You Are What You Eat. So Who’s Your Farmer?

Time and time again we always hear how there is no nutritional difference between organic and conventional foods. Why is one called organic and the other conventional? There MUST be some kind of difference, isn’t there?

Let us ask you question, “Who’s your farmer”? Do you know where his or her farm is located? Around the block? 15 miles from your job? Or maybe 5,000 miles from your home? Now let us ask you do you know if your farmer is using pesticides, steroids, or any other chemicals? And if so are any of these chemicals possibly harmful? Well to be quite frank with you, the food that your eating is likely killing right now and you don’t even know it!!

Finding out where your food comes from and what is use to produce it is one of the most important decisions you can make towards living a healthier life. Because our daily schedules are full with work, kids, family, school, and other activities we rarely stop to think about where our food comes from and it’s production. One of the best ways to find out where your food comes from is by taking a trip with your family to your local farm or farmers market. There you can get all the right information about the food that is being grown. Information such as is the food being grown organic, how long has the land been certified organic, if not what types of pesticides or, steroids, if any are being used.

“Methyl bromide is a fumigant gas used nationally to protect crops from pests in the soil and to fumigate grain bins and other agricultural storage areas. Methyl bromide was linked to the risk of prostate cancer in the entire group, while exposure to six other pesticides was associated with an increased risk of prostate cancer only among men with a family history of the disease.” National Cancer Institute

“Six chemicals in all, including two fungicides (Benomyl and Maneb/mancozeb) and two insecticides (Carbaryl and methyl/ethyl parathion) were found to double the risk of developing skin cancer with repeated exposure of more than 50 lifetime days. The incidence of cutaneous melanoma, the most deadly form of skin cancer, tripled from 1975 to 2006 in the United States, and it has been estimated that there will be 68,720 new cases of melanoma and 8,650 melanoma deaths in 2009.” Environmental Health Perspective

“The chemical has been banned in the European Union since 2004 but is still one of the most widely used herbicides in the U.S. with 77 million pounds applied in 2003.  It has infiltrated its way into the drinking water of an estimated 33 million Americans, and the article explains that there have been breakdowns in regulation and oversight of atrazine levels in public water.” Eileen Mericle Ames in a Des Moines Register newspaper article titled, “Pesticides Lead to Much Destruction.”

It is generally accepted that one contributing factor to the fall of Rome was excess lead poisoning (or plumbism) which disproportionately affected the aristocratic class.  It would probably be unfair to chalk this up to hubris since the ancient Romans lacked sophisticated knowledge about the neurotoxic effects of lead.

Our culture, however, has no excuse.  We have information at our finger tips and technology advancing at the speed of light (at least to us it seems like it). So take initiative and find out where your local farms are located. Be proactive in always asking questions. Don’t always assume that just because you might be eating your fruits and vegetables that they are always safe for you. Food for thought. You are what you eat!!

Holistic Network of Palm Beach: A Benefit Plan for the Holistic Lifestyle

We had the pleasure of working with the Holistic Network of Palm Beach (HNPB) during our OrganicTakeOver Bicycle Tour in 2009. It’s a great network filled with massage therapists, chiropractors, dermatology, organic grocery stores, fitness centers, holistic dentists, personal trainers and many more.

The best thing is now they offer benefits plans for the Holistic Lifestyle!! By joining the network, you gain access to a community of real support, a family of caring practitioners and professionals AND you receive exclusive discounts only available to members! HNPB offers several packages you can choose from to suit your lifestyle. When you register as a new member, you will receive 5 services from providers in your area of Palm Beach County.

HNPB is also developing relationships with non-profit and community organizations such as women’s shelters, homeless shelters, environmental groups, public schools, parks and other organizations that would become stronger with our help. They are establishing programs and events where their providers can educate and provide services free of charge.

Also 10% of membership fees will go to local nonprofits throughout Palm Beach County, to help build a stronger, healthier community.

For more information please visit their website at www.holisticpalmbeach.com.

“Way 2 Go Green”: Iris Fields Event Planning & Marketing

Today we like to say “way to go green” to Iris Fields!! Iris Fields is a “green” boutique event planning firm based in New York City and Miami, founded by entrepreneurs Ariana Gordon Stecker and Melissa Raskin that services clients on a global scale. Iris Fields produces weddings, social, business and non-profit events. We had the privilege of working with them while we were on our Organic Takeover Bicycle Tour in 2009. The tour was about us, Roosevelt Desir, Kirk Nelson, and Andre Walker riding bicycles to raise awareness about healthy-yet-tasty organic cooking alternatives. Iris Fields spire headed a team to promote each of our stops for us while we rode our bicycles. The turn out was great for each of our stops. Some stops more than others were quite overwhelming, given that fact that we had to cook for all in attendance!!

We wanted to take a moment to show our appreciation of Iris Field taking responsibility and initiative of being “green”!! Iris Fields recognizes and believes that environmental management is one of the highest corporate priorities and that they conduct all aspects of their business as responsible stewards of the environment. They will integrate the principles and practices of conserving our natural resources and reducing pollution as essential elements of management, corporate culture, and community relations. We are truly proud that Iris Fields assumes responsibility for protecting the environment, complying with relevant laws, regulations, and other requirements, and committing themselves to continual improvement primarily in the following areas:

- Resource Conservation & Recycling
- Energy Conservation
- Pollution Prevention
- Consumer Education

Iris Fields offers unique Wedding, Business, Non-Profit and Social event planning and social media marketing services. The company caters to clients who have busy schedules but will settle for nothing less than the best service out there. Whether you are an entrepreneur or a working professional, an executive or a stay at home mom, a professional athlete or a celebrity, Iris Fields will save you time, eliminate stress and produce a fabulous event or marketing strategy for you or your firm. Great work on being stewards in your field on being “green” and eco-conscious!

	http://www.irisfields.com http://www.irisfields.com/facebook http://www.twitter.com/irisfields http://www.livingmygreenlife.com http://www.diaryofaneventplanner.com

Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival: “Grand Tasting Village”

For those who supported us the past two years at Fun and Fit as a Family at Parrot Jungle Island we would like to thank you for all the fun and excitement you brought!! We had a blast our first year 2009 making you scream and cry (like the double rainbow guy) for ”Famous Mousse” Parfait and Fruit Salad. Then last year 2010 we stepped the challenge up with our new golden voices (we lost them last year from screaming) to our Caribbean Chicken Wrap but you all made them like the foodies/chefs you were born to be.

This year we’re invited to head to the South Beach with all the top chefs of the Food Network! Come and join us at the Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival Grand Tasting 10th Anniversary. We will be the only organic food company serving you some great mouthwatering healthy dishes. You don’t want to miss this incredible event as we host another great OrganicTakeOver at the Grand Tasting!! See you there.

Youth L.E.A.D= Youth Leading Environmental Activism through Democracy

Today we would like to take a moment to give recognition to Youth L.E.A.D., a nonprofit organization, who is actively taking initiative for healthier lifestyles and sustainable behaviors. Their mission is to create environmentally just, sustainable, and healthy schools and communities in Miami-Dade County area. They actively do this by empowering young people to be the innovators and social change agents in their schools and communities. Through training, mentorship, and service learning projects, youth will develop the skills and opportunities necessary to diagnose and solve environmental and food justice problems.

Youth L.E.A.D. services include:

Workshops: Offers 2-hour and 4-hour workshops that introduce students to the concepts of food and environmental justice, expose them to local resources, and provide age-appropriate tips for improving health and conserving the environment.

Food Demonstrations: Youth participate in hands-on food preparation to learn 3 easy, eco-friendly recipes they can prepare at home with a focus on local, healthy foods.

Activist Academy: Participating youth meet biweekly afterschool or over the summer to learn how food and environmental justice issues impact them, their communities, and the world. The training provides youth an in-depth understanding of the issues as well as lifeskills, leadership, and advocacy skills to address these issues in their schools, at home, and in their communities. Graduates of this training then work with a mentor or partner organization to develop and implement their own service learning projects to address an identified food or enviornmental justice problem in their school or community. This intensive training includes food preparation workshops and field trips to local farms, community gardens, and partner organizations.

Eco-Assessment and Assistance: Youth L.E.A.D. experts can assist your school, organization, or home to “go green” by providing individualized assessments, tips, and assistance to lower your ecological footprint and save money.

We are truly honored to have a great organization like Youth L.E.A.D. in the community. They also help to bring awareness about food justice. One number one thing that Youth L.E.A.D. wants people everywhere to know is that access to healthy food is a right not a privilege!! Youth L.E.A.D. wants everyone to have equal access to healthy food, regardless of their income or where they live.

As we know obesity is at an all time high. Youth L.E.A.D. understands that by tackling the youth early they can at least influence their parents on making the change to a healthier lifestyle to prevent health issues like obesity, heart disease, diabetes, and cancers.

For More Information: Please visit Youth L.E.A.D. at www.youthleadmiami.org. Also while your visiting their site support the the cause by donating. Your donation will help get kitchen sets for food demonstrations or an Activist Academy scholarship.

We want to personally say, “Great work and keep up the good job!”