Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Is That Why You're So Happy, Howard Schultz?
Pop Quiz time: Who can tell me who Howard Schultz is? Yeah, I didn't know off the top of my head either. But after I read this article: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2016734592_starbucks11.html , I became aware that Howard Schultz is the CEO of Starbucks. And, the picture the seattle times picked to represent Mr. Schultz freaks me out. I'm pretty sure he is so happy in the picture because Starbucks just, "paid $30 million Thursday (yes, this past Thursday) to acquire a juice company called Evolution Fresh, which it plans to feature in new stores it will open next year focused on health and wellness." I had conflicting thoughts as I read this article. Of course I'm always happy to see new juiceries become popular, but then it makes me nervous that Starbucks is the one making it popular. It's like Daddy Moneybags's daughter has taken a liking to the new hippie girl at school, and she is going to take her out on the town and make her over. And the only thing that hippie girl has to loose in the process is her integrity. I'm quite sure this analogy does not make sense; but it's late, and I like granola crunchers. Is that so wrong? Ok, ok, back to my point: Maybe I'm reading this wrong, but does this sound cocky to any one else: Schultz stated, "We feel strongly that we understand the beverage business perhaps better than anyone else who's been in small-box retail,"-- Yeah, you do. That's part of why millions of people are addicted to their morning cup of joe mixed with obscene amounts of sugar and cream. But I say, if you can get consumers addicted to fresh juices the way you have enticed people to drink your delicious coffees, the world will be a better place. I'll be watching you and your freaky face Howard. You can count on it.
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Do you have Orthoexia?
When most people think of eating disorders, they think of anorexia and bulimia, right? What most people don't realize is that there are many more types of eating disorders. An eating disorder is exactly that: disordered eating, or when relationship with food is not balanced properly. For years, I have struggled with different forms of disordered eating. Not too long ago I was an Orthoexic. There are a lot of people who find a diet that works well for them and then think that EVERYONE should eat that way. Steven Bratman, MD, expounds upon orthoexia nervosa as follows:
Orthorexia begins, innocently enough, as a desire to overcome chronic illness or to improve general health. But because it requires considerable willpower to adopt a diet that differs radically from the food habits of childhood and the surrounding culture, few accomplish the change gracefully. Most must resort to an iron self-discipline bolstered by a hefty dose of superiority over those who eat junk food. Over time, what to eat, how much, and the consequences of dietary indiscretion come to occupy a greater and greater proportion of the orthorexic's day.
The act of eating pure food begins to carry pseudo spiritual connotations. As orthorexia progresses, a day filled with sprouts, umeboshi plums, and amaranth biscuits comes to feel as holy as one spent serving the poor and homeless. When an orthorexic slips up (which may involve anything from devouring a single raisin to consuming a gallon of Haagen Dazs ice cream and a large pizza), he experiences a fall from grace and must perform numerous acts of penitence. These usually involve ever-stricter diets and fasts.
This "kitchen spirituality" eventually reaches a point where the sufferer spends most of his time planning, purchasing, and eating meals. The orthorexic's inner life becomes dominated by efforts to resist temptation, self-condemnation for lapses, self-praise for success at complying with the chosen regime, and feelings of superiority over others less pure in their dietary habits.
This transference of all of life's value into the act of eating makes orthorexia a true disorder. In this essential characteristic, orthorexia bears many similarities to the two well-known eating disorders anorexia and bulimia. Where the bulimic and anorexic focus on the quantity of food, the orthorexic fixates on its quality. All three give food an excessive place in the scheme of life.
My take home message from this: Find out what foods assimilate well in your body. Recognize that what works for you might not work for others. Recognize that as you go through different stages in your life, you will probably have different dietary needs. Recognize that "messing up" just means that you had a food experiment that went very badly. Guilt will never do you any good, so just accept the decisions you make, for better or for worse.
Orthorexia begins, innocently enough, as a desire to overcome chronic illness or to improve general health. But because it requires considerable willpower to adopt a diet that differs radically from the food habits of childhood and the surrounding culture, few accomplish the change gracefully. Most must resort to an iron self-discipline bolstered by a hefty dose of superiority over those who eat junk food. Over time, what to eat, how much, and the consequences of dietary indiscretion come to occupy a greater and greater proportion of the orthorexic's day.
The act of eating pure food begins to carry pseudo spiritual connotations. As orthorexia progresses, a day filled with sprouts, umeboshi plums, and amaranth biscuits comes to feel as holy as one spent serving the poor and homeless. When an orthorexic slips up (which may involve anything from devouring a single raisin to consuming a gallon of Haagen Dazs ice cream and a large pizza), he experiences a fall from grace and must perform numerous acts of penitence. These usually involve ever-stricter diets and fasts.
This "kitchen spirituality" eventually reaches a point where the sufferer spends most of his time planning, purchasing, and eating meals. The orthorexic's inner life becomes dominated by efforts to resist temptation, self-condemnation for lapses, self-praise for success at complying with the chosen regime, and feelings of superiority over others less pure in their dietary habits.
This transference of all of life's value into the act of eating makes orthorexia a true disorder. In this essential characteristic, orthorexia bears many similarities to the two well-known eating disorders anorexia and bulimia. Where the bulimic and anorexic focus on the quantity of food, the orthorexic fixates on its quality. All three give food an excessive place in the scheme of life.
My take home message from this: Find out what foods assimilate well in your body. Recognize that what works for you might not work for others. Recognize that as you go through different stages in your life, you will probably have different dietary needs. Recognize that "messing up" just means that you had a food experiment that went very badly. Guilt will never do you any good, so just accept the decisions you make, for better or for worse.
Saturday, October 29, 2011
What the Bleep is Yo Gabba Gabba supposed to mean?
So, I'm not going to lie--the first time someone told me about Yo Gabba Gabba I wondered what kind of a parent would let their child watch a show named something that doesn't even make sense. Insanity, I tell you! Anyway, because we don't have TV, I find myself every so often letting my curiosity get the best of me and ending up at the youtube website not really knowing how I got there. Next thing I know the phrase "Yo Gabba Gabba" is typed into the search box. My kids have this weird hearing problem--if I ask them to get dressed, pick something up, get their shoes on, or make their bed they can never hear me; but, if I whisper , "who wants dessert?" or get any kind of children's video up on the computer they appear in the room within seconds. Does anyone else have children with this hearing-problem-bordering-on-super-power? Anyway, I swear this is related to nutrition--I'm just getting to that, OK? So, me and my kids found this video:
Party in my tummy
Although I may not agree with the first three food choices of chicken (most likely factory farmed), cheese, and fluorescent purple juice (that is made out of who knows what?), I really like this video. Now, any time that my kids don't want to eat something, I'll say, "but they want to go to the party in your tummy". Jasper almost always falls for it (hehe, sucker). Maybe I should have issue with the fact that Brobee is eating things that talk can talk to him, and... that alone will probably give my kids food issues later in life, but it's still cute. So, lesson for the day is this:
1. Even though the show title is nonsensical, yo gabba gabba has some cute messages.
2. Teach your kids to eat things that talk back to them (j/k, j/k, but I had to put this one in there)
Party in my tummy
Although I may not agree with the first three food choices of chicken (most likely factory farmed), cheese, and fluorescent purple juice (that is made out of who knows what?), I really like this video. Now, any time that my kids don't want to eat something, I'll say, "but they want to go to the party in your tummy". Jasper almost always falls for it (hehe, sucker). Maybe I should have issue with the fact that Brobee is eating things that talk can talk to him, and... that alone will probably give my kids food issues later in life, but it's still cute. So, lesson for the day is this:
1. Even though the show title is nonsensical, yo gabba gabba has some cute messages.
2. Teach your kids to eat things that talk back to them (j/k, j/k, but I had to put this one in there)
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
To Sue or Not To Sue
OK, read this article:
http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/business/2011/10/group-hits-general-mills-on-fruit-snack-nutrition/
If you don't feel like reading it, here is the article in summary:
"A nonprofit nutrition and health watchdog group and a California mother are at the center of a complaint that alleges General Mills misled consumers about the nutritional and health qualities of its fruit snacks including Fruit Roll-Ups and Fruit by the Foot."
My thoughts on this: although I do agree that it is wrong to advertise very unhealthy things as "healthy", I think that consumers should take responsibility as well. I mean, for goodness sake, HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO TURN A PACKAGE OVER AND CHECK THE INGREDIENTS? 10 seconds? Maybe 20 if it is a super-long list of unhealthy ingredients? It's completely ridiculous to me that someone would even consider suing for such a thing. People nowadays are apparently idiots! Even if something says, "made with real fruit" on the front, wouldn't you be a little suspicious of a product that is rolled up and can sit on the shelf for years without going bad? Just saying. So what do you think? Are consumers idiots, should General Mills have to take of the "sport pictures of fruits" off their packaging, or a little of both?
http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/business/2011/10/group-hits-general-mills-on-fruit-snack-nutrition/
If you don't feel like reading it, here is the article in summary:
"A nonprofit nutrition and health watchdog group and a California mother are at the center of a complaint that alleges General Mills misled consumers about the nutritional and health qualities of its fruit snacks including Fruit Roll-Ups and Fruit by the Foot."
My thoughts on this: although I do agree that it is wrong to advertise very unhealthy things as "healthy", I think that consumers should take responsibility as well. I mean, for goodness sake, HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO TURN A PACKAGE OVER AND CHECK THE INGREDIENTS? 10 seconds? Maybe 20 if it is a super-long list of unhealthy ingredients? It's completely ridiculous to me that someone would even consider suing for such a thing. People nowadays are apparently idiots! Even if something says, "made with real fruit" on the front, wouldn't you be a little suspicious of a product that is rolled up and can sit on the shelf for years without going bad? Just saying. So what do you think? Are consumers idiots, should General Mills have to take of the "sport pictures of fruits" off their packaging, or a little of both?
Thursday, October 13, 2011
It Has Been Way Too Long
OK, so I'll be the first to admit that I have been a total slacker about my blog. I am going to make no promises regarding the frequency of future posts, but any positive and hopeful energy you'd like to send my way will be appreciated. I wanted to post two things. First, with our society at an all-time soda drinking high, I thought this little diagram might be useful. I also want people to know that I do not think diet soda's are any better--ask me for more deets, and I'll send you the info I have on aspartame. But, back to the picture:
http://www.termlifeinsurance.org/harmful-soda-full/
Secondly, this video is completely un-health-related, but way too good to not share:
http://www.termlifeinsurance.org/harmful-soda-full/
Secondly, this video is completely un-health-related, but way too good to not share:
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Day 14 JF
DAY 14-- Augst 9, 2011
Today I consumed the nutrients from:
Vegetables:
+ 1 huge, fatty leaf/stem bok choy
+ 2 leaves cabbage
Fruits:
+ 1 apple
+ 2 peaches
+ 2 plums
+ 15 strawberries
For as little as I drank today you'd think I would've been hungry. But I actually wasn't. What'do ya know? Has anyone else ever juiced bok choy before? Yeah, I didn't think so. I wouldn't quite put it into the mustard & turnip greens category, but it's pretty close. The only word I can think of to describe the taste is funk. Maybe that's what the black-eyed peas taste like (did anyone get that reference?)
As I'm writing this my husband is making a hot fudge sunday/banana split, w/ strawberries and caramel as well. So so cruel. Today was kind of an uneventful day. I felt like I was running around all day and also did nothing at the same time. Anyone else ever felt that way? We started potty training Jasper today. He actually did pretty well. I'll keep you posted on that.
Today I consumed the nutrients from:
Vegetables:
+ 1 huge, fatty leaf/stem bok choy
+ 2 leaves cabbage
Fruits:
+ 1 apple
+ 2 peaches
+ 2 plums
+ 15 strawberries
For as little as I drank today you'd think I would've been hungry. But I actually wasn't. What'do ya know? Has anyone else ever juiced bok choy before? Yeah, I didn't think so. I wouldn't quite put it into the mustard & turnip greens category, but it's pretty close. The only word I can think of to describe the taste is funk. Maybe that's what the black-eyed peas taste like (did anyone get that reference?)
As I'm writing this my husband is making a hot fudge sunday/banana split, w/ strawberries and caramel as well. So so cruel. Today was kind of an uneventful day. I felt like I was running around all day and also did nothing at the same time. Anyone else ever felt that way? We started potty training Jasper today. He actually did pretty well. I'll keep you posted on that.
Monday, August 8, 2011
Day 13 JF
DAY 13-- Augst 8, 2011
Today I consumed the nutrients from:
Vegetables:
+ 1 carrot
+ 1 cucumber
+ 2 green leaf lettuce leaves
+ 2 kale leaves
Fruits:
+ 1 kiwi
+ 2 peaches
+ 50 small-medium red grapes
+ 8 strawberries
Man, it seems like all my juicing posts are more like confessionals. This morning when I was making the kids whole wheat muffins I may have sampled one or two finger fulls... or like, 6. I think that in my very tired brain I justified it by thinking that if it's liquid it's not as bad. Not that batter is "liquid" per-se, but you know what I'm talking about, right?
My dinner juice was cucumber-peach (which I must admit was a pleasant surprise). Naturally after Jasper tasted it he stated his all-to-predictable, "yeah... yummy". I told him the flavor he was tasting was cucumber. What he said after that was too cute: "ummm.... tu-tumber". Whatever kid, you're so adorable you can call it anything you want and I'll still be grinning from ear to ear. Okay, so maybe cheek bone to cheek bone is a better comparison, because let's be realistic-- who grins from ear to ear? Is that even possible? If so, please send pictures to Jaidab@gmail.com. (random tangent ends here)
Lessons learned today:
1. Muffin batter is not juice no matter how good it tastes.
2. Jasper's extra cute when he says "tu-tumber".
3. I'm in love with my job as a stay-at-home-mom.
4. I will be making a cucumber peach juice again.
Today I consumed the nutrients from:
Vegetables:
+ 1 carrot
+ 1 cucumber
+ 2 green leaf lettuce leaves
+ 2 kale leaves
Fruits:
+ 1 kiwi
+ 2 peaches
+ 50 small-medium red grapes
+ 8 strawberries
Man, it seems like all my juicing posts are more like confessionals. This morning when I was making the kids whole wheat muffins I may have sampled one or two finger fulls... or like, 6. I think that in my very tired brain I justified it by thinking that if it's liquid it's not as bad. Not that batter is "liquid" per-se, but you know what I'm talking about, right?
My dinner juice was cucumber-peach (which I must admit was a pleasant surprise). Naturally after Jasper tasted it he stated his all-to-predictable, "yeah... yummy". I told him the flavor he was tasting was cucumber. What he said after that was too cute: "ummm.... tu-tumber". Whatever kid, you're so adorable you can call it anything you want and I'll still be grinning from ear to ear. Okay, so maybe cheek bone to cheek bone is a better comparison, because let's be realistic-- who grins from ear to ear? Is that even possible? If so, please send pictures to Jaidab@gmail.com. (random tangent ends here)
Lessons learned today:
1. Muffin batter is not juice no matter how good it tastes.
2. Jasper's extra cute when he says "tu-tumber".
3. I'm in love with my job as a stay-at-home-mom.
4. I will be making a cucumber peach juice again.
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Day 12 JF
DAY 12-- Augst 7, 2011
Today I consumed the nutrients from:
Vegetables:
+ 1 carrot
+ 4 larges leaves of kale
Fruits:
+ 3 apples
+ 60 midnight beauty grapes
Just looking at what I drank today you probably think I starved myself. I kinda did. Sundays are hard (as I mentioned last week). We have church from 12pm-3 pm. And then I'm always talking to people afterwards. And don't even get me started on how long it takes to get 3 kids 4 & under into the car. And, my fruit and veg supply is running out. I'm overly-excited about grocery shopping tomorrow. I mean, it's probably not normal to be this charged to buy produce.
Today in church when I was taking the sacrament (you know, symbolism, the last supper and all that jazz) Ryan leans over to me and says, "you'd better write this bread in your journal". So I confess: I ate a tiny crumb of white bread today in church. Ohhhh, the shame!
We had a very unhealthy chicken enchilada casserole in our freezer that Ryan wanted to eat for dinner instead of the healthy meals that I've put in there. I don't blame him. I couldn't stand the fatty delicious smell of it cooking, so I decided to take a nap on the couch. It was a good nap. Until my little 2 1/2-year-old started jumping on me and saying, "Mommy, I wuv you". I'm not gonna lie, I like me some lovin', but I don't like little 25-pound bodies jumping on me when I'm trying to sleep. As for my dinner, Ryan made me a fruit juice slushy. It was incredibly delicious. Something about the icy texture was just what I needed. Yet another thing I've learned about juicing-- sometimes it's fun to juice things and then blend the juice with ice. I probably would have never thought to do that, so props go to the creative husband that I so sneakily snatched up 5+ years ago.
Today I consumed the nutrients from:
Vegetables:
+ 1 carrot
+ 4 larges leaves of kale
Fruits:
+ 3 apples
+ 60 midnight beauty grapes
Just looking at what I drank today you probably think I starved myself. I kinda did. Sundays are hard (as I mentioned last week). We have church from 12pm-3 pm. And then I'm always talking to people afterwards. And don't even get me started on how long it takes to get 3 kids 4 & under into the car. And, my fruit and veg supply is running out. I'm overly-excited about grocery shopping tomorrow. I mean, it's probably not normal to be this charged to buy produce.
Today in church when I was taking the sacrament (you know, symbolism, the last supper and all that jazz) Ryan leans over to me and says, "you'd better write this bread in your journal". So I confess: I ate a tiny crumb of white bread today in church. Ohhhh, the shame!
We had a very unhealthy chicken enchilada casserole in our freezer that Ryan wanted to eat for dinner instead of the healthy meals that I've put in there. I don't blame him. I couldn't stand the fatty delicious smell of it cooking, so I decided to take a nap on the couch. It was a good nap. Until my little 2 1/2-year-old started jumping on me and saying, "Mommy, I wuv you". I'm not gonna lie, I like me some lovin', but I don't like little 25-pound bodies jumping on me when I'm trying to sleep. As for my dinner, Ryan made me a fruit juice slushy. It was incredibly delicious. Something about the icy texture was just what I needed. Yet another thing I've learned about juicing-- sometimes it's fun to juice things and then blend the juice with ice. I probably would have never thought to do that, so props go to the creative husband that I so sneakily snatched up 5+ years ago.
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Day 11 JF
DAY 11-- Augst 6, 2011
Today I consumed the nutrients from:
Vegetables:
+ 1 carrot
+ 1 celery
+ 3 leaves escarole
+ 4 large kale leaves
Fruits:
+ 2 apples
+ 90 midnight beauty grapes
You'll notice that my selection was not as bountiful as it usually is. I still have plenty of stuff to juice, but it's not very varied (Can I even say very varied? You be the judge). I basically have a lot of kale, grapes, and apples left. No doubt tomorrow will show similar results since I won't be shopping again until Monday. Boo. Today was actually a really good day though. I wasn't hungry very much at all. Maybe my body has finally accepted that I'm going to be juicing for a little while longer.
I'm not sure why I think this is funny, but here it is. For every juice I make there is my little 2 1/2-year-old Jasper there wanting a taste. Without fail Jasper always takes a sip, gets a meditative look on his face, and nods his head and says, "yeah, yummy." It's so funny! My friend came over to dinner tonight (that is, she and her 2 girls ate dinner with my kids while I sat there sipping my overly-kaley juice) and I asked her if she wanted a sip. She tried it and then said, "Jaida, I don't know how you do it". Then, as if you cue, Jasper announced that he wanted some. He took a sip, got that look on his face, and then said, "yeah, yummy". After having tasted it herself, my friend was probably a little perplexed; I was just amused.
Today I consumed the nutrients from:
Vegetables:
+ 1 carrot
+ 1 celery
+ 3 leaves escarole
+ 4 large kale leaves
Fruits:
+ 2 apples
+ 90 midnight beauty grapes
You'll notice that my selection was not as bountiful as it usually is. I still have plenty of stuff to juice, but it's not very varied (Can I even say very varied? You be the judge). I basically have a lot of kale, grapes, and apples left. No doubt tomorrow will show similar results since I won't be shopping again until Monday. Boo. Today was actually a really good day though. I wasn't hungry very much at all. Maybe my body has finally accepted that I'm going to be juicing for a little while longer.
I'm not sure why I think this is funny, but here it is. For every juice I make there is my little 2 1/2-year-old Jasper there wanting a taste. Without fail Jasper always takes a sip, gets a meditative look on his face, and nods his head and says, "yeah, yummy." It's so funny! My friend came over to dinner tonight (that is, she and her 2 girls ate dinner with my kids while I sat there sipping my overly-kaley juice) and I asked her if she wanted a sip. She tried it and then said, "Jaida, I don't know how you do it". Then, as if you cue, Jasper announced that he wanted some. He took a sip, got that look on his face, and then said, "yeah, yummy". After having tasted it herself, my friend was probably a little perplexed; I was just amused.
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