As I write this I am listening an interesting new radio programme from BBC. Called "The Food Chain" this first episode talks about the gastronomy changes wrought since the fall of the Berlin Wall twenty-five years ago, and the collapse of the Soviet Empire (i.e. end of the ColdWar). Now that I am listening to it this weeks edition is in three parts: Hungary, former DDR (East Germany), and Red China. As BBC Radio usually allows one to listen on-line, one may find it for a re-listen.
That sounds interesting. I'm guessing the amount of processed foods in the diet of people in those countries went way up after the fall of the Berlin Wall. Many good things came out of that event, but processed food is not one of them, it just leads to health problems.
Processed food: What I recall from the programme was the opposite, at least as far as East Europian cuisine. There was a specific comment regarding the disappearance of certain processed foods from a centralized and state-sponcered palette and a return to traditional regional cuisine. One comment dealt with a particular restaurant in East Berlin which featured dishes which harken back to old DDR days for those who are nostalgic for "uncle Joe's" foods. In particular was a snitchel dish where the traditional breaded viel is replaced by breaded sausage common during the DDR days. In Hungary during Communism saw the virtual disappearance of a particular swine which was used for some pre-communist Hungarian cuisine. State-controlled agra-business just did not allow for this specialty pork, but a return to traditional forms of animal husbandry has lead to a return of these fatty pigs and their pork products. But, curiously enough, most of the swine are being exported to Spain for their consumption. May I suggest a visit to the Radio BBC website to listen directly to the "Food Chain" programme rather than rely on my interpretation of the programme.
I am astonished! I had no idea that those former Soviets would take on fast food or over processed food. It appears the more economically stable and affluent any country becomes the more likely they would change their eating habits. They eat more processed and fast foods, they grow fatter, and they develop health challenges. The Americanization of the globe is something I never thought I would live long enough to see.
This may be a bit off topic but I think it fits in. I wonder if this has been the same story with locally produced alcoholic beverages, local wines, etc. If something more "traditional" would be favored over newer brands that are available. The big thing in the South East United States, and other places I'm sure, is local and or regional micro-brews and micro distilleries. These small shop owners are giving places like Jack Daniels and Bud a real challenge.
I can no longer eat anything processed. I cannot eat anything out of a can anymore because it just makes me sick. I can literally smell the chemicals they put into food to preserve it and it disgusts me. If I can avoid it and have the money I buy everything that's fresh. Not necessarily organic, just fresh.
My best friend can't eat processed food at all due to his gout. If we eat at subway or something he gets the real shredded meat such as smoked chicken or something that's hand pulled, he avoids the sliced stuff. If he wants a turkey sandwich he cooks a whole turkey and cleans it, saves some in the fridge for quick use and freezes the meat for sandwiches, soups, etc later. He does the same thing with ham, chicken etc. Ground beef/turkey etc does not bother him. Just food for thought for people with gout.
I had not thought of this, but it stands to reason. I recently saw a documentary of how Western fast food has invaded so much of the world. McDonald's is at the top of the list. One of the places it is well-rooted is Japan. Japanese people have the highest life expectancy in the world. This has been based on their low saturated fat, high omega fat diets. Primarily eating seafood. When I saw the Japanese kids stuffing their faces with fries I wondered if that life expectancy will change in the coming generations.
We all must remember that all fast food shops are not 100% bad. Most are but not all. Chipotle has great natural ingredients. It is a restaurant that does not have a drive through as to my knowledge.
As an American, I am saddened that our fast food has done so much damage to the well-being of people who enjoy it. I am sure that when McDonald's, Wendy's, Subway, etc., first opened, the foods weren't so highly processed. As the stores became national and international brands, they had to find some way to preserve the food so that they could transport it to other locations cheaply while maintaining continuity of taste. I still enjoy a Big Mac and fries on occasion, and I still eat canned chili every once in a while. It brings back happy memories to do those things, but I do care about my health and don't want to shorten my life expectancy over french fries. I don't demand organic foods (because not all of what is label organic really is so, and because of its much higher price), but our family tries to eat as healthy as we can given our "on-the-go" lifestyle. I think the Japanese have a good idea as far as eating seafood. Of course, it is easier for them to do so since they have a ready supply available. Living in the central part of the U.S. makes it a little more difficult to find fresh seafood.
Sorry all, I am going to enjoy my grilled or deep fried catfish, hushpuppies, and grits. If I don't have the ingredients I will probably have to pick up a jar of tarter sauce and maybe some processed cole slaw. Here in Alabama, I have made Sushi at the country club I used to chef at. I am retired now and found out the Catfish love raw fish with seaweed. The only processed food I really like, believe it or not, is C-rats. MRE's are good too.
