For full disclosure — I’m just going to say, right off the bat, I kinda love Michael Pollan. He is living the English major’s dream of writing literary journalism, getting street cred with the scientists and still using his literary wand to craft his argument. (My fascination only grows having seen him mentioned in the Acknowledgements of my ecocriticism course’s text book…)

[photo cred]

Michael Pollan shared some of his “Food Rules,” from his recently released book, Food Rules: An Eater’s Manual and gave insight into his own diet (mostly plants, some grass-fed organic beef).  The NY Times featured a piece on his Food Rules a few months ago (I wrote about it here), too.

Pollan’s rules are meant to be guidelines for day-to-day living and as something to stay conscious of, particularly when shopping at the grocery market (and whenever you are considering your food choices). You may ask why we need food “rules” when eating is one of the most basic human instincts.  The answer is difficult to swallow (pardon my pun). Because food has become highly political and embedded in corporate interests and because food has become highly profitable, marketed and advertised — and even manufactured to be addictive — we’ve lost touch with our inner instincts. I could cry a river, but I’ll just shut up tell you that Pollan’s new book is currently only $5.00 NEW from Amazon.com here! For a limited time, Food, Inc. (the documentary Pollan participated in and that I wrote about here) is $9.99 on Amazon.com here. I think the sale price ends tomorrow night at midnight.  Here are some insights into Pollan’s rules and research:

• Eat all the junk food you want as long as you cook it yourself (Food Rule #39) – It actually takes a lot of effort to cook junk food from scratch. If you put in the time and effort, you can go ahead and enjoy it. (I don’t think poor Michael understands that my cranky tummy has no bounds and neither does my ambition, so if I truly believed I could cook and eat as much “junk food” without consequence, I surely would. But these hips don’t lie. They surely don’t!)
• Cooking is key. Pollan thinks cooking is key since it’s the only way you can take back power from the corporations (and restaurants) that use much more fat, salt and sugar than you would use yourself. Kitchen-phobic? Check out my ”get in the kitchen” motivation here.
• We need a food revolution. As a result of federal agricultural subsidies, crops such as corn, soy and wheat are made cheaper to the consumer (and ever notice how soy is in EVERYTHING now?). The government doesn’t, however, subsidize fresh produce.  Says Pollan, “we’ve made it rational to eat badly.” Because it truly is cheaper at the onset to eat a burger than to buy all the fixins to make a salad, we can rationalize eating poorly (I hear you if you think it’s like ya gotta choose to eat poorly or be poor).
• We all vote with our forks. Each item you eat, every meal, every morsel that goes into your body, is a choice that tells Big Brother and Agribusinesses what you want and what they should continue to produce for profit. I get it if you’re broke (holla!), but splurge a little less here and there on your Seven jeans and buy more organic foods, more foods from farmer’s markets and more fresh produce.
• If you’re going to eat meat, eat meat that has itself eaten well. Cows were meant to eat grass, not corn. Eat grass-fed meat.
• Getting out of the supermarket is key. Shopping at a supermarket is like walking through a maze of bad choices. At a few corners you might find something worthwhile, but most of the time you just end up lost, dazed and confused. Try venturing out to health food stores, farmer’s markets and even checking out food co-ops in your area.
• The average American eats fast food 4 times a week. While that number sucks, I thought it was worse (I’ve known people who eat out EVERY day…). Even cutting out one fast food meal a week will make a difference to your health and to “rockin’ the food vote” in the right direction.

Oprah also featured Steve Ells, founder of Chipotle. I had no idea that Chipotle was so revolutionary. I guess because I rarely eat out, I had my head in a pretentious, closed-off cloud. Apparently they use mostly organic and fresh ingredients (only the corn is from a can or frozen). And while I applaud Chipotle, I am always still wary of fast food places. From the little research I did online, I found that McDonalds first invested in Chipotle. Not that that really means anything (except that the circle of fast food always goes back to a damn clown).

Alicia Silverstone joined later via Skype and showed the audience some of the foods she purchases at Whole Foods, including a Rice Dreams mud pie ice cream that seemed to make her weak in the knees. You can check out her shopping list here.

Seen Food Inc.? Read any of Pollan’s books? Saw the Oprah show? Have anything you want to get off your chest? (I’m all eyes…)

<3,

The Cranky One

And let the Holiday Bake Fest begin…

[Source]

You also know it’s holiday season when the baking bug bites even the most anti-domestic-goddesses you’ve met — you know, the people who usually scoff at cooking or who believe the kitchen is just the room with the microwave — and they’re all of a sudden breaking out the Betty Crocker mixes and bringing in their warped, yet delicious, concoctions to the office or to your doorstep. I guess this is a good time to remind you that no one out there is really going to de-friend you if you don’t partake in their baked goods.  If you’re really not feeling like you want to splurge on a cookie that even Frankenstein couldn’t love, in the words of the anti-drug slogan, just say no.   If I’m really not feeling trying some one’s baked goods, I don’t mind using a little white lie. What, did you think I was better than lying?!  Fools!  I’ve been known to say, sweetly of course, “oh that is so sweet of you and while those look AMAZING (*emphasize how amazing the goods look*), I’ve had my fill today and couldn’t possibly have more.”  Just make sure this person doesn’t see you scoffing down a cupcake or two later that day, but you get what I’m saying.  Do what you gotta do.

Of course, if someone brings in baked goods with a health slant, by all means, I’ll break out my fork faster than the judges on Top Chef!

So, even if the holiday season is like a grab bag of mixed emotions for you (it is for me anyway…), it’s always a choice whether to victimize or empower ourselves.

Perhaps the one thing I have to remember is that the holidays are more about giving than gaining (scale-wise, or metaphorically speaking, right?   I am going to begin compiling some of the coolest health-related gift options out there that are budget-friendly and sharing with you here.

One of the items I’m most excited to put on my list to give to others is the Hungry Girl Chew the Right Thing: Supreme Makeovers for 50 Foods You Crave recipe cards book to be released December 8, though available for pre-sale on Amazon.com for $11.55.

I think one of the most empowering things I’ve learned on my health journey is that if I don an apron and whisk, I can make (and eat!) my favorite foods while still staying true to my health goals and I want my friends who are hesitant to make their own foods to give it a try!  Hungry Girl recipes are perfect for that purpose!

I am also looking forward to trying more recipes from Alicia Silverstone’s The Kind Diet

and seeing how I can make some of the dessert options friendlier towards my personal goals.

Must See of the Day

• Jezebel’s, “‘If You Want To Be Popular, You Can’t Afford To Be Skinny’” (11/9/09) here — Check out this vintage ad and remember that how we perceive weight and beauty has always been a social construct!

Give-Away Round Up

• Win $35 towards an appliance at cookware.com here

How were your weekends?!  Nothing too eventful going on in Cranky Land — trying to get over my cold in time for my birthday trip to Disneyland this Wednesday — fingers crossed — and trying to wrap up on homework stuff as per usual.  What’s on your holiday list this year?

<3,

The Cranky One

Hey guys!

I was thrilled that amongst the usual nonsense of Health Magazine’s November issue (ya know — the how to lose 5 pounds in 5 minutes and how to have great sex even when dead crap), there was a one-page article on Alicia Silverstone’s October book release, The Kind Diet: A Simple Guide to Feeling Great, Losing Weight, and Saving the Planet.  Even though I cringe at the title, I had been excited to try a recipe from this book ever since Lindsay of Happy Herbivore posted on the book here.  Also, I just generally have a soft-spot for Alicia as she seems filled with that idealism I lost when I went over to the cranky side (plus – not gonna lie – Clueless is one of my all-time favorite movies, don’t judge!).  So, I tried the recipe for CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER CUPS *swoon* below and I’ll tell you what I thought…

Alicia’s Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup Earth Balance natural spread (dairy free butter) — 640 calories, 72 g fat, 0 g fiber, 0 g protein
• 3/4 cup crunchy peanut butter (preferably natural, unsweetened, and unsalted) -*I used Kirkland Brand Organic Peanut Butter, Smooth* — 1200 calories, 90 g fat, 12 g fiber, 54 g protein
• 3/4 c graham cracker crumbs or 10 graham cracker squares, crushed -*I used 5 Trader Joe’s Old Fashioned Cinnamon Grahams (NOT vegan b/c they have honey) — 240 calories, 8 g fat, 2 g fiber, 4 g protein Note: these MAY have honey in them!
• 1/4 cup maple sugar or other granulated sweetener -*I used Trader Joe’s Organic Turbinado Raw Cane Sugar* — 60 calories, 0 g fat, 0 g fiber, 0 g protein
• 1 c grain-sweetened nondairy chocolate chip or carob chips-*I used Trader Joe’s Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips* — 1280 calories, 64 g fat, 16 g fiber, 16 g protein
• 1/4 c soy, rice or nut milk-*I used Blue Diamond Natural Almond Breeze, Unsweetened Vanilla* — 10 calories, 0.75 g fat, 0.5 g fiber, 0.25 g protein
• 1/4 c chopped pecans, almonds, or peanuts-*I used Kirkland brand Pecans* — 200 calories, 20 g fat, 2 g fiber, 3 g protein

Directions

• Line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners. (Find out where to find unbleached liners at ifyoucare.com). Set the tin aside.
• Melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Stir in the peanut butter, graham cracker crumbs, and maple sugar; mix well. Remove the mixture from the heat.  Divide mixture evenly (about two tablespoons per cup) among the muffin cups.
• Combine the chocolate and milk in another pan. Stir over medium heat until the chocolate has melted.  Spoon the chocolate evenly over the peanut butter mixture. Top with chopped nuts. Place in the refrigerator to set for at least 2 hours before serving.
• Total Nutritional Composition:  3630 calories, 254.75 g fat, 32.50 g fiber, 77.25 g protein
  
• Per 1/12: 302.50 calories, 21.23 g fat, 2.71 g fiber, 6.44 g protein

The Cranky One Cautions

I thought these peanut butter cups tasted delicious — like amazingly delicious because the graham cracker crunch mixes with the peanut butter smoothness and is then heightened by the chocolate topping and *oh-em-gee-i’m-drooling* factor; however, I will not make them again unless I severely alter the recipe. This recipe is a prime example of how the “vegan” or “vegetarian” label do not give you a free-for-all pass to gorge on the food.  One dessert portion packing over 302 calories and 21 grams of fat is a little crazy in my book unless it’s a slice of cheesecake the size of my head.  While these treats certainly are good, I would be much happier portioning them out to half their size and altering the recipe so it’s not so saturated with fat.  Seriously, if you eat two of them that’s 605 calories and 42.46 grams of fat — that’s close in calories to, and yet MORE fat than, a McDonald’s Quarter Pounder and small French Fries (641 calories & 30.5 g fat for the McDonald’s combo) — granted, eating saturated meat fat is presumably worse for your health and the environment at large, but…seriously…

Suggested Alterations

• Use half a cup of Better ‘N Peanut Butter and a quarter of regular peanut butter and you’d cut a total of 400 calories and 52 g of fat! that’s better ‘n nuts! Note: Better ‘N Peanut Butter is NOT vegan.
• Use Carob Chips instead of Chocolate Chips — Based on the Sunspire brand of Carob Chips, you’d cut a total of 36 g of fat from the recipe and 720 calories! that’s insane!
• Try using crumbs of Puffin Cereal on top of the cups instead of nuts if you’re watching calories — Puffins are still vegan!
• Eliminate half the Earth’s Balance!  I think the spread might have been unnecessary for the taste, but perhaps necessary to create the consistency?  As it was, there was an oily residue coming out of each cup wrapper as there was definitely enough oil in the p.b. alone. I’d try substituting apple sauce or pureed banana for the spread if you’re vegan.  If not, I bet non-fat plain yogurt would be great.  Maybe even almond or soy milk!
• Pour into TWO 12-cup muffin tins!

My Fave Peanut Butter Dessert Alternatives

• Trader Joe’s Peanut Butter Chewy Coated & Drizzled Granola Bars
• One bar — 160 calories, 8 g fat, 1 g fiber, 4 g protein; Ingredients: organic peanuts, organic brown rice syrup, peanut coating (sugar, fractionated palm kernel oil, partially defatted peanut flour, salt, soy lecithin [an emulsifier], cocoa powder, whey powder [milk], vegetable monoglycerides, natural flavors, paprika extract [color]), organic oats, crisp rice (rice flour, sugar, salt, barley malt), organic invert cane juice syrup, organic evaporated cane juice, organic peanut butter (organic peanuts, salt), organic oat syrup solids, wheat flakes (rolled wheat, sugar, salt, barley malt), organic expeller pressed canola oil, sea salt, natural flavor, soy lecithin (an emulsifier), tocopherols (vitamin E) and ascorbic acid (vitamin C) added for freshness. Note: Not vegan.

• Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Cookies found here
  
• One cookie — 61.98 calories, 3.75 g fat, 0.43 g fiber, 2.0 g protein; Not vegan.
  

In the News

• The New York Times‘, “A Few Cookies a Day to Keep the Pounds Away? ” (10/21/09) here
• Science Daily’s, “Phytochemicals In Plant-based Foods Could Help Battle Obesity, Disease” (10/21/09) here

Give-Away Round Up

• Win a shirt and scarf from Fluxus Brand Clothing here
• Win some Michael Season’s baked chips here
• Win three boxes of FiberOne muffins here
• Win some Nature Made vitamins here

What’s your favorite vegan treat? Peanut butter treat? Interested in Alicia’s book? What do you think about the nutritional composition of Alicia’s Peanut Butter Cups?

<3, The Cranky One