Mealtime in Wonderland: Noshing on UN-food???

Organic.
Fair trade.
All natural.
Locavore.
Sustainable agriculture.

The average consumer is definitely becoming more savvy these days when it comes to food. This is certainly encouraging, especially in a society where convenience is king. Yet, we continue to be surprised as more and more companies are being exposed for touting products unfit for consumption.

Spurred by a recent lawsuit against Taco Bell, an article on the subject of what today's quick "foods" are made up of was published on The Daily Beast's website on January 26th. Author Kate Dailey detailed the many ways consumers are continually misguided into thinking products that last on shelves for months and years are made of natural ingredients - in everything from Snapple drinks to blueberry muffins. She points out that many items contain minute amounts of the natural ingredients that make up the intended flavors of, say, cherry or pomegranate drinks. Most, she says, contain so little that they are not included in the list of ingredients!


What's most concerning, I believe, is that while we are becoming more and more educated as to what's best to put inside our bodies, that we still have such a long way to go in terms of making real food as accessible to the general public as the bountiful UN-food counterparts lining much of our big box grocery stores today.

Someone once said, "if man made it, don't eat it." Not something I think you have to live strictly by, but definitely good advice to keep in your back pocket! Dailey pointed out that no ones goes to Taco Bell "for a health kick." True...but I'm sure there are plenty of people supplementing their diet staple Big Macs for a McDonald's salad (hey, they say it's classy!).

That's why it is even more important to continue educating yourself and your family on where your foods are coming from, what they're made out of, and how close to natural your foods are. I try to guide myself by consuming as much food that comes from nature as I possibly can. If it's man-made, I always look at the ingredient list to find out what's in what I'm eating. 

Remember, the more you read, the more you'll come to understand how to eat more healthfully! In the meantime, stay tuned for more helpful hints on how to decipher food labels and get the healthiest bang for your buck at the grocery store!

Resolution Defined

What exactly is a resolution? Merriam-Webster defines resolution as:  

"1. the act or process of resolving: as  

a : the act of analyzing a complex notion into simpler ones  

b : the act of answering : solving 

  c : the act of determining"

This year I have actually made some New Year's resolutions. In years past, I typically resolved not to make resolutions because I "continually strive to better myself." At some point during this holiday season I realized that, while this is true, I do not really have much to show for my self-improvement endeavors. Ultimately, I think I never made resolutions because I was afraid of failure. For some reason, I am now ready to let go and jump into this scary world of commitment! So, this year I am making a firm pact with myself to:

1. Be a better friend to my family members, friends, neighbors, and most importantly, myself.
2. Make time for myself at least 3 hours a week for exercise & relaxation.
3. Smile more.
4. Let go of my anxiety and anger.

In coming posts, I'll be discussing ways in which I am setting myself up to successfully meet these resolutions and how you can, too!

Do you make resolutions? If so, what are they? Have you set yourself up for success?