The Laughing Cow Reshape Your Health Contest!

I recently was told about a new campaign by The Laughing Cow called Reshape Your Health. They're running a contest on their site in which the winner receives a fabulous makeover from The Laughing Cow which includes "a variety of amazing tools and resources to help [you] make a true life change toward a healthier, more balanced lifestyle".

I love The Laughing Cow and eat at least one wedge a day. Full disclosure, they did offer to send me some coupons in exchange for posting this announcement, but I would have posted it anyway. It's got a great prize! Check it out:

"Enter for a chance to win a full-blown personal health makeover from The Laughing Cow. Winner will receive a 6-month gym membership, 6-month supply of Mini Babybel and The Laughing Cow products, cool fitness gear, 1-on-1 video sessions with each of The Laughing Cow community leaders in the areas of fitness, food, nutrition and lifestyle, a spa gift package valued at $1,000, and more! *Deadline for entries is WED., FEBRUARY 16."

Here are the rules:

• TO ENTER, all a person needs to do is submit an application on our Facebook page (see contest tab – or link: http://www.facebook.com/LaughingCowFanPage?v=app_149046838481765&ref=ts) sharing with us their story about why they’d like to win a chance to ReShape Your Health, including the goals they hope to accomplish in 2011. Again, deadline to submit is FEBRUARY 16.
• Then, we’ll narrow it down to 10 finalists and, just as with our flavor personality contest, we’ll then post those 10 for the community to vote to pick the winner (voting on Facebook will launch in late February). 

I'd enter if I could! Though, I suspect now I'm ineligible. So be it, that's one more space for you to win. ;-)  Go forth and enter to win that makeover!

Is There Such a Thing as Decent Green Cookware?

A few years ago, I bought a set of orange, Teflon-coated non-stick cookware by Rachel Ray.  I love the design of the pots,as they're a little higher on the sides and the handles are silicon. They're my favorite pots and pans I've owned, but when Kathy told me about how Teflon releases toxins in the air a while back, I've been hesitant to use them. When I do, it's on med-low to cook eggs, but otherwise, I kind of avoid them. Total bummer.

I decided to get a set of "green" cookware so that I didn't have to worry about toxins. Some of you may know I have a bunny, Lulu, and while some of those toxins may not affect me, small animals can be quite sensitive, I learned. So I bought a set of Cuisinart Green Eco-Friendly Non-Stick Cookware.

At first, I thought they were the best thing since Teflon -- things slid right out of the pan and clean-up was a snap.  But despite following every cleaning request (no dishwasher, let cool before cleaning), the thrill was gone after about a week or two.  I noticed during cooking that my food started to stick, especially my egg whites, even when I used my Misto olive oil mister liberally and cooked at a medium to medium-low temperature. Allegedly, the non-stick coating they use is not toxic, but only if you don't cook at high temperatures, which also kind of sucks because sometimes, well, you just need to cook things on high.

You Mean Vitaminwater isn’t just Vitamins and Water?

I ran across this article from Eat, Drink and Be about a pending lawsuit filed by the health advocacy group Center for Science in the Public Interest, who say the drink label on Vitaminwater is misleading to consumers. Coca Cola (who owns Vitaminwater) tried to have the case dismissed out of court but the judge decided it would proceed.  I have to laugh and nod at this lawsuit for all the reasons you might think.  Yes, companies shouldn't mislead people into thinking they are buying a cow if the thing is barking like a dog.  But as a consumer I have to say "Whaaaaat?" I mean really.  I know most of what is out there on store shelves is just a bunch of crap with really good marketing.  McDonalds tries to make me think their McSalad is healthy and Wendy's tries to make me think their loaded baked potato is a better choice.  Even Planet Smoothie wants me to believe that I'm just buying myself a few servings of fruit. It's all about PR and Marketing and commercials and advertising and getting people in the door or the money out of their wallet.  I understand it.  I embrace it.  That's how business works.  We live in a world run by marketing.

But I also know that I am smart enough to realize that just because something says "vitamins" on it doesn't necessarily mean its JUST vitamins.  Coca Cola is a huge corporation and I've even purchased Vitaminwater before.  Not because I thought I was buying vitamins and water.  Because its a tasty beverage.  I'm pretty sure the Center for Science doesn't give consumers enough credit to know the difference.  However, I do think large companies have a responsibility to people to be truthful about their products.  Sometimes fine print isn't enough.  I don't think this warrants that Coca Cola change the name of the product though... they have already built a brand and I think most people know what they're buying (I hope). But they could be clearer on the label that there is also sugar , and lots of it.  32.5 grams in one 20-ounce bottle to be exact.

The lawsuit claims their labeling violates the FDA's requirements.  I doubt this will progress father than a settlement but we shall see.  Read Eat, Drink and Be's article on the subject.