I'm eating WHAT???

Sometimes life gets too hectic!

2013-02-11T10:01:00.000-05:00

Sometimes life gets so hectic that one day it's June 2012 then you blink & it's now February 2013. I have neglected posting anything new here, but I hope to be able to change that. I vow to try and post something new more often.

How many others out there feel that time is just flying by right before your eyes? You go to sleep and your kids are little but you wake up the next day & they are entering college. Amazing!

Well, I'll sign off for now so I can work on a new post... Until next time... Thanks for stopping by.

What's lurking in lunchboxes across America...

2012-06-06T10:59:00.000-04:00

Sodium nitrite & sodium nitrates, are used in food to preserve, add flavor and to maintain a red color in processed meats. Most commonly we know it as a preservative that can be found in bacon, sausage, lunch meats, hot dogs, pepperoni, smoked fish, canned meats, jerky and some cheeses. But interestingly it is also an ingredient in fertilizers, pyrotechnics, smoke bombs, glass & pottery enamels and solid rocket propellants.

Sodium nitrite is more commonly used over nitrates, since nitrates revert to nitrites when added to food. When used as a preservative, they form nitrosamines or human carcinogens known to cause DNA damage. Studies have shown that nitrates & nitrites can cause prostate, breast & stomach cancer & nitrosamines have been linked to esophageal & colorectal cancer. A 2007 study by Columbia University also suggests a link between eating cured meats and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Nitrates are associated with increased miscarriages, fetal death and birth defects in laboratory animals. Sodium nitrite has also been linked as a trigger of migraines in individuals who already suffer from them.

Dr. Martha Gorgan, a cardiologist at the Mayo Clinic states that sodium nitrate may damage your blood vessels, making arteries more likely to harden & narrow, leading to heart disease. They may also affect the way your body uses sugar, making you more likely to develop diabetes. Here’s a link to article if you are interested in reading it yourself: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/sodium-nitrate/AN02119

That's all about the additive food manufacturers use, but did you know that most vegetables contain sodium nitrate? Why? Because the fertilizers used on vegetable crops contain sodium nitrate. This is true for both organic & non-organic vegetables. This sodium nitrate is broken down in your body differently then the food preservative. The antioxidents in vegetables reduce the formation of nitrosamines & increase the amount of nitric oxide in the body. Nitric oxide helps relax blood vessels, lowering blood pressure & helps to stop the formation of blood clots with it's anti-inflammatory properties.

So, now that we gotten the nasty information regarding side effects of sodium nitrite/nitrates out of the way, let’s take a look at some alternative products out there that don’t contain nitrites or nitrates.

Let’s start with what’s lurking in lunchboxes across America- delectable saltiness with nitrites/nitrates packaged to look like sandwich meat. There are healthy alternatives. Try Boars Head® All Natural which contains no nitrate, nitrite or MSG. Even Oscar Mayer’s Selects® brand contains no preservatives & Applegate Farms® has a complete line of preservative free sandwich meat.

www.boarshead.com

www.oscarmayer.com

www.applegatefarm.com

Other alternatives for bacon, sausage & hot dogs are Applegate Farms®, Oscar Mayer’s Selects® and Coleman Natural®.

www.applegatefarm.com

www.oscarmayer.com

www.colemannatural.com

As always, the choice in what you eat is ultimately yours, but I hope this information will guide you in feeding your family a diet without sodium nitrate/nitrites.

Until the next post…..

Reviews, Reviews & More Reviews...

2012-04-25T15:11:00.004-04:00

I want to start by thanking everyone for taking the time to review the products that I received from the generous folks at Nature's Path. It's always fun to read someone else take an a product that you may enjoy so much you think it's the best thing ever, or a product that you feel is the worst ever made. So let's get started with the first three below:

www.naturespath.com

Edith- I won the Love Crunch®- Dark Chocolate & Red Berries Premium Organic Granola - Let me start by saying that this has to be the best granola I have ever tasted. My family's not big on granola. In fact I couldn't even get my husband to try this, but my two boys (ages 19 & 10) were willing taste testers. We read the package & decided that we should try to eat it as a snack instead of cereal first. So when we sat down to start homework, I pulled out the granola & set it out for snacking. The boys reached in immediately & grabbed a handful. My 19yr old's first response was "I like it. The chocolate adds a great flavor & there isn't too much that it's over-powering the granola. The berries give a nice tang to the chocolate." My 10yr old said " It's good & fruity, but sweet too. I think it would be good in milk." I ate it sprinkled on the top of some Greek yogurt. I think it's the perfect combination of granola/chocolate/tart berries. I would recommend it to everyone.

I tried looking for it at my local grocery store & they don't stock it. Target didn't have it either, so I can't give you a price estimate but I will keep checking the store's, because I am definitely buying it when I find it.

www.naturespath.com

LeAnna- I had the pleasure of trying the Optimum Slim® Low Fat Vanilla Cereal- Upon first glance of the box I thought "this is going to be bland". I was pleasantly surprised when I ate it the next morning for breakfast. My first bowl was with vanilla soy milk & the flavors of the milk & cereal mixed together were great. It had just the right amount of sweet with the milk & it stayed crispy until the last bite. I hate cereal that gets soggy halfway through the bowl, so the fact that it stayed crispy was an immediate 5 stars for me. The second day I ate it with dried cranberries added. That just made it the cereal all the better. It was also pretty filling for a breakfast cereal. I will whole heartily recommend it. You will love the taste & feel great that you are eating such a healthy cereal to start you day.

This averaged about $3.99 a box everywhere I looked. To me that's a great value for an organic, low sugar, good for you cereal.

www.naturespath.com

Shelley- My freebie trial item was the Honey Oat Crunch Flax Plus Granola Bar- Le me first say that I've tried many, many granola bars & although this is a great granola bar, I can't call it the best one I've ever had. I'm not a fan of chewy granola bars, so I always buy crispy or crunchy. Some bars out there are so "crunchy" that you feel you'll break your teeth if you eat them. These bars have just the right amount of crunchy & a fairly good amount of sweet. I do think they are just a little smaller then the other national brand (that's not organic), but these are organic & that makes up for the difference in my opinion.

When I was checking the prices at different stores, the prices ranged from $2.99 (on sale) to $6.99 (at a private natural food store near my apartment). I think the average price was $3.99 to $4.99, so overall for a healthy, organic snack, it's not a bad price to pay. Thanks Amber for giving me the chance to try these & give my opinion.

Yay!! Winners...

2012-03-22T11:22:00.000-04:00

Here is the list of winners for this round of give aways and guest blogging:

Edith- Love Crunch
LeAnna- Optimum Slim Vanilla Cereal
Christi- Peanut Butter Granola
Shelley P.- Oat Crunch Granola Bars
Kim- Panda Puffs

Thanks everyone for entering. Reviews will be posted soon...

Product Freebies from Nature's Path...

2012-03-12T10:41:00.003-04:00

It's time to give away the wonderful products that the generous folks at Nature's Path sent. Listed below are the products up for grabs this time around. Look at the list, read the ingredients, consider if this is something you or your family would like to try. Everyone can list up to 3 items that they would like to try. All entries will be listed in a data base & drawn by random.org. If you are picked, I will ship you one product to try. The only thing I ask in return, is that you write a small review on the product so that I can post it on the blog for others to read. Sounds like fun right? So let's get started....

Love Crunch- Dark Chocolate & Red Berries Premium Organic Granola-

http://www.naturespath.com/

Optimum Slim® Low Fat Vanilla Granola-

http://www.naturespath.com/

Panda Puffs™ Peanut Butter Cereal-

http://www.naturespath.com/

Honey Oat Crunch Flax Plus Granola Bar-

http://www.naturespath.com/

Peanut Butter Organic Granola-

http://www.naturespath.com/

If you have any questions or want more information about the products above, please visit the Nature's Path website www.naturespath.com/products.

So how do you enter? It's easy, comment on this post below by clicking on the word "comments" & list the products you would like to try the most (please make sure to leave your name or e-mail address so I know who to contact). If you want, you can list them in order of which you would like more. If your name is picked, you will get one of the products you listed to try. I'll shoot you an e-mail asking for your address & once you receive it, eat it, try it & then write your review. The drawings will take place on Wednesday 3/21. Simple & Fun!!

All soy milks are not created equal...

2012-02-22T11:59:00.001-05:00

Carrageenan, is an emulsifier, stabilizer & thickener used to suspend & gel ingredients & keep them from separating. It is extracted from red seaweed using alkali solvents. It’s used in drinks, food, cosmetics, pesticides, medications, cleaning products, hair products & toothpastes. The non-food grade carrageenan is the main ingredient in plane de-icer. The main food based use is as a substitute for fat, when combined with milk proteins it improves the texture & increased solubility. Because it can be used as a fat substitute, it is widely used in soy milks, milk drinks, processed cheeses, non-dairy puddings, whipped creams, coffee creamers, yogurts, cottage cheese, ice cream, processed low-fat meats, prepared pie-fillings & frosting mixes.

Research has shown the when used in food, carrageenan coats the stomach like sticky honey, which in turn cause digestive problems & has been a suspected link to inflammatory bowel syndrome, colorectal malignancy, intestinal ulcers & growths.

Prior to 2004, carrageenan was used in infant formulas, but during the 26th session in Boon, Germany in November of 2004, the joint FAO/WHO expert committee on food additives decided, that “based on the information available, it is inadvisable to use carrageenan or processed eucheuma seaweed in infant formulas.” This is evidence from studies performed on rats, guinea pigs & monkeys that indicate that degraded carrageenan may cause ulcerations in the gastro-intestinal tract and gastro-intestinal cancers.

I think that if the World Health Organization (WHO) has an issue with carrageenan, then it seems to be a good idea to try & avoid it whenever possible. With that in mind, let’s take a look as some products that contain carrageenan & some alternative products to try instead.

Let’s start with the largest selling soy milk in America- SILK® (all flavors) contains carrageenan. Instead, try 8^th Continent® or VitaSoy® if you want a refrigerated soy milk, or Soy Dream®, Eden Soy® or Rice Dream® for a self-stable soy milk.

http://www.8thcontinent.com/

All regular flavors of Coffee Mate® liquid creamer contain carrageenan, but their new Bliss Naturals® do not. So switch to these instead.

http://www.coffeemate.com/

Most yogurts on the grocery self contain carrageenan, read the labels before you buy, but Chobani® & Fage® are both good alternatives.

http://www.chobani.com/

Ice Cream- a lot of different brands & flavors contain carrageenan, but Breyers® All Natural is a tasty treat that has no carrageenan.

http://www.breyers.com/

As always, it’s best to read the ingredients before you buy. Just make note, that if you want to steer clear of carrageenan, then always read the ingredients in soy milks, rice milks, coconut milks, almond milks, milk drinks (Nesquik® & Hershey’s® Real Chocolate- not real), processed cheeses, ice creams, processed meats, yogurts, cottage cheeses & almost anything that is milk or dairy like.

Ultimately, the decision is yours. Until the next post….

Why Cool Whip® really isn't cool...

2012-01-11T12:17:00.001-05:00

Polysorbate 80, also known as polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate or Tween® 80, & it’s lesser studied sister Polysorbate 60 are used as an emulsifier (a binding agent to bind ingredients together & keep them from separating like oil & water) & a surfactant (reduces the surface tension of a liquid making it easier to spread) used in foods, cosmetics, vitamins, medicines & vaccines. They are most commonly used in ice cream & frozen desserts to help them resist melting & in shortening, condiments like barbecue sauce, chewing gum, dietary foods & whipped dessert toppings. They are also used as a solubilizer, which means it aids in dissolving ingredients that would not normally dissolve or that would not fully dissolve & can be found in pickled food, gelatin desserts, liquid soaps & bath gels. It is also used in some cottage cheese & yeast based products as a defoamer.

The most common side effects from Polysorbate 80 in foods are allergic reactions, some leading to anaphylactic shock, as well as flu-like symptoms, diarrhea, dizziness, headache, blurred vision, fainting & persistent tiredness. Polysorbate 80 is also found in vaccines like the flu vaccine & HPV (Gardasil®) vaccine & has been linked to severe allergic reactions after the vaccine has been administered. The studies have linked these allergic reactions to Polysorbate 80.

The controversy over the potential health risks of the injection of Polysorbate 80 into the body revolves around a 1993 study that showed when the chemical was injected into baby female rats it resulted in malformed reproductive organs. In the late 1990’s the University of Georgia Research Foundation submitted a patent application for a “fertility impairing vaccine” for animals with the “preferred” ingredient being Polysorbate 80. Polysorbate 60, which has been studied less, has been proven to cause damage to reproductive organs.

There was a class action lawsuit filed in 2003 regarding the drug E-Ferol®. E-Ferol® was used between 1983 & 1984 on premature infants as form of vitamin E to help combat RLF (a disease that affects to retina of the eye & can cause vision impairment & blindness in premature infants). The FDA recalled E-Ferol® in 1984 after it was found to cause liver and/or kidney failure, respiratory distress & cardiopulmonary deterioration in the infants. Expert’s labeled this “E-Ferol Syndrome”. Following the recall, Dr. Robert Brown from Fort Worth Children’s Hospital undertook a study on E-Ferol® & determined that Polysorbate 80 caused the “E-Ferol Syndrome”.

WOW! That’s some pretty profound “side-effects” to Polysorbate 80. I only listed a few of the research cases that I found when researching these additives. These two are disturbing enough that I can’t imagine anyone would need more information on this additive before removing it completely from their food choices.

Listed below are the most common food type items that Polysorbate 80 or 60 is added to. When you shop, if you want to avoid this ingredient, make sure you read the label & go for the product marked “natural” whenever possible.

· Ice cream, frozen custards, fruit sherbert

· Whipped dessert toppings

· Shortenings

· Milk/Cream based salad dressings

· Coffee creamers

· Cake mix & cake icings

· Sugar & artificially sweetened gelatin & pudding desserts

· Condiments (chocolate flavored syrups, barbecue sauce)

· Canned & jarred pickles, sauerkraut & other pickled items

· Yeast-leavened bakery products

· Mixed into the protective wax coating on some fruits & vegetables

I hope that this gives you a starting point on what products you need to be vigilant about when reading the labels. As always, the choice is ultimately yours, but I hope that this information has been informative for you.

Until the next post...

A tall frosty glass of carbonated side effects...

2011-12-09T11:21:00.002-05:00

Brominated Vegetable Oil or BVO is used as an emulsifier in citrus-flavored drinks. It helps to keep the citrus oils suspended in the drink & gives the drink that cloudy look. You can find it in Mountain Dew®, Fresca®, Fanta®, some Gatorade's®, Powerade's® & some generic citrus sodas. It is also used as an additive to gasoline & agricultural fumigants. The main ingredient in BVO is bromine. Up until 1978, bromine was used to make sedatives, but the FDA banned it's usage because it was found to trigger some psychiatric disorders. Bromine vapors are considered both toxic & corrosive.

Possible side effects of over consumption include memory loss, fatigue, headaches, weight gain, diarrhea, dizziness, blurred vision, abdominal cramps, muscle cramps, slow pulse, sweating, tremors in the tongue & eyelids, growth defects, organ system damage & two named conditions called Bromism & Brominated thyroid. There have been several documented cases for both conditions. One reported case for Bromism involved a man who consumed two to four liters of a soda containing BVO on a daily basis. He started to experience memory loss, tremors, fatigue, loss of muscle coordination. Before he was official diagnosed with Bromism, he lost the ability to walk. The final treatment consisted of months of daily dialysis & iodine treatments to rid his body of the bromine.

Amazingly BVO is banned in almost 100 countries but not the USA. The FDA states that when BVO is used within what they consider acceptable limits, which in soda is 15 parts per million in the finished products, then it can be deemed as "relatively" safe. The FDA does warns about the possible side effects of over consumption, but what do they consider as over consumption? Well, I asked and they don't know! They said more research needs to be done on the toxicity of BVO & at what levels the body reaches over consumption. Yet they have approved this for use in foods??? Studies have shown that long after consumption, traces of BVO will remain in the body in tissue & fat cells.

I know most people don't over indulge, but let's say you enjoy a 20oz bottle of Mountain Dew® 2 or 3 times a day, if traces of BVO remain in your body each time you drink a bottle, at what point do you reach over consumption?

source: http://www.sierramist.com/

Usually at this point in the blog post, I'll walk you through the virtual grocery store & show you better options. If you really need to have a tall frosty glass of some kind of carbonated citrus- flavored beverage, then steer yourself towards Sierra Mist Natural® which is 100% natural & sweetened with sugar or Sprite Green® which is sweetened with Truvia® instead of sugar & high fructose corn syrup. I know that Sprite Green is not readily available in all markets. I can't recommend 7UP, because it has EDTA in it, which I have already covered in a previous blog post.

source: http://www.sprite.com/

source: http://www.simplyoragejuice.com/

Or an even better option is what we do at home for a nice, refreshing carbonated beverage. We take a glass of seltzer & add a dash or two of fruit juice or lemonade. Super tasty!! Our favorite to make a citrus-flavored beverage is to use Simply Lemonade® or Limeade®.

As always, the choice is ultimately yours, but I hope this little nugget of information will guide you in making a better choice when it comes to citrus-flavored, carbonated beverages.

Until the next post...

Two more guest blogger reviews!

2011-11-21T11:06:00.002-05:00

source: http://www.cascadianfarms.com/

Angie- We won the Cascadian Farms Fruitful O’s®, which we found to be similar to Fruity Cheerios®, just a little less fruity. My kids didn’t provide very elaborate comments, so I expanded my focus group to include my nephews, who are 5 & 8. The comments ranged from “kind of like them” & “so-so” to “two thumbs up.” My daughter added that they taste like “dried up Cheerios®” (I’m pretty sure she meant that in a good way). Both of my kids liked them best without milk as a snack.

I found Fruitful O’s® in only one store in our neighborhood, & it’s the fancy-pants gourmet market that we use only for emergencies or special treats. Since I’ve yet to have a cereal “emergency”, I probably won’t be buying any there, especially since they’re charging $6.99 for a box. The Target® in Jersey City didn’t have Fruitful O’s®, but they did have Cascadian Farms Chocolate O’s® (similar size box, about 11oz) for $4.04. We will most likely try them again. Thanks for letting us try them!

(Note from Amber- Cascadian Farms has stated that the Fruitful O’s® are a fairly new product & they haven’t expanded the store base completely that carries them. We buy ours at Fairway here in NYC & we pay $3.99 for the box. You just need to check your local grocers, Wal-Mart® & Target®, as Target has told me that they are trying to stock this in all their stores soon).

source: http://www.burtsbees.com/

Jessica- I had the pleasure of trying the Burt’s Bees Radiance Lotion®. This lotion was fantastic! I’ve never used a shimmer lotion before so when I first used it I was a little skeptical. Don’t be alarmed the first time you use it, because the mica does make it very, very sparkly, but it fades to a perfect “sun-kissed” shimmer in about 20 minutes. It smells good, not to herbal. It rubs in & doesn’t leave a greasy fell & it hydrates wonderfully. I have sensitive skin & this didn’t irritate it at all.

I’ve been using it for about 2 weeks now & my usually Fall/Winter dry legs look & feel better. I would recommend this lotion to everyone & I plan to give it as gifts to some friends & family this Christmas. I can’t wait for the summer to see how the shimmer will look on tanned legs when I wear shorts & skirts. Everywhere I checked, this averaged $8.99, which can be spendy, but I will buy it again & again! Thanks so much for the giveaways & I’m so glad I won this!

Amber- Thanks to everyone who tried the products! Our next freebies give away will soon. Stay tuned for a chance to win more great products to try!

Until the next post...

Our first two guest bloggers & reviews!

2011-11-14T14:46:00.001-05:00

source: www.burtsbees.com

Alex- The lotion I won was the Burt’s Bees Naturally Nourishing Milk & Honey®. I was able to use it a few times before my mom stole it. It had an ok smell & was non-greasy, that's why she took it. She doesn't use lotions because her skin doesn't "soak it up" & it leaves her feeling greasy all day but the Bert's Bees faded right into her skin & was smooth with no over powering smell. Thanks for letting me sample.

From Alex’s Mom- I thought the lotion was great; soft skin no greasy feelings after you rub it in. I never wear lotion because I hate the way it sits on top of my skin. Wal-Mart sells it for $7.97. It's good stuff... I am a little frugal, so I would rather go without then spend $8.00 on myself, for lotion. I guess that's why I'll look like a prune when I am old. But I would recommend it.

source: http://www.naturespath.com/

Kim- I won the toaster pastries… My 3 boys ate them & let me try one. They were not too bad, the flavor we had was blueberry. The box we received only had 3 foil packs with 2 pastries in each & I thought if they were the regular price of Pop Tarts® it wouldn't be worth it, but after I went to Wal-Mart to see if I could get them there I was surprised by how cheap they were compared to the Wal-Mart brand & to Pop Tarts®. For a box of 4 foil packs (2 in a pack) it's only $2.48. It's something that I would consider buying & I would recommend them to others.

Who ordered the side of migraine with their value meal?

2011-11-10T09:31:00.005-05:00

Monosodium glutamate (MSG) also referred to as sodium glutamate, is a form of glutamic acid found in foods. The most common foods are cream based soups & salad dressings, hot dogs, potato chips, salt substitutes, frozen entrees & many restaurant food items. It’s a member of a group of chemicals known as “excitotoxins”. These compounds are known to interfere with brain chemistry & have been implicated in many neurological diseases, like brain cancers, MS, fibromyalgia, depression & hyperactivity (ADHD). They overexcite brain cells to the point of cell damage. Studies have also shown that MSG triples the amount of insulin the pancreas creates, causing obesity. Extensive studies have shown the link between MSG & migraine headaches.

In a book by Dr. Russell Blaylock titled “Excitotoxins” he reports that MSG can also cause severe disturbances in the endocrine system, affecting levels of hormones such as LH (Luteinizing hormone), GH (Growth hormone) & prolactin.

The effect that MSG has on the brain was initially called “Chinese food syndrome” from a Korean doctor who documented his own reaction to eating Chinese food prepared with MSG. Over the years, the FDA has received many reports of adverse reactions to MSG or glutamic acid containing foods. The FDA classifies these as “MSG symptom complex” & they include: headache, flushing, sweating, facial pressure or tightness, numbness, tingling or burning in the face, neck & other areas (allergic reactions), heart palpitations, chest pain, nausea, weakness & brain edema. Starting in 1998, the FDA requires all food companies that use MSG to list it in the ingredient list as MSG with the exception of the term “natural flavor” which US law allows to consist of “protein hydrolysates” containing glutamic acid. Due to the lack of FDA regulation on this term, it is impossible to determine what percentage of “natural flavor” is actually glutamic acid-MSG.

Usually I give you guys a list of grocery store items that contain the additive & then offer alternatives you can purchase instead. This week, I wanted to give you the fast food items that contain MSG. Most people don’t ask restaurants to see their nutrition & ingredient information, but there are numerous items on restaurant menus that contain MSG, so let’s get started…

McDonald’s®:

McDonald’s® adds MSG to their autolyzed yeast extract. The following menu items contain autolyzed yeast.

- Angus Beef Burgers

- Chicken Select Strips

- Crispy Chicken Filet

- Sausage Scrambled Egg mix

- Sausage Patty

- Hot and Spicy Chicken Patty

Burger King®:

Burger King® actually lists monosodium glutamate on their ingredients list when it’s used.

- Original Chicken Patty

- Spicy Chick’N Crisp Patty

- Tendercrisp® Chicken Filet

- BK® Chicken Fries

- Breakfast Sausage

Kentucky Fried Chicken®:

KFC® uses MSG in all of their chicken seasoning. So any chicken item on the menu has MSG. It is also in the following items:

- Colonel’s Sauce

- Creamy Ranch Dipping Sauce Cup

- Country Fried Steak

- Green Beans

- Mashed Potatoes & Gravy

- Potato Wedges

- Seasoned Rice

Chick-fil-A®:

I ♥ Chick-fil-A® & I was saddened to learn that they use MSG in the seasoning mix for all of their breaded chicken products.

Wendy’s®:

Wendy’s® does not list MSG as an ingredient on any item; however the term “natural flavors” is used. Since MSG can be an ingredient in “natural flavor”, I e-mailed Wendy’s but didn’t get a reply when I asked them to clarify. The following items have “natural flavor”:

- Chili

- Crispy Chicken Nuggets

- Crispy Chicken Patty

- Spicy Chicken Filet

- Spicy Chicken Nuggets

- Heartland Ranch Dipping Sauce

- Ranch Sauce

- Ultimate Grilled Chicken Filet

Taco Bell®:

Taco Bell® is like Wendy’s®. They don’t list MSG as an ingredient, but many items have “natural flavor”. I also e-mailed Taco Bell & didn't receive a reply as of yet. The following items have “natural flavor”:

- Bacon Ranch Sauce

- Chili

- Creamy Jalapeno Sauce

- Potato Bites

- Rice

- Seasoned Ground Beef

- Marinated Grilled Steak

Arby’s®:

Again the same as Wendy’s® & Taco Bell®, “natural flavor” is used but I am still waiting to hear from them.

- Crispy Chicken Filet

- Prime Cut Chicken Tenders

- Curly Fries

- Potato Cakes

- Parmesan Peppercorn Ranch Sauce

- Ranch Dipping Sauce

I tried to cover most of the fast food restaurants. A few don’t make their ingredients available on the internet. Sonic® was one such restaurant that does not list the ingredients, only allergen information. Also, I researched other restaurants like Chili’s®, TGIFriday’s® & Applebee’s®, but they only list allergen & nutrition information online & not ingredients.

Well, I hope this information is helpful for everyone. Remember, if in doubt, ask to see the ingredients list.

Until the next post…

What's stuffed inside your stuffing?...

2011-11-03T10:32:00.001-04:00

Propyl Gallate is a man made antioxidant that has been added to food products since 1948. These products include soup mixes, some frozen meals, some vegetable oils, mayonnaise, dried milk, spices, candy, snack goods & meat products. Because it has antioxidant properties it is used in many personal care products like perfume, soaps, lotions, lipstick & other make-up, hair care products, sunscreen, toothpaste & some vitamins. In the commercial industry, it is added to adhesives, lubricants & pesticides & is commonly added to pet foods. People tend to believe that this additive it harmless since it is an antioxidant, however studies show otherwise.

The National Toxicology Program, an agency in the U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services has had reported case studies that show that propyl gallate can cause prostate inflammation, tumors of the thyroid, brain & pancreas. Other side effects may include stomach & skin irritability, allergic reactions that impact breathing & mimic asthmatic attacks, liver & kidney damage. A 2009 study by Italian researchers that was published as “Chemical Research in Toxicology” showed that propyl gallate acts as an estrogen antagonist or a xenoestrogen. Xenoestrogens are a group of hormone-like compounds that mimic the negative effects of estrogen. They have the potential to affect reproductive health, decrease the sperm count in men, affect developing fetuses & turn normal breast cells into cancer cells. After this study was published, many groups asked the FDA to start testing food additives for estrogenic effects. To date there are more than 3,000 food additive used in the US & none are tested for this by the FDA.

A 2005 study by the EPA on propyl gallate use in pesticides showed that although the chemical biodegrades quickly, when it first hits water sources it is “moderately toxic” to aquatic life.

Well, that’s some pretty profound side effects from a seemingly “harmless” antioxidant. Let’s take a trip to the grocery store & see where propyl gallate is hiding…

Stove Top Stuffing®; not only does Stove Top® have propyl gallate, but it also has BHT, BHA & MSG. There are other brands available on regular grocery shelves that don't have propyl gallate, but read the ingredients as most have high fructose corn syrup, msg & a host of other dubious ingredients. Instead, try Arrow Head Mills® stuffing mix or Google a recipe for homemade. I home make my stuffing & I find that it’s super easy & tastes better.

source: http://www.arrowheadmills.com/

Most varieties of Johnsonville Sausage® Links have propyl gallate, but they do offer their own all natural ground sausage that does not.

source: http://www.johnsonville.com/

You can also try Al Fresco® chicken sausage or Applegate Farms® chicken & turkey sausage. We don’t eat pork in our house, so we’ve tried both brands of chicken sausage. Our favorite flavor is Applegate Farms® spinach & feta, yum!!

source: http://www.applegatefarms.com/

Any DiGiorgno® frozen pizza that has a sausage product on it has propyl gallate. California Pizza Kitchen® & Freschetta® don’t, but I can’t recommend them as an alternative because they have BHT, BHA & some have TBHQ. Instead try Newman’s Own® frozen pizzas, or Target’s Market Pantry® which are fairly tasty.

source: http://www.newmansown.com/

Or an even better idea is to make your own. You can buy readymade crust like Mama Mary’s®, or try your hand at making your own dough with this great recipe;

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/quick-and-easy-pizza-crust/detail.aspx

source: http://www.mamamarys.com/

And the last item I’ll mention is Peanut butter M&M’s®. No other version of M&M’s® have propyl gallate except this one, so if you want something peanuttie, grab a bag of Peanut M&M’s® instead or Reese’s Pieces® (but they do have artificial color).

Well, as always, I hope this blog post was helpful & informative for you. I know it can be hard to read the ingredients on every label. As an example, the DiGiorgno® Supreme pizza has over 40 ingredients listed on the box & it took some time to come across propyl gallate, but in the long run, the health of your family will benefit from the extra time it takes…

Until the next post…

Winners!!!

2011-10-31T10:11:00.000-04:00

Everyone loves to be a winner!!

Here's the list of winners for our first product give away & guest blogger opportunities.

Cascadian Farms® Fruitful O's- Angie

Kashi® Cereal Bar in strawberry- Marquita

Nature's Path® Organic Toaster Pastries in blueberry- Kim

Burts Bees® - Nourishing Milk & Honey Body Lotion- Alex

Burts Bees® - Radiance Body Lotion- Jessica

Thanks to everyone who entered. I can't wait to read your reviews. Our next give away will be the end of November.

Until the next post...

So Exciting... freebies!!!!

2011-10-26T10:47:00.011-04:00

It's our first give aways & guest blogger opportunities. Listed below are the products up for grabs this time around. Look at the list, read the ingredients, consider if this is something you or your family would like to try. Everyone can list up to 2 items that they would like to try. All entries will be listed in a data base & drawn by random.org. If you are picked, I will ship you one product to try. The only thing I ask in return, is that you write a small review on the product so that I can post it on the blog for others to read. Sounds like fun right? So let's get started....

Food Items

Cascadian Farms® Fruitful O's- (note: this contains wheat & may contain soy & sesame ingredients)

source: www.cascadianfarms.com

Kashi® Cereal Bar in strawberry- (note: this contains wheat & soy)

source: www.kashi.com

Nature's Path® Organic Toaster Pastries in blueberry- (note: this contains wheat & dairy)

source: www.naturespath.com

Personal Care- For these products, I want someone who can compare them to their regular products you use, so if you use body lotion on a regular basis, please feel free to put your name in for one of these...

Burts Bees® - Naturally Nourishing Milk & Honey Body Lotion

source: www.burtsbees.com

Burts Bees® - Radiance Body Lotion

source: www.burtsbees.com

So how do you enter? It's easy, join the blog on the right side via e-mail, comment on this post below & list the 2 products you would like to try the most (please make sure to leave your name or the begining of your e-mail address that you used to join so I know who to contact). If you want, you can list in order of which you would like more. If your name is picked, you will get one of the 2 products you listed to try. I'll shoot you an e-mail asking for your address & once you receive it, use it, eat it, try it & then write your review. The drawings will take place on Monday 10/31. Simple & Fun!!

What's hiding in your Hidden Valley®....

2011-10-21T12:35:00.002-04:00

Let me start off by saying, that of all the ingredients I've researched so far, this is by far the most widely used & the most hotly debated….

Ethylenediaminetetraacetic Acid or EDTA is a synthetic chemical & is not an “organic” naturally made one. It’s produced as several forms of salt, most commonly listed in products as Disodium EDTA & Calcium Disodium EDTA. It can also be called Diammonium EDTA, Dipotassium EDTA, EDTA, HEDTA, TEA-EDTA, Tetrasodium EDTA, Tripotassium EDTA and Trisodium HEDTA. Disodium EDTA is widely used in cream based foods, processed foods, cosmetics, personal care items & household cleaning supplies to dissolve limescale & help with hard water spots. It has a wide use in the industrial world & is released into the environment in large quantities because of this use. Its environmental impact has been shown as being toxic, carcinogenic & mutagenic, or capable of producing mutations in live offspring. As for some medical uses, EDTA is used for chelation therapy (removing metals from blood like lead poisoning in children) & anticoagulant in donated & transfused blood.

The Dept of Health and Human Services (DHH) advises that it is unsafe to consume more than 3 grams of EDTA per day. The FDA measures it’s use in food as ppm’s (parts per million), so it’s hard to actually measure how much EDTA is in any give product, but over consumption can lead to the depletion of vitamins & minerals in the body as well as cause liver & kidney damage. Doctors suggest that people with liver or kidney problems avoid eating or using products with EDTA as it can make liver & kidney disease worse. There is also some concern that EDTA might increase the risk of seizures in people with epilepsy, might make heart rhythm problems worse & might interfere with blood sugar control because it can interact with insulin in people with diabetes.

In food & beverages it is commonly used as a preservative & stabilizer & it protects food from discoloration & oxidation. Salad dressing, mayonnaise, spreadable margarines, cream based products & soups, canned beans & canned tomatoes are all approved to use EDTA, so let’s take a trip to our local grocery store & see what’s buried in the ingredients lists…

Salad dressings… Hidden Valley®, Kraft® & Ken’s® all have various dressings with EDTA. Instead try Bolt House Farms® or Marie’s® in your produce section. Also, Newman’s Own®, Drew’s® or Brianna’s® located in the salad dressing aisle. Marie's Creamy Chipotle Ranch is a favorite in our house.

soruce: http://www.maries.com/

source: http://www.briannassaladdressing.com/

Spreadable margarines… Margarines alone are not that healthy for you, even some which seem healthier, like Brummel & Brown Yogurt Spread®, have EDTA. Try Land O’ Lakes Spreadable Butter® with Canola or Olive Oil instead. Both only have 3 ingredients. We use this in our house & I love how easy it spreads & how well it can be used in cooking & baking, plus it tastes good too.

source: http://www.landolakes.com/

Mayonnaise… this was the most difficult to find in the regular grocery aisle. I couldn’t locate a single common mayonnaise that did not have EDTA in it. You will need to visit your local grocery’s “natural food section” if they do not stock these products in the regular shelves. We’re lucky enough to have a local Trader Joes, so we use their brand, which tastes just like Hellman’s® to me.

Soups… A lot of cream based canned soups contain EDTA. Progresso® & Campbell’s® both offer varieties that don’t, just make sure you read the label before you buy.

I could list hundred’s of food products that have EDTA, but I will leave it to the few listed above & hope that you will look at labels on everything you purchase, before you buy. Since this is widely used in health care products, I wanted to divulge a little information about that…

In cosmetics, personal care & skin care products, disodium EDTA is used as a preservative, stabilizer & purifying agent to keep the products free of contamination from metals & to help it retain a longer shelf life. It also helps the topical penetration of active ingredients in skin care products. The DHH approves its use in baby care lotions & soaps, moisturizers, facial cleansers, body washes/cleansers, shampoos & conditioners, sunscreens/tanning oils, around-eye cream, styling gel/lotions, anti-aging creams, exfoliant/scrub, acne treatment, skin fading/lightener, hair color & bleaching, bubble bath, foot treatment, foundation, sunless tanning, mascara, after shave, perfume, anti-itch/rash cream, eye liner, makeup remover, lip liner, blush, lip balm/treatment, liquid hand soap, eye shadow, antiperspirant/deodorant & a host of other personal care products. Clinical tests performed by the FDA show that disodium EDTA is non-toxic in the quantities approved for over-the-counter use. They stress that EDTA itself does not penetrate the skin; however, its ability to facilitate penetration means you should be aware of the other ingredients your beauty products contain.

Well, that a lot of information to digest, so I will leave it at that…

Until the next post….

A great way to start your day… A heaping bowl of BHT…

2011-10-17T11:19:00.011-04:00

Butylated hydroxytolyene (BHT) or it’s less studied sister butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) are “organic” lipophhilc’s or in layman’s terms, they protect food from lipid oxidation, which causes fats & oils to turn rancid. It’s most commonly used as a preservative in cereal, potato chips & chewing gum but is also added to cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, jet fuels, rubber, petroleum products & embalming fluid.

In the 1970’s, Dr. Benjamin Feingold studied BHT & established a link between this preservative & increased risk of stomach & liver tumors. After his study, some food industries voluntarily removed it from their products & replaced with the less studied BHA. Both BHT & BHA are considered carcinogens by the U.S Dept. of Health & Human Services. There are also concerns that BHT plays a role in damaging genetic material & red blood cells; impairs kidney, liver & brain functions & induces symptoms of chemical sensitivity.

Let’s back up a minute… BHT is commonly used as a preservative in cereal, but it’s also used in embalming fluid… WHAT????

Okay, now that I’ve gotten over my initial shock & have picked my bottom jaw up off the floor, let’s look at some products to avoid…

You could spend hours on the cereal aisle reading box labels & you’d start to go cross-eyed with all the BHT on the boxes. Because there are so many, I suggest you read your families favorite cereal box labels & look for BHT or BHA. It’s usually the last ingredient listed.

General Mill®, Kellogg’s® & Post® all use BHT/BHA in almost all their cereals, but there are some they don’t. Here are some to avoid & some to try instead.

Instead of Chex® try Crispix®

Instead of Fruity Cheerios® try Cascadian Farms® “Fruitful O’s” or Very Berry Kix®

source: http://www.cascadianfarms.com/

Instead of Cinnamon Toast Crunch® try Mom’s Best Natural’s® “Toasted Cinnamon Squares” which our local Target carries.

source: http://www.momsbestnaturals.com/

Instead of Honey Smacks® try Malt-O-Meal® “Golden Puffs” in the bag.

Instead of Wheaties® try Newman’s Own® “Honey Flax”.

Instead of Quaker® Life try Barbara’s ® “Shredded Spoonfuls” (this is a favorite in our house).

source: http://www.barbarasbakery.com/

Instead of Cocoa Peebles® try Target’s Market Pantry® Cocoa Rageous.

source: http://www.target.com/

I could go on & on, but hopefully this little list has given you a good starting point in your hunt for cereal without BHT/BHA. Look for these good brands, Arrow Head Mills, Cascadian Farm's, Newman's Own, Mom's Best Naturals or Mother's Best, Enviro Kids by Nature's Path & even a few Post, Kellogg's & General Mills that don't have BHT/BHA.

Remember also to read the ingredients on the backs of cereal bars & granola bars. Both Special K® & Quaker® use BHT. And lastly, when you’re at the checkout & you reach for a pack of gum to help with that dragon breath, read the ingredients, more than likely BHT is added. Try Lifesavers® instead.

Until the next post…

Don't stand too close to an open flame while eating your cheese & crackers....

2011-10-12T11:04:00.019-04:00

Try saying this 5 times fast…..Tertiary Butylhydroquinone, or TBHQ, which is what it’s most commonly referred to, is an organic chemical preservative which is a form of butane (hence buty….) that can be found in pet food, perfumes, varnishes and resins. It is used in food items to slow down rancidness & to extend the storage/shelf life of foods. Most specifically, companies (& most fast food restaurants) add it to the oils used in cooking or making the products. TBHQ is also used in some lipsticks, colognes, moisturizers & other makeup products.

The FDA limits the use to 0.02% of the oil or fat in any single food item. This may not seem like a lot, but it does make you wonder why the FDA has to set limits on an apparently “harmless organic preservative”. Studies on its long-term effects have been contradictory, but it has been linked to potential cancer & DNA damage in laboratory animals. In high doses (between 1 to 4 grams) it’s a carcinogenic that can cause nausea, delirium, tinnitus (ringing in the ears) & vomiting. There’s also speculation that it may lead to hyperactivity in children & may also further aggravate ADHD symptoms & cause restlessness. It’s suggested that it may be responsible for affecting estrogen levels in women.

So after digesting that little bit of scientific information, let’s stop & ask ourselves this question: “Is this something I want to be feeding my family?” I’m sure the resounding answer is NO. Since this preservative is found in many grocery products to help sustain a longer shelf life let’s look at a few items found in your local grocery store with TBHQ & see what alternate products you could consider.

First, let me get on my soap box for a moment; I think that all companies should be required to put certain ingredients on the front of packages. I know, I know, if they did this, then people wouldn’t buy it, but if people stopped buying it, then maybe they would change the ingredients. I would never buy Jennie-O® turkey sausage because it contains TBHQ, but I applaud them for listing this on the front of the package (listed under Turkey Sausage in gold print it says "BHT, TBHQ and Citric Acid added to preserve flavor"). I wish all companies would do this.

source: http://www.jennieo.com/

So, let’s start with turkey sausage. Instead of Jennie-O®, try Jones All Natural®. My family eats Jones® & it’s mighty tasty. Another alternative, but not as healthy as the Jones® is Banquet Brown-n-Serve® turkey sausage.

source: http://www.jonesdairyfarm.com/

Another thing in your grocer’s freezer with TBHQ is Toaster Strudel®. To me this product is just all around unhealthy.

Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain® & Special K® bars seem healthy with all the fruit & whole grain, but listed in the ingredients is TBHQ. Try the Kashi® TLC Snack bars. At my local Target, Kashi® bars are only $0.20 more per box. Another alternative is Nature Valley®.

Almost every Keebler® product has TBHQ since they add it to their soybean oil. Try the Pepperidge Farm® Baked Naturals. At Target, the Archer Farms Simply Balanced® crackers are cost friendly & fairly tasty too. Kashi® also makes a line of crackers, but you may need to shop around. The price on Kashi products here in New York varies drastically from one store to another.

And lastly, Kellogg’s Pop Tarts®, I know kids love them, they’re an easy snack, etc, etc, but again TBHQ. Nature's Path® makes a line of organic, all natural toaster pastries. In our house we use them as a treat & not an everyday snack or breakfast item.

source: http://www.naturespath.com/

My lists could go on & on, but I'll stop here. I hope that this little nugget of information on TBHQ has been educational & informative. Ultimately you will make the final decision as to what your family will eat, but remember as with all dubious additives, it’s best to limit your exposure whenever possible.

Until the next post………..

Hello & thanks for stopping by.....

2011-10-10T12:02:00.007-04:00

Welcome to my new blog. Thanks for stopping by!! I hope that I can help everyone navigate the grocery store isles & explain all the ingredients that are shortened to acronyms & have names that you need a chemistry degree to pronounce. I will be offering you alternatives to some favorite grocery store items that are healthier, but still will let you stay within your family’s grocery budget.

I know how hard it can be to take your time to read the ingredients on boxes while you have a child in the cart screaming & a child pulling on your pants asking for everything they see. I suggest that you first look in your cabinets at home. Read the ingredients on the boxes or on the items in your fridge or freezer. Write down the ones that you would like to find a better alternative for your family. If you need help, feel free to ask me & I can hopefully give you some ideas on what to look for in your local grocery store. I know that not everyone has access to a Whole Foods, Trader Joes or local natural food market, but you’d be surprised at the items stocked at your local grocery store, made by regular companies that are just as good as organic or items sold in the “natural foods” sections.

As you start to make the transition to feeding your family food with better ingredients, don’t fret if little Johnny is having a meltdown at the local Piggly Wiggly over that box of “sugar coated massive preservative loaded goodness” & you breakdown & buy it to give yourself a little sanity. He won’t grow a third arm or suddenly forget how to recite his ABC’s if he eats it.

In the end, I hope that what you gain from this blog will make you feel like the Super Mom that you really are.

Until the next post.....