Here’s some help to keep those New Year’s resolutions

By Barb Randall

The Lake Oswego Review, Jan 7, 2010

Among the egg brands that are considered to meet “best” humane standards are Eggology, Organic Valley and Eggland’s, Best, pictured here.

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Are you living more intentionally in the new year, ever mindful of your resolutions?

Most of us make New Year’s resolutions around increasing exercise, losing weight, quitting smoking or drinking, getting out of debt, getting organized and learning something new.

With one week under our belts, those new habits are starting to feel familiar, though it will take about six weeks for them to be second nature.

What are my resolutions, you ask? I wish to up the intensity of my exercise, lose a few pounds and keep to a budget and you, dear readers, are invited to tag along on the adventure.

For the next six weeks, this space will feature delicious recipes to promote weight loss and tips from area trainers to keep you working toward your fitness goals. I am also bringing back the Five:30 series with a little update. Still featuring five-ingredient entrees ready in 30 minutes or less, Five:30 recipes will price out at about $1 per person to prepare.

Now if in addition to losing weight you resolved to reduce your carbon footprint or be kind to animals, consider this. Eggs are truly a dieter’s friend, being high in versatility and protein and inexpensive. Include them in your diet regime and consider switching your brand of eggs to one that meets the World Society for the Protection of Animals’ (WSPA) “best” humane standards.

Cecily West, executive director for WSPA U.S. explained in a press release, ‘“Best’ brands include a ‘Certified Humane,’ ‘Amer-ican Humane Certified,’ or ‘Animal Welfare Approved’ label on the packaging, which ensures that those eggs came from hens who were not factory farmed. These claims also mean they were not given hormones or non-therapeutic antibiotics, were not continuously confined in a space the size of a sheet of paper, and were allowed to engage in natural behaviors.

“This practice is detrimental to the environment, not just animals. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations reports that factory-farmed livestock account for 18 percent of all greenhouse gas emissions. That is more than all (transportation) combined.

“If consumers only buy eggs with these labels, millions of animals will no longer suffer and it can help the environment as well. Ultimately, if consumers change what they are buying — even just their brand of eggs — the impact can be enormous.”

Humane labels readily available in our area are:

n Eggland’s Best (American Humane Certified

n Eggology (Certified Humane and Cage Free and USDA Organic)

n Go-Organic Omega 3 (Certified Humane and Cage Free and USDA Organic)

I predict that 2010 will be the year that makes a difference, the year we realize change will only occur if we make it happen. It will take an effort everyday, and remember that the small things accumulate into big change.

I’ll keep prodding you along for the next six weeks with lean, delicious, money-saving recipes. You keep working intentionally toward your goal.

The frittata recipe selected for today is a perfect dinner or lunch entrée utilizing the incredible, edible egg. Feel free to try the humane label brands. Taken from a Weight Watchers’ cookbook, each wedge has 295 calories. The complete nutritional value list is included at the end of the recipe.

Bon Appetit — Be the change you wish to see!

Clam and Potato Frittata

Serves 4

1 cup cut asparagus (2-inch pieces)

4 teaspoons olive oil

1 medium tomato, seeded and minced

½ cup thinly slice red onion

3 garlic cloves minced

1 teaspoons minced fresh oregano

8 ounces cooked red potatoes, cut in ½ inch pieces

4 ounces drained canned whole baby clams

1/4 teaspoon salt