Local Food provides inspiration and practical advice for creating local food initiatives – showing how to restore and establish community networks to generate healthy, locally produced food.

Many people already buy their vegetables as locally as possible, eat organic and seasonal food when they can, and are perhaps even getting to grips with managing an allotment. However, with current economic pressures and mounting concerns about climate change and peak oil, there is a growing feeling that we need to do more to reduce dependence on the global market.

Local Food offers an inspiring and practical guide to what can be achieved if you get together with the people on your street or in your village, town or city. It explores a huge range of local food initiatives for rebuilding a diverse, resilient local food network – including community gardens, farmers’ markets, Community Supported Agriculture schemes and projects in schools – and includes all the information you will need to get ideas off the ground.

Drawing on the practical experience of Transition initiatives and other community projects around the world, Local Food demonstrates the power of working collaboratively. In today’s culture of supermarkets and food miles, an explosion of activity at community level is urgently needed. This book is the ideal place to start.

Click here to download a free 12 page leaflet

This Earth Day, celebrate the planet we live on with great people and good food. Choose a favorite outdoor location, round up some friends and take the planet out to lunch!

Sign up for your local Meetup and collaborate here with other attendees to figure out a location and what kind of picnic you want to have in your neighborhood.

We’re partial to picnics, but potlucks rule too. Or maybe there’s a community garden you can enjoy together? Whatever the Meetup, get the conversation going now and start planning!

Find more details and ideas at http://earthday.nature.org/about/

Today we talk about probiotics and how they can help the body. Probiotic food is beneficial for health and capable of boosting immunity. Lisa Antao of The Times of India will tells you more about its growing popularity.

Does your diet include probiiotics?

Did you know there are over 400 distinct species of microorganisms inhabit the various regions of the adult human digestive tract, making up nearly two kg of total body weight? Few of these bacteria, such as lactobacilli species and bifidobacteria, are beneficial to our health and are capable of boosting immunity. In recent years, there has been a lot of curiosity and interest in probiotic foods because of their ability to benefit one’s health. The term probiotic means ‘for life’. There are two types of bacteria, good bacteria and bad bacteria. Harmful bacteria are those microorganisms, like yeast, fungi and parasites, that cause diseases. Probiotics are organisms that contribute to the health and balance of the intestine tract and are commonly referred to as the good bacteria.

In February, world food prices reached the highest level on record. Soaring food prices are already a source of spreading hunger and political unrest, and it appears likely that they will climb further in the months ahead.

As a result of an extraordinarily tight grain situation, this year’s harvest will be one of the most closely watched in years. Last year, the world produced 2,180 million tons of grain. It consumed 2,240 million tons, a consumption excess that was made possible by drawing down stocks by 60 million tons. To avoid repeating last year’s shortfall and to cover this year’s estimated 40-million-ton growth in demand, this year’s world grain harvest needs to increase by at least 100 million tons. Yet that would only maintain the current precarious balance between supply and deman

Our diet has the greatest impact on our well-being. Our friend at TheLifeCo.com are egar to help us discover delicious and simple things you can do to make your eating habits more vibrant. Make sure you stop by their site to get more heath facts to help with your re-energize plan.

It’s easy to make healthy nutrition habits part of your life. Incorporate these into your daily routine:

Nutritional Tips

Wonderful water
Water plays an important role in flushing impurities from our bodies, but most of us don’t drink enough. 2 liters per day is a good start, depending on the climate you live in and your activity level. Drink enough water to produce 8 to 10 copious urinations per day.

When possible, go organic
Choose organically grown and non-genetically modified produce, nuts and grains over conventionally grown food whenever possible. Organic food has more nutrients, fewer impurities and tastes better.

Avoid processed foods
Include more fresh fruits and vegetables in your diet and reduce the use of pre-packaged foods. Have a salad for lunch instead of a sandwich. Choose an apple or some carrots as a snack instead of cookies or a chocolate bar. Fruits and vegetables have more nutrients and fiber than processed foods.

Choose healthy oils
The purest, healthiest oils are cold-pressed, organic, extra virgin oils. Olive, flax, sesame, sunflower, assorted nut oils and hemp oil have more nutritional value than conventional cooking oils which are damaged from over-processing. They are known to improve skin tone as well as reduce the chance of heart disease. Heating any oil breaks down its structure and makes it rancid, so rather than cooking with them, enjoy these oils sprinkled over vegetables for added flavor.

Curb caffeine cravings
The caffeine in coffee or black tea may increase your energy, but soon afterward your blood sugar levels decrease, causing an energy crash. Begin to alternate these beverages with herbal teas and water. Drinking herbal teas or water instead can fulfill your emotional need to drink while helping cut your cravings for caffeine.

1. Drink water. People often mistake thirst for hunger, so next time you feel like noshing, reach for water first. Drinking also helps you feel full. Some experts suggest sipping water (or iced tea) just before you sit down to a meal. Continue drinking as you eat to add volume and weight to your meal.

2. Set realistic goals. One or two pounds a week maximum is doable. Top weight-loss programs advocate stopping after the first 10 pounds and maintaining that loss for about six months before trying to lose any more.

3. Build in splurges. If you allow yourself to eat whatever you want for 2 meals out of every 21, you won’t inflict enough damage to subvert your weight loss. And you’ll feel less deprived.

4. Count to 10. Studies suggest that the average craving lasts only about 10 minutes. So before caving in to your urge, set your mental timer for a 10-minute time-out. Use the time to tackle an item on your to-do list; choose one that will give you a sense of accomplishment — and get you out of the kitchen.

5. Eat more often. People who have kept their weight off for more than a few years tend to eat an average of five times a day. Light, frequent meals curb your appetite, boost your energy, improve your mood and even speed your metabolism, since the process of digestion itself burns calories.

6. Make weekly resolutions. Don’t try to overhaul your diet overnight. If you make too many changes at once, chances are you’ll get frustrated and throw in the towel. Instead, make one change, such as eating at least one piece of fruit daily, every week.

7. Start with 10%. People who start by focusing on achieving just 10% of their long-range weight-loss goal may have the best chance of ultimate success. Losing those first pounds yields the biggest health gains, too, since belly fat is usually the first to come off and is the most dangerous.

8. Spike your meals with salsa. This spicy condiment can stand in for mayo to deliver plenty of flavor without the fat. Mix it with a bit of low-fat yogurt to make tuna salad. Spread it on a veggie burger, or serve it with chicken or fish.

9. Take one-third off. When you eat dinner out, reduce the temptation to clean your plate by setting aside one-third of your meal. Ask the server for a doggie bag, and take it home for lunch the next day. Try serving yourself one-third less at home too. This simple tactic could subtract more than 500 calories a day.

10. Go easy on the alcohol. Remember that alcohol is a source of calories. A 12-ounce beer has 150 calories; a 3.5-ounce glass of wine, 85. A margarita packs a bigger caloric punch. Even worse offenders are creamy cocktails, such as brandy alexanders and mudslides — equivalent to drinking a rich dessert. The bottom line: If you’re trying to lose weight, stick with water.

11. Write notes to yourself. To help you stay on track, post notes to yourself on the fridge and the pantry. Put up a little stop sign or make tags with questions like “Do you want this food enough to wear it?” and “Are the calories worth the consequences?”

12. Stay away from sodas. Soft drinks are a major source of empty calories in the American diet. We drink twice as much soda as milk and nearly six times more soda than fruit juice. But fluids don’t satisfy your appetite as well as solids. A study at Purdue University found that when people were fed 450 calories daily as jelly beans or as soda, the soda drinkers gained a significant amount of weight, but the jelly-bean eaters compensated for the extra calories by cutting back on other food. So if you crave something sweet, you’re better off chewing it than gulping it. If you’re truly thirsty, reach for water or unsweetened iced tea instead of soda.

13. Don’t just eat — dine. Eating on the run or in front of the tube invites mindless munching. Instead, set the table every time you eat. Make a conscious choice to sit down and savor every bite. Placing a portion of chips on your best china helps focus your attention so you don’t eat the whole bag.

14. Up your protein (a little). Research suggests that protein prolongs the feeling of fullness better than carbohydrates or fats do. Studies in Scotland, Denmark, Sweden and England found that people who ate a high-protein breakfast or lunch were less hungry at their next meal. Protein also requires a few more calories to digest. Just don’t go overboard. Stick to low-fat protein sources like low-fat yogurt or cottage cheese, low-fat soy drinks or snacks, or thinly sliced turkey breast.

15. Learn how to measure. It’s easy to misjudge portion sizes. Pull out the measuring spoons and cups, especially for full-fat salad dressings, dairy foods and mayo.

16. Make smart substitutions. Look for nutritious low-calorie alternatives to sugary, high-fat treats. Try frozen grapes instead of candy. Use air-popped popcorn instead of oil-popped. Dip fresh strawberries in fat-free fudge sauce for a sensuous chocolaty treat.

17. Have a “party plan.” When attending a party, offer to bring a plate. Arriving armed with chopped fresh veggies and a low-fat dip — or any other low-calorie snack — ensures that you’ll have something to snack on without feeling guilty.

18. Think positively. Experts note that low self-esteem is a major cause of overeating. Train yourself to focus on your best points rather than your weak spots. Buy clothes that fit and flatter you at your current weight. Update your hairstyle and get a makeup consultation so you feel attractive today.

19. Give yourself a break. No one says you have to reach your goal without making mistakes along the way. Tell yourself you can succeed in losing weight by taking things one step at a time and starting fresh whenever you slip up. If you overeat one night, just get back on track in the morning by focusing on what’s worked for you in the past.

20. Relax! Some people binge when they’re stressed. A Yale University study found that women who secreted the most cortisol (a hormone released during stress) ate the most high-fat food after stress. The combination of cortisol and insulin prompts the body to store fat in preparation for possible starvation — just what you don’t need. If stress has a stronghold on your life, try learning yoga, meditation, or simple breathing exercises.

Gourmet Shows is excited to welcome Bravo’s Top Chef: Las Vegas’ Michael Voltaggio (winner, Season 6) along with Top Chef: New York’s Fabio Viviani (finalist, Season 5). Also, joining us will be Food Network’s own Aaron McCargo Jr. of Big Daddy’s House; and Christina Pirello of Christina Cooks. Culinary demonstrations by these and other celebrity chefs — including Ron Duprat and Michael Giletto — will tantalize your taste buds and provide you with a myriad of ways to enhance your own dining experiences. Ticket on sale at the following link::
Buy Tickets

To volunteer for the Million Meals for Haiti event, please register online at:: www.SalvationArmyPhiladelphia.org.

Mayor Michael Nutter called on business and civic leaders to get behind the effort to amass the 5,000 volunteers needed to assemble and package the meals, which are specially designed to boost the immune systems of malnourished people.
“There is still tremendous hunger amongst the people of Haiti who have no means to earn wages and buy food,” said Major Jorge Diaz, director of operations for The Salvation Army of Greater Philadelphia. “The Salvation Army is in a unique position to assist, and we have been holding similar efforts in cities across the country.”

The Salvation Army has had a presence in Haiti since 1950, and currently operates schools, clinics, a hospital, feeding programs, children’s homes and church-related activities through 60 community centers across the country. Since the devastating earthquake on January 12, 2010, The Salvation Army has distributed more than 8.5 million meals in Haiti and will continue to do so over the next six to nine months. In order to meet the demand, meal packing events have been held in cities including Chicago, Kansas City, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Wichita.
“We have seen time and time again the generosity of Philadelphians in a time of need,” said Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter. “I urge all of you to organize your workers, your houses of worship, your school groups and civic groups, to support this vital effort.”
The Salvation Army has already had local companies large and small step up to provide volunteers. UPS, for one, developed and donated a system to track the delivery of meals to Haiti, and will have hundreds of local employees involved.
“UPS is proud to mobilize our employees and their families to assist in The Salvation Army Million Meals for Haiti project,” said Rosemary Turner, vice president and chief operating officer, Chesapeake District, of UPS. “UPS has been working with The Salvation Army since January to deliver food, water and other emergency supplies, and together we are making a difference.”
Numana, Inc. is an international hunger relief organization with the mission of empowering people to save the starving. It organizes large-scale packaging events at which volunteers prepare meals to be shipped to a country in need. Its board of directors includes former Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole and former U.S. Senator George McGovern. In addition to partnering with The Salvation Army World Service Organization on numerous projects, Numana has also partnered with Food for Children, Stop Hunger Now, OutReach Africa, and Universities Fighting Word Hunger.
An army of volunteers totaling more than 5,000 is needed to help assemble and package the meals. Individuals (11 years of age and older), families, and corporate, school, church, and community groups are encouraged to volunteer as meal packagers for at least one two-hour shift. Each packing station consists of 12-14 volunteers. Shifts begin Friday, May 21 at noon, and Saturday, May 22 at 9 am.
Each meal consists of rice, soy protein, freeze-dried vegetables, and 21 vitamins and minerals. Once delivered to Haiti, the meals will be distributed by Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services teams on the ground.
The Salvation Army’s relief effort in Haiti is its largest international relief effort since the Indian Ocean tsunami in 2005. The United Nations has designated The Salvation Army as the lead agency responsible for the care of more than 20,000 people made homeless by the earthquake and now living near the Army’s main compound in Port-au-Prince. The Salvation Army is working with the Haitian government, the U.S. military, FEMA, the United Nations, other NGOs and its corporate partners to implement a broad response to the tragedy, and the 700 Salvation Army officers and staff permanently stationed in Haiti have been joined by more than 40 disaster response workers from the U.S., Canada, the U.K. and other countries.
To volunteer for the Million Meals for Haiti event, please register online at www.SalvationArmyPhiladelphia.org.

Some of the world’s most famous wines as well as hard-to-find vintages and rare blends will be among the highlights of this extraordinary evening. Click here for a complete list. The Philadelphia Wine Festival will also feature signature dishes from some of Philadelphia’s finest restaurants: The Capital Grille, Garces Trading Company, Barclay Prime, Penne Restaurant & Wine Bar and The Restaurant School at Walnut Hill College. So come prepared to enjoy culinary creations that will compliment the vast wine selection.