Posting in Fits and Starts

[tokraed]

Today was an AM half-day for work. Instead of cherry turnovers and a Coke, I had a pack of strawberry Pop-Tarts and caffeine-free Coke ..... but from what I read last night in The Omnivore's Dilemma, I actually had: pastry dough flavored corn, strawberry jam flavored corn, and caffeine-free flavored high fructose corn syrup

Comments

[moth2theflame]

Fascinating but scary book, isn't it? I was shocked at how much corn this country consumes and the reasons why. It even prompted me to start buying grass-fed beef. No one near me sells it so I purchase it from a sustainable beef producer in Missouri (American Grass Fed Beef). It's quite a bit pricier, as you might expect, but so much leaner and tastier.

[tokraed]

Fascinating but scary book, isn't it?
Since I've just started, it hasn't gotten too scary yet ... but I'm sure it will, and very soon. ;D

prompted me to start buying grass-fed beef
I think I've seen someone local selling grass-fed beef, but I'm not sure. M and I are definitely going to check all the places where we buy our meat to see if it's being sold.

[tokraed]

It's truly amazing how much corn and soy we eat.
Even though I knew there was a lot of corn in our processed foods, I thought that it was about even with soy. I know that a lot of farmers from around my hometown switched from corn to soy over the last couple of decades.

shrimp (being shellfish) could ever become kosher
I had some friends I used to work with at the Post Office who were Jewish. During the holidays, everyone brought in something for the holiday potlucks, so I had the opportunity to ask about the kosher thing with pork and shellfish. Basically, since pigs eat everything and shellfish are scavengers of the ocean/sea/river bottoms, their dietary habits make them unclean.

I have to agree with you, though. I doubt there'd be a mad rabbinical rush to reverse a dietary decision that's been standing around for a few thousand years.

[reallove]

This is part of what I was talking about in processed foods. Always keep in mind that most things are done with profit in mind, and that typically means cutting corners during production where possible. This is also why I said in some entry a while back that the biggest step toward health care reform this country could make if we were truly serious about it would be to concentrate more on encouraging and incentivizing (if that's a word) nutrition. But you can't patent strawberries, so the medical powers that be would make less money. The more natural (and probably organic) one's diet is, the better off you're likely to be. For me, it started with reading the label and learning how to interpret it.

[tokraed]

to concentrate more on encouraging and incentivizing (if that's a word) nutrition
Technically, the US already encourages proper nutrition .... through the educational system. Schools are required to teach about proper nutrition. Kids learn about the food pyramid (which would be easier if they didn't keep revising it). Health classes talk about nutrition in relation to keeping a body healthy.

And there's also the Food & Drug Adminstration, which is responsible for protecting the public health by assuring the safety, efficacy, and security of human and veterinary drugs, biological products, medical devices, our nation’s food supply, cosmetics, and products that emit radiation.

The FDA is also responsible for advancing the public health by helping to speed innovations that make medicines and foods more effective, safer, and more affordable; and helping the public get the accurate, science-based information they need to use medicines and foods to improve their health.Anything more than what was previously mentioned and we're off into

[reallove]

Technically, yes it does. In practice... ?? It's a balance between cost & nutrition with emphasis being on cost containment. Of course, it is also based on demand, both what people want & ask for plus what they are marketed that they really would love to have. It is also a matter of what is called healthy or better for us and isn't exactly so. As with all things, these matters begin with the parents' decision on what food will be in the house and trying to find a way to get their kid(s) to understand the importance of nutrition. Kids have a funny way of not listening

[tokraed]

these matters begin with the parents' decision on what food will be in the house and trying to find a way to get their kid(s) to understand the importance of nutrition. Kids have a funny way of not listening.Very true. The main responsibility rests with the parents, but when the parents are absent or ignorant, then they've decreed that it's the schools' responsibility