How I Shop/What I Ask Myself & Today's School Lunches

Good morning!  

I don't know about you, but this weather is really messing with me.  My husband reminded me last night that it will have to get (and stay) warm...eventually.  I haven't been able to run due to other obligations & the weather. It was really starting to get me down!  I did dance last night, even though I was exhausted, and it made me feel better.  A good night's sleep helped, too!  

Here is what my kiddos took for lunch today...

I know the thermos looks empty, but it's not!  It contains creamy, nonGMO, pure coconut milk.  The kids will empty their baggie of homemade organic granola into it, having cereal and milk for lunch!  :)  They also have 1/2 a piece of GH Dakota bread (the usual 5 ingredients, plus pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, millet, & sesame seeds) w/ real butter, 1/2 an organic pear, & organic carrots w/ organic pb.

And look how cute this is...

I found this yesterday at Marc's for $.99!  I'm using it for a butter crock.  How pretty organic butter looks in there! 

My family is still taking baby steps on our chemical free-whole foods journey.  No one can do this overnight.  Taking it one small step at a time makes it more manageable and less overwhelming.  Right now, we are at the point of adding more organics in, and once we buy an organic item, we don't go back.  

Keep in mind that just because something says it is "all natural" doesn't mean it is beneficial to your body.  Many food additives are derived from nature, but these are grown in a lab, or are often isolates (drawing out and concentrating one particular element), changing something that could otherwise be harmless into something harmful.  A whole food diet, by virtue of being "whole", contains no isolates.  We eat the "whole food", getting all of the nutrients in that particular food.  

Simply being "natural", does not mean that it should be consumed.  Poison Ivy is natural, but I wouldn't eat it!  Many foods say they are "all natural"...never accept what the front label says!  Always look at the ingredients...it is the only label that matters.  Their goal is to sell a product, and "all natural" makes it sound like you are making a better choice.  Check the ingredients to see if you really are.  

Another common misconception is that if it is in a healthy supermarket, it must be healthy! Wrong...sort of.  They are usually better choices, but junk is still junk, chemicals are still chemicals, additives are still additives, too much sugar is still too much sugar...even if organic.  Yes, there are organic junk foods!  Yes, there are organic processed foods!  Yes, there are things that I happily pass by, and my kids don't even ask for.  Here is a list of what are, and are not, allowed in organic foods.  

The questions I ask myself when shopping are...

(In the produce section)

Is there organic available?  Organic produce starts with a 9 (9xxxx)  Conventional starts with a 4 (4xxx).

Is this genetically modified?

If local, what are their farming practices?

(Outside of the produce section)

How many ingredients/how processed?  The fewer the ingredients, the more whole the food is.  An organic apple is a whole food...and it is only one ingredient.

Are there any unnecessary additives, organic or otherwise?

Is this GMO free?

If it isn't GMO free, is there organic available? This ensures no genetically modified ingredients.  

How much sugar is in it?  If it is more than 5g per serving, I will typically walk away.

What do I need to make this myself? If I can't find a product meeting these standards.   

Keep in mind that there is no store that does all of the work for you.  I recently read an article on Whole Foods and GMOs.  The author felt that Whole Foods was deceiving its customers, because a great many thought that shopping there eliminated the threat of GMOs.  How ridiculous!  I never, from day one, thought that every product sold at Whole Foods was GMO free.  I never expected anyone to do ALL of the work for me.  The truth is that WF, and other stores like it, offer you a better pool of products to choose from.  Many of these stores don't allow foods with artificial ingredients, and that is already a lot of work that you don't have to do, and I'm grateful for that.  I, however, am still responsible for the food that enters my family's bodies.  I have to flip over the package to avoid additives like carrageenan & MSG (in all of its forms) just to name a couple, and added sugars.  My health is still my responsibility.  

Whole Foods has made a commitment to having all food sold in their stores, that contain genetically modified ingredients, labeled by the year 2018.  I applaud them for that.  In five years time, we will have a bit less work to do when shopping at Whole Foods.  In the meantime, though, all 365 branded (Whole Foods brand) products are nonGMO verified. 

So, do your homework.  There are apps that can help...Additives 2 & Fooducate are a couple.  Also, be sure to check out the Dirty Dozen & ShopNoGMO apps.  There is also the Fresh Food Finder app, which will lead you to fresh local produce and farmer's markets. 

:) 

One cannot think well, love well, and sleep well, if one has not dined well. ~Virginia Woolf