organic

This delicious vegetarian recipe comes from the OnSugar blog Econutritionist.

GREEN CURRY TOFU WITH RICE NOODLES
All recipe portion sizes serve 1 for easy and efficient meals.
Keep it simple. Eat smart. (TM)

Tofu is a terrific way to make your favorite meals without meat, and boost your phytosterol content for total health. Tofu is a very versatile protein-rich food. It takes on the flavor of whatever you are cooking it with. The NIH (National Institute of Health) recommends 2 grams of plant sterols per day to reduce your risk for cardiovascular disease. This delicious dish infuses the flavor of fine Indian cuisine and will warm your heart with an array of ayurvedic herbs to heal mind, body, and spirit. Buon appetito!

Health Tip: When shopping for tofu at the supermarket, always choose USDA certified organic to ensure that you avoid consuming tofu that is made from GMO soybeans (genetically modified organisms). GMO foods have been linked to cancer, sterility, and developmental disorders. Learn more about the dangers of GMO in the award-winning film: http://www.foodincmovie.com/.

Get the recipe when you keep reading.

I'm a big proponent of going natural when you can, but confused by the term "hippie" when it gets thrown around to talk about ecologically conscious products. There are instances where it can be funny, like this cute Stinky Hippie Body Wash ($13.50), whose illustrated "hippie" girl with fragrant underarm is meant to be amusing. However, a lot of times when people use the term it's pejorative, and suggestive of being not as clean or as well groomed as other people. This is despite the fact that most who use natural products actually take great care with their appearances.

I think being an actual hippie in the late 1960s could have been pretty cool, but I don't know about the term now, especially when it comes to cosmetics and personal care. What do you think? Is it rude to call someone a "hippie" just because they like eco-beauty, or is it just one of those terms that's connected to the green movement and unlikely to go away?

Most women consume a lot of lip balm over the course of a year, since we swallow several pounds of what we put on our lips. And if you're eating that much, it's nice to know your lip stuff is just as safe and natural as the veggies you chow down on.

Which is why certified organic lip balms are a good idea. They pass the USDA's rigorous standards, and only contain natural ingredients you'll probably have heard of before. They work just as well as regular balms and glosses, and the organic certification doesn't necessarily mean they cost more. So the next time you're thinking about picking up a balm at the drugstore, try looking for the USDA Organic seal, and check out the widget below to see some brands you can be looking for.

This question comes from Allisonberry in the Savvy Savings Challenge group.

My newest dilemma is whether to start shopping at stores like Wal-Mart that are now offering local, organic produce. I've always been a Whole Foods and Trader Joe's junkie, but if they're offering the same products at half the price...should I make the transition over to the dark side? Which is more important: take a stand against unfair labor practices, or satisfy my wallet? What do you think about this topic?

Share your savings updates and tips in the Savvy Savings Challenge group!

What's new with the White House garden following its fame on Iron Chef America? A video recently released by the White House reveals some interesting facts that you may not have guessed. Despite two huge blizzards and over two feet of snow, the garden survived the Winter to yield spinach, turnips, arugula, lettuce, and carrots.

Top White House garden tender Sam Kass attributed this past Winter's success to plastic hoophouses, which trapped daytime heat to prevent freezing at night. He also revealed that the Spring garden will produce leeks, garlic, and peas, and that the garden is being expanded at the request of First Lady Michelle Obama. Learn more, after the jump.

Today, the publisher of Consumer Reports and the Organic Consumers Association filed a petition with the Federal Trade Commission. They're asking for action against the widespread false use of the word "organic" on beauty, skin care, and personal care products.

Makes sense, since many beauty products claim to be organic or natural when they're actually nothing of the sort. The OCA is also concerned that by blatantly misusing the word "organic," irresponsible personal care companies are destroying consumer trust in the idea of organics as a whole.

What do you think? Should cosmetic and personal care companies be held to the same standard as farmers and manufacturers? And do you trust the term "organic" less because of the way it's thrown around?

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