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In Low Tox Life

2022 Dirty Dozen Food List

Once upon a time we didn’t call food organic or non-organic, it was just food.

Can we all just go back to that please?

It bothers me that organic farmers have to prove their organic-ness and pay for organic accreditation just so we, the consumers, know their food is just as nature intended. Shouldn’t it be the other way round?

I’m not an agricultural expert by any means but I have grown my own and know all too well the effort it takes to produce a crop without the use of synthetic pesticides.

And that’s just for my little backyard garden!

So, why do we want to avoid these nasty chemicals in the first place?

Pesticides are toxic chemicals designed to kill agricultural pests and unfortunately when consumed by humans have been linked to cancer, Alzheimer’s Disease, ADHD and even birth defects.

THE DIRTY DOZEN AND CLEAN 15

The EWG’s Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce™ (aka Dirty Dozen and Clean 15) is updated each year and ranks pesticide contamination on 47 popular fruits and vegetables.

While this isn’t Aussie specific, it does give you a very good indication of the types of fruits and vegetables that are the most hard hit.

We don’t want to avoid any fruits and vegetables, so if you can’t buy local and organic, opt for an all natural fruit and veggie wash like the Thieves Fruit and Veggie Soak as a great alternative.

We actually use it even on our organic bought produce and it’s surprising to see what’s left in the water and the difference it makes to the longevity of our fresh food.

SUPPORTING LOCAL FARMERS

Many local farmers grow their crops using all or mostly organic practices but aren’t big enough, or simply choose not to, pay for accreditation. It makes sense to get to know them and ask them how they do things so that you can happily buy their produce and feel good knowing you are not only supporting them but also giving your family high quality and nutrient dense local foods.

Do you know where your local organic market is?

Or are you growing your own!

Let me know in the comments.

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In Recipes

My Super Fresh Strawberry and Mint Sorbet Recipe

Summer is officially over but it’s not too cool to still enjoy a freshly made strawberry and mint sorbet.

This recipe ticks all the boxes if you are needing something sweet and tasty but you want to make it at home quickly and easily without any silly chemicals or unhealthy ingredients.

There is the option to add a little refined caster sugar or rapadura if you want to but the strawberries, mint and apple are quite sweet on their own.

I needed to supplement my homegrown strawberries at the market with this recipe as I’m not producing as much right now. I also grabbed some beautiful organic apples to juice up.

My mint is growing great guns however, so I was super excited to add that in to the recipe.

HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED

  • 250 – 280g of strawberries (you can use frozen)
  • 3/4 cup ice cubes
  • 60 mL organic apple juice
  • 1/4 cup coarsely chopped fresh mint
  • 1 tsp caster or rapadura sugar (optional)

METHOD

  1. Blend all ingredients together until your desired consistency.
  2. Add a little water or extra juice if you need it smoother.

Want to know the nutritional benefits of strawberries?

Check out this post here.

And if you’d like to know the latest Dirty Dozen and Clean 15 list for 2022, go here.

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In Recipes

The Ultimate Self Love Smoothie

Taking care of yourself isn’t selfish, it’s a necessity! Don’t you agree?

As mummas we often put the needs of others before our selves and wait until we get a break before we do something, “just for us”. But what if we do the thing, when we need to?

Too often we wait until our body is screaming out for a rest or we literally flip out and yell at our kids because our emotional needs haven’t been met. It’s ok to need to stop. It’s ok to take 5, 10 or 20, whatever it is you need to do so you can keep on being the awesome mumma you are.

FRESH WHOLE FOODS

One of the simplest ways that you can nourish your body is with a hit of fresh whole foods. And my favourite way to do this is to whip up a superfood smoothie.

THE BENEFITS OF THE GOJI BERRY

Goji berries (wolfberries) protect the eyes and provide immune system support. They protect against cancer and promote healthy skin. Goji berries contain a high amount of antioxidants which fight harmful free radicals and inflammation in the body.

CHIA SEEDS

Chia seeds are rich in Omega 3 fats and provide a good source of fiber. They contain quercetin which is a bit of a buzz word at the moment, but basically quercetin is also another antioxidant that helps reduce inflammation in the body and keeps your immune and cardiovascular system working well.

STRAWBERRIES AND BLUEBERRIES

Berries in general keep your mind and eyes sharp and help to promote lovely skin. They protect against heart disease and are considered a low GI fruit. This makes them a great addition to your smoothies. Berries are also a great source of antioxidants which helps keep those nasty free radicals at bay.

HEMP SEEDS

Hemp seeds are a great source of protein and pack a punch in your smoothie. They assist with healthy weight management by stabilising blood sugar levels and are a good source of essential fatty acids.

HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED..

1 cup frozen blueberries
1 cup frozen strawberries
1 tbl chia seeds
1 tbl hemp seeds
3 medjool dates (pitted)
1/4 cup organic goji berries
juice of 1 lime
3 drops of YL Lemon essential oil (optional)
2 drops YL Grapefruit essential oil (optional)
3 tsp organic coconut oil
1 cup filtered water
5-7 cubes ice

METHOD

  1. Blend frozen fruit, seeds, dates, goji berries and ice.
  2. Add water, juice of lime, essential oils and coconut oil and continue to blend until smooth.
  3. Decorate the top with shredded coconut, chia seeds and blueberries!
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In Natural Parenting

Homemade Vegemite and Why You Have to Try It!

Have you tasted Vegemite before? If you’re not from around these parts there’s a high chance that you haven’t and if you have, you most likely don’t like it!

I’m a born and bred Aussie so of course I have tried Vegemite and all of its commercial alternatives. I grew up to the catchy tune that echoed throughout every Australian home in the 80s. Those were fun times!

I’m not sure it gave me those rosy cheeks though??

Being an all natural mumma now, I’ve chosen not to feed this iconic spread to my children. Ingredients like yeast grown on barley and wheat, and other ingredients like Potassium Chloride (Mineral Salt 508) and Ammonia caramel (Colour 150C), are additives that are best avoided. Here’s why!..

INGREDIENTS TO AVOID AND WHY

YEAST GROWN ON BARLEY AND WHEAT:

High possibility this product is GMO and also contains gluten.

MINERAL SALT 508:

Prohibited in foods for infants. Can cause gastrointestinal and liver issues.

AMMONIA CARAMEL (150C):

Also prohibited in food for infants and is known to cause allergic and hypersensitive reactions and hyperactivity.

FLAVOURS:

This quite literally could be anything! The chemical composition of flavourings can be complex and because of this reason, Food Standards Australia New Zealand exempts companies from fully disclosing, and therefore not labelling, exactly what their “flavour” consists of. There could be 50 or more substances (or ingredients) that make up just one flavour. For a savvy mum making wise choices about the food they are feeding their kids, this presents a real problem. Best to avoid!

WHAT ABOUT THE VITAMINS!!?

It is true that Vegemite is renowned as having added vitamins such as Niacin, Thiamine, Riboflavin and Folate, however unfortunately, these vitamins are synthetic! The body does not absorb and therefore utitilise them, in the same way as it would if they were naturally found in wholefoods.

NOT A HEALTH FOOD PRODUCT

Although we may have fond memories of our childhood and Vegemite playing a starring role, let’s not forget that it was a pantry item created from a waste product. Breweries at the time had a surplus of leftover yeast and so with the help of a chemist, Vegemite was born and marketed to the people as the latest and greatest thing. It was heavily promoted (hence the catchy tune) to appeal to busy mums and fussy kids.

It was never intended to be a health food product.

A NATURAL ALTERNATIVE

When something is super simple to make and it uses all natural ingredients, I want to know about it. A friend recently shared this recipe with me and it is so good, I had to share it with you!

HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED

  • 3 1/2 cups organic black sesame seeds
  • 2 tbl organic sesame oil
  • 1/8 tsp rock/sea salt
  • 150g organic Tamari (Soy Sauce)
  • 3 tbl Bragg Nutritional Yeast Seasoning
  • 3 tsp organic Apple Cider Vinegar

STEP 1 – MAKE THE BLACK TAHINI PASTE

  • In a high speed blender, grind up the sesame seeds.
  • Add the sesame oil and salt and blitz again.
  • This makes your Black Tahini Paste. You will only need 210g for this recipe.
  • Store the rest in a glass jar in the fridge for up to one month.

STEP 2 – COMBINE INGREDIENTS

  • Take 210g of your Black Tahini Paste and add it back to your high speed blender.
  • Add the tamari, nutritional yeast and apple cider vinegar and blend well.
  • Transfer to a glass jar and store in the fridge.

THE END RESULT

A delicious savoury, salty spread to put on sourdough and crackers..

You could even add a tablespoon to a hearty stew!

Are you a Vegemite lover?

Even if you’re not, you might like to still try this yummy recipe.

Let me know what you think!

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