Eat Right Racine

I would like to express my regrets to the many members of the public who attended a screening of the film “Fresh” last week expecting to hear a few words of inspiration from me afterwards. I faced a serious flare up of chronically recurring sports injuries from my collegiate and professional basketball career and was pretty much incapacitated. While we worked hard to find a qualified replacement for me from Growing Power, as well as to contact Eat Right Racine over the phone, the late nature of the mishap prevented a timely connection. Instead, I would like to extend an invitation to all of those who purchased tickets to last week’s event to visit us for a free tour of Growing Power. We will waive our fee for ticketholders at any regular public tour, available daily at 1 p.m. All of us at Growing Power support every community initiative to promote better access to better food, including those excellent efforts going on in Racine to spread the Good Food Revolution. I hope that all of you enjoyed watching “Fresh” and that its message helped to spur your passion for good food.

Last Tuesday night, more than 400 people turned out for the community screening of Fresh The Movie and to hear Mr. Will Allen of Milwaukee’s Growing Power lead a discussion about the origins of our food and the perils of our industrialized food system.   Additionally, we invited several community-based initiatives to share information about the work they’re doing related to food and our community right here in Racine.

Although our agenda was dealt a serious blow when our guest speaker cancelled due to a personal injury, we could feel no disappointment from the crowd whatsoever.  The energy and enthusiasm in the auditorium at Gifford Elementary School was contagious and inspiring.  We want to thank you for your understanding and generosity of spirit following the news of Mr. Allen’s cancellation.

Dr. Marc Kennedy, a gastroenterologist in Racine, graciously accepted our impromptu invitation to speak about his observations and about the interconnectedness between food and our health.  He discussed the relationship between the food we eat today and the rise in inflammatory diseases:  diabetes, heart disease, digestive disorders, etc… and advocated a pro-active, conscious approach to our diets.  Dr. Kennedy and his wife tend an annual kitchen garden (a large kitchen garden) and are mindful of what they eat.

Mr. Robert Beezat of the Racine/Kenosha Community Action Agency (www.rkcaa.org) was present to share information about the work they’re doing in collaboration with the University Extension Offices in both Racine and Kenosha counties.  They’re working with both S.E.E.D and R.U.G.N. to lend critical infrastructure to these worthy efforts.  (S.E.E.D. stands for Sustainable Economic Edible Development and they are, most notably, working to identify a truly local supply chain and to link those suppliers with local commercial buyers of food {nursing homes, restaurants, etc.}).

R.U.G.N is the Racine Urban Garden Network and is an organized effort to not only make green space accessible for the residents of urban Racine who are interested in their very own kitchen garden but to actively promote a strong gardening effort.  Lynne Leitleither was present to tell us that RUGN promotes urban gardening and seeks to increase consumption of foods from local sources through sustainable gardening and farming in the Racine area, and to improve nutrition and the environment in our communities through the networking of education and resources.  RUGN has just secured a large central city lot for the purpose of community plot gardens – with city support.  Visit them on the web at www.rugn.org.

Amanda DeSonia broadcast her efforts to make backyard chickening legal in Racine.  She has organized the effort, Belle City Chickens, and offers inexhaustible information about owning egg-laying chickens in your own back yard.  Visit them on the web at www.bellecitychickens.org.

Reverend Michael Mueller, minister of St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church, represented the Racine Interfaith Coalition (RIC) when he invited interested parties to attend Racine Interfaith Coalition’s Issue Assembly on March 18th.  RIC ’s mission is to address the root causes of social problems and lead to new ways of thinking and acting.  They have a special interest in causes that highlight the connection between social justice and a stewardship role for all of creation.  The issues assembly later this month is an invitation to any and all who are concerned about matters of food and the environment to consider working with RIC to shape an issue that through collaborative efforts can make a significant difference in our community. And of course, other issues ideas are welcome as well.  (http://www.gamaliel.org/RIC/default.htm)

We thank each and every one of you who attended and hope that you have spoken about what you saw and heard to someone else who was not able to join us.  The proceeds from Focus on Fresh go directly to Eat Right Racine to further its mission and activities.  Eat Right Racine offers free and open to the public workshops on the first Thursday of each month and has most recently partnered with a group of private citizens to develop a fresh food co-op here in Racine.

You may check our website regularly; fan us on Facebook; follow us on Twitter…  We encourage you to do so.  We are as interested in hearing from you as in sharing with you.

Next Tuesday, March 2nd, is Eat Right Racine’s Focus on Fresh event.  It will completely change the way you eat.  Tickets are available now for $10 at the fine establishments below.  Be sure to pick up your ticket and check out this amazing event.

1.  Mileagers

2. Urban Trends

3. Funky Hannah’s

4. Mocha Lisa’s

5. Wilson’s Tea

6. Sheepish

7. Circa Celeste Cafe

8. Racine Montessori School

9.  The Vine

Eat Right Racine is proud to present Focus on Fresh.

Please join us for a community screening of “Fresh – New thinking about what we’re eating“.  A movie by ana Sofia Joanes.

Followed by live speaker: Will Allen of Milwaukee’s Growing Power – recently named one of “100 History Makers in the Making”.

Tuesday, March 2nd  at  7:00 p.m.  (Doors open at 6:30 p.m.) at Gifford Elementary School – Auditorium

8332 Northwestern Ave. (Hwy. K) Racine, WI.

Tickets may be purchased for $10 in advance ($12 at the door) and may be purchased at the following locations:

Milaeger’s, Funky Hannah’s, Mocha Lisa’s, Wilson’s Tea, Sheepish, Circa Celeste, Racine Montessori School, and Razor Sharp Fitness.

Seating is on first come, first serve basis.

Proceeds from Focus on Fresh will go to benefit the mission and activities of Eat Right Racine.

http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/lifestyle/83453407.html

It will be an incredible event. Eat Right Racine is honored to be hosting this amazing person. Save the date.  Tuesday, March 2nd, from 7:00pm-10:00pm at Gifford Elementary School Auditorium.

Details and reservation information is coming soon.

Be well.

101cookbooks.com is probably my favorite source for recipes.  They are relatively easy, and usually super delicious.  My favorite feature is searching for recipes by vegetable.

I have been in such a soup mood.  If I don’t have soup for lunch, we have it for dinner.   Last night I made a Cauliflower Soup with Gorgonzola Cheese.   Salad, bread, and mango was served with the soup.  Just in case, I also had a rice and broccoli (broccoli also was in the box) casserole to serve the rest of the family.

I loved the soup, hubs ate it, my son took a bite and didn’t like it, my daughter tried a bite and said she liked it, but would pass for now.

If you try it, I would love to hear your thoughts.

http://www.101cookbooks.com/archives/001549.html

Be well!

The New York Times had a great review of Michael Pollan’s new book, with a synopsis of some key points.  “Food Rules: An Eater’s Manual,” by Michael Pollan http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/02/health/02brod.html

This would be a great book to read and discuss in a book club forum.  We are currently looking for a facilitator of a book club.  If you are interested, email eatrightracine@gmail.com.

My family just picked up our first box of produce from Growing Power. We ordered the Junior/Senior box and it was filled with lots of goodies including fresh eggs, apples, carrots, broccoli, potatoes, onions, and a huge bunch of cauliflower.

I love receiving these produce boxes, but sometimes I have no idea what to make with the items I receive. Cauliflower is definitely one of those items, and there was a lot of cauliflower.

For those of you who receive these boxes and are in a similar predicament, or if you absolutely love cauliflower, I am going to post some recipes that I plan to try this week with my abundance of cauliflower. I will let you know how it goes over with me, the vegetarian vegetable loving mom; my husband, who would be happy with sausage pizza every night for dinner; my daughter, who is probably the most balanced eater; and my son, who is the pickiest eater ever.
Please, feel free to email eatrightracine@gmail.com for recipes suggestions or anything!

I know about two pick up locations for Growing Power produce boxes in Racine: D.P. Wigley and Racine Montessori School.  If you know of others in the Racine Area, please pass it on.

For more information
http://eatrightracine.org/2009/12/02/market-baskets-from-growing-power-available-weekly-at-d-p-wigley/

Happy, healthy, eating!

With the Super Bowl and Valentine’s Day right around the corner, a lot of us will fill ourselves with  sugary foods that only leave us wanting more.

Heidi Fannin, a holistic health counselor and owner of Body Wellness (www.bodywellnessbyheidi.com), will be sharing her eight causes for cravings, why it is critical to understand these causes, and how to manage them.

Attend this fabulous workshop to permanently change your relationship with sugar. In addition, participants will receive Heidi’s delicious recipe for sugar-free and wheat-free brownies.

Deconstructing Cravings

Date: February 11th, 6:30-7:45 PM

Where: River Bend Nature Center; 3600 North Green Bay Road

This event is free to the public, however, a reservation is suggested.  Please email Heidi at hfannin@wi.rr.com to make a reservation.

Each week on Friday, Growing Power delivers pre-ordered market baskets to D.P. Wigley’s in Racine.

1/2 bag of produce runs $9.00

Full bag of produce runs $16

Full bag of certified organic produce $27

1# of spinach costs $4.50

Organic chicken, mixed winter greens, eggs, and wheatgrass ($10/tray) is also available.

To order your market basket, call Chris from D. P. Wigley at the beginning of each week.  She can be reached at 262.633.8239. Call today!!!

For more information about Growing Power, please visit the website at: (www.growingpower.org)