Sonic Giveaway Winners! Also, Tuesday Megalinks! Hooray!

We have winners from today's Sonic $25 gift card giveaway! Chosen by Random.org, here they are, along with their favorite food blog:#1: AB - $5 Dinners#2: Bashtree – Baking Bites and Gourmet#18: Broman – Closet Cooking#21: Amy – CHG (aw, shucks)#31: Karen – Closet CookingIf you guys can shoot me an e-mail with your addresses (cheaphealthygood@gmail.com), I can get those cards out tomorrow. Congratulations, one and all, and thank you to everyone for your most excellent suggestions. They’ll be part of an upcoming post.And with that, let’s go to the links! Today, it’s a lot of listing, restaurant questions, and yikes-inducing news for happy couples....

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Posted in: Links

$25 Sonic Gift Card Giveaway

Sweet readers! Tuesday’s Megalinks are coming a bit later, but first we’re kicking today off with a giveaway from Sonic. The lovely chain of drive-in restaurants bestowed this fine blog with a few $25 gift cards, and we’re passing one each to five lucky winners this evening.So! Here’s the deal. I’m gonna choose the five folks at 9pm tonight using Random.org. To enter the contest, simply go to the comment section and leave your name and your answer to this question:What is your favorite food blog, and why?(Though straight-up recipe blogs are great, I’d love a few food news suggestions, a la Serious Eats or The Kitchn.)Again, five winners will...

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CHG Turns 2: The Year's Top Ten Recipes

You guys! So many things going on today.1. Last night, I received a KitchenAid stand mixer. For free. From my Mother-in-Law-Elect. Needless to say, I’m looking forward to joining this family.2. Also last night: bananas, stuffed with chocolate, wrapped in foil, and grilled. I now have proof that Heaven is a place on Earth. (Thank you for the heads up, Belinda Carlisle.)3. It’s CHG’s two year anniversary (er, as mentioned in the title)! Thank yous are in order to all you lovely readers, as well as Veggie Might’s Leigh, Jaime of City Kitchen Chronicles, and our frequent contributor, Rachel. Also, a huge shout out to all the blogs that’ve supported...

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Posted in: About Cheap Healthy Good

Kale with Garlic and Peppers: A Tribute

Today was going to be about the general awesomeness of kale – how it’s super-easy to prepare, lends crazy heft to lighter dishes, and is one of the cheapest, most natural foods you can pick up at the supermarket. As part of that, I was going to gush all over the innate incredible-ness of Cooking Light’s Kale with Garlic and Peppers. Mostly about how it’s one of the simpler, tastier sides I’ve whipped up in recent memory. Then I was going to babble about the profusion of kale dishes available here and at the eminently stellar I Heart Kale.After it was all done, I was going to stop writing. Soon enough, I would to dump my leftover Kale with Garlic...

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Posted in: Sides,Vegan,Vegetarian

Veggie Might: Strawberry Rhubarb Crumble Nostalgia, Co-opted

Written by the fabulous Leigh, Veggie Might is a regular Thursday feature about all things Vegetarian.For the last few days, I’ve been in a sweet, tangy, gooey haze of nostalgia created both in my imagination and in my kitchen. Just sweet enough, not too rich, it’s been delicious.Everyone I know has a mother, grandmother, great grandmother, aunt, or second-cousin Shirley who made the best strawberry-rhubarb pie/cobbler. Except me. Sort of.A couple weeks ago, on my Lehigh Valley excursion, I bought my first rhubarb. I’ve never used it before, and to my knowledge, never had it at home. I was excited to try it. When I got my stalks home, I tried...

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Posted in: Desserts and Snacks,Vegetarian,Veggie Might

Food Network, the Decline of Stand and Stir Programming, and Where to Go From Here

Earlier this week, True/Slant’s Michael Greenberg wrote a scathing open letter to Bob Tuschman, the SVP of Programming at Food Network. In it, he rails against their lineup as of late. A few key quotes:“The Next Food Network Star sucks. It’s not entertaining. It has nothing to do with actual culinary skill. And it’s another troubling step in the ultimate devaluation of your network’s brand.”“Nowadays, prime time on the Food Network is all about competition shows and reality non-fiction programming — and it’s all about folks looking to make a name and buck. The food is just an afterthought for you, Bob, and it’s really starting to grate on me.”“It...

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Posted in: Cooking

Evidence: Collusion, Conflict of Interest at FDA and Aspartame

We all know the many reasons why we don't like the FDA, but this one is especially timely at this time. Timely as so many readers are looking up my posts on Coke Zero and related aspartame and sucralose (Splenda) or rebiana disclosures.There are more than 67 articles here at Natural Health News concerning the products and problems with artificial sweeteners.Here is something new to consider: During Ronald Reagan's tenure in the White House he selected Arthur Hull Hayes as FDA Commissioner. Even though aspartame had been on the market in 1974, it was banned in 1975 because of testimony by John Olney MD, a neurologist. Dr, Olney's work raised issues about the safety of aspartame and brain cell damage. The cancer issue was also raised.With 92 allowed adverse reactions to aspartame at the FDA,...

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Posted in: aspartame,aspartame dangers,Coke Zero,Coke Zero banned because of aspartame,natural health news

Tuesday Megalinks

Today it's recipe lists, weight loss for the very tall, and an infuriating article from the Gray Lady. Tuesday, I like you!Ad Age: Consumers Say They Want Healthy, But Aren’t Buying itOh, yikes. You know those calorie counts they’re starting to post on fast food menus? Apparently, they’re not making/they won’t make much of a difference in what good citizens are ordering. This is perplexing.Casual Kitchen: The Hummus Blogroll – 16 Easy to Make Hummus RecipesAs I am currently obsessed with all things hummus-related (we’re even watching Don’t Mess With the Zohan, where it figures in prominently), this is my favorite post of the moment. Chipotle...

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Posted in: Links

Flea Treatment Harmful to Pets

Not only do we have to deal with the impact of harm from vaccines and microchip IDs for our loving animal companions, now we know, just as my natural vet has said, the flea products are unhealthy too.Killing Fleas and Ticks May Be Harming Your PetThe EPA is investigating reports of skin irritation, seizures and even death from between-the-shoulder flea and tick treatments for dogs and cats.Flea and tick treatments for pets fall into that murky area in a lot of consumers' minds: We know the chemicals are designed to ward off or kill bugs ... but somehow we don't associate the products with the term "pesticides."But the Environmental Protection Agency has received an increasing number of reports of pets having adverse reactions to "spot-on pesticide products" -- those between-the-shoulder liquid...

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Posted in: flea and tick product danger,natural health news

Anti-Acid Drugs, H. Pylori, Vitamin C

Adding vitamin C to H. pylori treatment dramatically increases eradication rate says study.While we often see an increase in H. pylori with the increases in anti-biotics and anti-fungal drug use, we often don't see vitamins in a good light.Of course anti-acid drugs depress immune function in the stomach because they suppress hydrochloric acid.HCl fights food poisoning. Vitamin C is a major approach to food poisoning in higher doses, but of course those relying on drugs rarely see the benefits of supplements. The media follow suit.And then of course there are other approaches. One is to first look to determine if the person has too low HCl as a cause of their reflux problem or properly evaluate for food allergy.Take more vitamin C daily and also consider using BioPrin. BioPrin is an herbal...

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Posted in: Amoxicillin,Bismuth,food allergy,H. PYLORI,HELICOBACTER PYLORI,INFECTION - Vitamin C,Metronidazole,Omeprazole,vitamin C

Swiss Move to Protect Right to Access Natural Health Care

Thanks to Ralph Moss for this news -BIG NEWS FROM SWITZERLANDFrom them I learned a very interesting fact. On May 17, 2009, the people of Switzerland voted in favor of a constitutional amendment that supports the use of complementary medicine (CAM). A total of 67 percent of the population voted in favor. Thus Switzerland becomes the first country in Europe to set out in its constitution authority for the national government and its constituent states to take CAM into consideration in its health services. It is an astonishing victory and may set the model for other countries as well. I hope to go to Switzerland at some point in the future to see how this change is affecting medical care, particularly the treatment of cancer....

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Poached Eggs and Hardboiled Eggs: Eggs Two Ways, No Yolking

It’s been five days, and the Husband-Elect and I have successfully polished off our haul from last week’s trip to the Farmer’s Market. (Friends helped.) While we appreciated the ground beef, liked the bacon very much, and freakin’ loved the bread, the highlight of our booty (heh) was undoubtedly the carton of eggs. The EGGS. Who knew?Lemme explain.Okay, you know how supermarket eggs are? Runny, pale yellow yolks with flimsy whites and shells that break if you look at them the wrong way? Farmer’s market eggs are not like that at all. They have bright orange yolks with a silky, almost syrupy texture. They have substantive whites you can actually...

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Posted in: 15 Minutes or Less,Breakfast,Eggs,Sides

Electronic Records, Data Mining and Your Health

While it is more likely than not an activity most people don't about, data mining can be a lucrative endeavor.Along with drug data and prescribing activity used by CVS and other large pharmacy chains, web sites like Reeal Age are known to have been selling your data for profit.’Data mining’ for drug companies goes to courtsBy Associated Press | Saturday, June 20, 2009 | http://www.bostonherald.com | Healthcare MONTPELIER, Vt. — The prescription drugs you take are on the minds of a lot of people: judges on two federal courts, legislators in several states, countless doctors and, at the center, the companies that make money by figuring out who’s prescribing what."Data-mining" firms — which gather electronic information on the drugs prescribers order for their patients, then sell that...

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Posted in: Codex,data mining,electronic health records,natural health news,natural news

Strawberry and Avocado Salad: An Exercise in CAPITAL LETTERS and Fat Reduction

I’m pretty ambivalent about salads. They’re okay, but I’d order almost anything else before paying for a staid pile of lackluster leafy greens. Still, I like strawberries. And I like avocado. And I like pecans. And this dressing sounded tasty. So I thought I’d give AllRecipes’ Strawberry and Avocado Salad a try.Sounds neato, right? I thought so. However, there was one minor issue: namely, 609 calories and FIFTY-POINT-SEVEN grams of fat per serving. I realize numbers higher than eleven aren’t usually spelled out. I wanted some extra emphasis there.Now, healthy oils are dandy, but to reiterate: FIFTY-POINT-SEVEN grams of fat? In a freakin’ salad?...

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Posted in: 15 Minutes or Less,Mains,Sides,Vegan,Vegetarian

Veggie Might: People Need Potato Salad

Penned by the effervescent Leigh, Veggie Might is a weekly Thursday column about the wide world of Vegetarianism.Okay, enough with the rain, am I right, East Coasters? The sunshine teasers are just not enough. Anyway, I’ve digressed before I’ve begun.This past weekend, I had the pleasure of visiting my dear friend S in Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley. We spent a lovely (sunny!) couple of days playing with her little one, cooking (a fab bean salad I will share with you later), and catching up. On Sunday, we strolled through her local farmer’s market. I was able to score some choice produce to bring back to the city.I also got a little inspiration...

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Posted in: Sides,Vegan,Vegetarian,Veggie Might

Health Costs Set to Rise Again

A 9% increase in costs is targetted for next increase in medical care costs for 2010. It surely makes me wonder why it is that Beltway honchos seem to think they know what's best for folks when they are totally ignoring real issues at hand in the medical care debate.Because most people have some kind of insurance they equate it with health. People who have no insurance use whatever means they find, usually emergency rooms, to get care for their medical concerns.We don't have a health care system in the US. We have a sickness and medical/pharmaceutical model master controlled by corporate insurers who wield a heavy hand in already dertermining kind and amount of care. It's no wonder doctors create over-utilization; they want to keep up their income. A similar issue is related to why we...

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Posted in: Big Insurance,cost increase,medical care,natural health news,overutilization

Film Fest '09: Three Essential Documentaries About Food

Hypothetical situation: let’s say you’re teaching a junior high health class. Your arms are broken, so instead of giving notes, you’ve decided to show three movies that thoroughly explain the modern food industry. (Presumably, one of the kids will work the VCR. Or DVD player. Or whatever newfangled thingamabob they use these days.) What would those films be?This past weekend made the decision much easier for me, because the Husband-Elect and I caught an early screening of Food, Inc. in Manhattan. Without exaggeration, it changed the way we’ll eat from here on in. (Not too shabby for a Saturday matinee.) So there’s Movie #1.Afterwards, we rented...

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Posted in: Buying Food,Dining Out,Health

Will Health Care Reform Fall Short?

This morning I wrote the the House Ways & Means Committee with my comments on the medical insurance debate. This entire discussion is a fiasco because it is hanging on to the old paradigm. This is zero sum change folks!By James Ridgeway | Tue June 16, 2009, Mother JonesConfused about what's happening with health care reform? Join the club. After months of buildup, neither Congress nor the administration has produced a clear plan. Instead, the picture seems to get fuzzier every day. This doesn't bode well for President Barack Obama's commitment to create a "health care system that works for all of us."At the American Medical Association convention in Chicago on Monday, Obama called health care expenditures a "ticking time bomb" and related eloquent—but familiar—stories of families, small...

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Posted in: medical insurance,natural health news