I've had an...interesting...couple of weeks, hence no post. I've got a big one saved up that I'll post tomorrow or the next day, hopefully my faithful reader(s) will enjoy. Until then
Dawn Meehan/Chicago Mom's Blog
Regular Because I Said So Link
Like I've said before, I'm a longtime follower of Dawn, and since I'm currently a retail peon, this hits close to home. I never stole anything as a kid, mostly because my parents kept me in pretty thorough hellfire-and-damnation fear of doing anything wrong, period (The consequences of which could fill volumes, and are a story for another day). The closest I ever came to retail theft was once, when in Wal-Mart with my grandmother, she was forced to open and utilize a box of Kleenex to aid my gushingly runny nose. No, she didn't steal it, she just opened and used several of the tissues before we were able to get to the register and pay for them. And I was still mortified, because, quite frankly, I'm still (personally, though not professionally) of the 'it's-not-yours-to-use-till-you've-got-a-receipt' mindset.
I do, however, have some thoughts and examples on the subject from the lady-behind-the-counter point of view. I've yet to have anyone outright grab-and-dash shoplift during a shift. In fact, the only outright theft I've seen was as follows: a couple of large, tattooed and boisterous female customers were milling around in the HBA (health and beauty aid) section of the store, which is nearest to the pharmacy and adjacent to the pharmacy waiting area -- which also happens to be the most discreet area of the store, mainly because it's intended for patients who aren't feeling well or for private counsels with the pharmacist. You can't actually see the waiting area from the pharmacy; because there's a wall and a half-door separating the two, one has to poke one's head around the corner to see what's going on or speak to someone. When closing time neared, the assistant manager discovered that these women, now long gone, had taken several boxes of fancy fake fingernail kits from a display, sat down in the pharmacy waiting area, gave themselves full manicures, and then left the remnants of the kits behind and walked out without paying. Needless to say, we've all kept a closer eye on that part of the store lately.
Here's another scenario -- working in a retail pharmacy, we occasionally get patients who feel like complete and utter crap -- some in pain, some physically ill (if you get my drift), and, more than once, someone still high off anesthesia from an outpatient or dental procedure. On a relatively frequent basis, customers who have been waiting around the store for a prescription to be filled will hand me an empty or half-empty snack and/or drink to scan and add to the receipt. I'm a little more forgiving for people with small, sick children who are too small to leave alone in the car, but the fact of that matter is that we're a relatively small store, and there is a front-store cash register anyone could easily go to and pay for snacks while they're waiting for a script. And if there's not a line, the person at pharmacy pickup is almost always happy to ring anything up, even if it's only a pack of Oreos or a Coke.
I've not really been instructed on what to do in the event of catching someone (a small child or otherwise) shoplifiting, or what to do if someone were to come back and confess. Quite frankly, I think that falls to the general, assistant, or shift manager present at the time. Personally, I'd give them a stern lecture about consequences, but not threaten to call the authorities/handcuff, or anything like that, especially with a small child; I'm of the persuasion that calm reasoning, not threats or scare tactics, is the best way to deal with a kid the first time -- one gentle warning, and then more stern consequences (I don't have any of my own yet, so come back in 10 years and ask me how that's working out for me). The police have only been called to the store once since I've been employed there, and then it was because of a small child who came into the store alone and with a large (and I mean large) amount of money, so theft doesn't seem to be a huge problem. It probably stems from the fact that it's a small town and a very high percentage of the customers are people you recongnize and call by name.
A final thought: I've mentioned Wal-Mart before, and now's probably a good time to do it again. Lots of the commenters to Dawn's post were appalled that an employee would act so nonchalantly towards retail theft. It might surprise you, then, to learn that some Wal-Mart stores (the one in my hometown included) have adopted a policy of not prosecuting shoplifting cases where the merchandise total is under $25, no matter the age of the thief. Take into consideration how much of the merchandise at Wal-Mart is priced over $25. Jewelry... electronics... furniture. Very little else. Basically, one could steal an item (or a few) with absolutely no legal consequence (though I'm assuming a ban from the store might be involved somehow). I shall end with two opposing stories about the security of my local supercenter.
1) I personally witnessed an angry, angsty-looking teenager who, in all likelyhood (because of the outcome, I'll never know for sure), had something under her sweatshirt that made the alarms go off. I suspect this was the case because, although she never broke into a run or anything like that, she sure sped up her pace out the door. She was with her mother, who had a cart full of (bagged and paid for) groceries, and who also sped up noticibly at the sound of the alarm. The greeter, who had to be in her seventies, tried several times in vain to get their attention, but they were well into the parking lot before she could even reach the door. The greeter turned around, sighed with a knowing look on her face, waved us past, and went back to whatever it was she had been doing previously.
2) I know from a firsthand account that a local sheriff's deputy once chased down and apprehended an (adult) shoplifter he spotted running out of Wal-Mart -- while he was off duty, in his family vehicle, with his wife and kids in tow. Now there's dedication.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Mmm... housewifery
Bon appétit posted this video via Shine this morning (I'll also embed it below), and watching it made me laugh so hard I almost cried. At the same time, however, both the feminist and the culinary parts of my brain stroked out a little.
Let's get a couple of things straight. I've mentioned before that since we both work and since it is, in fact, the 21st century around here, MrMMO and I share the various household responsibilities. He he sticks mostly to cleaning (vacuuming, dusting, etc) and general repairs (especially the ones that require someone tall), and I cook and do laundry. The dishes go back and forth. Things also switch up every once in a while depending on the schedule, with the exception of cooking dinner, which MrMMO has done only once, when I was incapacitated (His grandmother made the point once when I joked about it that her husband couldn't have done it that one time even if his life had depended on it, so I do have it pretty darn good.). Don't get me wrong; he's capable of feeding himself while I'm at work, and makes a damned good sandwich, and even cooked for me every once in a while when we first dated (including another time I was incapacitated, after a root canal, and he worked diligently to think of anything and everything soft enough for me to eat). It's just that in my house, I do the majority of the cooking. I put things in particular places; I have particular techniques. While we do all the grocery shopping together, I always put everything away by myself so I know where it is. As someone who's competent enough to bring home half the bacon (figurative bacon), I like that I can have my domain actually cooking the bacon (literal bacon...mmm,bacon).
So back to the video. First of all, it does sound really, really condescending, but in a way, I kind of understand the point. I've been in the kitchen pretty much all my life, and by complete choice rather than any sort of requirement. Cooking, especially baking, relaxes me. I use it as a coping mechanism to deal with loss, sadness, frustration, nerves, etc. I'm not talking about eating so much as the sheer act of baking; it makes a lot of sense psychologically, because baking is all about being precise -- it's something I can have almost complete control of even when the situation otherwise may be out of my control. Aside from that, cupcakes are delicious. However, I know that isn't always the case. My mother learned to cook when she was first married, because her mother shooed her out of the kitchen for much of her life before that. And my grandmother only learned to cook when she got married as well (incidentally enough in the early '40s, a few years before this video was made), because she was the baby of the family and her older sisters did most of the work in the kitchen. Suddenly having a husband to feed (and in my grandmother's case, several farmhands as well) three times a day was probably daunting. For me, it just meant buying more pork chops and switching up the routine a little, and I'm really grateful for that.
There are a couple of things in the video that really did irk me though. I can understand the Amelia Bedelia thing with 'creaming the butter,' but pretty much anyone who is completely new to cooking would have the common sense to find out what that meant before doing it, especially if the recipe didn't actually call for any cream. Yes, I know it was the '40s and there was no Google, but most people would still look in the back for a glossary, that's why there were there back in the day. And while some terms like 'soft-ball' and 'stiff peaks' (yeah, try to read that again without laughing, I dare you) really do need in-depth explanation, do we really need a complex discussion of what it means to 'stir?' A basic knowledge of the English language in and of itself should be able to get one to even so much as guess what it means to stir a sauce or batter. Same for boil, though maybe I'm overestimating the ladies of a couple generations ago.
A couple other comments:
Let's get a couple of things straight. I've mentioned before that since we both work and since it is, in fact, the 21st century around here, MrMMO and I share the various household responsibilities. He he sticks mostly to cleaning (vacuuming, dusting, etc) and general repairs (especially the ones that require someone tall), and I cook and do laundry. The dishes go back and forth. Things also switch up every once in a while depending on the schedule, with the exception of cooking dinner, which MrMMO has done only once, when I was incapacitated (His grandmother made the point once when I joked about it that her husband couldn't have done it that one time even if his life had depended on it, so I do have it pretty darn good.). Don't get me wrong; he's capable of feeding himself while I'm at work, and makes a damned good sandwich, and even cooked for me every once in a while when we first dated (including another time I was incapacitated, after a root canal, and he worked diligently to think of anything and everything soft enough for me to eat). It's just that in my house, I do the majority of the cooking. I put things in particular places; I have particular techniques. While we do all the grocery shopping together, I always put everything away by myself so I know where it is. As someone who's competent enough to bring home half the bacon (figurative bacon), I like that I can have my domain actually cooking the bacon (literal bacon...mmm,bacon).
So back to the video. First of all, it does sound really, really condescending, but in a way, I kind of understand the point. I've been in the kitchen pretty much all my life, and by complete choice rather than any sort of requirement. Cooking, especially baking, relaxes me. I use it as a coping mechanism to deal with loss, sadness, frustration, nerves, etc. I'm not talking about eating so much as the sheer act of baking; it makes a lot of sense psychologically, because baking is all about being precise -- it's something I can have almost complete control of even when the situation otherwise may be out of my control. Aside from that, cupcakes are delicious. However, I know that isn't always the case. My mother learned to cook when she was first married, because her mother shooed her out of the kitchen for much of her life before that. And my grandmother only learned to cook when she got married as well (incidentally enough in the early '40s, a few years before this video was made), because she was the baby of the family and her older sisters did most of the work in the kitchen. Suddenly having a husband to feed (and in my grandmother's case, several farmhands as well) three times a day was probably daunting. For me, it just meant buying more pork chops and switching up the routine a little, and I'm really grateful for that.
There are a couple of things in the video that really did irk me though. I can understand the Amelia Bedelia thing with 'creaming the butter,' but pretty much anyone who is completely new to cooking would have the common sense to find out what that meant before doing it, especially if the recipe didn't actually call for any cream. Yes, I know it was the '40s and there was no Google, but most people would still look in the back for a glossary, that's why there were there back in the day. And while some terms like 'soft-ball' and 'stiff peaks' (yeah, try to read that again without laughing, I dare you) really do need in-depth explanation, do we really need a complex discussion of what it means to 'stir?' A basic knowledge of the English language in and of itself should be able to get one to even so much as guess what it means to stir a sauce or batter. Same for boil, though maybe I'm overestimating the ladies of a couple generations ago.
A couple other comments:
- I thought they actually oversimplified kneading a bit.
- I actually learned stewing/braising the other way around -- that stewing involves flour and braising does not, though that may also be a regional thing. Or I just braise a lot less and stew a lot more than I thought I did.
- One of my favorite lines in the whole thing was, 'At some point, you will decide to serve scalloped cauliflower.' I found this interesting because, quite frankly, that is one of the few dishes that I don't ever plan on serving; I hate cauliflower. I've tried it, and I don't like it; the smell nauseates me, and the taste continues the trend the smell began. Even when scalloped. I like to make a few other scalloped dishes, but never that. Ugh.
- What in heaven's name is all over that cake when it's finished? Some sort of nuts, or candied fruit perhaps? I can't tell, and mostly it just served to freak me out.
- I wouldn't recommend making jam/jelly to someone who's not even comfortable creaming butter yet. Even I have not attempted to do so, partially because of lack of the proper equipment, and partially because of an incident in the second half of Little Women, where Meg tries to make jelly. I'm planning to learn sometime soon, but it just seems a bit complex in a video that's also teaching people how to stir.
- The phrase 'and he'll never know the difference' really irked me in two ways. First of all, that man did not need cake. It's not like it was a holiday or his birthday or anything. It was a weekday lunch for crying out loud. What would his reaction be if there was no cake? He probably wouldn't have noticed at all, the ungrateful jerk. If it'd been me, and I screwed up a cake like that (it didn't look ruined, per se, just a bit dense), I either would have made it into a trifle/parfait of some sort, or said, 'Look honey, brownies!'
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Midmonth Madness: April
Since it's been a crazy, crazy week, I decided to do another midmonth post and cover several things at once.
First of all, I have conquered the Double-Down. And, quite frankly, it was delicious. I was pretty accurate in the way I finished my previous post. I tried one, I liked it, but I don't really have any desire to make it part of my regular routine. Really, the hardest part was when they asked me if I wanted it grilled or crispy, as I'm partial to both incarnations of KFC. So I did what any quick thinking, hungry lady would do; I asked for half-and-half. And they were very accomodating; there was a grilled piece on the bottom and a crispy on the top. My only complaint of the sandwich in and of itself is that it was far too messy to actually eat as a sandwich by the time I got home. The cheese was all melty everywhere and it was quite saucy, to the point where even the little wrapper-thingy wouldn't have helped. So I ate it with a knife and fork. In fact, this is where my only complaint comes in; It's really not all that different (in basic build and concept) from some fancy stuffed chicken breast dish you might find in a sit-down restaurant; it's just a fast-food version. It's probably similar in calories, too, although I'm sure a homemade version would have less sodium. It was a little spicy, but in a good way. I'm also a little sad that they no longer carry corn-on-the-cob at my local KFC, which would have been my side of choice.
Edit: After writing all that, I've found that Serious Eats did two posts on the Double-Down that echo my sentiments exactly: A homemade Double-Down that looks really, really good, and a discussion of how the 'phenomenon' is really just jazzed up Cordon Bleu.
The topic of the day is pretty much the same on all entertainment websites: LoCo! I'm not a huge fan of George Lopez (no offense, he's funny, but if I'm up that late it's going to be Craig Ferguson), but I've always been a Conan fan, and will be no matter what network he's on. I'm very, very glad he got a deal, and though I don't have the cash or the time to go see his live tour (the nearest performace is nearly 5 hours away, so it would require time off from work, etc), but I can't freakin' wait until he's back on TV.
Also, although I wasn't really impressed with SNL on the whole this week, I really liked Tina Fey's bit on Weekend Update.
"When your body looks like a dirtbag's binder from 7th grade metal shop, it doesn't bode well for your character." Right on.
Finally, there was a letter that hit close to home in Dear Abby this week, and I thought I'd put my two cents in on that as well. It's the second letter, about a kid not wanting to go to prom. I feel like Abby hit the nail on the head, and I'll share my story as to why. I was a total social butterfly most of high school, but didn't go to the first major dance, my freshman homecoming. The guy I wanted to go with had another date (who, incidentally, ended up an in-law of mine after she broke up with him, and married her husband, MrMMO's cousin), and I didn't have the nerve to go stag. Instead, I went to the movies with one of my friends. Did I miss out? Nah. There were other dances I had plenty of fun at, and was able to smile at doing something unique and a little nonconformist instead. This sort of topic came up on Easter as well, because my younger brother-in-law 's girlfriend is going stag to her senior prom; the school's rules won't allow my BIL to attend because he's a couple of years older, even though he's an alumnus. I figured she'd be crushed that they can't go together, but she's taking it all in stride, instead focusing on details like her dress and how much fun she's going to have with her friends. She's classy like that. My point is that all the fancy high school dances and whatnot aren't special in and of themselves, but are what you make of them.
First of all, I have conquered the Double-Down. And, quite frankly, it was delicious. I was pretty accurate in the way I finished my previous post. I tried one, I liked it, but I don't really have any desire to make it part of my regular routine. Really, the hardest part was when they asked me if I wanted it grilled or crispy, as I'm partial to both incarnations of KFC. So I did what any quick thinking, hungry lady would do; I asked for half-and-half. And they were very accomodating; there was a grilled piece on the bottom and a crispy on the top. My only complaint of the sandwich in and of itself is that it was far too messy to actually eat as a sandwich by the time I got home. The cheese was all melty everywhere and it was quite saucy, to the point where even the little wrapper-thingy wouldn't have helped. So I ate it with a knife and fork. In fact, this is where my only complaint comes in; It's really not all that different (in basic build and concept) from some fancy stuffed chicken breast dish you might find in a sit-down restaurant; it's just a fast-food version. It's probably similar in calories, too, although I'm sure a homemade version would have less sodium. It was a little spicy, but in a good way. I'm also a little sad that they no longer carry corn-on-the-cob at my local KFC, which would have been my side of choice.
Edit: After writing all that, I've found that Serious Eats did two posts on the Double-Down that echo my sentiments exactly: A homemade Double-Down that looks really, really good, and a discussion of how the 'phenomenon' is really just jazzed up Cordon Bleu.
The topic of the day is pretty much the same on all entertainment websites: LoCo! I'm not a huge fan of George Lopez (no offense, he's funny, but if I'm up that late it's going to be Craig Ferguson), but I've always been a Conan fan, and will be no matter what network he's on. I'm very, very glad he got a deal, and though I don't have the cash or the time to go see his live tour (the nearest performace is nearly 5 hours away, so it would require time off from work, etc), but I can't freakin' wait until he's back on TV.
Also, although I wasn't really impressed with SNL on the whole this week, I really liked Tina Fey's bit on Weekend Update.
"When your body looks like a dirtbag's binder from 7th grade metal shop, it doesn't bode well for your character." Right on.
Finally, there was a letter that hit close to home in Dear Abby this week, and I thought I'd put my two cents in on that as well. It's the second letter, about a kid not wanting to go to prom. I feel like Abby hit the nail on the head, and I'll share my story as to why. I was a total social butterfly most of high school, but didn't go to the first major dance, my freshman homecoming. The guy I wanted to go with had another date (who, incidentally, ended up an in-law of mine after she broke up with him, and married her husband, MrMMO's cousin), and I didn't have the nerve to go stag. Instead, I went to the movies with one of my friends. Did I miss out? Nah. There were other dances I had plenty of fun at, and was able to smile at doing something unique and a little nonconformist instead. This sort of topic came up on Easter as well, because my younger brother-in-law 's girlfriend is going stag to her senior prom; the school's rules won't allow my BIL to attend because he's a couple of years older, even though he's an alumnus. I figured she'd be crushed that they can't go together, but she's taking it all in stride, instead focusing on details like her dress and how much fun she's going to have with her friends. She's classy like that. My point is that all the fancy high school dances and whatnot aren't special in and of themselves, but are what you make of them.
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Heart attack food? Compared to what?
This is a direct response to an angry Shine posting on KFC's new 'Double-Down' sandwich, which consists of (according to the KFC website) "two thick and juicy boneless white meat chicken filets, two pieces of bacon, two melted slices of Monterey Jack and pepper jack cheese and Colonel's Sauce." On paper, that does sound pretty bad. It's a bacon sandwich on chicken instead of bread. But once I started looking at the nutrition information, it is, comparitively, right in the middle of the fast food pack. For the purposes of comparison, I found the closest thing I could at a few other major chains -- I was looking for anything that contained a chicken filet (KFC offers both fried and grilled, so I'll look at both), bacon, and some sort of cheese and/or sauce component.
Here's what I found, starting with the Double-Down. KFC has released 3 major components of nutritional info for it so far, and I'm assuming there will be more details once release day is upon us. The 'fried' version contains 540 calories, 32 grams of fat, and 1380mg of sodium. The fat and sodium content is high, but as you'll see soon, not all that uncommon. The 'grilled' version of the Double-Down contains 460 calories, 23 grams of fat, and 1430mg of sodium, which is basically an entire day's worth of sodium in a single sandwich-type object.
Now let's look at its fast-food cousins, shall we?
Burger King offers two similar sandwiches, the Tendercrisp and the Tendergrill. The Tendercrisp is "a premium white meat chicken filet with crisp breading, fresh lettuce, red ripe tomatoes, and mayo on a corn-dusted bun." It contains 800 calories, 46 grams of fat, and 1640 mg of sodium. The Tendergrill is "a juicy grilled chicken filet on a corn-dusted bun, topped with crisp lettuce tomato." (That 'crisp lettuce tomato bit is copied and pasted directly from the website) It contains 490 calories, 21 grams of fat, and 1220mg of sodium. Note that this sandwich has neither bacon nor cheese. Since Burger King has a tool that lets one add and remove items from their sandwiches, I decided to play around a bit and get BK's Tendercrisp as close to a Double-Down as possible. I took away the lettuce, tomato, mayo, and bun, added a second chicken patty, bacon, cheese, and 'Stacker Sauce,' which I figured would be the closest possible cousin to Colonel's Sauce. My TendercrispDouble-Down, or 'TCDD' came in at 890 calories, 55g fat, and 2690mg of sodium. If you don't believe the visual below, go try it for yourself.
For McDonald's, I used their Premium Chicken Club sandwiches, both crispy and grilled. Each features a honey wheat roll, bacon, swiss cheese, lettuce, tomato, and mayo. The crispy comes in at 630 calories, 28g of fat, and 1360mg of sodium. The grilled contains 530 calories, 17g of fat, and 1410mg of sodium.
Wendy's closest equivalents are the Ultimate Chicken Grill and the Chicken Club. The UCG doesn't normally contain cheese or bacon, but it's available upon request, so I added it, bringing the grand total to 500 calories, 19 grams of fat, and 1630g of sodium. The Chicken Club contains 620 calories, 20g of fat, and 1490mg of sodium.
Finally, Arby's, which offers a roasted or crispy Chicken, Bacon and Swiss sandwich. The crispy comes in at 590 calories, 27g of fat and 1560mg of sodium, while the roasted contains 470 calories, 19g of fat and 1370mg of sodium.
Let's compare, shall we, first the fried offerings, and then the grilled/roasted offerings.
Fried
KFC -- 540 calories, 32 grams of fat, and 1380mg of sodium
BK -- 800 calories, 46 grams of fat, and 1640 mg of sodium
TCDD -- 890 calories, 55g fat, and 2690mg of sodium
McDs -- 630 calories, 28g of fat, and 1360mg of sodium
Wendy's -- 620 calories, 20g of fat, and 1490mg of sodium.
Arby's -- 590 calories, 27g of fat and 1560mg of sodium
The Double-Down from KFC is actually the lowest in calories out of all of these, though McDonald's has the lowest sodium content and Wendy's has the least fat. The regular Tendercrisp sandwich from Burger King has the highest calorie, fat, and sodium content of any of the regular sandwiches. If you got the equivalent of a Double-Down from BK, you'd be consuming 350 more calories, 23 more grams of fat, and almost twice the sodium.
Now let's look at grilled options.
KFC -- 460 calories, 23 grams of fat, and 1430mg of sodium
BK -- 490 calories, 21 grams of fat, and 1220mg of sodium
McDs -- 530 calories, 17g of fat, and 1410mg of sodium
Wendy's -- 500 calories, 19 grams of fat, and 1630g of sodium
Arby's -- 470 calories, 19g of fat and 1370mg of sodium
KFC is, again, lowest in calories here, but McDonald's wins in terms of fat grams, and Burger King actually has the lowest amount of sodium in the grilled category. Wendy's has the highest calorie and sodium counts, and KFC the highest fat count.
So what does this all mean? Well first of all, the major difference here is that most of these sandwiches are on buns rather than having the meat itself serve as the bun. Until more detailed nutritional information comes out about the Double-Down -- saturated fat, etc -- it can't be said for sure, but is it really all that much worse than anything offered at any other major fast food chain? None of this stuff could be considered health food -- all these calorie and fat counts are just for the sandwiches -- it's not even factoring in fries. Who the heck goes to a fast food restaurant for a sandwich and doesn't get any darned fries (or, in the case of Wendy's, a broccoli-cheese baked potato...mmm). Yes, this is coming from a woman who once polished off an entire triple Baconator, but I also eat like a sensible, healthy adult 95% of the time. Will I try a Double-Down? Heck yeah! It looks delicious! Will I eat them on a regular basis? Of course not!
Here's what I found, starting with the Double-Down. KFC has released 3 major components of nutritional info for it so far, and I'm assuming there will be more details once release day is upon us. The 'fried' version contains 540 calories, 32 grams of fat, and 1380mg of sodium. The fat and sodium content is high, but as you'll see soon, not all that uncommon. The 'grilled' version of the Double-Down contains 460 calories, 23 grams of fat, and 1430mg of sodium, which is basically an entire day's worth of sodium in a single sandwich-type object.
Now let's look at its fast-food cousins, shall we?
Burger King offers two similar sandwiches, the Tendercrisp and the Tendergrill. The Tendercrisp is "a premium white meat chicken filet with crisp breading, fresh lettuce, red ripe tomatoes, and mayo on a corn-dusted bun." It contains 800 calories, 46 grams of fat, and 1640 mg of sodium. The Tendergrill is "a juicy grilled chicken filet on a corn-dusted bun, topped with crisp lettuce tomato." (That 'crisp lettuce tomato bit is copied and pasted directly from the website) It contains 490 calories, 21 grams of fat, and 1220mg of sodium. Note that this sandwich has neither bacon nor cheese. Since Burger King has a tool that lets one add and remove items from their sandwiches, I decided to play around a bit and get BK's Tendercrisp as close to a Double-Down as possible. I took away the lettuce, tomato, mayo, and bun, added a second chicken patty, bacon, cheese, and 'Stacker Sauce,' which I figured would be the closest possible cousin to Colonel's Sauce. My TendercrispDouble-Down, or 'TCDD' came in at 890 calories, 55g fat, and 2690mg of sodium. If you don't believe the visual below, go try it for yourself.
For McDonald's, I used their Premium Chicken Club sandwiches, both crispy and grilled. Each features a honey wheat roll, bacon, swiss cheese, lettuce, tomato, and mayo. The crispy comes in at 630 calories, 28g of fat, and 1360mg of sodium. The grilled contains 530 calories, 17g of fat, and 1410mg of sodium.
Wendy's closest equivalents are the Ultimate Chicken Grill and the Chicken Club. The UCG doesn't normally contain cheese or bacon, but it's available upon request, so I added it, bringing the grand total to 500 calories, 19 grams of fat, and 1630g of sodium. The Chicken Club contains 620 calories, 20g of fat, and 1490mg of sodium.
Finally, Arby's, which offers a roasted or crispy Chicken, Bacon and Swiss sandwich. The crispy comes in at 590 calories, 27g of fat and 1560mg of sodium, while the roasted contains 470 calories, 19g of fat and 1370mg of sodium.
Let's compare, shall we, first the fried offerings, and then the grilled/roasted offerings.
Fried
KFC -- 540 calories, 32 grams of fat, and 1380mg of sodium
BK -- 800 calories, 46 grams of fat, and 1640 mg of sodium
TCDD -- 890 calories, 55g fat, and 2690mg of sodium
McDs -- 630 calories, 28g of fat, and 1360mg of sodium
Wendy's -- 620 calories, 20g of fat, and 1490mg of sodium.
Arby's -- 590 calories, 27g of fat and 1560mg of sodium
The Double-Down from KFC is actually the lowest in calories out of all of these, though McDonald's has the lowest sodium content and Wendy's has the least fat. The regular Tendercrisp sandwich from Burger King has the highest calorie, fat, and sodium content of any of the regular sandwiches. If you got the equivalent of a Double-Down from BK, you'd be consuming 350 more calories, 23 more grams of fat, and almost twice the sodium.
Now let's look at grilled options.
KFC -- 460 calories, 23 grams of fat, and 1430mg of sodium
BK -- 490 calories, 21 grams of fat, and 1220mg of sodium
McDs -- 530 calories, 17g of fat, and 1410mg of sodium
Wendy's -- 500 calories, 19 grams of fat, and 1630g of sodium
Arby's -- 470 calories, 19g of fat and 1370mg of sodium
KFC is, again, lowest in calories here, but McDonald's wins in terms of fat grams, and Burger King actually has the lowest amount of sodium in the grilled category. Wendy's has the highest calorie and sodium counts, and KFC the highest fat count.
So what does this all mean? Well first of all, the major difference here is that most of these sandwiches are on buns rather than having the meat itself serve as the bun. Until more detailed nutritional information comes out about the Double-Down -- saturated fat, etc -- it can't be said for sure, but is it really all that much worse than anything offered at any other major fast food chain? None of this stuff could be considered health food -- all these calorie and fat counts are just for the sandwiches -- it's not even factoring in fries. Who the heck goes to a fast food restaurant for a sandwich and doesn't get any darned fries (or, in the case of Wendy's, a broccoli-cheese baked potato...mmm). Yes, this is coming from a woman who once polished off an entire triple Baconator, but I also eat like a sensible, healthy adult 95% of the time. Will I try a Double-Down? Heck yeah! It looks delicious! Will I eat them on a regular basis? Of course not!
Monday, April 5, 2010
Mmm... pie
Happy day after Easter!
Yesterday was yet another reminder of why I love being a part of MrMMO's family. We spent the day at his grandmother's, along with various relatives, and had a fantastic time. We went out to eat and then had dessert at home -- I ate a ton, but spent most of the day laughing my butt off, so I figure most of the calories got burned off. Part of what I love about his family is that no one expects anything fancy; they're more focused on having a good time than where they're at or how fancy everything is. Last Thanksgiving I made a very simple chocolate cream pie, and it was a huge hit with my brothers-in-law (any anyone else who managed to snag a piece before they demolished it), so I made another for Easter. It's incridibly easy, with great results.
MrsMMO's Chocolate Cream Pie:
The recipe is really simple, but always a hit. If I can get my digital camera to work (and if I can beat MrMMO's appetite) I'll snap a photo of the last piece and edit it in later.
Yesterday was yet another reminder of why I love being a part of MrMMO's family. We spent the day at his grandmother's, along with various relatives, and had a fantastic time. We went out to eat and then had dessert at home -- I ate a ton, but spent most of the day laughing my butt off, so I figure most of the calories got burned off. Part of what I love about his family is that no one expects anything fancy; they're more focused on having a good time than where they're at or how fancy everything is. Last Thanksgiving I made a very simple chocolate cream pie, and it was a huge hit with my brothers-in-law (any anyone else who managed to snag a piece before they demolished it), so I made another for Easter. It's incridibly easy, with great results.
MrsMMO's Chocolate Cream Pie:
- 1 ready-made graham cracker crumb crust (You could make your own, but I don't bother)
- 1 plain Hershey bar (regular size works fine, king-sized is a bit easier to hold and leaves more leftovers for MrMMO to snack on)
- 1 large or two small boxes Jello instant chocolate pudding
- 2 1/2 cups milk (or however much it calls for on the 'pie filling' directions on the pudding box, sometimes it's 2 3/4)
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 tsp. sugar
The recipe is really simple, but always a hit. If I can get my digital camera to work (and if I can beat MrMMO's appetite) I'll snap a photo of the last piece and edit it in later.
Friday, April 2, 2010
Hot Dogs
Happy April! I avoided posting anything yesterday to avoid the whole 'April Fools' thing; I like the jokes that are silly and obvious rather than the ones that head towards the territory of being mean tricks. I thought I'd do a little food-related update today.
I'm still keeping up with Fed Up with Lunch, and now that the embedding tool on YouTube is working again, I'll embed the video I linked to last time, which shows the modern process of making hot dogs:
One fantastic thing that Mrs Q's blog has inspired me to do is to reread Upton Sinclair's novel The Jungle. I've read it twice before, both times for school -- once in eighth grade and again in college, both times for history classes. The first time I couldn't bring myself to eat anything at all for a couple days afterwards and then avoided meat for a few weeks afterwards. For a hardcore omnivore like me, that's a loooong time. The second time I knew what to expect, and it didn't really hurt my appetite like it did the first time. This time it's still not really affecting my appetite, but it's more disturbing to me than the previous reading, probably because of the added attention I've been paying thanks to Mrs Q. I was reading the following passage during my break this morning, and the fact that it's so close in description to the video above really creeped me out. The novel itself is old enough to be public domain, and can be read in its entirety on Project Gutenberg, here. This particular passage can be found at the end of chapter 13; in my copy (Bedford/St. Martin's 2005 edition), it can be found on page 165.
"The sausage-room was an interesting place to visit, for two or three minutes, and provided that you did not look at the people; the machines were perhaps the most wonderful things in the entire plant. Presumably sausages were once chopped and stuffed by hand, and if so it would be interesting to know how many workers had been displaced by these inventions. On one side of the room were the hoppers, into which men shoveled loads of meat and wheelbarrows full of spices; in these great bowls were whirling knives that made two thousand revolutions a minute, and when the meat was ground fine and adulterated with potato flour, and well mixed with water, it was forced to the stuffing machines on the other side of the room. The latter were tended by women; there was a sort of spout, like the nozzle of a hose, and one of the women would take a long string of "casing" and put the end over the nozzle and then work the whole thing on, as one works on the finger of a tight glove. This string would be twenty or thirty feet long, but the woman would have it all on in a jiffy; and when she had several on, she would press a lever, and a stream of sausage meat would be shot out, taking the casing with it as it came. Thus one might stand and see appear, miraculously born from the machine, a wriggling snake of sausage of incredible length. In front was a big pan which caught these creatures, and two more women who seized them as fast as they appeared and twisted them into links. This was for the uninitiated the most perplexing work of all; for all that the woman had to give was a single turn of the wrist; and in some way she contrived to give it so that instead of an endless chain of sausages, one after another, there grew under her hands a bunch of strings, all dangling from a single center. It was quite like the feat of a prestidigitator—for the woman worked so fast that the eye could literally not follow her, and there was only a mist of motion, and tangle after tangle of sausages appearing."
Interesting, no?
I'm still keeping up with Fed Up with Lunch, and now that the embedding tool on YouTube is working again, I'll embed the video I linked to last time, which shows the modern process of making hot dogs:
One fantastic thing that Mrs Q's blog has inspired me to do is to reread Upton Sinclair's novel The Jungle. I've read it twice before, both times for school -- once in eighth grade and again in college, both times for history classes. The first time I couldn't bring myself to eat anything at all for a couple days afterwards and then avoided meat for a few weeks afterwards. For a hardcore omnivore like me, that's a loooong time. The second time I knew what to expect, and it didn't really hurt my appetite like it did the first time. This time it's still not really affecting my appetite, but it's more disturbing to me than the previous reading, probably because of the added attention I've been paying thanks to Mrs Q. I was reading the following passage during my break this morning, and the fact that it's so close in description to the video above really creeped me out. The novel itself is old enough to be public domain, and can be read in its entirety on Project Gutenberg, here. This particular passage can be found at the end of chapter 13; in my copy (Bedford/St. Martin's 2005 edition), it can be found on page 165.
"The sausage-room was an interesting place to visit, for two or three minutes, and provided that you did not look at the people; the machines were perhaps the most wonderful things in the entire plant. Presumably sausages were once chopped and stuffed by hand, and if so it would be interesting to know how many workers had been displaced by these inventions. On one side of the room were the hoppers, into which men shoveled loads of meat and wheelbarrows full of spices; in these great bowls were whirling knives that made two thousand revolutions a minute, and when the meat was ground fine and adulterated with potato flour, and well mixed with water, it was forced to the stuffing machines on the other side of the room. The latter were tended by women; there was a sort of spout, like the nozzle of a hose, and one of the women would take a long string of "casing" and put the end over the nozzle and then work the whole thing on, as one works on the finger of a tight glove. This string would be twenty or thirty feet long, but the woman would have it all on in a jiffy; and when she had several on, she would press a lever, and a stream of sausage meat would be shot out, taking the casing with it as it came. Thus one might stand and see appear, miraculously born from the machine, a wriggling snake of sausage of incredible length. In front was a big pan which caught these creatures, and two more women who seized them as fast as they appeared and twisted them into links. This was for the uninitiated the most perplexing work of all; for all that the woman had to give was a single turn of the wrist; and in some way she contrived to give it so that instead of an endless chain of sausages, one after another, there grew under her hands a bunch of strings, all dangling from a single center. It was quite like the feat of a prestidigitator—for the woman worked so fast that the eye could literally not follow her, and there was only a mist of motion, and tangle after tangle of sausages appearing."
Interesting, no?
Monday, March 29, 2010
A Tribute to my Mother-in-law
I wanted to come back with a post that's a bit less controversial and a bit more pleasant to talk about. Like I said before, I don't want to bring specifics of family into this, so I'll keep it very general.
It's my mother-in-law's birthday this week, and so I thought a tribute to her would be fitting. I love my mother-in-law. She's a bit unconventional, kind, caring, and one of the best cooks I've ever encountered in my life. She calls every couple of days to check in, ask about the day-to-day, compare what we're making for dinner, etc. She always makes sure the whole family gets together a couple of times a year, which we did yesterday. Like all people everywhere, we've had our disagreements, but they never last long and neither of us is the kind of person to hold grudges. Overall, she's about the best MIL one could ask for.
If you search on Shine, which is my primary source of lifestyle articles to read and respond to, you'll find a plethora of articles pertaining to dealing with mothers-in-law. Popping 'mother-in-law' into the search engine for the site returned 600,000 hits. Just on Shine. And quite frankly, most of those articles will drive me insane. Are so many mothers-in-law really this obnoxious? I'm going to use the first that came up: Reader's Digest's '13 Things Your Mother-in-Law Won't Tell You,' in an effort to compare and contrast.
1. I spent a couple of decades being the leading lady; now I have a character role. It hurts to be downsized. I don't think my MIL has ever felt 'downsized,' mostly because she raised some fiercely independent kids. MrMMO and his brothers are all responsible adults with the capabilities to do most anything for themselves. They also all recognize the importance of their mother, and show her the love she's due.
2. I know he's your husband now, but he's still my son. Yes, and in most cultures, those are pretty clearly defined roles. My MIL and I understand that. I don't interfere with the 'mom' parts and she doesn't interfere with the 'wife' parts. It works out well that way.
3. You don't seem very confident about yourself. The littlest comment from me is taken as a criticism, so I'm very careful what I say around you. Not so much, and maybe that's the problem for most people. My MIL is very direct to me, and I to her. She's also loving, supportive, and praising of my accomplishments. When I mess up, she tells me, but also helps fix the problem as best she can. It's called 'constructive criticism.'
4. Every year, I send you a birthday present, but you never even pick up the phone to thank me. This year, I said, "That's it. No more." Yet look at me: I'm about to send another present. I guess that's how I am. I don't think my MIL's ever gotten me a birthday present, but she does call to wish me a happy birthday. And I always say thank you. I made her cupcakes for her birthday, and she thanked me at least twice, and again in front of everyone at the dinner table. Maybe it's just impolite people that are the real problem.
5. We mothers say to our children, "I want you to be happy." And we mean that. What we don't say is, "But I would like to be happy too." Actually, she has said that. Again, honesty seems to be a big part of why our relationship works.
6. I've bought and sold 13 houses in my life. Why won't you ask for my advice? We have, and we will again. In fact, I ask for her advice pretty frequently and on all kinds of topics, because she's done all of this stuff before.
7. When I visit you, I'm not coming for a white-glove inspection. I'm just coming to see the family. Don't look at me, your son's the one who cleans the house. I kid, I kid -- he does do the vacuuming and dusting, but that's not the point. She doesn't expect my house to be spotless, and I don't expect hers to be either. There are more important things in life to focus on.
8. When I really want to talk to my son privately, I don't call your house. I call his cell phone. She calls me on my cell and talks to me privately too. And when she wants to talk to both of us she calls the house phone.
9. I'm so happy that you allow my son—your husband—to visit me on Mother's Day. It's a long trip and a big expense. I'm truly appreciative. It's fifteen minutes and 3 gallons of gas round-trip. And actually, she doesn't really make a big deal out of Mother's Day, she'd rather see everyone all at once on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and/or Easter. But even so, it's not really extravagantly hard to see her any time we want. And that's relatively often.
10. My dirty little secret: I'm afraid that if I don't get this right, you'll cut me off. She would have to do something really, really awful for me to even consider that as an option. I like my MIL, and I value her input.
11. I'm in competition with your mother. She takes you on vacations every year and buys things I can't afford. All I can do is love you and babysit for you. I hope that's enough and that it's appreciated. It's not a competition. You're different people, and have different ways of doing things. I talk to my MIL in ways I could never talk to my mother, and we have a completely different relationship. My MIL knows she's appreciated because I try and tell her so as often as I can.
12. Whenever I stay at your house, you always have my room ready, my towels, everything. You do all the right things. I'm lucky to have you! Ha! I don't even have my own room that put together. Seriously though, we live so close that staying the night really isn't necessary. However, she does tell me she appreciates me in other ways. As I mentioned earlier, she's an amazing cook. Desserts aren't really her thing though, and always came from a bakery until I (maker of tasty, tasty desserts) joined the family. In return, she has taught me how to make half a dozen dishes I'd never had before dating MrMMO, and they've become regulars in our house.
13. I cherish the refrigerator magnet you gave me: "Age and treachery will always overcome youth and skill." I've never given my MIL a refrigerator magnet. She has one my younger brother-in-law (now in his 20s) made in kindergarten, but none from me. I think 'treachery' is the key word here, though. She isn't treacherous, and that's part of what makes our relationship break the stereotype.
It's my mother-in-law's birthday this week, and so I thought a tribute to her would be fitting. I love my mother-in-law. She's a bit unconventional, kind, caring, and one of the best cooks I've ever encountered in my life. She calls every couple of days to check in, ask about the day-to-day, compare what we're making for dinner, etc. She always makes sure the whole family gets together a couple of times a year, which we did yesterday. Like all people everywhere, we've had our disagreements, but they never last long and neither of us is the kind of person to hold grudges. Overall, she's about the best MIL one could ask for.
If you search on Shine, which is my primary source of lifestyle articles to read and respond to, you'll find a plethora of articles pertaining to dealing with mothers-in-law. Popping 'mother-in-law' into the search engine for the site returned 600,000 hits. Just on Shine. And quite frankly, most of those articles will drive me insane. Are so many mothers-in-law really this obnoxious? I'm going to use the first that came up: Reader's Digest's '13 Things Your Mother-in-Law Won't Tell You,' in an effort to compare and contrast.
1. I spent a couple of decades being the leading lady; now I have a character role. It hurts to be downsized. I don't think my MIL has ever felt 'downsized,' mostly because she raised some fiercely independent kids. MrMMO and his brothers are all responsible adults with the capabilities to do most anything for themselves. They also all recognize the importance of their mother, and show her the love she's due.
2. I know he's your husband now, but he's still my son. Yes, and in most cultures, those are pretty clearly defined roles. My MIL and I understand that. I don't interfere with the 'mom' parts and she doesn't interfere with the 'wife' parts. It works out well that way.
3. You don't seem very confident about yourself. The littlest comment from me is taken as a criticism, so I'm very careful what I say around you. Not so much, and maybe that's the problem for most people. My MIL is very direct to me, and I to her. She's also loving, supportive, and praising of my accomplishments. When I mess up, she tells me, but also helps fix the problem as best she can. It's called 'constructive criticism.'
4. Every year, I send you a birthday present, but you never even pick up the phone to thank me. This year, I said, "That's it. No more." Yet look at me: I'm about to send another present. I guess that's how I am. I don't think my MIL's ever gotten me a birthday present, but she does call to wish me a happy birthday. And I always say thank you. I made her cupcakes for her birthday, and she thanked me at least twice, and again in front of everyone at the dinner table. Maybe it's just impolite people that are the real problem.
5. We mothers say to our children, "I want you to be happy." And we mean that. What we don't say is, "But I would like to be happy too." Actually, she has said that. Again, honesty seems to be a big part of why our relationship works.
6. I've bought and sold 13 houses in my life. Why won't you ask for my advice? We have, and we will again. In fact, I ask for her advice pretty frequently and on all kinds of topics, because she's done all of this stuff before.
7. When I visit you, I'm not coming for a white-glove inspection. I'm just coming to see the family. Don't look at me, your son's the one who cleans the house. I kid, I kid -- he does do the vacuuming and dusting, but that's not the point. She doesn't expect my house to be spotless, and I don't expect hers to be either. There are more important things in life to focus on.
8. When I really want to talk to my son privately, I don't call your house. I call his cell phone. She calls me on my cell and talks to me privately too. And when she wants to talk to both of us she calls the house phone.
9. I'm so happy that you allow my son—your husband—to visit me on Mother's Day. It's a long trip and a big expense. I'm truly appreciative. It's fifteen minutes and 3 gallons of gas round-trip. And actually, she doesn't really make a big deal out of Mother's Day, she'd rather see everyone all at once on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and/or Easter. But even so, it's not really extravagantly hard to see her any time we want. And that's relatively often.
10. My dirty little secret: I'm afraid that if I don't get this right, you'll cut me off. She would have to do something really, really awful for me to even consider that as an option. I like my MIL, and I value her input.
11. I'm in competition with your mother. She takes you on vacations every year and buys things I can't afford. All I can do is love you and babysit for you. I hope that's enough and that it's appreciated. It's not a competition. You're different people, and have different ways of doing things. I talk to my MIL in ways I could never talk to my mother, and we have a completely different relationship. My MIL knows she's appreciated because I try and tell her so as often as I can.
12. Whenever I stay at your house, you always have my room ready, my towels, everything. You do all the right things. I'm lucky to have you! Ha! I don't even have my own room that put together. Seriously though, we live so close that staying the night really isn't necessary. However, she does tell me she appreciates me in other ways. As I mentioned earlier, she's an amazing cook. Desserts aren't really her thing though, and always came from a bakery until I (maker of tasty, tasty desserts) joined the family. In return, she has taught me how to make half a dozen dishes I'd never had before dating MrMMO, and they've become regulars in our house.
13. I cherish the refrigerator magnet you gave me: "Age and treachery will always overcome youth and skill." I've never given my MIL a refrigerator magnet. She has one my younger brother-in-law (now in his 20s) made in kindergarten, but none from me. I think 'treachery' is the key word here, though. She isn't treacherous, and that's part of what makes our relationship break the stereotype.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Healthcare Reform: Two Points of View
Today's topic is (well duh) the healthcare reform bill. I'm actually watching the president give his signing speech as I type this, which, if this whole thing works out, will be a cool story to tell my grandkids someday. I'm going to give my opinions on this as both a consumer of healthcare, and also from the position of my current occupation.
First, my own experience. Growing up, we usually had some sort of insurance, but we were constantly underinsured or subject to the whims of an HMO. I was sick pretty frequently as a kid, including a couple of hospital stays, so the deductibles and rejected claims added up, a lot. I lost coverage from my parents' health insurance after my COBRA ran out, and though I will soon have the option of coverage through my current employer, the cost would be prohibitive. The one prescription I need each month is over $70 without coverage, which when you're half of a young couple just making ends meet, is a hefty amount of money. MrMMO, thankfully, is about as healthy as they come; he's only had 3 or 4 colds in all the time I've known him, and aside from a scare when he was a newborn, hasn't had any major health problems. The fact that we're going to have a little less to worry about with healthcare when we have kids (especially if they have my genes) is really reassuring. Being without insurance coverage can lead to scary situations. About a year and a half ago I cut my hand while making dinner, and the blood was pretty substantial. I've never had to get stitches, but that was easily the closest I'd come, and had I had insurance at the time, I probably would have taken a trip to the ER. However, knowing the sheer cost, I (and a very worried MrMMO) took all the basic first aid steps, waited for the bleeding to stop, cleaned, bandaged, Neosporin-ed, etc., and the cut healed cleanly. Something similar happened with MrMMO last fall, when he kneeled down to pick something up and a loose carpet staple put a gash in his knee, though he's now sporting a funky-shaped scar. While these incidents taught me that sometimes it's better to give an injury a little time before immediately freaking out and rushing to the hospital, it's also planted a seed of worry in the back of my mind -- what if something really does happen?
My second point of view comes from my job. I work in a pharmacy, and right now the bulk of my responsibility is at the checkout. Because of a number of factors, my shift yesterday drove me to the point of tears by the time I got home. As I mentioned in a previous post, the law mandates I keep this very generic and not share any specifics, so I'll just say that the man or woman who works the register at a pharmacy is likely one of the most abuse-taking members of the retail sect. Many of those factors are things that this bill is designed to limit or eliminate altogether. While I can understand a sick person just wanting to get through the line and get home to bed, it is not the fault of the lady at the register that your order is not ready yet -- especially if your doctor never called the prescription in to begin with, or you were out of refills and didn't know it, or your insurance rejected it, or Medicaid has crashed again, or you decided that 'your order will be ready in 30-45 minutes' means 'please come back in 15 minutes and glare at us until it's ready.' Please do not yell at the lady behind the counter. She is doing her very best to help you, and really does want you to feel better. If your prescription is, in fact, ready, but your insurance has declined to cover it, or if you've been paying out of pocket and the price suddenly went up, please do not go into a 10 minute tirade directed at the lady behind the register, then slam the money down on the counter, wait for your change, and walk away in a huff. That nice lady behind the counter (who's trying ever so hard to be nice to you even though she lost her patience 5 minutes ago) may be in the same position with a prescription herself.
Yes, that got kind of ranty. And no, I don't hate my job; on the contrary, most days I like it quite a bit. But to know that so many of the things that cause trouble for me could be prevented make those problems even harder to deal with. No, this bill is not perfect, but it's a start, and that's what we need.
First, my own experience. Growing up, we usually had some sort of insurance, but we were constantly underinsured or subject to the whims of an HMO. I was sick pretty frequently as a kid, including a couple of hospital stays, so the deductibles and rejected claims added up, a lot. I lost coverage from my parents' health insurance after my COBRA ran out, and though I will soon have the option of coverage through my current employer, the cost would be prohibitive. The one prescription I need each month is over $70 without coverage, which when you're half of a young couple just making ends meet, is a hefty amount of money. MrMMO, thankfully, is about as healthy as they come; he's only had 3 or 4 colds in all the time I've known him, and aside from a scare when he was a newborn, hasn't had any major health problems. The fact that we're going to have a little less to worry about with healthcare when we have kids (especially if they have my genes) is really reassuring. Being without insurance coverage can lead to scary situations. About a year and a half ago I cut my hand while making dinner, and the blood was pretty substantial. I've never had to get stitches, but that was easily the closest I'd come, and had I had insurance at the time, I probably would have taken a trip to the ER. However, knowing the sheer cost, I (and a very worried MrMMO) took all the basic first aid steps, waited for the bleeding to stop, cleaned, bandaged, Neosporin-ed, etc., and the cut healed cleanly. Something similar happened with MrMMO last fall, when he kneeled down to pick something up and a loose carpet staple put a gash in his knee, though he's now sporting a funky-shaped scar. While these incidents taught me that sometimes it's better to give an injury a little time before immediately freaking out and rushing to the hospital, it's also planted a seed of worry in the back of my mind -- what if something really does happen?
My second point of view comes from my job. I work in a pharmacy, and right now the bulk of my responsibility is at the checkout. Because of a number of factors, my shift yesterday drove me to the point of tears by the time I got home. As I mentioned in a previous post, the law mandates I keep this very generic and not share any specifics, so I'll just say that the man or woman who works the register at a pharmacy is likely one of the most abuse-taking members of the retail sect. Many of those factors are things that this bill is designed to limit or eliminate altogether. While I can understand a sick person just wanting to get through the line and get home to bed, it is not the fault of the lady at the register that your order is not ready yet -- especially if your doctor never called the prescription in to begin with, or you were out of refills and didn't know it, or your insurance rejected it, or Medicaid has crashed again, or you decided that 'your order will be ready in 30-45 minutes' means 'please come back in 15 minutes and glare at us until it's ready.' Please do not yell at the lady behind the counter. She is doing her very best to help you, and really does want you to feel better. If your prescription is, in fact, ready, but your insurance has declined to cover it, or if you've been paying out of pocket and the price suddenly went up, please do not go into a 10 minute tirade directed at the lady behind the register, then slam the money down on the counter, wait for your change, and walk away in a huff. That nice lady behind the counter (who's trying ever so hard to be nice to you even though she lost her patience 5 minutes ago) may be in the same position with a prescription herself.
Yes, that got kind of ranty. And no, I don't hate my job; on the contrary, most days I like it quite a bit. But to know that so many of the things that cause trouble for me could be prevented make those problems even harder to deal with. No, this bill is not perfect, but it's a start, and that's what we need.
Friday, March 19, 2010
Thoughts on School Lunches
This is an overall response to the blog Fed Up With Lunch: The School Lunch Project. I started following Mrs. Q and her efforts a few days ago when it was featured on Yahoo.
This is an issue close to my heart. Why, you ask? Aside from the fact that I'm not so many years removed from being a student in the public school system myself, I did a semester of K-12 substitute teaching after college. Here are some thoughts based on those experiences, and I'll try to go chronologically when at all possible.
I attended private school for my earliest elementary years. The school I attended participated in the federal programs, but was unique in that, since it was a small school and had an amazing (and ancient) lunchlady, the food was actually pretty darn good. There was still the usual canned fruit and veg fare, but the entrees were often quite good. PB&Js were rarely on the menu (and only then, I'd wager, by request). I remember the spaghetti being a particular favorite of mine, as well as the chicken noodle casserole. And she did something to those canned green beans that made them mighty tasty. Health-wise, they weren't spectacular, but pretty good in comparison with what Mrs. Q has been describing, and almost never reheated frozen foods. Despite this, I brought my lunch from home the majority of the time -- not for nutritional, but for dietary/health reasons, as well as the fact that my mother found packing cold lunches to be more economical.
The cold lunch trend continued most of the way through my public school years into secondary education. Since my parents refused to pay for hot lunches most of the time, in addition to declaring that packing my lunch was my own responsibility, I ended up with a two-part system for much of high school. If I didn't like what was at home to pack (one can only eat so many bologna or cotto salami sandwiches before tiring of them), I would eat an extra-large breakfast of something that would keep me full until after school, at which point I would eat a light snack after returning home to tide me over until dinner. When I had extracurriculars in the evening (and 3, sometimes 4 or all 5, days each week this was the case), I would turn the after school snack into a full dinner. Was it healthy? Meh. 2 bowls of oatmeal and some fruit in the morning, 2 Healthy Choice (or Lean Cuisine, etc. etc.) frozen dinners after school, and a couple spoonfuls of coffee Haagen-Dazs before collapsing into bed probably isn't the healthiest, but I was a teenager and on the go, darnit. But I digress, this is about school lunches. Let's move back towards those.
When I wasn't packing a lunch or skipping lunch alltogether, it meant I had the available cash to get lunch at school. This was sporadic at best, partially because my cash flow varied from season to season depending on how many extracurriculars I had going, and partially because the food was commonly unappealing to me. There were two hot lunch offerings each day, in addition to an 'a la carte' line where all the foods that are now being phased out of schools were located -- chips, cookies, snack cakes, molten cheese, etc -- as well as sandwiches, extra milks, and the occasional (and fast moving) gem like a sausage biscuit or those breakfast corn dog contraptions (a sausage wrapped in a blueberry pancake-like substance -- ugh). This is where I usually grabbed something. The tuna sandwiches were pretty good, when they were available, but I usually ended up with some chips and molten cheese, often accompanied by a couple of Slim Jims for good measure. There was a salad bar that was half-decent, too, though it cost more ($2, if I remember correctly). This was replaced one day each week by the end-all-be-all of lunchroomness in my high school: the baked potato bar. By no means was it healthy, but darn were they good, all covered in flowing nacho cheese and bacon bits and those little ham cubes that you can't get anywhere else but at buffets and salad/potato bars. There were occasional soft-serve sundaes or cones available too, which I often got if I had the spare cash. Every once in a while, usually around the holidays, there would be a special meal or dessert the cafeteria staff had prepared from scratch -- I specifically remember Easter cupcakes with green coconut and jellybeans on top -- and were especially proud of. For the most part, however, the main lunches were processed, frozen foods with canned fruits and vegetables on the side and white bread as the only option.
That was the summation of my public school eating experience as an attendee -- let me offer you two more points of experience.
MrMMO and I attended the same public school and graduated together, and his cafeteria experiences differed somewhat from mine. First of all, my mother-in-law, while an amazing cook, wasn't really one for packing lunches, and as a result, MrMMO and his siblings all frequented the cafeteria lunchline. The square cafeteria pizza that Mrs. Q has been so adamant about hating is still one of his fondest memories of school food. I think she actually hit the nail on the head; it's an acquired taste, and something that, if you haven't eaten it from kindergarten on up, might turn your stomach rather than make you salivate. He also lovingly remembers something called 'sausage and shells' that I have tried, without success, to find a recipe for on the internet. He ate school lunch on a regular basis, and was a perfectly normal-sized kid, and about as healthy as they come. He has, however, between his mom's food and the cafeteria's, a powerful addiction to all foods of the super-duper-processed variety. Even after several years together, I'm still working to drive healthier things into his diet, especially now that his metabolism is no longer that of a teenager's. It's something I'll blog about in the upcoming weeks if there's nothing else particularly exciting for me to write about.
As I mentioned above, I subbed for a semester after college and got a teacher's perspective on the school lunch situation. The only time I actually ate a cafeteria lunch it was, ironically enough that square, flat pizza with cheese-like substance on top. I was never particularly fond of it when I was in school, but I was hungry. It was pretty awful, and gave me a solid case of indigestion in the following hours. It was accompanied by a chocolate milk (the only kind I like other than an organic, soft-pasteurized milk that a local dairy produces), a salad, and some sort of trail mix that I had to decline because of my one and only food allergy -- walnuts. The salad was a bit wilted and sad, but the dressing was pretty darn good -- a vinegarette of some sort. I noticed most of the kids tossed the trail mix, and (interestingly enough) later overheard a conversation between the two lunchladies wondering whose fool idea it had been to serve the stuff in the first place when it was so unappealing to the kids. Many of the days I subbed I spent lunch in the teacher's lounge, so I can't really comment on those days, although in all the days and all the schools I was at, I only saw teachers eat from the cafeterias a handful of times. Incidentally, a couple of the times when I passed by the cafeterias (or went to escort the younger kids back to the classroom if I was subbing elementary), the sheer processed, greasy smell of the food turned my stomach -- I'm no health fanatic, and don't have the opportunity to buy much organic, but the smell of the stuff was just overpowering. If it was mediocre when I was in school, it's certainly not gotten any better since.
So, if you've made it through the massive wall of text above, why do I find this to be a vital issue? Because, as Mrs. Q has already stated, many of these kids are getting one meal a day -- that one. MrMMO and I were lucky that we had the option of breakfast (at home or at school) in the morning and dinner at home in the evening. Lots of kids don't, and if the school lunches are full of crap, that means these kids are ingesting 100% crap, all the time. Even if you don't want to look at the statistics for obese kids in the US, the aforementioned fact should be enough to make anyone want to do something about this.
What needs to be done? Baby steps -- removing sugar-filled (and I'm talking added sugar in any form, be it real sugar or HCFS) drinks and trans-fatty snacks from vending machines and lunchlines is a start. Entrees made of whole pieces of meat rather than patties of pressed chicken-type meat and hot dogs. Convenient, ready to eat fruits and veggies in eye-catching spots would also be good. If I'd had the option to eat those instead of chips and molten cheese, I probably would have gone for the veggies. At the very least I would have bought the veggies AND the molten cheese to dip them in. A better and cheaper (or even included in the lunch price) salad bar option? Heck yeah! Whole grain bread options? Fantastic! Side dishes that don't come out of a can? Awesome! And if you want to say it's going to be more work for the lunchladies and gentlemen -- they would probably welcome it just as much as the parents and the kids; most cafeteria workers care about what the kids are eating just as much, if not even more, than everyone else. Are all-organic and freshly prepared lunches a must-have right now? Not really, but more of an ultimate goal to be taken step by step.
Finally, a link for you to consider:
A (legitimate) video of how hot dogs are made can be found here, on YouTube (couldn't embed it, sorry). Note how hot dogs contain the 'trimmings,' of meat, and also contain corn syrup. Food for thought, no?
This is an issue close to my heart. Why, you ask? Aside from the fact that I'm not so many years removed from being a student in the public school system myself, I did a semester of K-12 substitute teaching after college. Here are some thoughts based on those experiences, and I'll try to go chronologically when at all possible.
I attended private school for my earliest elementary years. The school I attended participated in the federal programs, but was unique in that, since it was a small school and had an amazing (and ancient) lunchlady, the food was actually pretty darn good. There was still the usual canned fruit and veg fare, but the entrees were often quite good. PB&Js were rarely on the menu (and only then, I'd wager, by request). I remember the spaghetti being a particular favorite of mine, as well as the chicken noodle casserole. And she did something to those canned green beans that made them mighty tasty. Health-wise, they weren't spectacular, but pretty good in comparison with what Mrs. Q has been describing, and almost never reheated frozen foods. Despite this, I brought my lunch from home the majority of the time -- not for nutritional, but for dietary/health reasons, as well as the fact that my mother found packing cold lunches to be more economical.
The cold lunch trend continued most of the way through my public school years into secondary education. Since my parents refused to pay for hot lunches most of the time, in addition to declaring that packing my lunch was my own responsibility, I ended up with a two-part system for much of high school. If I didn't like what was at home to pack (one can only eat so many bologna or cotto salami sandwiches before tiring of them), I would eat an extra-large breakfast of something that would keep me full until after school, at which point I would eat a light snack after returning home to tide me over until dinner. When I had extracurriculars in the evening (and 3, sometimes 4 or all 5, days each week this was the case), I would turn the after school snack into a full dinner. Was it healthy? Meh. 2 bowls of oatmeal and some fruit in the morning, 2 Healthy Choice (or Lean Cuisine, etc. etc.) frozen dinners after school, and a couple spoonfuls of coffee Haagen-Dazs before collapsing into bed probably isn't the healthiest, but I was a teenager and on the go, darnit. But I digress, this is about school lunches. Let's move back towards those.
The doppelganger of yesterday's Haagen-Dazs, once again courtesy of Haagen-Dazs.
Admit it, coffee makes you smile just like this, doesn't it?
Admit it, coffee makes you smile just like this, doesn't it?
When I wasn't packing a lunch or skipping lunch alltogether, it meant I had the available cash to get lunch at school. This was sporadic at best, partially because my cash flow varied from season to season depending on how many extracurriculars I had going, and partially because the food was commonly unappealing to me. There were two hot lunch offerings each day, in addition to an 'a la carte' line where all the foods that are now being phased out of schools were located -- chips, cookies, snack cakes, molten cheese, etc -- as well as sandwiches, extra milks, and the occasional (and fast moving) gem like a sausage biscuit or those breakfast corn dog contraptions (a sausage wrapped in a blueberry pancake-like substance -- ugh). This is where I usually grabbed something. The tuna sandwiches were pretty good, when they were available, but I usually ended up with some chips and molten cheese, often accompanied by a couple of Slim Jims for good measure. There was a salad bar that was half-decent, too, though it cost more ($2, if I remember correctly). This was replaced one day each week by the end-all-be-all of lunchroomness in my high school: the baked potato bar. By no means was it healthy, but darn were they good, all covered in flowing nacho cheese and bacon bits and those little ham cubes that you can't get anywhere else but at buffets and salad/potato bars. There were occasional soft-serve sundaes or cones available too, which I often got if I had the spare cash. Every once in a while, usually around the holidays, there would be a special meal or dessert the cafeteria staff had prepared from scratch -- I specifically remember Easter cupcakes with green coconut and jellybeans on top -- and were especially proud of. For the most part, however, the main lunches were processed, frozen foods with canned fruits and vegetables on the side and white bread as the only option.
Image courtesy of Jimmy Dean
That was the summation of my public school eating experience as an attendee -- let me offer you two more points of experience.
MrMMO and I attended the same public school and graduated together, and his cafeteria experiences differed somewhat from mine. First of all, my mother-in-law, while an amazing cook, wasn't really one for packing lunches, and as a result, MrMMO and his siblings all frequented the cafeteria lunchline. The square cafeteria pizza that Mrs. Q has been so adamant about hating is still one of his fondest memories of school food. I think she actually hit the nail on the head; it's an acquired taste, and something that, if you haven't eaten it from kindergarten on up, might turn your stomach rather than make you salivate. He also lovingly remembers something called 'sausage and shells' that I have tried, without success, to find a recipe for on the internet. He ate school lunch on a regular basis, and was a perfectly normal-sized kid, and about as healthy as they come. He has, however, between his mom's food and the cafeteria's, a powerful addiction to all foods of the super-duper-processed variety. Even after several years together, I'm still working to drive healthier things into his diet, especially now that his metabolism is no longer that of a teenager's. It's something I'll blog about in the upcoming weeks if there's nothing else particularly exciting for me to write about.
As I mentioned above, I subbed for a semester after college and got a teacher's perspective on the school lunch situation. The only time I actually ate a cafeteria lunch it was, ironically enough that square, flat pizza with cheese-like substance on top. I was never particularly fond of it when I was in school, but I was hungry. It was pretty awful, and gave me a solid case of indigestion in the following hours. It was accompanied by a chocolate milk (the only kind I like other than an organic, soft-pasteurized milk that a local dairy produces), a salad, and some sort of trail mix that I had to decline because of my one and only food allergy -- walnuts. The salad was a bit wilted and sad, but the dressing was pretty darn good -- a vinegarette of some sort. I noticed most of the kids tossed the trail mix, and (interestingly enough) later overheard a conversation between the two lunchladies wondering whose fool idea it had been to serve the stuff in the first place when it was so unappealing to the kids. Many of the days I subbed I spent lunch in the teacher's lounge, so I can't really comment on those days, although in all the days and all the schools I was at, I only saw teachers eat from the cafeterias a handful of times. Incidentally, a couple of the times when I passed by the cafeterias (or went to escort the younger kids back to the classroom if I was subbing elementary), the sheer processed, greasy smell of the food turned my stomach -- I'm no health fanatic, and don't have the opportunity to buy much organic, but the smell of the stuff was just overpowering. If it was mediocre when I was in school, it's certainly not gotten any better since.
So, if you've made it through the massive wall of text above, why do I find this to be a vital issue? Because, as Mrs. Q has already stated, many of these kids are getting one meal a day -- that one. MrMMO and I were lucky that we had the option of breakfast (at home or at school) in the morning and dinner at home in the evening. Lots of kids don't, and if the school lunches are full of crap, that means these kids are ingesting 100% crap, all the time. Even if you don't want to look at the statistics for obese kids in the US, the aforementioned fact should be enough to make anyone want to do something about this.
What needs to be done? Baby steps -- removing sugar-filled (and I'm talking added sugar in any form, be it real sugar or HCFS) drinks and trans-fatty snacks from vending machines and lunchlines is a start. Entrees made of whole pieces of meat rather than patties of pressed chicken-type meat and hot dogs. Convenient, ready to eat fruits and veggies in eye-catching spots would also be good. If I'd had the option to eat those instead of chips and molten cheese, I probably would have gone for the veggies. At the very least I would have bought the veggies AND the molten cheese to dip them in. A better and cheaper (or even included in the lunch price) salad bar option? Heck yeah! Whole grain bread options? Fantastic! Side dishes that don't come out of a can? Awesome! And if you want to say it's going to be more work for the lunchladies and gentlemen -- they would probably welcome it just as much as the parents and the kids; most cafeteria workers care about what the kids are eating just as much, if not even more, than everyone else. Are all-organic and freshly prepared lunches a must-have right now? Not really, but more of an ultimate goal to be taken step by step.
Finally, a link for you to consider:
A (legitimate) video of how hot dogs are made can be found here, on YouTube (couldn't embed it, sorry). Note how hot dogs contain the 'trimmings,' of meat, and also contain corn syrup. Food for thought, no?
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Shopping with MrsMMO 101
Dawn Meehan's blog, Because I Said So, was actually the first blog I followed on a regular basis, starting about two and a half years ago -- I still don't have kids and I wasn't even engaged at that point, so even though it's a 'mom blog' it still has that kind of universal appeal. As such, I find it fitting that today's post be inspired by her latest, Shopping 101.
To preface, I'm currently working in a very specific section of retail: a pharmacy. I'm not a pharmacist, but rather a tech -- less responsibility, less (but still a ton of) training, way less pay. We're the nice men and women who help you when you drop off or pick up a prescription, in addition to a lengthy list of other responsibilities. It's not a lifelong profession, it's not my first love, but it pays the bills and is actually quite an interesting and enjoyable job. Because of HIPAA laws, employer policy, and my own desire not to reveal too much about my personal life on my blog, that's the most specific I'm going to get in terms of my job; however, just that much is still necessary to prepare you for the rest of the post.
The following is an amalgamation of my experience as both a retail peon and a voracious consumer.
To preface, I'm currently working in a very specific section of retail: a pharmacy. I'm not a pharmacist, but rather a tech -- less responsibility, less (but still a ton of) training, way less pay. We're the nice men and women who help you when you drop off or pick up a prescription, in addition to a lengthy list of other responsibilities. It's not a lifelong profession, it's not my first love, but it pays the bills and is actually quite an interesting and enjoyable job. Because of HIPAA laws, employer policy, and my own desire not to reveal too much about my personal life on my blog, that's the most specific I'm going to get in terms of my job; however, just that much is still necessary to prepare you for the rest of the post.
The following is an amalgamation of my experience as both a retail peon and a voracious consumer.
- Be a considerate shopper. I'm reiterating about half of the Because I Said So list in just one point. Don't run into people, say excuse me, keep your shopping cart towards one side of the aisle so that people can get through. If you're going to stand and compare two brands of air freshener for half an hour, be aware that someone may need to get around you -- and don't get offended if they ask to sneak by you to grab something. You should be the one apologizing.
- I don't care if the person you're having a conversation with is your oldest and dearest long lost friend, don't stand directly in front of products while you're catching up. Move to a wide open aisle, or (gasp) leave Wal-Mart and go somewhere designed for that kind of catching up -- a sit-down restaurant, a park, or your own house for heaven's sake. Offenders of this rule need to be especially careful about it in the frozen foods aisle. I do not want to wait fifteen minutes for my pint of Haagen-Dazs because you won't move your conversation to another locale. True story.
- 'Please,' 'thank you,' and 'excuse me,' as well as 'sir' and 'ma'am,' will get you a long way with both shoppers and retail associates. Example: MrMMO needed a Microsoft Points card, which are locked in the video game case. While he ventured off to find an employee to retrieve said card, I waited with the cart in the video game aisle. A man turned the corner and I asked if I needed to move so he could find what he was looking for. "No, ma'am, I'm just browsing, you're not in my way at all," he replied. It made my day. Another example: Towards the end of a very long shift the other day, a guy about my age addressed me with the phrases 'no, ma'am,' and 'thank you, ma'am' as I checked him out. I smiled and thanked him for being the first person who'd been truly polite to me all day. Some other girls in their 20s think being called 'ma'am' is an insult, that it makes them feel old; I find it to be about as respectful as it gets.
- At most pharmacies, it's perfectly acceptable to bring other items to be checked out at the same time as your prescription. However, if you've got a cartfull of stuff, remember that I have very limited counter space, and that I may only have extra large or extra small bags. Large packages (think family packs of toilet paper) are actually okay with me, because I can just pop the scanner out of its holder and point it at the bar code from a couple feet away, without having to take it out of the cart.
- At the pharmacy specifically, if you're buying things that don't 'go' with your prescriptions, don't be surprised if I raise an eyebrow at you -- i.e. large quantities of Easter candy and insulin, or several different asthma/emphysema prescriptions along with a carton of cigarettes. If it's especially outrageous, the pharmacist is a few feet away and will probably see you do it (and will probably say something about it, too). Remember, the whole point of our job is to help you be healthy, so it's really frustrating to see people do this.
- In the opposite direction, if you go up to a pharmacy counter (or call) with a question about medications, ask to speak to a pharmacist before you spend 5 minutes explaining your question in detail. It's likely that the person at the window or picking up the phone is a tech, and we cannot legally offer any health advice to you or answer any medicine-related questions -- even about products sold over the counter. It's not going to offend us that you want to speak to the head honcho, it's going to save us (and you) time.
- Don't be embarassed to buy 'embarassing things' at a pharmacy. Ever seen this famous scene from The Golden Girls? My job is to ensure the experience ISN'T like that. All that HIPAA training means that our middle name is 'discreet.' There will be no intercom price checks, no phone calls to family members; quite frankly it's actually a relief to see people (of all ages) buying protection -- not buying it doesn't mean they're not having sex, it means they may be having sex and not using protection. The same goes for products like Preparation H, Vagisil, KY, etc. Remember, our job is about helping you feel better, not making you feel bad about yourself.
- Another pharmacy related one. If you've read my earlier post about PSE and DXM-based over the counter medications, you may have guessed this: don't throw a tantrum at the poor retail peon because you have to buy these products at the pharmacy counter and/or show ID and/or can only buy so much at a time. You'd think people would be used to these restrictions since they've been in place a few years now, but that's not always the case. It's the law, and yelling at me isn't going to change anything. Feel free to throw a fit at your congressman, or find some meth addicts and read them the riot act, but I have absolutely nothing to do with the law. I just take your money and tell you to have a nice day, even when you've been a real jerk to me or given me a sob story about how it's the only medicine that works and why should you have to come back another day to buy more.
- If you're going to yell at your kids, please wait until you get home to do it, or at least out to the car. Pretty much all retail peons feel this way, but I'm especially sensitive when it comes to this kind of thing. I've worked for years to keep an anxiety disorder under control without meds, and someone getting yelled at is one of the only things that can really set me off. So help me, if you give me a panic attack from screaming at your kid, once I'm through hyperventilating I will probably give you an earful. It irks me just as much after hours, too. Yesterday MrMMO and I were grocery shopping and I jumped a solid three inches off the ground when some woman started hollering at her kid about asking for candy. She then continued yelling all the way down the aisle, past (and completely oblivious) to us, not bothering to lower her volume, and making my ears ring. Had she not been about triple my size (and, quite frankly, frightening in appearance, as was her husband), I probably would have turned around and told her to shut the heck up.
- Cell phones at the counter actually don't bother me too much, as long as there's a purpose behind them. Lots of customers will call a doctor to check if a script's been called in yet, or double-check the number of prescriptions that the relative they're picking up for is supposed to get. I actually encourage that kind of behavior because it's easier on everyone involved. However, if you're talking about something inane or obnoxious, and doing so loudly, that's going to annoy me -- luckily that doesn't happen too often in my experience. Bluetooths/headsets are another matter entirely. I despise their use anywhere outside of a moving vehicle. A person with a cell phone will instinctively move that phone away from his/her ear when I'm explaining prescriptions or asking questions at the counter. With a Bluetooth, they just continue the conversation, and I have no clue if A) they're actually talking to me or to the person on the other end of the line or B) they're actually paying attention to any of the (usually pretty important) things I just said.
Carton image courtesy of Haagen-Dazs. Sad face courtesy of me.Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Stop Beating on the Big Girls!
A short post today, but important nonetheless.
TMZ articles can be found here and here.
People need to stop picking on Gabourey Sidibe. Now. Look at the girl! She's happy, she's healthy, and she's living a life that at least a million skinny girls would kill to live.
Let's take a little quiz, shall we?
1) Do you have a medical degree from a legitimate, accredited institution?
2) Do you have any Academy Award nominations?
If you answered yes to the first question, you may have grounds to tell her she's unhealthy, if she actually is. If you answered no, then shut the hell up.
If you answered yes to the second question, you are probably happy as can be for her and have nothing but kind things to say. Members of the Academy tend to be classy like that. If you answered no, then, again, shut the hell up.
TMZ articles can be found here and here.
People need to stop picking on Gabourey Sidibe. Now. Look at the girl! She's happy, she's healthy, and she's living a life that at least a million skinny girls would kill to live.
Let's take a little quiz, shall we?
1) Do you have a medical degree from a legitimate, accredited institution?
2) Do you have any Academy Award nominations?
If you answered yes to the first question, you may have grounds to tell her she's unhealthy, if she actually is. If you answered no, then shut the hell up.
If you answered yes to the second question, you are probably happy as can be for her and have nothing but kind things to say. Members of the Academy tend to be classy like that. If you answered no, then, again, shut the hell up.
Monday, March 15, 2010
Midmonth Madness Redo
Due to some unforseen technical difficulties, I had to completely redo this morning's post, so let's hope it's as good the second time around.
Since I'm not always able to post every single day (Besides that cold that's subsided nicely, MrMMO and I have a darn hectic schedule sometimes), so I thought I'd catch up with a few of the less monumental (at least in terms of my capability to write about them), but still notable things that have happened lately:
R.I.P. Peter Graves. His passing is noteworthy, but I don't feel like I can really do him justice since so much of his best work was in the decades before I was born. Of course I've seen Airplane!, but I don't own it, and, in fact, don't really own much of anything Mr. Graves was in except for an episode of House.
Tim Burton is made of happy. I've not gotten a chance to see Alice in Wonderland yet, but can't wait. We live about an hour away from the nearest 3D capable theater, so it's going to take both of us having the day off, and so far that's not happened (we coincidentally have an appointment next week that we both had to request the day off for, so if it doesn't run into the afternoon, off to the theater we'll go). Until then, College Humor has tided me over with this video. It's funny and it's true, even as a Burton fan I can say that; if that kind of formula is entertaining and sells tickets, why change, right?
The past two weeks of Saturday Night Live have been really, really funny. And because sometimes I tend to turn this place into one fortress-like wall of text, I am going to embed some video, darnit.
The first is from last week's, with Zach Galifinakis. Yes, it's the one he shaved his beard off for, but it's so, so funny in and of itself. The Situation Room parody came in a close second to this one.
The second is from this week's, with Jude Law. The whole episode was great, but this particular one was my favorite, partially because I'm a huge fan of the original segment with William Shatner (I have it on a DVD that I found at a Cracker Barrel), and partially because even if you don't like the original or get the Food Network cake reference, it's still going to make you laugh.
And just to make it a little sweeter, they finally made a Digital Short for Boombox (I'll link this one rather than embed, there are some... more adult bits), which for all of us crazy kids with a copy of Incredibad on iTunes, was both a gift and a curse; now I'm compelled to go buy myself a pair of fingerless gloves.
And now, ending on a serious note:
There have been an unnervingly large number of nasty earthquakes lately. Having been through a small (5.2) and minimally damaging, but still scary earthquake just a couple years ago, I can't stress enough how important it is to be prepared. FEMA has some good resources on the web. Conveniently enough, many of the points like disaster supplies, safe locations, and family communication plans are things that you may already have in place if you're like me and live in an area where tornadoes are relatively common (By which means, it's getting to be that time of year... so be prepared for those too!). Lots of basic supplies may be found around the house, they just need to be popped in a Rubbermaid container or Spacebag for durability's sake and placed somewhere discreet but easily accessable.
While we're in the general area of disaster preparedness, and since I've already mentioned tornadoes, I also recommend subscribing to a weather app if it's available on your cell phone. Most phones, even older ones, have it available for about $4 a month subscription cost (if you have a smart phone with internet access, you could just use the Weather Channel or Intellicast's regular sites). Yes, radio's free, but with this you'll get things like radar images, which I find invaluable in that kind of situation. For peace of mind during at least one super-severe thunderstorm or tornado warning each season, I find it worth the cost.
Since I'm not always able to post every single day (Besides that cold that's subsided nicely, MrMMO and I have a darn hectic schedule sometimes), so I thought I'd catch up with a few of the less monumental (at least in terms of my capability to write about them), but still notable things that have happened lately:
R.I.P. Peter Graves. His passing is noteworthy, but I don't feel like I can really do him justice since so much of his best work was in the decades before I was born. Of course I've seen Airplane!, but I don't own it, and, in fact, don't really own much of anything Mr. Graves was in except for an episode of House.
Tim Burton is made of happy. I've not gotten a chance to see Alice in Wonderland yet, but can't wait. We live about an hour away from the nearest 3D capable theater, so it's going to take both of us having the day off, and so far that's not happened (we coincidentally have an appointment next week that we both had to request the day off for, so if it doesn't run into the afternoon, off to the theater we'll go). Until then, College Humor has tided me over with this video. It's funny and it's true, even as a Burton fan I can say that; if that kind of formula is entertaining and sells tickets, why change, right?
The past two weeks of Saturday Night Live have been really, really funny. And because sometimes I tend to turn this place into one fortress-like wall of text, I am going to embed some video, darnit.
The first is from last week's, with Zach Galifinakis. Yes, it's the one he shaved his beard off for, but it's so, so funny in and of itself. The Situation Room parody came in a close second to this one.
The second is from this week's, with Jude Law. The whole episode was great, but this particular one was my favorite, partially because I'm a huge fan of the original segment with William Shatner (I have it on a DVD that I found at a Cracker Barrel), and partially because even if you don't like the original or get the Food Network cake reference, it's still going to make you laugh.
And just to make it a little sweeter, they finally made a Digital Short for Boombox (I'll link this one rather than embed, there are some... more adult bits), which for all of us crazy kids with a copy of Incredibad on iTunes, was both a gift and a curse; now I'm compelled to go buy myself a pair of fingerless gloves.
And now, ending on a serious note:
There have been an unnervingly large number of nasty earthquakes lately. Having been through a small (5.2) and minimally damaging, but still scary earthquake just a couple years ago, I can't stress enough how important it is to be prepared. FEMA has some good resources on the web. Conveniently enough, many of the points like disaster supplies, safe locations, and family communication plans are things that you may already have in place if you're like me and live in an area where tornadoes are relatively common (By which means, it's getting to be that time of year... so be prepared for those too!). Lots of basic supplies may be found around the house, they just need to be popped in a Rubbermaid container or Spacebag for durability's sake and placed somewhere discreet but easily accessable.
While we're in the general area of disaster preparedness, and since I've already mentioned tornadoes, I also recommend subscribing to a weather app if it's available on your cell phone. Most phones, even older ones, have it available for about $4 a month subscription cost (if you have a smart phone with internet access, you could just use the Weather Channel or Intellicast's regular sites). Yes, radio's free, but with this you'll get things like radar images, which I find invaluable in that kind of situation. For peace of mind during at least one super-severe thunderstorm or tornado warning each season, I find it worth the cost.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
RIP: Corey Haim
Sigh. I was hoping I'd have a bit more blogging experience before I had to write my first 'RIP.' I'll begin with the fact that I wasn't a huge Haim fan, but that we do, in fact, own The Lost Boys on DVD. I had to check to confirm, but there it was, sitting quietly between The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King and Mallrats. I have a hunch that my fiancé, in his way, will probably pop it in to watch this evening, the same as he did with Just Married after Brittany Murphy passed away (please don't ask me why we actually own that movie, I'm not sure myself. If we had King of the Hill on DVD it would have been that instead), and the episode of The Simpsons Michael Jackson guest starred in, etc. It's this pop culture-obsessed couple's way of saying goodbye.
What drove me immediately to my blog this morning was not simply Haim's untimely passing, but also what I was doing when I found out about it. I've got, funny enough after my last posting, a bit of a cold, so I slept in late this morning. As I often do, I popped in a disc of a TV show DVD to act as a soft alarm clock for me; I hit play all, and when the disc ends and reverts back to the menu screen, something about that change always wakes me. Incidentally, some noise outside happened to wake me anyway about halfway through the disc, and, looking at the time, I decided to get up and start my morning routine.
I paused for a few minutes to watch the episode of The Simpsons that was playing. I got up, got the mail, started up my computer, and brought up Yahoo. And there it was. My first thought was, 'How sad.' My second thought was for Corey Feldman, who has now lost two close friends in less than a year. My third thought was the realization that the particular episode of The Simpsons I'd stopped to watch (and which was still playing) was Brother From the Same Planet, where the B-story involves Lisa's obsession with a popular boy named Corey (an amalgamation of Haim and Feldman) and becomes addicted to calling a 900-number hotline to hear the sound of his voice.
Since MrMMO and I own over 300 DVDs, including 12 seasons of The Simpsons, and there are over 250 episodes in those 12 seasons, I thought the fact I was watching that particular episode pretty astounding.
Rest in peace, Mr. Haim.
I paused for a few minutes to watch the episode of The Simpsons that was playing. I got up, got the mail, started up my computer, and brought up Yahoo. And there it was. My first thought was, 'How sad.' My second thought was for Corey Feldman, who has now lost two close friends in less than a year. My third thought was the realization that the particular episode of The Simpsons I'd stopped to watch (and which was still playing) was Brother From the Same Planet, where the B-story involves Lisa's obsession with a popular boy named Corey (an amalgamation of Haim and Feldman) and becomes addicted to calling a 900-number hotline to hear the sound of his voice.
Since MrMMO and I own over 300 DVDs, including 12 seasons of The Simpsons, and there are over 250 episodes in those 12 seasons, I thought the fact I was watching that particular episode pretty astounding.
Rest in peace, Mr. Haim.
Sunday, March 7, 2010
They've ruined it for the rest of us -- DXM
This is a direct response to justokay's Shine posting on the dangers of DXM.
Why do I have any knowledge of the stuff at all? Because, among other things, I deal with this stuff on a daily basis at work.
If you're not already familiar with DXM, you are probably at least familiar with pseudophedrine -- and if not by name, then by reputation. Until a few years ago, pseudoephedrine (PSE) was the active ingredient in just about every over the counter cold medicine on the market. It is also, unfortunately, one of the key ingredients in the illegal manufacture of the very illegal substance methamphetamine (meth). Having grown up in what is coloquially (and with good reason) referred to as the 'meth belt,' I can tell you that this is some nasty stuff. I'm not going to be your D.A.R.E. instructor today, but if you've lived in a cave with your fingers in your ears for so long that you don't know that meth is bad, take a minute and go look it up.
Now the fact that one of the key ingredients in an illegal drug could be purchased easily in large quantities began to concern people, and laws began to spring up to more strictly control the purchase of PSE. In most states, you now must be 18 and provide a state or federal ID to be scanned to be able to purchase any meds containing pseudophedrine. It's sold only by request at a pharmacy counter, there is a limit of how much can be purchased at a time, and an ID scan is performed to ensure these limits are being enforced -- you're not just being entered into the store's database, but into the government's.
Here's where DXM comes in -- after PSE became so strictly controlled, lots of medications reformulated from PSE to DXM to avoid the stigma of being sold behind the pharmacy counter. They advertized themselves as being more convenient and just as effective; the chain I work at carries over 100 products containing DXM as the main or auxilliary active ingredient. The problem is, there was already an issue with the fact that DXM in large doses turns into a hallucenogen, and is very dangerous. The side effects are plentiful and, quite frankly, pretty gross. As someone who had chronic tonsillitis as a kid and took every cold medicine known to mankind, I cannot begin to fathom why anyone would want to induce those kind of side effects on purpose. But people are pretty darn stupid, so that's where we're at now. This has led DXM to get the PSE treatment in more and more states. You have to be 18 to buy it, and in some states, just like PSE, you're tracked whenever you buy it, and by how much you buy. This is why the woman at Target had to get her license scanned, regardless of age. It's not so much a creepy store policy as the law.
Now, a couple of more specific reactions:
First of all, don't think that having DXM in the house is going to make your normally well-behaved kid all excited and want to trip balls. If you want to keep it around, keep it around. If you honestly don't trust your kid to not get high on your cough syrup, then 1) keep the cough syrup, and anything else of similar interest locked up, and/or 2) educate your kid on the dangers of abusing DXM products. If you seriously can't trust them enough to keep it in your house, that's the least of your worries. If they want it that bad, they'll probably get their hands on it some other way, so EDUCATE, EDUCATE, EDUCATE; it's the key to preventing stupid decisions. Like I mentioned earlier, the possible side effects of tripping on DXM can get downright gross (loss of bladder and bowel control, anyone?), so let your kid(s) know what they could be in for. Be honest and talk to them.
Secondly, about the bar code scanning -- speaking from the employee level, your pharmacy/store the pharmacy is in has no way of accessing the info contained in the bar code of your driver's license. It's all computerized and goes straight to the state/federal government databases, and since those are the authorities issuing the ID to begin with, I don't think the info's going to be new to them. Also, at the employee level, we're all required to abide by the government's HIPAA policies, which means any divulgence of your personal information could get both the individual and the company in a whole heap of trouble. We're talking large fines and jail time here. Doctor's offices and pharmacies are required to hand out privacy policies; most people don't read them. You'd be surprised at what they contain. Most places also have a number you can call with questions or concerns.
And finally, if you're just not comfortable handing over an ID to scan to buy cold medicine, you're pretty much out of luck these days when it comes to anything that's both effective and over the counter. Even with PSE restrictions in place, many states are pushing to make it prescription-only (and two have succeeded) because the meth problem is still raging. If you don't like it, take a look at some of the ways our foremothers used to treat colds; they're still plenty effective, and lots of times cheaper, too. I'm not a fan of Neti pots personally, but for some people they work wonders. Lots of fluids, vitamin C, chicken soup, etc. I'm also a big believer in spicy foods to help clear congestion. If you're sick to your stomach, too, then avoid them like the plague, but for an allergy-related stuffy nose, I swear by horseradish and jalapenos (not mixed together, obviously). WebMD has a good article on home remedies here.
Best of health to you all!
Why do I have any knowledge of the stuff at all? Because, among other things, I deal with this stuff on a daily basis at work.
If you're not already familiar with DXM, you are probably at least familiar with pseudophedrine -- and if not by name, then by reputation. Until a few years ago, pseudoephedrine (PSE) was the active ingredient in just about every over the counter cold medicine on the market. It is also, unfortunately, one of the key ingredients in the illegal manufacture of the very illegal substance methamphetamine (meth). Having grown up in what is coloquially (and with good reason) referred to as the 'meth belt,' I can tell you that this is some nasty stuff. I'm not going to be your D.A.R.E. instructor today, but if you've lived in a cave with your fingers in your ears for so long that you don't know that meth is bad, take a minute and go look it up.
Now the fact that one of the key ingredients in an illegal drug could be purchased easily in large quantities began to concern people, and laws began to spring up to more strictly control the purchase of PSE. In most states, you now must be 18 and provide a state or federal ID to be scanned to be able to purchase any meds containing pseudophedrine. It's sold only by request at a pharmacy counter, there is a limit of how much can be purchased at a time, and an ID scan is performed to ensure these limits are being enforced -- you're not just being entered into the store's database, but into the government's.
Here's where DXM comes in -- after PSE became so strictly controlled, lots of medications reformulated from PSE to DXM to avoid the stigma of being sold behind the pharmacy counter. They advertized themselves as being more convenient and just as effective; the chain I work at carries over 100 products containing DXM as the main or auxilliary active ingredient. The problem is, there was already an issue with the fact that DXM in large doses turns into a hallucenogen, and is very dangerous. The side effects are plentiful and, quite frankly, pretty gross. As someone who had chronic tonsillitis as a kid and took every cold medicine known to mankind, I cannot begin to fathom why anyone would want to induce those kind of side effects on purpose. But people are pretty darn stupid, so that's where we're at now. This has led DXM to get the PSE treatment in more and more states. You have to be 18 to buy it, and in some states, just like PSE, you're tracked whenever you buy it, and by how much you buy. This is why the woman at Target had to get her license scanned, regardless of age. It's not so much a creepy store policy as the law.
Now, a couple of more specific reactions:
First of all, don't think that having DXM in the house is going to make your normally well-behaved kid all excited and want to trip balls. If you want to keep it around, keep it around. If you honestly don't trust your kid to not get high on your cough syrup, then 1) keep the cough syrup, and anything else of similar interest locked up, and/or 2) educate your kid on the dangers of abusing DXM products. If you seriously can't trust them enough to keep it in your house, that's the least of your worries. If they want it that bad, they'll probably get their hands on it some other way, so EDUCATE, EDUCATE, EDUCATE; it's the key to preventing stupid decisions. Like I mentioned earlier, the possible side effects of tripping on DXM can get downright gross (loss of bladder and bowel control, anyone?), so let your kid(s) know what they could be in for. Be honest and talk to them.
Secondly, about the bar code scanning -- speaking from the employee level, your pharmacy/store the pharmacy is in has no way of accessing the info contained in the bar code of your driver's license. It's all computerized and goes straight to the state/federal government databases, and since those are the authorities issuing the ID to begin with, I don't think the info's going to be new to them. Also, at the employee level, we're all required to abide by the government's HIPAA policies, which means any divulgence of your personal information could get both the individual and the company in a whole heap of trouble. We're talking large fines and jail time here. Doctor's offices and pharmacies are required to hand out privacy policies; most people don't read them. You'd be surprised at what they contain. Most places also have a number you can call with questions or concerns.
And finally, if you're just not comfortable handing over an ID to scan to buy cold medicine, you're pretty much out of luck these days when it comes to anything that's both effective and over the counter. Even with PSE restrictions in place, many states are pushing to make it prescription-only (and two have succeeded) because the meth problem is still raging. If you don't like it, take a look at some of the ways our foremothers used to treat colds; they're still plenty effective, and lots of times cheaper, too. I'm not a fan of Neti pots personally, but for some people they work wonders. Lots of fluids, vitamin C, chicken soup, etc. I'm also a big believer in spicy foods to help clear congestion. If you're sick to your stomach, too, then avoid them like the plague, but for an allergy-related stuffy nose, I swear by horseradish and jalapenos (not mixed together, obviously). WebMD has a good article on home remedies here.
Best of health to you all!
Friday, February 26, 2010
10 Things: Groceries for Antarctica
I found today's blog post by Chik'n'Pastry so interesting I decided to try one of my own -- so without further ado, a list of the ten grocery items I'd take with me if I had to spend 2 years in Antarctica. I decided to stick with things I could buy at the regular old supermarket down the street.
- Potatoes, and if I had to be specific about it, Yukon Golds. Aside from the fact that potatoes are my single favorite food on the planet, there are so many uses for them that I wouldn't get bored having them as a dietary staple. Fried, baked, mashed, boiled, I love 'em all.
- Carrots. I wasn't even thinking of my health when I put these down as an immediate second to potatoes. They're good, they're good for you, and they can be prepared more than one way.
- Chuck roast. We eat pot roast once a week already anyway, plus it can be used for stew with the aforementioned carrots and potatoes, and ground up if I was desperate enough for a burger.
- Whole milk. Higher in fat, but since I'll be living in Antarctica I'll probably need the extra insulation. Can also be used to make butter in a pinch.
- Cheddar cheese. Another source of calcium, and just good on everything.
- Canned tuna. If I could only bring ONE thing with me, it would come down to a battle to the death between potatoes and canned tuna. I practically lived on the stuff when I was a kid. It's good for you, and it's delicious on its own or mixed into things.
- Olive oil. Good for cooking, good for drizzling. And component 1 of a necessary condiment.
- Eggs (or, if I could cheat just a smidge, a flock of chickens). I. love. eggs. They're yet another member of this list that is incredible versatile. They're the second component, along with olive oil, of mayonnaise, which by making my own would save a spot on this list. Interestingly enough, by the end of this list I'll have all the major components for making egg sandwiches, which comprised a fairly high percentage of my overall consumption while I was in college. And I still love them. Plus if I could have chickens rather than just eggs, then I would likely put aside my general squeamishness for killing things when a craving for roast chicken set in.
- Frozen bread dough. Since I'm going with ingredients, this takes up less space than flour and yeast. Plus it's pretty darn versatile, if I could be certain that it would defrost properly in Antarctica.
- Dill or Kosher Pickles. Another perrenial favorite of mine, that I would probably go nuts if I didn't have for two whole years.
- If beverages are not included with my trip to Antarctica, something on that list, likely the cheese, would get booted in favor of copious amounts of Diet Dr. Pepper. There are few things I require to live: oxygen, shelter, food, and DDP are among them.
- I would also consider booting the cheese for canned crushed tomatoes, also delightfully versatile.
- Caramel-swirl brownie mix would also be a contender; I was surprised that no sweets at all made the final list, but I wouldn't miss them as much as the ten other things I've listed.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Something less controversial: Saving money!
Something on the lighter side today -- a response to this article on Yahoo's Shine section about purchases you shouldn't splurge on.
I'll respond to each item on the list individually.
Finally, a piece of my own advice. If you use a lot of over-the-counter cold medication or painkillers, buy generic. They're legally obligated to contain the same active ingredients (read: the stuff that makes you feel better) as their name-brand counterparts. The only differences are in the fillers/flavorings and fancy packaging. Generics are often labeled by their more formal names or active ingredients, so learn to look for those: Tylenol = Acetaminophen, Advil = Ibuprofen, Aleve = Naproxen, etc. It's the same thing, just with a different name. If you're confused, ask a pharmacist, they're there to help!
I'll respond to each item on the list individually.
- Designer tights. Who in their right mind spends $20 on tights? Who in their right mind prices tights at $20!?!? THEY'RE TIGHTS. Tights are the clothing equivalent of cotton candy: they don't weigh much, they're not comprised of much, and they generally don't last very long. The article recommends not spending more than $10. I don't even remember ever spending that much on tights. The last time I bought them they was at Target, and they were on sale for $3. Regular price is $7. This should be a no-brainer, but apparently not. $20? SERIOUSLY?
- Brand name food. This is where I disagree somewhat. Generic food brands have improved immensely, that I agree. However, there are some things that for $0.50 more are really worth the quality. I've yet to find generic process cheese squares that hold a candle to Kraft Singles. Generic Cheerios just don't make the cut for me, though for what it's worth I also like my Cheerios straight out of the box, so that's probably where some of the difference comes in. Generic milk? It may vary in other areas, but where I live the generic milk actually comes from the same local dairy, and is therefore the exact same milk, but cheaper. Shredded cheese? No real difference. Animal crackers? Not so much. They're still not crackers, and they still taste good. A bit of a warning on this one, though. Watch the ads and such. Often when the name brands are on sale, they'll actually be a better deal; sometimes the opposite is true. Check the unit prices on the price tags. If you can't find the unit price (sometimes they'll be ripped off or blocked by a sale tag or sticker), do the math in your head or use the calculator function on your cell phone.
- Café Coffee. Though I don't drink coffee and live an hour from the nearest Starbucks, this is some pretty good advice. The same goes for raging Diet Dr. Pepper addicts like me: if a 20 oz. bottle is $1.25 at a convenience store and a 6-pack of the 20 oz. bottles is $4 at the grocery store, buy them at the grocery store. Cans are even cheaper, but less convenient when on the go.
- Mail. This one is true most of the time. However, watch out for companies that charge 'convenience fees' for this kind of service. My satellite service, internet, and cell phone companies all have free online-pay. My car insurance company charges $3 to pay the old fashioned way and $2 for direct debit (there's no free way to pay with them, always a service charge). My energy bill is free to pay the by mail, but charges $3.50 to pay with a credit card online or over the phone. $0.44 for a stamp is a heck of a lot more convenient than $3.50. If you don't use them often, buy the 'Forever' kind that can be used, as their name implies, even after there's a rate increase.
- Cocktails. I agree with the sentiment, but not the advice here. Why not drop the alcohol period? I was a rare drinker before the economy went to hell, and dropped the bottle of wine I occasionally bought to cook with once I started tightening the budget. I've never really understood people who consider alcohol a necessity for a fun evening. But hey, if you do, so be it, and remember to designate a driver and all that. Be safe!
Finally, a piece of my own advice. If you use a lot of over-the-counter cold medication or painkillers, buy generic. They're legally obligated to contain the same active ingredients (read: the stuff that makes you feel better) as their name-brand counterparts. The only differences are in the fillers/flavorings and fancy packaging. Generics are often labeled by their more formal names or active ingredients, so learn to look for those: Tylenol = Acetaminophen, Advil = Ibuprofen, Aleve = Naproxen, etc. It's the same thing, just with a different name. If you're confused, ask a pharmacist, they're there to help!
Monday, February 22, 2010
A Weight-y Topic: The Five Bite Diet
The article that brought this issue to my attention can be found here.
The website for the diet in question can be found here.
The 'As Seen on Extra' video can be found here.
The 'Mike and Juliet' video can be found here.
A bit of background/personal perspective first: I'm 23 years old, 5 ft. 4 in., and weigh about 140. I say 'about' 140 because my weight tends to go up or down 10 lbs. depending on the time of year, how I'm feeling, what my schedule is, etc. If it's on the high side I tend to watch my intake a bit more, try to get a little more exercise, but nothing too specific. If it's on the low side I wear my skinny jeans. All in all, I am not particularly concerned about my weight. This is why it pains me to see absurd diets plastered all over the internet, 'news' shows, etc. I know that not everyone can have the same attitude towards weight that I do, and I've seen it personally, but this is a new level of absurdity. I'm going to bullet point this as much as possible to avoid a big, angry wall of text.
The basics are as follows:
Let's look at a few of the things I, as a Jane Notadoctor, find grossly wrong with this diet.
WebMD has a BMI calculator that will also tell you how many calories you need to cut to lose weight. A normal caloric intake is 2000 calories. At my height and weight, if I wanted to average a 2-pound-per week weight loss, I should still be ingesting 1200 calories a day. If the 'two Snickers bars' worth of food you ingest on the diet each day was comprised of actual Snickers bars, you'd only be consuming a total of 560 calories and 28 grams of fat. And you thought candy bars weren't a health food! If you consumed nothing but butter, and figured the 2-Snickers equivalent at 1 and 1/2 sticks per day, you'd be consuming 1200 calories. So apparently butter can be your ticket to weight loss!
In all seriousness, food is great. It's delicious, it's nutritious, and it helps our bodies do the things we need to do each day. This video, concerning another questionably safe diet, echoes my sentiments pretty clearly. (The language in this video is a bit peppery, so if anyone's actually reading this and you're at work or around small children, you've been fairly warned)
There are plenty of healthy options for weight loss, some that will even make you a good deal healthier than you were before. The USDA food pyramid site is a good place to start. Our First Lady also has a good deal to say about healthy eating -- in case you've been living in a cave for the past year, it's her primary platform. Let's Move.gov is the website, and it's got lots more links.
The website for the diet in question can be found here.
The 'As Seen on Extra' video can be found here.
The 'Mike and Juliet' video can be found here.
A bit of background/personal perspective first: I'm 23 years old, 5 ft. 4 in., and weigh about 140. I say 'about' 140 because my weight tends to go up or down 10 lbs. depending on the time of year, how I'm feeling, what my schedule is, etc. If it's on the high side I tend to watch my intake a bit more, try to get a little more exercise, but nothing too specific. If it's on the low side I wear my skinny jeans. All in all, I am not particularly concerned about my weight. This is why it pains me to see absurd diets plastered all over the internet, 'news' shows, etc. I know that not everyone can have the same attitude towards weight that I do, and I've seen it personally, but this is a new level of absurdity. I'm going to bullet point this as much as possible to avoid a big, angry wall of text.
The basics are as follows:
- You may drink anything you want as long as it doesn't have calories (i.e. water, diet soda, and... that's about it).
- You may have five bites of any food at lunch.
- You may have five bites of any food at dinner.
- You should take one multivitamin per day.
- You should average a bite of 'quality' protein per day.
- Great big bites are not allowed, your overall intake should be the volume of 'two regular-sized Snickers bars.'
Let's look at a few of the things I, as a Jane Notadoctor, find grossly wrong with this diet.
- In the 'Mike and Juliet' interview, Dr. Lewis says 'I actually recommend skipping breakfast.' When questioned about this, he changes the subject back to gastric bypass. Since I have no desire to drop $22.45 + shipping to buy a copy of the book, and there aren't many specifics on the website (other than the link to buy the book), this will remain one of my largest concerns with the diet as a whole. Almost every week you see something new about how important breakfast is. The Mayo Clinic has something to say about it. A Google Scholar search for 'importance of breakfast' brings up about 140,000 hits. Speaking from experience, I feel like crap if I don't have at least a little something for breakfast. When questioned about the lack of breakfast in the interview, Dr. Lewis' only response is that Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine states that an obese person could survive a year without food.
- In the second part of the 'Mike and Juliet' interview, an internist (Robert R. Segal M.D. of NYU) and a registered dietician (couldn't catch her name because of the applause, it sounded like Terri Gands or something similar) basically voice every concern I have over this thing with professional voice and the proof to back it up, including but not limited to the scary lack of nutrients and the plethora of health problems that could stem from following this kind of plan. What boggles my mind is that the interview is featured on the diet plan's website, as if it's supposed to be some sort of positive support. Maybe they think people following the plan will be too weak from lack of nutrients to make it past the first part of the video with the doctor touting the benefits of the diet to the second part of the video where the nutritionist and internist throw a fit.
- While the doctor keeps touting this diet as the non-surgical answer to gastric bypass, that in and of itself is only supposed to be used in situations of extreme or health-endangering obesity. While some of the before-and-after photos on the site show people who may have legitimately needed to lose weight, others, in particular the first one, look as though they may have been at a perfectly healthy weight to begin with, and nowhere near the BMI of 35 or higher that would begin to qualify someone for gastric bypass.
WebMD has a BMI calculator that will also tell you how many calories you need to cut to lose weight. A normal caloric intake is 2000 calories. At my height and weight, if I wanted to average a 2-pound-per week weight loss, I should still be ingesting 1200 calories a day. If the 'two Snickers bars' worth of food you ingest on the diet each day was comprised of actual Snickers bars, you'd only be consuming a total of 560 calories and 28 grams of fat. And you thought candy bars weren't a health food! If you consumed nothing but butter, and figured the 2-Snickers equivalent at 1 and 1/2 sticks per day, you'd be consuming 1200 calories. So apparently butter can be your ticket to weight loss!
In all seriousness, food is great. It's delicious, it's nutritious, and it helps our bodies do the things we need to do each day. This video, concerning another questionably safe diet, echoes my sentiments pretty clearly. (The language in this video is a bit peppery, so if anyone's actually reading this and you're at work or around small children, you've been fairly warned)
There are plenty of healthy options for weight loss, some that will even make you a good deal healthier than you were before. The USDA food pyramid site is a good place to start. Our First Lady also has a good deal to say about healthy eating -- in case you've been living in a cave for the past year, it's her primary platform. Let's Move.gov is the website, and it's got lots more links.
Friday, February 19, 2010
Family Guy Addendum
Before I move on to a new topic, I thought I'd add one bit of new information to the whole Family Guy controversy of which I was not aware during my original post. The character with Down syndrome who uttered the Palin-related remark was voiced by an actress named Andrea Fay Friedman. I'd not taken the voice itself into consideration since most of the voices on the show are done by the same core cast or regular guest stars, and while I generally do watch the credits to see if anyone new and/or interesting pops up, this particular piece of info eluded me until it was featured in an article on The Insider.
Why, if you've not already clicked the link to the article, is this important? Ms. Friedman has Down syndrome. If I'd thought anything about the voice beforehand, I'd probably thought fleetingly that Alex Borstein did the voice, much like she did with Marlee Matlin in I Dream of Jesus. But no, it was an actress (and an accomplished actress at that - she's a motivational speaker, too) with Down syndrome portraying a character with Down syndrome, and she thought it was funny. Go fig.
Why, if you've not already clicked the link to the article, is this important? Ms. Friedman has Down syndrome. If I'd thought anything about the voice beforehand, I'd probably thought fleetingly that Alex Borstein did the voice, much like she did with Marlee Matlin in I Dream of Jesus. But no, it was an actress (and an accomplished actress at that - she's a motivational speaker, too) with Down syndrome portraying a character with Down syndrome, and she thought it was funny. Go fig.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
