Understanding Turkey Talk Before Thanksgiving!

I found some great information while doing some research on buying an organic turkey for the Thanksgiving Holiday this year and thought I'd share it with you. Hopefully this will help you "decode" the terms on your turkey label to decide if it is right for you. This information comes from the Health Child Healthy World Blog.

98% of Americans gobble up turkey during a traditional Thanksgiving dinner. In fact, farmers sold about $3.86 billion worth of turkeys in 2007, according to the USDA.To buy a turkey that is healthy, humane, and eco-friendly is no small task. When shopping for a turkey, we are confronted with a label language few can understand. Heirloom? Free-range? And everyone’s favorite, Natural? We know enough to be skeptical of deceptive labeling, so what do all these claims mean?Our friends at Celebrate Green! devoted a section of their Thanksgiving chapter to decoding the turkey talk – so you know what you’re buying into before it’s dinner time. If you haven’t yet picked up a copy of this invaluable green holiday guide book, do so now! Remember Healthy Child receives a donation for every copy sold.

Definitions and Labeling for Turkey as defined by the USDA:

Natural - Turkey labeled natural contains no artificial flavor or flavoring, coloring ingredient, chemical preservative, or any other artificial or synthetic ingredient. It must also be minimally processed, so that the raw product is in no way fundamentally altered. The label must explain the use of the term “natural” with product-specific details.

No Hormones - Federal regulations prohibit the use of hormones in raising poultry. So any label that claims “no hormones added” is advertising falsely or trying to legitimize a higher price tag.

Kosher - According to Kosher laws, animals should be cared for ethically, and slaughtered as humanely as possible. However, correct Kosher treatment may be the exception rather than the rule, especially in large organizations. The label doesn't guarantee that animals are raised or treated any better than animals from industrial farms. Local farms or butchers may have more specific details on how their poultry was raised and cared for.

Organic - Any product claiming to be organic isn’t fully legit without the USDA Organic Seal, which means the product is made of 95% organic ingredients. When the term organic appears on a label without the seal, the product is 70% or more organic.

Free-range - Free-range turkeys are touted as the best for the bird. But, the USDA says the term means very little, only that birds have “access” to the outdoors. That means they are likely bred similarly to conventional birds: in over-crowded space with a short lifespan to end in a potentially inhumane slaughter. Once again, your local farm or vendor may be able to better guarantee your bird enjoyed a humane life.

Heritage - Heritage turkeys are defined by the historic, range-based production system in which they are raised. They must meet the following criteria: natural mating, long productive outdoor lifestyle, and slow growth rate.

Heirloom - According to the Heritage Turkey Foundation, heirloom turkeys may come from older breeds, and “can’t mate naturally, do not mature like true heritage turkeys, and don’t taste good.”

Thanks to our friends at Celebrate Green! for continuing support and collaboration!

Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween to all of our Lancaster County readers.

Help Graco Help Others in Need

I wanted to share this information about an AWESOME charitable campaign that Graco is doing right now. Check out this information that I received from Graco and GO SIGN UP TODAY! You receive great Graco and partner offers and information, and more importantly, you can help someone in need receive a FREE CAR SEAT! Go sign up right now! What are you waiting for?

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With Halloween here at the end of this week, the holiday season will soon be in full swing (the kids certainly know it’s coming!) which means travel for many, and unfortunately tough times for a few. As part of Graco’s new “Ready for the Road Ahead” campaign, we have created the Ready. Safe. Go! Car Seat Club.

The Car Seat Club gives its members access to car seat resources, special partner offers and e-mail updates and the best part about the club, (we think) is that for every 10 people that join the club 1 car seat will be donated to organizations helping families in need. The holiday season has always been a time to help others and just by joining, you’re able to help organizations distribute donated car seats to families who aren’t able to buy one for themselves.

So help Graco help others -- all while helping yourself!

Pressed-Leaf Butterflies

From: Martha Stewart Living

Make lovely winged creatures from vivid autumn leaves. Collect just-fallen leaves, and press between the pages of a heavy book for two weeks. Use a small strip of plain paper for base. With a skewer, apply glue to tip of a leaf; secure to base for a bottom wing. Working from bottom to top, glue remaining leaves, which should overlap slightly, to base. Glue two leaf stems to the top of a thin leaf for antennae. Glue thin leaf vertically to white base for the butterfly's body. A mat border and frame give a finished look while protecting the leaves.

Happy Crafting!

Halloween Candy Recalled!

There is a warning put out by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.... Sherwood brand "Pirate's Gold Milk Chocolate Coins" are being recalled due to the fact that they contain Melamine, the chemical that has caused several infant deaths in China, and sickened thousands more. These candies are sold at Costco, as well as many bulk and dollar stores! PLEASE make sure to check your childrens' Halloween candy and DO NOT LET THEM EAT THE PIRATE COINS (the ones wrapped in the shiny gold/silver foil) and please let other parents know about this!

You can verify the validity of this information at Snopes.com.

BE CAREFUL HOW YOU CHOOSE....

BE CAREFUL HOW YOU CHOOSE....
This is a great way in helping you decide who YOU want in office!
It's a survey, it doesn't give you any idea of who said what, you click on the answer to the question that is being asked. In the end it will tell you who you are leaning towards!
Cool!

http://abcnews.go.com/politics/MatchoMatic/fullpage?id=5542139

Reduce, Reduce, and Reduce Some More...

I know that you've all heard the going green mantra of "reduce, reuse, and recycle"! Today's post is focused on how we can reduce the amount of paper coming into our homes, thereby saving trees, eliminating unnecessary shipping costs, and minimizing the amount of paper that needs to be sorted into the recycling pile! Both of these very handy tips came to me from women in my playgroup. Thanks, girls!

First, how many catalogs are you getting delivered to your home that you never even read? Well, get ready for even more catalog overload as we are headed into the catalog "season", just in time for holiday shopping. I know that in our house, we get tons of catalogs that I never have and never will shop from. They always go directly into recycling bin out in our garage.

Here's your opportunity to decline any catalogs that you don't want to be delivered to your home. Head over to the free, easy-to-use Catalog Choice website and simply click Decline for any unwanted catalog. You can go through each letter of the alphabet, or go directly to the catalogs that are the "big offenders" at your house. Also, I've been told that you don't have to take the time to find your customer number for each catalog ....Just check the box "Not Available". Go unburden yourself, and your mail carrier, today!

Also, when was the last time you checked the phone book for something? I honestly can not remember the last time I cracked open the phone book to use the yellow pages or the white pages. Almost everything I could ever need is always online. If you don't actually use the white or yellow pages, you can help save a few million trees and keep the books out of landfills. To not receive the Yellow or White pages at your home, go to Yellow Pages Goes Green and click on "Opt Out" at the top– took me 3 seconds to do it! So easy. And, if you decide that you are missing your book in the future you can always call to request that one be sent to you!

Reduce your paper consumption and save the trees!