Some Direction

After talking with friends and relatives alike I thought of the following:

1.  When I speak of hormones in meat I mean that unless the meat is listed as hormone free it does not matter whether it is an expensive or inexpensive steak or cut of beef.  Hormones are hormones and if you can avoid them then please do.  If you can't and I know that hormone free meat is more expensive then have it maybe two or three times a week and make it the smallest portion of your dinner.

2.  Yes, glass is better when buying storage containers even when they say BPA free.  BPA in plastic is mostly a problem with hot foods and hot liquids.  If you have lots of plastic containers cool the items first in stainless steel or glass then pour into the plastic.  Better idea is to avoid plastic all the way but may not be financially able to replace all of your plastic containers.

3.  When buying quick food because you have a busy schedule and want to avoid the golden arches then look elsewhere than bread, cookies and muffins.  Read those labels and be aware of saturated fats (very bad for the heart and circulation) and chemically added ingredients (Dirty Dozen Ingredients:  Hydrogenated/partially hydrogenated oils; Aspartame (NutraSweet, Equal); MSG (monosodium glutamate); Hydrolyzed vegetable protein; BHA (butylated hydroxyanisole); Acesulfame potassium; BHT (butylated hyroxytoluene); Potassium bromate; Sodium nitrate and nitrate;  Propyl gallate; Sodium benzoate; Artificial colors).

4.  Check your yogurt and milk to make sure it is hormone free (it will state this on the label).

5.  Hormones are not used on chicken but check your label for added sodium and make sure the package reads that they are not treated with antibiotics.

6.  Try for at least one meat free dinner a week and work your way up from that.

7.  Whole wheat bread is nice but the Cadillac of bread is WHOLE GRAIN not whole wheat.  If the label reads enriched whole wheat flour then it has been stripped of vitamins and a lab has added back in the least expensive to sell the bread at a profit.

8.  If you are looking at salt then read that sometime the sodium content of, for example, chicken broth might be 610 mg. per serving (one cup) and there are 4 cups in a box which means that the box of chicken broth contains 2440 mg. of sodium.  That's alot of salt to put into a pot of soup, stew or beans.

We are striving for more whole grains, nutrient dense foods (vegetables) and low sodium in our diet.

Sprouted Foods

Have you seen sprouted foods in the supermarket and wondered what they are and if they are beneficial to you?  I tried sprouted brown rice and while it is tasty I wondered if I was doing a good thing for myself.  My mantra in the New Year is eat healthy and tasty and not just tasty.  I have to say I fell off the bandwagon this weekend but promise to do better going forward.  In any event, here is an article I saw on the web which touts some of the benefits of sprouted grains and nuts. . .

http://www.naturaltherapypages.com.au/article/print/Benefits_Sprouted_Grains

Spa Time

In our stroll downtown this weekend to enjoy the Saturday "spring-like" weather we decided to stop in Maise Dunbar Spa and Lounge.  We spent a good bit of time in the lounge and I ended up having a threading and a manicure.  While it can be pricey it was well worth every penny.  There was no smell and the shop has many, many various healthy and fair trade items for sale.  I love the clarity rocks and the massage/candle combo.  Maise did my manicure and it was so relaxing.  My friend sat and enjoyed the atmosphere with a cup of tea (complimentary) and an offer of a neck massage (also complimentary)  This is a place I will visit again and if you happen to be in our neck of the woods, give her a try. . . .let me know because I can give you a $5 off coupon. http://www.maisiedunbarspalounge.com/promo.asp 

The Chef

I caught this show by accident and now I am a fan, Chef Roble.  He is an African American chef from my home, Brooklyn, NY.  This is a cooking show and they are showing the outrageous demands put on him and staff and they do come out on top.  Nice to see a positive African American male starting up his own business with his sister as his business partner.  Really nice show - give it a look see on the Bravo channel on Sunday nights.  Good show to DVR if you have one and if not, give it a watch.

http://www.bravotv.com/chef-roble-and-co

Gluten Free

I attended a class last night on gluten-free cooking.  I am not gluten intolerant and wanted to know more about this.  A lot of the alternatives to flour are more nutritious than flour and more tasty. The chef last night was Genevieve Sherrow who hails from Philadelphia.  She has a degree from Bastyr University located in the state of Washington.   This university sounds like a place I could enjoy.


Last night she focused on desserts for the holidays I have to say if you did not tell me that the desserts were gluten free I would not have known.  The gingerbread was especially outstanding.


If you are interested in learning more I have some materials that I got from her and would be happy to share.  She is on Facebook (gluten-free warrior) and has written and published a small cookbook that she has for sale on her web site.


If you think you are gluten intolerant this may start you on the path to feeling better. . . . .some signs of gluten intolerance


Weight loss or weight gain; nutritional deficiencies due to malabsorbtion e.g. low iron levels; nastro-intestinal problems (bloating, pain, gas, constipation, diarrhea); fat in the stools (due to poor digestion); aching joints; depression; eczema; head aches; exhaustion; irritability and behavioural changes; infertility, irregular menstrual cycle and miscarriage; cramps, tingling and numbness; slow infant and child growth; decline in dental health; undiagnosed for long periods of time, food intolerances have been found to contribute to diabetes, bowel cancer, anemia and osteoporosis..


Why are gluten intolerance symptoms so varied?


It is still a bit of a mystery; gluten intolerance and allergies affect adults and children in a variety of ways, but we do know that the less stress the better.

Last of the Food Show

Now that the food show at the Convention Center is a pleasant memory and one to be planned for next year, I have tried the balsamic vinegars I bought from JD Gourmet. . . . http://www.jdgourmet.com/products1.html

These vinegars are out of this world delicious.  I have tried them so far making salad dressings and drizzled on Prairie bread.  The flavor I like most is the dark cherry and jalapeno flavored balsamic vinegars.  The blood orange is quite tasty as well.  I wish I had bought more of their products but there is always next year.

The other product that I bought was Sacha Inchi seeds and also their oil.  Their oil is not used for cooking - salads.  The taste is very fresh and it, too is filled with healthy oils. . . .48% of  heart healthy omega 3's. . . http://sachavida.com/sacha-vida-oil/product-highlights/ .  I also bought the seeds and they are delicious and come in roasted and salted, plain and chocolate covered.

I am so looking forward to next year's show!

A New Product

This weekend I picked up a bottle of Olivado Chili & Bell Pepper Infused Avocado Oil.  I had no idea what this would taste like but I like avocados and I like spicy so I decided to give it a try.  I am so glad I did because it absolutely delicious.  The main reason that I bought it is because of the high omega 3's in it and rich in vitamin E and the healthy fats.  Avocado oil also has a high smoke point so it works well for cooking (stir-fry anyone).  This oil can also be used for the skin and in the hair.

http://www.olivado.com/avocado_oil_new_zealand.htm

When you next go to the store, give it a try -I don't know that I will used the infused one (Olivado Chili & Bell Pepper Infused Avocado Oil) but I will try the plain on my hair and skin soon.


I bought it from Whole Foods and it is sold in many other stores. . . . . http://www.olivado.com/usa/index.htm