Hundreds gather to protest global warming

Pine Nuts = Bitter/Metallic Taste

Ate pine nuts that were in my Lebanese iced tea on Sunday afternoon and by Tuesday night I was experiencing this strange bitter, metallic taste in my mouth. By Wednesday morning it was definite. As any self respecting individual seeking medical attention would do...I googled my symptoms and thankfully came up with the following:

http://pinchmysalt.com/2009/05/02/pine-nuts-left-a-bitter-taste-in-my-mouth/comment-page-6/#comment-13949

p.s. I'd been in New Orleans over the weekend and thought for sure it had to do with the spicy food, turtle soup, and alcohol consumption.

Industry pushes chocolate milk in schools

Kindly note: Actual article (Italics are my comments)

By EMILY FREDRIX (AP) – Nov 8, 2009 (and Supermom101 - my comments are in italics)

MILWAUKEE (Boston) — The creators of the "Got Milk?" campaign are getting ready to make a big push to keep chocolate milk on kids' minds and on school lunch menus, a plan that has some educators and obesity activists none too pleased. (My husband thinks that cow's milk was flavored back in the days because it was going sour. Doesn't it have more sugar than most candy bars?)
The new ad campaign from the dairy industry, set to launch Monday, emphasizes that sugary flavorings are ways to get kids to drink milk. Without them, some youngsters won't drink regular milk and won't get its nutrients, the ads say. (And the reason that we need to drink another mammal's milk is... Suppose one could claim that a candy bar has "nutrients" too?)

The "Raise your hand for chocolate milk" campaign starts Monday with an ad in USA Today featuring chocolatey brown colors and the launch of a Web site that asks people to sign a petition declaring their support for chocolate milk in school. (Please visit http://www.foodincmovie.com/ and sign the petition to support healthy food choices in our schools.)
But some educators and obesity experts say kids get enough calcium — essential for bone growth — and will drink white milk if it's the only milk offered. They say kids get too much sugar, which is heightening America's obesity problem, and schools shouldn't serve chocolate milk at all. (Why isn't water a beverage choice?)
The idea behind the campaign is to draw a distinction between chocolate milk and the soda and candy that have come under attack in schools, said Vivien Godfrey, CEO of the Milk Processor Education Program, the industry marketing group that developed the campaign with the National Dairy Council. Godfrey said the effort will cost between $500,000 and $1 million. (Is chocolate cow's milk a candy beverage? "They" already control the beverage choices set by the U.S.D.A. Four types of cow's milk and juice. No water or soy milk are offered on the menus. If "they" are truly concerned about the nutritional needs of our youth, why don't they take the $1,000,000 and donate it to schools that would benefit from a garden?)
She said most kids choose chocolate milk, but without it they drink juice, soda or water, which don't have the same nutrients. (Since when do I need a science degree to know that the "nutrients" in chocolate milk are the same as a candy bar? Last time I checked when our children run off the football field or basketball court they don't reach for a milk bottle. The facts — that chocolate milk does have nutrients — are getting lost in the debate over school lunches, she said. (What "nutrients" does chocolate milk have?)
"If there's even a chance chocolate milk might get taken out of schools, that really can do more harm than good," she said. (She must really, really believe what she's saying. What harm would come besides the sale of chocolate milk would decline?)It's not clear how many schools have chocolate milk or are pulling it. But parents and school districts are becoming increasingly concerned and asking for more information, said Margie Saidel, a vice president with Chartwells School Dining Services, which manages food programs in 600 districts and supports chocolate milk. (Thank goodness our 10 year old informed me this morning that after December chocolate milk will be coming off our local school lunch menu. The horrors! What's next? Offering our children real apples, pears and oranges. Or cow's milk without added growth hormones?)
But experts like Marlene Schwartz, deputy director of the Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity at Yale University, want chocolate milk tossed. She said kids have too much sugar already and chocolate milk has no place in schools. (Thank goodness a voice of reason and from a nice ivy league school to boot.)
Dairy products are a common source of added sugar in children's diets, so that's why parents and educators consider removing them, she said. But the research does not point to any calcium shortages when chocolate milk is removed in schools. (Calcium shortages? Isn't calcium added to cow's milk any way. Doesn't orange juice have calcium added. Whew...I've been really worried about calcium shortages.)

Would you eat this for lunch?

According to the head of of our local school lunch program, "our meals must contain 2oz of protein, fruit, vegetable, bread and [cow's] milk in order for us to be reimbursed [from the federal government]. "

"They" wonder why Americans have never been sicker or fatter. And...since when do I need a science degree or a clinical study to tell me that eating a banana for breakfast is better for me than chocolate milk with a pop tart.

Let food be your medicine and medicine be your food. - Hippocrates (462 BC)

Ever wonder why there's 4 types of cow's milk on the school lunch menu and no water?

Have you ever wondered why you can check off the chocolate milk box on the school lunch menu but there's not one for water? Yep! They can serve our children french fries and cow's milk complete with growth hormones but no water? The reason.. the federal government sees no nutritional value in water and won't reimburse your school lunch program if they serve it. And "they" wonder why childhood obesity is soaring along with diabetes and a host of other health problems. Check out: http://www.slowfoodusa.org/index.php/about_us/

According to their website, Slow Food USA seeks to create dramatic and lasting change in the food system. We reconnect Americans with the people, traditions, plants, animals, fertile soils and waters that produce our food. We inspire a transformation in food policy, production practices and market forces so that they ensure equity, sustainability and pleasure in the food we eat.

SLOWFOODUSA is embarking on a letter writing campaign to change the school lunch menus. The food pyramid is of course heavily influenced by the food/beverage industries and they are working hard to change the way school lunches are prepared, delivered and served.

Since when do I need a science degree to know that eating a banana is a better breakfast for me than a pop tart with chocolate milk.

Common sense is not so common. - Voltaire

A time to count our blessings

Well done is better than well said
- Ben Franklin


Please keep these families in your prayers:

http://www.themccarthyteam.org/

http://beatricefamilyfund.blogspot.com/

Sharing our (crazy) world with an exchange student from Spain

Supermom101 does not have anything unusual or exciting to report besides the Spaniard that is now sleeping in the bedroom of our youngest child. By all appearances he is a kind, respectful young man (16) and greeted our daughter at the airport by kissing both cheeks. (I haven't told my husband...yet!) He even appreciates Supermom101s husband's jokes so everyone is happy. Told our children that I just may end up loving him more than them over the next three weeks.

And so much for cultural barriers. His favorite TV shows are Family Guy and House, his favorite bands are AC/DC and Led Zepplin and his favorite American team is the Boston Celtics.

HUGE bonus is that Supermom101s husband is keeping the heat at 66 degrees even during the night. (We’ll see how long that lasts since it is usually set to 58 degrees.)

While frantically cleaning the house and the bedroom he would be using the furnace kicked on for the first time this year. Our oldest (16) who is hosting the student was assisting me in fumigating his bedroom. Conversation while squeamishly poking under the bed with a duster (and I wasn't just terrified of a harmless little dust bunny):

Supermom101: Your room is freezing.

Son: I know, remember I told you I don't have any heat?

Supermom101: We've lived here for over a year and your room doesn't have heat?

Son: Yeah! Remember I told you how cold it was in here?

Supermom101: Really? The radiator in your room doesn’t work?

Son: Yes, I have no heat in my room…it’s broken.

Supermom101: Well! He can’t sleep in your room. You have no heat.

Two hours later...

Supermom101: Our son's room has no heat.

Husband: Oh.

Supermom101: He said he told us last year.

Husband: Well we're not paying to get it fixed so the exchange student can sleep in his brother's room.

Morale of the story: Our oldest is delighted because he is still sleeping in his queen bed even though he is sharing it with his younger brother who is sleeping on a mattress on the floor. The youngest is thrilled because, well, he's sleeping in his older brother's room. Our daughter...sleeping alone! And the exchange student has a quiet room to himself. Although yesterday morning I found the bedroom window wide open. Either he had had enough and was planning on jumping off the porch roof to escape or it was too hot for him.

Teach Yourself to Become a Better Investor

Teach Yourself to Become a Better Investor

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The No-Dairy Breast Cancer Prevention Program

The No-Dairy Breast Cancer Prevention Program

Thankfully, over eight years ago when I was diagnosed and treated for breast cancer at the age of 38, I discovered the No-Dairy Diet. Thank you Dr. Plant. I've never been healthier or thinner...

Does eating "pink" donuts really cure breast cancer?

Check out http://www.thinkbeforeyoupink.org/