The Eco-Friendly Family

Hydrating With Your Health & The Environment In Mind {+ Starkey Water Giveaway!}

by Amanda Hearn · 6 comments

You may be wondering why water is so exciting to me, and truthfully I never thought it would be, but as I strive to live a healthier life I look more closely at even the most basic aspects of daily life — and the water I use to hydrate my body, and those of my children, is one of them. So, when I had the chance to work with Starkey Water I was excited for the opportunity. Their water is sourced from more than two miles deep in the mountains of Idaho. To be more specific it is sourced “through fractures in the Imnaha Basalt, a volcanic formation where the water’s purity has been protected for more than 11,000 years.”

One of the first things you notice about Starkey Water is the taste and texture. It is crisp and smooth, all while naturally rich with minerals. Their harvesting practices go a long way in maintaining that fresh spring water taste. Minimal processing (UV light required by law) and bottling in the quaint town of Coucil, ID capture and bring the geothermal spring to the hands of the consumer. Starkey is committed to maintaining water in its purest form; which is apparent in its light and refreshing taste, eco-friendly bottling practices, and dedication to tradition.

Every evening I try to get in a full 2 mile walk, and obviously I need a water that helps me to replenish afterward. The glass bottle helps to maintain that ice-cold, light texture; it also adds to the enjoyment of a post-workout water break. Dehydration is a growing concern in America, particularly with sugary soft drinks and caffeine running rampant, (ask my coffee addiction and associated kidney stone). It’s important to really find a water you enjoy and crave to maintain healthy intakes both during and after physical activity. Starkey really fills that void I have when drinking non-natural or chemically processed sources.

The main concern when dealing with bottled waters, especially for Eco-friendly individuals, is the packaging — both for the environment and for toxicity concerns related to consumption. Luckily, Starkey Water has maintained their natural approach with a glass alternative to plastic. Glass, unlike plastic has the ability in theory to be recycled infinitely with no loss or degradation to the product. Along these lines, the glass bottles are easy to reuse and are lovely for serving guests. Starkey allows for me to feel environmentally conscious while maintaining a refreshing taste that other water can’t. Since glass can pose a small safety issue when going to places like the beach or pool, Starkey does offer a BPA-free PET plastic bottle as well, which is a safer alternative that can be recycled anywhere.

Want to try it for yourself? Enter to win below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

{ 6 comments }

Chipotle Chicken Penne Recipe

by Amanda Hearn · 1 comment

Getting creative in the kitchen is always fun, so when I had the opportunity to create a sponsored recipe using non-dairy alternatives like a Cashew Plant-Based Beverage I couldn’t pass it up.

I tried more than one before landing on a favorite, but this was the clear winner. A little spice (or a lot!) is balanced with Pacific Foods’ Cashew Vanilla Unsweetened Non-Dairy Beverage.

This made so.much.food. It was more than enough to feed my family of four … and still have leftovers for lunch the next day. This recipe is dairy-free and on the spicier side. We love being able to opt for plant-based ingredients, but of course you can sub out for your favorites and tone down the spice by simply using a bit less. Hope you enjoy it as much as we did!

Chipotle Chicken Penne

2018-07-11 15:46:01

Write a review

Save Recipe

Print

Ingredients

2 tbs Prepared Seasoning Mix
Diced Onion (1 small or 1/2 large)
1.5 - 2 lbs Diced Chicken
2 cups Water
2 cups Pacific Foods Cashew Vanilla Unsweetened Non-Dairy Beverage
2 tbs Adobo Sauce from Chipotle Peppers
15oz Can Diced Tomatoes
2 tbs Tomato Paste
15oz Can Black Beans
15oz Frozen Organic Corn
10oz Vegan Cheddar Cheese Alternative
Cilantro

Seasoning Mix

1 tbs Chipotle Chile
2 tbs Ancho Chile
1 tbs Salt
2 tsp Oregano
2 tsp Cumin
1 tsp Garlic Powder
1 tsp Onion Powder

Instructions

Prepare seasoning mix and set aside.
Add 2 TBS Olive Oil to hot pan. Add 1 small diced onion, chicken, 1 tbs prepared seasoning mix, adobo sauce. Cook until done. Remove from pot and set aside.
Place pot back on burner. Add water, Pacific Foods Cashew Vanilla Unsweetened Non-Dairy Beverage, & flour. Whisk.
Add diced tomatoes, tomato paste, 1 tbs prepared seasoning mix (or to taste). Mix well & bring to a low boil. Stir as needed.
Add 16 oz penne - cook 10-12 minutes.
Add back prepared chicken, black beans, corn, vegan cheddar. Warm for 3-5 minutes.
Plate, add cilantro, and enjoy!

The Eco-Friendly Family https://theecofriendlyfamily.com/

{ Comments on this entry are closed }

Cooking Without Toxic Plastics & Nonstick Coatings

by Amanda Hearn

If you’re like me, or most of the people I know, you grew up with a kitchen full of plastic food storage, plastic spatulas, and flaky non-stick pans. Thankfully, people began questioning the safety of these products, especially as non-stick coatings started chipping away. Today we know much more about the dangers of Teflon and “cousin” chemical coatings, but many of us know less about how to effortlessly cook meals without the “convenience” of non-stick. Likewise, we now know to avoid BPA, but we still know very little about the long-term safety of it’s replacements. Here are a few of my favorite replacements and tips on how and why to choose them

Utensils

One of the side effects of non-stick coatings was the rise of plastic cooking utensils. They were gentler on the coatings, making them less likely to chip them into your food. While wood and bamboo utensils are also options, plastics are cheaper and more widely available.

We now know about the dangers of plastics leaching chemicals, and I’m betting most of you can recall at least one melted utensil in an oven or sitting on the side of a pot. Making the switch from coated non-stick pans opens you up to better (toxin free), more sturdy utensils (that will look better in your kitchen anyhow!)

Personally, I have a healthy mix of bamboo, wood, and stainless steel utensils. Stainless offers better options (IMO) for things like spatulas, soup ladles, pasta forks, etc.

Cookware

Both stainless steel and cast iron are great choices when looking for alternatives to coated non-stick pots and pans. Once you get use to it cast iron can be very much like non-stick when primed properly, and with a little practice you won’t need to worry about sticking in stainless either. To get you started, check out this tutorial for perfect eggs without Teflon!

Both stainless cookware and cast iron can be purchased affordably on big box websites, like Amazon, but my favorite method is to bargain shop for the perfect pieces at discount stores like Home Goods. You can get exactly what you’re looking for in great quality for far less than MSRP.

While not exactly cooking, if you’d like to remove the plastics from your coffee routine, either a french press or pour over coffee maker is a great option. Both come in glass and can be found affordably on Amazon or at discount department stores.

Storage

Finally, once you’ve taken the care to prepare a healthy meal in a healthy way you won’t want to place it in plastic storage that can leach toxins into your food. My favorite storage is glass. You can get it in a variety of sizes and at all price points. Some of my favorites are Pyrex or Anchor for large storage (like when I make enough chili for three families) and Wean Green storage cubes for when I have just enough left over for a person or two (these are great for lunches too!)

{ Comments on this entry are closed }

What Young Living membership option is right for you?

by Amanda Hearn · 49 comments

I’ve been using essential oils for some time now and I love them. As a result of my appreciation for these oils and desire to continue purchasing them, I recently signed up for big savings. I have been asked about oils, about Young Living and about buying & selling their products. If you are interested in oils, I hope that this article helps with the “which option” sign up part! The first thing you will likely ask yourself about signing up with Young Living is “How much will it cost me?” The answer is that it depends on what you want from your membership, but you are never under obligation to buy anything. However, there are perks when you do and if you want the benefits, you must meet purchase requirements (not membership fees)! Regardless of the method you use, the best way to purchase your oils is to sign up. You can’t get member only discounts and freebies any other way!

There are two main membership types:

Customer & Independent Distributor (though this one can really be broken into two).

Customer (buy at retail pricing – no requirements, no fees)
Independent Distributor as Customer (buy at wholesale pricing – no fees, but there is a $50/year purchase requirement)
Independent Distributor as Business (buy at wholesale pricing – no fees, but there is a purchase requirement – read more bellow)

Below, I will break down the basics and how-to of each type.

Customer

This type of membership is completely free to join.

No membership fees.
No yearly dues.
No obligation.
No selling.

This type of membership allows you to easily order the oils and products that you need at retail pricing, plus tax & shipping–sort of like purchasing from your own private store.

This membership does not get you wholesale pricing.

You can sign up here!

Independent Distributor as Customer ( Save 24% with Wholesale Pricing)

This type of membership is signed up as “Independent Distributor” and requires the purchase of a starter kit, which you can choose for yourself. They are great kits that range in price from $45 to $260. You only have to purchase a start up kit once, at sign up – and they are useful. Personally, I think that the Premium Starter Kit ($150) is a great value and idea, and not just because it’s at the top price tier. This kit comes with a diffuser (I love mine!) and includes eleven different bottles of oil to get you started, a roll-on attachment, 10 samples packets (to use or share!), 10 sample bottles (these are so handy), and materials to help you become familiar with oils and how to use them. If a diffuser isn’t something you’re interested in, or you already know what things you’d like to order, the Basic Starter Kit ($45) is a great way to get in, and then you can begin ordering the products you want at wholesale, right away.

Save 24% off of retail pricing.
No membership fees.
No yearly dues.
No obligation.
No selling required.

If you wish to keep wholesale pricing, the only requirement is that you purchase about $50 worth of products per year (50 PV) – which is crazy easy to do. If you do not purchase 50 PV (their point system) worth of products in a year, you can still buy oils, it will just be at retail pricing until you meet their requirement.

You can sign up here!

You can find step-by-step help for the Young Living sign up process here.

If you’re interested in deeper savings, you can also sign up with Essential Rewards to save up to 44% off of retail. You must be signed up as a distributor to be able to enroll. More info here.

Independent Distributor as Business ( Save 24% with Wholesale Pricing )

This type of membership is with the intent of making an income! It is similar to the information above, with a few changes. If you love essential oils, chances are that you already share what you know with friends and family. By being a distributor, you can earn a commission when those people (and more!) buy oils from you, or sign up under you. Just like being a wholesale customer, you are required to purchase a starter kit, which range in price from $45 to $260 (depending on diffuser choice). You only have to purchase a start up kit once (same as above). If you wish to earn a commission check, you must also be enrolled in the “Essential Rewards” program. To be eligible for payment, your monthly Essential Rewards order should be at or over $100/month (100 PV)—which is surprisingly easy to do. (They also have monthly specials that can earn you free exclusives.) (Note: There are now some commissions that you are eligible for at the $50 level, but the $100 level opens you up to several bonuses, making it a much faster way to begin covering the cost of your ER orders.) In addition to making a commission and being eligible for payment, you also earn Essential Rewards points that can be redeemed for free products. These points are great for buying gifts, having stock on hand, or treating yourself to something special.