Monsanto's marketing efforts pull imagery of an idyllic world of cooperation, support... downright hippy-esque harmony between the largest seed and pesticide company in the world and millions of struggling farmers. But the controversial manufacturer known for the toxic glyphosate-based Roundup and widespread genetically modified and hybrid seeds, paints a much different picture than what's really going on in the fields.

We all look forward to the holidays—but overeating can get the best of us making us a little bit uncomfortable in our favorite reindeer sweaters. But you don't have to sacrifice health this season. Don't wait for the New Year to work off the season's weight—start now by preventing it from getting you in the first place! We've got just the thing: A chance to win one of five 1.5 pound boxes of the protein building organic whey. Read on for the details.

If you’ve ever been confused by the shiny labels decorating the front of every package in the supermarket aisle, you’re not alone. Phrases like “all natural,” “grass fed” and “organic” catch our eye, but without proper research, we may not realize that those words may not actually mean what our eyes are telling our brains and stomachs they mean. Crafty wordplay and loose legislation have allowed words like “natural” to mean “well, kind of real, but with some preservatives and chemical ingredients,” while “free range” could very well translate as “locked up in a warehouse with one door leading to ten feet of grass that I never use.”

Fair Trade USA (formerly Transfair USA) incited a controversy with its decision to exit from the Fair Trade Labelling Organization earlier this year. Probably the most widely recognized symbol on products labeled as Fair Trade in the U.S. market, the organization also announced that it would now be including products sourced from factories and plantations in its definition of Fair Trade. The impact on small farmers and producers around the world by the inclusion of large-scale operations jeopardizes the equitable distribution of benefits and the livelihood of thousands of emergent communities. And it sheds light on a bigger question: Do our purchasing habits really make a difference?

When it comes to holiday gifts, few things go down better than a box of homemade truffles. They're infinitely more thoughtful than storebought gifts -- ironic, because you can make a huge batch to take care of your entire list in one day.

My all-time favorite truffle recipe is this dark ginger-spiced ganache with a white chocolate coating and a topping of crystallized ginger. This recipe makes about two dozen creamy, chocolatey, spicy morsels. Make sure you have a candy thermometer and a fine strainer on hand.

The Holidays are supposed to be a time of family gatherings, fire-roasting chestnuts and long, lazy weekends. But the Corporatocracy has turned the humble season into a fight-to-the-death credit card maxing out feeding frenzy of—let's face it—a lot of useless junk (not you, Siri). And if the Occupy Movement has inspired us with any takeaway, it might just be that there are worthy options outside of the Wall Street-curated displays at Wal-mart. In fact, the very best gift you can give this season might even disappear before Christmas dinner.

No matter where you find yourself positioned in the country's political clime, unless you're one of the nation's wealthiest, you can most likely concur that we're in somewhat of a bleak national moment. Boosting our economic standing appears to be a prioritized agenda item for most of us, but with it comes restraint and discipline as we grow into what can hopefully become a more responsible nation. Cutting corners doesn't have to be as painful as it sounds though—the DIY, homemade, less-is-more philosophy is eking its way into mainstream culture in record numbers. Are corporations concerned that you'll stop spending money on frivolous items like frozen pre-made peanut butter and jelly sandwiches? Surely we can hope so. How ridiculous is corporate greed going to have to get before it changes for good?

Eating locally has become an environmental catchphrase and a new reality for many people concerned about the ecological footprint that their food products leave in their trail. While interesting new research shows that such a practice isn't always in the best interest of the planet—sometimes growing vegetables or fruit in climates that are not made to handle them is actually more damaging than importing them from New Zealand or Brazil, for example—the incredible trend towards farmers markets shows no sign of slowing. And for good reason: The closer you are to where food grows, the better it tastes. Beyond any environmental appeal, the emotional attachment to taste will usually win out.

Michael Pollan is a change-agent in the sustainable food movement. In 2010, Time Magazine named him one of the 100 most influential people in the world. He is the author of five books including The New York Times bestsellers In Defense of Food, The Omnivore's Dilemma and The Botany of Desire. His latest edition of Food Rules: An Eater's Manual is intended to help Americans distinguish between real food (and sadly) the cheap processed junk foods our nation has so passionately taken to and called "food."

Buzzing in food news lately is the return of the McRib, McDonald’s pork patty sandwich that is shaped like a little slab of ribs. Served with slivered onions, sliced pickles and sweet barbeque sauce on a 5 ½” sesame bun, the McRib has become something of a cultural phenomenon. Today there are websites dedicated to locating the fast food sandwich, which has appeared on Charlie’s Angels, Roseanne, The Chappelle Show and inspired an entire episode of The Simpsons as the Krusty Burger “Ribwich.”