"The work an unknown good man has done is like a vein of water flowing hidden underground, secretly making the ground green."

~Thomas Carlyle

*

The new dirty dozen it out!!

*

When we talk about the importance of avoiding pesticides in our food it is because it is a major health inhibitor. Many people pooh-pooh this information or say organic is too expensive, but that is simply wrong. It is worth it on many fronts, the top two being:

1. keeping harmful chemcials and poisions out of your body and
2. increased vitamin and mineral content.

Those are huge! And I know when I compare an organic head of lettuce with conventional, they cost about the same these days. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) has completed a study and provided a handly little pocket sized guide to help us out.

• http://www.foodnews.org/walletguide.php
• http://www.foodnews.org/reduce.php

If organic is not readily available in your area, then choose a local grower, many of them will not use as much pesticide and definately don't have to spray for transport. Also, wilted dead organic produce doesn't do you any good. If the organic produce looks bad, choose lively local grown. Wash well and enjoy!

The Full List: 43 Fruits & Veggies - See link for full list or downloadable guide :-)
RANK, FRUIT OR VEGGIE, SCORE

*
1 (worst) Peaches100 (highest pesticide load)
2 Apples 89
3 Sweet Bell Peppers 86
4 Celery 85
5 Nectarines 84
6 Strawberries 82
7 Cherries 75
8 Pears 65
9 Grapes - Imported 65
10 Spinach 60
11 Lettuce 59
12 Potatoes 58
13 Carrots 57
14 Green Beans 53
15 Hot Peppers 53
16 Cucumbers 52
17 Raspberries 47
18 Plums 45
19 Grapes - Domestic 43
20 Oranges 42

"Sustainability is a process of balancing the needs of a population with the capacity of an environment to support it."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20061126/sc_afp/eucroatiaenvironmentfishingtuna_061126162117

When you arise in the morning, give thanks for the morning light, for your life and strength. Give thanks for your food, and the joy of living.

If you see no reason for giving thanks, the fault lies with yourself.

~Tecumseh, Shawnee Chief

Gratitude is the sign of noble souls. ~Aesop
*

May our hearts be filled with gratitude for this abundant life!

Enjoy! ~j

"If the divine creator has taken pains to give us delicious and exquisite things to eat, the least we can do is prepare them well and serve them with ceremony."
~Fernand Point (1897-1955)


*
These make a quart of smoothie. Sometimes I add extra sunflower or pea sprouts, a stalk of celery for added alkalinity. You can really mix them up to your taste. They are super simple, but really make an impact! If you are cautious...half the recipe and just give it a little try.
*
Enjoy! ~j
*
Great article on green smoothies! http://www.fredericpatenaude.com/articles/green_smoothies.html

*
Mango-parsley
2 large mangos
1 bunch parsley
2 cups Water
*
Strawberry-banana-romaine
1-cup strawberries
2 bananas
1/2 bunch romaine
2 cups Water
*
Pear-kale-mint
4 ripe pears
4-5 leaves of kale
1/2 bunch of mint
2 cups Water
*
Finger banana-spinach
10 finger-bananas
2 handfuls of spinach leaves
2 cups Water
*
Bosc pear-raspberry-kale
3 bosc pears
1 handful of raspberries
4-5 leaves of kale
2 cups Water

Gratitude is the mother of all the virtues.

~G.K. Chesterton

*
Consider all of the things that you have to be thankful for today. They may be small or large in scale, but each one has its place.
*
Life is precious and fragile and available! Waiting for you to reach out and grab each moment, tasting its Magnificence.
*
From a mountain top, overlooking the ocean, or brushing the hair back from a sleeping child. Everyone has their own dreams and reality. Are you awake?! Or are your eyes wide shut?

*
http://www.oddpeak.com/item_63760.aspx

The world is not yet exhausted;

let me see something tomorrow which I never saw before.

~Samuel Johnson

*
Just a little weekend note on the spinach concern. If you haven't noticed. It is back on the shelves. Eat it. Buying spinach from a local source is best. Wash it and enjoy! We here in California are enjoying every tender leaf.
*
Here is a little article that talks about the possible source of tainting. Really it is a little lesson in the cleanliness of our water. If you are not using a water filter, you should consider it. If they are allowing tainted water to spill over to crops, think about what is coming into your home. Your kitchen sink, your shower and bath, your washing machine...you take care to bring healthy foods into your kitchen, now washing them with chlorine, bacteria and other chemicals just seems wrong. More on water filters later. For today, just be aware.
*
http://www.mercola.com/2006/nov/18/the-simple-answer-to-the-insane-recall-of-organic-spinach.htm

Faith is a living and unshakable confidence,

a belief in God so assured

that a man would die a thousand deaths for its sake.

~Martin Luther

*

Have to talk about a non-food item. Dishwashing detergent. The stuff that goes into your dishwasher is very poisionous. Since the Thanksgiving holiday is coming up and dishes will be a plenty in the house that you share your meal...instead of brining desert, bring the soap!

*

I challenge you to pick an ingredient listed on your soap and look it up on the internet. Yikes! Any cleaning product that has a skull and crossbones on it is one that should not be in your home. Whether you have children or not. The last thing you want to do is invest in eating healthy, but put that food in a glass that contains chemical residues!

*
Investigate the healthier options for cleaning. There are a lot of 'green' products out there that do a wonderful job. Trader Joes carries a line that is very affordable and companies are coming online all the time with alternatives. You just have to know where to look.

*

Again, it is all about being aware. Environmentally friendly products are a step that is really quite simple to make. If you have a cleaning service. Ask them...they will not change until the consumer demands a change.

*

A great new area to explore. Look around, start with what you can and 'kick it up a notch' every time you replace a cleaning item. When you look back you will wonder why you thought deadly chemicals smelled clean. Uncondition your brain! This is really a much bigger topic, but we are blogging here. Definately google for yourself!

*

Healthy for life! ~j

• http://www.natural-healthy-home-cleaning-tips.com/ - great tips
• 90 Tips for 90 Days - http://www.checblog.org/2006/11/
• http://www.gaiam.com/retail/gai_content/learn/gai_learnArticle.asp?article_id=515 safe alternatives for you and the environment
• http://www.vanessasgift.com/ - love th ebaby kits :-) what a wonderful gift
• http://mlmgorilla.com/naturalcleaningrecipe/ make your own
• http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060514/BUSINESS/60514043 find a professional

Be who you are and say what you feel

because those who mind don't matter and

those who matter don't mind.

~Dr. Seuss

*

Taking a new step can be challenging. Changing your eating habits while your friends and family aren't can seem impossible. BUT...be gracious. Respect their choices as you ask them to respect yours. You never, know, they just might want to come along for the ride! One quart of green smoothie a day for 30 days. Hydrochloric acid...many of us are very deficient. This will help restore the balance and improve digestion and assimilation of all foods you are eating. Think of it as an experiment.

*

Being prepared by eating before an event will help reduce cravings for foods that you be tempted by. Holidays are coming up gang. Don't be intimidated. JUST SAY NO! It's true, food is often like a drug. It is up to you whether you want to be addicted or not. Sugar, caffeine, carbs, they can all produce this chemical effect. Test out the theory. Don't take my word for it. There is no better time to test things out like the holidays :-)

*

Each step you take toward changing your lifestyle is a step toward quality LIFE!

*

HOW MANY LIVING FOODS HAVE YOU EATEN TODAY?

Salad

Smoothie

Fresh juice

Whole fruit

Raw nuts

Veggie nibbles

*

In health! ~j

Good Morning Ellen! This one is for you girlfriend.

Hugs & blessings ~j

*

"A Prayer."

Teach me, Father,

how to go Softly as the grasses grow;

Hush my soul to meet the shock

Of the wild world as a rock;

But my spirit, propt with power,

Make as simple as a flower.

Let the dry heart fill its cup,

Like a poppy looking up;

Let life lightly wear her crown,

Like a poppy looking down,

When its heart is filled with dew,

And its life begins anew.

~Edwin Markham

Choices are the hinges of destiny.-Edwin Markham

*

Blenders, blenders, blenders...if you are not eating at least 2 servings of fresh fruit a day, you should consider blending them. A smoothie is a very simple way to get much needed nutrients. But smoothies are not limited to fruits! You can green them up and change your life. It's true!
*
You can enjoy a smoothie for breakfast, as a snack, after a workout or as an on-the-go meal. You can make them simple and fruity or complex and green. There is so much versatility and not really any excuses. Most blenders will do fine. The big daddy of them all is the Vita-Mix.
*
Now, you may have seem a demo at your local home and garden show...they are not inexpensive, but you can get one for anywhere between $325 and $499 depending on color, model etc. THEY ARE WORTH IT. If you have the disposable income. They will last you for years and they are made to be a workhorse. I make soups, smoothies, salad dressing, sauces, fresh grind grains, you name it.
*
THE CHALLENGE is to add one blended drink to your daily routine. Start with something as simple as 8 oz water, a banana and some berries. If you are a protien powder fan, add a serving of that, flax seeds for fiber and omega 3's. The point here is to eat living foods. Those that are not cooked. If you are brave and ready to go. Add a couple of romaine lettuce leaves into your smoothie. The evidence on greens in the diet is overwhelming! A great book to discover this nugget is called Green for Life by Victoria Boutenko. http://www.rawfamily.com/articles.htm. They have a fascinating story, good research and tasty recipes. Next time you are browsing through the bookstore, just give it a glance! Simple, easy and realistic.
*
Start exploring, dust off that blender, enjoy extra energy and a true fast food that the whole family can enjoy.
*
In the raw today. ~j

Nothing would be more tiresome than eating and drinking

if God had not made them a pleasure as well as a necessity.

~Voltaire

Hi gang! Sorry about my extended absence...I felt a little homesick so made the long trip to northern california for the long weekend :-) The leaves were beautiful, the crisp air and fresh scent of fall was just what I was longing for.

*

Amazingly enough, this picture represents those wonderful times when you cook together, enjoy great stories, memories and incredible food together. A time of nourishment in many ways. Thank you for those who I was able to spend time with!! Yum!

*

Eating should not be a chore, it shouldn't be something that you rush through and dread. So, if this is true for you...give yourself a break and think of your next meal as something that sustains your life, enjoy taking a bite and take at least 30 seconds to chew it! You would be suprised how long 30 seconds is in this context!!

*

With thankfulness being the nationwide theme for the month....don't pay attention to all of that Christmas stuff YET!!! Really reflect on those things that you are thankful for. Maybe it is family, maybe it is some time alone, maybe it is the opportunity to contemplate change or the choice to stay on your current course.

*

All of this is surrounded by food! Making the choice eat healthy can happen all at once or just one step at a time. Set yourself up for a life change, for success, for abundance and vitality. As you look back over those choices, you'll be amazed at your progress. Especially over the holidays, I mean really, do you think that next year there won't be ten tons of fudge, cookies, pies and confections??

*

On that note...Get your blenders out! I am going to propose a challenge here. I hope that you are going to be thankful that this week we are going to be talking extensively about the benefits and simplicity of including raw foods into your daily routine!

Until tomorrow...~j

Run your fingers through my soul.

For once, just once, feel exactly what I feel,

believe what I believe,

perceive as I perceive, look, experience, examine, and for once;

just once, understand.

~Unknown

*

It is nearly impossible to put yourself in someone else's shoes. Our lives are all very different. So, when I ask you to try new things or open your mind and heart to new ideas, it is with the understanding that for some of you, these concepts may be either familiar or very very new.

*

I ask for your consideration on topics with the understanding that everyone is in a different place, exploring at their own pace and making changes that are best for their lives and circumstances. Enjoy the journey!

*

Blessings :-) ~j

It is easy to sit up and take notice.

What is difficult is getting up and taking action.

~Al Batt

*

The letter below is a call to action. It is very simple...be aware of where the seafood you eat comes from.

*

To do this you can view the guide for your area regarding the Seafood Watch program. It will tell you which seafood to buy and why. Since you should be enjoying fish at least 2 times per week, this can be an easy change to make. It is your consumer dollar and you have the power to make change by making wise purchases. http://www.mbayaq.org/cr/seafoodwatch.asp

*

Thanks for choosing consciously! It is better for your health and the environment. You may not always be in the position to make the conscious choice and that is okay. The point is that you are aware and make them when you can!

In health! ~j

***
Dear friends,

A disturbing new study released today in the journal Science forecasts dire consequences for ocean wildlife if current fishing patterns continue. An international team of ecologists and economists concluded that ALL of the world’s ocean fisheries will collapse by 2048 unless we take a new direction.

*
Now more than ever, consumers like you who promote choices for healthy oceans are being called to “take action” on the part of ocean conservation.

*

“It’s imperative that consumers and businesses alike use their buying power to expand the market for seafood from sustainable sources,” says Mike Sutton, director for the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Center for the Future of the Oceans.

*

What you can doIf you haven’t done so already or would like to sign up again, become a Seafood Watch Advocate. We’ll send you all the materials you need to help educate others and inform businesses about this critical ocean conservation issue.

*
Tell a Friend,Forward this email to your family and friends so that they can learn how to become advocates for the oceans and ocean wildlife.

*
The Monterey Bay Aquarium and Seafood Watch are trademarks of the Monterey Bay Aquarium Foundation. All rights reserved.

The one thing that matters is the effort.

~Antoine de Saint-Exupery

*

I really want to take a moment and thank all of you for your updates, comments and responses!

*

I love hearing from you.

*

Keep sending your stories and experiences! How you are and how you are continuing on your health walk.

I am so excited for you!

*

Thank you again! Keep learning and growing. Namaste ~j

*

Words may show a man's wit but actions his meaning. ~Benjamin Franklin

True religion is real living; living with all one's soul,

with all one's goodness and righteousness.

~Albert Einstein

So...Here we are, smack dab in the middle of Autumn. Now, it is time to be considering foods like roots and tubers, soups and stews. Foods that warm you from the inside.

It is important to look at the foods that are available in your local area during the change of the seasons. We really don't want to be eating foods that have flown half way around the country before landing in our market for a couple of reasons. First, the vitality of the food or life force is greatly diminished, so those are nutrients that you WON'T be recieving. Second, is the cost of fuel and labor for flying that food halfway around the country. Not necessary.

Below are a couple of links. One is to the San Francisco area Locavore group. They have done a fabulous job of sharing local everything. At the bottom left side of the site is a seasonal produce chart. Really nice. It is a great guide to help you if you live in the area, but also if you aren't, will help define what you should be looking for.

100 mile challenge: Okay, there are no excuses for action here. This site will assist you in finding foods in YOUR local area. Just go to the Get Started section and if you are curious, step 3 will give you your radius. It is a great challenge and if you are only able to begin with a small percentage of your foods coming from your local area, you are making a difference. With time and knowledge, you may be enjoying the majority of your foods right from your own backyard!

Enjoy! ~j

http://www.locavores.com/

http://100milediet.org/category/about/

After eating chocolate you feel godlike, as
though you can conquer enemies, lead armies, entice lovers. ~Emily Luchetti

Samhain (Scots Gaelic: Samhuinn) literally means “summer's end.” In Scotland and Ireland, Halloween is known as Oíche Shamhna, while in Wales it is Nos Calan Gaeaf, the eve of the winter's calend, or first.

With the rise of Christianity, Samhain was changed to Hallowmas, or All Saints' Day, to commemorate the souls of the blessed dead who had been canonized that year, so the night before became popularly known as Halloween, All Hallows Eve, or Hollantide. November 2nd became All Souls Day, when prayers were to be offered to the souls of all who the departed and those who were waiting in Purgatory for entry into Heaven. Throughout the centuries, pagan and Christian beliefs intertwine in a gallimaufry of celebrations from Oct 31st through November 5th, all of which appear both to challenge the ascendancy of the dark and to revel in its mystery.

In the country year, Samhain marked the first day of winter, when the herders led the cattle and sheep down from their summer hillside pastures to the shelter of stable and byre. All the harvest must be gathered in -- barley, oats, wheat, turnips, and apples -- for come November, the faeries would blast every growing plant with their breath, blighting any nuts and berries remaining on the hedgerows. It was a joyous time of family reunion, when all members of the household worked together baking, salting meat, and making preserves for the winter feasts to come. http://www.celticspirit.org/samhain.htm

Family, Traditions & Treats! Traditions are rich in family ties. Many times we create them without even realizing it. Other times we choose traditions to begin on our own and let them evolve as our families and friendships grow. In our family, we always cook up a batch of hearty chili and cornbread on Halloween night! Amongst the flurry of dressing up, arranging the goodie bags and sometimes homework, we share the treats from our day, read our favorite book and call those we love that are far away.

So, eat good wholesome foods and enjoy your family and friends! If you don't sugar up, you will feel so much better the next day. Just enjoy a bite of temptation, it is not about deprivation. You can also substitute the wicked white sugar beast with more natural treats. Whether homemade or from your local market, check out your options. Enjoy! ~j

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover. ~Mark Twain

Experience is a hard teacher because she gives the test first, the lesson afterward. And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years.

~Abraham Lincoln

There is always a lot of information that comes at you fast. In the news, from a friend, a class, a blog, the tv. Sometimes it is too much, sometimes it is very confusing, sometimes we actually want more. The point here is...don't stress about it. Do the best you can. Make the best choices you can with the information you have today. But don't stop listening, learning or growing.

I go through periods of time when I just can't process one more thing. And the information doesn't stop, it waits until it is relevant for you. I know this is true because when it is time, I just can't get enough of it.

We can only handle so much at once. We have to mentally digest, sometimes rationalize, consider a plan when we think about change. Most of the time we don't even think about change unless we are forced to or get a rude awakening. A friend is sick, we are diagnosed with something that couldn't possibly be, an incident, an accident... then, we will use what we have learned as a building block for the next steps that we are ready to take.

So, sit back, have a farm fresh salad or homemake your soup today. Enjoy your kitchen instead of thinking of it as a chore and chew your food. Laugh with your kids. Kiss your loved ones. Food is a necessity, but it is also an enjoyment to be shared with others. Learn about the Slow Food movement.

http://www.slowfood.com/about_us/eng/mission.lasso - By reawakening and training their senses, Slow Food helps people rediscover the joys of eating and understand the importance of caring where their food comes from, who makes it and how it’s made.

KYOTO AND BEYOND
When faced with a grave threat to a livable future for ourselves, our children and future generations, it is our duty as Americans to respond. - How Hot Does It Have To Get?

If you aren't aware of the devastating effects of global warming, it might be time to take a peek. Katrina put a face on it for us, hopefully some of us recognize it. The news continues to report overwhelming statistics on events and damage that is ocurring world wide. It does effect us, but it will impact or children and grandchildren even more. It is time to become aware, at the very least. If you want to take it a step further, consider signing the petition. Your steps are your own, they can go as far as you want to.

Many Americans are concerned and want to take action, but the government is lagging behind in their interest on this matter. 163 other nations have ratified the Kyoto Protocol (see links below for details, it is short and to the point). According the Energy Action, http://energyaction.org/do/Home, many cities in the USA are already adopting action to support renewable energy, but we are not yet united as a nation regarding this issue. Wouldn't it be nice to know what the simple things that you can do as a famiy and in your community?

One of those things is, yep, you are going be so tired of hearing me say it...local, sustainable foods. Believe it or not, you likely spend as much $$ on the fuel that transports food across the country or from other countries as you do to fuel your automobile each year. It's true. It is hidden in the cost of your food.

• http://www.kyotoandbeyond.org/petition.html
• http://www.grist.org/comments/soapbox/2006/06/22/candidates/index.html
• http://an-inconvenient-truth.com/index2.html