Lessons for the Week - Whole Foods, GE Alfalfa, Toes, Cookware

How is that for some lessons for the week?

Whole Foods – Did you know that Whole Foods, Organic Valley, and Stonyfield Farm are accused of being the reason that the USDA caved and allowed Monsanto to grow genetically engineered Alfalfa in yet another step to take literally over the world? You can learn about it here: The Organic Elite Surrenders to Monsanto: What Now? I haven’t been a fan of Whole Foods for a long time, and unfortunately I still shop there because I just can’t get the things I want elsewhere – like Applegate Turkey and Salami. Or wild caught shrimp.

What to do now? Figure out how to avoid Whole Foods like the plague, as well as Stonyfield and Organic Valley. Avoiding Stonyfield will be a piece of cake, because I don’t purchased pasteurized dairy, except butter. That is where Organic Valley comes in. I am no longer purchasing butter from them. I am shifting permanently to Kerrygold butter.

And how to avoid Whole Foods? I am going to have to bug the local/regional competitor, Earth Fare, to start carrying Applegate. As for shrimp, if they have wild caught I will buy them there. If not, I will just have to eat shrimp in season, which is what I should be doing anyway. It really isn’t a big deal. I made an amazing Cajun shrimp recipe the other week and wanted to make it again. It was the first time in 15 years that Ryan ate shrimp…and he liked it! What is a few more months until the shrimp come in? Then I can buy a bunch of fresh NC shrimp and freeze them. As for health care products, my homeopath is ordering a kit for me, so I should be able to avoid Whole Foods for that, and other health products I can get at either Earth Fare, the Frontier co-op, or on-line. Goodbye Whole Foods!

If you are as ticked as I am and want to let Whole Foods, Stoneyfield Farms and Organic Valley know you are boycotting them, you can call them and let them know. Here is their contact information:

Find a Whole Foods Store

Organic Valley

Stonyfield Farm   

Toes – I mentioned that I am Learning to Sit and Walk All Over Again. Part of that journey is strengthening my feet, which entails learning to spread my toes. You can’t believe how hard that is! I am right side dominant, and I can now spread my right toes, sort of, after a week of trying. My left foot – forget it. You should see Colson spread his toes. At least I know it is possible. I am amazed that I am literally learning how to use my body at 44. Moving toes is a lot of work!! Then I will graduate to an even harder toe skill.

Cookware – I have wanted to replace my stainless cookware for a long time. It isn’t vey good and I know it is leaching metals – nickel in particular. Nickel can cause allergic reactions. I am not concerned with the allergic reactions but with the synergistic effects of repeated exposures to nickel and other metals over time on my family’s health. Ditching the stainless with that in mind is a good idea.

Ryan and Colson were coming back from the Human Bodies exhibit in Greesboro last weekend and they stopped at the new outlet mall. They found a Corning/Visions cookware store and stepped in. Even more fun, the Visions glass/ceramic, non-reactive cookware is half-off the Internet price (this stuff is hard to find!), so Ryan bought me a new stock pot, 2 sauce pots and a fry pan. Hooray! In 16 years together, I think this is the most exciting gift he has gotten me! Boy have I changed, but who cares? I still need to find a bigger fry pan, as Visions doesn’t make really big ones, but the stainless is now defunct in my house.

The Visions stock pot will allow me to get away from my Hamilton Beach crock pot, as the “lead in the crock” issue has risen again. I don’t think that issue will ever be satisfactorily resolved. Thanks to my friend Hope for raising it again.

Now, not only have I gotten rid of my Nickel source but also a potential lead source. It may sound minor to most people, but a lot of minor can make a great big major, and I am DONE with major health concerns.

How about you? What small step can you take this week to improve your family’s journey?

Comments

[Maria Droujkova]

Hmmm, small steps? I made some lactofermented salsa.

[Laura Combs]

Yum! That is on my list to try to make. It was awesome at the WAP conference.

Laura Combs

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The older I get, the better I feel!