Reflections

The little coincidences in life are quite amusing. In line with my current thoughts on diet, I was looking for an alternative to refined sugar in my diet. Honey is quite good, but is not suitable for every recipe IMO. I think I found a replacement, though, and in the process got something of a tacit endorsement for this line of thinking.

"Sugar in the Raw: Natural Cane Turbinado Sugar from Hawaii". Apparently our local Walmart sells it. (I learned this while doing an inventory there. We get an hour for lunch there, double what we get anywhere else, so I spent some time exploring what they sell in their grocery section after I finished eating.) The box also listed a website, http://www.sugarintheraw.com

Now, I know it's not too surprising that a sugarcane product would come from Hawaii, but the coincidence of it actually being on the label that way, given both my Huna studies and which individuals I tend to most associate with the idea of changing/improving my diet, gives it a rather interesting significance for me.

I'm also doing more reading on the subject of diet. Archiving links here, for those who are interested:

1. http://www.chekinstitute.com/articles.cfm?select=42
2. http://www.mercola.com/2005/feb/16/organic_food.htm
3. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/2814253.stm
4. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/568386.stm
5. http://www.newstarget.com/005547.html
6. http://www.annecollins.com/lactose-in-processed-foods.htm <- Lactose being in products specifically marketed as nondairy is of especial interest.
7. http://www.kidsregen.org/families/family.php?section=famFeature&status=1
8. http://www.newint.org/issue135/keynote.htm
9. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4185366
10. http://www.columbia.edu/cu/record/archives/vol21/vol21_iss17/record2117.22.html
11. http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_7-3-2003_pg7_14

It also occurs to me that a move towards non-processed food (also commonly known as slow foods, or whole foods, and closely connected with the organic food movement) might be nicely complimented by the practice of growing one's food when possible. For this, I am reminded of some old research I did on the subject of sustainable development which led me to the practice of Square Foot Gardening. Reference links below:

1. http://www.squarefootgardening.com/
2. http://www.hdra.org.uk/organicgardening/gh_sqft.htm
3. http://www.squarefootgardening.org.uk/
4. http://www.annwn.com/garden/squarefoot.shtml
5. http://www.farmerbrown.org/sqft.html
6. http://www.mnsi.net/~jhlavac/gardening/squarefoot.htm

I may at some point adapt the concept of square foot gardening for a windowsill garden or something similar for a future apartment. It would have the benefits of providing food (I would grow fruits and vegetables primarily) at little cost, reducing our grocery bill, and also be rather enjoyable and attractive... plants of any sort tend to enliven a living area with their presence, energies, and aromas.