Counting the Cost of Waste in Holiday Catering

In catering, as is the case in any other business sector, being resourceful has its own rewards. Wastefulness is never a positive attribute, but catering is an area offering particular rewards for companies that take the time to ensure their practices minimize waste and make the best possible use of the resources at their disposal.

For caterers based in hotels and holiday resorts, keeping on the ball in terms of waste is especially important. Holidaymakers tend to indulge themselves never more so than when eating and drinking so those preparing and serving meals need to ensure that they are the ones taking the responsibility to make the difference in limiting waste.

What is waste?

As a starting point, it is perhaps best to examine what is meant by the term 'waste'. It probably immediately conjures up images of food waste, and this is of course one of the main ways in which caterers blow their money. Through buying too many ingredients, serving needlessly oversized portions that diners rarely finish, and storing food inappropriately, caterers often fall into the trap of wasting food resources.

Waste in the kitchen doesn't begin and end with food, however. Bulky, non-recyclable items can take up room in the kitchen, and be awkward and costly to get rid of. Disposable, single-use items like plastic cutlery and paper plates also become waste products after they are used.

Caterers should also consider waste of labor are employees spending too much time carrying out manual processes that could be done by a machine? When chefs find themselves needing to wash up as they go along, managers should consider whether better facilities could allow catering staff to maximize the time they spend preparing and serving food.

How can holiday caterers reduce waste?

First, let's look at food. As a hungry diner on holiday, there is nothing worse than paying good money for a disappointingly small portion of food, but some caterers go too far to the other extreme. If your waiters regularly find themselves taking back plates still half-full with food, perhaps you are serving more than your customers want or need.

Possibly the only thing worse than too much food on the plate is too much in the trashcan. With meat in particular, remember that bones, carcasses, and fat trimmings still have flavor and uses in food preparation. Use them in stocks, stews, and soups, and consider what meals you could create from the bits and pieces left on the chopping board. Also make sure you are regularly checking the temperature in the kitchen, as well as monitoring how well your refrigerators, cupboards, and other storage facilities are functioning.

Elsewhere, try to cut down on disposables where you can. You may find that good quality kitchenware, while more expensive as a one-off purchase, pays for itself in the long run.

Your company is sure to gain an excellent reputation if it is able to adopt and maintain a 'zero waste' policy, meaning that products are reused or recycled wherever possible, and the amount of output that ends up in landfills is minimal. If the approval of your customers does not speak for itself, the money saved through cutting waste dramatically certainly will.

The hidden costs of waste in holiday catering

There is a very simple cycle to remember if waste management procedures are not in operation:

1. Waste costs caterers money
2. The shortfall in profit this could lead to is likely to result in food prices, and consequentially hotel rooms and package holiday prices, becoming more expensive
3. Fewer holidaymakers are prepared to shell out the additional dollars to stay with you
4. A disappointing holiday season awaits!

It really can't be stressed enough how important it is to stay on the ball in waste reduction, so start putting procedures in place today if you haven't already. Besides the crucial element of costs, all caterers worth their salt hate to see food and resources wasted, and it should really become second nature to be waste-conscious for the sake of both the caterer's bank balance and the environment.

Bio:
Norman James works for Alliance Online, which is one of the UK's leading suppliers to the leisure, catering, and healthcare industries. The company's clients range from household name hotels to up-and-coming trendy bars and luxury gyms. With over 18,000 products available, commercial catering firms can source their supplies from a trustworthy source. As well as taking its own environmental responsibilities very seriously, the company offers a range of biodegradable catering supplies, such as foam plates and refuse sacks, on its website: www.allianceonline.co.uk

Calorie Detective: The Real Math Behind Food Labels

With the help of a science lab, the filmmaker Casey Neistat found that calorie listings on food labels can be highly inaccurate - mostly underestimating the amount of calories in food products such as muffins, sandwiches, burrito, etc.

He selected 5 items he might consume in an average day: a muffin, a tofu sandwich, a Subway sandwich, a Starbucks Frappuccino and a Chipotle burrito. Then, two food scientists tested the caloric content of each using a device called a calorimeter. It’s a precise but slow process — taking more than an hour per sample. The results were surprising.

Four out of the five items had more calories than their labels reported, adding up to 550 calories. If he unknowingly consumed those extra calories every day, in a week he would put on an extra pound of body weight.



References:

‘Calorie Detective’ - NYTimes.com http://nyti.ms/Yit3KO

Easy Fried Rice Featuring Whole Grain Brown Rice by Minute® Rice

I have recently made the switch from white rice to brown rice.  From what I understand it packs more of a nutritional punch. Whole Grain Brown Rice by Minute Rice can be prepared in 10 minutes.  I can even whip up a quick batch in the microwave at work when in a pinch.  I generally eat it as prepared right out of the box as a side dish.  I also like to make extra so that I can use the rest for fried rice the next day.  There are so many variations to fried rice.  It is such a versatile dish made super easy because you can add whatever ingredients that you have on hand as an add it. It's a simple & kid friendly!  Our son gobbles it up!  I was debating between Crab Fried Rice and Kimchi Fried Rice.  Since my son & my mom aren't fans of Kimchi, I opted for the crab.  It was a hit - I'm bummed that there aren't any leftovers!

Crab Fried Rice

• 3 cups rice, cooked the day before and refrigerated.

• 1/4 cup vegetable oil

• 1/4 cup carrots

• 1/4 cup peas

• 1/4 cup green onion, sliced

• 1/2 tablespoon fresh ginger, peeled and finely chopped

• 1 clove garlic, minced

• 2 tablespoons fish sauce

• 3 tablespoons soy sauce

• 1-1/2 tablespoon lime juice

• 1 teaspoon sugar

• 2 eggs, lightly beaten

• 6 ounces crab meat (I used lump crab).

• salt/pepper to taste

Mix the fish sauce, soy sauce, lime juice and sugar in a small bowl. Set aside.

Heat 1/4 cup vegetable oil in a wok or frying pan. Add peas, carrots, garlic, green onions and ginger. Add rice, follow with liquid mixture and blend well. Fry for 5 minutes or so. Finish by adding eggs and stir fry until the eggs are cooked and are mixed well with the rice. Remove from heat and crab meat. 

Minute® Rice is so quick and easy to prepare and is great pantry staple. When meal time seems like a hassle, Minute® Rice is a go-to ingredient your whole family will love and allows you to have more quality time doing what your want with your loved ones.

Leftover rotisserie chicken or veggies from a meal earlier in the week? Minute® Rice can easily be paired with some of your leftover ingredients to make a quick, easy and wholesome meal your whole family will love in just a matter of minutes.

Visit http://minuterice.com to create a great main meal or side dish for your next family get-together or potluck.

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Minute® Rice.

The Most Salutary Vegetables

Vegetables are doubtless salutary foods. They are rich in crucial nutrients, and another precious benefit they offer is a lot of dietary fibre. That is why it is recommended to consume vegetables in sufficient amounts, with daily quotas of at least five servings. Vegetables enhance people's immunity to diseases that plague humanity.

The most salutary vegetables, according to a number of classifications, comprise tomatoes, broccoli, carrots, eggplants, sweet potatoes, bell peppers, spinach, onions. In fact, the list of healthy vegetables could be continued, but let us dwell on the shortlist of the most salutary ones presented above.

Tomatoes are technically a type of fruit, but they are staples in salads, and their cancer fighting qualities have long been known to people. The vitamins contained in tomatoes are a prerequisite for good health as well.

Broccoli is an outstanding example of a powerfully salutary vegetable. They are packed with lots of antioxidants, and thus instrumental in reducing the hazard of a number of cancer varieties. Thanks to the amount of beta carotene and vitamin C, broccoli is also a natural means of preventing flu and colds.

Carrots are another staple on the table, and another dignified member of the most salutary vegetables' group. The nutrients contained in carrots are strong protectors of the human eyes, skin and hair. Another precious ingredient in carrots, vitamin C, helps people who regularly eat carrots to stay protected from cardiovascular diseases.

Eggplants are another treasure trove of antioxidants, but they are also replete with fiber, and they contain potassium that is why they are pointed out as vegetables that reduce the risk of stroke and the development of dementia.

Bell peppers are not only enjoyable for the eye with the profusion of colours. They are also rich in heart healthy substances, such as lycopene and folic acid. Bell peppers are also indicated as lowering the risk of development of cancer.

Spinach is chlorophyll packed, and also rich in vitamins and nutrients. They are recommended not only as protecting people from heart diseases, but also as lowering the risk of arthritis and osteoporosis.

Onions are welcome in salads, but they have other properties too. They are a healthy choice, especially recommended for people who suffer from osteoporosis, or people who are at risk of developing it. That is due to the content of peptide which is called GPCS and is believed to slow down the loss of calcium in the body. Heart disease risks can also be significantly lowered thanks to onion consumption. People at risk of developing diabetes should also choose onions as a health building food.

Each of the most salutary vegetables has its health boosting properties. Healthy people can combine them in their daily diet, to be certain to keep their health on a good level. People at risk of developing certain diseases should consume sufficient amounts of the salutary vegetable that is the best in fighting the respective condition. But doubtless each person should stick to the list of the above most salutary vegetables when shopping and planning the individual or daily meals.

The article has been submitted by Marble Arch Relocations

Tips to Help You Stick with Diet Food Programs

Maintaining a healthy weight is simple math: burn more calories than you gain. Obviously, the key here is to keep tabs on what you eat but this is easier said than done. With all the research going on in the weight loss area, there is no dearth of diet plans but for any of these to work, it is vital you stick to the prescribed guidelines for healthy eating.

Choose the Right Diet Plan
How well you follow a diet depends on how well it suits you. Diet food programs that are extreme in nature ones that drastically reduce your intake of food or completely leave out an entire food group could leave you feeling starved. The discomfort and irritability you experience are enough to make you discard the plan early on. Make sure you study the diet plan and perhaps even ask your doctor about how balanced it is, before you adopt it.

Change Your Lifestyle
Losing weight may be your immediate goal but for lasting health, you need to maintain a healthy weight for the rest of your life. Diet food programs may help you lose weight rapidly, but in the long run, you also need to fix problems in your lifestyle. Take a look at how much exercise you get, your eating habits outside of home and the amount of alcohol you consume all these are factors that play an important role in deciding how fit you stay.

Be Gentle on Yourself
In the initial stages, it may be difficult to stick to the diet plan and you may find yourself giving in to your craving for a sugar-rich pastry or salt-rich potato fries. When you tend to slip up, being unduly harsh on yourself serves no purpose; instead, accept that it is only human to err. Look at what your diet food program suggests as compensation for a high calorie food and try to make amends. The higher the goal you set, the more stressed you are going to feel about slipping up. Instead, aim at a healthy weight loss say about two pounds every week that is not as stressful and easier to achieve. Once you manage to meet this goal, it will give you the confidence to keep going.

Enlist Support
Sticking to diet food programs long term is not an easy task; it calls for quite some self-control. If you are unsure of your ability to stick it out alone, ask for help. Join a weight loss group, or connect online with other people on the same diet plan; confide in your family or close friends a few encouraging words now and then will help you keep going.

After doing all it takes, if you still find it difficult to stick to a particular diet plan, take a look at the other diet food programs available, and experiment with each one until you find one that suits you. As long as you stick by the mantra of using up more calories than what you consume, you should be able to achieve your weight loss goals.

Ideal Diet Before Workout

For workout, one of the most essential things is that you should have energy to go through the session. And the energy comes from the food you intake. Therefore, it is imperative that you know about the foods that can help you during the workout and help complement your hard work.

Eating before the workout is one of the most crucial acts that have a direct impact on the effectiveness of the workout. The lines below discuss some information pertaining to eating before workout.

When to Eat:

Having a full stomach during the workout may upset you and result in nausea, and cramping. The purpose of eating before workout is to provide you energy for the workout, which only comes when the food you have eaten has been converted into energy. Therefore, pertaining to eating before workout, eat 1-4 hours before the work out.

What to Eat:

The body turns the consumed food into glucose to provide energy to the body during the workout. Therefore, foods that are easy to adjust must be consumed with high concentration of carbohydrates to ensure that the body immediately receives energy during the workout. Moreover, what you need to eat before the workout, depends upon the kind of workout you are doing, and food must contain a reasonable or required proportion of meal and fluid. Nutritional and protein sports supplements can also be of great assistance in this regard.

The foods you can consume pertaining to the time left in the workout are given below:

Hour Before Workout- The foods may include the following:

· Fresh fruit like, watermelon, oranges, grapes, peaches

· Energy gels

· A cup of sports drink

Three Hours Before Workout- The foods you can consume two to three hours before workout include:

· Fresh fruits

· Bread

· Pasta

· Bagels

· Water

· Yogurt

Four Hours Before Workout- The foods you can consume three to four hours before the workout include:

· Fresh fruit

· Pasta with sauce

· Energy bar

· Baked potatoes

· Yogurt

· Water

· Bread with some peanut butter, cheese or lean meat

Glucose and Workout Performance:

Glucose is the energy source and helps you achieve greater performance during the workout. Eating a little sugar about half an hour before the workout. Thus, when your energy levels go down, the sugar you had consumed before the workout will provide you with energy.

Caffeine and Workout Performance:

The notion that caffeine helps improve workout performance is plainly wrong. All it has to do is with the cognitive functioning and it has nothing to do with the reservation of glycogen or providing of energy to the body.

Foods to Avoid:

There are certain foods, which you need to avoid before the workout. Foods that are high in fiber or fat are digested slowly; therefore, they remain in the stomach for long time, which causes discomfort and cramping. Therefore, to enjoy a good and healthy workout, avoid doughnuts, potato chips, fries, candy bars, and meat as a pre workout meal.

Bottom Line:

In a nutshell, you need to have an understanding about the food you need to eat before and after the workout in order to get the maximum benefits from the workout. The healthier and better you eat, more will your performance during the workout improve, and closer you will get to your objective.

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Food Suppliers and the Catering Trade - Learning to Manage a Kitchen Order

The catering trade isn't easy to run. It's based on an element of unpredictability, and constantly battles with itself to balance the need to have as much food as its guests want, with the requirement not to order too much.

It takes a while to get used to the routines of food ordering. The novice manager isn't helped by the fact that different owners have different ways of doing things. Some prefer to keep their stocks on the dangerous side of low, stating that they would rather run out of items and take them off the menu until the food suppliers next visit: while others can't abide the idea that a customer could order something from the menu that isn't available anymore.

The two points of view are represented, in one way or another, across the board of catering establishments and hospitality industry locations.

The first point of view is not just financially motivated. It is, of course, true that you can't lose money on food if you are selling more than you order; or, rather, that you can't ever waste money by throwing food away, if you order less than you need. However, there's a second element to this ordering model.

A restaurant or bar that runs out of a popular dish may, within reason, create and reinforce a reputation for itself as a popular place to eat - and for those dishes it runs out of as so popular it cannot keep up with demand. As long as the speed with which a certain dish sells out is not ludicrous, and as long as guests are able to order the majority of dishes on menu for most of the time, then the catering establishment that sometimes drops stock levels creates an atmosphere of exclusivity that is hard to develop in other ways.

At the other end of the spectrum, the second point of view holds that no restaurant or bar should ever find itself in a position where it has to deny a customer the food he or she has chosen from the menu. Again, there's more going on here than at first meets the eye - some subtleties that must be weighed in the accounts before this approach can be seen to bear fruit.

The first and most cautionary note to sound here is that of overstocking. Overstocking on food is the nightmare of every kitchen or establishment manager. If you have to throw away what you ordered, you can't sell it and make a profit - and you can't recoup the original cost of ordering it either.

Every establishment will, at some point, have to throw away food it has ordered. This is the nature of the business and is true even of food that can be frozen. The trick, for the business keen always to have the full menu in operation, is to ensure that wastage happens only very infrequently. In order to make that assurance, it becomes necessary to develop a solid understanding of the patterns that affect the restaurant trade.

Seasonal patterns allow some restaurant managers to work out when they are likely to need their largest and smallest orders - big in July and August, for example, and small in February. There's nothing like hands-on experience to back this up. Judging current trade patterns on top of known seasonal patterns allows the manager to make informed choices.

Eva Holmes is a former catering manager. She now advises food suppliers on their stock management procedures.

Belly Flattening Meals

The idea of a fit body for many people is having a flat belly and this is a goal of both men and women. Even though exercise is important, there are also some foods which can give really good results. It's not an easy task to get a flat stomach area, but with the right diet and proper exercise it is mission possible.

Next time you go grocery shopping, you could shop for these belly flattening foods which will serve as the right catalyst for the change. Try to get rid of the food in your fridge that fattens your stomach and focus on eating and living healthier. The first thing to understand is that you can't get any good results without regular eating. Missing the breakfast or the lunch won't make you lose belly fat, but it can have the opposite effect. You need at least three meals every day - a powerful breakfast, a light lunch and a healthy dinner not later than 7pm. Another thing to put into practice is drinking more water - water intake is actually on top of the list of foods and drinks which can flatten your belly. Here is a list of three types of foods which can help you reach your goal.

Fats

Did you know that monounsaturated fatty acids are quite beneficial for belly flattening? These are found in nuts and seeds, avocado, olives and olive oil and dark chocolate. These foods have plenty of calories, so you need to only have small portions and measure the proteins intake. For instance, in just three slices of avocado there are 50 calories, so don't eat more than 3-4 pieces a day. What's great about this group of foods is that it suits various cravings - for sweet, creamy and salty. Just make sure that you can differentiate between good fats and bad fats - polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats are both good for you.

Carbohydrates

In order to flatten your belly, you need to consume carbohydrates that are rich in fiber and other nutrients. Sources of these are Quinoa, Farro, sweet potato and yam. Lighter sources are berries, fruits and vegetables. Eat oranges as they have less sugar than apples and pears, but more vitamin C, beta carotene and fiber. Choose leafy vegetables such as collard greens and spinach. Eat berries for more energy and for antioxidants.

Proteins

The most popular source of protein (especially for breakfast) is the egg. Buy brown eggs which are rich in Omega-3 and eat scrambled or hard-boiled. Reduce the amount of yolk as the best nutrients for your figure are in the white. You can also east oatmeal, fish and chicken - these are perfect belly flattening meat sources. Other good fish is salmon, tilapia and halibut. Eat almonds (full of highly absorbable protein), yogurt (low in sugar) and cottage cheese.

The article has been submitted by: Clapham Removal Options

SunRype Fruit Snacks

Our family has recently been introduced to SunRype Fruit Snacks.  We received a nice assortment of products. I was excited to learn that SunRype offers selections that are all natural, free of artificial flavors or colors, and that my family enjoys them.

We are big fans of fresh fruits and vegetables and try to incorporate the proper servings in our meals as well as during snack time.  For the times when we are out and about we do like to have snacks that travel well.  These treats fit the bill. They are especially convenient when heading to work and short on time to have breakfast.  I keep a few in my drawer at work for my afternoon pick-me-up.

The varieties that we sampled were the SunRype Fruit Strips, Just Fruit and Grain, and Fruit Source 100% Fruit Bars in an assortment of flavors.  The family favorite was the SunRype Fruit Strips.

A Message From SunRype:

"We're dedicated to providing simple, nutritious products that make it easier for today's busy families to incorporate healthy eating into their active lives. We follow the highest quality and safety standards during all phases of the manufacturing of our products. We want to help you make good choices that offer both great taste and wholesome goodness."

To learn even MORE about SunRype and their products, please visit the SunRype facebook page. Don't forget to check out their current offer for a printable Buy 1, Get 1 Free coupon.

This post was sponsored by SunRype in partnership with SheSpeaks.  I received complimentary product samples. All opinions are my own.

Common beliefs about obesity and weight loss found to be myths

Think going to gym class drives weight loss, or that breastfeeding protects a child from obesity? Think again, because these are among seven popular myths about obesity myths, according to an international team of researchers.

The seven popular but largely inaccurate beliefs, which lead to poor policy decisions, inaccurate public-health recommendations and wasted resources, were identified by the team led by David Allison, associate dean for science in the School of Public Health at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Here are the seven myths:

• Myth 1: Small, sustained changes in how many calories we take in or burn will accumulate to produce large weight changes over the long term.
Fact: Small changes in calorie intake or expenditure do not accumulate indefinitely. Changes in body mass eventually cancel out the change in calorie intake or burning.

• Myth 2: Setting realistic goals in obesity treatment is important. Otherwise, patients become frustrated and lose less weight.
Fact: Some data suggest that people do better with more ambitious goals.

• Myth 3: Gradually losing weight is better than quickly losing pounds. Quick weight losses are more likely to be regained.
Fact: People who lose more weight rapidly are more likely to weigh less, even after several years.

• Myth 4: Patients who feel “ready” to lose weight are more likely to make the required lifestyle changes, do health-care professionals need to measure each patient’s diet readiness.
Fact: Among those who seek weight-loss treatment, evidence suggests that assessing readiness neither predicts weight loss nor helps to make it happen.

• Myth 5: Physical-education classes, in their current form, play an important role in reducing and preventing childhood obesity.
Fact: Physical education, as typically provided, does not appear to counter obesity.

• Myth 6: Breastfeeding protects children against future obesity.
Fact: Breastfeeding has many benefits for mother and child, but the data do not show that it protects against obesity.

• Myth 7: One episode of sex can burn up to 300 Kcals per person.
Fact: It may be closer to one-twentieth of that on average, and not much more than sitting on the couch.

The research team also defined six “presumptions" that are generally held to be true even though more studies are needed before conclusions can be drawn, such as the idea that regularly eating versus skipping breakfast contributes to weight loss. Studies show it has no effect.

The same goes for the idea that eating vegetables by itself brings about weight loss, or that snacking packs on the pounds. According to Allison and colleagues, these hypotheses have not been shown to be true, and some data suggest they may be false.

The researchers also identified nine research-proven facts about weight loss. For example, weight-loss programs for overweight children that involve parents and the child’s home achieve better results than programs that take place solely in schools or other settings.

Also, many studies show that while genetic factors play a large role in obesity, “Heritability is not destiny.” Realistic changes to lifestyle and environment can, on average, bring about as much weight loss as treatment with the most effective weight-loss drugs on the market. (Read more)

How to Help Children Eat Healthier

Child obesity is becoming a more and more serious problem now, more than ever, and it is vital for you to teach your children proper eating habits. They need to be learned from the youngest of age. Once a kid does get used to eating healthy, these habits stick for a lifetime. And if they do it without a problem at home, they will surely do it not only at school too, but everywhere else as well.

All problems, connected with children's bad eating habits are usually rooted in the household. When a parent rarely prepares homemade dishes, but rather buys takeaway meals from fast food franchises, this is when kids start developing these ill eating habits. It's a proven fact, that children are constantly exposed to all sorts of junk food, but it is their parents duty to keep their sons and daughters away from them and to help them lead a healthy diet. Here are a couple of useful tricks on how to do so.

1.Guide the choice of food, don't dictate it
Have a big variety of healthy foods at home. Without any junk food in the house, there is simply no way the kids could consume such. Leave everything that is not healthy in the store.

2.Provide healthy alternatives
It is vital that you have alternatives to all the products that are considered not healthy to you and your family. For example, kids are known for craving sweets almost constantly. There is a way of getting round this problem - fruits. Always have lots of different fruits in store - apples, grapes, peaches, etc. A different option would be for you to make healthy homemade snacks, for example, such made of oats, honey and various dried fruits.

3.Encourage the kids to eat slowly
Fast eating could be the cause of many health disorders. Plus, fullness and hunger can be better detected when one eats slowly. And that is how the second serving could be avoided. You can achieve that by eating together as a family as often as possible and making the meals a pleasant experience? How can this help? Well, one thing is for sure, your children won't be in a hurry to finish their dish as fast as possible and leave the table.

4.Involve kids in the shopping and cooking process
Shopping for healthy foods together will teach your children a thing or two, and when they are already old enough to go to the store on their own, they will know how to do proper shopping. Same goes for the cooking. Cooking healthy meals together is not only quality time spent together, but also something like lessons for the future when your son/daughter will have to cook on his/her own.

5.Do not allow eating meals or snacks in front of the TV
Watching TV while eating can be really distracting in the sense that the eating becomes the secondary action, and one does not pay attention the whether s/he is full. This often leads to overeating.

6.Prepare your child's school meals
Having control in the household is relatively easy, but what happens when the kids are out of sight?
The school cafeteria offers a decent amount of junk food to be distressed about. And if you would like your son or daughter to stay away from them, prepare him/her tasty meals to take to school.


7.Make the change "from the inside"
Instead of forcing any changes upon your child, rather make him/her realize the necessity of these changes. Explain, in a calm manner, that healthy eating is the way to a long and healthy life.

The change for good happens slowly, especially when it comes to children. This is why you will need to be as patient as possible.

The post has been submitted by : Acton ManAndVan

Macy's Culinary Council Chef Nancy Silverton in San Diego

Join Macy's Culinary Council Chef Nancy Silverton on January 12th at the Macy's Mission Valley Home Store!

As you all know - I LOVE attending events here in San Diego. I have many LOVES that I share on my blog. One of those loves is a love of FOOD! GOOD food. GREAT food!  This weekend two of my loves are coming together!  When experts share their craft I want to BE THERE to learn their trade secrets!  Sadly, I will not be able to attend this one.   BUT I am very excited to share the details just in case YOU are able to attend. This is sure to be a fun one!  If this is the type of event that catches your interest I would look them up in your area as well (since not all of you are here in San Diego)!  I just love cooking demonstrations! Don't you? I hope that you can make it.

Photo Credit: Macys.com

When: Saturday, January 12th at Noon

Where: Macy's Mission Valley Home Store School of Cooking, Main Level 1555 Camino De La Reina San Diego, CA 92108

Photo: Macy.com

Reservations are not required. Seating begins at 11:30am. First come, first served basis.

Bonus: With any $35 Home purchase (use your gift cards that you got for Christmas!) on the day of the event, you will receive a $10 Macy's gift card AND a signed copy of the Macy's Culinary Council Thanksgiving & Holiday Cookbook.

For more details about this event visit: http://bit.ly/NancySilvertonSD





Disclosure:  This is a sponsored post.  I have partnered with Everywhere & Macy's Culinary Council to share the details about the event and was compensated for doing so. All opinions contained in this post are my own.

Top Foods for Longevity (video)

This video from About.com will go over some of "the top foods to eat or longevity."



There are some other useful videos from About.com YouTube channel neatly arranged in playlists: http://bit.ly/VU8nbZ

Here is a related playlist: Super Foods http://bit.ly/VILPLc

Interesting Correlation: Fast Food Founders and Longevity

By the way, Jay Parkinson noted an interesting correlation between Fast Food Founders and Longevity:

- Ray Kroc (McDonald’s) died at age 82
- Jimmy Dean died at age 81
- Taco Bell founder Glen Bell died at 86
- Sonic founder Troy Smith died at 87
- Hardee’s founder Wilber Hardee died at 89
- Baskin-Robbins founder Irvine Robbins died at 90
- Carl’s Jr. founder Carl Karcher died at 90
- Frozen french fry mogul J.R. Simplot died at 99
- Murray Handwerker, credited with making Nathan’s Famous Hot Dogs into a well-known national chain, died at 89

Standard American Diet (Yes, it’s SAD)

The average American consumes 45 gallons of soft drinks annually. This does not include noncarbonated sweetened beverages, which add up 17 gallons a person per year. Chips and Coke are a common breakfast.

Cheap fast food is "enticing people to eat more because they think they're saving money when they're really buying heart disease", says Jillian Michaels.

We can do better

One step is to grow your own vegetables, even on a small scale. Chicago is already doing that. See for yourself: How Google Earth Revealed Chicago's Hidden Farms - NPR http://n.pr/VU8NyO

There are some helpful Tools for Your Food Revolution - Wolfram|Alpha Lets You Compare Nutritional Value of Foods.

See the passion of an urban gardener here, at 3:33 min: http://bit.ly/RZfWSD

The whole video is here:



The Grow video series by Whole Foods has at least 7 episodes - you can search for them on YouTube: http://bit.ly/RZgaJu

Indonesian Food Health Benefits

There are many beautiful aspects of Asian culture we admire and knowingly or unknowingly emulate working with them on a daily basis. There are those among the countries of Asia which are more popular than others in the west for various reasons. Sadly Indonesia is one of those that gets easily overlooked when it comes to the local culture. Most people see and think of either China, Japan, Korea and Thailand when they think of the term "Asian", however Indonesia can offer a unique and varied culture spread across over six thousand islands. Their art, martial arts such as Silat and history of piracy and naval warfare created a world where nothing is boring or mundane even to the most travel-savvy visitor. Their food is a unique and diverse combination of flavors because of the fact that the islands developed their own versions of common recipes among other things and with the abundance of seafood it also has some very nice health benefits.

The local food has many influences both from mainland Asia and the west because of its lucrative position in respect to naval trade through the centuries. A lot of the spices present in many recipes in the west have been intertwined with the local culture precisely because of that trade such as cloves and nutmeg. One of the most beautiful and healthy aspects of the local food is exactly these spices - they contain much needed protein and minerals the human body uses and on top of that they have the added bonus of tasting great.

Something else the local food uses a lot is rice and that is in abundance - the health benefits here are well-known: it stabilizes the blood sugar levels, it has plenty of vitamins B1 and D as well as many minerals, it is rich in carbohydrates, cholesterol-free and capable of helping out with many diseases by just being part of your daily diet. You can find rice in a lot of the local dishes such as nasi uduk (coconut-milk cooked rice), lontong (banana-leaf steamed rice) and of course nasi goreng which is essentially fried rice. Nasi goreng is considered the national dish of Indonesia and it combines seafood, vegetables and rice in a tasty dish.

There are a lot of fruits containing high quantities of starch in the local diet such as yams, potatoes, cassava, sweet potatoes, taro, breadfruit and jackfruit. These are truly staple foods and because of their prevalence in Indonesian cuisine the local population has a chance to eat healthy. Sadly a lot of the local population has begun emulating the western lifestyle switching from their traditional diets to fast-food restaurants and a sedentary lifestyle which we all know can lead to serious health issues.

There are some truly amazing dishes out there which also have local vegetables. Kangkung is a leaf vegetable which is known for its blood sugar lowering effects. It is used in many recipes in the local cuisine. Other examples include melinjo with its wonderful antioxidant properties. Genjer (not to be mistaken for a corruption of the word ginger) is a plant often used in combination with other plants in curry, soup and salads among other things.

Overall Indonesian food bears similarities to a lot of the mainland Asian cuisine but with its own twist. Thanks to the way the recipes are prepared this makes it healthy and good for consumption on a regular basis. As with all things however this should be taken in moderation as overeating is one of the main reasons for obesity.

This guest post has been submitted by: Vacation-Rentals

By Angela Harpert

Many Ky. parents don't realize children are overweight, or won't acknowledge it, but many report kids' poor health behavior

By Al Cross
Kentucky Health News

Many Kentucky parents don't realize that their children are obese or overweight, or at least aren't willing to acknowledge it. That is the obvious conclusion to draw from the latest results of the Kentucky Parent Survey, released Tuesday by the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky.

The poll found that only 14 percent of Kentucky parents say their child weighs too much, but the National Survey of Children's Health found that 37 percent of Kentucky children are overweight or obese. Conversely, 76 percent of parents in the poll think their child's weight is about right, but the national survey found that only 58 percent of Kentucky kids have healthy weight.

The Kentucky Parent survey, taken by land-line and cell telephone from July 19 to Aug. 22 by the Center for Survey Research at the University of Virginia, interviewed 1,006 Kentucky parents, step-parents, grandparents, foster parents or other legal guardians of children in Kentucky selected at random. The statistical margin of error for that sample size is plus or minus 3 percentage points.

The poll also found that 56 percent of Kentucky children are watching more than the maximum daily recommended amount of “screen time” – watching television, playing video games or using the Internet – and that 59 percent drink sugar-sweetened beverages every day. Both are major factors in childhood obesity, research has found, and experts recommend no more than two hours of screen time a day and no sugar-sweetened drinks at all.

“Parents can help reduce this risk by encouraging healthy behaviors for their children,” said Dr. Susan Zepeda, president and CEO of the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky.“Our children’s habits and behaviors impact their health today and shape their quality of life as they grow. When kids eat poorly and don’t get enough physical activity, it increases their risk for obesity, diabetes, heart disease and other chronic diseases. This poll data helps us understand what parents think about the behaviors that are so critical to health.”

The Kentucky Parent Survey also found that only 56 percent of Kentucky parents said their child got "enough" fruits and vegetables every day during the preceding week, and 66 percent of parents reported their child got "enough" physical activity every day during the preceding week. It also found that elementary and high-school students often get less than the recommended amount of sleep per day (chart).

The survey did not define "enough." The foundation noted that one strategy to reduce childhood obesity in Kentucky is "5-2-1-0," reflecting experts' recommendations that each day, children should eat at least five servings of fruits and vegetables, have no more than two hours of screen time, engage in one hour of physical activity, and drink zero sugar-sweetened beverages. For the foundation's press release, click here.

Holiday Party at Stone Brewing Co.

My husband & I attended my company holiday party which was held at Stone Brewing Co./Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens.  I knew that we would have wonderful beer choices but I was pleasantly surprised with the delicious food that was served!  We were in agreement that it was a great place to host  a company party.  It was a bit confusing to find since this was our first visit there.  There wasn't any obvious signage but now that we know where it's at - we will likely be back!

The beer and wine was free flowing all evening long.  I stopped at one beer to be the responsible designated driver. I wish I could remember the names of the beers that my husband and I had.  With my husband's love of great beer and my love of great food... a return trip with some friends and family is in our future!

There were a few food choices that were served buffet style.  I had the Poached Pear Arugula Salad, Mac 'n Beer Cheese, and Pan-Seared Salmon served with a fruited gastrique & fried shaved parsnips. My selections were absolutely delicious!  For dessert we were treated to pumpkin pie cheesecake squares. Normally I find cheesecake to be much too dense and rich for my taste but these were light and heavenly!  I cannot stop raving about my dining experience!

Nourishing Foods for Long-term Survival

How can we question the act of the Creator who is the author of all things on earth? We are witnessing the increasing number of natural disasters occurring unexpectedly. We won't know wherethe calamities will happen and how they will affect us. However, humans have higher intellect than any other animals on earth - so we are expected to take dominion.

We cannot do and control anything if Mother Nature is in motion, we just can protect our family by being prepared in any disruption that we might have to face. Food and water are the most essential things for survival during calamities. Not all kinds of food can last extensively over harsh climate. In order for us to be prepared for the unknown, know these affordable foods that can be kept for longer duration:

1. Load your kitchen with brown rice. Brown rice belongs to the group of "super foods" aside from its essential nourishment, it can be kept up to five or more years when properly stored in a sealed and dry container.
2. Reach out for almond butter and raw almonds. Almonds are good sources of healthy fats, immune boosting nutrients and natural proteins that can nourish the body to survive longer in case of food scarcity. Just make sure to keepthem in a vacuum-sealed plastic bag or container and put them in the freezer. They can last for many months up to 1 year. Almond butter is also a magnificent survival food. It can last to up to 9 months or longer when stored in vacuum sealed jars. Learn more from The Gourmet Survivalist web page for more radiant ideas about raw almonds and almond butter remedies.
3. Pack more apples. Apples are nutritious and can safely be kept for longer period of time. Pick some varieties of thick skinned, tart and unwashed apples. Wrap them one by one with dry newspapers and keep them in cardboard boxes. Sliced, dried and vacuum sealed apples will also last long inside the freezer.
4. Horde for carrots. Carrots will stay fresh and nutritious when kept unwashed and covered with mulch. It will last up to six months when properly stored in a dark, cool and well-ventilated area - according to the Sweetwater Organic Farm. They can also be kept in longer duration inside the freezer when peeled, cut and blanched.
5. Fresh farm eggs. Eggs are surprisingly part of the list but fresh, unwashed farm eggs will last up to 1 year inside the refrigerator. Eggs containenergy-boosting nutrients that are helpful in case of food shortage. The outside unique coating of fresh chicken eggs protects the eggs from contamination and spoilage. When at room temperature, fresh farm eggs can be kept up to 3 months as well.
6. Save some packs of "super food" seeds in your kitchen. Hemp, Chia and other super seeds are superb endurance foods. These can be stored safely for several years without worries they will get rancid. The good thing is, these seeds are loaded with omega-3 fatty acids, protein, vitamin and minerals plus other nutrients that will help people survive in their dwellings during calamities for a substantial period of time. You can purchase the seeds from the Natural News Store.

These super foods will have Sildenafil Citrate kind of effect so, natural body heat will surely be ignited which is helpful in beating the freezing cold. There's nothing more natural than a human blanket that can provide sufficient warmth.

By Elena Grace Flores
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Family Fun At The San Diego Zoo With Tillamook

My family and I celebrated the Loaf Love Tour with the Tillamook crew today at the World Famous San Diego Zoo.  We met Loafy and got to know the Tillamook Ambassadors. Celebrity Chef Keegan Gerhard and his beautiful wife Lisa demonstrated some tips & tricks on making the perfect grilled cheese sandwich. We sampled cheese, had some yogurt, built our own grilled cheese creations, and enjoyed ice cream for dessert! We spent the remainder of our day exploring the Zoo.  Our thanks goes to Tillamook for an awesome family day!

I wanted to share a few photos from our family day of fun!  Hoping that you all had (or are having) an AMAZING weekend! Please let us know what you and your family are up to!

Baby Loaf

Cheese Tasting!

Our Family & Loafy

Cheese!

Chef Keegan, My Silly Monkey & Me
 

Keegan & Lisa

Grilled Cheese Featuring Tillamook Cheese

Tillamook Mudslide Ice Cream

Yummy Yogurt!

Lions, Tigers And Cheese, Oh My! Tillamook® Brings The Loaf Love Tour To San Diego

In Celebration of the Loaf Love Tour, Locals Can Gain FREE Entry to the San Diego Zoo Saturday, October 27th

*Free entry for the first 100 eligible participants only.

Free entry starting at 9:00 a.m. until limit reached. Participating fans may check-in at the Tillamook Baby Loaf bus located outside the zoo’s main ticket gate. To win, attendees must come wearing orange. Limit one free entry per person, no monetary value.

WHO:  Tillamook, the 103-year-old, farmer-owned cooperative from Oregon that has earned a reputation as one of the nation’s premier natural cheese makers and leading dairy product company.

WHAT:  The Loaf Love Tour, the third annual mobile sampling event dedicated to bringing tasty cheese to the people, is traveling to San Diego as the last stop on their 2012 tour. As a fun way to celebrate the end of their nine month cross-country excursion with local residents, Tillamook will be offering free admission to the San Diego Zoo on Saturday, October 27th. The first 100 fans who show up wearing their happiest Tillamook orange will receive free access to the zoo, where attendee’s dressed in orange thereafter will receive $1 off general admission*. Once inside the zoo, event-goers of all ages can taste a variety of Tillamook Cheese, take pictures with Loafy, join in zoo bingo, taste yummy samples of Tillamook Yogurt new to the San Diego market, and much more.

WHEN: Saturday, October 27th from 9:00AM to 5:00PM

WHERE: The San Diego Zoo 2920 Zoo Drive San Diego, CA 92101

Before leaving California and wrapping up their third year on the road, the Tour will be cruising around San Diego in their fleet of mini-buses from October 23rd - October 30th. Local fans can find the Tour at grocery stores and special events educating attendees on Tillamook products while sampling their cheeses made in Oregon. To conclude their tour-end travels through San Diego, Tillamook is going out with a bang and holding a twitter contest where the winner gets a party for up to 50 people at a location of their choice. For more information on entering the contest click here.

To see a complete list of stops on the Tour or to sign up for cheese-filled news updates, stop by LoafLoveTour.com and to join in the live chatter, visit the Tillamook Facebook page or follow @TillamookCheese on Twitter.

A Food Regime That Really Burns That Fat Off

If you're tired of annoying fad diets that only wear you out and make you gain even more weight in the end, you can read on. After following different pieces of advice on how to lose weight, I realized that the golden rule of starting a food regime is: avoiding diets that promise wonders.

There are some ways you can lose weight faster, but doctors and nutritionists generally advise that losing up to 2.5 pounds per week is the right amount for someone who wants to lose and maintain weight healthily. This might sound disappointing for people who need to lose a lot of weight, because it will take them months. But if you want to do it right, this is the way.

5 Simple Rules That Will Help You Get Rid of That Extra Fat

1) Drink two glasses of room-temperature water as soon as you wake up. Wait for 45 minutes before you eat breakfast, but don't skip it. If you can't bear drinking so much water on an empty stomach, there's an alternative solution: eat one apple instead.

2) Drink lots of water throughout the day. This is VERY important. Water helps you get rid of toxins and it postpones hunger.

3) Try to eat 5-6 portions of food throughout the day: breakfast, lunch, dinner, and 2-3 snacks (the snacks can be yogurt, fruit, salad, soup; no junk food allowed). Don't eat more than one piece of bread per meal.

4) Make sure you don't eat dinner after 7 PM. If you're really very hungry later than that, drink a cup of plain yogurt or eat a small piece of non-fat cheese, a cucumber, a carrot, etc.

5) Avoid sugars as much as you can. The ideal solution would be to completely ban them from your food regime. You'll probably lose weight the most once you stop eating sweets altogether. If you absolutely cannot stay away from sugar, eat dark chocolate.

If you can also squeeze in some 45-60 minute exercises or daily walks, your body will be very thankful.

This is not too complicated to follow. Unlike some diets, there are no strict rules or specific meal descriptions here, so you are free to plan your own meals, but try to use as much fruits and vegetables as you can. Plain yogurt is very healthy and good for weight loss, remember that. And, drink water. The process is slow but it's proven it works, and it's very rewarding after a month or two.

Author bio: Allison Moody is a freelance writer, currently working on a new fun project on a free label creator, Labeley. She enjoys writing about healthy lifestyles, travel, books and having fun in nature.

By Allison Moody