Laurel on Health Food

A group of scientists at the University of Illinois conducted a study on how food prices affect the body weight of Americans. They found that raising the prices of unhealthy foods and lowering the prices of healthy foods is associated with lower body weight and a reduced risk of obesity. (ScienceDaily)

Here’s an interesting distinction…the study found that small taxes on unhealthy foods, such as sugary soda, “are not likely to produce substantial changes in BMI or obesity prevalence,” but “nontrivial pricing intervention” could have a substantial effect on our weight. So, taxing unhealthy foods won’t work, but reducing the prices will.

This research really caught my eye. I know a lot of people who would be ecstatic if fruits and vegetables were cheaper. I know I’d do a happy dance! However, I don’t think this is the perfect solution for America’s healthy eating issues. We need to educate ourselves on how eating healthy prevents disease and improves our daily life and mental alertness. It can’t be just about the price. I think people will continue to make bad choices until they truly understand the effects food has on our minds and bodies.

What do you think?

Hey there LOHF readers! I’ll be receiving my holistic health counseling certification next month, and I started up a free monthly email newsletter. It talks about eating healthy, reducing stress, learning to take care of yourself, etc.

If you’d like to receive the newsletter, please click here.

Thanks for reading my blog, and Happy Thursday!

Let’s face it…I love chocolate. I have a favorite new brand of chocolate bars too. They’re raw, organic, vegan, homemade, packed with superfoods, and free of cholesterol, dairy, soy, gluten, and refined sugar.

Photo by: Jeff Skeirik

Vanessa, the owner and creator of Gnosis Chocolate, is a holistic health counselor and graduate of the Institute for Integrative Nutrition (the school I’m currently attending). I tried one of Vanessa’s special chocolate bars a few weeks ago, and knew I had to have more. Here are some of the flavors she offers:

Simplicity - Cacao Beans, Cacao Butter, Agave Nectar, Vanilla Bean, Crystal Manna, Love

Cool Peppermint - Cacao Beans, Cacao Butter, Agave Nectar, Fresh Peppermint Leaves, Vanilla Bean, Crystal Manna, Peppermint Essential Oil, Love

Pomegranate Acai - Cacao Beans, Cacao Butter, Brazil Nuts, Black Currants, Agave Nectar, Barberries, Pomegranate Powder, Acai Powder, Crystal Manna, Vanilla Bean, Love

Vanilla Hazelnut - Cacao Beans, Cacao Butter, Hazelnuts, Agave Nectar, Lucuma Powder, Vanilla Bean, Crystal Manna, Love

SuperChoc - Cacao beans, cacao butter, agave nectar, goji berries, raspberries, mesquite, maca root powder, Siberian ginseng powder, ashwaghanda powder, ginko biloba powder, gotu kola powder, burdock root powder, açai powder, crystal manna flakes, camu camu powder, vanilla bean, reishi mushroom powder, passionflower powder, rose hips, lavender flowers, Love

Photo by: Jeff Skeirik

Check ‘em out for yourself, you won’t be disappointed. This kind of chocolate leaves you happy and satisfied without feeling any guilt. Here’s a bonus: Gnosis Chocolate donates 10% of its profits to The Fruit Tree Planting Foundation.

I’m rooting for the Orlando Magic to get a win in the Finals tonight, so I’m cooking up some yummy eats for the game.

Luckily, I bought some beautiful baby eggplant, zucchini, and red/yellow bell peppers at the farmer’s market yesterday. I chopped them up in big pieces and tossed them on a sheet pan to roast in the oven. Then I made a quick seasoning paste with my food processor (garlic, olive oil, thyme, rosemary, oregano, and lemon juice). Check them out before I put them in the oven (400 degrees for 15-20 min). Looks delish, right?!

Please excuse my sad excuse for a sheet pan. I really need some new ones.

I’m also making some chicken wings with a homemade BBQ sauce. I’d tell you how I made those, but that one is a family secret. If I told you, my Dad would never forgive me. : )

Go Magic!

I wrote about the movie FRESH a few weeks ago, and how I wished they would screen the movie in Florida. Happily, I just found out some great news. We can host a home screening of the movie for just $20! Check out the Host a Screening page on the FRESH website for details or to buy a copy.

I purchased the home screening package and am planning a friends get-together to watch the movie. My $20 paid for the DVD, the electronic publicity materials, and a license to screen the film in front of 1-20 people.

I’ll definitely let you know what I think of the movie once we watch it. In the meantime, check out The Huffington Post interview of FRESH director Kerry Trueman. I really like how she talked about her journey to improve her relationship with food (something she didn’t expect when she started making the film):

“Eating well was no longer about (or only about) improving my health or not gaining weight, it was about pleasure: taking care of myself and the folks that I love and taking the time to do so.”