I'm going organic in Burlington area - any advice?

[Sherylcatmom]

Originally Posted by 68vette

The key is not just to eat organically, but to eat foods with higher nutritional value.

I agree with this. Eating processed foods made from organic ingredients doesn't cut it. Since I replaced processed foods (e.g., breads & pastas -- even whole grain) with actual whole foods (e.g., rice, millet, potatoes), I feel significantly better and get sick even less than I did before. While I'm not extremely thin, I'm effortlessly a healthy weight and eat as much as I want.

Originally Posted by 68vette

My family comes from an island off the coast of Italy where the average life span is about 100 years. We have always eaten organic growing up. The other thing is consider what grows naturally in your own yard or surrounding area. Dandelion greens are a key crop and are free. In the spring they are less bitter and make a great salad. Some medical research has shown that bitter tasting greens have a higher cancer fighting element. Possibly why Greeks and Italians live so long.

How wonderful! I'm guessing you grew up with some delicious foods. Maybe you even continue to eat this way. I love dandelion greens and other bitter greens.

Lately I buy bunches of kale every week at the farmers market and make kale chips. More delicious than any snack chip I've ever had and so healthy!

Rutland County farmers are doing an amazing job extending the growing season. Honestly, my husband and I can't remember how we ate all winter before the weekly winter market started.

[68vette]

Originally Posted by Sherylcatmom

I agree with this. Eating processed foods made from organic ingredients doesn't cut it. Since I replaced processed foods (e.g., breads & pastas -- even whole grain) with actual whole foods (e.g., rice, millet, potatoes), I feel significantly better and get sick even less than I did before. While I'm not extremely thin, I'm effortlessly a healthy weight and eat as much as I want.



How wonderful! I'm guessing you grew up with some delicious foods. Maybe you even continue to eat this way. I love dandelion greens and other bitter greens.

Lately I buy bunches of kale every week at the farmers market and make kale chips. More delicious than any snack chip I've ever had and so healthy!

Rutland County farmers are doing an amazing job extending the growing season. Honestly, my husband and I can't remember how we ate all winter before the weekly winter market started.

Growing up with this type of lifestyle tends to stick with you. my grandmother did not drift to many of the Italian-American dishes that many immigrants ended up doing. I do eat poultry, but the staple meat in the area my family is from is rabbit. Many of the greens that were prepared were easy to grow like broccoli rabe or could be found growing wild like dandelion. The key to Italian cooking is the recipies are very simple and the ingredients have to be fresh. With a little practice mozzarella is as easy to make as bread.

[tkln]

I have made ricotta at home a few times, and have been wanting to try mozzarella...it's next on my list.

[Sherylcatmom]

Green Living Now author & researcher Amy Todisco of Huntington, Vermont offers this new resource book for $19.95: Organic Food on a Budget (http://www.greenlivingnow.com/ebookpitch.htm - broken link)

Amy's Green Living Now e-newsletter (http://www.greenlivingnow.com/newsletter.htm - broken link) is free and I learn a ton from it. At that link you can look through previous issues and, about 2/3 of the way down the page, sign up to receive it.

[quickdraw]

Originally Posted by 68vette

Dandelion greens are a key crop and are free.

I need to walk before I run

[quickdraw]

Originally Posted by 68vette

With a little practice mozzarella is as easy to make as bread.

Speaking of bread, how much of it do you eat? I've been toying with the idea of getting an outdoor bread oven. I'm addicted to Red Hen Mad River Grain bread. It's organic, but I'm eating too much of it.

I was disappointed to hear that the majority of their breads are not made of Vermont wheat. I think they have at least one loaf for people who want local wheat, but much of it is from Kansas.

I've lived in a lot of places and Red Hen is my favorite bread anywhere.

[jackmccullough]

You know what the biggest seller of organic food is?

Wal-Mart.

As my son says, local is the new organic.

[Sherylcatmom]

Originally Posted by jackmccullough

You know what the biggest seller of organic food is?

Wal-Mart.

As my son says, local is the new organic.

Good for your son. Wal-Mart capitalizing on organic according to the letter of the law while trampling on the spirit makes me a tad crazy.

BTW, a coworker and I met at Healthy Living in S. Burlington yesterday because it has food, is open late, and has free wifi. I had a delicious meal. However, the store is beyond huge! After our meeting I'd intended to walk the aisles and maybe pick up a few things. But the store's vastness felt impersonal and excessive. It made me long for our wonderful Rutland Co-op, which at a fraction of the size has everything we need. I left empty-handed. I'd meet & eat at Healthy Living again though.