I hope you’re not one of those people who squirms when a mother breastfeeds her baby in public, because I’m one of those publicly breastfeeding mothers. If that makes you uncomfortable, well, talk to the breast!

There is no better food for babies than breast milk, of course, so it’s a great decision for mothers who are able to do it. And when it comes to social graces, I’m just not sorry to say that I won’t run off to nurse in a bathroom or tote bottles around to …

Tags: bottle , BPA , breast , breast feeding , breastfeeding , formula , infant formula , milk , nursing , soy

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When farmers in Mato Grosso, the top soy-producing state in Brazil, were introduced to GMO soy varieties, they jumped at the chance to plant them, even though the country’s government hadn’t yet approved their use. It was a foolish risk to take; the GM soy these farmers planted has consistently provided lower yields than conventional soy varieties.

About half of the soy grown in Mato Grosso is genetically modified, but because of the lower yields – and the fact that many distributors are shunning GMO – quite a …

Tags: Brazil , farming , genetically modified organisms , GMO , soy

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Take a look through your cupboards. Read the ingredient labels on your organic and natural food products (and your conventional ones). You’ll likely see soy lecithin on a large proportion of labels. You probably don’t know that the soy lecithin in your organic food is most likely from non-organic genetically modified soybeans.

Doesn’t the National Organic Rule prohibit the use of both non-organic ingredients and GMOs?

It does, but there is one important thing to know about this rule….foods can be labeled organic if they contain …

Tags: agriculture , food , GMO , organic , soy , soy lecithin , soybeans

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Currently, residents of the United States and Canada consume genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in around 70% of the foods they buy in grocery stores. By comparison, consumers in the European Union nations, Japan, China, Australia, New Zealand and other countries are able to avoid GMOs because their governments require mandatory labeling on foods that contain genetically engineered ingredients.

According to Consumers Union, 95% of consumers in the U.S. want products containing genetically modified organisms to be labeled. Yet, in 1996 the FDA ruled that …

Tags: agriculture , food , genetically modified organisms , GMO , Monsanto , soy

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The topic of soy can create a big debate among healthy folks, and the viewpoints can be extreme. Who knew a humble green bean could be so controversial? Some tout soy products as a panacea for health and wellness, while others swear that soy is a sure ticket to infertility and “man boobs”. What are the facts?

Aren’t Asian cultures particularly healthy because of consumption of soy?

Asians don’t actually eat as much soy as we think – only about 10-36 …

Tags: Brazil , children , environment , food , health , nutrition , protein , rainforests , soy , vegetarian

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Confessions of a first time tempeh cooker: I was one of those people who thought she didn’t like tempeh”¦until just a few days ago. Perhaps you feel the same way. Maybe you’ve had bad tasting flavored tempeh from the grocery store, or thick, grey slices served at health food restaurants.

If that’s the case, you owe it to yourself to try this recipe. Developing this recipe was my first attempt at cooking it and it succeeded beyond my wildest imaginings.

A couple …

Tags: garlic , ginger , lemongrass , organic , Recipe , soy , stir fry , tempeh , vegetarian

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Soy: It’s everywhere. It’s eaten in copious amounts by bodybuilders, as a meat substitute by vegans and vegetarians, and unwittingly in a wide variety of processed foods by most people.

We’ve been told that soy is good for us and the fact of lower incidences of cancer and heart disease in Asian populations is cited as proof. The truth is there is no historical precedent for the amount of soy we consume in modern processed foods. Though soy did originate in Asia, it is used sparingly in Asian cuisines and more often …

Tags: agriculture , business , food , health , processed food , protein , soy , vegetarian

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Princess Isabella of Spain outlawed slavery in Brazil on May 13, 1888. And that would seem to be that. But it’s not. Raj Patel, in his book Stuffed and Starved, writes that there are somewhere between 25,000 and 50,000 people enslaved in Brazil.

Though sugarcane and cattle ranches are known culprits, slavery happens on soy plantations, too. In 2003, the last year for which figures are cited, 4,932 slaves were freed from farms in Brazil – and that’s just the farms that were inspected.

As we saw …

Tags: Brazil , fair trade , farming , human rights , slavery , social justice , soy

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We’re talking about soy this month – its environmental and social impact as a monoculture crop as well as its nutritional profile. Traditional soy products, both fermented and non (tofu, miso, and tempeh) are nutritious and tasty and can be used in so many ways. It’s the processed soy products that aren’t so good for our bodies. As part of our soy series, you’ll be seeing recipes using traditional, minimally-processed soy foods.

This first recipe is easy to put together, flavorful, light, and fun to eat. Try it as an …

Tags: Recipe , soy , thai wraps , tofu , vegetarian , wellness

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