Stupid Is As Stupid Does

All the hoopla surrounding horse meat in processed, fast food "beef" products, food coloring in macaroni and cheese, and the almost extinction of twinkies has me a bit dumbfounded.  Have the big corporate processed food giants really made us as stupid as we look?

Considering the types of food products that have been found to have horse meat, I have a hard time believing people are upset over it as an undisclosed ingredient.  The foods in question are processed, fast food products that are full of undisclosed ingredients.  From what I have gathered via online comments, it seems to be people are uncomfortable eating horse meat.  What makes a cow more edible than a horse?  Apparently horse meat is actually healthier than cow meat.

I have a feeling that a good majority of the people who are in a tizzy over food dye in their macaroni and cheese have a pantry full of other products containing food dyes.  Why target one company just because they make it differently in another country with different standards?  Why not target all the companies that use cancer causing food dyes or better yet, why not stop buying the products?  Homemade macaroni and cheese is quite simple to make, a lot healthier than store bought brands, and it doesn't taste like cardboard.

What is the big deal with sponge cakes that aren't really cakes that contain cream that isn't really cream?  After reviewing the ingredients (39 ingredients!!!) in Twinkies, I am not sure they can even be considered an actual food item. When was the last time you made something with 39 ingredients?  I find it sad to see such an uproar over something that is so unnatural and unhealthy that it shouldn't be considered edible while farmers are spending ridiculous amounts of money, time and effort they don't have to spare to get approval to sell unadulterated, organic produce.

I'd love to see all the effort, uproar, and frustration get channeled into taking a stand against the giant corporations producing these unhealthy products so that the people running them don't continue laugh their way to the bank with their profits while we get fatter and sicker on the crap they are putting into pretty packages.  Rather than ask a company to remove an ingredient, don't buy it.  Make your own.  Avoid the middle of the store.  Stick to the outside perimeter where you will find the produce fresh or frozen that will help you to live a longer, happier, healthier life than the junk in the middle riddle with MSG, food dyes, "natural flavors", and other unpronounceable ingredients.  Read labels, read labels, read labels until it becomes an automatic response before purchasing anything.  Get smart about the food you eat.  Don't waste your time, energy, or money on junk.  Be a smart shopper and consumer.  Buy organic.  Buy local.  Don't buy crap!  Not only will you be helping yourself, you'll be helping the environment.  :)

Warning Labels On Junk Food...Not A Bad Idea

http://www.treehugger.com/health/ontario-doctors-call-warning-labels-junk-food-those-cigarettes.html

Food Myths

"Anna Lappé is launching a new project called Food MythBusters, which takes direct aim at the most damaging talking points from Big Food and Big Ag that are designed to distract us from the grim realities of industrialized agriculture. The project is an impressive collaboration of numerous talented people and groups, including Free Range Studios, and Corporate Accountability International, among others." - http://www.treehugger.com/corporate-responsibility/busted-food-myths-brought-you-corporate-front-groups.html

"As awareness about healthy eating grows and people demand more nutritious and nourishing options, a new marketing scam has become increasingly widespread. We’ve all heard the hype about the health benefits of whole grains, but many of the items being marketed as “whole grain” – and therefore thought of as being “healthy” – are a hoax." - http://blog.integrativenutrition.com/2012/03/how-to-avoid-the-%E2%80%9Cwhole-grain%E2%80%9D-junk-food-scam

Preserving Fresh Herbs

"Fresh herbs can be very expensive and are typically seasonal. To extend the life of fresh herbs, try freezing them in ice cube trays. For each cube, place one tablespoon of herbs and cover with water. Freeze then store separated cubes in zip top storage bags."

- excerpt from The Food Allergy Cookbook, by Carmel Nelson and Amra Ibrisimovic

Meat Glue?

Can you read the following article about meat glue without feeling ill? I can't and I don't even eat meat. There are so many shortcuts allowed with regard to labeling that it no longer is an efficient way to verify the health and ingredients of your food. Know where your food comes from and how it is prepared and that goes for all food, not just meat.

Meat Glue: What It Is, And What You Should Know About It by Faceless39

New Year, Healthier You and Attainable Resolutions

The new year doesn't mean you need to make big resolutions you can't keep. Give yourself small goals that you can accomplish without a major change in your usual routine. Enough small changes will eventually add up to big change and a healthier you.

• Buy organic produce now. Yes, organic produce costs more, but in the long run, it will be way cheaper than medical bills down the road. Chemically grown and treated foods may not visibly hurt you now, but they can wreak a silent war that can leave you prone to a whole host of diseases later in life. Prevention with healthy foods begins now!

• Eat out less. Even cutting one meal a week away from your kitchen can cut costs and your exposure to unhealthy food choices. If you don't have time in the morning to prepare a lunch, make several meals over the weekend and freeze them for use later in the week so you have a variety of choices of already prepared foods.

• Make one day or just one dinner a week meat free.

• Substitute gluten free pasta or bread.

• Switch to organic, grass fed cow milk or cut cow milk out all together and switch to organic coconut, almond, rice, or soy milk. Better yet, get a high powered blender like a Blendtec or Vitamix and make your own nut milks.

• Get a juicer and/or blender. Start your mornings with juice or a smoothie.

• Get a dehydrator to make your own granola, chips, and fruit roll ups or to dry your garden herbs.

• Check out this list for 5 Packaged Foods You Never Need to Buy Again by Jane Mountain

More Reasons to Eat REAL Food

Posts like the following from LISTVERSE are disturbing in so many ways.

http://listverse.com/2009/03/10/top-10-bizarre-food-ingredients/