Carefree Gourmet

Processed Foods Line the Grocery Aisles

Pam and I struggle with the whole -”what is ok to eat” syndrome. We are sure most of you do too! Why? Because there are so many diets and information being released about the latest food craze and what was once considered health law, for example, “eat low fat” is now in question.

I recently read In Defense of Food by Michael Pollen, journalist and Knight Professor of Journalism at Berkeley in my own search to find out what I should be eating. And I really like what I read. Maybe because it is not so complicated, maybe because it was logical and possibly because it finally answered “what can I make for dinner tonight?”

So I wanted to share with you Pollen’s discovery in researching what we could all have for dinner tonight. And the first and foremost point is… run from the current Western diet! Much of what we consume in the United States is processed. And so one of the first things you want to avoid is processed foods. But it is more than just boxed, canned, bagged stuff taking over your grocery store….. it is in the meat and fish you purchase. How? Simply by the fact that ranching has become industrialized and our steer are fed the Western diet, waste products, antibiotics and hormones. Yuck!

So this is going to take a bit of time and effort on our parts to choose a quality meal for our families. And this is going to be a culture shock to most of us who are used to zapping packaged foods in the microwave, grilling up cheap cuts of industrialized meats or “god forbid” eating from a fast food chain in the car on our way to our next appointment.

But back to basics here. Step number one: Eat real food. That’s it. Simple right? Well, not when we are being bombarded with 17,000 new foodlike substitutes a year at our grocer. But, real food can still be found! It may feel like a treasure hunt, but I always them really fun!

What is real food? If your grandmother or great-grandmother wouldn’t recognize it… don’t eat it!

Think about that one today. Open your refrigerator, cupboard, pantry…. do you see things granny wouldn’t know what to do with? Hmmm…. more tomorrow!

Andrea & Pam Enjoying Martini's

Pam and I are authors of Carefree Gourmet Buffets, Dazzling Desserts, Bountiful Brunch, Tea Anytime, Brazilian BBQ, Casual Cajun, and Classy Cocktails for up to 20 Guests.  Whew, that was long!  We are also the hosts of Carefree Food Bytes, a radio show broadcast on Voice America’s Health and Wellness channel.  Why?  Because we love food, love to entertain, teach, share, learn, explore and experience all aspects of food.

This blog is the search for the meaning of food in Los Angeles in the 21st century. We are all constantly bombarded with food trends and fads, latest “medical” hypes and marketing strategies all striving to get our food dollar. Pam and I live in the capital of the fast food world – where it all began – southern California.

This is our journey to find real food and to bring it home to our families for evening meals and gatherings were we entertain friends. We will feature real food and recipes, how to navigate markets and restaurants when selecting foods, feature special guests that base their lifestyles on real food, identify any “quick” foods that may indeed be OK to consume – working women need help out there!, and finally, discuss some of the health issues we face today in a society that rewards eating cheap, poor nutritional food-like products on the run.

Join us as we navigate the world of food and feel free to share you thoughts with us!