Since the FDA announced their intention to possibly approve GMO salmon for consumption, questions have abounded about genetically modified organisms (GMOs).  Thankfully, Dr. Frank Lipman has answered all the basic questions here and even provides a link to an in depth video for further inquiries.  Check out his page here: http://www.drfranklipman.com/basic-questions-on-gmos/

 According to a recent report from the CDC, chances are high that you’re not eating enough veggies. Vegetable consumption, both at home and at restaurants, has dropped from 10 years ago.  Experts are perplexed with how to get Americans to eat more vegetables—telling them repeatedly doesn’t seem to be working. When you can’t put cabbage in your bag or eat beets on the run, what’s the solution? Read more and tell us your thoughts.

Ben & Jerry’s ice cream, known for being committed to local producers and the environment will have to axe the “all natural” from its label. Turns out, not all their ingredients are 100% natural according to the Center for Science in the Public Interest.  More revealing is the fact that the FDA doesn’t define “natural”—another reminder that you the consumer have to do your homework and read ingredients carefully. Learn more here.

Sometimes it’s one step forward, two steps back. As if it weren’t difficult enough to eat organic, sustainable food, the FDA has announced it plans to put genetically modified salmon into the food supply. Not only with the FDA not require this GM salmon to be labeled, who knows how long it will take for this new salmon breed to “accidentally” enter the natural food chain (as the cartoon from Mike Adams so brilliantly illustrates.) Click here to learn more and let us know your opinion.

Whether you spend your money on organic foods or antibacterial food cleansers, guaranteeing food safety isn’t cheap.  Food-borne illnesses affect some 76 million Americans each year, and eggs and bagged veggies aren’t the only culprits. Protect your health and make your cooking and your kitchen more germ-free with these easy (and inexpensive) tips. Find out more here.

Ad executive turned health advocate Sid Lerner founded the Meatless Monday nonprofit initiative as a part of the Johns Hopkins’ Bloomberg School of Public Health. The goal? To reduce meat consumption by 15% and  improve personal and planet health – simply by eliminating meat each Monday.  Restaurants have taken this initiative to heart, some even offering special Meatless Monday menus every week.  However, this is no fad; NYC celebrity chefs aren’t the only ones promoting this campaign.  Baltimore school cafeterias are in their second year of Meatless Mondays, and universities from Kentucky to California have also endorsed the program. A surprising fact: Lerner isn’t a vegetarian; he just figures that better health for all can be had by eating a bit less meat. Find out more at http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129025298&ps=cprs What do you think about Meatless Mondays?

It seems that a lot of people are taking mom’s advice to “eat your veggies” to heart. From celebrity chefs to the worldwide “Meatless Monday” initiative, it seems that eating only veggies is no longer a fringe thing. According to the Vegetarian Resource Group, vegetarianism is up among U.S. adults—many cite environmental and personal health as their reasons. Not yet ready to take the full plunge? Start small with resources like Mario Batali’s new “Molto Gusto” cookbook or a mobile app from the iPhone store. Read more here.

That’s right– thanks to Martha Stewart that is. Pretty soon, Niman Ranch meats won’t be just available in raw form at your local Whole Foods. As a result of a new partnership with Martha Stewart, cooked products like braised short ribs and marinated pork chops will be available in major grocery stores along the East Coast. Niman Ranch meats are naturally raised as well as hormone and antibiotic free. From small farm to supermarket chain, is this a step in the right direction for humanely raised meat? Or a profitable way to capitalize on health-conscious consumers? Read more and tell us your thoughts.

Want some antioxidants with your sushi? Researchers have discovered that black rice is full of antioxidants known as anthocyanins, the same ones found in blueberries, grapes, and acai.  Anthocyanins have been responsible for the popularity boom of the acai berry, and for good reason! They have been linked to decreased risks of heart disease and cancer and improved memory along with many other health benefits.  Just one spoonful of the black-rice bran contains the same amount of these antioxidants as a spoonful of fresh blueberries – and without the sugar.  To read more about black rice and where you can find some, click here.