It's Raw Baby

Raw milk that is. For those of you who do not know, raw milk is milk that is taken straight from the udder and bottled (or if you're on the farm into your cup). The fight over the sale of raw milk is getting pretty raw too. It's "Raw Milk Cures" vs. "Raw Milk Can Make You Sick." Now let's see our players' backgrounds:

"Raw Milk Cures": They claim that raw milk has cured ailments and disease. From eczema to arthritis, raw milk was the answer for them. Some of the people who have been making these claims have been illegally buying the milk and would like the rule changed to give the rest of population these "benefits." Technically speaking, raw-milkists can not make health claims unless it is scientifically proven.

Please note: None of their claims have been SCIENTIFICALLY proven, they have anecdotal evidence.

"Raw Milk Can Make You Sick": Milk has been pasteurized for decades now. This is because the process kills off harmful microorganisms that can cause food borne illnesses. Take for instance Campylobacter. These little guys can take up residence on cow's udders, so when the cow is milk it is transferred into the milk. Pasteurizing milk kills off these microorganisms so milk is safe to drink. This side of the fight actually has scientific proof.

Last September there was a Campy outbreak in Wisconsin due to, you guessed it, raw milk. There were over 30 confirmed cases and most were children under the age of 18. If it is illegal to sell raw milk, how could have something like this happen? Go figure that even if something is illegal you can still get it. The farmers that sold this infected milk had a cow share program. A cow-share program is where a farmer can have people who want raw milk "purchase" the cow, but the cow lives on the farm with the farmer. In return these owners get the benefit of having the cow's unpasteurized milk.

Under current law it is illegal to sell raw milk, it is however legal to drink it if you live on the farm that has the cow that produced the milk. The idea behind the current law is that people living on the farm are often exposed to these microorganisms and therefore have built up a tolerance for them.This was the loophole that members of the cow-share program were trying to use. So when some of the people who didn't live on the farm consumed the tainted milk, they got the reverse of the health benefits they were seeking. In fact, they got abdominal cramps, fever, vomiting, and the big "d". One person was actually hospitalized with the infection.

Last week a bill that would allow the sale of raw milk passed the Assembly and it is likely that Gov. Doyle is going to sign it into law.

How do I feel about it? I'm not too thrilled, but I think the public should know what they are getting themselves into. The bill does state that the farmers must post warning signs saying that the raw milk may contain disease causing organisms. They also have to put on the sign that certain populations (young kids, elderly, and women who are pregnant or lactating) should not consume it.

Consider yourselves fully warned.

Ever Wonder

Why you remove the "eyes" from potatoes?





It's not just because they look gross, but they also contain highly concentrated toxins. One of these such toxins is solanine. Solanine affects the nervous system and can cause weakness and confusion. Another tell-tale sign that your potato is more potent is if it starts turning green.

The starchy part of the potatoes also contains the toxin, but in smaller amounts. The reason is they tend not to cause any harm to people nowadays is most of us store our potatoes in dark, cool areas. Storing potatoes in these types of areas postpones potatoes from growing "eyes" or turning green. As you can probably guess, if you cut off these areas they are still be safe to eat.

Retrieving potatoes from the basement also tends to be the main reason mom or grandma sent you there as a kid. Think about it, going in that scary basement as a kid was a learning opportunity to make sure you didn't poison yourself later in life. Cheers to that!

My co-worker pointed out this morning that they don't taste as good. Quick fix: do what I did. Cut them up (about half inch pieces), add about 1 to 2 tablespoons of olive oil, and one envelope of dry onion soup mix. Throw this in a baking dish (you may want to coat in cooking spray) and cover it in foil. Bake at 350 degrees for about an hour. Stir them up half way through the cooking time. These go great with grilled and broiled red meats. In the case you are grilling: put them in a foil pouch, throw it on the grill, and rotate it every so often.

For Shame!

I am a big proponent of taking not-so-healthy recipes and revamping them into delicious and nutritious meals. But KFC isn't even trying. Do they truly believe that changing out the fried chicken patties for grilled ones is going to fool people into thinking it's healthier?

I would say "Oh, please." But this is America, and you know what? It will.

On the KFC site they give the nutritional info right out in the open.

Fried: 540 calories, 32 grams of fat, and 1380 mg of sodium
Grilled: 460 calories, 23 grams of fat, and 1430 mg of sodium

So either you can either have atherosclerosis or hypertension, pick wisely my friends.

I have nothing against any of components individually. I like chicken, I love cheese (I am a Sconnie), and I adore bacon. But to put all three of them together in one "meal", slather it in some special sauce, and not include a scrap of vegetable is disgraceful.

At least during the low-carb craze they wrapped sandwiches in lettuce.

For those of you think that the Oven Roasted Twister sandwich there is any better, think again. It may have less fat (comes in at 18 grams with sauce and 8 grams without) but both still come in at over 1000 mg of sodium.

My advice: Stay away from KFC. But if you must stop, go with a grilled meal. Then make the hardest decision one may ever make at KFC: biscuit or mashed potatoes with gravy (but not both!). For your other sides choose between corn (in any form), beans (green or three bean salad), or (if you're feeling a little naughty) cole slaw.

Good for the Environment and You!

For years now we have heard about the benefits of oatmeal, soluble fiber, and the role (it may have) in preventing heart disease. Many of us recognize big cardboard tubes filled with the stuff loitering our supermarket shelves. I have a guy with a hat right now taking up room in my cupboard and one of those is enough. I don't know about you, but for some reason the instant stuff in the economy size tube always overflows in my microwave. For the sake of not having to clean out my microwave every morning, I tend to stick to cold cereal. But enough about my lack of my ability to microwave properly skills. When I grocery shop I usually breeze right past the oatmeal section. But then I saw this...





Meet BetterOats. They have made every part of buying, storing, and making oatmeal even easier. Let's explore this more:

Buying: At the store I shop at it was $1.09 for 5 pouches. The guy in the hat, $3.29 for 10.

Winner: BetterOats

Storing: They boast a "Space Saving Pantry Pack." And truth be told, it is really space saving (and way more eye-catching packaging). You have the option of tearing off the top half of the box to easily pluck out a pouch when need be. We all know what the stuff comes in. In fact, my BetterOats are now blocking my oatmeal tube.

Winner: BetterOats

Making: Get this (it's going to blow your mind).
Step one: empty pouch contents in bowl (or coffee mug if you're running low on dishes).
Step two: fill pouch to water fill line (e.g. use it as a measuring cup!!!) and pour that in with the oatmeal. How the hell no one thought of this sooner is beyond me. It's plain genius. Forget the guy in the hat.

Winner: BetterOats

Not only does it have all that going for it, but it tastes good too. (Plus, the microwave is spotless!) It comes in all sorts of varieties from mmm...muffins to the oh-so-popular 100 calorie packs. For more information check out: betteroats.com

BONUS: Click on taste test for a free coupon to try them and see for yourself!

Ode to Elvis Breakfast

Random Fact: Elvis's favorite food was fried peanut butter and banana sandwiches. I personally prefer mine not fried because I prefer not to be dead. A few years back I was elated when a chain restaurant started toting peanut butter and banana stuffed french toast. I was so happy when the waitress put down the plate I just stared at it in awe before I could actually consume it. I tasted the first gooey bite... and then inhaled the remaining three pieces of pb & b heaven. Now sadly, this was years ago and I haven't seen it since.

That is until yesterday morning, when I decided to recreate it in a more angelic form.

What it takes:
1 egg white
Splash of milk
A few shakes of ground cinnamon
2 slices of whole wheat bread
1 1/2 tablespoons of peanut butter
1 small banana, sliced

Heat a pan on medium heat, make sure it is coated with cooking spray. Whip together the first three ingredients on a plate with a fork, put that to the side. Then spread the peanut butter on one side of each slice of bread. Take one slice of bread and dip the opposite side in the egg mixture. Lay the dipped side down in the skillet, now take a few slices of the banana and put them on top of the peanut butter side. Next, dip the opposite side of the other slice of bread in the egg mixture and place it peanut butter side down on the bananas. Let the bread cook until it turns a light brown.

WARNING: May be tricky to flip!!!

Tip: Use a big spatula and the get the french toast on it, lift it out of the pan. Next turn the pan upside down over the uncooked side of the french toast and carefully put it it to the pan while flipping it over.

No need for syrup! Just top the french toast with the rest of the banana slices and enjoy!

Nutritional Breakdown:

Calories: 470
Fat: 16 grams
Saturated Fat: 3 grams
Carbohydrates: 67 grams
Fiber: 15.5 grams
Protein: 21 grams

Tastiness Level: Resist the urge to make a restaurant size order!

Dear Interweb World,

I am the new Naughty Nutritionist. A petite, girl-next-door version of naughty nutrition. The type that has the science background and enough street smarts in the real world to know the obstacles to "healthy eating."

Because let's face it, sometimes we eat just because it is that damn good. I was born and raised in Wisconsin. I appreciate good beer, good sausage, and awesome company. Therefore you can expect plenty of tailgating and beer festivals in the near future of this blog.

On the flip side, I am also a personal trainer and student of dietetics. I am set to graduate in December and, fingers crossed, will be doing an internship soon after to become a Registered Dietitian.

Let's raise our glasses (wine, beer, or water (for the not-so-naughty)) and toast to a new era of naughtiness.

Cheers!