Monday, May 31, 2010

Helping Preserve Our Parks

I don't eat granola bars but Mom sometimes does especially when doing field work. She has eaten this brand in the past and liked it. Who doesn't like oats and honey? I think I would even like them but before I'm allowed to eat them let's take a look at the ingredients.

Oats and Honey ingredients:
whole grain oats, sugar, canola oil, yellow corn flower, honey, soy flour, brown sugar syrup, salt, soy lecithin, baking soda, natural flavor.

Hmmmm. These ingredients sound good to me but not to Mom. She has issues with everything. I mean really, whole grain oats are good for you, right? And sugar? What could be more natural? These ingredients read like a lesson in good health but Mom feels that there are lots of pesticides used in the growing of the ingredients and that most if not all are genetically modified (GMO). Huh?

Eating these granola bars in moderation, like every once in a while is okay. The jury is still out on GMO's but we all know that pesticide consumption is hazardous to your health. Sugar is the second ingredient listed, honey is fourth, and brown sugar syrup is sixth which means these bars are full of sugary sweetness. All that sugar is not good for you on a daily basis. And what is natural flavor? This is Nature Valley's "secret ingredient", the old proprietary ingredient that they don't have to disclose because if they did they then everypug could make their own granola bars. As if! But there may be one reason Mom may want to buy some granola bars for her turtle trip next month.

Nature Valley knows that our national parks are in trouble. They face serious challenges and they need our help. Simply buy specially marked boxes of Nature Valley granola bars and for every wrapper you send in, they will make a 10 cent donation to the National Parks Conservation Association. The contributions will be used to fund 3 different projects in 3 different parks:

Sustaining native plant life in Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
Freeing Pronghorn migration in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
Restoring coral reefs in Biscayne National Park, Florida


The coupon advertisement stated a guaranteed minimum donation of $250,000 and a maximum donation of $500,000 but the website stated a maximum donation of $650,000 (with the same minimum donation). So confusing! Either way, Nature Valley will be making donations through August 31, 2010 and that money will help preserve our national parks for generations to come.

This is Mom's favorite national park, Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park. Even though this is not one of the parks that Nature Valley is helping, she still thinks this is a good cause. Preserving parks preserves not only our heritage but also the biodiversity that must be maintained in order to preserve our lives. We are all interconnected.

I've never been to a national park but that's not for lack of trying. Mom tells me that they don't allow dogs in the parks and while I can't really understand why, I'm not a law breaker so at home I stay. I hear all about the parks when Mom and Dad get home but it's just not the same. Maybe one day the rules will change and off I'll be whisked to a park of my choosing. Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park here I come!

18 comments:

dw said...

Hi Stubby! I think it's great that a company is doing something to try to help our national parks. I went to a national park last weekend (Acadia) and it's places like that that help us all to better appreciate nature. Btw, I would have a little chat with your mom if I were you... because we saw doggies at this national park -- yep!

Tweedles -- that's me said...

Hi Stubby
We also are thankful that someone is trying to help the National Parks. We need to save them.
Mom was a little worried when she saw you talking about that bar- cause it happens to be that moms likes them. But only maybe 2 a month, She was thinking that she bets your mom has a recipe to make them herself. Does she?
love
tweedles

Smushie Ranch said...

Hi Stubby,

It's so good to know that someone is helping out the National Parks. Daddy eats those Cliff Bars, but mom is gonna get him some of those Oats and Honey bars.

Oh, and get your butt out here Stubby! Your momma can come too of course. We have an extra bedroom.

Love,
Stella, Gunther and Betty

Apollo said...

That's nice to hear that such a popular product is willing to donate that much money to help the national parks. My paw-rents take me hiking in the city and county parks. It's nothing as spectacular as that Hawaiian volcanic one, but some of ours have caves, springs, and waterfalls.

Mia said...

Thanks for that great info Stubby!! The momma said she will have to go out and get a box or two of those for the office!!!! What a great project!!

~Hugs~

Lilo

Kelly said...

That is so interesting Stubby! Our parks deserve all of the protection we can give them.

My momma eats Kashi granola bars every day... i wonder if they have wholesome ingredients....

Archie and Melissa said...

hi stubby!
oh emmitt wants to come with you when the parks wisen up and let doggies in!

what's up with that? emmitt says... there is nothing more natuarl than a pug.

sounds like a good argument to me!

xoxox
m & e

Sequoia & Petunia & Emma said...

Hey Stubby!

Our mom has these on next weeks grocery list (she wants to add a few crumbles to her yogurt in the morning)....how weird. You tell us about the donations and mom was going to buy the same stuff. Now I told my mom to look for the special boxs when she goes to the food place...thanks!

Sequoia

Those Elgin Pugs said...

Hello My Stubby Man!!
I finally get to come over to visit yous!
Oh boys...
It's been alls 'bout the cluck cluck boy...oh's maybe 'dats mean! I be nice! He's Zzzzz so I take over.

Stubby maybe we's can plan a little Josie and Stubby Man gets away and yousa can takes me to a pretty parks and we eats the granola Noms!
xoxo Your Josie Girl

Stubby said...

Hi dw! I knew Mom was lying to me when she told me dogs weren't allowed in the parks. Sheesh! What's a guy gotta do to take a trip around here?

That's so cool that you went to a national park last week. Mom and Dad have never been to Acadia but it's on their list.

Stubby xoxo

Stubby said...

Hi Tweedles! That's so cool that your moms eat these granola bars. It's fine that they eat only 2 a month but I bet they could find even better ones in the store.

Believe it or not, my mom doesn't have a granola bar recipe but she's going to look for one. How hard could it be to make them? My guess is that it's so easy, even a pug could do it!

Stubby xoxo

Stubby said...

Hi Stella, Gunther & Betty! It seems like everyone in Cali eats Cliff Bars. What gives?

Mom is looking for some snacks for her upcoming road trip/turtle trip. I suggested Popeyes and got a real dirty look from her. What's a road trip without Popeyes?

I keep telling Mom that I have to get out to Cali. She tells me that it's a long drive and that if we go we are going to stay a long time. Hope that's okay with you because we'd love to visit!

Stubby xoxo

Stubby said...

Hi Apollo! Your pawrents are always taking you cool places. Since I'm not really that mobile anymore, Dad is buying me a handle for my buggy. Instead of being hooked up to Mom's bike, she will be able to push me like a little baby in a stroller. Awwww!

Stubby xoxo

Stubby said...

Hi Lilo! That's so cool that your mom is going to buy some for her office. I suspect Mom is going to take some on her trip because they will travel well. They'll also be good on the island because they are sealed nice and tight!

Stubby xoxo

Stubby said...

Hi Pearly Poo! Mom has never tried Kashi granola bars but they sound healthy. I'm sure if your momma eats them that they're good for her. I'm going to send Mom to the store to get some for her trip.

Stubby xoxo

Stubby said...

Hi Melissa & Emmitt! Emmitt is totally going to come with me when the parks allow dogs in. I agree that there's nothing more natural than a pug but obviously the park people are clueless. Maybe we can have a party with all our friends in one of the parks. Hot dogs and smores over an open fire - yummy!

Stubby xoxo

Stubby said...

Hi Sequoia! I'm psychic! Just kidding. Mom used to put granola on her yogurt when she ate yogurt. I've never had granola but it looks yummy!

Stubby xoxo

Stubby said...

Hi Josie Girl! I will totally take you to the park and feed you granola. As soon as they open up the parks to puggies we are there!

Stubby xoxo