Rachael's blog

Yesterday, The Trust for America's Health (in partnership with The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation)  released it's annual report: "F as in Fat: How Obesity Threatens America's Future 2010".

Not surprisingly, the report found "troubling racial, ethnic, regional and income disparities in the nation's obesity epidemic":

I have written before on our blog about how much I enjoy The New York Times' health blog "The Well", as it features really healthy recipes that are heavy on whole foods, usually call for few ingredients, and often feature seasonal produce. One of the writers for the blog, Martha Rose Shulman, was featured in an "ask the chef" column several weeks ago, and I just found it today. It has got some great answers to questions that many of us have about eating and living well. I have posted a sample question below from the colum...if you'd like to read more, click on the following link:

consults.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/04/20/insert-credit-martha-rose-shul/

The Huffington Post had a nice little article with advice to help shoppers navigate farmers' markets. I think the list is really helpful, particularly for someone new to  this kind of shopping experience! 

Here are a few of the tips:

1. Arrive early.

2. Bring a large bag- most vendors provide only small plastic bags.

3. Purchase new foods- farmers' markets are wonderful places for buying  non-staple produce.

4. Ask questions!

5. Bring cash-most vendors do not accept credit/debit cards.

For the full text, follow the link:

www.huffingtonpost.com/darya-pino/farmers-market-tips_b_550177.html#s94222

In 1970, only 5.5% of babies were delivered by caesarean section. Today, the figure is much closer to 30%, and in some metropolitan centers the rate is even higher. This surgery has without a doubt saved the lives of thousands of mothers and babies who were in great distress. I am glad that this option exists, but I really hope to avoid it when I have my own baby unless it is absolutely necessary. Because it has become so common, many times we forget that this is major surgery that can present risks to mothers and babies when used as an equal alternative to a more natural birth instead of the option of last resort. 

The increase in caesarean rates has been linked to a variety of factors, from the rise in the use of fetal monitoring devices, to an increase in all births subsequent to a caesarean remaining caesareans. There are lots of factors, but doctors and experts agree that the rates are too high.

In my personal life, I have been experiencing lots of changes that I have not written about on our blog. First, I am very happy to share that my honey and I are going to have our first baby in early fall. I have reached the halfway point, and am really excited. My happiness is tempered by a certain amount of not sadness excatly, but something closer to anxiety, because my Mom was diagnosed with breast cancer a few weeks ago. On Tuesday my Mom had surgery, and it went very, very, well. I am home with my parents (aren't they cute?) this week to help out around the house a bit, and to spend some time with them.

I really love The New York Times' Well Blog; it is a great source for up to the minute information about health, wellness,and food/health policy; it also has tons of recipes (many of them vegetarian, all of them healthy).The following link will take you to The Well Blog's "Healthy Eating on a Dime" article, and five simple, healthy recipes that rely heavily on inexpensive pantry staples. While you're checking out the recipes, take a look around The Well- I think you'll like it!

well.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/03/26/healthful-dining-on-a-dime/

Spring has finally come to Ohio, and after what felt like many, many dark and cold months, we will soon be enjoying many of the seasonal veggies we have been craving all winter.

As such, it is time to start posting recipes featuring seasonal produce, and as spring has just started, I am thinking asparagus! Check out the two recipes below that feature asparagus as a key ingredient.

Penne with Asparagus and Cherry Tomatoes

(from the Food Network)

Today's article in the New York Times ( "The Obesity-Hunger Paradox" ) explains that in many urban areas, hunger and obesity are not parallel problems, but "flip sides of the same malnutrition coin".  The paradox described in the article is that  very often the hungriest people are not underweight, but obese.

Though I am not a Mom yet, I often daydream about the things I'll do when I actually have my own little one. One of the things I particularly look forward to is making baby food at home. Many prepared, jarred baby foods are packed full of refined sugars, starches, additives, and preservatives. Plus, making baby food at home can be a money saver in the long run, and allow us to take advantage of local, seasonal produce.

The following link provides information including equipment and tips for preparing baby foods at home:

planetgreen.discovery.com/home-garden/make-your-own-organic-baby-food.html

As a vegetarian, I can't imagine my life without beans. They are cheap, full of protein and fiber, low in fat, versatile, and delicious. However, I have met many, many people who swear that they cannot eat beans, beans give them terrible gas, beans make their stomachs hurt, and so on. Not having these bean-related issues myself, I have long wondered why beans affect some people in this way.Can anything be done to prevent this problem?

I found an article that explains, among other things, that when a person introduces a new a food to their diet, or eats a certain food very infrequently, digestive problems may ensue: