I get it. The holidays are hard and gift baskets help make them so easy. You go online, you order something appropriate and voila! you're done with your gifting for the year. But most of the products in the basket, including the basket itself, are wrapped in plastic and the boxes aren't usually recyclable (check inside the box - if the paper is white it's not recyclable, if it's brown it is recyclable), and some even stash a little block of Styrofoam beneath the grass filling to lift all the items up so that it looks better.

That's why I was particularly excited when Meghan Fahey from Greenstream Gourmet contacted me about a better option. Greenstream Gourmet has been created to show you that doing your part may be as simple as purchasing the right cookie. Tough, I know. They bake their cookies with organic and natural ingredients. Simple, time adored recipes - chocolate chip, oatmeal cranberry and brownie mint - with no artificial sweeteners or shelf life enhancers. Their packaging is made from corn plastic or PLA, polylactic acid, which decomposes into H20 and carbon dioxide in controlled composts in as little as 45 days. (Regular petroleum based plastics stick around forever and are made from non-renewable resources.) Their labels and ribbons are even made from bamboo, sugar cane and cotton and are printed with soy-based inks.

How to prevent scaring yourself and your kids' post-Halloween bash? It's frightening how much sugar our kids consume on October 31st. Instead of giving yours and your neighbor's kids tons of sugar and toxins, have fun with real food.

Halloween is the party season kick-off. If you are planning a Halloween party, let's give something good for our kids to eat. But, what's good to eat? I don't like the idea of giving kids Kit-Kat bars or gummy bears. At the same time, I want to see excitement on kids' faces during Halloween as much as you do. I've put together a list of food that you can decorate the house for your party and serve to all the kids (big and small). Kids can help you create this spooky crafts!

Does your kid need to stay away from milk? Intolerances and allergies, such as milk, have become so common that parents have a long list of foods that are prohibited from entering the school to keep children safe. When I recently spent an evening with mothers and their children, I was taken aback by the number of questions and concerns on dairy intolerance.

Intolerances and allergies have existed from time immemorial. However, they were never as widespread or severe as they are today. Normally, natural allergens like pollen cause seasonal allergies, which run their course and die out. But according to most doctors, allergies are no more seasonal. They have become perennial. And this is due to the influence of 'unnatural' allergens - like fumes of diesel exhausts, volatile organic solvents (VOC), pesticides, and tobacco smoke.

This week, the folks at Carbonrally.com are helping us pledge to bring our own... lunch, that is. Early bird? Prepare your lunch fresh each morning; Night owl? Take a few minutes before bed. So what are the benefits for all this extra effort? Well, by brown bagging it for just a month, we'll individually reduce our carbon dioxide emissions by 44.6 lbs. Not to mention, gaining some green... dollars, that is. I calculated what I usually spend on lunch take-out against the cost of the items for its homemade equivalent and it turns out I'll be saving as much as $40 a week. I am so in, how about you?

Join the Green is Universal Carbonrally team and take the challenge!

As kids head back to school, many parents will be scrambling for ideas for easy-bagged lunches. (Below are ideas for you to chew on!) Keep in mind, adequate nutrition is vital to keep your kids' growth and health on track. Children's growing bodies need more nutrients than adults, but their diets shouldn't provide excessive calories and cause them to gain an inappropriate amount of weight.

Overall lunches should consist of, about 50-60% of a child's calories from carbohydrate sources, 25-35% of calories should come from fat, and the rest (10-15% of calories) should come from protein. Just like the diets of all family members, children's diets should include plenty of fruits, vegetables, lean protein sources, low fat dairy products, whole grains and healthy fats.

This year, think outside of the box. Lunch can be more than a sandwich. Have a recipe? Post it below, other parents would love to know!

For most budding imaginations, gardens are a magical place. Curious George expanded my childhood imagination by bringing experiences in new ways through play and research of the world. Now, he is jump starting your children's curiosity and creativity through your garden.

George, The Man with the Yellow Hat, and all their friends will investigate the planet through a variety of escapades with the concepts of recycling, composting, solar power and the weather patterns. Children will learn about the planet, its elements, and the environment. I am back into watching Curious George and telling everyone because children get to see how the earth nurtures them, and in turn it inspires them to nurture the earth. Children have to really love something before they can protect it and serve it so begin cultivating that tiny gardener's curiosity and green thumb now!

By Nicole Ohebshalom, Radiant Living Wellness

It's a question many fathers and mothers are looking for answers. Health officials in Canada and United States are putting more attention on chemicals being used to make baby bottles, water bottles, and food containers. The focused chemical is bisphenol-a, or better known as BPA.

Research has shown that trace amounts of BPA migrate to our food and liquid through polycarbonate (PC) plastic bottles. There is still debate on how much of a health worry BPA is, but retailers like Wal-Mart are withdrawing baby products manufactured with it. Canada has declared BPA to be so toxic that it's not allowing anything containing it on their shelves!

By Nicole Ohebshalom, Radiant Living Wellness

Have you felt it? The city has become: quiet, still, frozen. Some of my friends say, did everyone vacation in China to watch our boys and girls in the Olympics? Other New Yorkers (including myself) all of a sudden realize there are only a few more weekends left till school begins so lets cram in all the fun. Everyone is out canoeing, golfing, playing tennis, swimming, jet skiing, playing soccer, and ravishing themselves in all their favorite summer sports. As the Olympians are getting ready to feel more energized and to play harder in their challenges, how can we, the Olympians of our lives apply the right fuel for optimal performance?

By Nicole Ohebshalom, Radiant Living Wellness

People are switching to more organic foods even though it's costing them a few more dollars. In my practice I have especially seen those dealing with chronic illness and individuals concerned with preventative care to love and revs up the benefits of organic vegetables, fruits, meat and dairy. A key motivation for consumers doing this is a simple belief that it's better for them. People see that if they spend a few more dollars at Whole Foods it will save them more money and time at the doctor's office.

But is it true that there are health benefits to eating organic food?

The US Department of Agriculture have revealed that since the 1940s the mineral levels in fruits, vegetables, meat and dairy have declined substantially in conventional foods. Combine this with pre-ripened picking, longer storage, and more processing of crops, and it's not surprising that we may be getting fewer nutrients in our food than we were 60 years ago. Government tests show that conventionally grown fruits and vegetables can retain up to 13 pesticides even after washing and cooking.