Balance of Food

Podcast: Why being poor leads us to poor eating choices

This week's podcast deals with why being poor leads us to poor eating choices.

To access the podcasts, check them out in the podcast library.

Podcast 091010

Sierra Mist to get out of high-fructose corn syrup business

Can't say I have too much experience with Sierra Mist. I used to have more fun with the old old 7Up and Canfield's 50/50, but even when I do drink soft drinks, I haven't touched a lemon-lime drink in a long time.

This might soon change as Sierra Mist becomes Sierra Mist "Natural." The PepsiCo product will be made with sugar and not high-fructose corn syrup.

I know I have tried Sierra Mist but found it sufficiently bland that I don't remember the taste. But if I happen upon the new model, I might give it a try.

I am of the generation that was given soda for an upset stomach. In my house, that soda was 7UP. The newest 7UP will apparently undergo another change, at least the second so far. Going back to its original formula — sugar included — could sway those of us that grew up on the product.

But congratulations are in order to Pepsi and Sierra Mist for starting what hopes to be a revolution away from high-fructose corn syrup among national brands. What would bring this truly forward is if the signature brands themselves made the switch back to sugar — yes, we're talking Coca-Cola and Pepsi.

Deep-fried butter: a little is all you need

So where did you spend your Labor Day vacation? If it involved deep-fried butter, I have a pretty good idea where you went.

Assuming your vacation didn't involve the deep-fried butter, don't worry: I took one for the team.

The deep-fried butter was on the midway of the Canadian National Exhibition in Toronto in the over two weeks leading up to Labor Day (or in Canada, Labour Day).

The butter is dipped in batter to make it better. Then, the battered concoction is placed in the hot oil, which you can see if you stand there and pay attention. The anticipation for the deep-fried butter, plus the long line in which you stand, plus maybe I should have had dinner before my treat all added up.

For $5 Canadian, you get four balls of battered butter. Sauces are drizzled on top: vanilla, caramel, chocolate, and raspberry. For mine, I chose chocolate and raspberry. As if you aren't getting enough sugar already.

You don't even taste the sauces at that point. And even in the first bite, you get more batter than butter. But once you hit butter, it gets better.

The butter is warm, a bit salty, and makes you change the contours of your face in enjoyment.

When you tell people that you tried deep-fried butter, they get that puzzled look on their faces. Mostly, they try to imagine how you deep-fry butter.

Getting that warm, salty butter taste — what you ultimately get in the treat — should be done more easily and with fewer calories. After all, the batter is more deep-fried than the butter.

Heating the butter gets you close to that mark. Instead of pouring butter on the item, dipping the item in butter might mean using less butter. And that is better for all of us.

But if you get a chance to try deep-fried butter, go for it. But share it with your friends, because a little taste is all you need.

End of summer, yes, but not end of eating nature's bounty

We get so few holidays, so little time to reflect. And Labor Day is one of the more reflective holidays, since we see it as the end of summer, the last chance to do nice things before the weather cools off.

But don't jump into leaf-raking mode yet. September still offers wonderful opportunities to enjoy the great taste of what nature has to offer.

My neighborhood is fortunate to have a late-afternoon farmers market on Wednesdays. For those in the neighborhood with jobs, the market offers a chance to unwind and still pick from a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, and more.

True, as of today, the market only goes until 7 pm instead of 8 pm, but that leaves enough time to pick up some great local fresh food.

The nights might seem too brisk to light up the grill, but think of the grill as an outdoor fireplace. All those summer nights of having the grill feel too hot — now it's the right amount of hot.

If you threw some of the summer bounty in the freezer, take some of it out now and enjoy a bit of it. Save the rest for when you'll really need it. Like when it's really cold. That will come sooner than you think, so enjoy this time while it's here.

Taking Labor Day vacation

This week, there is no podcast. It's been a slow week, as it should be, one of the few times of the year where doing nothing feels right.

Do hit a farmers market, especially if you are traveling this weekend. Eat outside. Enjoy this weather, even if some areas are getting an unusual cold snap. Of course, this may not apply to hurricane-affected areas.

Feel free to enjoy the previous podcasts located on the right side of the blog. And if you are looking for something else to do, click on "Subscribe to this blog's feed" to get updates as they come.

Enjoy the Labor Day weekend.

Glenn Beck thinks government wants to control his diet; Beck should learn what government has already done

"I do not want the government controlling my diet" — Glenn Beck

If the government were literally controlling our diet, the government would be doing a lousy job.

In re-watching the Jon Stewart segment on Glenn Beck's MLK parody, I came across the above quote. Beck, along with Basil Marceaux, believe things about government control and food that sounds scary, but simply aren't true.

Beck and his followers, who haven't traditionally been on the side of improving food safety, should know a few things about government and our diet.

While the government doesn't control our diet, it has controlled what goes into our diet. Corn and soybean subsidies influence our diet. Keeping sugar prices artificially high influences our diet. School lunch standards and what food gets sold on school property paid for with our tax dollars influences our diet.

Beck has seemed interested in fighting the government trying to fix these problems, but not on the government influence that has led to problems.

If Glenn Beck had said 35 years ago — "I do not want the government controlling my diet" — he might have been in step with progressives and liberals who wouldn't have wanted the changes we have had for the last 30-35 years.

This isn't to say that Beck and his followers are champions of high-fructose corn syrup, or that they cheer ever-increasing obesity levels. They may not see it as important as others in the battle, but unless they have some financial tie-in, they aren't rooting for high-fructose corn syrup.

Theoretically, if corporations were to voluntarily do a better job of growing food, making beef, spinach, tomatoes, and eggs more safe as they hit your grocery store shelves, Beck and his followers wouldn't object to this.

They would object if the government stepped in, even apparently with overdue inspections of major egg farms.

This isn't to say government is all-knowing and benevolent. Government action and inaction is part of why we are in the current mess.

One of Beck's 12 values is Personal Responsibility. Beck and his followers should address those corporations that don't take Personal Responsibility on food safety.

And Beck should pay attention to his first value: Honesty. Beck can't hide behind ignorance when he goes on the air and implies that the government wants to control his diet. Scaring people with deception isn't anyone's definition of honesty. And even if you give Beck the benefit of the doubt, he should be fighting what the government has done, and agreeing with efforts to change that.

Food safety and food quality are issues that shouldn't be polarized based on political leanings or parties — red and blue states people can agree on a lot. Glenn Beck should bring two things to the table that are currently missing: honesty and solutions for what he/his followers want to do to improve food safety.

The Daily Show segment airs in a repeat tonight at 11 pm Eastern on Comedy Central and is available on the Web.

Glenn Beck's 12 values, as listed below:

Honesty, Reverence, Hope, Thrift, Humility, Charity, Sincerity, Moderation, Hard Work, Courage, Personal Responsibility, Friendship