The Latest From PETA

After seeing this new ad campaign from PETA, I could not believe that an organization that's against "animal" cruelty would release this. The ad was released after a man was attacked by a shark in the Bay area (U.S.). The ad is suggesting that he deserved it for spear fishing. The victim of the attack had to get 800 stiches to close the flesh over his thigh bone.

Last time I checked, humans are mammals.

What are your thoughts?

Peanut Butter and Honey Granola Bars

These granola bars are on the soft (versus crunchy) side. If you want, after cutting them you can put them back in the oven at 300°F for 10 more minutes to make them a little firmer.
 

 Ingredients

• 1 egg white
• 1/2 cup honey
• 1/2 cup chunky peanut butter
• 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
• 3 cups Old Fashioned oatmeal oats (do not use instant or steel cut)
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, melted
• 1/2 cup golden raisins

Method

1 Line a 9x13 baking pan with parchment paper, so that the parchment paper extends over the edges of the pan. Set rack in the oven to the middle position. Preheat oven to 350°F.

2 Either with a stand mixer or by hand with a whisk, beat the egg white until frothy. Beat in the honey. Beat in the peanut butter. Add the oats. Sprinkle on the cinnamon. Pour the melted butter over everything and stir until well combined. Stir in the raisins.

3 Spread the mixture over the bottom of the parchment paper-lined baking dish in an even layer.

4 Place in oven and bake for 25 minutes, until nicely browned on top. Remove from oven and let cool for 5 minutes. Remove the baked granola from the pan by lifting the edges of the parchment, and place on a cutting board. Use a long sharp knife to cut into 12 to 16 bars.
Let cool completely before eating.

Yield: Makes 12 to 16 bars.

Source: Simply Recipes 

Kale is IN! (7 reasons why)

You might not know, but Kale is far more nutritious than any other leafy green. You're probably starting to wonder what makes this green stand out, well here are your seven reasons to start eating the leaf!

• Anti-inflammatory: Inflammation is the number one cause of arthritis, heart disease and a number of autoimmune diseases, and is triggered by the consumption of animal products. Kale is an incredibly effective anti-inflammatory food, potentially preventing and even reversing these illnesses.

• Iron: Despite the myth that vegetarians are anemic, the number of non-vegetarians with iron-deficiencies is on the rise. Per calorie, kale has more iron than beef.

• Calcium: Dairy and beef both contain calcium, but the U.S. still has some of the highest rates of bone loss and osteoporosis in the world. Kale contains more calcium per calorie than milk (90 grams per serving) and is also better absorbed by the body than dairy.

• Fiber: Like protein, fiber is a macronutrient, which means we need it every day. But many Americans don't eat nearly enough and the deficiency is linked to heart disease, digestive disorders and cancer. Protein-rich foods, like meat, contain little to no fiber. One serving of kale not only contains 5% of the recommend daily intake of fiber, but it also provides 2 grams of protein. 

• Omega fatty acids: Healthy fats play an important role in our health, unlike the saturated fats in meat. A serving of kale contains 121 mg of omega-3 fatty acids and 92.4 mg of omega-6 fatty acids.

• Immunity: Superbugs and bacteria are a serious risk to our health. Many of these come as a result of factory farm meat, eggs and dairy products. Kale is an incredibly rich source of immune-boosting carotenoid and flavanoid antioxidants, as well as vitamins A and C.

• Sustainable: Kale grows to maturity in 55 to 60 days versus a cow raised for beef for an average of 18-24 months. Kale can grow in most climates and is relatively easy to grow at home or on a farm. To raise one pound of beef requires 16 pounds of grain, 11 times as much fossil fuel and more than 2,400 gallons of water.

Source: Organic Authority

Free Graze Box

Have you checked out the graze box's?
Their extremely healthy. If you haven't let me give you some incentive to try them!

If you go to graze.com and enter the code 1TGWT8F your first and second box will be FREE.

They have a lot of different options and are all affordable. They even have some fall ones to get you into the autumn spirt.

Unfortunately, they only deliver via Royal Post.

Enjoy!

Thai Lettuce Wraps

Serves 6

Sauce

• 1/4 cup lime juice
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 2 Tbs. low-sodium soy sauce
• 1 Tbs. rice vinegar
• 1/2 tsp. light brown sugar

Filling

• 2 8-oz. pkg. plain tempeh, broken into chunks
• 1 Tbs. vegetable oil
• 2 Tbs. minced fresh ginger
• 2 cloves garlic, minced (2 tsp.)
• 1 cup low-sodium vegetable broth
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh mint
• 1/4 cup lime juice
• 2 Tbs. chopped shallots
• 1 Tbs. low-sodium soy sauce
• 1 Tbs. rice vinegar
• 2 tsp. sugar
• 1 tsp. chile sauce, such as sriracha
• 1/4 tsp. light brown sugar

Toppings and Wraps

• 1/2 lb. green beans, thinly sliced
• 2 cups bean sprouts
• 1 cucumber, peeled into thin strips
• 1 large carrot, shredded
• Fresh mint, cilantro, and basil
• 18 whole large lettuce leaves
• 1/2 cup chopped peanuts

Nutritional Information

Per wrap (1 lettuce leaf filled with 1/4 cup filling and 1/4 cup toppings):

Calories

112

Protein

8g

Total Fat

5g

Saturated Fat

<1g

Carbs

12g

Cholesterol

0mg

Sodium

109mg

Fiber

4g

Sugar

5g

Source: Vegetarian Times

Dirty Dozen & Clean 15

The dirty dozen is the twelve most contaminated fruits and vegetables you should try to buy organic.

1. Apples
2. Celery
3. Strawberries
4. Peaches
5. Spinach
6. Imported Nectarines 
7. Imported Grapes
8. Sweet Bell Peppers
9. Potatos
10. Blueberries
11. Lettuce
12. Kale/Collard Greens

 The "Clean 15" are fruits and vegetables that had the lowest amounts of pesticides after a typical washing.

1. Onions
2. Sweet Corn
3. Pineapples
4. Avocado
5. Asparagus
6. Sweet Peas
7. Mangos
8. Eggplant
9. Cantaloupe
10. Kiwi
11. Cabbage
12. Watermelon
13. Sweet Potatoes
14. Grapefruit
15. Mushrooms

The Inorganic Truth about Organic Strawberries.

    I bet you feel really good about your decision of spending the extra few dollars for those organic strawberries, don't you? Well there is an ugly dirty little secret about those strawberries that was not mentioned.
   Although they may have been grown on an organic farm, most likely the started their little fruit life in a nursery. Just about all nurseries treat their little younglings with chemicals, such as methyl iodide. Methyl iodide is a cancer-causing pesticide used specifically on strawberries.

"National regulations require that organic produce is grown for three years without synthetic pesticides."-The New York Times

Virtually all plants before the begin bearing fruit are treated with fumigants and other synthetic pesticides. The state of California has no organic nurseries. The Pesticide Action Network is trying to get the government to tighten the rules regarding the use of pesticides at nurseries to "spur innovation." They are also working to encourage both nurseries and farmers to convert to practicing new green techniques.
   Even though chemicals were used during the first two years, once using organic practices the fruit will be considered chemical-free. Would you consider a fruit that was once treated with harmful chemicals in its early stages but has grown three years without chemicals, organic?

What's In a Flu Shot?

Why don't we question what these shots have in them? Just because a doctor tells you that you need it, doesn't always mean that you do. Most doctors are under pressure from the pharmaceutical companies. When was the last time you had the flu shot?


"Spray pesticides on an apple and it's no longer organic.  Add a drop of oil to a glass of spring water and it's no longer pure." -The Weekly Sticky

Think twice before you stand in line to get Mercury, Glycol, and Formaldehyde injected into your body.

• Mercury is a known neurotoxin in the form of thimerisol.
• Glycol is a component in antifreeze.
• Formaldehyde is what they preserve cadavers with.

The truth is, if you take all of the right precautions during flu season, you most likely will not catch it. 

Not So Small Companies.

Don’t be surprised when you find out which one of your favorite obscure organic company that you believed to be some independently owned is far from that. Mega corps buy out these once obscure companies. Don’t be surprised if you find a few of your favorites on this chart.

Source: msu.edu

New, upcoming companies would be bad for business if they take off. Mega Corps don't just want a slice, they want the whole thing.

The Irony.

Have you ever noticed the irony behind food? The cheapest food is the one that is the most processed, yet the naturally grown food is the most expensive.  The cheapest food, which tends to always be the most processed, is the one that most of us will go for. A lot of people don’t stop to think about what they are actually consuming. There are tons of chemicals on produce, and don’t even think about cooking your vegetables. When you cook your vegetables in any way, you are killing at least half of their nutritional value. What’s the point of eating them then?  

Like always, there is a company that will step in. Whole Foods. Try shopping there without draining your bank account. I thought that having organic food meant less processing, and less processing means fewer cost. Apparently, at Whole foods the less processing a product goes through the more expensive it should be.

At the end of the day, it makes no logical sense to pay more for “organic” food. It’s gone through a shorter process of being produced and you’re not paying for a side of chemicals to go with it. Keep that in mind the next time you have to go grocery shopping and try not to get mad.