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Posts Tagged ‘food’
Sunday, November 15th, 2009
Sometimes I buy a book and it takes me forever to read the thing. Not because it’s a bad book, but rather because I sometimes just don’t have the time to sit down and read! That’s what happened to me with The Omnivore’s Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals by Michael Pollan. I bought this book in October 2008 and it took me about a year to get through it.
However, do not interpret that last sentence as a criticism of this book! No, in fact this is one of the best sustainable living/organic food books that I’ve ever read. Pollan is a master at bringing out the larger issues in our food system. In this book, he manages to achieve that success by following the food from its humble beginnings in the field (or on the industrial farm, as it may be) all the way through when we eat it. The book is a really fascinating look at what happens to our meat and produce before it gets to our tables.
But those with queasy stomachs beware. While Pollan doesn’t talk too much about the gore associated with creating the food that we eat, he talks about it enough to allow the reader to infer just what is going on. From chickens getting their throats sliced and drained of their blood to cows being shot directly between the eyes to kill them, this book will tell you about exactly how our ground beef and chicken cutlets come into being before they hit our dinner tables.
But it’s not all dying animals and blood. In fact, Pollan spends a great deal of time talking about the industrial food system and how we’ve changed the base of our diets from a variety of original sources hundreds of years ago (and even decades ago) to a base of corn. Yes, that’s right – corn. Pollan talks about the ways in which corn is broken down into a whole collection of different components and how those components are used to construct any number of new products. One of the facts that I read in this book that has stuck with me is how we now feed our livestock a corn-based diet at industrial farms and how that diet has changed the very meat of these animals. It all makes sense though, right? If you change what you feed animals that you intend to eat, then you are essentially changing what you intend to eat. There is some discussion about our change to a corn-based system leading to the increasing obesity epidemic in America, too.
Combining Pollan’s natural wit and his great storytelling ability, this book presents the type of information that our society needs to know about in order to create a mass change in our diets. If you’re interested in the slow food movement, local organic farming, or any sustainable living topic in general, then I think that you’ll enjoy this book. Use the link above to read more reviews from Amazon!
Posted in Book, DVD, Movie, & Media Reviews, Sustainable Living | 1 Comment »
Thursday, October 22nd, 2009
One of my roommates sent me the link below. It’s for the Jersey Shore Restaurant Week, which is coming up November 6th through November 15th. As someone who has lived on the northern Jersey Shore for the better part of the last ten years, I encourage you to check out some of these fine dining establishments. I’ve been to many of these places and you’ve probably read reviews of their food somewhere on this blog, so I can vouch for some of these restaurants. And if you’re looking for a reference on one or more of these places, then just ask!
http://www.jerseyshorerestaurantweek.com/
Enjoy!
Posted in Local People & Politics, The State of New Jersey | No Comments »
Saturday, October 17th, 2009
Many of you know that I go to a farm each Saturday morning (actually, this coming Saturday is the last visit to the farm until next season) to get my produce. The food that I get from the farm is literally “farm fresh” and organically grown. It tastes delicious – much better than the produce that you find in the stores.
I’ve signed up to be on Food Democracy Now’s e-mail list so I can help advocate for better food policies for all of us. The latest advocacy effort is asking Agriculture Secretary to help organic farmers get more land to grow their crops. Below is an e-mail I received from Food Democracy Now – give it a read.
It’s time to end the bureaucratic squabbling at the USDA and put beginning and minority farmers first.
What new and minority farmers need most is access to affordable land — unfortunately USDA officials are stalling a potential solution.
A new program created by sustainable agriculture advocates in the 2008 Farm Bill, called the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) Transition Option, offers incentives to land owners enrolled in the CRP to sell or lease the land to beginning and minority farmers using sustainable or organic practices at the end of CRP contracts.
Currently, 4.3 million acres enrolled in CRP are about to leave the program and this land is badly needed by the next generation of farmers to overcome the greatest obstacle to new farmers – affordable land.2
Unfortunately the USDA’s bureaucratic wrangling and fear of lawsuits is holding up implementation of this vital program. Rather than release the land as it should be under new Farm Bill rules, the USDA is holding it up with an unnecesary environmental impact study. Any further delay will deny beginning and minority farmers the opportunity to get access to the land they need in the next 2 years.3
Please join Food Democracy Now! by asking Secretary Vilsack to implement the Conservation Reserve Program Transition Option now.
Our beginning and minority farmers don’t have a moment to waste.
Interesting information, huh? If you’re interested in sending a quick, online message to the Secretary, click here. If you believe that quality food provides a large benefit to our society, then I encourage you to send the Secretary a message.
Posted in Sustainable Living | No Comments »
Monday, October 12th, 2009
Special thanks go out to Joseph P. Martino of Millburn for sending in the following Columbus Day poem. Thanks, Joseph!
A special salute to Columbus, Italy, Italians and her Italian American sons and daughters. A pride of Italian heritage and culture on Columbus Day.
* Author: copyright Joseph p. Martino TRAVEL POET
Art and culture that nurtures and inspires mind, heart and soul.
Music, language and literature that that makes our spirit soar and Hearts sing with joy.
Scientist, explorers, inventors always challenging the frontiers of discovery.
haute couture fashion and designers.
home of the 2006 world cup champions, world class sports and athletes.
The beauty of her majestic cities, mountains, scenic land, lakes,
Rivers and ocean sea that captivates the mind,heart and naked eye.
Italian cuisine, wine and drink that teases the palate, the vineyards and olive gardens of tuscany that satisfy our appetite for fine food,wine and lust for life.
Hospitality and warmth of her people, that touches, then
Melts the hearts of people who come to visit her.
History, antiquity and teaching of the great saints of the church that gives us all a deeper sense
Of self, and who we are in life.
This is Italy, this is Italian and Italian American pride, heritage and culture on Columbus Day.
Copyright Joseph p.martino 2004 revised 2009 American author, poet, motivator, inventor, world traveler (1937~) Millburn, NJ
Thanks again, Joseph!
Posted in The State of New Jersey | 1 Comment »
Sunday, September 27th, 2009
Time and time again I post on here about how I am a member of the Food Democracy e-mail list and how they send me some interesting information on healthy food choices, legislation regarding food policy, and regulations regarding the food industry. Well, their latest e-mail is interesting because it deals with these “Smart Choice” labels that you find throughout the supermarket…and in a variety of odd places.
For example, did you know that according the USDA and FDA guidelines, some forms of Keebler’s snack crackers are “Smart Choice” products? How does that even pass the smell test?! Some text from the Food Democracy Now campaign:
The Smart Choices program was dreamed up by giant food conglomerates like ConAgra, General Mills, Kellogg’s, Kraft, PepsiCo, Tyson Foods and Unilever, together with some industry “experts.” They say its purpose is to help consumers make “smarter food and beverage choices,” but you’ll be surprised to see what they define as a “Smart Choice”: things like Froot Loops®, Keebler Cookie Crunch® and Lucky Charms®.
How about the gumption on the folks that decided Lucky Charms are a “Smart Choice” option? Sickening. Through the use of Food Democracy’s online submission form, it took me no time at all to submit a pre-formatted letter to both the USDA and the FDA regarding the use of these “Smart Choice” labels. The text of the message that was sent is listed below. I encourage you to use the link above to send a message that deceptive labeling is unacceptable.
Dear Secretary Sebelius & Secretary Vilsack,
We urge you to investigate a new front of package (FOP) labeling initiative known as the Smart Choices® Program for potential deceptive and misleading claims to American consumers. At a time when our nation’s children are suffering from an epidemic of obesity and type II diabetes, leading food manufacturers should be trying to encourage eating healthier meals and not peddle overly processed foods high in sugar, fat or salt.
Unfortunately, the new program, led by many of our nation’s largest food corporations, has created a set of standards so loose that products like Froot Loops®, Keebler Cookie Crunch® and Lucky Charms® are eligible for the Smart Choices® label.
It’s outrageous that American companies would try to push food products loaded with as much as 44% sugar on parents who are desperately trying to feed their children healthy meals. Please stand up for our nation’s children and only allow healthy, nutritious foods to achieve this type of voluntary labeling. If this administration is serious about children’s health and nutrition they will enforce strict guidelines related to food products geared towards children and will not allow corporations to engage in deceptive or misleading labeling practices.
If you interested in sending a message to the USDA and the FDA (which takes moments to do), then please head over to this link and check it out.
Posted in Sustainable Living | 1 Comment »
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