Working at the Farmers Market

Every Saturday morning, I wake up at 6:45am, throw on my green t-shirt, and head down to Pleasantville to intern at the farmers market.

I love waking up to work with a smiling staff of volunteers eager to make the market's environment as accommodating and lively as possible. As media intern, I post a weekly collage and video to Facebook to get patrons pumped about the market. I photograph the weekly splendorous harvest of corn, apples, cheese, bread rolls, fish, kale, etc., and use the photos in my weekly posts.

Working at the Pleasantville Farmers Market has taught me about what it means to run a non-profit, about the life of a farmer, about how to take the most yummy pictures, about how to change money, about how to set up a tent, the list goes on and on.

So if you're ever in Westchester County, stop by for a "delicious good time" at the best and biggest market around!!
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Gourmanda

Food Product to Try: Blue Hill Savory Yogurt

saveur.com

The first time I heard about Blue Hill's new savory yogurt, I knew I had to try it. The yogurt is your average joe yogurt, except for one thing, it's comes in sweet potato flavor!!

In recent years, the yogurt industry has gone bananas trying to reel in customers with every dessert-turned-yogurt flavor you can think of. Some examples from Yoplait include Pineapple Upside Down Cake, Red Velvet Cupcake, and Boston Cream Pie.

But the minds at the world famous farm-to-table restaurant Blue Hill (Dan Barber et al.) are going against the grain and flavoring their unconventional dairy products with root and vine vegetables.

I took a trip to my local Mrs. Greens and bought a cup of Sweet Potato flavored yogurt. I immediately spooned it into my mouth upon arriving home and was met with a slightly salty and umami taste that almost made me forget I was eating yogurt. But then I came to my senses and realized that I didnt like this non-sweet yogurt. I added a little honey and some walnuts and tried it again. Much better.

The verdict: Based on my taste analysis of one flavor, this yogurt would go great in sauces and marinades, but maybe not by itself. I blame it on my tastebuds's affinity for sweet-tasting yogurt. Definitely give a try, and let me know what you think!

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Gourmanda

Avoiding the word "vegetables" in commercials

The perception (and half-truth) of American children and their relationship with food is that they are processed food-ivores, and incapable of ingesting such victuals as (whispered) *vegetables.* This perception and taboo on vegetables is only furthered by recent commercials for Bush's Baked Beans and Progresso Soup.

Allow me to regale you with my grievances about these two commercials in epistolary format.


Dear Bush's Baked Beans,

Beans are legumes, not vegetables.

Sincerely, Informed Citizen

Dear Progresso Soup,

The actor that plays the father in your commercial pronounces "vegetables" in a way that makes me uncomfortable. He practiced it way too many times in front of the mirror.

Yours truly,
Uncomfortable Viewer

Dear Bush's Baked Beans,

The fact that there is twice as many grams of sugar than protein in your baked beans makes me sad.

Regards,
Disappointed Consumer

Here's the bottom line: I don't want to write these pathetic letters to these apparently uneducated companies. Reinforcing the idea that kids won't eat vegetables and thereafter replacing the fresh, whole veggies with canned beans and soup is doing nothing to help this sorry perception in our country.

source: progresso.com

So I'm asking you, informed citizen, uncomfortable viewer, and disappointed consumer, to not give in and to spread the word: "KIDS CAN LOVE VEGETABLES!"

We should all be advertising agents for Vegetables & Co., so children are not reduced to meek creatures who live on diets of "Brown Sugar Hickory" Baked Beans and "Chicken Cheese Enchilada Flavor" Soup.

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Gourmanda

Junk Food is Linked with Depression

http://havefunwithenglish.eklablog.com/

Hello everyone!

I read today a very interesting article on Time Magazine online about a study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition that shows a link between junk food and sugar consumption and depression. The findings make sense in that those who consume excess sugar and junk food are probably trying to compensate for sad feelings. I know when I'm feeling a little down, I like to eat a square of chocolate to perk up.  We should eat because we are hungry, not because we are sad. Taking a walk or run is a much more beneficial method to clear away depressing feelings, in the long term and short term. And if you choose to eat unhealthy foods while you are feeling glum, it will only perpetuate the habit and lead you to believe that junky sugary foods are associated with happiness. The bottom line is this: you are what you eat. If you eat foods that bad for you, you will experience a brief sugar high, but then return back to feeling bad. If you eat foods that are good for you, you will feel better and your body will thank you for it.

More to come!

Gourmanda

NYTimes Article: Can the Bacteria in Your Gut Explain Your Mood?

Happy Friday!! I can feel in my gut that you guys will enjoy this great article from this week's New York Times. :)

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Gourmanda

Listen to Hippocrates

“Let FOOD be thy MEDICINE and MEDICINE be thy FOOD.”

                                             ― Hippocrates

The Organic Effect

Hi!

I found this really cool video on one of my favorite website the other day that I'd like to share with all of you. It's called "The Organic Effect" and it follows a family and how their health changes after going organic! I urge you guys to share this video to anyone who is a nonbeliever in organic food - it really makes a difference! 

See you later!

Gourmanda