So many diet books, and so many of them claiming that they are not really diet books. Gene Eating by Giles Yeo is not just an ordinary diet book that claims it is not one. It provides insight into why eating and diets are as much about our genes as they are about the food that we eat. Along the way Yeo debunks much about … Continue reading Gene Eating: The science of obesity and the truth about diets

If you have not already guessed, I am a voracious reader. I generally have four books going at a time, and only one of those four is about food. During the past year or so I have had the opportunity to read some interesting books on food that I have not reviewed on this site. Here are a few minreviews that might be of interest … Continue reading Assorted books for your reading pleasure

At my house, half loaves of bread are almost always thrown out because they begin molding before we can finish them. Between the two of us, we simply don’t eat bread quickly enough. It is a strange paradox that exists in the United States: smaller loaves of bread are often more expensive per serving than larger loaves. Yet, we all want to save money, so … Continue reading Plastic versus Food Waste – Which is worse? by Susan Chen

It is only a plastics world, enclosing an earthy planet. Or at least the indispensable food and objects of its inhabitants’ diligence: aircraft, satellites, legs, boats and ships, land vehicles, medicines, water and on and on.  For millennia, we biological creatures derived air, food and water from natural sources – and consequently attained short and tortuous lives. Until the revolution: agriculture which is natural but … Continue reading Plastic Food Packaging is the Answer – So What is the Question? by Aaron L. Brody

In June of this year Canada proposed and has since passed a ban on single use plastics. Consumers recognize these types of products as straws, plastic bags, take out utensils and containers, cups and even cigarette butts. The ban, however, will not affect sterile medical and research supplies (disposable pipettes, PCR plates, etc.) The ban could go into effect as early as 2021, and is … Continue reading Single Use Plastics by Katherine Witrick

Preconceptions are strange concepts in that they are usually wrong! Plastic packaging has become a hot-button issue. Cities and whole countries are banning single-use plastics. My city banned plastic straws which was rescinded when the state made it illegal to ban them. It seems to me that plastic cutlery poses a bigger threat than plastic straws, but apparently I just don’t understand. My first response … Continue reading Can Americans live in a world without plastic?

It was not something we really wanted to put ourselves through, but our kitchen was small and cramped. There were two drawers missing doors. Besides, the carpeting in the living room and bedrooms was looking seedy and the white tiles in the kitchen and halls were off color. We were being told by friends and relatives that we really should do some renovation. Little did … Continue reading Challenges to cooking while living through a home renovation and two food stories in the news this month

Too many families in America do not get enough to eat. There are many ways to help reduce food insecurity, but these efforts, while beneficial, tend to be inadequate. Two weeks ago, I reviewed Pressure Cooker: Why Home Cooking Won’t Solve Our Problems and What We Can Do About It by Sarah Bowen, Joslyn Brenton and Sinikka Elliott. In that review I described the challenges … Continue reading More Pressure Cooker: Food distribution to low-income families

Growing up, we always had avkat marak in the house. Avkat marak is powdered soup: you pour some of it into hot water, and boom! You have stock. In Israel, where my mother grew up, avkat marak is a pantry staple: it is not just used for stock or soups, but as a seasoning for pashtidot (egg-based casseroles), stews, and sauces. It is a very … Continue reading “Just Trust the Supermarket”: Processed Food from Home, and the Immigrants Who Look for Them by Jonathan Katz

The campaign against ultra-processed food is mostly about home cooking (healthy) and products containing food additives (unhealthy). It is a nice concept, but it is grossly over-simplistic. Designation of ultra-processed is more about avoiding negative components (sugar, fat and salt as well as additives) rather than consuming essential nutrients (vitamins, minerals and protein). Highly restrictive diets are pushed to limits rather than ones that seek … Continue reading Pressure Cooker: Why Home Cooking Won’t Solve Our Problems and What We Can Do About It