Newsletter Archive

• 2 Tbs olive oil
  
• 1 medium onion, chopped
  
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
  
• 8 cups water or broth
  
• 2 cups chopped carrots
  
• 2 cups chopped celery
  
• 1 28 oz can diced tomatoes
  
• 1 tsp dried oregano
  
• 2 tsp salt
  
• 1 ½ Tbs red chili powder

• 3 cups Mexican-style cooked golden hominy (available in the ethnic foods section of most supermarkets), drained and rinsed (or substitute cooked corn).
• Garnishes (optional)--tortilla chips, lime wedges, chopped onions, cilantro, dried oregano, cubed avocado, crumbled queso fresco

• 2 cups lentils
• 1 Tbs extra virgin olive oil
• 1 large onion, chopped coarsely
• 12 cups raw spinach, washed thoroughly and chopped coarsely
• 2 cups vegetable stock
• 2/3 cup fresh mint, chopped
• 3 cloves minced fresh garlic
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• salt and pepper to taste
• plain yogurt (cow, goat, or soy) or feta cheese

• LAPTOP LUNCHES are great for encouraging friends and family members to waste less, spend less, and eat well. Check out our new line of products at www.laptoplunches.com/products.html.
  
  

• Native Organic Cotton manufactures quality organic cotton bed and bath products. They contract with small family-owned American farmers for U.S. Certified organic cotton. Native Cotton manages to make organics affordable by selling direct to the consumer. Their motto? "From the Dirt to the Shirt." Click on the logo to visit them online at www.nativeorganic.com.

• "Hand Made, Home Made, Maine Made" GRANDY OATS is an organic treat, created in the foothills of the White Mountains by company founders, Aaron Anker and Nat Peirce. Grandy Oats makes all of their bulk and packaged granolas, roasted nuts, and trail mixes by hand, using quality organic ingredients. If you'd like to try it, they're offering our readers a 15% discount. To take advantage of this offer, call or place your order online and then send an email to info@grandyoats.com asking them to apply the 15% Laptop Lunches discount to your order.

We tried some of their granola at the Green Festival last month and took some home to the kids, and it was a tremendous hit--perfect for lunch as a yogurt & fruit topping.

GrandyOats has been making granola since 1979. The business has grown, but they remain committed to quality living and environmentally and socially friendly, sustainable business practices. Check them out online at www.grandyoats.com.

The Truth About Plastics

Plastics have become an integral part of our everyday lives. They're unbreakable, light weight, colorful, inexpensive, and easy to mold. But recent studies have shown that some plastics may cause adverse health effects, especially to children whose small bodies are still developing. While much of the evidence concerning plastics and food is still inconclusive, we'd like to provide you with some guidelines for using plastics safely.

CHOOSE FOOD GRADE PLASTICS. Choose food and drink containers that have been FDA-approved for food use. Plastic items not intended for contact with food might contain harmful materials. (Our plastics have all been FDA-approved for food use.)

CLEAN CONTAINERS THOROUGHLY. Thorough cleaning between uses prevents bacteria from growing.

MICROWAVE RESPONSIBLY. Never heat food in plastic containers not intended for food use. If you microwave in plastics, make sure the containers are FDA-approved for microwave use. Choose polyethylene or polypropylene, which do not contain plasticizers. Do not microwave in polystyrene (Styrofoam), single-use plastic containers, or plastic wrap.

STORE FOOD SAFELY. Let food cool completely and then immediately store it in the refrigerator. Pack hot foods and drinks in vacuum lunch jars and flasks. (See www.laptoplunches.com/products.html for examples.)

PURCHASE THE SAFEST PLASTICS AVAILABLE. Plastics can be identified by their recycle codes 1-7. The following is a summary of what we know about plastic safety and recyclability:

BEST CHOICES:

#5 - Polypropylene (PP) has no known adverse health effects. (All plastic Laptop Lunch containers are made of high quality PP.)

#2 - High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) has no known adverse health effects.

#4 - Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE) has no known adverse health effects.

WORST CHOICES:

#3 - Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) often contains plasticizers which are added for flexibility. PVC contains phthalates and other suspected endocrine disrupters. PVC is used in many products including plastic wrap, bottles, and children's toys. Some PVC contains lead. PVC is difficult to recycle because of its high chlorine content and high levels of toxic additives. Separation and collection costs are high, material quality is greatly reduced after recycling, and the demand for virgin PVC remains high compared to the recycled material.

#6 - Polystyrene (Styrofoam) contains suspected carcinogens and endocrine disrupting chemicals. Consuming fatty foods or alcoholic drinks from these containers is not recommended. Polystyrene is generally not recyclable.

#7 - Polycarbonate (PC) contains Bisphenol-A, a known hormone disruptor. It can damage reproductive organs and have adverse effects on breast tissue and prostate development. PC, or lexan, is used in some Nalgene brand water bottles (the hard colorful ones), some baby bottles, and in the lining of some aluminum cans. It is also found in dental fillings and sealants, including some used to prevent tooth decay in children.

#1 - Polyethylene Terephthalate (PETE or PET) is used mostly in single-use drink bottles--like those containing water, soda, and juice. These bottles are not intended for re-use and should not be stored for long periods of time or exposed to heat. While these bottles are highly recyclable, in reality few actually make it to the recycling center. According to the Container Recycling Institute, in fact, 50 billion single-use plastic bottles are used annually, but only 10 billion are recycled. The other 40 billion end up in landfills, incinerators or as roadside litter. Please make the switch to a reusable bottle.

We hope that this information will help you make educated purchasing decisions. Please keep in mind that research on these materials is ongoing. We will make every effort to update this article at www.laptoplunches.com/newsletters/DecemberNewsletter_2005.html as we learn more.

Is there a hybrid vehicle in your future? Visit www.hybridcenter.org for a list of all hybrids on the market. Learn to differentiate between a "full hybrid" and a "hollow hybrid." Find out how various hybrid vehicles measure up, and which ones might fit into your lifestyle. They've got detailed comparisons of hybrid technologies, reviews, comments from current hybrid owners around the nation, and a list of all federal and state incentives for prospective hybrid owners.