It’s back to school season and while we can’t avoid the school supply-splurge, we can – for the health of our kids — trade overly manufactured products for simple stuff that’s both cheaper and better. Much better. This year, we should all start stocking up on:

Switching out store-bought moisturizers for natural oils is cheaper and chemical-free.

Olive Oil: You always thought the kid was cute enough to eat. So when winter weather blisters tiny lips and faces, you should soothe the skin with olive, almond or grapeseed oil. You can get 16 ounces of olive oil for $4.97, compared to 16 ounces of Cetaphil for $9.19, plus the edible option goes further, because you’ll use less each time you lather. What’s more the healthy fats in oils are healing and – bonus – they’re chemical free. That’s important when you consider that the skin is one big digestive organ. Our bodies absorb whatever we slather on. The chemicals in store-bought creams can be more harmful than those in food, because the natural enzymes in saliva and in the stomach can process those. The skin’s on it’s own.

Tap water: Take a loving look at your faucet because the National Resource Defense Council claims that in most cases, city tap water is better regulated than bottled water. The government tests for toxins and bacteria, ensuring it’s safe to drink. On the other hand, the storage of bottled water sometimes causes plastics to leach into the very water the label claims is purified. Even if you decide to buy a home purifier to filter out chlorine, you’ll still be ahead financially. Buy a refillable water bottle – make sure it’s BPA free, stainless steel or glass.

An apple: Or orange or banana. Whatever fruit you fancy, pick one and toss the juice. Kids are 75% water  — there is no juice compartment in their bodies.  It takes about 4 large oranges to make 1 cup of orange juice. Yet you never see any kids eating four oranges. Natural fruit is filled with fiber and phytonutrients that turn on hormones that make us feel full. And chewing is the start of the process that makes us feel satiated.  The fiber helps us slowly release the natural fructose in the fruit which prevents large fluctuations in blood sugar. Much better than juice – not to mention cheaper. 

Gwen Wurm MD, MPH is Board Certified in General and Developmental/Behavioral Pediatrics and practices integrative pediatrics with a focus on working with nutritional, natural , behavioral  and allopathic treatments to maximize a child’s health and well-being.