Yumbutter G0
Get some crazy nutritious, mouth-rockin’ delicious energy.
Adrian Reif and Matt D’Amour, co-founders of Yumbutter – world-changing nut butters – have a dream: to nourish the world while running the world’s most responsible food company. To accomplish these goals, they set out to make some of the most delicious and nutritious nut butters – peanut, almond, and sunflower – with wholesome ingredients that nourish on-the-go because eating nut butters out of a jar isn’t easy outside the home. Read more 
McDonald’s and the Mercy Medical Center
From the start, we’ve been committed to doing the right thing. And we’ve got the policies, programs and practices in place that allow us to use our size and scope to help make a difference. Because what’s good for us, is good for us all. ~McDonald’s
Mercy. Excellence every day in every way. ~Mercy Medical Center
Have you ever wondered why a McDonald’s would ever be located within a medical center or hospital? I have and can only guess that the answer must be related to money, job security, or incompetence. Why else would a facility dedicated to health and saving lives ever allow a fast food chain known for the Big Mac (540 calories, 28 grams of fat, 970 grams of sodium), French Fries* (510 calories, 24 grams of fat, 290 grams of sodium), and Coca Cola* (280 calories, 76 grams of sugar) – which coincidently is also known as the “Extra Value Meal” – on their premises? Read more
Noah’s Raw Chocolate
The Raw Chocolate Man (aka Noah Nicolas Loin) hails from Fairfield, Iowa – a small city in southeast Iowa known for innovation. Surrounded by farms growing corn and soybeans along with cattle and hog operations, Fairfield is not a city where most people expect to find an abundance of start-ups, including software and development companies, an international center for TM (Transcendental Meditation), and Noah’s Raw Chocolate – a company committed to making raw chocolate desserts that also happen to be non-GMO, dairy free, gluten-free, organic, and delicious. Read more
“Relish”
Graphic novels are not traditional literature, but that does not mean they are second-rate. Images are a way of writing. When you have the talent to be able to write and to draw, it seems a shame to choose one. I think it’s better to do both. ~Marjane Satrapi
Several months ago, my daughter told me she was reading a graphic novel and I’m ashamed to admit I thought she was reading a book with a triple “X” rating attached to it. Always trying to be open-minded, I asked a few questions and realized a graphic novel is simply a novel in comic strip format. Totally embarrassed by my ignorance, I made a note to self: stay better informed of current trends in young adult culture. Read more
Tolerant Foods Organic Pastas
Looking for a great source of organic and gluten-free plant-based protein? Consider pasta made by Tolerant Foods, a company crazy about the health benefits and taste of legumes (beans, lentils, peas, and garbanzos). With three different types of pasta – penne, rotini, and mini fettucine – made from either organic black beans or organic red lentils, there is a noodle for everyone. Read more
Jeff’s Naturals: Olives
Delicious shelf-stable olives from small family farms in Sicily, Greece, and Spain are now available through Jeff’s Naturals – a California-based company specializing in jarred Mediterranean products free of preservatives, stabilizers, artificial colors, flavors and sulfites. With seven types of jarred olives in the company’s product line, Jeff’s Naturals appeals to a wide variety of those who love their olives plain, stuffed, or sliced. Read more
Banning the Word “Strategic”
We have a strategic plan. It’s called doing things. ~Herb Kelleher
Strategic is one of those words that stop most people in their tracks. It’s a wow word, as in powerful, especially when used in conjunction with other words: strategic plan, strategic advice, strategic research, strategic communication, strategic marketing, strategic management, strategic innovation, strategic goals, strategic direction, strategic leadership, and my personal favorite: strategic partnership or alliance (what is so novel about working with other people, teams, or companies?). Read more
Paul’s Grains
Paul’s Grains is a hidden gem in a land of few jewels. Most farmers in Iowa grown genetically modified corn and soybeans but Paul’s Grains has been growing a variety of grains (spelt, barley, buckwheat, oats, corn, soybeans, millet, flax seed,quinoa, and more) without chemical fertilizers since 1964.
Going against the grain, Wayne and Betty Paul purchased 160 acres of land in a small town in central Iowa called Laurel. After graduating from Iowa State University with a degree in agriculture, Wayne was introduced to chemical-free farming using healthy, natural fertilizers for weed and insect control, which is how it’s been done for 51 years. Read more
“The Widow’s Children”
But once in the world, she learned everyone’s lesson – families were not as they seemed, she grew artful in spotting the cracks in domestic facades. Wasn’t everyone damaged….
For many years, a book – The Widow’s Children – sat on a shelf in my bookcase untouched because I had read that the author – Paula Fox – tended toward the somber although many critics consider Fox one of the greatest writers of the 20th century. Most of Fox’s works were published in the 1960’s, 70’s, and 80’s, so many of her books are out of print which means Fox is not as well-known as she was 30 years ago. Read more
Harvest Grains Summer Salad
Harvest Grains Blend from Trader Joe’s is a quick cooking blend of couscous, orzo pasta, baby garbanzo beans, and red quinoa. Combined with fresh vegetables, sweet Marzano plum tomatoes, avocado, a bit of olive oil, lemon juice, and dill, the cooked grain blend is the perfect base for a light and refreshing side dish for summertime meals. From stove to table in 20 minutes, the Harvest Grains Summer Salad is a delicious blend of textures and flavors that goes with nearly any dish placed on the table. Read more
Paddock Post 