Family Living Focus News Articles
A recent study looked at how much consumers know about food energy. How much do you really know?
Learn more about the coconut and the latest craze.
The term “Amish”, when attached to food products, enhances sales, as the obsession for hand-crafted, artisan foods converges with the natural and local food movements.
Can’t stand Broccoli? Research into the evolution of taste yields interesting food for thought. Our five taste senses– sweet, salty, umami (savory), bitter and sour – equip us for consuming the essentials for survival – energy, salt, and protein – as well as avoidance of poisonous or rotten food.
Since I acquired a “super blender” with a dynamite motor, I have begun drinking summer fruits and vegetables on occasion! When time is short, I can down several servings while working on a project or traveling in the car. For the fruity version, a little known dairy product called kefir is a wonderful base for my fruit smoothie.
The kitchen is considered by many to be one of the most important rooms in the house because of its role in independent living. The ability to cook is a daily activity that helps a person remain independent. Kitchen designs and modifications that foster home safety are essential. There are many products and practices that can help increase accessibility while maintaining a safe working environment.
Blueberries were on my mind as we bicycled through coastal Maine in October. Today I found a new study that shows the continuing promise of better health offered by eating a diet rich in vegetables, fruits, and (coincidentally) berries! The study showed that the risk of heart attack was reduced by one half in people who ate this way over a four year period. The study participants were people with a higher risk of heart disease due to a specific gene.1
It has been quite a few years now, but I remember pulling a chair up to the kitchen counter when my children were small so they could stand beside me while I was cooking. They wanted to see what I was doing and be part of the action! Allowing the kids to help was usually messy and took a lot longer, but we had fun and made some great memories. I am happy to say that both my children are pretty good cooks today and my son even uses his culinary skills to impress the young ladies!!
There is nothing like opening the front door on a cold winter evening and being greeted by the inviting smells of beef stew or chicken noodle soup wafting from a slow cooker. Besides the good aromas there is the satisfaction of knowing that your meal is ready to serve. Winter is not the only time a slow cooker is useful. In the summer, using this small appliance can avoid introducing heat from a hot oven. At any time of year, a slow cooker can make life a little more convenient and it takes less electricity to use a slow cooker rather than an oven.
Reaching for the corn syrup for a holiday dish prompted questions about corn syrup and high fructose corn syrup – corn cousins so to speak! Corn syrup is produced by treating corn starch with enzymes to break it down to glucose, which is easily absorbed and utilized by the body for energy. High fructose corn syrup (HFCS), on the other hand, is produced by more specific processing of corn starch with enzymes to yield syrup with a mixture of glucose and fructose. Fructose is a naturally occurring sugar that is present in small amounts in fruits (fruit sugar).
Have you noticed the growing numbers of people who are faced with allergies to food? I don’t seem to recall many friends with food allergies growing up – perhaps we just weren’t very good about detecting them back then. If you suffer from a food allergy you may be apprehensive about whether you should eat out or not. Good news -eating out today is a lot easier - and safer – for those who suffer with a mild, moderate, or even a severe food allergy. One reason: Restaurants are more aware and more prepared.
