Clean Living with Marissa Ceci

We may be nearing the end of the school year which usually means we are losing steam with our motivation for healthy lunches. This might mean to start to turn to lunchables and uncrustables.

If that’s your capacity right now mama, I am not here to judge that! I get it. We tired.

But in case you got a little more to give this school year, I have created this quick guide to give you some inspiration on what to pack!

🌟 Pick one from each list and 🪄 voilà!
👇🏼👇🏼👇🏼
You have packed a healthy lunch they are sure to love!

🫶🏻 Comment below your go-to’s for a healthy lunch for your kids- I would love to gather even more ideas!

Raise your hand if you love a good PB&J! 🙋🏼‍♀️

I have a very fond memory of staying at my Great Grandmother’s house and her making me a PB&J for lunch (with CRUNCHY peanut butter!!) and a banana and pretzels on the side. For whatever reason it was the *perfect* combination and from then on the combo was set in stone for me. If I had a PB&J, it had to come with a banana and pretzels. 🍌 🥨 🥜 🍓 🍞

🫶🏻 Do you have a PB&J memory? Share in the comments!

Buuuutt for all those beautiful memories I know I wasn’t the only kid eating it on Sunbeam white bread with Jiff peanut butter and Smuckers jelly.

That meant:
‼️ High fructose corn syrup
‼️ Tons of added sugar
‼️ Hyper processed wheat (meaning very little nutrition and hard to digest)
‼️ Inflammatory oils
‼️ Preservatives

✅ Good news though: there is a better way!

Just a few swaps and you can have yourself a (relatively) healthy and certainly very clean lunch for your kiddo! I’ll be the first to admit, my kids LOVE a good PB&J! And I am way more okay with it when it’s made with quality ingredients. (Don’t even get me started on uncrustables 🫣)

So what do you say mama? You ready to make a few new swaps this week? We can do it!

Okay ladies! Let’s chat…

Period care! ❤️

I know I know, not the most glamorous topic but it’s so important when kicking the toxins in our life to consider what we use for our monthly visit from Aunt Flo!

Personally, I use Cora pads and period un**es from Knix and Thinkx. But today I have round up 4 brands that are providing solid clean and non-toxic products that cover the entire gambit of what you might use during your menstrual cycle form the more traditional pads and tampons to the more modern options like cups, discs and period underwear.

Repeat after me: don’t knock it till you try it! Many of these companies have amazing return policies (ahem, or really, money back policies. These items aren’t really returnable 🤪) So if you are feeling brave and want try a new period product just be sure to check the return policy first!

Keep reading to learn a bit more about each brand!

🫶🏻 Comment “period” for a link to all 4 sites where you can shop clean and sustainable period care!

:: Period care & sexual wellness made by women. They use clean and natural ingredients which includes full ingredient transparency. Partners with I Support Girls to donate menstrual hygiene products.
cora :: Love that this brand can be found at Target and Amazon. B Corp that provides period care and body literacy resources to those in need.

:: Salt is a B Corp all about sustainability designing products that are all reusable (un**es, cups and disks.) Healthy for your body AND the environment. Donate 2% of profits to provide period-care to regions with the most need.

:: Safe period underwear for every shape and size. Knix Fund addresses period poverty and menstrual equality.

[[PART 3 of 4]]

If you are anything like me, you might not always give much thought into the sustainability behind products you purchase. But I love knowing when I shop with Beautycounter (and other intentional brands), they are already working hard towards the highest sustainability goals.

These swaps usually make production harder and more expensive, but it’s worth protecting people and the planet.
 
Lend Yor Voice: by wielding your dollar thoughtfully. We do this by mindfully shopping other brands who are doing their part to sustainably source. This can look a LOT of different ways, but if companies are spending the time and effort to sustainably source, they will let you know about it! A few examples: Tony’s Chocolonely, Bob’s Red Mill, Madewell, Able, The Citizenry and so many more!

Share below: brands you know of that are taking those extra steps to create their products with sustainability in mind! 👇🏼👇🏼👇🏼

[[PART 2 of 4]]

“Safety” is not referring to skin rashes and headaches. Ingredients in self care products are leading to things like CANCER, HORMONE DISRUPTION and REPRODUCTIVE HARM.

I don’t say that to induce fear, but to take seriously the term “ingredients of concern.” This means science is pointing towards the harmful effects. The problem: until these ingredients are forced out of products by regulatory agencies or public outcry, companies still produce them, and customers still buy them and put them in and on their bodies.

This has to stop!

[[PART 1 of 4]]

If you agree that all companies should fully disclose and stop hiding the ingredients in their products (many of which are cause for concern) LEND YOUR VOICE:

📣 Text “BETTERBEAUTY” to 52886 to call on congress to close the “Fragrance Loophole” and pass the Safer Beauty Bill Package!

It will take 3 minutes if your time to submit the pre-filled form to your respective representatives - if we all do this, what a difference it can make!

We may not be able to change a billion dollar industry overnight, but we sure can shake it up!!

Beautycounter’s clean Eau de Parfum launches March 26th… get ready! 🌸🌊🤩☀️🌹

The ultimate guide to shopping organic!

🫶🏻 Save this post for later so you can refer back while shopping!

🥑 The CLEAN FIFTEEN: highlights produce with the least pesticides that you can feel good about buying conventional!

🍓 The DIRTY DOZEN: produce with the most pesticide residue that you should try to buy organic when and where possible!

Why is this important?
👉🏼 Science shows links between pesticide consumption and increased risk of:
- cancer
- nervous system harm
- negative effects on reproductive health.
👉🏼 It’s not just a little here and there when it’s food we eat every single day.

Another benefit?
💰 Save money! 💰
- Organic produce is (rightfully) more expensive since it is more expensive to grow and harvest in the first place!
- If you can afford to always buy organic you are further supporting an industry that needs it and voting with your dollar that organic farming matters!
- But if that is not practical for you, shop organic with the Dirty Dozen for starters and make your precious grocery budget stretch further.

Happy shopping my friend!

👇🏼 Let’s hear it in the comments: do you typically shop organic, conventional, or a mix of both?