Cheaper Produce = Slimmer Americans?

A group of scientists at the University of Illinois conducted a study on how food prices affect the body weight of Americans. They found that raising the prices of unhealthy foods and lowering the prices of healthy foods is associated with lower body weight and a reduced risk of obesity. (ScienceDaily)

Here’s an interesting distinction…the study found that small taxes on unhealthy foods, such as sugary soda, “are not likely to produce substantial changes in BMI or obesity prevalence,” but “nontrivial pricing intervention” could have a substantial effect on our weight. So, taxing unhealthy foods won’t work, but reducing the prices will.

This research really caught my eye. I know a lot of people who would be ecstatic if fruits and vegetables were cheaper. I know I’d do a happy dance! However, I don’t think this is the perfect solution for America’s healthy eating issues. We need to educate ourselves on how eating healthy prevents disease and improves our daily life and mental alertness. It can’t be just about the price. I think people will continue to make bad choices until they truly understand the effects food has on our minds and bodies.

What do you think?

Free Monthly Newsletter

Hey there LOHF readers! I’ll be receiving my holistic health counseling certification next month, and I started up a free monthly email newsletter. It talks about eating healthy, reducing stress, learning to take care of yourself, etc.

If you’d like to receive the newsletter, please click here.

Thanks for reading my blog, and Happy Thursday!

Chocolate Cravings?

Let’s face it…I love chocolate. I have a favorite new brand of chocolate bars too. They’re raw, organic, vegan, homemade, packed with superfoods, and free of cholesterol, dairy, soy, gluten, and refined sugar.

Photo by: Jeff Skeirik

Vanessa, the owner and creator of Gnosis Chocolate, is a holistic health counselor and graduate of the Institute for Integrative Nutrition (the school I’m currently attending). I tried one of Vanessa’s special chocolate bars a few weeks ago, and knew I had to have more. Here are some of the flavors she offers:

Simplicity - Cacao Beans, Cacao Butter, Agave Nectar, Vanilla Bean, Crystal Manna, Love

Cool Peppermint - Cacao Beans, Cacao Butter, Agave Nectar, Fresh Peppermint Leaves, Vanilla Bean, Crystal Manna, Peppermint Essential Oil, Love

Pomegranate Acai - Cacao Beans, Cacao Butter, Brazil Nuts, Black Currants, Agave Nectar, Barberries, Pomegranate Powder, Acai Powder, Crystal Manna, Vanilla Bean, Love

Vanilla Hazelnut - Cacao Beans, Cacao Butter, Hazelnuts, Agave Nectar, Lucuma Powder, Vanilla Bean, Crystal Manna, Love

SuperChoc - Cacao beans, cacao butter, agave nectar, goji berries, raspberries, mesquite, maca root powder, Siberian ginseng powder, ashwaghanda powder, ginko biloba powder, gotu kola powder, burdock root powder, açai powder, crystal manna flakes, camu camu powder, vanilla bean, reishi mushroom powder, passionflower powder, rose hips, lavender flowers, Love

Photo by: Jeff Skeirik

Check ‘em out for yourself, you won’t be disappointed. This kind of chocolate leaves you happy and satisfied without feeling any guilt. Here’s a bonus: Gnosis Chocolate donates 10% of its profits to The Fruit Tree Planting Foundation.

NBA Finals Veggies

I’m rooting for the Orlando Magic to get a win in the Finals tonight, so I’m cooking up some yummy eats for the game.

Luckily, I bought some beautiful baby eggplant, zucchini, and red/yellow bell peppers at the farmer’s market yesterday. I chopped them up in big pieces and tossed them on a sheet pan to roast in the oven. Then I made a quick seasoning paste with my food processor (garlic, olive oil, thyme, rosemary, oregano, and lemon juice). Check them out before I put them in the oven (400 degrees for 15-20 min). Looks delish, right?!

Please excuse my sad excuse for a sheet pan. I really need some new ones.

I’m also making some chicken wings with a homemade BBQ sauce. I’d tell you how I made those, but that one is a family secret. If I told you, my Dad would never forgive me. : )

Go Magic!

Update on FRESH the Movie

I wrote about the movie FRESH a few weeks ago, and how I wished they would screen the movie in Florida. Happily, I just found out some great news. We can host a home screening of the movie for just $20! Check out the Host a Screening page on the FRESH website for details or to buy a copy.

I purchased the home screening package and am planning a friends get-together to watch the movie. My $20 paid for the DVD, the electronic publicity materials, and a license to screen the film in front of 1-20 people.

I’ll definitely let you know what I think of the movie once we watch it. In the meantime, check out The Huffington Post interview of FRESH director Kerry Trueman. I really like how she talked about her journey to improve her relationship with food (something she didn’t expect when she started making the film):

“Eating well was no longer about (or only about) improving my health or not gaining weight, it was about pleasure: taking care of myself and the folks that I love and taking the time to do so.”

Quinoa Breakfast Muffins

So, I tried a new baking adventure yesterday. I’ve been craving something yummy and filling for breakfast that I can take on the go. Someone recently recommended that I try quinoa breakfast muffins.

If you’ve never eaten quinoa, it’s a seed that you can  use in place of rice or other carbs. It has protein and fiber, so it’s a great choice when you want something healthy and filling.

Here’s a picture of some plain quinoa:

I used Martha Stewart’s Quinoa Muffins recipe (with a few tweaks) and they came out delicious! Here’s what I changed:

* I used 1 cup whole wheat flour to replace 1 of the cups of all purpose flour.
* I used 1/4 cup sesame oil in place of the vegetable oil. You could also replace it with olive, walnut, flaxseed, or peanut oil. Or…real butter.
* I cut out the raisins and put chunks of banana in the center of the muffins instead.  Gooey and delish!
* I used 2% milk instead of whole milk (it’s what I had).

Finally, check out these picture of my delicious treats. They were so yummy, I had to have 2 this morning.

Here they are after I put the banana in the center.

Here’s the finished muffins! Yum yum yum!

Apples and Alzheimer’s

A recent study from the Center for Cellular Neurobiology and Neurodegeneration Research at the University of Massachusetts found that drinking apple juice could reduce your risk of Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers gave mice the human equivalent of two cups of apple juice a day for one month. They found that the mice who drank apple juice produced less beta-amyloid, a small protein that harms normal brain cells and forms the plaques found in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s disease.

Lead study author Thomas B. Shea, PhD. said his findings “suggest that regular consumption of apple juice can not only help to keep one’s mind functioning at its best, but may also be able to delay key aspects of Alzheimer’s disease and augment therapeutic approaches.” The researchers did not identify the specific component in apple juice responsible for the healing effect.

Food, Inc. Trailer

I just watched a trailer for another movie I want to see, Food, Inc. It’s coming to theaters in New York City, Los Angeles, and San Francisco on June 12th. Check it out!

My favorite quote in the trailer:

“Imagine what it would be if, as a national policy, the idea would be to have such nutritionally dense food that people actually felt better, had more energy, and weren’t sick as much…now, that’s a noble goal!”

http://www.foodincmovie.com/

Buy Fresh, Then Freeze

I love to buy fresh vegetables, especially on the weekends when I have time to prepare them on the same day. But, with little spare time, I don’t always get to buy fresh when I need it. Also, my farmer’s markets and Whole Foods stores are across town. I love that my Publix is just down the street, but I really have to go to the health food stores or fresh markets to get things like kale, swiss chard, and other organic/local produce.

So, here’s a great tip. When you go to the health food store or farmer’s market, buy your fresh greens (or other favorite  produce) in bulk. When you bring them home, chop them up, and store them in air-tight containers or freezer bags. This way you always have fresh produce and it won’t spoil before you eat it all. If you’re planning to store them for awhile, give the veggies a quick blanch (flash cook them in boiling water for only a minute or two).

You can review freezing guidelines for all types of produce here: http://www.uga.edu/nchfp/how/freeze.html.

So, yesterday I went to Whole Foods and went crazy with greens and herbs. I bought fresh mustard greens, kale, swiss chard, parsley, basil, oregano, and time. When I got home I chopped up everything and transferred them to freezer containers.

Now I have fresh greens ready to cook or throw in salads for weeks to come. I can take a little out at a time and either splash them with water to defrost or toss them right in a pan to steam or saute.

Here’s a picture of my kale as I was chopping it up and putting it in a tupperware.

Finished product!

Check Out This FRESH New Movie

I recently heard about a new independent film called FRESH while I was up in school in NYC. I had a chance to see the trailer and wanted to share it with you. FRESH features “farmers, thinkers, and business people” in the U.S. who are making positive changes in our industrialized food system. Some of the main characters include urban and sustainable farmers and supermarket owners.

Check out the trailer at the FRESH website: www.FRESHthemovie.com

I’m a Florida girl, and so far there are zero screenings of the movie in my state. But, I’d love to see it. If you want to host a screening in your home town, you can fill out a request here.