Balance of Food

Levels of sweetness: U.S. vs. Canada

Sweet items taste less sweet in Canada than they do in the United States. I know this to be true, but I like expanding my knowledge on this theory.

I made a recent trip to Windsor, Canada, located in the province of Ontario right across the Detroit River from Detroit, MI. I found this bargain rate grocery store along the lines of an Aldi but with better selection.

I like Heinz ketchup from Canada. Tastes much less sweet and much better than the version in the States. Try explaining to Customs that you are trying to bring ketchup across a border. I had to do that once; I don't think she cared since ketchup isn't a border issue.

I was also on the prowl for Hostess products from Canada. I have had Twinkies in Canada, but wanted to expand my Hostess experience. I found the Cup Cakes on this trip. With the Twinkies and Cup Cakes, I still get the sweet taste, but it feels more sincere, dare I say, more homemade than the industrialized versions here in the States.

Most people would likely find the Canadian versions to be underwhelming. I liked them a lot.

I don't have much experience with British products, but I figure no one does over-the-top sweetness like the United States. If I lived in Canada, I would buy more sweet products.

Some in Congress found out eating well costs money

Shopping List for Rep. Tim Ryan (D-OH)
Food item	Price
Yellow cornmeal	$1.43
2 jars strawberry preserves	$4.00
1 jar chunky peanut butter	$2.48
2 packages angel-hair pasta	$1.54
Chock Full o' Nuts coffee	$2.50
3 cans tomato sauce	$4.50
2 containers cottage cheese	$3.00
1 loaf wheat bread	$0.89
1 head of garlic	$0.32
Total	$20.66

Great story in The Washington Post on the true cost of eating well. Four Congressmen tried living off $21 worth of groceries in a week, the weekly food stamp allotment, as part of a House Hunger Caucus challenge.

Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA) and Rep. Jo Ann Emerson (R-MO), co-chairmen of the House Hunger Caucus, invited others in Congress to join them to see how they could do. Reps. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) and Tim Ryan (D-OH) were the only other participants.

One complaint when people start to eat better is the cost. It can cost more for a lot of items that are better in quality. But eating fresh vegetables and fruits in season can be cost effective. And eating less will reduce your overall bill. And yes, while you may have to pay more, you will see advantages.

Our food supply is heavily subsidized in favor of cheap food that isn't as healthy as it should be. You are worth a few extra bucks at the grocery store checkout.

Favorite fast food picks

Sure you are all being good in resisting temptations along the way, but if you are going to do fast food, are there better choices than others.

According to the consensus of the Zagat guide's first survey of fast-food restaurants, Panera Bread Co. was picked as the best fast-food chain. The survey is based on 5,535 diners from across the country.

In the "not a surprise" category, McDonald's won for best French fries with 63 percent. One surveyor said McDonald's fries were so addictive that "I think there's heroin in them."

And though we have been fierce against McDonald's over trans fats, this finding may justify their paranoia over changing oils. But other places found ways where the taste doesn't change. Good French fries don't need beef tallow or trans fats.

Best chicken and best service went to Chick-fil-A, a regional chain.

Apparently, a biscuit is all that was missing

For those who were worried that the KFC famous bowl was incomplete, your worries are over.

The mashed potatoes, gravy, fried chicken, corn, and three-cheese blend now has its final (we hope) member: a biscuit. Also, it has a new name: Chicken and Biscuit Bowl.

And despite what you may have gleamed from KFC's press release, the biscuit topping the affair has trans fat. Perhaps it's a trade-off since KFC says the chicken doesn't have trans fat.

For as disgusting as it might sound, I do understand the chicken, potatoes, gravy and biscuit combination. In a braver setting, I could see myself eagerly diving into that bowl. But I don't get the corn and the three-cheese blend. True, it's adds fat (cheese) and a secondary starchy vegetable (corn) to an unstable bowl. But it does feel a little forced.

As we mentioned before, items such as these are a backlash to eating well. Though I might find items like this disgusting, I still welcome them in the marketplace. Overcoming the big challenges gives people more inspiration to stay on the right path. And if you just want to eat away, you probably would love this Chicken and Biscuit Bowl from KFC.

Red Robin, where is my Red Robin

Why food advertising sometimes works ...

The beauty of travel is that you run into different regional favorites. I had heard of Red Robin and its gourmet hamburgers. Thought it was intriguing, but didn't really think much of it since I had no idea where they were.

So I'm watching the Colbert Report Tuesday night, and I see a commercial for Red Robin. I got a little miffed. I've been haunted by Jack in the Box ads running on national cable, knowing the nearest JITB is about 400 miles away.

I figured the nearest Red Robin was further away, adding to my disappointment. So out of curiosity, I went to the Web site. Their locations are quite spread out, but apparently they have expanded. I still can't get to one easily, but that is because I don't have a car. But I may be able to find out this summer.

Unlike Jack in the Box, I have no history or background with Red Robin. Purely reputation is all I have. If you've tried a Red Robin burger, please weigh in on the comments section.

I feel like I'm chasing a ghost that I know nothing about.

Fried pickles??

I have considered myself an expert on Southern food, but I had not heard of fried pickles until I discovered it on a Food Network show "Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives."

The Penguin in Charlotte, NC serves up fried pickles. According to the show, the sliced pickles (they look like the sweet pickles slices you're used to) soak in buttermilk, and are then dredged in seasoned flour and deep-fried in oil for 3 minutes.

My new TV still lacks smellvision, but the idea sounds really good. They played a clip from a customer who hates pickles (who can hate pickles) but loves the deep-fried pickles.

Balancing deep-fried pickles can't be easy in a food program. But I confess if I were anywhere near Charlotte, NC, I would be driving to get some deep-fried pickles.

KFC, Taco Bell make the switch

This story carries its fair share of asterisks and clarifications. Not every product in these 2 establishments are free of trans fats. But things are now officially better at KFC and Taco Bell.

Starting with KFC, the chicken and potato wedges are free of trans fats, but not the biscuits, pot pies, macaroni and cheese, and some desserts. For Taco Bell, 23 items contain no trans fat, including the chicken and beef crunchy taco, grilled steak soft taco, chicken and steak Gordita Supreme, and the chicken and steak Chalupa Supreme.

This does not mean "eat tons of it." But it's nicer knowing that the occasional trip to these places is a little bit healthier. I hope the lead in this AP story is deliberately sarcastic, and that this isn't true: "KFC's fried chicken buckets soon will be stamped with a health message along with the famous likeness of its founder, Colonel Harland Sanders."

Health message!? Let's not forget the lessons of "fat-free" and "low-carb." But you can't be surprised if the message is forgotten. Unlike some of the other changes to our food quality, trans fats never added anything taste-wise and only brought negativity. Anything that raises bad cholesterol and LOWERS good cholesterol can't be useful.

Now we need more progress to come from our fast food restaurant chains and our grocery store shelves.