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Category Archives: Food Secrets


Twinkie and Wonder Bread workers unite!

Posted on January 13, 2012 by diamondsonyourinside and currently has 4 Comments on Twinkie and Wonder Bread workers unite!

Late night convenience store raids may never be the same. It was announced this week that the folks that bring us Twinkies, Ding Dongs and Wonder Bread filed for bankruptcy. Hold your tears.

You wanna know why? Could it be Americans are making smarter diet and snack food choices? Be real. Probably not. The reason cited is their production model is too costly, due to legacy pensions and union restrictions. They simply cannot keep up with customer needs because of the excess weight it has to carry and the inability to change quickly.

So. Let me get this straight. The company that provides products that make Americans fat, lethargic and generally unhealthy is being destroyed by people who have made the company fat, lethargic and generally unhealthy? That is almost too ironic to be true.

2 Fun Twinkie Facts:

There are 39, yes, THIRTY NINE ingredients in Hostess Twinkie.

The Twinkie defense. The man who fatally shot Mayor George Moscone and Harvey Milk in 1979 obtained a verdict of manslaughter rather than murder after arguing he was not fully responsible for his actions because he sunk into a deep depression. This was evidenced by his newfound love of junk food. A noted psychiatrist testified that on the night before the murders, the defendant “just sat there in front of the TV set, bingeing on Twinkies.” Could it be that the innocent-seeming blond Twinkie is not merely bad for your health, but could be an accessory to murder?

I guess one way or another, those things will kill you. I rest my case.


Don’t Dig On Swine…part 1.

Posted on January 4, 2012 by diamondsonyourinside and currently has 3 Comments on Don’t Dig On Swine…part 1.

Pork+Meat Glue+Cult following=McRib

Now you know the equation. But do you know what the hell ‘McRib’ is?

If you knew, you might think twice about bee-lining it to the drive thru to get you some piggie love. First off, it includes “restructured meat product” and a flour-bleaching agent used to make the soles of shoes. Delectable? You ready for this?

How many ingredients does it take to make a McRib? Holy Cow! Er, Pig.

At first glance, the sandwich contains just pork, onions, and pickles doused in BBQ sauce and laid out on a harmless bun. But the truth is, there are roughly 70 ingredients. The bun alone contains 34.  In addition to chemicals like ammonium sulfate and polysorbate 80, the most frightening may be azodicarbonamide — “a flour-bleaching agent most commonly used in the manufacturing of foamed plastics like gym mats and the soles of shoes.” According to McDonald’s own ingredient list the bun also includes calcium sulfate and ethoxylated mono- and diglycerides, among other chemicals. Whaa? I’ve never seen those ingredients in my recipe books AND they are banned in Europe.

You know what they make those things out of, Chet? You know? Lips and assholes! (The Great Outdoors,1988) Or, as it’s called, this “restructured meat product” includes pig bits like tripe, heart, and scalded stomach, says Whet Moser at Chicago Magazine. (Scalded stomach???) These parts are cooked and blended with salt and water to extract proteins, which act as a “glue” that helps bind the reshaped meat together. (There’s that famous meat glue again!)

Is it really that bad for you? Need you ask? Though “slightly trimmer than the Big Mac,” the McRib, still packs in 500 calories and 26 grams of fat. And despite its name, one thing you won’t find inside a McRib is bones. The absence of any detectable “rib” is what gives the unnutritious mush its “quirky sense of humor,” says McDonald’s U.S. marketing director.

Is that really humorous?

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Color Me Badd

Posted on December 13, 2011 by diamondsonyourinside and currently has 5 Comments on Color Me Badd

Families that eat together, stay together.

Tis the season to hop up the kids on candy, iced cookies, and brightly colored punch. Quick trips to the McD’s drive thru. Beware.  I am learning more and more about the negative effects of processed food on our children.  Like serious ones. Ones that we are currently treating with medications. ADHD, depression, anxiety, aggression, even poor hand writing (yes, hand writing. I will ‘write’ about that one soon.)

New research has found that delayed food sensitivities caused attention deficit disorder and removing these food sensitivities could reverse attention deficit disorder in 75 percent of children.HOLY COW. Aggression, violence and bullying are on the rise in schools. A study in England found that supplementing prisoners with multi-vitamin and fish oil could reduce violent crime in prisons by 37 percent.

But I can’t deprive my kids of the fun stuff…..WAAAAAA. Stop whining.  Did you really just say that?

Small changes can have a big impact on your family’s and your children’s health and happiness. Starting with what you bring home.

  • Eat at home and Eat together.  You complain of not having enough time to cook, but you spend hours watching The Food Network. Create a special place to sit down together, and set the table with care. You’ve all heard the research that family meals are basically the cure for every problem in America.Well, just try it and see.  At the very least, you have a chance to find out what your children are up to.  Taking back our family dinners will help us learn how to find and prepare real food quickly and simply, teach our children how to connect, and build security, safety, and social skills, meal after meal, day after day.
  • Eat a real breakfast. This is a critical life skill we must reclaim and teach our children. Kids (and adults) who eat breakfast are thinner and smarter. Think REAL, whole protein-rich food to power up the brain for the day. Scrambled eggs, oatmeal, yogurt, smoothies. BUT NOT CEREAL, which has more sugar than a twinkie–and has essentially no nutritional value.
  • CLEAN your kitchen. Throw out foods with ARTIFICIAL FOOD COLORS, high fructose corn syrup, hydrogenated fats, and sugars or fat as the first or second ingredient on the label. Fill your kitchen with real, fresh, whole, local foods whenever possible. Shop at nearby farmer’s markets.Have fresh fruit and veggies always available for your kids to snack on.
  • Take your vitamins.  A multi-vitamin and  Omega-3 Fish Oils are a MUST. Our kids have different needs at different times and supplements can fill some of these gaps. Deficits in magnesium can cause insomnia and constipation.  DHA deficits cause diminished brain function and inflammation.
  • JUST STAY AWAY FROM ARTIFICIAL FOOD COLORINGS. 

PEACE.


Sunny D(isgusting)

Posted on October 28, 2011 by diamondsonyourinside and currently has 1 Comment on Sunny D(isgusting)

Sunny Delight–Sunshine in a Bottle they say. It has been marketed to us kids since the seventies. Today it is all over kid programming–offering a refreshing, healthy beverage. Seemingly happy kids bouncing around in the sunshine, playing, laughing, unwittingly consuming crap. They serve it in schools, they serve it in Lunchables (that’s another post).  It all seems benign.

Take a moment. What do you think are the ingredients in that seemingly harmless orange bottle? My first guess was water, orange juice and obviously sugar. Well, that is partly correct. Real orange juice comprises less than 2% of this concoction. Get out your dictionary and call your doctor. You are poisoning your children. I have bolded the dangerous ingredients.

Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup and 2% or Less of Each of the Following: Concentrated Juices (Orange, Tangerine, Apple, Lime, Grapefruit). Citric Acid, Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), Beta-Carotene, Thiamin Hydrochloride, Natural Flavors, Food Starch-Modified, Canola Oil, Cellulose Gum, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Hexametaphosphate, Sodium Benzoate To Protect Flavor, Yellow #5, Yellow #6

In addition to the HFCS which is linked to obesity and insulin issues, there is CANOLA OIL in your juice.  Say what? WHY is there equal parts of juice as there is inflammatory building, artery blocking CANOLA OIL? If that oil wasn’t enough, they’ve added artificial coloring–which is made from petroleum.  Do I need to explain why petroleum is harmful to consume? I won’t even go into the sodium hexametaphosphate, mainly because I can’t even spell it much less know what it does.  Oh, and why does juice need starch?

Our lives are busy.  We know that.  But don’t err on the side of processed convenience if the label screams UNHEALTHY.  Don’t allow your children to control the choices at home.  When you explain WHY, they usually get the message.  They don’t want to consume poison either.  If you educate your children on these hidden dangers, they will eventually make better choices for themselves–even when you aren’t around.


GMO. OMG! WTH?

Posted on October 21, 2011 by diamondsonyourinside and currently has 1 Comment on GMO. OMG! WTH?

GMO.  A genetically modified organism.  Sounds like something out of a sci-fi movie.  Not something you are eating everyday. GMOs are foods that have been genetically altered using another organism’s genes to obtain certain desired traits.  Peanut genes in a strawberry? Why do you care?

Allergies. Many children in the US and Europe have developed life-threatening allergies to peanuts and other foods.  Soon after GM soy was introduced to the UK, soy allergies skyrocketed by 50 percent. GM soy contains a protein that was never before part of the human food supply, and might be allergenic. In fact, sections of that protein are identical to those found in shrimp and dust mite allergens. Tasty.

Development. Children are three to four times more susceptible to allergies. Also, they convert more of the food into body-building material. Altered nutrients or added toxins can result in developmental problems.  Isn’t it suspicious the developmental delays that are so prevalent these days??

Unknown Disease. Monsanto, the corporation responsible for producing roughly 90% of genetically modified seeds around the globe, will try to bring their new, GMO sweet corn to a grocery store aisle or farmer’s market near you. These are seeds that are resistant to pests–it causes organ failure in mammals. While we are a bit stronger than a rat…I deem that frightening. 

This is the first time an engineered vegetable could be served straight to your dinner table. Usually they are hidden in the ingredients of packaged foods (high fructose corn syrup, all soy items).

Since GMOs tolerate Roundup (that kills any living thing around it), these new GMOs could pass the same health and infertility problems that are linked between Roundup to crop disease and livestock infertility, on to humans who consume this GMO corn.

What do you do?

Eat organic. Limit packaged crap. Eat whole. Grow your own heirloom seeds. Know where your food comes from. Know that Monsanto is the devil.

Happy Halloween.


DANGER, Will Robinson! Someone is poisoning you!

Posted on September 20, 2011 by diamondsonyourinside and currently has 2 Comments on DANGER, Will Robinson! Someone is poisoning you!

If I tackled you just before you unknowingly drank poison, wouldn’t you hail me as your hero?  Well, consider this your face plant. You probably have been consuming this toxin on a daily basis. Worse, you may even be serving this modern day hemlock to your sweet innocent children.  Does Crystal Light ring a bell?  Sugar free popsicles? Diet Pepsi addiction got you stuck in the drive thru?

Sir! Put. Your Weapon. Down.

Nutra Sweet.  Equal. Aspartame.  Sweet Poison. This chemical, yes chemical, is toxic.  Not a little toxic.  A lot toxic.  There are account after account of reports to the FDA heralding the dangers and side effects of aspartame.  But to no avail.  This chemical breaks down in the body as methanol and formaldehyde. Those guys don’t sound very friendly.  A few of the 92 different reported symptoms listed include: Headaches/migraines, dizziness, nausea, extreme depression, irritability, insomnia, anxiety attacks, vertigo, memory loss, and joint pain.  Chronic illnesses can be triggered or worsened by ingesting of aspartame: Brain tumors, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, lymphoma, birth defects, fibromyalgia, and diabetes. Gulf War Syndrome.

What is scary is that unlike many things we put into our body, aspartame’s by products go straight to the brain. It actually crosses the “brain / blood barrier” as it is called.  Several of the experts who now speak out against aspartame took part in the research and development of this chemical. One of the world’s foremost authorities informed the development company, Searle,  in 1971 that aspartic acid (a by-product) caused holes in the brains of mice.  ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

So? You say.  I am not scared of that.  Ok, how about this? Artificial sweeteners can make your body fat.  Yes, fat.  By tricking the body into thinking sugar is coming, insulin is produced awaiting its arrival.  This unnecessary spike in blood sugar is no bueno for your system.  That excess sugar is then stored as fat.  But who cares that you are fat if you’ve got cancer.

Your body begs for diamonds on its insides.  Not corrosive poison.

Start today.  Be a Hero! Throw that sh*t out.  Real sugar is best.  Begin with detoxifying your body of all residual chemical toxins from aspartame’s chemical make up and their toxic by-products, and see if any adverse health symptoms remain.  At the very least, your brain will be clearer and your body more brilliant.

You can thank me later.


Hail to the Chief

Posted on August 24, 2011 by diamondsonyourinside and currently has 3 Comments on Hail to the Chief

Most importantly, the mother of all healthy snacks: anything from HAIL MERRY.  My bestest friend Susan O’Brien makes these yummy snacks–almost too good to be healthy.  Macaroons, chocolate tarts, granola, kick ass nuts.  So good they will make your tongue slap your teeth out.  www.hailmerry.com


The Land of Conveniences.

Posted on August 24, 2011 by diamondsonyourinside and currently has 2 Comments on The Land of Conveniences.

Now taking requests.  I may not use them and secretly scoff behind your back,  but I will graciously consider them.  Like today.  A new found BFF asked me to write about what to feed her kids for after school snacks.  She genuinely wanted some good options.  Not freaky, sprouted tofu options but enticing foods that kids would gladly eat.  Given this is the first week of school for many of us, I felt it fitting.  My post on sweaty back hair must wait til next time. (Certain to be a crowd favorite).

We live in the most convenient city on the planet.  We have everything at our finger tips.  And, for the right price, we can have it.  All wrapped up nicely in plastic wrap.  No extra work, no forethought, no preparation.  This power, my friends, can be deadly when used carelessly.  I’m talking about snacks.  Snacks for you, snacks for your kids.  It is SO EASY to go to the store and pick up the Frito Lay snak-pak of chips.  Cheetos, Doritos, Sun Chips.  Oreos, Nutter Butters, Lorna Doone. Food Coloring, Hydrogenated Oils, High Fructose Corn Syrup. Perfectly packaged for your kids.  An allergy and ADHD cocktail. Trust me, you aren’t doing anyone any favors–unless you are the Frito Lay rep.

The key to having your kids eat healthier snacks is to stay ahead of the game.  Make it convenient for better choices. That means plan.  Just a little.  Give them something to eat before they ask for it.  Have a plate of cheese, hummus, veggies and nuts sitting out on the table.  Or something yummy waiting in the fridge.  Here are a few of my (and my kids’ favorites).  Let me know yours.

Fresh Popped Popcorn in coconut oil. Back to my earlier ‘expose’ on the microwave kind, this popcorn is AWESOME.  You have to get a Whirly Pop  or one of those Cusinart machines. So worth it and fun to make.

ProBugs yogurt drinks are a favorite around here.  9 grams of protein plus probiotics.  They come in several different flavors.

HAIL MERRY! Chocolate Macaroons are amazing.  And made by my very BFF.  Addicting to say the least!

Frozen Grapes.  Just what it sounds like.  Grapes in the freezer.  They are addicting.  On that note, there is a Zoku popsicle maker  that you just pour in any kind of juice and it freezes it in less than 10 minutes.  Super cool.  http://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/zoku-duo-quick-pop-maker/?pkey=cctlsptice

Edamame.  Easy to make (buy it frozen, boil for 1 min, add sea salt) and you can keep in the fridge for a quickie.

Tias Ranch flavored tortilla chips.  It is still junk food, but it is under the non-toxic junk food. These taste very much like their evil twin Doritos, but without the unrecognizable ingredients. REALLY yummy.  For that matter good ole Lays chips and Fritos are atleast free of additives and creepy stuff.  Add fresh salsa or guacamole.

Nitrate free beef and turkey jerky. Whole Foods has their own brand.

Frozen Lemonade.  Grab a blender and add some natural lemonade and ice.  Kids LOVE it!

Clif Bars.  They are almost everywhere–and are free from junk additives.

Quesadillas with organic cheese and beans.  Good stuff.

And the good old standby: Peanut butter and honey.  Except choose organic (regular peanuts are RIDDLED with toxic pesticides).  Almond butter is even better. On whole wheat bread, rice cakes,  sliced apples or Elvis style on a banana.

Have a great year!!
Now for the shameless, self-promoting plug.  I am walking 60 miles for Komen Walk for the Cure in November.  I would be humbled and grateful if you would consider a donation on my behalf.  Komen’s research on the drug Herceptin is THE reason I was able to kick that dreadful kancer to the curb.  And BTW, walking 60 miles AIN’T easy.  I thought it would be–but my feet are thinking otherwise.  Cheer me on.  With your mouth and your wallet!  Peace.

http://www.the3day.org/site/TR/2011/DallasFortWorthEvent2011?px=6183831&pg=personal&fr_id=1622


All in moderation. THAT’S A COP OUT.

Posted on August 16, 2011 by diamondsonyourinside and currently has 7 Comments on All in moderation. THAT’S A COP OUT.

Everything we hear these days is about if it feels good do it, — in ‘moderation’ of course.  THAT  is sheer propaganda.  It’s like the serpent in the Garden of Eden telling the first couple it’s ok to take just one bite.  Don’t get me wrong, ‘moderation’ still means the occasional Burger House, Mema Mary’s caramel cake, DQ blizzard …those things are still ok once in a while.  HOWEVER, there are some things should never hit your lips.  I mean it.  Never. Here are a few of those things:

Watch it wiggle, see it glimmer.

Anything with COLOR not occurring in nature.

Artificial food coloring.  No matter what the dye number, this stuff is toxic.  Not just a little bit toxic either.  The EU has already banned many of these dyes from entering their food source.  FDA?  Not a chance.  Those food industry lobbyists (the Fruit Loop loving folks from General Mills and the like) are just too tight with the good ole government that touts itself as our protector.  Food coloring is a derivative of PETROLEUM.  Yes, petroleum.  Would you pour 40 weight oil into your oatmeal?

Microwave Popcorn.  Remember that freaky guy who sniffed microwave popcorn everyday and then he got sick?  Have you ever heard of anyone getting sick sniffing lemons? Chemicals, including perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), say what?? in the lining of the bag, are part of a class of compounds that may be linked to infertility in humans, according to a recent study from UCLA. In animal testing, the chemicals cause liver, testicular, and pancreatic cancer. Studies show that microwaving causes the chemicals to vaporize—and migrate into your popcorn. They stay in your body for years, which is why researchers worry that levels in humans could approach the amounts causing cancers in lab animals. DuPont and other manufacturers have promised to phase out PFOA by 2015 under a voluntary EPA plan, but until then, use a Whirly Pop and coconut oil.  Healthy and FUN for the whole family!

The entirety of anything larger than your head in one sitting. This is more portion-control than foodstuff-related, but it’s important. If it’s bigger than your cabeza, whether it be bowl of popcorn, ham hock, or butter sculpture, it’s more than one serving. Failure to follow this rule will result in a wide variety of issues, not including the obvious FAT ASS.

Anything that resembles plastic.  Seriously: you can make a perfectly good macaroni and cheese without Velveeta (and the yellow dye they use in it). Likewise, you can probably live without creepy fruit roll-ups in neon colors, strangely flexible things, or oddly shiny foodstuffs that resemble the packaging that they came in more than what they claim to be. If it looks, smells, and acts like plastic, it probably is made from something like plastic. Life is too short for that.

A rule of thumb:  if you can’t pronounce it, get all your ingredients for it at a regular grocery store, it glows in the dark,  or if you need a turkey platter to put it on…don’t eat it.  I promise you will live longer.


Franken Steak, Mummy Chicken.

Posted on August 4, 2011 by diamondsonyourinside and currently has 2 Comments on Franken Steak, Mummy Chicken.

This is one of those things that will make you think twice about where you buy your meat.  This is some nasty sh*t.  Meat Glue.  AKA transglutaminase.  Things that make you go Hmmm.

“WTF is it?” you ask.

This white powder allows butchers to piece together scraps of meat into a seamless full meat cut. England banned use of this coagulant last year. They found it misled consumers to think they are getting a prime cut for their money.  Oh, and here’s a good one: The original glue was made from cow and pig blood, something they didn’t think was wise in restaurant meats. Ya think?

Parts of parts of parts.

For example, have you ever taken a second thought about those tenderloin rolls wrapped in bacon that are held together perfectly without the need for twine or toothpicks? Meat Glue. Perfectly oval chicken nuggets?  Meat Glue.  The ribeye from Outback? Probably Meat Glue. It can make any kind of meat look like one whole piece. Magic! So what is it exactly?

Produced by a Japanese company, it belongs to the family of ‘clotting enzymes.’  Clotting?  I just threw up in my mouth. Thrombin is a coagulation protein which together with the fibrous protein can be used to develop a “meat glue” enzyme that can be used for sticking together different pieces of meat.

If the idea of fish slurry (think McFish) or chicken puree glued together with an enzyme isn’t appealing to you, use it as motivation to learn more about where your food comes from.

The moral of the story?

Seriously. Know where your food comes from. Try shopping from farmer’s markets more, so that you know who has grown your vegetables, or raised your meat if you eat it. Maybe reconsider eating cheap meat at all.  I mean a 4 year old McDonald’s hamburger looks exactly the same as it’s ‘fresh’ counterpart.  I can promise you, that HAS to cause problems for our bodies.

Signing off with an organic apple in hand…

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