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The Secret Life Of California's World-Class StrawberriesWe may romanticize that strawberries are grown down the road, but most of them come from California. And a complex web of plant cloning practices, relocation and fumigation has cropped up to keep it that way. Although scientists are exploring new options, like soil-free growing.
npr.org | 17-May-2012 21:21
Bigger, Blander, Blegh: Why Are Strawberries Worse?
Melissa Block talks with Marvin Pritts, a Cornell horticulture professor, about why store-bought strawberries aren't as tasty as the ones you might pick on your own.
npr.org | 17-May-2012 21:00
A History Of Human Fingers Found In Fast Food
A Michigan teen bit into his Arby's sandwich and discovered a severed finger. It's the latest in a long line of disgusting discoveries of real-life fingers in fast food.
npr.org | 17-May-2012 20:43
How To Make Healthy Eating Easier On The Wallet? Change The Calculation
Legumes, lentils and beans are good for you, and end up costing less than unhealthy food when you calculate the price per average amount consumed. A new USDA study shows eating healthy is not more expensive, people just need to make the right calorie choices.
npr.org | 17-May-2012 16:06
Economists: Healthy Food Isn't More Expensive
One of the biggest barriers to eating well can be cost. At least a lot of people have that perception. But new research by some economists at the Agriculture Department indicates fruits and vegetables are not as expensive as some less healthy options.
npr.org | 17-May-2012 10:00
A Farmer Bets Better Fake Chicken Meat Will Be As Good As The Real Thing
A new Maryland company is betting that its mixture of soy, pea powder, carrot fiber and gluten-free fiber tastes a lot like real chicken. Beyond Meat plans to expand into fake pork and ground beef next.
npr.org | 17-May-2012 09:25
Can Coffee Help You Live Longer? We Really Want To Know
Journalists seem to love writing about scientific studies on coffee and wine, and we're no exception. The latest is that a big new study finds people who drink two or three cups of coffee a day may cut the risk of dying from certain diseases but scientists don't really know why.
npr.org | 16-May-2012 23:02
Thank The Patron Saint Of Bakers For This Cake Today
Pictures of Saint Honore or (Saint Honoratus) from church iconography reinforce his baker background . He's holding his wooden peel, often with a few delicious-looking loaves of crusty French bread nearby.
npr.org | 16-May-2012 21:27
From Science Fiction To Fact, Robots Are Coming To A Farm Near You
Farm robots are here, not just in Star Wars. Some dairies already use milking machines that clean udders and monitor cow health, plus do the milking, and a fully automated tractor is coming out this fall.
npr.org | 16-May-2012 16:47
Vermont Beer Makers Bring Back Old-Time Maple Sap Brews
Boiling down the last of the season maple sap and brewing a strong dark beer to share in the summer was a common tradition on Vermont farms a couple of generations ago. The practice had all but died out but is being revived now, thanks to a handful of local brewers.
npr.org | 15-May-2012 21:16
Even Your Mother Will Approve Of Vegetable Chips
If you're like most Americans, you love chips, particularly potato chips. But that gloriously crunchy snack isn't that good for you. Veggie chips — especially baked ones — are a health food in comparison. And by making your own, you control what goes into them, and what stays out.
npr.org | 15-May-2012 20:44
Interview: Tim Vincent and Binky Felstead
WHO'D have thought it? A fly-on-the-wall reality series about the okay-yah crowd of privileged south-west London becoming a Twitter-trending, must-watch TV hit.
OK! Magazine | 15-May-2012 17:05
Jetlagged By Your Social Calendar? Better Check Your Waistline
The disconnect between our social calendars and our biological clocks is creating 'social jet lag,' according to a key researchers. And that's taking a toll on our weight because the body stores fat when it's not getting enough sleep.
npr.org | 15-May-2012 09:06
At Basque Cooking Clubs, Food And Fraternity Mix Heartily
Txokos are bustling, food-centered social clubs, somewhere between dinner party and fraternal lodge. And Basques often point to txokos to explain their renowned cuisine and wealth of Michelin-starred restaurants like Arzak and Mugaritz.
npr.org | 14-May-2012 23:21
California's Genetically Engineered Food Label May Confuse More Than Inform
A new analysis of the labeling initiative, which may go on the ballot in November, shows that it would create a complex and nuanced set of restrictions for food companies on what "natural" food is.
npr.org | 14-May-2012 18:29
Bring On The 'Yabbies': Australia Ditches The Bad British Food
On a recent trip, Weekend Food Commentator Bonny Wolf was taken by surprise by Australia's stunningly diverse cuisine, especially the dizzying array of exotic seafood like yabbies and marron at the Sydney Fish Market.
npr.org | 13-May-2012 13:08
Black Pepper May Give You A Kick, But Don't Count On It For Weight Loss
Black pepper and other spicy foods are often touted as weight loss aides, thanks to ingredients like capsaicin, but saying no to the freshly-grated Parmesan is more likely to help you lose weight.
npr.org | 12-May-2012 12:57
Sizing Up Americans In 'The Weight Of The Nation'
A new four-part documentary airing on HBO next week looks at America's growing weight problem. John Hoffman, vice president of HBO Documentary Films and executive producer of The Weight Of The Nation, describes his three year-project to document the causes and effects of being overweight and obese in America.
npr.org | 11-May-2012 19:00
Chefs Fight California's Foie Gras Ban
California is set to impose the nation's first statewide ban on foie gras this summer. Nearly eight years have passed since the bill enacting the ban was signed. Rachael Myrow of member station KQED has the story from San Francisco.
npr.org | 11-May-2012 10:00
Thomas Jefferson's Vegetable Garden: A Thing Of Beauty And Science
Thomas Jefferson's garden was a vast, beautiful science experiment involving over 300 varieties of 90 different plants. And no gardening detail was too small for Jefferson to note in the gardening journal he kept for nearly 60 years.
npr.org | 10-May-2012 21:21
Rare Calico Lobster Turns Heads, And Escapes Dinner Menu
A calico lobster that had been living in obscurity off the coast of Maine has now been catapulted into a sort of celebrity, thanks to its rare coloring: a calico mix of orange and yellow spots. Researchers say it could be a 1 in 30 million specimen.
npr.org | 10-May-2012 20:49
Why It Matters That California Teens Eat Less Than Their Peers
California teens eat about 158 calories less a day than their peers in other states, a new study says. But even that tiny amount of fewer calories per kid can help them maintain healthy weights over time, experts say.
npr.org | 10-May-2012 18:54
Hospital Food So Fresh, Even The Healthy Come To Dine
You won't find cardboard chicken and mushy carrots at the Fauquier Hospital in Virginia, one of a dozen health care facilities dedicated to improving patient experiences beyond their immediate medical needs. In fact, the hospital's cafeteria has become a hang out for senior diners.
npr.org | 09-May-2012 22:24
What Our Gut Microbes Say About Us
While U.S. adults have relatively uniform microbe colonies in their guts, adults in Malawi and Amazonia have much more diverse populations. Scientists are still struggling with why that is and what it means.
npr.org | 09-May-2012 20:33
Power Puff: Flex Your Culinary Muscle With A Souffle
The souffle has a reputation for being finicky in the kitchen: a billowy, golden masterpiece that collapses as soon as it's out of the oven. But home cooks should have no fear, says food writer Nicole Spiridakis. The key to success, she says, is fresh eggs — and a pinch of moxie.
npr.org | 09-May-2012 01:09
From Weed To Whimsy: Chefs Conquer Wild Foods With Butter And Oil
A new generation of chefs committed to seasonal, wild and local foods may have no idea how or what they're going to cook until the last minute. And since they're charging big bucks, they better figure out how to make weeds taste good.
npr.org | 08-May-2012 22:48
Interview: Celia Sawyer and Jeremy Edwards
BUDDING dealers beware - there's a sharp-eyed lady on the horizon with a knuckle-duster on her hand if you give her any trouble!
OK! Magazine | 08-May-2012 16:33
Recipe For Safer Drinking Water? Add Sun, Salt And Lime
Adding dirt and salt can help make drinking water cleaner, and is far cheaper than fancy filtration systems for getting rid of harmful bacteria, scientists say. It just takes a little patience and the sun.
npr.org | 08-May-2012 15:06
What HBO And iCarly Can Do To Get Kids Psyched About Veggies
As part of efforts to spotlight obesity, health officials are betting that HBO and Nickelodeon entertainment companies can teach kids it's cool to form healthy eating habits that last a lifetime.
npr.org | 07-May-2012 21:09
Sandwich Monday: The Four-Courser
For this week's Sandwich Monday, we eat something called "The Four-Courser." It has four courses, or you need at least four courses in advanced sandwichology to understand it.
npr.org | 07-May-2012 19:26
Sacrilegious Lunch? The Cuban Sandwich Debate
The city council of Tampa, Fla., recently designated the "Historic Tampa Cuban Sandwich" and specifying its ingredients. From member station WUSF in Tampa, Bobbie O'Brien reports that claim has inspired ridicule from Miami's Cuban community.
npr.org | 06-May-2012 14:00
'No Capers In The Kitchen:' Oyster Joint Turns 100
One hundred years ago this past week, Frank and Rose Snock opened their fish restaurant in Philadelphia. A century later, Snockey's Oyster and Crab House is still serving up deep-fried fish fillets, deviled clams and, of course, oysters.
npr.org | 06-May-2012 14:00
Alcoholidays In America: ¡Viva El Tequila Julep!
The way holidays stack up in this country, an outsider might be forgiven for thinking the United States seems like a party monster lurching from beer blast to beer blast. And this Saturday presents an unholy marriage on the same day: Cinco de Mayo and the Kentucky Derby. Call it Drinko de Mayo.
npr.org | 05-May-2012 00:29
Chocolate Maker Brings Joy Out Of The Basement
A hobby turned into an obsession caused Ben Rasmussen to turn his basement into a chocolate factory. See how Rasmussen rebuilds and re-purposes household items to create his award-winning confection.
npr.org | 04-May-2012 21:58
The 'Smart Fridge' Finds The Lost Lettuce, For A Price
Two companies have debuted so-called "smart fridges," which have built-in apps designed to keep track of food expiration dates and items that get buried so deep that they'll never be found in time to eat.
npr.org | 04-May-2012 17:30
High School Bake Sales Run Afoul Of Obesity Fight
As school budgets continue to get squeezed, administrators, parents and students are having to do more fundraising. And now the fight to raise funds has come head-to-head with the fight against childhood obesity. Stephanie Armour, of Bloomberg Businessweek , talks to David Greene about the move to ban bake sales.
npr.org | 04-May-2012 10:00
Food Trucks Seek 'That Mystical Spot'
"We've gone to spots before where the falafel guys and the shish kebab guys will come up and say, 'What's your menu? Do you sell chicken? ... You can't sell chicken on this block. I'm the chicken guy on 52nd St.'"
npr.org | 04-May-2012 09:04
How To Tiptoe Into The Hot Sauce Craze
Hot sauce is one of the fastest growing industries in the U.S., and there are thousands of connoisseurs out there who call themselves chili-heads. If you're not one of them, but you'd like to learn, our experts offer some tips on how to start.
npr.org | 03-May-2012 21:37
How To Tiptoe Into The Hot Sauce Craze
Hot sauce is one of the fastest growing industries in the U.S., and there are thousands of connoisseurs out there who call themselves chili-heads. If you're not one of them, but you'd like to learn, our experts offer some tips on how to start.
npr.org | 03-May-2012 21:37
Taste Testing The Hot Sauce Spectrum
There's hot sauce, and then there's hot sauce. Audie Cornish puts reporter Allison Aubrey to the taste test at Rocklands BBQ in Arlington, Va.
npr.org | 03-May-2012 21:00
Man Cannot Live On Rice And Beans Alone (But Many Do)
Rice and beans is a cultural icon in many parts of the world. It's pretty healthy and relatively cheap. It may keep people from starving, as TV personality Sean Hannity suggests, but it doesn't have all the nutrients a body needs for life.
npr.org | 03-May-2012 19:44
Cinco De Mayo: Excuse To Indulge In Tacos, Salsa?
As the Mexican holiday approaches this weekend, host Michel Martin and writer Gustavo Arellano look at America's layered relationship with Mexican culture and food.
npr.org | 03-May-2012 18:00
Lard Is Back In The Larder, But Hold The Health Claims
Although some tout lard as a "healthy" animal fat, it's still high in saturated fat, like butter. So eating a lot of it is not really good for you. But tasters agree, it makes a darn fine pie crust.
npr.org | 02-May-2012 22:14
What Pizza Hut's Crown Crust Pizza Says About Global Fast Food Marketing
Pizza Hut's latest offering, available only in the Middle East, is a cheeseburger-pizza hybrid. The combination either makes foodies' stomachs turn - or growl. But from a global perspective, it's not that different from how ethnic cuisines are marketed in the U.S.
npr.org | 02-May-2012 16:35
You Don't Have To Like Liver To Love Pate
The word "pate" may elicit disgust or salivation depending on the listener's attitude toward liver. Yet not all pate is made from liver. It might be fish or another meat, or vegetables — even cheeses. If you're looking for uncommonly rich flavor, though, don't shy away from the innards.
npr.org | 02-May-2012 02:30
What Will Make The Food Desert Bloom?
Improving the health of people living in food deserts is much more than making sure there are veggies on the shelves. As activists have learned, it takes education and some old-fashioned innovation, too.
npr.org | 01-May-2012 19:24