Topic: natural foods

Eating Disorders: I Diagnosed My Friend With Orthorexia

One of my friends has orthorexia. The undiagnosed kind, of course. And undiagnosed by me (i.e. not a doctor). Orthorexia is a relatively new term (circa 1996-97), and is the latest, trendiest eating disorder out there on the health and wellness spectrum. (But it’s important to note that it’s technically not a medical term.) Orthorexia Nervosa is essentially an obsession with healthy eating. How could an obsession with something as good-for-you as healthy eating ever be considered a problem or a disorder, you may ask? I’ll tell you.

My friend, who could be described as an orthorexic in major denial, lives on and runs an organic farm. She only eats organic foods, preferably local. (That’s cool; I do that, too, whenever I can.) But my friend gets fewer than 10% of any food she puts into her body (and the bodies of her family members, who go along with it) from a supermarket. (Whoa. Okay, I can’t compete with that one.) And my friend takes these health- and environmentally-conscious practices a few steps further: Essentially, she only eats foods that come from her farm or the organic farms of people she knows personally. (That’s nice; we like to meet the farmers at our local farmers’ market, too.) No wait, let me clarify: This means that my friend doesn’t eat any foods that come from farms that may well be certified organic, produce delicious produce or meats, and have an excellent and nationally-recognized reputation — unless she has actually visited the farm herself and has physically shaken the farmer’s hand. More »

Shilling for Diet Coke Doesn’t Make Top Chef Judge Tom Colicchio a Sell-Out

As a Top Chef devotee, I was happy to catch most of last night’s All-Stars Reunion show. (Although, I had forgotten that it was on, so maybe devotee is too strong a word.) But I certainly didn’t think that anything airing on this kind of perfunctory, let’s-show-funny-behind-the-scenes-clips-of-all-the-chefs-and-hilarious-outtakes-of-the-judges’-bloopers would remotely relate to Blisstree. But I was wrong. The hour-long episode brought up a controversial issue that relates to food products, overall health, and the environment, which are topics we like to think we know something about here at Blisstree.

You don’t need to know the Top Chef All-Stars backstory (or even have watched any of the season) to understand or appreciate the scenario, which is this: Elia Aboumrad, one of the show’s contestants who made it very far in the competition during her original season, was the first person in the All-Stars season whom Padma asked to pack her knives and go. Which means Elia got kicked off quick. Clearly she was unhappy with the judges’ decision, because she did an interview with The Chicago Tribune‘s food blog The Stew, in which she slammed Top Chef judge (and chef, restaurateur, and cookbook author) Tom Colicchio and called him a sell-out. Why? For shilling for Diet Coke (he appears in one of the soda’s commercials) and for not having enough grass-fed beef or organic produce on his restaurant menus anymore. More »

In Praise of Airline Food

Sorry, but I like airline food in a sick way. Always have. (And wait, I’m not sorry!) I’m not talking about the paltry snacks of nuts and cookies — I don’t have time for those. (Sure, nuts contain protein, but then there’s all that sodium.) I’m talking about the real meals — that is, if you can find a solvent airline that still serves them to passengers onboard. Of course, airline meals are woefully over-processed (wait, that’s not Alice Waters back there?), but as far as the Standard American Diet goes, they’re really not all that unhealthy, especially if you’re not a particularly frequent flyer. And I refuse to believe that it’s healthier to bring fast-food-like meals with you on the plane to eat. (Also, doing so makes the plane smell worse than it already does, so would you please not do that?)

I mean, really, what are we talking about here: A plastic tray of overcooked pasta or limp chicken? Harmless. (I never get the fish or beef. I may like airline food, but I’m not a complete idiot.) A salad composed of iceberg lettuce? A small roll? A single-serving package of cheese and crackers? More »

Processed Meat Substitutes May Be Unhealthier Than Actual Meat

Because it’s Lent and many of us (religious or not) may have given up meat for the season (or at least on Fridays), we’ve been talking about meat substitutes (a.k.a. meat analogues, meat alternatives, or imitation meats) a lot around Blisstree these days. Now, those of you who are lifelong vegetarians or vegans may have more experience than we do with the whole idea of meat substitutes. Are they actually healthy? Does eating something that pretends to be meat but isn’t constitute cheating? Doesn’t the idea of fake meat just sound wrong? So I asked our Fearless Foodtrainer, nutritionist Lauren Slayton, to weigh in on the pros (if any) and cons of these mysterious mock meats. Here’s the skinny: More »

Morning Links: 6 Healthy Natural Foods That Replace Multivitamins

Downward Doctor – Why you should hope your primary care physician knows about yoga. (Well + Good NYC)

Pass on the Pill-Popping – 6 nutrient-dense natural foods that can replace expensive multivitamins. (The Daily Green)

Barefoot Contessa’s Boo-Boo – Food Network queen Ina Garten has twice refused the dying Make-a-Wish Foundation request of a six-year-old boy with cancer, who just wants to cook with Her Highness. (Shine) More »

5 Strange Farmers’ Market Fruits and Vegetables – And What to Do With Them

Have you ever watched Bizarre Foods on The Travel Channel? If not, don’t worry — the only thing you’re missing is a few involuntary gag reflexes. The host, Andrew Zimmern, basically travels the world eating the grossest things possible (turtle jelly soup, anyone?). But the nastiness isn’t reserved for things like brain tacos and pig innards — Zimmern also downs a hefty share of some pretty unusual fruits and vegetables. I know I’ll never forget the episode where he unsuccessfully tried to eat some smelly durian fruit — he described it as “completely rotten, mushy onions.”

But unusual doesn’t have to be gross. In fact, it’s worth trying out new tastes when you can. Consider this — it wasn’t too long ago that kiwis, starfruit and pomegranates didn’t have a place in most fruit markets and now they’re almost everywhere. So check out some of these new-to-your-table items that are currently become niche items on farmers’ market stands. You might find a new favorite. More »

Morning Links: 5 Reasons Not to Give Up Coffee

Passion For Pelts – If the U.S. federal government already plans to wipe out the nutria, a semi-aquatic rodent that’s destroying Louisiana’s wetlands, is using its fur eco-friendly? (Ecouterre)

Spring Break Ready – 6 of the safest sunscreens on the market. (Natural Health)

Is Joe Your Jam? – 5 good reasons not to give up coffee. (Shine) More »

True or False: Artificial Sweeteners Are Harmful to Your Health

A reader named Christi sent me the following thought-provoking question about this recent Blisstree post: 10 Foods You Think Are Healthy and Nutritious But Aren’t:

I read your post about several foods that we commonly mistake for being healthy. I saw the image of the fat-free, sugar-free pudding and read the description. I understand that this food probably has little to no nutritional value, but I’m curious why you think sugar substitutes are unhealthy? I’ve always tried to stay away from sugar substitutes, and also do without sugar when possible. (I stopped putting sugar in my coffee a few years ago.) But I never really understood why it would be unhealthy to have sugar substitutes.

Great question, Christi. When I was studying for my R.D. exam many moons ago, I memorized a lot of information and random facts – much of which I’ve since forgotten. But one of the things I retained is the knowledge of an eating disorder known as pica. Those who suffer from pica eat non-food substances such as dirt, soap, or chalk; it’s quite serious. I’ve always likened eating fake foods such as sweeteners (saccharin, aspartame, and sucralose), with “no nutritional value” to this disorder. So if we don’t suffer from pica, what’s the appeal of food impersonators? More »

Genetically-Modified Alfalfa May Taint Organic Meat and Dairy

Think you’re always safe buying organic milk and meat? Think again. Just last week, the Department of Agriculture approved the unrestricted planting of genetically-modified alfalfa, despite protests from not only organic and public health advocates but also from more than 250,000 U.S. citizens. Since it’s a huge source of hay for cattle, most of us indirectly consume alfalfa if we have a diet that includes meat or dairy; and because it’s a “promiscuous” crop, its pollen can be carried by bees and spread around for up to five miles — making it nearly impossible to contain and keep separate from plain, regular old alfalfa, which almost guarantees contamination. GMO products, which often include pesticides, are not welcome (or legally allowed) in any part of the organic process. Needless to say, organic advocates are not taking the announcement lightly. More »

What We're Reading:

Hippie Food, In a Good Way — If raw desserts weren’t enough for you, try making Mark Bittman’s hippie rice for dinner; it’s natural, it’s not processed, and you don’t have to wear tie-dye to eat it. (Vitamin G)

Healthy “Baking”: 10 Vegan, Raw Dessert Recipes You Can Eat While Detoxing

This week, I’m on one of Organic Avenue‘s raw detoxing food cleanses, so my oven is officially on sabbatical. Every day, I have a full menu of juices and raw foods that are pre-made and ready to go, so I literally haven’t had to do a dish for the past five days. I’m starting to miss cooking and baking, but thankfully, I’m not missing my sweets. On this cleanse, I get one raw dessert per day, and I’ve been blown away by how good they are. Surprisingly, a lot of the ingredients are good for me, too.

Since I know I’m not the only one detoxing this time of year (and no everyone is lucky enough to live near a place that will make their juices and foods for them), I decided to hunt around for more raw dessert recipes that you can “bake” even while cleansing. More »

Healthy Baking That Actually Tastes Good: 10 Sugarless, Flourless Cookie Recipes

If you’re trying to follow a sugar-free diet and avoid refined carbohydrates, the holidays are a perilous time of year: Cookie exchanges and holiday parties are a huge test of willpower, and most of us will end up losing to a good cookie or two before the year’s end. But it’s possible to bake without sugar and flour (really), and the results don’t have to totally suck: Thanks to agave nectar, coconut, spelt, oats, and fruit sugars, you can still make holiday treats that don’t rely on white sugar and processed flour to taste good. More »

My grandma, who lived with us, was never without chocolate balls or sour balls. (We visited her room often.) Every Sunday morning, a man in a station wagon would drive through our suburban neighborhood, ringing doorbells and selling big flat boxes of warm Krispy Kreme doughnuts. And so, every Sunday, my parents bribed us with the promise of two dozen Krispy Kreme doughnuts after mass. Did we go to church? Goddamn right we did. (My parents may have been junk-food-junkies and enablers, but they weren’t stupid.) Whenever my mother went out of town to visit relatives or help with someone’s new baby, my dad took us to Roy Rogers for dinner. Every night. (We loved our dad for this.) Of course, we always brought the Roy Rogers home so we could eat our completely fried dinner around the kitchen table like a proper American family.

– Blisstree Editor-in-Chief Christine Egan on the scarily super-sweet reality of her childhood eating habits, from her post: 12 Truly Disgusting Processed Foods I Secretly Like (and Occasionally Eat)

Wendy’s “Natural-Cut” Fries With Sea Salt: Healthy, Eco-Friendly, or Bulls#*!?

As part of a broad marketing effort to make over their menu and introduce more “real” foods, Wendy’s is swapping out its garden-variety fries for a new “natural-cut” version using russet potatoes with the skin left on, and seasoned with sea salt. But with a higher sodium content (a medium-size serving will contain 500 milligrams; the former fries contained 350) and no improvement in the freshness department (fries will arrive at Wendy’s frozen), it’s difficult to see the real benefit of these fried (fraud) potatoes. More »

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