Elisa's Green Scene

With holidays approaching, natural stomach-ache remedies seem timely

From Treehugger.com: Five Natural Fixes for a Stomach-Ache

I think I've probably tried the peppermint or chamomile tea approach before without noticing tremendous results, but the use of cayenne, ginger and fennel is new on me, and may take a leap of faith to try, since I'm no ginger or fennel fan.

[Oh, spoiler alert: Those are the five natural fixes I listed right there. But please do still click through for more detail.]

Have you tried any of these natural remedies for intestinal issues? What works for you?

A better way to microwave popcorn?

Spotted this new microwave popcorn product on the Whole Foods blog.

They're only available in the Northeast right now, but this product has a lot of reasons to get behind it:

1. Husband and wife team created product
2. No leeching chemicals in the bag
3. No hydrogenated oils
4. No artificial flavorings
5. Organic corn kernels from family farms
6. Non-GMO
7. Partially funded by Whole Foods's Local Producer Loan Program.

It almost sounds too hippy dippy good to be true, doesn't it?

Sadly, not in California, and no indication of when it might be, but I thought I'd just make a little note to myself to keep an eye out for this product. And if you live up in the Northeast, check it out.

 

Shopping Site to Check Out: Ethical Ocean

Ever since hip & zen shut down, I haven't really fonud my replacement shopping site for all things, well, hip and zen. I have lots of vegan shopping resources, which I mostly troll for shoes, handbags and belts, but not so much the wider array of green, eco-friendly, fair trade and similarly ethically inclined products.

So now I'm checking out this site: Ethical Ocean. Their mission is to share products that are Good for People, Good for Animals, and/or Good for the Environment. And you can sort each product category by whichever of those three worthy goals is most important to you. I like that part.

They've got Matt & Nat handbags on sale, among other Fashion products.

They've got vegan chocolate, among other food and drink products.

And elecontrics, and home & garden, and pet stuff. Just a bunch of stuff!

So, bookmarked for me, and perhaps a new source for all things hip and zen.

Have any of you shopped there? How was the service?

Vegan MoFo over at Veggie Goes Vegan

I occasionally post vegan stuff here...I do believe going veg is one of the most powerful personal acts you can make to be more environmentally responisble...but I am currently doing something that might be a bit over the top. I'm participating in Vegan MoFo (even though I joined in too late to make it on their official blog roll).

I am trying to blog something vegany every weekday. Sometimes it's recipes, sometimes restaurant meals, sometimes news.

If you're interested you can join me on Veggie Goes Vegan.

 

Cross-post: Interview with Clean Foods Author Terry Walters

I interviewed author Terry Walters in honor of the kick-off of World Vegetarian Month and Vegan MoFo.

She had so much interesting information to share about food and health. And we covered a bonus topic: How she self-published her first book and subsequently was picked up by a traditional publisher!

Enjoy.

Awesome Heirlooms on Martha Stewart

Martha Stewart had a segment this week on the Heirloom Expo and expressly advised her audience to look for organic, and if you can't get organic get foods that say they do not include GMO seeds. She featured folks who were clearly slamming Monsanto and the other Big Ag companies who are more and more controlling our food supply.

She also had a vegan episode featuring +Biz Stone earlier this year.

The current BlogHer Book Club book is Lunch Wars around the school lunch issue (http://www.blogher.com/bookclub/now-reading-lunch-wars). 

There are now so many mainstream trendsetters who care about these issues...people you know by first name only: Oprah, Ellen, Martha. Not to mention best-selling authors and personalities like Jamie Oliver, Kathy Freston and Terry Walter. There is so much mainstream interest in changing the way food is produced and brought to market in this country. And what we enable people across ages, geography and income levels to eat.

What will it take to see policy change? Because it's government policy that's behind much of the food injustice in the U.S.

Cross-post: BlogHer.com interview with Kathy Freston

Interviewed Kathy Freston for BlogHer. She's awesome:

http://www.blogher.com/interview-talking-health-oprah-and-veganism-author-kathy-freston

This week's trip to the Farmer's Market

So, I didn't actually buy any produce today, because I'm traveling most of the next three weeks, and there's no sense letting good produce go to wast.

however, I did take some shots of beautiful produce...the season is starting here in California, and the Farmer's Market is a wonderful (and completely free) way to capture a spirit of abundance!

I've never cooked with purple asparagus, but considering I love asparagus and the color purple: It's on my list to do!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I've also never cooked with chard, of any color, but this yellow chard called out to me.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finally, who doesn't love carrots? Especially cheery ones with their greenery still attached!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sadly, all I bought today was a loaf of bread for my S.O. for while I'm gone, and some vegan high-protein bars. I won't be back at the market for another 3-4 weeks probably, but I think it's bound to be even more bountiful and beautiful then.

And I'm going to fill my basket!!

What did you buy at the market this weekend?

Ruth Reichl on food policy (via BlogHer)

I haven't ranted about it in a while, but one of the hottest button issues for me is that fact that U.S. policy sends the very clear message that poor people are lesser people. The combination of food policy that makes eating healthily and affordably more challenging than it should be, and health care policy that is sub-standard to any other industrialized nation, this is the message: If you are poor it is OK if you get sicker and die younger and quicker. 

So, obviously the final piece of my BlogHer colleague Elaine Wu's interview with former Gourmet EIC Ruth Reichl resonated with me:

ELAINE: As a parent, what do you think about the current debate about how we’re feeding our children in this country?

RUTH: We’ve allowed our children to be addicted to fat, salt and sugar and we’re not holding companies accountable. In Japan, kids eat fish and rice for breakfast and Americans eat sugary pastries. Eating is learned behavior. This is the biggest crisis we face in this country. We have a two tier diet in this country. If you’re poor you’re stuck with what we call “food” and we need to fix it. You can debate it till the cows come home, but there is no debate.

I hope people interpret Reichl's use of the word "we" as I do: We, as in we who elect officials. We, as in we who make decisions every day on how we spend our money. We, as in we who should be accountable for our personal choices, but should also hold our government accountable for making the concept of "choice" so much less empowering for lower income families. 

I was due for a food policy rant, so there it is. Thanks Ms. Reichl. And thanks Elaine for asking her the question. :)

 

Why Farmer's Markets = Good. Did you go to one this weekend?

Farmer's Markets should be a weekend activity for anyone who has one nearby.

They can inspire you to try new foods. For example, I never tried the following until I started going to Farmer's Market's regularly: Persimmons, Blood Oranges, Kale, Collards, Leeks, etc. 

They can make you more aware of where your food comes from.

They get you out and about in the sunshine and fresh air...or today the misty cloudiness, but you know, whatevs.

The list goes on.

And sometimes, they can just inspire you with how beautiful fresh food can be. Check out this bee-yoo-tiful arugula radicchio:

Nom nom nom, right? And I'm not even a huge arugula radicchio fan!

I just wanted to share this picture, because i found the piles of beautiful arugula radichhio inspiring.

Find a Farmer's Market near you.

Or use one of these apps to find one.

Bring your appetite, imagination...and your camera.