Watch your ass!(literally!)  Uncle Sugar need a new boogie-man to fleece.  It's an opportunity for more free money to a government that's going to need every cent, and another opportunity for the new "master race" of Liberalism to feel even more smug and superior about themselves.  The media clouds have started gathering, if the pattern holds, it's just a matter of time.  I can see fat people huddled outside a building in a blizzard, having a cupcake with the smokers. *chortle*

 

http://protomag.com/assets/obesity-public-health

 

http://money.cnn.com/2009/07/28/news/economy/health_care_reform_obesity/index.htm

 

   gus.

 

 

 

 I can see fat people huddled outside a building in a blizzard, having a cupcake with the smokers. *chortle*

God, overreaction seems to be your forte.  The number of fat asses in NYC is getting frightening.  I may not go along with the way it is being handled, but, for fuck's sake, people need to stop pounding sodas and cupcakes in their faces.  On my way to the gym to torture myself just to stay healthy, I pass people stuffing their faces with McD fries. They evidently need help.  I know people who are half my age, tipping the scales at 300+ pounds.  

But, OK, whatever you say, gussie. *chortle*

 

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"We are all equal, but we definitely are not the same"
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An interesting question and, despite Gus's somewhat casual way of addressing it and Roby's skeptical response thereto, one which should be discussed and to which solutions should be sought.

Taxing the food causing the problem is not the answer ... all that would do is force people who want the junk food and fattening foods to switch to other junk and fattening foods.

Right now, if you choose to eat healthy, natural, organic foods instead of processed and chemically altered foods, it can be done. However, it requires a really lopsided budget entry for purchasing the healthy, natural, organic foods. Expample, you buy a gallon of milk for $2.90 (at least, that is what it costs here in Phoenix) while a half-gallon of natural, organic, unhomogenated milk (cows are fed organically grown feed, no vitamins or chemicals added to the milk, etc.) costs $3.99. That makes a gallon of natural, organic, unhomogenated milk cost $8.00. Organically grown apples cost $1.00 a pound as compared to non-organically grown apples at $0.88 a pound.

Add to that, most families don't have a true "cook" in the crowd and you have another problem. When you have to have a recipe to hard-boil an organically grown egg ... something has been missed. And if you have a recipe that calls for "tsp" and they are read as "Tbs" you have another problem.

And then there is the matter of microwaving food. It's fast, it's easy and it's damaging to your health. Microwaving foods changes the molecular structure of the food. It may look the same, it may taste the same but the final product is changed when the microwave heats it up and much of the "good" that you get from a steak can be lost. In addition to which, that Mac & Cheese you like to stick in the microwave for a quick dinner has chemicals added to it as well!

Finally, another problem we have in eating "good food" is the time it takes to cook good, healthy meals. It takes time and with both the mother and father working to make ends meet and the teens doing whatever they do to make the extra money to meet their "needs" no one has time to cook a truly good, healthy meal. This can be "cured" by the use of slow-cookers, learning the tricks of preparation in advance and becoming better cooks all around.

So,how is taxing the "bad" food going to work? Simple, it isn't. Tax the hell out of Mickey D's french fries because (a) it is fried food, not good for you; (b) it is all carbs, not good for you; (c) it is fast food, which means that it has been prepared with chemicals for storage and that is not good for you. And what will the people choose to eat? Mickey D's french fries ... why? Because they are fast, easy and we all like their taste.


Take care.
Blessed Be.
Alice

"Politicians are like diapers. They should be changed frequently and for the same reason." From the movie, "Man of the Year"

You don't have to get all fancy with organic food - I eat pretty healthy on a very low budget.

Breakfast most days is oatmeal - old fashioned, not instant. That takes all of five minutes to cook and it's whole grain and lowers cholesterol. Once every week or two I'll treat myself to eggs and whole wheat toast with marmalade.

A stick or two of cheese mid-morning to keep from getting too hungry. Salad for lunch, with some chicken in there if I've got it left over.

Another stick or two of cheese mid-afternoon. Dinner is some meat dish (most often chicken, else pork, beef or fish in that order - I'd like to eat more fish but the prices are real high for anything good) either grilled or steamed vegetables and some whole grain - most often long grain brown rice.

Once a week I bake a loaf or two of my whole wheat bran bread.

Basically it's the South Beach diet. Keep the simple carbs to a minimum, eat a balance of protein, complex carbs and fat. I started it about a year ago and fairly quickly dropped from 185 lbs to 155 and have stayed there ever since.

It's easy and it's really quite cheap.

Sounds good to me Ron. I have that book.

***********************************

I've learned that the people you care most about in life are taken from you too soon and
all the less important ones just never go away.
And the real pains in the ass are permanent.

If you have a trader Joe's anyehere near you, they sell frozen fish at incredibly reasonable prices.

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"We are all equal, but we definitely are not the same"
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"...I'd like to eat more fish but the prices are real high for anything good..."

Tell me about it! Here in Southern California they charge $20 a lb. and more for fresh pelagic fish. But even farm-raised tilapia costs a lot. Shark, halibut, sea bass and red snapper used to be reasonably-priced in comparison to beef and chicken, but no longer. Even those former California staples are pricey.

I would eat a lot more fish if it was more reasonably-priced. That's why, whenever I'm home in Honolulu, I head down to the fish market at least two or three times.

And forgeddabout abalone.  

*****
We'll be friends until we're old and senile. Then we'll be new friends.
-Anon.

Taxing the food causing the problem is not the answer ... all that would do is force people who want the junk food and fattening foods to switch to other junk and fattening foods.

   They are not seeking an answer.  They are seeking revenue, and seeking to punish those they find distastefull.

Right now, if you choose to eat healthy, natural, organic foods instead of processed and chemically altered foods, it can be done. However, it requires a really lopsided budget entry for purchasing the healthy, natural, organic foods. Expample, you buy a gallon of milk for $2.90 (at least, that is what it costs here in Phoenix) while a half-gallon of natural, organic, unhomogenated milk (cows are fed organically grown feed, no vitamins or chemicals added to the milk, etc.) costs $3.99. That makes a gallon of natural, organic, unhomogenated milk cost $8.00. Organically grown apples cost $1.00 a pound as compared to non-organically grown apples at $0.88 a pound.

   It's a non-issue to me, I have all the cullinary appreciation of a duck.  But here is some recent counterpoint you mind find ecucational, or not.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/food_and_drink/real_food/article6731910.ece

gus.

 

 

 

 

Fish is so over priced it's a sin IMO. We try and eat fish at least 2 times a week. We have 6 people to feed and that is a lot of fish to buy! It seems whatever the healty food topic is for the month the price jumps up! Or they start to tell you God awful things about it that will make you sick if you eat to much of it.
I cheated and ate Mc Donalds tonight. It's been months and let me tell you I feel like crap for eating it!

I eat salad and yogurts one or the other everyday. Part of the problem is I am just to lazy at times to make something healthy. Or I am always rushing out the door. That is a major problem in this state! I know it sounds nuts but sometimes it's easier to get something we know we shouldn't be eating. JHC the price of food is awful! I was dying for a turkey sandwich on whole wheat with just a tomato and some lettuce. The freakin sandwich cost me $10.50! This little tiny sandwich! Even the salad bars are $4.99 a pound right now. Eating healty and doing it take out style can break the bank!

I'll go by my "unscientific" findings, Gus. I heard about that report on CNN today ... both my husband and I commented on how it is a bunch of bull puckey!

Eating natural, organic foods has helped keep his blood glucose level to the point where even the medical doctor cannot find any reason to prescibe pills or injections for him ... talk about an unhappy man! Eating natural, organic foods and doing a "colon cleanse" brought me from a size 14 to a size 8, where I have held steady.

Eating natural, organic foods has increased our energy level and lowered our "contamination" level ... no added vitamins (chemically produced), no added chemicals (hormones, etc.). Not only that but the food itself tastes better, cooks up better, looks better (before and after cooking) and generally is better!

So, pardon me if I don't believe a word the great medical profession has "proven" because I believe they were funded by those people who add chemcials to our food in an effort to improve on that which the Goddess and the God created ... and as we all know, that power (by whatever name) don't make mistakes!

Take care.
Blessed Be.
Alice

"Politicians are like diapers. They should be changed frequently and for the same reason." From the movie, "Man of the Year"

I cheated and ate Mc Donalds tonight. It's been months and let me tell you I feel like crap for eating it!

Don't feel like crap, we all secretly like junk.  Keep it to a minimum and there's nothing wrong.  About once a year I get a White Castle attack and I go for it.  Last night we went out with Frank's nephew and his wife to celebrate his promotion to detective in Connecticut and I had a creme brulee that looked like a Cappuccino and it was deeeeeeeevine.  Won't have dessert, except for fresh fruit for at least a month.  I'm a foodie and like gourmet cooking but I have it under control for the most part.  Like Jimmy Swaggert, I have sinned.  LOL!

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