It Is A Wonderful Day For Pie!

It’s a wonderful day for pie!

 

This Family Guy clip got me thinking about how Thanksgiving is certainly a wonderful day for pie! It is also a great day for turkey, gravy, stuffing and mashed potatoes. Do you see anything wrong with this spread? I’m not trying to rain on your Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade folks, but I don’t see one vegetable in sight! And my apologies to all of my green bean and sweet potato casseroles’ fans but it’s hard to justify those as actual “good-for-you” vegetables.  

Walking, Not Watching

In case you just returned from a week on Mars, you might not have heard that there was a really big storm this past week on the East Coast.  The reports said it would be powerful, and those reports were right.  Parts of New York and New Jersey were absolutely decimated. I live near DC so I was lucky… we did not get the brunt of Sandy’s wrath. It rained a ton - some nearby areas got 10 inches in less than 36 hours. There were some power outages, minor flooding and downed trees. But for the most part, damage was minimal in northern Virginia. Unfortunately for our fellow Americans just a few hours north, things were much worse and my heart and prayers go out to them.

Vote YES on Your Health

Back in May, I wrote a blog post called Genetically Modified Nonsense about efforts to require labeling of genetically engineered (GE) foods – commonly referred to as Genetically Modified Organisms or GMO’s. I decided to revisit the issue as there is an important ballot initiative in California on this very topic which will be decided on November 6^th – along with the minor issue of who will be President of the United States.

Bacon Brussel Sprouts

Doesn’t this time of year make you want to eat some comfort food?  As weather cools down, I like to trade-in my favorite summer salads in exchange for some hearty roasted veggies. Last night it was broccoli, the night before that it was squash and peppers, and tonight it is going to be brussel sprouts!

We might not always think of vegetables as comfort food, but when you prepare them well, they will definitely hit the spot. Many of us should make it a habit to use vegetables to replace some of what I consider to be “fattening” side dishes like potatoes, pasta and rice. 

We Are Hungry

All of this thinking and writing about calories is making me HUNGRY… and apparently, I am not the only one!

Now that kids are back in school, there is a calorie controversy brewing in cafeterias across the U.S. The issue of the day is new school lunch guidelines.  Students are hungrier than ever because schools are now serving up significantly smaller portions of “healthier” food. Kids at Wallace County High School in Kansas are fighting back with a boycott and this music video parody called “We Are Hungry.”

Calorie Counting Conundrum

As many of you might have heard, McDonald’s started posting calorie counts on their menus across America this week. This move is garnering some praise for the fast food giant. Before we jump on the “McDonald’s is doing their part to combat diabetes and obesity” bandwagon, everyone should understand that this move simply preempts federal regulations that will require all restaurant chains with more than 20 locations to post calorie counts in their stores.  In essence, McDonald's proactively did something that will soon be required of them to do any way.  Marginally helpful, yes.  A selfless act of good corporate citizenship? Probably not.

I'm Back!

Perhaps you noticed… perhaps you didn’t… I haven’t written a blog post in quite a while. I admit it’s been a LONG summer hiatus. I’d like to tell you the reason you haven’t heard from me is because I took a nice long sabbatical – you know - travelled to exotic places to renew my spirit and of course, to study the health and eating habits of some of the few indigenous populations left in the world… Unfortunately, that is just not the case.

Too Big of a Gulp?

For weeks, I have planning to write a very thoughtful blog post about New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s controversial proposal to ban the sale of large sodas and other sugary drinks. You have no doubt already heard about the proposal to combat obesity – which is likely to be adopted later this year and is expected to take effect next spring.
The truth is I have quite a few thoughts and opinions about it, but before I get into all of that, I just have to share Jon Stewart’s hilarious take on the proposal courtesy of the Daily Show.

Genetically Modified Nonsense

Much to the annoyance of many of you that know me personally, I spend a lot of time trying to “educate” friends and family about what is really in our food. In fact, I often use this blog as my own little megaphone to pester people into caring about the integrity of our food supply.

Most Americans are well-meaning.  Given a choice, we’d like to eat more natural locally-grown and healthier food – provided it is easy to find and doesn’t bust our family budget.  Ignorance is our real enemy – most of us simply don’t know what is actually in our food.  That’s why you have The Real Skinny – now no one can pretend no one ever told them that there might be something really “bad” for them in the foods they consume every day.

"Paleo" Chicken Taco Salad

I recently concocted the easiest Crockpot chicken recipe on the planet (no joke) and now I am not ashamed to admit that I am obsessed with it. Seriously... I make it at least once a week! I use the chicken for everything from tacos to salads to snacks. Since I am in the middle of a 30 Day Paleo Challenge (no grains, dairy or legumes), I whipped up some of my “Chicken Verde” to share with some friends in my version of a “Paleo Taco Salad.” Of course, this means there is no shell, beans or cheese… BUT I promise you won’t miss it! It is really good!! But, hey, don’t take my word for it – just try it!

Eat Healthy - Buy Local

I recently read an article about a Swiss woman who died of starvation after giving up all food and water, believing she could live on a spiritual diet of sunlight. Hmmm… there are so many things I could say here but out of respect for the dead, I will refrain.

This story got me thinking though… While most of us know we cannot survive on sunlight alone, do we really know what it takes to live full, lasting, productive and truly healthy lives – you know beyond just “surviving?”

Spring Break

Do you ever have a week where no matter how hard you try, it seems like you will never be able to check everything off your “to-do” list? I am having one of those weeks… In fact, I’ve had several of those weeks – all in a row! Between work craziness and too many personal obligations, I feel as though I am not doing anything well. Don’t you just hate that feeling?

While lately it feels as though I am barely keeping my head above water, I am grateful to have a good job and to have extra-curricular activities that bring so much joy to my life.  And hey, that includes writing this blog!

Sugar is STILL the Devil!

Anyone else out there break into the Easter basket this weekend? Perhaps, like me, you had a few too many treats and not enough greens. Given all the chocolate bunnies, eggs, jellybeans and peeps still hanging around this day after Easter, I thought I would explain again why I like to say that sugar is the devil!

Last week, in case you missed it, 60 Minutes aired a report entitled “Is Sugar Toxic?” I highly recommend you watch the brief 14 minute video if you haven’t done so already.

Not So Thin Mints?

I have a bit of a bone to pick with the Girl Scouts of America. I know they are well meaning. In fact I admire what they stand for and I support many of their activities. This time of year, however, I always get a little irritated with them, because I’ve had just about enough with their annual cookie sales. Do Americans really need another avenue to pump more processed sugar into their already sugar-stuffed diets? 

If Americans only ate a couple of Girl Scout cookies each year – assuming they also ate plenty of fruits and veggies of course - it probably wouldn’t be the end of the world. Sadly, that is not the case. Most of us eat Girl Scout cookies by the boxful and we rarely eat enough of those other nutrient-rich foods like vegetables and fruit.  When was the last time you heard of someone saying, “I’m going to put down this box of Samoas so I save enough room for some steamed broccoli?”  

Hungry For Change

I don't know about you but I have had a hard time "eating right" lately. I keep finding excuses to eat things that I know are not good for me... but for some reason I do it anyway! Does that ever happen to you? Fortunately, I received a little bit of inspiration today in the form of this 90 minute film called "Hungry for Change." This film is really great and explains exactly why we do things that we know can harm us, among other things. I knew immediately upon watching it that I had to share!

Heart & Wheat

Since I started this blog last year, many friends have been sending me articles they know I might be interested in. Two of the best that I have read in recent weeks were sent to me by followers of this blog (thanks and keep them coming). Since they were so informative and I am such a “giving” person, I thought I would share them with you!

Death By Beef?

I know that after a weekend of St. Patty’s Day, March Madness and Girl Scout cookies, I am probably the last person you want to hear from this early on Monday morning. You think that I am going to rant about the evils of beer, corned beef, green food coloring, and generally just rain on your fun. You would be correct about this most days – but not today.

I am here to deliver some good news for all of you omnivores out there -- red meat is actually really good for you.

The Real (Bad) Thing

I would like to dedicate the following post to my father.  My dad is one of my favorite people. Of course I love the old guy, but I also really like him and enjoy his company.  I have many traits that I am proud to say “I get from my dad” including my love of music, my enthusiasm/obsession for exercise, my obnoxious laugh and the fact that I always have to be right!

There are a couple of my dad’s traits, however, that I am happy to report I did not retain for the long haul. They include mysteriously “disappearing” from family functions when there is work to be done, and a love of donuts and soda.  But I am not writing today to lecture you about loving donuts

Reality TV Proves Sugar is the Devil!

This week’s blog post is for all of my friends that roll their eyes when they see “The Real Skinny” hit their inbox each week. To be fair, these friends that I am referring to were probably just trying to be nice in signing up to follow my blog in the first place. They don’t actually care to get lectured each week about what I consider the evils of America’s food supply and they probably hit delete before they finish the first paragraph -- “Uh-oh, here she goes again."

But, PLEASE, I beg you… don’t hit delete this week. Whether you are a reality TV show junkie or just looking for a good laugh, you won’t want to miss this one! I saw this clip on another blog I follow – Rubies & Radishes. This blog is written by a woman who follows the Paleo lifestyle and blogs about it. If you want to read more about her you can check her out  here (she seems pretty cool).

Not So Golden Arches

In honor of our first President’s 280^th birthday last week, I thought I would share a kitschy story I read online.  A woman in Nebraska found a McDonald’s Chicken McNugget that she claims looks like George Washington. She is trying to hawk the THREE year old McNugget on EBay to raise money for a summer church camp. Last bid I saw was for $356! Good for her… better that she auctions it off as a piece of history than actually eats it!

This little prize piece of journalism reminded of another recent article I read about Chicken McNuggets.  If you’ve ever seen Fast Food Nation or Supersize Me, perhaps this won’t seem like such shocking news to you, but there isn’t much chicken in a Chicken McNugget.