Comments on: Frozen salmon on the grill

By: Molly Watson

Molly Watson — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 23:23:53 +0000

Thanks, Rachel! I do worry that American food problems/issues are spreading – glad to hear your experience in Italy is largely so positive, that those healthful, respectful attitudes are alive and well in daily life.

By: rachel

rachel — Sun, 18 Apr 2010 18:05:13 +0000

I am glad to be in Italy. There are lots of things wrong with this country but I love the way (most of the time) the Italians instil such respect and fierce pride about food in their children. That children are treated as adults at the table with the same food, plates and expected manners. That fruit vegetables are so present. That kids don’t need so many snacks because they eat properly at meals. That food is out in the kitchen and part of life not hidden in fridges and freezers. That good food is seen as a basic human right. It’s not perfect but it’s better here, food is taken very seriously because people know it matters.
Salmon looks delcious. Great post, thoughtful stuff.

By: Molly Watson

Molly Watson — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 18:41:30 +0000

I think it’s easy to judge other people’s choices. “A bit of planning” is more difficult for some people than others. Junk food and fast food is engineered to be addictive. I’m all about personal responsibility, but the deck is increasingly stacked against people’s best intentions to eat well.

One danger (and part of the reason I found the discussion referenced above so problematic) is to speak of eating habits solely in terms of class – I’ve witnessed plenty of people who can afford the best of the best happily throw Costco pre-made burgers on the grill for themselves and their children and gorge on all kinds of crap. Lots of people, of all income levels, go for cheap and *easy*.

My issue, at this point, is mainly about why and how some food is so much cheaper than other food. Real costs are not built into our food system and it is wrecking havoc on our health.

By: The gold digger

The gold digger — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 14:54:03 +0000

Oh the poor! Forced to eat at McDonald’s!

The meal for a family of four as shown in “Food, Inc,” could have been reproduced for less than half the cost at home. Four hamburgers AND SODA (biggest waste of money in the world) for $11? Buy two lbs of hamburgers and have two meals. Drink water.

Or – make beans. Cheap, nutritious, easy. Soak them, add some onion and a hambone. Done.

It is not hard to make healthful, good food inexpensively. It just takes some planning.

By: kitchensink

kitchensink — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 20:54:01 +0000

I am tickled to learn that salmon can be put on the grill frozen!

Oh yeah and the other stuff is interesting too. I think dressing food up with toys, gimmicks and silliness and sneaking healthy food into recipes sends the wrong message to children.

By: Ruth

Ruth — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 20:02:18 +0000

GREAT piece. I don’t have kids but I was one once. My parents exposed my brother and I to as many tastes as possible. We were lucky enough to eat out with them from a very early age and learnt that eating out was special, required respect and, can I say, reverence? We were not aware of ‘kids menus’ and were encouraged to try everything. Without being aware of it we were being taught about quality and taste. We didn’t have much exposure to fast food, apart from the occasional Friday night fish and chips. So lucky. You are so right. We learn through experience. They should be delicious ones.

By: Fred

Fred — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 19:34:35 +0000

So true! Your comments about kids and food are spot on.

I think the mania for healthy food is the source of many of our food-related problems.

But I’m glad that you’re doing your bit to foster our food culture and put tasty food front and center, back where it belongs. Thanks!

By: lisaiscooking

lisaiscooking — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 16:03:44 +0000

Sounds like you’re doing a fantastic job raising your son! And, you salmon looks delicious too.

By: Heather

Heather — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 01:55:20 +0000

So true. For example, my most recent post has a serving of two vegetables per bowl, is low fat, low sodium and a good source of antioxidants. Also, although it does have saturated fat, it is of short and medium chain variety which therefore may be considered a good fat. Bored yet?
How about Pumpkin soup? Quick to make, easy to freeze for lunches or later, tastes yummy and it’s good for you to boot. Which message is more likely to get you into the kitchen instead of dialing a pizza?
I’m not trying to dumb down the message, just make it a bit more relevant to the average person and what their concerns are