When Was The Last Time You Tried a New Food?

Did you know that the physiology of our taste buds change as we age? These changes cause us to experience food differently. The result is that a food that you didn't like as a child, you may enjoy now.

Do you want a simple step for improving your nutrition?

Or, perhaps you have a child who is a picky eater? Last week I shared that an important way to encourage picky kids to try new foods is to be a “trying new food” role model. As the saying goes: “actions speak louder than words”.

The simple step is to play the new food challenge. It’s easy, just pick a new food or recipe to try every week. Think once a week is too much? How about 2 new foods per month? Or, once a month?

I've found this to be an especially successful technique when working with families with picky school-age kids – kids who should have long ago grown out of the picky eating phase. It engages their love of adventure and exploring the world by creating a game of it.



I admit it. I play this game myself! In the past year I re-tried polenta, chia seeds, spaghetti squash, radicchio, and Belgium endive. And, I discovered that I now love polenta, chia seeds, spaghetti squash and Belgium endive. Radicchio was just okay. Four out of 5 is an incredible success rate! On my radar this winter are Brussels sprouts, okra, and millet.

Be honest. When was the last time that you tried a new food (or re-tried a food that you didn’t like previously)? Whether for your own health or to be a role model for your kids, I encourage you to join me in the game!

Kristen Yarker, MSc, RD helps you experience the pleasure (and energy) of healthy eating. After 6 years of only working with the toughest customers (i.e. picky kids), she is now serving adults who want amazing energy to live their busy lives without sacrificing the pleasure of delicious food. Discover how (and get recipes too) at:

www.KristenYarker.com

www.Facebook.com/KristenYarkerNutrition

Twitter: @KristenYarker

Pinterest: KristenYarker

Organic Panic! An Original TV Series

"Is your food killing you? Is your makeup toxic? Are your clothes destroying the planet? Or, is "organic" just a scam?" Airing September 1st at 2:30 ET, on the digital channel ONE, starts a five part original TV series that will pit an organic "Believer" against an organic "Skeptic" in every episode in an effort to show which is better. There will be interviews with experts on both sides of the debate, plus a closer look into the organic industry to expose myths and misleading information that has developed over the years. From Cosmetics to Food to Fashion to your Home, the show tours all aspects of organic living. Check out Organic Panic for your local listing.

Eden Foods Boycott Information & Product Alternatives

Green Earth Organics tries to stay on top of current social issues, but we don’t always catch everything. So we’d like to give a thank you to one of our customers who let us know that she was boycotting Eden Foods. For those who don’t know, Eden Foods is the oldest natural and organic food company in North America, having been in business for over 45 years.

On March 21st, 2013 Eden Foods announced that they were filing a lawsuit against the US Government in response to the Health & Human Services (HHS) Mandate, Affordable Care Act. They state in their petition that it is unconstitutional for some businesses to have been given exemptions, but other businesses are not allowed exemptions. Another company seeking an exemption is Whole Foods Markets. One corporation who has already received an exemption from the HHS is McDonald’s Inc.

Eden employees currently receive health, dental, vision, life, and a 50% 401k match. The particular exemption that Eden Foods is referencing is that of funding “lifestyle drugs,” specifically Viagra, smoking cessation, weight-loss, infertility, impotency, and contraceptives for their female employees.

The US Supreme Courts’ decision regarding Trustees of Dartmouth College v. Woodward (1819) has led to the designation that corporations or businesses can function and have the same rights as an individual person. Eden Foods states that due to the owner’s religious beliefs regarding the use of “lifestyle drugs,” specifically that women should not use contraceptives, they should be exempt from having to provide that benefit to their employees. They add that either all businesses must comply with the mandate or all businesses must be allowed to apply for exemption.

With the recent Supreme Court ruling in favour of Hobby Lobby, there has been new media attention on Eden Foods’ suit and a greater chance that their suit will be ruled in their favour. The Supreme Court ruled that some family-owned or other closely held businesses can opt out of the Federal requirement to pay for contraceptives in health coverage for their workers. Previous, the U.S. Court of Appeals had told Eden Foods that “a secular, for-profit corporation, cannot establish that it can exercise religion.” With the new ruling for Hobby Lobby, Eden has renewed their suit and resubmitted it to the courts.

For our Vancouver & Sea to Sky Locations

In light of this, we have received requests for alternatives to Eden Products on our website. Melissa spent most of Monday afternoon and Tuesday morning sourcing new BPA free products for anyone currently boycotting Eden Foods. Please see our new selections below.

Thomas Utopia’s canned diced and canned crushed tomatoes in BPA free cans.


Yves’s garbanzo, black, pinto, and kidney beans in BPA free cans.


Applesnax Unsweetened Applesauce.

We are also already sourcing new BPA free products for anyone boycotting Eden Foods in our other three locations. Please let us know if there are any specific brands or products you would like us to look into!