There are many reasons to go organic. The main reasons I decided to make the conscious decision to go organic were for mine and my families health and the health of the planet. I did a lot of research and it was a long journey to get to where I am at today. I suggest you do your own research and make decisions based on your personal situation.
A really great reference for me was the "Gorgeously Green" book series by Sophie Uliano. These books really opened my eyes to learning more about the Organic and Green movement and I still reference all three of her books frequently. I have gifted all of her books to most of my friends and family and have loaned out my personal books many times. They are all an easy and interesting read that you will find yourself engulfed in for hours. I recommend all of the Gorgeously Green books for anyone interested in learning more about incorporating being Green and Organic and implementing that into your daily life.
So, why organic? Well, in a nutshell, I am not comfortable consuming food that has been sprayed with toxic chemicals and has been genetically modified...period. I don't want to be anyone's science experiment. Whole foods are so delicious and remarkable on their own, we don't need to modify and overly process them. As a society, we have come so accustomed to convenient, fast, processed foods and that has come at the cost of our health.
Conventionally grown crops are sprayed with significant amounts of
pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, rodenticides, and chemical
fertilizers and many of the foods you buy in the supermarket are genetically modified or have genetically modified ingredients in them. Food shouldn't be this complicated. Food should be enjoyed naturally and organically to get the best flavor, the most nutrients and to make you the healthiest person you can be. One of my favorite quotes is: "Don't eat anything your great-grandmother wouldn't recognize as food" - Michael Pollan.
Eating organic doesn't mean you have to give anything up either. Any recipe or meal you love can easily be made with organic ingredients. There is not one thing me and my family have had to sacrifice in order to eat organic, in fact eating organic has broadened our horizons and introduced us to even more food options and new favorite dishes.
There are millions of reasons to go Organic and millions of challenges that come along with that, especially in the fast and changing world we live in. I aim to discuss all those topics more in depth in this blog, this is just the beginning!
I urge you to learn everything you can about organic vs. conventional foods and make the decision for yourself. Below are links to some of my personal favorite and most influential educational resources. What are some of your favorites?
Here is a link for the Dirty Dozen website - a fantastic guide for what are the most important food to purchase organic.
Here is a link for the Gorgeously Green website for loads of great info on all things organic and green and to purchase any or all of her 3 books.
Here is a link to the Food, Inc. website for more info about factory farming and the state of the food industry. Food, Inc. is a life changing and must see film.
Here is a link to Michael Pollan's website. Another fantastically influential food author and activist.
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Saffron Risotto with Butternut Squash
Tuesdays in our house are a meatless day and I wanted to try a new recipe for dinner tonight. I found a Saffron Risotto with Butternut Squash recipe on the Food Network's website and thought I would give it a try since we LOVE both saffron and butternut squash. I did tweak the original recipe a little to make it vegetarian and it was fabulous! And of course, I used all Organic ingredients.
It is hearty enough to eat as a meal on its own, but it would also make a great side dish especially for Thanksgiving. The recipe below is the vegetarian version that I made, but you can find the original recipe here.
Note that the recipe does make a lot...I froze the leftovers to have on some of our meatless days in the weeks to come.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Saffron Risotto with Butternut Squash
Ingredients
1 butternut squash (2 pounds)2 tablespoons olive oil
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
5 cups vegetable stock (original recipe calls for 6 cups, but I found 5 was more than enough)
6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) unsalted butter
1/2 cup minced shallots (2 large)
1 1/2 cups Arborio rice (10 ounces)
1/2 cup dry white wine
1 teaspoon saffron threads
1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Directions
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.Peel the butternut squash, remove the seeds, and cut it into 3/4-inch cubes. You should have about 6 cups. Place the squash on a sheet pan and toss it with the olive oil, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Roast for 25 to 30 minutes, tossing once, until very tender. Set aside.
Meanwhile, heat the vegetable stock in a small covered saucepan. Leave it on low heat to simmer.
In a heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven, melt the butter and saute the shallots on medium-low heat for 10 minutes, until the shallots are translucent but not browned. Add the rice and stir to coat the grains with butter. Add the wine and cook for 2 minutes. Add 2 full ladles of stock to the rice plus the saffron, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Stir, and simmer until the stock is absorbed, 5 to 10 minutes. Continue to add the stock, 2 ladles at a time, stirring every few minutes. Each time, cook until the mixture seems a little dry, then add more stock. Continue until the rice is cooked through, but still al dente, about 30 minutes total. Off the heat, add the roasted squash cubes and Parmesan cheese. Mix well and serve.
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| I added an over medium fried egg on top of mine and it was perfect! I'm a sucker for a fried egg! |
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| This how I label all my frozen leftovers |
Let them eat Pie!
I love Thanksgiving! Whats better than an excuse to eat fantastic home cooked food until you can't move and drink and laugh until until your side hurts?!? I am very fortunate to live in the same city as my parents and my Mom is a fantastic cook! She goes all out and makes by far the best stuffing imaginable!
I leave the traditional stuff up to my Mom...I mean, if it ain't broke, why fix it? But, over the years I have come to be a pretty good holiday pie baker...I have even gotten requests for my some what famous Apple Pear Pie. So, this year I was put in charge of the dessert for Thanksgiving.
My father and husband would never forgive me if I didn't make an Apple Pear Pie for each of them, plus one for Thanksgiving day, and I really wanted to make one to bring into my work and one for my husband's work. I also have been told my Pumpkin Pie and Pumpkin Muffins (which I make from scratch using a whole pumpkin) are really good, so I thought, what the hell...I'll make a Pumpkin Pie for my work and my husbands work and a batch of Pumpkin muffins for Thanksgiving. I thought, if I'm making one pie...whats six more and a batch of muffins? Well, needless to say, it was quite a baking experience!
I have to say it was all worth while though when everyone cut into the pies and raved about them...I love that part!
I decided to share these tried and true pie recipes below. They are both easy, delicious and of course...all organic!
What are your favorite Thanksgiving recipes?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Apple Pear Pie
Ingredients
3/4 cup crushed vanilla wafers
1/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter (melted)
1 ready to use frozen pie crust (I like Wholly Wholesome Organic Spelt 9" Pie Crusts - find them at Wholefoods)
4oz. (1/2 of an 80z pkg.) softened cream cheese
2 Lg. baking apples (peeled and sliced)
1 Lg. pear (peeled and sliced)
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
Recipe
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
In a small mixing bowl, combine wafer crumbs, brown sugar & butter until well blended - set aside
Spread cream cheese onto the bottom of the pie crust (it's much easier if the cream cheese has softened)
Sprinkle half of the wafer mixture over the spread cream cheese and set aside
In a large mixing bowl, combine fruit, sugar, flour and cinnamon - toss to coat the fruit
Spoon fruit mixture over the wafer crumb mixture in the pie crust ans sprinkle the remaining crumb mixture on top
Bake 35 minutes in the oven until crust is lightly browned and fruit is tender
Cover the edges loosely with foil after 25 minutes
Serve by itself or with a scoop of Stoneyfield Organic vanilla ice cream!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pumpkin Pie
Ingredients
1 pie pumpkin (medium sized)
1 1/13 cup sweetened condensed milk (14 oz container)
1 egg
1 1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp ginger
1/4 tsp cloves
1 cup hot water
1 ready to use frozen pie crust (I like Wholly Wholesome Organic Spelt 9" Pie Crusts - find them at Wholefoods)
Recipe
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Cut pumpkin in half without stem and scoop out the seeds and strings
**(save the seeds and roast with salt & pepper for a delicious, healthy snack)
Place the pumpkin halves cut side down on a foil lined baking sheet and cover with foil
Bake for 1 1/2 hours, cool and scoop out the flesh
Blend the cooked pumpkin until smooth
Change the oven temp to 375 degrees
Beat 1 1/3 cups of the pumpkin with the rest of the ingredients until smooth
Pour mixture into the pie shell
Bake 55-65 minutes (the center will still move slightly)
Let cool and dig in!!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pumpkin Muffins
Ingredients
2 cups whole wheat flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder (aluminum free)
1 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp ginger
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp allspice
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup (2 sticks) butter - melted and cooled
4 lg. beaten eggs
1 can pumpkin puree (15 oz)
**You can also use your leftover blended pumpkin from above - 1 pumpkin usually yields enough for 1 pie & 1 batch of
muffins
Recipe
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Line cupcake pans with cupcake liners
In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg & allspice
In a separate large mixing bowl, whisk together brown sugar, granulated sugar, butter and eggs
Add the dry ingredients to the large mixing bowl, whisk together until smooth and then mix in the pumpkin
**If desired, you can also add chocolate chips into the batter at this step
Divide batter evenly among cupcake liners - filling each about half way
Bake 20 - 25 minutes or until when you stick a toothpick in the center it comes out clean.
Transfer to a wire rack and let cool completely
Enjoy!!
**I don't have a picture of the Pumpkin Muffins :( Will post one after Thanksgiving!
I leave the traditional stuff up to my Mom...I mean, if it ain't broke, why fix it? But, over the years I have come to be a pretty good holiday pie baker...I have even gotten requests for my some what famous Apple Pear Pie. So, this year I was put in charge of the dessert for Thanksgiving.
My father and husband would never forgive me if I didn't make an Apple Pear Pie for each of them, plus one for Thanksgiving day, and I really wanted to make one to bring into my work and one for my husband's work. I also have been told my Pumpkin Pie and Pumpkin Muffins (which I make from scratch using a whole pumpkin) are really good, so I thought, what the hell...I'll make a Pumpkin Pie for my work and my husbands work and a batch of Pumpkin muffins for Thanksgiving. I thought, if I'm making one pie...whats six more and a batch of muffins? Well, needless to say, it was quite a baking experience!
I have to say it was all worth while though when everyone cut into the pies and raved about them...I love that part!
I decided to share these tried and true pie recipes below. They are both easy, delicious and of course...all organic!
What are your favorite Thanksgiving recipes?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Apple Pear Pie
Ingredients
3/4 cup crushed vanilla wafers
1/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter (melted)
1 ready to use frozen pie crust (I like Wholly Wholesome Organic Spelt 9" Pie Crusts - find them at Wholefoods)
4oz. (1/2 of an 80z pkg.) softened cream cheese
2 Lg. baking apples (peeled and sliced)
1 Lg. pear (peeled and sliced)
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
Recipe
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
In a small mixing bowl, combine wafer crumbs, brown sugar & butter until well blended - set aside
Spread cream cheese onto the bottom of the pie crust (it's much easier if the cream cheese has softened)
Sprinkle half of the wafer mixture over the spread cream cheese and set aside
In a large mixing bowl, combine fruit, sugar, flour and cinnamon - toss to coat the fruit
Spoon fruit mixture over the wafer crumb mixture in the pie crust ans sprinkle the remaining crumb mixture on top
Bake 35 minutes in the oven until crust is lightly browned and fruit is tender
Cover the edges loosely with foil after 25 minutes
Serve by itself or with a scoop of Stoneyfield Organic vanilla ice cream!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pumpkin Pie
Ingredients
1 pie pumpkin (medium sized)
1 1/13 cup sweetened condensed milk (14 oz container)
1 egg
1 1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp ginger
1/4 tsp cloves
1 cup hot water
1 ready to use frozen pie crust (I like Wholly Wholesome Organic Spelt 9" Pie Crusts - find them at Wholefoods)
Recipe
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Cut pumpkin in half without stem and scoop out the seeds and strings
**(save the seeds and roast with salt & pepper for a delicious, healthy snack)
Place the pumpkin halves cut side down on a foil lined baking sheet and cover with foil
Bake for 1 1/2 hours, cool and scoop out the flesh
Blend the cooked pumpkin until smooth
Change the oven temp to 375 degrees
Beat 1 1/3 cups of the pumpkin with the rest of the ingredients until smooth
Pour mixture into the pie shell
Bake 55-65 minutes (the center will still move slightly)
Let cool and dig in!!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pumpkin Muffins
Ingredients
2 cups whole wheat flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder (aluminum free)
1 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp ginger
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp allspice
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup (2 sticks) butter - melted and cooled
4 lg. beaten eggs
1 can pumpkin puree (15 oz)
**You can also use your leftover blended pumpkin from above - 1 pumpkin usually yields enough for 1 pie & 1 batch of
muffins
Recipe
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Line cupcake pans with cupcake liners
In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg & allspice
In a separate large mixing bowl, whisk together brown sugar, granulated sugar, butter and eggs
Add the dry ingredients to the large mixing bowl, whisk together until smooth and then mix in the pumpkin
**If desired, you can also add chocolate chips into the batter at this step
Divide batter evenly among cupcake liners - filling each about half way
Bake 20 - 25 minutes or until when you stick a toothpick in the center it comes out clean.
Transfer to a wire rack and let cool completely
Enjoy!!
**I don't have a picture of the Pumpkin Muffins :( Will post one after Thanksgiving!
Saturday, November 17, 2012
Mrs. Clean
I pride myself in keeping a pretty clean and organized home. Clutter and dirt tend to stress me out, especially in my personal spaces such as my home and office.
Although I keep my home pretty clean on a regular basis, I also have "Cleaning Days" every few weeks or so that I do more of a deep cleaning of everything...well, today was one of those days! While I was cleaning, I thought it might be a good blog post to detail all of the eco-friendly cleaning options there are out there and that I use.
When I first started researching eco-friendly and cleaning products I was horrified at what I was using and immediately did a purge of all of my existing products...I couldn't believe how toxic the main stream products I was using were! (BTW...I did the same purge with my pantry, cosmetics/beauty products & medicine cabinet...but that will come in a later post! :-)
Commercial cleaning products promise to make cleaning easier by fighting tough grease or to kill 99% of germs which all sounds fantastic, but at what cost to your health and the health of the planet? The Consumer Product Safety Commission reported 150 common household chemicals have been linked to allergens, birth defects, cancer and psychological abnormalities. (gorgeouslygreen.com) We ingest everything we spray in the air, wipe on our household surfaces, wash our dishes and clothes with, etc....so it is just as important to purchase clean, sustainable, eco-friendly cleaning products as it is the food we eat.
One of the most worrisome ingredients in the popular anti-bacterial products is triclosan. Visit the following link for a great article on the horrors of triclosan and why to avoid it: Too Many Antibacterials
You may be asking, "So what should I be buying then?". There are some amazing companies that have helped pioneer the green movement when it comes to cleaning products.
I have tried and tested many products over the years to find what I like best and I will share all my favorites below. Remember to always recycle the containers after use.
What are your favorite non-toxic / eco-friendly cleaning products?
GENERAL CLEANING PRODUCTS
When it comes to the general cleaning products, such as all purpose kitchen counter sprays, dish liquids, hand soap and bathroom cleaners I tend to stick with Seventh Generation and Method brand products. If I see a sale on any of those products from those brands, I usually stock up since they can be pricier than the commercial brands.
www.seventhgeneration.com
http://methodhome.com
I tested many different automatic dish washing detergents before I found one that actually worked. I even reverted to hand washing all my dishes for awhile because I couldn't find a detergent that got the job done up to my standards and I refused to use a commercial brand. Then I found Ecover brand and I will never try anything else! I buy the tablets and they really get the job done!
GLASS CLEANER
I love, love, love Mrs. Meyers glass cleaner. In fact, I love Mrs. Meyers cleaning products in general, but they tend to be a little pricier...but I bite the bullet for the glass cleaner because it does such an amazing job...and it smells really good too! When I see a sale on Mrs. Meyers products or have a coupon I definitely take advantage!
http://www.mrsmeyers.com
LAUNDRY DETERGENT
To be honest, I have tried many different eco-friendly laundry detergents that I really like. For awhile I was just buying which ever brand was on sale or was the cheapest. Lately though I have been purchasing Ecos brand laundry detergent from Costco. You can get a jumbo size bottle from Costco for under $13, and you just can't beat that!
www.ecos.com
DUSTING SPRAY & STAINLESS STEEL SPRAY
I again go back to Method brand products for dusting and stainless steel. They offer a great product that gets the job done...I've had no reason to switch it up.
http://methodhome.com
DISINFECTANT WIPES
I try not to use disinfectant wipes too much, but when I do, I purchase Seventh Generation brand. I use them to wipe down door handles, light switches and television remotes ever so often and after someone in our house was sick. They are biodegradable and do a great job when it comes to cleaning, but I don't suggest them for everyday use since they can be pricey and create a lot of waste.
www.seventhgeneration.com
SPONGES
For awhile I was using Scotch-Brite Greener Clean sponges, but I always hated buying them since they are owned by a company that produces such toxic products. Then I found Twist brand sponges and I love them. They cost the same as the Scotch-Brite sponges, work just as good and I don't have to feel guilty buying them!
http://www.twistclean.com/
FLOOR CLEANER
Dr. Bronner's Sal Suds works as an amazing floor cleaner. Just dilute 1 tablespoon in a bucket of hot water and have your way with your floors! I don't have wood floors, so I probably wouldn't use this on them if you do, just in case. Dr. Bronner's is a fantastic company with a lot of really great products, not just for the home...check out their website below to see everything they offer.
http://www.drbronner.com
DISINFECTANT SPRAY
Lysol was the hardest thing for me to give up. I think everyone has that one thing that they feel they couldn't live without when it comes to cleaning...Lysol was my one thing. One day I finally said no more...I mean I was cleaning with all eco-friendly products and then spraying Lysol...it seemed counter productive and was just plain ridiculous! I found a great homemade "Germ Busting Spray" recipe in the book Do It Gorgeously by Sophie Uliano and never looked back.
Mix 2 cups 35% food grade hydrogen peroxide with 1 cup of distilled water in an opaque sprayer.
Yeah, that's it...it is really that easy and that cheap! **I add a few drops of lavender essential oil to give it a nice smell.
DIY CLEANING PRODUCTS
Just recently I have been interested more and more in making my own cleaning products. I have this wonderful book Do It Gorgeously by Sophie Uliano that really has opened my eyes about making my own organic products. I credit Sophie Uliano with changing my life. When I read her first book Gorgeously Green almost 6 years ago I became hooked in regards to researching and living the green life. I then read her second book The Gorgeously Green Diet and had yet again another life changing moment. I highly recommend all 3 of her books and will be referencing them frequently in future posts. You can find all 3 of her books along with amazing tips and ideas here at her website: www.gorgeouslygreen.com
Although I keep my home pretty clean on a regular basis, I also have "Cleaning Days" every few weeks or so that I do more of a deep cleaning of everything...well, today was one of those days! While I was cleaning, I thought it might be a good blog post to detail all of the eco-friendly cleaning options there are out there and that I use.
When I first started researching eco-friendly and cleaning products I was horrified at what I was using and immediately did a purge of all of my existing products...I couldn't believe how toxic the main stream products I was using were! (BTW...I did the same purge with my pantry, cosmetics/beauty products & medicine cabinet...but that will come in a later post! :-)
Commercial cleaning products promise to make cleaning easier by fighting tough grease or to kill 99% of germs which all sounds fantastic, but at what cost to your health and the health of the planet? The Consumer Product Safety Commission reported 150 common household chemicals have been linked to allergens, birth defects, cancer and psychological abnormalities. (gorgeouslygreen.com) We ingest everything we spray in the air, wipe on our household surfaces, wash our dishes and clothes with, etc....so it is just as important to purchase clean, sustainable, eco-friendly cleaning products as it is the food we eat.
One of the most worrisome ingredients in the popular anti-bacterial products is triclosan. Visit the following link for a great article on the horrors of triclosan and why to avoid it: Too Many Antibacterials
You may be asking, "So what should I be buying then?". There are some amazing companies that have helped pioneer the green movement when it comes to cleaning products.
I have tried and tested many products over the years to find what I like best and I will share all my favorites below. Remember to always recycle the containers after use.
What are your favorite non-toxic / eco-friendly cleaning products?
GENERAL CLEANING PRODUCTS
www.seventhgeneration.com
http://methodhome.com
AUTOMATIC DISH WASHING DETERGENT
I tested many different automatic dish washing detergents before I found one that actually worked. I even reverted to hand washing all my dishes for awhile because I couldn't find a detergent that got the job done up to my standards and I refused to use a commercial brand. Then I found Ecover brand and I will never try anything else! I buy the tablets and they really get the job done!GLASS CLEANER
http://www.mrsmeyers.com
LAUNDRY DETERGENT
www.ecos.com
DUSTING SPRAY & STAINLESS STEEL SPRAY
I again go back to Method brand products for dusting and stainless steel. They offer a great product that gets the job done...I've had no reason to switch it up.http://methodhome.com
DISINFECTANT WIPES
I try not to use disinfectant wipes too much, but when I do, I purchase Seventh Generation brand. I use them to wipe down door handles, light switches and television remotes ever so often and after someone in our house was sick. They are biodegradable and do a great job when it comes to cleaning, but I don't suggest them for everyday use since they can be pricey and create a lot of waste.www.seventhgeneration.com
SPONGES
http://www.twistclean.com/
FLOOR CLEANER
Dr. Bronner's Sal Suds works as an amazing floor cleaner. Just dilute 1 tablespoon in a bucket of hot water and have your way with your floors! I don't have wood floors, so I probably wouldn't use this on them if you do, just in case. Dr. Bronner's is a fantastic company with a lot of really great products, not just for the home...check out their website below to see everything they offer.http://www.drbronner.com
DISINFECTANT SPRAY
Lysol was the hardest thing for me to give up. I think everyone has that one thing that they feel they couldn't live without when it comes to cleaning...Lysol was my one thing. One day I finally said no more...I mean I was cleaning with all eco-friendly products and then spraying Lysol...it seemed counter productive and was just plain ridiculous! I found a great homemade "Germ Busting Spray" recipe in the book Do It Gorgeously by Sophie Uliano and never looked back.
Mix 2 cups 35% food grade hydrogen peroxide with 1 cup of distilled water in an opaque sprayer.
Yeah, that's it...it is really that easy and that cheap! **I add a few drops of lavender essential oil to give it a nice smell.
DIY CLEANING PRODUCTS
Just recently I have been interested more and more in making my own cleaning products. I have this wonderful book Do It Gorgeously by Sophie Uliano that really has opened my eyes about making my own organic products. I credit Sophie Uliano with changing my life. When I read her first book Gorgeously Green almost 6 years ago I became hooked in regards to researching and living the green life. I then read her second book The Gorgeously Green Diet and had yet again another life changing moment. I highly recommend all 3 of her books and will be referencing them frequently in future posts. You can find all 3 of her books along with amazing tips and ideas here at her website: www.gorgeouslygreen.com
Monday, November 12, 2012
Meatless Monday
I first heard about the Meatless Monday campaign about a year ago via twitter and was intrigued. I spent a year of my life in my early 20's as a vegetarian and have always really enjoyed vegetarian cuisine. But since then I suppose I always had the "all or nothing" mentality...if you were a vegetarian then you didn't eat meat, but if you weren't a vegetarian then why wouldn't you eat meat? I am also married to a man and grew up in a family who would say things like "A meal isn't a meal without meat". I think this is a common sentiment, especially among Americans...we are a meat and potatoes nation.
All that being said, when I heard about this Meatless Monday campaign I thought it was a great idea and we should give it a try. My first hurdle was convincing my husband to not eat meat one day a week, which at the time seemed next to impossible. I brought it up to him, and his 2 questions were "Why?" and "What are we going to eat then?" Luckily I was prepared! I began by explaining all the health and environmental benefits (see below). He is a smart guy and is really into environmental issues and eating organic...so that hurdle was no problem. But then it came to the "What are we going to eat?" question...so i started naming off things that i knew he liked: grilled cheese and tomato soup, bean and cheese burritos, macaroni and cheese, pasta with marinara sauce, etc... Well, to my surprise he didn't say no...but I knew I needed to make it more interesting and more healthy than those initial things I mentioned...so has been my Meatless Monday journey!
We have come a long way since that initial conversation. In fact after the first two Meatless Mondays, my husband said to me, "You know, I think we could and should do this more than just once a week" Gasp...I couldn't believe my ears! So we now do Meatless Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays and sometimes Fridays. We have even thrown around the idea of moving that up to 5 meatless days with one of them being a vegan day...we will see!
Some personal benefits I have noticed after incorporating meatless days are:
- We eat more of a variety of foods that we had never tried before
- We have saved money (organic meat can be expensive!)
- I enjoy meat more now and see it as a treat rather than a necessity
- I have enjoyed finding and cooking new and unique meals to make it interesting
- We have convinced my parents and a few other close friends to start encorporating a meatless day once a week
- I feel better over all knowing I am benefiting my body and the planet
**All Organic of course!
- Breakfast: All fruit smoothie w/ spinach (homemade in my Vita Mix!)
- Lunch: Homemade black bean & veggies soup for my husband and a chopped green salad with goat cheese and an oil and vinegar dressing for me (All made the night before)
- Snack: Homemade roasted pumpkin seeds and a red pear
- Dinner: Quinoa w/ grilled veggies and a roasted beet, arugula, walnut & goat cheese salad.
- After Dinner Snack: A cup of ginger tea w/ a piece of chocolate
Recipe:
Ingredients
3 med/lrg. beets - tops trimmed (I like using organic golden beets)
1/2 cup raw organic walnuts
1 bunch of organic arugula
4 oz. of crumbled goat cheese
Dressing: a mix of olive oil, red wine vinegar, balsamic vinegar, salt, pepper & garlic powder
**I mix the dressing ingredients to taste...I prefer more balsamic vinegar in my dressing
Directions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees
W ash the trimmed beets and pat dry. Wrap them individually in foil and place in the oven for 1 hr
Prepare the dressing
Place the walnuts on a baking sheet and put in the oven for the last 10 min - stirring once
When the beets are done, take them out of the oven, open the foil and let cool enough to handle
Once the beets have cooled down, take off the skin...skin should slide right off
Cut the beets into bite size chunks and marinate in the dressing for 15 minutes (leave some dressing on the side)
In a serving bowl, toss the arugula and the beets. Mix in the walnuts and goat cheese and serve with extra dressing if desired.
What are some of your go-to Meatless Monday dishes? I would love to try new dishes and then post about them here!
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I have included some information below from the official Meatless Monday website.
Visit them at http://www.meatlessmonday.com and follow them on twitter @MeatlessMonday for great recipes, articles, information and updates on community support.
"By cutting out meat once a week, we can improve our health, reduce our
carbon footprint and lead the world in the race to reduce climate
change."
Health Benefits
- LIMIT CANCER RISK: Hundreds of studies suggest that diets high in fruits and vegetables may reduce cancer risk. Both red and processed meat consumption are associated with colon cancer.
- REDUCE HEART DISEASE: Recent data from a Harvard University study found that replacing saturated fat-rich foods (for example, meat and full fat dairy) with foods that are rich in polyunsaturated fat (for example, vegetable oils, nuts and seeds) reduces the risk of heart disease by 19%
- FIGHT DIABETES: Research suggests that higher consumption of red and processed meat increase the risk of type 2 diabetes.
- CURB OBESITY: People on low-meat or vegetarian diets have significantly lower body weights and body mass indices. A recent study from Imperial College London also found that reducing overall meat consumption can prevent long-term weight gain.
- LIVE LONGER: Red and processed meat consumption is associated with increases in total mortality, cancer mortality and cardiovascular disease mortality.
- IMPROVE YOUR DIET. Consuming beans or peas results in higher intakes of fiber, protein, folate, zinc, iron and magnesium with lower intakes of saturated fat and total fat.
Environmental Benefits
- REDUCE YOUR CARBON FOOTPRINT. The United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization estimates the meat industry generates nearly one-fifth of the man-made greenhouse gas emissions that are accelerating climate change worldwide . . . far more than transportation. And annual worldwide demand for meat continues to grow. Reining in meat consumption once a week can help slow this trend.
- MINIMIZE WATER USAGE. The water needs of livestock are tremendous, far above those of vegetables or grains. An estimated 1,800 to 2,500 gallons of water go into a single pound of beef. Soy tofu produced in California requires 220 gallons of water per pound.
- HELP REDUCE FOSSIL FUEL DEPENDENCE. On average, about 40 calories of fossil fuel energy go into every calorie of feed lot beef in the U.S. Compare this to the 2.2 calories of fossil fuel energy needed to produce one calorie of plant-based protein. Moderating meat consumption is a great way to cut fossil fuel demand.
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