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It’s just not the same (and Houston’s Chicken Salad!)…

Food today is just not the same as when we were growing up.

We didn’t eat meat and dairy with so many hormones (that are actually ILLEGAL in many other countries).   Today some kids are going through puberty as early as the age of six (true story about a friend’s daughter…hair and all!).

We certainly never ate corn that was labeled a “pesticide” by the EPA. What? And it didn’t “blow up the stomachs of the insects that ate it”. Wonder what it does to our bellies?

We didn’t eat chicken or turkey (or rice) that had arsenic injected, or fed (or for the rice, sprayed with it in combination of a pesticide). Yes, that’s right, arsenic.

And, we didn’t eat apples that had an average of 54 chemicals sprayed on them.

I could go on and on, really, but I think you get my drift.

Things are just different now.

Some people say GMOs are hype, some say they are extremely dangerous. Now I don’t know exactly how all of this affects us. I don’t know if the GMOs and some of the other issues are partially to blame for the increase in health problems in our country, but I do know that I am not willing to let my kids be the guinea pigs.

Anyway, here are a few more fact regarding last week’s post on allergies. Notice the timeline from the increase in allergies (from last week’s post) and the growth of GMOs in our foods…

Did you know:

-Foods containing GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms) do not have to be labeled in the US. — approximately 70% of processed foods in the US now contain GMO ingredients. The European Union, Japan, China, Korea, Australia, New Zealand and many other nations now (64 countries) require mandatory GMO labeling. In fact, in China, it is illegal to feed children foods with GMOs without parental consent.

-In May 1992, the FDA’s policy on GMO foods stated that they not need to be labeled nor safety-tested.

-Meanwhile, prominent scientists have publicized alarming research revealing severe damage to animals fed GMO foods.

-In 1996, when Monsanto began selling Roundup Ready soybeans, only 2% was GMO. By 2008, over 90% of soybeans in the US contained Monsanto’s gene.

-In March 1999, UK researchers discovered that reactions to soy had skyrocketed by 50% over the previous year.  All GMO soy had been imported from the US.

-On another note, Monsanto also produces rBGH, an artificial hormone given to cows to make them produce more milk…actually up to 15xs more milk than they would naturally. Anyone out there nursed their babies? Can you imagine? The infections, mastitis, etc from 15x the milk? Guess how they remedy those issues? More drugs! Oh, and it’s been linked to breast cancer and other health problems. It has been banned entirely in Canada, Australia, Japan, and all countries in the European Union. So why is our country still allowing it?

According to Robyn O’Brien, founder of the KidsAllergy Foundation, most countries outlaw these hormones because they “haven’t been proven safe“. But the US has a different way of looking at things. Our government says, wait, ready for it? ….”But they haven’t been proven dangerous”.

So what can we do? Ideally, eat organic meat, milk, fruits and veggies (esp thin skinned). And assume that if a label on a packaged food doesn’t say “Non-GMO”, that it is indeed a GMO food.

Okay, so how about a yummy, non-dairy or gmo meal? Who out there loves Houston’s Chicken Salad?? Actually, I should say who DOESN’T, right? This recipe really isn’t far off from it.  As I was making the dressing, I wondered if it would actually be any good. Wow! I was pleasantly surprised!! It’s one of my new favorites and it’s a must try for sure!!!

Here is what you need for this Mock Houston’s Chicken Salad:

Salad ingredients:

  • whole organic rotissie chicken
  • fresh scallions, 1/2 cup chopped
  • cabbage, 1 large head or 10 oz. chopped bag from TJ’s
  • carrots, 1 cup chopped by food processor or pre-cut bag from TJ’s
  • fresh cilantro,1/2 cup or more
  • peanuts or cashews, 1/2 cup chopped

Dressing ingredients:

  • 4 garlic cloves or about 1 1/2 tsp minced (I was out of fresh)
  • 2 light shakes of cayenne pepper
  • 3/4 tsp fish sauce
  • 1/4 cup tamari soy
  • 3 tbsp vinegar (rice wine or white)
  • 4 tbsp coconut palm sugar (you could probably use honey)
  • 2 tbsp fresh lime juice (I used 1 whole lime)
  • 2 tbsp toasted sesame seed oil
  • 1/4 cup almond butter
  • 1/4 cup peanut butter (you could use all peanut or all almond instead of splitting)
  • 1/2 cup water

And, if you buy everything pre-cut or pre-made like I have, it’s even easier to make…

Pull chicken apart. Put it in a large mixing bowl with all of the above “salad ingredients” and set aside. Now mix all of the “dressing ingredients” together except for the nut butters and water. Mix together in bowl well. Then add the nut butters and whip together. Then slowly add water until the dressing is mixed well and smooth. Pour dressing over the salad mixture and enjoy!!

It’s good for a couple of days but best when enjoyed immediately. I hope y’all like one as much as I do!

 Enjoy in good health!

  • Tracy - This salad looks divine!! Can’t wait to make it for my family!! Quick question…where do you buy your organic rotisserie chickens?ReplyCancel

    • landriav - Thanks Tracy! I got it at Whole Foods. Hope you like the salad!!ReplyCancel

  • Vanessa - Thank you so much for this post! There needs to be more awareness about GMOs in general, including these scary statistics.ReplyCancel

    • landriav - Absolutely! Thanks for your comment and support Vanessa!!ReplyCancel

  • Erin - Wow – just made this. A little more involved than I hoped (had to do cabbage and carrots myself), but oh so good! Tastes a lot like what I always order at Houston’s! Thanks!ReplyCancel

    • landriav - Erin, so glad y’all liked it!! Thank you for sharing that with me. Next time, make the trip to TJ’s to get the pre-cut stuff. So worth it! 🙂ReplyCancel

  • Amandaferrris - This was my favorite salad and now thanks to you I can have it once again. I cannot thank you enough!ReplyCancel

    • landriav - Awww,I’m so glad Amanda!! Thank you for telling me!ReplyCancel

  • Amy Johnson - You are brilliant!! once again your recipes never cease to amaze me. This is SO delicious and I can’t believe I’m eating something with fish sauce in it and I can’t get enough of it!!! Where did you learn to cook?ReplyCancel

    • landriav - Ha! You are too funny and way too sweet!!! Honestly, I didn’t grow up cooking. In fact, I use to hate it. But I have such a love for healthy food that cooking has actually become something that I really enjoy. So happy you like this recipe, even with the “fish sauce”. 🙂ReplyCancel

  • Anna McDuffie - I made this last night. It was AMAZING. The dressing is brilliant. Thanks for another great one!ReplyCancel

  • landriav - Aw, thanks so much Anna!ReplyCancel

  • susan - This looks like a wonderful salad. I notice the organic chicken and wonder if the cabbage and carrots are organic-and if you think that is important. Thanks,ReplyCancel

    • landriav - Thanks Susan! I think they were but not positive. I do organic as often as I can, especially on thin skinned fruits and veggies, so things like spinach, apples, but also on things like broccoli where we are eating where they would have sprayed. I don’t worry about melons, avocados, etc as much. Hope this helps answer your question!ReplyCancel

  • Gina - I made this tonight and we really enjoyed it! Great dressing. I’ll make it again for sure.ReplyCancel

  • Rob - I have made several of your recipes recently (including this one a few times) and loved them all. Thank you! Is there an option to create a printer friendly version of the recipes on your blog?ReplyCancel

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