Michael Pollan published a new article last week which many here will enjoy.  Take a look at the link below.

Farmer in Chief

I also suggest reading through some of the comments (where Pollan is also active with his responses):

Article Comments

The article is somewhat of a lengthy read, but definitely worth a look.  Many important topics are raised within (topics that rarely receive attention from the media).

Ross

Take a moment to visit the link below to watch the animated MATRIX spoof entitled The Meatrix.

http://www.themeatrix.com/

This spoof has received millions of views since it first hit the web.  It is an amusing way to create public awareness regarding a serious topic.  Many people in this world have no idea where their food comes from, and some even ridicule those of us who take these topics seriously.  The “why worry about it” mentality is very common.  I even have friends and family members who share such a nonchalant attitude.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not suggesting mass hysteria.  I am however promoting awareness.  I’ve yet to find a knowledge machine that passes information through osmosis while we are sleeping.

For those interested in more “Meatrix” like material (without the amusement), consider reading up at the link below.  Take some time to look through the Photo Gallery and read through some of the reports filed under the Issues heading.

http://www.farmsanctuary.org/issues/factoryfarming

It will certainly serve as an eye opener to many.

Ross

PS -New members to the blog may also wish to look here.

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to notice that obesity rates have “sky rocketed” in recent years.  Like it or not, but much of the world has grown fatter than ever before. Obesity is a growing problem (no pun intended), but we already know that.  Identifying the problem doesn’t do much of anything.  Yes, we have an obesity problem, but how do we go about fixing it?

I wish there was a simple answer, but when dealing with large populations, it becomes much more complicated.  Yes, we need to promote exercise and healthy nutritional habits, but there is a much more to the story. Those who read blogs such as mine are already health conscious, or at least ready to get started.  You didn’t come across this blog while watching your favorite television show.  You had to actively seek out exercise or fitness based information to end up here.

What about those who are not as active however?  What happens to these people?  Perhaps they turn on the television and come across one of the two commercials linked to below:

I can’t believe that such nonsense is allowed to run on national television.  Do we really need to promote high fructose corn syrup?  Does the world really need more of this CRAP! And what about the use of the word natural?  How the hell do these people pass high fructose corn syrup off as a natural food choice?  Are they serious?

Look, I’m not suggesting that a popsicle is the end of the world, but our kids are already growing fatter and fatter.  They are going to eat their treats regardless of the commercials, but do we really need to encourage even more?  Do we need to con the public into believing that this crap is somehow healthy?   Should we call everything “natural” considering that everything in this world came from this world.

And what about the reference to moderation?  Does anyone actually do anything (that they enjoy) in moderation?  Can we trust a young child to eat junk food, but only in moderation?  Will the average 9 year old recognize the need to consume his bag of treats in moderation?  Give me a break!  Where do we draw the line with this blatant bullsh*t?

And for those who may be confused, high fructose corn syrup is everything but “natural” and everything but “healthy”. It is pure crap, and something we can all do without.  If you want to give your children a natural snack, give them a fresh piece of fruit.  There is no need for a fruit flavored snack when you can go directly to the source and eat the REAL piece of fruit!

For those who need more information about high fructose corn syrup, take a moment to read through this link

And to the corn farmers who wish to send hate mail, how about growing some real corn that we can eat instead!

Ross

Below is an excellent article about safety and kids, and the potential problem that one has on the other.

Why Safe Kids Are Becoming Fat Kids

The author discusses several modern safety measures that didn’t exist when we were kids.  The world has changed however.  Kids no longer are encouraged to get outside and play.  There is no freedom to explore and do the things that kids would naturally do.  There are even certain school districts that have banned running at recess.  Running has been deemed too dangerous!  What the hell is wrong with our world!

When and why did the world become so soft?  What happened to letting a kid live a little?  Is it really that bad?  As kids, we grew up outside.  No one wanted to sit inside and play video games.  We grew up playing baseball, tackle football, pick up basketball games, etc.  We would have stayed out all night if sun didn’t go down.

Sure, there were times when I came home with bumps and bruises, but that was just part of growing up.  Life isn’t supposed to be cake walk.  Why fool kids and pretend that it is?  If you never learn to take calculated risks as kids, how can you be expected to take calculated risks as adults?  No one is suggesting that we all live recklessly, but there are times when it makes sense to go against the grain.  Almost every successful person in this world did just that on his or her way to the top.

Today, we preach safety and sameness.  Kids are always being reminded to take it easy.  Don’t do this, don’t do that, be careful with this, be careful with that, etc.  The outdoor fields are empty.  When I take my son to the playground, we are usually alone.  No one else is outside playing.  Should it come as a surprise that adults in today’s world struggle with obesity?

What will come next?  Will our kids be banned from going outside?  Is it too dangerous?   Should we all walk around with safety masks?  Should we live inside protective bubbles?

The world needs to lighten up.  A few bumps and bruises are the end of the world.  There are much bigger problems faced by millions of people around the world.  Let your kids live a little and get outside with them.  Leading from the front is the only way to lead, and your kids will learn by watching you!

Ross

PS – Here are two related entries (here and here)

PPS – Yes, the image above is of me at age 9.  What isn’t shown is me crashing into the floor after jumping off my bed in an attempt to look like I could fly.  My brother was the remarkable camera man who was able to jump out of the way before I crashed into him.  Nothing beats the good old days!

One of the comments left within my last entry referenced a seasonal guide to fresh fruits and veggies.  By knowing what is in season in your local area, you can often find much lower prices.  For one example, take a look at the picture above (taken last week).  Blueberries are currently in season here in Connecticut.   We recently went blueberry picking and racked up almost 50 pounds of fresh blueberries (not to mention the berries that Troy ate from his bucket)!

At $1.50 per pound, you won’t find prices anywhere near this low at the grocery store.  We now have enough blueberries in the freezer to all turn blue!

To find what fruits and veggies are in season in your area, refer to the link below (unfortunately this map only lists US states):

Peak Season Map

To find a farmers market near you, refer to one of the links below:

Farmers Market 1 or Farmers Market 2

If anyone has International directories that they would like to add, please leave links in the comments section so others can benefit.

Ross

Last month, I posted several entries about simple, yet effective nutritional strategies.  The message was clear, eat real food and stay away from the processed, artificial junk that fills most store shelves.  Forget about all the fad diets, complex calculations, and worries that you were a few decimal points shy of hitting a certain nutrient percentage for the day.

I don’t follow any diets.  I don’t count calories and I don’t count nutrient ratios.  If you do, that is fine, but don’t spread fear to those who prefer a more basic approach to life (there are bigger problems in our world today).  The Keep It Simple approach to nutrition works well, even if it isn’t very marketable from a business standpoint.

Personally, I eat real food when I’m hungry (ex. fruits, veggies, meats, eggs, fish, nuts, etc.), and I bust my ass in the gym.  If I want to go out for a nice bite to eat, I go out and don’t lose sleep over it.  Nutrition doesn’t need to be complex.  More and more people want to discuss the nutrient habits of our ancestors (which is fine), but many who do seem to forget that our ancestors didn’t sit around the fire calculating specific ratios on the abacus.

Furthermore, why do so many nutritionists harp on the importance of reading the labels?  What happened to eating food that doesn’t have a label?  Why not instead promote fresh foods that will spoil?  If you pick an apple from a tree, it doesn’t come with a label.  The more real food that you can eat, the better.  If you must fall back on an old chemistry class to determine the ingredients listed on a package, there is a good chance that it was not intended for human consumption.

And for a comical take on reading the labels, take a look at the video below.  You won’t run into these problems if you simply eat real food from a plant or animal.

Ross

There isn’t much that I can add to this entry.  He’s already hit the nail on the head.

Ross

If you believe breakfast cereal is a healthy start to your day, take some time to read through the article below:

Drop That Spoon!

If time is limited, I’ve copied some of the article highlights below:

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“The absurdity of feeding an animal something that it never evolved to eat and that actually makes it fat and sick ought to be easy enough to see…  They (processed cereals) are the epitome of cheap commodity converted by manufacturing to higher-value goods; of agricultural surplus turned into profitable export. Somehow, they have wormed into our confused consciousness as intrinsically healthy, when, by and large, they are degraded foods that have to have any goodness artificially restored.”

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“It was a chronically dyspeptic businessman and former patient of Kellogg’s at the sanitarium who unleashed the power of marketing on breakfast. Charles Post set up the rival La Vita Inn in Battle Creek and developed his own versions of precooked cereals. “The sunshine that makes a business plant grow is advertising,” he declared, promoting his cereals with paid-for testimonials from apparently genuine happy eaters. He also cheerfully invented diseases that his products could cure. Grape Nuts were miraculously marketed at the time both as “brain food” and also as a cure for consumption and malaria. They were even, despite their enamel-cracking hardness, said to be an antidote to loose teeth.”

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My Comments - Perhaps the best line from this entire article is bolded in the paragraph below.  If you currently eat cereal, consider eating the box instead.

“That processed cereals had become little more than sugary junk with milk and vitamins added was an accusation made as long ago as 1970, when Robert Choate, an adviser to President Nixon on nutrition, told a congressional hearing into breakfast cereals that the majority “fatten but do little to prevent malnutrition”. Choate was outraged at the aggressive targeting of children in breakfast cereal advertising. He analyzed 60 well-known cereal brands and concluded that two-thirds offered “empty calories, a term thus far applied to alcohol and sugar”. Rats fed a diet of ground-up cereal boxes with sugar, milk and raisins were healthier than rats fed the cereals themselves, he testified to senators.”

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My Comments - It should come as no surprise that large cereal manufacturers such as Kellogg’s have sponsored many school nutritional programs.  Paying to sponsor a school program is just another form of advertising.  They have never been concerned about your health, or the health of your children.  The sole concern is annual revenue.

“Getting children hooked, making them associate breakfast cereal with fun and entertainment, were among the main aims of competing manufacturers from the early days. Cereal advertising likewise helped shape early television. Using “motivational research” to work out how to appeal to women and children with different kinds of packaging.”

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“One of the biggest costs in cereal manufacture is not the value of the ingredients nor the cost of production, but the marketing. About a quarter of the money you spend on breakfast cereal goes on the cost of persuading you to buy it.”

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These are just a few highlights from the full article.  If you don’t have time to read through the entire piece, at least take some time to remove cereal from your morning schedule.

Ross

Horace Porter once said to be moderate in everything, including moderation. 

Moderation is the process of eliminating or lessening extremes, and is used to ensure normality. 

Note the underlined words above.  To live a healthy (normal) life, moderation is important.  My recent blogs were not intended to promote extremism regarding diet.  We only have one chance at life.  If you enjoy dining out at a nice restaurant, no one should stop you.  As I’ve said before, I’m only human.  I too enjoy good food.  Who doesn’t?  I’ve never met anyone who didn’t enjoy certain foods. 

Yet, there is a difference between enjoying certain foods, and craving junk food 24 hours a day.  Earlier, I stated that healthy living does not mean deprived living.  Trust me, there are more than enough healthy (delicious) alternatives.  If you are transitioning from junk however, it’s only natural to experience an initial struggle.  Yes, tasty alternatives exist, but you must still overcome the initial attraction towards junk food. 

Think of a drug addict.  No one said it would be easy to kick the habit, but that doesn’t mean people stop trying.  Initial struggles are to be expected.  Obstacles are part of life.  As Frank Clark once said:

“If you find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn’t lead anywhere.”

Life is about more than food.  Consider the amount of time that you spend eating within a single day.  I’m guessing that most people spend an hour or less actually chewing their food.  Yet, that single hour of eating often dictates how you feel for the remaining 23 hours.  How do you honestly feel?  Are you energized?  Do you wake up feeling sluggish? 

For every decision, there is a consequence.  Ask yourself why you eat your food?  Do you base your decisions entirely upon taste?  Is taste all that matters?  What about health?  Much of my eating decisions are made with health in mind.  Is it fanatical to take health seriously?  I enjoy being healthy.  What’s wrong with that?  It’s an added benefit that the foods I eat happen to be tasty.  I don’t live solely for taste however.   

My health and vitality are extremely important to me.  Of course I consider health when selecting foods to eat.  I enjoy food, but I don’t enjoy it enough to sacrifice the rest of my day (and life).  

I see people every day who complain about feeling tired, bitch about one ailment after another, and struggle to function in the world without a never ending supply of coffee.  Does anyone actually strive to feel this way?  Is it worth it?  Is that what you want to be remembered for? Does junk food offer a hidden high that surpasses the crappy feelings (physical) that you experience the rest of the day?  

I doubt it…

I’m not suggesting that you never have a treat, but apply the rule of moderation.  For example, I enjoy taking my son to a local farm where the ice cream is freshly made each day.  He enjoys seeing the animals on the farm.  It’s a nice trip for the family.  I don’t go every day however, and I don’t wake up dreaming about the next visit to the farm.  It’s all about moderation.  Enjoy yourself, but realize that there are more important joys available in this world of ours.  Also realize that healthy food can be extremely tasty.

And if you find yourself struggling with food, it is useful to think about what you are eating.  I recently watched the Fast Food Nation movie.  Fortunately, I can’t remember the last time I had fast food (many years).  After watching this movie, I’m certain that I’ll never have another fast food meal.  The movie made me sick to my stomach.  How could anyone actually want to put that kind of “food” inside the body?  Forget about moderation when dealing with pure junk.  I’ll proudly be extreme when it comes to avoiding absolute crap. 

I enjoy waking up healthy and energized.  My nutritional habits are largely responsible for this luxury and freedom.  I wouldn’t give it up for the sweetest taste in the world. 

Fortunately, it’s easy to feel the same way.  I don’t have any secrets to share.  I don’t have a top secret food source.  I eat healthy foods and exercise for approximately 1 hour a day.  That’s it.  

Ross

I wasn’t happy when I found this story in my local newspaper. 

Carbonation Gives Fruit A Fizz

Twenty Connecticut school districts (where I happen to live) are pushing a new Fizzy Fruit product to our children.  As stated within the story above, Fizzy Fruit are pieces of apples, oranges, and grapes that have been pumped with carbonation to give them a soda taste.  The food management contractor (Sodexho) who added these snacks to the menu hopes that “it will turn kids on to fruit.”

How did kids ever become turned off to fruit in the first place?  My son is 2 years old.  If you lined up 10 different foods, he’ll go for the fresh fruit every time.  In his eyes, fruits such as strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and grapes are treats.  There is no need to add carbonation to a fruit that is already a treat. 

Go look at the junk food at your local grocery store.  Many of the sweets are fruit flavored.  Why do you think the food manufacturers choose fruit flavors?  Simple answer, fruit tastes good (so the kids will like it) and seeing fruit in the label fools many parents into believing the snacks are healthy.  Unfortunately, most of these fruit snacks are everything but healthy.  Need an example?  No problem…

Indiana Jones Fruit Snacks

Let’s look at the ingredients:

CORN SYRUP, SUGAR, APPLE PUREE CONCENTRATE, WATER, MODIFIED CORN STARCH, GELATIN, CONTAINS TWO PERCENT OR LESS OF CITRIC ACID, ASCORBIC ACID (VITAMIN C), NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR, COLOR ADDED, COCONUT OIL, CARNAUBA WAX, YELLOW #5, RED #40, SODIUM CITRATE, BLUE #1.

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see that this snack is everything but natural. 

Where do our kids go wrong?  Why do we need to fool them with soda?  Why are kids drinking soda anyway?  Who buys the soda for these kids?  Why don’t parents start leading from the front?  Who does the shopping?  Who makes the decisions? 

My wife is involved with two mother’s groups with area kids.  We’ve had several play groups in the last two years.  All of the kids love fruit.  The fruit platters never last long.  It’s clear in my eyes that kids are naturally inclined to enjoy eating fresh fruit.  Fresh fruit is a treat.  Kids shouldn’t need to be fooled back into eating fruit.  We as parents should be providing fresh fruit all along.      

There is no soda in my home.  Fresh fruit is a snack.  It’s a treat for me, and it’s a treat for my son.  My son has a long way to go before he’s doing his own grocery shopping.  There won’t be any soda treats in this house. 

It’s one thing to ignore sound nutritional advice when you are stuffing your own face, but it’s irresponsible when you do this to your own kids.  No one is born with knowledge.  Responsible parents need to make some time to learn the facts about sound nutrition. 

I didn’t know anything about being a parent before my son was born.  I read everything that I could however to learn as much as I could beforehand.  The information is there if you take the time to look.  The “I’m too busy” excuse is beyond old.  News flash, we are all busy in today’s world.  When it comes to raising our children, busy doesn’t cut it. 

Ross