Food Fraud: Lawn Grass in Tea Bags

Tea bags. Photo: SXC

Yesterday morning Good Morning America gave a shout out to buying whole foods. Why? Because food fraud is on the rise.

A report and investigation conducted by the U.S. Pharmacopeial Convention (USP) unveiled practices that don't seem too surprising: juices diluted with sugar, water and other juices and olive oil thinned with less expensive oils.

But, what caught my eye was the discovery of lawn grass and dried ferns in tea bags. Yuck! Thank goodness I take the time to make my own herbal tea blends at least 50 percent of the time.

Did you miss the report on Good Morning America? Watch it here:
EXCLUSIVE: Group Finds More Fake Ingredients in Popular Foods

If you've ever needed a push to buy whole, fresh unprocessed foods--this report might just be it! Are you working toward a healthier diet this year? Please let me know in the comments below how you're overhauling your grocery cart!

Until Next Time,
Choose Healthy!

Angela Tague
Whole Foods Living

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Arugula and Avocado Salad

My mouth-watering arugula and avocado salad.

The one good thing about these hot, dry days of summer is enjoying treats from the garden.

Thankfully a few of my friends are avid gardeners and love to share their produce.

(Thanks, Mandy & Jess!)

The other day I decided to play around in the kitchen with some fresh arugula. I've had the leafy greens in salads made with a blend of various lettuces, but this was the first time I've enjoyed arugula solo. It's sweet flavor with a peppery finish is definitely an acquired taste.

After playing with a few ingredients, I settled on making an arugula and avocado side salad to go with dinner. After rinsing the greens I added cubed avocado and slices of mozzarella cheese. Then I dressed the salad with a squeeze of fresh lime juice and a drizzle of olive oil. The creamy avocado was a perfect match for the arugula.

So, have you tried arugula? How do you like to eat it? I still have a few handfuls waiting the refrigerator, so I want to use it up soon!

Until Next Time,
Choose Healthy!

Angela Tague
Whole Foods Living

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My Love Affair with Olive Oil

If I could only have one item in my pantry, it'd be olive oil. Yes, really! This amazing nutrient-rich product is incredibly versatile in both the kitchen and the bathroom.

Olive oil. Photo courtesy Bluescreen, Morguefile.

I love using olive oil to saute vegetables, mix up a homemade salad dressing or drizzle over roasted vegetables.

The oil adds flavor (so you can leave the butter in the refrigerator) and healthy monounsaturated fatty acids to your diet. These good fats lower your risk of heart disease, lower cholesterol and help control blood sugar levels, according to the Mayo Clinic.

As a bonus, olive oil is amazing as a beauty product too. I use it to moisturize my legs after shaving, as a super nourishing hair conditioner and to hydrate dry, chapped lips. You can even use olive oil as a makeup remover!

How do you incorporate olive oil into your day?

Until Next Time,
Choose Healthy!

Angela Tague
Whole Foods Living

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