by Heather | Aug 26, 2020 | Eat, Holistic, Lifestyle, Thrive
Sulfur dioxide is one of the chemicals of greatest concern in our air. The largest source of sulfur dioxide is from the burning of fossil fuels by power plants and other industrial facilities. Exposure to sulfur dioxide can harm the respiratory system, making breathing difficult so you might wonder why would it be in our food? It is a preservative for processed foods. It can extend the shelf life of products, kill bacteria, maintain color, and has a softening effect. It became widely used in the 1970s.
by Heather | Aug 12, 2020 | Eat, Lifestyle, Thrive
I had the opportunity to venture out again to visit another farm. I think one of the most fun things about these posts is visiting the farms. Today I’d like to introduce you to Graise farm; this farm is operated by Tiffany and Andy in Faribault, Minnesota. The name of their farm is an acronym for Grass-fed Raised Humanely Animals in a Sustainable Environment. Tiffany and Andy started the farm in 2012 on over 20 acres of land. Tiffany actually grew up on this farmstead when where her family raised dairy cows.
by Heather | Aug 5, 2020 | Lifestyle, Thrive
What exactly is metabolism? Metabolism is the chemical reactions in the body’s cells that change food into energy. We need this energy to do everything: moving, thinking, growing. The challenge for some can be a slower than desired metabolism which often happens when we age. Our metabolism actually decreases 2% to 3% every decade after the age of 18. Genetics can influence metabolic rate, but it is not the only determinant. Let’s look at some metabolic disrupters and activators.
by Heather | Jul 29, 2020 | Lifestyle, Thrive
Exercise is something that has been a challenge for me, I start but can’t stick with it for the long haul. I started in the 80s doing aerobics classes in college and from there I have done weightlifting, yoga, Pilates, and a boot camp program. They all have pros and cons, but the best exercise is the one you will do consistently. For me, this has been walking.
by Heather | Jul 22, 2020 | Eat, Lifestyle, Thrive
Have you ever gone to the farmers market and wondered what you should buy? or How you should prepare the produce you purchase? I know for me it was a bit intimidating experimenting with unfamiliar produce. In Minnesota we have a very short growing season and yet our farmers markets can be an awesome place to purchase fresh locally grown produce; but again, how do you incorporate these foods into your meal plans. Beth Dooley to the rescue!
by Heather | Jul 1, 2020 | Eat, Lifestyle
Cylon Rolling Acres is a farm on a 140-acre parcel near Deer Park, WI which is only about an hour west of the Twin Cities owned by Leslie Svacina and her husband, Scott. Cylon Rolling Acres raises goats on pasture for meat consumption; this is my first goat farm so I was excited to see it. Their name comes from the name of the township the farm is located in. If you are a Battlestar Galactica fan, the farm was not named after this fictional race of robots.
by Heather | Jun 10, 2020 | Eat, Lifestyle, Thrive
Stormy Creek Farm is a little over 90 minutes southwest of the Twin Cities in the heart of the Minnesota River Valley area. Stormy Creek does run through the property. It was a nice drive to the third-generation family farm. Brother and sister team, Keith and Kay are the foundation of Stormy Creek Farm. They grew up on this land with their parents.
by Heather | Jun 3, 2020 | Eat, Lifestyle, Recipes
Last summer I had the opportunity to teach summer school cooking classes for grades 3 through 6 (cancelled this year due to COVID19). I wanted my classes to be about cooking and healthy food, AND I wanted it to be an experience the kids would remember. Food has a way of bringing people together, I thought it would be fun to learn about different cultures and the foods they eat along with cooking skills. I encourage people to eat local so one of the cultures we learned about was Native American food from the Minnesota area. In doing my research, I came across the book The Sioux Chef’s Indigenous Kitchen by Sean Sherman with Beth Dooley. I first found it at our local library, but my mom actually blessed me with my own copy last Christmas.
by Heather | May 27, 2020 | Holistic, Lifestyle, Thrive
As the United States and the world begin to reopen after the COVID 19 pandemic, is your health status ready for this? I think many of us have struggled while “Stay At Home” or “Stay Safe” initiatives to maintain health promoting habits; gyms have been closed, routines have been disrupted, and life has been changed for us all. Over the years, I have shared many posts on building your health.
by Heather | May 20, 2020 | Eat, Lifestyle, Thrive
I visited Bull Brook Keep on a beautiful spring day in May; it was a little over an hour drive from the Twin Cities in Minnesota.
