I thought a calorie was a calorie. Then I read a colorie is not a calorie. Then my doctor tells me a calorie is a calorie. Now this article. The only way to resolve this issue is to take a Zen approach. A calorie is a calorie and a calorie is not a calorie. That settles it.
Why fast foods are bad, even in moderation - NewScientist.com
Harvard study involved data from more that 140,000 people.
This quote from the article was quite interesting as many housing developments are built on what was once farmland.
Dr. Ascherio noted, however, that farmers and non-farmers (such as gardeners who regularly used pesticides) had similar levels of risk so it appears to be pesticides that increase risk, not other aspects of farming.
Pesticides linked to increased risk of Parkinson's – globeandmail.com
Pesitcides Linked to Parkinson's in Grim New Studies – lime.com
[thanks, Jeff]
The Sixth Annual Media that Matters Film Festival presents:
Asparagus! (A Stalk-umenatary)
Directed and Produced by Kirsten Kelly and Anne de Mare
Winner of the Good Food Award
Sponsored by W.K. Kellogg Foundation
Link to film on Google Video – Run time 6 minutes
Interview with producers – Link.
Here’s proof that there are too many TV channels. If there’s purpose for a show like this other than to misspend time and pad programming (and maybe the real reason, promote Hollywood), it escapes me. Done in the name of “science”, this article is designed to promote a show tonight on the National Geographic Channel called “The Science of Superman”.
"Superman Returns" Science: Decoding the Movie Hero's Powers – National Geographic News
And if you don’t feel you’ve wasted enough time, there’s an article on the same site entitled “The Hulk: Fact vs. Fiction”.
The new UCLA study says women tend to start due to environmental reasons while men start due to genetic factors.
“Environmental factors may include peer influences, social networks, concern about bodyweight gain, and tobacco in the media. Genetic factors encompass things like nicotine metabolism-affecting genes and genes that affect brain sensitivity to nicotine.”
Environmental Factors Major Player for Women Lighting Up - Ivanhoe.com
When there's money in something, the capitalists do what they know how to do best, milk it. But there are potential dangers in the new popularity of organics.
See the ContraCostaTimes' Food Editor, Nicholas Boer's article. Link.
Funded under a grant from the United States Department of Agriculture's Rural Business-Cooperative Service, the National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service provides information and other technical assistance to farmers, ranchers, Extension agents, educators, and others involved in sustainable agriculture in the United States.
One useful feature of this site for consumers is the local food directory.
“ATTRA's Local Food Directories database, useful for producers and consumers alike, includes national, regional, state, and community resources.”
Link to main site.
That’s the simple idea of a new site called Snacksby.com. Their tag line is “like Macgyver, but for food.”
The idea is simple, list what’s in your pantry, then click on “and we’ll tell you what you can make.”
"Snacksby is a different, easier kind of recipe site. You tell us what you've got in your fridge, in your pantry, or just what you're looking to find in a recipe, even how much of each ingredient and wham!, we let you know what your options are."
You can contribute recipes, as well. Link.
[via LifeHacker via MeFi Projects]
A chain of retail stores in New Jersey and Pennsylvania want nothing but the best for your pooch. Story. The stores known as Cutter's Mill , believe your pet deserves the best in all-natural, organic and holistic foods.
My only question is, where is my dog going if he outlives me?
 
Due to consolidation in the meat farming business, farms are getting larger and causing more problems for the people that live in the surrounding community.
Few rural residents want to see a million chickens or thousands of hogs move in next door. But farmers say these large operations are needed to increase farm profits and make it possible for the next generation to stay on the farm.
Large farms face big fight – FortWayne.com
No injuries were reported but now you have something else to worry about.
Dell laptop explodes at Japanese conference - the Inquirer - UK
"The damn thing was on fire and produced several explosions for more than five minutes".
[via Engadget]
NZ woman third time cheese rolling winner - Stuff.co.nz, New Zealand
25 Injured In Cheese-Rolling Competition - All Headline News
Dozens hurt in cheese roll race - BBC News, UK
Link to more info about the fun including pictures from this year’s rolling. Link.
If you have to know even more, here’s a link to “Cheese Rolling in Gloucestershire – the e-book”, which tells the entire history of cheese-rolling and includes over 200 photographs dating back to the 1940s. But you have to buy it and it’s in pounds so you will have to figure it all out. Link.
Continue reading "2006 Annual Cheese-Rolling A Success. Another Great Year for the Brits (Despite Injuries)!" »
Free recipe cards from the California Olive Commission not only offer cooking advice but living advice, as well. They remind you to slow down and get back to the simple pleasures of life. It will do wonders for your health AND your cooking. Order your cards here. Link.
That, according to Michael Pollan (link to previous posting and interview), author of The Omnivore’s Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals (Penguin, 2006). Although unwilling to pay the personal expense the ideal solution entails, he has an alternative.
"Another alternative is community supported agriculture (CSA), a movement that began in the United States in the 1980s and strives to provide a direct link between consumers and farmers; offer an alternative to massive, single-crop farms; support local economies (from generating jobs to purchasing goods); increase nutritional value; and create sustainable food sources."
Farming for Neighbors - Community Supported Agriculture – Chronogram
The last few decades were the warmest on Earth in the past 400 years, and may well have been warmer than any comparable period since the Middle Ages, U.S. scientists reported on Thursday.
Earth is hottest it's been in 2,000 years, study says, and humans are to blame - Canada.com
Earth has a 'fever' - Advertiser Adelaide, Australia
Earth is hottest now in 2,000 years - Ireland On-Line
Last 25 years warmest on Earth since 1600 - Pravda, Russia
Report: Global Warming Is Real - Discovery Channel
 
Paul James (bio link) is the host of the very entertaining show on HGTV called Gardening by the Yard. Here’s a link to a thorough article about back yard mosquito control with information from the show. Link.
[thanks, Susan!]
Unfortunately I was one of the ignorant people when it came to understanding the process involved in producing Paté de foie gras. If you are one or if you know about the process and need a reminder of the animal cruelty involved, check out the links:
New York Foie Gras Farms Challenged in Court
Force-Fed Abuse
Be prepared for worse pictures than this one.
Information provided by The Humane Society of the United States.
[thanks, Jeff]
Renee Simon is Certified Dietitian-Nutritionist with a great strategy for stocking your pantry. More information and recipes can found be found at her web page referenced at the end of the article.
SIMPLE STRATEGIES FOR SHOPPING AND STOCKING YOUR PANTRY
THE HEALTY WAY
By
Renee Simon, MS, CNS, NYS Certified Dietitian-Nutritionist
It is now easier than ever for you and your family to eat healthy, nutritious meals. Most ordinary super markets now carry organic and healthier brands. FDA regulations are making companies list trans fat use and other harmful ingredients on labels. There are many selections of precut vegetables that can easily be steamed and tossed with a little flax or olive oil and some culinary herbs for a quick side dish. The key is to be prepared and to know what to look for.
The purpose of this article is to give you information to make your shopping trip a little easier. The following are some general shopping tips:
1. Produce – Organic produce might be more expensive, but it is generally healthier and more nutritious than traditional items. This is especially important for our children who are extra vulnerable to toxins in their diets. There are certain foods that naturally store a lot of pesticides where choosing organic is even more important. Some examples are: spinach, lettuce, apples, bell peppers, celery, imported grapes, potatoes and strawberries. In general organic produce tastes better which means that children will be more likely to eat it. Ideally all produce should be fresh, ripe, in season and locally grown. Frozen organic fruit is a great choice for foods like berries that are very nutritious but out of season.
2. Meat & Poultry – Although harder to find than produce, organic or free-range, hormone and antibiotic-free meats should be used whenever possible. There are diseases such as cancer that are associated with high levels of negative estrogen and antibiotics in the body.
3. Milk & Eggs – Organic milk is imperative. Based on the volume of milk and milk products that we are expected to give our children to get the recommended amount of calcium, it is crucial to use organic based products. Eggs should also be organic or from free-range, antibiotic and hormone-free poultry. Because it is hard to get fish high in omega-3 fatty acids into our children, it is especially beneficial to choose eggs labeled as high omega-3, which means that these important fatty acids were fed to the chickens.
4. Seafood – It is becoming increasingly more important to eat wild-caught, non farm raised fish or seafood and especially limit those fish high in mercury from the diet such as tuna, swordfish, and shark. For people who are used to eating tuna fish several times a week, canned wild salmon which is now in many health food stores makes a good alternative. It can be prepared the same way as traditional tuna salad and is high omega-3 fatty acids.
5. Buy whole fresh foods – It is always best to buy whole fresh foods when ever possible. In cases where this is not always practical it is more nutritious to use frozen than canned foods. Certain foods like beans, broths, and sauces are fine from cans or jars when you are rushed and don’t have time to prepare from scratch. Other packaged foods that are is important to have on hand are raw nuts and seeds, nut butters (no sugar or hydrogenated oils), whole grains such as brown rice, quinoa, whole wheat pasta, breads, and cereals, and spices, herbs and natural condiments to season foods.
6. To Avoid – The most important foods to avoid are non-domestic produce as they are almost always sprayed with pesticides (some with DDT that is banned in our country), ground meat unless it is cut directly from the butcher because of the filler parts that could be added, foods with additives, colors, preservatives, emulsifiers, and chemical names that you don’t understand, and packaged foods with multiple ingredients including hydrogenated fats, corn syrup and artificial sweeteners.
Hopefully this list does not seem overwhelming to you. It is most important to take the time to sit down and enjoy a meal as a family. If possible it is helpful to get the children involved in the planning, shopping and preparation of nutritious meals so they become something that can be shared and appreciated together.
Renee Simon is a board certified clinical nutritionist, writer, and lecturer who specializes in family nutrition. Her practices are in South Salem and at the Center for Health and Healing in Mount Kisco. Renee’s recently released book Take Back Your Health – A Total Wellness Guide for You and Your Family has lots of tips for helping families transition to healthier eating. She can be reached at (914) 763-9107 or www.totalwellnessnutrition.com.
Story of one Utah farmer that says producing organic milk may save the small family farm in the short run but the long term – problematic.
Small Wonders - The Herald Journal. Logan, Utah
Correct me if I’m wrong, but it looks like the way these things work is by keeping track of time!. Wouldn’t it be just as easy to put a white label on the jar and write the date you opened it? Comments?
From their site:
"Timestrips® are single-use, disposable, smart-labels, which automatically monitor lapsed time, ranging from under 1 day to 6 months.
The technology behind the revolutionary Timestrip® works by capillary action, allowing a tinted liquid to migrate through a micro-porous material at a consistent rate.
Inexpensive and easy to use Timestrips® are setting a new standard in product labeling on perishable goods."
Link.
[via engadget via popgadget]
Check out this crazy Folger’s coffee commercial. Link.
[via BoingBoing]
Sunday 6/18/06 - Japan wins by one vote to refocus the International Whaling Commission on culling, not conservation.
“So it's a win for the pro-whaling countries, which are describing it as an historic victory, because it's the first time they've had the majority in about 20 years since the global ban on commercial whaling was introduced.”
Minister in world plea on whaling – Guardian Unlimited
Whalers' win no threat: minister – Herald Sun Australia
Norwegians cheer shift on whaling ban - AFTENPOSTEN Norway
Whaling Commission rocked by shock vote – Ireland On-Line
The Chicago Tribune reports that a new book for children by the author of “Fast Food Nation: the Dark Side of the All-American Meal" (read introduction), warns children about America's food supply. The book is called, "Chew On This."
The AFB & the Snack Food Association are so offended, they created an entire website as a response. Link.
Bill Howard, who has and interesting journalistic resume (Link), writes regarding the practicality of alternative fuels. Article includes good descriptions of current alternative fuels in play.
Don’t have time to read the whole article? Here’s his conclusion:
“Alternative fuel sounds good when you listen to its proponents. But what's practical for an energy-conscious fraction of the population may not work for all 200 million vehicles in the U.S. The soundest alternative-fuel policy may be to buy cars that don't burn as much fuel, no matter what type it is.”
Alternative Fuels – A Primer – TechnoRide (Ziff Davis) 6-14-06
This video clip of a Lyrebird was voted favorite by David Attenborough fans. The Lyrebird is a ground-dwelling Australian bird with an incredible talent for mimicry (even of non-natural sounds!) Link.
[via boing boing]
CSPI (Center for Science in the Public Interest) a non-profit consumer protection group, filed a class action law suit on June 12, 2006 asking that KFC be stopped from using partially hydrogenated oil.
"Grilled, baked, or roasted chicken is a healthy food-and even fried chicken can be trans-fat-free," said CSPI executive director Michael F. Jacobson. "But coated in breading and fried in partially hydrogenated oil, this otherwise healthy food becomes something that can quite literally take years off your life. KFC knows this, yet it recklessly puts its customers at risk of a Kentucky Fried Coronary."
Link to press release.
[thanks, Jeff!]
In a previous post I spoke of celebrities showing up to support a South Los Angeles community farm. Unfortunately, that didn’t work.
“Tuesday, 13 June 2006 - The South Central Farm is currently under attack. An early morning raid began this 5-hour long eviction that is still in process. Trees are being cut down, bulldozers are leveling the families’ food, hundreds of protesters are on site rallying with tears in their eyes as the nation’s largest urban farm is destroyed before them. The L.A.P.D. is on tactical alert as fire ladders and cherry pickers are being brought in to remove the tree-sitters. The 350 families created this oasis 14 years ago in the wake of the 1992 uprising when this land was offered to the community by the then Mayor as a form of mitigation.”
Link to latest news.
German Anarchists dressed as superheros ransack grocery stores and delis of high-end food to be delivered to poor. From the Scotsman. Link.
In 1984, photographer Peter Feldstein took a photo of each of the residents of Oxford, Iowa. More than twenty years later, he went back and took pictures of the same people.
Time and Again – Smithsonian.com
The Oxford Project Photo Gallery
[via boing boing]
Man Kills Woman with German Sausage
The wurst way to go? - Reuters
Landmark Philly Restaurant says, "Order in English!"
Eatery's English-only sign raises ire - Reuters
 
Watch this public service announcement from "5 A Day the Color Way". Link.
Then view this interactive Flash Demonstration of the system. Link
"5 A Day the Color Way" is sponsored by the Produce for Better Health Foundation and recently partnered with Dreamworks Animation to promote the eating of more fruits and vegetables by children.
Here's a link to a .pdf file of "collectable recipe cards" with recipes for children featuring characters from the Dreamworks movie "Over the Hedge". Link.
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