Processed Foods - Then and Now

It's funny how today, most products you find in the supermarket are highly processed and full of crap. What the packaging says may not be the truth and a lot of advertising are just lies. This is upsetting because when these same products were first introduced they were amazing to everyone. People didn't realize how bad some of this stuff really was! Let's just take a small look back in time. Thanks to the April issue of Real Simple we can catch a glimpse of history way back when and see how things have changed for some of these products.

Kool-Aid (once known as Kool-Ade)
This powdered drink mix was invented by Edwin Perkins and his wife Kitty. They originally created Fruit Smack which was a liquid concentrate. Problems with the packaging and high production costs let to the idea of Kool-Aid. It was made a powder in 1927 and later sold to General Foods in 1953. Notice how the packaging changed once it went to a commercial company. That vintage appeal was lost. Ingredients that were once listed were no longer printed. In came the big fat Kool-Aid guy all happy like he smoked crack. Did they need to make him break through walls? Of course, the advertising was focused on children and after seeing the commercials what kid wouldn't want to drink it? The crap is pure sugar! Even the sugar-free versions are horrible considering they contain aspartame. Just another highly processed and toxic product for our kids. They even started to print labels that said "sensible selections" on the packaging. Are they crazy! You can't go wrong with cheap crap that makes your kids happy, right? Unfortunately, you can!

The original drawings of the Kool-Aid guy were cool. Being an artist I can appreciate that. But when you use something that is cool in a negative way its simply a waste of creativity.



Minute Rice
We all want to make dinner faster and easier right? Well, General Foods first introduced Minute Rice in 1949. It was pre-cooked, easy to make and ready fast. They have a lot of varieties which is good but I am just wondering where all their rice comes from. You see, I like to buy my rice in a bag that doesn't get boiled. A bag that tells me where it came from. I don't mind it taking 20 minutes or so to cook. Big deal! This was one of the products that slowly helped American families stop cooking real food and make dinner in 10 minutes. Something I do not support. The packaging sure as hell changed too.



Hamburger Helper
Another great friggin idea! Hamburger Helper is one of the worst products out there. The amount of crap in it is horrible. Created in 1971 it was intended to help stretch the amount of meat a family bought due to the escalated prices. What ever happened to just making real macaroni and cheese and adding meat? Oh I forgot, American families are lazy. And what's up with the hand dude? He doesn't even make sense. I get the whole "helping hand" idea but its still pretty lame. General Mills also sells frozen versions too. Yuck! They even have the nerve to put "home-cooked skillet meal" on the package!



Campbells Soup
Honestly, the first thing I think of when Campbell's comes to mind is Andy Warhol. Not how good the soup tastes. What does that say! First of all, the idea to condense soup might have been good at the moment but there really is nothing great about it. Of course, today they have normal soups as well. Sadly enough, most of them are high in sodium, contain msg and are really bad for you. In 2008, they started to make label changes so the packaging would appeal more to the public. Just last year the company finally lowered 50% of the salt content in their products. It took them that long! Geez, people have been complaining for years. Just so you know, they own a lot of other brands as well: Pace, Pepperidge Farm, Prego, Swanson and V8. Talk about big business. That doesn't include the brands they own from other countries.

Campbell's line of soups was introduced in 1897 with the original Tomato Soup. They added new flavors as the years passed. They started to add the Campbell's Kids to their ads in 1904 which are now collectors items. That ended in 1958 but showed up again in a 1990 commercial where the kids were rapping. Huh? Anything to get your children's attention. In all their ads they mention how cheap it was, how fast it was to cook and how healthy it is. Hmmm..I would rather make my soup from scratch.



If you want to check out all the products listed in the article then check out the Food section on page 251 of the April issue.

If you haven't noticed, a lot of products aim their advertising toward children. Parents really need to look out for this. Even when you go to the movies! A new study from Pediatrics found that 55% of all product placement in films rated PG and PG-13 are sugar-sweetened drinks. That is horrible! Your kids should not be drinking soda or any of that other crap. Why do think diabetes and obesity is such a big problem in the United States? This is why I support the NY drink tax. I think its a great idea and I hope that all states follow through. Its called "real" juice people, not powder!

I just hope that everyone reads the ingredients of what they buy. I bet most of it has a huge list of things you can't pronounce. Thats bad! Put it back and stop buying it. Don't believe the packaging because its cute and don't buy into the lies the ads throw in your face. Be smarter and eat healthier! You are what you eat :)

Better Toys for Your Tots

I am always looking for great shops and websites that carry earth friendly products, especially for children. My Natural is one of the best I have found for stuffed animals. Not only are they adorable but they are made from cotton that is untreated, unprocessed and unbleached. 100% toxic free! Now that's what I'm talking about. Their unique PureWaterWash process is what makes their products stand out from the rest. Check out their website, read up and do some shopping!

They have three collections: Bamboo, Dr. Seuss and Jane Goodall. All are adorable and worth buying. I LOVE the gorilla!







Here are some other great shops!
Stubby Pencil Studio
Plan Toys
Green Toys
Baby Earth
North Star Toys
Pi'lo
Little Twig
The Little Seed

Green Beauty

In the May issue of Lucky magazine they suggest some eco beauty products in their Green Beauty section. I wanted to share them with you because it is so important to use products that are green, natural and organic. Why would you want to put anything less of that on your body? So check these out and let me know how they work out! If you have a product you want to recommend to the Revolt readers don't be shy. Leave a comment and share it with all of us.

Fresh Wave Soy Candle

If you are going to light candles at least have them be natural. You are breathing it in silly! This company Fresh Wave has a nice collection to choose from.

Dr. Bronner's Body Wash
This company has been around for 150 years so I think they know what they are doing. They have such an assortment of natural and organic soaps that you will just want to buy them all! This one is a peppermint body wash that is paraben-free, vegetable based and is not tested on animals. In addition, all the oils in the soap are organic and the packaging is 100% post-consumer recycled plastic. Can't get any better than that!



Tom's of Mainee
I love this company so much. I use their deodorant, toothpaste and mouthwash and am very satisfied with their products. Lucky mentions their 24 hour deodorant which is aluminum-free as well.



Jason
Their Healthy Mouth tooth gel is refreshing and soothing. It has organic tea tree oil and aloe vera gel to help heal gums and also knocks out bad breath with their awesome flavors. It does contain fluoride though so rethink this one.



Acquarella
I haven't used this nail polish yet but I am now! I have been looking for a polish that is way better than the rest that won't break the bank. Acquarella makes all their products non-toxic and water-based. It usually dries in about 3 minutes and second coats are not needed! Now that's hassle-free.



Hamadi
This plant-based shampoo with keep your hair smooth as can be and smelling fresh. None of their products are tested on animals and they have such unique combinations. Ginger, sweet orange and rosewood! Cmon, how awesome does that sound.



Nutiva
For hemp and coconut products this is the place to go. All organic and good to the earth, Nutiva products are worth the buy. Their Extra Virgin Coconut Oil can be used for cooking and for moisturizer! Because it absorbs fast it will keep your skin healthy and smooth.



If you want to check out more eco-products pick up the May issue of Lucky. Happy Shopping!

Embracing Change

How do you change and evolve for the better? Can change be possible? I feel that any change is a step forward. Your future is what you make of it. Don't hesitate to question yourself because you should question everything. Trust is rare and saved for the true. What is the right way to live? What may be good for one person may be horrible for the next? You have to live for your happiness. Doing right by the Earth and treating yourself with respect is key...and we all know that. It's time everyone gets off their fat asses, jumps down from their high horse and bring the love to reality. You may not realize, but the war we are all fighting will never end unless we come together and share our voices. It's time we all show them who's boss.

You are your own entity. You breathe like all of us. You have a right to a chance. Not just a chance, but the option to take that chance. Life is handed to all of us on a plate. Literally. Breathing creatures suffering for taste buds and greed. Hearts stop pounding so you can scarf down a burger. Helpless animals cry for their lives just because you want to eat their flesh. Does that sound appetizing to you? I read something recently that repeatedly used the word carcass when talking about animal meat. And you know what? Its true. Is it really worth all the pain and suffering. Poor Mother Nature weeps every time the dirt is poisoned with their chemicals. Yearning for the fresh sunshine. Soon...it will come.

There is something out there that is bigger than all of us...and we are living on it. We are breathing it in. We are diving into it and exploring its depths. For something that seems to fascinate us so much, we sure are killing it faster than ever before. Its really simple. Its easy as pie. Just stop. Say to yourself that you want to live a life that holds grace in pride. Standing up proudly to support love and a positive future. Life is supposed to be simple. We make it so hard. I say, bring it all back to basics.

Embracing change with a smile :)

Better Food Choices

I have to say I am very happy with Working Mother's April issue. In their "let's eat" section they list better food choices for you and your kids. Here is what they had to say.

Better Breakfasts for Kids
Ian's French Toast Sticks $4.60
Kashi Honey Sunshine Cereal $4
Horizon Natural Little Blends Yogurt $3.50
Amy's Steel-Cut Oats $2



Better Breakfasts for Moms
Kashi GoLean Crisp! Toasted Berry Crumble Cereal $3.90
Fage Total 2% Yogurt $2.50/7 oz cup
Amy's Breakfast Scramble Wrap $2.80
Bear Naked Fruit and Nut Granola $4.90



Better Lunches for Kids
Rico M. Panada Baked Empanadas $3
Happy Tot Organic Meals $1.20
Ian's Twisty Mac & Cheese $3.50
Applegate Farms Organic Chicken Strips $8.30



Better Lunches for Moms
Campbell's V8 Garden Vegetable Blend Soup $3
Michael Angelo's Natural Vegetable Lasagna $3.60
Applegate Farms Chicken Pot Pie $4.70
Amy's Indian Mattar Paneer $4.80



Better Dinners for the Family
Putney Pasta Shrimp Pesto Skillet $9
Amy's Roasted Vegetable Pizza $7.30
Sea Cuisine Mediterranean Crusted Salmon $7
Michael Angelo's family meals $7.80
Annie Chun's Organic Chicken & Vegetable Potstickers $4.50
Kashi Margherita Pizza $6
Bertolli Mediterranean Style Pastas $8



Now what I like about these suggestions is that they are all natural and some organic. Everywhere you look there will be something telling you that this is the way to eat healthy. Processed foods need to be thrown out the window! Now just be aware that just because something says "natural" or "organic" it doesn't mean its healthy. You really must read all the ingredients in everything you buy. I know this may be a pain but you don't really have a choice. There are simply not enough laws that protect you and the food you eat. Companies are allowed to sneak up to 20 or more ingredients in their products and do not have to include them in the ingredient list! Can you believe that? This is why I say do not trust the USDA. Simply buy organic and read all the labels! You should be all good if you stick with with that.

Out of all these suggestions that Working Mother listed Revolt highly recommends these few: Amy's, Bear Naked and Applegate Farms. You are on your own with the rest. I also came across these articles while researching the companies above. I am sure you will want to read them before buying anything!

Horizon Organic Milk - Is it all just lies?
Recall Alert - Happy Tots Baby Food
Getting to the Meat of the Matter
Campbell's Soups New Labels

Teaching Your Children About Real Food

Teaching children about food and where it comes from is so important. Now, more than ever, we must get our kids involved. Make them aware of the natural amazing foods that the Earth gives us and teach them the benefits of all these yummy treats. They need to know that vegetables, fruits and grains are the most healthy and beneficial foods they can eat. You need to get this in their heads while they are young so as they grow up they can see the difference between the "real" food and the "processed" food. Being a parent is such an important job. If you don't do this for your children than no one will. Don't depend on your schools or your community to do your job for you! Take responsibility NOW and do what is right for your kids.

A great way to do this is to have a garden of your own. Get your children involved in the growing process so they can see first hand how awesome it is. They will get excited, believe me. Once they see how something grows they can appreciate it more. Then when they see how the plant can be cooked in so many ways it will allow them to get creative and hopefully inspire them to learn more.

I came across some great games you can get that will help you out with this issue. What child doesn't love games! Check these few out and be on your way to spreading the garden love.

Eboo - Gathering Garden
This board game for 5 yrs and up is such a cute way to get your children excited about fresh food & plants. The game itself is made out of recycled materials and no plastic. Love that! The game shows your kids to collect flowers, veggies and more from vendors and gather enough items for their garden. The first one to get home first wins. Im sure your kids will love it. At $9.00 you can't go wrong!



Ravensburger - Mystery Garden
This game is all about what is what. Its suggested for 4 year olds and up and not only teaches your child how to think and ask questions but also how to place a name on things. The artwork on the board itself is beautiful and the rules are fairly simple. Someone plays the Secret Keeper who picks up picture tiles to view the photo (something on the board). Then the other players have to ask simple yes and no questions to try to guess what the picture is. Which each correct guess the player wins the tile and gets to move ahead in the game on a 15 rock path. Fairly simple and highly educational. A great combination! You can purchase this game for $12.00 on Amazon.



Ampersand Press - The Garden Game
Another great game to check out, The Garden Game focuses on science and nature in more of an educational way. This one is more for kids ages 8 and up and celebrates the seasons. Cultivating their own gardens your children will learn how to feed the soil, plant seeds, nurture the plants and harvest. Even celebrate at harvest festivals and help other players through natural disasters! What a great way to teach them about the realistic issues they would have to deal with. I am all about that! The winner must save the most seeds and plant the largest garden. Not only will this game be fun but it will get your kids excited about farming. It also won 2 awards; Dr. Toy Award in 2002 and the Dr. Toy Best Vacation Children's Products Winner. I highly recommend this one! Right now its on sale on Education Learning Games for $24.99. You can also purchase it on Gardening with Kids for $29.95.



Happy Shopping and Happy Growing!

The Truth about the USDA

Ok readers. Brace yourself. I have said for many years that this government does not take care of its people. Greed is power and power is money. The sad circle of how this country is run. I am sorry to tell all of you that the only way to make it in the world is to trust no one. Put aside your loved ones. We are told that we can trust our government to do what is right. We are told that we can trust in the health organizations to lead us in the right direction. Well, the mother of all groups is the biggest fraud of them all. The USDA is just another bullshit organization that is killing us slowly. The secrets also prove that the Republican party is once again the culprit behind it all, supporting this horrible, nasty and immoral behavior. You are all assholes!

I am going to make this as simple as I can. When I came across this information it really pissed me off. Even more than I already am about big business and government programs. I am at the end of the line here. The only responsible and realistic conclusion is to avoid everything they are a part of and trust no one.

The Facts
The USDA was founded in 1862 by Abraham Lincoln and was created to help farmers exchange information. Now, for some reason, all that got thrown out the window and they are responsible for the safety of meat, poultry, and egg products. It's also a funny coincidence that most employees of the USDA are also connected to the meat and dairy industry. Before 2005, the secretary of the USDA was forced to resign due to federal charges of accepting illegal corporate gifts from numerous companies. Fascinating! One of these companies was Tyson and they had to pay $4 million in fines for the act. Thats it. If I was in charge they would be out of business.

Ann Veneman, who was Secretary of Agriculture during 2001 to 2005, is another loser. It is said she is connected to producing the bovine growth hormone (BGH). Great! She also hired staff that used to work for the Cattlemen's Beef Association, a former president of the National Pork Producers and others from the meat packing industry. Now thats someone I can trust! Today she is the Executive Director of UNICEF. Woopee! I also have to mention that the years she worked for the USDA the presidency was under the Bush administration. I am not surprised.

The USDA is also a huge slacker. When mad cow disease was discovered in 2003, only 20,000 cows out of the 35 million slaughtered in that year were tested. Wow! They really care, huh? But of course they wouldn't do what is right. If more cows were discovered with the disease than the ranchers couldn't sell their meat. Resulting in loss of money. Do we really expect them to take our health into higher consideration than their profits? What the USDA did do was ban the feeding of meat to live cattle. Big woop! They still allowed calves to feed on cattle blood. Now think of all the hamburgers and steaks you ate among those years. I hope you are disgusted.

Within our government, rules are not rules. They are words that are not followed. They keep documents and information confidential when they should release it to the public and they allow the food industry to do whatever the hell they want. When greed is running a business that is a big problem. When that business controls what we eat then that is a scary thing. I don't want you to think that there aren't any good people out there because there are. They just get buried among the rest. In 1998, there was a federal lawsuit filed against the USDA and the Department of Health and Human Services concerning their so called Dietary Guidelines. The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine claimed that laws were violated because the USDA selected 6 people that were financially connected to the food industry to serve on the committee. All being tied to the meat and dairy sectors.

Got milk? Well, if your lactose intolerant you obviously shouldn't be consuming dairy. Not that any of us should. But what do you always see? Advertisements and health organizations saying you need to drink milk for calcium and strong bones. You don't! If thats not bad enough they created Lactaid and other drugs so that you still drink dairy even though your body is telling you not to. More money in their pockets and more of your health going down the drain! At $19 billion dollars a year or more, the milk industry seems to be pretty happy. But their cows are suffering with every sip you take. Once the cows milk is done producing, usually after 10 pounds, they continue to get milked. How would you like it if metal clamps milked your breasts till they got 100 pounds out of them? Ouch! You can imagine the puss that would form and how sensitive their udders would get. Well, all that puss is going into the milk and you are drinking it. Pasteurization does not kill all the bacteria or viruses that may be in the liquid. Now go ahead and drink a yummy, cold, creamy glass of milk and think about the poor, tortured cow who suffered so you can have a cup of something that isn't healthy for you anyway! Milk is intended to help babies grow. Not adults. That is why we breast feed while we are little and then stop before 2 years old. Did you know that we are the only species who drinks milk when we are adults?

If this next bit of info doesn't piss you off than I don't know what will. In 1999, a beef plant in Texas failed salmonella tests done buy the USDA. About 47% of the beef contained the virus. Just keep in mind that this also means the meat contains high levels of fecal matter which just by itself contaminates the meat. Well, the USDA continued to purchase the meat and distribute it to schools. To make it worse, the company from which they bought all the meat from was the nation's largest supplier of school meals. How are your kids doing these days? People have been fighting the USDA for years. This is not new. It just seems as if it doesn't stop. Like I said before. You can't trust anyone.

Today, the USDA secretary is Tom Vilsack. His endorsements were the Corn Refiners Association, the National Grain and Feed Association, the National Farmers Union, the American Farm Bureau Federation and the Environmental Defense Fund. The opposed group was the Organic Consumers Association. They stated Vilsack supported large industrial farms and genetically modified crops. He was also the former chair of the Governor's Biotechnology Partnership. You can read this statement here: www.organicconsumers.org

So what do we do? It seems like we are trapped, right? Wrong! You all need to be strong and stay smart. People are catching on and they have been taking steps to make the food industry a much better place. The safest way to go is to buy organic and make sure you read all the ingredients of everything you buy. Everything! You are not dumb. You know when something is crap. Don't eat it. Its a simple as that. Do not trust the USDA or its labels. In order to beat the system that is causing sickness, disease and death we must stand up to it. Period!

All information was attained by the book, The Skinny Bitch by Rory Freedman and Kim Barnouin