Balance of Food

Bagged spinach is back, but ...

You can get your bagged spinach once again, just not from California.

The FDA is allowing spinach from areas not connected to the E. coli outbreak. Even though you were likely in good shape getting it from a farmers' market, people weren't being too sure.

The investigation is still not over, and it's taken awhile (a good thing in my mind — I want a thorough investigation). More updates to come.

If you are feeling unsure even now, buy frozen or cook the fresh stuff. Or try a temporary leafy replacement.

'The Biggest Loser' is back

Once again as a public service, and because I know some readers enjoy what they do, I mention that "The Biggest Loser" is back on NBC and CH in Canada.

The season premiere is tonight at 8 pm Eastern. The "hook" is that one fat person from every state will be represented. Most states won't get a representative past the first night, but think of it like the Miss America pageant, except it's a fat people pageant.

I noticed that Bob the trainer is back, but not Jillian. Kim Lyons is the new female trainer. I personally think Jillian scared a few people. Her attempts at cleavage really did scare me. Sometimes a little mystery goes a long way.

Truly, if "The Biggest Loser" helps you lose or maintain weight, go for it. If I notice something worthwhile, I will pass it along. And yes, I will tape the opener on my DVR. But no guarantee I will watch it.

Reminders of the effects of e-coli

Some lessons to take from the spinach/e-coli affair. I write about these issues, so I shouldn't be amazed. But I continue to be amazed at how much stuff happens to our food. You do have to be careful.

E-coli can obviously be dangerous and sometimes fatal. Understand that if you are healthy and aren't very young (toddlers) or very old (senior citizens), you are highly likely to survive rather well. If you have health issues, or are very young/old, you do have to be careful.

If it is true that irrigation water contaminated by cattle feces caused the e-coli scare in spinach, we MUST solve the factory farms influence issue. Our food health depends on it.

I was amused at a story about a woman who so desperately needed her spinach pizza fix, she was willing to sign a waiver. Even though I don't like spinach pizza, there are food items where I would be in her shoes.

Cook that spinach

Given the news over e-coli found in spinach, it is probably best to cook it. The recommended temperature is 160 F. Unlike with meat, the flavor of spinach at that temperature isn't an issue.

But let's really think about this: e-coli should NEVER be on spinach. What a very odd thing if you really think about it. What are we doing with these factory farms.

For those who don't know what I'm talking about, the runoff of animal waste from these factory farms has been a severe environmental issue. If that is what caused this current health scare, we need to find a solution. Spinach, by its nature, should NEVER have e-coli.

Folk music and food combine for fun

Christine Lavin, who is one of my all-time favorite folksingers, is part of a new compilation on food and folksingers. Then again, Christine has always loved singing about food in her music.

Along with the CD, you also get a 96-page cookbook. Lavin sings "French Toast Bread Pudding." Sounds yummy just thinking about it.

Many years ago (I won't say how many for Christine's sake and mine), I played her music on the folk music show on the college radio station. So I truly have been a fan for a long time.

U.S. house bans horse meat

Not to get political, but there are a few problems in the country that have nothing to do with horse meat. Yet, one of the first things the Republican-led U.S. House did when it came back into session was to prohibit the slaughter of horses.

An unusual angle is that foreign-owned companies with U.S.-based plants were the ones who wanted the horse meat.

The anti-horse-meat side has bought full-page ads in The New York Times and USA Today. Celebrities highlighting the issue include Paul McCartney, Clint Eastwood, Billy Bob Thornton, Willie Nelson, Morgan Fairchild, Morgan Freeman, Boone Pickens, and Kinky Friedman.

I haven't had horse, nor am I planning to do so anytime soon. Then again, if we can eat Bambi, why not Mister Ed?

But seriously, I need more information before I decide whether this is a good thing. Do we have too many horses? Are the "eating kind" of no major use (other than aesthetics, of course) to us?

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) has said he isn't sure the Senate will take up the ban before recessing for the November elections.

Helping you find healthier food

Can you go on the Web to help you find healthier choices in dining out? Well, you are reading this on the Web. But there is a Web site to help you find those choices.

Healthydiningfinder.com is designed to provide this service, and it's brought to you by the NRA. No, not that NRA: the National Restaurant Association.

The site is apparently not quite ready, but you might find some helpful stuff already on there, especially for the major chains.

Many people are aware of the healthier choices. They know baked potatoes, grilled chicken sandwiches, and salads do exist. You are either going to eat better or you aren't. Also, if you are in a nicer restaurant, ask them if they will prepare your dish in a healthier fashion. The well run places will have no problem helping you out.