FDA reopens comment period on proposed ‘gluten-free’ food labeling rule

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Press Announcements FDA reopens comment period on proposed ‘gluten-free’ food labeling rule

New Blendtec and Our Favorite Recipe "The Green Monster"

This past Mother's Day we bought a Blendtec Blender from Costco.  I have wanted a professional style, very powerful blender for a long time.  A lot of people that eat a whole foods diet use this blender or the VitaMix.  I was unsure which one to get, but I was able to see many different things that we would make in it!

While at Costco my husband and I watch the person demonstrate it and talked about it's many benefits.  My husband was convinced, but he wanted to take a few days to think about it.  After much debate, the surrender of my hard earned Mary Kay money, plus the return of our Cuisinart blender/food processor to Costco - We purchased it!

Blendtec Total Blender

My Mother's day gift could not have been any better!  Even though it is something that my husband uses as much as I do.  About one week in, we were upstairs and he said "I feel the need to blend".  Almost like Goose from Top Gun "I feel the need...".  Hilarious!!

We are well above 100 uses!!

The kids love it and the things that we make from it!  Our Favorite recipe is an adaptation of what the display person mixed up in the store.

The Green Monster

1/2 cup water

1 cup of grapes (we like the seeded kind)

2-3 very large handfuls of spinach

1/2 cup (or so) of fresh pineapple

1 banana

1/2 an avocado

2 Tb agave nectar

1 cup of ice (about)

Put in the blender in that order, push the whole juice button, grab the glasses, when done poor and enjoy!

A few reason we chose the Blendtec over Vitamix:

1. It has a lower profile so it fits under the kitchen counter with the pitcher on the base.
2. I'm a sucker for fluff!  It has six preset buttons (soups/sauce, whole juice, ice crush, ice cream, etc) that automatically speed-up or slow down and then shut off after a the time is over.  "Set-it-and-forget-it"  We wouldn't have to figure out how to use the dial like the Vitamix.
3. The blender didn't have actual blades, making it easier to get things out of the bottom (which I have only done 2 x's).  The blade is shaped like a helicopter propeller and it spins so fast it just pulverizes everything.  See note later...
4. It didn't have the tamper and seemed to work well without it.  I do believe that it does well, we have not really needed a tamper.
5. It was cheaper by about $25.
6. They both had the same warranty
7. It was on modern marvels - How cool is that?

Places for you to look at:
Blentec Website

Demonstration of the blending ability - Very cool!  They blended marbles and turned them into powder!

We really are sold, and apparently some of our family and friends are as well!  So far we have taken it on one camping trip and plan to take it with us to Colorado next week (well I plan on it).

New Food Pyramid

Did you hear?  They have revamped the food pyramid again...

The first food pyramid was designed by the US Department of Agriculture in 1992, then it was updated in 2005 to a stair step type diagram.  Apparently to many people thought this design was confusing and the eating recommendations diagram have been redesigned again.

This time into the shape of a plate.  This is a great visual aid to see clearly how much of your plate should be devoted to each food group.  Grains play a large part, as well as vegetables and fruits.  It does not focus on portion size or control though, maybe they are saving that for the next revision...

The New Plate Diagram from the USDA

ChooseMyPlate.gov is a great resource with a lot of information.  It includes, food groups, tip and resources, games and activities for children, and a lot of general information.

Yes - I know this is a government organization.  Yes - I know this is not a great solution for eating healthy.  Yes - I know, I know, I know... But I do like to see something being done that is a pretty good representation - too bad they had to spend $2 million getting there!

History Trivia - Do you know where the original food pyramid came from?  Sweden!  That's right it is another example that strikes down the theory that the US is the best and leading the way in research and recommendations.  Also the Swede's came up with a plate diagram, oh... about 19 years ago!!!

The Swedish plate model has three portions cut like pie pieces, two big and one smaller.  Click here to see the Swedish plate model with a brief description of how to use it.  I like their version / recommendations the best and think that it gives a great discussion of how to change the portions of each type of food, why you would want more of one type than another and so on.

From Sweden's National food Administration

What is MSG? How Do I Eliminate MSG?

Everyone remembers the craze about a decade ago... "Avoid Asian food it contains MSG"

Most of us didn't know much about MSG back then, I venture to say most of still don't know much about MSG today.  MSG, Monosodium glutamate, is a food additive that enhances the flavor of what could otherwise be a bland meal.  It is a plant derived chemical additive.

MSG is the sodium salt of glutamic acid, an amino acid (non-essential to our bodies).  It is in a category of salts called glutamates.  These are used by our bodies for a reaction process called the citric acid cycle.  Glutamate is a very potent neural transmitter.  It also is responsible for the flavor sensation "umami", one of the five taste that we sense.

So what is the big deal about something that our body makes and uses and occurs naturally in plants?

MSG, the flavor enhancer that is added to our foods, is made by fermenting carbohydrates with yeast or bacteria.  This alone can give some people cause to worry or irritate those with a sensitivity to yeast.

Although hotly debated and researched, there are no great studies that can show conclusively that this, excitotoxin, is good or bad for you.  Several studies have shown that a certain percentage of the population may be sensitive to the free glutamate acid.  No studies have shown an over whelming societal impact on symptoms such as

• -          Headaches
  -          Flushing

• -          Tingling in face or hands
• -          Disturbing the heart rhythm
• -          May cause heart attacks

• -          A growth resource for cancer

• -          Disturbs hormone production

• -          Causes obesity

• -          Disturb the growth in children

• -          Children may develop learning problems

• -          Behavior impairments

• -          Damage to the retina
• -          Increased Alergies

• -          May be linked to many disorders like MS, or other neurological disorders

Some people link MSG as one of those downfalls that are making us hold onto fat.  Will we ever know the truth about what all the things we eat do to our bodies? Can we say definitively that this one ingredient is a major contributor to so many things.

I have not done or read a lot of research on MSG, just a little.  I can say though that I have learned that MSG in several of it's forms will bring on a guaranteed migraine for me.  I think each person must make a decision on the facts and information that they have available to them, that may include an elimination diet.  I believe that this is the only way that you can truly tell the difference - don't eat it for a length of time to allow you body to clean that item out and reset/heal itself, then try it a little at a time to see if you have a reaction.

I  love BBQ chips (not a good food I know) and I would have them a few times a week if I could.  I have learned that if I eat them, just a few, about 3-4 hours later I will get a migraine.  MSG is called or labeled many different things (list later) and I have noticed that a some of these can also cause me to have terrible headaches or migraines.  So I have learned to avoid them, and really do my best to read all the labels and not purchase such things.

I began eliminating all MSG about 18 months ago.  It is very hard!  It is in almost everything and almost every restaurant uses it.  When we started asking the managers if they used it, what I cold have without it, and could they prepare other items without it - our eyes were opened.  They put it on almost everything!  It is in the seasoning on the meat, it is in the salad dressing, it's in the butter for your bread, it is in the oil that they put on the grill to cook, it can be the oil they add to the vegetables.  It really is everywhere!

A few days ago it struck me that we purchase some items for the children (or rather my spouse does) that have one of these ingredients in them.  If it's not something I'm going to eat why should I be willing to give it to the rest of my family?  Interesting thought!  We will be working more closely the next few weeks to eliminate MSG in all it's forms from out diet.

Here is a list of most of the items that I look for and avoid.  These may be a different way of labeling MSG, an ingredients that sometimes (or always) contains MSG, or something that will create MSG in your body.


Monosodium glutamate, glutamate, accent seasoning, natural flavor enhancers, natural and artificial flavors, soy protein, soy protein isolate, hydrolyzed vegetable protein or HVP, yeast extract, autolyzed proteins, vegetable protein extract, hydrolyzed vegetable oil, E621, calcium caseinate, modified food starch, maltodextrin, any broth or stock, disodium inosinate, disodium guanylate.

Be aware that even though the product states it contains no MSG, or NO MSG added, it may still contain the free glutamate - which essentially is what MSG is in the food anyway.  Some of the above are examples of free glutamate.

If you wold like more information - I have found these sites to be a great resource.

http://www.foodfacts.com/index.cfm

http://www.truthinlabeling.org/index.html

http://www.resourcesforlife.com/docs/item1225

FDA Vote on Eliminating Red Food Dye

Part of eating better has included eliminating artificial dyes.  This has always been a very hard one for us.  From discussing with family that we need to read the ingredient list of foods to keeping our children from eating the normal snacks after the baseball games with all the other kids.  This is a very tough one.  

Eliminating dyes is made even harder when national organizations like the FDA side in favor of the food organizations (even just slightly).  The beginning of April the FDA debated whether these dyes may have some potential health hazards or cause behavioral changes.  They decided in a a very close vote that they didn't.  

Below are some great resources that I have found while looking into their decision.

Today Video on MSNBC

MedPage Article

ABC News Video

While looking doing the research I also found a great blog with a lot of resources.  I am really looking forward to perusing the whole website some night when I get a chance :)

http://reddyefree.blogspot.com

Now if I could only figure out how to talk with our extended family, grandparents and aunts and uncles about the additives in the food.  It is hard for us as parents to tell the kids "No, you can't have the Kool-Aid with your cousin" or "No, don't eat those twizllers".  As hard as it is for us, I am sure that it is awful for the kids to have to want those so badly when we are around others who appear to be enjoying them so much.  With all the sugar and additives to make them look and taste delicious who wouldn't want to have one...

It's all about the education.  We have not been able to make it for a whole week without some type of processed food being eaten.  Maybe after we are able to go one week without we will see difference and that will be reason or proof for others - I hope I can say we have done it soon!

Autism Research - One New Study

Research studies have always been interesting to me.  I have read article summaries, bibliographies, and abstracts for over 10 years now.  I am always cautious to make sure that it is reliable research.

I look at the number of study participants, is it a very low number, did they do a random sampling, or was it a general wide sampling.  I read the method of the research to find out the process and try to interpret if I think that someone else could duplicate what was done.  I will read their sources; everyone does a tone of investigating and research on research before they begin their own study.  Who did they model after?  What else has been done in this area?

I think that I have become better and better at evaluating for okay research studies and then the ones that appear not as good.  Not determining good research from bad, but more of an eye for better or not so great validity.  A little bit of undergrad research does not qualify me as an expert…

I ran across research today about Autism and diagnosing issues.  This is a topic that is near to our heart, as we continue to struggle with our littlest guy.

S. Korean Study Suggests Autism Rate May Be Much Higher

This research was done in Korea.  The researchers “used a more comprehensive, population-based approach that looked for autism among all children, including those in mainstream schools who had never been identified as having problems.”  They saw a more than double increase in the number of children with Autism or places on the Autism Spectrum.  I find this very interesting.  This study is not suggesting that the numbers of autism are increasing, but rather that the many of these children are not being diagnosed.  Something I have been talking about for years!

A very interesting point that brought up by an American physician…  Dr. Andrew Adesman, chief of developmental and behavioral pediatrics at the Steven and Alexandra Cohen Children's Medical Center of New York, said that "one of the striking findings is that there were significant number of children who seem reliably identified as having an autism spectrum disorder who were in general education population and who were not previously identified as having any problem and who were receiving no services."

How scary to think about the poor children, and parents, who continue to struggle with these children.  I imagine them being told, as I have heard, “you need to discipline better” or ‘be more consistent in your parenting methods”, “your child is really out of control, can’t you teach him better”, & one of my favorites “why is your child so strange?”.

When will someone get the message about better diagnosing techniques and help and guidance for parents of children with borderline autism or autistic symptoms?  When will someone listen to parents?  Just my thoughts for the day.

Eating and Preparing for Spring Sports

As we start the process of spring sports with three children I wonder, how will I do it all... will I have the patience...

Each practice begins with...

“You can’t wear good school clothes to baseball practice, go change.  Now!”

“Do you have your ball glove, your hat, and your cleats?” 

The searching, finding, and all the preparations for each practice culminate in the mad dash to be there on time, early if you can.  Did we get everything, what did we forget?

 

Water bottles – Check
Supplies & Equipment – Check
Something for the other children to do while they wait – Umm – Check
Snacks!!!  We can’t eat concession stand food!!

How long will we be gone?  Will it be long enough to encompass a meal?  Will a piece of fruit do the trick?  Do I need a cooler?

I think most parents are able to grab a few things and run out the door, or maybe not.  I have learned, the hard way, that we can’t just pick-up and go.  We need to spend a little time gathering any items that may or may not be needed, and preparing our youngest for the “outing”.  We have noticed that a little extra time and planning for a calm exit can make a world of difference.

We start with the countdown.  “We will be leaving in 30 minutes” or whatever the time frame is.  This gives him a frame of reference to know that a change in schedule is coming.  He will need to put down the toys or game.  Also, the meal before must have enough time for him to eat, or we can count on a blow-out.  A drink and a packed snack are a must!  

Still working on my greatest take along snack list.

We can count on at least two minutes at the door; "my sock is twisted", "my shoe won't go on", and my favorite "My shoe is too tight".  Have patience and peace, calm voices and a helping hand will get us through this moment.  Frustration and anger help no one.  

I think this year is going to be the busiest of all for us as all three of our younger children are playing ball.  The 10 year old, Ar, is playing her first year of softball and mom is the team manager.  E, 9 years old, is playing his third year and dad is one of the coaches.  The little guy, 6 year old, W, is playing his second year of coach pitch.  There will be no sitting on the side lines this year!

I am reminding myself "Be calm, smile, and don't forget to love your precious little ones!”

Now if only I knew… Oh well, we will deal with game treats later… One thing at a time.