Archive for Environment

What’s Good for the Goose

June 16, 2009 at 5:53 am · Filed under Advertisers, Environment, grocer, health, life ·Tagged , , ,

..may not really work for everyone. Trends are like that–they come; they go. No matter how many superfoods, aka, miracle ingredients or products that get special label marketing can survive the reality test. There is no cure-all for life’s realities: Aging and all its precursor cousins. Sure some fruits and vegetables are particularly healthy in and of themselves, but we cannot live on them alone. No matter what. It’s becoming a challenge to separate the wheat from the chaff. Ok enough of that.

Realistically, confusion centers around the importance of antioxidants. It seems if you write high in antioxidants on the label, that almost guarantees high sales! How do these claims get tested? Who monitors reality? My favorite antioxidant claims are on products that are well known antioxidant fighters–fruits already high in antioxidants now jump out of the bins and off the shelves if they have the antioxidant banner.sunsweetantioxidant

What are these antioxidants and can we really get enough or the right amount from food? The foods that are naturally high in antioxidants are the easiest to take. If you’re going to concentrate on antioxidants and its benefits, summer is a wonderful season for you with its own natural bounty of antioxidants: BERRIES. Eat up, enjoy, skip the hype; it’s a natural occurrence. On the vegetable side, gardens are just beginning to produce the ultimate summer joy: TOMATOES. Sure there are numerous other foods high in antioxidants, and many antioxidant health claims may actually bear fruit.

Then there’s the whole beta carotene discussion. The old universe said eat your carrots. Limited explanation followed other than the statement: They’re good for you.  Now they are not just carrots but a food high in the all-important, necessary beta carotene, an important antioxidant. Don’t forget when you visit the farm markets, there are other easy choices: beets, cabbage, and kale, for example.

Then there is the new wonder product, the acai berry.  It seems to be touted everywhere. Unclear what it really does for you. It’s possible that no one knows the real answer, but when a product gets so heavily promoted so quickly, it moves into my suspect category.

Foods that promise can only promise more than they can deliver. Great skin, perfect eyesight, immune boosters, anti-aging, diet loss are just some of the claims that are part of the promise universe. We are looking for too many cure-alls.

What works is the same thing that has always worked: Smart eating. Not overeating.

That I am sure of.

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Bag It Up–My Bag, Please

June 13, 2009 at 4:23 pm · Filed under Environment, grocer, shopping ·Tagged ,

5b61_1All those times you are a bag short or even minus the recyclable bags which are overheating in the trunk of the car, you’ve been able to put your merchandise in a store paper bag as more places have phased out plastic. Some stores, like Ikea, charge for bags. Some shops even give you a small savings for each bag you bring. 

Change is in the air. A number of states or municipalities have tried to implement bag taxes, and they have gone nowhere.  The District of Columbia wants the belt notch that says first in the nation to implement bag tax. They say all those plastic bags are finding their way into the Anacostia River, and a true cleanup will never occur because of the sheer volume of plastic bags and the ultimate litter debris. 

Many citizens consider the implementation of a bag tax as a lazy solution to an overall River mess. They feel that less fortunate shoppers will be further penalized as their groceries or drugs or whatevers will now cost 5 cents a bag more. A lack of understanding does not create a true cause-effect relationship. Remember these are tough times, and consumers are already paying a heavy burden in helping cities move forward. Implementing this tax will not clean the Anacostia. 

The American Chemistry Council has started a major campaign to help cities and states understand the real environmental issues. They believe progress has been made in people’s awareness of bringing their own bags and recycling plastics. There are no shortage of places to drop off plastic bags. So many new, interesting products are being made from these efforts.

Skip the tax route. Be smart about this. The District does not have to be the FIRST for this type of program. There are better ways to win positive recognition than from this egregious program that solves little. 

It’ll take more than my nickel to solve this particular problem.

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The Shelves Are Alive

June 12, 2009 at 4:48 am · Filed under Economy, Environment, grocer, news ·Tagged , ,

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Yes, it’s true. Grocery stores, convenience marts, and even big box retailers have devoted sizable shelf space to 100-calorie boxes of whatevers. If you can make it fattening, the companies seem to say, we can also make it available in a lower calorie count.

Whether it’s chips, cookies, crackers, or candy, the 100-calorie boxes beckon. You name it, and it is probably available in mini-packs. BTW, they’re perfect for lunch boxes, desk drawer indulgences, and road trips. No one, not even Little Debbie Snacks, wants to be left out of the marketing game.

Not all is sweet news. Maybe we are using more paper and increasing our environmental threshold. Or, just maybe, we are overeating. Can you just have one? Personally, I think the gimmick gave you permission to overindulge. It’s just 100-calories, you convincingly said to yourself, as you grabbed a couple bags of Oreos. Sad news there, they didn’t have the filling that made you covet the product in the first place! Then along came Oreo Minicakesters–got ya! They solved that complaint!

Multiple bags. Hmm. Opposite of the original weight-loss approach; rather a weight-gain strategy that seemed to gain hold! 

Not just overeating, but maybe you’re not just adding to your waist but to your budget, too. They are hardly the economical way to shop in this cash-conscious environment. Phil Lempert, who calls himself the Supermarket Guru, has been questioning their longevity. He is quick to point out that Ziploc makes a snack bag size, a perfect container for your own variation of mini-snacks.

If you like nuts, a few of those, please. Add a few raisins, and a piece or two of your favorite dried fruit and you have a personalized trail mix. A million possible examples.

Smart marketing. For those who remain clueless, there’s even a cookbook!

Seriously.

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One More Thing to Worry About

May 31, 2009 at 4:24 pm · Filed under Environment, health ·Tagged ,

02_59139405If you weren’t germ-phobic enough already, then this may put you over the top.

We have been conditioned to bring in our own recyclable bags so we can save plastic and paper. Some stores, such as Ikea, charge for their bags. They are so big, you can use them to hold everyone else’s bag and then some. They are currently holding a contest (see website above) to judge who is using their enormous, recyclable Ikea bag in the most creative, innovative fashion. Bet there are far more clever ideas than the storage monster.

Other stores, often grocers, give you a 5-cent bag credit for each one you bring in and use. Hello, it’s free advertising!

Now here’s the rub.

A study just came out which said that these bags may be harvesting all types of germs. Like from spilled foods or products that have sweated into the sides. That they create more problems than they solve.

Are we to go home and pop these bags into the dishwasher? Can they sustain the temperatures? Will they lose their insulating functions?

What should we believe–trash our bags or clean them out? Recycle them?

There’s so much to be frightened of that my recyclable bag collection is way down on the list.

Now, salmonella, that’s a different story.

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The Shine is Back–A Reprise

May 30, 2009 at 10:22 am · Filed under Environment, life, New York Times ·Tagged

OK, maybe it’s beginner’s luck, or first-load excitement, but my silverware is shining again. My plates are cleaner.

Thank you New York Times for that dishwashing article.

I made all the possible adjustments:

–bought powdered detergent, yes, Cascade 

–spent the big bucks on Cascade Complete

–did not scrub clean the plates, andT711.zoom.1

Got the results I crave: The Shine.

My silverware thanks you.

Anyone want a liquid gel?

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Elbow Grease Works

May 28, 2009 at 9:33 am · Filed under cooking, Environment, news ·Tagged ,

cascadeSomewhere back in the recesses of your mind you can hear your mother tell you to clean the dishes before you put them in the dishwasher. “The dishwasher can only do so much.”

You’ve lived your life cleaning and then loading and enjoying the sparkle. Along comes a reporter for the New York Times who sets your world upside down. Yes, you know you are probably wasting water and paying 2x the amount for water with rinsing and then dishwashing, but what is wrong with clean dishes and silverware?

Nothing; absolutely nothing. Heard it’s even healthy.

So now you’re told not to wash, just scrape off. Skip the liquids and use the powders. Let the dishwasher do what it is supposed to do.

Remember I’ve already tussled with the low phosphate products, and now this. I’ve got to stop reading. I bet you’re thinking I should buy a new dishwasher. Wrong. Have a great one, but I keep subjecting it to everyone’s whims in order to save the environment.

OK, I’m game. I tried it.

Not so impressed.

Everyone else in my household is quite pleased with the ease of the chore now that’s basically scrape and stack. Me, not so much.

I have a few rejects with every emptying. Yes, I may be saving water, but I’m asking the soap to kick in and do the yeoman’s task.

I have one more ace up my sleeve: I’ll wait and try this logic on a new package of powdered detergent.

Then, the test will be complete.

In the meantime, the plates look pretty disgusting as they await the cycle to begin.

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The Little Big Innovations

May 23, 2009 at 6:58 am · Filed under Environment, life ·Tagged ,

Sometimes we are such creatures of habit that any slight change is met with major resistance. OK, that’s me.

Take paper towels. We know what they are supposed to look like, but whoa, not all are the same anymore. I thought it was so silly to give me a little piece of a towel, until I became a fan and now pride myself on using the little soaker to solve the issue. Thanks, Bounty.

The tag line (Clean the Mess with Less) works, too. Maybe I just like being in charge. “Select-a-Size”IMG00358
 lets me decide how big of a piece the mess deserves! They’re right–I’m using a lot less so saving money and not wasting paper. I like this!

I know I am not supposed to use paper towels or paper napkins but seriously, fried (OK, broiled or grilled, cause “fried” is a bad word, too) chicken is a monstrous mess for a cloth napkin. I’d rather pull out a roll of paper towels for the messy meals than look at someone’s disgusting cloth napkin. I say, Grab more towels–it’s OK. After all I want to enjoy my meal. 

I wonder how sales of  cloth napkins and washable dish towels are spiraling upwards as we all study the impact of every indiscretion on our environment. Definitely the “correct” way to go; just can’t do it all the time. 

The biggest marketing buzzword is green–we have green soap products, and I can attest to the fact that not all are created equal.

I’m over that problem and have decided to stay with Method products as they seem to work for me and continue to expand their product line to meet my next household need. They give me the look and save the environment. That’s a win-win. 

Eating clean is what it’s all about.

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The Placebo Effect of Environmental Good

April 21, 2009 at 6:33 am · Filed under Environment, life ·Tagged

A friend decided she could help me understand how to go green by introducing me to a product she has started using: Seventh Generation non-toxic, no chlorine, no phosphates, lemon scent Automatic Dishwashing Gel.

She’s a good friend, and her heart was in the right place. She probably left out a few important details: you first need to wash the dishes and especially the silverware well before putting in your dishwasher. That way the product might work.

Wait–isn’t the dishwasher supposed to do that, and all I’m supposed to do is rinse or in some cases just load? People have been telling me for years that my fancy machine needs little effort from me. It knows what it’s supposed to do: clean.

Now those same people are probably wondering why I am washing everything thoroughly before loading kitchen-faucet the dishwasher. It’s simple: I like to unload the dishwasher, see my reflection in the sparkle of the silverware, and get on with my day. Now, I inspect each utensil carefully and look at the plates and glasses to see if they need round two. I am most likely using more water than ever before; definitely way more elbow grease. This is an example when going green costs significantly more.

So for the record, let me say, I tried. I gave the product a chance to prove me wrong. It failed miserably. My knives look terrible even when they appear to be clean. They have no shine. My plates are merely ok. Too much effort involved in this demonstration. I am a little sad for my friend who bought a case of this stuff, and for the environment as this Earth Week will have me go out and purchase my tried and true solution to a shine: Cascade. I apologize to everyone, but maybe by the Eighth Generation, I can try this again.

No good deed goes unpunished.

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Drink Up: It’s Spring

March 25, 2009 at 1:17 am · Filed under Environment, restaurants ·Tagged

With the high price of everything, it is not hard to give up bottled water. That is unless you go to Costco. A 35-bottle case of 1/2-liter Deer Park will keep you hydrated for under $6. That’s pretty hard to pass up especially as we move to the hot days of summer when carrying a bottle of chilled water is in itself comforting. Their Kirkland waters cost even less. 

Then we have angst about damage to the planet. So what is one to do? Buying reusable containers are OK as long as they are free of harmful plastics-they have to be BPA-free (bisphenol A). That often means you will be making a major investment in a storage container. They move from OK to disgusting when they lie around and wait for someone to clean them out. Yuck. Disgusting.

Brita and Pur water filters are fine for at-home consumption, but they make it more difficult to carry out the pledge to drink gallons of water daily. Or the filtered water gets put into the BPA-free container and never gets washed out. You get the picture.

Then there are the dining-out dilemmas. For years restaurants did well charging astronomical prices for bottled waters. No one seemed to know how many bottles ever got poured, but the bill reflected fountains flowing with expensive water. Now restaurants seem to have figured out that the consumer is not as gullible as he might have been when the world was more flush nor is the international water brand that all-important. In all my dining out lately, I have heard very little about expensive water. No one seems to hover and say with a tone of disgust, TAP? Yes, pour it. Bring it on.

Then there are the new specialty water systems such as Natura that restaurants have installed. They rent the equipment and purify tap water to offer guests still or sparkling. Bottles are reusable so there is little waste, and most restaurants that use the service charge customers a minimal fee for unlimited purified water. Stay tuned, a home version is due out soon.

So the point is: it’s spring, we’re thirsty.

Drink water. Make wise choices. bottle_sparklingnaturastill

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The Overused, but Important Word

March 2, 2009 at 9:53 pm · Filed under Environment, food, life ·Tagged

tomatoesOK, you know what it is. Everytime you turn around someone is trying to impress you with his new devotion to all foods from the immediate region. The word locavore,  chosen as the word of the year two years ago, is now quickly moving into the trite column for its overuse, and possible, misuse.

Every organization seems to tag a special dinner as a locavore event. Yes, it is important to buy local, to support our farmers and growers but not every purchase can meet the 50 or 100-mile caveat. No matter how hard we try, the urge to buy grapes or apricots may win over proximity. Just for the record, neither crop is grown within a 100-mile radius of my house. Occasionally, the blues make a migratory trip to a farm market, but someone is still driving them there.

The whole fruit discussion gets a little gnarly when you realize the phrase that has become dated is actually “out of season”. Very little now gets called out of season. Fruits are now available almost year-round. Yes, they are coming from faraway places, other countries, but they are being imported because of their popularity. Years ago apricots, plums, and nectarines were invisible except during a few short months of the year.

Let’s keep in mind that no matter how many farm markets you support, there are products that you want to buy that will never make an appearance at your weekend stop.

We buy with our eyes, our budgets, and our wishes. We want to have foods that not only appeal to our wish list but to our taste profile. Some foods sound so extra appealing when it is blustery cold and dark in this long, cold, pre-Spring calendar period. Blueberries, which are never grown in our backyard and probably not even in summertime within a 100-mile radius of our house, do taste exceptional in the dark days of interminable winter.

Yes, I know all about carbon footprint and am doing my own personal crusade to save the planet, but, I am a far more pleasant person when I can have a fruit treat at a time of year when the bounty of the region is more limited to root vegetables. Everyone deserves a break, and we can certainly skip the harangue of damage to the environment.

Let’s not miss the big picture. Yes, we strive to be locavores, but I think it is time to let go of the word. Let’s take a giant step back and not call every dinner that has a local beet course a locavore event. It is an overused word that has become a marketing strategy. Yes, chefs and consumers should have vegetable and herb gardens, and buy their meats, eggs, and poultry from a local farmer, but that is not an option available to everyone at all times.

Let’s go back to the logic: support your farmers when you can. Buy in season and use purchasing programs, such as CSAs. Buy meats, poultry and other products such as eggs from the nearby environs. Just don’t call every trip to the farmer’s market a locavore experience. It’s a trip to the farm market to buy the freshest items available that particular day.

The solution:  Let’s return to the ways of many decades ago and grow what we can, buy from our nearby farms and producers, and skip the bragging rights.

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