Health & Parenting

Celebrity Eco-Friendly Tips

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"There we were, on Julia's kitchen floor, huddled around this big bucket, making an all-purpose cleaning spray out of water and essential oils," Uliano says. "It was very hands-on." Roberts and her pals also kept journals, in which they wrote about their concerns and their hopes. "It got very emotional," Uliano recalls. "There were tears shed when we'd start to share about our children and what we want for them."

Uliano found Roberts to be a particularly apt pupil. "Julia actually loves homework," she says. "Every week, she'd say to me, 'Okay, so what can I do now? I want homework!' And she really meant it! I think she wanted me to have a big red pen and to give her a grade!" So Uliano set her to work, telling her to start reading labels and rid her medicine cabinet of makeup containing harsh chemicals. Eventually, Roberts and Uliano tackled the great outdoors, planting an organic garden at the star's home. "We did all different lettuces and beans and carrots. And sunflowers for the children, which they planted themselves," Uliano says. Just watching Mom's garden grow taught Hazel, Finn, and Henry a valuable lesson in patience.

"Julia is such an unbelievably conscientious mom that she explains everything to her kids," Uliano says. "But Finn wanted to know, a few hours after we planted the carrots, why they hadn't grown yet and if he'd be having them for dinner that evening. This taught him that a carrot is something that needs weeding and watering and caring, and that it's a great moment when you can pull it out of the ground and eat it. When a child understands that, he's so much less likely to waste food or think of it as gross. He's put such time and effort into nurturing it."

The (surprisingly simple) truth about "going green":

While most people can't be as lucky as Julia Roberts and have a green guru guide them toward healthier living, even the easiest changes can yield big results — from more radiant skin to cleaner countertops. For the new book Healthy Child, Healthy World, author Christopher Gavigan spoke to dozens of stars about the simple ways they've created a safer, more wholesome environment for their families. Going green doesn't have to mean single-handedly saving the Earth. Instead, it can be just reading a label, thinking a little, and making new choices. Here, celebrity moms share their healthiest habits and biggest breakthroughs.

"When it comes to living a healthier life, I really feel you have to call your own shots. I'll make things myself, partly because it's fun, partly because I've been doing it since I was little, mostly because it gives me a sense of control. I've made homeopathic treatments and aromatherapy treatments. I'm constantly looking for the best products out there, and I helped my hairdresser launch a line of organic hair-care products, free of animal products as well as parabens and sulfates [chemicals thought by some experts to have a negative impact on health and the environment] called David Babii for WildAid. Ten percent of the money goes toward protecting endangered species.