When I looked into switching to a better food several years ago the links on the Tails of the Tundra Siberian rescue website had some great info. I've included a link below. *********************************************************** Also, on a different forum I came across a "food grading system". . Its a method of analyzing the ingredients of the food you feed and determining whether its a high quality/healthy kibble. You will need your kibble's list of ingredients, as found on the bag (or oftentimes their website). Please note, however, this is for ingredients ONLY.... so before feeding a pup be sure to look at the protein and fat and calcium and calories in the Guaranteed Analysis. Start with a grade of 100: For every listing of "by-product", subtract 15 points For every non-specific animal source ("meat" or "poultry", meat, meal or fat) reference, subtract 10 points If there are no specific meats or meat meals, subtract 25 points For every grain "mill run" or non-specific grain source, or grain "middlings", subtract 10 points If the food contains BHA, BHT, or ethoxyquin, subtract 15 points If the same grain ingredient is used 2 or more times in the first five ingredients (i.e. "ground brown rice", "brewers rice", "rice flour" are all the same grain), subtract 5 points for each occurrence If the protein sources are not (specific) meat meal and there are less than 2 meats in the top 3 ingredients, subtract 3 points If it contains any artificial colorants, subtract 5 points If it contains ground corn or whole grain corn, subtract 3 points (subtract 5 if corn is listed in the top 5 ingredients) If the food contains any animal fat other than fish oil, subtract 3 points If lamb is the only animal protein source (unless your dog is allergic to other protein sources), subtract 2 points If it contains soy or soybeans, subtract 5 points If it contains wheat (unless you know that your dog isnÂt allergic to wheat), subtract 2 points If it contains beef (unless you know that your dog isnÂt allergic to beef), subtract 1 point If it contains salt, subtract 3 points If it contains corn syrup, molasses, or other added sweetener, subtract 10 points Extra Credit: For every different specific animal protein source (other than the first one; count "chicken" and "chicken meal" as only one protein source, but "chicken" and "turkey" as 2 different sources - do not count egg, cheese, or other similar ingredients), add 1 point If the food contains 3 or less different mentions of grains (or other high-carb plant-based foods like potatoes), add 5 points If any of the meat sources are organic, add 5 points (if the number 1 ingredient is organic meat, add 10 points) If the animal sources are hormone-free and antibiotic-free, add 3 points If the food is baked not extruded, add 5 points If the food contains probiotics, add 3 points If the food contains fruit or vegetables (NOT corn or other grains), add 3 points If the vegetables have been tested for pesticides and are pesticide-free, add 1 point If the food contains barley or oats or oatmeal, add 1 point If it contains sunflower, hemp, flaxseed, or other polyunsaturated vegetable oils, add 3 points (add 5 if it is the #1 fat) If the vitamin and mineral sources are chelated, add 5 points 94-100+ = A 86-93 = B 78-85 = C 70-77 = D **************************************************** If this info helps even one person find a better quality food then it was worth the time I spent digging it up again.

Ginny, we had a discussion about frocks somewhere around RP not long ago. I got the impression no US female has worn one for many years but the word is still around over here although it has come to be used as in a 'party frock' event or maybe a summery picnic-by-the-river/watching a game of polo with an eligible Royal. At the other extreme 'frocks' are worn by the transvestite community. The artist Grayson Perry collected his Turner Prize wearing a natty little number . . . a path down which I shall no further tread. Re plus-fours my father wore them as a young man about town/golf course, years before he married. We still have the long socks/stockings that he wore with them. They were kept for Christmas Eve and left at the end of our beds for 'Father Christmas' (as we in the UK call Santa Claus). They were inherited by our children, pity Dad didn't have three legs. Still holding up well since c1930 . . . could the same be said of modern materials?

I post info. on bad-food combo that make you sick, plus food and medicine cross reaction, see below thread in Organic Rose forum. If you have any personal experience with bad food-combo, or food poisoning .. would love to hear from you, either in the below link, or this health forum. THANKS. http://forums.gardenweb.com/discussions/3576388/12-27-15-bad-food-combo-things-that-dont-mix-for-garden-and-health?n=4

Ok, I read. It's been a learning curve to cut down on grocery shopping over the years as my kids left the nest; why, I'm not sure. My mother, a depression-era teen, always stockpiled food that was on sale and we ate almost all of it. This was before dates were put on packages of food and unless a can was bulging or there was mold on the bread, we ate it. We didn't have much money so this was perfectly doable. However, I have to admit that as a person whose stomach isn't iron (as my mom's was,) I have a very hard time eating food that isn't good-tasting, though I have no problem with eating food past code dates that taste fine--milk and eggs come to mind. It is a "first-world" problem for sure, and when I realize something in the pantry has not been eaten by the date, I so hope a charity will take it and be able to use it. Debby, is your store not willing to donate expired food, or do they worry about a lawsuit? Bossy, I'm glad to read what you have written. Try as I might to buy what I think we'll use up in a reasonable amount of time, old habits die hard and I find myself with the guilt of "expired" (is it? Mostly, no) food.