Need a snack?? Try a Kiwi!

Why should you choose this super food??? Well, for starters it has twice the vitamin C of Oranges! Two medium kiwi's have almost 5 g of fiber, decent source of magnesium, low-sodium and are a high-potassium food (great after a run or workout).
Get this, the Journal of Medicinal Food did a study. They found that kiwi had the ability to reduce oxidative stress (damage from free radicals) in human plasma. Another study in Carcinogenesis confirmed kiwi's ability to protect against cellular damage AND repair cellular damage that had already occurred (just from adding kiwi into a normal diet)! Pretty cool!

Plus, they are DELICIOUS!

Oh, and according to The Environmental Working Group, Kiwifruit is considered one of the least contaminated with pesticides. Good to know!




Picture taken from here
Information taken from 150 Healthiest Food on Earth- Jonny Bowden

Chi Running

I have a relay race coming up in the next 2 months... I'm really excited, but I've been a bit nervous because of my knee surgery. I've been working with my cardio coach and my personal trainer (sadly, my last session was Friday). We've really been working on glute, hamstring & quad strength, to prepare my legs for this FANTASTIC race.

website: http://www.chirunning.com/

My cardio coach suggested I get this book "Chi Running". So, I went over to Barnes & Noble and picked it up (generally, I'm way too impatient to order books online). I started reading it right away!
So far, it's all about balance and alignment. He talks about how you should never feel pain from running. If you do, you are not in balance and alignment. Because pain is just an indicator that something is off in our bodies. He mentions that we over work our leg muscles (like I've been doing), but it's not required if we run correctly.
He talks about using our mind, gravity and the natural flow of our bodies to move us forward, leading to effective running! He tells us we should get back to our roots, so to speak... Run like children. They have perfect form... because they just do it!
I haven't gotten into the running "form", but I'm extremely excited! He has mentioned great posture (one of my major issues), relaxed muscles and joints and tight core.
If anyone is interested in running or has been interested in running, check it out. So far, I really like the book.

Some very important things to remember when running:
Diet: It's really important to eat "good" foods while running (I'm going to insert a blip here... You should be eating well all the time. Our bodies need great food not just when we are exercising. Okay, I'm done). Carbohydrates (100% whole grains are a good one), proteins and good fats (ie., Avocados). Your body needs the right fuel to run and it needs all these items.
Fluids: When I run, I can not drink soda, coffee or alcohol. My body can't handle it! And my body requires more water.
Sleep: When I run (or do any exercise), my body needs more sleep. Make sure you are getting adequate sleep.

One last thing... When I first started running, I thought you had to run really hard, really fast equaling a high heart rate. After working with a cardio coach, I realized that the slower I went the more effective my body was working. Over time, my oxygen levels increased and I was able to run much faster, with a lower heart rate. So my speed increased, but the effort to reach that speed didn't.

If anyone is interested in running... and would like the information of my cardio coach. send me a message and I'll give you his information. He has changed the way I run and the way I feel when I run! I love it!
I'm so excited to see what this book has in store for me.

Happy Running!

Minestrone Soup

You know, when I started this new blog, I wasn't really sure the direction it would go. I know I'm posting a lot of recipes, but after reading a bunch of books, I realized I didn't know what "real" food was. A lot of them tell you what to eat and NOT to eat, but I think we've gotten so far away from what is "real", we really don't know what to eat or how to eat it! We now need books and nutritionist to tell us what we should and shouldn't eat. That's crazy to me! What scares me more was how little I knew about what I was actually eating.

Eating well is hard, it's an adjustment, it taste different (and better), you have to spend more time preparing your food (in theory) and it's a bit more expensive. In my opinion, all worth it! Plus, what we buy is what we are voting for. Check out this trailer and/or watch the movie.
If you are anything like me, after throwing out all the "garbage" food and reading the labels, you wonder... what CAN I eat!
That's why I've been posting recipes. I'm trying to find options for me, my husband & kids and even you!
I know that eating better seems like a challenge, but with little steps, it's do-able! Your body and health will thank you.

Knowledge is power!

So here was last night's dinner.
Minestrone Soup!

Onion, Celery, Carrot, Garlic & Spinach

After all ingredients have been added, simmering!

Yum!!

I have made this soup several times. My family and I have LOVED it every time. I did make some slight modifications, but here is the original recipe (and I have made the original recipe many times).

My modifications last night:
I add 2 cloves of garlic, minced
I used a cup of spinach, finely chopped (I added the carrots, celery, garlic & onion, cooked those for about 5 minutes. Then I added the spinach. cooked another 2 minutes and then added the broth).
I did not use Mushroom, Zucchini or Squash (this time!) I was in a hurry, but they are delicious in the soup.

Follow the directions on her site and you will love this soup too.

Enjoy!

ATTENTION: Diet Soda Drinkers

Drinking diet soda could increase the risk of stroke and heart attacks, according to the American Stroke Association. They followed 2,500 people over 9 years. They found that 61 percent of diet soda drinkers were at higher risk for stroke and heart attack, compared with non diet soda drinkers.
The more diet soda intake the higher the risk becomes, due to high sodium intake. We should be consuming only 1,500 milligrams a day, however, the average is about 3,400 milligrams daily.
The moral of the story: If you are drinking more then 1 diet soda a day, your risk of heart attack and stroke goes up significantly. My opinion (I'm going to tell you) cut back your soda intake or stop drinking it all together! While you're at it, consume more water!

Personally, I stopped drinking soda when I started running. I don't like the way it makes me feel, especially when I'm running! I go in and out of stages, but I really do try to avoid it at all costs. If I do have a soda, it's maybe one time a month (and that is still a lot more then I would like). In this study, they only looked at one factor. Sodium. There is more to soda then sodium and we really don't know all the effects they have on us. Be cautious and be aware. Know what you are putting in your body!


Click here to read the full article. Image taken from here.

Finding Your Motivation

(Disclaimer: I am not a Doctor, Nurse, Trainer, Medical Professional of any kind. This is my exercise program, under the direction of a Physician. You should check with your physician before starting any exercise program.)

What is my motivation??? Running!
How I found my motivation...
I know a lot of you are saying, I don't run! I did!
Just so you know, I have really long legs. I could have been a fantastic runner, but I was the "long jump, high jump, hurdle type". I DID NOT run! In fact, people would often ask me if I ran for exercise.. I would tell them "no, no, no... I don't run!"
I always admired people that did run, but it was always really hard for me and I always told myself I couldn't and/or wouldn't do it.
About 2 years ago my sister asked me if I wanted to run a marathon . I thought about it, and decided that would be a great goal to accomplish. Yes, I would really like to do that. So I started training. I had just had my last baby and needed something to get me moving. So, I started running. I ran most of the year, until I had to have an emergency surgery. It took me 3 months to get back on track (missing the marathon), but once January 2010 came, I hit the gym hard. My girlfriend and I made goals and got our "butts" to the gym.
We had signed up for a relay race. Red Rock Relay. We had 8 months to train for a 12 person team, running 180 miles in 2 days. We found some training schedules on-line and were following them.
The problem was, I really didn't like running too much. I felt like my heart was going to explode and it was REALLY tough! I was running any where from 3- 7 miles with my heart rate between 176 to 190.
I ended up having knee pain in mid-May and went on vacation early June. So, I took a (much needed) couple weeks off. Before I left, I met with a personal trainer. See, I was running and doing "The Body For Life" program. I had results, but I seemed to be "stuck". I needed some help!
When I got back, I started working with a trainer, who told me I was strong, but my cardio was lacking (which I could feel). So I met with a Metabolic specialist. He did a MAP test. I'm not exactly sure what MAP stands for, but they put a mask on your face, you run on the treadmill or bike and they monitor your breathing and heart rate. One of the BEST things I've EVER done.
It completely changed how I was working out. See, I thought you had to work out really, really hard to lose weight and burn fat. Boy, was I wrong. My problem was, I was pushing myself too hard. My heart rate was too high and I was burning nothing but sugar. No fat! and my heart rate was WAY too high... No wonder I felt like my heart was going to explode, because it probably was about to.
I found my target heart rate zone, worked out and trained in those zones and ended up losing 10lbs and 8% body fat. My oxygen levels went from 42% to 90%, in 3 months. Pretty amazing!
While I was working out, I was eating right, but not like I am today. I can't pinpoint just one thing, but it really was a combination of all the things put together.
Last year I did my first 5K, 10K, 15K, 5K-Midnight Run and Relay Race (and a few in between). My goal this year is to run Red Rock Relay-Moab, my first 1/2 Marathon and my first Marathon!
You can run outside, you can run inside, with a friend, alone or with a group... However you would like to do it! You have so many options.

If you want to get started, here's an easy way... This seems slow, but it really goes quick if you just jump into it:
Begin with a walking program... Fast, but comfortable pace for 20 minutes, every other day. (I would do this until you feel comfortable)

Progress to running intervals... 4:1 minutes (walk:run) for 20 minutes, every other day.
(So you walk for 4 minutes, run for 1 minutes. Repeat 3 more times for a total of 20 minutes)

If you are doing okay, increase intervals by 30 seconds (or 1 min.), every other day, until you are running for 20 min. straight.

Continue to increase running time by 30 seconds (or 1 min.) every other day until you are able to run a desired distance/time comfortably. **

This is a great way to start slow and get comfortable with running. You don't have to go really fast, but it's a great way to get going.

Register for a race. There is no motivation like a deadline. Then, keep signing up for races (I'm already registered for one). Here are 2 websites that I check frequently for up-coming events! I also subscribe to Runner's World Magazine.

http://www.utahrunning.com/
http://www.active.com/

find a friend to go with you. Some people like to run with music, some with-out. My girlfriend and I put one ear phone in a ear and chat while we run, listen to music, chat or sometime not talk at all!

Start little, start slow and remember, you don't have to go fast to loose weight. In fact, generally when you are going slower you are in a better fat burning heart rate zone!
If you have questions on the MAP test or any questions for me... email me, I can give you some more information.

Dig deep and good luck!








References:
**TOSH PT Return to Running Sheet
picture: http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://whatwouldsummerwear.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/running.jpg&imgrefurl=http://whatwouldsummerwear.wordpress.com/2010/01/02/2010-the-best-year-yet/&usg=__hyxQUxjUo4U_VHsSDPvL--8h5Vc=&h=566&w=849&sz=147&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=bKjskoupbtJkQM:&tbnh=141&tbnw=191&ei=yJtRTZ6BKIK2sAPKyK3YBg&prev=/images%3Fq%3Drunning%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26sa%3DN%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26biw%3D1904%26bih%3D832%26tbs%3Disch:1&um=1&itbs=1&iact=rc&dur=355&oei=yJtRTZ6BKIK2sAPKyK3YBg&esq=1&page=1&ndsp=39&ved=1t:429,r:5,s:0&tx=35&ty=85

Need a snack?? Try some nuts!

Did you know, that those who eat the most nuts tend to have some of the lowest body mass indexes (a measure of overweight). Do you know the "coolest" part about Almonds... They did a study that compared two groups of dieters eating the same number of calories; one group ate 520 of their calories from almonds and lost more weight. The research is indicating that almond cell walls may partially limit the amount of dietary fat available for digestion or absorption, so it's possible the a small portion of the calories from almonds are not fully absorbed.** (Awesome, huh?!)
Almonds are a "Super-Food", what's not to love about them.

They lower cholesterol, they are rich in mono saturated fat (that's the good stuff), reduces heart disease, they contain 6g protein in one (yes, that's 1!) ounce, 3g of dietary fiber, calcium, phosphorus, vitamin E and magnesium.

Almonds are not the only fantastic "nut" out there. You have Brazil Nuts, Walnuts, Cashews, Hazelnuts, Macadamia Nuts, Peanuts, Pecans and Pistachio's.

Here is a guide for how many to eat. Pair any of these AWESOME NUTS with some fruit. Because nuts have hardly ANY carbohydrates in them, it's perfect with fruit (a wonderful carbohydrate)!

Type of Nut & Serving Size: **
Almonds 20-24
Brazil Nuts 6-8
Cashews 16-18
Flaxseeds 2TLB
Hazelnuts 18-20
Macadamias 10-12
Peanuts 28
Pecans 18-20
Pine Nuts 150-157
Pistachios 45-47
Pumpkin Seeds 85 seeds, or 1/2 Cup
Sesame Seeds 1/4 Cup
Walnuts 8-11 halves
Source: www.nuthealth.org and www.calorieking.com

So, have a handful of NUTS! and Enjoy!






References:
The 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth- By Jonny Bowden
Master Your Metabolism-By Jillian Michaels
**Taken directly from "The 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth", by Jonny Bowden
**Nut information taken directly from Jillian Michaels, Master Your Metabolism

Picture taken from:http://images.search.yahoo.com/images/view?back=http%3A%2F%2Fimages.search.yahoo.com%2Fsearch%2Fimages%3Fp%3DPictures%2Bof%2Balmonds%26ei%3DUTF-8%26fr%3Dmoz35%26fr2%3Dtab-web&w=465&h=401&imgurl=www.superfoodinfo.net%2Fimages%2Ffoods%2FAlmond.jpg&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.superfoodinfo.net%2FInfo.aspx%3FSuperFood%3DAlmond&size=48KB&name=Almond+Super+Foo...&p=Pictures+of+almonds&oid=1a0ef2073067e8f4b40b1ee7676f824e&fr2=tab-web&no=8&tt=36500&sigr=11ngj7fn4&sigi=11d03m8qm&sigb=1300bqc10&.crumb=EbNyXb93Uza

South Carolina scientist works to grow meat in lab (WHAT???)

Yesterday, I had a girlfriend send this article to me. Pretty CRAZY stuff we have going on here..
My favorite part was at the end, when he compared his GE Meat to the iPhone! Not sure how the two are related, at all! But I thought it was interesting, creepy, and actually disgusting!


South Carolina scientist works to grow meat in lab

By Harriet McLeod – Sun Jan 30, 10:00 am ET
CHARLESTON, South Carolina (Reuters) – In a small laboratory on an upper floor of the basic science building at the Medical University of South Carolina, Vladimir Mironov, M.D., Ph.D., has been working for a decade to grow meat.
A developmental biologist and tissue engineer, Dr. Mironov, 56, is one of only a few scientists worldwide involved in bioengineering "cultured" meat.
It's a product he believes could help solve future global food crises resulting from shrinking amounts of land available for growing meat the old-fashioned way ... on the hoof.
Growth of "in-vitro" or cultured meat is also under way in the Netherlands, Mironov told Reuters in an interview, but in the United States, it is science in search of funding and demand.
The new National Institute of Food and Agriculture, part of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, won't fund it, the National Institutes of Health won't fund it, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration funded it only briefly, Mironov said.
"It's classic disruptive technology," Mironov said. "Bringing any new technology on the market, average, costs $1 billion. We don't even have $1 million."
Director of the Advanced Tissue Biofabrication Center in the Department of Regenerative Medicine and Cell Biology at the medical university, Mironov now primarily conducts research on tissue engineering, or growing, of human organs.
"There's a yuck factor when people find out meat is grown in a lab. They don't like to associate technology with food," said Nicholas Genovese, 32, a visiting scholar in cancer cell biology working under a People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals three-year grant to run Dr. Mironov's meat-growing lab.
"But there are a lot of products that we eat today that are considered natural that are produced in a similar manner," Genovese said.
"There's yogurt, which is cultured yeast. You have wine production and beer production. These were not produced in laboratories. Society has accepted these products."
If wine is produced in winery, beer in a brewery and bread in a bakery, where are you going to grow cultured meat?
In a "carnery," if Mironov has his way. That is the name he has given future production facilities.
He envisions football field-sized buildings filled with large bioreactors, or bioreactors the size of a coffee machine in grocery stores, to manufacture what he calls "charlem" -- "Charleston engineered meat."
"It will be functional, natural, designed food," Mironov said. "How do you want it to taste? You want a little bit of fat, you want pork, you want lamb? We design exactly what you want. We can design texture.
"I believe we can do it without genes. But there is no evidence that if you add genes the quality of food will somehow suffer. Genetically modified food is already normal practice and nobody dies."
Dr. Mironov has taken myoblasts -- embryonic cells that develop into muscle tissue -- from turkey and bathed them in a nutrient bath of bovine serum on a scaffold made of chitosan (a common polymer found in nature) to grow animal skeletal muscle tissue. But how do you get that juicy, meaty quality?
Genovese said scientists want to add fat. And adding a vascular system so that interior cells can receive oxygen will enable the growth of steak, say, instead of just thin strips of muscle tissue.
Cultured meat could eventually become cheaper than what Genovese called the heavily subsidized production of farm meat, he said, and if the public accepts cultured meat, the future holds benefits.
"Thirty percent of the earth's land surface area is associated with producing animal protein on farms," Genovese said.
"Animals require between 3 and 8 pounds of nutrient to make 1 pound of meat. It's fairly inefficient. Animals consume food and produce waste. Cultured meat doesn't have a digestive system.
"Further out, if we have interplanetary exploration, people will need to produce food in space and you can't take a cow with you.
"We have to look to these ideas in order to progress. Otherwise, we stay static. I mean, 15 years ago who could have imagined the iPhone?"
(Editing by Jerry Norton)

Reference: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20110130/sc_nm/us_food_meat_laboratory_feature

Obama Administration Fails to Protect Consumer and Farmer Choice

On January 27, the Obama Administration made the damaging decision to approve the unrestricted cultivation of genetically engineered (GE) alfalfa. This means GE alfalfa can be planted without any federal requirements to prevent contamination of organic and non-GE crops. It also means that GE alfalfa does not have to be labeled, making it difficult for consumers to identify and avoid. This decision, to support big business at the expense of individual choice, sets a precedent for future deregulation of GE crops although genetic engineering has not been conclusively proven safe. Don't stand by while well-funded and well-connected biotechnology interests are given the power to eliminate marketplace choice. Use the talking points below as a guide to customize your message to the White House. Make it personal and demand that President Obama protect your right to choose products free of genetic engineering!

If you would like to make a difference, click here and submit a letter to President Obama. It's really easy, they basically do it for you!

Did you know: 93% of soy, 86% of corn, 93% of cotton and 93% of canola seed planted were genetically engineered in the U.S. in 2010 – I didn't until I read this article. You may be saying to yourself, well, why does it matter? Why do I care? Or it has no barring on me!

People, when 93% of soy and 83% of corn are GE (genetically engineered). That is Corn Starch, High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS), Hydrogenated Vegetable (which is soy bean), Canola oils. Etc. Etc... If you think this doesn't effect you, check your labels. Read how many things you eat have HFCS, Hydrogenated oils, Corn Starch's, etc.

If you are wondering why GMO's my be a problem. Check this article out. Or, just Google it. Check it out for yourself. If it bother's you at all. I would click here and send something to Obama. Allowing GE/GM/GMO's only opens the door to many more situations like this. The very people that should be protecting us are not. We must become educated and protect ourselves.

References:

http://blog.wholefoodsmarket.com/2011/01/no-regulations-ge-alfalfa/

http://ota.capwiz.com/ota/issues/alert/?alertid=24747501

http://www.saynotogmos.org/ud2006/usept06.php#confused

Why I Stopped Drinking Coffee

For the last couple years, I have gone back and forth about drinking coffee. You also here claims that it's "good for you", that it's "bad for you"... Drink it... don't drink it.
Personally, I could feel the effects on my body, and I was more addicted to coffee then I thought I was. To stop drinking was a lot easier said then done. Even one of the personal trainers at my gym said to stop drinking it. He didn't know exactly why, but he found that women who drank coffee held on to their last few pounds of weight and as soon as they stopped, they dropped the weight. I wondered why, until now.

In Jillian Michaels book, "Master Your Metabolism", she talks about the effects of caffeine-coffee.
Here's the information. Read it, and decide for yourself.

They have found the pure caffeine in moderation can elevate your metabolism by 6 percent, inhibit insulin resistance and even improve cognitive function.
The catch is... Non organic coffee (or cokes and diet cokes) doesn't give you the fat burning effect you are looking for.
Studies done with pure caffeine were done with an isolated caffeine supplement, paired with other specific substances in controlled lab settings.
The worse part is, caffeine is abused. It not only damages your metabolism, but your hormonal balance as well.
Caffeine stimulates your central nervous system, which makes your endocrine system, which makes your endocrine system think that you have threatened in some way. With the third cup of coffee at your desk each day, you kick your body into fight-or-flight mode while you're checking e-mail. Your adrenals pump out epinephrin and norepinephrine. These two stress hormones set into motion a cascade of fattening hormonal actoins: Your liver releases blood sugar for quick energy, your pancreas spits out insulin to counter the sugar, your body dips because of the insulin's actions. Also, your blood vessels constrict, making you feel like your blood sugar is dipping even further, so you head for the vending machine. Ever notice how you crave something sweet somewhere between the first and second cup of coffee? That's your body reacting to this sudden feeling of blood sugar shortage.
The Acids in one cup of coffee will elevate your cortisol for up to fourteen hours. Now, if you sip caffeinated drinks all day, you switch on your stress reaction over and over- your short term energy burns out, you grab another cup, repeat the hormonal cycle again, and effectively turn yourself into an addict.
Caffeine abuse overstimulates and eventually wears down your adrenals; it also inflicts the long term effects of real stress in your body: Oxygen flow to your brain slows, your immune system is suppressed, the excess cortisol increase your appetite and encourages fat to pack on your belly, and last, your continued insulin spikes help to crate insulin resistance.
To make matters worse, when it's time to restore yourself with rest, the caffeine you drank during the daytime may prevent you from getting adequate sleep that night- and you now know that lack of sleep itself crates insulin resistance.
The Phosphoric acid in colas and coffee interferes with your calcium absorption. In addition to being brutal on your bones, this calcium deficiency- and the caffeine itself- can make the symptoms of PMS much worse, including increased breast tenderness, irritability, and nervousness.
The National Academy of Sciences released a report claiming that caffeinated beverages can be calculated in your daily water intake- but if you ask me, that's bogus. Caffeine is a diuretic, draining precious water from your body at the very moment you're trying to flush out the toxins. When you're dehydrated, your blood volume decreases, reducing the amount of oxygen that can get to your muscles, making them less effective at burning fat. There's no debate here: Get your water from water. **

After reading this information, and then reading the ingredients of my coffee creamer. I knew I needed to stop. So I have. In 3 weeks, I have only had coffee on four of those days.
It all started with eating breakfast in the morning (it is the MOST important meal of the day). I get up and eat right away. Even if I wasn't hungry. I would force myself to eat. I still made my coffee, but I only drank it in the beginning. Then I stopped drinking it, and eventually just quit making it.
The only day's I've had a cup of coffee are the day's my husband is home (because he still drinks it). Even on these days, I have a much smaller cup and I do Organic whole milk and pure can sugar. Instead of my Partially hydrogenated oil, non dairy, sugar loaded and is in no way good for you, creamer.
I had some pretty bad headaches at first, but they have really gotten better and I don't crave the coffee anymore.

Not only do I feel better know, but coffee generally upset my stomach. Why I would continue to drink something the CONTINUALLY upset my stomach is beyond me. I wasn't listening to my body. Are you listening to your body?

I think there are better options, ie. Food! If you do drink it, I believer you should buy organic. Or you could try Green Tea. I've got to figure out some sort of warm beverage, I might go to tea, but I know it won't be caffeinated or decaffeinated coffee.



**(information taken from Master your Metabolism, by Jillian Michaels)
Image taken from: http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://fournisseursinde.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/coffee_beans_india1.jpg&imgrefurl=http://fournisseursinde.wordpress.com/2009/05/14/buy-coffee-beans-from-india/&h=286&w=284&sz=51&tbnid=bxhtz3iSkZ_q2M:&tbnh=225&tbnw=224&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dimages%2Bof%2Bcoffee%2Bbeans&zoom=1&q=images+of+coffee+beans&usg=__KU3F1pQdovncdADpeD0pRARcbuU=&sa=X&ei=tgpCTeeEOYL3gAfUj8SWAg&ved=0CB8Q9QEwAg

My "Special" finds from Costco!

I had to share ALL the goodies I found at Costco, yesterday.
First, bread... I switched to Prairie Grain Bread Co. (Utah's own!) I've been buying this bread at Smith's. So, I was looking at the bread at Costco to see if there were any other options, because I like to do most of my shopping in 1 to 2 places, if I can.
But, lol and behold! (and to my surprise) There it was! My Prairie Honey Whole Wheat Bread! (My oldest son found it). Yay!!! Two loaves for the price of one, now that's what I'm talking about!
Okay, moving on.
18 dozen brown organic eggs. Free range chicken broth. Organic Fuji apples. Organic spinach. Organic salted butter. 100% PURE maple syrup (I have a story for you... will get to that in a moment). Romaine lettuce leaves. Organic Quinoa (Keen-WAH). Almonds and walnuts. So many wonderful Organic items. I even requested they carry Almond Milk. Right now, all they carry is Soy milk- Yuck! Sorry, if you like it... it's not for me!


Okay, so here's the story about the syrup. After reading 'Master Your Metabolism'- by Jillian Michaels. I've started reading the labels of everything I own. I conveniently forgot to check the syrup. So the other day, I was standing in the kitchen, making something, (I can't remember) I thought, huh... I wonder what is in my syrup?

Here are the ingredients:
HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP, Corn Syrup, Water, Salt, Cellulose Gum, Molasses, Natural and Artificial Flavor (Lactic Acid), Sodium Hexametaphosphate, Preservatives (Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate), Caramel Color, Citric Acid.

I started laughing, shared the ingredients with my family and continued to laugh and point out that there is no Maple Syrup in our "Maple SYRUP." This was a brand I have bought for years! I have gone through gallons of this stuff... Not any more! I love the consistency and flavor of my new 100% Maple Syrup!

Food Inc - Official Trailer [HD]

Just finished watching this movie. Very interesting. Very frustrating. Very disappointing. Very enlightening. I didn't realize how little I knew about what we were eating. Please, please, please... take a moment and watch the trailer and/or movie. I got the movie off of Netflix. I was able to watch it on instant queue.
Friend, family and people I don't know. We must get educated. We must protect ourselves, because our government is not doing what is in the best interest of "us". We must know what we are putting into our bodies. For our own sake.
I'm making the change... How about you?

Please let me know what you think of this video.... If you like it, please share it! If you are interested in more information go to http://www.foodincmovie.com/index.php

Organic Vs. Non Organic Millk

Since 'Taking the First Step', I've been trying to find the best products for my family and myself. I've been reading labels and really watching what I eat. Even if I can't change things overnight... I feels it's best to start somewhere.
I'm in the process of finding the best milk for my husband and kids. I currently started drinking Almond milk. YUM! I love it. This morning, I had some Grape Nuts Cereal with Almond Milk. My 2 year old even ate it!

Okay, back on track....
Do you know what the stipulations are for milk to be Organic vs. Non Organic? I wasn't sure, so I googled what that meant. I found this article. Really great! The video at the end was VERY interesting!
Yesterday, I bought some Winder Farms milk at the grocery store. I just got off the phone with them and their product is Organic and Kosher! They have someone come in and bless their products. Kind of cool, right?!

So, I think the choice for me will be Almond Milk. The Choice for the kids and hubby... it will be Winder Farms or Organic Valley. It's local, organic, and kosher!