If You Can't Move, You Can't Improve

If You Can't Move, You Can't Improve

by Kristina Bouterse

So, I'm an adult. A grown up, a mom, a businesswoman and... gasp... an athlete! Well, at least that's what Corey Bridges of C4 Performance says. 

Many moons ago, I learned that Corey trains professional athletes. And this mom-thlete said, "you should put something together for our tennis team! We need exercises to help us feel better after a match and we want stronger serves." See... I play low-level, suburbia tennis with my girlfriends for a total of 14 weeks a year. Not quite the professionals he's used to training. But Corey agreed to come watch us play anyway (maybe because his wife is on the team?) and give us some pointers.

When I followed up with him about the exercises, Corey just shook his head and chuckled. "Y'all don't need to work out. You can't even move!" And that was the beginning of a new discussion: a talk about mobility.

We all know people with elbow braces, knee braces, lower back pain and ankle wraps. They still play their games, but they do it in pain. They're not as effective with their serves, swings, hits, kicks (kickball!) or sprints because of the pain and lack of mobility. Yet they still run, they lift, they work out, they slam that ball and, often times, win the game, out of sheer determination and skill. And between the games, they're doing the same thing I asked Corey for: a workout to make them better at their sport.

But guess what? If you can't move, you can't improve. You'll only injure yourself more.

And that's where Corey Bridges and the C4 Performance technique comes in to play. My past experience with trainers has been guided exercises with some critique and coaching to keep me going. C4 Performance started out completely different. Because... if you can't move, you can't improve. 

Corey asked questions, did a visual analysis and then we jumped into a biomechanical assessment to see how my body moves. Real life movements are not static, they don't just go forwards and backwards; our bodies move in all directions. That's why Corey does a 3D assessment to analyze flexibility, mobility and stability.

He's fast and precise about the assessment. In just a few minutes, I was in the CAGE stretching my body in ways I'd never thought to try. And today, man, am I sore! My adductors were stretched so effectively that I didn't even notice how far I pushed my body. 

Side note: Ever have a tennis pro laugh out loud at you?? I asked Coach Darrio how to serve stronger. He tossed his ball up, turned his entire torso, shoulder and elbow to demonstrate a master at his craft. I tried to mimic him and my elbow and arm just didn't go that way! I flubbed the ball. Coach actually laughed out loud at me and my stiff form. After years of immobility, my body just didn't go that way... but it should.

While moving my shoulder and arm into different positions, Corey manipulated the tissue around my ligaments to help loosen my shoulders and thoracic spine. We measured my mobility before and after the manipulation and the difference was quite noticeable! At tennis practice that evening, I was able to hit the ball in the appropriate racket position which helped the ball go where it was supposed to. My swing felt more full and natural. What a difference.

Over the years, many of us get tighter, find new pains and even get injured, yet we still want to play. We enjoy being adult athletes, hanging with our friends and chasing our kids/ grandkids around. 

But injuries keep us from being active and doing things we love. Life is meant to be enjoyed. Being strong and living pain-free is a valuable factor in overall happiness. With Corey at C4 Performance, you work together to find the cause of the issues and balance your body. Then you enhance your athletic ability and unlock your maximum potential. Corey develops a custom program to improve your fitness, strength, speed, balance and agility.

Like I said, a totally different approach to training. Check out Corey Bridges with C4 Performance in his new Kennesaw location.

• • •

Corey Bridges, FAFS (one of only 1,500 Fellows of Applied Functional Science in the world), has been training professional athletes like Kirk Cousin & Aaron Murray, from Olympic table tennis athletes to stay at home parents. Bridges was raised an athlete and got his passion for movement while playing wide receiver for The University of South Carolina. 

C4 Performance is located at 2010 international Blvd Suite D, Kennesaw GA 30144

Corey@C4-Performance.com

Call 404-931-1921 to make an appointment.

Kristina Bouterse, full-time REALTOR and mom of three boys, she rarely slows down! Kristina's passion for health has lead her down many rabbit holes, including physical, mental and overall personal well-being. She also loves connecting with other small business owners who have the same positive mindset. Contact Kristina with real estate questions at:

Kristina@GeorgiaEliteRealty.net

www.GeorgiaEliteRealty.com

www.LoveYourPlaceGeorgia.com

Happy Independence Day!

Yes, that's right, I said it: HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!!!

I know, "happy 4th of July" is sooooo much easier to say than "happy Independence Day". It's a mouthful, I get it! But what other holiday do you give greetings by the date? No one says "Merry 25th of December!" or "Happy October 31st!". It just doesn't make sense.

When society embraces calling our nation's birthday "July 4th", rather than Independence Day, we easily lose the meaning of the holiday. I asked my kids what we're celebrating on July 4th and they had no idea. They know that fireworks are a big part of it. But when I asked them what we celebrate on Independence Day, I could see the wheels turning in their minds.

What is it that we celebrate on Independence Day? We celebrate our Declaration of Independence from Great Britain. If you love this country and our Constitution as much as I do, I urge you to push out that extra syllable and exclaim

Happy Independence Day!

Here's a great history of Independence Day and here's a video to share with the kiddos!

Health has to Start at Home

With all the noise about a national sickcare bill, the elephant in the room is WELLNESS. Taking care of oneself is a basic responsibility of freedom. Somehow, our food system in America got hijacked. Over several generations, we've replaced local, sustainable, homemade, fermented, fresh food and drink with an over abundance of boxes and jars and cans and tubes and tubs and pouches and bottles.

Brewing Kombucha - an inexpensive way to boost immunity

If we want to be a free people, we cannot depend on government to keep us healthy. We must get healthy at home. We've been trained to depend on health insurance for our "well visits", our "immunity shots" and our "co-pay sick visits". We have been led down a scripted path to "health" because we think it costs less money. All the while, we get sicker and sicker.

The so-called alternative ways of healthcare - chiropractic, essential oils, fermented foods, natural fats, natural meats, exercise, acupuncture - aren't covered under insurance.


Our primary care physicians often don't know about these options and patients don't know who else to ask. Americans must seek out a better way to stay healthy if they want to remain free.

      •  •  •

Every little thing we can do in our homes to be healthier will create lifelong habits for our children and help prevent disease. It was only a handful of years ago that I learned of the detriment of antibiotics on the human body and that we can help heal ourselves with PRObiotics. Starting as a teen, I was on a daily antibiotic for acne (deep cysts) for about 5 years. This kept the cysts away but ruined my gut health and led to annual illnesses that required more antibiotics. The kicker with the acne cysts is that I more than likely could have controlled the outbreaks, which were so painful and caused scarring, if I had only known that my body was reacting to my diet. Anyway...

I wanted to start healing my gut and our family began drinking GT's Kombucha. I was buying it by the case. While I got 10% off the case, it was still $42 a week in kombucha! I'd ration the brew between the 5 of us so that it'd make it through the week. Then I learned that my friend Cyndi made her own kombucha. She taught me how to make it and even shared her SCOBY with me.

I've been brewing kombucha on a weekly basis for nearly 3 years now!

What is kombucha you ask? It's a fermented sweet tea drink that is chock full of probiotics. Each week, I brew tea and add about 3 cups of sugar. I pour this solution into a large glass vessel with more water and then place my SCOBY (symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast) on top of the mixture. The SCOBY eats all the sugar and ferments the tea into a delicious concoction. I leave the brew in the back of the pantry for about a week for Princess SCOBY to do her thing. Then it's time for the second fermentation... I funnel the brew into glass jars with fruit and leave on the shelf for 2 more days.

And Voilà!! My my labor of love is complete. Probiotic drink for the entire family for a week at under $5 and about 30 minutes of my time.

      •  •  •

GT's Kombucha is still my favorite store bought brew. There are different brands and flavors popping up everywhere and even at Farmers Markets. Make sure it's RAW and ORGANIC and check the sugar content. Some flavors are higher in sugar - skip those.

I am equal. I am strong. I am a woman.

I'm trying so hard to understand these women who feel they are not treated equally to men. But I don't get it. Do they really think Trump will take away their voting rights? Do they think that the government ought to make all pay equal despite experience? Do they think Trump can single handedly overturn Roe v. Wade? Are they upset because late term abortion is debatable? Or that the government shouldn't pay for birth control? Do they believe they didn't get a job in the past because of their gender? Do they think there will be more discrimination in the future because of this president? Why don't they see Trump's daughters as successful businesswomen?

I have never felt discriminated against due to my gender. The very opposite is true - I've felt empowered BECAUSE of my gender. I think differently, I do differently and I make things happen. Is this because I'm a woman? I don't know. It's probably because of my upbringing and my personality.

I was raised in a family of men (mom, dad, 4 brothers) and I NEVER felt less for it. Never was I given different responsibilities because of my gender. Never was anything less expected of me because I was the only girl. And now, I live in a house of men (husband, 3 sons) and if you ask them who rules the roost, they'll tell you that MAMA RULES THE ROOST.

My first two careers were in heavily male dominated industries: Natural Gas and Commercial Real Estate. If anything, being a strong, smart and motivated woman helped me excel in these businesses. Sure, there were jackasses who talked to me like Trump may have, but they didn't keep me from succeeding. I didn't go home and cry because someone thought I was hot and told me so.  And if they thought I was stupid for being a female, all I had to do was speak to prove them wrong.

Seriously, ladies, who are you posting sexual images of Matthew McConaughey or Vin Diesel or any other hottie sex symbol and then simultaneously getting upset when someone in real life thinks that a REAL WOMAN is beautiful, hot, sexy or "doable". Because Donald Trump said something obnoxious 10+ years ago does not make him a rapist, nor a sexist, nor a nazi or whatever you want to call him. I'll call him a jackass - that's for sure.


But for reversing our country 300 years like I've seen in the meme, GIVE ME A BREAK. No, Trump will not take away our voting rights, our right to drive a car, our ability for higher education, our ability to obtain birth control or our ability to excel in our careers. It just won't happen.

Please, take a long nap then wake up and understand that we still live in the greatest country on earth. I'm so thankful for the millions of women who are waking up to politics and want to get involved. Just dig a little deeper and make your minutes, your hours, your days and your emotions count for something. No American woman will stand for our equality to be stripped. Claiming that women who support Trump are okay with being second class citizens is just silly.

If we truly care for women's rights, let's stand up against spousal abuse and sexual harassment and sex slavery. Let's support women in other countries who must cover themselves from head to toe, who can't leave the house without a male escort, who are raped with no way to fight back, who aren't allowed to drive or vote or go to school.

American women protesting Trump sound spoiled and don't seem to appreciate what we have in this free nation. We have rights guaranteed by the constitution and we are equal under the law, just like every other American, thanks to brave women in our history. We are not oppressed.


I am equal. I am strong. I am a woman.

. . . 

Born in America - NOT FAIR

It came up again in conversation this holiday season - if you were born in the United States of America, you're better off than half the world. For goodness sakes, poor people in the US have cell phones, air conditioning and running water!


There's a cute little saying that has become popular... "first world problems". We say this when we realize what we're complaining about is an issue that many humans don't know about. Like poor cell service or the dishwasher leaking or DirecTV cutting out during a storm... FIRST WORLD PROBLEMS!

On that note, can't we Americans be THANKFUL for these wonderful "first world creations"? Every day there are items in my home that I find nearly indespensible that didn't exist 100 years ago. On my FaceBook page (www.FaceBook.com/conservativehippiechick), I started a thread where we can be thankful for things other than "good health, a loving family, the sunrise..."

This will now be my ongoing list of First World Thankfulness. Add yours int he comments!

1. wireless trackball mouse
2. indoor pools in the winter months
3. disposable sponges for washing dishes
4. wireless internet
5. the USPS
6. calculators
7. Costco
8. chain saw
9. scotch tape
10. wood flooring
11. heated seats in my vehicle
12. 4 wheel drive
13. weather app
14. paved roads
15. business cards
16. the USPS
17. Mario Cart 
18. grocery stores
19. farmers markets
20. gas stations
21. gas powered leaf blower
22.  chiropractic care
23. fresh brewed coffee in my Bunn (4 minutes!)
24. the internet
25. the Constitution
26. free speech
27. the squeegee at the gas station
28. ziplock baggies
29. refrigerator
30. ball point pens
31. did I say the internet?
32. public library
33.  hot water
34. washing machine
35. sheets
36. pillows
37. disposable plates and cutlery
38. party store
39. color printers

Americans - come together!!

I am so frustrated by the decisiveness of this country!

I was just talking with an old friend who was raised a Democrat. Over the years, due to different work experiences and real life situations, he's opened his mind to other ways of political thinking. Our  conversations have been exciting and informational for the past 10 years.

Anyway, we grew up in Gainesville Florida. Our high school was fairly diverse - drawing not only different colors of people but also first generation immigrants with the ESL (English as a Second Language) program. The biggest bullying wasn't between blacks and whites, it was against gays, the weirdos and the obese - no matter the color. This statement is not in approval of the small-mided people who did the bullying, it's just an observation.

Getting back to today... my friend and I were drawing from our past in which we didn't experience racism (granted, I know we're white, but we're observant!), we didn't participate in racism and we are utterly confused and frustrated by the race divide that has been created by our government.

The Obama presidency was supposed to bring people together. Instead, it's driven a wedge between races that didn't exist 10 years ago. Another friend of mine, who refers to herself as "African American", and I spoke this weekend about how her kids don't know any different than the middle-class lifestyle they have in Kennesaw Georgia. They would not feel at home in the slums or Atlanta just because there are more black people there. It's a CULTURE thing, not a skin color thing. White trash is white trash, ghetto folk are ghetto folk and gangsters are gangsters, no matter the color.

So, why is there so much talk about whites vs. blacks? Shouldn't we all be tackling the culture of violence? The culture of government dependence? Shouldn't we all band together to stop crime, to protect our neighborhoods, to encourage independence, to build our children up to be productive members of society? Shouldn't we all be screaming mad that our unemployment rate is near double digits and it's even higher for the poverty stricken, low-income citizens?

Let's stand up for American values for all corners of this great nation. We Americans are strong-willed, hard workers, creative thinkers and freedom-loving. The longer we let the government divide us, the harder it will be to come back together.

The Best Pregnancy Ever!

My body's journey into my third pregnancy was quite different from the first two. First of all, I had switched to a Paleo lifestyle about 2 months before conceiving. Second, I was exercising in a way that my body thrived.

The first two pregnancies weren't bad - no morning sickness, no serious food aversions, no swelling - but they weren't great. I had problems with circulation that caused me to wake up in the middle of the night feeling as if my hands were being stabbed. I often had to walk around the house in the depths of darkness to regain feeling in my arms. It didn't happen with pregnancy #3!

During Prego2, I was a vegetarian and I was ravenous ALL.THE.TIME. I couldn't eat enough. I felt sick because I was hungry. Rice, beans, tofu, veggies, fruit and nuts just couldn't satisfy me! Of course, I ate lots of processed sweets, too. I baked pans of brownies on a regular basis. What a sugar fix! I didn't have hunger issues with Prego3. I ate nourishing, filling, calorie-dense meals and rarely required snacks between. I did get hooked on all-natural ice cream during my last trimester which caused some fat gain at the end.

In the first two pregnancies I gained 40lbs each. Prego3: 25lbs.

Oh, and the acne! No pregnancy acne the third time around. None.

The dreaded heartburn? Only when I ate bread or carby sweets. Otherwise, I had no heartburn during Prego3. I remember keeping a huge bottle of Tums near by during the entire first pregnancy. I never once connected the dots between pans of brownies and heartburn! I always blamed it on the weight of the fetus and my changed body.

I hadn't been lazy during pregnancy, I just didn't push myself really hard. In the year prior to Prego3, I did Tabata Bootcamp twice a week, tennis twice weekly and walked as often as possible. I had dropped 14lbs and 6inches and was in the best shape of my life! Since I was active before I got knocked up, I continued through the full 10 moon pregnancy. My water actually broke at tennis practice when I was 41 weeks and 4 days pregnant! 

My third pregnancy was so much easier! I attribute better circulation to increased activity, regular stretching/yoga and chiropractic care. Everything else was a result of eating Paleo. If I could have such a different experience in my third pregnancy at the age of 35, imagine the benefits for the average human suffering from acid reflux, diabetes, heartburn, acne, lethargy or binge eating.

Prego1

39 weeks

29 years old

Prego2

39 weeks

33 years old

photo courtesy of Hailey Faith Photography

Prego3

39 weeks

35 years old

An old FaceBook post...

Wow, this year flew by! I haven't posted in so long - there's so much to share! No time for it now, but I wanted to save this FaceBook status I wrote back in March 2013. No better place than here.

***

Today is the day. It's the day that no one wants to remember and I'm certain those being remembered never want us to dwell on these days... it's the day of death. Today is the day I said goodbye to my mother's physical body. Today, four years ago, is the day I started my motherless journey.

It was Friday the 13th, just before her favorite holiday: St. Patrick's Day. It's all a haze from the 13th to the 20th when we celebrated my mom's life at a beautiful facility in Asheville NC. The weather was absolutely gorgeous and the sunset was breathtaking. Her friends were there, loving her and giving love to our entire family. Our extended family was there, telling stories, hugging, laughing, crying and just loving each other. The young children were playing during the ceremony, just as she would have wanted them to. She was in their hearts, teaching them to sing instead of cry. Reminding us how grand life is, no matter how short.

Never will she be out of my heart or out of my head, but forever will I miss our conversations.

I was a tough teenager. I pushed the boundaries in life and in parenting. And I am so thankful that I was old enough when my mom passed (I was 31, she was 64) that we had a chance to reflect on it. And you know what? She didn't resent me! She was thankful! She told me that I pushed her to be a better person. All those times in the car when she'd put on the personal growth tapes, I cursed under my breath how annoying it was. And all this time later, I still use those lessons to grow. To stay grounded. To remember that life is what I make of it.

So, as I remember this day, the toughest day I've ever experienced, I also remember how fortunate I am to have had a mother who pushed back when I pushed her. Who always kept learning, who always stayed hopeful and who always said the things that made us step back and contemplate ourselves.

It's a good life.

5623

Bacon Wrapped, Pecan Stuffed Dates

Paleo pregnancy has given me such food inspiration!

(Oh, by the way... I'm pregnant with our third boy! Due in late August.)

This has been a busy week and I hadn't even thought of a potluck dish to bring to the Derby party last night. So I opened the fridge to review options for a side on the fly.

Staring back at me: dried dates, raw pecans & a half a pack of bacon. After only two experiments, perfection! We ate all the samples before the afternoon was over, so hubby hit the grocery store and picked up more ingredients. One of the great things about this treat is that you can make as few or as many as you want without excessive cleanup.

When we got home from the party last night, my 5 year old realized he was too busy playing that he didn't eat a bacon wrapped date! Major melt down before bed... so together we made them for a mid-morning snack today.

Assembly line makes the process quick. Husbands and kids and help!

Prep your ingredients first. Might as well count out each, including toothpicks, since your bacon hands will contaminate anything you touch.


INGREDIENTS

• dried dates
• raw pecan halves
• bacon

PREP

• slice dates up the middle (stick paring knife tip in the end of each date and cut only one side)
• break pecan halves in half lengthwise
• cut bacon slices into quarters lengthwise
• line baking dish with tin foil, place some sort of rack on top to allow drainage
• wooden toothpicks 
• 350°

ASSEMBLE

• place pecan quarter inside date, close
• wrap 1/4 slice of bacon around date, cover the open side of the date with middle of bacon
• slide wooden toothpick through ends of bacon to secure
• arrange on baking rack with open bacon side down

Cook :15 then keep an eye on them. Length of time depends on type of bacon used. We used thick sliced, maple bacon this morning and it took :25 to cook 14 of them.

Gay Rights Debate

What is the "gay rights" debate about?

It's about two people being legal partners, legal beneficiaries and legally bound. Already, many churches marry same-sex partners "under God"; this cannot be taken away by government. The only thing that can be taken away by government are rights that should not be given by government. DOMA is offensive and government has no role in marriage. Marriage is between two people who choose to live their lives together.

My husband and I are agnostic and were married by my father (who is a notary) under the law. Instead of marriage, we could have drafted a legal agreement that outlines and specifies our arrangement.

Instead of fighting for the government to okay gay marriage, we ought to be fighting for the government to get the hell out of our marriages. Marriage is a decision that two people make to share responsibilities and households. When a marriage falls apart, it's a legal battle. Married couples should not get a tax break, or a tax hit.

In my opinion, we're spending time on the wrong fight.

First, repeal DOMA.

Second, repeal the income tax.

Third, make sure that your significant other is your beneficiary on everything.

You don't have to be married for your life insurance benefits to go to your partner. Make sure your significant other is specified on your living will so that they can help you in your time of need. If a straight person is not married, they can have someone not-related in their hospital room if they have specified it. So what's the difference if you are gay?

The "goodbye" day

Today is the day. It's the day that no one wants to remember and I'm certain those being remembered never want us to dwell on these days... it's the day of death. Today is the day I said goodbye to my mother's physical body. Today, four years ago, is the day I started my motherless journey.

It was Friday the 13th, just before her favorite holiday: St. Patrick's Day. It's all a haze from the 13th to the 20th when we celebrated my mom's life at a beautiful facility in Asheville NC. The weather was absolutely gorgeous and the sunset was breathtaking. Her friends were there, loving her and giving love to our entire family. Our extended family was there, telling stories, hugging, laughing, crying and just loving each other. The young children were playing during the ceremony, just as she would have wanted them to. She was in their hearts, teaching them to sing instead of cry. Reminding us how grand life is, no matter how short.

Never will she be out of my heart or out of my head, but forever will I miss our conversations.

I was a tough teenager. I pushed the boundaries in life and in parenting. And I am so thankful that I was old enough when my mom passed (I was 31, she was 64) that we had a chance to reflect on it. And you know what? She didn't resent me! She was thankful! She told me that I pushed her to be a better person. All those times in the car when she'd put on the personal growth tapes, I cursed under my breath how annoying it was. And all this time later, I still use those lessons to grow. To stay grounded. To remember that life is what I make of it.

So, as I remember this day, the toughest day I've ever experienced, I also remember how fortunate I am to have had a mother who pushed back when I pushed her. Who always kept learning, who always stayed hopeful and who always said the things that made us step back and contemplate ourselves.

It's a good life.

The Truth about 12/21/2012

In all seriousness, December Twenty First, Two Thousand Twelve is a very significant date.

If you need me to go to the beginning, here we go. The earth rotates on its axis around the sun. This is what causes our change in seasons and lighting. We have 4 distinctive seasons which are all marked by Earth's ever so slight shift on its axis. People of ancient times had such a handle on Astronomy that they could actually create buildings that would only let light in on a Solstice, or monuments that would throw specific shadows on a Solstice. Solstice literally means "sun stands still", which it seems to at the time of shifting on Summer and Winter Solstices. Twice a year, on Spring & Fall Equinox, everyone in the world experiences a 12 hour day, we experience equal day and night. Pretty profound.

Vernal (Spring) Equinox, Summer Solstice , Autumnal (Fall) Equionox and Winter Solstice are dates that have been recognized and celebrated for thousands of years. Ever wonder why there are Easter bunnies? Or evergreen wreaths?

Ancient people, like the Mayans and Egyptians, recorded these dates so that they could schedule planting and harvesting and so forth. They had festivals throughout the year to acknowledge these vital times for the planet. That most Americans celebrate other religious holidays during Winter Solstice doesn't make it any less of an astronomical event.

So, back to 12/21/12. Because the Mayans and the Egyptians were such great astronomers, they actually understood the long term rotation of the earth and marked the "Ages" that our planet goes through. These Ages are approximately 2,150 years long. As long as I've been alive, we've been in the Age of Pisces. We are now dawning on the Age of Aquarius (yes, like the song).

There is no respected Mayan or Egyptian scholar who would verify that these ancient people predicted the end of the world.

This Winter Solstice, we get to experience an astronomical event that no one in two thousand, one hundred and fifty years has enjoyed.

So, what does this mean for the horoscope readers, earth lovers and general learned? Lifted from another website:

What does the Age of Aquarius or Aquarian Age represent?

"The Age of Aquarius is the Age of Freedom, Technology (especially electricity), and the Water Bearer." http://www.2012-spiritual-growth-prophecies.com/age-of-aquarius.html  

The more dominant core values of the Piscean Age of money, power and control must go to make room for the Aquarian Age values of love, unity, brotherhood and integrity.

Interesting?

So, you can keep telling your "end of the world" jokes, or you can spread the word about how truly significant this Winter Solstice is. It's a once in 500-lifetimes opportunity. Let's celebrate!

2009 Winter Solstice fire

• • •

So, how do people recognize Winter Solstice?

Here are a few ideas: spend time with your family, enjoy a meal together, start a fire, go around and say what you're thankful for, think about what you're ready to let go from the previous year. Acknowledge the major event that our planet experiences and welcome the longer days ahead.

Our family saves a piece of garland or charred wood (yule) from the fire to start the fire the next year. We write the things we're ready to "let go" on a piece of paper and symbolically throw it into the fire. We talk about things we're thankful for. We also exchange gifts. We often get together with friends and family to share food and drink. We give cheers for longer days ahead. It's a joyous occasion!

Here's a great history of Winter Solstice and its symbolism:  http://www.schooloftheseasons.com/celsolstice.html

From Herbivore to Omnivore... a Modern Day Story

I used to be a vegetarian, and now I eat meat like it's going out of style.

• • •

I always thought meat was pretty gross - especially meat that was called by their animal name (chicken). I had dabbled in vegetarianism back in middle school because of the shear grossness factor, but that didn't last long since I didn't cook my own food. I really became a vegetarian after having my first child. It was time for us to introduce meat to his diet and, coincidentally, my neighbor lent me the book Skinny Bitch by Rory Freedman & Kim Barnoiun.

For years, I ignored the factory farming factor in my meat consumption. I was literally blinded to that aspect of meat-eating and considered organic meat out of my price range. Then, I read Skinny Bitch and before I could close the book, I knew more than I needed to about the obscene torture we put on factory farm animals for the sake of high volume.

The book is basically a vegan propaganda tool and it was the catalyst for me giving up meat and raising my son a vegetarian. The irony is that we owned a fried chicken wing joint! By day, I was slingin' chicken to every Joe in Daytona Beach, by night I was cooking vegetarian delights in my own kitchen. (okay, I confess, I never slung a wing, I was merely the marketing arm, but slingin' wings sounds cool)

My choice to become vegetarian had more to do humanity than health. I never subscribed to the idea that meat was  bad for me, it just wasn't what I wanted to eat... I believe that we are what we eat and when I was eating animals that had been held in tiny cages, lived in filth, were pumped up with hormones and filled with terror, I was eating all that, too.

I had been making tweaks to my diet since I was in high school in order to be more healthy.Why knowingly damage my body? (Lest, we don't count the college years where damaging my body was a daily event...)  I watched my grandfather die of lung cancer, so cigarettes were never an option. My high school swim coach told the team about the damaging affects of soda and, blip, no more soda for me. And then the studies came out on aspartame and how harmful it is to our bodies. Blip, no more fake sugar. And how about hydrogenated oils? THAT'S the fat that clogs arteries! No problem, blip, not buying anything hydrogenated. Coffee? Black. Butter? Real. Bread? Whole grain. Soy? Nope.

As a family, we tried to eat everything "whole food" for the health benefits. The only processed stuff we kept in the house was dairy, crackers & bread... it was/is important for me to raise a healthy family. Prevention is key and nutrition is essential.

• • •

With two kids and a healthy lifestyle, it was time to figure out why our vegetarian meal plan wasn't keeping me lean. Why couldn't I shed those pounds even though I was eating so well and working out? It was time to kick it up a notch and find some accountability. I joined our neighborhood boot camp run by KBfit and started keeping a food journal. Immediately, I nixed beer and pizza for the 8 week program.

At the first 'check-up', my trainer said, "you eat so well already! How about we try removing dairy."

Ugh! Dairy?!

"Yes, even that one scoop of yogurt in your banana shake could be holding you back." She also said to add protein, so I ordered 3lbs of hemp seed on Amazon.com.

After 8, weeks I was 11 pounds down and 3 inches slimmer! Okay, so how do I kick it up a notch? How do I really get lean?

My question was soon answered on our private FaceBook page. One of the trainers wrote that she had tested every diet out there and the only one that worked for her was Paleo. Paleo? What the F is "paleo"? And why the hell is this the first time I've heard of it? So I started doing some research...

WHOAH.

Is Paleo what I've been looking for? Is this our family's dream come true? I mean, I never actually gave up bacon and Hubby never stopped eating meat, he just ate whatever the wifey was cooking! And, oh snap, had I been destroying my body and the health of my children with this vegetarian diet? The fact that I was literally poisoning my family was the most eye-opening part of the research. I was striving to be healthy and all the while, my choices were causing harm.

Sure, we all know that refined carbs are bad for us, but why? It's not just because of the sugar, like we learned with Atkins and South Beach. Nope, it's actually because of the grain itself, which is the basis of so much of American food. Humans are not supposed to eat grains! Grains are poisonous in the wild! And the grains we eat now don't resemble anything from the wild even a hundred years ago. No matter how far we process something that it poisonous, it does not make it recognizable to our bodies. And our bodies react in predictable ways: huge bellies, diabetes, cancer, heart attacks, immuno diseases, trouble sleeping, heartburn, pimply skin...

And all these ailments can be cured or prevented by food? Yes! If we give a rat things it cannot eat in the wild, it will get sick and die. If we give it what its supposed to eat, it will thrive. Why would humans be different than other animals?

• • •

What is Paleo? Paleo refers to the Paleolithic Era and is an active lifestyle combined with eating the human diet. Humans are designed for an active lifestyle and are meant to consume only the things we can safely eat in the wild: meat, veggies, fruit, nuts, seeds, berries. Whole foods and animals that are raised in natural habitat without hormones or antibiotics. For instance, cows are supposed to graze and eat grass. How do you think the quality of meat differs from free-range, grass fed cows to cows in cages, pumped with hormones while eating grains and corn?

We are what we eat.

 • • •

Blip. Good bye bread, pasta, beans and rice; hello bacon, steak and eggs! This change hasn't been as easy for the family as giving up hydrogenated oils or tofu were, but it's moving along. The biggest hiccup is bread - even my almost 2 year old knows that he loves bread and asks for it by name! Solution? Sprouted grains. You can find sprouted bread in the freezer section. By sprouting the bread, many of the anti-nutrients lose effectiveness.

The more I learn about nutrition, the more I embrace our number one medicine: FOOD. Food can keep us well or slowly kill us. Many diseases are reversible just by changing one's diet.

People respond to preventable illness every day by taking a pill rather than addressing their dietary habits. Instead of taking control of our health, we get a prescription and vote for universal health care. We give away responsibility and then beg for our lives. We take the path of poison rather than prevention.

To paraphrase Beverly Meyer, holistic nutritionist, what we eat, drink, smell and put on our skin are the most controllable chemistries we have for being healthy. Yet Americans blame it on our genes or try (and fail) at super work-out sessions. Most of our weight and health issues are directly tied to what we put in our mouths, not to our genes.

The more I learn, the more I evolve. The more my body responds positively to the Paleo Lifestyle, the more amped I am to get lean! I want to prevent illness, I want to be full of energy, I want to live life to the fullest! And I want this for my children.

I finished 12 weeks of accountable boot camp. I lost 14 pounds and 6 inches; I gained insight on health and the willpower to become more healthy. I set new goals and look forward to the future!

When I was a vegetarian, I was hungry ALL THE TIME. Seriously, I could down a can of roasted chickpeas and a head of kale any time of day and wonder why the heck I wasn't satisfied. Even huge meals full of veggies, rice, nuts, cheese and beans left me wanting more. Now that each of my meals are filled with meat and vegetables and I eat until I'm full, I'm actually eating less often and more healthfully than I was as a vegetarian. I'm eating like my body wants me to eat, and it's rewarding me in return.

So, this once vegetarian is eating meat and loving every minute of it.

After 12 weeks of eating accountability & Tabata boot camp.
It really doesn't take very long to change habits; what it takes is desire.

• • •

Here are some links to make your research a bit easier. Enjoy!

• http://everydaypaleo.com/ Website by Sarah Fugoso & Jason Seib with blogs, recipes and podcasts. I have learned a ton by listening to their podcasts, and I relate well with them because they're both in their 30's with children.
• http://robbwolf.com/what-is-the-paleo-diet/ This guy, Robb Wolf, may be the most famous Paleo guy out there. Great information.
• http://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/2010/10/04/the-beginners-guide-to-the-paleo-diet/ This is a great breakdown of what the Paleo diet is and what the hell is wrong with grains
• http://www.ondietandhealth.com/ Beverly Meyer's website chock full of health & diet information
• And finally, check out this 3 minute video titled "Why You Got Fat"

Give Thanks to Light

Growing up Episcopal with German and Irish lineage (4th generation American mutt), Christmas was a pretty special time of year. I remember playing with the delicate baby Jesus in my parent's nativity scene. Our house was decorated to the brim with trees and garland and Santas, my mom loved Santas; the outside trimmed with bright white lights.

At church, the mood was lifted as well. For, lo and behold, it's the birthday of our Savior Jesus Christ! Our love, our light! There were so many beautiful songs to belt out that were dedicated only to Christmas. Children play a natural role in the celebration and the story telling is enchanting. People were energized to be involved, to share cheer and good tidings.

I was deeply involved in the church at the time a popular phrase made its debut:

It's so catchy!

People started saying it and soon there were buttons and magnets and cross-stitch; Christians decided that there's only one thing to celebrate in December, all else be marginalized.

I jumped on that Jesus train! Of course, JESUS is the reason for the season! Why else would anyone celebrate in the month of December? That's all I knew. Christmas trees EVERYWHERE, Santa on every corner, decorations galore, Christmas songs for a month long!

And if they're not celebrating Jesus Christ, they're on the commercialized bandwagon of Santa Clause, Rudolf and twinkling lights. They probably didn't even understand the 12 days of Christmas let alone know about the three wise men. I wore my pin like a badge of honor, this was Jesus' holiday and no one else's.

And then I heard about something different... Around the age of 13, my best buddy was a Jewish boy around the corner. He told me about his traditions and I shared ours. So, here's this kid who also believes in God and he doesn't celebrate Christmas while his religion is that of Jesus himself. Say what?! He celebrates Hanukkah and it sometimes falls on Christmas? And it's been celebrated for a couple hundred years longer than Christmas? Say it ain't so, there is another reason for the season? And what about Kwanzaa? Americans with African heritage had been celebrating Kwanzaa since the 1960s!

And then I learned some more... the Mayan calendar was based on the moon. These people celebrated the change of the seasons: Spring Equinox, Summer Solstice, Autumn Equinox, Winter Solstice and 4 more, based on the rotation of the earth. They had studied the earth and pinpointed every movement and moment around the sun. They had celebrations for the Winter Solstice, which is the longest night of the year. Winter Solstice marks the birth of the sun, the welcoming of more light. Winter Solstice is always on December 21 or 22.

Say what?! There's ANOTHER holiday that falls right around Christmas? And then I found out that the date of Christmas is historically not Jesus' birthday. The date of December 25th was chosen by Christian leaders in the 4th century because it coincided with the long-standing Winter Solstice celebration. Jesus' birthday wasn't even celebrated until then! It was literally designed and placed as an alternative to the Pagan rituals. Christmas traditions, like the yule log, mistletoe, lights and evergreens are all rooted in Pagan tradition.

Um, 16 years old and world.up.side.down. This season we celebrate between Thanksgiving and New Year is not only about Jesus? There are other people celebrating other holidays that have existed longer than Christmas?  So why were all these people at church saying that Jesus was the only reason for the season?

All this knowledge expanded my tolerance and appreciation for other cultures. I realized that there are lots of reasons for celebrating in December and all have very special meanings. Most of my family celebrates Christmas and I love being able to expose my children to Christian celebrations. We celebrate Winter Solstice in our house and we talk nearly every day during the Season about different traditions, beliefs and celebrations. We enjoy sharing traditions with friends and family and we delight in giving gifts to our loved ones.

When someone smiles and says, "Merry Christmas", I take it as a loving gesture. I'm not offended. I am happy their heart is so full with the joy of the season. When I smile back and say, "Thank you. Happy holidays!", I hope they feel the love, too.

And for those ostracizing us who say, "Happy Holidays", those of us who celebrate for other reasons, please appreciate our differences. It's all about the reasons for the season: thankfulness and generosity. Don't be offended, instead, say from your heart, "Merry Christmas".

•••

It's taken a lot of soul searching and research to establish our own family traditions based on our roots in Christianity and our more Pagan-like beliefs. We accept, appreciate, celebrate and learn about other cultures and celebrations. Every holiday season in our house is built upon the last - we celebrate Winter Solstice with a fire, a yule log and a small ceremony; we buy gifts for our family members; we decorate with evergreen and hang special ornaments; we learn about St. Nicholas and Santa Clause; we enjoy special treats. Every year, our family learns something new as we learn and grow together.

My studies of holidays in the month of December has been narrowly focused on what effects other Americans and myself. I'm interested to learn about world-wide traditions that also fall in the month of December. Enlighten me!

•••

Finally, to celebrate Winter Solstice is not to reject Christianity, Judaism or any other religion. Rather it is to show respect to the earth, whether you believe god created it or not. Winter Solstice is an ancient celebration that applies today - the days still get longer after the Winter Solstice. We give thanks to the light, to longer days and new life on earth.

Pig - it's what's for dinner!

Geez, feel like I fell off the cyber-map!

Between the crazy election (I have not given up on America yet), my new interest in the Paleo Lifestyle and a couple projects I have in the steamer, time has flown by like nothing!

I'm inspired to share the dinner my family ate tonight. The hubby is really glad I've added meat back into our diet (only good meat - raised in their natural environment, eating what they'd naturally eat, no hormones) and he especially liked my twist on stir fry this evening.

First off, a girlfriend of mine who I met through Tabata Boot Camp (post on that coming shortly) gave me an electric roasting pan. This tool has inspired me to tackle whole meat products like chickens, beef brisket and a spiral ham. Everything turns out amazing!

So I bought a spiral cut, nitrate free, hormone free, free range ham from Trader Joe's the other day.

Roasted it in aluminum foil for 3 hours in the electric pan @ 350°; glazed it, left the foil open at the top and roasted another :30 at 450°.

After cutting the easy meat from the bone, I returned the fat, cartilage & bone to the roasting pan for another 12 hours of slow cookin' at 250° (overnight). Mmmm... that's pickin' ham! My mama would be proud.


HAM GLAZE: 

• 2 TBL honey
• 1 TBL garam masala or mustard powder
• 2 TBL orange juice
• pinch of cloves if using mustard powder
• few churns of fresh pepper
• combine ingredients in small sauce pan, simmer on low for :15 before basting ham with glaze; when basting, brush glaze between slices for added flavor 

The spiral ham masterpiece was complete about 24 hours ago and it's almost gone! Besides the pickin' meat, there are only two slices of spiral meat left... and that's because we've been makin' some serious meals with this pig!

BREAKFAST: cut ham into strips and fried for a side with eggs and oranges

LUNCH: picked ham from the bone and ate with raw red bell pepper and a few homemade Paleo nut crackers

DINNER: ham salad stir fry! Delish!!

HAM SALAD STIR FRY - here's how I made it; you can sub/add any veggies!! Carrots, celery, tomatoes, eggplant, baby corn... everything is optional! Include all but the kitchen sink.

• 1 lb of thick sliced ham, cut into thin inch-long chunks
• 4 cloves of garlic, sliced thin
• big chunk of turmeric root, sliced thin  {1tbl}  
• I've only found the root at Whole Foods; you can use powder, too, but the root is so yummy! 
• big chunk of ginger root, minced  {1tbl}
• powder ginger if you don't have fresh
• 1/4 cup raw sunflower seeds
• 1/2 yellow bell pepper, chopped
• 1/4 red bell pepper, chopped
• 1 small zucchini, sliced thick and cut in quarters
• romain lettuce, enough for each person
• bacon grease (or coconut oil or olive oil)
• salt, pepper, red pepper flakes
• chicken broth (or any broth or white wine)
• process:
• heat large skillet and add enough bacon grease to saute garlic, turmeric & ginger; season with salt, pepper & red pepper; saute about 5 minutes
• move spices to the side and add more bacon grease, bell peppers and sunflower seeds; sprinkle with salt & saute for another 5 minutes
• add zucchini and ham, cook until ham is browned
• deglaze pan with a bit of broth or wine
• serve ham stir fry atop chopped romain leaves, add dressing or hot sauce for tasty pleasure 
• Put lettuce on base and ham stir fry on top. 
• I used only Sriracha hot sauce on my dinner; hubby and boys topped theirs with a balsamic olive oil dressing. YUMM!!!

Copy and paste to word document to print. Enjoy!

Garbanzo Beans - Indian Style

One time we visited my in-laws in Temecula California and they lived between two Indian families. These two families were family! On one side lived Jaswan, her husband and their children and on the other side were Jaswan's parents. Hearing that the hubby and I LOVED Indian food, Jaswan and her mother put together a feast for us! It was such a special treat.

A couple months after return to Florida, a box arrived in the mail from California. Inside it was:

• two hand written recipes 
• an old yogurt container filled with Turmeric powder
• a bag of lentils

Jaswan had sent me what I needed to start on my Indian culinary journey. I've played with this chickpea recipe over the years and think I have it down to my taste.  I urge you to try it! Simple, healthy, delicious. Tweak it to your taste! Even the kids (mine anyway) will eat it.

Jaswan's "Gurbanzos Beans" recipe

INGREDIENTS:

• large pan or pot with lid
• olive oil
• 1 tsp cumin seed chopped (or powder*), tweak to personal taste
• 2 cans of garbanzo beans, drained & rinsed
• 8 cloves of garlic, sliced
• 1 big onion, diced
• 1/2 inch of ginger root, diced
• 1 diced jalapeno or 1 tablespoon diced jalapeno from a jar
• 1 large tomato, diced
• sea salt
• 1 tablespoon turmeric
• water
• 1/2 cup tomato sauce
• 1 tablespoon corn starch (optional)
• cilantro for garnish (optional)

METHOD:

1. olive oil to cover bottom of pan, medium heat
2. add cumin seed; *if using powder, add after veggies are added
3. add garlic, ginger, onion, jalapeno; saute until fragrant
4. season with salt, turmeric and cumin powder if using; stir together
5. add tomato & sauce; stir & let simmer for a minute or two
6. add enough water to make it soupy; bring to a boil
7. cover and let simmer :15
8. uncover and move two ladles full of the liquid to a bowl; whisk together with corn starch, stir back into the pan (optional - it wasn't in the original recipe, I prefer a thicker sauce)
9. allow it to simmer off some of the liquid to concentrate the flavor

ACCOMPANIMENTS AND ADDITIONS:

• eat over brown rice OR with naan; the garbanzos should double whatever starch you eat with it; you can purchase fresh packaged naan at some grocery stores
• add other veggies like bok choy, spinach, greens or kale to increase tummy fullness & healthfulness
• garnish with cilantro, hot sauce or anything you want!
• when storing leftovers, keep rice & chickpeas separate. Layer rice then chickpeas in a bowl and heat for 30 seconds and stir, repeat until hot; add water if needed

Homemade Hummus

Hummus has gotten really popular lately, which is a fantastic thing! It is heart healthy, protein strong and very filling. But just like anything else, it's much better for you if you make it fresh because many of the nutrients are lost once processing starts.

So, here's a simple hummus recipe that you can make in your blender. If you want it smoother, take a few minutes to get the outer layering off the chickpeas. After rinsing and draining the chickpeas, roll them in a tea towel. This will loosen the shell so you can easily pop them out. Takes time, but sometimes I need a little forced meditation!

Basic Hummus
can of chickpeas (rinsed, drained)
tablespoon of tahini
tablespoon of olive oil
dash of salt
squeeze of lemon
COMBINE all in a blender and zoom until smooth. Drizzle more olive oil if it's not smooth enough.


ADD INS:
garlic clove
basil leaves
red pepper
pine nuts (mix in after blending)
cumin
any of your favorite seasonings

ALTERNATIVE:
try different kinds of beans or lentils to make a healthy dip/spread

Hiking Revelation

The hike I take with my little one strapped into a back pack is tough. It's rocky and a high grade up most of the mountain. But with a little effort, the trails wind around and open up to broad views of Atlanta - just a taste of what's waiting at the top. They wind again to take us past Civil War era earth mounds, through green woods and finally to the top, where all who make it finally enjoy respite from the hike and rewards of 360° views of metro-Atlanta.

As we move through the trails, we receive big smiles and "good mornings" from most passerby's. There's an occasional "I'd like a ride in that pack!" or "you sure are fit!" as friendly people exude the joy from exercise.

Whether it's their first time or their 100th, the mountain doesn't discriminate, it only shows us beauty and provides a challenge for all who accept. Whether we are black, white, brown, young, old or in-between, the mountain doesn't care. It offers the same opportunity and challenge to each of us, as does our great country.

We're caught up in a battle of us vs. them, rich vs. poor, black vs. white. This country is based on the rule of law which allows each of us the same opportunity but can not guarantee the same outcomes.

As I watched an obese, middle-aged woman take her first step up the mountain, I cheered for her. I cheered for her success the same as if she were starting her first business. "Let me get out of your way! You can do it! One step at a time!" I want for her to succeed, for her to see the views and to enjoy the history of Kennesaw Mountain.

Most Americans believe as I do. We want to see individual success. We know that the mountain is HUGE and there's room for all of us at the top. And as we make it to the top, we bring more people with us, for we want everyone to see the view!

It is time to reject the political elite's attempt to ransack our American nature. We are good people who want to see everyone succeed. The government just needs to get out of our way and let us do it, one step at a time; the views are always sweeter when they reward the journey.



Visit Kennesaw Mountain and enjoy for yourself!

Clothespins & Paint

I was feelin' crafty yesterday, so I pulled out the acrylic paints and some odds and ends. Using clothes pins from the baby shower for my oldest son (5 years ago this August), the "chip clip" project produced a masterpiece! The Gator Chip Clip is cute, functional and fun.

SUPPLIES:
clothes pins
acrylic pain in light green, dark green & white
paint brush
toothpick (bite or cut off very tip to make it a little blunt)

METHOD:
Paint the outer sides of the clothespin green (any light shade will do)
Dip the end of your paint brush in a darker green and dot eyes
Dip once again and make a line of tail dots that get smaller to the end
Use a toothpick to make white teeth, green nostrils & glowing yellow eyes

TIPS:
Do several at a time in an assembly line fashion. Once the supplies are out, it's easy to get it done and the paint dries pretty quickly between stages of application.
Just wipe your toothpick on a paper towel between colors rather than using several picks.

______________________________

Then the pins inspired another project! We needed a place to hang art in the playroom, so we hung a couple lines and used the cute new clothespins to hold the paper.

SUPPLIES:
Long string or small rope
Nails with fat heads
hammer

METHOD:

Decide if you want straight lines or hanging lines

Hammer in nails, one on each end of where rope will tie

Tie rope tightly to nail

TIPS:

Easiest as a two person job; have each person hold an end of the rope to help center before tying

Start the nails and then let a little one finish hammering

He loves it!

How poison ends up on your dinner table

For four years, my husband and I owned a chicken wing restaurant. At our peak, we sold thousands of chicken wings a day!  It was about a year into the grind that I gave up meat completely. I was over raw chicken & friers; my first child was turning 1 (which is when it's recommended to start feeding meat to children) and my neighbor lent me the book Skinny Bitch.  http://www.skinnybitch.net/ The timing of all three of these things reinforced my long-standing disgust of raw meat. 

Now don't get me wrong, I don't think meat, in general, is bad. I don't promote vegetarianism as a religion and I certainly have had some meat over the past four years. (I have a soft spot for bacon, but now my choice is organic, uncured and it's so freakin' tasty!!) It's undeniable that processed meat is very bad for the human body, and it's certainly believable that organic meat would be best. So, eat what you want and I'll eat what I want. :)

Anyway, here's some information on what is really in that factory chicken...

-CHC

How poison ends up on your dinner table

W.C. Douglass, M.D.

It might take a tough man to make a tender bird. But it takes a mad scientist to create the "chicken" on your dinner plate these days. 

In fact, a recent series of tests finds enough drugs to stock a pharmacy hidden inside your chicken -- including Prozac, antibiotics, antihistamines, acetaminophen, and (as if that's not enough) a side of arsenic. 

Yum! 

In one study, researchers tested a poultry byproduct called feather-meal made (obviously) of feathers. That might sound strange, but toxins, drugs and everything else fed to a chicken end up in those feathers. 

That means if it's in the feathers, it's in the meat -- and they found everything short of Col. Sanders' goatee in the feathers. 

First and foremost, they found traces of banned antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin. Poultry farms aren't supposed to use these drugs, but to hell with the rules. They have chickens to grow, and antibiotics plump those birds up fast and easy. 

Just one problem: Along with fatter chickens, the overuse of antibiotics has created a frightening new class of drug-resistant superbugs. So while they get more meat to sell, we get incurable infections. 

The researchers also found caffeine, which stimulates chickens so they stay awake and eat more. But since caffeinated stressed-out chickens have tough meat, the birds need something else to bring them down. 

That would explain the Benadryl and acetaminophen also found in the feather-meal. They're basically tenderizers. That would also explain the PROZAC (!!!!) found in samples of feather-meal from China. 

I'd say that's what you get for buying chicken from China -- but clearly, we have nothing to crow about since the rest of those drug-laced samples were all-American. 

Meanwhile, a second new study finds arsenic in the feather-meal. This is no accident; poultry farmers feed low levels of the poison to their chickens to give the meat that pink glow consumers love so much. 

All this is bad news for chicken-lovers, of course, but don't flip the bird into the trash just yet. Just go organic. 

It'll cost you a wing and a leg, but it'll be worth it.