Yes, you can avoid mosquitoes without using DEET

by: desmoinesdem

Sat May 23, 2009 at 18:41:28 PM PDT

I got my first mosquito bite of the year yesterday, so I knew it was time to get out the bug spray and post a new version of this diary.

Unfortunately, many public health authorities still recommend using insect repellents containing DEET. Having researched this issue a few years ago after my older son was born, I would not recommend DEET for anyone, especially children or adults living in a household with children.  

Soft drink makers pit public health advocates against "moderation moms" and "hard-working families"

by: desmoinesdem

Mon Apr 13, 2009 at 23:30:35 PM PDT

Iowa native Susan Neely will lead the opposition to policies aimed at getting Americans to drink less pop, soda or sugary juice and sports drinks. In the Sunday Des Moines Register, Philip Brasher profiled Neely, who has been president and chief executive of the American Beverage Association since 2005. I recommend reading his whole article, but I will comment on a few key points after the jump.

My case against Hanna Rosin's case against breastfeeding

by: desmoinesdem

Tue Mar 24, 2009 at 13:10:23 PM PDT

Hanna Rosin makes "The Case Against Breastfeeding" in the April issue of the Atlantic Monthly. The provocative title is misleading, because as Rosin explained in an interview on NBC's Today show on March 16, she isn't against breastfeeding. In fact, she kind of likes breastfeeding. Her problem is with the people who promote breastfeeding. Here's the lead-in to her piece:

In certain overachieving circles, breast-feeding is no longer a choice-it's a no-exceptions requirement, the ultimate badge of responsible parenting. Yet the actual health benefits of breast-feeding are surprisingly thin, far thinner than most popular literature indicates. Is breast-feeding right for every family? Or is it this generation's vacuum cleaner-an instrument of misery that mostly just keeps women down?

Rosin packs a lot into the article, but I would summarize her main points as:

1. American women face intense social pressure to breastfeed exclusively.

2. Advocates exaggerate the benefits of breastfeeding, which the scientific research does not support.

3. Advocates downplay the negatives about breastfeeding and fail to acknowledge that formula-feeding can be the right choice for some mothers. On a related note, Rosin depicts breastfeeding as extremely inconvenient for mothers who work outside the home.

4. Advocates have medicalized the conversation about breastfeeding, and American women are wrongly led to believe they are harming their babies if they give formula instead.

I address those points and more after the jump. Rosin's conflicted feelings about breastfeeding are valid, but unfortunately, she draws too many broad conclusions based on her personal experiences.

For those who don't care to read the rest of this post, be assured that as a feminist and pro-choice woman, I respect the right of women to decide what and how to feed their own babies. I am also aware that some women are unable to breastfeed for physical or medical reasons, and many more women are unable to breastfeed because they lacked the information and support they needed in the critical early weeks.

My intention is not to judge any mother for her choices or add to the pain of any mother who did not have the breastfeeding experience she sought.

Tuesday Afternoon Sampler Platter

by: JayinPhiladelphia

Tue Mar 17, 2009 at 12:00:00 PM PDT

• An op-ed in today's San Francisco Chronicle takes on the way our government develops dietary guidelines.  Ouch -

  Here is a daily diet that meets [current] nutrition guidelines: Breakfast: 1 cup Fruit Loops; 1 cup skim milk; 1 package M&M milk chocolate candies; fiber and vitamin supplements. Lunch: Grilled cheddar cheeseburger. Dinner: 3 slices pepperoni pizza, with a 16-ounce soda and 1 serving Archway sugar cookies.

  This helps explain why 12-year-old schoolchildren develop thickening of their carotid arteries to the brain, and 80 percent of 20-year-old soldiers, dying in combat, are found to have coronary artery heart disease.

• Idaho may become the next state to change assets tests in order to allow more people to become eligible for food stamps.

• The Nature Conservancy purchased the 4,136-acre Shasta Big Springs Ranch in California, including the entire 2.2-mile length of Big Springs Creek, in an effort to restore salmon in the Klamath River system.

• A group of medical and fisheries experts in Canada are making a health and environmental argument to reduce fish consumption in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.

• Is the Grocery Manufacturers Association part of a frightful (boo!) "socialist experiment", too?  Or are they just hypocrites?

  Although a spokesperson for the Grocery Manufacturers Association broadly welcomed the news that the legislation had been put forward, he criticized the proposal that industry should pay for plant inspections. He told FoodNavigator-USA.com: "We believe that food safety is a right that all Americans have...and that it should be paid for by Congress appropriating general funds."

  How about paying some taxes then, guys?

Mrs. Michelle Obama, First Lady and Locavore

by: Curtis Abbey

Wed Mar 11, 2009 at 13:21:26 PM PDT

Michelle Obama's Agenda Includes Healthful Eating

THE television cameras were rolling, the journalists were scribbling and the first lady, Michelle Obama, was standing in a soup kitchen rhapsodizing about steamed broccoli. And homemade mushroom risotto. And freshly baked apple-carrot muffins.

Mrs. Obama was praising the menu last week at Miriam's Kitchen, a nonprofit drop-in center serving this city's homeless. And she seized the moment to urge Americans to provide fresh, unprocessed and locally grown foods to their families and to the neediest in their communities.

"You know, we want to make sure our guests here and across the nation are eating nutritious items," said Mrs. Obama, who served lunch to several homeless men and women and delivered eight cases of fresh fruit to the soup kitchen, all donated by White House employees.

Whole Grains and Why They're Good for You

by: Asinus Asinum Fricat

Sun Mar 01, 2009 at 09:59:13 AM PST

However not all grains are created equal: all grains contain complex carbohydrates and various vitamins and minerals, but unrefined (whole) grains such as brown rice, quinoa, and oats are an even better source of fiber, selenium, potassium, and magnesium.

Cross-posted on the Big Orange!

Onions, the Magic Bulbs

by: Asinus Asinum Fricat

Fri Feb 13, 2009 at 11:08:05 AM PST

Open thread on favorite food substitutions

by: desmoinesdem

Fri Jan 23, 2009 at 20:00:00 PM PST

If you're a vegetarian or vegan, do you have a tip for adapting a recipe you used to enjoy with meat, eggs or dairy?

If you're trying to lose weight, have you changed the way you cook any of your favorite meals? Some people would rather eat a completely different dish than adapt a beloved recipe that is "too fattening."

If you have developed a food allergy or sensitivity, have you learned any trick for replacing the foods you can't tolerate?

My favorite food substitutions are after the jump.

More reaction to Vilsack's nomination and good ideas on food policy

by: desmoinesdem

Sun Dec 21, 2008 at 03:05:41 AM PST

A few days ago I posted a Vilsack reaction linkfest at the Iowa progressive community blog Bleeding Heartland, but the hits just keep on coming.

Follow me after the jump for more.

Vilsack and Daschle Must Work Together in the New Year-Make Soil to Health Resolutions

by: atagtow

Thu Dec 18, 2008 at 11:58:29 AM PST

As Tom Vilsack and Tom Daschle assume their cabinet positions in the Obama administration as Secretaries of Agriculture and Health and Human Services, respectively, they inherit mammoth challenges. Working together will be key to their success, because their work has a common denominator - food.

The connection is simple - the health of America's eaters depends on the health of the food and agriculture system.  

Macca's Meatless Monday X ...Back To The Egg

by: beachbabeinfl

Mon Dec 15, 2008 at 20:42:36 PM PST

Replacing the protein in meat is the challenge of a vegetarian diet. One of the lower cost alternatives to meat is the egg which contains about 12 grams of protein per egg.

I love to have friends over for Sunday brunch. I usually serve some type of egg dish as they are generally very fast, easy, economical and delicious. Here are some of my favorite egg recipes which can be served at breakfast, lunch or dinner.  With these recipes I can serve 4 people for about $5.00 usd for the entire meal!  About $1.25 per person!

Obama's 'Secretary of Food'?

by: teacherken

Thu Dec 11, 2008 at 13:22:07 PM PST

Somehow I feel as if someone else should be writing this, but I am still up.  And when I read a column that begins

As Barack Obama ponders whom to pick as agriculture secretary, he should reframe the question. What he needs is actually a bold reformer in a position renamed "secretary of food."

But he doesn't have to.  Nicholas Kristof grew up on a farm.  And he has read, and talked with, key figures, such as Michael Pollan.

if you want, you can just go read Kristof and ignore me.  Or you can continue below the fold while I try to further entice you to read him, and - uh oh - offer a few additional thoughts of my own?  Really?  On food? You betcha.

School Lunches - beginning the search for information

by: Bikemom

Sat Nov 29, 2008 at 19:51:59 PM PST

You really put me on a mission tonight, and I hope to get some help from those of you out there with knowledge and ideas.  

My eldest son just started kindergarten this fall and has been packing on the pounds.  He is an active and lean boy, but the rate of his weight gain has me concerned.  After years of living on my home cooking, he has developed a real love for the sweet, fatty processed food he gets at school.

I recently returned to work full time and have been feeling very stressed and fatigued.  I am embarrassed to say that it was only after reading OrangeCloud's diary at DKos that I stopped to think about my family's diet during these last few months. About 50% of our meals are now processed - all the boys' lunches during the week, and twice a week frozen food for dinner (which gives me time to play with the boys after a long day).  My family as a whole are very tired, and I can't help but wonder if it might be due in part to our increased reliance on processed food.

So now, the search for answers begins.  First, I look into my son's school's food service: http://www.eatlearnlive.com/  
According to their website, their food is "healthy".  But looking at their nutritional charts, two things stand out: the absence of sugar content (in lieu of "carbohydrates"), and high sodium content, in some cases exceeding the maximum recommended daily allowance (for adults I believe) of 2400 mg. So, email to the school's food administrator sent, I will await my standardized reply email.

Next mission.. search for healthy packed lunch options.  There is no way for either my oldest (who is in kindergarten) or my youngest (who is in daycare 3 days/week) to have their lunches heated, so my oldest, as I mentioned is eating the school lunches, while my youngest has been eating sandwiches three days or more per week.  I am fresh out of ideas - processed lunchmeats - especially the mystery "kielbasa" that my husband, who is from Russia, buys at a local Russian store, are certainly full of nitrates, salt and fillers.  There is no question that we need to change this.  I supposed some lunch meats are better (less unhealthy) than others, but which ones, and what are some possible alternatives for packed lunches (besides hb eggs, which are forbidden due to allergies at the schools, and cold pasta, which my boys aren't especially fond of and usually don't eat)?

Will update this diary as I find information.  Again, thank you for this forum and best wishes.

Bush's parting gifts, part 1

by: desmoinesdem

Tue Nov 11, 2008 at 15:51:44 PM PST

This comes from the Sustainable Agriculture Coalition's e-mail newsletter:

EPA Administrator Signs Off on Final CAFO Rule:  Last Friday, as a "Halloween trick" for the environment and public health, EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson signed a revised Clean Water Act final regulation for Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO) permits and effluent limitations.  EPA revised the CAFO regulations in response to legal challenges to a 2003 CAFO final regulation, brought in the case Waterkeeper Alliance Inc. v. EPA by both environmental organizations and the CAFO sector.  

The revision opens a gaping hole in the 2003 regulation by allowing a CAFO, no matter how large, to self-certify that the CAFO does not "intend" to discharge to the waters of the U.S.   EPA ignored the recommendation of the federal Second Circuit Court of Appeals to establish a regulatory presumption that large-scale CAFOs discharge pollutants.  The presumption would have required that a large-scale CAFO demonstrate to regulatory authorities that it is designed and can be operated to avoid all discharges of regulated pollutants.  

EPA also rejected making improvements in technology that reduce harmful bacteria and other pathogens that threaten public health, a problem aggravated by the development of antibiotic resistant pathogens in CAFOs.  The revised rule does include one improvement required in Waterkeeper -- that a CAFO nutrient management plan must be included in a Clean Water Act permit for the CAFO and made available for public review and comment.

EPA is expected publish the revised final regulation in the Federal Register before the end of November. In the meantime, a copy of the unofficial version of the revised regulation is posted on the EPA website. You can also register on the website for a November 19 EPA webcast about the revised CAFO regulation.

SAC will be urging the new Administration to revisit this rulemaking on an expedited basis.

Why am I not surprised that industrial ag profits are a higher priority than the environment and public health?

I hope that the Obama administration will put this on the list of actions to be overturned.  

Obama states facts about food system, backpedals

by: desmoinesdem

Sat Nov 01, 2008 at 15:04:57 PM PDT

Assuming Barack Obama wins the election on Tuesday, we will have a president who appears to understand some of the problems with our current energy and agriculture policies. From a recent interview Obama gave Time magazine:

There is no better potential driver that pervades all aspects of our economy than a new energy economy.
I was just reading an article in the New York Times by Michael Pollen [sic] about food and the fact that our entire agricultural system is built on cheap oil. As a consequence, our agriculture sector actually is contributing more greenhouse gases than our transportation sector. And in the mean time, it's creating monocultures that are vulnerable to national security threats, are now vulnerable to sky-high food prices or crashes in food prices, huge swings in commodity prices, and are partly responsible for the explosion in our healthcare costs because they're contributing to type 2 diabetes, stroke and heart disease, obesity, all the things that are driving our huge explosion in healthcare costs. That's just one sector of the economy. You think about the same thing is true on transportation. The same thing is true on how we construct our buildings. The same is true across the board.

The Des Moines Register (cheerleader for conventional agriculture) jumped on this story, which prompted some unfortunate backpedaling from the Obama camp:

The Obama campaign issued a statement on Thursday saying that Obama "was simply paraphrasing an article he read. He believes there are a lot of factors that contribute to obesity, heart disease and other health problems, but he certainly doesn't blame farmers."

But Ron Litterer, a Greene farmer who is chairman of the National Corn Growers Association, said Obama's comments in the Time interview were "in conflict with what he's been saying about agriculture, no question about it."

The Illinois senator supports farm programs and incentives for corn ethanol. He has aggressively courted the corn growers and other farm groups during his presidential campaign. Several past presidents of the corn group have endorsed Obama. [...]

Sen. Charles Grassley, an Iowa Republican who supports John McCain, Obama's rival, said Pollan's ideas would be detrimental to Iowa's economy and increase hunger by reducing food production. Obama has been "very understanding of how farmers contribute to fuel as well as food and fiber," Grassley said.

Obama's campaign said his "strong record of standing up for farmers and America's rural communities speaks for itself."

The statement also said Obama would "bring the change rural America needs by increasing investments in renewable energy and giving family farmers the support they need by allowing them to diversify their crops and increase revenue."

The article goes on to quote Michael Pollan's New York Times article, pointing out that Pollan favors policies that would raise meat prices.

It also cites "a study to be published soon in the journal Food Policy," which allegedly "found no evidence that corn subsidies have affected the consumption of corn sweeteners."

Folks, even with a Democratic president and Congress, we are going to face enormous political and institutional resistance to the "change we need" when it comes to food policy.

Perhaps Obama's backpedaling is just a way to avoid giving Republicans any edge so close to the election, but I fear that even after the election, Obama will not be willing to spend his political capital on trying to change agriculture policies that have bipartisan support in Congress.

I don't have any bright ideas on how to approach this, but I wanted to bring Obama's recent comments to the attention of the La Vida Locavore community.