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OUR PHILOSOPHY
The entire concept of Tastybaby was borne out of our values and philosophies on life! The things we hold most dear are the health and well-being of our children and the planet they are going to inherit. Giving our babies what we believe to be the best possible start in life is so important to us, and now with Tastybaby, we are especially proud that we are able to share this gift with our customers.
Fact: Organic foods are the safest foods we can feed our children and ourselves.
At Tastybaby, we embrace the idea that foods should be processed or altered to the bare minimum. Ideally, we would all live on farms and grow the food we eat. Some lucky folks, like the Organic farmers who grow our ingredients, actually do. The rest of us have to recreate that organic simplicity in our own lives.
Organic foods are grown without toxic pesticides and fertilizers and are minimally processed without artificial ingredients, preservatives, irradiation or cloning. Organic foods are produced without antibiotics, synthetic hormones, genetic engineering, sewage sludge and other dangerous practices.
And Organic food tastes great! The color and vibrancy of natural ingredient are left unadulterated, so the delicious, natural flavor of fruit and vegetables is undeniable.
Read more about the benefit of Organic food at California Certified Organic Farmers
Fact: Freezing is the next best thing to eating food that is freshly picked and immediately prepared.
The American Cancer Society acknowledges that “frozen foods can often be more nutritious than fresh foods because they are often picked ripe and quickly frozen, whereas fresh foods may loose some of their nutrients in the time between harvesting and consumption.”
Blast freezing, the state-of-the-art freezing technology we use at Tastybaby, allows food to be frozen solid within minutes. This preserves all the vitamins, enzymes and nutrients in our products. It also makes it impossible for unpleasant things such as bacteria, yeasts and molds to grow. That means our products are as pure and natural as the tiny customers we make them for!
Read more about the benefits of frozen foods from the American Cancer Society
Fact: Sustainable agriculture is the key to environmental health and economic profitability.
Tastybaby is a strong advocate for sustainable agriculture, the goal of which is to produce crops indefinitely, without causing irreversible damage to the environment. The principle is that we must meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs, by balancing the long-term effects of farming processes on soil with the farmers’ needs for their land to be productive. Sustainability also includes ensuring fair trade – that living and working conditions of laborers is acceptable.
Read more about sustainable agriculture at the University of California - Davis
Fact: Our planet’s natural resources are not unlimited.
Tastybaby is committed to making the best and safest environmental choices, given the options available to us. We have chosen to use packaging that is biodegradable and/or recyclable because, after doing our research, we firmly believe this makes a difference.
Biodegradable materials can be easily broken down by microorganisms into simpler, more stable compounds. Therefore, biodegradable products decompose in the environment quickly and pollute less. They make “food” for nature’s bacteria, and cause less stress on the planet than their counter-parts – petroleum-based, poly-styrene foam and other environmentally unfriendly materials.
Recycling reduces the energy and raw materials needed to create “virgin” products, and it reduces the amount of waste produced for disposal. The food industry is one of the biggest contributors to industrial waste, and we want to take responsibility for our role in that cycle.
Read more about how our natural resources are not limited at Recycling-guide.org
GIVING BACK
At Tastybaby, we believe in giving back. But for us, it’s not enough just to write a check or send a percentage of proceeds to a good cause. We put both our money and our energy where our mouths are.
Philanthropy and activism are so much a part of who we are, and what our company stands for. In fact, the early years of our friendship were spent dedicated to working together for a wonderful local kids' charity in LA.
We are proud to be involved with a lot of important causes, and we come out to support them with all our might! Generally, these are related to children’s and women’s issues, health, nutrition and the environment.
PS Arts - Express Yourself
Check out our full coverage from the Express Yourself Event here!
At Tastybaby, we firmly believe that exposure to the Arts can nourish children in a different but equally important way as eating healthy food. Certainly, good organic food and a balanced diet  helps kids develop and maintain strong minds and bodies; but it is the Arts that feeds their souls. Before we started Tastybaby, we volunteered for a wonderful LA charity that brought the Arts to at-risk children. We helped create some great programs and signature events and raised lots of money -- something we'll always feel proud of. (We also learned, through those experiences, that we are a pretty good team ... working together on charity events eventually led to Tastybaby!) Most importantly, we got to see the effect of the Arts on children; especially those children who otherwise would not have access to classes like these because they live and go to school in disadvantaged areas. We saw things that can only be described as miracles! Children whose home lives were full of trauma and, in many cases, abuse would start out being terribly shy and unwilling to participate. But then, over time, they would slowly come to life, inspired by the power of music, art, drama or dance. These are among our most gratifying experiences.
So, when we had a chance to be a part of Express Yourself, a great LA ids event that raises money to support PS Arts, a non-profit that funds Arts programs in the most impoverished Title 1 Public Schools, we jumped at the opportunity. Express Yourself, which takes place Barker Hanger in the Santa Monica Airport every Fall is any kid's dream event! There are literally dozens of booths they can visit to make arts & crafts projects (many of them environmentally-sensitive) and snack on delicious food. Everything is donated and the event is entirely staffed by volunteers. It is, without a doubt,  a highlight of the year!
Express Yourself draws all kinds of people from around LA, including lots of artists and celebrities who turn out to support the cause. Many of the children enrolled in PS Arts' free programs get a chance to shine -- this year a talented group of girls took to the stage to sing with Daniel Powter (of "So You Had A Bad Day" fame), as the crowd cheered them on.
And, Tastybaby also rocked the house with our super-Tasty booth where we handed out literally hundreds of snacks and Tasty bags and did eco-art projects with the kids. Shannan whipped up some yummy recipes for Bango Smoothies (using our yummy banana, mango & vanilla flavor) and Sweetie Pie Cupcakes with cream cheese frosting (using our sweet potato, apple & cinnamon flavor). Check out Shannan's recipes for both delicious snacks. [link to Shannan's recipes] It made us feel really great to serve kids healthy, organic treats they all loved.
 Renee & Kelly tirelessly handed out samples and tasty totes to appreciative guests, and it was lots of fun to see everyone running around with our fabulous eco bags! (We encouraged everyone to use them at the market instead of taking paper or plastic bags.)
Our art projects were pretty cool, too! We offered 2 special crafts: Planting organic seeds (carrots, basil, flowers, etc.) in biodegradable containers kids decorated, and creating a colorful "flower," made from recycled and re-purposed Tastybaby packaging and other fun materials. Our adorable volunteers, Amy & Sarah, spent all day helping children create projects they were so proud to take home.
One other nice thing about the event was that we got to hear fantastic words of encouragement from lots of Tastybaby fans, including many celebrities. This always makes us feel great because we know we're touching a cord with moms, from the "regular" tp the famous! After all, we all share one thing in common: we want to do what's best for our children.
Children's Action Network
Children's Action Network (CAN) uses the power of the entertainment community to increase awareness about children's issues and to make them a top priority in everyday life.
CAN Is currently dedicated to finding homes for the more than 114,000 children in the United States who are waiting for an adoptive family and improving outcomes for the more than 500,000 children in foster care.
Check out the September 2007 event for CAN co-hosted by Tastybaby & Stella McCartney
Malibu Legacy Park Project
Tastybaby is helping to make our community a green place.
Believe it or not, some of the water in Malibu, including world-famous surf spots like Surfrider Beach, are very polluted. This is due to littering visitors as well as storm-water run-off which, on its path down the mountains and across the lagoon, picks up all kinds of bacteria and disease. The lesson is that even though our town looks beautiful and pristine, the truth isn’t always quite so pretty.
Local activists Pierce & Keely Brosnan were with us on the Malibu Pier to support the Paddle-Out Protest.
Tastybaby was thrilled to be involved with Malipalooza, a community music festival celebrating Malibu bands and local artisans, which raised money for the Malibu Legacy Park Project, a water clean-up initiative we strongly support. To find out more about the Legacy Park and the water clean-up project, click here.
To read our full blog story, click here.
Liane and Shannan at the bright and colorful Tastybaby booth
Click here: Malibu Legacy Park Project, Build The Legacy Campaign
LNG Terminal
Nothing gets us going at Tastybaby like something that is being presented as good for the environment when it’s actually as bad as it gets. Luckily, major headway’s been made on this one since we got involved a year ago. The short version of the story is that BHP, a huge Australia-based energy company, was proposing to put a massive Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) terminal off the coast of Malibu, where it would threaten sea-life, water and air quality and, pretty much anything (and anyone!) in it’s path. We were so proud to be a part of the community-based Paddle-Out Protest that our friend surfer Laird Hamilton helped put together at the Malibu Pier last Fall. But the battle isn't over. Committed environmentalists are still fighting to get Governor Shwarzenegger to veto the proposed project. If you want to add your voice, email the Governor's office and tell him you don't want LNG in California!
Click here-- San Jose Mercury News: Proposed LNG terminal off Calif. coast suffers another setback
Click here-- Pacific Environment: Representative announces opposition to LNG terminal
Click here-- abc7.com: Protesters Gather Against Malibu LNG Terminal
Liane drops by the NRDC’s ground-breaking “green” headquarters for a monthly briefing on environmental issues.
NRDC’s E2
The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) are our heroes! Liane serves on their Leadership Council, and we’re both in awe of what this incredible agency does to protect the environment, whether it’s cleaner water, purer air or saving endangered species.
Click here: NRDC: Natural Resources Defense Council
We are especially proud to be members of NRDC’s Environmental Entrepreneurs (E2), a national community of professionals and business people who believe in protecting the environment while building economic prosperity. E2 works to influence state and national environmental policy. At Tastybaby, we believe that it’s possible to run a successful business and do the right thing at the same time, and we’re committed to proving it!
Click here: Environmental Entrepreneurs
Race to Erase MS
Recently, Tastybaby was proud to donate to our friend Nancy Davis’ remarkable charity, Race to Erace MS. Nancy has been living– and living well!– with MS for almost 15 years, and her organization raises millions of dollars a year for research that will, one day, wipe out the disease. Every year she puts on one helluva party, and this year was no exception! The disco-themed “Dance to Erase MS” was a disco-themed, star-studded bash featuring performances by the Goo-Goo Dolls, Earth Wind & Fire, and surprise guest, Donna Summer. Everyone had the BEST time and felt great about raising lots of money for a fantastic cause!
 
(L) Tastybaby proudly donated two one-of-a-kind baskets of swag, including organic cotton baby clothes, hand-embellished with recycled vintage fabrics & ribbons. (R) A beautiful party guest bids on our Tasty baskets.
Click here: The Race to Erase MS
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