #dogsofinstagram #dogsdoingthings #dogsdodrive
Game changer! Who else is oil cleansing? This dail Game changer! Who else is oil cleansing? This daily practice has totally rejuvenated my skin. New story up on MommyGreenest - link in bio! #beauty #naturalbeauty #naturalbeautytips #oilcleansing #oil
My husband bought this wetsuit from @patagonia a d My husband bought this wetsuit from @patagonia a decade ago and the zipper was shredded. He sent it back, they fixed it, and now it’s good as new.  This is not a sponsored post — I’m just perpetually impressed with the company’s commitment to circularity, especially when it hits home like this. #Patagonia #Surf #LovedThingsLast
The bodacious and delicious Dolly Parton rose, ins The bodacious and delicious Dolly Parton rose, inside Octavia Butler’s mind-blowing world-building, the tree that has everything (leaves, flowers, scent), and how does my mother have less wrinkles than I do?!?
My essay about drinking was published in the Washi My essay about drinking was published in the Washington Post today (linktree in bio). Here’s context: During the pandemic, the number of women who have five or more drinks each day increased by 41% — today, this is the daily habit of 30% of American women. I’m feeling all the feels — especially about how my story will be received by family and friends — but it seems to be resonating with a lot of people. It’s scary to be this honest, but I think it’s an important conversation to begin. I’m slowly working my way through every one, avoiding trolls along the way. #amwriting #writing #writer #alcohol #alcoholism
When you can’t refuse a gift that comes in a pla When you can’t refuse a gift that comes in a plastic bag, make it reusable! #motivation #health #wellness #healthylifestyle #breakfreefromplastic
Sometimes you don’t even need a key to get thoug Sometimes you don’t even need a key to get though the lock. #amwriting #amediting #writersofinstagram
Going makeup-free to demo slugging, the beauty cra Going makeup-free to demo slugging, the beauty craze that’s taken over TikTok. But do you really need petrochemicals or animal products to nail this super-hydrating technique? No! For my latest MG post, I discovered an all-natural, vegan solution — and it’s just $15. Link in bio! #beauty #beautytips #natural #naturalbeauty #skincare #skincaretips #naturalskincare #vegan #veganbeauty #veganbeautyproducts #slugging #sluglife
Enchanted, as always. Enchanted, as always.
Party like it’s your birthday. #lula #lovepuppy Party like it’s your birthday. #lula #lovepuppy #dogsofinstagram
Yes, Fashion Revolution. #Design #ShopDropChallen Yes, Fashion Revolution.
#Design #ShopDropChallenge #WearYourValues #Fashion #SustainableFashion #EcoFashion #EthicalFashion #SlowFashion #FashionRevolution #LovedClothesLast #LovePreloved #Preloved #PrelovedStyle #PrelovedFashion #PrelovedClothes #Thrift #ThriftedFashion #PreOwned #Vintage #VintageStyle #SwapDontShop #Secondhand #SecondhandStyle #Repair #Reuse #Sustainability #MommyGreenest #Activist
I knew that pursuing an MFA through Pacific Univer I knew that pursuing an MFA through Pacific University would help me as a writer. But I underestimated the joy that being part of its community would bring. This week, I had the privilege of reading an ARC of The World of Pondside by Mary Helen Stefaniak, who was my advisor and is now one of my favorite writers. The book comes out in April and is available to pre-order now. It is fantastic! As with every world that Mary Helen creates, this one is deep and vivid and the characters are alive and real. The plot is complicated in the best possible way and at every turn I can’t wait to find out what happens next. Pondside, yes! #fiction #books #author #bookstagram #writing
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