Special Packaging - Better for the Planet

<span style="font-size: large;">I want to tell you about a package I received the other day and show you pictures - but first I have to talk about the product I ordered and perhaps offer a little disclaimer.. AND there's a discount code for you if your interested.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">   I have probably mentioned Waldens Farms in the blog, and I most definitely have talked about it on my You Tube channel.  The products I use are 'calorie free' salad dressings, chocolate and pancake syrup, a peanut spread, apple jelly, and caramel, chocolate and marshmallow dips.  Note that the 'calorie free' tag can be misleading. If a product has less than 5 calories per the serving size listed (not the one you want it to be) then the company can advertise it as calorie free - but only water is <u>truly</u> calorie free.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">   I like the Walden Farms products.  I don't use much of the dips and spreads because when I use more than a teaspoonful -ish I sense a little after taste.  The products are highly processed or filtered such that the main ingredient is water. Of course, all the flavorings they use are FDA approved, but you know how that goes.  The main thing I wanted to point out before I promote them is that they contain artificial sweeteners (splenda - sucralose).</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">   Aspartame, saccharine and sucralose have been the subject of much study and debate - including what I have contributed in these pages. As far as we know, in the amounts that we consume them, they are not harmful. But I must admit that our ability to detect problems through scientific methods only gets better with time and it could be that the substances are not safe. In the past, the way they studied them was to give ridiculously huge amounts to animals that weighed between 5 and 15 pounds.  At extreme doses, the animals got sick or died. In doses more likely to be consumed by people, the animals did not have any problems.  Remember, many things are okay in small doses, like alcohol, but toxic otherwise.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">   Certainly there is anecdotal evidence (stories) about people who used large amounts of aspartame or saccharin for many years and who seem to have gotten sick for no other reason then the sweeteners.  There are also people who have allergic reactions to sweeteners - people have allergic reactions to peanuts too, but peanuts are not bad for the rest of us.  I would expect, but this is far from scientific, that the air we breathe on bad ozone days is worse for us than these sweeteners.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">   Still, my use of artificial sweeteners seems to contradict my stance on health - and by way of comparison, my view on mercury.  I won't eat canned tuna because it has too much mercury - but I drink diet soda.  I too am guilty of not wanting to hear things that will challenge my lifestyle.  So I have a bias or blind side when it comes to artificial sweeteners... not that there is any definitive research that says they are bad.. certainly they are not good  - but neither is sugar.  At least, I am honest in my bias, many researchers are not.  </span>(You have to make your own decision about whether to use sweeteners or sugar for that matter - just remember that the best evidence we have today or had yesterday might be contradicted tomorrow.  That means we are getting better at science not worse!)<br /><span style="font-size: large;">   SO  - YAY, I found a great place to order my beloved Walden Farms products - cheaper than the grocery store (where they are hard to find in some states).  I was able to get free shipping too, but the best part was how they were shipped.  See picture below.  No styrofoam peanuts or plastic - I was delighted.  And they also gave me a coupon code to share with my friends.. you are my friends, yes?  </span><br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUHswbkhihyHhhsNEPDLDwZHGFYvZwv61jbqFU2i0lm2iqQGtdzeOshEFJvz9_mqJAl924tpVEMvsZhbRndvWNe3vfjNqZN8gwmcU-HhG0UyqEDRwcFLAactBtyIpL7c-1R5oIOxgtKkuL/s1600/shipping.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUHswbkhihyHhhsNEPDLDwZHGFYvZwv61jbqFU2i0lm2iqQGtdzeOshEFJvz9_mqJAl924tpVEMvsZhbRndvWNe3vfjNqZN8gwmcU-HhG0UyqEDRwcFLAactBtyIpL7c-1R5oIOxgtKkuL/s1600/shipping.jpg" width="335" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All of the packaging was recyclable!</td></tr></tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif4gEyTOnP5ZlQ70ws1zQwbVrMBBFhUFT9c8EoRMfnpXGYRIraMT3zR3FABWFWFrshiVHE8uVqCGit5RJBQaYEBpcyriN5Ivr3Bh-VQL_KYcf8QGSwnAWzNH27xi7L7XaKUaz1Gk_8eEHG/s1600/Waldens.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif4gEyTOnP5ZlQ70ws1zQwbVrMBBFhUFT9c8EoRMfnpXGYRIraMT3zR3FABWFWFrshiVHE8uVqCGit5RJBQaYEBpcyriN5Ivr3Bh-VQL_KYcf8QGSwnAWzNH27xi7L7XaKUaz1Gk_8eEHG/s1600/Waldens.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">My Walden Favorites!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">The company from which I ordered the Walden Farms products is iHerb.com</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">To get $5 to $10 off an order, use this code: DNZ646</span>

Special Packaging - Better for the Planet

I want to tell you about a package I received the other day and show you pictures - but first I have to talk about the product I ordered and...

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NonDairy - Good Fat - No Sugar - Low Calories

<span style="font-size: large;">   In my blog, I am more likely to make food 'group' recommendations than product recommendations - my most well known product rec being  Smuckers All Natural Peanut Butter. </span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">   Today I will share the labels of two products - two brands, in one category that I<b> do</b> highly recommend.  Almond Milk. There is a continuing controversy over dairy products, esp. milk and if you are not allergic to nuts, this is a fantastic alternative.  It is better for several reasons.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">   The reasons are calories, sugar and fat.  Taste may not be among the plus factors, because I am  suggesting the unsweetened versions ONLY.  Please don't go for the sweetened as those just add sugar. <span style="font-size: large;">However, using the almond milks in recipes, cereal and coffee as opposed to drinking it straight is what I have in mind.  It is really best not to drink our calories anyways.</span></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">   Below are two labels.  One brand doesn't break down their fat content but both of them have fat without saturated fat.  Therefore,  the grams are all GOOD fat.  Please understand, there <u>IS</u> good fat and you need it.  These products give you healthy fat with calcium and without sugar.  The calorie content is very low.  The calories are half that of the same serving size of skim milk (90c).  The serving size is NOT small - it is one cup.   BTW, whole milk has ~140 cals, 2% ~ 130s, 1% ~110s.  Full disclosure - almond milk pales in comparison to skim milk with regard to protein.  Still, protein is not one of the nutrients that Americans lack so you'll be fine.</span></span><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj99XIKHry-VFcd5cth-_Tg8rMD3vLr8BYBFbElPnYgFed72kal4wAWP7J_MSbkPPofROFB2WxmW_TZoQvluIsEi73MDkDGNkEL0B1KP7znI85ttpN8064P-PLc84oo-mwrsYuTfJdG60OL/s1600/AlmondBreeze.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj99XIKHry-VFcd5cth-_Tg8rMD3vLr8BYBFbElPnYgFed72kal4wAWP7J_MSbkPPofROFB2WxmW_TZoQvluIsEi73MDkDGNkEL0B1KP7znI85ttpN8064P-PLc84oo-mwrsYuTfJdG60OL/s1600/AlmondBreeze.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;">This is Almond Breeze.  It has better amounts of Good Fat</span>. <span style="font-size: small;"></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtJXAb-i_AzPdD_09TANwA7pWsZ-pZtqy7YEjQxRw8WFgMKGxz3iGcRbdok4JfW1UcmdXJTOK4edu467r98-eddzv-dAWcHNJDlapLRUhlfltl8McYdRjPBkDfOMt947qzulwg09FRUclU/s1600/Silk_Almond.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtJXAb-i_AzPdD_09TANwA7pWsZ-pZtqy7YEjQxRw8WFgMKGxz3iGcRbdok4JfW1UcmdXJTOK4edu467r98-eddzv-dAWcHNJDlapLRUhlfltl8McYdRjPBkDfOMt947qzulwg09FRUclU/s1600/Silk_Almond.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">This is  Silk Pure Almond - More Expensive but better Calcium Percentage</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtJXAb-i_AzPdD_09TANwA7pWsZ-pZtqy7YEjQxRw8WFgMKGxz3iGcRbdok4JfW1UcmdXJTOK4edu467r98-eddzv-dAWcHNJDlapLRUhlfltl8McYdRjPBkDfOMt947qzulwg09FRUclU/s1600/Silk_Almond.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">I use almond milk in my oat bran, my cake and cereal bar recipes, and when I make sugar free instant pudding.</span><br /><br />

NonDairy - Good Fat - No Sugar - Low Calories

   In my blog, I am more likely to make food 'group' recommendations than product recommendations - my most well known product rec b...

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Wellness Weekly with Video

<div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#996633;">The News:<br /><br /><strong>Outrageous:</strong> These three issues were particularly unnerving to me this week. Two are commercials and the other was a news ad. The first commercial encourages moms to buy their kids a drink in a box called Fruitables. The USDA food guide recommends very little in the way of juice or any drink other than skim milk (recommending instead water and non caloric beverages). The reason juices are not recommended is because they do not contain the natural fiber that fruits and vegetables do. Fiber helps to regulate the sugar in fruit so it is not something that will spike blood sugar and cause an immediate and abrupt insulin response. Children, all of us, need to eat our fruits and vegetables not drink them. The second ad is for a supplement or herbal remedy that is supposed to naturally lower one’s “bad or LDL” cholesterol. That I doubt its effectiveness almost goes without saying, but what peeved me was the statement that it was a natural way of lowering the cholesterol. It is a synthesized processed something in a pill. That is not natural. The natural way to lower ones bad cholesterol is through diet and exercise. Think, walking and eating those cereal bars. The last outrage, or so I thought, was an article regarding tobacco companies’ move to increase the cost of cigarettes before the federal tax increase would force them to. In fact, the maker of Marlboro decided to raise the price 10 cents more than is required. It appears there is no worry that the tobacco user will stop buying the product. Could that be because they know how addicting the product is and have no worry that sales will tank? This is why tobacco taxes reduce NEW use, not current use and why states have NO valid argument for not also raises the taxes… what are they afraid of, that the youth will not start using tobacco and that will be a bad thing? So I was done with the outrage section, but I forgot about last week’s grocery shopping. In the sugar/sweetener isle I saw a bag of Splenda that said “ -- grams of fiber per serving”. WHAT? They added fiber to the sugar. Good grief.. Eat some oatmeal. The only reason they did that, in my opinion, is to compete with Stevia which has naturally occurring fiber. Well, I buy neither so there.<br /><strong>Wynona:</strong> Ah, this should be in the above section to be sure. I cannot believe the younger singing Judd has become a spokesperson for a diet PILL. Worse is that she refers to Alli as safe because it is FDA approved. By doing this commercial and through that statement she implies that the pill is effective and without side effects. I doubt it is effective and know it is not without real risk. Furthermore, the pill box states that the results are related to the amount of exercise one does and the calories they consume. So, why exactly do you need the pill? Oh yes, it helps to keep some bad fat from being absorbed, so much so that the makers advise users to start the product over the weekend or take a few days off of work. Oh yeah, that sounds safe and fun too!<br /><strong>Comparative Effectiveness:</strong> update- This still looks possible while being strongly opposed by drug and medical device makers. The current stimulus package has set aside funding for this research, mentioned in previous news. The Institute of Medicine will be overseeing the studies and I for one look forward to the day that I can decide on a treatment or a medication based on these variables.<br />ByeBye Trans Fats: Another city takes action against these unnecessary fats which increase levels of LDL cholesterol. Boston’s ban includes bakeries and prohibits use of oils, shortening and margarine with partially hydrogenated vegetable oils.<br /><strong>Pills are NOT a Panacea:</strong> A report regarding heart patients in several European countries that could be generalized to American heart patients, supplies some disturbing though not surprising news. Persons taking medicines to reduce their blood pressure and lower their LDL levels are NOT changing the parts of their lifestyle that led to these problems in the first place. Well over half of them continued to have problems with these issues and were put on even more meds to treat them. The researchers are concerned that eating, physical activity and smoking factors are not addressed in this group. I have long believed that people in our country get a false sense of security from pills and are also looking for a fix that doesn’t take effort, such as eating well and exercising do. The same study found a higher incidence of obesity and diabetes in an age group comparison to 12 years ago.<br /><br />That will bring us to today’s cooking video. The point of these videos is to assist you in eating food, lots of food really, without adding non nutritive and even disease promoting extras.. like saturated FAT and sugar. Today it is a dinner, next week another baking recipe.<br /><br />The Video Ingredients:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEP6fQIp26o93BMdWtz_yNkSoO7JWaKIcTppHJnZK4CqoTFGNHFFEn_xLiLp3acpHj6S8DTytxD_bNETfJ5_9_Nmcq94MnJ8wTWo0IPmjwS6HAyU2CfKVm7RaXykDXdqpmpGRemnSm8T4D/s1600-h/quorn_logo.gif"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313158757102685282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEP6fQIp26o93BMdWtz_yNkSoO7JWaKIcTppHJnZK4CqoTFGNHFFEn_xLiLp3acpHj6S8DTytxD_bNETfJ5_9_Nmcq94MnJ8wTWo0IPmjwS6HAyU2CfKVm7RaXykDXdqpmpGRemnSm8T4D/s320/quorn_logo.gif" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 144px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 80px" /></a></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#996633;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#996633;"></span></div><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#996633;"></span></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><span style="color:#996633;"></span><a href="http://www.quorn.us/cmpage.aspx?pageid=372"><span style="color:#996633;">http://www.quorn.us/cmpage.aspx?pageid=372</span></a></span></div><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><div><br /><span style="color:#996633;">Quorn is a meat substitute and is found in the freezer section at Lowes Foods, Harris Teeter, Publix and Whole Foods: Not all Quorn products are low calorie or low fat. Choose Quorn naked cutlets or tenders<br /><br />Quorn tenders ½ to 1 cup<br />Salad (nice leaf lettuces)<br />Mushroom, red onion, tomato<br />Mrs. Dash or McCormick spices<br />Cauliflower<br />Spaghetti Squash<br />Parmesan cheese<br />Garlic and Parsley<br />Salad Dressing (I choose Waldon’s Farms or recommend Balsamic Vinegar – not vinegarette)<br />Fruit of choice (but not a high sugar one, like kiwi, banana, pineapple etc)<br /><br />Okay like I said most of my dinners have 200 cals or less and then I have dessert… </span></div><div><span style="color:#996633;"></span> </div><div><span style="color:#996633;"></span></span></div><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" class="b-hbp-video b-uploaded" frameborder="0" height="266" id="BLOGGER-video-14385414202c2fe0-17055" mozallowfullscreen="mozallowfullscreen" src="https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dw1RFOCQrtD26rCI7_2tt0gpeDPeg2Ew78n26ePq-WzwnImcZgVkDZW4eTCcSlWcKaTKRBpZG0BeWAoxQ0_jHoZr61x_BXybU_g4OwtAHXzGe1A49BHvjjNLmKKw34OllUUPO0T&origin=pre-life-crisis.blogspot.com" webkitallowfullscreen="webkitallowfullscreen" width="320"></iframe>

Wellness Weekly with Video

The News: Outrageous: These three issues were particularly unnerving to me this week. Two are commercials and the other was a news ad. The ...

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Meal Ideas

<p><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" class="b-hbp-video b-uploaded" frameborder="0" height="266" id="BLOGGER-video-8ec996a4f0dfabb6-14282" mozallowfullscreen="mozallowfullscreen" src="https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzKKkKXMHv5fMIA4tyQpoJMDt5S4id8LNkeAgI1_9o5jAm184jMqkq9gPYYph8AzYFoU-fT6EYTkMcYdW_aO9GfCeOhdU046UaJ4CiqmHKWh2cuYwY2rS0v8mYc5Miri94TvaCX&origin=pre-life-crisis.blogspot.com" webkitallowfullscreen="webkitallowfullscreen" width="320"></iframe></p><br /><p>I am beginning to create videos for the blog. My initials ones are pretty rudimentary, but they will get better. I am going to get a better camera and software and I may actually manage to get all of me in the video at some point. Note, I have nothing fancy in my kitchen and buy most of the ingredients at Walmart. This is every day stuff.. and you CAN do it.</p><iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" class="b-hbp-video b-uploaded" frameborder="0" height="266" id="BLOGGER-video-5a96574f38277651-15650" mozallowfullscreen="mozallowfullscreen" src="https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxtilKraQZBh5Hges7EBi0BhjyCNRwEUb3aaE7t6XulFvCVhrdlDAoIMsJLTrR4hjpyGzFn2AcU4ZKlua-K0n51NLviIojRIy-A1Tp9LxygcwylnmI-kWOOzp-zJTxME1SBmDsd&origin=pre-life-crisis.blogspot.com" webkitallowfullscreen="webkitallowfullscreen" width="320"></iframe>

Meal Ideas

I am beginning to create videos for the blog. My initials ones are pretty rudimentary, but they will get better. I am going to get a better ...

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