Natural Choices — Health Food, Organic Produce, Gluten Free, Vitamins, Supplements — Columbus, Bartholomew County, Indiana

Archive for May, 2010

Gluten-free EnviroKidz cereals make Mom say, "Okay."

I saw a mother in the local ‘mega-store’ engrossed in one of those teachable moments with her son of about age eight or nine. She was calmly explaining that just because she says, “No” to some request doesn’t mean he should treat her badly. He agreed and said, “Sorry” and not in an angry tone at all. Obviously she puts great effort into her parenting.

After that, I was in Natural Choices in Columbus, Indiana perusing the latest healthy eating options and I saw a display of EnviroKidz cold cereals. This is a gluten-free product that’s brightly packaged and looks yummy. All I could think was “Thank goodness.”

So many more people, and kids, have allergies and health issues now than ever before. Wheat and gluten allergies are especially troublesome. I can’t imagine trying to explain to a youngster why he can’t have all the foods he sees everyone else’s children eat. The packaging of so many products in the cereal aisle of the local grocery makes every kid grab them and run to Mom or Dad squealing, “I want this!” Now, with this cereal, they can grab it, run squealing and actually have Mom say, “Okay!”

The gluten-free selection at Natural Choices is one of the best in the state of Indiana. It is worth a trip to check it out. You will find packaged foods, ingredients to cook from scratch yourself, snacks, even frozen foods. Or, make a list of the kinds of products you would like to have, call the store and have it all shipped right to you. Wouldn’t it be a treat for your child to open a box and find snacks and foods they can open and eat without you worrying about it?

–Ellie of the Natural Choices Blog Team

My own baby has long grown up and I have few babies in my life (I have a grandpuppy instead) but the great diaper debate continues. My baby grew up with mostly cloth diapers – primarily because that was what was available. The disposable diaper market was just beginning. That is definitely no longer the case.

Hawaiian landfill, paradise preserving used diapers for at least 450 years.

Now, that industry has mega-bucks in sales and doesn’t appear to be going anywhere but up. But what about the environment? The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is still reporting that in the United States alone, we dispose of 16 billion disposable diapers a year. Yes that is BILLION. Yikes!

The EPA also reports in a marine setting (like the Gulf of Mexico) it takes 450 years for a disposable diaper to decompose. Some say that the plastic liner never degrades.

There is also the water issue. The amount of water to wash cloth diapers isn’t anything compared to the amount of water used to produce the 16 billion diapers thrown away each year in America.

New products are being developed and now, flushable, biodegradable diapers are available. gdiapers makes these eco-friendly diapers that are plastic-free and use a cover with liners.

Flushable gdiapers on the shelf at Natural Choices.

They actually suggest you flush them – their website gives two reasons:

First, you’re putting poop where it belongs, down the toilet. Second, you’re sending the biodegradable gRefill to a place where it can still do some good. Once the contents of your diapers arrive at the wastewater treatment plant, valuable nutrients can be recovered and turned into biosolids, which are then used for fertilizer. So, then the gRefill is making a complete loop back to nature.

What was a surprise to me was that the gdiaper refills could also be composted! They say,

Believe it or not, there are beneficial nutrients in those wet flushable diaper refills. And the soil in your garden will love you for sharing the contents of your eco-friendly diapers. A wet refill breaks down in 50 -1 50 days. Poopy ones should never go in compost. The poop should always be flushed.

Once I heard about these, I checked to see if they were available locally and sure enough, the flushable gdiapers are on the shelves in the Columbus, Indiana store, Natural Choices.

I think if I had to care for a baby now, I would opt for a product like gdiapers. It makes sense, for a busy caretaker and for the environment!

–Ellie of the Natural Choices Blog Team

Natural Choices owner Carolyn Behrman stocks products for an environmentally safe home in addition to natural and organic foods, herbal supplements and the area’s best selection of gluten-free foods. Call today to order by phone. It will be shipped directly to your front door.

Argh!!!! … or … Ahhh???

Badger anti-bug balm convenient tins fit easily in your purse or tote.

Along with the all the little pleasures of summer time come all the little annoyances – like mosquitoes and gnats. I don’t know which I dislike more. We all understand the bites and itches of mosquitoes, but gnats, well, one in my nose or ear can just about drive me insane, especially so in the midst of an otherwise peaceful night’s sleep.

But, once again, as with so many things, the way to repel the little nippers is to confront them with chemical repellents. But putting those chemicals on my skin – or the skin of those I love – just makes me cringe. So I am declaring this a DEET-free summer! I have found the perfect product at Natural Choices to get me through the summer DEET-free.

Badger anti-bug balm contains no chemicals and is – wait for it – USDA certified organic!! The active ingredients listed are citronella oil, cedar oil, lemongrass oil, rosemary oil and geranium oil. Just rub it on and you’ll smell much better than the exhaust from a city bus (which is what bug repellents smell like to me) AND you won’t be scratching and itching all night either.

With all the rain, and now hot temperatures here in the Midwest, I know the insects are just days away. I know we’ll be ready with a natural insect repellent. The handy little tins can go in my purse or pool bag and I am set to spend time outdoors – bug and DEET-free!

–Ellie of the Natural Choices Blog Team

Natural Choices in Columbus, Indiana is the place for organic products – produce, packaged food, cleaning supplies and personal care items. Stop in or call us today!

Natural Choices has cards for all occasions.

I got an excited phone call from my niece this week. In this age of email and instant everything, I took a little different tack for her birthday. I used the good, old-fashioned U.S. Postal Service to send her a birthday greeting card with a little something “extra” in it. No, not money.

I sent her a Growing Expressions seed card that I picked up at Natural Choices in Columbus, Indiana. She followed the directions, soaking and planting the card in a sunny spot in her yard, and with all the spring warmth and rain lately, the wildflowers seeds embedded in the handmade paper were coming up.

You know, it’s a small gift that keeps on giving – and could for years to come! I mean, if she collects the seeds from the flowers this summer and plants them next year, well, she will be reminded that I took the time to think of her as time passes. Some of the seeds in the cards are perennials so she won’t even have to collect those seeds for them to come back next year. In any event, every time she sees them, she’s going to think of someone who cares about her.

It’s a beautiful sentiment and the cards are equally as beautiful.

Having these cards available at Natural Choices makes it an easy shop when I’m already there getting the fresh, organic produce, gluten-free snacks or herbal supplements. That just makes me realize that Natural Choices isn’t just an organic or natural food store, it is my home store! Food, cleaning supplies, pet supplies, make-up, garden supplies, first aid supplies – I can even find resource books and cookbooks there. Stop in and just peruse the offerings, you’ll be inspired, I’m sure!

–Ellie of the Natural Choices Blog Team

Natural choices shouldn’t be called a health food store, it’s a healthy living store!!