It's back to school time, and for the parents among us the exasperating daily question of what to feed our kids for lunch, too. I'm sure all of us are making healthy and nutritious choices, so I don't want to focus on the WHAT but on the HOW.
Every day millions of students get their lunch in brown bags, ziploc bags or even worse in the form of "lunchables" or the like, together with cans, cartons or plastic bottles containing the drinks. After the lunch is consumed these "one way" container land, best case scenario, in the garbage bins, or they litter the schoolyards and the neighborhood around. Not even to think of how many resources, trees and all, got wasted to produce the packing.
For an environmental science project, I packed two kids a "lunchable" and a drink carton with juice for one week with the request to bring home every bit of garbage. In one week these two kids filled a 13 gallon garbage bag just with their lunch packing!!
The following week they went to school with their lunch packed in a reusable plastic container and water in a metal bottle = zero waste!
Now isn't that easy, just pack the lunch in a reusable container instead of a brown bag or ziploc bag and save the environment every day!
And just for fun: Want to see what celebrated British chef, Jamie Oliver has to say about lunchables:
Jamie Oliver Attacks Kraft’s Lunchables — A First for Network TV
Although he is definetivly more concerned about the what...
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Friday, August 27, 2010
The Canadian Rocky Mountains
Almost every year our family migrates to the Canadian Rockies for as much time of the summer as we can. For me it is the perfect place to spend time with the family. Tucked between the Purcell Mountains and the Rocky Mountains, Wasa, the little village we were staying, offers a nice warm lake with sandy beaches, endless hikes and close by river adventures, to name only a few activities. And in a bit more than an hour one can reach the grand Rocky Mountain National Parks. In the previous years I took advantage of this and took my share of the iconic Canadian Rockies images:
One of my favorites, Moraine Lake
Spirit Island, located in Maligne Lake, near Jasper
Takakkaw Falls
Lake Louise
for more of my Canadian Rocky Mountain images click here:
Canadian Rocky Mountains Gallery
This year, though I stayed put and enjoyed the nature close by. All the following images are taken within a few yards from our lodging.
Curious Chipmunk on the porch
Love is in the air: Mating Boreal Bluet Damselflies
Peekaboo Deer
"Burning Sky", sunset after a thunderstorm
and the grand finale:
Can't wait to go again!
One of my favorites, Moraine Lake
Spirit Island, located in Maligne Lake, near Jasper
Takakkaw Falls
Lake Louise
for more of my Canadian Rocky Mountain images click here:
Canadian Rocky Mountains Gallery
This year, though I stayed put and enjoyed the nature close by. All the following images are taken within a few yards from our lodging.
Curious Chipmunk on the porch
Love is in the air: Mating Boreal Bluet Damselflies
Peekaboo Deer
"Burning Sky", sunset after a thunderstorm
and the grand finale:
Can't wait to go again!
Thursday, August 26, 2010
August Conservation Tip
Omega Fatty Acids
You wonder what omega fatty acids have to do with conservation?
Stay put, I'll explain.
First a little information about the omega fatty acids:
There are mainly two essential (essential means our body can't make them, so we need to take them in with our food) omega fatty acids, the omega 3 and the omega 6 fatty acids. Omega 3 (O3) fatty acids can be consumed as ALA (I spare you with the exact chemical names here), the “parent” O3, which is then converted into the more effective O3s, DHA and EPA in the human body. ALA is found in high quantities in flax seed oil. DHA and EPA also can be consumed directly through fish/fish oil (salmon, herring, mackerel, anchovies, sardines and tuna).
Omega 6 fatty acids (O6) are more common and found in most vegetable oils, poultry, eggs, nuts and most grains.
What are the benefits of O3s and O6s?
O3s are known to reduce inflammation and may help in chronic diseases like heart disease and rheumatoid arthritis. They also appear to be important for brain memory and performance (give me an extra dose...!)
O6s have a crucial role in brain function, growth and development. They also help with skin problems, hair growth and maintain bone health.
These are just some of the proven health benefits, much more are suggested, as for example prevention of Alzheimer, but more research is called for to verify.
Another important fact is the ratio ratio between the two Os, which should be 1:1, or at least 1 (O3) : 5 (O6), unfortunately, in our modern diet the ratio is rather 1:10, even up to 1:30. Why is this so important? To many O6s interfere with the health benefits of the O3s, since both fatty acids compete in the body for utilisation and if there are to many O6s, the O3s "don't have a chance". The result, of course, is the opposite of the benefits and can include heart attacks, thrombotic stroke, arrhythmia, arthritis, osteoporosis, inflammation, mood disorders, obesity, and cancer.
So far, so good, now the question is, how do we get these two magical fatty acids into our body.
The easiest way is to just to eat lots of fish (at least twice a week) or get fish oil tablets, they contain already the more effective O3s, the DHA and EPA. And the O3 to O6 ratio is 6 : 1, perfect, or????
So what's the catch?
First, it might not the best choice for you, since fish potentially can contain heavy metals and FAT soluble pollutants like PCBs and dioxin which even accumulate up the food chain. The American Heart Association warns:”Children and pregnant women are advised by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to avoid eating those fish with the potential for the highest level of mercury contamination (e.g., shark, swordfish, king mackerel or tilefish)” Yummy...
Second, it's definitively not the best choice for our planet, most of the fish that are used for the production of fish oil, are already in peril of overfishing. I want to quote Green Peace here:
“Many marine ecologists think that the biggest single threat to marine ecosystems today is overfishing. Our appetite for fish is exceeding the oceans' ecological limits with devastating impacts on marine ecosystems. Scientists are warning that overfishing results in profound changes in our oceans, perhaps changing them forever. Not to mention our dinner plates, which in future may only feature fish and chips as a rare and expensive delicacy.”
So in a perfect, not contaminated and overfished, world eating fish would be the best way to supplement ones diet with the essential O3s and O6s. Unfortunately, we are no longer living in a perfect world. I personally take organic flaxseed oil "soft gels". Yes, I have to take more and they are not quite as effective, but together with a healthy diet, absolutely sufficient. They grow back and they don't contain mercury and else. That's why I think, omega fatty acids are a conservation topic.
You have a choice, choose conservation!
You wonder what omega fatty acids have to do with conservation?
Stay put, I'll explain.
First a little information about the omega fatty acids:
There are mainly two essential (essential means our body can't make them, so we need to take them in with our food) omega fatty acids, the omega 3 and the omega 6 fatty acids. Omega 3 (O3) fatty acids can be consumed as ALA (I spare you with the exact chemical names here), the “parent” O3, which is then converted into the more effective O3s, DHA and EPA in the human body. ALA is found in high quantities in flax seed oil. DHA and EPA also can be consumed directly through fish/fish oil (salmon, herring, mackerel, anchovies, sardines and tuna).
Omega 6 fatty acids (O6) are more common and found in most vegetable oils, poultry, eggs, nuts and most grains.
What are the benefits of O3s and O6s?
O3s are known to reduce inflammation and may help in chronic diseases like heart disease and rheumatoid arthritis. They also appear to be important for brain memory and performance (give me an extra dose...!)
O6s have a crucial role in brain function, growth and development. They also help with skin problems, hair growth and maintain bone health.
These are just some of the proven health benefits, much more are suggested, as for example prevention of Alzheimer, but more research is called for to verify.
Another important fact is the ratio ratio between the two Os, which should be 1:1, or at least 1 (O3) : 5 (O6), unfortunately, in our modern diet the ratio is rather 1:10, even up to 1:30. Why is this so important? To many O6s interfere with the health benefits of the O3s, since both fatty acids compete in the body for utilisation and if there are to many O6s, the O3s "don't have a chance". The result, of course, is the opposite of the benefits and can include heart attacks, thrombotic stroke, arrhythmia, arthritis, osteoporosis, inflammation, mood disorders, obesity, and cancer.
So far, so good, now the question is, how do we get these two magical fatty acids into our body.
The easiest way is to just to eat lots of fish (at least twice a week) or get fish oil tablets, they contain already the more effective O3s, the DHA and EPA. And the O3 to O6 ratio is 6 : 1, perfect, or????
So what's the catch?
First, it might not the best choice for you, since fish potentially can contain heavy metals and FAT soluble pollutants like PCBs and dioxin which even accumulate up the food chain. The American Heart Association warns:”Children and pregnant women are advised by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to avoid eating those fish with the potential for the highest level of mercury contamination (e.g., shark, swordfish, king mackerel or tilefish)” Yummy...
Second, it's definitively not the best choice for our planet, most of the fish that are used for the production of fish oil, are already in peril of overfishing. I want to quote Green Peace here:
“Many marine ecologists think that the biggest single threat to marine ecosystems today is overfishing. Our appetite for fish is exceeding the oceans' ecological limits with devastating impacts on marine ecosystems. Scientists are warning that overfishing results in profound changes in our oceans, perhaps changing them forever. Not to mention our dinner plates, which in future may only feature fish and chips as a rare and expensive delicacy.”
So in a perfect, not contaminated and overfished, world eating fish would be the best way to supplement ones diet with the essential O3s and O6s. Unfortunately, we are no longer living in a perfect world. I personally take organic flaxseed oil "soft gels". Yes, I have to take more and they are not quite as effective, but together with a healthy diet, absolutely sufficient. They grow back and they don't contain mercury and else. That's why I think, omega fatty acids are a conservation topic.
You have a choice, choose conservation!
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Point Reyes
The wind of heaven is that which blows between a horse's ears. ~Arabian Proverb
Which is why my friend Emma and I carve out a few days from our busy work and family schedule each summer and take our horses to the Point Reyes National Seashore.
Lots and lots of horse friendly trails, 150 miles of it to be exact, trailer parking, hitching posts and water which are provided at several trailheads, and of course great views make this western most tip of the continental USA the perfect place for horse and rider.
We usually start at the Bear View visitor center, to get a map and the most current trail info, and then we head out to enjoy that tranquil scenery together with our horses.
After a day of riding we come back to our home away from home, the Point Reyes Country Inn and Stables
The host Tom Evans made his B&B as horse friendly as you can wish. Nice stalls layered with fresh wood shavings, many of them even with paddocks make sure that the horses stay as comfortable overnight as we are in the lovingly furnished rooms of the B&B. But the best is yet to come, after one woke up to the soft neighing of the horses, Tom greets you with such an delicious breakfast, that you easily survive a day in the saddle with just a light snack.
Point Reyes Station, the little town where the B&B is located is a place with character. As we stroll through its main street, we discover a lot of nice, tasteful and useful stores. My favorite being the Flower Power:
Another highlight of Main Street is Toby’s Feed Barn, a family owned true general store, which offers a wide range of goods from organic, local produce to pet food and hay, to gifts and garden supplies.
On our way to dinner one evening I noticed a sign saying MARIN ORGANIC on quite a few stores and restraunts, including the one we chose for dinner, the Stellina.
Curious about this I set out to learn more about it: Regarding to the West Marin Citizen, “Marin County is the home to 250,000 residents, 20,000 cows, 15 million oysters, 500 acres of organic fruit and vegetables and a vision for the future”. A century ago Marin was the “milk” basket of the country, just as the Palouse is the breadbasket nowadays. But the industrialization and centralization of mass produced dairy wiped Marin off the map. Instead of desperately trying to keep up with the frenzy, Marin turned the table and specialized on small scale, local, artisan and organic food. MARIN ORGANIC , an increasing network of farmers, restaurants and local retail stores, was founded 1999, to promote and support this organic county and to address many environmental issues. It sees itself as the primary link between farmers and eater!
An admirable concept, a working concept for sustainability that the whole country should adopt!
Which is why my friend Emma and I carve out a few days from our busy work and family schedule each summer and take our horses to the Point Reyes National Seashore.
Lots and lots of horse friendly trails, 150 miles of it to be exact, trailer parking, hitching posts and water which are provided at several trailheads, and of course great views make this western most tip of the continental USA the perfect place for horse and rider.
We usually start at the Bear View visitor center, to get a map and the most current trail info, and then we head out to enjoy that tranquil scenery together with our horses.
After a day of riding we come back to our home away from home, the Point Reyes Country Inn and Stables
The host Tom Evans made his B&B as horse friendly as you can wish. Nice stalls layered with fresh wood shavings, many of them even with paddocks make sure that the horses stay as comfortable overnight as we are in the lovingly furnished rooms of the B&B. But the best is yet to come, after one woke up to the soft neighing of the horses, Tom greets you with such an delicious breakfast, that you easily survive a day in the saddle with just a light snack.
Point Reyes Station, the little town where the B&B is located is a place with character. As we stroll through its main street, we discover a lot of nice, tasteful and useful stores. My favorite being the Flower Power:
Another highlight of Main Street is Toby’s Feed Barn, a family owned true general store, which offers a wide range of goods from organic, local produce to pet food and hay, to gifts and garden supplies.
On our way to dinner one evening I noticed a sign saying MARIN ORGANIC on quite a few stores and restraunts, including the one we chose for dinner, the Stellina.
Curious about this I set out to learn more about it: Regarding to the West Marin Citizen, “Marin County is the home to 250,000 residents, 20,000 cows, 15 million oysters, 500 acres of organic fruit and vegetables and a vision for the future”. A century ago Marin was the “milk” basket of the country, just as the Palouse is the breadbasket nowadays. But the industrialization and centralization of mass produced dairy wiped Marin off the map. Instead of desperately trying to keep up with the frenzy, Marin turned the table and specialized on small scale, local, artisan and organic food. MARIN ORGANIC , an increasing network of farmers, restaurants and local retail stores, was founded 1999, to promote and support this organic county and to address many environmental issues. It sees itself as the primary link between farmers and eater!
An admirable concept, a working concept for sustainability that the whole country should adopt!
Monday, July 12, 2010
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Loose in the Palouse
After the excitement of the Reception in Seattle, my friend Daisy Gilardini and I decided to drive east and see what the Palouse has to offer.
Coming back home from this trip, friends would ask two questions.
The first one was: “Where have you been?” and upon my answer:
“Photographing the Palouse”, I most often looked into a puzzled face.
So here the extended explanation:
The Palouse lies roughly in the northeast corner of the state of Washington. Grasslands and savannas once covered the large area, but now it has been plowed and converted to grain fields. The Palouse is mainly a wheat growing area and the largest producer of lentils in the United States. A combination of just the right amount of rain, thanks to Washington's Cascade Range and the deep, rich volcanic soil make the Palouse to a very successful breadbasket of the West.
Now, why would two wildlife and nature photographer go there?
That, on the other hand brings us to the second question: “What did you do there?”
Well, we usually got up around 3.45 am, yep that's right, 3.45 am! to be on the top of Steptoe Butte for the sunrise:
My favorite:
After the sun got too intense on Steptoe Butte, we would hop into the car, and see where the road would take us...
...which were not always the roads we expected...
...to scout out nice barns and calming, rolling hills.
We had all kinds of weather, from blue sky...
...to a few clouds...
...to more clouds...
...to a stormy sky...
...and even a full grown storm
And in time for sunset, around 8 pm, we would be back at Steptoe for the nice evening light and of course the sunset. After the third day of that “vacation” regimen, we would quit the midday scouting and just go back to the hotel and take a nap!
Our last evening had a special treat for us, it was full moon and we got to photograph the rising full moon over the Palouse.
On our last morning, however, we had actually planned to sleep in, we had plenty of nice sunrises, and Daisy had a lot of driving ahead of her that day. But remembering that it was full moon, we didn't want to miss the setting full moon. Dragging out of bed at 3.45 am we sleep-drunken got dressed and on the way to Steptoe. Arriving there we were rather puzzled and confused, our full moon was just a mere quarter moon. Not quite awake yet, we doubted our self, assured us, that we had indeed photographed the full moon the evening before and tried to find an explanation for this weird occurrence. Since it was a brilliantly clear morning, it couldn't be clouds...suddenly it dawned on us...”check the lunar eclipses for 2010” Daisy asked, and sure enough one of the two lunar eclipses in 2010 was right there, on June 26th. We didn't know if we should cry or laugh, but in best photographers manner, we used the nice early morning light and photographed our last rolling hills.
No setting full moon then, sorry...
Please make sure to check out Daisy's blog as well at http://blog.daisygilardini.com/
Coming back home from this trip, friends would ask two questions.
The first one was: “Where have you been?” and upon my answer:
“Photographing the Palouse”, I most often looked into a puzzled face.
So here the extended explanation:
The Palouse lies roughly in the northeast corner of the state of Washington. Grasslands and savannas once covered the large area, but now it has been plowed and converted to grain fields. The Palouse is mainly a wheat growing area and the largest producer of lentils in the United States. A combination of just the right amount of rain, thanks to Washington's Cascade Range and the deep, rich volcanic soil make the Palouse to a very successful breadbasket of the West.
Now, why would two wildlife and nature photographer go there?
That, on the other hand brings us to the second question: “What did you do there?”
Well, we usually got up around 3.45 am, yep that's right, 3.45 am! to be on the top of Steptoe Butte for the sunrise:
My favorite:
After the sun got too intense on Steptoe Butte, we would hop into the car, and see where the road would take us...
...which were not always the roads we expected...
...to scout out nice barns and calming, rolling hills.
We had all kinds of weather, from blue sky...
...to a few clouds...
...to more clouds...
...to a stormy sky...
...and even a full grown storm
And in time for sunset, around 8 pm, we would be back at Steptoe for the nice evening light and of course the sunset. After the third day of that “vacation” regimen, we would quit the midday scouting and just go back to the hotel and take a nap!
Our last evening had a special treat for us, it was full moon and we got to photograph the rising full moon over the Palouse.
On our last morning, however, we had actually planned to sleep in, we had plenty of nice sunrises, and Daisy had a lot of driving ahead of her that day. But remembering that it was full moon, we didn't want to miss the setting full moon. Dragging out of bed at 3.45 am we sleep-drunken got dressed and on the way to Steptoe. Arriving there we were rather puzzled and confused, our full moon was just a mere quarter moon. Not quite awake yet, we doubted our self, assured us, that we had indeed photographed the full moon the evening before and tried to find an explanation for this weird occurrence. Since it was a brilliantly clear morning, it couldn't be clouds...suddenly it dawned on us...”check the lunar eclipses for 2010” Daisy asked, and sure enough one of the two lunar eclipses in 2010 was right there, on June 26th. We didn't know if we should cry or laugh, but in best photographers manner, we used the nice early morning light and photographed our last rolling hills.
No setting full moon then, sorry...
Please make sure to check out Daisy's blog as well at http://blog.daisygilardini.com/
Friday, July 2, 2010
July Conservation Tip
" The chief characteristic of civilization is the sacrifice of the future for the present"
- William James, Harvard Professor, 1890 -
Every once in a while I get "Rootstock", a news magazine that is put together by Organic Valley, I guess I must have signed up for it somewhere. Usually I just quickly browse through it, take out the coupons and then put it in the recycling bin. This time however, on my coupon hunt, I stumbled upon this quote. That, I thought, sounds rather interesting. And before I knew it, I was reading a captivating article about the World Food Plan. Never heard about it? Well, that's ok, since there is non...And the article does not provide one, BUT makes one thinking about an issue that we are easily forget in out daily worry about global climate change, oil spill and else, the issue about global hunger. Again the article does not provide solutions, but thoughts and ideas, that actually could help develop a "World Food Plan".
I know, you don't have the time....but if you can carve out 2 or 3 minutes, I urge you to read the Rootstock article.
Coming just back from the Palouse, photographing the beautiful rolling hills of monoculture wheat and crop dusters flying from sunrise to sunset, this article really hit a nerve.
So, this months conservation tip is not much of a tip , but more an encouragement to think about what we eat and how it gets produced.
- William James, Harvard Professor, 1890 -
Every once in a while I get "Rootstock", a news magazine that is put together by Organic Valley, I guess I must have signed up for it somewhere. Usually I just quickly browse through it, take out the coupons and then put it in the recycling bin. This time however, on my coupon hunt, I stumbled upon this quote. That, I thought, sounds rather interesting. And before I knew it, I was reading a captivating article about the World Food Plan. Never heard about it? Well, that's ok, since there is non...And the article does not provide one, BUT makes one thinking about an issue that we are easily forget in out daily worry about global climate change, oil spill and else, the issue about global hunger. Again the article does not provide solutions, but thoughts and ideas, that actually could help develop a "World Food Plan".
I know, you don't have the time....but if you can carve out 2 or 3 minutes, I urge you to read the Rootstock article.
Coming just back from the Palouse, photographing the beautiful rolling hills of monoculture wheat and crop dusters flying from sunrise to sunset, this article really hit a nerve.
So, this months conservation tip is not much of a tip , but more an encouragement to think about what we eat and how it gets produced.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
