“Nutrition reform” is still a trending topic, as the USDA issued its new Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2010 a few weeks ago and as school districts continue to adapt to the new school nutrition legislation passed last session. Here are some (relatively) recent links on the topic that I think are worth your time.
Mark Bittman on “Is ‘Eat Real Food’ Unthinkable?” (New York Times Opinionator):
“In its attempts to upset no one powerful, the U.S.D.A. offers a typically contorted message. The advice people need is to cook and eat more real food, at the expense of the junk served in most restaurants and take-out places.
…Wal-Mart – whose alliance with Michelle Obama looks pretty good, at least at first. We are promised more affordable produce, which undoubtedly means that Wal-Mart will beat the living daylights out of produce suppliers, crushing a few thousand more small farmers.
…The truly healthy alternative to that chip is not a fake chip; it’s a carrot. Likewise, the alternative to sausage is not vegan sausage; it’s less sausage.”
The War on Pizza (New York Magazine Intelligencer):
“Whether the USDA did so knowingly or not, the power of placing pizza in the crosshairs is that it speaks to everyone-from the guy in the La-Z-Boy downing a large Papa John’s while watching Mike & Molly to the folks who don’t ever touch soda or chips but will happily indulge in a pie with housemade meatballs and soppressata, paired with a quartino of a nice Barbarossa. What the government surely does realize is that the range of Americans who need that talking-to can also be demonstrated more simply, with hard numbers. About two thirds of adults are overweight or obese. Seventy-five percent are at risk of high blood pressure. Only 26 percent of adults eat vegetables three or more times a day, far short of existing national targets.”
- Still from Season 1 of Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution which took place in West Virginia. (Courtesy of ABC)
Jamie Oliver on Being Banned from the L.A. Unified School District (KCRW’s Good Food):
Host and L.A. chef Evan Kleiman interviews Jamie Oliver about the L.A. Unified School District’s new ban on reality shows filming in schools. This is just as he begins filming the second season of his Food Revolution show. (Start player at 16:39)
“[Regarding] diet related disease…we should be in red alert!”
Kleiman also talks with L.A. Unified School District spokesman Richard Alaniz:
“Jamie, if you really want to make a difference… why don’t you come into the district, without your cameras, bring your talent, bring your knowledge, bring your passion. Work with our menu committee, work with our chefs…and help us find a better way to do what we’re doing?”
What New Yorkers Think About Legislating Nutrition (KCRW’s Good Food):
Folks around New York City tell what they think about Mayor Bloomberg’s efforts to prohibit soda purchases by food stamp users. (Start listening at 8:00)
