Good Concept? Or Wishful Thinking?

I absolutely LOVE this concept. I think it will take some time for this concept to catch on but they could not have picked a better place for it. Would love to hear YOUR thoughts!

Zero-Packaging Grocery Store to Open in Austin, Texas

• Zak Stone
  Editorial Assistant

Austin, Texas is already home to Whole Foods, but that won't stop a group of entrepreneurs from founding a new grocery store right in the natural food behemoth's backyard. While the new store In.gredients will also specialize in local and organic ingredients, there's one major difference between this venture and its hometown competion: In.gredients promises to be the country's first ever "package-free, zero waste grocery store."
The idea is so simple, it's surprising that no one in the United States has implemented it yet. (The United Kingdom, on the other hand, got the bulk food-only Unpackaged in London last year). Just like many people bring tote bags to the grocery store, shoppers at In.gredients will be encouraged to bring their own containers to pack up items like grains, oils, and dairy. If a shopper doesn't have his own containers, the store will provide compostable ones. It's as if the specialty bulk food section rebelled and took over the rest of a traditional grocery store. In.gredients will replace unhealthy, overpackaged junk with local, organic, and natural foods, and moonlight as a community center with cooking classes, gardening workshops, and art shows on the side.
“Truth be told, what’s normal in the grocery business isn’t healthy for consumers or the  environment," In.gredients co-founder Christian Lane said in a press release. Americans add 570 million pounds of food packaging to their landfills each day, while pre-packaged foods force consumers to buy more than they need, stuffing their bellies and their trash bins: 27 percent of food brought into U.S. kitchens ends up getting tossed out.
In.gredients's founders hope to open the grocery store's doors in East Austin this fall, provided that the funding goes through.

Recipe Of The Week

Week of 6/20/2011

Roasted Carrot Spears with Scallion-Ginger Glaze

 

I've been feeling my veggies lately, and with that comes new and fun ways to spice them up. I absolutely love carrots and ginger so this was a hit around my house. Feel free to tweak it yourself and send in your comments.

1 lb. carrots (you can slice your own, or use baby carrots)

4 tablespoons oil (I like the expeller-pressed coconut oil that we carry at the ROOTS co-op) 

2 tablespoons minced ginger

1/4 cup chopped scallions (also called green onion)

1 tablespoon minced garlic

1/2 teaspoon sea salt

Heat oven to 400F. Toss carrots with 2 tablespoons of oil and roast in pan stirring occasionally until brown and tender, about 30 minutes. 

While the carrots are cooking mix the ginger, scallions, garlic and salt together in a heatproof bowl. Put 2 remaining tablespoons oil in a pan and heat. Pour hot oil over ginger-scallion mixture and mix well.

Remove carrots from the over and toss with mixture.

Serves 4-6

Adapted from Food Matters by Mark Bittman

Enjoy 

Marketing at the Market

Spring is in the air... I can feel it, see it and smell it. This is definitely my favorite time of year. Great weather here in Dallas, color is everywhere and the local food choice starts to increase. If you're used to shopping some of the local markets around town, your chance of finding more fresh, local food goes way up, but what about the 'super' market? How do you really know what is best?

On a recent visit to a "natural foods" market near me I picked up a flyer. This isn't one I frequent often so I decided to see what kind of deals they had. Here are some of the words and items they used;

-PREMIUM Fuji Apples & Bartlett Pears
-ON THE VINE Cluster Tomatoes & Fresh Tender Asparagus
-NEW CROP Sweet Onions & Avocados
-ALL NATURAL Chicken Leg Quarters, Ground Beef, Pork Loin Roast, Chicken Tenders
-FRESH Beef Meatloaf
-WILD CAUGHT Cod Filets, King Salmon Filets
-VEGETARIAN FED Chicken Eggs

These are just a few of what I saw in

The Movement Dallas

Devoted to The Science, Study and Practice of Better

HOLISTIC PERSONAL TRAINING

Personal training that accounts for all of the parts of the whole biologic system, and how those parts are to work independently integrated to form the whole, highest functioning body.

In layman’s terms…we look at three major parts of our biology, determine where we can gain the most leverage, and begin work from 1 or more of those 3 areas (exercise, eating and emotional intelligence) to sustainably transform your life to meet your goals…from freedom of illness and performance enhancement to lasting fat loss and muscle gain

The 3 Parts:

1 - Biomechanics and how through correct exercise the use of our musculoskeletal system can align multiple parts of our physiology!

2 – Biochemistry and how with proper nutrition one can transform cellular and molecular coordination and communication to balance our bodies inside and out!

3 - Biopsychology and how proper lifestyle modification and understanding of how and what we think, feel and act can and will have just as a profound effect on our health and fitness goals as a good diet and proper and consistent exercise!

Ultimately it’s not so much What We Do BUT How We Do it! With the understanding that our biology is active and ever-changing we must have a program to coincide with the dynamic nature of our body. That program must be plastic, free to take whatever form your body might need at that moment. It’s not based on our ideology, but your biology. We utilize primitive feedback methods to test and determine every single time you eat or exercise what is the best thing for you to do.

“Let science provide direction and personal experience provide discretion.” We are here to make you more aware of your own feedback and offer potential solutions.

We are the Guide, YOU are the Governor!

SERVICES INCLUDE:

1 on 1 Personal Exercise Coaching (and Small Group Exercise Coaching)

Local, Organic Meal Delivery Service

Lifestyle Coaching

Distance On-Line Exercise, Nutrition and Lifestyle Coaching

Lecture, Guest Speaking, and Continuing Education (Individual and Group)

For more, contact info@themovementdallas.com

Dietary Perfection- Paralysis by Analysis

"PARALYSIS BY ANALYSIS"

This topic has been churning in my brain for some time now. Finally, after reading some bs dietary dogma it was time to get it out of my head.

Is there a perfect diet? Yes and no. Confusing isn't it? This is how most people direct their nutritional endeavors and it's extremely confusing and misleading. We are told to believe that there is one perfect way for everything, including food/eating/nutrition/diets. Simply pick a side and stick to it! Don't question, eat and repeat. Just 'know' that good things will happen. If they don't, it's because you are broken and couldn't maintain your will power enough to see it through. Bullshit! ALL diets are based on FLAWED science that has no place in the real world. Stop the cycle! Put down the diet book and listen.

There is an innate way to give the body what it wants...

STEP 1 -LISTENING AND ASKING APPROPRIATE QUESTIONS -

-Am I hungry?
-Is it food that my body is truly asking for?
-What sounds best?
-How would I feel after eating this?
-How much do I 'need'?
-Do I need more? Less?

These are very basic questions that can at least start the process. They will allow you to fine tune your feedback and prune as you move along.

Now, what about food? What about macro or micro nutrients? How much fat/protein/carbs should each of us consume? I don't know, because I am not you. I am not in your body asking those questions. But I can start with a simple suggestion based on experience....

STEP 2 - GETTING BACK TO A MORE TRADITIONAL DIET COMPOSED OF HIGH QUALITY, NOURISHING ORGANIC FRUITS AND VEGETABLES THAT ARE PREFERABLY LOCAL, AND CONSUMING MEATS RAISED ON PASTURE, IS A GREAT PLACE TO START

If you're not there yet, no worries. Life is a journey... let's start now-
-what small changes can you make today that would be better? ex. adding fruit? adding vegetables? going organic? eliminating processed foods? fast food? etc.

-If you ask this question daily, you will be amazed how not only your nutrition/eating changes, but many other things-

Most diet books are based around strict guidelines eliminating huge portions of a traditional diet, whether that's meat, carbs or fat. I have tried many of the various diets out there and I am here to say none of them where built specifically for me. They did give me tools to ask better questions, and I did learn some interesting tidbits along the way. Many are based on the focus of quantity and pay very little respect to quality. What I have found, is that when we stick to foods that are closer to how they have thrived in nature, the potential for a food to be better for me goes way up!

It's not about a complete shift tomorrow, or the next day... but a gradual answer to the question... Is this better? Isn't that what it's ALL about? Being better today, than we were yesterday? It's really not rocket science, but it does take quality, tested practice and some patience. Ultimately what you come up with is a sustainable way to look and feel how you've always wanted.

Here's to the the journey ahead! Please post/comment as you start incorporating these ideas-

'Anti-Cleanse' step 2!

ANTI-CLEANSE: Step 2: The Great Experiment

Action!

It’s this simple to begin the ANTI-CLEANSE. Define your goals, begin defining action steps, and GO!

All of you have probably noticed the many similarities between your action steps, if not identical action steps, to reaching so many of your very diverse goals. That’s great! It shows us how simple we believe it is too attain optimal health. Now notice I did not say easy, I said simple. Each of you will still have to do the work everyday, and will need to remain conscious of your actions daily, so that through the process you can determine if your actions are appropriate. Somedays a specific action might be exactly what your body needs while other days it might be highly inappropriate. Our bodies are an incredibly dynamic and non-linear system of systems. Expect change. The change needed might be drastic or so very slight. I say this because I don’t want any of you to worry about sticking to your actions when, and if, they do not produce the result you desire. Too often I see people doing the same thing, the same actions, over and over, and they are shocked that it hasn’t produced the result they are seeking. Do not be ideological in your pursuit. Be experimental. If it works, do it again. If not, try another action that is specific to the desired result. Do what works for you, not what is “supposed” to work. Expect that your actions may be different from day to day to achieve the same result and that your successful actions very well may be strikingly different from your friends and neighbors.

TMD will be posting many articles to help better inform your decision making through this process so don’t feel like you are all on your own now. We are here to help, but you must do it. We are here to make each of you more aware of your own feedback and offer potential solutions. BUT only You know what’s best and only You can do it!

Focus on what you want. Listen to your body every step of the way. And allow yourself to change your actions with your changing body… Cheers to the greatest experiment of all. Life!

Visit The Movement Dallas to find out more about training, nutrition and lifestyle modification! See YOU there!

The ANTI-CLEANSE

Want to try a new approach to 'cleansing'? Try The Movement Dallas 'ANTI-CLEANSE'! Take yourself to the next level without force of change. Find out what is best for YOU!

- Have we got your attention?

- Want to know more?

- Want to do the ANTI-CLEANSE with us?

- Then you must personally post a message here or on our facebook…

- Let your body’s revolution begin!

visit The Movement Dallas for more info-

I will be there-!

Say NO to GMO!

Great post from Mercola-

10 Reasons Why No One Needs GM Foods

GM foods won’t solve the food crisis

A 2008 World Bank report concluded that increased biofuel production (crops grown for fuel rather than food) is the major cause of the increase in food prices. GM giant Monsanto has been at the heart of the lobbying for biofuels -- while profiting enormously from the resulting food crisis and using it as a PR opportunity to promote GM foods!

GM crops do not increase yield potential

Despite the promises, GM has not increased the yield potential of any commercialized crops. In fact, studies show that the most widely grown GM crop, GM soy, has suffered reduced yields.

GM crops increase pesticide use

U.S. government data shows that in the U.S., GM crops have produced an overall increase, not decrease, in pesticide use compared to conventional crops.

There are better ways to feed the world

A major UN/World Bank-sponsored report compiled by 400 scientists and endorsed by 58 countries concluded that GM crops have little to offer global agriculture and the challenges of poverty, hunger, and climate change, because better alternatives are available.

Other farm technologies are more successful

Integrated Pest Management and other innovative low-input or organic methods of controlling pests and boosting yields have proven highly effective, particularly in the developing world.

GM foods have not been shown to be safe to eat

Genetic modification is a crude and imprecise way of incorporating foreign genetic material into crops, with unpredictable consequences. The resulting GM foods have undergone little rigorous and no long-term safety testing, but animal feeding tests have shown worrying health effects.

Stealth GMOs in animal feed -- without consumers’ consent

Meat, eggs and dairy products from animals raised on the millions of tons of GM feed imported into Europe do not have to be labeled. Some studies show that if GM crops are fed to animals, GM material can appear in the resulting products, and that the animals’ health can be affected.

GM crops are a long-term economic disaster for farmers

A 2009 report showed that GM seed prices in America have increased dramatically, cutting average farm incomes for U.S. farmers growing GM crops.

GM and non-GM cannot co-exist

GM contamination of conventional and organic food is increasing. An unapproved GM rice that was grown for only one year in field trials was found to have extensively contaminated the U.S. rice supply and seed stocks. In Canada, the organic oilseed rape industry has been destroyed by contamination from GM rape. In Spain, a study found that GM maize “has caused a drastic reduction in organic cultivations of this grain and is making their coexistence practically impossible”.

You can’t trust GM companies

The big biotech firms pushing their GM foods have a terrible history of toxic contamination and public deception. GM is attractive to them because it gives them patents that allow monopoly control over the world’s food supply. They have taken to harassing and intimidating farmers for the “crime” of saving patented seed or “stealing” patented genes -- even if those genes got into the farmer’s fields through accidental contamination by wind or insects.

View it here

MERCOLA

Enjoy!

Mindful eating...

“There are some people who eat an orange but don’t really eat it. They eat their sorrow, fear, anger, past, and future.” - Thich Nhat Hanh

“When you eat with awareness, you find that there is more space, more beauty. You begin to watch yourself, to see yourself, and you notice how clumsy you are or how accurate you are. … So when you make an effort to eat mindfully…, you find that life is worth much more than you had expected.” - Chogyam Trungpa

This was an excerpt from Zen Habits-

Awareness is key to changing anything...

Enjoy.

Pardon The Venting...

But I just couldn't hold back! I picked up this clip from the Today Show and couldn't help myself but to respond! I mean, seriously? Please watch the video and decide for yourself, but in my opinion, this is NOT the way to health. I understand the dilemma of 'road eating' but come on. There seems to be a few shameless plugs in there as well.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

NO LADY! YOU DON'T GET IT!


-There is absolutely NO regard to food quality! The only thing that seems to be of concern is calories and fiber! Getting healthy and losing weight is NOT about counting calories (IT'S NOT ABOUT CALORIES)and NOT about how much fiber we can pack down. Who wants to do that forever? I don't, and I know that if we focus on 'quality' whole foods then calories don't matter. However, if we eat the crap that is presented here we are limiting our bodies nutrients and we are naturally going to eat more! That's how it works... simply feed the body what it needs and we will not continue to seek food.

My personal, tried and true, recommendations for travel...

Snacks are easy - raw nuts, organic fresh fruit, vegetables, nutriharmony whey protein or mrp formula, wild canned meats (salmon, tuna etc)

Meals are easy - If you're in a large city, there is always a decent place to get a healthy salad, find a Whole Foods or central market, or if you must do fast food Chipotle is decent in quality. The point is, sit down, take your time and don't 'drive through'. You can always use your snack options listed above as a meal.

And remember, you ALWAYS get what you pay for! It just might now pop up for another 20 years or so...

Passion for quality...

I am passionate about quality food because I have seen it change MANY lives... including my own. If you're truly looking to pursue health, and everything that comes with it, look no further...

This is an extremely easy, healthy meal to put together that takes no time, and can even be prepared in advance.

Rotisserie chicken from Whole Foods
Veggies - sauteed onion, garlic, broccoli and red cabbage in oil (you can use coconut, olive or animal fat)
Hummus - mine was homemade but there are a number of great preservative/chemical free options on the market. Just make sure you can pronounce what you are reading :) For someone on a budget homemade is much cheaper!

And that's it. It literally took me 10 minutes to put together.

Please feel free to contact for questions of leave comments


brian@themovementdallas.com

Thanks for viewing!