Makin Food @ School & Hidden America

Applied Food Principles, NTR 142, is by far the coolest class I am taking right now! I love being introduced to new foods that I've never experienced before. It's definately showing me how much I love the actual food aspect of nutrition. We started the lab out with sauces and stocks, making cheese sauce, Hollindase (never knew what that was until class), tomato sauce, minestrone, cream of broccoli soup, and french onion soup.

• The cheese sauce was AMAZING! So delish. The next day I made the cheese sauce at home and mixed it with some whole wheat pasta. Yummy homemade mac & cheese...and can be made with healthy, organic ingrediants instead of from a box.
• The cream of broccoli soup was also fantastic. It was made with big, chunky pieces of broccoli and shredded cheddar cheese. I haven't made this one at home yet, but I really want to!

For the next two weeks, we made meat and chicken meals. Ugh. Although I was willing to make them, when it came to tasting, it was definately not going to happen. From chicken enchiladas, to broiled pork chops, to turkey tetrazzini, I was not a happy camper. We did make shrimp creole though that I really liked. I've never had creole before, but it was pretty good. The spicy tomato sauce with mixed veggies served over rice was great...I want to make this recipe again too! Minus the shrimp...

Tomorrow we're making legumes and soy products!!! YAY!!!

• I am SO SO SO excited to make black bean burgers, satay tofu and chile sin carne. Can't wait to tell you how they turn out!

Other classes have been good too. I'm working on analyzing research articles on soluble fiber and colon cancer.

Also, check out Diane Sawyer's 20/20 Special...Hidden America: Children of the Mountains.
This story really exposes the poorest population's of America in the Appalachian area. I was devastated to see their lunch boxes. Cheetos, mountain dew, bologna sandwiches, candy bars, more mountain dew. This is unjust, no one should have to eat food like this; but it's cheap and accessible, so they do. I STILL am truly devastated by the diets of these Americans and have thought about them every single day since I've watched the show.

Skip to the 2:00 minute mark of http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjJYrXTkqeI&feature=related to see a miner's lunch box. Every single time I've put a veggie in my mouth since seeing this special, I've been overwhelmed with gratitude. Seriously.

The lack of access to healthy, nutritional food is a shame. It breaks my heart to see people living off of junk food because there are so little other options...