Crows in the Kitchen

So my sister and I have found a common bond through food. Although we approach cooking for different reasons, from different perspectives, and with different goals, I think its pretty cool that we have both discovered our love for cooking. Considering that my repertoire  in high school was pasta + sauce and hers day dreaming of cookies, I think we can be pretty proud of how far we’ve come. Responding to my post about Butternut squash the other day, she linked me to her new and exciting food-related blog “Liz Wants Cookies- I’m Hungry!”

Most recent post? A crock-pot hodgepodge including butternut squash, and crow favorite Muir Organics Tomatoes.

When putting together an amazon order last month, I needed to tack on 1 more item to get free shipping. I had come across this book in an article about obesity in America (I wish I could remember where!). The author suggested reading this book to gain perspective on the obesity epidemic in America, specifically to learn about what research has been done on dieting and behavior modification , and what research had been on genetics regarding this issue. Although I wanted this book to be 4 or 5 times longer than it was, with even more details, I think that it gives a good overview and introduction to the field of obesity studies, nutrition, dieting, and the general politics of public health studies.

The main premise of this book is to outline a major university study that compared the Atkins low carb diet, to the low calorie LEARN diet that the medical profession generally uses and recommends. I won’t spoil the end- but you can assume the outcome was grim for both parties. Although re-affirming my beliefs on diet and exercise, and offering little hope to those individuals constantly battling body image misconceptions, I think if everyone in America read this book, we would be better off, we would be a healthier nation. It begs a few questions- Do we live in a society that values appearance more than health?  How much should we weigh? What role does free will play in our food choices? Can an overweight person be healthier than a skinny person?

This article , entitled “When Chocolate and Chakras Collide” that ran in the Dining and Wine section of the New York Times yesterday has got to be one of the most ridiculous things I have ever read.  A summery: people with too much time and too much expendable income do yoga for an hour, and then, without moving up from their mats, pig out on a gourmet meal, complete with wine and desert.   Please note:

Joy Pierson, the chef at the nearby Candle Café, a vegan restaurant that supplied the meal, sat cross-legged at the front of the room, encouraging everyone to breathe in slowly. “Ssssmell the squassshhhh waaaafting through the air,” she intoned.

However, in the spirt of non-judgement I am going to conduct a little foodie/yogi experiment of my own today.  I’m going to go to yoga class and then blow every calorie burned by sitting on my couch and drinking a bottle of two-for-ten boxed wine and eating cheese and crackers, followed by whatever chocolate is left over in my freezer from christmas.  I’m sure that enlightenment (or a nap) will follow.