The halloween swaps we’re making this year

It's Halloween 2023, and we are thrilled to say we've finally reached a time where cleaned-up candy is moving in the right direction: Chocolate made of ethically and organically sourced cocoa. Lollipops tinted with natural turmeric over toxic coloring. Gummies sweetened with real fruit juice. We're thanking the cleaner food stars. Even the Halloween costume accessories that lurked toxins for years (we see you face paint!) are on offer with gentler ingredients. 

Whether you're new to the Trick-or-Treating circuit or a veteran, the following are our favorites for letting the little ones indulge for a bit. Of course, these aren’t perfect, but we feel good that the awareness is growing, and greater options are becoming more mainstream.

HALLOWEEN CANDY:

SmartSweets Gummy Bears and Gummy Worms

Cocomels

UNREAL Candy

That’s It Fruit Bars (100% fruit)

Yumi Bars

Maple Candy

ACCESSORIES:

Mineral Based Face Paint

DIY Washable and Non-Toxic Fake Blood:

Organic Cotton Kids Costumes:

Organic Cotton Scrunchies:

Organic Cotton Halloween Socks:

BPA Free Slap Bracelets:

Made in USA Non-Toxic Halloween Pencils:

Trick or Treat Bags:

Lab-Grown Chicken Is Legal—and It’s Coming to Restaurants. Here’s What to Know

In June, United States regulators approved the sale of chicken meat made from animal cells for human consumption. The decision was history-making, positioning the U.S. as the second country in the world (after Singapore) to allow lab-grown meat, also known as cultivated meat, to land on our plates. It's a dizzying change that opens a new food frontier. That’s why staying informed and vigilant is essential. 

Lab Grown Chicken: What Is It?

Scientists have been working on cultivating meat in labs since the early 1990s, but only in the last decade have they made significant headway. (A wildly expensive "burger" made of lab-grown beef tissue made headlines in 2013 when someone consumed it at a press conference in London.) They use extracted cells from an animal's body and multiply them to produce a substance that mirrors the flesh of that animal—chicken cells in this recent approval. 

The USDA has given clearance to two companies, Good Meat and Upside Foods, to sell their cultivated lab-grown chicken to restaurants and elsewhere for consumer consumption. Both Good Meat and Upside Foods laud their products for resembling the taste and texture of real chicken. 

Why Is Lab-Grown Meat on the Market?

As with any new product, there are skeptics and advocates. Those in favor of lab-grown meat say it is a substantial stride in the movement toward reducing the greenhouse gas emissions linked to the poultry and meat industry and reducing the widespread cruelty toward animals raised for food. Uma Valeti, the chief executive of Upside Foods, told various media outlets that its mission is to provide an ethical meat option. "It's a giant step towards a more sustainable future–one that preserves choice and life," said Valeti in a mass statement. "We are excited to launch with our signature, whole-textured Upside chicken and can't wait for consumers to taste the future." 

Those against lab-grown meat have stated concerns over whether the meat will, in fact, offer any reduction in energy- and environment-depleting resources that will better the environment. There are also giant questions highlighting health and nutrition concerns and whether lab-grown meat is actually meat or an edible substance created by scientists.

When Will We See Lab-Grown Meat?

Experts in the food industry say it may take more than a year or two to see lab-grown meat on the shelves in grocery stores. Still, it could find its way into restaurants way sooner. Various media have reported that Bar Crenn, an upscale restaurant in San Francisco, will soon serve Upside Food's "chicken,” weaving it into its dishes. What is chilling, in truth, is that there are no rules mandating that restaurants disclose whether the chicken they use is lab-grown.

The PrimaFoodie Take on Lab-Grown Meat

Like everything else food-related, we are concerned about transparency. We have a right to know everything about the chicken (and any food) we consume: whether it was raised ethically and organically, injected with antibiotics, laced with chemicals, and (now) created in a lab by people in white coats. 

Asking questions is the most critical step to staying informed about our food. When ordering or buying chicken, consider the following:

• Ask the server or restaurant owner where they source the chicken for their dishes. You can be as specific as to ask if the chicken is organically or conventionally raised or lab-grown. Still, it is critical to note again: Restaurants do not have to disclose where they get their meat or if their meat is lab-grown. 

• Ask the vendors at the farmers market if they grow their chickens, and if so, what practices they follow. 

• Read your labels closely. The USDA's rules around lab-grown labeling are in the works, although both Good Meat and Upside Foods have stated they will label their products as "cell-cultivated" meat. 

By asking these questions, you'll be empowered to make the best decision for you and your family as to whether a food is healthy for you. 

We'll be asking these questions non-stop—and when we come across lab-grown meat, we'll politely decline to save room for the real and organic chicken. 

Here’s Why a CSA Can Change Your Kitchen Game

The main appeal of a CSA box delivery is straightforward: Each week, a bounty of fruits and vegetables (and often meats and eggs) arrives at your door. They’re fresh. They’re local. They’re in season. What’s not to love?

But take a closer look, and the benefits of joining a CSA—which stands for Community Supported Agriculture—greatly exceed mere convenience. This box of goods cultivated by a local farm provides another way to support conscious small producers and ensure the freshest produce lands in your kitchen. Simply put, it can be a game-changer.  

The 5 Upsides to a CSA Box

#1: Local Farmer Support

We think of a CSA as the delivered version of the farmers’ market. The fruits and veggies that land here are local and  from smaller farmers within your region. This proximity eradicates the middle players, which means the profits go into the farmers’ pockets. Signing up for a CSA box will open up your knowledge of local farms in your area.

#2: Fresh and Seasonal Produce

A CSA’s fruits and vegetables come from local farmers, not from across state or nation lines.  This means everything in terms of freshness because the produce is plucked at peak ripeness, not weeks prior to make up for long ship and grocery store display times. It also ensures the bounty you get is always in-season.

#3: Endless Surprises and Discoveries

The seasonality of a CSA box is like an evolving game of guess-the-vegetable. Aside from the consistent produce stalwarts, like squashes in fall and stone fruits in summer, you never totally know what you’re going to get each week—which is part of the fun. This mystery is also a way to discover heirloom varieties and relatively unknown and obscure produce that rarely (if ever) makes it to the grocery store shelves. (Note: Some farmers are getting more active on Instagram, thus updating their CSA box devotees on what produce to expect that week.)

#4: Meal-Time Inspiration

We admit: The unknown aspect may be a bit daunting, particularly if you don’t know how to cook a certain vegetable. But rather than thinking that you must create an entire meal out of a rutabaga, think more in terms of additions and swaps. A few PrimaFoodie favorite for unique veggies includes: making fresh “noodles” from celeriac root to pair with your favorite sauce; lightly steaming kohlrabi and topping with ghee and sea salt to go with a main protein; and adding any starchy vegetable to a purée to top a turkey leg. (If you’re seeking more ideas, send us a note on Instagram!)

Getting Started

Every farm operates its CSA program uniquely, meaning the offerings, schedule, costs, and delivery methods will vary. To ensure you find a CSA box that fits what you’re looking for, consider the following

• Do some sleuthing—this can mean asking friends or inquiring with farmers at the farmers’ market—to catch wind of available and respected CSA box delivery options near you. LocalHarvest.org is an excellent online directory for finding nearby CSA farmers. Simply input your zip code to their directory to find local options near you.

• Inquire—just like you’re at the farmers’ market. Before opting into a CSA delivery, make sure the farm is aligned with your values. Don’t be shy about calling, emailing, or sending a message via social media to ask about their farming methods and how they treat their animals. Some farms also let you opt in for one box before committing to something regular.  

3 Ways to Fight for a Healthier Food System

First, the dark truth: We know the food system in the U.S. is broken. Copious food is left wasted each year while millions face food insecurity. People are sick from diet-related issues. Animals in factory farms suffer abuse. There is a lack of access to fresh foods. These examples, as well as the others we’ve written about, are unsettling.

What is even more disturbing is the fact that these issues are not natural occurrences. They’re entirely human-caused. You can’t look at any of these problems without seeing the direct line to the giant corporations set on one goal: profit. As dark as this is, acknowledging this fact opens the gate for the light: We can fight back.

We don’t say this lightly. Fighting the massive corrupt food system is a gigantic battle. Policies need to change, as do allowances for systemic corruption and moneyed lobbyists. But pushing back and fighting for a world in which the way we grow, source, and distribute our food is equitable and humane is a feat we cannot avoid—and it takes every one of us.

Considering all time and financial budgets, here are three ways to start.

1.)   Shop the farmers’ market. It’s more nutritious. It’s tastier. It’s even more fun. But that’s not the only reason we always tout shopping at your farmers’ market. Getting your produce, meats, and other goods from local farmers and purveyors means you’re putting dollars in their pockets rather than in the bank accounts of Walmart and Tyson. It comes down to supply and demand. Take the power out of the giants’ hands and back into those who care.

2.)   Shop small. It’s common and disheartening: You pick up an “organic” food item thinking you’re making the healthier choice. Then you look closely and see the name ‘ConAgra’ on the label. A handful of corrupt food giants have a monopoly on the foods available in markets, including those labeled as organic, natural, and the like. It can be hard to avoid these companies all together, but sourcing some staples from small, local, independently owned brands can help to take some wind out of the giants’ sails. It’s also a way to connect with your community. (Note: If you’re looking for tips on small brands to shop in your city, send us a note and we’ll sleuth some finds for our next Conscious Small Brands Guide.)

3.)   Support the organizations doing the legwork. A varied mix of non-profits and other organizations are working to fight corporate control and food injustice. The Institute for Local Self Reliance, which focuses on empowering local business, and The Human League, which fights for humane and just food practices, are two endeavors doing noble work. Supporting their efforts can come in many forms, such as signing up for their newsletters, following them on social media, making a donation, or signing a petition.

Curious to learn more about sustainable food systems? Join Nichole and ethnoecologist Robin Currey for their conversation on food resilience, local sourcing, and more at our upcoming HEAL with PrimaFoodie Summer Health Summit. Learn more and get your tickets HERE.

A Look at Regenerative Agriculture—and 3 Reasons Why It Matters for Everyone

For the past several decades, agricultural research has presented a startling trend: The nutrition content of the fruits and vegetables we grow in the US has been declining. Vitamins, proteins, and minerals have dropped—in some crops by approximately 50 percent since the 1950s.

The reasons for this point to the way we grow and cultivate fruits and vegetables today. Industrialized farming is extractive and harmful. These methods put an emphasis on higher yields, which fuels the use of toxic chemicals and the implementation of other egregious practices. The consequences of this is great suffering. The Earth’s soil is becoming more and more depleted (resulting in greater carbon dioxide levels in the air). Our fruits and vegetables are lacking nutrients. And humanity’s health is suffering.

Farmer Lee Jones sees—and lives—part of the solution. The head farmer at The Chef’s Garden, his family farm in Ohio, Farmer (as he’s called) practices regenerative agriculture, a method of farming that works to honor the Earth, rebuild soil and biodiversity, and reverse the detriments of climate change. Rather than solely extracting from the land, regenerative farming is about “rebuilding, regrowth, and rebirth,” as Farmer puts it, so that all stakeholders—people, animals, and planet—are honored. It focuses on “healthy soil, healthy vegetables, healthy people, healthy environment,” he says.

But again, this is only part of the solution. The other (arguably just as critical) part focuses on us: Consumers need to create the demand for regenerative farming and the produce it yields. The following points provide a jolt of awareness to get us all supporting better practices.

3 Reasons to Support Regenerative Agriculture

1. This method can rebuild the nutrients in our fruits and vegetables. Farmer’s work at The Chef’s Garden is proof. “What we’re seeing is nutrient levels of 300 to 500 times higher than the USDA average,” he says of his and his family’s yields.

2. Our health depends on it. “We produce food cheaper than any other country in the world yet we have the highest healthcare [costs],” says farmer. By continuing to support industrialized farming methods we are continuing to deprive ourselves of clean, nutrient-dense food, which puts our immunity and health at risk. 

3. The flavor and taste of our food will improve. Research shows that over the last 50-plus years, consumers’ satisfaction from fruits and vegetables have plummeted because of a decline in taste and texture. Regenerative methods will not only bolster nutrient content; it will bring the sweetness and snap back to fresh peas and the juiciness to just-picked tomatoes.

As Farmer says, “we didn’t get into this mess overnight and we’re not going to fix it overnight. What we can do is educate ourselves, share our knowledge, and “get out to the farmers markets” and support the farmers and efforts that are working in the right direction. 

Let’s all create the demand.