Eating GMO free: Day Three

I was starring at this bag of blue corn chips last night. We had just returned from the kids' school Christmas show and I was hungry. Interestingly enough this bag of chips had this label on it I didn't notice when my husband brought it home. It said 'Non-GMO Project Verified.'

Garden of Eatin' Chips

Wow! I can eat this. And as I was starring at it, mouth watering, I realized something. In my effort to eat GMO free for a week I forgot I stated I would be GMO and processed food free...because Antonio Guiccardi (from the Natural Society) said the vast majority of processed foods have GMO's in them and to just avoid them in general.

Why do I speak before I think?! I totally over-limited myself.

Technically I shouldn't eat those chips. I turned to a gift my neighbors sent over that night, homemade granola. It was really really delicious. Am I going to be able to make it the whole week like this? Why was it so hard? Why haven't I gone grocery shopping yet?

Yesterday I slept bad. I had strange dreams. I woke up with a little headache. I weighed myself to find I had lost 1.5 pounds. At work my left arm started shaking. Last night the headache came back. Sleeping was even worse. I got out of bed on the verge of a migraine and decided I didn't care if Advil had GMO's in it (I hope it doesn't).

After that Advil and a banana I felt better. I dropped off the kids at school and walked the dog. I had the patience to make some juice. Later I was thinking, what's for lunch? A little olive oil (I said from the start this is my exception - I can't live without it - whether or not it would be considered processed), onion, garlic, 2 organic eggs. Garnish with a few slices of organic tomato, avocado and sea salt and herbal tea for my drink. I guess I'm not so deprived after all.

It would be nice to have a live in doctor doing tests to say what's changing inside. Is my body going through a detox? What's going on in there?

What's strange about this whole week-long experiment is I didn't even know about the Non-GMO project. They've been certifying foods as non-GMO since 2008.

NGP's mission is to preserve and build resources of Non-GMO products, educating consumers, and providing verified non-GMO choices. So I've found a great resource to help me better understand what is actually GMO free - of course I still said I wasn't eating processed food so I guess it really doesn't help this week.

I don't know what I'm eating tonight, but I'm sure it will involve quinoa and fresh made cranberries because that's in my house and I'm not sure when I'll get to the store.

Alexandra Gnoske is a nature lover, writer, and environmental expert.

The Week Before Christmas: No Processed Foods Stirring (aka My Week Without GMOs or Processed Foods)

getting ready for the oven

After a long weekend of baking Christmas cookies for the neighbors and kids' teachers - which including much sampling, taste-testing, and blatant pigging out - I've decided to forgo processes foods and GMO's the week before Christmas.

What kind of madness is this? Earlier today I was watching a video on NaturalNews.tv regarding GMO's or genetically modified organisms, something I've known about a long time which is why I avoid soy and corn and get mad when any green colleagues I know get excited about printing with soy.

The host of this video, Anthony Gucciardi, spoke several times about the many reasons to not eat processed foods. At this point you are preaching to the choir, me. Yes I know about GMO's, processed foods, high-fructose corn syrup (one of my first posts is on that!) and how to truly eat healthy. But I'm not perfect, or better yet, maybe I'm lazy.

enjoying my garden in Chicago

I've been a vegetarian (ovo-lacto) for over 15 years. A good portion of my food is organic. If this was 100 years ago I'm sure I'd eat meat. Having a background in Wildlife Biology I don't necessarily believe eating meat or being an omnivore is wrong - especially from an evolutionary stand point. However  today our processed, manufactured, factory farmed food is no good for people or planet - but I digress.

After watching the video I was tweeting and came across fellow author Robb Skidmore (The Pursuit of Cool) who was excited about reading 'The China Study' and the benefits of a plant based diet.

morning home made juice

We tweeted a bit about eating a plant based diet...and then I got to thinking. What am I doing!? I am a vegetarian, I juice every morning - Why am I still eating processed foods!? (Really I know the answer has to do with having 3 kids, working, not being the only shopper in the house - if it enters into my house I will eat it - etc. etc.). Enough with the excuses and laziness. If only for a week I will not eat processed foods!

What will I eat? Good question. I'm hoping no one calls me out on olive oil, but I don't know how to avoid it. I will eat any and all fruits, vegetables, and nuts. I will eat eggs, quinoa, and rice. That's about it. (wait! can I add tea to that list too?)

The question of what 'processed' means, I don't have time to research all that so I will go by my own criteria...I will even give up my coveted dark chocolate covered almonds from Trader Joe's because I think chocolate is crossing the line for this experiment.

So I will blog, tweet, post, FB, etc. about what happens. I will even pull out the scale. Will I lose my mind and eat the dog? I hope not. It's the Christmas season after all and I don't think the kids would forgive me.

Anyway, I'm always up for an experiment. Live is an adventure! So I will see what a week without processed foods brings.

Alexandra Gnoske is a nature lover, writer, and environmental expert.

Holiday Green Guide: Interviews with Green Business Owners

Interview with Andrew Baker

Andrew Baker is the Owner of Drew's Eatery, located in the North Central neighborhood of Chicago, at 2207 W. Montrose, where you can find yummy, healthy and satisfying treats any time of year.

RM: When did you open Drew's Eatery?

AB: March 14th, 2009.

RM: How would you describe your Eatery? What makes Drew's Drew's?

AB: It's an eatery with an emphasis on Organic, Local, and Natural foods. What makes it Drew's is that we offer a healthier choice for life's simple pleasures, using eco friendly packaging and to go supplies. Our menus are printed on brown paper bags and we take time to find environmentally responsible alternatives for our everyday supplies.

RM: What inspired you to start this yummy Eatery?

AB: When I lived in San Francisco for a couple of years I learned a lot about local and organic foods and just became more ecologically aware. That's just how I think about things now.

RM: How have things changed, if at all, since you opened last Spring?

AB: More and more customers who come in are educated and aware of their environmental impacts. We have a lot of families who are regulars here because it is important to them to raise their children in a healthy, more environmentally aware manner.

RM: What are your goals through your business?

AB: To make a difference while making a profit.

RM: What's next? Long term I would love to expand, but today it is day by day, building our business and getting the word out about Drew's.

Drew's Eatery serves items such as vegan and all natural beef hot dogs, vegetarian and meat chili, so it's a place where families and friends with different dietary palates can all be happy together. They also serve seasonal treats like pumpkin ice cream and a pumpkin non-dairy cream. And did I mention their food is delicious?

You can visit Drew's Eatery Tuesday through Sunday at 2207 W. Montrose Ave. You can also become a fan of Drew's on Facebook. You'll get updates on different seasonal treats, FB promotions, and invitations to some wonderful local artisan openings hosted by Andrew.

Mr. Baker grew up in Palm Springs, CA. He currently resides in Logan Square with his partner David Vail of Hazel Inc. (just East on Montrose) of 17 years, who share their pad with dogs Rocky and George.