Right to Know

As a follow up to my previous post, Decode the Codes, about how to read PLU labels at the grocery store, there are active campaigns through Label GMOs and Just Label It advocating for clear labels in all of our stores.




Simply put, we have the right to know what's in our food. Watch this great video to learn why labeling GMOs is so important and why we all should join the fight.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Ep4uxbhsvI&feature=youtu.be&noredirect=1

More than 80% of processed foods at U.S. grocery stores are likely to contain genetically engineered ingredients. 

And you wouldn't know it, because the FDA doesn't require labels for foods with genetically engineered (GE) ingredients ‒ also called genetically modified organisms (GMOs). 

Genetically engineered (GE) foods, also referred to as genetically modified, or GMOs, are those that are altered at the molecular level in ways that could not happen naturally. This means plants and animals that have had their genetic makeup altered to exhibit traits that are not naturally theirs. These techniques use DNA molecules from different sources, sometimes different species, and combine them into one molecule to create a new set of genes (e.g. mixing of flounder genes into tomatoes so the tomatoes would be resistant to cold temperatures.)

For more info about GE foods, click here.

Meet Nellie

Meet Nellie.

She was adopted in August, 2011 and is the little love of my life.




During the Super Bowl tonight, Bud Light decided to step back from their usual message of just beer drinking and reflect on a greater good: dog rescues. Little Weego may have been put to work, but, I was grateful for the company's philanthropic message among all of the advertising overload.




So, I introduce my own little rescue to you all. I believe SO much in adopting dogs and taking them from their troubled paths and into a warm, loving home. Nellie has never known so much love and I spoil her every day.

Shopping Produce: Decode the Codes at the Super Market

Ah, the elusive codes at the grocery store. We know that organic is better to buy, but what happens when it says "conventionally grown" or "genetically modified" or even more confusing, "organic"? How do we know the difference? Here's the fool-proof way to de-code the codes:

For conventionally grown fruit (grown with chemicals) ie, stay away for the dirty dozen!, the PLU code on the sticker consists of four numbers.




Genetically engineered (GM) fruit has a five-numeral PLU prefaced by the number 8.




Organically grown fruit has a five-numeral PLU prefaced by the number 9.









For example:


A conventionally grown banana would be: 4011


An organic banana would be: 94011


A genetically engineered (GE or GMO) banana would be: 84011


These tips are specially important now that over 80% of all processed foods in the US are genetically modified.


Many countries in the European Union have beenbanning GM products and produce (including Austria, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary and Luxembourg). Why would they want to ban them? Well, it's not natural and, it's not promoting local farmers. Big no-no in PeaceLoveProduce's book.


My tip? Shop local, buy organic, especially if it's a dirty dozen, and, to be even better, buy in season!


Source: http://www.kipnews.org/2011/07/14/how-to-i-d-genetically-modified-food-at-the-supermarket/

Change-aholic?

Am I a change-aholic?

It's something I've been battling with lately.

It's no surprise that I enjoy adventures, am impulsive, and tend to move on quickly from things when I make decisions. When I am no longer fulfilled I grab my shoes and hit the road for greener pastures. I dive right into a new routine, new journey with such vigor that I've been accused of "falling hard" a number of times.

I'm afraid I crave that feeling. The feeling of something new. Of a new beginning, a new chapter. It's why I finally realized that being in the education system, with the possibility of a new chapter, each year is so exciting to me. Never a dull moment when a fresh crop of students arrive every August with a new set of problems to solve. Each summer I'll refresh and each August I'll be charged up to face the year anew.

I hate redundancy. I get bored easily.

Perhaps it's why I became a vegetarian, excuse me, flexitarian. Because really, I eat scallops. And halibut sometimes. But, maybe it's because I wanted the adventure of identifying with something new.

Ah, a key word- identity. I'm going to pause on that one and come back to it at a later time.

Anyways, I'm worried about my reason for needing change all the time. Is it a problem or is it endearing? Am I adventurous or restless? If I find stability in one area of my life why do I need to rustle up another area?

Perhaps I just have the insatiable desire to never settle. If so, is that a bad thing? Maybe, maybe not. Maybe so if it means I'll never fully be happy... or do I just need the right elements in my life to appease my appetite?

Change

A lot has changed since my last post on this blog. I had large intentions for this blog. Perhaps my intentions will once again surface and the blog will evolve to my original idea of being a place of education on food politics and current food events.

However, life has taken a turn and I find myself reinterpreting what "peace, love, and produce" means to me.

Since July I have been a strict non-meat eater, other than the occasional fish and shellfish. I guess I'm a pescatarian? It comes up on spell-check so not quite sure it's a word. And I don't really enjoy labels. Too much rigidity. Produce and I have had a great relationship always and as I now rely on it much more with my mostly vegetable and grain diet, I appreciate the flavors of organic, seasonal, and local. I also appreciate the price :)

On to the next. My mom gave me a candle about a year ago and it had a girl with a cape and a tiara on it. The candle said, "I'm certain that given a tiara, I can change the world". I put it in my bathroom for daily inspiration. Yet, I always felt a bit inauthentic in my corporate HR job, making good money, not really doing anything awe-inspiring, motivational, or world changing. I've always wanted to do something good and impactful. It's the reason I've job hopped. So, after a reasonably sized quarter life turning point, I went to part-time employment, applied to graduate school, and started my journey to pursue to Masters in Education in helping people :) Well, more specifically, School Counseling.

So now, peace and love mean something different to me. Before it was about peace and love to animals and our bodies. I still believe in that. But now I also believe in inner peace, balance, fulfillment, and letting go of our ego to pursue something that can really make us happy, truly happy. I believe in helping people beyond what you are capable of. I believe in unconditional love, even to people who are strangers but they need your help. I believe in equality and anti-bullying in our schools. I believe in acceptance, open-mindedness, and closing the cultural gaps.

Most importantly, I believe in change. I believe that we can take risks, become terrified, be downright broke, have an empty fridge....but have a heart that has purpose, find support from loved ones, and have the courage to overcome the obstacles. I believe that we deserve what's best for ourselves even though it may be the scariest thing we can do. I believe we all have an opportunity to stop, turn left, and do something different if it's going to make us happier.

I have a favorite quote from Led Zeppelin. You may have heard it once when you were air guitaring back in the 70s. "You still have time to change the road you're on". It's never too late to make change for the better.

I welcome you to follow me on this journey. Through graduate school, through life as a new vegetarian(ish), sometimes vegan, through my quarter-life turning point that has left me changed and happy and broke and pursuing something that I hope can help change the world.

a dream

I have a dream that I can build a brand that educates young people of the joys of healthy eating, knowing the origins of your food, cooking nutritious foods, and splurging on organic finds.

I have a dream that local communities can celebrate local producers for their work ethic, fresh products, and as the most valuable chefs.

I have a dream that I will open the restaurant of my dreams.
I have a dream that someday my loved ones will buy meat only from grass-fed, free-range, local farmers.

I have a dream that one day I'll be able to afford only shopping at Whole Foods and farmers markets.

I have a dream that instead of getting into a debate, my family can see all angles of eating habits with out getting defensive.

I have a dream that I create some good out of this blog.

Peace.Love.Produce

Kerry