So here is my quick recap on the outcome of the July Challenge!
1. It is easier said than done. While I was home alone and the husband was away for work, this was a BREEZE! I ate pretty much whole foods, and any packaged stuff (bread, juice, etc.) was from the organics aisle. Although I am not die-hard organics, they do tend to have more basic ingredients than other processed foods.
However, when said husband was around, pizza, Chinese food and Coke reigned supreme.
2. It translated well outside of food. Since I was reading what went into my food, I also started reading my cleaning products, etc. For not much extra $$$ you can find cleaners that are made with plant-derived cleaners and no nasty, non-pronounceable chemicals. (No lungs burning while I scrubbed the tub either!)
I would say the key takeaway is that understanding your ingredients is doable-you just need to hold your ground and not be swayed to the path of junk food...
What I loved is I found some new "go-to" products that can be grabbed without worrying about what is going into my food!
Happy Shopping!
Stat counter
August 6, 2010
July 25, 2010
Time keeps ticking...
I have been insanely busy the last while, hosting friends and family and working madly in my yard. This weekend we are redoing the siding on the house! Although I am loving the result of these things, my blog has been suffering!
So to keep you all hanging (I stubbornly believe someone reads this all the time-despite the lack of comments on my posts), here are the upcoming blog entries:
1. July Challenge update! I have been following this as closely as possible and will let you know my experiences.
2. Garden update! I need to take some pictures of my veggie/flower garden-it is full to bursting and starting to flower-and flowers mean the veggies are soon to follow!
3. Good-Better-Best! A new monthly post I have been working on, where I compare 3 similar products/recipes and let you in on which is best.
Can't wait to post it all!
So to keep you all hanging (I stubbornly believe someone reads this all the time-despite the lack of comments on my posts), here are the upcoming blog entries:
1. July Challenge update! I have been following this as closely as possible and will let you know my experiences.
2. Garden update! I need to take some pictures of my veggie/flower garden-it is full to bursting and starting to flower-and flowers mean the veggies are soon to follow!
3. Good-Better-Best! A new monthly post I have been working on, where I compare 3 similar products/recipes and let you in on which is best.
Can't wait to post it all!
July 10, 2010
Jammin'
The recipe only made 2-500 ml jars, so I may need to make some more for family and friends!
July 3, 2010
July 2010 Challenge: Read it and weep
In an effort to bring some structure to my blog, I decided it needs to contain more than just my random thoughts on gardening and a couple recipes. Introduce...THE MONTHLY CHALLENGE!!!
At the beginning of each month I will introduce a new challenge to my readers. Throughout the month, I will let you know how I am doing on my side of the challenge, and you can all give me feedback on how the challenge went for you.
So here is the challenge for the month of July:
Purchase and eat ONLY foods that contain ingredients you recognize. So read the label BEFORE you buy! You may just find your packaged food consumption is drastically reduced!
As I shop and come across unknown ingredients, I will write them down and research what EXACTLY those mystery ingredients are. Let's face it-just because we don't know what it is, doesn't mean it is bad for you!
Let me know-who is joining in? Best of luck to all of you!
At the beginning of each month I will introduce a new challenge to my readers. Throughout the month, I will let you know how I am doing on my side of the challenge, and you can all give me feedback on how the challenge went for you.
So here is the challenge for the month of July:
Purchase and eat ONLY foods that contain ingredients you recognize. So read the label BEFORE you buy! You may just find your packaged food consumption is drastically reduced!
As I shop and come across unknown ingredients, I will write them down and research what EXACTLY those mystery ingredients are. Let's face it-just because we don't know what it is, doesn't mean it is bad for you!
Let me know-who is joining in? Best of luck to all of you!
June 17, 2010
What to eat, what to eat...
A new blog I have enjoyed reading is the "Urban Homestead." Although this family is the extreme example of self-sustained healthy living, they have tons of amazing ideas! It also makes me jealous of their California growing season!
One quote I liked from a recent post is regarding choosing food sources. The "chain" begins with what you can grow in your own yard (and you should see their yard! Who knew you can fit so much on a city lot!).
If not from backyard, then locally produced
If not locally produced, then organic.
If not organic, then family farm.
If not family farm, then local business.
If not local business, then fair trade.
Great chain and one I need to work at following more closely! I have learned that healthy, unprocessed eating generally involves more time, research, and work than simply hitting the supermarket!
In other growing news-my plants are sprouting! I have carrots, peas, sunflowers and spaghetti squash all coming in! I have my lettuce and spinach planted (better late than never) and am waiting to see little green shoots from them.
This year I have planted lettuce both in the salad table (see previous post) and in my yard, to see which grows better. I will let you all know how that goes!
Happy Eating!
One quote I liked from a recent post is regarding choosing food sources. The "chain" begins with what you can grow in your own yard (and you should see their yard! Who knew you can fit so much on a city lot!).
If not from backyard, then locally produced
If not locally produced, then organic.
If not organic, then family farm.
If not family farm, then local business.
If not local business, then fair trade.
Great chain and one I need to work at following more closely! I have learned that healthy, unprocessed eating generally involves more time, research, and work than simply hitting the supermarket!
In other growing news-my plants are sprouting! I have carrots, peas, sunflowers and spaghetti squash all coming in! I have my lettuce and spinach planted (better late than never) and am waiting to see little green shoots from them.
This year I have planted lettuce both in the salad table (see previous post) and in my yard, to see which grows better. I will let you all know how that goes!
Happy Eating!
May 28, 2010
The quest for perfection
On Wednesday I popped into a grocery store on my way home from Calgary to pick up a few supper items. At the checkout, the cashier asked the stock boy to put back what she referred to as "this perfect tomato." By the usual standards, it was pretty "perfect." Huge size, even shape, bright red. It hadn't been purchased because the customer before me refused to pay $4 for once single tomato.
This whole scenario got me thinking for 2 reasons:
1. $4 for ONE tomato??? Are you kidding me? I even said to the cashier "No kidding, he can buy a whole plant for that a get tomatoes all summer!"
2. Our quest for perfection. These days, it seems we are programmed to only want to eat "perfect" food. So much of our produce is genetically modified, and sprayed with pesticides, that we don't see many wormholes, sun spots, or odd shapes in our food. But if you take a look at some heirloom tomatoe varieties, they are "ugly" compared to what we are used to. But the TASTE!
My favourite apples are an organic variety called "Pink Lady." They are sweet, firm, and just the right size. They are also often bruised, or have sun spots.
And is the tradeoff really worth it? A high pesticide load just for how nice it looks?
So my challenge is this-look past how pretty your food is. The ugly food might have a great personality!
This whole scenario got me thinking for 2 reasons:
1. $4 for ONE tomato??? Are you kidding me? I even said to the cashier "No kidding, he can buy a whole plant for that a get tomatoes all summer!"
2. Our quest for perfection. These days, it seems we are programmed to only want to eat "perfect" food. So much of our produce is genetically modified, and sprayed with pesticides, that we don't see many wormholes, sun spots, or odd shapes in our food. But if you take a look at some heirloom tomatoe varieties, they are "ugly" compared to what we are used to. But the TASTE!
My favourite apples are an organic variety called "Pink Lady." They are sweet, firm, and just the right size. They are also often bruised, or have sun spots.
And is the tradeoff really worth it? A high pesticide load just for how nice it looks?
So my challenge is this-look past how pretty your food is. The ugly food might have a great personality!
May 25, 2010
Not long enough weekend!
Ahhh-the sun has finally decided it is here to stay, and although the forecast calls for a few more bouts of frost, I have gotten out into the garden.
Although my heart (and my stomach) would prefer to be in the backyard doing my veggie garden, my front yard looks quite sad beside the well-groomed neighbours. We mow our lawn, but my flower beds have become dry dusty weed beds. After 2 days of digging, weeding, and covering up the front and side beds with mulch (my attempt at weed, bug and cat detterent all in one!), I must say it looks quite nice...despite the lack of flowers. So this weekend, the plants will go in! Then I don't have to look at my dismal front yard in shame every time I pull up to my house.
So the long weekend got gobbled up by asthetics. Today I got into the backyard and madly gardened during my lunch break (working from home has its perks). So now I have put in peas, spaghetti squash and carrots! I also built a lovely cage for my peas to climb out of bamboo stakes and wire! Cost: approx $6. (because I want fresh veggies but I am still cheap)
There is still so much work to be done! Two more beds to dig, prep and plant with lettuce, spinach, brocolli, zuchinni, and sweet peas (ok, they are not food-but sooo pretty!) And I really want to get this done by the end of this weekend-our growing season is short enough without procrastinating!
Happy Gardening!
Although my heart (and my stomach) would prefer to be in the backyard doing my veggie garden, my front yard looks quite sad beside the well-groomed neighbours. We mow our lawn, but my flower beds have become dry dusty weed beds. After 2 days of digging, weeding, and covering up the front and side beds with mulch (my attempt at weed, bug and cat detterent all in one!), I must say it looks quite nice...despite the lack of flowers. So this weekend, the plants will go in! Then I don't have to look at my dismal front yard in shame every time I pull up to my house.
So the long weekend got gobbled up by asthetics. Today I got into the backyard and madly gardened during my lunch break (working from home has its perks). So now I have put in peas, spaghetti squash and carrots! I also built a lovely cage for my peas to climb out of bamboo stakes and wire! Cost: approx $6. (because I want fresh veggies but I am still cheap)
There is still so much work to be done! Two more beds to dig, prep and plant with lettuce, spinach, brocolli, zuchinni, and sweet peas (ok, they are not food-but sooo pretty!) And I really want to get this done by the end of this weekend-our growing season is short enough without procrastinating!
Happy Gardening!
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