"Whole Foods" (Whole Paycheck) - The Devil in your pocket

Well, as much as I enjoy seeing more 'all natural' food stores spring up (thank you "Trader Joe's", "Marlene's" and any 'whole-food Co-ops' I am unaware of), I have personally, however, not been a frequent shopper at "Whole Foods", although I've always thought of them as a big contributor. Why? Well, their nickname, "Whole Paycheck", may give you a clue. Also, I don't really have one close by me.

They have been popping up in the news and various blogs lately (Whole Foods and UNFI: Undermining Our Organic Future) and the reason has not been to give them a big ol' congratulatory pat on the back. In fact, not only do people believe that they've 'sold out', but their mastermind, Keith Lackey, has gone on a 'food religion' spree, killing any and all notions that meat and fat is healthy for you. Go Vegetarian or Vegan! You will no longer be a heathen! (Uck! Did I just give the vegans a new slogan?!)

My fellow 'Primal Blogger', Richard Nikoley, has adequately expressed his outrage with this new, 'healthy' campaign., which was based in response of the famous 'Low-Carb' community blogger/ celebrity, "Jimmy Moore" and his original article regarding this retailer's decision "..to actively market and promote a low-fat, vegetarian diet in their 289 stores."

I guess they are calling it the "Health Starts Here" Campaign, which focuses primarily on plant-based foods, which I don't have a problem with eating plants, but they hit a new low when they started touting that a healthy diet not only be void of meat, but low-fat as well!

Oh, and since I'm a naughty little saturated-fat and meat-eater, I won't partake in the fact that "[Whole Foods - Health Starts Here"] program participants would receive an additional 10% discount (on top of their 'Whole Foods Club' member discount of 20%).

To quote Jimmy Moore, "Now when you walk into a Whole Foods store, you are bombarded with pamphlets urging you to begin a low-fat, plant-based diet and cut back or remove animal foods from your menus altogether. Worse than that, there are no alternative books by respected low-carb authors like Dr. Robert Atkins, Drs. Mike and Mary Dan Eades, Dr. Barry Sears, or anyone else who is not on board with the vegetarian dogma."

They have signs all over the store, telling you how the product fits into the rating system for their idea of a 'healthy' food. To quote a hero of mine, Sally Fallon Morell from the Weston A. Price Foundation: "Many of the phytochemicals that Fuhrman includes in the index he developed for Whole Foods play no essential role in the body and may even be harmful, Fallon noted. Animal foods like meat, liver, butter, whole milk and eggs contain ten to one hundred times more vitamins and minerals than plant foods. Plant foods add variety and interest to the human diet but in most circumstances do not qualify as ‘nutrient-dense’ foods."

Also, my favorite high-fat-touting author and comedian Tom Naughton ("Fat Head" videographer): "I think John Mackey is preaching to the choir. I think the proper response for low-carbers is to buy from local farmers if you can. If you can’t, then shop at Whole Foods but be sure to stop by the meat counter, loudly order a porterhouse, then begin chewing it raw as you push your cart around the rest of the store. This won’t change the policy, but the other shoppers may be shocked into horrified expressions that will injure their brittle vegetarian jaws."

Don't know of any local farmers? Try "US Wellness Meats" for fresh and/ or frozen grass-fed beef and other all-natural, hormone and antibiotic free, pastured meat.

I know, I know, I just sound like a 'low-carber'. I never intended to be 'low-carb', honest, but now that I've done the research and have become a 'health test dummy' with my own body, I am now able to fight off the eczema outbreaks, the tendinitis flare-ups, the irregular bowel issues, the bouts of depression, the ups and downs in my moods (my husband is joyful of this, I am SURE!), etc, etc, etc!

Personally, my appetite is in check and I'm able to lose weight and keep it off with mostly protein, animal fat & vegetables. Poof!

Now, do what you must. Go your own route, but honestly, my 'beef' with "Whole Foods" is acting like they are going to save the world by punishing me for my 'unhealthy' food choices, when their special 'club members' will get up to 30% off!

How very 'Government Health Care Plan' of them to decide what is healthy for me and what is not! 10% tax on indoor tanning? Will I have a policeman run up to me with a hefty fine if I am seen eating REAL butter?

Stop trying to regulate people and allow them to be educated on their own. That's the goal of this blog and you won't see me standing on your doorstep, with a big, black garbage bag, 'urging' you to modify your naughty little pantry!

Food is like a religion to people, stop trying to force your religion on them and treating them like they are idiots!

I've made mistakes, still make them and will continue to make them in the future, but I'm smart enough to make a good decision when I realize it's benefits (and vice-versa).

WHY Grass-fed Beef?

This post will be brief, as I have very little to add to Dr. Mercola's comments on the new "NY Times" post regarding grass-fed beef.

In all of my recent research regarding scientific proof as to why we need meat and why we need to exclude all chemical and hormonally-supplemented meat, I've found that this Doctor seems to 'get it' regarding real nutrition and optimal health.

Let Dr. Mercola enlighten us, once again, why real, whole food, without all of the junk (unlike corn-fed beef) is actually good for us AND for the environment (for all of you 'tree-huggers' out there).

Click here to read the summary of the article, the location of the article itself, but more importantly, the comments from Dr. Mercola.

Now, I don't mind a tree-hugger, here and there, but don't you stand in the way of my grass-fed beef and pastured meat! ;-)

Homemade/ Organic/ All-Natural/ Eco-Friendly Cleaning Supplies

Picture it: A new bride, comes home from honeymoon with a newly 'acquired' male of her choosing and attempts to 'please' him by becoming his mother domestic-goddess/ wife. She runs to the grocery store, month after month, purchasing the latest and greatest in home cleaning products as suggested by multi-million-dollar advertisements from the glowing boob-tube/ idiot-box only to find that the cost of such extravagance is putting a major dent in their lovely 'nest-egg'. Their nightly fight over finances spirals out of control, flinging them into deep-seeded anger, resentment, debt and finally divorce. All over the love for all things clean and the lack of education regarding alternative-cleaning-solutions with their advanced (not to mention inexpensive) capabilities. Sound familiar? OK, so I'm a recovering drama-queen, with a penchant for such overly-dramatic, off-the-wall scenarios. But you get where I'm going with this.

For years I was a slave to grocery-store cleaners. The ones with the bald-guy holding a mop and that loud lady on TV spouting off about how the 'clean smell of pine' is superb! And please, don't get me wrong, I think there are wonderful items out there (helllllooooo "Magic Eraser", where ya been all my life??!), but I'm ecstatic with this new-found simplicity of preparing and utilizing homemade cleaning supplies, especially the lack of having to shell out a small fortune for 1 bottle of glass cleaner!

I had a few acquaintances 'snub' their noses at me, saying "Well, I am VERY picky with my cleaning supplies and don't wish to part with them, thank you very much", but I too was a 'cleaning product snob' until I decided to broaden my mind, expand my cleaning-solutions horizon and take a stab at being more 'eco-freindly' with my choices in cleaning my home. The part that REALLY influenced me, was the fact that that 'sanitizing' spray that I used on the kitchen counter-top could NOT be even slightly healthy when sprayed within the vicinity of my family's prepared food or the fruit bowl!

I made a drastic change and all it took was by replacing this $5.99 bottle of kitchen-counter spray with the first 'all-natural' homemade cleaner on my list. I think you'll find that instead of finding that these are cheaper, more eco-friendly alternatives for cleaning your abode, they also boast a rather pleasant 'side-effect', which is: "THEY SIMPLY WORK BETTER"!!!

Try, experiment, tell me what else I missed and enjoy all that money you saved by taking the family out to the movies once a month!

 All-purpose spray/ sanitizer/ deodorizer: 1 part fresh-squeezed lemon juice (filter out all pulp), 5 parts white vinegar and 10 parts water. Mix. Add to spray bottle and use to clean kitchen counters, sink and wooden cutting boards.


Glass Cleaner: 1 tablespoon white vinegar, 1 cup rubbing alcohol (isopropyl), 1 cup water. Add to spray bottle and clean glass with newspaper.

Grime Scrub: Sprinkle baking soda onto a damp cloth and/ or sponge to scour icky bathtub rings, bathroom sinks, or to thoroughly clean the kitchen sink.

For really tough grime, make a paste of baking soda and water, apply to the tub or sink, and allow to stand for 10 to 20 minutes. This helps to soften dirt and soap scum making them easier to remove.

Slow-running drains: Keep bathroom drains running freely by pouring 1/2 to 3/4 cup baking soda into the drain, and dribbling just enough hot water to wash the solution down. Let stand for 2 hours to overnight, then flush thoroughly with hot water. This also deodorizes the drains!

Clogged drains: Pour 3/4 cup baking soda into the drain, add 1 cup of vinegar and cover solidly to force the explosive affect of the concoction down the drain (instead of back up and into your face!) :-P

Furniture Polish (waxed/ finished wood surfaces): 1 cup olive oil, 1 cup lemon juice. Shake well and apply a small amount to a flannel rag or cloth. Spread evenly over furniture surface. Turn cloth to a dry side and polish dry.

Stain remover (homemade "OxyClean"): 1 cup water, 1/2 cup hydrogen peroxide, 1/2 cup baking soda. Mix together and soak laundry in it for 20 minutes to overnight and then wash as usual. Or you can just skip the water and pour the peroxide and baking soda directly into the wash with your laundry soap and wash as usual. Do not attempt to add to a spray bottle, as the baking soda will clog the spray nozzle (not that I would know...er...just saying.....).

Fabric Softener: 3 cups vinegar, 2 cups Hair Conditioner, 6 cups water (distilled is a good choice to eliminate possible stains from deposits in 'dirty' tap water). Mix and use as normal. Personally, I like the convenience of using the "Downy Ball"). You can also keep a jar filled with this mixture in the laundry room, with several rags inside. You would just pull out a rag and squeeze off the excess liquid and toss into the dryer with the wet laundry. Also, throw in an aluminium foil ball for static. Easy, cheep and affective! (NOTE: Vinegar is great for cutting the 'detergent grime' that accumulates on your clothes, which causes fabric fiber breakdown, attracts dirt and oil, causing possible allergic reactions, etc. Also, the vinegar 'odor' dissipates, leaving your laundry fresh and clean, while the hair conditioner can be used to create a lovely scent, if desired.).

I KNOW there are more than what I listed here, so, please, feel free to email or comment with additional information, recipes, suggestions, etc.



And, no, I am not available to clean your house, give your cat a flea-bath or to teach your husband how to put down the toilet seat. We're still working on the 'clothing-on-the-floor-what's-a-hamper-for?' thing....

HURRY! $5 off of your 1st order with Terra Organics' local Produce!

We made the switch! My family no longer visits the large-chain grocery store for wilted, chemically-treated, genetically modified fruits and vegetables. We now buy from a local CSA (Community Supported Agriculture)! The company "Terra Organics", a local CSA, was referred to me from a friend by which he received $5 off of his next order because I signed up and gave his name as a referral.

Now, not only do I get a discount on my next order, but you too can get a discount when you sign up today!

Because the produce is local, the box changes each week (I'm excited for Spring!!!). Just last night, my box came to my door step (no need to run to the grocery store after a long, hard day at the office!) and I had fresh radishes, romaine lettuce, grapefruit, pears, apples, carrots, kiwi, asparagus, & broccoli waiting for me! I don't eat potatoes or beans, so on the Terra Organics' website, I can choose certain foods that I prefer not to receive and they substitute those items for me (the list of items that you don't want is saved to your profile, so you don't need to fill it out each week)!

Just click here to sign up and enter my name: "Ingrid Finicle" for the referral name/ promo code and you will enjoy fresh, local produce for $5 off. Just think, $20 for a whole box full of beautiful, local, organic produce!

Primal Blueprint Recipes

I have compiled some of my favorite recipes (some yet to try) and thought I'd share them with you. Take a look at them here: Ingrid's Primal Blueprint Recipes. Let me know if the link does not work for you and I will add you as a viewer. Google docs has 'assured' me that the link will not require sign on for anyone, but who knows, since I've already had feedback from people saying that they cannot view it. Technology....I can't keep up with it!

Health Resources

Here is a compilation of some health articles and other helpful URL's.

You'll find a few resources are localized for my area (Seattle), but most are relative for those of you in other areas.

How is your quest for health going?

My health has improved dramatically since following the information contained within that document, but I do have a few more that I plan on addressing.

I had a friend direct me to a local Health Clinic that focuses on a full-body diagnostic analysis with treatment by personalized formulas. I have been dying to see where my body's weaknesses are and/ or what deficiencies abound, as I grew up with a very sick mother. Now that she's been diagnosed with both Lupus and MS (not to mention the occurrence of Cancer from BOTH sides), I am bound and determined to beat the odds and reprogram my genetic predisposition to illness!

Sorry I haven't posted in a while. I have a full time job and come home to another full time job of taking care of my family. It's exhausting!

Tootles (for now....)