The battle over raw foods

Every time I visit San Francisco, I make it a point to visit Cafe Gratitude, a raw vegan restaurant that is one-of-its kind.  With few of its exceptions, none of the items has been heated over 188 degrees Fahrenheit.  And it boasts its menu is gluten and soy free.

If you've never been you might be surprised to see things like "live" nachos and enchiladas on its menu. And lots of great desserts (check out the recipe for the I Am Inviting Banana Creme Pie).  The restaurant is a huge success and now counts seven locations, fueled by interest in omnivores eager to try something new and different.

While it's true this approach has interested more folks in the raw foods diet, it has also angered some raw food purists. These individuals believe the food being served up at "gourmet" establishments like Cafe Gratitude and Pure Food and Wine in NYC are heavily processed and full of excess calories, contrary to the "healthy" experience they claim to delivering.  Author Lessley Anderson does a great job at highlighting the schism in her article The Raw Deal.  The individuals she interviews feel that a true raw diet should consist of nothing more than fruits and vegetables in their natural state.

I'm curious where you, dear reader, might align yourself in this debate.  Please share your comments. 

Note to reader: this article can be found among other hot button food topics in The Best Food Writing 2009.

The Obamas and the clean food movement

As much as I love our new president and his wife Michelle, I never thought they'd become the center of sustainable food movement. But that's exactly what they did last month when they planted a victory garden in their White House lawn.

I hadn't really reflected on the significance of this moment until Tuesday when I heard Josh Viertel, the new President of Slow Food USA give a speech at the Food Systems Network event in New York City. His organization is a strong advocate for increasing access to good, clean food in this country and expanding interest in connecting Americans with how and where their food is grown.

According to Josh, Slow Food and other sustainable agriculture advocates are now dealing with an administration in Washington that 'gets it.' An immensely different climate from just a year ago.

The current administration now understands we cannot achieve reforms in health care or the environment or in education without looking at our agriculture model. And scientists at the CDC are now fans of Michael Pollan. When he mentioned all these things, I couldn't help but smile.

So what's next? According to Josh, our role is now to back up Obama.
In other words, we need to create a movement.

We must continue to vote with our dollars - buying foods from our farmers markets. As well as get involved in the political debate - writing our congressmen and signing petitions that influence policy.

I'd also add that we need to start a dialogue withing our communities. Specifically: Why is having local, organic, sustainable food important to you?

It's important to me ever since I started noticing the connection between food and health. I was first exposed to high quality food when I started shopping at the Ferry Building Farmers Market in San Francisco. I'd come during my lunch time and pick up a few things to cook with. I was amazed by how beautiful the produce looked. How proud the growers were of their food. And how much better the food tasted.

Instead of looking at cooking as a chore, it became a passion of mine. I began to lose weight and have more energy. My health improved dramatically. I now look at my investment towards better food as being an investment in my own health care. And unlike my stock portfolio, it's actually paid off - I haven't seen a doctor in three years.

And if my heartfelt explanation isn't good enough for you. Here are some left-brained reasons why clean food makes sense.

*ENVIRONMENT - Our agriculture industry emits more carbon in the atmosphere than all our automobiles. Let's create a sustainable plan by encouraging more local produce. Create policies that support small farmers, instead of supporting large agribusiness and cash crops (like corn and soy).

*EDUCATION - Studies show that kids who eat well are more focused and perform better in the class room. Before investing money on new tests and more homework, we need better food in our schools. Get the soda and sugar out too.

*HEALTH CARE - We continue to spend more every year yet we get sicker. Our system is broken. Let's create funding for preventative treatments and approaches. We spend billions of dollars treating diet-related diseases (like diabetes). Teaching prevention costs just a fraction of this.

I'd love to hear why good clean, food is important to you. Please share!

Say it ain't so: Quinoa prices up 30%

Okay I'll admit - I don't follow the same economic indicators as the pundits in Washington. The rising price of gas or the challenge in obtaining home financing doesn't phase me. Yet, I too felt a hit this week, in an unexpected place. The price of my dear quinoa was up 30% at my local co-op.

People are catching on to this protein rich, whole grain from South America. Last year was a record year with demand increasing by over 25%. And at the Park Slope Food Co-op, where I shop, quinoa is the top seller in its bulk bins.

While thrilling to see the public catching on to this nutritious food, I must admit my feelings are bittersweet. The price of quinoa now costs three times that of brown rice! And with my gluten-free diet, I tend to rely on this dear grain almost as much as our country depends on foreign oil.

Quinoa Stuffed Peppers

Armed with Google, I searched for explanations. I was led to the website of Andean Naturals, one of the large growers of quinoa. Apparently, 2008 was a tough year. A frost in November wiped out 40% of the annual product. Which only compounded the struggles farmers already had in keeping up with demand. It seems quinoa continues to be grown mostly by traditional methods, e.g. harvesting by hand, rotating with other crops, using no pesticides. While largely sustainable, these methods have made it challenging to increase production. As a result more farmers are giving way to modernization, using tractors and rotating crops less.

The Economist might cheer these moves, but I'm all for the status quo. I'd hate for farmers to change their entire method of production (I think they've been growing this way for 4000 years), just because this gringo wants his quinoa fix. What good is this nutritious food if it produces a less healthy planet?

My solution: Eat more rice. And pray for rain, lots of it.

$30 million reasons to love high fructose corn syrup

A Washington trade group, the Corn Refiners Association, has recently launched a $30M advertising campaign to win back the hearts and stomachs of consumers who have been turned off by their High Fructose Corn Syrup product (HFCS) product.

If I were to channel my inner food marketer, it would go something like this...

Top $10 Reasons why you should love HFCS

1. It makes your soda taste, you know, more cok-ey

2. It keeps high paying 'sugar tech' jobs in the USA

3. We are tired of selling you aspartame.

4. It is 100% American. Even Michael Pollan likes corn.

5. If you can't understand it, you should just eat it

6. If you don't eat it, we will have to sell it to someone else.

7. Are you really ready for stevia?

8. It makes this country safe from politically unstable sugar nations.

9. It tastes better than ethanol

10. No trans-fats. Zero!


Any other points I am missing?