Y. Breyn's blog

Last summer I was given the great opportunity to work at Godman Guild in the Weinland Park Community Garden (WPCG) as an assistant supervisor to 15 youth in their Summer Teen Employment Program (S.T.E.P.) used to employ hundreds of youth at different job sites around the Columbus area. In this position last year I had the pleasure of meeting a lady who is now MY supervisor here at Local Matters (Trish). She saw the dedication that I had to the kids in the program and thought that I would be a great fit as a Food Educator.

So now, a year later, as school days have ended, I started my transition back to Godman Guild for work in the WPCG now as SUPERVISOR. (whoo hoo!)

Local Matters believes that a well informed citizen can make a difference in Ohio legistlation and other levels of change in our respective localities. Because of this we have launched a "Vote With Your Fork" campaign in hopes to educate fellow Central Ohioans to know what is going on with their food sources and so that they understand what changes need to be made in their best interest.

With the current state of health in America and our obesity epidemic, Ohio has a difficult decision to make.

Studies show (Click here for Princeton study) that while caloric entake may be the same, high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) definitely plays a part in obesity compared to sugar. So where does Ohio come in you ask?

Ok, so patriotism is for some, a sliding scale depending on who we have in civic, state, and federal offices. For others, there is no other way to imagine life than with their flag waving on the front porch and "Proud to be an American" blaring on continuous loop in the background. Now, I'm not saying that either is right, do you. But, I do want to give you food for thought, (and a recipe for food for your tummy!)

So, in keeping up with Earth Day celebrations and spring time planting, I have been getting ready (and have started already) to plant flowers and edible plants in my back and front yards. I also have the desire to start a compost pile next to my garage. My fear, having seen many stray cats, oppossums, and raccoons in my neighborhood, is that they will tear into it (the compost pile) scattering my pile into the alley behind my house and create a HUGE mess.

So as many of the people who stumble or regularly read this blog know, Earth Day is near, and as always, Local Matters has some opportunities for you to do your part. Buckeye Forest Council, Green Columbus, and Rainforest Action Network are planting 10,000 trees  between Saturday and Sunday April 17-18. 

Local Matters will be planting Community Gardens at Lincoln Park Elementary (where I'll be!), ECLC (Early Childhood Learning Center on Rudy Rd), and ECEFC (Early Childhood Education of Franklin County on Johnstown Rd.)

Many of us have our food vices, something that we totally love and can't get enough of.  Most times, these vice foods are those that are of the fatty sort: Ice cream, chocolate, potato chips, etc. Now, studies have shown that we are not able to help ourselves and also, it may, over time, take more of these foods to create the same satisfaction.

According to a study by Scripps Research Institute, fatty foods activate the pleasure centers in the brain. But as with everything it has a peak. Some times while eating, we "peak" which makes it so that it will take more of the same food to create the same pleasure. This addictive quality happens to be how cocaine and heroin affect the body as well making fat just as addicting and dangerous.

For more information on this VERY INTERESTING research

In the midst of the Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution and the Local Matters movement, we have been bombarded with a deluge of information of what is better for us to eat and why. But, most of us may not see the links to a student's home life and what they are eating for lunch and how important this link is.

While we encourage packing your child's lunch (at least until all schools have the Healthy Options program) to know what is going into their little tummies, during a time of recession, many public school goers are not able to do so. With parents laid off from jobs and some jobs cutting back, schools lunches are some parents' mealtime saviors.

So, no matter what side of this oh so controversial debate on whether or not we should have universal healthcare for those who can't afford it, there are some things that are about to change in our country. While some changes are immediate, some will take years to implement, this signing makes it so that health insurance companies will care more about YOUR health because they are not allowed to deny coverage.

For those of you that have read my post on Michael Pollan's new book, I spoke alittle about how there is a synergy between food companies and the health insurance industry:

" 'Cheap foods have a high cost paid by the public health system,'

So, as for living in Ohio, we most definitely get all four seasons, and most recently we have gotten a taste of spring. Not only that, we have "sprung" forward an hour this weekend, so has Spring Really Sprung?

I wasn't so sure waking up to mid-40 degree weather this Monday morning, but since the weather has made me bust out my lighter jackets instead of my parka (those are needed in Ohio @ times) my nose has been telling me, "Yes," along with the two Rose of Sharon bushes in front of my house that have started budding.

In lieu of my constant need of tissues, here is a SHOUT OUT to all of my allergy sufferers out there...

You know who you are with your red noses and puffy eyes...

This one's for you...

March is Women's History Month and has been since 1987 when Congress declared it. (Man, I was only 3!) Some people don't really celebrate it, forgetting that none of us would be here if it weren't for some woman!

Historically, women have been seen as the gentler of sexes and have been historically prone to many diseases that don't affect men as signifigantly. These diseases are heart disease, cancers and stroke to name a few. More can be found here. And they can all be prevented (outside of genetic predeterminants) ith small lifestyle changes. Most of these changes have to do with what we put INTO our bodies (And yes, that includes our diet)

Women, we can change the course of history and take out many of these preventable diseases before they make US history!