Full DISHclosure

Farm Bill 101: Don’t be Chicken

Before you run away, let me be the first to admit the Farm Bill, and relevant issues we may vote on in November, seems a tad overwhelming and maybe just a wee bit boring. But I’ll also admit that I believe anyone who eats should know something about what they’re putting in their mouths and why. So I was glad to see the big concepts wrangled into this accessible, and even interesting, Farm Bill Interactive Infographic that addresses how we determine which foods are... Read More

Cinco de Mayo Countdown: Hot Guac!

Margaritas aren’t the only thing that make us eager to celebrate Mexican heritage. Avocados were the aphrodisiac of Aztec choice. In fact the avocado’s original name, “ahutacatl” translates to err, “testical,” so enough said. Ancient Aztec dads might have kept a close eye on their virgin daughters during an avocado harvest, but modern revelers are glad to know that these vitamin B6-rich “fruits of kings“ enhance stamina and testosterone... Read More

Chewing the Fat: Obesity Ads

Georgia’s childhood obesity ads are getting plenty of attention. But has the campaign from Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta bitten off more than kids can chew? As an Atlantan I see the ads. As a parent I see that at this week’s middle school basketball game the booster club is giving away free hotdogs. What’s a kid, of any size, to do? They’re bombarded with misinformation. Every party involves a pizza, and even the vegetarian options are all about... Read More

Food 101

Everything you ever wanted to know, but were afraid to ask, about many of today’s food issues is summed up in this primer by Sustainable Table. Additives Much of the food we find at today’s supermarkets is highly processed and contains numerous food additives. These substances are used to change the way food tastes and looks (altering the color and texture), to improve the nutritional quality of foods (adding vitamins and minerals), and to increase the food’s... Read More

To Bee or Not to Bee?

I heard about Rob the Beekeeper at lunch last week. Actually, overheard. But, I inserted myself into my neighbor’s conversation and extracted info about a honeybee enthusiast who manages residential hives. So, Rob the Beekeeper paid a visit to our busy corner of Atlanta and found a suitable site for a soon-to-bee colony tucked under the magnolias and crepe myrtles. In 48 hours Rob will arrive with our busy new residents, and I can’t wait. Why? Because not only are... Read More

Nosh like Natalie

 Oscar winner and vegan, Natalie Portman explained to The Huffington Post why the book Eating Animals changed her world. Jonathan Safran Foer’s book Eating Animals changed me from a twenty-year vegetarian to a vegan activist. I’ve always been shy about being critical of others’ choices because I hate when people do that to me. I’m often interrogated about being vegetarian (e.g., “What if you find out that carrots feel pain, too? Then what’ll... Read More

Pork Chop with a side of Bugs?

More than 60 percent of transmissible human pathogens originate from factory farms, according to a new report by the International Livestock Research Institute. Writing for VegNews, Alexandra Chang explains that livestock production encourages epidemics.  New diseases appear approximately every four months, and while many are not dangerous, diseases such as avian flu, H1N1 swine flu, and SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) have “huge potential impacts.” Researchers... Read More