Food-focused Tuesday evening roundup and ramble

This hippie crap is what I can't stand in pot heads, too: you're just as bad as the tea partiers. I, for one, believe that the government has a role in protecting people from food poisoning, from industry and artisans alike. It's wonderful that your goats and cows are free range; it's not wonderful that the listeria found in your facilities can harm people.

Some really interesting insights about food politics in general in this piece on food in Eleanor Roosevelt's White House.

What happens when students have the opportunity to kill their own turkeys.

Go straight to the rather acrimonious comments on Michael Pollan's post. I actually agree a little with both sides--MP's most recent books are less journalism and more rehashing of cliches, but, much like Al Gore, so be it if that's what it takes to bring the non-choir on board. But please, as another commenter points out, don't feel bad for vegans. I'm SO happy with my new diet. For one thing, vegetables are really good for you. To help with that, the Times explores some squashes, and the New Yorker, root veggies. I've been eating a ton of both--kabocha, butternut, turnips, sweet potatoes, beets, daikon, carrots, sunchokes, burdock... you get the point.

Over lunch today, a friend, just informed of my new-found macrobiotic ways, said she admired my restraint, spirit of sacrifice, and that she loved food too much. I had to reiterate several times that there was no sacrifice to speak of; I explained I was actually happier this way, that there was plenty of food for me to eat (when I'd told her what was no longer allowed—animal products apart from seafood, refined grains, most sweeteners—-she said, “that’s everything!”). I love food, too.

You know I don’t proselytize. Although I’m not out to convince other people to quit eating dairy or refined foods, I will state facts (giving up animal products will not bring about muscle atrophy) and also personal arguments when they come up. In other words, I’m not going to tell other people how they should eat (we’ve discussed the “should” issue on this blog), but I’d like people to know how good plant-based food can be—-especially real plant-based food. You may not feel the same way—and I’m not asking you to—-but believe me when I say I’d rather have a sweet potato than a piece of candy. Don’t pity me because I’m not having steak (or ice cream), and I won’t pity you in the event that you haven’t experience an amazing kinpira stew.