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Organic Vs Natural – Do You Know the Difference?
That’s a pretty-looking label, but do you know what it means? Absolutely nothing. It’s just marketing hype. Consumers are waking up to what’s been happening to our food, and are wanting to make healthier choices. The big companies know this, and so they’re beginning to label things “natural”, no matter what they are. The “natural” label is not subject to any federal regulation, and so companies can put it on any product that they choose. That includes foods that are full of GMO’s (genetically modified foods) and growth hormones. The “organic” label, on the other hand, means a lot. (For now. GMO’s are beginning to contaminate organic crops and…
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Tropical Traditions Coconut Oil Review & Giveaway!!!
Tropical Traditions recently sent me a jar of coconut oil to review – and one to give away! So stay tuned at the end of this post to learn how to win your own jar! I am a relative newcomer to coconut oil and have to admit that I was slow to try it out simply because I don’t like the taste of coconut. (Actually, I think what I don’t like is the coconut that comes in the blue bag that also has propylene glycol in it!! Maybe it’s fake coconut?) Anyway, coconut oil has been fabulous all the way around! It only has a mild coconut taste, and I’ve…
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What Did Your Dinner Have For Dinner?
What did your dinner have for dinner? The answer to that question might be more important than you think. If your dinner meat came from a conventional store, and from a conventional farm, you might prefer to not know the answer. Jon Taggart, a Texas farmer, described for the Time Magazine how he used to raise his cattle. [Taggart] crowded his cattle onto pasture sprayed with weed killers and fertilizers. When they were half grown, he shipped them in diesel-fueled trucks to huge feedlots. There they were stuffed with corn and soy–pesticide treated, of course–and implanted with synthetic hormones to make them grow faster. To prevent disease, they were given antibiotics.…
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Have you tried Kombucha? Plus Get Started Making Your Own
A kombucha craze is sweeping the nation. These bottles are popping up even in grocery stores like Kroger, and more and more people are jumping on the band wagon. I am not a fan, but my husband and kids both really like it. Have you tried it? What is kombucha, anyway? According to Wikipedia, kombucha’s recorded history began in the late 1800’s in Russia. It aids in detoxification, increases energy levels, and has indications of being instrumental in curing cancer. If you’d like to read more about the history of kombucha, take a look at the article on Food Renegade. Kombucha is made from sweetened tea that is fermented…
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Chick-fil-a Debuts Healthier Kids’ Meal
When you’re on the road with kids, or just out running errands, sometimes you need food NOW. Chick-fil-a just released a press release about their new, healthier kid’s meals. It’s still not as good as a home-cooked meal from organic, free-range chickens cooked with a healthy oil instead of GMO-laden canola oil. But when you need food, you need food. And Chick-fil-a’s choices are better than most. Their new options include grilled chicken nuggets, Buddy Fruits, and an elimination of any drinks with HFCS in them. Definitely steps in the right direction! Read the rest of their press release here.
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Make-Your-Own All Natural Soda Alternative
Most of us know that soda is bad for us. Calcium leeching from our bones, too much sugar, that kind of thing. And most of us drink it anyway. I’ve shared before how Coke was one of the hardest things for me to give up. The drink you see in the glass above is a healthy, all-natural, carbonated alternative that I make at home! It takes about 5 minutes a day to set up a new, quart-size batch. I can also flavor it all sorts of ways, so no two are just alike. My husband loves it and drinks about a quart a day. Water kefir is a fermented beverage…
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Check out my guest post at Frugally Sustainable!
I’m excited to be a guest poster today over at one of my favorite blogs, Frugally Sustainable! Today, I’d like to share my story with you in hopes that it will inspire and encourage you! As we’ve been on our journey towards living a healthier, more natural lifestyle, I’ve been excited that our need for the grocery store (and other stores) has drastically reduced! You see, I used to be a super coupon clipper. Every Sunday, I would eagerly dash down the stairs of my apartment to get the latest paper, and comb through the inserts. Then I’d pull up my grocery store match ups and make my list of all…
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Reader Weigh-In – What do you use to cook?
Do you have a cupboard full of non-stick cookware? I sure do. I know they’re pretty, but the non-stick coating is a big hazard to our health. Non-stick made cooking life easier, but, in my opinion, it’s not worth the health risk! One of the big changes cancer patients make is to their cookware, because we can ingest a lot of toxins just from the cooking process. According to Dr. Mercola, when “your Teflon pot or pan reaches 680 degrees F (which takes about three to five minutes of heating), at least six toxic gases are released. At 1000 degrees F, the coatings on your cookware break down into a…
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Help, I’m out of… Baking Substitutions
I’ve been fascinated lately with baking substitutions. And sprouting wheat berries. And making water kefir. Maybe I would enjoy a nutrition class from www.onlineuniversities.net/. Hmm… The holidays generally means lots more baking! It’s easy to run out of things in the midst of baking and that’s definitely an inopportune time for a run to the store (or even the neighbors’!) I’ve put together a list of common things I tend to run out of, and some easy substitutions, some of which are even healthier than the originals! Please feel free to add your own favorite baking substitutions in the comments to help round out the list! Ingredient Amount Substitution…
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Peppermint Patty Recipe – with a Surprise Ingredient!
Don’t these look delicious?? I love peppermint patties but I have to confess, I was really disappointed the last time I bit into a store-bought one. After seriously cutting back on the amount of candy I eat and trying to only eat candy with high-quality ingredients, good ole York just didn’t cut it. I didn’t even finish the patty. When I found this recipe for homemade ones, and read through the ingredients, I just HAD to try them. I’m pleased to report that they did not disappoint! They even got great reviews at a party I took them to. So without further adieu, may I present: Peppermint Patties (adapted…
