The Deception of Healthy Food Products: Final

(A Blog Series by Chef Maika)
It is up to us to stand up against such deception by self educating. And it is up to us to protect our family. Wouldn’t you say child & teenage obesity is one of the number one health concerns for parents in America? FTC had to battle many advertised health claims directed towards children claiming to be healthy. When it came time for a child to make a decision on what to eat while standing in front of the fridge? Who would win? Yoplait’s Watermelon Burst Trix Yogurt or Dole’s Mandarin Orange Fruit Bowl? Of course, the winner would be Yoplait’s Trix with the cartoon rabbit and numerous eye torturing colors. Even though, there is no real fruit in this yogurt and it’s high in corn fructose syrup. Constant choices like this have led us to be the winner in the world as the largest population in child obesity. You would think that FTC and FDA had this all under control. Think again. Now food companies with products for children are being self regulated. There are about 14 companies that created a coalition, Children’s Food and Beverage Advertising Initiative, including major brands like Kellogg, Kraft, Unilever, ConAgra, General Mills, Campbell and Coca-Cola, promising to create “Better for you” products with specific health guidelines (Clifford, 2008). Self-regulation? Aren’t we repeating history here? This is just another bogus way for marketers to sell their products. They are making up their own rules on what a product should consist of in order to be considered healthy.
Do I really need to repeat how important it is for us to self educate ourselves to maneuver around these deceiving products to get to exactly what we want? It is our duty as responsible consumers and US citizens to come together to become a healthier nation, reduce the rate in obesity and fight against false claims made by money hungry marketers and advertisers. The FTC and FDA can’t do it alone. Not even our own state governments can. I acknowledge the struggle to decipher some of these Nutrition Labels and frustrating to have to take up so much information. However, at the end of the day, “We are what we eat”.

Raspberry & Lemon Mousse Napoleon

A great classic.

Chef matches the flavor of lemon and raspberry. To refreshing flavors in this little bite.

Now, instead of the one layer you see above, it is in two layer now...lol.. you should see me trying to plate this napoleon. But I just love how simple it is.

Coconut & Guava Love

More tropical love. This is a Coconut PannaCotta dessert. Layered with fresh cold guava soup. Topped with caramelized pineapples, coconut sorbet and a coconut crunchy tuile.

Purees make desserts so much better. It's pretty easy to do. Buy some fresh or frozen fruit. Puree in your blender with some sugar and liquid, sometimes water or juice... depending how the flavors will clash. I like to use pineapple juice, apple juice or orange juice.

For example, you can take mixed frozen berries, a little bit of sugar and some fresh apple juice. For some reason apple juice and berries go very well together.

enjoy.

Vegan Any One? Bunnies Cakes

[Photo Source: bunniescakes.com]

It was awesome to find her site, it's definitely on my wish list to check her out.

Mari has a business that is dedicated to providing vegan, gluten-free, diary-free, etc baked goods. The pictures look awesome. She is already distributing her products at two locations in Miami and South Beach. Visit her website: http://www.bunniecakes.com/

The Deception of Healthy Food Products: Part VI

(A Blog Series by Chef Maika)
Have no fear! FTC and FDA are here! Later on, State Attorneys began to see the rise in consumer fraud. Individual states began to work together to fight the false claim pollution made by advertisers and marketers (even in great companies like Nabisco, Sara Lee and Campbell’s Soups), causing the creation in stronger laws and court winnings against these companies in individual states. The companies saw they were being defeated and confronted with numerous state preemptions, commerce clause problems and First Amendment infringements. In Irony, they turned to the FTC and FDA for help (12). Eventually, FDA and FTC came back to power. This just shows you how powerful the marketing world can be and how much of a big impact they will have on you, when you decide to walk down that grocery aisle. This research has led me to a place where a regular health conscious consumer like me would have never stepped into or even notice. We are not just talking about deception on a cereal box anymore; we are talking about political power manipulation between the food industry world and the federal government. This is why it’s so important that we become more responsible, when it comes to shopping for products that will go into our own bodies. We can no longer solely depend on the food industry and government to tell us what is good for us. It is also up to us.

Learning to take constructive criticism

One thing in working in this field, I had to learn and still work on my listening skills. Some may say it's an easy task, but beware! Its easy to look someone in the face and hear what they have to say. But taking that information in, to learn and gain knowledge and apply it in your skills takes patience and awareness. Sometimes the chef will yell. Some ppl will will automatically take that yelling as an offensive way of communication. But really, you have to get pass the tone and listen to the words. Usually if the chef is in this emotional state, its should send off a red light in your head saying...alert alert..important information coming ahead. Its just like if a lil kid who doesn't know, suddenly runs into the street, your first reaction would be to yell out of shock and say, "don't you ever do that again!", cuz you were in panic mode. Same thing here, some chefs are really dedicated to their work, and the passion will show. Now, the NO NOs in my book would be usually the offensive name calling, but some kitchens have no prob with this, as long as both parties are on the same level on what's appropriate or not. Work in the kitchen, is very intensive and filled with all personalities, its a great place to learn how to deal with all kind of ppl. Its funny when you hear a lot of cooks say, I work in the kitchen cuz I don't want to interact with the guest outside :)

Pistachio Semifreddo

This is another dessert on the Solea Dinner Dessert Menu. Pistachio Semifreddo...Semifreddo? It's Italian for half cold. It is served with my favorite Almond Cake...secret..I can't stop licking the cake batter. Served with citrus fruits slices that are soaked in a vanilla syrup. Now you gotta remember everything we make is from scratch. I love this place! and next to the cake is a quenelle of whipped marscapone and a florentine triangle cookie. And also garnished with orange sauce and basil syrup. Just heaven :)

Personal Chef Menu: "Traditional "

Complete Individuals Meals' (Main Course & Two Sides) prices run from 7.50 & up
The Meals are very traditional and simply prepared in the utmost professional culinary matter with all safety HACCP disciplines in mind. My Clients really love the simple nostalgic choices. Meals can be made in family style as well.

Chicken
Herb Roasted Chicken Breast
Chicken Parmesan
Chicken Cordon Blue
Sweet & Sour Chicken
General Tsoa Chicken
Stir-Fried Chicken Teriaki
Coconut Crusted Chicken Tenderloins

Turkey
Turkey Meatballs

Fish
Lemon Pepper Tilapia
Soy Glazed Salmon
Herb Breaded Cod
Daily Market Fish Specialties

Seafood
Vegetable & Crab Cakes
Garlic Shrimp Scampi
Daily Market Seafood Specialties

Beef
Stir-Fried Beef & Broccoli
Italian Style Meatballs
NY Strip Steaks
Filet Tenderloin
Beef Tips in Gravy
Spaghetti Beef Bolognese
Beef Lasagna
Pork
Herb Garlic Pork Tenderloins
Bone-in Pork Loins

Vegetables/ Starch
Green Beans
Roasted Brown Sugar Sweet Potatoes
Roasted Garlic Red Bliss Potatoes
Garlic Butter Broccoli Florets
French, Asian or Mediterranean Vegetable Blend
Steamed Jasmine Rice
Mixed Vegetables & Bowtie Pasta

The Deception of Healthy Food Products: Part V

(A Blog Series by Chef Maika)
Let’s go back to the past again to understand where we are now. This time it was just 20 years ago. Marketing and advertising scandals were very popular in the 1980s. A lot of deception was taking play, and the battle for consumer protection had to once again regain strength to fight this dangerous irresponsible health epidemic. However, this time the FTC and FDA could not protect us. A Pandora box opened in full force with our 40th President Ronald Regan. His administration enforced a campaign known as “Deregulate”, which was basically a positive go for Corporate America (Gardner, 2006). Federal Government regulators like the FTC and FDA were no longer permitted to intercede in American lives and private business affairs. President Regan’s Administration had re-positioned this responsibility to individual states. So President Regan appointed James Miller in 1981(who was part of the Office of Management Budget, OMB) as Chairman of the FTC and his position was to deregulate the federal system as quick as possible (7). Marketers and advertisers saw this as a great advantage. Many companies were allowed to make health claims on products without anyone to say no! This type of accepted scandal was ignited by one major and popular company, the Kellogg Company. The company made a claim for one of their cereals, stating it should be part of a diet to help prevent some types of colon cancers. However, the National Cancer Institute denied this claim, even before Kellogg decided to dispatch it to the public. The infamous Kellogg campaign went forth with no way of the FTC or FDA to interfere, thanks to the help of none than other, James Miller. Even though, the FDA tried to stop it under the law that a company cannot make a health claim without the approval of the Secretary of Health and Human Services (8-9). Ok, I must admit I am all for “Deregulate”, but to a certain extent! Those who agree with deregulation, I can see why. Who wants to live under a government of tyranny? But when it comes to the government cutting off responsibility to protect the citizens of the United States, there is a problem. Especially, when its protection from the part of Corporate America that is money hungry, we need a much stronger force to take on such a task.

Banana Beignets!!

Did i say the chef is awesome? well, he is awesome! Who doesn't love chocolate. And personally I always loved desserts with banana.

From left to right: Gianduja Chocolate Frozen Mousse, Warm Banana Beignets, Roasted Banana Sorbet.

The Deception of Healthy Food Products: Part IV

(A Blog Series by Chef Maika)
What consumers want is not really what they are getting. I remember watching a little segment on Good Morning America when a Registered Dietician co-hosted a news segment made an example of how confusing shopping could be for a mother who cares a lot about buying the right products for her children. He pulled out of her cart a box of spinach pasta. He says “Why did you buy this?” She replies “Well, it’s made with whole grain and a fun way to have my kids eat pasta and their vegetables too.” He shook his head and turned the box over. Slowing guiding his eyes with his pointed figure on the box he directs the ladies attention to the ‘list of Ingredients’. “Did you know that this pasta is not even made with whole grain, but just enriched wheat, green food coloring and with just a little amount of spinach?” The lady smiled and chuckled nervously, “I guess I’ve been fooled.” How many Americans have been fooled like this today? All the manufacture’s marketers want was for you to buy that product by knowing your desires and what you need. For instance, Frito-Lay a snack company had a dilemma, they found that women only snacked 14% on salty foods, compared to 25% on sweets and 61% on fruits and vegetables. So they have gone as far as to change their packaging, develop new flavors and come up with a whole new campaign ad just to draw more women in to eating more of their snacks by using pop neurology (Clifford, 2009). Just the other day I was on YouTube.com and was watching a bunch of short little clips of this hilarious new cartoon series with a group of women who were having issues with their weight and other women stuff. Surprisingly, not paying attention to the writing at the end, while I would eagerly click on the next button to watch a new video of the series, I found out that at the end of each clip it was an actual statement that the clips were from Frito-Lay! I didn’t even know I was watching an advertisement! Frito-Lay stepped out of the box and decided to research how the female brain works, what attracts them? Ha! It worked! On me! Hey, there is nothing wrong with this concept, however when you put potato chips in a pretty beige bag and say it’s healthy cause it’s a Fat-Free snack, even though when you finish munching on the whole bag, you find yourself looking at the bottom of the bag to find numerous salt crystals. Did you really get what you wanted? Nope, but the marketers certainly did!