Benefits of Organic Foods

Is organic food worth the price difference? Don’t regular blueberries have all the same nutrients as organic blueberries? There are many questions surrounding organic food, and in this article, we will help to explain its benefits.

The term organic refers to how food is grown or processed. Organic farming is good for the environment as it reduces pollution while conserving water and soil. The farmers don’t use standard chemicals to fertilize and prevent disease. Instead, they invest in alternative, natural methods to protect their crops.

The Vegetarian Diet Frequently Asked Questions

What foods do lacto-vegetarians eat?

Lacto-vegetarians eat dairy products, such as yogurt, butter, and milk, along with fruits, grains, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and legumes (beans, lentils, etc.).

Can I and my children get enough protein if we become vegetarian?

It is very easy, if one eats a reasonably varied diet, to get plenty of protein. Milk is a complete protein, which means that it contains all the essential amino acids. Other foods such as beans, grains, soy products, fruits, and vegetables, provide varying amounts of amino acids. Meat substitutes made with high quality vegetable protein are now widely available in supermarkets and natural food stores.

How to Make Beef Jerky in an Oven, Or Better Yet, a Food Dehydrator

Can you make jerky in a regular home oven? Yes, a home oven can be used as a makeshift food dehydrator. Food dehydration essentially requires two basic elements; heat and air flow. These two elements work in concert to remove moisture from food. As the heat warms the food, its moisture is released and evaporated into the air. To dehydrate food in an oven, you simply place food items on the wire racks in your oven, set the heat and leave the oven door slightly ajar to let air and moisture out. You can also place a fan by the open oven door to provide some air circulation.

Succession Planting

Succession planting means growing different crops in the same space one right after the other in the same season, or planting the same crop in different parts of the garden in succession at different times.

For example:

• A row of carrots is planted in early spring: after the carrots are harvested in early summer, the vacated row is re-planted with snap beans for harvest in early fall. The two crops are grown on the same ground.

Or:

Quick Summer Dinners

These ideas for quick summer dinners will have you in and out of the kitchen in no time! Stock up on the ingredients for a fast summer meal anytime.

1. Grilled Chicken, Zucchini and Potato Salad: Marinate boneless, thin sliced chicken breasts in Italian salad dressing up to one day ahead. Slice zucchini diagonally, brush with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Grill chicken and zucchini until done. Serve with store bought potato salad. Note: The thin sliced chicken breast will be tender and cook in half the time.

3 Ways to Waste Money on a Raw Food Diet

Are you finding a raw diet too expensive to manage? Are you depressed because you have been raw for only a short time, but have seen your food bill increase twofold?

Maybe you are hesitant in actually going raw because you have heard all the horror stories of people having to mortgage their house just to keep up their raw lifestyle.

Just kidding…

But many people do in fact find it financially difficult to stay raw. It’s just too expensive!

Well, it certainly doesn’t have to be. Here are 3 ways that many people waste money on a raw food diet.

Broccoli Growing Problems: Troubleshooting

Broccoli is treated much as cabbage. Grow broccoli as rapidly as possible. Give broccoli plenty of moisture and be sure to feed it through the season–a planting bed amended with aged compost is an important start. While broccoli is hardy at maturity, young plants should not be subjected to frost.

For broccoli growing tips see How to Grow Broccoli or Broccoli Growing Success Tips at the bottom of this post.

Here are common broccoli growing problems with cures and controls:

Stir Fry

Stir fry is quick and delicious. With limitless ingredients, it can constantly be customized depending upon taste. It’s a great way to incorporate fresh vegetables that are in season. Known for rich flavor and crunchy vegetables, stir fry is a favorite Chinese dish amongst families.

You must prepare the ingredients before you start. The prep work will actually take much longer than the cooking. All ingredients must be chopped into bite size pieces. As you chop an ingredient, place it in a bowl, so it will be easy to add to your dish when it’s time.