Using Food That Is in Season

Petrol costs adding pounds to the weekly shopping bill? There may not be any local shops near you. But you can still make some changes to your shopping habits.

A busy family life may mean you do your food shopping once a week. You probably use your nearest large supermarket. It's the most efficient thing to do. Or is it? It may take you up to thirty minutes to get to the supermarket. Doing the actual shop can take an hour. Getting home and putting it all away; another couple of hours. So at the very least, you spend 2-4 hours every week, shopping.

Shop local, shop in season

Spread that out to three trips locally of an hour at most. The first saving then is in time. You may be convinced that supermarkets are cheaper. Check your supermarket receipt. Using a local butcher, fishmonger, and greengrocer can work out cheaper. Walking or cycling there may add time - but it will be healthier and cheaper than driving. So that's another saving. Local shops are more likely to use fresh local produce, particularly greengrocers. That means they will only have the produce that is in-season. That may sound limiting - but actually it can make you more creative. You also need to shift your mind set.

Buy only what you can carry.

• Buy only what's in season.
• Don't be tempted by BOGOFF (buy one get one free) offers, unless you know you will use the product.
• Run a check on your fridge. How much extra stuff is thrown out?
• Plan family meals 2-3 days ahead
• Make a list of what you need - stick to it!
• Ask the shopkeeper for help - they will be delighted to advise you

Farmers Markets, Doorstep Deliveries

Even if you don't have shops near you, you can shop locally. More individual shops and food producers are offering to deliver. You can order veg and fruit boxes online. You will get a selection of fresh produce delivered to your door weekly. Having only a limited selection of produce makes you more inventive! Get the kids involved. Get them to help peel that big butternut squash for curry! Prices for a box of mixed veg and fruit vary. £8-£10 may seem a lot for one type of food. But look at that supermarket receipt again. Add up all the fruit and veg on that and you may get a shock.

Finally, consider farmers markets. Again you may think they are more expensive. Find out where your nearest one takes place and go along. They usually have quality local produce. The stallholders are great sources of ideas for things to do with their products. It can be a great day out for the kids. And you will be helping support and keep the local economy in your area.

Writes about the topics of best buys for families and notes that a useful tip is to use a supermarket price comparison tool in order to save on your grocery spending. Planning your family food spend in advance ensures that you are getting the best value for money whilst saving too.

History Of Soybeans

articles that claim soy products have wonderful health benefits: prevents cancer, reduces menopausal symptoms, and lowers risk of heart disease. At the same time you can find differing research that claims soy causes brain damage, breast and prostate cancer, thyroid disorders, and disrupts endocrine function. What is the History of Soy? Where did it come from and how did it get here?

History Of Soy: What Was Soy Used For Originally?

Soybeans have been used for 5,000 years. Originally, it is thought soybeans were not eaten in China, but used as a crop rotation to fix nitrogen into the soil. The soybean did not serve as a food until the discovery of fermentation techniques, some time during the Chou Dynasty. The first soy foods were fermented products like tempeh, natto, miso and soy sauce.

History Of Soybeans: Entry Into the United States

In our country, soybeans were introduced to America in 1765 by Samuel Bowen, a sailor who had visited China. He grew soy in Georgia and even made soy sauce for export. Soy grew in importance during the great depression. Dust bowl regions of the United States were able to replenish their soil because of the soybean's ability to 'fix' nitrogen into the soil.

The Magic Bean, The Beginnings Of Manufacturing

Henry Ford of Ford Motor Company was a great leader in the soybean industry. He spent over one million dollars on soybean research. By 1935, every Ford car had soy involved in its manufacture. For example, soybean oil was used to paint the car and used as fluid in the shock absorbers. Ford promoted the soybean, both in industrial and food uses. His interest led to soy-based plastics used to make auto body panels, as well as the first commercial soy milk, ice cream and nondairy whipped topping.

Manufacturing Soybean Processes

Soy products are not something you can 'whip-up' in your kitchen. The unprocessed soy bean contains substances that are poisonous to humans. To create a food product from soy beans, the beans are mashed and alkalizing agents are added. The fiber is removed, then the beans are washed in acid in large, aluminum vats. The resulting mixture is subjected to very high temperatures. A centrifuge is used to separate the solids from the liquid and the resulting protein powder is used as an ingredient in cake mixes, baby food, salad dressings, ice cream, pet food, smoothies, and anywhere a stabilizer and texture enhancer is needed.

History Of Soybeans: Expansion and Modification

During World War II, soybeans became much more important in the U.S. as a substitute for protein foods, a source of edible oil and a fertilizer for crops. In the 60's, the U.S. exported 90% of the world's soybeans. Today, the U.S is one of 5 top producers of soybeans in the world. The bulk of today's crop (80%) goes to the feeding of farm animals on a huge industrial scale never seen before.

History Of Soy: Genetic Modificathon

Soybeans are one of the "biotech food" crops that have been genetically modified. In 1995, Monsanto Company introduced Roundup Ready soybeans that have been genetically modified to be resistant to Monsanto's herbicide Roundup. In 1997, about 8% of soybeans produced in the United States were genetically modified. 13 years later, 93% of soybeans commercially harvested are genetically modified. This directly led to a problem with export to some regions. For instance, the European Union will not accept foods genetically modified. This has caused shipments to be rejected and has put a premium on non-GM soy.

Conclusion:

Soy beans have a long history of cultivation. They've only recently (in the last 100 years) been the subject of intense scrutiny for a cheap and plentiful food source. From the fermented soy products used as flavor enhancers in the orient, to a major protein source in the west, soy can be found in many processed foods packaged in the US. In my next article, I talk about some of the recent research done with the safety of soy products in our food supply.

Cynthia Simmons is a Weight Management Consultant. She recently found a wonderful solution to her long term weight problem. She has personally helped many people manage their weight loss safely without drugs or being hungry. Her long-term goal is to build a team of happy, healthy people to share this life-saving information with others suffering from the same weight problems she had.To find out more about Cynthia, see History Of Soy.

Why Bacon Is Healthy

It is part of our culture, glamorized in fast food advertisements and served at breakfast tables around the country. Who can resist that irresistible crunch and savory taste that only bacon can provide? However, despite its delicious reputation, bacon has long been considered dangerous to our health. Critics have cited bacon's high fat, cholesterol, sodium, and nitrite levels as health detractors, to the extent where bacon is seen as an indulgence to avoid. New evidence, however, shows that this long-standing belief may not be justified. Check out why bacon is actually good for you.

Healthy Fat

Bacon's main attraction is its high fat content. Half of the fat in bacon is monounsaturated, made up mostly of oleic acid, the same kind of acid found in healthy olive oil. Another type found in bacon, palmitoleic acid, has valuable antimicrobial properties that add to the health benefits of bacon. While the other forty percent of bacon fat consists of saturated fat, this saturated fat is actually healthy! It helps to keep bacon fat stable and prevents it from going rancid. Other benefits of bacon fat include high levels of vitamin D and high antioxidant levels.

Necessary Cholesterol

Another concern of critics is a high cholesterol level in bacon. However, new evidence shows that dietary cholesterol is actually important for us to consume and is not associated with increased risk of heart disease or other health problems. Furthermore, cholesterol is even necessary to regulate our hormones and bodily functions. Oxidized cholesterol, however, can contribute to these health risks. This type of cholesterol is often found in powdered milk and powdered egg in processed food, and can be responsible for heart disease. It is important to avoid this processed cholesterol, and supply your body with natural cholesterol like from bacon.

Important Salt

The high salt content of bacon has also caused fears, as nutritionists often warn of the dangers of sodium. However, salt is actually very important and necessary for correct bodily function. For example, it is used to create blood, sweat, tears, and mucus in our bodies. Low-salt diets can even increase the chance of heart disease, osteoporosis, and hypertension. Today, Americans eat half as much salt as in the times before refrigeration when meat was preserved with salting. Even animals know the importance of salt, as they seek out sources for sodium, such as salt licks. There is therefore no reason to avoid bacon because of its salt content. In fact, the extra salt might even make you healthier!

Conclusion

In summary, the fat, cholesterol, and salt in bacon is nothing to be concerned with. These things are all important to out diets and should be consumed regularly. However, the one thing to watch out for in bacon is preservatives added to extend the shelf life. In processed bacon there are usually several artificial preservatives added, such as nitrates. These are a problem in most processed meats and can cause health problems. To avoid these it is best practice to buy fresh, natural bacon. Then you can enjoy your delicious and nutritious breakfast, bacon and all!

Eli Hart. http://fatkillingfood.com
Find out what other surprising foods are incredibly good for you. At Fat Killing Food our goal is to spread the word on the secret foods that make the fat melt away! Check us out to discover the foods big corporations don't want you to know about.

Food Processing Equipment

in fact, it is a requirement. Since the beginning of the industrial revolution, food production has greatly increased. Mass production of food became a priority as the populations in cities began to grow. Smaller farms in rural areas were still needed, but were not able to keep up with the growing demands for food. Because of this, food processing equipment that could create a large amount of food in a short amount of time was needed.

Shortly after the industrial revolution, or some may say, during the industrial revolution, food production companies started to form, with massive factories being built to satisfy the need of food for the populace. Over the next decades, and even continuing on today, engineering food processing equipment became a priority. Processing machines needed to satisfy many requirements. Some of these requirements, in no particular order, is the ability to create a great tasting food, ability to create food quickly and efficiently, the ease of use of the equipment, and of course price of equipment, which included the on going cost of equipment maintenance. For each factory, many professionals were needed in order to satisfy these requirements. These professional included engineers, food scientists, and facility managers. These individuals needed to come together to design a factory capable of creating great tasting food in large quantities in a short amount of time.

The types of equipment used for production vary, but some of the common pieces of equipment are tanks for storage of materials, conveyors to move the food between the equipment, and depending on what you are trying to make, other large pieces of equipment. Most food production facilities will have food storage tanks.. These tanks are usually food grade stainless steel, however, it is common to see steel and fiberglass tanks as well being used in prnduction. Other important pieces of equipment depend on the category of food being produced. Beverage equipment, a large industry in its own, requires not only tanks to hold the ingredients, but also mixers and agitators, chillers and coolers, and bottle fillers. For example, a chocolate processing plant may require a chocolate conche to mix the chocolate, a heated kettle to keep the chocolate at a desired temperature, and packaging equipment to package the chocolate once it is processed and refined.

Food processing equipment is a large industry in the world and makes up for a considerable amount of revenue. The food processing industry employs a great number of people in the world, including in factories. These individuals manage the food processing equipment and make sure that the production operation runs smoothly. Large food production companies sometimes by used food processing equipment in order to reduce their costs. This is a common occurrence because the price of new food processing equipment is very expensive. There are many companies who specialized in used food processing equipment, and a main used commodity is used tanks.

Overall, the food industry is always growing, as there is always a need for food processing equipment. Food processing requires collaboration of many professionals in order to reach the food production goals.

If you are intrigued with the different types of food processing equipment, you can take a look at the vast array of types of machinery on the market, such as used tanks.

Thailand Improves Quality and Safety In The Food Industry

Thailand has been hard-hit economically, socially and even politically. Despite the misfortunes, it has vivaciously struggled and drudged along in the global market by continuously trying to promote and expand its exports.

But with the expected export growth dropped down to 4.5%, from the previous projection of 12.8% earlier this year, it begs the question "why import from Thailand" or more specifically "what products can we import from Thailand".

Seafood

With its mangrove and tropical area with a fertile ecosystem, seafood such as shrimps, crabs and lobsters come in abundant quantity that are fresh and of high quality. Thailand is known to be the world's second largest producer of shrimp, just behind China.

Halal Foods

Thailand is emerging as a more prominent halal food exporter, having earned sixth place in the global market share and ranking 15th in the world and 1st in Asia. Thanks to an abundant supply of fresh food in the country, halal food is increasingly becoming popular both domestically and for international exports.

Last year, Thailand exported halal food to over 57 countries with a 43.35% increase year-on-year.

The Deputy Commerce Minister Poom Sarapol was optimistic when stating that Thailand will become a leader in halal food exports in the future.

Thai Halal Food Industry has definitely made an impact on Thailand's manufacturing capabilities and export offerings.

Frozen Food and Ready to Eat Meals

Recently there is a significant growth in the frozen food and ready-to-eat meal production in Thailand. Manufacturers have majorly improved quality standards and flavors while product offerings have branched out even further.

Assessing The Suitability Of Banquet Chairs For Various Events

the quality of the chair, including its design, size and the material used to make it, should always be considered.

It is common to find banquet chairs used as seats in many events. Organizers of events are seen to have preference over banquet chairs over other types of chairs in the events they set up. Aside from the fact that these chairs are known to be more comfortable than most, they can also be used in various events or occasions. It is also easier and simpler to maintain them and care for them. Of course, that would depend largely on the material they are made of. Overall, the chairs are a favorite because they have versatility in design and material used. They are easy to transport and you can easily store them by stacking them. Their transportability and portability also increase if they happen to be of the foldable design.

Events will definitely have a lot more substance if banquet chairs are used. The theme of the occasion should coincide with the design, shape and color of the chairs themselves, which is why a lot of planning should be made when making a choice of the chairs. Granted that all the features and attributes mentioned give the chairs a good image, but nothing lacks flaws. There are bound to be some drawbacks or problems, both major and minor, in these banquet chairs.

The first drawback you are most likely to encounter is the cost. If you run a catering business, or an events organization business, you will need a good number of chairs, and in a stock of different sizes and design. The cost of buying such a volume of chairs is not cheap, yet your budget will depend on the type of chair materials you will buy. An event would look really professional if metal banquet chairs are used, even if they are quite on the bulky or heavy side. You can also choose to buy plastic chairs, but they can prove to be more expensive than the metal chairs. They have the advantage of being lighter, though.

The positive side of it is they will be long-lasting business assets, which is if you handle and maintain them properly. When you have to host a big event, you will not bother will issues of hiring extra chairs if you have a good number in stock. You do not have to worry during the slower or off-peak seasons, too, because you can hire out the banquet chairs to those who need them.

As you focus on cost, you will touch on comfort and durability of the chairs. Comfort should most definitely be considered. After all, these are metal chairs we're talking about. It is no wonder, then, that cushions are often placed on these metal chairs. Your budget would increase considerably if you have to take into account the cushion covers that will have to be used. Compared to metal chairs, the plastic ones would prove to be easier and more comfortable to set up. They are rather expensive, though, and that's something you shouldn't forget. If you manage to find banquet chairs that are made of both metal and plastic, you already have comfort and durability covered. Metal tends to rust, plastic does not, and plastic will add that element of comfort in the chairs instead of have the expensive option of cushioned metal banquet chairs.

Storage will be the other issue of concern. You cannot expect the chairs to never require repairs. They become old, they get scratched and damaged from repeated stacking and storing. That is a flaw with the chairs that many need to come to terms with. You may put all preventive care and maintenance measures but still it would happen. But that doesn't mean that you should be careless in the storage and transport of these banquet chairs.

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Health Benefits of Smoked Salmon

smoked fish, including smoked salmon, could contribute to colon and stomach cancers. The good news is that the nitrates and nitrites which it contains after the smoking process are at such low levels that you would have to eat more than you could manage at one sitting for them to cause you any significant harm. It is good for you, although it is best for women past childbearing age and for men. Children and pregnant women are advised to only eat two portions (140 gram portions) of it a week.

Fresh salmon contains more Omega-3 fatty acids than smoked salmon, but as people in the West tend not to have enough of these in their diets, smoked salmon and other oily fish are very good sources. These Omega-3 fatty acids help keep the skin from aging and are beneficial for the heart and brain.

Smoked salmon also contains some of the B-complex vitamins, notably vitamins B1, B6 and B12, making it good for the nerves and bones. It also contains the "sunshine vitamin," vitamin D, so is a useful way of getting this vitamin in the long cold winters of the Northern Hemisphere. It contains selenium too, a mineral which is useful for women going through the menopause, and post-menopausal women. It is also a source of phosphorus, copper, potassium, iron and calcium as well as smaller amounts of other minerals.

The smoking process, if it is hot smoked, means that the parasites which are present in fresh salmon are killed. However, fresh wild salmon is a healthier option. The problem with smoking any fish is that it contains higher amounts of sodium than fresh fish. Therefore it is not recommended that people with heart disease or high blood pressure eat this fish. One portion of smoked salmon contains just a little less sodium than the recommended daily dose for those with heart problems and hypertension. If salt is not a problem in your diet, then go ahead and eat smoked salmon (if you like it) in moderation.

Smoked salmon is very low in calories and perfect for a diet, as it provides you with protein as well as vitamins and minerals. In fact you can add smoked salmon to sauces and serve it with pasta, or simply put it on some brown bread spread with cream cheese and top it with a teaspoonful of black caviar. You can substitute the cream cheese with natural cottage cheese if you are on a calorie controlled diet.

Smoked salmon is healthy and of course very tasty, so as long as you are not pregnant or a child, you can eat it twice a week in moderation. Enjoy it! Personally I can't get enough of it!