An organic thanksgiving

Here's an interesting news story - Apparently, Organic Turkeys are getting pretty popular.  Even though they cost twice as much - people realize that the turkey just tastes better.  If you don't eat organic for the health reasons, at least do it for the taste.  So all natural is good - no fillers and better tasting, but all organic is even better!  No pesticides and the Turkeys eat better too!!
There is also a local/organic thanksgiving challenge.  Readers are encouraged to buy and cook only local and preferably organic foods for thanksgiving, then report back.  My two dishes this year are a salad and the sweet potatoes.  Both of which will be made with as many organic ingredients as possible.  If not organic, then hopefully local.
I am really looking forward to this Thanksgiving.  I am also hoping to take part in a Thanksgiving morning yoga benefit in Santa Cruz.  It will be a fantastic way to start my day healthy so that hopefully I won't over indulge at dinner and will be able to enjoy the holiday.
I'll keep you posted on how it all goes.

Organic in the news

So there's a new study out about organic foods.  Here's an article about it.  Is organic produce better?  This study states that Organic foods are not healthier than conventional food, in that they do not contain more antioxidants than conventionally grown food.  I never thought that they did.  I did think though, that when your body eats a conventionally grown carrot, it is possibly confused or distracted by the chemicals and pesticides that it may not get the full nutritional benefits of the carrot and its antioxidants.  

It makes sense that both the conventional carrot and organic carrot have the same amount of nutritional value and antioxidants.  But doesn't it also make sense that if you deep fry a carrot you are depleting it's nutritional value?  Same logic goes for adding pesticides.  

When I first heard of this new study, it was from some website that gave it about 2 paragraphs - not enough to get the full story.  The story ended by saying "don't buy organic."  Luckily this article mentions that there are still many good reasons to pay for organic.  Including environment protection, no pesticide residue, and just tasting better.  

I hope I have never made the claim that organic automatically means more antioxidants.  But I think the lack of pesticides makes it healthier, at least safer.  

By the way, I am writing this from my school cafeteria. Which has this awesome station called "500."  Every week they feature a different meal that is less than 500 calories and the produce is farmed less than 500 miles away.  I don't think any of it is organic, but at least they are doing their part.  

I have it about once a week, last week: BBQ portobello mushroom quesadilla, with organic greens and a parfait for dessert, pretty delicious. Today was AMAZING - stir fry edamame with artichoke and onion over crispy polenta, feta cheese and olives sprinkled on top.  Oh and applesauce for dessert.  The apples came from a farm 90 miles away.  

Love it!