Friday Faves - Food, Inc.

I had the opportunity to watch "Food, Inc." yesterday and I liked it so much that I am making it my "Friday Fave". With all of the reading I have done on the topic, there wasn't a lot in it that I didn't already know, but having it all together like that really drove home the message.

The information is really well presented and, unlike other docs I have seen on this subject, not full of over-the-top scare tactics. The makers of this film just put it out there on the table, so to speak, and allow you to draw your own conclusions on factory farming, GMOs and the big business that is Food (with a capital "F".)

friday faves - organic maple flakes

Equinox Organic Maple Flakes are one of my favourite things in the pantry. They are Canadian, organic, and addictively delish. Just like me! ;-)

The maple flakes are made in Quebec from 100% pure, organic maple syrup. The freeze-drying process used to create them results in small, crunchy, sweet flakes that are fast dissolving, shelf-stable and do not harden in the bag. They are also surprisingly low-cal (about half that of sugar) and lower on the glycemic index than sugar and many other sweeteners.

I'm sure you could sprinkle them on all sorts of things (pancakes, waffles, french toast...), but I like them on oatmeal, ice cream, and as part of a dry-rub for salmon. I find myself reaching for them more and more; any time I need a touch of sweetness, but something with a bit more character than sugar. I've even got the maple flake grinder for when I want a finer product that dissolves instantly - perfect for fresh berries.

Check out the website for more info and recipes.

friday faves - tom's of maine toothpaste

TGFFF – thank goodness for Friday Favourites! I have been waiting all week to wax poetic about my very favourite toothpaste – Tom’s of Maine. I bought my first tube a few months ago and I have been a super-fan ever since. First of all, I heart the company for their high-quality natural products, but also their “upfrontness” in regards to ingredients and desire to educate the consumer. I am a big-time label reader, so this stuff really matters to me!

Back to the toothpaste…to be honest, I was a bit surprised the first time I used it due to its lack of sweetness. It was minty, yes, but definitely not sweet. I wasn’t sure that I liked it at first, until I realized that what I *don’t* like about other commercial brands is how unbelievably cloying they are. I find that no matter how much you rinse, most leave a weird candy taste in your mouth. Good if you like candy, I suppose, but bad if you just want your mouth to feel clean. Once I got used to the non-sweetness of the product and embraced the extra-freshness of the natural peppermint, I was hooked.

The other big difference with Tom’s is how well it cleans your teeth and how long the “just brushed” feeling lasts. The ingredient responsible here is silica, derived from natural sand, and calcium carbonate which work together to gently and effectively clean and whiten. For the first week that I was using the Whole Care toothpaste, I couldn’t stop obsessing over how smooth my teeth felt. (Now I just take it for granted…)

And, finally, I have to admit that one of my most-favourite thing about Tom’s toothpaste is the old-schooly metal tube. Unlike plastic tubes, you can actually roll it up as you go and get every. last. drop. Love it.

http://www.tomsofmaine.com