Tag Archives: Genetically modified food

November 14, 2012 · 9:27 am

Label Whore

You probably think I’m going to start talking about designer duds. Not here and not now! No, it’s been far too long since I’ve written to you folks and I’ve got more important things to get off my chest.

Lately, I’ve been wallowing in the misery of Prop 37 going down in flames…

Yes, I had truly hoped that the labeling of GMOs would actually happen for California. Well, now it seems there might still be a way.

I got a little email from MoveOn.org with the following:

“According to investigative journalist Jon Rappoport, more than one million votes on Prop 37 (the GMO labeling initiative) in California have gone uncounted to date. Since the margin of “victory” is about 600,000 votes, this means Prop 37 may conceivably have passed.

Rappoport called the voter registrar offices in the largest California counties and nearly 1.7 million votes remain uncounted in Santa Clara, Los Angeles, San Diego, and Orange Counties alone. It is still unknown how many votes are uncounted in other California counties.”

Join with me in getting these votes counted!

Sign the petition now!

And in the meantime, you can look out for GMOs on your own. Food is labeled in many ways, so check out my safe shopping tips below…

Tip #1:
Check the label on your produce! Organic starts with 9, conventional starts with 4, and GMO starts with 8.

Tip #2:
Watch out for soy and corn. 90% of soy and 85% of corn are genetically modified. Look for ingredients like soybean oil, soy lecithin, and anything with corn in it. If you’re eating non-organic, processed food, you should count on those ingredients being genetically modified.

Tip #3:
Check lists! Click here for a great one that names a lot of names.

I’ve missed you folks and I promise to be back again soon!

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Filed under GMO, Health, Tips and Tricks

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October 4, 2012 · 9:09 am

No More Cheeri-(GM)Os!

That’s right. I finally weened The Husband off GMO-tastic Cheerios. They have that ubiquitous “Whole Grain” stamp on them, but they’re loaded with GMOs. So I can’t stress to you enough how huge this was for me.

HUGE.

How’d I do it?

As always, I’m so glad you asked.

Answer: BABY STEPS!!!

It was, at times, a bit tricky. The husband was not always thrilled. But after trying countless organic cereals to a less than enthusiastic response, we finally found some honey flakes that worked great. I was happy.

But then I thought I’d try one more thing…

…because box cereals are still processed and there are healthier options out there…

So what’s he eating now?

That’s just the best damn part.

He’s now eating and loving…drumroll, please…

HUBBY OATS!

(It ain’t so pretty but it’s oh-so-tasty)

Ingredients (all organic)

1/3 cup of Old Fashioned Rolled Oats 
1/4 cup-ish of homemade cashew milk (basically, just enough to wet the oats without being really wet and sloshy)
1 tsp of chia seeds
2 tbsp of raisins
1 tbsp of dried currants
2 dried figs (he asked for more of those without even knowing – didn’t see that one coming!)
1/2 banana
1 tbsp of organic peanut butter 
1 tbsp of chopped walnuts
1 tsp of coconut sugar
a sprinkle of salt
shakes of cinnamon 

What Do I Do?
Put it all in a bowl and mix it up. No heating necessary. Serve.

You could add berries, hemp seeds, different nuts. The sky’s kind of the limit on this one. And it’s so easy being a one-pot-dish. Have fun with it and report back on what you add in!

Speaking of baby steps, if you’re a mom or mom-to-be looking for help in getting healthier for you and your kids (or kids-to-be!), contact me. Initial consultations are always free!

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Filed under Baby Steps, Coconut, GMO, GMO-free, Health, One Pot Dish, Organic, Recipe, Superfoods, Victories

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August 28, 2012 · 9:28 am

Cutting Corners

It’s best to eat whole foods, which are foods in their natural state. I’m talking about fruits, vegetables, nuts, legumes, meat, fish, eggs…foods like that. These are foods that have not been processed beyond recognition. These are foods with one ingredient, that come from nature.

But we all have a lot going on. Sometimes it’s just too much work to cook up a fresh meal every time. Am I right?

This is why so many people turn to packaged foods. They’re easy, ready-to-go, and last an eternity in your car or bag. Of course, that “lasting an eternity” thing is the problem – they’ve got all kinds of scary chemicals in there that allow them to do that. Don’t even get me started on what those chemicals are doing to your body…

I get that we only have 24 hours in the day. And if there’s too much prep involved, we’re less likely to eat that particular food. So here’s the healthy way I cut corners so that I eat the right foods:

1. Kale Salad

Buying local is best, and cutting your veggies on the spot is best, but with this pre-cut bag of organic kale, I’m getting kale that’s ready to go, along with carrots and cabbage. Saves me a lot of time in prep + 3 whole ingredients in one = Very Helpful.

2. Quick Oats

Sure, steel cut oats are best, but like many of you, I need to expedite my breakfast, so quick oats it is for me. Whole Foods 365 brand makes a great organic option that is ready to go in just a few minutes – cooking isn’t even necessary! Make cold or hot and let them sit for a couple of minutes to let them soak and you’re good to go.

3. Coleman Naturals The Original Brat Hans Cooked Chicken Breast Strips

Now, I don’t know how many places are carrying this – could be a very new product – and I don’t know what is going on with that name, but I just found it at my local Whole Foods in Silicon Valley and it’s great. This is a package of pre-cooked organic chicken breast with a bit of salt, pepper, and onion and garlic powders. That’s it. No preservatives. Throw ’em on salads, sandwiches, or eat right out of the package. Easy. Tasty.

4. Eden Organics Canned Beans

Ideally, you want to buy dried (not canned) beans and soak them. It’s healthier because they’re fresher, cans have BPA, and the contents of cans typically contain a lot of additives. There is one exception: Eden Organics. Their cans are bpa-free and there are no nasty ingredients. GMO-free since 1993, and one of the last independently owned organic companies, this is one company I’m happy to support.

For snack ideas (not exactly 1 ingredient whole foods, but healthy packaged options for on-the-go, quick refueling), check out some of my older posts:

Food Finds, Part 1 and Part 2
In a Pinch
“I Think There’s Something To This Whole Organic Thing…”

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Filed under BPA, Chicken, GMO-free, Health, Organic, Product Review, Products, Snacks, Tips and Tricks, Vegetables

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May 15, 2012 · 10:47 am

Victory

The hubby announced this morning:

“My weight is down again. It keeps dropping! It just feels better to eat real food. It just does. You can put that in your blog.”

Well, hon, I will. Because it’s a victory for the hubby! And a victory for Health Coach Jillian!

Here’s a little background for you followers who don’t know the hubby. He is from Ohio. Land of meat and potatoes. (No offense, Ohio ;). ) When I met him, he had cabinets full of Pop Tarts and a fridge full of diet soda. Vegetables were not in abundance.

Now he puts chia seeds in his cereal. He eats organic meat and organic lettuce on whole wheat bread. He eats salads with organic, gmo-free dressing. He eats organic peanut butter and organic jelly. He had an 18 Rabbits granola bar for the first time today. And liked it. And that was on the heels of celery and pistachios. For breakfast. He now eats most of his meals at home. He has come a long way. But I want to stress that this was no overnight change – he is where he is now after making many small changes over time. And that is the best way to do it. Remember the baby steps?

These days, if he goes off the wagon and eats something not so healthy, he deals with the aftermath. He tastes those cheap ingredients and artificial flavors for the rest of the day. I helped to lay the groundwork and now he’s devoted to being healthier because he sees how much better it feels. It’s not like he’ll never eat Chinese food again because that’s his favorite. But he’ll think twice before he eats it. It’s a rare occurrence. And that’s the key.

I am proud of him and for anyone who makes positive changes. If you do it, you reap the rewards. If you don’t, you will suffer the consequences, which may look a bit like fatigue or acid reflux, bloating or a bad taste in your mouth, stomach problems or something much worse. This isn’t meant to scare you. This is meant to show you that taking control of your health can have such a positive impact on your daily living. And when your wife is also happy with what you’ve done…well, you can’t put a price on that! 😉

Question of the Day:
What great news did you get this week?

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Filed under Artificial Flavors, Baby Steps, GMO-free, Organic

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