What's the alternative to Capitalism? Communism? Socialism? Fascism? Some combination?

I am not saying that there is a better alternative. I am just saying that Capitalism isn't always a ray of happy sunshine like it is made out to be. It is far from a perfect system. That is why there are regulations....and yes, sometimes those regulations compound the problems.

Sounds like more than just a little bit of an exaggeration to me. Seems like somebody is making vast pronouncements after doing half-vast research.

Maybe it is an exageration, maybe not. There is a whole book of research. Why should I believe your assessment over his?

Obviously, someone hasn't paid very close attention to the beef industry. Beef cattle are mostly confined for the short period of transportation to -- and in -- feed lots shortly before they are slaughtered. During that time they are fed from troughs. Most of the time they are/were fed hay and corn in its natural form. However, today, feed lot cattle are fed hay and corn in pellet form . . . it's healthier for the cattle, and easier to feed them with.
Rooting "in their own filth" is not something cattle do anymore than you do. Living in it, yes, but rooting in it, not so much. And the reason they live in it -- mostly during confinement in feed lots -- is because it's so darned expensive to keep the lots clean . . . another problem caused by the minimum wage.

Sorry, Ken. I forgot you were an expert on the beef industry as well. "Root" was probably not the best word for me to use. Fact is, the cattle are raised in an environment which is less healthy than it used to be. Therefore, the cattle are probably less healthy and pumped with antibiotics.

Antibiotics are there to prevent to prevent sickness from spreading due to those temporary crowded conditions. But mostly because cattle are very susceptible to becoming "car-sick" during transportation. This car-sickness -- which is dealt with by feeding them Teramycin Crumbles during transportation -- weakens them and makes them susceptible to catching other diseases.

All these problems, as people see them, are caused by the necessity of fast mass-processing of food for people who live en-mass in confined areas, i.e., cities. Eliminate the cities -- and their populations -- and you eliminate the problem. (Not advocating it . . . just pointing it out.)

So now you are admitting that there are problems?

Yeah, no one outside of cities eats fast food. What is your point here?

US General Accounting Office Report on Improvement in the Animal Feed Ban.

Misleading info from the USDA about BSE--Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy, or mad cow disease.

I noticed about a year ago that I was feeding my son crap everyday and making him unhealthy. It wasn't fast food. We do have pizza from Papa John's twice per month (large, one-topping is $4.99 on Tuesdays!), and go to Chic-fil-a about once per month. I used to buy all the frozen, boxed convenience foods and that's what we had for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I almost never actually made a real meal. I used the frozen chicken nuggets (which are deep-fried before being frozen), I used canned cinammon rolls, canned or boxed everything. I don't think people realize how bad that stuff is for you. I just happened to read the label on the chicken nuggets one day, which led me to read the label of damn near everything in the house! It's not that hard to cut up chicken breasts, bread them, and bake them. It's not that hard to make cinnamon rolls, or pancakes (not that those are great choices, but he does eat them!). It takes a little longer to cook our meals now, but I wouldn't go back to the disgusting, over priced convenience foods for anything. Well, we do still use frozen, boxed fish sticks. Fish makes me sick and I can't cook it. But he has those about 2 times per month. Fast food sucks, but eating at home is just as bad if everything is already done for you. Read the labels, put some effort into it, and make wise choices. It's your health, after all.

I noticed about a year ago that I was feeding my son crap everyday and making him unhealthy. It wasn't fast food. We do have pizza from Papa John's twice per month (large, one-topping is $4.99 on Tuesdays!), and go to Chic-fil-a about once per month. I used to buy all the frozen, boxed convenience foods and that's what we had for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I almost never actually made a real meal. I used the frozen chicken nuggets (which are deep-fried before being frozen), I used canned cinammon rolls, canned or boxed everything. I don't think people realize how bad that stuff is for you. I just happened to read the label on the chicken nuggets one day, which led me to read the label of damn near everything in the house! It's not that hard to cut up chicken breasts, bread them, and bake them. It's not that hard to make cinnamon rolls, or pancakes (not that those are great choices, but he does eat them!). It takes a little longer to cook our meals now, but I wouldn't go back to the disgusting, over priced convenience foods for anything. Well, we do still use frozen, boxed fish sticks. Fish makes me sick and I can't cook it. But he has those about 2 times per month. Fast food sucks, but eating at home is just as bad if everything is already done for you. Read the labels, put some effort into it, and make wise choices. It's your health, after all.

Good for you!! You are definitely NOT the norm in this country!! My sister argued that her little girl was healthier than her neighbors' children because she always cooked at home (occassionally ate out). Her idea of cooking (most but not all) was all the over-processed foods etc. You are absolutely correct--it's NOT hard to cut up some chicken or fish etc.

OH ! BTW, I used to be what McDonald's terms "a heavy user" and I broke free of that !

Matthewsmommy, you are absolutely correct about the junk that goes into boxed and pre-packaged foods. Earlier this year Hollis (9 next month) became what he calls "health conscious" and started reading labels and dropping bad stuff from his diet (and hence all our diets since I can't afford to buy separate food for all three of us). Here is the stuff he cut out right away:

Artificial colorings, flavorings, sweeteners, preservatives
Anything with high fat or sugar content, unless he can actually see me making it (like homemade pancakes or french fries)
Uncultured (non-fermented) cow's milk products

I was amazed at all the crapola in our cupboards/fridge that contained stuff he would not eat (especially the artificial colorings/flavorings). Not to mention horrified by the huge lists of ingredients on things as simple as crackers, which if you make at home have about 3 ingredients. It's pretty scary.

Since then he has started eating organic and whole grain and in the last few months has pretty much dropped beef and pork from his diet (he will still eat fish, eggs, and lean poultry). We are all eating a LOT healthier now because of him. When I buy packaged foods now I always read the labels carefully to make sure there's nothing icky in there.

Lisa

Matthewsmommy, you are absolutely correct about the junk that goes into boxed.........
Lisa

Does anyone know if low-carb and/or low-fat pasta is available out there? Living in a 'burb of Oklahoma City isn't exactly the best place to eat the healthiest.

I would be grateful if anyone knew of a companie(s) that I could get a hold of some.

Does anyone know if low-carb and/or low-fat pasta is available out there? Living in a 'burb of Oklahoma City isn't exactly the best place to eat the healthiest.

I would be grateful if anyone knew of a companie(s) that I could get a hold of some.

I totally avoid the low carb thing, but they are available. Matthew loves spaghetti, and I started using the whole wheat version. He did notice the difference and it took a while for him to like it, but now he loves it. We made a lot of changes and it seems to be working out great for us.
Trish

Matthewsmommy, you are absolutely correct about the junk that goes into boxed and pre-packaged foods. Earlier this year Hollis (9 next month) became what he calls "health conscious" and started reading labels and dropping bad stuff from his diet (and hence all our diets since I can't afford to buy separate food for all three of us).
I was amazed at all the crapola in our cupboards/fridge that contained stuff he would not eat (especially the artificial colorings/flavorings). Not to mention horrified by the huge lists of ingredients on things as simple as crackers, which if you make at home have about 3 ingredients. It's pretty scary.

Since then he has started eating organic and whole grain and in the last few months has pretty much dropped beef and pork from his diet (he will still eat fish, eggs, and lean poultry). We are all eating a LOT healthier now because of him. When I buy packaged foods now I always read the labels carefully to make sure there's nothing icky in there.

Lisa

Here's an example of exactly what you're talking about:
In my pancakes/waffles, I use flour, eggs, and buttermilk mainly. Here's what Pillsbury frozen waffle sticks contain:
Enriched bleached wheat flour (wheat flour, niacin, ferrous sulfate, thiamin mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), water, partially hydrogenated soybean and cottonseed oil, sugar, whey, baking powder (sodium acid pyrophosphate, baking soda), salt, dextrose, ferrous sulfate, vitamin A palmitate, niacin, yellows 5&6, vitamin B6 hydrochloride, riboflavin, thiamin mononitrate, natural and artificial flavor, vitamin B12.
Those added vitamins are fine, I suppose, but he takes a multivitamin every day. Anyway, it's those things that I noticed that really bothered me. I use 3 to 4 ingredients to their 20. It's ridiculous. Especially with the refridgerated cookie dough. Give me a break, just MAKE the cookies. . . . they're so much better if you make them yourself (and Matthew LOVES to help!).

Does anyone know if low-carb and/or low-fat pasta is available out there? Living in a 'burb of Oklahoma City isn't exactly the best place to eat the healthiest.

I would be grateful if anyone knew of a companie(s) that I could get a hold of some.

Another good thing to try is spaghetti squash. Good alternative to regular spaghetti.

Flyboy, I see "low carb" pasta all the time. But, pasta (by itself) is not fattening as long as you don't put anything fattening like alfredo sauce on it. Personally I think you are better off going for whole wheat pasta than buying weird Atkins food. JMO...

Lisa