An Idea!

My sister sent me this story.  It's such a great concept and I hope you enjoy it too!

Extraordinary

Website

Healthy Farm, Healthy Plate, Healthy You has a website!!!

Here is the link:  http://www.healthyfarmplateyou.com

Check it out!  Leave a comment!

Earth Day!

It's Earth Day and we have so much to celebrate!

The 2011 Earth Day Challenge:  Do one thing everyday that's good for the environment. 
Last year I decided not to take plastic or paper bags when I went shopping.  I brought my own fabric bags!  This year I'm going to reduce my use of paper plates, napkins, and plasticware at restaurants.  I'm going to bring my own or eat at restaurants that use real plates, cups, and silverware! 

What are you going to do? 

Please share your plan.

The Earth Day Countdown

Earth Day is April 22, 2011...9 days away.  

The History of Earth Day

-the first Earth Day was April 22, 1970.

-scientists became aware of the effects of air and water pollution on humans and animals.  

-In 1962, Rachel Carson published Silent Spring.  She linked the spraying of DDT and other pesticides to decreasing bird and animal populations.

-Senator Gaylord Nelson, a Democrat from Wisconsin, first proposed making environmental protection a national priority. He decided in 1969 that a single day devoted to an environmental teach-in might be the perfect way to put pollution, deforestation and other issues at the top of the nation's political agenda.

-following that first grassroots event, the Endangered Species Act, the Clean Air Act, and the Safe Drinking Water Act were passed.

 

-In 1990, Earth Day went global as an international event.

Conceived as an environmental teach-in by Wisconsin senator Gaylord Nelson, nearly 10 percent of the nation’s population participated in the first Earth Day. Nelson received nearly 500 invitations to speak at various Earth Day events. Image courtesy of Wisconsin Historical Society

Are people growing their own vegetables?

I found this post on the Organic Consumer's Association web page.  There are some interesting facts.  

Fifty-Three Percent of U.S. Backyard Gardeners Growing Vegetables

A nationwide survey indicates that spending for vegetables and fruits grown in household gardens now surpasses spending for lawns, trees, shrubs - and even flowers. The same survey unearthed the following trends among gardeners:
53% grow vegetables in their gardens
90% plan to eat the produce fresh
66% will share with friends
36% will can or preserve produce
4% will donate food to others
Another survey, this one by the National Gardening Association, looked at the main reasons people grow food in their gardens:
58% desire better tasting food
54% want to save money on food bills
51% want better quality food
48% want to grow food they know is safe
--"Calling All Gardeners," by Jennifer Nelson, M.S., R.D. and Katherine Zeratsky, R.D., March 23, 2011, MayoClinic.com

What is a serving?

Has a serving size changed over the years?

The juice glass and the punch glass are a lot smaller than the plastic cup and ceramic mug.

Drinking out of larger cups means we are drinking more ounces than a daily serving size.

Serving Sizes

How many ounces of juice can I have per day?

4 to 6 ounces of juice per day

Bill Kurtis raises grass-fed meat.

Here is the website:  http://www.tallgrassbeef.com/index.html

 Where to find this wonderful meat. 

Check out this link:  http://www.tallgrassbeef.com/pages/where_to_buy_grocery.html

Eating a byproduct of gasoline in non-organic soy products

Soy protein isolate

To make soy protein isolate, the soybeans are put into a tub of hexane, a petroleum solvent similar to gasoline.  

Hexane is used because it is a cheap way to separate the oil from protein in soybeans. 

Soy protein isolate is found in non-organic soy oil and soy protein ingredients.  For example, it is found in non-organic veggie burgers, meat alternatives, protein powder, and nutrition bars.

It is NOT in organic foods.

Chemical hexane has been classified as a neurotoxin by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Fish Facts

1. Fishing has wiped out 90% of large fish, including swordfish, cod, marlin, and sharks.

2.       40% of Chilean Sea Bass is caught illegally

3.       These fish species are overfished:  red snapper, skate, halibut, monkfish, and bluefish tuna.

4.       ¾ of shrimp come from Vietnam, India, Indonesia, and China.  In these countries, the shrimp are given antibiotics and pesticides.

5.       Avoid long-lived predator fish (sharks, swordfish, Chilean sea bass, tuna) which tend to have the highest levels of mercury

6.       If the fish has lived a long life, it is full of mercury.   

Avoid these:  shark, swordfish, king mackerel and tilefish.

7.       If the fish has lived a short life, it is lower in mercury.  Enjoy these:   canned light tuna, salmon, pollock, and catfish.

8.       Albacore ("white") tuna has more mercury than canned light tuna.

9.       Shrimp lovers put your senses to the test. 

10.   If the shrimp tastes soapy or very salty, it may have been treated with sodium tripolyphosphate (STPP).  STPP prevents drying and is poisonous to our nerves.

11.   If the shrimp tastes grainy, it may have been treated with caustic borax.  Caustic borax is used to prevent discoloration.

12.   If the flesh looks yellow, then the shrimp started to go bad before it was frozen

13.   If the shrimp smells like ammonia, it already has started to rot.

14.   If fish smells, it’s not fresh. 

15.   If the shrimp smells like seawater, it’s safe!

16.   From other countries, avoid farmed shrimp, tuna, salmon, and other fish that are fattened with other fish, they tend to have higher levels of dioxins and other pollutants.

17.   Favor tilapia, carp, catfish, and other species that are fed vegetables, rather than animal protein.

18.   In North America and Europe, opt for domestically farmed seafood.  Standards on additives, water quality, and environmental impact tend to be higher.

19.   Look for Marine Stewardship Council logo (MSC-certified seal).

20.   Look for the color-coded rating system for fish.  The Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch developed a system to label seafood:  green Best Choice, yellow Good Alternative and red Avoid.    See chart on the next page.

21.   It’s best to buy fish that are labeled "wild fish" or “wild caught”. 

The Chicken on a Healthy Farm

Facts about the Chicken

• Heart Beat is 280-315 beats per minute
• The color of the shell has no relevance to nutritional value
• Lay 1-2 eggs per day
• Diet affects yolk color
• Pale yolk----lives in crowded conditions, lacks good diet
• Darker yellow yolk---eats great diet
• A fresh egg will keep for 5-6 weeks in a cool, dark place

Changing the Way We Eat

This series on Tedx Manhattan is so interesting...check it out.

http://www.tedxmanhattan.org/webcast-session-1
http://www.tedxmanhattan.org/webcast-session-2
http://www.tedxmanhattan.org/webcast-session-3

http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,2049255,00.html?artId=2049255?contType=article?chn=sciHealth

http://tedxmanhattan.org/

TEDxManhattan Webcast still online!

Chicago Dinning Guide

http://www.environmentalnutritionsolutions.com/Dining_Guides_files/Chicago%20Good%20Food%20Dining%20Guide.Sept2008.pdf

Plug In

Cell phones, cellular changes, and cancer.

A cell phone review:

• Cell phones emit radio waves, which is a form of radiation.
• In 2005, 208 million people used cell phones.  
• A cell phone's main source of radio waves is through it's antenna.  Sometimes the antenna is in the handset, which is held against your head while on the phone.  The closer the antenna is to the head, the greater exposure to radio waves or radiation.  
• Your level of exposure depends on: 
• how long the call lasts
• the amount of cell phone traffic at that time
• how close or far you are from a cellular base
• quality of cellular transmission
• size of the handset
• how far the antenna is extended
• if a hands-free devise is used
• Cell phones and Cancer
• Some studies show no link
• "a Swedish study that examined similar populations and found a slightly elevated risk of acoustic neuroma in long-term cell phone users but not in short-term users"
• Until the research is finalized....protect yourself
  
  
  Decrease your Exposure...
  
  Take these simple step
  
  
  1.  Use the cell phone for short conversations
  2.  When a land line is available, use it.
  3.  Use a hands-free device
  4.  Do not put the cell phone on a belt or in a pocket
  
  

Sources:  National Cancer Institute and President's Cancer Panel

Afternoon Snacks

I'm compiling a list of afternoon snacks.  What are some of your favorite snacks?
This is what I have so far:

Mid-afternoon Snacks

1.       Banana + peanut butter + sliced almonds

2.      Trail mix

3.      Banana chips

4.      Hummus + pita bread or pita chips

5.      Fruit salad

6.      Treat (brownie, chocolate chip cookie, dark chocolate, etc.)

7.      Wasa cracker + hummus + veggies

8.      Almonds

9.      Dried fruit

10.  Dark chocolate

Culinary Mindfulness

From NPR's health blog:

A Psychoanalyst Calls For Eating With 'Culinary Mindfulness'

by Eliza Barclay

We've heard it before: most Americans have a pretty big problem with food.
We eat too much of it, and a lot of the stuff we eat is junk. It's everywhere we turn, tempting and distracting us. Our overindulgence is even altering our brains.
But Todd Essig, a psychoanalyst at the William Alanson White Institute and a psychiatry professor at New York Medical College, has found a positive spin on what food can do for mental health.
  In an article published this week on a Psychology Today blog, Essig makes the case that local food, eaten mindfully, can fundamentally improve your life.
Our tendencies to overeat, and eat junk food "deprive ourselves and our intimates of the many psychological satisfactions and pleasures that can come from eating sustainably," Essig writes.
What we need to do, he says, is "derive as much meaningful gratification as possible from our calories (which is not to be confused with consuming as much food as possible)." And local food seems one path to that kind of feel-good experience.

The case for local food is familiar: it's fresh and seasonal, it supports the local economy, it burns fewer fossil fuels in transportation, and it's more likely to be organic or pesticide-free.

Even Wal-Mart is looking to get in on the action, with its push in 2008 to buy more local food, and its most recent promise to stock more fresh fruits and veggies.
But now Essig is giving us another reason: buying food from local farmers and producers (presumably at a farmer's market) is a way to socialize and make connections. It's also a lovely sensual experience — a place to soak up rich colors, smells and tastes of fresh food.
And the social aspect of eating well is perhaps the most likely way to get psychological benefits from food, Essig suggests.

We know that feeling loved and having a 'good feed' have gone together since infancy. And today, even in the midst of our modern hustle-and-bustle, the intimacy families and friends (and even strangers) can find at the table can provide life with deep warmth and profound pleasure.

Of course, being a locavore is easier said than done. In the depths of winter of the northern latitudes, for example, it's hard to stock a fridge with many local foods beyond root vegetables and hothouse herbs. And we at Shots are loathe to admit that we often scarf our lunches in front of the computer, which doesn't evoke much warmth or pleasure.
But Essig's call for "culinary mindfulness" is one possible guiding tonic to Americans' fraught relationship with food these days.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2011/01/26/133243471/a-psychoanalyst-calls-for-eating-with-culinary-mindfulness?sc=emaf

Lavender

Lavender-

calming, increases overall health and mood

How to use lavender?

Potatoes with lavender

10 red potatoes or 2 large potatoes
1 whole garlic
2 TBSP of lavender
salt, ground pepper
4 TBSP olive or vegetable oil
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Peel the potatoes and slice into lengthwise wedges.
Dice the garlic.
Mix all the potatoes, lavender, and garlic with olive oil.  Sprinkle salt and pepper over the potatoes. 
Roast for 45 minutes stirring 1/2 way through. 

Lavender Lemonade:

1 quart lemonade
1 TBSP dried lavender
1 cup of boiling water
thin lemon slices
Pour the boiling water over the lavender and let steep for about 20 minutes.  Strain and add to the iced cold lemonade.  Garnish with lemon slices and a sprig of lavender.

Oh, the sweet alternatives.

Sugar Consumption throughout the Years

• In 1816, the average sugar consumption per person was 15 pounds per year. 
• In 1955, the average sugar consumption was 120 pounds per year. 
• In 2010, the average sugar consumption was 156 pounds per person per year.
• Americans consume an average of 22 teaspoons of sugar a day!  Wow!  
• Sugar can increase our blood sugar, cholesterol, and decrease your immune system.
• Shakes and sugar content:

	Orange Julius, Original 20 oz drink Sugars, total: 38g Calories, total: 160 Calories from sugar: 152
	Orange Julius, Raspberry Flavor 20 oz drink Sugars, total: 54g Calories, total: 220 Calories from sugar: 216
	Starbucks Mocha Frappuccino 16 oz (Grande) drink, with whipped cream Sugars, total: 47g Calories, total: 380 Calories from sugar: 188
	Jamba Juice Sunrise Banana Berry 16 oz drink Sugars, total: 59g Calories, total: 280 Calories from sugar: 236
	7-Eleven Slurpee, Fanta Cherry 28 oz cup Sugars, total: 63g* Calories, total: 231 Calories from sugar: 231 7-Eleven Slurpee, Coca-Cola 40 oz cup Sugars, total: 90g* Calories, total: 325 Calories from sugar: 325
	Dairy Queen Butterfinger Blizzard 16 oz medium Sugars, total: 86g Calories, total: 740 Calories from sugar: 344
	McDonald's Chocolate Shake 21 oz (medium) shake Sugars, total: 111g Calories, total: 770 Calories from sugar: 444
	McDonald's Oreo McFlurry 12 oz cup Sugars, total: 73g Calories, total: 550 Calories from sugar: 292

What can I use instead of Sugar?

Replace refine sugar with:

Raw sugar

Agave nectar 

Stevia (can only be sold legally in the US as a "dietary supplement) 

Evaporated cane juice

Sucanat

Brown rice syrup

Barley malt syrup

Rapadura sugar

Turbinado sugar

Beet sugar

Date sugar

Maple syrup

Molasses

Need a Happiness Boost?

 We all need quiet time.  You may think ME?  Yes, we all do. 


Quiet time everyday, even 1 or 2 minutes = Happiness!

During our busy days, we may not have time to sit and meditate.  However, we can sneak into the bathroom and just BREATHE for 1 or 2 minutes.  Just breathe, nothing else...don't think about anything.  Just close your eyes and breathe.

Find some quiet time every day...just 1 minute...2 minutes....or even 10 minutes! 




Get Connected....to yourself!

Cinnamon

Cinnamon

Cinnamon:  spice

How much do I need:  1/2 teaspoon a day

Cinnamon's Job:  helps with blood flow, helps control blood sugar (slows the rate at which the stomach empties after meals), "anti-microbial" (helps stop the growth of bacteria, fungi, and yeast Candida), and increases brain activity.

Cinnamon Sources:  organically grown cinnamon, stick or powder form.

Side Note: Store in a tightly sealed glass container in a cool, dark and dry place. Ground cinnamon will keep for about six months, while cinnamon sticks will stay fresh for about one year. Store in refrigerator to extend shelf life.  To check to see if it is still fresh, smell the cinnamon. If it does not smell sweet, it is no longer fresh and should be discarded.

Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)

What is Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)?

It's a fancy word for buying food directly from the farmer.  This summer and fall my fruits and vegetables will be coming from Lake Breeze Organics  (http://lakebreezeorganics.com/).  This farm is located near Lake Michigan in Michigan.  The farmers grow heirloom fruits and vegetables.  Every Wednesday I'll travel 1 mile from my house to pick-up a box filled with in-season goodies.  The farmers will email weekly recipes and information about the items of the week.

My meat and eggs will be from a farm called Grass is Greener Gardens (http://www.grassisgreenergardens.com/).  This farm is located in Wisconsin.  The last Monday of every month I'll travel 3 blocks from my house to pick-up a box filled with meats and eggs. 

The best part, I'll be renting an apple tree this fall!!  The tree is at Earth First Farms  (http://www.earthfirstfarms.com/).  I'll also be invited to their annual harvest festival in October, which includes live music, apples, apple products, hay rides, food and drinks!

How to have your own CSA?

1.  Visit this website:  http://www.localharvest.org/

2.  Type in your zip code.  A listing of all the farms that deliver to your area will be displayed.

3.  Choose a farm.

4.  Sign-up and send in a check.

Side note:  sign-up soon because some CSA's are so popular that they will sell out.

5.  Enjoy heirloom produce and healthy farm meats and eggs directly from the farm.  

Enjoy Life!

Sunshine.  Water. Rest.  Air.  Exercise.  Laugh. Sleep.  Strength.  Fresh. Green.  Farmer’s Market.  Energy.  Organic. Sustainable.  Eat food.  Not too much.  Mostly green plants.  Food is Culture, Culture is food. Farm to Plate.  If is exist in the 1800’s, then it’s food.  Eat what your grandparents ate.   Buy foods without labels.  Leaves. Nutrition. Vitamins. Small Portions.  No seconds.  Eat with others. Take pleasure in your food.  An apple a day keeps the Doctor away.  If it has a health claim, leave it on the shelf.  Bring your own bags.  Shop local.  Food spoils.  The Greatest Wealth is Health. Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.                                                                            Cook      Garden       Bake   
WATER.  water from the Tap                        Eat a variety of colors!

Garden. Eat Vegetables, get Vitamins!              
Save the Rain forestVariety.         
Grocery shop the periphery of the store.
                            Treats-eat them!                Pay more, eat less.