It's Time Fooooorrr...The N-O GMO Challenge!

You're Going Down Suckazzzzz...

Operation: Open Your Eyes! Close Your Mouth!

I am always down for a great personal health challenge, and I think you're gonna love this one! It will be tough, but you got this in the bag, sonnnn! I have created the NO GMO Challenge in order to open our eyes to the foods we are being served, the restaurants and grocery purchases that are harming us, and to better our overall health.

If you haven't had a chance to read it, check out my most recent blog, GMOs...It's What's For Dinner. Get up to speed really quick by learning what GMOs are, and how they are harmful to humans, animals, and our environment. This is how I will get you to take my challenge...sneaky, I know! 

Your Mission if You Choose to Accept...

Begins: Monday, May 13^th

Ends: Monday, May 27th

You will pledge to consume only natural/organic, Non-GMO contaminated foods for Two Weeks...not a single bite, nibble, so much as an extended-glance at a food made with GMOs or a blend of their products. 

Sooo...uhhh, what does this mean I have to avoid??

The Meat Rules

Don't get scared, you can still chow down on your favorite meats. Just pay the price for good farming practices...you don't need 6 steaks/week, have some self-control!! Find restaurants, farmer's markets, and grocery stores (The Healthy Home Market, Earth Fare, Whole Foods Market, The Baby Grocery Store, or The Fresh Market) that use these practices and offer these food options.

Any Restaurant, Sandwich Shop, Pizza Place, Fast Food Joint, Bar, Burger Joint, Steak House, Sushi Place, Mexican Restaurant, etc. will serve meats that have been fed GMOs. You must search for places that do not have these or get in zee kitchen, lazzzy!!

It's possible and a great idea to find these places in your communities!! So, you can support places that feed you good things. You owe it to yourself to consume foods that are fresh and real.

Examples of Things to Avoid:

Meats that do not state organic Grain-fed or Grass-fed are not allowed. Cattle, Chickens, Pigs, Turkeys, Dogs, Monkeys, and Farm Seafood are ALL fed GMOs unless stated otherwise.

• Deli Meats-Turkey, Ham, Roast Beef, Pepperoni, etc.
• Steak, Ground Beef, Hamburger, etc.
• Sausage, Pulled Pork, Bacon, etc.
• Chicken Breast/Wings, Roasted Chicken, and Eggs.
• Farm Fish and Seafood.
• Canned Meats, Beef Jerky, Sushi, Meat-Topping Pizza, Frozen Dinners.

The Fruit and Veggie Rules

Lucky Numba 9

The fresher, the better! Purchasing organic fruits and veggies from your local farmer's market, food-exchanges, and grocery stores will ensure quality, farm fresh produce without the junk. Stay away from the crazy hybrid alien Melon-Apple, Melapple creation awaiting the next sucker at your local Wal-mart, and stuff your face with this stuff!! It's good for you!

Examples of Things to Avoid:

Safe vs Harmful Produce...Papayas?!

• Canned or frozen corn
• GM fruits and vegetables (GMO Papayas have been approved in the US, not Europe).
• soy and soy-based products
• Fruits preserved in corn-syrup
  
  

The Grain Rules

Avoid GMOs! >_<

Allergy and health problems are on the rise due to the horrible ways we have split, genetically modified, and destroyed the precious nutritious grains that not only show up in the majority of our animal feed, but all of our cereals, pastas, cookies/crackers, packaged/frozen dinners, breads, bakery items, and the list goes on.

Examples of Things to Avoid:

Any foods that do not state organic...yup, a GMO product, ugghh!! Oh and, natural does NOT mean organic...those sneaky GMOs.

• Cereal, Cereal Bars, Grits, and Cream of Wheat.
• Crackers, Cookies, and Bakery Items.
• Bread, Pizza Dough, (HT Subs, Panera Bread, Jersey Mikes).
• Pasta, Dumplings, Rice, and Tortilla Chips & Shells.

Places Like Nova's Bakery, Papi Queso Truck, Zada Jane's, and Jason's Deli serve great brunchh and lunch options sans GMO-slop!

The Sugar Rules

Didn't think about the GM Sugarbeets and GM corn used in high fructose corn syrup found in everything these days?! Well, you should! You can find GM corn syrup in all artificially colored candy, chocolate, drinks/juices, sodas, breads, cereals, malt beverages, cookies and crackers, yogurt, ice-cream, frozen meals, baked goods, canned fruit, and to be honest, it'd probably be easier to list what it's not in....

Purchase products that use natural-sweeteners like honey, agave-syrup, molasses, and organic sugar-varieties that will not contain GMOs.

The Dairy Rules

Just like meat, only choose organic dairy and soy products or substitutes. Don't be scared, they taste great...EWW not tofu though-ha! I drink the unsweetened coconut and almond milk. I prefer coconut milk in my coffee, smoothies, soups, and as a milk/cream substitute. Coconut milk does not taste like coconut and is very light and refreshing. When mixed into dishes like mashed potatoes, cream-based soups, and smoothies, you will not taste a coconut-flavor. Need an alternative cheese option?? Go Veggie has great options, I love their Rice Milk Cheese, and it melts great!!

Examples of things to Avoid:

Any dairy products that do not state organic, are GMO-based products. Natural does NOT mean organic and will still contain GMOs.

• Butter, Yogurt, Chocolate, and Ice-cream (Ben and Jerry's is now GMO-free).
• Cheese, Cream Cheese, and Sour Cream.
• Milk, Cream, Coffee Creamer, and Soy Milk.

The "Other Rules"

• Boxed Dinners, Processed Foods, and Frozen Dinners- Lean Cuisine EW!
• Chips, Crackers, Snack Foods not stating GMO-free, Fruit Snacks, Candy, inexpensive Chocolate, Pretzels, Popcorn, Bakery Items, Soups, Lunchables, Kraft Dinners, etc. are ALL GMOs!!

Places and Brands to Avoid

• Restaurants

If they don't stay organic ingredients, bet your bottom dollar, they only use GMOs...I have written many places and will continue to add to my naughty or nice list.

• All Fast Food Restaurants
• Local Cafes and Sandwich Shops that aren't health conscious: Any companies that use Boar's Head Meats or Cheeses
• Mexican, Italian, Greek, Asian Restaurants
• The Majority of Corporate and Chain Restaurants

Places that use GMO Ingredients:

• Panera Bread: (GMO Food and Animal Feed)
• The Melting Pot
• Mortimers: (GMO Food and Animal Feed)
• Ducksworth's Grill & Taphouse (No organics)
• Dean and Deluca (stated, they could not list whether or not there were GMOs)
• The Cheesecake Factory: (GMO Food and Animal Feed)
• Chipotle (uses GMO Food and Animal Feed)
• Jersey Mikes, Subway, HT Subs (Boar's Head): (GMO Food and Animal Feed)
• Boar's Head Meats and Cheeses (GMO Feed)
• Maggiano's (GMO Food and Animal Feed)
• Amelie's Bakery

Check out these Places and Brands that you can actually eat!! 
This List will provide all of the companies that do and do not use GMOs.

• Rice, Pasta, Bread- Nova's Bakery
• Eggs, Dairy and Meat Products, 
• The Healthy Home Market, Earth Fare, The Fresh Market, Whole Foods Market, The Baby Grocery Store, or The Farmer's Market
• Smoothie King (Only Fruits are Non-GMO)
• Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream is now GMO-free
• Upstream: Uses grass-fed cattle and some non-GMO dishes, ask upon ordering.
• Zada Jane's Corner Cafe- Use organic produce and feed! Breakfast All Day!
• Pure Pizza- 100% organic
• Jason's Deli (not all, but a lot of options)
• Papi Queso Food Truck- Yummy!
• Luna's Living Kitchen: Juice and Smoothie Bar
• The Fern
• The Bean
• Veggie Stix

So many countries have banned the use of GMOs, and I think you owe it to yourself to know why. If other countries won't feed their people this garbage...why will America? If our government and nation leaders will not look out for us, we are responsible. As consumers, it is our duty to demand and only purchase fresh ingredients while supporting quality practices that will help our communities and our own personal health and well being.

Support Quality. Support Health. Support Truth.

TAKE MY CHALLENGE!

“I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.” - Confucius