The Foodie’s Diet

07Aug08

I often write about food. More accurately, I often write about what others write about food. (Check out the posts I’ve written about Michael Pollan for instance.) Well, I’m at it again. This time the author is the food writer, Melissa Clark and the topic is how to eat when exposed to food all day.  Now I’ve often fantasized about becoming a food expert and being a judge on the next season of “Iron Chef America.” Can you imagine getting paid to eat Mario Batali’s Spaghetti alla Carbonara? But there’s a definite downside I’ve also thought about: How to stay trim when you’re a food expert and it’s your job to eat delicious food all day?

Melissa Clark answered my question in her essay “The Food Writer’s Diet.”  It’s deceptively simple.  Be conscious of what you are eating. In her words: “eat-what-you-like-don’t-eat-what-you-don’t-like. Okay. I think I can do that. But of course this doesn’t mean “all-you-can-eat” either. In fact, Melissa suggests not eating all of anything — her exceptions are: caviar, sea urchin, and fried pork skin; not even close to what mine are: guacamole, beets, and ice cream — and stopping when you’re two-thirds full. I think this is the key: stopping before full. It always comes down to portion control. Another key: Quality over Quantity. Or as Michael Pollan says: “Pay More, Eat Less.”

For those who prefer not to read Melissa Clark’s article, here’s her summary from the end of the article:

TRICKS OF THE TRADE
Worried about your weight? The next time you sit down to eat at a restaurant, remember these six simple tips.

ORDER TWO APPETIZERS instead of an appetizer and an entrée. Or split an entrée with a friend.

STOP EATING WHEN you’re only two thirds full. It takes time for your brain to know that you’re actually satisfied.

SHARE DESSERT. Dawn Jackson Blatner, a dietitian, has a three-fork rule: Make sure there are at least three forks for every one dessert.

ORDER A SALAD or a vegetable side dish with your meal, and eat it.

DON’T EAT ANYTHING on the plate that you don’t like. Ever.

IF YOU REALLY WANT to order the ten-course tasting menu with wine pairings, go for it. But try to eat sensibly and exercise a little more the next day.

Great advice Melissa.


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Stephanie Klein & “Moose”

21May08

Another one of my favorite women bloggers is Stephanie Klein. Her new book, Moose is scheduled for release May 27, 2008. In Moose, Stephanie writes about her experiences as a young girl at fat camp. For those of you interested in the book (I’m looking forward to reading it), here is an interview of Stephanie Klein from this week’s Newsweek.   

I feel about Stephanie Klein much in the same way as I feel about Heather Armstrong and dooce. Like it or not, Stephanie’s voice speaks for many. When Stephanie was single and posting her thoughts and struggles about dating, I think many women could relate to her experiences. Now, as a wife and mother, women continue to relate to her.

I think Stephanie and Heather have this in common — they know how to open themselves up in a vulnerable and meaningful way. While the “blogosphere” is filled with people writing about their inner most feelings, few are skilled and truthful about it. I heard Heather comment somewhere that she has always been someone who has “over shared.” I think this is an important trait for a blogger who writes about their life every week. Not everything that happens in one’s life is interesting, or appropriate for blogging, but it is a talent when a writer knows what is important to share — some of it is being too uncomfortable for many people to express.  

What I hope to see on the Web is other women’s voices. In addition to the “Mommy Bloggers,” (which interestingly I don’t often see Stephanie Klein categorized this way), I would like to see more single women, women without children, mothers who work outside of the home (let’s face it, not all women have the choice of staying home with their kids), single mothers, women of color, women representing other minorities. I want to see these women get a larger audience and more press. Who are some of your favorite women bloggers who represent other voices? 

Below is a promotional video for Stephanie’s new book Moose. The video is called Mirror Masturbation. Enjoy!

 


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Dooce: Not just a Mommy Blogger

13May08

Why is Heather Armstrong always considered a Mommy Blogger?

On her web site, dooce, she writes irreverently about many topics, the least which is motherhood. I see Heather as a female writer who honestly captures the experiences of a thirty-something year old woman trying to negotiate work, family, marriage, motherhood, depression — all things women deal with at some point in their lives. I think by categorizing her as a “mommy blogger,” she is being stripped of the credit she deserves by implying she is not a professional in her field; “mommy” meaning, in this case, she’s not writing about topics with any deeper meaning than dirty diapers, and “blogger” signifying she’s not a serious writer, but rather someone who dabbles with the written word. I think both of these words are unfair to use in her case. 

In many ways, I think Heather is an important woman writer because, like it or not, her voice speaks for many. She receives a great deal of criticism for her work. Some readers feel she is violating her daughter’s privacy. (As if, writing monthly online love letters to her daughter is going to scar her for life.) Heather is criticized for her bawdiness frequently, as many important women before her have been chastised for theirs. 

Why is there nothing so frightening to the masses as a woman with a voice? 

Below is the Nightline segment about Heather Armstrong that aired Monday evening, May 12, 2008. 

 


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