Earthly Eating

Organic food sales make up just 2.5 percent of the retail food market, they’re rising by about 20 percent each year. Why?

According to the Whole Foods Market survery posted in OCA on April 2007, 70 percent of consumers buy organic to avoid pesticides; another 67 percent do so to promote good health. Yet questions remian: are organic foods indeed safer and more nutritious?

Are organic foods safer because there pesticide free? The facts are organic crops produced without chemical fertilizers and most senthetic pesticides. But, they may not be free of pesticide residues. A lot of the residues found on our food are from long-banned pesticides, such as DDT, because it’s persistent in our soil. Plus, pesticides can blow over from a neighboring convetional farm. And, these lower pesticide levels haven’t been established as safer. In fact, everything in supermarkets has earned the government’s seal of approval for safety. The Environmental Protection Agency set standard for the residue levels allowed in or on food, which are in the parts per million, even billion. The bottom line: If your kid eats a lot of fruits and veggies, it might be worth the extra bucks. But, don’t freak about it if you can’t afford it, most fruits and veggies are safe.

Are orgnaic snacks better got you than convential? The fact is a cooke, whether it’s organic or not, is still a cookie. Dont’ forget theat organic processed food can be hgih in calories and total fat as well. And may contain refined grains and undesirable additives. It’s still important to read the labels closely on orgainc packaging to see what you are really getting. The real issue is whether you’re eating and offering your family nutritious foods rather than foods that are high in calories , sugar, salt and fat. Fresh is best, and those snacks can still be convenitent and offer a nutrional punch. The bottom line is spend your organic dollars on produce instead.

AND ALWAYS REMEBER:
*A varied diet that’ts rich in whole grains, fruits, and vegtables-regardless of whether or not they are organic-is the best way to ward off illness, obesity, and some cancers.*
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Earthly Eating Recipe:

Butter-fried PB&J Crepes:
Serves 10-12

Mix first 5 ingredients and set aside. Combine peanut butter and 1 tbs. dry ingredients, then water. Allow batter to rest for 15 minutes. Heat medium (8-inch) skillet over high heat. Melt 1/2 tsp ghee. Pour 2 tbs. batter into pan, swirling to cover a thin layer. Cook about 30 seconds, until top appears dry; flip and cook for 10 more seconds. While the bottom is cooking, drop a tsp. of jam on top, spreading lightly with a spoon. Fold pancake in half, then fold again into a quarter-circle. Remove from pan, repeat process, melting 1/4 tsp. ghee for each new pancake.

Happy Eating!

Do you have a picky eater in your house? Check out some of the tips Jackie has posted over on Kids Dish.

To become a more health-savvy meat consumer, you have to know what you’re reading., Here are some of the most common key-terms used and how to read them and learn their concepts.

• NO HORMONES AND/OR NO ANTIBIOTICS USED: Raised without growth -promoting hormones and/or antibiotics, buty not necessarily organic or grass-fed. Often less expensice than organic meat, this is a good choice when organic is hard to find or for shoppers on a budget.

•GRASS-FED ONLY: Cattle are fed gress instead of grain or corn, which results in meat that is leaner, lower in fat and calories, and higher in vitamin E and antioxidants. Grass-fed beef also boasts a healthier ratio of omerga-3 to omega-6 fatty acids. Hormones and antibiotics are rare but may be used.

• NATURAL: Minimal processing with no artifical additives.

• CERTIFIED HUMANE: Ensures humane treatment of animals. The animals are allowed to engage in their natural behaviors, and are rasied with sufficent space, ample fresh water, and a diet free from added antibiotics or hormones.

• USDA GRADES: These voluntary lables refer to how much marbling (or intramuscular fat) the meat has, as well as to color and maturity. The higher the grass, the younger and more tender the meat, and the greater the fat content. Prime tops the list and is found almost exclusively in restaurants, follwed by Choice, Select, and Standard. The designations can be misleading: It is almost impossible to find a USDA Choice cut of grass-fed meat, which by its nature is very low fat-yet a lesser grade may still be an excellent piece of meat.

• UNLABELED: A growing number of producers try to do right by their animals and the land, but for various reasons use no labels, orgainc or otherwise., If you have questions about what you are buying, ask your butcher, or contact the producer directly to find out how the animal was raised.
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Earthly Eating Recipe:

Spicy Beef and Tomato Couscous:
Serves 6

Shred jerky in the blender or food processor. Mix all ingredients except water, ghee, and couscous, and seal in a zip-top bag. When ever you want to use the mix, which is great while camping, just bring water and ghee to a boil in a medium saucepan. Mix in contents of bag, boiling for 8 to 10 minutes. Stir in couscous, cover and remove from heat. Wait 5 minutes for flavors to set, toss and serve.

Happy Eating!

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