Once upon a time...

You've probably seen the meme: Once upon a time, all food was organic. Truth. And once upon a time, it was safe to roll around on lawns spattered with weeds rather than Roundup and its toxic friends. The real danger in walking barefoot was the occasional bee sting, not a cocktail of toxins absorbing through your skin into your non-Roundup ready system.

Photo from 2015 March Against Monsanto in Pittsburgh

When I think about it too much, I become weepy and the sadness clings like a toddler not wanting his mommy to leave. Life changes. It always has and always will. But that doesn't mean it's always a good thing. Our toxic environment is full of someone's idea of progress, much of which started in the minds behind Monsanto, Dow, Bayer, etc. Progress, as it often does, led to greed, and now those corporate giants seem almost unstoppable. They're gambling with the health of your children and mine. And we cannot remain silent.

Talk to your friends, relatives, coworkers, and neighbors. Read everything you can about the dangers of Roundup, GMOs, neonicotinoids, etc. Learn about safe alternatives. Whenever possible, buy organics. Ask the farmers at your local markets and farm stands if their produce is non-GMO. Ask if they grow their flowers with or without neonics. Talk to them about the crisis of the bee colony collapses of recent years. 

Our kids' and grandkids' lives are at stake. We cannot continue to bury our heads in the sand. We can make a difference with our voices, our dollars, and our votes when election time rolls around. Find out which presidential candidates are in bed with Monsanto and let others know. 

I believe this is the most critical issue facing our nation and our world. There is no room for genetic modifications of any sort. There is no room for poisonous chemicals sprayed on our lawns, parks, ball fields, and food. There simply is no room for it. Think about seeing your precious little one lying in a hospital bed with a shaved head and tubes coming out of their body. Then speak up. Let's do this... together.

Organic labeling challenged

A recent article in a Lancaster paper encouraged readers to opt for local produce rather than spending more on organic alternatives. Of course, the article piqued my interest. After all, I've been advocating for organics and buy only organic whole milk, among other things, for my 14-month-old grandbaby. So, what's the deal?

Well, apparently organic does not necessarily mean free of chemicals/pesticides, regardless of what I thought.

According to Kerry H. Richards, director of Penn State University's Pest Management Information Center, "[Consumers] think 'organic' means not using any pesticides or chemicals. Indeed, that's not really the truth."

The bottom line is a multitude of pesticides, chemicals and other synthetic materials are allowed to be present in organic food production as far as current national standards allow.

To me, this is disturbing news. I, too, was seduced by labels that read Organic.

The prohibited substances are monitored...sort of. As much as they can be by the mere 16 people hired by the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture to keep things in check. If a product is labeled USDA Organic it may legally contain up to 5% of non-organic ingredients.Copper sulfate and tetracycline are just 2 of the 245 substances legally permitted in foods labeled organic. Disturbing.

Equally disturbing is the game some of the manufacturers are playing. Since many consumers confuse natural with organic, companies are keeping the same packaging but switching the word organic with natural and fooling customers into buying products they assume are healthier for their families.
 
Have you been buying Horizon brand yogurt for your toddlers. Look closely. Dean Foods kept the same red and white packaging but switched over to the natural wording. What exactly does that mean? An awful lot of things are natural out there...that doesn't mean they're healthy!

I'm not sure what to advise you here. I'm not sure what I, myself, am going to do. We pay premium prices for organic products. Is it worth it?

Buying local does have its advantages. If you're fortunate enough to have a relationship with a local farmer, you have an in with monitoring what is actually organic. In Pennsylvania, where I live, local farms aren't producing fruits and vegetables at this time of the year. But you can bet I'll be visiting local farm markets come summer.

In the meantime, groups of lobbying congress for changes in the system. Maybe they'll succeed. I've posted lists of foods that are worth the extra cost for organic before, and which ones aren't. Here's another listing of them; glean what you can from it:

Worth the price      

Apples

Bell Peppers

Carrots

Celery

Cherries

Grapes

Kale

Lettuce

Nectarines

Peaches

Pears

Strawberries

Don't bother

Asparagus

Avocados

Cabbage

Eggplant

Frozen corn and peas

Kiwis

Onions

Mangoes

Papayas

Pineapples

Watermelon

Generally speaking, if a fruit or vegetable has an unpermeable skin that is generally removed before eating, it's a safer non-organic choice. A word of caution, however -- make sure you wash your food, even if you will be peeling it.

I'll be following up on this in the future. As I learn of new legislation, etc., I'll pass on the info to you.

And, by the way, I'm back. The holidays took their toll on me and I needed to step away for awhile. Thank you for checking back to see what the Green Grandma has to say. I write, simply because I care. You read, because you care, too.

Keeping it healthy and green,

Hana

                        

      

 

A greener way with peas

We live in a preservative-happy culture. Chemicals and preservatives are everywhere. Does that mean you have to spoon-feed them to your precious little one? Absolutely not!

Homemade baby foods are the best choice for your baby and for the environment! Eliminating the waste produced by boxed and jarred baby foods definitely qualifies you as a green parent/grandparent/caretaker. And eliminating the chemicals and preservatives in your baby's diet qualifies you as a smart one.

Even celebrities have jumped on this bandwagon. In a recent Good Housekeeping article, Gyweth Paltrow is quoted as saying, "When I'd read about what pesticides do to small animals, I thought, Why would I expose my child to that?...I just want my kids to be as healthy as they possibly can. And I feel like eating well is the best start for living well."

People magazine reports that Tori Spelling makes all of her own baby food for daughter, Stella.

And let's face facts, folks; Paltrow and Spelling aren't pureeing peaches because of the cost factor! But that is another benefit for those of us on budgets! I picked up a small handheld baby food grinder at a garage sale for 25 cents! Brand new! I don't even have to plug it in, which gives me a couple extra green bonus points!

But don't just grab a handful of peas or a bunch of ripe grapes and start grinding. Age-appropriate foods are important. Stick with Stage 1 food for babies under 8 months of age. This will ensure less chances of allergic reactions. Most experts recommend not giving solid foods to babies under 5-6 months old and starting with cereals, followed by vegetables and fruits, meats, egg yolks (NOT egg whites!), and ending their first year with cheese and plain yogurts during the last couple of months.

Breast milk (or formula, if you must) can be added to foods as you puree them to give them the runny consistency necessary for babies starting out on solid foods. Don't store the pureed food for longer than 48 hours in the refrigerator. However, you can freeze portions by filling an ice cube tray and popping the frozen meals into containers for easy access.

An excellent website for advice and recipes on making your own baby food can be found at http://www.wholesomebabyfood.com/.

One last thought on going green and healthy with a grinder or mini-blender...shop for local produce! Visit farm markets and look for organic foods.

Of course, it would be more convenient to just drive down to the store and pick up a jar or two. But, as I like to say...who said being a parent was about convenience. To quote Kermit the Frog, "It's not that easy being green."

Keeping it green,

Hana