Raw Milk Vending Machine

My family and I drink raw milk. In Kansas, we purchased raw cow or goat's milk from the Bryant Family Farm weekly. Every morning, I would skim cream off the top and add it to our coffee or my Teeccino (Delicious coffee alternative).

When we first moved to Germany, I thought it would be near impossible to find it. What, with the language barrier and all. How would I find it? I had seen pictures of milk vending machines across Europe online. But, surely, it couldn't be that easy to purchase?

I've been pleasantly surprised. Since I love to talk, I easily chatted up locals who were able to tell me where to find it. The vending machine above is the third one I've seen just in the Heidelberg area alone. Raw milk is hard to come by in the States and it's controversial. It is not here. There doesn't appear to be nearly the fear of raw milk here as there is in the States. Which makes me wonder if it's truly a food safety issue or driven by something else. Ah, but, I digress.

Just five miles from my house in Wiesloch, Germany, there are two farms selling raw milk. One is a goat's milk farm and another an organic farm where organic food, raw milk and produce are sold. The above vending machine is open 24-7. Milk sells at 1E/liter. Consumers must supply their own jars.

It comes out of the vending machine ice cold and tastes creamy and delicous! At $4.45/gallon, it's more than worth it!

Notes From a Recovering Junk Food Eater

As my family and I ate our picnic lunch of a variety of homemade goodies (at the zoo today), it dawned on me that it wasn't too long ago that I would have purposely not packed a lunch. I would do this because, come hell or high water, I was going to get me some of that park food. I craved it. My mind would conjure up the smell of fries long before we arrived and I'd be salivating all the way to the nearest snack bar upon arrival. I would do the same thing on road trips. Pack a lunch? Heck no! Drive-thrus and diners, here we come!

Today, Olivia and Lila didn't even ask to get food at the Zoo, though we passed several food "joints." They munched on popcorn (sweetened with Vermont maple syrup - yum), banana bread and cucumbers I had brought and washed it down with water from their water bottles. I didn't crave any of the food I knew the Zoo snack bars were serving. I thought, "Wow, I've come a long way. I've completely changed my life and, in turn, the life my children would have had had I stuck with the S.A.D diet (Standard American Diet)."

It was a moment that found me choked up. I was a stubborn junk food eater with a family history of obestity-related disease. I know that my family is on the sure path to change that. I am proud!

Someone recently told me that I shouldn't deny myself junk food every now and then. For one, I can make junk food at home (but, without the trans fats and HFCS, of course). For two, I'm not denying myself a thing because I don't even crave it!

For all of you watching Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution, Food Inc., or reading Micheal Pollan's books and finding changing the way you feed your family daunting, I say this: You can do it. You will find your way. There will come a day when you won't even want to waste your money on a chain like Crapplebees. You'll either decide to bring your own, eat at home or seek out a farm-to-table restuarant (serving local produce and grass-fed meats, and usually coming up with creative, delicious meals very different than the generic meals served at most chain restuarants).

It's a great journey. Take it!

Jamie Oliver's Plea to Fight Obesity

Obesity is a subject that is near and dear to me. I come from a family that has always struggled with their weight. I've, personally, struggled with it and you all know that I've blogged about it. Immediate family members have obesity-related disease. I blog about it and spread the word about it because it is REAL to me and I am scared.

I urge all of you watch Jamie Oliver's plea, then blog this video, Facebook this video, email this video (even if you and your family doesn't struggle with weight). Plea to your schools, join Jamie Oliver in the fight. Until your school can feed your children proper meals, pack them a lunch filled with real, healthy, fresh food. Make a statement with your dollar! Don't support school lunches that only provide your children with food-like substances or meals over-loaded with salt and sugar, all of which contribute to weak immune systems, obesity, depression and more.

Our children are projected to have a shorter lifespan than us, their parents! Let's work to change this statistic! We need to act now. Teach our children about food, where it comes from. Teach them how to cook several meals from scratch. Get them to appreciate REAL food. We need to stop the child abuse that is going on in homes and in schools. We need to give our children a better quality of life. We need to be role models.

Please watch the video (grab some tissues!), share it and act!