Better Food Starts Here | Food & Water Watch

Please take a moment to read this article, and go to the site and take action. Remember don't talk about it, be about it! What we do now determines what is to come. Better Food Starts Here | Food & Water Watch

Oh, Chipotle! How I love thee...

In filling out a form for my work's Kris Kringle, I was at a loss when it came to my favorite restaurant. Living a life where I try not to eat meat that doesn't come from sustainable responsible sources leaves me with limited choices. But alas! There is Chipotle Mexican Grill! This place is so delicious and they care about the environment. They source their products locally, only use meat from places that treat the animals humanely, and did I mention the food is mmm-mmm good! I love to see the long lines as I go into my local Chipotle because it gives me hope that their success will motivate others. Maybe one day Mickey D's will get a conscious and take a note from this company. You don't have to kill people to make a buck! Speaking of bucks, I am all for saving money, but if it costs a buck I am not eating it. Dollar menus = Crap. The buck you save now eating crap will be the $100 bucks you spend later on medication. Think about it! Chipotle Mexican Grill: Gourmet Burritos and Tacos

Things That Make You Go Hmmm? Parabens

I have been noticing that most of my personal care products (lotions, soaps, shampoos, toothpaste, etc) say paraben-free. This made me wonder what a paraben was, and why everyone was broadcasting their emancipation from it.  So I put on my detective hat, and began to do research. Here's the nitty gritty on what I found:

• Parabens occur naturally in prunes, cinnamon and blueberries, however are made synthetically for commercial use. 
• They are used as a preservative in cosmetics and some foods. 
• They easily penetrate the skin and are in the bloodstream in a matter of minutes. 
• You can find them in toothpaste, deodorant, shampoo, face cream, personal lubricants, and lots of other everyday products. 
• The six parabens which are most commonly used are methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben, isobutylparaben, butylparaben, and benzylparaben.
• Parabens  mimic estrogen in the body, and have been tied to BREAST CANCER. 
• They are a known carcinogen (cancer-causing agent) in the European Union, and have been banned there since 2003.

The skin is our largest organ, and it doesn't make sense be so concerned with eating healthily while taking in a known carcinogens through the skin. I will now be even more observant about labels, and ensure that ALL my products are paraben-free. 
~Riss

Herbal Remedy of the Week: Mullein

I love Dr. Weil, and his easy approach to healthier living. Check out this article on an herb that can help with coughs.

Herbal Remedy of the Week: Mullein - Dr. Weil's Weekend Tip

Small Steps: How to Spot Genetically Modified Produce

So I ran across an article that gives a simple way to see if your bananas (or any other produce item)  took a trip to the lab before ending in your local grocery store. GMO food is popping up everywhere (can't wait to see what happens with the GMO salmon) especially corn, soy, and tomatoes. In order to avoid them you can check the PLU code on those annoying little stickers that come on the produce. If there are 5 digits that begin with a 9, rejoice you have bought some good SAFE organic produce! If it has 4 digits it is conventionally grown, but is not GMO. If it has 5 digits, and begins with an 8 it can join the Xmen as part of the mutant family. Stay away from it! ~Riss

Would You Eat Genetically Altered Meat? - TIME NewsFeed

Check this out! It is from Time magazine.

Would You Eat Genetically Altered Meat? - TIME NewsFeed

On Children by Kahlil Gibran

As we head back to school. I thought this was a great poem to share about children.

"On Children" from The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran

Your children are not your children,
They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself.
They come through you but are not from you,
And though they are with you yet they belong not to you.

You may give them your love but not your thoughts,
For they have their own thoughts.

You may house their bodies but not their souls,
For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow,
which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.
You may strive to be like them, but seek not to make them like you.
For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.

You are the bows from which your children
as living arrows are sent forth.
The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite, and
He bends you with His might that His arrows may go swift and far
Let your bending in the archer's hand be for gladness;
For even as He loves the arrow that flies,
So he loves also the bow that is stable.

Drinking Your Deodorant.........Hmmmmmmm?!

For years I have heard about how bad aluminum in deodorant is, but have not really done much about it for fear of the FUNK. I am not one to be walking around Matthew McConaugheying it. In the back of my mind though I have really been wanting to make a change because I know the sweat just like urine is waste, and to keep it in the body (antiperspirant = blocking you from sweating) can't be a good thing. 


I bought a natural deodorant and have been using it, but definitely noticed a difference. I need to carry it around with me and reapply several times throughout the day. Conversely, when I was wearing Dove I smelled baby powder fresh from dusk 'til dawn.


The other night I was in a forum for natural hair, and began reading a discussion on chlorophyll. You all remember this from high school biology. Chlorophyll is the stuff in plants that makes them green, and helps them convert sunlight into food. Anyways, in this discussion a girl mentioned that she didn't wear deodorant she just drank liquid chlorophyll, and that she stayed fresh all over (she said EVERYWHERE, and that we could verify with her boyfriend *blush*).


A lightbulb went off in my head. My hubby and I were also taking chlorophyll when we did the raw food cleanse, maybe that was why the poop didn't stink. Hmmmm?! I digress. So back to the chlorophyll as deodorant. I was shocked to find that several people in the discussion also gave up deodorant for chlorophyll. Then I got an idea. I will try to combine the natural deodorant and use it with the chlorophyll, and see what happens.


I am starting a challenge/experiment to see if chlorophyll really is an internal deodorant. Wish me luck, and dry pits. LOL!!


I'll keep y'all posted! 
~Riss

Zesty Coleslaw inspired by Bake Sale Betty

This slaw is raw, vegan, really healthy, delicious and so versatile. It is inspired by the famous slaw served at Bake Sale Betty in Oakand.


After trying the slaw at Bake Sale Betty it was love at first bite, but the accompaning fried chicken breast they serve with it makes going there a treat I undertake sparingly. Plus it is so easy to do at home.


The first picture looks like it has a visible aura, and it is so delicious and nutritious it probably does! That dish was my first try at baked tofu. It was interesting, baking it gave it an almost chicken-like consistency. We really enjoyed it!


The second image is the same slaw, but topped with chicken. I love the versatility of this slaw because you can seriously pair it with any protein and it tastes yummy.


The original recipe uses only green cabbage, but I like to eat my colors, so I added the purple cabbage as well. Sometimes I add radishes to an extra kick, and I think carrots would also fit nicely in here.


This is a great recipe because you can make tons of it, then use it on sandwiches, in salads, or just eat it plainly.


Click here for the recipe

Health 101: Ms. V

How do you define healthy living?

To me, healthy living is a lifestyle and a way of approaching the world. It's more than what you eat, more than your activity level. Healthy living means respecting your body and developing the awareness to know what is right for you and your body, as well as recognizing your connection with others and with nature. It means trying to make decisions that are sustainable for you and the world (trying is key - because we make thousands of decisions every day, and sometimes these are not the "right" decisions but are right or necessary for us).
Was there a turning point in your life that made you decide to become healthier?
I grew up in an active, outdoorsy family. My mom is a nurse and she has always stressed the importance of living healthfully. When I was 11, I decided to become a vegetarian. I stuck with that, and at 18 went a step further to become vegan (no animal products at all). This lifestyle is not for everyone, but it works for me. Of course, being vegan by no means makes someone automatically healthy - during college, I was a horrible eater, surviving on lots of cereal with rice milk, pasta, and tofutti "ice cream". In the past 8 years I have come a long way with my veganism and I still find myself learning every day.
What piece of knowledge would you like to share with others?
I agree with J's thoughts - I think it is very important to recognize where food comes from and how our buying practices can shape the future of farming and environmental practices. By nurturing ourselves we are also able to nurture the natural world. Awareness can be ugly and some information will be hard to accept, but there are alternatives that won't break your bank or taste horrible.
What is the one natural product you can't live without?

I don't know if this counts as "natural" but I love nutritional yeast. It's a great source of protein and B vitamins, which are often missing from vegan diets. It's got a nutty/cheesy flavor and I use it on popcorn almost every day! In terms of non-food products, I really like Alba products (cosmetics and toiletries).
What advice would you give your 20 year old self?
Learn to ignore your sweet tooth!! & stop preaching about how veganism saves the world. Swim more. Take time to cook.
Anything else?

Be open, be present, be aware. 

Try It Tuesday: Ch-Ch-Chia - The Little Seed That Could! (updated)

Years ago, I did this post on chia. Since it is now commonplace on the shelves, I felt a remix was needed and probably highly anticipated. Many chia products have sprung up on the shelves, and I for one, am excited to see this little wonder seed get its 15 minutes of fame.

 Last week, I came up with a great chia drink recipe I was loving that had 3 simple ingredients: chia, water, and 100% cherry juice. It was so good. However, as I was touting this wonderfulness to my hubby I mentioned how sweet it was even without added sugar. This lead me to check the sugar content on that cherry juice, and lo and behold, it had hella sugar (50 grams per 8 oz.)  in it! So I decided to stop drinking that, and opted for just adding chia into my water. Boring maybe, healthy definitely! 

Chia seeds do much more than grow cute little houseplants, they are super-nutritious and are a powerful diet aid. I discovered them (in a Columbus sort of way) when I did the raw food cleanse. They are these tiny little seeds that are so powerful that they can absorb nine times their volume in water. Because they are such powerful absorbers you have to make sure you soak them before you eat them. Once you soak them they form a gel that is 90% soluble fiber which aids digestion and can help lower cholesterol more effectively than oatmeal. The fiber also helps you feel fuller longer. 

Chia seeds: 

• Have twice the protein of any other seed or grain
• Have 5 times the calcium of milk
• Contain omega-3 and omega-6 oils
• More magnesium than broccoli
• More iron than spinach
• And the list goes on and on...

Chia is a best kept secret. It is truly a super seed! No wonder it has been used for thousands of years for endurance. The word chia actually comes from the Mayan word chiabaan, meaning strengthening. 

So, Riss, How do You Eat Chia?

The easiest way to prepare chia is to make it into a gel. Chia seed gel is super easy to make. I mix a big batch when I make it because we use it in everything smoothies, yogurt, salads, we even eat it straight (it tastes a bit like flavorless Jello). All you have to do to make the gel is mix 1/3 cup of chia seeds with 2 cups of water. Let it sit for a few minutes shake it up, then let it sit for about 20 minutes. We use so much I usually use 1 cup of the chia to 6 cups of water. Then just store it in jar in the fridge where it keeps for up to two weeks. Be careful though, if it starts to grow sprouts it is no longer edible, and should be transferred to the nearest clay pottery cat you can find.

If you don't try anything else I share, TRY THIS! It is truly amazing.


*Remember never eat them without soaking or they can absorb your bodily fluids and cause digestive issues and dehydration.


XOXO,
Riss


Questions? Comments? Suggestions? Share them below.

Cleansing: Raw Food

This summer for about 10 days my husband and I did a raw food cleanse. We had planned on doing it for only 3 days, but extended it because it felt so great. For breakfast we mainly drank green smoothies, which were really delicious. Lunch consisted of a huge salad, and dinner was usually something really creative. It may seem that eating only raw food is boring, but it is so much fun.

There are many creative recipes out there that reconstruct traditional favorites out of raw food. My favorite is “Un-fried Rice” which is made out of ground cauliflower that really takes on the consistency and look of real rice. It was so delicious it shocked us!

Eating raw increased our energy, helped us lose weight and inches, and proved to be really fun.  Dinnertime was always an adventure (Did I mention the walnut “meat” tacos??) The downside was that food preparation was very time consuming, most likely because I had to cook separate meals for the children. Surprisingly this cleanse was also quite expensive. Commercial raw food products cost an arm and a leg, and I am not even going to mention our trip to a raw restaurant. How they can charge as much as they do is insane!

Would I do it again? Absolutely! I think it is a good seasonal cleanse. We’ll most likely do it again in the upcoming months.

Best quote from my hubby: “Did you notice that since we have been eating raw food, your poop doesn’t stink?” Gotta love him!!

~Riss

If you have fasted or cleansed tell us about it.

Why did you fast/cleanse?

What did you do (did you Master Cleanse, eat only fruit, drink only juice, etc.)?

What was the hardest part?

What was surprising about the experience?

Would you do it again?

Words to Live By: Warrior's Reminder

I am awake
My mind is free
I am Creative
I love Myself
My willpower is strong
I am Brave
I practice patience
I don't judge folks
I give, not to receive
I don't expect
I accept
I listen more than I talk
I know I'll change
I know you'll change
I'll hold on one more day
I start over when necessary
I create My own situations
I am cosmic
I don't have the answers
I desire to learn
I am the plan
I am strong
I am weak
I want to grow

I know I will

I take on responsibility

I hide myself from no one

I'm on My path
Warriors walk alone
I won't let my focus change

Taking out the demons in My range

that's mama's gun

~ Erykah Badu

Many of you may remember this poem from the cd insert for Mama's Gun. I love its profound simplicity.

Lesson Learned - BlessThat Food!

During Peace Corps training in Africa we lived with host families. When my fellow volunteers and I arrived in our village our families threw celebrations in our honor. I was so happy because another volunteer named Karen was living right next door to me. During my exploration of my new home, I walked to the backyard and saw a goat in Karen's yard. I thought wow, they have a pet goat. Moments later I looked on as some men walked over and slaughtered the goat. I was so naïve.
For a long time whenever I witnessed a slaughtering, I sympathized with the animal. I think it was easy for me to do this because I wasn't eating it (remember I don't eat red meat). It wasn't sustaining me. I was disconnected from it.
All of this came full circle for me at a party with my new in-laws [My Namibian hubby and I got married in Africa]. The men were slaughtering a goat when my sister in law, Nat, came over to me and told me that it wasn't cool to act disgusted by the sight of a slaughtering. I hadn't intended to act like that. I even tried to put up a brave front, but I guess my face showed it all. She told me that it was part of their tradition, and that they slaughter the animals expertly and humanely. That they use the animal in its entirety, not letting anything go to waste. If they didn't have this meat in the Kalahari Desert where we lived, they would starve. Nat led me to a very powerful realization that day. I was uncomfortable because I was not just disconnected from the animals they were slaughtering, but also from my own food.
I was used to going to the supermarket, and buying a cellophane-wrapped package with pink meat in it labeled chicken. Of course I knew it was a chicken, but had no real connection, nor respect for the animal. I didn't know, didn't want to know, nor care where it came from. I would hear horror stories about the treatment of the animals, but remained in complete denial. Now, faced with this new reality, I knew I needed to be more informed.
Now I make sure I educate myself on where my food comes from, and consider how that animal was treated. Along with this, it is of the utmost importance to me to slow down and give thanks to my food. It was once a living breathing animal or thriving plant, and now it has given over its energy so that I can have energy. That is the ultimate sacrifice.
Food is one of the only true necessities for our survival, how can we take it so lightly?
~Riss

Health 101: "J"

"J" is one of the healthiest people I know. She is a also just an all-around beautiful spirit. She is such a great friend that she agreed to do this for me, even though she is not a big fan of the internet. For that reason she will remain anonymous. 

--> -->

How would you define healthy living? Healthy living is "living healthily".  To Live is to experience the vast wonder of life, health is the optimal place of function.  So healthy living is BEing in the optimal place of function while experiencing Life.

Was there a turning point in your life that made you decide to become healthier? I've always been picky about my food and grew up in an athletic family.  So proper nutritrion was taught and practiced in my home.  However, living overseas and eating meat un-polluted with toxins and a 0 carbon impact, impacted my body.  When I returned home to USA my body began to refuse certain foods.  So thus, my eating habits changed as did my relationship with food.

 

What piece of knowledge would you like to share with others? Please, have a relationship with your food and the Earth.  People are so disconnected from the Source of their meal.  Stop, Breathe and give Gratitude before each meal.  I promise your experience will change.

 

What is the one natural product you can’t live without? N/A

 

What piece of advice would you give your 20 year old self? Get off Depo.  This drug severely impacted my sexual health and my physical health.  The impact of 10 years on this medication continues to have health impacts on my body.  I suffered from Endometriosis, I would advise myself to seek an integrated healing approach instead of drugs and surgery.

 

Anything else?  Love Yourself!  You are Valid just as you are, return to Yourself.

Health 101: Riss

How do you define healthy living?
To me healthy living is limiting the amount of chemicals and toxins I take into my body by remaining informed, and using products that come from nature. I know that this is a journey, and that taking even small steps will make a big impact on my health.

Was there a turning point in your life that made you decide to be healthier?
When I was 19 I decided to stop eating red meat. One day I ate a fast food hamburger, and felt violently ill. Since that day I made the choice to no longer eat red meat, and about a year later I stopped eating pork.

 It was a personal choice, and honestly I was never a really big meat-eater so it was fairly easy for me. I would never dare to tell anyone what they should eat because I know I don't want anyone telling me what to eat. Food is personal. I just want to be as healthy as I can, so that my body performs optimally.

What one piece of knowledge would you like to share with others?
Try to stay out of the medicine loop. When I was in Namibia in the Peace Corps they forced us to take these anti-malaria pills daily. They made me nauseous and I hated them, but I thought I would probably hate having malaria worse.
While taking them I got ill, so they put me on some antibiotics, which made me even more sick. In fact, they made me so sick that I had to undergo a colonoscopy. Having to be admitted into the hospital and undergoing a procedure scared me to death. I just wanted to be well again.
When I got back to the U.S. I was still suffering from major stomach pains, so I went to the doctor. She informed me that I had an ulcer. [What!] I learned that ulcers are not caused by stress, but by a bacteria, and that I would need to be put on a 14-day course of antibiotics that I had to take 3 times a day. It was insane, but I did it.

Review: Food Rules

Food Rules: An Eater's Manual is a follow-up to Michael Pollan's In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto. It provides guidance on how to eat healthily by pulling wisdom from various traditions from cultures around the world. My favorite quote from the book is, "Eat when you're hungry, not when you're bored...........Food is a costly antidepressant."


It is a really easy read. I read it in under an hour. I would recommend checking it out from the library. Then purchasing it, if you really like it.


~Riss

Small Steps: Eating Organic Produce (Part 1)

The Environmental Working Group has done extensive research on organic produce and has come up with two vitally important lists: The Dirty Dozen and The Clean Fifteen. The Dirty Dozen are foods that contain so many harmful toxins that you should always buy them organic. The Clean Fifteen are foods that are low in pesticides, so you do not have to buy them organically.

The test were carried out on foods as they are typically eaten. This means a banana peeled, an apple washed, etc.That being said, just washing and peeling the items from the Dirty Dozen list is not enough.

DIRTY DOZEN (WORST-BEST)                    CLEAN 15 (BEST-WORST)
1. CELERY                                                             1. ONIONS
2. PEACHES                                                         2. AVOCADO
3. STRAWBERRIES                                             3 . SWEET CORN
4. APPLES                                                            4. PINEAPPLE
5. BLUEBERRIES                                                 5. MANGOS
6. NECTARINES                                                  6. SWEET PEAS
7. BELL PEPPERS                                                7. ASPARAGUS
8. SPINACH                                                          8. KIWI
9. CHERRIES                                                        9. CABBAGE
10. KALE/COLLARD GREENS                          10. EGGPLANT
11. POTATOES                                                     11. CANTALOUPE
12. GRAPES (IMPORTED)                                 12. WATERMELON
                                                                              13. GRAPEFRUIT
                                                                              14. SWEET POTATO
                                                                               15. HONEYDEW MELON

Why you should care: Pesticides are agents sprayed on crops to kill bugs, but they also can harm humans, especially during fetal development and early childhood. Scientist advise that we lower our consumption of these things.

That's good, but organic foods are too expensive. That is where balance and planning come in. You don't have to buy everything organic. For example, if you are cooking something that starts out with "the trinity"(onions, bell pepper, and celery), then buy the bell pepper and celery organic, but not the onions. Or if you usually eat fruit that is on the Dirty Dozen, then diversify and add some things from the Clean 15. If you shop wisely, and balance your produce between the lists, then eating organically doesn't have to break the bank.


*I just did a little detective work at my local chain grocer. I used their online delivery option to compare organic and regular produce items. I  found three products from the Dirty Dozen list in organic (their online organic list was very limited) and in the regular produce section. I chose the most inexpensive products on both lists, but made sure to compare the same products.

The results: Potatoes were $1.83/lb. organic and $0.66/lb for the regular. Blueberries were $3.99 a package for the organic, and $3.00 for the regular. Peaches were $0.67/lb. for the organic, and $0.68/lb for the regular. So you see that the price difference for organic produce varies. The potatoes were much more expensive organic while the organic peaches were a little less than the regular.


Please follow this link for the Environmental Working Group's Full List, which includes 49 fruits and veggies. 

Coming soon:  Part 2: I explore Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) groups. With CSAs you can get organic produce for really cheap, and support your local farmers at the same time!

Natural Healing: Extra Virgin Coconut Oil

Last Thanksgiving my good friend came for a visit, and she looked amazing. She had lost an astonishing amount of weight, and looked radiant and healthy. I had to know what she was doing. She advised me to start taking a tablespoon a day of Extra Virgin Coconut Oil. It seemed funny to use oil to lose weight, so I researched it, and found out that coconut oil is truly a miracle oil. One of my references,  Eating For Beauty by David Wolfe, has a wealth of information on coconuts and coconut oil.

Once all the research was done, I went to the health food store and picked some up. The next morning, I stuck my spoon in it took out a huge glob, and swallowed it. I almost threw up! It was like swallowing a spoonful of butter. But not wanting to waste my money, and still curious about it I kept experimenting, and found more inventive ways to consume it.

Now, I cook with it instead of other oils, and it fills my home with mouth-watering aromas. Seriously, it smells so good and gives your food really good flavor. I use it on toast or other things in place of butter. I put it in my oatmeal and smoothies. I even bake with it.

How it works:
Coconut oil is a medium-chain-fatty acid, which makes it easy for the body to absorb. Quick absorption means your body can use the energy right away, thus you feel immediately more energized. 

Aside from eating it you can use it as a skin moisturizer, put it in your hair for shine, and oh did I mention it cleared up my son's thrush (a common yeast infection nursing babies get) in two days. This is because coconut oil contains lauric acid, capric acid and caprylic acid, and has antimicrobial, antioxidant, antifungal, and antibacterial properties. Lauric acid is a potent antiviral and the amount in coconut oil is second only to the amount found in breast milk, which is one of the most perfect foods on the planet.
  

The recommended daily amount is 1-4 tablespoons, using at least 3 will give you a therapeutic dose. When buying coconut oil,  make sure it is organic raw extra virgin and that it is cold pressed. Cold pressed means they did not use chemicals in the processing of the oil. 

*I just dropped by the site I get my coconut oil from, and saw that you can get a trial size, and if you don't like it, you can send it back for 100% of your money back. I am not endorsing any specific product. I just saw it and wanted to share.

~Riss

Coconut oil has thousands of uses. If you love it as I do, please share what you've used it for.