EatSavvy Blog

Topic —  Food News

Cooking Up a Story

April 12, 2012
Jan Scott

Pocket

Last week, I was inundated with interesting food-related news items. Every time I flipped the pages of a newspaper or magazine, or changed the channel on the television, I came across yet another engaging topic.

Here are a few things that piqued my interest:

1. Did you hear? National Geographic named Toronto’s St. Lawrence Market the best food market in the World. I can honestly say this surprised me a little, but in a good way. It beat out markets from Brazil, France, England, Finland and Chile. Although I live close by, I can honestly say I don’t frequent this market often, but you can bet I’ll be taking the kids on a local field trip soon enough.
2. Lately, I’ve been thinking about how to remove the added sugar that’s in some of the foods my family consumes. Although we are healthy eaters, I know there is room for improvement…especially with the sweet side of things. Last week, I watched a news special, and read an article, on the toxicity of sugar. Both were a little scary, but they also confirmed that I’m definitely on the right track with my thinking.
3. On the flip side, the good news is that eating dark chocolate just might keep us slimmer. A recent study done by the University of California suggests that those who eat moderate amounts of chocolate are slimmer than those who eat none. The quality of chocolate does matter though, and the darker variety is much more diet-friendly than the processed counterparts.
4. My copy of French Kids Eat Everything has arrived and I’m voraciously devouring it. I love the ‘rules’ the typical French mother has when it comes to her family’s food habits, and next week, my family is embarking on a one-week trial to test the French method (stay tuned to see how it goes).
5. Chia seeds just might be the new superfood. These little gems are loaded with protein, antioxidants, omega-3s, vitamins and minerals. They are gluten-free and almost flavourless, meaning they can be added to baked goods, yogurt, salad and smoothies without altering the taste too much. I’ve purchased a package and look forward to sharing some recipes that include this hearty, healthy seed.
6. Speaking of superfoods, popcorn has just joined the list of high-nutrient consumables. New research from the scientists at the University of Scranton states that a popcorn kernel contains as much polyphenols—powerful antioxidant compounds—as fruit and vegetables. Movie theatre popcorn loaded with butter and salt isn’t exactly the kind of popcorn the study is encouraging us to eat, but air-popped corn, seasoned with a touch of olive oil and fresh herbs will certainly fit the bill.

Tell us, have you come across any interesting food news lately?