food

On questioning the extravagance of eating out

  I’m in London now, my first time here in a while. (Put it to you this way: the London Eye is new to me, and last time, there was no distinction between the Tate Britain and the Tate Modern.) … Read MoreRead More

Listen to what makes you defensive

  When discussing my experience on the Slow Carb Diet, I mentioned getting upset when I first read that the best way (purportedly) to lose weight was to eliminate/minimize grains and eat lots of meat. And I mean actually upset. Almost … Read MoreRead More

Track or you will fail

  I’ve been reading Tim Ferriss’s “The 4-Hour Body” recently. Perhaps I’ve been caught up in the New Year’s wave of health resolutions (though it may just be a coincidence, as I’m a year-round gym-goer) but I’ve recently thought that … Read MoreRead More

On poverty and self-description

  When you’re offering advice, it’s sometimes hard to know what kind of tack to take to be most effective. Would it be best to offer some gentle hand-holding, or do they need a swift kick in the pants? I … Read MoreRead More

Spend more for food

  When I lived in New York City, money was a big concern, and food was a big part of that. I never went out to restaurants, and in fact the once-monthly trip to the grocery store was a big … Read MoreRead More

Mind the empathy gap

  Take the following scene. You’re in line at the supermarket, behind someone with a full shopping cart. The cart is full of what, to you, seems like some pretty unhealthy food choices. Boxed frozen foods, a huge bag of … Read MoreRead More

It’s about the people

  I climbed Mt. St. Helens a few days ago. I’m not bragging, though; it’s not actually a technical climb like you might expect. Despite the snow-covered peak you see north of Portland, peeking (peaking?) out in the distance, you … Read MoreRead More

How to be grateful

  All throughout my childhood Thanksgiving dinners, I was asked to be grateful.  Grateful for our food, our health, our families, whatever.  And I don’t know if other people felt the same way as I did, but it always felt … Read MoreRead More