Still going strong with the Vegan Challenge. We’ve been eating lots of beans and vegetables. My anti-oxidant levels should be through the roof. I feel good. No need for meat yet, though The All-Star explained to me this morning that eating meat makes him happy. I do believe that happiness is an important part of wellness, so we’ll let him have his hamburger on Day 31.

We finally took a trip to the Long Beach South East Farmer’s Market last Sunday. For $25 we scored a bunch of really delicious organic and locally grown fruits and vegetables. I bought some really inexpensive swiss chard that we still have plenty of. The strawberries were incredible, though must be eaten quickly as they are not long lasting.

Here’s a few pics of our awesome finds!

Amazing smelling basil – which I didn’t but buy will this Sunday- I sense vegan pesto on the menu for Monday!

The All-Star loves his cauliflower!

Crazy hybrid potatoes. The farmer said, “I’m the only one who’s got em.”  Lol, crazy farmer.

Nothing beats an Orange County strawberry!

Baby bok choy, the last of it for this season – can you it was starting to bloom?

The full bounty

Twice as much organic Swiss chard for half the store price!

Lots of delicious veggie dishes this week, and one big baking success. I made another really awesome ragout. It was super fast and easy to make. It was just a large can of diced tomatoes, onion, sherry and assorted dried herbs. So simple and so good. I also added some chard ribs which I worried would make it bitter but did no such thing. I’m really excited about this ragout. The best part is that it doesn’t take hours to simmer like my Sunday Sauce does. I wish I had some pictures for you. You’ll just have to create your own visual.

More zucchini from the Hernandez garden was turned into a fabulous zucchini bread creation.  I found the recipe on Hell Yeah it’s Vegan and tailored it to fit the diets of everyone at the office. Bob’s Redmill Organic Rice Flour to make it gluten-free and Ener-G Egg Replacer for those of us challenging to be vegan. There’s also a very similar carrot cake recipe that I’m dying to try. I just have to figure out how to make the icing. I’m leaning towards coconut cream.

The recipe on the website calls for vegan cream cheese which is soy based. Most vegans use a lot soy. Soy milk, vegan cream cheese, tofu are common replacements for their non-vegan counterparts. We’ve been using organic soy milk in our morning coffee but I’m starting to think this isn’t a good route for the Cultivate Your Wellness household. We’ve both had an headache for a few days and neither of us ever get headaches. My digestive system is definitely off, and he’s felt bloated since Sunday. I’m blaming our symptoms on a possible sensitivity to soy. Once the carton is done, we’ll switch to rice milk and see how we feel.

Food sensitivities seem to be on the rise in this county. I blame processed foods and poor diets but regardless of where you place the blame, modifying your diet is necessary so as to not reap preventable havoc on your health. If you have unexplained symptoms you may want to consider food sensitivities to be the culprit.  Trying an Allergy Avoidance Diet can give you insight into what types of foods you make need to omit. Gluten is a big one, as is soy. But it could be dairy, or corn, or even yeast. The only way to know for sure is to remove a food from your diet and monitor your symptoms. For more information on food sensitivities visit the World’s Healthiest Foods website.

In today’s society, shopping for food is anything but easy. If we’re lucky enough to fight our way through the processed food section of the grocery store and reach the shining light of the produce department, we’re still faced with that grueling question…organic or non-organic? We all know that organic is the healthier way to go. We also all know that it’s more expensive. What’s a health-food nut to do?

Usually I shamefully pass by the small organic section of my local food market, glancing long-fully at the less than perfect looking produce like a child with no allowance outside a candy store. At this point in my life I find it difficult to break that bank for a head of cauliflower. Okay, so an extra $.50 won’t break the bank, but it adds up. To supplement my lacking initiative to splurge for my health, usually opt for local, seasonal foods over organic and, fingers crossed, hope that the chemicals used to keep the pests away aren’t reeping havic on my body.

Finally, last week, a little bit of my frustration was eliminated when I found the “dirty dozen,” a list of foods that you most definitely should buy organic. Also included, a list of fruits and veggies that you can skimp on if you have to. Kudos to whomever first printed this list. My body and my wallet thank you.

So here’s the Dirty Dozen list, in no particular order, of fresh foods that you should always opt to buy organic…

12 Most Contaminated

• Peaches
• Apples
• Sweet Bell Peppers
• Celery
• Nectarines
• Strawberries
• Cherries
• Pears
• Grapes (Imported)
• Spinach
• Lettuce
• Potatoes

And the equally appreciated list of foods that don’t require your whole paycheck…

12 Least Contaminated

• Onions
• Avocado
• Sweet Corn
• Pineapples
• Mango
• Asparagus
• Sweet Peas
• Kiwi Fruit
• Bananas
• Cabbage
• Broccoli
• Papaya

So there ya have it. A simple solution to a grappling question. And lucky, some of these items are often on sale. Right now in California, organic pears are on sale for ridiculously cheap. Bell peppers, however, are often expensive regardless of the farming method. So I make some sacrifices, or rotate my shopping list. Whenever possible, I recommend shopping at your farmer’s market.  There you’ll find more organic options for a cheaper price and guaranteed local and in season. To find a farmer’s market near you visit localharvest.com.

I was just introduced to this GREAT website called Local Harvest.  There you can find a ton information about locally grown food.  You can also find a farmer’s market near you.  Some of the listings even tell you what products/crops they sell, and in what season they are available.  And the best part of all… (drumroll please)… they give you recipes!  Does it get any better?

I’m excited about this.  I think it’s important to encourage others to shop at farmers’ markets whenever possible.  By doing so, not only are you promoting wholesome eating habits, but you’re supporting your local farmers, which improves your local economy.  Not to mention it improves your carbon footprint.  While farmer’s markets are still not available in every area, they are becoming more and more popular as people begin to realize the importance of eating naturally grown, whole foods.  (And not with Whole Foods prices – which is a story for another time).

I’m heading off to Florida tomorrow to see some family I haven’t seen in a while.  It should be a really great trip.  Hopefully I’ll have some post worthy experiences.   I wish a happy and wholesome Thanksgiving to all.