Foodmomiac

Book Review: Animal, Vegetable, Miracle

Welcome to my first-ever (and possibly only) book review on this site. After three years of restaurant reviews, I would be happy to never review anything again, but this book is too phenomenal and monumental to not discuss here.

Also, though I'm discussing a book, this isn't REALLY a review. I just want to share some thoughts about it. To order a copy for yourself, click here.

As regular readers no doubt realize by now, I am a big fan of eating locally, eating responsibly and teaching my children to do the same. That said, it's not always easy. As the pretty, pretty Mir pointed out a week ago, this can be an expensive proposition. Organic meat, especially, is a lot more costly than conventional, but after reading Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, I am more resolved than ever to change the way I shop for my family.

Specifically, I am going to do everything I can to buy more local, seasonally-appropriate and organic produce, dairy and meats. I am doing this for health reasons (organically-grown meat has more Omega 3's, more vitamin D and less cholesterol, not to mention the lack of chemicals) and for environmental reasons (I am tired of buying Washington apples, in the fall, when local ones are just as readily available. It's not worth the carbon footprint. It's for that same reason that I don't eat or buy tomatoes except in late summer). I just placed my grocery orders online. I ordered my staples from Peapod, but I ordered my meats, produce and dairy from Fresh Picks.

Additionally, Michael and I are going to see what we can do about creating additional food storage opportunities in our small-ish house. I'd like to be able to buy tons of tomatoes in August/September and then can them for the off months. Reading about this in Kingsolver's book was just mind-altering for me. I also think it might be nice to buy a large portion of meat (like a share in a pig or cow), and then store it in a freezer. Since I do want to buy only locally-raised, organic meat, this is the more economical option.

In the book, Kingsolver and her family eat only locally-produced food (with some very small exceptions, such as coffee) for a year. They grow and raise much of it themselves, on their farm in Virginia. Obviously, this is not entirely reasonable for me, seeing as I live on a city lot in Chicago, but the lessons taught in the book were meaningful regardless. EVERYONE can learn something from this book, even those of us living in big cities.

I have to say that at times the book is a bit preachy, but I was probably a bit more sensitive to that than others, just because with me, she was kind of preaching to the choir. That said, though much of the information in this book wasn't news to me (it's not that I was under the impression that factory farming was a good thing), it just brought it home in a new, more personal way that truly resonated.

Blog Action Day - What I'm Doing

Today is Blog Action Day (just in case you are living under a rock and don't know. or if you're my mom and don't read any blogs other than mine.)

So, for the under-rock dwellers (and my family), here is a summary of Blog Action Day, direct from their website:

On October 15th, bloggers around the web will unite to put a single important issue on everyone’s mind - the environment. Every blogger will post about the environment in their own way and relating to their own topic. Our aim is to get everyone talking towards a better future.

I figured that the best thing I could do today is to share with you the changes that I have made to better the environment. If you have your own blog, you should sign up on the site and write your own post about the environment. If you don't have your own blog, feel free to tell me about your green-ness in my comments. I'm always looking for ways to get greener, and I know that many of my friends (and readers) are seeking the same thing.

So, here is what I'm doing:

• I have become a big fan of the tote bag. I don't have the $300 (on eBay) version that is pictured above, but we have about 10 tote bags in our front closet, and I grab a few before heading out to Whole Foods or to the farmer's market. I do wish that there was some way to eliminate the gajillion plastic bags that I get when I order from Peapod, but for now, I bring the totes when I can, and try to avoid taking a plastic bag at the store if it's not essential.
• I have taken a pledge to stop using (and buying) water bottles. Brita filters (my client) created this site, and I think it's pretty awesome. I added the pledge badge to my blog (on the right, scroll down) and if you have a blog, and are also down with eliminating water bottles, you can get that badge as well. Or you can just take the pledge and pass it on.
• We don't use disposable paper or plastic cups in our house.
• As our lightbulbs burn out, we are replacing them with those ultra long lasting swirly kinds.
• We use primarily non-toxic cleaners in our house, such as Method and Mrs. Meyer's. I also like Seventh Generation stuff.
• We recycle, though Chicago makes it very hard! But, things are changing (thank goodness).
• I try to give things away on Craig's List or Freecycle (like cardboard boxes filled with packing peanuts) instead of just throwing them in my alley. One man's trash...

So, what are you guys doing??

Fresh Picks for a Fresh Start

  Produce at Sweet Earth 
  Originally uploaded by Foodmomiac.

Thank you all so much for your thoughts on my school lunches post. I have plenty more to say on the matter, and will continue to post about it. For a long time now, I've thought that a grassroots blogger movement could do wonders to improve the availability of local and/or organic food to a wider audience. Even if we start with something small.

What if all of the bloggers who wanted to make a change put a small badge on their website (any graphic designers out there)? And what if every blogger with a badge committed to writing once a week (once a month?) about issues related to bringing quality, real food to all children. Don't you think that would help bring about a change?

In terms of OUR household, I've been thinking a lot about what I can do to change the way our family eats. We are pretty good, but I'm amazed at how much junk food accumulates somehow. The Easter candy alone is overwhelming. I am going to get rid of all of that crap this weekend (and will document it with photos). Also, we received an order tonight from Fresh Pick.

I read about Fresh Picks in the Chicago Reader last month. It sounded awesome, but I had just started doing the Peapod thing, and I wasn't ready to branch out yet. But, after I wrote about school lunches earlier in the week, I got a comment from Kim telling me to try Fresh Picks. I decided that the time had come for me to put my money ($46.30 to be exact) where my mouth was.

All I've tried so far are the homemade dried cranberries from Sandhill Farm in Vesper, WI, but those were AWESOME. I'm very excited for the other produce, especially the mache and chives, both of which were grown in Chicago proper.

What have you done lately to change your family's eating habits? What do you think you CAN do?

What's Your Kid Eating for Lunch?

My second day at the IACP conference was as mind-opening as my first. I only attended one session, but it made a huge impact on me. This is a topic that I'd love to discuss on an ongoing basis, so I'm basically going to type my notes here. I hope you all check out the links I provide and buy this book on the right. Something needs to change in this country.

The session was called Tipping the Scales - the Role of School Food in Children's Health. It was run by Ann Cooper and Kate Adamick. These women were powerhouses.

Some things I learned at the session:

• The average food travels 1,500 miles before we eat it.
• 10 companies control 90% of our food supply.
• In the US, there are 2.1 million prisoners, but only 1.9 million farmers.
• According to the CDC, of the children born in the year 2000, an estimated 30-40% will contract diabetes in their lifetime.
• There is $500 spent on unhealthy food for every $1 spent on healthy food.
• In this country, we spend $200 billion each year on diet-related illness, and $200 billion each year on the war. We spend just $7 billion on school lunches.
• It has just been determined (sorry, I don't remember the organization that determined this) that children with the worst quality of life are those who are obese with diabetes. This used to be children with cancer who are undergoing chemotherapy.
• We spend less than 10% of our income on food (half that over other developed Western countries), but 2x as much on healthcare.
• Some important lessons about kids and food:
  • Kids love real food
  • Kids love to learn about food
  • Kids love to play with their food
  • Kids love to feel as if they belong
  • Adults have choices to make (for example, why would you dress the school lunch employees as fast food workers vs. dressing them in chef's whites?)

Some links for you:
Lunch Lessons
Eco Literacy
Kids Regen
Spatulatta
Family Cook Productions

So, tell me. Would you like to discuss this in more detail? Do you want to somehow help change school lunches in this country? I feel so motivated and determined following this session, and would love to get to know others who feel the same way I do.

Grandma Ana Fights the Good Fight

In NY, there is a big controversy right now over some health care spending cuts proposed by Governor Elliot Spitzer. The first ads against him featured health care workers that would lose jobs with the proposed cuts. For the next round of ads, it was decided that patients should speak out. And what better spokesperson that a communist 94-year-old with a very loud mouth??

I present, Grandma Ana!!

And more from Grandma Ana:

More on the ads here.

Fending and Giving

Fending
Tonight was a "fend for yourself" night. The original plan was to get a rotisserie chicken, but when it was time to go out and get it, I realized that I was just not in the mood. Dylan agreed, and said that she'd prefer leftover bratwurst. So... that's what she ate. Max had leftover spaghetti with the tomato butter sauce, and I had leftover spaghetti tossed with a little chunk of REALLY ripe domestic camembert and lots of freshly ground black pepper.

Giving
I've got three things to share here. First, please be sure to click the "The Find" ad over to your left. Once you get to the site, search for something red. Doesn't matter what it is; red ipod, red shoes, red bracelet... you get the point. For each red search, The Find will donate $1 to Doctors without Borders, up to a maximunm of $10,000. Cool, right?

Second, want some great food-related goodies? Check out Menu for Hope III. This year, Menu for Hope III raises funds to support the UN World Food Programme, which provides hunger relief for needy people worldwide. Here's how it works. First, go to Chez Pim to see the entire round-up of prizes. Then, go to the donation page and make a donation. Each $10 will give you one raffle ticket toward a prize of your choice.  Please specify which prize or prizes you'd like in the 'Personal Message' section in the donation form when confirming your donation.  Do tell us how many tickets per prize, and please use the prize code -for example, a donation of $50 can be 2 tickets for UW01 and 3 for UW02. If your company matches your charity donation, please remember to check the box and fill in the information so we could claim the corporate match. Please also check the box to allow us to see your email address so that we could contact you in case you win.  Your email address will not be shared with anyone. Check back on Chez Pim on January 15 when we announce the result of the raffle. I meant to donate something myself, but time got away from me. As a result, here is what I'm going to do. If you make a donation, please forward me your confirmation email. I will select one of the emails at random to win your choice of prizes (a tin of homemade cookies or dinner with me at a classic Chicago ethnic restaurant during BlogHer 2007).

Third, our good friend Jeff from Toledo needs some help. Ever since the 2004 election, he has had a group of four signs in front of his home. Three of them count casualties of the war in Iraq. One expresses his opinions about the war. He has tirelessly maintained these signs (which he made by hand, by the way). He has replaced them when they have been vandalized. He is doing nothing violent, nothing aggressive. He is merely staging a quiet and peaceful protest. A neighbor recently filed a complaint, however, and now the city has stepped in, asking Jeff to remove his signs, as they violate a city ordinance. The ACLU has taken up the cause, but if you have a moment, please consider sending an email in his support to Dennis Johnson in the City of Toledo Building Inspection Office. Jeff has asked that all emails be respectful and polite. Dennis is a nice guy who is just doing his job, but it is my opinion that Jeff should be able to keep his signs. Here is an article about Jeff and his signs from today's Toledo Blade. And, if you want to get depressed, here is a link to some pictures of Jeff's signs that I took back in 2002. The difference in the number of casualties is horrifying, to say the least (Note: most of the signs in the latter link are no longer up. He removed all election-specific signs following the election.)

OK, sorry for the brief political interlude. Carry on.

You Gotta Give 'Em Credit

OK, this is not something I ever thought I would do, but here goes. I'm about to provide you a link to the Hamburger Helper site. Seriously. Here's the deal.

The famous Charlie emailed me about this program, and though I'm not a user of their products, it is pretty damn cool. Hamburger Helper is giving away $15,000 every month until May of 2007 to registered non-profit groups doing great things for their community. Need Little League uniforms? Want to build a playground? School lacking computers? Write a 250-word essay and you might get the help you need.

Click away.

More About BlogHer

This was written yesterday:

As I sit on the plane flying home from this amazing conference, there are so many thoughts running through my head.

 

First and foremost, I loved being with bloggers all weekend. These are ALL women who understand. They understand why writing every day is so important. They understand how important the Internet is to community. They understand how blogs can transform our lives.

 

Second, I got such joy from meeting women in person who I had previously only known online. Liz from Mom-101 gave everyone buttons that read, "I'm funnier on my blog." And, I think most of us believe that about ourselves. But, I have to say, I have not laughed so hard, and so frequently, in a very long time. I took such pleasure from being around these women.

 

Third, I guess I am thinking about all of the controversies that were swirling about the Hyatt San Jose over the past couple of days. There were some negative posts* and commentary about MommyBloggers (Can't we write about anything beyond our kids? Why yes, we can. And WE ALL DO!). There was discussion about the appropriateness of men belonging at this conference (It was, indeed, a bit strange, but I can't blame them for wanting to be a part of this.). And, finally, there was a lot of discussion about the large number of sponsors, the type of sponsors we had, and how the sponsors were treating us.

 

I'm stuck in a window seat with no where to go and no books left to read, so I've been thinking a bit about this last one. As you know, Michael (well, GM Blogs) was one of the sponsors. And, my full time job is for a web development agency that does quite a bit of work for manufacturers. Manufacturers who want to get involved in the Web 2.0 space and become a part of the blogosphere. So, this topic kind of resonates with me.

 

I read a post yesterday that expressed dismay that the sponsors were treating us like consumers, and not like players. I disagree. I talk to manufacturers all the time. I know why GM Blogs was at BlogHer, and if one of my clients was a sponsor, I know why they would choose to be at BlogHer. It's not because they want us to be consumers. It's because they want us to be influencers. If we like a product, we might buy it, sure. But that's just one purchase. That doesn't matter to the manufacturer. What matters is that we influence our readers. If we like something? If we recommend it to our readers? They will buy it. And that is where the power lies.

* I'm not going to link to the post in question. It doesn't deserve any further traffic.

Goin' to BlogHer (with my BlogHim)

It seems like all I'm reading today (on my blogs) are details of what everyone has done to get ready for BlogHer. I'm getting worried that I don't have anything to wear, but I did get a haircut scheduled for tomorrow. After reading about Mir's shiny, sexy new 'do, I made an IMMEDIATE call to the Beauty Bar.

I'm leaving Thursday morning, and though Michael is going as well (GM is a sponsor), we are taking separate flights. We both booked our flights through corporate travel agents, and he is on nonstop flights to San Francisco. I'm on a flight to San Jose with a two hour layover in Phoenix, and I am thrilled. I will be able to knit. And read. And listen to my iPod. All by myself. With no one talking to me. LOVE IT. I'm hoping I get my knitting pattern book in time, because I'd love to pick up the yarn for a Dylan sweater before I go. I like working on more than one knitting project at a time and because I finished Michael's scarf in NY, I have only my giant, endless wrap to work on. I promised Dylie I'd make her a hoodie. I'm excited to actually make a garment. My wrap doesn't really count, and prior to that I've only made scarves (and one weird square hat. yes, square).

I'm so very excited and nervous to meet all of the bloggers that I read every day. I can't wait for Thursday to be here!

Mr. Foodmomiac

I think I need to stop at the liquor store on the way home. Michael is heavily involved in the blogs at GM. Check out what's been going on. It's wild. I LOVE today's commentary, and the link to the PDF of the emails back and forth between GM and the Times is just priceless.

I freely admit that I am biased, but Friedman's article (subscription required) was ridiculous, IMO. I also don't like his moustache.

OK, back to our regularly scheduled food/mom/crazy programming.