Recently in Victoria Category

Alarming prices in the produce section of grocery stores across the nation are forcing consumers to consider alternative sources of food. For many, this means getting their hands dirty, literally: Backyard fruit and vegetable gardens are on the rise. Vegetable seed and fruit tree sales have skyrocketed, and some seed companies have seen their profits double this year over last. With no indication that the economic slump is abating, iVillagers are also getting in touch with their inner gardeners.

Member cl-jrcmama has already planted green peppers, watermelon and pumpkin. She wants to add "zucchini, spaghetti squash and a few more peppers." And she says, "I'm definitely noticing the pinch when stocking up on groceries and hope to find more ways [in addition to gardening] to economize." She's hardly alone. Another iVillager, elc11, is also hoping to plant "tomatoes, bell peppers, zucchini, cucumbers and carrots" in order to defray grocery costs.

Some long-time gardeners, like member corapegia, whose garden always produces more than her family can eat, remember the last time homegrown produce spiked in popularity. "There was more of this activity in the 1970's. I expect since we're going back to a similar monetary situation more people will go back to gardening again, too."

Even those with little to no gardening experience are trying their hand at backyard growing. Member justaguy2 chimed in: "My best friend just this year dedicated a small part of his yard to growing food. He cited the rising cost of food as the primary reason."

Even if you've never had a garden before or are convinced you have a black thumb, doesn't mean you can't save a little green by planting your favorite fruits and vegetables. Check out this handy gardening guide, and see how other iVillagers are shrinking their monthly grocery bill.

Vegetables anyone can grow

Learn how to stake tomato plants

Grow plump, delicious raspberries

Fresh herbs you can grow in your kitchen

Get creative ways to make the most of your bountiful harvest

In the last few weeks, a controversy has erupted over one New York City mother's decision to let her fourth grader ride the subway unaccompanied. The mom, a columnist for the New York Sun, wrote about her son's trip in a column in early April. She was surprised when most of her readers responded critically. Many were horrified that a 9 year old was permitted that kind of independence, especially in such a big city. But the writer and mom whose decision has come under fire believes that modern kids are being coddled and that as a society we're doing ourselves as well as our children a disservice. She's even started a blog, Free Range Kids, where she promotes the notion that today's kids ought to be given more of the same freedoms that her generation enjoyed. Interestingly, however, iVillagers don't agree; the overwhelming majority thinks the New York City mom made an egregious error in judgment.

Member isysmoon writes: "OMG no! It's questionable whether or not adults are safe in the city alone." Member rlch strongly agrees: "NO WAY IN HELL I would leave [my daughter] alone in a CITY TO FIND HER WAY HOME!!!!!!!!!!" Member cl-west1745 feels similarly and is happy to embrace her protective tendencies: BUT OMG -- to allow any kid to be by himself on a subway in NYC at that age -- I think that is just crazy and do not really believe that story. We are suburbia types, anyway, so a whole different world. Clean, coddled, cozy and I like it that way!"

While Member jenna_luvsher_labs agrees with her fellow iVillagers, she also explains why she think 9 years old is too young: "I feel it is my responsibility to teach [my daughter] how to be home alone. But, I would never put her outside in public like [the boy in New York City] was. Until they are 12 or 13, kids don't have the reasoning skills to avoid harmful situations in public."

One young member, missnmyarmyman, who is not yet a parent, was compelled to chime in, too: "I don't have children so my comment might not count, but I can't believe [that mother] did that. I myself wouldn't even want to walk back to my house or use public transportation alone in a big city. There are too many weirdos out there that you can't trust. Anything could have happened to him." Member navywife76 does have children, and she, too, was shocked: "ABSOLUTELY NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ... She did this in New York City?!!!!!! Is this woman out of her flippin' mind?!?! I think she should be turned in to CPS. No decent mother would do that. Yeah, kids are always going to want their independence. They ALL do. It's in their nature. [That mother] should feel VERY lucky that she still has a child to want independence. There are too many things that could happen to a child that young in such a large city (in ANY city, actually) for her to just let him go off on his own." Member cl-clabk had a similar reaction:  "All I can say is NO WAY!  Not unless I had an undercover cop watching his every move from point A to point B. I don't even let my 10 year old go two blocks to the high school to ride his bike by himself."

Member natesmom_2004 is equally upset, but she also points out another situation the New York City mom may have inadvertently created: "My question is where does [this mom] go from here? Most parents give their children a little bit of independence at a time, gradually increasing the luxury when the child proves he is responsible enough for more. She gave him the whole hog at one time. Now it's going to be, 'I proved I can ride the subway alone; I want to go to a rock concert in Jersey by myself.' What 'parent card' does she play then? Yes, the child did prove he was responsible enough and mature enough to handle himself in this situation, but now what?"

What do you think? Did the mom in New York City make a bad decision? Or, do you think that parents raising kids today are overly cautious? Share your thoughts.

It’s no secret that thin is in, and overweight people have long felt condemned because of their size. Now, a new study from Yale University confirms that weight discrimination, or “fatism,” is indeed rampant in America. The researchers found that discrimination based on weight occurs frequently in both professional and social settings.

Not surprisingly, the study opened a floodgate of perspectives and emotions within the iVillage community. Many members welcomed a scientific acknowledgement that the discrimination they feel in their daily lives is not a figment of their imagination. Member ladyirish317 shared her experience, “People who wouldn't dream of putting me down for my religion, age or gender think nothing of trampling on me for my weight … I had a little girl tell me once, ‘You're not my friend; you're fat!’ Guys in cars have sped past me yelling insults. Once a boy on a city bus leaned out of the window and shouted at me that I should lose weight because ‘You really are ugly.’ I've been turned down for jobs because of my weight, too, though it's never phrased that way.” Another member, mom_rileymm, who has been thin as well as heavy, agreed. “I do notice a difference in how people treat me; it is night and day. One time I got a flat tire, and I had 4 people stop and help. Another time I was crying waiting for AAA for 45 minutes on the side of the road without a single person stopping. Guess what? The second time I was heavy.” Interestingly, mom_rileymm goes on to admit that not only has she experienced weight discrimination, but she herself has also judged overweight people harshly, “And I have to say that I’m even guilty of [weight discrimination, too] when I’m skinny.”

But she’s not the only one. Many members say that they look at heavy people differently than thin people. While member upanddownunder believes that cruelty towards overweight people is wrong in a social environment, she believes that sometimes employers should consider a potential hire’s weight. “In the job market there are definitely grounds for discriminating against fat people, and by that I mean obese people. There are many health problems related to obesity, which can mean that a fat person will need to take time off work or be unable to do their job to the highest level—putting a strain on the employer's business.”

Member jenl703 writes that she also judges people by their size. “I will admit that I DO judge people before I know them based on their appearance (weight, cleanliness and clothes). I am not proud of it, but I know I do it. I have many friends who are very overweight, and it doesn't bother me with them at all.... I don't even notice it. However, if I see someone I don't know and notice that they are very overweight, my first thought is that they probably eat the wrong food and don't exercise.” Several members acknowledged that, like jenl703, they have heavyset friends who they’d never judge, but they don’t hesitate to be critical of overweight strangers. Member esita writes, “I do get annoyed when I see someone who is obviously overweight, gorging on greasy takeaway. I get annoyed when a fat person sits next to me on the train, and I'm squished against the window … I certainly don't hate fat people. I mean, I have a couple 'fat' friends. I don't see them as fat, though. I just see them as my friends.”

Weight discrimination appears to be acceptable in part because many believe that heavy people are choosing to be fat. Member leeya98 says, “I think it sucks that someone could potentially not get hired because of her weight, but like my grandmother used to say, ‘Don’t give people a stick to crack you over the head with!’ Very few people that struggle with weight do so because of medical conditions; usually, it’s a choice!” Member lv2breathe feels similarly, “It is something you can do something about, and it's a reflection of your values and lifestyle. It can be a reflection of eating too much and not exercising. These things aren’t appealing and so no one should be surprised if others don't react positively to them [because they are unfit].” Member mama_lah, however, disagrees. “I totally think that there’s a huge problem with weight-ism in America. I am overweight, and … I think the thing people need to understand is that people don't want to be overweight. It is an eating disorder, just like anorexia or bulimia.”

What do you think? Do you believe that weight discrimination is a problem? Have you experienced it or seen it  happen to someone else? Share your thoughts.

As if keeping off the pounds wasn't already hard enough!

A new study from Purdue University has found that rats fed artificially sweetened yogurt were more likely to pack on the pounds than those that were fed yogurt sweetened with glucose. While it's true that foods and beverages containing aspartame, such as many diet sodas, are low in calories, they may also lead to overeating or less physical activity. When a sweet taste is not followed by a large number of calories, the body may get confused and consume far more calories than it needs or burn less energy than normal. Some specialists, however, aren't convinced these findings are scientifically sound and are dubious about drawing conclusions.

The study has nonetheless generated a great deal of conversation on our message boards. Many iVillagers, although aware of the controversy, are too attached to their daily diet cola fix to consider healthier alternatives like water and tea. Member dandm116 on the Pregnancy & Parenting After IVF board says, "Diet Coke is like my booze!"

And she's hardly alone. Member mindyk1978 also active on the Pregnancy & Parenting After IVF board adds that she drinks ... "diet caffeine free [soda]. I know there are mixed reviews about aspartame and carbonation, but I just don't know if I can kick it!"

Others on the Pregnancy & Parenting After IVF board, however, are far more leery of artificial sweeteners. Member emilysmom2007 tries to avoid it. "I generally stay away from anything diet ... I just feel like the more 'natural' the foods you eat/drink, even real sugar, the healthier." Member lucifies2girls finds fake sugar just as unsettling. "I don't drink diet soda ... aspartame just seems so artificial to me."

Well, she's right about that; aspartame is definitely artificial!

Interestingly, member meghanmck of the Get Fit Moms board has no problem regularly drinking diet soda, but she doesn't think it's safe to let her kids have it. "I continue to drink my diet coke ...  [but] I wouldn't give [artificial sweeteners] to my kids."

But some do take a much stronger stance against diet soda. Member catherinet on a GardenWeb discussion believes that all "... soda should be outlawed! OK, I'm not really serious, but I think it's a big health issue in this country. I also wouldn't substitute sugar-free sodas for the sugar ones, since I think sugar substitutes have their own set of problems."

No matter how you feel about aspartame and diet soda, it is important to know what you're putting in your body. What exactly are the ingredients in that can of Pepsi or that mug of root beer? Find out what's really lurking in your soft drink. Of course, once you know what you're drinking, you might want to get the lowdown on all those artificial sweeteners, too. Be sure and also check out what health expert Amy Hendel has to say about diet soda. And if you feel like going al naturale for a change, discover 10 simple ways you can cut back on sugar.

What do you think? Do you drink diet soda and use artificial sweeteners? If not, are there other, natural, sweeteners you prefer? Share your thoughts and ideas.