When was the last time you let your younger, more playful self out? I don’t know about you, but when autumn rolls around, all I’ve got in mind is jumping into huge piles of leaves, scheming up the best Halloween costume, and getting lost in an apple orchard. While the leaf jumping and Halloween costume may not be the most practical ways for me to enjoy autumn this year, apple orchards are definitely an option.

So now let me pose this question to you, When was the last time you spent a few hours on a Saturday afternoon roaming the rows of apple trees with bushel or basket in tow? Last weekend, some friends and I decided to escape the routine of city life and were inspired to head north for some apple picking. I cannot emphasize enough how rejuvenating it was to drive away from tall city buildings to find ourselves surrounded by rolling hills and farmland. Once at the orchard, we purchased two empty bags and were left to our own devices to fill the bags full! Wow, did my inner child come out and play! I left my whirling and sometimes chaotic world of nutritional practice behind and dove head first into the adventure of apple picking.

We spent two hours perusing the rows of apple trees, searching for the perfect – and not so perfect – apple. It had taken some strength to let go of my usual Saturday responsibilities, but the delight I felt in focusing on experiencing the apple orchard was worth it. As adults, we’re reminded to remember to slow down and give ourselves a chance to breathe, whether through yoga or meditation or enjoying a book, but how often are we reminded to play?

This week I challenge you to give yourself a chance to play. Whether it’s a board game, Frisbee at the park, an afternoon at an apple orchard, or even a few sessions of Wii Fit games in your living room – take the time to enjoy something playful, and let that inner child come out!

Just in case the idea of apple picking moves you, here is a list of local apple orchard possibilities. . .

All Season Apple Orchard 14510 Route 176 in Woodstock, IL 60098 in McHenry County
Phone number: (815) 338-5637
Hours: Wednesday thru Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm.

Apples On Oak 16146 Oak Avenue in Lockport, IL 60432 in Will County, IL
Phone number : (815) 726-0386
Hours: Open August through October on Wednesdays & Saturdays from 9:00am to 6:00pm, Sundays from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm. peceniak.tripod.com/home.htm

Curran’s Apple Farm 6385 Trask Bridge Rd (Route 70) in Rockford, IL 61101 in Winnebago County
Phone number: (815) 963-7848
Hours: Middle-September through Middle-December from 10AM to 6PM Tuesdays thru Sundays

Heinz Orchard address: 1050 Crest Road in Green Oaks, IL 60048 in Lake County, IL
Phone number: 847-287-5867
Hours: Middle September – October on Friday thru Sunday from 9:30amto 5:30pm.
 heinzorchard.com

Homestead Orchard: 11802 Charles Road in Woodstock, IL 60098 in McHenry County, IL
Phone number: 815-338-7443
Hours: May through October on Monday through Saturday 10:00am to 4:00pm , Sundays 12:00 to 5:00 homesteadorchard.net

Honey Hill Orchard: 11747 Waterman Road in Waterman, IL 60556 in DeKalb County, IL
Phone number: 815-264-3337

Jonamac Orchards: 19412 Shabbona Road in Malta, IL 60150 in DeKalb County, IL
Phone number: 815-825-2158
Hours: Middle August through Thanksgiving open 7 days a week from 9:00 am to 5:30 pm
 jonamacorchard.com

Hold onto your sunhats, D.C., the White House is welcoming its first farmers market! Two Thursdays ago, Vermont Ave between H St and I St was filled with pasture-raised meats, artisan cheese, fresh fruits and vegetables, milk and yogurt, breads and baked goods, preserves, cut flowers, and more. There was talk of produce from Michelle’s garden being included, but due to negative media mania over lead contamination in the garden, the city will have to wait for vegetables from the heirloom seeds of Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello garden. ( Test results have been released saying that the lead levels are far below what is considered harmless. )

The farmers market is long in coming for the downtown population of D.C. This past summer my cousin Katey participated in an environmentally minded bike trek with the goal of bringing environmental stories from across the country to our capitol. Upon their arrival in D.C., riders lobbied with their state representatives for clean energy, complete streets ( a street with individual lanes for pedestrians, bikers, cars, and public transportation ), and improved public transportation. A few of the riders were able to meet with White House Representatives from the Department of Energy, and when asked what they were each doing on an individual level to live “greener” and healthier lives, almost all responded that it was very difficult to live a green life in D.C. Local produce was hard to come by, streets were not bike friendly, and the recycling program left much to be desired. Although Obama is turning our country’s environmental morals around, the capitol is taking a bit longer to turn theory into practice. Fortunately, the White House farmers market will be available every Thursday from 3 to 7pm thru October 29th for politicians, city workers, students, and residents alike to take advantage of delicious local produce!

Thanks to Fresh Farm Markets for the info and photo.  To read more, head to freshfarmmarkets.org

When my parents moved out to a hobby farm when I was a kid, fall turned into a dreaded time of year.  I suffered from a stuffy nose, itchy watery eyes and low energy. I was that victim you see in all the Clariton commercials who can’t enjoy the outdoors, pet the cat, or garden, etc. In fact, every year the symptoms seemed to get worse. Eventually the move to college came and my family and I all thought my allergies would go away being away from the farm and all, but they didn’t. So for years I had my annual doctors appointment with the allergist and he prescribed me pills and nose sprays.  But, even with the prescription I had major side effects:  drowsiness, dry mouth, itchy skin, constipation, etc.  

Well this year was different.  Now that I am educated that most allergies are caused from food or lack of nutrients AND a lot allergies come from consuming dairy.  I decided to take charge of my own health and not be dependent on the prescription this year.  So I tried eliminating all dairy products.  I have been dairy free now for over 6 months!  AND here is hay-fever season and I’m not going to the doctor.  Now, it was’t easy quitting dairy…once you try you will find out it is in EVERYTHING!  

Tip: When you are eating out, tell the server you are lactose intolerant.  [I know, I was never really 'diagnosed' by a doctor, but hey looks like my body is operating much better without it...so if a server asks "I'm lactose intolerant" today. It makes both of our lives easier anyway.] 

I’m happy to report better health but not perfect health. I am doing a little sniffling and sneezing when I first rise and late into the evening when my body is tried and my immune system is telling me to stop and rest.  I have found some herbs and natural supplements to help:  such as hot pepper spray and herb blends like horsetail, osha root, plantain leaf, licorice root, nettle, etc.  I am looking forward to my results next year, when I will be diary free for over a year!  

Most importantly, I am eating more foods that are helpful in combating environmental allergies, such as: perservative and additive free, high in fiber and rich in vitamins especially high in vitamin A and C foods: asparagus, bell peppers, beets, black beans, broccoli, canatouple, leafy greens, mango, cold-water fish, squash, etc. 

Quercetin-rich foods are also helpful to the diet:  apples (w/skin), blueberries, onion, scallions, and herbal tea.  

Foods rich in protein and high in zinc like sunflower and pumpkin seeds, mushrooms and organic chicken or turkey may also be helpful.    

Foods to avoid:  all dairy, red meat, processed foods, sugar, caffeine, alcohol and fried food.  

And finally, keep those primary foods in check!  Include self care everyday, get your sleep, move your body and avoid stress as much as possible.  Lack of sleep and rest are one of the biggest factors to weakening the immune system and minimizing the systemic support to your body.  When your immune system is down the histamine and other molecules thrive causing you to have itching, sneezing, swelling, redness, nasal drip, and stuffed sinuses.  

Moral of my story, listen to your body. It is communicating to you all the time! 

Want to learn more about the dairy debate: Check out this book, Don’t Drink Your Milk

So what do drink instead of cow’s mink?  Try:  nut milks, such as Almond, rice milk, or hemp milk.  Watch out for soy milk, as it is also mucus forming just like cow’s milk.  

Do you suffer from allergies, try a food elimination diet. Have you already tried, and have a story to share?  Love to hear it, post below.  

Or not sure how to do it… contact me.

Irv and Shelly’s Fresh Picks is a Chicago based Local, Organic Delivery service.  So, many times I have clients who express frustration about finding organic locally grown produce other than at their local Whole Foods store.  We’ll here is an orginization that was started up by a couple with 2 children.  Their mission is to eliminate as much middle men as possible to get consumers clean food while supporting Chicago’s local economy.  With a background in economics, community work and non-profit…these guys seem to know what they are doing!  So, check out their website, enter your zip code and find out when your scheduled delivery day is. They offer:

1.  Fresh Pick Produce Boxes
2.  Local Meat/Fish
3.  Local Dairy/Eggs
4.  Baked Goods
5.  Prepared Goods

So, support your health with the highest nutrient dense produce [Local & Organic] available while supporting our local farmers/economy and our valued earth!   

Note:  Keep and eye out for the next garden party invite, where we discuss and answer questions about Local and Organic eating, growing and buying!

I am often in search for hearing conversation that debates the issue of the benefits of eating raw vs. eating cooked.  Richard Wrangham, a primatologist from Harvard has found several links to how Humans evolved from early primitive species.  Listen to this interview and hear him compare raw food and cooked food.  He looks at digestibility, absorption, energy and convenience of each way of eating.  Learn more about his argument by reading his book:  Catching Fire: How Cooking Made Us Human.

He concludes from his findings that diet (raw vs. cooked) “is very personal”… I LOVE THAT… reinforces my belief in bio-individulaity:  one person’s food is anothers perosn’s poison.

Here is a story that will put foot in mouth next time you hear a man say, “men need to eat meat!”  I am a true believer in bio-individuality, not one way of eating is right for everyone, but here is a story that may inspire some of the biggest meat eaters to learn more about other foods.  This approach to eating helped these firefighters lower their cholesterol, gain energy, improve their heart health and lose weight!

Excerpt from the article:

‘He became what he calls a flexitarian, someone who occasionally eats meat or fish. When that did not lower his cholesterol enough, he switched to the vegan diet based on fruits, vegetables, whole grains and legumes. Now, he said, his cholesterol is under 200, and he calls the way he eats “a way of life.” ‘

One of my favorite cafes back home in Minneapolis, Birchwood Cafe, located in the Seward neighborhood, has been in tune with sustainable, fresh eating for quite some time now.   This summer they have been taking part in educating the public by showing screenings of some of the hottest documentaries in Food!  Check out this interview by Minnesota Public Radio and pick one of the following movies to get inspired and learn more about real, good eating!

1. Nourish

2. What’s on Your Plate

3. Fresh

4. Food Matters

5. Food Inc

The great thing about transformational change is that no matter what the life hurdle maybe be:  drug recovery, shopaholic, over-eating, orthorexia, etc getting back to the earth can be one of the most effective strategies.  Read this article about a non-profit in NY giving recovered addicts an opportunity to develop a working skill through farming.

An NPR interview following up Michael Pollen’s article: Out of the Kitchen, Onto the Couch, where he identifies our lack of cooking with the increase of cooking shows on TV.  Listen in.  He will further the conversation with discussing such topics as:

1. How America was turned on to fast food like cake mix
2. How the evolution of cooking formed our human identity
3. How obesity rates relate to the amount of time people take to cook
4. How cooking shows are structured like a professional football game
5. How cooking may look like CRAZY behavior to our next generation