If you are like me with mid-west roots, chances are you have never celebrated Cinco De Mayo. Now, as a AZ resident, I look forward to this holiday every year. Officially the holiday recognizes a battle between the Mexican and French armies in the mid-1800s. Unofficially, it’s all about drinking Coronas, Margaritas and eating some very delicious Mexican food, all while basking in the air of Mexican music and culture (ideally).

The typical, modern Cinco De Mayo celebration in America doesn’t complement a “natural” and “organic” lifestyle. However, in preparation for the big day, I did some research to help us natural foods types feel a little less guilty for the indulgence.

I found this guilt-free recipe for a cheesy, beefy supreme wrap. It is made from soy-based beef, no-fat cheese and a whole wheat tortilla—yummy!! What's more, it's high in protein, low in calories and fat (perfect for swimsuit season).

And to wash down my guilt-free cheesy beefy wrap: a margarita made from 4 Copas Organic Tequila. The world’s first organic tequila, 4 Copas is harvested by Organic Agave Farmers.

Perhaps Cinco de Mayo is already an annual celebration for you, or maybe this will be your first celebration. Regardless, now you are well-equipped with the recipe for success.

Enjoy!

We in the natural products industry are used to the connection between the diet and many aspects of health and lifestyle. Did you ever expect to read about the diet affecting the sex of a baby? I didn't.

If you haven't yet seen this news, fertility researchers from the University of Exeter, England, found a healthy, full diet containing potassium-rich foods increases the chances of having a boy. I hear China and India knocking down walls now to get their fertile citizens more bananas.

This is preliminary stuff for sure, but the research seems to show developing male fetuses may require more nutrients longer exposure to those nutrients. Boys require more food? Never heard that one before...[cough].

The study's lead author also mentioned male embryos need higher sugar levels to survive.

According to a few other fertility scientists, the study was well done and performed, and it reveals an area in need of further study.

It involved some 700 women pregnant for the first time. Those who ate significantly more cereal more had boys more often than girls. Those who had highest caloric intake before conception also had a higher rate of having boys, although the difference here (56% had boys) was not as big as with the cereal results (87% had boys).

Should women wanting boys pig out then? Probably not, at least until this research is further verified. It will be interesting if future research shows certain other nutrients involved in determining sex. Also, would the diet of the father, whose sperm is the basis of fetal gender, also be an indicator of which gender would be more probable?

Steve recently attended lobby day in Washington D.C. with our friends from the Natural Products Association. Part of their mission included lobbying for healthier school lunches.

Like everyone else out there, school lunch programs are feeling the pinch from the rising cost of food prices. The Washington Post recently printed an article which had some shocking statistics. Miami-Dade Country school districts are expected to pay $4.5 million MORE for milk than they did last year. Almost a 50% increase! In an effort to save a buck, school districts are reverting back to less healthy options. Some schools are giving students the option to drink Yoo-hoo over milk, as it makes more economic sense.

I am often appalled when my seven-year-old stepson comes home from school, and he tells me what he had for lunch. His response always falls into a category I would consider “junk food” —cheese burgers, burritos, pizza and even Tostitos with cheese in a cup (no joke). Check out his monthly lunch menu for other obesity enhancing dishes.

And sure, there are a few healthier options available (tuna salad, teriyaki chicken with rice, etc.) But what seven-year-old is going to take tuna salad over a cheeseburger?

The Washington Post also highlighted this very angle. Many school serve “kid friendly” meals because the chances of kids buying lunch on these days are much higher than bringing their own, thus allowing them to increase what little profit they gain from the hot lunch program. Given the rising cost of food prices, chances are many more school districts will follow this pattern; leading to more obese children.

Obviously, as voters and concerned parents we need to stay on top of any bills or regulations that effect the school lunch program. As far as short term solutions are concerned, send your child to school with a sack lunch. It’s the only way to keep them from eating “Tostitos in the Cup with Cheese".