Seeds are often included with nuts in nutritional analysis, and in fact, a nut is the seed of a tree. However, those foods generally accepted as seeds and called such include flax, sesame, pumpkin, hemp, and sunflower.

Each seed contains the potential life of a plant, so a lot of energy and nutrition is packed into these tiny, crunchy foods. They are full of nutrients, fiber and healthy fats in varying proportions. Here is a list of some of the commonly available seeds and their nutritional value and potential health benefits. Read the rest of this entry

Escherichia coli, or E. coli, is a bacteria that, when ingested by humans, can cause abdominal cramps, bloody diarrhea and, in extreme cases, convulsions, paralysis and even death. While not all E. coli bacteria are harmful, the harmful variety is found in the intestinal tracts of even healthy beef and dairy cattle.

During the slaughtering process, the bacteria can get mixed into the meat when intestinal contents – i.e., fecal matter – come in contact with the meat. Fecal matter can also come into contact with the meat when the hides of beef cattle, often smeared with feces, are not cut away from the carcass carefully. Read the rest of this entry

There are all kinds of interesting, unusual dishes you can make with the pumpkins you used for autumn decorations. Think outside the pie! Here are some recipes. Read the rest of this entry

What is a “pick-your own” farm? How can it benefit your family, the farmer, and the community? Is there any environmental benefit?

Pick-your-own farms are a type of farm where customers harvest their own food. Rather than the farmer harvesting, transporting, and selling the food at a market (or to a grocery chain), pick-your-own farms allow people to choose and harvest their own produce. There are several reasons why this is a beneficial practice. Read the rest of this entry

Do you want to eat a more healthful diet, but your family isn’t on board? Or maybe your family is willing, but you aren’t sure what to do. Where do you start? Does it have to be complicated, difficult, or expensive?

The good news is, you can improve your family’s dietary habits for the better and it does not have to be difficult. It can even save you money. Here are some ideas. Read the rest of this entry