Thursday, August 29, 2013

Are you making your kids fat?

Recently a company in Canada partnered with Ontario's Ministry of Health to help parents of children 12 and under deal with obesity.
This program is very different as it focuses on the parents NOT the children. (The children, however, will have small group sessions with clinical social workers, and will be focused on issues such as depression, anxiety, bullying, self-esteem, anger management and body image.)

This program really shouldn't be too surprising as it's the parents who make those kids' lifestyle choices for them, and it's the parents who provide the role modeling the kids carry with them the rest of their lives as these kids are less than 12 years old!

What is surprising is that most of the parents tried to direct the responsibility for sensible, healthy eating onto their kids. Are they really old enough?
It's not that these parents don't adore their children. It's that we as a society have bought in - hook, line and sinker - to the notion that obesity is a simple personal choice.

One young mother who was interviewed seemed somewhat confused by the notion that personally managing weight was beyond the reach of her pre-teen, still Barbie doll playing daughter! Unbelievable:(

 Kids today are just normal kids living in a world where there's a torrent of calories directed at them every day; where governments dupe consumers by lax front of package labeling laws that allow brightly colored breakfast cereals to boast about its nutritional benefits; where schools serve no-name junk food and teach kids that if a chip is baked, it's suddenly good for them; where young parents may be two generations away from regular home cooking and nightly family dinners; and where what were once portions designed for fully grown adults now featured on kids' menus. And that is just the start!!!!

Parents should stop the finger wagging and teach by example not lecture. Take some exercise, start COOKING at home. Then, as a family you will become healthier for now, and for the future.


Thursday, August 15, 2013

Happy Birthday Julia Child!

Today would have been Julia Childs'  birthday - she would have been 101!

The American chef is known for bringing French cuisine to America in a way that was simple enough to understand.  Her book 'Mastering The Art of French Cooking' became a best seller and has since become a standard guide for the culinary community.
Following the success of her book, a TV series - The French Chef - followed, and continued to educate the American public, and change how they related to food.

The success of the TV series and Childs exuberant personality made her a celebrity!

She had many famously quoted quotes - these are just some of my favorites!


The only time to eat diet food is while you're waiting for the steak to cook.”

I was 32 when I started cooking; up until then, I just ate.”  

The only real stumbling block is fear of failure. In cooking you've got to have a what-the-hell attitude.”

If you're afraid of butter, use cream.”

"It's so beautifully arranged on the plate - you know someone's fingers have been all over it.”