Many of you have probably seen that dorky commercial that involves a person eating something and that food item becomes animated and starts thrashing it's ingestor.  I hate that commercial, it's UGLY!  But, it is true, your food can hurt you.  Many people suffer from food allergies, digestive issues and other possibly related illnesses.  It's imperative that every food consumer understands that they have a responsibility to themselves and those that they serve, know safe food handling and practice those proceedures.  You can save a life and it might be yours! 

Okay, now that I've provided you with my public service announcement....I want you to take the time to really read over the following information on the link I provide you today.  It's one thing to practice your own safety standards but, "who's minding the store", so to speak.  If the food is entering the market already contaminated and the public is non the wiser, what then???  There SHOULD BE REAL SAFEGUARDS in place but, maybe that's just being naive.  Who is REALLY protecting our food market safety?  What is being done?  What is not working?  Who even cares?  Food consumers, nowadays, must be knowlegable and proactive, otherwise, we're fair game for exploitation and fraud.  And, I personally, do not believe the NEW FOOD SAFETY bill is just about protecting us, the consumers.  When you can, get a copy and read the thing.  The people who signed it into law probably DIDN'T read it at all!!

Bon Apetit!

http://www.grain.org/article/entries/4230-food-safety-for-whom-corporate-wealth-versus-people-s-health

New food term - "nanomaterials", doesn't it sound delicious?  It sounds like something a robot would eat, if you ask me.  But, no, thanks to the "new food" science, which some people like to call "Frankenfoods" (because they are reminded of Frankenstein), we now should be worrying about the little microparticles that can possilble do HUGE damage to your body's physiology.  And, trust me, that is something you don't want to hurt. 

I thought this was an interesting quote from the link I'm sharing in this post:
"In contrast to FDA's approach, all food ingredients that incorporate engineered nanomaterials must be submitted to regulators in Canada and the European Union before they can be marketed."

When I read of situations where the FDA is NOT regulating something that is a true health concern to every man/woman and child, like GMO's or nanomaterials but that they are having people arrested and taking their farms because of raw milk, I really want to cry.  Would someone like to give their thoughts on how they perceive the FDA to be, or not to be, actually protecting our food safety issues????

Bon Apetit!

Here's the link on the nanomaterials:  http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2011/12/caution-urged-with-nanoparticles-in-food/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=111206

What a honey of a mess!  It's getting so complicated in the food markets to know what you are REALLY eating, or not.  If you like honey, or if you are just interested on how complicated and tricky food distributors/producers can be......check this article out:

http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2011/11/tests-show-most-store-honey-isnt-honey/

*Just to let you know, the following link may contribute to loss of appetite. 

I apologize in advance.  I came across an article that I think is important for all food consumers, us.  Food articles, pictures, tv programs, classes, our friends and such tend to glorify food and elevate it to an almost iconic status where most of us "bottom feeders" don't even recognize it.  I'm posting this link to help demonstrate that food is and always will be the sustanance that we draw our life energy from so that we can thrive and perform in this physical world.  It can get pretty basic.  With that thought, we need to always have in the back of our mind, a discerning standard of "is this or is it not, beneficial to my overall wellbeing?"  That little check will always be on your shoulder to help guide you in developing your personal food culture.  If you don't seek out information that helps that "little voice" to do it's job, you'll eat anything, with consequences!

Sometimes, information that you might "skip over" in the newspaper/magazines or on television or from alerted family and friends might be the fact that there is a local event of a salmonella outbreak, or an egg recall, or that some people feel we need to know what products are Genetically Modified Foods, or how can you tell something is Organic, or not.  With that mission, I am sharing a little link to give you just a taste of how the Food & Drug Administration affects your food world.  I highly recommend you use your own browser bar to explore other articles that will enlighten you as to what are our current Food Laws (yes, they affect you) and other insightful information. 

The article I'm sharing is not for the sensitive stomach, so brace yourself:

http://vitals.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/11/23/8982673-a-second-chance-for-faulty-food-fda-calls-it-reconditioning

Bon Apetit!

Something I feel like I've known most of my adult life is that eating fresh food from your own garden is simply the best.  Unfortunately, that's not how I have lived my life.  Convenience, poor habits and temptation have been key factors in my developing unhealthy eating habits.  I also believe what others, and myself, have believed to be "good food" has been a misnomer.  When I was very young, I thought eating a whole bowl of artificial whipped cream was "eating good", at least until my mother gave me the opportunity to sit down and have the whole bowl to myself.  Suffice to say, my concept of "all the whipped cream I could eat" was no longer on my list of "good foods to eat".  Personal food culture, which can involve alot of different factors, including our emmotions, usually dictates what our eating habits and good food concepts are going to be.  I posted a good 'common sense' article link today that I think gives a down-to-earth assesment of common sense eating.

http://www.positivelypositive.com/2011/10/19/the-basics-of-eating-well/

Bon Apetit!

Hello!

I'm very excited in that I've recently come across a website where concerned individuals have the opportunity to collectively address the FDA over labeling Genetically Modified Foods (referred to as GMO's which is Genetically Modified Organisms).  If you are interested in the health risks of these Frakenfoods (foods created in a laboratory "like a frakenstein") this is your opportunity to sign a petition asking that the public AT THE LEAST be made aware of which GMO foods are in the public market for consumption and then they can make personal decisions as to whether they would like to consume these products, OR NOT!!  Some people might have questions as to what could possible be wrong with ingesting GMO's.  I think if you do a little research on bio-compatibility, you will see that it is a VERY serious concern.  As the incidence of food alergies and other potentially related food/health/body & mind performace issues steadily increase, it's time food consumers begin to educate themselves as to what the food controversies are really about.  So, with that lead in, here is the link that will further address the issue and offer an opportunity to add your name to the growing demand for the labeling of GMO's:
http://co101w.col101.mail.live.com/default.aspx#!/mail/InboxLight.aspx?n=1428152742!fid=1&n=1227622108&mid=aa517f88-ee91-11e0-b563-002264c24a08&fv=1


Bon Apetit!

Something that tastes good!  But, really, "good" is not one of the specific taste sensors that we have to determine if something "tastes good".  So, what do we have to work with?  Chef Roland has told me that people "eat with their eyes first" and that's why presentation is so important.  However, I thought it would be fun just to offer a little science lesson about our 'tasters' and how they work for us.  I took the link from Wikipedia and if you don't like the information there, try putting in a search yourself for "how do we taste" or something similar.  You'll get a whole host of links to choose from.  It's amazing how many 'taste' there are that I just wasn't aware of there being.  If you have children, or just want to entertain yourself, you might go through your frig and cupboards and conduct your own little bit of research and see how many items you can catagorize.

Bon Apetit!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taste

Wow!!!  I looked through my postings here at Food For Thought and I'm embarassed.  Keeping a blog current takes a real commitment and I've just been going in toooooo many directions.  Sorry that I've not posted recently.  Hopefully, I'll get back on track soon.  I've got pics to post and it seems there is so much going on in the 'food world' that it makes food shows look tiny!

Roland and I visited France in May and while visiting family, we also investigated new restaurants and checked out various locations for our 'field trips' where we go to visit markets and chateaus on our culinary tour, A Taste of Le Berry.  We were hoping to put something together for October and now it looks like we will be postponing our next tour.  We've had several people say they were interested and if you have any questions regarding our tour package, please contact us through our contact page here on the site or rolandpar@hotmail.com .

I hope you all have had an opportunity to get involved in food production in one way or another.  It seems everywhere I look, more and more people are getting involved in local gardening, markets, cooking programs and community pantries.  Ironically, the government is quickly changing food laws that will eventually impact us all and it seems they are doing so without bringing those laws into the public forum.  So, I encourage each and every one of you to take a moment and use your browser bar or your favorite search engine to seek out at least one article a week related to "food laws".  Give us some feedback as to what you find and 'your take' on what you think about that information.  Let's help each other to learn!

I came across a blog that I find very informative and is a good example of a person who has looked into the subject of food/nutrition/production.  I hope you find it interesting, as well.

Bon Apetit!

http://www.etsy.com/blog/en/2011/can-we-eat-well-conveniently/

I soooooooooo apologize for neglecting our blog for so long.  Life just keeps getting in the way of things I want and need to get done.  That's my excuse....it's the best I have.


I just came across this clip and, SERIOUSLY, it tells the story of WHY France is so well known for their fine cuisine and their outstanding reputation in Food Culture. 


We actually visited one of these schools that has a similar program in a small community and it was incredible how the program is managed and the food presented.  It takes school lunches and school cafeteria workers to a whole new level!!

Enjoy!  Bon Apetit!



http://www.wimp.com/schoollunches/

We know what we like and, what we like is good food!  How we love to go to our favorite restaurants, over to grandma's or enjoy that Sunday family get-together.  We have our favorite's no matter where we go and the grocery stores are packed with more choices than we can take home at one time.  Variety is everywhere around us and we love it!  Soon, that could all come to an end.  Sorry, I have a link to another article to alert you to a growing threat to the foods we eat and food's availability, in general.


It's the Bees.  Maybe you've heard of Collapsed Hive Syndrome already, but I know there are many people who have never heard of the crisis and how alarmingly threatening it has become to the food supply of our planet.  Please,  read over this article and understand, it is by the food consumer becoming more aware of food production practices, such as how pesticides are used, and then becoming politically involved, we have a chance to slow down the incidence of Collapsed Hive Syndrome and, hopefully, to reverse this dangerous trend.  At the rate it is happening, we have little time left.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/comment/ambroseevans_pritchard/8306970/Einstein-was-right-honey-bee-collapse-threatens-global-food-security.html

Bon Apetit!