Got Diet Milk? You May See Artificial Sweeteners in Your Milk Soon

Got Diet Milk? You May See Artificial Sweeteners in Your Milk Soon

What news to wake up to: it seems that the dairy industry is taking new steps with the FDA to use aspartame in its products, in case that low-fat and skim milk weren't meeting your weight loss needs.
The Huffington Post reports that back in 2009, the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) and the National Milk Producers Federation filed a petition with the FDA to begin using artificial sweeteners in milk and other dairy products. (Courthouse News reports that the products would also include eggnog, whipped cream, and yogurt.) And the FDA last week asked for data related to artificial sweeteners and aspartame last week, but the real problem is that the dairy industry would be able to keep the products labeled as "milk" despite the presence of artificial sweeteners. And of course, aspartame — found most in diet soda — is a substance that causes a lot of health experts to worry. But the groups insist that the sweeteners would be "safe and suitable," and that using low-cal sweeteners would be particularly good for students who prefer flavored milk over regular milk.
As of now, the FDA only allows sweeteners with calories, or "nutritive sweeteners," to be in dairy products — so you're getting the full calorie load. Is any beverage safe from going the diet route?

Is Milk Bad for You? What the Experts Say

Is Milk Bad for You? What the Experts Say

"Drinking milk is as American as Mom and apple pie," began The New York Times' Mark Bittman, in his controversial column that claims milk isn't as good for you as you would think. Even though the USDA recommends three 8-ounce cups of milk per day, Bittman says his own "test" of giving up dairy products has relieved his chronic heartburn. So is milk really that bad for you?
Bittman writes in his column that milk allergies and lactose intolerance are becoming the norm. And that doesn't even factor in the high amounts of saturated fat, and sugars (in skim milk), that can cause bigger health problems, like type 1 diabetes. Some say that humans have evolved past the need for milk from animals.
Others have come out in defense of milk, and say that milk is still one of the most nutritional drinks on the menu. In response to Bittman's claim that humans have evolved past the need for dairy milk, Will Fertman writes in Culture Magazine that there are plenty of foods that humans have not evolved to eat: olive oil, potatoes, tomatoes, bread, and animal proteins, for starters. Milk can help decrease the risk of type 2 diabetes and the risk of cardiovascular disease. Plus, milk is still one of the most affordable, nutritious foods families can put on the table, say opponents. Writes the president of the Dairy Research Institute, Greg Miller, to The New York Times, "Eating three daily servings of dairy (milk, cheese, or yogurt) as recommended by leading health and nutrition organizations means that we’re getting a generous helping of nutrition at an affordable price — both per penny and per calorie."
Bittman still claims that his milk experiment has worked for about one-third of his friends with heartburn. Is milk a healthy part of your diet, or are you one of the millions with lactose intolerance?


Read more: http://www.thedailymeal.com/milk-bad-you-what-experts-say#ixzz2MIoquGQt

Paula Deen Admits Her Donut Burger Is '1 Serving Per Lifetime''

Paula Deen Admits Her Donut Burger Is '1 Serving Per Lifetime'

Guys, Paula Deen was on "Wait Wait... Dont' Tell Me" over the weekend, and the segment is hilarious and light-hearted and surprisingly not defensive.
Host Peter Sagal got the queen of Southern cooking to talk about her donut burger, comfort food, and, of course, the tasteless, slimy, yummarific... tofu.

Slideshow: Who Makes the South's Best Fried Chicken?

The story behind her donut burger, of course, was all thanks to chance. "Well those donuts were there, and the hamburgers were there, and I said, what the heck are we using buns for when we got those delicious donuts," Deen says.
Luckily, Deen can laugh at herself, joking that "there's only one catch, Peter. It's only one serving per lifetime."
Also in the segment? Notes on Deen's new furniture line, tips on deep-frying an ottoman ("Oh it's easy honey, you just dipp it in egg"), and recipes for recovering from a heart attack. Listen to the entire segment below, especially as she describes what's in her refrigerator. Strangely enough, she jokes, a bowl of fruit got in there.


Read more: http://www.thedailymeal.com/paula-deen-admits-her-donut-burger-one-serving-lifetime#ixzz2MIoaVOeY

Why You Should Stop Eating Wheat and More News

The Daily Meal brings you the biggest news from the food world.
Chefs and Personalities
The folks behind Epic Meal Time have now launched Epic Chef. Watch here. [YouTube]
Health
Why shouldn't we eat wheat? Well, it turns out that modernized wheat isn't quite what it used to be. [io9]
Wine Drama
The guy who destroyed six vintages of Soldera wine? Turns out, it was a former employee. [Eater]
Politics
New York will not be expanding their food stamp program to include those affected by Hurricane Sandy. [WSJ]
Cooking Ideas
Several people review a new Pepsi chicken-flavored potato chip, saying the Pepsi taste is "fleeting." We'd like to see beer can chicken next. [LA Times]
Foie Gras
Spanish restaurant Mugaritz has been fined for buying foie gras from an unlicensed source after animal rights campaigners targeted the restaurant. [Guardian]


Read more: http://www.thedailymeal.com/why-you-should-stop-eating-wheat-and-more-news#ixzz2MIoPsMke

Vanna White Reveals Her Personal Secret

Before Vanna White became America’s favorite letter-turner on TV’s “Wheel of Fortune,” she battled depression and was 25 pounds overweight, as she struggled to break into show business.
Vanna was forced to do odd jobs just to pay the rent and she became very discouraged. For two years she was a compulsive eater, sometimes eating a whole pie or meat loaf at one sitting. She gained 25 pounds quickly, which made it even harder for her to find work, as an actress and model.
“When I first moved to Los Angeles, with the change of environment, food and everything, I got extremely depressed and became 25 pounds overweight. Changes were going on in my life and I found it very hard. I just got sick of myself. My clothes didn’t fit anymore and I felt tired and awful. I just didn’t want to do anything,” Vanna explains.
“After two years of living like that, I realized I had to make a drastic change in my life.”
Instead of turning to diet pills or crash diets, Vanna decided to start eating healthy foods. She ate only small amounts, but didn’t deprive herself. Then she started to run for exercise and the pounds melted away quickly.
“I decided to try a good diet and exercise program. I started to run and it was amazing. I started out slowly and soon increased the distance. Soon I lost ten pounds.
“I stopped eating all of the bad foods. I was eating more fruits and vegetables and getting into more balanced food groups. I lost the other 15 pounds by eating right and I started feeling good about myself.”
Soon, she was spotted by Merv Griffin. “Maybe it was a certain glow that made me stand apart from the other 200 girls, trying out for “Wheel of Fortune,” Vanna says. “But, I believe that my diet and exercise program had a great amount to do with it.
“I started to eat healthier. My body had changed and I was adjusting to lighter foods. I know how bad I felt physically and mentally when I was eating lots of cakes and desserts, so eating the healthy way gave me more energy and a nicer figure. Instead of depriving myself, I’ll eat smaller portions to maintain a good energy level.”
Vanna, who is 5'6". and now weighs 105 pounds, says that she doesn’t believe it’s always necessary to eat three meals a day. “I’ll eat only when I’m hungry,” she says. “If people could learn that, they could stay as slim as they want.
“Some mornings, I’ll wake up with a craving for pancakes, so I’ll have them. Other mornings, I won’t have anything. It has something to do with my energy level. If I need carbohydrates, I’ll crave pancakes. My body tells me what it needs.”
Aside from having an upbeat attitude and not depriving herself, she also keeps in mind, to incorporate a vegetable before lunch and dinner.
“I have a salad at the beginning of a meal. Fresh vegetables always aid proper digestion. I love all kinds of vegetables. There’s not too much I don’t like.
“I also eat a lot of pasta, which is very good for you. If you eat it in moderation, you can enjoy it without the risk of gaining weight.
“Dinner is my main meal. I’ll eat red meat when my body tells me I need it. I’ll have some sort of roast, about once a week.
“I also feel that drinking a lot of water is very important and it’s good for you too. It cleanses the body of impurities.
“Another tip is not to buy all kinds of sweets and fattening foods and keep them at home,” she says. “If it’s there, you’ll eat it. Nobody is going to throw away a bag of cookies!
“I enjoy my diet program. I have a better attitude about myself and I’m aware of what I eat every day. I think that’s important. You’ve got to be aware of the amount of food you eat.
“I watch my diet and do some good at-home exercises to keep in shape and to stay toned.
“If you really want to lose that weight, you can,” Vanna says. “The thing to do is start out slowly and don’t demand too much from yourself and make sure you exercise often.”
Vanna’s diet:
Breakfast: 1 cup black coffee, occasional pancakes or eggs.
Lunch: Large salad, with tuna or chicken, mixed with fresh vegetables; or soup and a chicken or tuna sandwich.
Mid-afternoon snack: A banana or some other fruit.
Dinner: Broiled or baked chicken or poached or broiled fish, with a large salad or soup and steamed green vegetables; or calves’ liver fried, with onions or roast beef or brisket of beef, with mashed or baked potatoes and gravy, a salad and steamed vegetables; or pasta with sauce and meatballs and 1 piece of garlic bread. All in moderation.
Daily liquids: one quart of bottled water, one cup tea, two cups coffee, 6 ounce glass of apple or carrot juice, and a12 ounce can of diet soda.
Dairy products: American or Swiss cheese, a little ice cream.
Snacks: Unsalted raw nuts, popcorn or apples, bananas or white grapes.
Daily vitamins: One mega-multivitamin, vitamin C- 1,000 mg., vitamin E- 400 I.U., iron- 100 mg., calcium- 600 mg.
Vanna’s exercise program:
Running one mile, at least twice a week.
Working out on a mini-trampoline for 15 minutes, three times a week.
On a daily basis, she does: 100 sit-ups and pushups (20 at a time, rest, start again); 50 leg lifts on her back; lifts ten pound dumbbells, 50 times total; does 50 leg lifts on each side; ten minutes of stretching, just before going to work.


Read more: http://www.thedailymeal.com/vanna-white-reveals-her-personal-secret-0#ixzz2MIo0g73Y

How to Make Someone's Birthday Really Special

Birthdays should be a special day, and of course this is one of the few times of year that is really all about us. When someone in our family has a birthday then, this is a fantastic opportunity to give them a great day and to make them feel really special. However it can become difficult after a while to really make birthdays stand out. While they are a special day, they do come around once every year which means they really aren't actually all that rare - and thinking of new and exciting ways to make these birthdays unique can get tricky. So the question is, how do you make a birthday really special and really memorable? Here we will look at some tips.

The Best Cake
A birthday cake is somewhat optional these days it seems when we celebrate someone's birthday, but this is a real shame when you consider just how much it can add to the event. This is particularly true when you decide to go all out and really choose a great cake that isn't just your run-of-the-mill cake from Tesco. Have a cake specially made, or choose one that is particularly beautifully presented and delicious, and this then can become a much more exciting moment for them when they unveil it.
A cake is more than just great food though when it comes to a birthday - it becomes an event in itself when everyone blows out the candles, and it's really about the touching thought that you went to all the trouble to get a cake. You might not realise it, but often cakes are notable for their absence and this can be a little disappointing.
The Best Gift
What's the best gift you can give someone? Well of course that's something that depends on the individual - and that's really the point. The best way to make someone feel really special when you give them a gift is to get them something that really talks to who they and that shows you really understand them. My sister got me a telescope for my birthday last year, and while that wasan epic present to begin with, what really made it special was the fact that she knew how much I'd enjoy it - even I had forgotten how much I longed for a telescope when I was little.
Better yet though the telescope isn't just a gift, it's once again an event as I had to build it and then carry it into the garden and experience looking up at the stars. Buying experience gifts for your friends and family is one way to make a birthday even more memorable. If you get someone to sky dive or bungee jump then you can bet that they aren't going to forget that day any time soon.
Celebrations
Finally you should make sure that you do something to celebrate the birthday. Your friend may tell you they don't want any fuss, but trust me when we I that they're actually not really being truthful - they will appreciate it if you manage to get all their friends to surprise them. 

Indian Food!

Perhaps the most well-known international food around, and maybe the most exotic to American tastes, is Indian cuisine With its ample spices, different produce, and spicy food, this can be an acquired taste. However, once it is acquired, it is an impossible addiction to shake! A traditional Indian dish likely has no meat in it. This is because, in the Hindu faith, it is a sin to kill any living thing. However, it is somewhat common to see some Indian food call for chicken or goat, especially the first to appeal to American tastes. However, for authentic Indian food, stick to the vegetarian fare.


Rice is, of course, a staple of Indian food, as it is in most of the world. The most popular Indian rice is Sona Masoori, followed by Basmati. Each of them is a much more flavorful experience than the typical American rice. This is occasionally cooked with saffron (the kind of spices) in order to give the dish more flavor and color.
Two types of popular Indian dishes are vegetable biryani and vindaloo curry. Each of these dishes contains the spice and the flavor common in Indian dishes (especially the vindaloo curry, which is one of the spiciest dishes in all of Indian cuisine!).
For those who are not adventurous and don't like to cook, many Indian foods now come in the freezer section of your grocery store. The best of these frozen foods is made by Haldiram, and while it costs a little more it is worth the money. Two other main frozen Indian food companies are Deep and Swad (made by Raja Foods). While Haldraim's is the best, all three provide good food at a good price.
For something very American, but still somewhat Indian, try a Naan Pizzas from Tandoor Chef. One of the best frozen pizza ever had is their Cilantro & Pesto Naan Pizza. It is fully of flavor and spice, and while being familiar offers something different. If you happen to see one in your grocer's freezer, pick one up. You won't be disappointed!