Have you been thinking about going meatless one day a week?  Would you like to join in on Meatless Mondays?

Here’s an interesting article discussing the trend…and giving a shout out to Marilu.com !!

http://www.vegancooking.com/random-stuff/are-meatless-mondays-for-you-2/

There’s some great information in there to help you make a decision about what’s right for you.

Have you thought about merging your passion with your livelihood?  Many of our coaches and members are doing just that.  Some are personal trainers, others are chefs and teachers, showing others how to set a healthy table.  Many work, either for a salary or as volunteers, with animal rights groups.  VegNews recently published a list of  employment opportunities for people who want to be involved in healthy, cruelty free pursuits.  Of course these are not local to most of you so we share them as food for thought.  Could you be involved in spreading the word, either by backing an animal friendly lifestyle if that’s where your conscience leads you, or in helping a friend to get healthy if that’s where your burden lies?

If you’re already involved in giving back let us know that. 

And stay connected to find out more in the coming days about how our coaches walk the walk !

http://www.vegnews.com/web/veg/jobs.do

http://www.vegnews.com/web/articles/page.do?pageId=3639&catId=8

We all know that having the courage of your convictions is a lot easier when you’re surrounded by others with the same convictions.  That’s how and why supportive communities like Marilu.com spring up.  Like minded people not only share ideas but cheer one another on towards our goals.

That’s a lot easier for adults than it is for kids.  If you have a school aged child who is vegetarian or vegan search out activities and organizations that will help appeal to them and show them that they are leading a pretty popular lifestyle.  VegNews has some interesting sites, blogs and newsletters that can help you find animal friendly activities in your area.

http://www.vegnews.com/web/articles/page.do?pageId=3630&catId=7

Doesn’t everyone deserve some great peer support?

Really , how many old t-shirts do you need?  We all keep a few for painting or working in the yard and after that…well what do you do with the t-shirt from the concert you went to senior year in college, or the volunteer gig at that camp last summer?  We’ve all got something that we don’t want to throw out but it doesn’t look good enough to actually WEAR anyplace. 

Follow these easy directions to make a reusable market bag. (We “stumbled upon” them…quite literally)  It’s good for the environment and gives old tees a second life.  You can even use them to throw a lunch together or a change of clothes for those fall activities that last all day.

http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/4Yedis/honestlywtf.com/diy/diy-market-bag

The Environmental Working Group reports that meat and dairy have significant environmental impact.

Americans’ appetite for meat and dairy – billions of pounds a year from billions of animals – takes a toll on our health, the environment, climate and animal welfare. Producing all this meat and dairy requires large amounts of pesticides, chemical fertilizer, fuel, feed and water. It also generates greenhouse gases and large amounts of toxic manure and wastewater that pollute groundwater, rivers, streams and, ultimately, the ocean. In addition, eating large quantities of beef and processed meats increases your exposure to toxins and is linked to higher rates of health problems, including heart disease, cancer and obesity.

[...]

Eating and wasting less meat (especially red meat) and cheese can simultaneously improve our health and reduce the climate and environmental impact of food. Choosing grass-fed, free-range, pasture-raised and/or organic products also helps to expand market demand. As the market grows, more farmers and ranchers will choose more sustainable and humane production methods, which in turn will make these products more affordable and available.

Choosing healthier, greener food is important, but significantly cutting the greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change will also require governmental action. We all need to get engaged to push for comprehensive public policies that put the nation on a path to greener energy. Reducing meat production’s negative impacts on soil, air and water will take stronger regulatory enforcement and better policies – in addition to significant changes in meat consumption habits.

~ Meat Eater’s Guide to Climate Change and Health, Environmental Working Group

The report is a goldmine of information on the impact of how we eat. Even if you’re a meat or dairy consumer, you’ll learn a few ways to make smarter choices for the planet.

Try the quiz (as a pre-test or post-test for the rest of the report), and check out the excellent graphics. Then be a smarter, healthier consumer.

We saw this while watching the Tour de France and got excited about it. It’s a water bottle you can completely wash and air dry – because the bottom comes off, too, getting rid of the one creepy thing about water bottles – the grunge factor. It was developed as a bicycle water bottle, but those of us who don’t cycle can also use it.

Brilliant.

It’s guaranteed for life; 10% of the profits are donated to green causes; and right now if you buy three, you get one free. Check it out here.

Pssst – they also have a cool t-shirt: 53 miles per burrito. Think about that the next time you want to work off dinner.

If you buy conventional (non-organic) produce, thoroughly wash it under cold running water, then scrub potatoes, peel carrots, stem strawberries, and so on. Washing reduces the amount of pesticide residue on produce by half, according to one study, and where residue remained, levels declined significantly after washing.

You don’t need a special product to wash your produce. Running water is good. If you’re concerned about not getting into the leaves, fill a sink with cold water, add a splash of distilled vinegar, and soak the produce for 5 minutes. Then rinse and spin greens dry, or pat dry with towels.

Peel any produce with a waxy finish that you can’t otherwise remove. Things like parsnips and (regular) cucumbers are almost always coated with wax.

The following lists are provided from the USDA and Environmental Working Group.

HIGHEST PESTICIDE RESIDUE * Apples, Bell & hot peppers, Carrots, Celery, Cherries, Grapes (imported), Green Beans, Nectarines, Peaches, Pears, Potatoes, Red Raspberries, Spinach, Strawberries

MODERATE PESTICIDE RESIDUE * Apricots, Blueberries, Cantaloupe, Collard Greens, Cucumbers, Grapes (domestic), Honeydew Melons, Kale, Lettuce, Mushrooms, Oranges, Sweet Potatoes, Tomatoes, Turnip Greens, Winter Squash

LEAST PESTICIDE RESIDUE * Apple Juice, Asparagus, Avocados, Bananas, Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Kiwi, Mangoes, Onions, Orange Juice, Papayas, Pineapple, Plums, Sweet Corn, Sweet Peas, Tangerines, Watermelon

The Environmental Working Group (EWG) developed a Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides that you can download to keep in your purse or wallet – or get the iPhone app.

A group of experts tested and ranked 50 popular fruits and veggies for pesticide levels and came up with the following handy list.

The Dirty Dozen – should buy organic!

1. Apples
2. Sweet bell peppers
3. Blueberries
4. Celery
5. Cherries
6. Peaches
7. Strawberries
8. Nectarines
9. Spinach
10. Collard greens/kale
11. Potatoes
12. Grapes (imported)

The Clean 15 – can buy conventional!

1. Onions
2. Avocados
3. Sweet corn (frozen)
4. Pineapples
5. Mangoes
6. Sweet peas (frozen)
7. Asparagus
8. Kiwi
9. Cabbage
10. Eggplant
11. Cantaloupe
12. Watermelon
13. Grapefruit
14. Sweet potatoes
15. Honeydew melon

The use of pesticides in farming has been linked to immune system diseases, nerve damage, and disruptions in the endocrine system, which regulates hormones and fertility.

~ Marilu Henner

How important is it to buy organic produce?
Is it worth the extra expense?

A recent article in VegNews answered these very questions. “Organically grown produce identifies a method of farming that is sustainable, earth-friendly, and pesticide-free. Several studies have found that certain nutrients including calcium, iron, vitamin C, magnesium, and phosphorus, tend to be greater in organic produce when compared to their conventional counterparts. Further, conventional produce might actually be harmful to your health. The chemicals sprayed onto the crops are potentially cancer-promoting and toxic to your central nervous system. It’s a win-win situation for your body and the planet to select organic whenever possible.”

Eating fruits and vegetables – organic or not – is of the utmost importance! Don’t avoid them because you can’t afford the organic variety. Because of strict government-mandated restraints on organic farming, production costs more which means the produce is more expensive. Use common sense when choosing organic vs. conventional. To protect yourself from the potential dangers, go organic for the following:

• Any item you intend to eat with the skin (potato, berries)
• Produce you will use the skin of (zest of citrus fruit)
• A food you consume a lot of on a regular basis