Why no-meat meals are what Im choosing for my kids

If you want to be a vegetarian, you need to develop thicker skin to deflect much of the worlds commentary. Once you reveal your dietary preference, it is open season on your stance. Ive never really understood why people feel the need to question, reference, and judge my choice without fully understanding my reasons. Besides, it is really no ones business but my own. I dont ridicule or demand to know why others choose to eat meat, so I find it strange that people find it appropriate to do so to me. But its okay. Im used to it. Just imagine though what people have said and continue to say to me regarding our (both mine and my husbands) decision to raise our children as meat-free individuals. The uproar. The incredulousness. The concern.

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Raising vegetarians

On Friday, the first night of Passover,Jews across the world sit down for a ceremonial Seder meal. And onmany of those tables youll find brisket. Or lamb. Or roast chicken.

Basically, if youre a vegetarian, it can get a little lonely. But as a newly translated cookbook shows, Jewish vegetarians have a long anddelicious heritage.

Several years ago, culinary ethnographer Eve Jochnowitz came across a Yiddish vegetarian cookbook from 1938.The actual title of the book is 'Vegetarish-Dietisher Kokhbukh' vegetarian dietetic cookbook, Jochnowitz says. Not really a great title by marketing standards, but back thenthat was the bomb.

The book was written by Fania Lewando, a restaurant owner in what was then Poland (it'snow in Lithuania). Jochnowitz has just translated the book into English and given it aslightly more inviting title:"The Vilna Vegetarian Cookbook."

And Fania Lewando was no casual vegetarian.

She says it has long been established by the leading medical authorities that the vegetarian diet is the most healthful for the human organism, Jochnowitz translates. And then, in the second sentence, she says ...our Jewish tradition upholds the principle of tza'ar baalei chaim kindness to Gods creatures.

In this one-two punch of an introduction, Lewando putsscience and health with equal on equal footingas Jewish ethics. Though, to be clear, were not talking raw kale and juice cleanses. This is a book full of butter and eggs, sugar and sour cream sometimes all in the same dish.

Those rich ingredients dress up the usual beets and cabbage, challah and matzo balls. But theres also an exploration of all sorts of dishes and ingredients, likeJerusalem artichokes and chanterelle mushrooms, or red wine soup and radish jam. AndJochnowitz says the underlying striving for an ethical, healthy future even if that definition includes cholesterol was very much part of the zeitgeist in the yearsjust before World War II.

I think theres very much a feeling that one isreally just on the brink, the threshold of a great new world, Jochnowitz says. Of course, all of these hopes and dreams were just about to be crushed in the most horrible, brutal way.

Lewando didnt survive the war,and neither did thosehopes for the future. There were still a handful of vegetarian restaurants and cookbooks, along witha few health resorts, but the broader ideological movement more or less disappeared.

Read more from the original source:
Jewish vegetarians say you don't have to make brisket for Passover and they've got the recipes to prove it

Food businesses have it good, insofar as people will never stop eating. Businesses selling ingredients are starting to do much better than those that sell cooked food, given increasing health concerns of eating junk food, making matters difficult for companies like McDonalds Corporation (MCD). Even among those selling ingredients, specialty supermarket chains like Sprouts Farmers Market Inc. (SFM) and Whole Foods Market Inc. (WFM) are doing better than others like Walmart Stores Inc. (WMT) due to their offerings of fresh produce that is natural and organic, the two buzzwords around food that are becoming increasingly popular with an ever-more health conscious population. Let us look at why Sprouts Food Market is a good investment bet in the current scenario.

Healthy eating trends

More and more people are becoming conscious of the benefits of eating organic and naturally produced food that reduces the number of chemicals entering their bodies via the food production process, in terms of fertilisers, pesticides and feed. There are also increased concerns surrounding the consumption of genetically modified foods, with some long-term studies linking them to deleterious effects on the body. Also, consumers now want to find non-allergic food, such as gluten free food, in their supermarkets. All these factors are leading to the increasing popularity of stores such as Sprouts Farmers Market.

The pricing factor

One reason why the company is doing better than many rivals is because of its aggressive pricing. The company has made a smart strategic decision of keeping the price of essential items such as milk low, which in turn generates heavier customer traffic, thereby offsetting any loss in profits.

Opportunity for growth

The company started out with one store in 2002 and right now, has a total of 191 stores across 10 states in the U.S, with its largest presence in Texas, where it started and in California. That means there are 40 more states that the company has no presence in and that gives it a lot of room to grow. The company is looking at having 1,200 stores, more than six times the current number, in the next 15 years, and there is no reason to say that the company wont get there. In the coming year, 27 new stores are planned for opening.

Not an income stock

Since going public in 2013, the stock has not performed well and hasnt paid out much in terms of dividends either. So it is not for investors looking for regular income or short-term gains. But for long term investors, it looks to be a solid growth story. This is even more so after the exit of Apollo Global Management which has sold all its stock in the company last month, effectively giving the company more control over its operations.

Conclusion

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Organic Food Demand Rise And Smart Pricing Makes Sprouts Farmers Market A Smart Long-Term Stock Pick

TORONTO Lets be honest: organic food can be pricey. But does it really make that much of a difference?

Experts say going organic canhelp limit your pesticide exposure since organic food is said to belower in pesticides, free of genetically modified organisms, additives, and irradiation. If youre trying to stretch your dollar at the grocery store, though, there are certain fruits and vegetables that mightbe better than others to buy organic.Theyre the onesbelieved to be the most contaminated by pesticides,alsoknown as the Dirty Dozen.

The annual list is put together by theEnvironmental Working Group, aU.S.-based health research and advocacy organization. For the fifth year in a row, apples have been the biggest offender when it comes to pesticide residue. According to analysts, thats becauseof chemicals applied to the crop before and after harvest to preserve them longer.

Theres also the Clean Fifteen. The produce on that list is the least likely to hold pesticide residue, according to EWG. The cleanest fruit on the list? Avocados. Only one per cent of them showed any detectable pesticides.

READ MORE:The 41 most nutrient-dense fruits and vegetables

Registered dietitians believe the lists can be a handy tool for consumers.

If you cant afford organic all the time, you can buy fruits and vegetables off that list and not worry as much about your pesticide exposure, said Edmonton-based registered dietitian Lalitha Taylor.

READ MORE:5 ways to save money on fruits and vegetables

When it comes to nutritional content, though, Taylor and other dietitians stress that theres no good research to support that organic food is better than conventional (non-organic) produce.

A 2012 study from Stanford found organic foods were no higher in vitamins or minerals, except phosphorus. While they did have a 30 per cent lower risk of pesticide contamination,the pesticide levels of all foods tested were within allowable limits.

Read more from the original source:
Pesticides in produce: best bang for your buck when buying organic