Archive for February, 2010

« Older Entries

Movie Review: Earthlings February 24th, 2010

earthlings

Earthlings is an incredibly eye-opening documentary about they way humans use animals. From food, to science, to entertainment, we exploit our fellow creatures to no end. It is disturbing and disheartening to see just how brutal humans can be, and then to realize that these horrible practices are accepted as part of our every day lives without any thought to the immense cruelty that is occurring. Earthlings urges us to “make the connection.”

In Earthlings, our exploitation of animals is examined from five areas: food, clothing, entertainment, science, and even our pets. Now, I know this is a blog about food, but anyone who reads this blog knows that I feel very passionately about ending animal abuse.  Although our food system is a gigantic contributor to animal suffering, unfortunately, it is not the only contributor.  So, this documentary not only delves into our food system, but also examines other areas in which we inflict suffering on our fellow creatures.

At only 1 hr 30 min, I urge everyone to watch this short but powerful film.  You can watch it online right here (it is also available on Netflix). Please don’t put this off. Ignorance has prevailed for far too long and it only helps to fuel the cruelty and suffering.  As a society, we have a very strong desire not to know things that might weigh heavy on our conscience, but the only way to end injustice is to first be aware of it.

___________________

Below is my short summary of the film (which I’m including only because I’m afraid some of you will watch American Idol instead of Earthlings), but my words can not possibly convey the extent of the problem so I hope that you will watch it for yourself.

Pets
Most of us could never imagine deliberately harming an animal, let alone our beloved cats and dogs. But, do we ever stop and think about where our pets come from? The majority of dogs in pet stores come from puppy mills where animals are not only repeatedly bred, but they also live their entire lives in filthy, crowded cages. They do not receive veterinary care (they are simply “discarded” when unable to reproduce), there is no socialization, and they suffer from physical and psychological conditions.

puppy20mill20photo puppy-mill-dog8
First: Overcrowded cages, Second: Starvation is common in puppy mills

It is incredibly important to spay and neuter our pets.  Every year, 25 million pets become homeless (including about 27% of the pure-bred dogs).  Of these 25 million, 9 million of them die on the streets from disease, injury, or starvation.  The other 16 million are sent to shelters that are often forced to kill them due to lack of space.  Almost 50% of animals in shelters are brought in by their owners! Over 60,000 animals are euthanized every day. Injection is by far the most humane way to euthanize animals, but it is expensive, so shelters with budget constraints are forced to use other methods such as gas chambers. Frightened animals are packed into the chambers and it can take as long as 20 minutes for them to die.

Gas chamber Euthanized cats and dogs
First: Gas chamber, Second: Euthanized cats and dogs

Food
If you’ve been reading this blog, this one needs no further explanation.  If you’re new, read the posts in the Animal Welfare and Meet Your Meat categories.

deadpig_650 bloodyturkey
First: Abused pig, Second: Abused and infected chicken

Because I focus this blog on American food issues, I have not covered the brutal practices of whale and dolphin fishing that occur in other parts of the world (yes, for food).  In addition to traditional US livestock, Earthlings discusses the massive slaughter of these majestic sea creatures around the world.

dolphins whaling
First: Slaughtered dolphins, Second: Slaughtered whales

Clothing
The demand for leather comes primarily from the US, the UK, and Germany. Just about everyone wears leather (and suede) with little or no thought as to where it comes from. When we do think about it, we probably think that leather is a by-product of the beef industry, but the reality is that cows slaughtered for beef are not also used for leather.

Shockingly, the majority of leather comes from India cows, where slaughter of cows is forbidden. Poor, rural Indian families sell their cows only after being assured the cows will live out their lives on farms. The cows are then taken on a brutal and exhausting journey to relocate them to somewhere where their slaughter is legal. On the journey, they are not given food or water and are so weakened that they often break bones or collapse from exhaustion. To keep the cattle moving, the handlers will deliberately break their tail, the pain of which causes the cows to jump to their feet and keep marching forward. Their tails are broken again and again, in multiple places, each time they collapse from weakness. Handlers also rub chili powder into their eyes as another “keep moving” tactic.

leathtruckbig
Collapsed cows

Entertainment
Rodeos: (Being a Texan, this one can be an especially touchy subject in certain company.) Animals are tormented with poking, prodding, and electric shocks, to get them to bolt out of the chute. The roped animals are very scared, and running full speed, then they are roughly jerked to the ground with a rope around the neck. There is no denying that rodeos are brutal and exploit our fellow animals.
rodeo 1

Racing: For dog & horse racing (and any other type of animal racing), training is often accomplished by withholding food and sometimes water. Injured race animals are “discarded.”

Hunting: (Another touchy subject in Texas.) Over 200 million animals are killed through hunting and fishing every year . There can be no debate that if hunting is a sport, it is a blood sport.

Circuses: Abuse of circus animals has been exposed by numerous undercover investigations. On top of the fact that the animals are kept in small cages, are uncomfortably transported all over the country, are denied socialization, and are in chains for 95% of their lives, they are also violently abused during training.

Bullfighting: Bullfighting pits a confused, maimed, psychologically tormented, and physically debilitated bull against a matador. Many prominent matadors report that bulls are given tranquilizers, cut to cause blood loss, and have heavy weights hung around their necks for days prior to a fight.

Zoos: We regard zoos as educational opportunities, but what can we really learn about wild animals by observing them in cages, other than a disregard for the nature of other beings?

(How can we find entertainment in such brutal activities? Are humans not the most callous beings of all?)

Science
Anyone who knows me well knows that I’m a huge advocate of science, experimentation, exploration, and discovery, in general. However, some of the ways we use animals for so-called science are atrocious. Now, I’m not saying that we should stop working on cancer cures because it requires testing on animals, but I am saying that we need to be WAY more selective about why, how, and how much we torture animals for the sake of science.

We deliberately inflict diseases, burns, starvation, dehydration, infections, head trauma, and physical and psychological torment on lab animals. Military research tests atomic blasts on dogs and nuclear radiation on primates.  To simulate the effects of car crashes, we literally strap baboons into metal helmets and slam their heads with the force of up to 1000 g’s. This process is repeated again and again on the same animal.

Even my beloved NASA recently funded radioactive experimentation on spider monkeys after the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine called the experiments “cruel, unnecessary, and lack[ing] scientific merit.” The approved experiments may even violate NASA’s own principles for the ethical care and use of animals, which require researchers to consider the scope of societal good that may come from an experiment utilizing animals. As much as I hope that it will happen in my lifetime, interplanetary travel at this point is, at best, speculative, and to put animals through radiation tests at this point is in no way justified.

It is estimated that 10 billion (with a ‘B’) animals die per day due to scientific research and the number is growing by 5% annually.  That number is almost beyond comprehension! That’s 19,000 per minute.

monkey animaltesting

Plus, every product tested on animals (yes, every single one, no exceptions) must again be tested on humans. Humans are biologically different than  rats, dogs, and monkeys, so even if something is proven safe on animals, it still must be tested on humans before it is approved as safe for humans. It is reasonable to say that much of the initial testing on animals could be eliminated.

Thoughts
The systematic torture of sentient beings, no matter the context or pretense, can not achieve more than it already has: to show us the lowest point of debasement man can reach.  We are all animals of this planet.  We are all creatures with a purpose. We all seek survival and minimization of pain.  We all feel pain. We are all alive.  We are all Earthlings. As we examine our dependence on animals for food, fashion, entertainment, research, and companionship, ironically, all we see is a complete disrespect for them.

____________________
Breakfast: Bean & soy cheese taco
Lunch: Veggie burger
Dinner: Tofu and bean sprout stir fry

Related Posts:

3 Comments »


 

Meatless Monday #22: Taco Salad February 22nd, 2010

Add all or some of the following
(choose what you like or what you have on hand):

Lettuce
Tomato
Onion
Cilantro
Avocado
Black beans
Corn
Jalapeno
Black olives
Soy chorizo/Meatless crumbles
Salsa
Cheese/Soy cheese
Sour cream/Vegan sour cream
Crumbled tortilla chips

taco salad 1 (2)

food 007 food 008

Related Posts:

No Comments »


 

Milk Alternatives February 19th, 2010

To follow up on yesterday’s post about the cruelty and abuse in the dairy industry, here is a list of compassionate, healthy, just as tasty (and in my humble opinion, more tasty) alternatives to milk.

Plus, all dairy-free milks are cholesterol free.

Soy Milk
The most widely available dairy-free milk is soy milk, which can be found both alongside milk in the dairy case and in cartons on supermarket shelves (usually in the baking aisle). Competition from national brands, like 8th Continent and Silk, has lowered prices across the board, making soy milk one of the more cost-effective milk alternatives. Soy milk is high in protein and an attractive alternative to milk for cooking and baking (I’ve used soy milk in everything from cakes to mashed potatoes and no one had a clue!).

All of the following dairy alternatives are found in cartons, usually in the baking aisle (not in the refrigerated section).

Nut Milks
Almond milk is among the most common nut milks. Like soy milk, nut milks are high in protein and are useful for baking. You may find their taste blends in with baked goods, coffee, or nutty cereals better than soy milk, although personal tastes vary. Nuts are also high in “good fats” and Vitamin E.

One thing to be careful about with both soy and nut milk: both of these are common allergens in and of themselves.

Rice Milk
Unlike soy and nut milks, rice milk is not especially allergenic, making it an attractive choice for families concerned about avoiding allergens in young children. The texture of rice milk is the most watery of all milk alternatives (very similar to skim milk) so it may not be the best alternative for cooking. It is best used as a beverage and for pouring on cereal.

Hemp Milk
A newer milk alternative, hemp milk may be difficult to find in some places. Its protein level and texture fall in between that of rice and soy milk. It is more watery than regular milk when poured, but has enough protein for use in some cooking applications. The essential fatty acids, vitamins & nutrients that are contained in organic hemp milk make it a healthy alternative to dairy.

Oat Milk
Made from oat groats (whole, minimally processed oats) and potentially other grains and beans, such as triticale (a hybrid of wheat), barley, brown rice, and soybeans. Like hemp milk, oat milk has a moderate amount of protein. Oat Milk is light in texture and substitutes very well for low-fat or fat-free milk. Oat milk is fairly mild and nutty tasting, and is a natural match for hot cereals and many breakfast foods.

For more information on why you should go dairy-free, check out PETA’s What’s Wrong With Dairy flyer and www.milksucks.com
____________________
Breakfast: An apple
Lunch: Black bean & guacamole burrito (that’s a bean and cheese burrito without the cheese, plus guac)
Dinner: Spaghetti and salad

Related Posts:

3 Comments »


 

The Dairy Disaster February 18th, 2010

A recent Mercy For Animals undercover investigation of the dairy industry made huge headlines.  In case you missed the buzz, here’s the bottom line: The vast majority of dairy cows live a life of abuse, neglect, and painful mutilation.

The investigation revealed:

  • Cows with bloody open wounds, prolapsed uteruses, pus-filled infections, and swollen joints, apparently left to suffer without veterinary care
  • “Downed” cows – those too sick or injured to even stand – left to suffer for weeks before dying or being killed
  • Workers hitting, kicking, punching, and electric-shocking cows and calves
  • Calves having their horns burned off without painkillers, as a worker shoved his fingers into the calves’ eyes to restrain them
  • Calves having their tails cut off – a painful practice opposed by the American Veterinary Medical Association
  • Newborn calves forcibly dragged away from their mothers by their legs, causing emotional distress to both mother and calf
  • Cows living in overcrowded sheds on manure-coated concrete flooring
  • Workers injecting cows with a controversial bovine growth hormone, used to increase milk production

Watch Nightline’s coverage of the story:

 

Unfortunately, this is not an isolated incident. Countless undercover investigations have revealed that cruelty, neglect, and unnecessarily painful practices are common procedure in the dairy industry.

Compassionate consumers can choose to withdraw their support of these abuses by choosing dairy alternatives (soy, rice, or almond milk, soy yogurt, ice cream, and cheese, etc.).  Each time we eat, we can choose kindness over cruelty.

The full investigation:
Mercy For Animals: Dairy’s Dark Side 

Additional coverage:
ABC World News with Diane Sawyer: Got Milk? Got Ethics?
CNN/HLN: Dairy Cow Abuse Revealed
Forbes: Video inspires call for NY cow tail-docking ban
LA Times: Vegetarians, 1; dairy farmers, 0 — hidden camera reveals barnyard ick

____________________
Breakfast: Soy yogurt
Lunch: Chipotle veggie bowl, no meat (no meat = free guac), no cheese, no sour cream 
Dinner: Dim sum

Related Posts:

1 Comment »


 

How Much Is Too Much? February 17th, 2010

“Men dig their graves with their own teeth and die more by those fated instruments than the weapons of their enemies.”  -Thomas Moffett, Health’s Improvement, 1600 AD

Many health experts remind us not to eat “too much” meat. When deciding how much is “too much,” consider these facts:

Eating more than 3-5 ounces of meat per day significantly increases the risk of death due to cancer or heart disease.

Eating more than 1.5 ounces of processed meat per day (such as hot dogs and lunch meat) significantly increases the risk of death due to cancer or heart disease.

A 3-ounce serving of meat is about the size of a deck of cards. Simply eating a roast beef sandwich for lunch and a burger or hot dog for dinner will put you over the daily limit for meat intake that research tells us will increase your risk of cancer, heart disease, and death.

According to the World Health Organization, up to 40 percent of all cancers are preventable, and according the American Cancer Society, one-third of all cancer deaths in the US can be attributed to nutritional factors.

The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine says, “Vegetarians are about 40 percent less likely to get cancer than non-vegetarians, regardless of other risks such as smoking, body size, and socioeconomic status.”

An 11-year-long German study involving more than 800 vegetarian men found their cancer rates were less than half those of the general public.

Meat is devoid of fiber and other nutrients that have a protective effect against cancer. Meat also contains animal protein, saturated fat, and, in some cases, carcinogenic compounds such as heterocyclic amines (HCA) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) formed during the processing or cooking of meat.

The high fat content of meat and other animal products increases hormone production, thus increasing the risk of hormone-related cancers such as breast and prostate cancer.

Breast Cancer

A 2007 study of more than 35,000 women published in the British Journal of Cancer found that women who ate the most meat were more likely to develop breast cancer than women who consumed the lowest amount of meat.

Countries with a higher intake of fat, especially fat from animal products, such as meat and dairy products, have a higher incidence of breast cancer.

Harvard researchers recently conducted a prospective analysis of 90,655 premenopausal women, ages 26 to 46, and determined that intake of animal fat, especially from red meat and high-fat dairy products, during premenopausal years is associated with an increased risk of breast cancer.

Prostate Cancer

A man’s intake of dietary fat, which is abundant in meat and other animal products, increases testosterone production, which in turn increases prostate cancer risk.

At Harvard University, an analysis of almost 15,000 male physicians found that men who consumed red meat at least five times per week had a relative risk of 2.5 for developing prostate cancer compared to men who ate red meat less than once per week.

Colon Cancer

Harvard studies showed that daily meat eaters have approximately three times the colon cancer risk, compared to those who rarely eat meat.

At Harvard, a review of 32 case-control and 13 cohort studies concluded that meat consumption is associated with an increase in colorectal cancer risk, with the association being more consistently found with red meat and processed meat.

In the recently published Cancer Prevention Study II, involving 148,610 adults followed since 1982, the group with the highest red meat and processed meat intakes had approximately 30 to 40 percent and 50 percent higher colon cancer risk, respectively, compared to those with lower intakes. In this study, high red meat intake was defined as 3 ounces of beef, lamb, or pork for men and 2 ounces for women daily, the amount in a typical hamburger. High processed meat intake (ham, cold cuts, hot dogs, bacon, sausage) was defined as 1 ounce eaten 5 or 6 times a week for men, and 2 or 3 times a week for women—the amount in one slice of ham.

Studies have also indicated that those consuming white meat, particularly chicken, have approximately a threefold higher colon cancer risk, compared to vegetarians.

Other Cancers

Although not as extensively studied as breast, colon, and prostate cancer risk, a number of studies have concluded that meat consumption may play a significant role in kidney and pancreatic cancer risk.

A prospective study in Japan found that people consuming meat daily had higher death rates from kidney cancer than those eating meat less frequently.

Pancreatic cancer is relatively uncommon, yet it is frequently fatal, with fewer than 20 percent of cases surviving for one full year. Daily meat intake has been shown to be associated with increased pancreatic cancer risk in a number of studies.

It seems that with every bite of meat, we increase our risk of cancer.

Two themes consistently emerge from studies of cancer : vegetables and fruits help to reduce risk, while meat and animal products are frequently found to increase risk.

Luckily, we can eliminate animal products from our diets and replace them with vegetable proteins that can protect our health instead of harm it. Vegan diets maximize the foods that help us fight cancer (like fiber-packed grains and beans, and phytochemical-packed fruits and vegetables) and minimize the foods that cause cancer.

For more information, visit:
The Cancer Project
The American Cancer Society
The British Journal of Cancer
The American Association for Cancer Research
____________________
Breakfast: Oatmeal
Lunch: General Tso’s Bean Curd
Dinner: Tacos with meatless crumbles, cilantro, soy cheese and salsa

Related Posts:

5 Comments »


 

Meatless Monday #21: Tempeh February 15th, 2010

Tempeh (pronounced “tem-pay”) is a soy protein, like tofu but with a much thicker texture and more flavor.

Tempeh is a complete protein food that contains all the essential amino acids. It is very nutritive and contains many health promoting phytochemicals such as isoflavones. The soy protein and isoflavones have many health benefits. Isoflavones strengthen bones, help to ease menopause symptoms, reduce risk of coronary hearth disease and some cancers. Tempeh maintains all the fiber of the beans and gains some digestive benefits from the enzymes created during the fermentation process.

I simply cooked this tempeh in a marinade (teriyaki sauce) and ate it in a loaf, but it can be eaten in sandwiches, wraps, salads, stir fries, and many other tempeh recipes.

As one of my (meat-eating) co-workers said, “If McDonald’s sold tempeh burgers, people would be like, ‘This stuff is good!’ ”

Tempeh loaf (cooked in teriyaki marinade), potatoes (blue, red, and yellow), and Harvest Grains Blend (couscous, orzo, and quinoa):
food 014 (3)

PS – check the Veg Dictionary for foods you may be unfamiliar with, such as couscous, orzo, or quinoa.

Related Posts:

4 Comments »


 

It’s Personal (or is it?) February 10th, 2010

From the Washington Post, by James E. McWilliams

I gave a talk in South Texas recently on the environmental virtues of a vegetarian diet. As you might imagine, the reception was chilly. In fact, the only applause came during the Q&A period when a member of the audience said that my lecture made him want to go out and eat even more meat. “Plus,” he added, “what I eat is my business — it’s personal.”

I’ve been writing about food and agriculture for more than a decade. Until that evening, however, I’d never actively thought about this most basic culinary question: Is eating personal?

We know more than we’ve ever known about the innards of the global food system. We understand that food can both nourish and kill. We know that its production can both destroy and enhance our environment. We know that farming touches every aspect of our lives — the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the soil we need.

So it’s hard to avoid concluding that eating cannot be personal. What I eat influences you. What you eat influences me. Our diets are deeply, intimately and necessarily political.

This realization changes everything for those who avoid meat. As a vegetarian I’ve always felt the perverse need to apologize for my dietary choice. It inconveniences people. It smacks of self-righteousness. It makes us pariahs at dinner parties. But the more I learn about the negative impact of meat production, the more I feel that it’s the consumers of meat who should be making apologies.

Here’s why: The livestock industry as a result of its reliance on corn and soy-based feed accounts for over half the synthetic fertilizer used in the United States, contributing more than any other sector to marine dead zones. It consumes 70 percent of the water in the American West — water so heavily subsidized that if irrigation supports were removed, ground beef would cost $35 a pound. Livestock accounts for at least 21 percent of greenhouse-gas emissions globally — more than all forms of transportation combined. Domestic animals — most of them healthy — consume about 70 percent of all the antibiotics produced. Undigested antibiotics leach from manure into freshwater systems and impair the sex organs of fish.

It takes a gallon of gasoline to produce a pound of conventional beef. If all the grain fed to animals went to people, you could feed China and India. That’s just a start.

Meat that’s raised according to “alternative” standards (about 1 percent of meat in the United States) might be a better choice but not nearly as much so as its privileged consumers would have us believe. “Free-range chickens” theoretically have access to the outdoors. But many “free-range” chickens never see the light of day because they cannot make it through the crowded shed to the aperture leading to a patch of cement.

“Grass-fed” beef produces four times the methane — a greenhouse gas 21 times as powerful as carbon dioxide — of grain-fed cows, and many grass-fed cows are raised on heavily fertilized and irrigated grass. Pastured pigs are still typically mutilated, fed commercial feed and prevented from rooting — their most basic instinct besides sex.

Issues of animal welfare are equally implicated in all forms of meat production. Domestic animals suffer immensely, feel pain and may even be cognizant of the fate that awaits them. In an egg factory, male chicks (economically worthless) are summarily run through a grinder. Pigs are castrated without anesthesia, crated, tail-docked and nose-ringed. Milk cows are repeatedly impregnated through artificial insemination, confined to milking stalls and milked to yield 15 times the amount of milk they would produce under normal conditions. When calves are removed from their mothers at birth, the mothers mourn their loss with heart-rending moans.

Then comes the slaughterhouse, an operation that’s left with millions of pounds of carcasses — deadstock — that are incinerated or dumped in landfills. (Rendering plants have taken a nose dive since mad cow disease.)

Now, if someone told you that a particular corporation was trashing the air, water and soil; causing more global warming than the transportation industry; consuming massive amounts of fossil fuel; unleashing the cruelest sort of suffering on innocent and sentient beings; failing to recycle its waste; and clogging our arteries in the process, how would you react? Would you say, “Hey, that’s personal?” Probably not. It’s more likely that you’d frame the matter as a dire political issue in need of a dire political response.

Vegetarianism is not only the most powerful political response we can make to industrialized food. It’s a necessary prerequisite to reforming it. To quit eating meat is to dismantle the global food apparatus at its foundation.

Agribusiness has been vilified of late by muckraking journalists, activist filmmakers and sustainable-food advocates. We know that something has to be done to save our food from corporate interests. But I wonder — are we ready to do what must be done? Sure, we’ve been inundated with ideas: eat local, vote with your fork, buy organic, support fair trade, etc. But these proposals all lack something that every successful environmental movement has always placed at its core: genuine sacrifice.

Until we make that leap, until we create a culinary culture in which the meat-eaters must do the apologizing, the current proposals will be nothing more than gestures that turn the fork into an empty symbol rather than a real tool for environmental change.
____________________
Breakfast: Pancakes and pineapple
Lunch: A big salad
Dinner: Black bean enchiladas at the Salvadorian restaurant around the corner

Related Posts:

No Comments »


 

The Dirty Dozen: Top 12 Foods To Eat Organic February 9th, 2010

Organic is important for both your health and the Earth, and organic is about much more than just food.  But organic is more expensive.  To help maximize your buck, you can focus your organic shopping on the foods that have the heaviest levels of pesticides.

According to the Environmental Working Group (EWG), consumers can reduce their pesticide exposure by 80% by avoiding the most contaminated (conventionally grown) fruits & veggies.  If consumers get their USDA-recommended 5 daily servings of fruits & veggies from the 15 most contaminated, they could comsume an average of 10 pesticides a day.  Those who eat the 15 least contaminated (conventionally grown) produce will ingest less than 2 pesticides a day.  (Obviously, you avoid all pesticides by eating organic.)

The EWG publishes the list of the most and least contaminated (conventionally grown) foods based on statistical analysis of testing conducted by the USDA and the FDA.  This list reflects measurable pesticide residues on the parts of the food that is normally consumed (i.e. if peel is not consumed, peel does not count). 

1. Peaches
Multiple pesticides are regularly applied to these delicately skinned fruits in conventional orchards. Can’t find organic peaches? Safer alternatives include watermelon, tangerines, oranges and grapefruit.

2. Apples
Like peaches, apples are typically grown with the use of poisons to kill a variety of pests, from fungi to insects. Scrubbing and peeling doesn’t eliminate chemical residue completely, so it’s best to buy organic when it comes to apples. Peeling a fruit or vegetable also strips away many of their beneficial nutrients.

3. Bell Peppers
Peppers have thin skins that don’t offer much of a barrier to pesticides. They’re often heavily sprayed with insecticides.  Can’t find organic? Safer alternatives include green peas, broccoli and cabbage.

4. Celery
Celery has no protective skin, which makes it almost impossible to wash off the chemicals that are used on conventional crops.  Can’t find organic? Safer alternatives include broccoli, radishes and onions.

5. Nectarines
There were 26 different types of pesticides found on tested nectarines.

6. Strawberries
If you buy strawberries out of season, they’re most likely imported from countries that use less-stringent regulations for pesticide use.  Can’t find organic? Safer alternatives include blueberries and kiwi.

7. Cherries
Even locally grown cherries are not safe. In fact, cherries grown in the U.S. were found to have three times more pesticide residue then imported cherries.  Can’t find organic? Safer alternatives include blueberries, raspberries and cranberries.

8. Kale
Traditionally kale is known as a hardier vegetable that rarely suffers from pests and disease, but it was found to have high amounts of pesticide residue when tested this year. Can’t find organic? Safer alternatives include cabbage, asparagus and broccoli.

9. Leafy Greens  (i.e. various types of lettuce)
Leafy greens are frequently contaminated with what are considered the most potent pesticides used on food.  Can’t find organic? Safer alternatives include cabbage, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts.

10. Grapes
Imported grapes run a much greater risk of contamination than those grown domestically. Vineyards can be sprayed with different pesticides during different growth periods of the grape, and no amount of washing or peeling will eliminate contamination because of the grape’s thin skin.  Can’t find organic? Safer alternatives include blueberries and raspberries.

11. Carrots
In Europe pesticides commonly used on carrots, parsnips and onions will be banned within the next decade. The U.S. has yet to catch up with its European counterparts, so organic is the way to go with carrots.  Can’t find organic? At least be sure to scrub and peel them. Safer carrot alternatives include sweet corn, sweet peas and broccoli.

12. Pears
As insects become more resilient to the pesticides used on pears, more and more chemicals are used. The safest bet is to go organic.  Can’t find organic? Safer alternatives include honeydew mellon and mangos.

Runner Up: Potatoes
America’s popular spud appeared on the previous dirty dozen list, although it has slipped off the most current version. However, EWG analyst Chris Campbell points out that potatoes are now “just off the list,” so you should still try to buy organic when possible. Potatoes also get the double whammy of fungicides added to the soil for growing.  Can’t find organic? Safer alternatives include eggplant and earthy mushrooms.

It’s also important to remember that this dirty dozen list provides no information about antibiotics or hormones, or about the impact of producing food on the surrounding environment. For this reason, here are some of the most important foods to buy organic, when taking a more holistic approach.

Meat
For overall environmental impact, meat is the king of foods, even if it’s not the most likely to have pesticide residue per se. But raising animals with conventional methods means using hormones to speed up growth, antibiotics to resist disease on crowded feed lots, and both pesticides and chemical fertilizers to grow the grain fed to the animals. Additionally, it takes many times the water and energy to raise one meal’s worth of meat than it does one meal’s worth of grain.

Consumers looking to avoid meats raised with these substances can seek out certified organic meat. To meet USDA standards, this meat can come only from animals fed organic feed and given no hormones or antibiotics. Searching out cuts from grass-fed animals ensures that you’re eating meat from an animal that was fed a more natural diet, and looking for a local source of meats cuts down on the environmental cost of transportation.

Milk
Pesticides and other man-made chemicals have been found in human breast milk, so it should come as no surprise that they have been found in dairy products, too. Organic dairies cannot feed their cows with grains grown with pesticides, nor can they use antibiotics or growth hormones like rBGH or rBST.

Coffee
Many of the beans you buy are grown in countries that don’t regulate use of chemicals and pesticides. Look for the USDA Organic label to ensure you’re not buying beans that have been grown or processed with the use of potentially harmful chemicals.

Go a step further and look for the Fair Trade Certified label to ensure that your purchase supports farmers who are paid fairly and treated well. To complete the trifecta, look for shade-grown varieties, then you know the coffee is being grown under the canopy of the rainforest, leaving those ancient trees intact, along with the wildlife that call them home.
____________________
Breakfast: Oatmeal
Lunch: Cup of soy yogurt, baby carrots & celery with hummus, and strawberries
Dinner: Veggie lasagna

Related Posts:

1 Comment »


 

Meatless Monday #20: Lemon & Rosemary Risotto February 8th, 2010

I love lemon and I love rosemary, so this is one of my favorites!

Squeeze the juice from 2-3 lemons (depending on how much you like lemon & how juicy they are) into a small pan and heat until just about to boil.  Optionally grate the lemon rinds before squeezing them and set aside to use later.

In a large pot, cook 1 chopped onion (small)  and 1 tbs of rosemary (either fresh or dried) in some olive oil and/or butter (~2 tbs of each) until the onion is clear and soft.

Add 1 1/2 cups of arborio rice and stir until rice is coated with the oil/butter.

On medium heat, gradually add 5 cups of vegetable stock (~3 cans), 1 cup at at time, stirring constantly.  As one cup of liquid is absorbed, add a few spoonfuls of lemon juice then the next cup of vegetable stock until all lemon juice and veggie stock is absorbed.

Cook for 20 more minutes at a low simmer (some bubbles in the liquid).  Then add 1 more tablespoon of rosemary.  Optionally top with some parmesan cheese and/or sprinkle with the grated lemon rind.

food 001 (3)

Related Posts:

No Comments »


 

Super Bowl February 5th, 2010

I’m not exactly a football fan, but that certainly doesn’t stop me from attending (or throwing) Super Bowl parties.  Since football parties demand “manly” snacks, sometimes vegetarian options are few and far between (like the celery sticks that are between the hot wings, or the biscuits between the pigs in a blanket).  So, here are some ideas for veg snacks you can bring to your super bowl party.  These “Super Bowls” will surely be enjoyed by vegans and carinvores alike.  (Sorry, that pun was awful, I know.)

Chili
I’m telling you, this recipe is so delicious that no one will even notice that there’s not meat in it!  Honestly.  And if you’re afraid of the meatless crumbles (which you shouldnt be because they simply take on the flavor of the chili and add texture), just leave ‘em out and go for an all bean chili. 
chili

Guacamole
This is incredibly easy if you have a food processor.  (If you don’t have one, get one!  It changed my life.) 
For every 2 avocados, add:
1/4 onion
1 garlic clove
squeezed juice from 1/2 lime
1 or 1/2 jalapeno, depending on what you can handle (I sometimes use serranos when the grocery store is out of jalapenos – remember that serranos are much hotter than jalapenos, so use less if you do this!)
a handful of cilantro

Chop it in the food processor.  Optionally, add some chopped tomato or green tomoato.
guacamole

Homemade Salsa authentic San Antonio style! 
Surprise: it is the same recipe as the guacamole, except with tomoatoes instead of avocados! 
For every 2 large tomatoes (or 3 small tomatoes), add:
1/4 onion
1 garlic clove
squeezed juice from 1/2 lime
1 or 1/2 jalapeno, depending on what you can handle (I sometimes use serranos when the grocery store is out of jalapenos – remember that serranos are much hotter than jalapenos, so use less if you do this!)
a handful of cilantro

Chop it in the food processor.
salsa

Nachos Can you tell I like Mexican food?
Make these on a cookie sheet for a party. Spread tortilla chips across the cookie sheet and cover with:
Refried beans (make sure they’re vegetarian) or black beans, or both!
Canned corn
Cheese (or soy cheese)
Bake in the oven (about 10 mins at 300) until cheese is melted and beans are warm.

Then add any or all of the following:
Chopped green onion
Diced tomatoes
Shredded lettuce
Sliced olives
Diced avocado
Sliced jalapenos
Sour cream (or vegan sour cream)
Cilantro
nachos

Queso
Vegetarian Version: 1 block of velveeta cheese, 1-2 cans of Ro-Tel tomatoes and chilis. Microwave.
Vegan Version: Surprisingly delicious!
cheese dip

I could go on forever, but I won’t. For more ideas, check out these vegetarian Super Bowl snacks, dips, and finger foods.

Related Posts:

2 Comments »


 
« Older Entries