organic

sorry, another food post ... been on me brain lately... especially after a recent trip to Ralph's... read on :)

is it all just hype? Or is it something you should pay close attention to? I admit, I was one of the gawkers... Organic... seriously... another money making scheme to convince people that they need something more than just regular fruits and vegetables. To me, it was just the "name brand" fruit. Why would I buy "name brand" if I could have the regular stuff for less money?

So... I started digging... why in the world would all these people be advocating for organic food? What is the big deal? Is there really that much of a difference between organically grown food and conventionally, non-organic food?

What is organic?


I found a helpful list of qualifications for a food to earn that coveted "USDA ORGANIC" green seal...

"The term “organic” actually refers to the way agricultural products are grown and processed and legally details the permitted use (or not) of certain ingredients in these foods.

Organically produced foods also must be produced without the use of:

• antibiotics
• artificial growth hormones
• high fructose corn syrup
• artificial dyes (made from coal tar and petrochemicals)
• artificial sweeteners derived from chemicals
• synthetically created chemical pesticide and fertilizers
• genetically engineered proteins and ingredients
• sewage sludge
• irradiation

But sometimes food makers take it a step further, with some labels claiming “Made with Organic Ingredients” while others say “Organic.” So what’s the difference?

 100% Organic: These foods must contain only organically produced ingredients, as legally detailed by the United States Department of Agriculture and can not contain any of the ingredients listed above.

 Organic: These foods must be at least 95% organic in their ingredients in order to receive the USDA’s Organic Seal.

 Made with Organic Ingredients: These foods must contain at least 70% organic ingredients.  The remaining 30% of the ingredients do not have to be organic, but they can not include any genetically modified ingredients.

So why are genetically engineered ingredients not allowed in organic foods?  For a host of reasons, but also because of their recent introduction into the food supply in the 1990s by the chemical industry who patented certain characteristics into seeds so that they can withstand increasing doses of chemicals, weedkillers and other ingredients not allowed under law by the USDA." from Prevention.com article by Robyn O'Brien

So... the organic label isn't flippantly handed out... There is quite a hefty list of qualifications that the food and the processing of that food has to measure up to. 

Reasons why I feel it's important to buy organic

1. All of these chemicals and bio-engineered foods have not been tested on humans... And, what we as a nation are consuming now from boxed food and fast food in general, has only led to drastic increases in childhood disease, obesity, diabetes, and hosts of other cancers and conditions. For me, I just don't want to be a part of this science experiment. I've found some super helpful documentaries on this topic if you are interested... These are the ones that are streaming on Netflix...

Fresh

Fed Up!

The Future of Food

King Corn

2. Kids are more sensitive. They have littler bodies and the same thing I could eat with no problem, could affect their little bodies in ways that are unknown to me; A risk I am just not willing to take.

"Simply switching to organic products for juice, produce and grain products can lower and even eliminate pesticide chemicals found in kids’ systems in just five days, according to a study at Emory University in Atlanta published in the February 2006 issue of Environmental Health Perspectives. “After five consecutive days of organic foods, the body actually washed out all of the pesticides,” explains Chensheng Lu, PhD, who led the study. “But once the kids in the study went back to their conventional diets, the pesticide levels went back up.” Article Here

3. Long term cost savings. I talked to a friend who said purchasing high quality food now is a form of investment in their family's future. Obviously the Lord is in control and uses everything to grow us, but in general, eating healthier and closer to nature yields less diet-onset diseases. So long term, less health care spending and less medication hopefully.

4. It's not just another term to convince you to purchase. It earns the organic seal for a reason. (see list above)

Objections

I have heard a host of objections... its hippie food, global warming quackery, animal rights wackos trying to save the animals, environmental green peace waste of time, waste of money, a marketing stunt to make money. And believe me, I bought into that and in my mind made fun of people who choose to throw their money away in organic... But, do a little research into the lives of animals on most farms in America and I can guarantee you won't want to buy that pack of Foster Farms chicken breast. 

We as a society have come so far from the simple life of the family farm... agro-industrialization has taken over the world at the expense of the people it was meant to feed. Most corn produced around the world is given to animals in their feed. Where, 100 years ago, cows ate grass (which humans don't eat) and had no need to take corn feed from the humans. The dangers of cheap food has caused the world to go hungry. 

I feel like the chemicals used in the commercial fertilizers, insecticides, and pesticides affect us. So, if I buy a piece of fruit that bears the USDA Organic seal, I know I am buying a product that hasn't been tainted by those things. And, many people say "I'm fine now and I eat this way" Well... many of the chronic diseases that are rising exponentially are due to long term exposure to chemicals, fatty foods, and poor nutrition. You have to make wise choices now in order to prevent these things in the future.

I know many people peg organic foods as a "global warming" crock. And I can understand why... I went to Ralph's supermarket today to check it out. I haven't done my grocery shopping there for a few years and just wanted to see if they have grown to include more organic foods... Well... they actually did... But, a huge sign in front of the organic section of produce read "simply organic-organic food is grown with the environment in mind. taking care of the soil and farming in an environmentally friendly way." I just stared at the sign... Really, this is the branding that organic food gets. No mention of human health, no mention of genetically modified foods, no mention of the chemicals that are avoided... No, its the environment. No wonder your average person off the street who sees that sign above organic food thinks we are all hippies. False information propagated by the grocery store who wants you to buy the crap in the aisle a few feet away. 

But....

Now I know, sometimes you are in a situation where it is flat out, a money issue... So, focus your spending on:

• Good quality organic grass fed meats. (You know you won't be getting hormones or antibiotics, a HUGE issue plaguing our country with the growth of antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria)
• Cage-free pastured organic hormone free eggs (the Burbank farmers market lady is AWESOME!)
• raw unpasteurized whole milk - this is super controversial, I know... but after reading some books and doing more research I am convinced that it is worth the monetary and health investment... 
• Even organic milk is still pasteurized (heated to super high temperatures in order to "kill off" the bad bacteria, which kills off the good bacterias as well... and the good enzymes are destroyed too. Often organic milk is UltraPasteurized which heats milk even hotter to kill of bacteria, even more so damaging the proteins inside the stuff.
• Organic Whole Milk Yogurt (No low-fat! Our bodies need fat to absorb the vitamins in our food)
• Then... organic fruits and veggies, grains and beans
• The Dirty Dozen list is helpful. Obviously, all organic food is ideal, but that really can get expensive, so opt for organic for the dirty dozen to minimize potential pesticide exposure.

Sometimes I know your husband might not be on board with you, obviously, you have to submit to Him as you submit to the Lord and just pray. But, I don't think it is wrong to talk about it in a very calm, patient and understanding way. No nagging of course, but at the appropriate time, bringing up your concerns for your responsibility for feeding your family... And if he says no... know "that a gentle and quiet spirit is precious in the sight of the Lord, for in this way in former times, the holy women also who hoped in God used to adorn themselves being submissive to their own husbands." (1 Peter 3:1-6)

Overall... I'm convinced Organic isn't just the latest diet fad. It's not just the latest buzz word. It's not just the latest scam. It is a distinction among our food choices that we as consumers have the power to vote with our dollar. It is the food our grandparents ate... It is only in the last 40-50 years that food has become hugely industrialized and now what is considered "organic" is what people used to eat all the time. The system is just so messed up that there needs to be a word for old-fashioned, clean food: organic.

Organic or not... the bottom line is that the Lord is God and Sovereign and Good. He gives us the responsibility to be stewards of the bodies He has given to us. The goal is not bodily perfection and optimum health in this life... the goal is doing what we can to use our bodies as a living sacrifice, taking care of it so we are better fit to do His work on earth while we are here.

Again, just a peek into my wild and crazy brain... just what I am learning and I hope it can help someone out there too :) And, we do eat non-organic too... the occasional restaurant meal, dinner with friends, birthday parties and office potlucks... but, it is all about balance. When we can at home, we choose this type of whole food... but when we can't, its ok! Life is about balance and people are more important than food, so... if you have us over... cook whatever you want, we'll eat it!! Unless its tuna and root beer... then I will gladly refuse ;)

daily green smoothies

green smoothies are all the rage... and for good reason. a quick easy way to get good stuff in your body in a way that is more palatable than straight up chompin.

here is the recipe for my daily greens...

toss these into your high powered mixer in this order...

• two/three big handfuls of raw organic spinach (press down so it is lightly compacted at the bottom
• 8-10 frozen strawberries
• 1/2 cup frozen pineapples
• Organic Orange Juice - pour orange juice into the mixer and fill up to cover the spinach ... ( your frozen fruit should not be underwater)

optional:

• 1 tbsp of ground flax seed
• frozen kale leaves (a super helpful tip from a friend : wash the kale, freeze the kale, break off leaves into the smoothie (discard the stems)... the kale loses its potent flavor!)
• sub 1/2 of the orange juice for organic carrot juice
• sometimes if I am making this for Ian I will add a greens super food protein powder scoop.
• substitute any fruit you have on hand!! We recently went through the costco pack of tropical frozen fruit (papaya, mango, pineapple, and strawberries)
• If you have extras, freeze into popsicles.

grind on high until all ingredients are blended and enjoy. For a more juicy consistency, add more juice... for a thicker drink, add more frozen fruit, not less juice.

My kiddos love these too and guests are pleasantly surprised to find out there is a whole lotta spinach in there. enjoy

dyes

Another reason to watch what you eat... literally watch the label and see if there is junk in it...

"The Unhealthy Truth" does a great job explaining the potential dangers of the food dyes that are in our food system... Chemicals. Chemicals and more chemicals... Chemicals that have not been tested on long term exposure and we as a population is the biggest science experiment ever conducted. No thanks! I'll opt out!

I found this great article at Healthy Child that is useful...

"If you read the labels of your food, you’re probably aware of all the food dyes used. Yellow no 5, blue no 1, red no 3. They’re everywhere. 

They’re in breakfast cereals, candy, soda, crackers, and boxed macaroni and cheese.

What you may not be aware of it they are linked to a variety of diseases including allergic reactions, hyperactivity that mimics ADHD in children, and cancer.

What you may also not be aware of is due to consumer demands they have been taken out of a lot of foods in Europe and replaced with natural food colors. They use things like beetroot and paprika to achieve the same colors.

So, the same products and companies that make food for the U.S. and add chemicals for color, make the exact same products for Europe without the chemicals.

I love this article, Toxics in Our Kids food, not only because it explains the issue, but because of the picture example in the middle of the article. It shows the US Nutrigrain bars with the color ingredients Red No 40, Yellow No 6, and Blue No 1. Next to it is the UK Nutrigrain bars with their colors, beetroot red, annatto, and paprika extract.

As a parent and a consumer, that makes me mad. If a product can, and is, being made with natural ingredients instead of chemicals, it should be everywhere. It shouldn’t matter if it’s Europe, the U.S., or Kenya, the safest possible product should be offered everywhere. Big companies should just do what’s right every once in a while without having to be told to do so by the government. I’m all for personal accountability, but not everyone can be an expert on everything. We should be able to grab something off the shelf and know it’s safe and not potentially harming our kids. It’s common sense and, frankly, just common decency.

So, what can we do about it?

Read labels and avoid food dyes if at all possible

There are products out there that use natural food coloring. Buy those instead of the big brands. They taste the same. We can use our money to tell the big companies we don’t want chemicals in our food."

Read more: http://healthychild.org/blog/comments/food_dyes_and_kids/#ixzz20LYclHAs


Another reason to make your own food... trust me... starting to cook more from scratch will get easier! It will become more enjoyable... Can you believe I am saying this!? If you have known me at all, I've hated the kitchen-part of housewifelyhood... No more! It's my stewardship and responsibility and i GET to feed my family! How the Lord has transformed me!

Pam Pam bo bam banana fanna fo Fam

ok, now this was a big thing to give up for me... commercial cooking sprays...

WHAT?! give up sweet Pam!? yes... after doing a little research... I realized, all the additives and junk we were trying to cut out of our normal food... are included in the cooking sprays... even the organic kind... Just look at the can in your pantry... can you pronounce all the ingredients?

And... the whole "calorie free" claim is bogus... look at the servings size... 1/4 of a second spray... who does that?!?!?! So, they shrink the serving size to SO SO SO small to claim NO FAT and ZERO CALORIES! (which nutritional labels can claim if there is less than a .5 of a gram of fat... so if it is .5g of fat in 1/4 of a second spray... they can legally claim it is fat free...) So, if you spray it for 2 seconds, you are getting calories...

Now, oil is not the enemy, the yucky additives in the cooking spray is the ugly. And what is hard, the Genetically modified soy beans that are used in these sprays, aren't legally required to be labeled as Genetically Modified... a whole other issue...


The Examiner did a report on reasons why non-stick cooking sprays are not a good option... Here they are:

If cooking spray is a staple in your kitchen, here are four reasons to consider tossing out that iconic aerosol can:

1. Cooking sprays contain unhealthy additives

Home cooks typically don’t intend to add dubious ingredients like soy lecithin, mono and diglycerides, dimethylpolysiloxane, dimethyl silicone, or artificial flavors to their carefully selected meals, especially since the long term effects of these chemicals are still unknown. Nevertheless, many varieties of cooking spray contain exactly these things, especially when opting for artificially flavored varieties, like butter.

2. Cooking sprays contain genetically modified ingredients (GMO’s)

While things like soy, corn, or rapeseeds (canola) in and of themselves may not sound bad, the problem lies in the origin of the crops. Sadly, the vast majority of these foods (over 90 percent according to GMO Compass) are derived from genetically modified seeds, which have been altered so that growers can use more pesticides (without killing the plant itself) and therefore yield more crops.

According the American Academy of Environmental Medicine, animal studies have repeatedly shown serious health risks including infertility, auto-immune disorders, diabetes, and changes in major organs including the gastrointestinal system. The AAEM even went so far as to ask physicians to advise patients to avoid GM foods.

To further compound this problem, GM foods contain markedly higher levels of pesticides than conventional crops, increasing the risks of these already dangerous chemicals.

3. Cooking sprays contain soy

Although soy is typically viewed as healthy, people are consuming more of it today than at any other time in history. This is namely because it is an additive in just about every processed food available, leaving many experts fearing that there could be unintended health consequences to such overconsumption.

A Harvard University study, for example, reported that eating as little as one half serving of soy per day resulted in problems such as infertility in males and increased breast cancer risk in females. Other experts propose that the soy laden diet of today may also be a contributing factor in the increased incidence of soy allergies, which have increased by 50 percent since 1998, according to Nexus Magazine.

4. Cooking sprays may negatively impact lung health

In 2007, Seattle PI conducted studies on 22 leading cooking sprays. They found that even small amounts of the sprays, when heated, released high concentrations of diacetyl, a chemical that causes serious and even fatal respiratory disease under repeated, long-term exposure. Although manufacturers have since removed products containing diacetyl from the market, some health advocates fear that using aerosol products is still risky since the long-term effects of inhaling the particles and vapors of other artificial ingredients isn’t known.

So what is the solution? Do what your grandmother did and simply wipe down your pots and pans with organic, cold-pressed cooking oils such as olive or coconut. Or, if you simply must have a spray, most home goods stores sell hand-pump spray bottles designed to fill with any cooking oil you choose. You won't get that disgusting buildup on your cookware, and your body and the environment will be better off. "

Now... another solution... DIY Cooking Spray. I like how you can pronounce every ingredient :)

HOMEMADE COOKING SPRAY

Ingredients

1 part olive oil (or your choice of oil)
5 parts water
1 misting spray bottle (make sure its a misting spray bottle)

Instructions

Mix in your spray bottle 1 part olive oil to 5 parts water. In my 12 ounce bottle, I poured in 2 ounces of canola oil and added 10 ounces of water. Shake well and you’re done. That’s it. Store in a cool, dark place. Shake before using each time.

Sometimes change is hard and sometimes, it just might not be worth it to you... Again... I am just blogging about my own discoveries and what we are doing as a family. Please don't take these posts as judgements towards you if you choose not to eat like we eat... I just want it to be a journal of my journey and a help to anyone who might want some info. That is all :)

No bake energy bites

These have been popping up on Pinterest and we've made them a bunch but I forgot to put the recipe here!!!

No-Bake Energy Bites  -print this recipe HERE-

(makes 18-20 bites)

1 cup oatmeal

1/2 cup peanut butter (or other nut butter)

1/3 cup honey

1 cup coconut flakes (optional... no coconut in our house)

1/2 cup ground flaxseed

1/2 cup mini chocolate chips

1 tsp vanilla

Mix everything above in a medium bowl until thoroughly incorporated.  Let chill in the refrigerator for half an hour.  Once chilled, roll into balls and enjoy!  Store in an airtight container and keep refrigerated for up to 1 week.

Make a bunch for hubby to take to work, kids to munch on, or for playdates!

a case of the munchies

i get them a lot... less than before... but still they appear... the munchies! I find that having a plan BEFORE the attack has helped a ton... meaning... having good options available and ready to go when the lightening strikes is key...

here are some snacks I eat (some ideas I got from friends and some I do just because I am weird, see the egg one)... you can adapt them for kids, but this is just what I go for when I'm in a pinch...

• 1 organic apple with a tablespoon of Peanut butter on a spoon... scoop it out of the jar, don't leave the jar open for more dips... danger.
• peeled whole carrots (peel a bunch and keep them ready in your fridge)
• handful of fresh fruit... grapes, a peach, nectarine, or pear.
• no-bake energy bites
• home made cereal bars
• organic corn chips and home made salsa (12-14 chips is considered one serving... so be mindful)
• handful of raw nuts . I usually have TJ raw almonds on hand so that is my go-to.
• an egg. this sounds weird I know... but sometimes I just need some substance and I whip up a scrambled egg. Just for me around 2pm :)
• raw sunflower seeds
• and the best for last popcorn!!!!! ian's cousin in utah made us popcorn this way when we visited utah, our first christmas married... we usually use about 2 tablespoons of oil in a pan, and pour a bunch of kernels in... turn on High, cover and let it pop. turn off the heat when the popping decreases and when you shake the pot, you don't hear a bunch of unpopped kernels rattling around. top with butter and sea salt. an air popper is ideal, i know, but its on my wish list for now!

happy well fed and nourished mommy means a better mommy to care for kiddos! happy snacking!

breakfast cookies

easy. quick . yummy breakfast cookies anyone? whip up a small batch on monday and enjoy the whole week... these have been a hit with my little picky missy!

Breakfast cookies - 

preheat oven to 350 degrees

3 mashed bananas (ripe) - i blended them to a nice smooth consistency and it works great!


1/3 cup apple sauce


2 cups oats


1/4 cup almond milk


1/2 cup raisins 


1/2 cup chocolate chips


1 tsp vanilla


1 tsp cinnamon


mix it all up and bake for 15-20 minutes.

yummers!

food swap - cereal bar

packaged cereal bars have always been a hit in our house... i don't like them at all, but the kids do, so I would buy them... easy treats on the go or in the stroller for our morning run... but... even the trader joes brand has extra additives and things I can't pronounce...  so, i tried some recipes for homemade cereal bars and this one has been great!!!

i found a recipe from pinterest but altered it a little bit...  {my comments in bold italics}

INGREDIENT NOTE: Make you oat flour by whirring rolled oats in a coffee grinder, it’s easy and works great!  {this was awesome. used my vitamix to grind up oats to make the oat flour, you know me... we don't own a coffee grinder!! :) }

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Dry:

1 cup gluten free oat flour
1 cup teff flour (or more oat or brown rice flour)  {i used more oat flour}
(If you can do gluten, I imagine spelt, and whole wheat pastry flour would work great!)
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup palm sugar (or other granulated sugar) {I used organic cane sugar... this recipe does contain sugar so its not perfect, but WAY better than some food processing plant adding unknown amounts of the stuff}

2 tablespoon of flax meal

Wet:
1/2 cup apple sauce
1/4 cup melted coconut oil (or other oil)  {i used the coconut oil... trying to use this stuff more and more}
2 teaspoons vanilla

Filling: 
1/4-1/2 cup favorite jelly.  If your jelly is very thin like some low sugar jelly’s are, it is ok to add a couple of tablespoons of tapioca flour or arrowroot starch to thicken it up! Some readers commented that they made their own filling by pureeing a favorite fruit and thickening it on the stove.  An easy way to keep it sugar free and control the sweeteners!  {Trader Joe's Organic Reduced Sugar jelly worked perfect!}

Whisk the dry ingredients together in a medium bowl.

In a liquid measuring cup, whisk the wet ingredients.  Pour into the dry mix and blend until a soft dough is formed.  You may add a couple tablespoons milk if it is necessary.  Divide the dough in half.

Grease an 8 x 8 pan. {a 9x13 pan will make them a little thinner...}

Place half the dough on a piece of parchment, place another piece of parchment over the top, and roll it out into a rough 8 x 8 square (the dough should be too wet to roll without the parchment on top. I have used plastic wrap, waxed paper, and a Silpat for this job too with success, just be sure you don’t try and bake the plastic wrap or waxed paper!)   Invert the rolled dough into the pan, pressing and smooshing until the bottom crust is dispersed.  Gently remove the parchment.  Spread your filling evenly over the bottom crust.  Roll out the top crust in the same manner, and flip over onto the top of the filling.  Press and smoosh with the parchment in place and then remove when you are happy!  I have also just moved pieces of the dough and overlapped pieces as a top crust…works great too!

Bake for 20-25 minutes until the center is set.

This is really a simple recipe and great for playdate snacks, quick breakfasts, or just to munch on. Enjoy!