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Fermented Foods - Any Questions?

Joanna Steven - Wed, 09/01/2010 - 15:05

I'm really into fermented foods right now. I know there's the good old sauerkraut, but when you get more into fermented foods, a whole world of delicious concoctions opens up to you. You can make kefir (with at least 2 different versions if you're all vegan - coconut kefir and water kefir), you can ferment beets, apples, jalapeños, and other fruits and vegetables without even needing a fermentation starter, etc. I will probably spend quite a bit of time discussing fermented foods because of their amazing health benefits, and because they are so delicious. Most people in the raw food movement have heard of children with autism who got cured mostly by healing their guts using ferments, and I actually healed myself of a pain I had which no doctor could diagnose (more on that in a later post). Besides, in a world were antibiotics and other killers of gut bacteria are commonly administered to even the smallest children, I believe that regularly eating fermented foods is a must.

So, do you have any questions regarding fermented foods? Is there a kind of ferment you'd like to know more about? Or maybe you've been fermenting for a while and have a blog post you'd like me to promote? Send any and all questions my way so I can address them in a later post (or posts!). This is going to be fun, especially with fall and winter just around the corner. Since produce availability tends to decrease, fermenting foods in order to have them last longer, digest better and make them more nutritious is a great end of summer project.

Categories: Bloggers

Emergency Edit: You make me touch your hands

Karl Baz - Sun, 08/29/2010 - 16:01

Emergency Edit is my new monthly exercise. In it I’ll pick up an internet meme of horrendous grammatical quality and try to figure out the author’s original intention, then edit/rewrite their work into shape.

This month’s Emergency Edit comes courtesy of the famous ‘You make me touch your hands for stupid reasons.’ Follow the link to hear a dramatic reading of this letter; it’ll help you appreciate my editing.

Dear Loser,[Chris]~~~~!!!!!
I thought you liked me you said it yourself I hate you .People only say you asked me out because you needed a date for the dance and that after the dance you would dump me well guess what bastert i dumped you cause you were thinking that i cheated on you i didnt so like idiots that you guys are and so smart that you are you called me a slut.I hung up on you cause you tol me it on the phone because i guess you werent man enough to tell me it in my face!I hate you and also guess what my mother hates you to that she the one who put me to do this ,you come to breakfast every morning and I aint stupid you try to sit next to me and my lil bro who only 7YRS old hates you to and dont even know what you did and is always blocking your chair.haha!I went out with another boy after you and after we were over you an idiot dared you even tried to ask me out again i didnt break up with him for you OK! I hate you ive always hated you spreading to everyone that i cheated on you when you just got jealouse that i used to talk to your friends to your so jealouse you automatically think i like them well guess maybe i do maybe i dont gotta problem you aint my boyfriend anymore I dont have to tell you who i like or who iam with and why got it i dont like you anymore the other day you told me that I have to tell you who I like or who Iam thinking of going out with its none of your buisness got that to you loser!I hate you and I know you still like me but i dont like you i dont care what your stupid friends say you make me touch your hands for stupid reasons u accidentally say you hugged me i will never like you again I HATE YOU I HATE YOU MORE THAN ANYTHING IN THIS DAMN WORLDDDDDDDDDD id rather date a spider or rat den u ur soooo ugly and fat !!!!!!!!!!And then saying that i loooooooved you pleasssse!!!!!!!!!!!Your such n ass wipe n bastert!! I HATE YOOOOOOOOOOU

Well bi you piece of shit i have more things to do right now then remember YOU

(edited version after the jump)

Dear Chris,

Did you ever really like me? I truly thought you did; but why would you lie about something like this? I’m confused, and I’d rather we not see each other again.

I feel used; friends have hinted that you only wanted a date for the dance, and that you would leave me soon after. I can’t handle this tension, and I’ve decided to preemptively walk out on you. And those rumors you’ve been spreading: me cheat on you? That’s just juvenile.  I may not be bright, but I still have my dignity, and I deserved to be directly confronted with the truth.

I fought for you, you know; you left a bad impression on my family every time you came over for breakfast; did you think my mother wouldn’t notice your inappropriate advances? Even my brother was disturbed, and he’s only seven!

In our last conversation you asked whether I’d been with other boys, and considering the rumors you’ve spread and your clear intention to break up with me I don’t think that’s any of your concern anymore; you are no longer my boyfriend. Who I like, date or see in my free time is my business, and I’ll thank you to mind your own.

You’re a failure Chris, a failure in love and life – a loser, dare I say; and in our short time together you’ve been a bad boyfriend. And Chris, for your sake, stop making women touch your hands for stupid reasons; the experience was just.. strange.

I hate you Chris; you make me want to use capital letters and bad grammar. Feel free to mutilate the truth – you’re good at that – but as far as I’m concerned we’re through. You’re rude, deceitful, ugly and fat.

Goodbye Chris, I have a life to live without you.

Think you’ve found grammar that can make me cry?  Mail it here, and if it’s horrible enough I’ll put it up.

Categories: Bloggers

The dreaded school menu, and healthy alternatives to home schooling.

Joanna Steven - Wed, 08/25/2010 - 08:12

This is the third and final part of a series of 3 articles I wrote on homeschooling for Raw Mom. Don't hesitate to leave a comment on the Raw Mom website!

The modern school system is not only flawed in the way it tries to educate our children, it is also flawed in how it feeds them. Many of us have watched, in shock and horror, Jamie Oliver’s attempts at reforming the school menus in the US. Not only are the schools resistant to change, many people don’t even understand where the problem is in the first place!

Curious, I took a look at the local elementary school’s menu. A banner at the top features “I love lunch” and “eat learn live” written on a black board. OK. Below, we can read: “Feeding our students high quality meals that are nutritious and delicious is our top priority. Chartwells’ menus are built to support the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and use recipes that taste great and are lower in fat, saturated fat, trans fats, cholesterol and sodium and provide whole grains, fruits, vegetables and appropriate portion sizes for age. We analyze our recipes for nutrient content and food component into nutrient standard or food-base menu planning that comply with child nutrition guidelines for the National School Breakfast & Lunch programs. Our Balanced Choices Meal Program is a guidance system to assist students in making the most nutritious parameters and is highlighted on the serving line."

Shouldn’t it be “no trans fat” rather than “lower in trans fat”? But, it could have been for the sake of having a neatly written paragraph. Let’s look at the menu itself. For breakfast, children have, on various day, a choice of pancakes, breakfast taco, a muffin, French toast with syrup, ham & cheese biscuits, sausage patties and the like. Yes, I definitely want my children eating this every day (no, I don’t). [Read More]

Categories: Bloggers

Why on Earth do I want a natural birth?

Joanna Steven - Mon, 08/23/2010 - 08:28

I have mentioned a few times that I was going to try my best to give birth to my child unmedicated. The wide majority of the time, people just don't get it. They're not rude or anything, but you can see it in their facial expressions. Birth is painful, modern medicine now allows us to experience the miracle of birth without pain, therefore why say no to this? Why go back to the stone age experience of giving birth kicking and screaming when we don't have to?

I thought I'd share my reasons for others to learn about what unmedicated childbirth can do for you and your baby, and also because family members might be present at my birth and I need them to understand my decision.

Reason #1: Knowing that you will say "no" to an epidural forces you to prepare your body better.

When I went to a childbirth class a few weeks ago, most women wanted pain killers even though it was their first birth and they really had no idea how much it would or would not hurt. Some of them wanted pain killers before the pain even started! And not surprisingly, when the instructor asked us to do a few exercises such as squats, they were all falling over the husbands and couldn't stay balanced. I have been doing deep squats to open my hips since the very beginning of my pregnancy, and now, 6 months pregnant, I can still go all the way down with both my feet flat on the ground.

The instructor was impressed, but I think what I did was nothing to be impressed about. Many cultures spend a lot of time squatting, but us Westerners think it's wrong. Dr Bradley even said that girls are discouraged from doing it because you can see their panties. Way to prepare them for the womanly act of childbirth! I see childbirth as something natural, as long as you live a natural lifestyle, and that includes eating healthy foods and exercising. Being healthy for your birth means you will be healthy for your baby as well, and no epidural can replace that.

Reason #2: You and your baby will be more alert after the birth.

If you are medicated, you might be groggy and so will your baby. From what I've read, nothing except nitrous oxide will relieve pain while giving you a beautifully alert baby who will readily stare into your eyes and suckle with energy. Isn't that worth some pain? The instructor at the childbirth class said that you can remedy this with additional drugs. The baby is barely a day old and we are already giving him or her downers and uppers? I think it's a sad reflection of our modern society, and something I'm going to try to avoid as much as I can. I'm not a glutton for punishment, and would rather avoid being in pain whenever possible, but sometimes, pain is a lesser evil.

Reason #3: Giving birth naturally is empowering.

I know in my heart that if I give birth naturally when 99% of women get an epidural, I will feel great about myself, I will feel like if I can do this, I can do anything, including raising a child. Raising a child is something that scares me, and you don't need to have had a less than perfect childhood to be afraid of it. I am putting a lot of pressure on myself, but I feel that if I can go through pain for a day to birth my child, a pain most women avoid like the plague, then I can go through the occasional pain of raising a beautiful human being. Like raising a child, I see childbirth as a mix of intense pain and fear mixed with overwhelming feelings of joy, pride and wonder. I would not take away the negatives from either experience, because I think they only lessen the intensity of the positives.

Reason #4: Natural childbirth is less risky than medicated childbirth

Let's face it, there are risks with any medical procedure. There are risks for you (in rare cases, the epidural can leave your paralyzed) and there are risks for your baby. Also, in some cases, pain killers won't allow you to walk around and try different positions, positions which can help you deal with the pain. And, when you can't feel the pain as much, you are not as aware of what you should be doing, when you should be pushing, how hard, etc. You really are giving yourself away to the doctors, and I for one would rather stay in control of my body (although I'll be the first to admit I have control issues!).

Another problem is losing awareness of what is happening. I once read the story of a woman who asked for the epidural, except that it wore off just before transition. As a result, she did not get used to the growing intensity of the pain, and got hit with it when it was at its strongest, and it was too late to get another epidural. I bet she experienced more pain relatively than a woman who never got an epidural.

If you're not convinced, know that epidurals are thought to:
- lower blood pressure in mothers, which can lead to a decrease in fetal heart rate
- increase the chance of getting a C-section
- increase the risk for pitocin
- increases the need for fetal monitoring

There are more reasons for wanting a natural birth, but these are the most important ones to me. I know that a natural birth will leave me feeling empowered and proud, and will reward me with an alert baby with whom I will be able to bond quickly and who will readily feed itself. And last but not least, being completely unmedicated will allow me to leave the hospital soon after the birth, which I have to say sounds pretty good to both my husband and me!

What were your reasons for a natural childbirth?

Categories: Bloggers

Long live the Dutch

Karl Baz - Fri, 08/20/2010 - 16:01

Photo (and cupcakes) by Clever Cupcakes, Montreal

‘Well, if all else fails, we can always get married.’

She actually said that.

I’m a delicate flower; and naively I thought that when my future wife proposed to me – yes, she would propose to me! – she’d bring flowers, diamonds and a puppy. Instead, this pragmatic Dutch girl catches the corner of my eye and raises an eyebrow in anticipation.

I squealed like a 16-year old birthday-girl with a giftwrapped unicorn – on the inside.

‘I was actually thinking that myself.’

I don’t think she expected that answer; but then she doesn’t know what I know.

Most countries have their local flavor of princesses: the pretty but not necessarily bright girl who propels her self-esteem through life one Gucci bag at a time. Men everywhere have suffered them, I know, and have developed sage-patience and titan-strength (I’ve been playing God of War, sorry) but I promise you have not endured until you’ve been with a Lebanese Princess.

Yes it’s a proper noun.

So when a pretty Dutch girl offers unconditional love, a low-maintenance contract and a generous dose of geekness, you grab her; you grab her before she ever meets a Lebanese Princess.

Yes, it’s a proper noun.

So we’re getting married, and I couldn’t be happier. Dutch people rock.

Categories: Bloggers