For readers of this blog, it will not come as a news flash that as convenient and often as tasty as they are, processed meats need to be used very sparingly. Many populations in poorer countries use any kind of meat sparingly, and up to a point, the less they use, the more health they […]

I was drawn to an article called Shopping the Perimeter by A. Elizabeth Sloan, published January 2013 Vol. 67, No. 1; in IFT (Institute of Food Technologists) Food Technology.  Dr. Elizabeth Sloan is the president of a consumer trends company in southern California; they follow trends in foods, beverages, dietary supplements, food service, commodities and […]

When I think of substances that I don’t want in my food, I usually think of stuff that the food processors purposefully add. The ammonia used in making pink slime – you know that so-called “lean beef” burger ingredient – well yes, if you listen to the gigantic food processor Cargill who sings its praises. […]

Once in a while I stumble upon some really clear graphics that clarify thoughts about otherwise hard to observe trends. Finding a study based upon the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the graphics published by National Public Radio (NPR) on June 8, 2012 was one of those times. Of course the title got my attention […]

Mary Ireland discusses a new “nutritional” product for children.

When I first heard the noise about “pink slime.” I kept an open mind. When I read that it is lean beef made from “trimmings,” I wondered if people weren’t blowing things out of proportion. I mean if you are eating beef, why not eat all of the parts? Then I read about the “exposure […]

Many years ago, when someone offered a non-alcoholic beverage it was coffee, tea, milk, fruit or tomato juice, water (you know – plain old H20), or an occasional soda pop. In addition to those old standbys, now there are energy drinks, ready to drink (RTD) tea and coffee, functional drinks and sports beverages, added to […]

Doesn’t the word snack just sound small – a little larger than having a bite or nibble, but not a meal and certainly not a feast? I mean, just a little snack – right? Years ago, Sophia (Estelle Getty), one of The Golden Girls said, “A few more snacks like that and the only thing […]

On February 22, 2012, Caroline Scott-Thomas published her article called Processing is a dirty word – but we’ll need more of it to feed the world, in Food navigator-usa.com. She begins her article by reporting on a speech given at the Global Food Safety Initiative conference in Orlando, Florida, earlier this month, by Penn State […]

One day during the holidays, I was on my treadmill reading an article; when all of a sudden a sentence caught my attention. The sentence was in the article, Masters of Persuasion, by David Yeager, published in Today’s Dietitian. It is available online for free, if you decide you want to read the entire piece.