EWG's cancer prevention tips

Living in Toronto, it's hard to blog or think about anything other than the G20 Summit and the resulting negation of civil liberties. However, as I returned only a few weeks ago from burying a dear relative who died of pancreatic cancer, I think it's important to share Environmental Working Group's (EWG) newly released Cancer Prevention Tips.

Making time for dinner (part one)

Earlier this month, a scandal erupted in foodie/food blog world. The fantastic Michael Ruhlman  - he who taught us how to make pancetta - took Andrew Dornenburg & Karen Page (authors of the really wonderful Flavor Bible) to task on a panel at the 32nd Annual IACP Conference (International Association of Culinary Professionals). Ruhlman called bullshit - literally and loudly - when Page and Dornenburg confessed that even though they're James Beard Award winning food writers, they sometimes use packaged foods to speed up dinner. 

Edible Radio delivers the goods

With the G20 literally banging down my door (I live in downtown Toronto), I have a lot of opportunities to think about the economy - as that's the focus of this fancy-pants, over-securitied "gathering" of world "leaders." I've been thinking a lot lately about economic development anyway, as I met some awesome folks on my recent trip back home to Missouri, and learned about their efforts to spur sustainable economic development in a region that's seen little but industry closure and brain drain for decades. With this in mind, I caught a recent podcast on Edible Radio that really speaks to some of the issues faced by depressed regions with small towns as they attempt to create some beauty and economy.

Are happy chickens really happy?

I just finished devouring some of the most tender, flavourful chicken I've had in a long time. It could be my genius skills in the kitchen, but most likely it's the fact that I bought local, organic chicken from Sanagan's Meat Locker in Kensington. This, of course, raises the on-going question about labeling of chicken and eggs. Are happy chickens really happy?

2010 World Food Prize Winners

Toronto is the lucky winner (voice dripping with sarcasm) of a special prize this week - we're hosting the G20 Summit. The G20 stirs up a lot for me. First of all, it makes me want to put on a beautiful dress and fly a bright red kite near the security zone (kite flight is illegal in the GTA during the G20). On a less confrontational note, I'm also thinking a lot about global hunger and solutions, therein.

USDA Dietary Guidelines open for comment

I've spent a lot of time over the years thinking about the USDA food pyramid and the politics behind it. You'll also recall my sad, but funny, attempt to apply the food pyramid to the Argentine diet. Well, the time has come, once again, for the USDA to release new Dietary Guidelines. Though the results and recommendations are obvious to many of us, I think it's really important to review and comment on the report while it's still open to the public.

Bleh, politics - let's make potato salad!

Sustain Ontario's Menu 2020

I was so busy this week thinking and writing about water, that I almost missed the release of a fantastic report from Lauren Baker and Sustain Ontario. The report, Menu 2020: Ten Good Food Ideas for Ontario, picked up coverage in The Globe and Mail, and rightfully so. The piece "draws on a range of good food ideas currently being discussed in Ontario, and knits together ten that contribute to health and economic viability along the food chain." That's right, Lauren! You tell 'em!

NRTEE releases water report

The National Round Table on the Environment and Economy (NRTEE) released a report today in conjunction with the Canadian Water Summit. The Report, Changing Currents: Water Sustainability and The Future of Canada's Natural Resource Sectors, is the culmination of the first of a two-phase, cross-sectoral research and engagement process concerning the future of Canadian water. Folks, this stuff is important.

Canadian Water Summit Countdown

This week's focus is water. Folks, if you're unsure why water is such a hot topic, it's time to get yourself schooled. The Canadian Water Summit is tomorrow in Toronto (well, close to Toronto anyway). More than 275 delegates from multiple sectors are coming together to talk about one of life's essentials as it relates to their business or area of responsibility.

Canadian Water Summit, Toronto

As promised yesterday on Folks Gotta Eat, today we're talking about the Canadian Water Summit. When most folks in Canada and the U.S. hear about Canadian water, their first response generally goes something like this: "Man, Canada is SET. We/They have all the fresh water. (Lucky bastards)." Well folks, sadly, that's an oversimplified view of the advantages Canada has and the challenges it now faces.

Three things that helped me through Monday

Mondays can be pretty challenging for even the most organized and dedicated among us. I am a person who historically emerges on Tuesdays, much like a butterfly from the cocoon. Today I had to be out there in the world, being professional and all that. I thought I would share three things that gave me a little spark today to keep me going.

Why is there lead in my food?

I've got another "born and raised in Missouri" story for you. It involves lead, and lots of it. I grew up smack dab in the middle of what's called the Lead Belt. The six-county region of my home has the highest concentration of lead on the planet. So, when I hear NPR stories of unsafe levels of lead turning up in children's juice boxes and baby food in California, I get a little more upset than most people.

Shana's arugula pesto

Show me the slow money

Wow. Some hours are just filled to the brim with frustration, like any time I read something about, or even think about, the oil disaster in the Gulf. In contrast, beauty and inspiration are also just around every corner. I was taking a little work break and reading about a movement to connect cold, hard cash with local food projects - Slow Money. 

Taking the public pulse

Sometimes I do a little scanning online to take the public pulse around food policy issues. I think the following image found on Flickr speaks for itself. 

How our laws are made - a visual

Folks Gotta Eat, AND, folks gotta understand how the laws are made that affect what they eat, as well as their ability to procure that food. Teach Me Tuesday - let's go back to the basics and explore how U.S. laws are made (no snarky comments, as this is a look at the actual process and not a behind-the-scenes peak at the power brokering behind closed doors that obviously happens).

Shana asks, "What is this vegetable?"

I will raise chickens if I want to

I've been thinking a lot about chickens. Over the last three years, it seems like every city in the U.S. and Canada is coming up against the question of whether or not folks should be allowed to keep chickens in their backyards. Calgary is the latest chicken rights hot spot.

Shana is tomato crazy

Remember my planning the garden post? I'm making good progress and have had some great advice from readers here and followers on twitter and Facebook - thanks guys! Last month, I planted seedlings and sowed some seeds that could handle some colder nights - and good thing too - some cold weather came just after. The tender tomatoes and peppers had to spend another week indoors.

More discussion on poverty and food

I'm about to do that rare thing that must be done, and just blatantly re-post someone else's blog piece. The who is Tom Laskawy from Grist. The what is more discussion on what I think is the most important topic out there - poverty and food. Let the re-post begin:

Do bees need opera glasses?

What I learned on the road

Hi there, folks. You'll have to forgive me for my little absence over the last few days. I was in Missouri on family business. The great news for you is that I have updates and report backs on my previous post about Haiti's Mango Man, as well as my post about the ever-popular, unforgettable, global giant known as Wal-Mart.