The Survive and Thrive Boomer Guide

Think sustainability for Mother’s Day this year

Mother’s Day is a holiday where food plays a central role as a token of appreciation or a gesture of love.

This Mother’s Day, Danielle Nierenberg and Ellen Gustafson, co-founders of the Food Tank, offer tips for how to create a better, more sustainable celebration:
 
1. Buy local.

Consider cooking your a mom meal at home instead of going out to a restaurant and trying to buy as many ingredients as possible from local farmers . 
 
A study by the Natural Resources Defense Council about the environmental impact of food transportation in California showed that importing food products into the state released nearly 250,000 tons of greenhouse gases. That’s the equivalent amount of pollution caused by about 40,000 vehicles. Also, shipping food from far away also means that it's not as fresh, or tasty, when it reaches consumers. 

Local Harvest has a search feature that allows consumers to find area farmers markets’ and farms in their communities.  
 
2. Dine responsibly.

If Mom wants to go out for dinner on her big day, do some research and find a restaurant that follow best practices for sustainability.

Use the The Green Restaurant Association’s search feature that allows diners to locate the most environmentally friendly places to eat. In addition, make sure to eat leftovers. The NRDC reports that consumers eating in restaurants leave an average of 17 percent of meals uneaten, and that more than half of that is thrown away. 

3. Learn something new.

Understanding why it’s important to eat locally and to support sustainable operations is vital. Documentaries such as Food, Inc., What’s on Your Plate, and Food Chains can provide great conversation topics for Mother’s Day dinner.
 
Also, these books are worth reading to learn more about food and agriculture: “Cooked” by Michael Pollan; “VB6: Eat Vegan Before 6:00 to Lose Weight and Restore Your Health . . . for Good” by Mark Bittman; “Bet the Farm: How Food Stopped Being Food” by Frederick Kaufman; “Foodopoly: The Battle Over the Future of Food and Farming in America” by Wenonah Hauter; “Behind the Kitchen Door” by Saru Jayaraman; “The Perfect Protein: The Fish Lover's Guide to Saving the Oceans and Feeding the World” by Andy Sharpless and Suzannah Evans; “Salt Sugar Fat: How the Food Giants Hooked Us” by Michael Moss; and “Full Planet, Empty Plates: The New Geopolitics of Food Scarcity” by Lester R. Brown.
 
4. Make a donation.

Instead of buying another gift for Mom that she doesn’t need, find an organization that supports a food- and agriculture-related issue and make a donation in her name.
 
About 17.2 million U.S. households didn’t have enough food to eat in 2010, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In New York City, City Harvest collects food from restaurants, grocery stores, and other food businesses for donations, and also supports educational programs about nutrition in low-income communities. Oxfam America also has a gift section where you can donate a vegetable garden for a family in need.

5. Help out in the community.

The latest U.S. census report shows that 46.2 million people were living in poverty in 2011, and poverty is the leading cause of hunger. 
 
Share a meal with those less fortunate on Mother’s Day by lending a helping hand at a food bank or a soup kitchen. Food Pantries has a website to locate food pantries and soup kitchens in your area. Sharing a plot in a community garden is another great activity. For example, Chicago’s Green Network offers a map showing area community gardens and information on how to get involved. 
 
6. Buy fair trade.

Chocolate, fresh fruit, coffee, or flowers are often given as Mother’s Day presents. These are all items that can be purchased from fair trade producers. Fairtrade International helps support smaller producers and farmers who may have a difficult time covering their costs while remaining competitive in the global market. Fair Trade USA offers a global reach map that shows organizations involved in fair trade. 
 
Food Tank co-founder Ellen Gustafson recently launched the Apron Project. The first collection of aprons is handmade in Rwanda by Indego Africa, a nonprofit organization supporting women-owned businesses in Rwanda. It helps businesswomen build economic independence through access to markets and education.
 
7. Plant a garden.

Planting a vegetable garden at home is a fun Mother’s Day activity that will help make sure mom has fresh produce available throughout the summer.
 
It’s also a money saver. The National Gardening Association estimates that the average return on the investment of a home garden is $530. For the urban gardener with limited space, these tips from Inhabitat are a good place to start.

Happy Mother's Day. I hope the tips are helpful. I'll be thinking about my mom as I plant my garden this week.

Copyright 2013, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Manda Packing Co. recalls 468,000 pounds of cooked meat, poultry, and deli products due to possible bacterial contamination

Manda Packing Co. is expanding its recall to include about 468,000 pounds of roast beef, ham, turkey breast, tasso pork, ham shanks, hog head cheese, corned beef, and pastrami due to possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service announced Friday.

The recall involves products from the company’s Baker, La., facility with sell dates between May 13 and July 2, 2013. Click here for a list of the products, the “sell by” dates, and the establishment number inside the USDA mark of inspection.

The products may have been sliced at retail delis, and if so won’t have this packaging information.

The products were shipped for further distribution, for sale to stores, and for sale to delis in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas.

If consumers purchased one of the recalled products, they can return it to the place it was purchased for a full refund.

The FSIS was alerted to the problem by the Tennessee Department of Agriculture, who collected a sample of cooked roast beef at a retail store on April 5, 2013, which later was found to be positive for Listeria monocytogenes.

The recall is being expanded because more samples from additional production dates have tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes.

The FSIS and the company have received no reports of illnesses associated with eating these products.

Copyright 2013, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Think nutritious, organic, locally grown food on World Health Day

Today is World Health Day

Its focus is on high blood pressure, one of the many chronic diseases that is increasingly common around the world.

One-third of adults worldwide have high blood pressure, and one in 10 adults worldwide have diabetes, reports the World Health Organization.

In the United States, high blood pressure affects 31 percent of American adults. However, the highest levels of hypertension now occur in many African countries, where more than 40 percent of adults are affected. Poor diets are among the most significant causes of high blood pressure.

The Food Tank: The Food Think Tank offers these strategies for creating healthier food and agriculture systems:

1. Eat more vegetables and fruits.

Less than one in three Americans meets the minimum goal of eating two servings of fruit and three servings of vegetables each day, as recommended by the U. S. Department of Agriculture.

2. Strengthen soil with intercropping, agroforestry, and cover crops.

Many essential nutrients come from the soil, making soil health critical to producing nutritious food. Intercropping with legumes, including alfalfa or peas, helps return nitrogen to the soil and support healthy plant growth. Using cover crops, which can be ploughed into fields after harvest and return nutrients to the soil, is another strategy that helps increase the amount of nutrients in food. Planting trees on farms – or agroforestry – can also help keep nutrients and water in the soil.

3. Know your nutrients.

Many don’t know that kale, sesame seeds, dried figs, salmon, and broccoli are excellent sources of calcium. Dark green, leafy vegetables are also rich in vitamin K, which is similar to vitamin D in the way it helps the human body make the most of the calcium in food. The Harvard School of Public Health website features a section called The Nutrition Source, which offers a list of topics on nutrients in foods and the benefits of different products, such as fish oil.

4. Support family farmers.

Small and medium scale family farms are more likely than big farms to produce nutrient rich crops, using practices that help keep nutrients in the soil. Family farmers also produce more nutrient dense foods, including fruits and vegetables.

5. Choose whole grains.

Whole grains are increasingly popular, but they still make up less than the recommended half of total grain use in the U.S. Whole grains are also valuable, low-cost sources of protein and fiber, and can help reduce the risk of heart disease, cancer, type-2 diabetes, and other diseases.

6. Eat out less.

The Natural Resources Defense Council reports that some American restaurants serve portions up to eight times those recommended by the USDA and U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

7. Buy and grow organic.

The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine found that organic fruits and vegetables repeatedly had equal or greater nutrient content than the same conventional produce. The Environmental Working Group publishes a Shopper’s Guide assessing which fruits and vegetables have the most pesticides. In 2012, apples, celery, and sweet bell peppers were in the top three; however, onions, sweet corn, and pineapples were among the safest conventional foods to buy.

8. Choose grass-fed meat.

Lean meat can contain many valuable nutrients that support a healthy diet. Grass-fed meat usually has less fat than conventional corn- and grain-fed meat products.

9. Support indigenous, heritage, and heirloom food.

A study from the University of Texas, Austin found that the amount of nutrients in 43 different food crops have significantly decreased since 1950.

Copyright 2013, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

World Water Day 2013: Why it’s important

Today is the 20th anniversary of World Water Day.

Although the earth has 1.4 billion cubic kilometers of water, only 0.001 percent of that is accessible for human consumption and use. And 70 percent of water is used for agricultural purposes.

In 2012, the United States experienced the most severe drought in at least 25 years, which, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, affected 80 percent of agricultural land in the country. Add that with recent droughts in other parts of the world, most notably in the African Sahel, and the urgency for action to safeguard water resources is clear, The Food Think Tank said in a statement.

As water supplies face mounting pressures from growing populations, climate change, and an already troubled food system, analyses of “water wealth” and “water security” are laying the groundwork for future cooperation and stability. In order to meet all municipal, agricultural, and ecological needs for water, it is crucial to develop innovative water saving systems for the future of food production.

Here are seven strategies from The Food Think Tank for reducing water waste in the food system:

1. Eating less meat

It takes about 3,000 liters of water to meet one person’s daily dietary needs, or approximately 1 liter per calorie, according to Sandra Postel of the Global Water Policy Project. The amount of water needed to produce one kilogram of red meat can range from 13,000 to 43,000 liters of water; poultry requires about 3,500 liters of water; and pork needs about 6,000 liters. Eating more meatless meals, even one or two days a week, can help conserve water resources.

2. Using intercropping, agroforestry, and cover crops

Soil health is critical to water conservation. Diversifying farms by including cover crops, planting trees on farms, and intercropping can help keep nutrients and water in the soil, protecting plants from drought and making sure that every drop of water delivered by rainfall or irrigation can be utilized.

3. Implementing micro-irrigation

About 60 percent of water used for irrigation is wasted. Drip irrigation methods can be more expensive to install, but can also be 33 percent to 40 percent more efficient, carrying water or fertilizers directly to plants’ roots.

4. Improving rainwater harvesting

Since the 1980s, farmers in Burkina Faso have been modifying traditional planting pits known as zai, making them deeper and wider and adding organic materials, according to the International Food Policy Research Institute. As a result, the pits retain rainwater longer, helping farmers to increase yields even in years of low rainfall.

5. Using mobile technology to save water

Santosh Ostwal is an innovator and entrepreneur in India who has developed a system that allows farmers to use mobile phones to turn their irrigation systems on and off remotely. This helps reduce the amount of water and electricity wasted on watering fields that are already saturated.

6. Planting perennial crops

Perennial crops protect the soil for a greater length of time than annual crops, which reduces water loss from runoff. "Annual grain crops can lose five times as much water and 35 times as much nitrate as perennial crops," according to a report from the Land Institute.

7. Practicing soil conservation

Soil conservation techniques, including no-till farming, can help farmers to better utilize the water they have available. Studies have shown that no-till techniques improve water-retention capacity and improve water use efficiency in crops, according to the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization.

Visit the World Water Day website for details about the day’s events, including activities in your community and tips for reducing your water footprint.

You can also learn more about water issues from the Barilla Center for Food & Nutrition, Global Water Policy Project, Food and Water Watch, and Natural Resources Defense Council.

Copyright 2013, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Top 10 consumer stories of 2012

 

Last year was a mixed year for consumers. 

While there were a few encouraging happenings, such as positive election results and new consumer programs, much remains to be done, such as action on climate change and policies to deal with mass murders.

Here's my list of the top consumer stories of 2012.

1. The 2012 election.

It’s good news for consumers that President Obama was reelected. Although the Obama administration doesn’t always to what it should do to help consumers – see the two food safety items below – it does significantly better than what slash, then slash some more, Republicans would do. The passage in Washington state and Colorado of measures legalizing marijuana also is positive for consumers. Too much money is being spent putting people, often minorities, in prison for marijuana offenses. Washington state voters also approved same-sex marriage as did Maine and Maryland. This will extend many important rights to same sex couples and families.

2. Reactions to prescription drugs.

For years, I’ve written that about 100,000 Americans a year die each year because of the prescription drugs they take. A new study released this year shows two to four million consumers suffered serious, disabling, or fatal injury associated with prescription drug therapy in 2011, according to an analysis by the Philadelphia Inquirer of a year of reports to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. More needs to be done to alert consumers to the dangers of drugs that are being prescribed for them.

3. The effects of climate change.

It was amazing to watch the TV screen as newscasters reported on the enormous size of Hurricane Sandy as it approached the East Coast. American leaders need to get together and make some progress on climate change legislation and policies.

4. Credit card complaint database.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau launched a new online database this year devoted to cataloging consumer complaints against credit card companies. The website offers a place where consumers can post grievances against credit card companies. It will eventually include complaints on mortgages and student loans.

5. U.S. Supreme Court decision on Affordable Care Act.

In a five to four decision, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the Affordable Care Act on June 28. While the law isn’t as strong as consumer advocates would like it to be, it includes more than 90 specific changes to the nation's health care system. Some went into effect almost immediately, but the most dramatic changes won't take effect until 2014.

6. Mass killings in America.

After 12 people were shot dead and 58 wounded at a violent Batman movie in Aurora, Colo., I wrote that American leaders need to take action to prevent these kinds of murders from continuing. Then, 20 children and six adults were killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn, in December. Now there’s a national debate occurring on gun control, mental health programs, and violent video games. I also suggest that, in addition, the nation look at all violent images aimed at children, hate mongering, and workplace violence.

7. Kids developing adult diseases.

I’ve written a number of posts on why voluntary efforts to improve the nutritional content of the food supply to reduce obesity aren’t enough. The amount of salt, sugar, and fat in food needs to be regulated, as does food advertisements aimed at children. The number of children and teens with type 1 and type 2 diabetes is expected to rise dramatically in the next 40 years. Rates of type 2 diabetes could increase four times over the next 40 years, and rates of type 1 diabetes may triple, a report by the Centers for Disease Control indicates.

8. Monsanto victory against the labeling of GMO food.

Unfortunately, California voters defeated a measure to require genetically modified food sold in the state to be labeled.

9. iPhone apps for comparison shopping. Although I don’t have a smartphone that connects to the Internet, I think it’s a great tool for consumers to be able to compare prices and get needed information about consumer products when they are in stores shopping.

10. Reduced food inspection. Over the years, I’ve written many times about the food industry’s interest in crippling food inspection programs, particularly meat inspection. This year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, under the Obama administration, shut down the 11-year-old Microbiological Data Program, which did 80 percent of federal testing for foodborne pathogens of fresh fruit and vegetables. Why? Because that’s what the food industry wanted. In addition, the USDA has dramatically reduced the number of times each year that it sends inspection teams to foreign counties to examine how meat is checked for safety in countries that export meat to the U.S. Also, the USDA is less transparent about what it’s doing when it comes to verifying foreign meat, according to Food Safety News.

Copyright 2013, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

State and local governments with sagging budgets give gigantic incentives to companies to locate in their areas

Saturday, I wrote an article about how corporations, especially financial institutions, are seeing record profits while workers and consumers continue to struggle.

Corporations also are reaping gigantic benefits from the tax breaks and incentives they’re receiving from state and local governments who via to get the companies to move to their jurisdictions.

Local governments give more than $80 billion a year in incentives to businesses, according to an article in The New York Times, which pointed out these companies as leaders of the pack:

Far and away the most incentive money is spent on manufacturing, about $25.5 billion a year, followed by agriculture. The oil, gas, and mining industries come in third, and the film business fourth. Technology is not far behind, as companies like Twitter and Facebook increasingly seek tax breaks and many localities bet on the industry’s long-term viability.

Be sure to read this article. It’s eye opening that billions of dollars that states and local communities need to prop up their sagging budgets are being given away to corporations who are making record profits.

Also, in the discussion of sequestration or the “fiscal cliff,” Republicans and the business community are calling for cuts to programs that help people such as Medicare, Social Security, and Medicaid. They call these programs “welfare,” but they say nothing about government incentives and tax breaks, which are corporate welfare.

I applaud The Times for researching and reporting on this important topic.

American consumers who need assistance shouldn’t be made the brunt of budget cuts while corporations benefit from huge tax breaks and other incentives.

Copyright 2012, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Food, positive living, longevity, space, and expat living are topics for this week’s Blogging Boomer Carnival

Katie Foster of Arabian Tales and Other Amazing Adventures is the host for this week’s Blogging Boomer Carnival #286.

The carnival is a collection of like-minded blogs cooperating to share their best stories of interest to the Baby Boomer Generation.

For this carnival, boomer bloggers are writing about the Hubble Space Telescope, federal grants to connect school cafeterias with local agricultural products, ways to live comfortably with uncertainty, longevity zones around the world, and the challenges for expats living overseas.

Boomers, born between 1946 and 1964, are leading corporations, serving as governmental officials, heading up non-profits, worrying about retirement, and experiencing layoffs at a higher rate than younger workers. They’re also reinventing themselves in trying economic times, with some looking for their dream jobs to keep them happy in retirement.

At each stage in their lives, boomers have changed things. They’re continuing to make America different as they begin entering into their retirement years.

In addition to The Survive and Thrive Boomer Guide, members of the Blogging Boomer Carnival are: The Midlife Crisis Queen, Sightings From 60, Arabian Tales and Other Amazing Adventures, So Baby Boomer, and Vaboomer.

Copyright 2012, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Avoid food waste during your Thanksgiving celebrations

I love Thanksgiving leftovers. My only complaint is that the gravy, mashed potatoes, and cranberries usually run out before the turkey.

Some years, I’ve even made turkey soup from the turkey carcass.

As you go about getting ready for your Thanksgiving celebrations, be sure to plan your food needs as closely so you can to avoid wasting food.

America wastes about 40 percent of its food supply, according to a report by the National Resources Defense Council.

Thanksgiving is a good time to keep food waste in mind and look for ways to keep Thanksgiving leftovers from entering the trashcan.

Dana Gunders, scientist with council’s food and agriculture program and author of the food waste report, said on her blog that American consumers will throw $282 million of uneaten turkey into the trash this Thanksgiving, contributing to the $165 billion in uneaten food Americans waste every year. 

Along with turkeys, they’ll be wasting the resources necessary for its production.

Nationwide, consumers will purchase about 736 million pounds of turkey this Thanksgiving, of which about 581 million pounds will be actual meat. The U.S. Department of Agriculture reports that 35 percent of edible turkey meat in the U.S. doesn’t get eaten after it’s purchased by consumers. This compares with 15 percent for chicken. 

Consumers may tend to discard more uneaten food on holidays than on other days, according to the USDA.

Fortunately, many ideas are available to help consumers reuse leftovers in tasty ways, Gunders said. The Food Network, Martha Stewart, and other cooking site share recipes. And, most chicken recipes can be made with turkey, too.

In addition, Nourishing the Planet offers these suggestions for reducing Thanksgiving food waste:

• Be realistic about how much food your guests will need and buy that amount.

• Plan ahead by using a shopping list to reduce impulse buying and buying unnecessary quantities.

• Go small by using serving smaller utensils and plates to encourage people to eat smaller portions.

• Encourage self-service so guests choose what they want.

• Store leftovers safely and use small containers so they’re easy to grab.

• Compost food scraps.

• Create new meals, such as using vegetable scraps and turkey carcasses for stock and soups and bread crusts and ends for homemade croutons. See Love Food, Hate Waste for other ideas.

• Donate excess canned and dried food to food banks and shelters.

• Support food recovery programs.

• Give food gifts that the recipient will enjoy and avoid highly perishable items.

Enjoy your Thanksgiving celebrating. After writing about the traditional holiday foods, I can hardly wait to celebrate with my daughter and her family.

Copyright 2012, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

USDA awards $4.5 million in grants to increase local food in schools

I applaud the U.S. Department of Agriculture awarding more than $4.5 million in grants in 37 states and the District of Columbia for connecting school cafeterias with local agricultural producers.

When I was growing up in Central Washington’s apple country, it always seemed wrong that apples in the stores were expensive and came from somewhere else.

It’s important, especially with climate change and diminishing energy resources, to get as much of our food as we can locally.

The federal emphasis on connecting local farmers and school cafeteria programs is important because, when schools buy from local farms, jobs are created and the economy benefits. In addition, energy costs for transporting food are reduced.

And, when school kids understand more about where food comes from and how it’s grown, they’re more likely to make healthy eating choices, Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan said in a statement.

The 68 grants, the first USDA Farm to School grants, will help schools use locally sourced foods and increase market opportunities for producers and food businesses. Grants will also be used to support agriculture and nutrition education efforts such as school gardens, field trips to local farms, and cooking classes.

The grants will be used in more than 3,200 schools that have an enrollment of 1.75 million students. Nearly half of these students live in rural areas.

Examples of some of the projects include:

• Lawrence County District in Walnut Ridge, Ark., is using grant funds to coordinate efforts with other school districts to combine buying power and attract new producers to school food service.

• Weld County School District 6 in Greeley, Colo., will expand kitchen facilities to serve local products year-round through processing and freezing techniques.

• Des Moines Municipal Schools in New Mexico will receive grant funding to increase the types of products it buys from local vendors. Local cattle farmers already supply the school district with 100 percent locally produced beef. The USDA grant funds will be used to develop contacts with local fruit and vegetable producers so a full meal of locally sourced products can be served.

A list of awards for fiscal year 2013 is available at http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/F2S/pdf/F2S_Grants-FY2013.pdf.

Copyright 2012, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Celebrate Food Day today by taking action for better food and food policies

Today is Food Day, the nationwide celebration for healthy, affordable, and sustainable food.

Food Day offers events consumers can take part in such as those focusing on health, sustainable agriculture, farmworker justice, and animal welfare.

It’s coordinated by the Center for Science in the Public Interest, a consumer advocacy group, with an advisory board of food movement leaders.

Events are being offered in all 50 states. To fine one, check out the details on the map at FoodDay.org.

Among the events

Future of Food: 2050, Washington, D.C., 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Mott Haven Academy Rooftop Garden Opening, New York, N.Y., 10 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.

Eat Real at Foley Square, New York, N.Y., 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Savannah Food Day Festival, Savannah, Ga., Sunday, October 28, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Denver Botanic Gardens Food Day, Denver, Colo., 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Los Angeles Food Policy Council, Los Angeles, Calif., 9 a.m.

Food Days at Babson College, Wellesley, Mass., noon to 4 p.m.

Online events

Eat Real Quiz.

Film Premiere.

Twitter Conference.

More events are listed at FoodDay.org.

Food Day seeks to motivate Americans to change their diets for the better and to take action for improved food policies, the center said in a statement.

Copyright 2012, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist