The Dirty Dozen and the Clean Fifteen
Posted: June 28, 2010 Filed under: Budgeting, Food, Health, shopping Leave a comment
I’m not really interested in debating about should we or shouldn’t we eat organic foods. I know that pesticides are labeled as a poison by the DOT, which is why certain vehicles (i.e. passenger aircraft) cannot transport them, but we put them on food? People who work closely with pesticides have a number of health problems. The list goes on and on. I believe the evidence proves that it’s something that we need to be doing, but the practicality is still not there for all of us to eat 100% organic. Is there anyone out there that does eat all organic and still has money in their pocket?
I do like the idea of focusing on the foods that have the most pesticides and making sure those are organic. This is where the “Dirty Dozen” list comes in. These are the foods that tested highest in pesticide residues. It makes sense to buy these organic. The “Clean 15” are the foods that have the lowest levels of pesticides, so buying these conventional won’t hurt.
Here’s something to keep in mind. These lists change, so you have to keep checking them to see what’s shifted. I found that interesting. I don’t know if these lists take into account the country where the produce was grown. That’s something I would think makes the list shift dramatically. I also make sure that any animal products I choose to consume are from organic sources. That doesn’t seem to be on the dirty list.
Still, I’ll be keepping these lists in my purse for easy reference. And I’ll be looking into doing a garden again, because the only way to ensure you eat organic is to grow food yourself.
Print and cut out guide from Foodnews.org
Full list of common fruits and veggies tested
Are there other uses for paper plates?
Posted: June 22, 2010 Filed under: Fitness, Health Leave a comment
You bet!
Ever heard of the Glider Workout?
It’s killer! So effective. Those little glider discs are pretty pricey though! Paper plates work great instead.
I even found some of the plastic dinner plates in the house from a party we had, and I like those even better. If you’re careful with them, they last for a good long while.
Here’s a good video to get you started.
The sexiest bean dishes!
Posted: April 1, 2010 Filed under: Cooking, Food, Health, Uncategorized Leave a comment
There was no survey done or a poll taken. These are the dishes the “I” think are sexy.
It’s time for beans to be more than cheap food. Beans can be transformed into lots of dishes that have flavor, texture and variety all while helping you keep more of your money in your pocket.
Just look at all of the things you can make with them:
1. Hummus-no real surprise here, right? The magic happens when you make your own and add all kinds of deliciousness, like roasted red peppers, roasted garlic, caramelized onions, or wasabi. Make your own pita or tortilla chips.
2. Dhal-To me, this is how soup made with bean should be.
3. Black Bean Brownies-Beans? In brownies? You would never guess! These brownies are that good!
4. Mango and Black Bean Salsa-Quit buying that crap in the jar!
5. Strawberry daifuku-Hey, that strawberry is in there for a reason!
6. Panisse-The best fries make out of chickpea flour. You will not believe how incredibly good these are!
7. Falalel-You have not had good falafel until you have made your own. The stuff in the box will never come close.
Your personal health care system overhaul
Posted: March 28, 2010 Filed under: Fitness, Health Leave a comment
Since we are on the verge on a new era in health care, I thought it would be a good time to kick off this blog with a fresh post.
We all are well aware that we need a system wide overhaul of the health care system. We know it doesn’t work the way it is. Finally, something is being done about the disparities that exist. My heart goes out to all of those that are in need of a health care system that addresses their needs.
However….
We are also in need of a personal overhaul of our own health care system. I’m talking about the things that we do personally to take care ourselves.
We have got to stop blaming our schedule, our family, the tv, our job, or our lack of money for the reasons that we don’t take care of ourselves. Excuses are lame! Self care just has to be a priority. If we don’t make it a priority while we are healthy, the priority will become paying the huge hospital bill. Paying someone else to take care of you is not frugal. Or sexy.
My own personal self care plan has just four components:
1. Get enough sleep!
2. Exercise regularly!
3. Drink enough water!
4. Eat quality food!
Lack of sleep opens the door for other health problems to creep in. Your immune system doesn’t work optimally, you more apt to make decisions that are not very wise because your brain is not sharp, and your more likely to make mistakes that could be avoided if you are refreshed. I’ve had to sacrifice tv and internet time. Sleep is just more important.
Exercising regularly has really decreased my stress and we all know what stress does to the body! I’ve been sticking to my routine by doing exercise that I love, and doing a variety of activities.
It’s amazing to me how little water people actually drink. They’ll pay premium prices for coffee, sodas, champagne, or beer. I know some people who don’t drink water at all! Say what? I’m not giving any formula, just drink enough water so that when you hit porcelain, everything runs clear!
You might think this is impossible, but I eat very little processed food. Even when I travel. It’s totally doable. I make one day on a weekend my marathon cooking day. I make a lot of gluten free, sugar free food, stick it in the freezer, then reheat and add my fresh ingredients. I always have something at the ready, so that I don’t have to entertain the idea of fast food. A little planning goes a very long way.
You’ve maybe heard all of this before, but it’s not enough to hear it. You have to DO it. Taking care of the basics, or (to put it another way) building a good foundation, takes care of 95% of the problems.
Crazy Sexy Frugal 