The FDA speaks

The Onion News Network has a video about health recommendations from the Federal Government on their "Daily Briefing" channel. I sometimes wonder if the people at the FDA and the Department of Health and Human Services ever actually think things like this, while they're making politically acceptable pronouncements.

Warning: contains vulgar language.

Mark Bittman's Food Manifesto

Mark Bittman at the New York Times has published an excellent article about the principles we should keep in mind as our food system evolves. While I'm not sure the government is the right organization to implement some of his ideas, all of his ideas are good ones. The part I particularly like:

Encourage and subsidize home cooking. (Someday soon, I’ll write about my idea for a new Civilian Cooking Corps.) When people cook their own food, they make better choices. When families eat together, they’re more stable. We should provide food education for children (a new form of home ec, anyone?), cooking classes for anyone who wants them and even cooking assistance for those unable to cook for themselves.

Economists have shown that the main reason our diets and health have gotten so screwed up lately is that it's just too easy to eat bad food. People have to give up a lot of convenience to eat well.

Another way to go vegetarian

Taco Bell is being sued because its "beef" is only one-third beef. Most of it is basically oatmeal and soy. It sounds like it would only take a little more push, to make that stuff actually good for you! (Tip of the hat to Prof. PZ Myers.)

Taking Down WW

One of the funniest writers on the internet signs up for Weight Watchers.

Do you remember Cracked magazine? Back in the '60s, it was just a cheap imitation of Mad, but things have changed. Cracked made the jump to the Internet, and just keeps getting better. Mad is pretty much defunct. Anyway, enjoy.

From the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, "Goldfinches are among the strictest vegetarians in the bird world, selecting an entirely vegetable diet and only inadvertently swallowing an occasional insect." I know how they feel.

What the world eats

Time Magazine has some great photos. 16 families from around the world pose with one week's worth of food.

Holiday Cooking Session

People always ask me to do one session to show them how to make a certain dish, dessert, a certain cuisine. I usually do that only as part of my coaching programs. But because so many of you have been asking for these sessions, I decided to offer them throughout the holiday season to help you plan a healthier Thanksgiving dinner.

How does it work? Contact us via email or phone (all available at www.zizania.biz) We will discuss what type of cooking you would like to do. Make an appointment or us to come to your house to prepare the dishes. The session lasts 2 hours. Depending on the difficulty of the recipes, we can make 2 to 4 recipes.

So what are you waiting for? Surprise your guests this thanksgiving with a cabbage salad smothered in miso-ginger dressing, a succulent dip made with leek-confit and fresh peas, butternut squash soup, peanut soup, coconut-lime cake, Tarte Tatin, and many more.