Tips for Starting a Cooking Habit

With the economic crisis and the sustainable living trend picking up, more and more people are coming home to eat. But what if the idea of cooking freaks you out? You just know you’ll cut off your finger or start a neighborhood fire. Or maybe you just don’t know where to start or don’t have the time. How can you start a cooking habit?

1. Get the tools.

Invest in a few cookbooks. What kind of food do you like to eat at restaurants? American, Thai, sushi? Browse some cookbooks and open the book randomly to a few recipes. Would you actually make or eat what you see? You can always take it home and try out a few things and return it if you find that the cookbook author’s style just doesn’t suit you.

Check out online recipes and sites. Many food magazines have websites that post most of their recipes. Read more

Iodine: What is it and Why Worry About It?

For most people, Iodine is something studied in science class and maybe noticed on the salt container.  Iodine is an essential element in humans.  It is crucial for thyroid hormone production, which is a significant player in metabolism and other hormone function.  Children with iodine deficiencies can be at risk for stunted growth and mental retardation.  It’s especially risky for pregnant women as well, as they are at greater risk for miscarriage and stillbirth.

For most Americans, getting enough Iodine is no problem.  It’s naturally occurring in most fish, mayonnaise, some cheese, eggs, seaweed, and other sources. But, if you’re like me and don’t eat most of those things, what can you do?  Iodized salt solved the deficiency problem in the early 20th century, but people are using iodized salt less and less.  Salt isn’t the healthiest ingredient and some people are turning toward the more interesting un-iodized salts—sea salt, black salt, etc.

While other nutritional deficiencies can be easily supplemented—B12, iron, calcium, etc.—Iodine supplementation is not so simple.  Over supplementing Iodine can also lead to thyroid problems just as easily as deficiencies.  And even worse, specific thyroid disorders are not linked to a deficiency or an over-supplementation, so you can’t tell on your own what you’re doing wrong.

Some experts recommend getting a urine test before supplementing to be sure that it’s necessary.  Seaweed has very high levels of Iodine, so be careful not to overdo it.  In addition, many multivitamins add their own Iodine, so you may be getting plenty through your daily vitamins.  You can talk to a dietitian or endocrinologist about getting tested, but don’t be surprised if he or she says it’s unnecessary.  If you’re really concerned, stand your ground or find someone who will administer the test.  Consult your doctor or nutritionist for more information.

While Genetically Modified Foods Quietly Proliferate, Disquieting Questions Remain

The promise of the potential benefits of genetic modified (GMO) plants (and animals and even plant/animal hybrids) is indeed tempting. Imagine combining the genes responsible for drought resistence of, say, sagebrush or yucca, with rice or corn. The result could potentially be the utilization of vast tracts of Nevada, for example, for intensive food production that would have been extremely difficult to impossible given the vast periods of time that would be necessary for selective breeding to accomplish the same goal.

An example of a plant-animal hybrid gene is an anti-freeze gene taken from fish that was added to tobacco and potatoes to avoid frost damage. Genetic engineering can also be used to enhance a plant’s resistence to disease, insects, chemical exposures (such as herbicides) and so on.

The most tauted example of a benefit and apparent success of genetically modified food crops is so-called “golden rice,” a rice variant that is genetically altered, through the addition of daffodil and bacterium genes, to contain high amounts of Vitamin A (Wikipedia – Genetically Modified Food). Another particularly tempting benefit has been the genetic engineering of poplar trees to remove heavy metal contamination from polluted soils.

Are Genetically Modified Foods Safe?

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Farm Sanctuaries Offer Fun Volunteering Opportunities

Summer is a great time to start volunteering.  With increased hours of daylight, there’s more time to do charity work and now more than ever is a great time to give back.  There are countless opportunities to get your hands dirty while helping a cause.

Are you an animal lover?   There are many ways to help animals in need, and farm sanctuaries are one of them.

Last weekend I toured Peaceful Prairie, a farm sanctuary 50 miles east of Denver.  Farm sanctuaries rescue abused and exploited animals and give them a life of freedom and care.  These sanctuaries will care for the animal for the rest of its life.  The tour began at the main house, which demonstrated a vegan grocery store.  Vegans don’t eat any animal products; no dairy, honey, butter, milk, cheese, eggs, etc.  They believe that the vegan lifestyle is the only one that can ensure no animal harm or exploitation.  Some think that eating vegan can be very expensive because the processed faux meats and soy yogurts are a little more pricey.  However, most healthy vegans I know, including myself, eat in a way that costs less.  For instance, most dinners include veggies, a grain (bought in bulk), and beans.  All of those are healthy and inexpensive ingredients.

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Get Down to the Farmer’s Market

Do you know someone who gleefully thrusts fruit and vegetables at you to taste?  They burst into the office Monday morning, talking about their great finds at their local farmer’s market, practically shaking you to try their latest fruit or veggie.  When you submit to trying their find, they stare at you with wide eyes, relishing your every chew.  And when you finish and smile, they nod and smile proudly as if they invented that tomato or apple.

Are you that person?
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Paul L. Newman, Organic Food Pioneer and Philanthropist

Paul Newman is a humble philanthropist, Oscar-winning actor, and, to many in my generation, well-know for the tasty salad dressings and pasta sauces we see on grocery shelves.  With his Newman’s Own brand, he helped bring organic food to mainstream America during the past two decades–long before Whole Foods Market and the organics aisle were in vogue.

Mr. Newman started the company with writer A.E. Hotchner in 1982, and since then has grown a highly popular brand with a devoted following.   Read more