Awaken Matcha Cafe

Childhood obesity and canned vegetables

I am eating a salad from my school salad bar. As I chew on the peas and carrots, I started thinking about something I have discussed in the past with one of my SILs. Why do so many kids "hate" vegetables? Aside from the obvious culutral bias toward the greens (honestly, it's almost expected kids will not like lima beans, isn't it? My daughter loves them, BTW), there are two things I think contribute to this:

1. They aren't exposed to them at home. If a family is poor, what's cheaper: twinkies, or a greens-rich dinner? Chips or fresh potatoes with toppings? For those who lack the life experience to shop at local farmer's markets or otherwise comparison shop (or those who live in econimically depressed areas), the answer is painfully plain.

Case in point: My hubby and I used to live in Tremont, near downtown Cleveland. Love the area; it's great. But, it's no secret the surrounding neighborhoods are not the wealthiest. We shopped in these areas, and finding a good selection of fresh produce was hard-- the fruits and vegetables were nortoriously old-looking and bruised. If that was all I knew...yuck. In contrast, we now shop at an upscale grocery nest to our new neighborhood (an upper middle class suburb). There, I can get very fresh organic grapes, bananas...you name it. If it's bruised or old, it's getting pulled, and I'm guessing, sent to the Finast where I was forced to shop when I lived just West of Cleveland.

So...let's pretend I didn't have a car. And lived in an area like this one. What would I be looking to feed my kids? Do you think they'd eat it?

2. If they are exposed to them, they are usually canned veggies. Like at schools. Or even at home. Canned is ok, in a pinch, for soup and stuff. Canned corn is ok. But have you ever had canned green beans? Asparagus? It's gross. It can't touch the fresh stuff. Frozen is pretty good-- but, again, pricier.

So, if a major part of our country (the working poor or otherwise poor) is faced with the thought of barely-fresh veggies or canned green beans, they aren't biting. Families don't want this stuff.

And which kids are the heaviest? Yep.

While I'm at it...Which kids probably don't have health insurace? Yep. Those same kids. Whick kids can't afford the uniforms and fees to play sports as exercise (which kids love most)? Yes again.

I'm not saying there aren't middle class and upper kids who don't eat vegetables, but if the parents don't, can't, or won't, kids won't either. My kids aren't exactly lovers of all things veg, but they still like the idea of a fresh salad or tasty plump corn on the cob or lovely baked potatoes. And we have access to those things, so I feel comfortable encouraging them.

As a country, the trend is unsettling.

Anyway...just random thoughts about veggies and kids.

Ok. My salad is gone.   

Hooray for small business (and green stuff)

We are in the Cleveland Plain Dealer today:

http://www.cleveland.com/plaindealer/stories/index.ssf?/base/business-5/1205224295165420.xml&coll=2

Just had to brag and share. The store is fabulous, highly recommmended. I think it is so important to support local businesses, and gifts, etc. are so much more unique when they don't come from a big box mart.

On that note, another of my obsessions:

www.etsy.com

Seriously. Cool. Handmade. Goodies.

Love this one. May get it for my mom:

I hit it for everything. Imagine a handcrafted ring vs. a handbag from Target. No contest!! I scored the best necklaces for Christmas-- one was a scrabble tile, for my BFF, the other, an antique (and hence, more responsible) amethyst necklace for my SIL (it is my little niece's birthstone). You can find anything you are looking for, and it is all handmade by some really great artisans. One warning, the search results can be huge and overwhelming, so it helps to sort by price if you know what you want to spend.

As a shopping maven, I felt it was my duty to share in the joy of responsible commerce. :-)

I'm thinking bicycles or horses sound good

This article is a must-read:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/08/science/earth/08wbiofuels.html

Discuss!!

Holy Cow! Snow!

Well. Yesterday, over 18 inches of snow fell in my yard here in Ohio. I sat by my window and read and watched it come down and I loved every second! That is, until our car got stuck in the driveway, and my poor husband had to move all of that snow out of the way, twice, before falling into an utterly exhaused slumber late last night (admittedly, I got off scot-free on that one).

We're thinking about sledding today. I am also thinking about schizophrenia and springtime.

This was taken on our lovely Saturday afternoon drive...

The Great Race of 2008

Ok, I have to comment on this because it's on everyone's mind...

Who will be the winner of the democratic nomination for the 2008 presidential election??

Either way, history will be made, and it's very exciting to see all of this going on.

Pertinent issues on all of our minds definitely include thoughts about the environment, most notably, what will the US do to help protect it?

I am of the school of thought that a ton needs to be done, and fast, and that this rarely, ok, never, happens in big government buraucracies like the one looming over us all.

It's rather sad that no one is talking about green issues like John Edwards, and he is no longer a possibility.

Knowledge is (as tired as this saying is, it's true) power. We need to understand our own beliefs and vote our consciences...and make some noise about it.

Some links for information about candidates' environmental beliefs:

http://environment.about.com/b/2008/02/22/mccain-scores-zero-on-environment-clinton-and-obama-do-better.htm

Clinton:

http://www.grist.org/feature/2007/08/09/clinton_factsheet/index.html

Obama:

http://www.grist.org/feature/2007/07/30/obama_factsheet/

Thing is, no one is saying exactly what I want to hear. Have you heard anything about the Kyoto Protocol? About real, honest fair trade? About anything of substance that sounds like it will happen?

I don't mean to be cynical, and I do have my favorite, but I have been disappointed in the past with promises for change.

I guess my real point is, now that I think of it, is that change starts with us, here at home. We all add up to something greater, and our voices, dollars, and actions need to show that-- loudly. Along with our votes.

New Matcha recipes

My belly is nice and full...my family is here and we ate a very late and delicious brunch. I am laying here and sipping matcha. It's finally snowing and I can see the big flakes flying outside the picture window. There have been maybe three cars on our street in the past two hours...silent, snowy, full-bellied bliss. I don't even care that I dribbled a little on my shirt. It's all good.

I think I blame it on the fact that I indulge in all kinds of cullinary decadence during the month of december, but whatever the reason, I find myself wandering the expanse of the internet looking for delicious new recipes to try out in January. It's sort of a version of wanting to break out of a rut. Since Matcha can help lift spirits, it fights the post holiday blahs. So...I can eat and drink tea all in the name of happiness.

Really, honey. I have to eat this cake. It's mental health therapy. 

Matcha Layer Cake!!

And this. I have to say that hearty breakfasts are a favorite of mine when it's cold.

ProBono baker's matcha pancakes and yogurt sauce (they're big and fat and lovely!)

Let me know what you think when you try them.

Well...my tea is gone, so I'm off to play with my nieces. Happy New Year! Enjoy the season.

I Think I'm Grateful...

When I opened the present, I was kind of confused.  I couldn't believe my husband and boys would shower me, the family luddite, with such an array of technological gadgetry.  Do they want me to plug in and tune out?  (i.e., shut up?).  If so, I'm afraid it backfired miserably.  This morning, while washing the dishes, I was apparently howling the blues to Billie a bit too loudly.  (I thought I sounded magnificent). My husband tapped me on the shoulder and kindly asked me to refrain from singing so loud.  He said I already woke the mother-in-law up---  (not what he was hoping for this a.m.).

"Oh ... jeeze... I'm sorry..."  How could he object to my belting  out 'oh my man, i love him so...' ?!?

My son downloaded 2500 songs onto my music thingamabob.  I'm in heaven.  But, really annoying to sit next to while working on the jigsaw puzzle. 

I have concerns about us plugging in so much.  It's bad enough that I'm a 'ho' to my laptop.

P.S.  About 5 years ago, we went to the Patagonia Outlet shop and bought about 50 fabric bags at $2. each.  We haven't used wrapping paper since.  The clean up is so easy.  And, the tree looks beautiful with our bags nestled under it. 

'Mater's: Food as Medicine!

I love tomatoes.  I love growing them.  I especially love eating them.  So versatile.  So absolutely yummola!  I have been growing my own for the past 10 years.  And, the taste is so much better than the kind you get at the store.  You know, the ones with the stickers.  Even the 'organic / local' variety, while the better alternative, are not as good as mine.  Boastful, you ask?  Uh huh.  Yessireebob!  I am.  I am a transplanted midwestern and, boy howdy, I can grow 'maters better than any of these Bay Area city slickers.  ; )

My husband is a prostate cancer survivor.  So, we eat tons of tomatoes.  Here's a few reasons why:

   Starting with the basics, tomatoes contain large amounts of vitamin C, providing 40 percent of the daily value (DV). They also contain 15 percent DV of Vitamin A, 8 percent DV of potassium, and 7 percent of the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) of iron for women and 10 percent RDA for men.

     The red pigment contained in tomatoes is called lycopene. This compound appears to act as an antioxidant, neutralizing free radicals that can damage cells in the body. Only recently, studies have revealed that lycopene may have twice the punch of another well-known  antioxidant betacarotene. Studies conducted by Harvard researchers have discovered that men who consumed 10 servings of tomatoes a week, or the equivalent to 10 slices of pizza, can cut the risk of developing  prostate cancer by a formidable 45 percent. However, its benefits are not limited to the prostate. Italian researchers have found that those who consume more that 7 servings of raw tomatoes lower the risk of developing rectal colon or stomach cancers by 60 percent.    Israeli researchers have found that lycopene is a powerful inhibitor of lung, breast, and endometrial cancer cells.  Research has also indicated that the lycopene in tomatoes can help older people stay active longer.

Lately, I've been enjoying cut up tomatoes mixed with olive oil, balsamic vinegar, gobs of garlic, basil-- sit on top of a fresh hunk of motzarella, under it all is a crustini.  That and a nice red. 

There's something to sink your teeth into! 
 

SUMMER on Lake Monterey Bay

Greetings Earth Healers Summer Dawgs!

Reporting from Monterey Bay on this bakin', hot summer day.  The last day of June 2007.  Did you catch that moon last night?!  Luna Bella! 

We're suffering a terrible wave draught here in Santa Cruz.  The kelp has grown back with a vengence.  When we do get back in, it'll be putting the breaks on our rides, something fierce.  Somebody ... pahleese... turn on the wave machine!!!

Wave draught aside ... I have good news report!  The Capitola City Council found it in their hearts to  pass  an ordinance prohibiting  area  restaurants from packaging food in polystyrene and plastic containers.   One of  our very own Earth Healers  (moi... thankahverramuch), joined dozens of citizens and the Surfrider Foundation in speaking before the  Council begging them to uphold an earlier ruling-- and , what is only the most intuitively obvious thing to do.  The restaurants are not happy.  Seems they feel  it is too cost  prohibitive .  Hmmm... I  guess we have different ideas of the real expense here on the coast.

Hope everyone is enjoying their summer.  My Radiance has really helped me keep the energy going.  Looking forward to an extensive backpacking trip in the High Sierra's this summer.  I'll really rely on it then. 

Spring Bling

My tulips and daffodils are coming up, and I am feeling a little like I need sprucing up, too. It's funny how I get the urge to stop wearing all of this brown and navy blue when the sun starts to show up more often, just as my yard puts on its spring finery. My weeds are popping up as well, begging to be pulled. In fact, I can hear it now, urging me to come outside and edge, and trim, and dig, and...

But. It's raining. Really hard. Ah, the irony in a spring day. The desire to get out but the aversion to chilly and wet.

So. Outside=prettying up. Me=wanting to pretty up, too. That means gauchos-- are they still in? And capris, and tank tops, and big hats, and sunglasses. Yay! I am, however, pasty as all hell. It's scary.

My scaly winter skin needs me to care. I take cups of sugar into the shower and scrub away the dryness. I have also been taking my metabloize and try to avoid the urge for Uncle Eddie's oatmeal cookies. Bathing suit season will be here soon. I try not to be shallow, but it *does* cross my mind.

So, what do you do to glamorize for spring? Plant flowers? Show more skin? Laugh more? Open the windows and scrub things?