How Food Affects the Carbon Footprint

Women in a Publix grocery store: Tallahassee, ...

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Have you ever considered where your food comes from? Next time you visit the grocery store, look at the sticker on your apples. Did it travel thousands of miles to get to your store, or did it travel just a few hundred from the next state over. There has been a lot of discussion lately about wasted resources, carbon footprints, and as always rising costs. Some families are considering eating only food that is available locally in order to reduce the effects of long distance shipping as well as their personal costs.

If your community runs a farmer’s market, hit that up for the freshest vegetables you can get—next to growing your own that is. Talk with your friends or neighbors about the possibility of purchasing your meat and chicken from local farmers. The price per pound is often less that you would spend at the grocery store. If quantity is a concern, go in on the purchase with several families so that there will be no waste.

Another way that families are trying to reduce spent resources is by growing their own gardens and raising their own chickens. Seed packets are cheap, but gardens do take some time. Chickens are inexpensive, easy to take care of, and an average family only needs three to four hens for a perfect supply of eggs. Canning is also making a comeback, which eliminates waste from an overly abundant garden.

If you don’t have a farmers market and have no desire to raise chickens, at lease pay attention to the food labels. Find out where your food is coming from and buy seasonal produce from local sources whenever available. Even baby steps will start to make an impact if everyone works to reduce their carbon footprint and the grocery store is a great place to start.

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Varying Your Vegan Diet

Almond butter

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As a vegetarian, you have so many delicious meal options available to you. The number one way for you to ensure that your diet is keeping up with your nutritional needs is to vary the fruits and vegetables that you eat. Another way to gauge your nutritional intake is to take a close look at how you feel. If you are eating repetitive foods and feeling under the weather, it is time to ramp up your diet.

Fresh Picks in Every Color

Choose produce in various shades. When you grocery shop, you should plan to have at least six different colors of vegetables and fruits in your cart. A good example would be red peppers, eggplant, spinach, sweet potatoes, bananas, blueberries and other staples that you typically buy. The next week you should attempt to go for six other fruits and veggies in shades of red, orange, purple and blue in addition to deep green and yellow. The brighter the fruit or vegetable, the more vitamins and antioxidants it is prone to have. It is likely that you already buy organic produce, but if you don’t it’s time to start!

Keep the Protein Coming

If you don’t eat eggs or dairy products, you need to be sure that you are getting the appropriate amount of protein through other sources like almond butter, garbanzo beans, and lentils. According to the Vegetarian Resource Group, a vegan need only take in 10% of their daily calories in the form of protein. This is easy to do when you are regularly eating a variety of foods. Soy is also a good source of protein, though some people try to avoid soy due to a possible link with the activation of estrogen receptor cells. The study relating to this is ongoing and inconclusive, so as with everything, if you use soy products, be sure to do so in moderation.

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Vegan and Vegetarian—Who Eats What?

Food for Life distributes food on an internati...

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Vegetarians eat vegetables. Simple, right? No so much. There are different grades of vegetarians, if you will:

Pescatarians

Pescatarians simply eat no raw or cooked flesh or meat except for seafood or fish. This is sometimes due to diet restrictions, while other times it is simply a matter of personal choice. A diet of vegetables, fruits, whole foods and lean fish is heart-healthy and provides protein as well as omega acids from an animal source.

Vegetarians

Usually, a person will refer to himself as a vegetarian if he eats no animal flesh or meat what-so-ever, but he will consume eggs and dairy products. Another term commonly used is lacto-ovo-vegetarian. Protein sources come from eggs, cheese and additional dairy products as well as non-animal sources.

Vegans

Vegans eat no products derived from animals. They consume mainly vegetables and fruits as well as barley, oats, brown rice and other whole grains. Legumes are a primary source of protein for many vegans.

A person’s diet is a matter of choice. Everyone should take personal preferences as well as health concerns into mind when deciding what type of diet they should eat. In many cases, a physician’s advice should be sought as well. There has been past controversy about the health value of a vegan diet. In many instances, the controversy came up due to a lack of education. If a person is unaware of the proper balance that the body needs, their lack of information can result in improper diet choices leading to anemia, low-protein levels, or other bodily harm. Followed properly, a vegan diet can be just as healthy, if not more-so, than other meal plans.

No matter which foods a person eats, they can maintain their daily nutritional needs by varying their diet within the foods groups in which they eat. A wholly vegan diet is indefinitely healthier than one consisting of fast-food stops and fried dinners. Even if you choose not to stick to a vegan diet, eating fruits and veggies consistently will feed your body as well as your mind.

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Tired of Cooking? Renew Your Menu

A cook sautees onions and peppers.

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Cooking seems as if it often becomes a monotonous chore. Deciding which meal to serve on which night begins to seem like a chore. When cooking feels like a burden, it is time to mix things up a bit. As with many tasks, cooking the same things over and over puts you in a rut. There are a few things you can do to find your way out:

1)      Start by planning your meals for the next month. Try not to repeat any entrees within that period of time. Some dinner ideas to help you get started:

  • -Lasagna, Italian Beans, Garlic Toast Strips
  • -Greek Turkey Burgers with Feta and Black Olives, Cucumber Slice and Baby Carrots with Yogurt Dip
  • -Baked Tilapia, Steamed Broccoli with Lemon and Ginger, Boiled Baby Potatoes
  • -Sautéed Veggie Stir-Fry, Whole Grain Brown Rice, Pineapple and Strawberries
  • -Mini Cheeseburger Meatloaves, Sweet Potato Fries, Zucchini
  • -Mushroom and Spinach Ravioli, Garlic-Wine Sauce, Garbanzo Beans
  • -Steak Fajitas, Pinto Beans, Mexican Rice
  • -Crepes, Thick Cut Bacon, Mixed Fruit
  • -Bruschetta Chicken Breasts, Diced Potatoes with Garlic, Beet Soup (served cold)

2)      When you make meals that can be frozen, double the recipe. These frozen extras will come in very handy when your son’s soccer game runs late. Most frozen foods will keep very well if they are tightly wrapped in plastic and then placed in a freezer bag, or wrapped again in foil.

3)      Start a Sunday cooking club. Get together with a group of friends each week and make a new dish together. Everyone brings the main ingredients needed, along with their own carrying dish, while the hostess supplies the basics such as flour, seasonings, and other cupboard items. Everyone brainstorms new meal ideas while the food is cooking and then pitches in to clean up. Alternate houses so it’s never a burden to one person.

Cooking should be pleasurable, not something you dread. Keep the new meals coming and you will be back in the spirit of meal-making in no time!

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Out with the old and in with the New Food Pyramid

This 1992 food pyramid diagram can still be fo...

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Concerns over childhood obesity and unhealthy eating habits, prompted the US Department of Agriculture to revise the Food Pyramid first used in 1992. (above)

The history of the government’s involvement in our food intake started in 1916, when the USDA published the first dietary recommendations for healthy eating habits of children. The guidelines for parents to use when feeding their children featured five food groups, milk and meat, cereals, vegetables and fruits, fats and fatty foods, and sugars and sugary foods. One year later, they added quantities to the food groups they recommended for daily consumption, including adults.

During the depression, the USDA then put out guidelines for families based on four cost levels that would still meet their nutritional needs of the family. From the 1940′s to the 1970′s, the guidelines contained four major food groups, milk, meats, breads, and fruits & vegetables. They added the fifth group; fats, sugars, and alcohol, but advised people to consume this group on a restricted basis though.

In 1994, the USDA introduced the food pyramid with recommended servings, showing breads and cereals at the bottom level, followed by fruits and vegetables, meat and milk, and at the top fats, oils, and sweets with the words Use Sparingly, at the top of the pyramid. Researchers have since concluded that food groups on the pyramid should indicate maximum servings, such as the meat and milk group, while the fruits and vegetables group only represented the minimum.

The new food pyramid includes guidelines for exercising and for maintaining a healthy body weight. Simply put, the new food pyramid represents the mindset of using common sense when it comes to healthy eating, including the idea that moderation is always the key to good health.

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Hearty and Nutritious Cockle and Mussel Chowder

During Ireland’s potato famine, hearty, nutritious meals came out of soup kitchens. The cooks made soups from a variety of vegetables and small portions of meat. These items were inexpensive and easily available.

The history of soup kitchens in Ireland began with an effort to check starvation, but quickly turned into resentment when people found out the soups contained little or no meat at all. Years later, medical professionals helped to support the idea that a soup can indeed be a complete meal in and of itself.

The famous song Molly Malone, also called Cockles and Mussels, inspired one Irish soup, Cockle and Mussel Chowder. The song tells the tale of an apparent fictional woman, a fishmonger, who worked her trade on the streets of Dublin and died young, from a fever.

One of the most famous foods connected to Dublin is cockles and mussels. Cockle and Mussel Chowder consists of vegetables, fish stock, white wine, and potatoes, to produce a filling, nutritious meal.

Cockle and Mussel Chowder

Melt six tablespoons of butter in a large saucepan

Add 1/4 cup of all-purpose flour, blend well, and cook for 1-2 minutes

Gradually whisk in 6 and 1/2 cups of fish stock

Add:

1/2 of a finely chopped potato

Two stalks of chopped celery

Handful of freshly chopped parsley

1 teaspoon of freshly chopped parsley

1 teaspoon of freshly chopped dill

Cook for 8-10 minutes, until vegetables are tender, and season with sea salt and ground black pepper. Stir in heavy cream to right consistency and flavor. Cook an additional 2-3 minutes, adjusting the flavor by adding milk or wine to either dilute or solidify the broth.

Garnish with cooked cockles and mussels in shells.

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Plane Food at Heathrow Airport

Terminal 5 at London Heathrow Airport

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Renowned Scottish Chef Gordon Ramsay, a restaurateur, and one of the most colorful TV personalities, puts a new spin on airline food, with a restaurant located in Unit 29 at Heathrow Airport’s Terminal 5. Opening daily at 5:30 AM, Ramsay’s Plane Food Restaurant remains open until the last flight of the day, usually until 9:30 PM.

If you are taking a flight out of London, after passing through security you can sit down and enjoy anything from a quick breakfast, served until 12 noon, to a full course meal before your flight. If you prefer eating on the plane, without having to subject yourself to airline food, you can get your food to go with a Winter Picnic, packed in a small carry-on bag to enjoy during your flight.

From breakfast pastries to Antipasti of salami and buffalo mozzarella for starters and fruit salad with vanilla yoghurt or pear cheesecake tart with caramel for dessert, you can choose a main course consisting of smoked salmon, roasted rump of Hereford beef, or Cumbrian honey-roast and Parma ham with all the trimmings.

The Plane Food’s aerodynamic lines make it the ideal atmosphere for a sit-down meal, if you would rather eat before you board. The menu includes a wide variety of meat and fish options, including grass-fed steak dishes or pork cutlets. Indulge in your choice of red, white, or sweet wines. The wine menu also features Dom Pérignon and other champagnes.

If you are traveling with children, Plane Food also offers a children’s menu including macaroni and cheese, pan-fried fish and chips, or sausages with mashed potatoes.

Call or email Gordon Ramsay’s Plane Food to make a reservation:

T: 020 8897 4545

planefood@gordonramsay.com

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Purchasing Equipment for Your New Restaurant

When opening a new restaurant, you can be sure that you will need to invest in a lot of new restaurant supplies. The main things that people need are efficient and commercial grade refrigerators, fryers, sinks and faucets, dishwashers, mixers, griddles, skillets, kettles, ovens and ranges, slicers, and ice makers. Before you purchase these items, it would be valuable to do a little online comparison work to see which manufacturer has the best warranties and customer satisfaction ratings. By doing a little research now, you can save yourself from encountering problems later on.

The number of new restaurants in recent years has grown tremendously, and along with that there are a variety of specialty stores that provide restaurant supplies. There are some stores that supply a few very specialized products, such as pizza makers or ice machines. Other stores provide the whole range of equipment needed to run a restaurant. It makes more sense to work with one good vendor who carries the whole range of equipment you will need for your new restaurant. That way you save time on processing bills, ordering, and customer service.

One of the things to look for in a company that provides restaurant supplies is the number of years that the company has been in business. If it has been around a long time, you can trust that the company has a strong record of good customer service and ethics in the industry. Newer stores have not proven themselves yet, and you may be taking a risk with them. Another important thing to look for is how easy it is to place orders online or get customer service help quickly from the company.When starting a new business, it is also highly recommended that you keep a handy list of all your new equipment, the name of the manufacturers, and the customer service phone numbers so that you can call for repairs quickly when necessary.

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Easy snacks for special occasions

Bruschetta with olive oil and prosciutto

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There is a special occasion for almost anything. The occasion can be as small as a good grade on a report card to as large as a wedding. Any occasion can be special if you want it to be. There is a common thread that make these occasions even more extraordinary and that is the delectable snacks that are created and served to those gracious enough to celebrate the unique moment.

Creating edible treats for a special occasion does not have to be a tedious task. The occasion may run for only a few hours or it may be an all day event. Regardless of the time frame choosing snacks that are nutritious and delicious will make everyone happy.

Bountiful Bruschetta

The bruschetta is a simple snack. By combining chopped tomatoes and onions with a seasoned base of garlic, basil, salt and pepper along with a dash of vinegar (balsamic vinegar is tasty) the vegetable combination can be topped on slices of French bread. Once the toppings have been placed on the sliced bread melt a slice of provolone cheese to add additional flavor.

Delicious deviled eggs

This is a snack that never seems to go out of style. The hardest part of the process is boiling the eggs and separating the yolks. Extra ingredients that are needed include mayonnaise, mustard, vinegar and bacon bits. Simply crumble the yolks with a fork and add a tablespoon at a time of mayonnaise and mustard until the yolks have a creamy texture. Sprinkle a dash of vinegar to taste and add the bacon bits. Drop the yolk mixture by spoonfuls into halved egg whites. For a splash of color dust the tops of the filled eggs with paprika.

Perky punch

To quench the thirst of your visitors consider making a tasty drink that looks perfect in a punch bowl. Choose a clear soda and choice of punch (cherry, fruit or raspberry work well) and pick a sherbet flavor. Combine the soda and punch and before guests arrive add the sherbet. This is sure to please a parched palate.

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Variety of Great Dining Available in Raleigh, North Carolina

When it comes to eating out, everyone wants to have choices! Whether you currently live in one of the great Raleigh apartments in North Carolina or are just passing through for a little while, there are a variety of great restaurants to enjoy. Whatever you might be craving or desire, there are restaurants ready to serve you a delicious meal along with a smile. Raleigh offers everything from Italian eateries and Thai delicacies to all kinds of American fare as well as everything in between.

With so many restaurants in Raleigh to choose from, it can be hard to know where to go. Here are some tried and true local favorites to help you decide.

East Village Bar & Grill
For a relaxed and casual atmosphere toting the best burgers in Raleigh and other American fare, head to the East Village Bar & Grill. There you can opt for patio seating, as well as order from a full bar with many microbrew choices.

Brigs Great Beginnings
Another good American restaurant is family friendly Brigs Great Beginnings. It has the area’s best breakfast menu, from which you can order all day, as well as great sandwiches and meals for the little ones, too.

Capri Restaurant
Maybe you’re craving something more on the Italian side. If so, Capri Restaurant not only offers great Italian dishes (such as Caprese, Veal Piccata or even Stuffed Eggplant) at reasonable prices, but impressive service too.

Bella Monica
Bella Monica has delicious pizza, Italian favorites, and a variety of delicious specialty flatbreads.

Sawdee
If you want something a little more exotic, check out Sawadee on Capital Boulevard for some excellent Thai cuisine. Don’t let the restaurant’s exterior steer you away from the tasty stir fry recipes, mouth-watering curry or delightful noodle dishes available inside!

No matter what restaurant you choose in Raleigh, you are sure to enjoy something good to eat!

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