Heading to Los Angeles this week to find a place, move in, and start my dietetic internship orientation at the VA June 20th! Stay tuned for my updates.
Check out the program here: http://www.dieteticinternship.va.gov/LosAngeles.asp
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Sunday, March 6, 2011
In New Food Culture, a Young Generation of Farmers Emerges
Great article about the local food movement in Oregon. This is a trend nationwide. Boulder also has many great local farms. Visit Boulder Farmer's Market...it opens Saturday April 3rd at 8am!
Leah Nash for The New York Times
Jeff Broadie and Kasey White, who have been farming since 2003, cleaning heirloom beans. More Photos »
After all, his grandfather had worked closely with Earl L. Butz, the former federal secretary of agriculture who was known for saying, “Get big or get out.”
But several weeks before his grandfather died, Mr. Jones broached the subject. His grandfather surprised him. “You have to fix what Earl and I messed up,” Mr. Jones said his grandfather told him.
Now, Mr. Jones, 30, and his wife, Alicia, 27, are among an emerging group of people in their 20s and 30s who have chosen farming as a career. Many shun industrial, mechanized farming and list punk rock, Karl Marx and the food journalist Michael Pollan as their influences. The Joneses say they and their peers are succeeding because of Oregon’s farmer-foodie culture, which demands grass-fed and pasture-raised meats.
“People want to connect more than they can at their grocery store,” Ms. Jones said. “We had a couple who came down from Portland and asked if they could collect their own eggs. We said, ‘O.K., sure.’ They want to trust their producer, because there’s so little trust in food these days.”
Garry Stephenson, coordinator of the Small Farms Program at Oregon State University, said he had not seen so much interest among young people in decades. “It’s kind of exciting,” Mr. Stephenson said. “They’re young, they’re energetic and idealist, and they’re willing to make the sacrifices.”
Though the number of young farmers is increasing, the average age of farmers nationwide continues to creep toward 60, according to the 2007 Census of Agriculture. That census, administered by the Department of Agriculture, found that farmers over 55 own more than half of the country’s farmland.
In response, the 2008 Farm Bill included a program for new farmers and ranchers. Last year, the department distributed $18 million to educate young growers across the country.
Tom Vilsack, the secretary of agriculture, said he hoped some beginning farmers would graduate to midsize and large farms as older farmers retired. “I think there needs to be more work in this area,” he said. “It’s great to invest $18 million to reach out to several thousand to get them interested, but the need here is pretty significant. We need to be even more creative than we’ve been to create strategies so that young people can access operations of all sizes.”
The problem, the young farmers say, is access to land and money to buy equipment. Many new to farming also struggle with the basics.
In Eugene, Ore., Kasey White and Jeff Broadie of Lonesome Whistle Farm are finishing their third season of cultivating heirloom beans with names like Calypso, Jacob’s Cattle and Dutch Ballet.
They have been lauded — and even consulted — by older farmers nearby for figuring out how to grow beans in a valley dominated by grass seed farmers.
But finding mentors has been difficult. There is a knowledge gap that has been referred to as “the lost generation” — people their parents’ age may farm but do not know how to grow food. The grandparent generation is no longer around to teach them.
So Ms. White and Mr. Broadie turned to YouTube for farming tips. They scoured the antiques section of Craigslist for small-scale farming equipment.
“When we started, we didn’t even know what we needed,” said Ms. White, 35. “We found out that a tractor built in the 1950s would drive over our beds and weed them.”
She said that they farmed because they felt like part of a broader movement, but that the farmer’s life was not always romantic. Last year, their garlic crop rotted in the ground. Mr. Broadie, 36, is unable to repay his student loans. They do not have health insurance, or know when they will be able to afford to buy land.
On a recent Saturday, Ms. White and Mr. Broadie moved to a farm owned by a couple that wants to support local agriculture. They hope it is their last stop.
That evening in Corvallis, the Joneses prepared for a party at Mary’s River Grange Hall with friends.
Among them, Jenni and Scott Timms, both 28, had quit their engineering jobs in Houston the month before. They would like to own their own farm someday.
“We see people like Tyler and Alicia doing it, and we thought, ‘If they can do it, so can we,’ ” Mr. Timms said.
The Timmses had arrived at the Joneses’ 106-acre farm the day before and were staying in a run-down Victorian house on the property. As they waited for their hosts, they sipped a microbrew in a kitchen overlooking wooded farmland. They said they were drawn by the state’s beauty and its 120 farmers’ markets.
And it seemed that other beginning farmers in Oregon shared their values. At the Grange hall later that evening, the gravel lot was lined with Subarus with bumper stickers that read “Buy locally,” “Who’s Your Farmer?” and “Let’s Get Dirty.” One farmer arrived by bicycle.
Inside, women in woolen sweaters and hats danced to the music of a bluegrass band. There was no formal speech, just the Grange master’s yell that food was ready.
The Grange master, Hank Keogh, is a 26-year-old who, with his multiple piercings and severe sideburns, looks more indie rock star than seed farmer. Mr. Keogh took over the Grange two years ago.
He increased membership by signing up dozens of young farmers and others in the region. He had the floorboards refinished, introduced weekly yoga classes and reduced the average age of Grange members to 35 from 65.
The young farmers crowded around a table brimming with food they had produced — delicata squash, beet salad, potato leek soup and sparkling mead. On a separate table were two pony kegs of India pale ale.
It was the first time the Joneses had been to the Grange, and Ms. Jones said they would probably join. She had already told the mead makers that she would connect them with Portland restaurants that wanted local honey.
“Literally, four years ago, this was not happening,” Ms. Jones said, gesturing to the 30 farmers who congregated at the hall. “Now, everywhere you turn, someone’s a farmer.”
Leah Nash for The New York Times
Jeff Broadie and Kasey White, who have been farming since 2003, cleaning heirloom beans. More Photos »
After all, his grandfather had worked closely with Earl L. Butz, the former federal secretary of agriculture who was known for saying, “Get big or get out.”
But several weeks before his grandfather died, Mr. Jones broached the subject. His grandfather surprised him. “You have to fix what Earl and I messed up,” Mr. Jones said his grandfather told him.
Now, Mr. Jones, 30, and his wife, Alicia, 27, are among an emerging group of people in their 20s and 30s who have chosen farming as a career. Many shun industrial, mechanized farming and list punk rock, Karl Marx and the food journalist Michael Pollan as their influences. The Joneses say they and their peers are succeeding because of Oregon’s farmer-foodie culture, which demands grass-fed and pasture-raised meats.
“People want to connect more than they can at their grocery store,” Ms. Jones said. “We had a couple who came down from Portland and asked if they could collect their own eggs. We said, ‘O.K., sure.’ They want to trust their producer, because there’s so little trust in food these days.”
Garry Stephenson, coordinator of the Small Farms Program at Oregon State University, said he had not seen so much interest among young people in decades. “It’s kind of exciting,” Mr. Stephenson said. “They’re young, they’re energetic and idealist, and they’re willing to make the sacrifices.”
Though the number of young farmers is increasing, the average age of farmers nationwide continues to creep toward 60, according to the 2007 Census of Agriculture. That census, administered by the Department of Agriculture, found that farmers over 55 own more than half of the country’s farmland.
In response, the 2008 Farm Bill included a program for new farmers and ranchers. Last year, the department distributed $18 million to educate young growers across the country.
Tom Vilsack, the secretary of agriculture, said he hoped some beginning farmers would graduate to midsize and large farms as older farmers retired. “I think there needs to be more work in this area,” he said. “It’s great to invest $18 million to reach out to several thousand to get them interested, but the need here is pretty significant. We need to be even more creative than we’ve been to create strategies so that young people can access operations of all sizes.”
The problem, the young farmers say, is access to land and money to buy equipment. Many new to farming also struggle with the basics.
In Eugene, Ore., Kasey White and Jeff Broadie of Lonesome Whistle Farm are finishing their third season of cultivating heirloom beans with names like Calypso, Jacob’s Cattle and Dutch Ballet.
They have been lauded — and even consulted — by older farmers nearby for figuring out how to grow beans in a valley dominated by grass seed farmers.
But finding mentors has been difficult. There is a knowledge gap that has been referred to as “the lost generation” — people their parents’ age may farm but do not know how to grow food. The grandparent generation is no longer around to teach them.
So Ms. White and Mr. Broadie turned to YouTube for farming tips. They scoured the antiques section of Craigslist for small-scale farming equipment.
“When we started, we didn’t even know what we needed,” said Ms. White, 35. “We found out that a tractor built in the 1950s would drive over our beds and weed them.”
She said that they farmed because they felt like part of a broader movement, but that the farmer’s life was not always romantic. Last year, their garlic crop rotted in the ground. Mr. Broadie, 36, is unable to repay his student loans. They do not have health insurance, or know when they will be able to afford to buy land.
On a recent Saturday, Ms. White and Mr. Broadie moved to a farm owned by a couple that wants to support local agriculture. They hope it is their last stop.
That evening in Corvallis, the Joneses prepared for a party at Mary’s River Grange Hall with friends.
Among them, Jenni and Scott Timms, both 28, had quit their engineering jobs in Houston the month before. They would like to own their own farm someday.
“We see people like Tyler and Alicia doing it, and we thought, ‘If they can do it, so can we,’ ” Mr. Timms said.
The Timmses had arrived at the Joneses’ 106-acre farm the day before and were staying in a run-down Victorian house on the property. As they waited for their hosts, they sipped a microbrew in a kitchen overlooking wooded farmland. They said they were drawn by the state’s beauty and its 120 farmers’ markets.
And it seemed that other beginning farmers in Oregon shared their values. At the Grange hall later that evening, the gravel lot was lined with Subarus with bumper stickers that read “Buy locally,” “Who’s Your Farmer?” and “Let’s Get Dirty.” One farmer arrived by bicycle.
Inside, women in woolen sweaters and hats danced to the music of a bluegrass band. There was no formal speech, just the Grange master’s yell that food was ready.
The Grange master, Hank Keogh, is a 26-year-old who, with his multiple piercings and severe sideburns, looks more indie rock star than seed farmer. Mr. Keogh took over the Grange two years ago.
He increased membership by signing up dozens of young farmers and others in the region. He had the floorboards refinished, introduced weekly yoga classes and reduced the average age of Grange members to 35 from 65.
The young farmers crowded around a table brimming with food they had produced — delicata squash, beet salad, potato leek soup and sparkling mead. On a separate table were two pony kegs of India pale ale.
It was the first time the Joneses had been to the Grange, and Ms. Jones said they would probably join. She had already told the mead makers that she would connect them with Portland restaurants that wanted local honey.
“Literally, four years ago, this was not happening,” Ms. Jones said, gesturing to the 30 farmers who congregated at the hall. “Now, everywhere you turn, someone’s a farmer.”
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Yeah to Oprah's Vegan Challenge!
If you missed Oprah's Vegan Challenge check it out here:
http://www.oprah.com/oprahshow/Harpo-Vegan-Challenge-Results-Video
I will post my comments shortly.
http://www.oprah.com/oprahshow/Harpo-Vegan-Challenge-Results-Video
I will post my comments shortly.
Friday, January 14, 2011
Twinkie vs Carrot
Did you know that carrots, a simple root vegetable cost more than a package of twinkies? Check this out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JH-Qv3f73x4
Thank you Michael Pollan for your investigative journalism and relentless drive to help Americans Know their Food and help change the way we eat.
Thank you Michael Pollan for your investigative journalism and relentless drive to help Americans Know their Food and help change the way we eat.
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Protein question
hi, andie!
i love your new blog...so wonderful! here is my nutrition question for your consideration:
i dislike eggs unless they are scrambled, and don't like beans (other than green beans) and detest fish & seafood. what are good protein options for someone who is picky like me?
thanks for any thoughts...
cmb
Hi CMB,
Thanks for your question. Consuming adequate protein is very important for nutrition health so I'm happy to teach you some more protein options.
1) Have you tried all types of beans?
Like soy beans, garbanzo beans, black beans, kidney beans to name my favorites? My last blog post highlighted the benefits of soy beans. They're great on top of salads, mixed in with rice,and tortillas.
2) Scrambled eggs are an excellent protein source.
Try to eat scrambled eggs 2-3 times a week (including the yolk) since you enjoy them and they're so good for your protein needs. I also wrote about eggs in an earlier blog post, so make sure you read that post too!
3) Nuts
Either roasted and unsalted nuts or nut butters (like peanut, almond, and/or cashew butter) are great protein source as well. They're excellent on salads and with an apple or a banana.
4) Yogurt
Another great source of protein ad delicious too!
Hope this helps!
i love your new blog...so wonderful! here is my nutrition question for your consideration:
i dislike eggs unless they are scrambled, and don't like beans (other than green beans) and detest fish & seafood. what are good protein options for someone who is picky like me?
thanks for any thoughts...
cmb
Hi CMB,
Thanks for your question. Consuming adequate protein is very important for nutrition health so I'm happy to teach you some more protein options.
1) Have you tried all types of beans?
Like soy beans, garbanzo beans, black beans, kidney beans to name my favorites? My last blog post highlighted the benefits of soy beans. They're great on top of salads, mixed in with rice,and tortillas.
2) Scrambled eggs are an excellent protein source.
Try to eat scrambled eggs 2-3 times a week (including the yolk) since you enjoy them and they're so good for your protein needs. I also wrote about eggs in an earlier blog post, so make sure you read that post too!
3) Nuts
Either roasted and unsalted nuts or nut butters (like peanut, almond, and/or cashew butter) are great protein source as well. They're excellent on salads and with an apple or a banana.
4) Yogurt
Another great source of protein ad delicious too!
Hope this helps!
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Is soy a complete protein?
Soy is the plant that is closest in amino acids to animal protein. Methionine is the only limiting amino acid, otherwise, soy contains all the essential amino acids needed to meet the body's protein requirements.
The American Dietetic Association (ADA) and other medical communities, as well as the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), recognize soy protein as equal in quality to animal protein. And unlike many sources of animal protein, soy is low in saturated fat.
Reference
Report of the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Consultation, FAO Food and Nutrition Paper 51. FAO, Rome, Italy, 1991.
Soynutrition.com
The American Dietetic Association (ADA) and other medical communities, as well as the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), recognize soy protein as equal in quality to animal protein. And unlike many sources of animal protein, soy is low in saturated fat.
Reference
Report of the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Consultation, FAO Food and Nutrition Paper 51. FAO, Rome, Italy, 1991.
Soynutrition.com
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Recent update on Vitamin D intake
Vitamin D intake
The U.S. government panel in charge of setting recommended daily intake levels for vitamins recently announced an increase in vitamin D recommendations for all populations in North America. Specifically, the Institute of Medicine report advocated a doubling of vitamin D intake for infants (to 400 IU), a tripling of vitamin D intake for those between ages 1 and 50 (to 600 IU), a 50 percent hike in those ages 51 to 70 (to 600 IU), and a 33 percent increase for those older than 71 years old (to 800 IU).
Several major news outlets, however, including the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal, confused the issue by claiming that the report actually questioned the necessity for extra vitamin D. (For more on the debate, visit NPI Center.)
Here, Dr. Brad Jacobs, MD and Chair of Pharmaca's Integrative Health Advisory Board, weighs in on the sunshine vitamin. Dr. Jacobs, is the former founding medical director and Endowed Chair of the Osher Center for Integrative Medicine Clinical Programs at University of California - San Francisco. People who take regular doses of vitamin D have a significantly lower risk of dying early than those who do not use supplements.
The reasons why are not well understood but the researchers suggested the vitamin might block cancer cells from spreading or boost the immune system. The results were based on a meta-analysis that reviewed 18 separate trials involving nearly 60,000 patients. The doses averaged 528 international units, within the range of most commercially available vitamin D supplements. Those who took vitamin D supplements had a 7 percent lower risk of death. The specific causes of death were not yet evaluated.
We do know that Vitamin D is important for both healthy teeth and bones as well as nerve cells such as in the brain and seems to act as an important regulator of the immune system. It is found naturally in only a few foods like oily fish (salmon, tuna, mackerel and sardines) and fish liver oil. It is often added to milk, cereals and orange juice.
But sunlight is the main source for most people; the ultraviolet rays stimulate the skin to produce vitamin D. Many Americans, however, don't have enough vitamin D in their bodies. Many studies have looked at the relationship between cancer and vitamin D, but they have not been able to pinpoint exactly how vitamin D might influence cancer development, how much of an impact it might have or how much vitamin D would be necessary to have any effect.
Two recent studies suggest getting enough vitamin D could help prevent colon, breast and ovarian cancers. The researchers, from the University of California -San Diego, say taking supplements to get more vitamin D might be an easy, inexpensive way to reduce the number of cancer cases in the US. But other experts say it's too soon to recommend taking vitamin D supplements for cancer prevention.
Harvard Medical School researchers reported in the Archives of Internal Medicine that high intakes of vitamin D and calcium cut the risk of breast cancer by nearly one-third in pre-menopausal women, but not women past menopause.
The U.S. Institute of Medicine's new levels aren't Recommended Dietary Allowances, or RDAs, because the institute doesn't think there's enough evidence to establish an RDA for vitamin D.
Discuss vitamin D intake with your doctor. And be aware that the Institute of Medicine has declared that 4,000 IUs is the upper tolerable, or safe level, for most people. For babies up to 1 year old, the limit is 1,500 IUs.
Take action to protect yourself:
1. Talk to your health provider about the latest research on vitamin D and ask for a blood test to see if you are deficient (<15>30 ng/ml.
2. Find good sources of vitamin D in your diet, e.g. oily fish and fortified foods (milk, orange juice, cereals).
3. Get 10-15 minutes of sun exposure on your face/arms or back 2 days per week, then apply sunscreen to reduce the risk of skin cancer.
4. Take 1,000-2,000 IU of vitamin D as a dietary supplement on days that you do not get enough intake from the sun and food. Check the label on your multi-vitamin, since most don't have adequate amounts.
reprinted from Pharmaca.com
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