Joy Bauer's memory-boosting smoothie

Need a mid-day pick-me-up? Try this healthy mini-meal! I love smoothies; they are a great way to get lots of vitamins and minerals when you're busy or on the road. Give it a try!

Joy Bauer's memory-boosting smoothie

For more great health tips, visit our web site: www.beabetterearthling.com

Breakfast does a Body Good!

Great article from Nutrition Babes...check it out!  Thanks Lauren & Kathleen!

If you're a B.A.B.E, you always start off your day with breakfast...right!?!?

Topic: Breakfast
Author: Kathleen A. Siegel
2011-09-05 23:23:25

Start your day off right...with Breakfast!

Your mother was right; breakfast is the most important meal of the day!  We all know that nutrition is essential for proper growth and development in children.  And, starting the day with a good breakfast will have additional benefits as well. 

Breakfast promotes better performance

Studies have consistently shown that children who consume a good breakfast can actually enhance their performance on cognitive tests and in school.  Your body and brain need to be fueled to function well and last night's dinner is no longer providing it!  Consuming a complete breakfast will improve one's cognitive function, memory, punctuality and attention.

Breakfast promotes better behavior

Consuming breakfast at home or in school has displayed a decrease in behavior problems.  In elementary schools, studies displayed when children are hungry there is an increase in behavior problems such as hyperactivity, fighting, stealing, having difficulties with teachers and not following rules.

Breakfast promotes a healthier body

US researchers found that when teenagers regularly consumed breakfast, they were more likely to consume a healthier diet, exercise and have a lower BMI compared to the same age children who regularly skipped breakfast.  Studies have already linked skipping breakfast to a higher BMI.

All together, eating breakfast is a habit that promotes a healthier lifestyle.  Jump start your day with breakfast!

What makes a good breakfast?

An egg, slice of whole wheat toast, almond butter, a piece of fruit and a glass of low-fat or skim milk

Whole grain cereal, skim milk, a piece of fruit and yogurt

Whole wheat wrap, egg whites, low-fat cheese and an orange

Low-fat cottage cheese, fruit and a whole wheat English muffin

Whole wheat pancakes, fruit and skim milk

Think protein, fiber and add some color!

Check out some of our breakfast recipes, enjoy!

Banana Pancakes

Fruit and Oatmeal Breakfast Parfait

Grab-and-Go Breakfast Squares

Banana Bread

Strawberry Oatmeal Breakfast Pie

Frittata

Zucchini Bread Squares

Apple, Cinnamon Walnut Oatmeal

Peach and Banana Ambrosia

Fun and Perspective

Fun and Perspective

What the Frick is Fracking?

Fracking.  Ever heard of it?  It's the hot-button issue in the natural resource world.  We believe that however your opinions end up, before you exert your opinion, your purchasing decision or heaven forbid, your vote, then you should know a little about the issues at hand.
The issue with fracking, which apparently is a form of, a part of, or the actual process of, drilling for natural gas, is that it may be contaminating ground water.  This is an issue because we drink water from ground sources (in case you didn't put that together).
The oil and gas industry will tell you it a highly regulated industry and process that is as safe as anything else ( like the BP oil disaster?  Sorry; couldn't resist).  Environmentalists will say it is a process that is detrimental to our health, contaminating water and air.
We could write on and on, citing different points of view, but our real goal is to educate and allow the reader to decide for themselves what they believe to be the truth - which often lies somewhere in the middle.

Check these links for additional information and remember, true power lies in the power of knowledge.
http://ow.ly/6pj3E 
http://www.gaslandthemovie.com/whats-fracking
http://ow.ly/6pj7w

Is that a Feather in your Hair?

Ahhh, those feathers!  They look so cool, so rock-and-roll!  But did you know there is another side to those feathers; one that not many folks around the water cooler are talking about:
Where did those ultra-hip feathers come from?  Not many of us stop for a second to ponder where our fashion originated so let me do the work for you on this one: Roosters.  "Duh!", you may be saying.  No kidding they come from roosters.  Let's go a step further:
Here's how they do not come from roosters:
They do not "pet" the feathers off.
They do not "just fall out".
They are not living happy little rooster lives waiting to give us feathers for our hair.
From all accounts that I've investigated, these cocks-of-the-rock star world (bird joke) are living in crowded, dirty, inhumane conditions for about one year until they are killed just for their feathers.  By one estimate, one of the largest factory farms in the U.S. is killing 1,500 roosters per week.  My understanding is that this is only for feather production, so let's not fantasize that we're utilizing these birds for any other grand purpose, like feeding the hungry.
Why be a kill-joy?  Because being a B.A.B.E means going that extra step & considering what effects our purchases have.  In this case, there are alternatives to the standard feather, many companies & salons offer faux feathers that are every bit as cool, every bit as fun.  You can curl & straighten them, all the things that you can do with your hair.  This bit of info has nothing to do with being a vegetarian (which I'm not), but rather an issue of what is right, compassionate and earth-friendly.  Aside from the animal cruelty issue, this kind of agriculture is dirty, dirty, dirty, spewing all kinds of crap in the surrounding waterways.
My daughter asked me once why I have to be so particular all the time.  My response?  "If you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything".  To truly Be A Better Earthling, my hope is that we stand up for the actions we know to be wrong and open the door for educating our friends so we can all be B.A.B.Es & keep our world headed in the right direction.