Wondering why a head of broccoli is more than a happy meal?

Ready to tear your hair out if one more person brings up the election? At ease, hair follicles, no political chatter here. If you're paying attention to the election or living under a rock, odds are you're fairly knowledgeable on where the two popular candidates stand, but what about their opinion on food?

I came across a pretty cool New York Times blog interviewing author Michael Pollan who says talking about the nation's food policies are just as important as any other hot topic.

One of Mr. Pollan’s concerns is that national policies subsidize the least healthful calories that we eat. He notes that the “building blocks” of fast food are soy and corn, used to make hydrogenated soy oil, the protein and starch in cattle and chicken feed, and high-fructose corn syrup used in sodas and sweets.

“That’s what we’ve been heavily subsidizing, encouraging farmers to grow more of, and that’s what makes fast food so cheap,” he said. “Meanwhile over in the produce section, the head of broccoli costs more than a fast-food hamburger. Why is that? We do very little to encourage farmers to grow what are called specialty crops, which is actual food you can eat. We need to level the playing field between the unhealthy and healthy calories.”

Any living, breathing, eating, grocery shopping American should take some time out to think about national food policies. The NYT blog is only a snippet of a 20 minute interview with Pollan. What do you think? Voice your opinions in comments or email me!

Play with your food, make your own!

Among the things I've been meaning to do (like get back to posting here!) is to share some of the info I've had laying around in the old inbox. I DO have a lot of good stuff; one of my recent favorites comes from Hungry Girl (thanks for sharing, mom!).

Besides all her great info were links to personalizing food! I got sucked into the make your own cereal site, which one are you salivating over?

Me and Goji- Make your own cereal! Add wheat, dried fruit, nuts and more; the site keeps track of your creation's nutritional values too. I'll never be able to look at Captain Crunch again after seeing all the possibilities!

YouBar- Growing tired of grabbing the same old granola bar when you're on the go? Make your own at YouBar! Same idea as Me and Goji, including keeping up with tracking nutritional values, but now in an easy to grab bar.

Love the create your owns? Hate the hassle and dig something already on the store shelves? Shoot me and email or comment with feedback!

LA to jump on board with calorie tattle tail

Sounds like folks on the west coast don't want to be passed up by skinny competition in the Big Apple.

In late July, I posted on the new law in New York forcing restaurants to come clean about their calories. Los Angeles is considering following suit with their proposed food fine.

The topic is still generating mixed reviews; let me down my donut in peace! although mostly from the restaurant owners themselves. Seems to me this is just the slap in the belly our fast pace society needs to get on board with healthy living.

As a college student, aka master-snacker, I can relate. Nothing erks me more than realizing I'm stuck on campus all day without a meal card. When you're hungry and on the go, you're at the mercy of whatever fast food chain or convenience store meets your grumbling stomach quicker.

If you're looking to keep in shape, you can forget about these options, as even the healthiest usually packs a mean gut growing punch. New York has the right idea forcing these shops to own up to the damage they're doing to our bodies. Once LA follows suit, we can only hope the same law finds its way to our own backyard breakfast bakeries.

Just as a note, love the last quote on the article I linked to above. California Restaurant Association spokes person Daniel Conway says to solve the problem, we need to teach people about basic nutrition. Kudos sir, and I agree until you hide 200 extra calories in a blueberry muffin which looks damn good next to the double chocolate chip scone. He finishes off by adding-

"We recognize our customers do want this information, but most of the customers don't want this information forced on them every time."

Mr. Conway has obviously never met a 30 year old woman still trying to loose an extra 5 pounds in the week before her wedding.

Post your calories, New York City!

Yummy pastry? 500 calories.

Would you want to know the damage you're about to do when you pick up breakfast from your favorite shop? New York City is enforcing a law requiring some restaurants to post calorie information on their menus.

Personally, I never thought this day would come. The higher ups at Starbucks and Dunken Donuts had to be real miffed about this whole thing. Really, it's about time. Obesity is a huge (no pun intended) issue in our society, and what are we doing about it?

Restaurants are slapping the term 'fat free' and 'low carb' around like it's a high five. Of course it's a high five, to themselves! We suck up gallons of diet pop, and trust these so loosely used phrases. Companies are not invested in selling Americans healthy products, they are invested in selling. Period. From companies that sell frozen dinners, to cigarettes, the goal is simple- lure the consumer to purchase, and purchase regularly.

When obesity numbers first rose, restaurants started to "show their dedication to the well being of their consumers" by posting nutritional information deep within their web sites. Sorry, but when you missed breakfast and need to pick up a bagel to go, are you really going to swing by the library to look up the nutritional info first? Inconvenient.

I even noticed Starbucks started to carry pamphlets with nutrition info. I admire their attempt to fool consumers, because the higher ups know as well as we do that no one is going to pause from their morning rush to scrutinize papers tucked in the corner of the store. Although again inconvenient for the consumer, think about how convenient it is for the companies to boast they care.

Thankfully the government is taking things into their own hands and requiring calorie posting, even in the same size and font at the food label itself. Thank you to The Weighting Game for first bringing this to my attention; I had to bring the topic to ASA. Here's what folk in the Big Apple think, what about you?

Help saying goodbye to dieting

When I first saw the new ad campaign for Weight Watchers, I was taken back. After all, I have always thought of the Weight Watchers program, which requires participants to take part in a particular practice of eating, managing and controlling intake, as dieting.

a: food and drink regularly provided or consumed b: habitual nourishment c: the kind and amount of food prescribed for a person or animal for a special reason d: a regimen of eating and drinking sparingly so as to reduce one's weight diet>

- Merriam-Webber Dictionary

And while I value the attempt made by Weight Watchers to offer less restriction, more choices, and a stray from the idea of providing food, there are still restraints and a nutrition program to follow. I've never been a fan of dieting. I've always enjoyed food too much to think of restricting my intake.

However, I was taught early on through demonstration, that an understanding of nutrition beats out trying to force yourself upon parameters set by someone else. Learning the basics of nutrition, starting with daily recommended intake in each food group to understanding reading a food label, you can manage your own diet. Because, honestly, why should someone who you've never met?

Women's Fitness.net had a few great top 10 features on managing a healthy diet without dieting. In their article, top 10 reasons to say goodbye to dieting, WF.net covers everything from learning how to manage fiber intake, low fat and lean meat, to managing portion sizes and eating with all your senses. This top 10 is a great start for those on their own trying trying to get a basic approach to managing nutrition. Top 10 ways to eat healthy is also a great starting point for nutrition knowledge.

WF.net's top 10 myths and facts on food is another great place to start. Most of the myths debunked in this article are ones I've heard over and over again, some even boasted by diet plans. Myths about protein diets, fat vs. low carb foods, and carbohydrates as weight gainers are all explained. Knowing some truth behind these myths is a great way to start your own diet plan, if not a good starting point for what to look for when joining a diet.

The top 10 best snack foods starts out with a great section on the benefits of snacking all together. Besides that, the article has 10 great tips on healthy snacks which may spark up some ideas for your own between meal plans. If you're looking to enrich your diet with some heart healthy, the top 10 most functional foods will help give you some ideas. Tomatoes and tea can help protect against certain cancers, while cranberry juice and yogurt will be beneficial to your urinary and gastrointestinal track.

Understanding the helping effects of food will put you at power with creating dinners and feeling comfortable in the kitchen. For more WF.net nutrition help, check the top 10 ways to change your eating behavior, and for those interested in finding a diet that works for them, the top 10 ways to avoid dieting mistakes.

Health Find- Focus on Fiber

Fiber is a little aspect of our diets that constantly gets ignored. Without monitoring your diet, it's easy to fall short in this department. However, the benefits of keeping up with fiber are great.

The American Heart Association says fiber helps keep your digestive system in line while lowering cholesterol (soluble) and also removes waste in colon and prevents cancer (insoluble).

The Institute of Medicine recommends 14 grams for every 1,000 calories you intake. (Depending on your level of activity, women need on average about 2,000 calories/day.)

Soluble VS. Insoluble Fiber
Both types are indigestible, meaning not absorbed into your bloodstream. Soluble fiber forms a gel in our bodies while insoluble remains largely intact. Soluble fibers include nuts, barley, fruits, vegetables, and oats.

Insoluble fiber is found in dark green leafy vegetables, fruit skins, seeds, and whole wheat/whole oat products.

Because most of us are missing out on fiber in our diets in general, it is not specifically important to be picky about the type of fiber you intake. In fact, most foods high in fiber contain a mix of soluble and insoluble anyway.

Try adding fiber to your diet by making conscious choices at the grocery store. Check the labels of your favorite foods, make changes where necessary. Many cereals on the market boast high fiber on their boxes. Snacking on some can help you meet your requirements for the day.

Warning- excessive intake of fiber could leave you stuck in the bathroom for awhile. When adding fiber in your diet, do so slowly and cautiously!

Fiber Tip Links- Fiber 101 American Heart Association-Fiber

Red Wine vs. Grape Juice

Whining about keeping up with the suggested glass a day? Replacing your red wine with grape juice may actually be better for you. Research has found that the health benefiting aspects of red wine are found in grape juice as well.

Additionally, the recommended portion of red wine/grape juice intake is about 12 oz a day, making grape juice a better choice than wine. Doctors have found that grape juice helps the blood from clotting, as does wine; however the amount necessary to prevent clotting would make someone legally intoxicated.

Grape juice has also been proven to linger in the body longer than wine, creating longer lasting effects. Make sure you’re drinking a good dark purple juice, and nothing something loaded up with sugar, and you’ll find the same great advantages as wine lovers and be able to drive home.

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There's nothing quite like getting sympathy gift baskets on your special day. Corporate gift baskets can come in all sizes and shapes depending on what type of gift basket you want to give. Some of the popular kinds of gift baskets include gift baskets for men, wine gift baskets and Tex-Mex gift baskets.

Summer Treat- Fresh Fruit

The summer may be winding down, but your summer treats don’t need to be! Make the best of all your favorite fruits while they’re fresh. Introducing yourself and loved ones to fruit in its prime season encourages healthy habits to continue through the cooler months.

Cut berries in half and drop them in your ice cube tray for a surprise in your next glass of water. Freeze your own healthy popsicles or fruit slurpies with a combination of squished fruit and lemonade.

Jazz up your breakfast by throwing fruit into oatmeal or cereal. Create a festive lunch by topping your salad with pears, strawberries, dried cranberries, cherries, or apple slices.

Don’t forget about your fruit at dinner! Grilling sliced apples, plums, or pineapple brings out their rich flavors (plus makes a damn good dessert when topped with ice cream).

Frozen fruit can go to delicious fruit crisp in a minute. Experiment with different fruits, mix pears, apples, peaches or apricots with a bit of sugar. Top them with a mixture of oats, brown sugar, flour, and cinnamon, combined with enough butter until it’s crumbly. Bake at 375 for about 30 minutes.

Keeping a bowl of bite sized fruit around in your fridge is great for quick snacking, encourage family members by example, that reaching for fruit instead of snack foods can be much more refreshing. What are your favorite fruit recipes? How were you encouraged to eat fruit growing up?

Dark Vs. Light Greens

What's in a green? Salad may be all the same to some, but being mindful of the color of your greens may pay off.

Paler vegetables generally contain fewer vitamins than darker, and tend to be less flavorful. The lighter the leaf, the more water it contains. Who wants a salad full of crunchy h2o? Picking vegetables darker in color instantly boosts your vitamin intake, including dietary fiber, folic acid, and vitamin A. Vitamin A keeps your vision clear (specifically bright colors appearing bright) and helps bone growth. Darker greens like spinach also help up your metabolism and support energy.

Mixing leafs can also change the taste of your simple Caesar salad. Arugula and watercress can add a peppery bite, and Radicchio can taste bitter. For those light lovers unsure of turning a darker leaf, consider mixing light with dark. Most grocery stores have a wide selection of pre-packaged greens. Spring mixes usually contain a good mix of several darker leafs, none of which are too strong tasting.

Easy changes or mixing vitamin rich foods with an old favorite is a simple way to a healthier lifestyle. What kind of changes have you made in your life to encourage a better well being? What’s a weakness, or a food habit you’ve had a difficult time overcoming?