Another Greeting Card?

I peeked out our living room window to watch a soft mid-February snowfall. Imagine my delight when I was greeted by a snow-covered lawn completely blackened with a huge flock of robins! It was pretty clear that those red-breasted beauties were picnicking before the snow became too deep and the wind got too boistrous for lawn activities!

It made me grin and think again that I had received one of God's famous greeting cards. And just in time for Valentine's Day! Lucky me.

Those little robins were simply living authentically. The only way they will survive is to follow their instincts and eat live, whole food. What happened to humans that we began to box up food, pretend it was edible, advertise its "virtues" and sell it to other human beings?

Oh. Now I remember. It had to do with PROGRESS. Yes, and greed.

Yesterday I was treated to the stories shared by a folklorist, Kay Young. She has interviewed very elderly Nebraska people who fondly recalled the many times from their early childhoods when their families hunted, gathered, and ate the foods that grew naturally on the native prairie. Is that what contributed to their longevity? It couldn't have hindered it.

Incidentally, Kay Young's book, "Wild Seasons - Gathering and Cooking Wild Plants of the Great Plains" is available from the University of Nebraska Press in Lincoln and London. It is a great read with marvelous illustrations done by Mark E. Marcuson. I'd have to say that it is a must-have for anyone serious about vibrant good health.

Kay Young is much wiser and much more knowledgeable than I am about a great many things. She is all about goodness and love and nature and she related a comical episode she and her neighbor experienced. They have been absolutely PLAGUGED by squirrels. In fact, squirrels chewed through the belts of her car as it sat in the garage! This kept our friend from arriving at our home the week prior! She and her neighbor trapped a collection of squirrels and took them to a nearby cemetery for a new life and fresh start. Alas, Kay declared those silly squirrels beat the women home!

So, the robins have their autheticity nailed; the squirrels are eating raw, with the exception of those belts, and we are eating stuff we saw advertised on television. Does this give credence to the idea that raw foods are for the birds and those who eat raw foods are squirrelly? I dearly hope not.

Here's hoping you will enjoy Kay Young's book as much as we have at our house. We also hope you will check out some tasty ideas from Kristen Suzanne as well as Leanne Ely .

Connie Baum

Will YOU Choose Health?

According to comedian Conan O'Brien:

"McDonald’s is reporting that despite the bad economy, their domestic sales were up last month. Which just goes to show you a great thing about our country – you’re never too poor to get fat."

We laugh about that. If we did not laugh, we would weep. People, for whatever reason, do not understand the correlation between what we eat and how well we feel, how well we function.

Conan's joke reminds me of the fellow who ate only McDonald's food for a month and lost his boyish figure as well as his good health. I doubt McDonald's EXPECTS us to depend on them for ALL our dietary intake...

Why are we turning to fast food in this downturned economy? Cost cannot be the ONLY factor... ...Theories abound. Some people think it's because people are too lazy, too busy, too ignorant...others feel that cost IS the only factor.

For my money, it has always seemed to me that if we KNOW better we will DO better.

If people are taught, with love and care for others' feelings, that helper products used in foods we make at home are loaded with junk that works against good health, they will avoid those products. If people understand the value of whole foods, organic foods, homemade foods, they will appreciate the value of making different choices.

Sometimes people, kids especially, are sure they do not LIKE certain foods. I can appreciate that. I won't eat grapefruit, so I totally relate. But I also remember being TOO LAZY to cut the skin of thee sliced tomatoes my mother served. But eventually I DID eat tomatoes and found out they are delicious.

Maybe, if we encourage one another and coax our kids in firm and loving ways, they will understand that ketchup is not the only source of tomato goodness. I could cite other examples, but I'm sure you get my drift.

Parents are working, so fewer households have stay-at-home moms or dads now than in earlier generations. People are dreadfully tired. They are hungry. They feel impatient. It's no wonder and it's no surprise that those same people take the quick and easy way around food prep! It's not fair to malign them, under their circumstances.

WHAT IF those of us who do know better would offer to hold hands with those who wish to learn? Wouldn't it be fun to make a relationship with a person, a couple, a family and show them what you know about making a meal? Wouldn't it be fun to share a meal with someone to become better acquainted and share your knowledge and experience with someone who would be willing to learn?

I would offer you the challenge of finding a neighbor, someone in your church or someone in your kids' school who would benefit from your gifts of love and teaching.

If YOU are eager to learn about eating with health in mind, you can click on any of the ads on this page for immediate assistance. If you would likd to find out more about cooking, food prep, shopping and feeding your family you will love these folks and their experience: The Dinner Diva and Kristen Suzanne .

Connie Baum

Was I Eavesdropping?

The conversation was so loud I could not help overhearing it...the young blond woman with a stick figure went on at length, describing her lunch.

"Oh, I was so concerned about the fat content that I used the low fat cheese and if I use the low calorie, low fat bread I could have a grilled cheese sandwich!" she gushed. She continued her monologue, " I only use the low sodium, low fat canned soups so that way I can stay within my Weight Watcher points..."

Someone opened a discussion with the dimunutive-size 0-young blond about the good fat content of nuts, which sparked a whole new monologue about cholesterol...

The conversation trailed on but in my head I had moved on to other issues.

I guess I was the only one in that room who understands the critical nature of REAL FOOD, WHOLE FOOD, RAW FOOD. I also guess that crowd wasn't really open to the idea. And I am sure none of those folks had seen these headlines:

Raw Broccoli, Cabbage Slash Bladder Cancer Risk by 40 Percent; Cooking Destroys Benefits

Vegetables May Reduce Hardening of Arteries

Availability of fruits and vegetables improves eating behavior of schoolkids

Americans still not eating enough fruits and vegetables

On reflection, I might have suggested to this little person some super snack ideas: I could have offered her the idea of carrying a hard cooked egg in her lunch bag so when lunch was over and supper is a long way off she might get in a little protein. Maybe she never thought of slicing an apple, sprinkling a pinch of salt to keep it from darkening and sealing it into a plastic container. She's probably sick and tired of eating carrot and celery sticks. Maybe she could mix it up with colorful slices of red and green peppers or napa cabbage for dipping into some hummus? Those travel well. I may have been remiss in mentioning to her that she might enjoy packing her lunch with a few crunchy slices of pickle or an olive or two...maybe she'd like fresh slices of mushrooms with a touch of guacamole? I probably missed an opportunity to educate someone...my bad

Actually, it seems to me that the people of this nation have been programmed to believe that if it is in a box or bottle or can on a store shelf and they have the cash to buy it , it must be all right to consume. All this flap about low fat, low sodium, low calorie and no sugar gets me crazy! It is hard to resist the tempation to rant and rave.

But I'll show great restraint. I'll keep my pie hole shut and point my beloved, health-seeking readers to good places to find real assistance when it comes to eating well and being well. Here are a couple of my favorite people:

Click Here!

and
AND HERE

These experts are in the know about health and good food. I am proud to represent them on the world wide web because they both understand the importance of eating well. Please, won't you do yourself a favor by visiting these sites and taking their information to heart, and to your food table?

Leanne Ely and Kristen Suzanne

Connie Baum

No Cooking? NO KIDDING?

By now you know what a health nut and foodie I am. You know I love to cook and I am all about healthy eating habits...

Some of you have complained to me that you don't LIKE to cook. Even those of you who do enjoy food prep and were pleased to have consulted with The Dinner Diva -continue to roam the aisles of the grocery store, hang from your cupboard doors, and poke your head into your fridge to answer the family's cries, "WHAT IS THERE TO EAT?"

I have such exciting news for you!

How would you like to have access to 400 ways to eat raw foods?

Now, don't you roll your eyes! I can hear you groaning, thinking it is just awful to think of veggies and fruits and no steak dinners! I know. You have a picture in your head of what Thanksgiving Dinner looks like and it does not include freshly squeezed wheat grass!

But I know about this Raw Foods Chef who has been a competitive body builder and she has proved by using raw foods and developing programs based on raw foods that you can be really healthy and it's not a lot of bother! Impressive, don't you think?

Her name is Kristen Suzanne. She is a beautiful woman with a real zest for life. She is devoted to helping us feel great, have more energy, and live longer. WHAT A CONCEPT!

Kristen is eager for us to have sound nutritional content, featuring phytonutrients, vitamins, minerals, and enzymes. And she stresses the importance of COLOR!

Does Kristen's message sound like an echo of Mother Connie's? If it does, then you know why this is such good news!

Please do yourself a healthy favor ASAP and meet Kristen Suzanne !

Connie Baum