Not just coffee

Posts Tagged food

Draw a Circle: Lower your Calories

May 22

Posted by admin in health, news

Some studies are just more fun to read than others. I can’t hide that fact! Take the French Fry discussion. According to the Journal of Food Science, if you cut potatoes into strips and want them to become French Fries, you’ll need more oil and, they’ll need to cook longer. Translation: They will not be considered a healthy food.potato

Yet, if you make circle fries out of your potatoes, you’ll shorten the cooking time, i.e. reduce the oil you’ll need and still come up with a similar tasting product, albeit healthier.

This all rests on the premise if you believe potatoes are healthy to start with! I confess: I’m a potato person and like the nutritional benefits from this food!

My prediction: More circle potato products with fun-sounding recipe names!

Tags:

No Comments

Weekend Cooks

May 16

Posted by admin in lifestyle, news

It’s appropriate this month to think about the grill and new recipes during National Barbecue Month. Few people will argue with the outdoor plan after a particularly odd winter weather pattern that seemed to extend into spring. Maybe this weekend, the month’s midpoint, will cooperate for home chefs to fire up the grill. Here are some interesting grill factoids from a poll conducted by the Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association:

–65% like “to dress it up” when it comes to grilling. Translation: sauce, marinade, or seasoning while 21 % “strip it down”, grilled food au naturel!

–More men than women prefer to add a spicy sauce.

–As for toppings, more grillers use ketchup on burgers or other grilled meats; mustard comes in a very close 2nd.

–Cheese is a frequent topping (over 60%), and over 70% of respondents say they want a bun for their sandwich, a traditional bun.

As for grilling’s popularity, the largest number of respondents said they like the way grilled food tastes.

No matter how you vote or what you like to grill, it is obvious that the outdoor cooking method makes kitchen clean-up an effortless process.fancygrill

If you’re stuck without a clue how to get that perfect flavor or what to do with veggies on the grill, for instance, check out the Association’s website. BTW, if you don’t have a grill, but are thinking about buying one, they have advice and guidelines to streamline the process and help you decide whether to get charcoal, gas, or electric: All good options.

So many choices. So easy and delicious.

Tags: ,

No Comments

Happy Mother’s Day, All Day: ENJOY

May 9

Posted by admin in lifestyle

Tags: ,

No Comments

The Big Day

Apr 22

Posted by admin in lifestyle, news

Although we have acknowledged the interest in an Earth Week focus, the single day, the 40th anniversary of Earth Day is today, April 22.ed2010logo_blue We have come a long way in many of our steps to save the planet, change the world, and adhere to smart environmental and ecological principles. Many businesses are in the mood to reward customers today so you’ll be surprised by the various promotions all over town, every town.

It was not that many years ago when the concept of a reusable bag was left to a small part of our population. No more. You see people everywhere holding their bags for any type of shopping excursion. Some stores trade your smaller bags for their larger ones; smart marketing and advertising on their part as long as they don’t throw away the bags!

Target has a plastic bag promotion: They want you to turn in your plastic bags by submitting them to TerraCycle, and they’ll give you a coupon to use for one of their reusable bags. Following the lead of Whole Foods Markets and others, Target recently added recycling bins near the checkout area. That’s a boost to one-stop shopping and avoidance of extra mileage trips. Starbucks hopes this Earth Day helps people understand about bringing their own tumblers for coffee so the company can lessen its use of paper cups. They’ll reward you.

Numerous grocers, restaurants, and other merchants want to be heard during this day. Get out and celebrate and make changes in your everyday routines.

Our work has just begun. We’ve learned. We still have so much to learn. It’s our only Earth.

Tags: , ,

No Comments

Opening Day: Let’s Hear it for #44

Apr 5

Posted by admin in news, President Obama

Nothing like Opening Day of the baseball season and the final evening of college basketball–a real sport-filled day with so many food options. Baseball grabs the day’s early headlines as excitement surrounds the Big Day. With all the weeks of spring training, nothing prepares you for record crowds like having the President of the United States ready his pitching arm to throw out the first pitch. President Obama continues a tradition that dates back 100 years, and the Washington Nationals are ready for his appearance.president

The Nats meet the Phillies in what promises to be not only a good game on the field, but one the concessionaires will truly enjoy. There are some new foods gracing the corridors. Let’s start with one of the city’s top food destinations, Ben’s Chili Bowl, a must-visit for newcomers with several locations at the Park. For the traditionalists, there are no shortage of burger, hot dog, and pizza possibilities and then a carb world away are a few places that list “healthy options.” Somehow a baseball stadium and healthy options used together in a single sentence sound like a work of science fiction, but that is old school. Now there are choices including hummous, gluten-free pretzels, and even grilled chicken sandwiches minus the bun!

Ice cream stands will probably experience long lines to match the weather. Last year it was coffee stands that were doing a brisk business as the temperature was more fitting for an indoor sport. Not this year. It’s a sunscreen experience.

Other days; other parks. The healthy food option seems to be a sign of the times. When the Nats visit the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, vegetarian options lead the field. The Park earned the title as top vegetarian choice for baseball dining. Maybe this was the tie-breaker: A crab-free crab cake sandwich! Hmm.

Can’t wait to hear that famous magical phrase,  Batter Up as #44 throws out the first ceremonial toss.

Tags: , ,

No Comments

Happy Easter

Apr 4

Posted by admin in lifestyle

The chocolate study from earlier this week means you can have a good time with chocolate Easter eggs. Just don’t eat a dozen! Whether you buy them or make them, they’re easy to rationalize: They’re good for our overall health.valrohonaeastereggs

Tags:

No Comments

Happy Passover

Mar 29

Posted by admin in news

Tonight is the first night of Passover. The time for a true spiritual, ritual dinner: The Seder. As more people celebrate this holiday, the special meal and ceremony have become celebrated in many different settings. It’s all about tradition.

Happy Passover.

Tags:

No Comments

International Food Round-Up: Gluten-Free Guide

Mar 26

Posted by admin in gluten-free, lifestyle

MetsIf ours is a fusion food world, then we need to know which foods are best for those who want to taste specialty dishes when they travel or in their home environs. Not everyone needs a gluten-free lifestyle, but more attention is being focused on simpler diets and fewer grains. Besides resorting to the caveman approach, there are options for the adventuresome.

Mexican, Thai, and other nationalities have plenty of choices Here’s a start: A masa-based Pupusa. The El Salvadoran dish or the version from Honduras is quite simply a delicious choice, a corn pancake-like dish filled with meats, cheese, or beans, similar to the more common Mexican tortilla. Rice noodles that work their way into Pad Thai is another simple solution. Being gluten intolerant may enable you to be more of an adventuresome eater, one with an interest in dishes from other countries, those that use more rice or corn than heavy gluten-laden wheat flour.

Some new snack foods are coming into the market that will please the G-F group. If you’re planning on visiting the Mets this season, they’re ready for you at the beautiful new Citi Field. Kozy Shack puddings are gluten free and now the company is sponsoring a G-F food cart that will be easy to spot and take the worry out of baseball dining.

Batter up.

Tags: , ,

No Comments

Healthy Changes: The Time is Now

Mar 25

Posted by admin in health, news

The American Heart Association released an interesting survey. They found that people are just not interested in giving up their favorite foods. No matter how much money was offered they (40%) wanted to have their pizza, cupcakes, and mac ‘n cheese. The AHA wants to help people find healthier food choices. They’ve set up an online nutrition site with tips on shopping for food and dining out. Wait there’s more, they’re setting up a Twitter site with giveaways for creative recipes that demonstrate smart food substitutions to improve the nutritional quality of a dish. For instance, a suggestion might be adding shredded carrots to meatloaf. I assume they mean start with a less fatty ground beef.37785-inter-full

With the newly passed health bill, the mystery of a calorie count will be removed form a guessing game. Calorie postings are part of the new program. Panera Bread announced sometime ago that it would be posting calories. In New York City, calorie posts have been required from businesses that had multiple locations (Starbucks, for one). Under the new law, any chain with at least 20 outlets will need to post. We can be certain that this type of in your-face information will have a positive outcome; at least it will make people think twice about some dishes that are the equivalent of a whole day’s calorie requirements!

The other food topic receiving increased attention is salt. More companies are taking a stand and reducing the sodium count of their products. The snacks owned by Pepsi (Frito-Lay, for example) will come under the reduced sodium count during the gradual reduction over the next five years. it would be grand if they considered reducing calorie counts in these same foods at the same time. Kraft (Oreos, for example) has a similar plan in the works. Both of these companies, both industry leaders, plan gradual changes so that consumers do not balk at the taste differences.

As a nation we are suffering from obesity and its many dangerous end results. At the same time, we cry out that regulation from any front is bad. This time our health as a nation depends on assistance from multiple sources if necessary.

We are out of control.

Tags: ,

No Comments

Can a Brit Change America?

Mar 22

Posted by admin in First Lady Michelle Obama, health

foodrevIt’s intriguing to think of the concept: British chef Jamie Oliver (of “Naked Chef” fame) comes to America and takes a peek at our food ways. As he comments in the opening preview of Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution,” Pizza for breakfast. I’ve never seen anything like this.” Mind you, he was in Huntington, WVA, a city the CDC  labeled  the Unhealthiest City in America, not a positive banner headline!

His goal is to create lifestyle changes that reverse the devastating health statistics surrounding early death and severe obesity.  Without giving too much away, let me say his welcome did not resemble a cuddly, warm, open-arm reception. He was laughed at, viewed as a threat, and generally undermined, if that’s possible to do to the the delightfully entertaining Oliver. The kitchen staff at the first elementary school scoffed at what they considered an intruder; after all they had been there for decades doing the same thing. When they showed him how they make mashed potatoes, with potato pearls, he struggled to hold his composure.

His goal is simple: Effect the lives of the community and bring about healthy changes. He’s working with families and introducing them to foods that are not processed, deep-fried, and come out of the freezer section. Challenges are in every corner, for the students who are asked to choose between a home-cooked chicken lunch v. a slice of pizza–you know who wins! The lunch ladies, as he calls them, can barely hide their resentment and disgust. They admit that they said he could try to set up his school guidelines as he has done in the UK, but they emit skepticism.

Enough of this first episode. Recognize that he is tackling the very issues First Lady Michelle Obama has so eloquently addressed. His goal is to have schools, administrations, families and in general, the US think about the food that goes into our bodies. In this blog we’ve talked plenty about nutrition and childhood obesity; let’s hope that Jamie’s Kitchen becomes a model for how we can change the nutritional guidelines of school lunch programs and help families learn how to shop for foods that are not laden with lines of ingredients.

As they say, check your local listings for upcoming episodes.

As an aside, maybe the biggest irony of the show was the commercial for a fast food restaurant that talks about giving you more for less. They obviously never received the Jamie Oliver memo!

Tags: , ,

No Comments