Organic vs. conventionally grown produce

I always recommend avoiding fruits and vegetables grown with pesticides--especially for children. Studies have linked the consumption of produce treated with pesticides to birth defects, neuroblastoma (an increasingly common brain cancer), leukemia in children, and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, among other health problems. Children are especially susceptible because they eat 2 to 4 times more produce than adults relative to their body weight and exposure occurs as their organs and bones are still growing.

Organic produce is better nutritionally as well. Studies published by the Organic Center (http://www.organiccenter.org/) found higher antioxidant levels in organic produce and some research suggests that they maybe higher in vitamins A and E as well.

Many people feel they can't afford to buy all organic food. If you have to pick and choose, check out the lists put out by the Environmental Working Group (http://www.ewg.org/). They have a list of the "dirty dozen" (conventional crops with the highest pesticide levels). These are the ones to be sure to buy organic. They also provide a list of "consistenly clean" produce--foods with the lowest pesticide levels that don't necessarily have to buy organic.

Dirty Dozen

Peaches
Apples
Sweet bell peppers
Celery
Nectarines
Strawberries
Cherries
Lettuce
Grapes (imported)
Pears
Spinach
Potatoes


Consistently Clean

Onions
Avocados
Sweet corn (frozen)
Pienapples
Mangoes
Sweet peas (frozen)
Asparagus
Kiwi
Bananas
Cabbage
Broccoli
Eggplant

What's wrong with milk?

Check out this video about milk: http://www.vegfamily.com/vegtube/index.htm

The Cost of Steak

Check out this great commentary in the LA Times called "The Cost of Steak: Factory farms produce cheap meat, until you consider the reivers of sewage, the contaminants and the superbugs" by Paul Roberts, author of the book "The End of Food."

View it at : http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oe-roberts23-2008aug23,0,1032529.story

Stevia-sweetened diet soda

For those of you familiar with my blog and writing, I don't recommend the use of artificial sweeteners (more info here). Well, for those of you who really want a diet soda, Virgils has just come out with a stevia-sweetened diet cola. It has 6 calories and no artifical sweeteners. I tried it and it tastes pretty much like the diet soda I remember from my soda drinking days.

Help eating more fruits and veggies

Check out this web site: http://www.fruitsandveggiesmorematters.org/ . There are ideas for getting your kids to eat more fruits and veggies plus fun recipes to make with kids. Also, recipes for locavores (those trying to eat local produce) - plus some good links.

It's Official!

I just signed a contract with Book Publishing Company to publish my new nondairy,vegan ice cream cookbook. The plan is to have it out in time to make ice cream in summer, 2009! I'm very excited about this book--it's a comprehensive book of ice creams, sherbets, sorbets plus lots of yummy ice cream cakes, pies, bars, sandwiches, popsicles, sauces, toppings, and mix-ins--all completely dairy-free!

Is cow's milk necessary for kids?

Though I differ with many dieticians, I don't believe kids need milk after they're weaned. My two daughters drink only water and they are strong healthy girls. We get our calcium from almonds/almond butter, kale and other leafy greens, brocolli, blackstrap molasses, beans and legumes, tofu, sea vegetables, and lots of other plant sources.

Here's a good article about cow's milk and calcium: http://mothering.com/sections/experts/palmer-archive.html#cowsmilk