This documentary about genetically engineered food is really eye-opening. Eye opener #1: Much of the US public probably does not even know that we’re eating genetically modified food. Lots of it. Genetically modified corn, soybeans, canola, and cotton (which were non-existent in the 1980s) are now so commonplace that approximately 95% of American soybeans are …
May
26
This Is Your Milk On Drugs
I thought that by now nearly everyone had heard about hormones in milk. Yet, people continue to buy conventional milk! I’m baffled. Maybe more explanation will finally wake people up about this?! Bovine Growth Hormone Bovine Growth Hormone (BGH), or Bovine Somatotropin (BST), is a protein hormone that cattle naturally produce. Back in 1937, it …
May
25
Mike Tyson Goes Vegan
Yep, you read that right! Former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson announced in an interview earlier this month that he has converted to a vegan diet. It’s always great to see celebrities spreading the word about veganism and animal abuse because they have the ability to reach so many more ears than, say, my humble little …
May
24
Meatless Monday #33: Veggie Stir-Fry with Quinoa
About quinoa Quinoa (pronounced “keen-wah”) is a fantastic grain substitute (even hough it’s not technically a grain – it’s actually a seed). High in protein, calcium and iron, and a relatively good source of vitamin E and several of the B vitamins, quinoa is also a complete protein because it contains an almost perfect balance of all …
May
20
By The Numbers
Travel for another wedding, immediately followed by illness, led to a lack of posts this week. Although I’m not fully recovered, I’m back to the grind today. — Sometimes numbers speak louder than words. I find these numbers absolutely shocking. And I am glad I no longer contribute to them. (All numbers below are from …
May
12
The Politics Of Organics
Food corporations are just like all other corporations, their goals are profit and growth. The reason food corporations are interested in organics is because it means growth. For conventionally raised foods, the growth rate is 1-2% per year, but since 1990, organics have grown 20% annually. And even more attractive than the growth opportunity is …
May
11
The NEW Four Food Groups
Most of us grew up with the USDA’s old “basic four” food groups, first introduced in 1956: 1) Protein: meat, poultry, fish, eggs, beans, nuts 2) Dairy: milk, cheese, yogurt 3) Grains: bread, cereal, rice, pasta 4) Fruits & Vegetables In 1992, the USDA created the Food Pyramid Guide as a visual aid: The Food …
May
10
Meatless Monday #32: Pasta Salad
This weekend, I bought a bag of fresh, organic veggies from Eastern Market for $4.00. The bag included: a head of iceberg lettuce, carrots, celery, a tomato, and a cucumber. I used these veggies (except for the lettuce, plus broccoli) to create an awesome pasta salad. Once the pasta is finished boiling, drain it then chill it …
May
06
Lies
This article is from CNN.com, by Jonathan Safran Foer Beyond the unhealthy influence that our demand for factory-farmed meat has in the area of food-borne illness and communicable diseases, we could cite many other influences on public health, most obviously the now-widely recognized relationship between the nation’s major killers — heart disease, No. 1; cancer, …
May
03
Meatless Monday #31: Mushroom Quesadillas
A tasty twist on a Tex-Mex classic. Choose a variety of mushrooms (honestly, I don’t know mushrooms well enough to even know what kinds I have here – I just grabbed whatever the store had to offer). Chop the mushrooms and sautee them in some olive oil. Once cooked, remove the mushrooms from the pan. …
