This past week's classes were eye-opening. Not sure how much I wanted my eyes opened but nonetheless its hard to think about food the same way after reading the first section of Michael Pollan's book Omnivore's Dilemma and then learning about processed foods and dumpster diving. Lot to think about! After class on Tuesday 2/10 I freaked out about processed foods, went to Safeway, bought organic cereal and an organic frozen meal for work the next day, the cost for the two items, $10! Yikes, it's going to be expensive buying organic. I went to Trader Joes the next day and found the selection much more affordable.
I've heard that there are certain food items that should be purchased organic but then others that it doesn't matter if you buy organic or not. I'm not sure how much truth there is in that so I did some research and found this list by Delicious Organics. This list is helpful but I wouldn't trust it completely considering whoever put it together did a poor editing job. So my research continued and I found a more credible source. Consumer reports ran an article in February 2006 titled When it Pays to Buy Organic. The article gives tips and tricks to the everyday consumer on which items should absolutely be purchased organic and which non-organic items are safe. It also gives some recommendations on buying organic inexpensively.
More to come on this blog entry, still need to discuss dumpster diving!
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Pros and Cons of Food Banks - Portfolio
When I was 9 years old my Dad insisted on my brother and I working at our church, serving homeless people, a Christmas meal. The only problem was we would have to do that before we could open gifts on Christmas day. Absolute torture for a 9 year old who has waited so patiently since the last Christmas. I remember being truly upset and well a brat over the whole ordeal. But, as my father knew, it was one of the memorable Christmases. We talked with homeless people, served them, and felt truly rewarded. We went home and felt pretty happy with ourselves that we could bless someone else on Christmas. That year turned out to be the only year we did this. As rewarding as it was for us, we honestly didn't give them much thought after Christmas. I was too young really to understand what it meant to be homeless especially during the winter, and was certainly too young to think about what caused them to be in their predicament.
What does this have to do with food banks, you ask? Food banks are a wonderful way for people who might not be able to afford going to the grocery store to acquire food for themselves and usually for their families. But wouldn't it be better to solve the problem of poverty rather than just enabling it? Okay that statement was a little cruel but wouldn't it be better to donate time and money to solve the root of the problem rather than a symptom? (Just read the article for class by Janet Poppendieck, she mentions hunger as a symptom). In Poppendiecks article Want Amid Plenty: From Hunger to Inequality she discusses the need for food banks instead of government food assistance, at least that's how I understand the article. She states that food stamps can be traded for something else and that cash is the main objective. The cash can then be spent on something else. Instead it would be better if the government set up programs that addressed the disease rather than the symptom. Food banks would then come in to play, if people could just be given food that was donated privately then government money could be spent somewhere else. it would still help the homeless and poor but would also help them get back on their feet instead of always playing catchup. This makes sense and is overall a good solution for everyone. People who are not poor often want to give back mostly because it makes us feel good about ourselves, we pat ourselves on the back and think we've done our good deed for the day. While I don't agree with that entirely (we should want to give to just give and help someone instead of the warm fuzzies we know we are going to feel after we've done something good) it still means that food is being donated and handed out to those who need it. So the consequences of this win win solution is, those who are not poor feel good that they can help and feel good about themselves, those who are poor are simply given the food, the money that would have gone to food assistance programs can now go to other areas like healthcare for those that cannot afford it, perhaps job training, and other programs that help solve poverty.
To tie this into the first paragraph, no I didn't want to help poor people on Christmas day because it kept me from opening my presents, yes I ended up really enjoying volunteering, and sadly no, I didn't go back the following year. Even though I felt great about what I did, it didn't change enough of me to want to do it again. Now that I'm older and perhaps wiser I realize that we should give because we genuinely want to, and its okay to do it because it also makes us feel better, the end result is still the same, someone who didn't have food before, now does.
What does this have to do with food banks, you ask? Food banks are a wonderful way for people who might not be able to afford going to the grocery store to acquire food for themselves and usually for their families. But wouldn't it be better to solve the problem of poverty rather than just enabling it? Okay that statement was a little cruel but wouldn't it be better to donate time and money to solve the root of the problem rather than a symptom? (Just read the article for class by Janet Poppendieck, she mentions hunger as a symptom). In Poppendiecks article Want Amid Plenty: From Hunger to Inequality she discusses the need for food banks instead of government food assistance, at least that's how I understand the article. She states that food stamps can be traded for something else and that cash is the main objective. The cash can then be spent on something else. Instead it would be better if the government set up programs that addressed the disease rather than the symptom. Food banks would then come in to play, if people could just be given food that was donated privately then government money could be spent somewhere else. it would still help the homeless and poor but would also help them get back on their feet instead of always playing catchup. This makes sense and is overall a good solution for everyone. People who are not poor often want to give back mostly because it makes us feel good about ourselves, we pat ourselves on the back and think we've done our good deed for the day. While I don't agree with that entirely (we should want to give to just give and help someone instead of the warm fuzzies we know we are going to feel after we've done something good) it still means that food is being donated and handed out to those who need it. So the consequences of this win win solution is, those who are not poor feel good that they can help and feel good about themselves, those who are poor are simply given the food, the money that would have gone to food assistance programs can now go to other areas like healthcare for those that cannot afford it, perhaps job training, and other programs that help solve poverty.
To tie this into the first paragraph, no I didn't want to help poor people on Christmas day because it kept me from opening my presents, yes I ended up really enjoying volunteering, and sadly no, I didn't go back the following year. Even though I felt great about what I did, it didn't change enough of me to want to do it again. Now that I'm older and perhaps wiser I realize that we should give because we genuinely want to, and its okay to do it because it also makes us feel better, the end result is still the same, someone who didn't have food before, now does.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Obento - Portfolio
On Thursday January 22nd, I had the pleasure of making a Bento box for my friend Neil. The experience was entirely new to me and I must say I enjoyed it. To give a little background on the Obento, Japanese mothers would make a special boxed lunch for their kindergarten aged children. In turn the children must eat the entire contents of the box. For a mother, it would be an embarrassment if the food contents were poorly constructed and for a child it would be disrespectful if a child did not eat everything.
This practice is so different from an American style lunch bag or box. Most mothers still put time and energy to make sure their children receive the proper nourishment but they are not so concerned with the aesthetics. A typical American school lunch consists of a sandwich in a plastic bag, chips, an apple, juice box and perhaps a special treat. Everything is packaged separately which draws similarities in the Obento box where the different food items cannot touch. Once lunch time the trading begins, Americans are interested in getting the prize food item and will trade their lunch away to achieve this goal. My weakness was Oreos, I would trade anything! What does it say about Americans who are okay with trading their lunches away and Japanese where this practice is virtually forbidden. Does it even occur to the Japanese that they could trade their lunch?
Anyway, back to making the Obento. Most of the items that were provided I was unfamiliar with, (except for the broccoli and the chicken) so I was not completely at ease in putting the box together, but for the most part I found it fun and rewarding and because I was making it for someone, I wanted to make sure it was aesthetically pleasing to the person who would be eating it. At the same time I was making the Obento for someone, that person was also making me a box. He asked if I had any food restrictions, I said no pork but was willing to try anything else, but then I quickly realized most everything was seafood. Fish is usually the last thing I will ever crave but trying to be open to the food experience I allowed fish to be included in my Obento. The fish wasn't so bad.
Below is a pic of the Obento I made for Neil. The broccoli is in view as well as the Onigiri (Japanese rice ball but the one below is shaped as a triangle) and edamame.
This practice is so different from an American style lunch bag or box. Most mothers still put time and energy to make sure their children receive the proper nourishment but they are not so concerned with the aesthetics. A typical American school lunch consists of a sandwich in a plastic bag, chips, an apple, juice box and perhaps a special treat. Everything is packaged separately which draws similarities in the Obento box where the different food items cannot touch. Once lunch time the trading begins, Americans are interested in getting the prize food item and will trade their lunch away to achieve this goal. My weakness was Oreos, I would trade anything! What does it say about Americans who are okay with trading their lunches away and Japanese where this practice is virtually forbidden. Does it even occur to the Japanese that they could trade their lunch?
Anyway, back to making the Obento. Most of the items that were provided I was unfamiliar with, (except for the broccoli and the chicken) so I was not completely at ease in putting the box together, but for the most part I found it fun and rewarding and because I was making it for someone, I wanted to make sure it was aesthetically pleasing to the person who would be eating it. At the same time I was making the Obento for someone, that person was also making me a box. He asked if I had any food restrictions, I said no pork but was willing to try anything else, but then I quickly realized most everything was seafood. Fish is usually the last thing I will ever crave but trying to be open to the food experience I allowed fish to be included in my Obento. The fish wasn't so bad.
Below is a pic of the Obento I made for Neil. The broccoli is in view as well as the Onigiri (Japanese rice ball but the one below is shaped as a triangle) and edamame.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Eating Oreo's on the Kitchen Counter - Portfolio
In class we discussed Marcel Proust's, "The Madeleine." The story was about a Madeleine cookie soaked with tea and how this combination of flavor brought Marcel back to his childhood. This is called a "Proustian Moment." When I think about proustian moments, they are related more to smell. The smell of Lilacs brings me back to a summer day in Sweden 7 years ago. A whiff of cologne or perfume will bring to mind someone that I had forgotten about. I don't have too many memories that are connected to food, that if consumed, would bring me back to an exact moment. But after searching through the recesses of my memory I came up with one.
On a hot summer day when i was 5 years old, I was playing outside with a pair of cheap flip flops on that did not fit me properly. I was climbing all over a wooden fence that had been knocked down between my house and my neighbors house. I had friends next door so this is they way we would go between our yards. I misstepped and my flip flop fell partially off. I felt something strange on my foot, some sort of pressure. Whatever it was it didn't hurt but felt strange. I looked down to see what was going on, and I nearly passed out, my foot was bleeding heavily. I had stepped on an old rusted nail. I immediately began screaming and my mother rushed out. She helped me get inside and began cleaning up the wound. She sat me on the kitchen counter (which I was never allowed to do) and gave me several Oreo cookies, hoping to distract me so I would stop crying. I remember she called the doctor to see if I needed to come in for a tetanus shot but I had one already. At this point I had calmed down and was perfectly content with my handful of Oreo cookies. Whenever I eat a Oreo cookie I always think back to this time and how such an awful situation turned into a happy memory.
I also have not so fond memories that resurface when I think about a certain food. When I young I got violently sick after eating Spaghetti. It took me years before I could eat spaghetti again. I'll eat spaghetti if that is the only food being offered but i would never order spaghetti from a menu and I'm convinced it's because of this bad memory that is associated to food.
Okay thats it for now, until next week...
On a hot summer day when i was 5 years old, I was playing outside with a pair of cheap flip flops on that did not fit me properly. I was climbing all over a wooden fence that had been knocked down between my house and my neighbors house. I had friends next door so this is they way we would go between our yards. I misstepped and my flip flop fell partially off. I felt something strange on my foot, some sort of pressure. Whatever it was it didn't hurt but felt strange. I looked down to see what was going on, and I nearly passed out, my foot was bleeding heavily. I had stepped on an old rusted nail. I immediately began screaming and my mother rushed out. She helped me get inside and began cleaning up the wound. She sat me on the kitchen counter (which I was never allowed to do) and gave me several Oreo cookies, hoping to distract me so I would stop crying. I remember she called the doctor to see if I needed to come in for a tetanus shot but I had one already. At this point I had calmed down and was perfectly content with my handful of Oreo cookies. Whenever I eat a Oreo cookie I always think back to this time and how such an awful situation turned into a happy memory.
I also have not so fond memories that resurface when I think about a certain food. When I young I got violently sick after eating Spaghetti. It took me years before I could eat spaghetti again. I'll eat spaghetti if that is the only food being offered but i would never order spaghetti from a menu and I'm convinced it's because of this bad memory that is associated to food.
Okay thats it for now, until next week...
Monday, January 12, 2009
Introduction to my blog - Portfolio
For my first post, I thought it was appropriate to share with everyone my love for popcorn but I guess the title of my blog might have clued you all in. Growing up, popcorn was a cheap snack my parents could easily make and I hated it. It was so bland, no salt or butter. But this all changed and I do not remember when I decided to give popcorn another chance. If I had to put a date on it, I would say Popcorn sneaked back into my life in 5th or 6th grade. Popcorn was definitely on the snack menu whenever I had slumber parties. Eventually I began substituting a proper dinner for a gigantic tupperware bowl of popcorn. My parents frowned on this and evenutally forbade me from having only popcorn for dinner. I could supplement whatever I was eating with popcorn though.
Someone of you are probably balking at the idea of consuming so much popcorn but I do not eat the microwave variety (well on occasion when I feel like kettlecorn) but typically I make popcorn the old fashioned way. I have a specific pot that I use in case I burn the popcorn (doesn't happen often). When I was younger my mom would buy Johnnys Popcorn Oil along with Johnny's Popcorn Salt but this got too expensive. Now I use olive oil and still use Johnny's Popcorn Salt for seasoning. I do not use butter (have to cut the calories somewhere) but quite honestly my popcorn is so good it doesn't need butter. Until recently I had very specific bowls I would use to eat my popcorn from but my best friend Amy gave me the most amazing popcorn bowl for Christmas. Anyone who really knows me, knows about my obsession with popcorn which is why I've received popcorn tins during Christmas and then of course the bowl this past Christmas.
Well enough about that, time to relate to the reading in the class. Popcorn brings back very specific memories for me, when I was young and hated it and now I take comfort in it. I will always remember the bowl I used growing up and how it was large enough for me to do a chef toss to mix the salt around without spilling any from the bowl. I've spent quality time with friends and family, watching movies and playing games and of course popcorn was the snack of choice.
After reading the food memoirs in class I realize now that so many special memories are centered around food. For example my step father and I spent a saturday before Christmas making wonderful cookies to share with other people. We picked out several different recipes (more like 5 or 6, a little too ambitious I think) and went to the store together to get collect all the ingredients. Once home we got started by preheating the oven and making apple cider (another comfort food during the holidays). Soon the house smelled of apple cider and the aroma of baking cookies. Perhaps this is a little too Norman Rockwell but it was the highlight of my holiday season.
Time to wrap up, I hope you all enjoy my food blog, this is unchartered territory for me but I'm up for the challenge.
Whats for dinner tonight? After all that talk about my favorite food, Popcorn of course!
Someone of you are probably balking at the idea of consuming so much popcorn but I do not eat the microwave variety (well on occasion when I feel like kettlecorn) but typically I make popcorn the old fashioned way. I have a specific pot that I use in case I burn the popcorn (doesn't happen often). When I was younger my mom would buy Johnnys Popcorn Oil along with Johnny's Popcorn Salt but this got too expensive. Now I use olive oil and still use Johnny's Popcorn Salt for seasoning. I do not use butter (have to cut the calories somewhere) but quite honestly my popcorn is so good it doesn't need butter. Until recently I had very specific bowls I would use to eat my popcorn from but my best friend Amy gave me the most amazing popcorn bowl for Christmas. Anyone who really knows me, knows about my obsession with popcorn which is why I've received popcorn tins during Christmas and then of course the bowl this past Christmas.
Well enough about that, time to relate to the reading in the class. Popcorn brings back very specific memories for me, when I was young and hated it and now I take comfort in it. I will always remember the bowl I used growing up and how it was large enough for me to do a chef toss to mix the salt around without spilling any from the bowl. I've spent quality time with friends and family, watching movies and playing games and of course popcorn was the snack of choice.
After reading the food memoirs in class I realize now that so many special memories are centered around food. For example my step father and I spent a saturday before Christmas making wonderful cookies to share with other people. We picked out several different recipes (more like 5 or 6, a little too ambitious I think) and went to the store together to get collect all the ingredients. Once home we got started by preheating the oven and making apple cider (another comfort food during the holidays). Soon the house smelled of apple cider and the aroma of baking cookies. Perhaps this is a little too Norman Rockwell but it was the highlight of my holiday season.
Time to wrap up, I hope you all enjoy my food blog, this is unchartered territory for me but I'm up for the challenge.
Whats for dinner tonight? After all that talk about my favorite food, Popcorn of course!
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