Sweet As Honey
Let’s talk about honey this morning. Our good friends, Josh and Danielle, brought Mal and I a lovely jar of honey from their recent trip to Vermont. I’ve always really liked honey, but I rarely ate it– mostly because it’s relatively high in calories. However, I recently discovered just how great honey is for you. In addition to it’s wonderful, sweet taste, it provides a number of health benefits:
- Raw Honey is an anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-fungal substance
- Boosts the immune system
- Help retain calcium in the body
- May promote better blood sugar control
- Raises blood levels of protective antioxidant compounds
- Improves athletic performance
- Heals wounds
- Helpful for those with high cholesterol, Type 2 diabetes
- Acts as an effective cough suppressant for children
More in-depth information from the Whole Foods website:
An International Symposium Discusses Likely Benefits of Honey
So, honey is awesome. Eat lots of it! 
Breakfast
Breakfast this morning included a whole slew of autumn-y ingredients: pumpkin seeds, dried cranberries, pumpkin butter, walnuts, honey, and almond milk. I added a small amount of honey to my oats (2 tsp), and it actually sweetened them up quite a bit. It was just the right amount of natural sweetness.
Also with my oats was a big ol’ scoop of Barney Butter… just one scoop today!
Coffee brewing in action at the office…
I made myself a Sumatra mug with vanilla soy milk and agave nectar this morning.
Al Gore is the Man!
I was lucky to have the opportunity to hear Al Gore speak about environmental sustainability in Harvard Yard yesterday afternoon. Gore’s visit officially launched the University’s pledge to dramatically reduce its emissions of greenhouse gases. The main message of his speech was that it is time to find ways to make better use of knowledge to save the global environment.
I’ve always been a huge fan of Al Gore. Most people know him as a politician and businessman, but don’t realize that he has devoted a good portion of his life to saving the environment and spreading the message about global warming. Al Gore is a 1969 graduate of Harvard University. He studied government at Harvard, but in an elective course, he first learned about the problem of global warming… a very “inconvenient truth” at the time.
The man himself…
My favorite quote from Gore’s speech yesterday (in regards to global warming): “It’s almost absurd to imagine that we, the human race, could make a decision as a species. But that is in fact the challenge before us right now.” It kind of hits home, doesn’t it?
The Foodbuzz 24: 24 Meals, 24 Hours, 24 Blogs
To celebrate the launch of the Foodbuzz Publisher Community, FB enlisted the help of our first-ever 24, 24, 24 group of Featured Publishers to create meals around the globe. From San Francisco to Sydney: 24 Meals, 24 Hours, 24 Blogs. Check out the video!
Question of the Day
Another Halloween-related question…
Are you planning to dress up for Halloween? If so, what is your potential costume?
Posted by: Tina 34 comments
Posted in: Uncategorized
Tags: dried cranberries, honey, pumpkin butter, pumpkin seeds
on Oct 23rd, 2008 at 10:33 am
yay gore!
im probably going to skip the costume this year… it’s a money sucker and i just cant afford it.
bah, humbug!
on Oct 23rd, 2008 at 10:48 am
I really want to be something totally obnoxious like a cow or one of those M&M’s..but i dont want to spend a ton of money on it..ugh. oh well.
as for honey…i remember my dad would put honey and whiskey together when i had a cough. i wasn’t fond of it at all but it always worked.
on Oct 23rd, 2008 at 10:53 am
For our Halloween party tomorrow I’m going to be Raggedy Ann, a party next week I’ll be Sarah Palin, and on the day of my roommate and I are going to be little old ladies! We’re pretty close already….
on Oct 23rd, 2008 at 11:03 am
Sooo jealous you got to hear him speak! I bet it was amazing.
As for Halloween costumes..I have no idea! I know for the work party, our office is going to go as a Softball Team. We organize adult sports leagues, and have a whole bunch of “league champ” t-shirts left over! We are just going to throw them on over our work clothes. Not very creative, but cheap!
on Oct 23rd, 2008 at 11:08 am
I love honey. I have to say I’ve come to appreciate it more now that I’ve done more research and become smarter about it. I read somewhere (I think a Cooking Light issue) about the different types of honey and have come to discover they really do taste different. Right now I have a bottle of buckwheat honey I got from the Minnesota State Fair. I haven’t had it lately because it is vegan month but it is dark in color and has an almost molasses like flavor.
And as for my costume like Katie I will be going as Sarah Palin and my bf is going as “The First Dude.” I have to get going on making him his sash (he requested it).
on Oct 23rd, 2008 at 11:15 am
Im definitely going to be dressing up! Im going to be Velma from Scooby Doo! Cheap costume I already wear the glasses and pretty much have the “jinkies” down! What about you tina, what are your plans?
on Oct 23rd, 2008 at 11:17 am
Al Gore is awesome!
I adore honey – you can use a tiny bit and it’s still really sweet. It’s amazing on Fage and other yogurt and pancakes and waffles…
I don’t know if I’m dressing up… I think my office is actually having a contest so maybe I should. When I was little I had this awesome pumpkin costume; wish I lived near my parents so I could snag it from them! They live across the country though.
on Oct 23rd, 2008 at 11:18 am
I’m going to be the typical cop. I’m borrowing the costume from a friend because like everyone else, I’m too cheap! Are you dressing up?
I do have a question for you though. I have been doing strength training for a couple months now and never seem to get really sore unless I do a group class or something like that. I think I work out very hard even by myself but don’t feel it so much the next day. Am I doing something wrong or should I not really expect to feel it all the time? Thanks!
PS you’re little carrot by the address at the top is super cute!
on Oct 23rd, 2008 at 11:24 am
love honey! i agree though – keep it in small quantities if possible
so cool you saw al gore speak! did you see the documentary/film on his global warming efforts?! really interesting stuff. for halloween i’m being a Cat haha – it’s cute i have a really slutty Forever 21 leopard print dress with black fishnets + gloves + ears haha. also i’m going to be a Football player (cheesy but i save money by wearing eye black and my BC kids-size jersey lol)
on Oct 23rd, 2008 at 11:29 am
i admire and respect al gore incredibly. and i love that he is using his clout to bring some much needed attention to a global crisis.
my work produces our own honey, and it is just amazing! seriously, i don’t think i’ve ever had better!
on Oct 23rd, 2008 at 11:33 am
I love honey! besides its nutritional values, it’s also good for winter! try honey lemon tea, it’s great to prevent flu.
on Oct 23rd, 2008 at 11:40 am
I love honey. It has so many benefits to it.
Maybe its deceiving but that bowl of oats looks pretty small! How many oats do you put in?
on Oct 23rd, 2008 at 11:41 am
Oh Wow I have so much to say, GREAT post!!!
1. LOOOVE honey– try adding it to smoothies! And it never goes bad– EVER. Even when it looks crusty, just warm it up.
2. THANKS for the Al Gore showcase, LOVE HIM. I can’t believe he was at Harvard and I missed him…!!! I didn’t know he went there either!
3. My friend who also lives in Boston and I are going to visit our other friend who is at school at DUKE for Halloween. The three of us are gonna REPRESENT down South and be THE BIG THREE (Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, and Paul Pierce)– we ordered all the jerseys and shorts and headbands, etc, in large sizes and I can’t wait!!! I will be putting pics on my blog for sure:)
on Oct 23rd, 2008 at 11:45 am
I didn’t like honey when I was little, but I have rediscovered it recently and like to use it in baking. Your oats look delicious!
on Oct 23rd, 2008 at 11:46 am
Royal and Rachel,
I’m not sure if I am dressing up yet. I was invited to a costume party on Halloween, so I’m not sure what I am going to throw together quite yet.
Leah,
I use 1/2 cup dry oats.
on Oct 23rd, 2008 at 11:54 am
i LOOOVE honey!!! i eat it by the spoonful out of the jar :] You should try White Honey!!! I get it from Williams Sonoma!!! It’s sooo good and has the texture of fluff :] Raw honey is super healthy for you!!! Yum yum yum
on Oct 23rd, 2008 at 12:11 pm
No honey for me – GIVE ME AGAVE NECTAR!!!
No dressing up for Halloween – just watching horror films and celebrating both my brother’s AND my sister-in-law’s birthdays!!
on Oct 23rd, 2008 at 12:44 pm
I was at the Sustainability event too
I thought it was a great speech, and he has a nice sense of humor too. Regarding politics- “I fear I have begun to lose my objectivity.. ” haha!
on Oct 23rd, 2008 at 12:54 pm
I think hearing Al Gore speak is soooo cool! I am jealous
on Oct 23rd, 2008 at 12:56 pm
Honey is so much better tasting than sugar in just about anything! Also, I read an article that said eating locally produced honey can help ease allergy symptoms caused by the outdoors. The theory is that the honey already contains small bits of the things found in your area and your body slowly builds up an immunity to it. It’s similar to how vaccines work. Amazing!
on Oct 23rd, 2008 at 12:59 pm
I love honey and Al Gore!
As for Halloween, I am going to be the “night before” and my roomie is going to be the “morning after.” Basically, I get to look really good and she doesn’t =]
One of my other friends is dressing up as the economy: he’s going to wear an AIG tshirt and drag around a gold parachute!
on Oct 23rd, 2008 at 1:17 pm
Oh my goodness do I love honey! Because of it’s anti-bacterial properties, RAW honey makes a great facial. Just spread the sticky stuff all over your face and then wash off after 20 minutes. It leaves your skin glowing. It’s also a humectant so it adds moisture to your skin (or hair, try it in the shower too!!).
on Oct 23rd, 2008 at 1:31 pm
Wow, I knew some of that stuff about honey, but I was surprised to learn that it boosts your immune system! That is awesome!
As for Halloween, I have no idea what I’m dressing up as yet. I’m going to a wedding that night and they encourage costumes, so I guess I better start looking!
on Oct 23rd, 2008 at 2:14 pm
I wish I had somewhere to go dressed up this Halloween but I’ll be working the weekly dinner service at the restaurant.
on Oct 23rd, 2008 at 2:16 pm
Thanks for all the good info on honey! Can’t wait until I have more time to read the link.
I like Al Gore too!
Not sure about dressing up… we can dress up at work but nothing like masks or face coverings. I might just weat some sort of “ears” or something simple!
on Oct 23rd, 2008 at 2:30 pm
Yay for Honey!! I love 1/2 a banana with honey for a pre-run snack. It sits in my stomach MUCH better than peanut butter. It’s also really yummy with pears!
on Oct 23rd, 2008 at 2:37 pm
pretty oats & interesting honey information, thanks tina
i don’t have a costume idea yet…mehhhhh i need to get my creativity flowing!
on Oct 23rd, 2008 at 2:52 pm
Last year my boyfriend and I were the Plug and Socket…. haha! Totally tacky, but everyone seemed to like it; we got a lot of shout outs! I still do not have any plans for this year yet though… I think I will figure it out this weekend.
)
(Actually, I really wanted to be an egg…. but the idea has been very unpopular with my friends so now I need to brainstorm again!
on Oct 23rd, 2008 at 3:10 pm
These costumes are great! I especially like the AIG and golden parachute idea. VOne of my friends had a very clever (and easy) costume last year – she dressed all in gold and carried a shovel – a gold digger! I don’t think we’re dressing up this year.
I’m still thinking about how you could dress up as an egg…
on Oct 23rd, 2008 at 3:36 pm
my friends and i are going as mario bros..i’m going as luigi..my friend as mario..another as princess peach..and another as yoshi…i was too cheap to splurge on a $50 costume and this whole thing cost me about 10-11 bucks!
on Oct 23rd, 2008 at 4:12 pm
I’m going to be a nerd complete with suspenders, glasses, and a pocket protector to name a few. Tina, or other readers do you know if there is anywhere in Boston that sells Barney Butter?
on Oct 23rd, 2008 at 4:59 pm
thanks for all the info about honey! i LOVE honey, especially in greek yogurt, so it was great to read this
on Oct 24th, 2008 at 7:13 am
Chloe,
Sadly, Barney Butter hasn’t made it’s way to the northeast yet. However, you can order it directly though the BB website. It’s pricey with the shipping, but totally worth it!
on Oct 24th, 2008 at 11:23 am
Wax Orchards makes Fruit Sweet which tastes alot like honey but only has about 45 calories per serving. They also make a great chocolate fudge sauce, all sweetened naturally from fruit…yummmm. I’ve seen it at some Whole Foods but my mom used to buy it online.